The program for our September luncheon is getting some great attention around the city. Read an excerpt of the Advocate article below or click here to read the whole story.

The American Business Women’s Association Crescent City Connections Express Network will hold its monthly networking luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at Ralph Brennan’s Heritage Grill, 111 Veterans Blvd., Metairie.

Christine Briede, founder and chief marketing officer of BBDM Marketing, will present a program titled “Brand Building: Instilling Trust & Creating Loyalty.” Briede is a branding expert who works with local restaurants, nonprofits and small businesses. She will discuss using emerging technologies and traditional marketing avenues

Formation Committee members Wendy Dolan & Lyndsey Graham, gave an informative program about how to use social media to its best advantage at our August Luncheon. A full room of attendees learned how to best utilize Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn for business and personal purposes. You can view the slides from their presentation here.

The chartering of our ABWA league marks the return of ABWA to New Orleans after a 10 year absence. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, there were six leagues in the New Orleans area. The Advocate covered our new group in its article “Local professional women re-organize ABWA group lost to Katrina.” Read the excerpt below or click here to read the full story.

Eight professional women have formed a committee to establish a local chapter of the American Business Women’s Association. Before Hurricane Katrina, there were six active ABWA chapters in Greater New Orleans and another in Baton Rouge, which continued functioning.

One of the members originally from who was displaced by the storm, Christi Felder, comes over from the Baton Rouge LaCapitale chapter to assist in the reorganization.

The local chapter, the ABWA Crescent City Connections Express Network, will host its first official networking lunch meeting for interested women from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 10 at Ralph Brennan’s Heritage Grill, 111 Veterans Blvd.

“I’m really excited to be a part of ABWA because I’m passionate about supporting other women in business,” committee member Wendy Dolan said. “I know that I definitely have it easier than previous generations of working women, but there’s still a long way to go toward equality.

“For example, the wage gap in Louisiana is one of the worst in the nation, with women earning only 66.9 cents for every dollar men earn. I hope that encouraging women to get involved in well-organized, national groups such as ABWA can start to make a difference in that area.”