In 2008, when we were in a recession, many business friends kept coming to me and stating, "We need each other to survive; How can I stay afloat? I need customers; We must encourage people to support LOCAL! Kristi, you have to do something to bring us all together!"
I have coordinated leadership roles my entire life. I was on Student Council and a student body officer in H.S.; attended Leadership training workshops and week-long camps, I ran for Student government at UNC; I was often in charge of different activities for PTA at my sons' schools; I served on our church consistory board; did a few years as president of Greeley Business Women's Network (which has sadly dissolved); I took a leap of faith joining a national networking group for a few years-but realized it wasn't focused on local business women's success and I departed like so many of my peers.

Then after deep searching and tapping my creativity, I decided I needed to start a Women's NETWORKING organization and foster an attitude of caring for one another and our LOCAL COMMUNITY where we all do business. If we spend money supporting each other's businesses it would be a win/win for everyone. Teri Segelke, Sue Helfrich, Susan Jewell Klema, Robin Chew, Patricia Sorbo, Flo Mikkelson, Chris McDermott, Gretta Adams, Jill Althoff, Linda Winter, MaryLu Walton, Lori Gama, are a few of the women who gave me the motivation...and most of them are still participating, some even in their retirement (and from Heaven)!
Then new women started finding us; and they are great contributors to the TRIBE we have become - Irish Martin Danhoff, Jean Daviet, June Lemmings, Allison Dunning, Annette Jaehn, Ashley Fusco, Alexia Peake Inhulsen, Helen Freese, Jean Morrell, Barbara Wasung, Paula Thomas, Sue Sutton, Celeste Ewert, Nicole Watkins, Erica Herman, Lisa Hudson, Kris Boesch, Gail Newton, Peggy Waldo, Jeri Lynn Fuqua, Glenda Haines, Jody Margheim, Pam Bricker, Jill Bailey, Kim Pichot, Mary Doty, Priscilla Johnson, Kris Bruntz, Julie Hill, Jenny Shoop, Colette Pitcher, Angela Garcia, DeAnnaKay Swetzig, Deb Michael, Anna Green, Donna Upton, Jennifer Gehrman, Linda Brainard, Cheri Witt Brown, Dixie Daly, Sharon Eberhard, Kimberly Gilbert, Pam Groeger, Elizabeth Barber, Melissa Jensen, Julie Hill, Kelly Jackson, Margie Martinez, Terri Aden, Heather Beran, Rose Esparza, Verniece Thomas, Jaymi Nickell, Alexa Hepler, Jaymi Anderson, LaLoni Magnuson, Robin McIntire, Misty Dockins, Barbara Solivais, Trista Ells, Glenda Haines, Mary Roberts, Aimee Hutson, Kim Parker, Evelyn Stiefel, Julieen Burnham, Charee Voelz, Tara Rasmuson, Kimberly Ponce, Amie Cieminski, Heather Beran, Kay Broderius, Elizabeth Mahoney, Rachealle Gamache, Dr. Laurie Berdahl, Jaymi Nickell, Isabella Haro, Christine Thomas, Debby Baker, Melanie Cyphers, Marie Warren, Lyndsey Oates, Gena Wickes, Pam Hungenberg, Micayla Bellamy Adams, Dayna Hazlewood, Brittany Schmeeckle, Nelvis Alvarez...where do I stop?
We have over 1,200 outstanding members! Participation ebbs and flows as LIFE allows. Like most things, you get as much out of this organization as you put into it! Relationships are built when people show-up in your life and you share experiences together. That is what I gently state it takes to "turn a contact into a connection!"
We love learning from each other and the talent in this TRIBE is off the charts; everyone has something to contribute! We host a 2-hour-&-15-minute Workshop on the first Wednesday of each month at a variety of venues in the greater Greeley area; that generally attracts 60-70 women.
COVID slowed us down a bit, but we only cancelled one month, then we ZOOMED our way through several meetings and women wanted to come back. When they returned we set-up more tables and spread-out, we respected those wearing masks, we sanitized and disinfected our table cloths after each session. And through it all we continued to meet and mingle. Our monthly Enlightening Conversations assemble 12 women the 3rd week of each month to Master Mind a topic. These sessions are by invitation only and are lead by a different member each time. Members invite women they believe will benefit and these are women we want to do business with!
I survey our members each summer for workshop topics of interest and speakers they believe have something 'special' to contribute. The most "in demand" will make it into the next year's programming. The quality of our programs dazzle and delight and help us both professionally and personally!