Meeting Speakers

Moves You Can Use - Shasonta Delmage, LiveFit

Shasonta's presentation will be very interactive as she leads our attendees through five exercises that we can incorporate throughout our day - no matter when or where! LiveFit supports individuals, small groups, and corporations with unique fitness and nutrition plans that help participants feel better, move better, and life their fullest life. We help Corporations develop wellness plans that help staff members - no matter what position - gain strength and move with ease all while supporting company culture so they are more productive on the job.

 

When: Thursday, June 18, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Shasonta Delmage, LiveFit

 

Unexpected Benefits of Piano Lessons - Mary Walby, Discovery Music Academy

One-on-one piano lessons are a great way to learn how to play the piano. The lesson is all about you and what you need in order to learn. This can be both exciting and challenging. Inevitably you learn more about yourself right alongside learning how to play. Over the years of teaching many students of all ages, I'll share those intangible gifts students have walked away with long after their lessons are over. Piano teacher, Mary Walby, founded Discovery Music Academy, LLC in 2011. A commitment to excellence and a strong technical foundation are the cornerstones for having fun at the piano. They offer piano lessons to ages 7 and up, beginner through intermediate. For more information visit www.DiscoveryMusicAcademy.com or call today for an introductory lesson: (360) 527-9626.

When: Thursday, May 14, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Mary Walby, Discovery Music Academy 

The Four “C’s” of Underwriting Mortgage Loans - Sally Sallisbury, Neighborhood Mortgage

Sally will define what the four C’s of underwriting are, what underwriters are assessing in each of these areas, the documentation required to support your mortgage request and how it will impact the decision that they make. Neighborhood Mortgage is a locally owned mortgage broker in Bellingham, WA. Sally has been with Neighborhood Mortgage for 7 months and in this industry for over 25 years. As a licensed loan originator, she helps secure financing for residential real estate. Neighborhood Mortgage offers excellent customer service along with competitive interest rates on all agency programs.

When: Thursday, April 23, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Sally Salisbury, Neighborhood Mortgage
 

The New Paradigm of the Myofascial System: Why Fascia is Important - Traci Soriano, LMP and Owner, Veritas Massage Studio

The fascial system is more then thin sheaths that coat our muscles and organs.  Fascia is an interactive, complex web that connects every other system of the body.  Research is showing us how having healthy fascia is integral to our well-being and feeling free of pain and discomfort.  Traci will be explaining the fascial system and how it relates to body work in an interesting and easy to understand way. Veritas Massage Studio provides highly effective, skillful body work that address the individual needs of each client.  Their 4 therapists have a combined experience of over 30 years.  Massage is not just a luxury, it is a vital part of your wellness and healing plan.

When: Thursday, April 2, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Traci Soriano, LMP and Owner, Veritas Massage Studio

Karen King Counseling- Where Solutions Happen! - Karen King, MS, LMHC, Karen King Counseling

Come hear Karen describe a bit about her background, what tools and skills she has to offer to clients, and the approaches that she uses. She will also do a demonstration of a guided mediation and a helpful and fun creative technique to clarify goals. In her own words, "I help individual and couples find solutions to their stresses.  Through counseling work together we will uncover the client’s ideas of health and happiness. I then help move clients toward their goals with confidence and ease using such tools as mindfulness, recognizing unhelpful patterns driven by anxiety or depression, or revealing old hurts. Through applying these tools, and reframing their challenges through a new lens, clients will be able to let go of unhelpful patterns and habits they may have developed to cope that are no longer helping manage difficult feelings or circumstances. Through therapy, clients will learn to successfully address and diminish depression, anxiety, anger or fears to regain balance, hope and energy again.  I use the tools of Mindfulness, knowledge of Neurobiology, Attachment Theory, Solution Focused Brief Treatment and DBT, as well as a humanistic, collaborative therapy style to help move clients closer to their goals."

When: Thursday, March 26, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Karen King, MS, LMHC, Karen King Counseling

Functional Movement Screen and Why It's Important - Shasonta Delmage, LiveFit

The FMS is a ranking and grading system that documents movement patterns that are key to normal function. By screening these patterns, the FMS identifies functional limitations and asymmetries. This scoring system is directly linked to the most beneficial corrective exercises to restore sound movement patterns. LiveFit is not just an idea; it’s the lifestyle our founder Shasonta Delmage passionately promotes to our clients. Living fit isn’t necessarily about a beach-ready body, it’s about taking a holistic approach that combines functional fitness – having the strength to carry your groceries or participating in your favorite sport – with the nutritional know-how to fuel your life.

