Women Today

This month Women magazine visits Green Bay's Broadway for its Women Who Inspire feature. The business owners and employees on this street create a distinctive vibe for the business district. Here's what Naletta Burr of Dimension IV had to say:

What made you choose Broadway as the location for your business? Dimension IV is an architectural and planning firm whose design philosophy is based on sustainable design and creative spaces.
Active downtowns inherently combine both of these elements. As such we have both our offices (Green Bay and Oshkosh) located downtown.

What do you like about being on Broadway? Broadway has a great sense of energy.
From the wonderful events that happen throughout the year to the entrepreneurial spirit that is alive in all the businesses, there is definitely a sense of place on Broadway. (And on top of that, we have several of the coolest stores and restaurants in Green Bay, all within walking distance!)

What have you been doing to make it in this economy? It's no secret that the design and construction industry has been struggling in this economy.
To make it through, we are focusing on networking, following trends and best practices, not just in the design industry, but also our client's industries, and keeping a positive attitude.
Having a fun while working makes even the most difficult times more manageable.

Naletta Burr
Dimension IV

This month Women magazine visits Green Bay's Broadway for its Women Who Inspire feature. The business district has a distinct style and the business owners and employees on this street create its appealing vibe. Here's what Michelle Johnson of NorthCoast Productions had to say:

What do you like about being on Broadway? By being on Broadway, NorthCoast Productions is part of the bigger picture, the revitalization of a fantastic area in Green Bay.
Broadway is centrally located, which makes it easy for our clients. It’s great to be able to walk out the front door for great entertainment and shopping options.

What have you been doing to make it in this economy? We have been fortunate to work with great clients.
NorthCoast’s success in today’s economy is due to the relationships we have built over the years. We work hard to make sure our clients know and trust us.
NorthCoast is also very fortunate to be working in an industry that is quickly growing and changing the way we business gets done.
The camera has been called the most powerful weapon in the world and today’s businesses are using video to stay competitive. Also, owner Jay Schillinger and I have been asked to speak at different events about using video in today’s world, which has not only been an incredible experience, but a great way to promote ourselves while helping others learn how to use video to make their business stand out in a crowd.

If you could change one thing about your job, what would it be? Honestly, I don’t think there is anything I would change about my job.
I am very lucky to work with an extremely talented (and very creative) group of videographers, editors, producers, animators and artists, who are not only the best at what they do, but make me laugh every day.

Who would you love to see walk into your business? There are so many exciting uses for video in today’s world.
Whether it’s for internal communications, training, a sales piece or content for social media, video can build a trust level that just words cannot accomplish. I love working with my clients to ensure they are strategically leveraging their videos.

Our friends at Unity Hospice offer this information on health reform:

Late in 2009 as Congress drafted its health care reform bills, hospice agencies were taking particular note.

The House passed $10 billion in proposed cuts to the Medicare hospice benefit as part of health care reform and the Senate passed nearly $8 billion in similar cuts. Both were tied to a “productivity adjustment” designed for all health care providers. The concept assumes that providers increase their productivity over time through the use of fewer or less expensive products or increased efficiency through the adoption of new technology. Hospice, however, is a highly labor-intensive model of care where such productivity gains are not as achievable relative to other areas of our health care system.

The proposed cuts came on top of regulatory cuts already being implemented to hospice reimbursement. While the Medicare hospice benefit rates have increased annually, the regulatory cuts create smaller margins of increase. The advent of costly new drugs and treatments mean the average cost to hospices has risen much faster than the hospice benefit reimbursement rates, even before the cuts went into effect. Furthermore, hospices that are Medicare-certified must offer all services required to palliate the terminal illness, even if the patient is not covered by Medicare and does not have the ability to pay.

Hospice agencies throughout the nation have been working hard to educate the community and their legislative representatives about the threat of the cuts to hospice under health care reform. Hospice provides quality, compassionate care for people facing a life-limiting illness or injury and involves a team-oriented approach to expert medical care, pain management, and emotional and spiritual support expressly tailored to the patient's needs and wishes. Support is provided to the patient's loved ones as well. If the proposed productivity cuts were to be implemented through the health care reform, hospices would face a 14.3 percent reduction in hospice reimbursement over the next decade, when combined with the regulatory cuts already being implemented. According to an independent-published study from Duke University, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, hospice care saves Medicare, on average, more than $2,300 per patient. Not only will the Medicare system be negatively impacted if the cuts are implemented, but so too will the patients and families, particularly those in rural areas served by small, non-profit hospice agencies. On behalf of them, please share your concerns about the proposed cuts with your members of Congress.

