About the Women's Small Business Association (WSBA)
The Women's Small Business Association was founded in 2007 by Susan Miller, owner of Pittsburgh Candle Company and Miller Promotions. Her primary goal with the WSBA is to enable women to help other women in business.
Our mission: To be a valuable resource to business women, by helping and stimulating small and start up businesses throughout Pennsylvania. The goal of the WSBA is to foster women's economic independence by helping them develop skills needed for entrepreneurial success through networking and education.
If you have any questions about membership, please contact Kerissa Kuis, WSBA Membership Director: kerissa@universityofwellness.org
If you are interested in sponsoring WSBA events, please contact Linda Handley, WSBA Assistant Executive Director: HandleyL@verizon.net
Advertising inquiries can be sent to Jenni Dangel, WSBA Marketing Director: jenni@indivisionstudios.com
What Does WSBA Have to Offer?
WSBA strives to create numerous opportunities for its membership throughout the year. General Membership is absolutely free! WSBA offers additional benefits and opportunities through Premier Membership. For premier membership information, please contact Kerissa Kuis, WSBA Membership Director: kerissa@universityofwellness.org or download the Premier Membership Application
NETWORKING EVENTS
The Network Lunch
Numerous lunches are hosted throughout western Pennsylvania each month. These afternoon networking events provide attendees the opportunity to exchange business information and also self-promote with a 60 second commercial presentation. All area business women are invited to attend. For details, to find a lunch in your area and to RSVP: http://www.wsba.biz/
The After-Work Network
These once-a-month casual networking events are centrally located to the membership and other area professionals. The After-Work offers a relaxing and productive atmosphere in which to mingle and exchange business information. All area business men and women are invited to attend. For details and to RSVP: http://www.wsba.biz/
The WSBA holds four major events throughout the year. These events are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
GENERAL MEMBER BENEFITS
Premier members receive all general benefits plus:
THE NETWORK LUNCH SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsorships are available for each WSBA Network Lunch. These opportunities are a great way to promote your business to the more than 500 WSBA members and everyone who visits the WSBA websites or attends the lunches. Sponsorship is an affordable and effective addition to any marketing plan.
Gold Lunch Sponsor:
The WSBA will work with the sponsor to coordinate a lecture, seminar or theme for the event -- lunch must be available. Sponsor will be marketed in all WSBA resources. The sponsor will be listed on www.WSBA.biz with company logo and web site link.
Sponsorship cost:
$75 WSBA General Member
$50 WSBA Premier Member
Silver Lunch Sponsor:
The sponsor will be given 10 minutes to tell those attending about products & services offered. Sponsor logo and web site link will be placed on the www.WSBA.biz website.
Sponsorship cost:
$40 WSBA General Member
$25 WSBA Premier Member
Bronze Lunch Sponsor:
Sponsor will be recognized at the lunch with 8" x 10" color table top advertisements. Sponsor marketing materials may be distributed to those attending.
Sponsorship cost:
$25 WSBA General Member
$10 WSBA Premier Member
WSBA MAJOR EVENT SPONSORSHIPS
Event Sponsorship - $300
Each event will secure one (1) event sponsor. This sponsor will have their company name and logo listed in all marketing materials associated with the event. The event marketing will include but will not be limited to: email, public relations, online, membership and media marketing. It will also include brochures, fliers and any other media the WSBA secures to promote such event. The sponsor will also be listed on both WSBA websites with web address links. The sponsor will be given an opportunity to speak with attendees about their company, and their company information/samples will be distributed in our sponsor package to all who attend the event. The sponsor will also receive a complimentary booth at the event for person to person marketing. This sponsor will also secure a full-page ad in the event program.
Corporate Sponsorship - $150
This sponsor's company name will be listed in event marketing materials. The event marketing will include, but will not be limited to: email, public relations and membership marketing. This will also include brochures and fliers. The sponsor will also be listed on both WSBA websites with web address links. Their company information/samples will be distributed in our sponsor package to all who attend the event. This sponsor will secure a half-page advertisement in the event program.
Contributing Sponsorship - $75
This sponsor will be listed on both WSBA sites with web address links. Sponsor will secure a quarter-page advertisement in the event program. Programs will be distributed to all attending the event.
All sponsors are responsible for submitting logos, artwork and promotional copy according to WSBA guidelines and by established deadlines. Sponsors who do not submit the required assets may forfeit their inclusion in WSBA marketing materials.
CHARITY INVOLVEMENT
WSBA believes in giving back to the communities that support our members and their services. Some of the events and organizations that we proudly support are:
Dress for Success
Twilight Foundation
Susan G Koman Race for the Cure
Operation Shoebox
Children's Institute
Our mission: To be a valuable resource to business women, by helping and stimulating small and start up businesses throughout Pennsylvania. The goal of the WSBA is to foster women's economic independence by helping them develop skills needed for entrepreneurial success through networking and education.
If you have any questions about membership, please contact Kerissa Kuis, WSBA Membership Director: kerissa@universityofwellness.org
If you are interested in sponsoring WSBA events, please contact Linda Handley, WSBA Assistant Executive Director: HandleyL@verizon.net
Advertising inquiries can be sent to Jenni Dangel, WSBA Marketing Director: jenni@indivisionstudios.com
What Does WSBA Have to Offer?