When: Thursday, March 19, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Shasonta Delmage, LiveFit

Cannabis 2015 - Danielle Rosellison, Trail Blazin' Productions

Trail Blazin' Productions is a new business venture, started by local Whatcom County professionals, looking to meet the demand for recreational cannabis while maintaining a safe environment and following the letter of the law. We produce (grow) and process (package) we do not retail. Here's a few words form one of the owners, Danielle Rosellison:

​I always like to start out that I'm not here to debate the moral ramifications of cannabis. The fact is that the people of Washington voted to legalize cannabis and we are working within that legal framework to create a successful industry.

Recently, I was asked what kind of referrals I was looking for though Whatcom Women's Network. What an excellent question!! First, if you are a cannabis user and you shop at the recreational stores, I'd love you to use our product; brand recognition is always important. However, my true intent of being in this networking group is for community relations. I think it's so important to move away from stereotypical "reefer madness", red eyed, deadlocked, tie-dye wearing, hippy and see the cannabis industry as it truly is - professional, small business start up companies (some not so small) chasing the American Dream just like all entrepreneurs do. While there is no doubt a wide range of people who applied to be a part of I-502, the majority are white and blue collar, middle class Americans.

I do want to briefly touch on two pieces of legislation that could use your support. The first, and most important is HB 2136. This bill does several things to make 502 a working system- changing the tax to a a single point, rather than three tiered, changing the excise tax to a tax paid by the buyer so we don't have to claim it as income on our federal tax returns and revenue sharing with local municipalities. It's the best legislation I've seen so far this year. Please take a minute to write your legislatures and representatives that you support HB 2136. If we don't allow WA to have a good working system for legal cannabis, the industry will go back underground meaning loss of revenue and less safety for our communities. HB 2136 is, however, tied to SB 5052 which regulates medical cannabis. Officially, I have no position on medical cannabis. As a business owner in the 502 sector, we have a lot to gain if this bill passes. From a humanitarian standpoint, I have a tough time with this bill in it's current state. I have been told there are several positive amendments looking to make it into this bill before it passes. These two bills are tied together, meaning if one fails they both fail and vise versa. One thing I feel confident about is that this legislature is going to regulate medical cannabis somehow this session.

Come here more from Danielle at our lunch this Thursday!

When: Thursday, March 12, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Danielle Rosellison, Trail Blazin' Productions

Self-employment Tax... The good, bad & the ugly! - Siobhan Murphy, CPA, Thrive Business Group

If you are self-employed, don't get caught unaware of Self-Employment Tax and the quarterly Estimated Tax payment obligations you may have.

The IRS has stated guidelines of how much to pay and when. Make sure you know what's required and what to expect so you don't get surprised by a big tax bill in April.

Thrive Business Group is a Bellingham CPA firm devoted to helping small business and individuals throughout the Bellingham area experience financial success by providing professional accounting and tax services at reasonable rates.

Why Thrive Business Group?

We plan for the future of our small business clients by offering tax planning strategies that will save you money and increase your bottom line. With Thrive Business Group on your side, you'll have more time to run your business while leaving your accounting, bookkeeping and tax concerns to us. As your trusted financial advisor, Thrive Business Group will also assist in making important financial decisions for the success of your small business.

Our commitment to personal service keeps our clients coming back! Request a FREE initial consultation or call 360-746-8738 today to find out how we can help you.

When: Thursday, January 28, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Siobhan Murphy, CPA, Thrive Business Group



Questions I ask a prospective client - Sarah Benn, Benn Design

I have a set of questions that I go through with each prospective client in order to clearly define the website project. The questions help us communicate the purpose of the site, it's audience, and what the client would like the site to accomplish. I also work with the client to start defining the structure of the site, get ideas about what they might want their site to look like, and think about how they plan to keep the site current. Benn Design has been developing custom and WordPress websites for small businesses, individuals, and other organizations for over 16 years. Each website I create is unique – yours will feature clean, clear graphic design, arresting photographs, and well-written copy to express your personal message and style. In addition to being a web designer, I have also worked as a graphic designer, technical writer, copywriter, and editor.

When: Thursday, January 22, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Sarah Benn, Benn Design
 

Legal Secrets to Success for Business Owners – Emily Rose Mowrey, Attorney at Law

As a business owner, you have a lot on your plate – managing employees, keeping clients happy, marketing and growing your business, to name just a few responsibilities.  Consulting an experienced business attorney can help ease your burden and make the process of starting or running your business a little easier.  Emily will help demystify the different types of businesses that owners can choose from – LLC, sole proprietorship, corporations, or nonprofits, as well as sharing some of the options for working with a business lawyer so business owners can get back to what’s really important – running a successful business. Emily has eight years of experience in the field of business law, helping dozens of businesses in Washington State and British Columbia start or grow their companies to greater success.  She also assists clients in the areas of real estate, estate planning, bankruptcy, probate and LGBT/polyamory legal services.

When: Thursday, January 15, 2015 – 12:00pm – 1:15pm
Where: WWN weekly lunch meeting
Presenter: Emily Rose Mowrey, Attorney at Law, NextGeneration Legal Services, PLLC