WECO HOSTS ITALIAN BUSINESSMEN

                                                                           

 

On August 1, 2008, the WECO Microenterprise Center hosted three Italian businessmen under the auspices of the Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program. After meeting at WECO, the participants visited the SeneAfrique Trading Company, one of the  60 microbusinesses funded with a WECO microloan.

 

L to R:  Mary Oluonye, SeneAfrique owner; Anas Breigheche, owner, Mediterranea Company in Mezzocorona;  Sherif El Sebaie, Consultant, Project Campagnia di San Paolo Foundation in Torino; Bou Konate of the Services and Property Office in Monfalcone; and Waly Sene, Mary's husband and store manager.

                                                                                                                                 

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      WECO STAFF ADDITION

 

Carrie Rosenfelt was appointed WECO's first Director of Development on October 1, 2008.  She will direct all fundraising activities for the organization. Carrie comes with a strong development background which includes identifying, cultivating and stewardship of prospects and donors.  She will also solicit and close major gifts, create  a strategic development plan and budget, secure grants from foundations and corporations, write grant proposals and reports, and plan and execute donor recognition and other special events.  Welcome, Carrie!

 

 

 

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WECO RETREAT - OCTOBER 2008

On September 23rd and 24th, 2008, WECO Board of Directors and staff members participated in a 1 1/2 day Strategic Planning Retreat at the new Dollar Bank Conference Center in the Galleria. Hosted by Larry Slenczka, Dollar Bank Vice President, and facilitated by Jason Friedman of Friedman Associates, Iowa City, Iowa, the goal of the retreat was to produce a three-year Strategic Objective Plan for WECO.  Buoyed by the energy produced by attendees, stakeholder discussions centered around a review of our present programs, a vision for our future and how to establish and accomplish the goals that will effectively and productively carry us into our next few years.

 

 

 

Marilyn Soltis, Administrative Assistant and board member Bennie J. Williams-Roper participate in an ice-breaker exercise.

 

 

 

 

Board member Larry Slenczka of Dollar Bank and KeyBank Financial Education Center  Coordinator Patricia

Patrick-White.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New WECO board member Elizabeth Plax, President of Plax & Associates Financial Services.

 

 

 

Board member and WECO Microloan recipient Deborah Rutledge, Rutledge Insurance Agency and Esther Holtwick, Director of WECO Financial Education.

 

 

 

 

 

WECO Executive Director Christine Henry and board member Stan Meisel.

 

 

 

 

 

Jason Friedman, facilitator, Friedman     Associates, points to an intensive

days work!