WSBA strives to create numerous opportunities for its membership throughout the year. General Membership is absolutely free! WSBA offers additional benefits and opportunities through Premier Membership. For premier membership information, please contact Kerissa Kuis, WSBA Membership Director: kerissa@universityofwellness.org or download the Premier Membership Application
NETWORKING EVENTS
The Network Lunch
Numerous lunches are hosted throughout western Pennsylvania each month. These afternoon networking events provide attendees the opportunity to exchange business information and also self-promote with a 60 second commercial presentation. All area business women are invited to attend. For details, to find a lunch in your area and to RSVP: http://www.wsba.biz/
The After-Work Network
These once-a-month casual networking events are centrally located to the membership and other area professionals. The After-Work offers a relaxing and productive atmosphere in which to mingle and exchange business information. All area business men and women are invited to attend. For details and to RSVP: http://www.wsba.biz/
The WSBA holds four major events throughout the year. These events are open to anyone who wishes to attend.
- The Spring and Fall events provide educational and inspirational speakers, a productive networking environment and promotional opportunities for WSBA members and professionals throughout the area.
- The Women's Small Business Conference is a day-long, intensive event designed to encourage the growth of small and start-up business. The Conference also hosts the WSBA Best of Pittsburgh Awards, highlighting successful women in business and the community. WSBA volunteers are also recognized for their efforts.
- Each year the WSBA partners with a local organization for the annual WSBA Community Service Luncheon. This event offers group members and others a chance to contribute to an organization that shares the WSBA message of support and community building. Attendees are invited to network in a learning environment featuring informational presentations.
GENERAL MEMBER BENEFITS
- Full member profile on the WSBA Meetup website, including live links, business description and contact information
- Members with complete profiles on the WSBA Meetup site have access to the extensive membership email database
- Sponsorship opportunities are available for WSBA hosted lunches and events
- Advertising opportunities in WSBA produced communications, including the quarterly newsletter, monthly e-newsletter, event programs and placements on WSBA websites
Premier members receive all general benefits plus:
- Profile on the WSBA.ws website with live links, business description, image and contact information
- Free advertisement once per year, in the quarterly WSBA Networking News, distributed at all WSBA networking events
- Preferred reservations and pricing for exhibition/vendor tables at WSBA events
- Free advertisement once per year, in the WSBA E-Newsletter, distributed to WSBA membership and the WSBA off-site email list
- Preferred opportunities for speaking and presentations at WSBA events
- Special business introduction highlight emailed to the WSBA membership
- Preferred pricing to all WSBA events
- Recognition in each quarterly WSBA Networking News
- Recognition and business link in each issue of the WSBA E-newsletter
THE NETWORK LUNCH SPONSORSHIPS
Sponsorships are available for each WSBA Network Lunch. These opportunities are a great way to promote your business to the more than 500 WSBA members and everyone who visits the WSBA websites or attends the lunches. Sponsorship is an affordable and effective addition to any marketing plan.
Who should consider lunch sponsorship?
- Those who are not aggressive networkers
- Aggressive networkers who want additional exposure for their business
- Those who cannot attend, but want a presence at the lunch
Gold Lunch Sponsor:
The WSBA will work with the sponsor to coordinate a lecture, seminar or theme for the event -- lunch must be available. Sponsor will be marketed in all WSBA resources. The sponsor will be listed on www.WSBA.biz with company logo and web site link.
Sponsorship cost:
$75 WSBA General Member
$50 WSBA Premier Member
Silver Lunch Sponsor:
The sponsor will be given 10 minutes to tell those attending about products & services offered. Sponsor logo and web site link will be placed on the www.WSBA.biz website.
Sponsorship cost:
$40 WSBA General Member
$25 WSBA Premier Member
Bronze Lunch Sponsor:
Sponsor will be recognized at the lunch with 8" x 10" color table top advertisements. Sponsor marketing materials may be distributed to those attending.
Sponsorship cost:
$25 WSBA General Member
$10 WSBA Premier Member
WSBA MAJOR EVENT SPONSORSHIPS
Event Sponsorship - $300
Each event will secure one (1) event sponsor. This sponsor will have their company name and logo listed in all marketing materials associated with the event. The event marketing will include but will not be limited to: email, public relations, online, membership and media marketing. It will also include brochures, fliers and any other media the WSBA secures to promote such event. The sponsor will also be listed on both WSBA websites with web address links. The sponsor will be given an opportunity to speak with attendees about their company, and their company information/samples will be distributed in our sponsor package to all who attend the event. The sponsor will also receive a complimentary booth at the event for person to person marketing. This sponsor will also secure a full-page ad in the event program.
Corporate Sponsorship - $150
This sponsor's company name will be listed in event marketing materials. The event marketing will include, but will not be limited to: email, public relations and membership marketing. This will also include brochures and fliers. The sponsor will also be listed on both WSBA websites with web address links. Their company information/samples will be distributed in our sponsor package to all who attend the event. This sponsor will secure a half-page advertisement in the event program.
Contributing Sponsorship - $75
This sponsor will be listed on both WSBA sites with web address links. Sponsor will secure a quarter-page advertisement in the event program. Programs will be distributed to all attending the event.
All sponsors are responsible for submitting logos, artwork and promotional copy according to WSBA guidelines and by established deadlines. Sponsors who do not submit the required assets may forfeit their inclusion in WSBA marketing materials.
CHARITY INVOLVEMENT
WSBA believes in giving back to the communities that support our members and their services. Some of the events and organizations that we proudly support are:
Dress for Success
Twilight Foundation
Susan G Koman Race for the Cure
Operation Shoebox
Children's Institute