Unity, leaders in hospice and palliative care, provides comfort care to people of all ages throughout Northeast Wisconsin. Whether at a private home, nursing home or assisted living facility, Unity’s skilled team of nurses, physicians, social workers, nursing assistants, chaplains, volunteers and grief counselors ensure the best quality of life for both the patient and family, based on the individual’s needs and wishes. A not-for-profit health care provider, Unity is dedicated to ensuring that all individuals and the communities in which they reside have access to education, support and quality holistic care.

This month Women magazine visits Green Bay's Broadway for its Women Who Inspire feature. The business district has a distinct style and the business owners and employees on this street create its popular appeal. Here's what Mary White of Vita Rawstaurant and Body 360 had to say:

Why did you choose Broadway? First and foremost, for me, the reason for undertaking the opening of a business was divine inspiration. I credit God with everything Body 360 and Vita have accomplished. I am only the messenger.
I chose Broadway more than 10 years ago for Body 360 because there were only two other businesses here at the time and On Broadway was in its infancy.
I lived down here before any of the current businesses were here and saw the potential this area had.
It was not the safest place at the time, but I am a huge risk taker. I knew in time that this was going to be the place I wanted to be, and that Green Bay was going to find this the place to come to for one-of-a-kind services and retail.
I opened Body 360 10 years ago and watched this area grow for the better. When Vita was envisioned this was a perfect union.

What do you enjoy about being a business owner? I enjoy being a business owner because I do not have to answer to anyone but myself. I can be as creative as I want and dictate my own schedule.
It allows me the time to treat each of my clients according to their specific needs. I love the privacy Body 360 offers to my clients. It is very private and personal.
Vita also is a very welcoming place. It is small and intimate.
I wanted people to feel welcome and at home in both places, and I feel I have accomplished that from all of the feedback over time and from my longstanding clientele.

What advice do you have for women interested in business ownership? Trust your instincts. Women are gifted with this wonderful trait but often do not listen to it.
If you have a dream that is coming from the heart and is based on truth and honesty and you are doing good for humanity, you will never fail.
Trust in your drive and do not give up the driver’s seat under any circumstances. Take risks and take them often. You will never grow if you don't.
Be grateful for the struggles and hard times because that is when we learn who we really are. Those times make the good times so much sweeter.
If your business does not succeed by others’ standards, do not let anyone tell you that you are a failure. Sometimes what others call failure is just the stepping stone to greater things.
Take a risk, jump the fence and never look back.

Mary White
Vita Rawstaurant and Body 360

Gina Nytes, Kaukauna branch manager for Citizens Bank, brings us this week's financial tip:

Before you tie the knot, it’s important to discuss your finances with your significant other. Here are some tips to help you and your significant other start your new life off on the right foot:
• Determine what your partner’s spending habits and saving philosophies are along with what they want to achieve financially. Make sure that you are both on the same page or at least have similar views. By getting everything out in the open, your communication regarding money will be easier in the future.
• As you venture towards starting your new life together, create a workable budget. This allows for both you and your significant other to know what is coming in, what you need to spend to cover expenses and how much money is left over.
• Cut spending whenever possible. One way to get ahead financially and build wealth is to live below your means. Talk with your significant other to determine how you both will make minor sacrifices to help build a savings that can be used in the future for a down payment or as an emergency fund.
• Set financial goals as a couple. Money saved or spent should be planned as a couple. Any debt held by one partner should be considered the other partners and paid down accordingly. Other goals such as buying a house, car and vacations should be planned together as a team.
• Keep communication open. Talking regularly with your partner about finances is extremely important. Pick a time that is convenient for the both of you to sit down and discuss financial matters, goals, upcoming expenses and saving strategies as well as reviewing what you’ve accomplished.
These are just a few financial tips for those soon to be newlyweds. Following them will help to ensure your marriage gets off on the right path.