Hilliard Women in Business group continues to grow

According to its mission statement, the Hilliard Women in Business group are: "Women dedicated to the inspiration, education, support and celebration of the personal and professional success of other business women."

Hilliard Women in Business, which is under the umbrella of the Hilliard Chamber of Commerce, met for a two-hour luncheon last Wednesday (Jan. 20) in The Four Seasons Columbus, 4643 Trueman Blvd. Bryan Driscoll of Driscoll Learning spoke about "Setting Your Goals for 2010."

The quarterly luncheons draw 40-60 people.

"We encourage women from all over central Ohio to attend our meetings," said Libby Gierach, President/CEO of the chamber. "We are in our second year of providing programming with a women's focus," Geirach said. "We try to (have) substantive topics like work-family balance, how women can negotiate in the workplace, thoughts from a woman entrepreneur, and marketing."

Last summer, Hilliard Women in Business gave out its first Renai (pronounced Renee, but short for Renaissance) Award to Carole Kelley, a dentist at Hilliard Dental Associates.

"We knew that we wanted to highlight a woman of the year," Gierach said. The second Renai will be awarded in June, with nomination information on the way.

Gierach said she and Jon Meister, Key Center manager and assistant vice president at the Key Bank branch on Cemetery Road, founded Hilliard Women in Business. Key Bank sponsors the programming, Gierach said.

"There seemed to be a need in this area to form a group for this purpose, to bring this programming forward for our members and the general community, Gierach said.

"When I came into Hilliard, Libby and I talked about whether something like this existed from the chamber's perspective. We put our heads together, and this is what we've got going," Meister said.

Meister said he attends the luncheons, and as the only man there "I stand out like a sore thumb."

Gierach said the next luncheon is scheduled for April 20, with topic and location to be determined. The cost for the luncheons is $17 for chamber members; $20 non-members. To RSVP, e-mail info@hilliardchamber.org or call the Hilliard Area Chamber of Commerce at 614-876-7666.