Women TIES is proud to be a media sponsor of Paige's Butterfly Run, a very special annual event to raise funds to fight pediatric cancer.

Paige Yeomans Arnold was diagnosed with leukemia as she was nearing the end of her first grade year at Palmer Elementary. During the next year she completed second grade while being treated at Upstate’s Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder. By that time the disease had progressed, requiring a bone marrow transplant. Paige underwent the procedure at Boston Children’s Hospital in the summer of 1994, but died from resulting complications. In 1997 her parents were approached by a group of teachers at Palmer Elementary that wished to honor Paige in what would have been her last year at the school. In short order it was decided that a walk/run event would be organized.

Paige’s Butterfly Run, Inc. was formed in 1999 as a not-for-profit New York 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to raising money for the battle against pediatric cancer and the funding of a college scholarship in Paige’s name at Baldwinsville’s Baker High. The now annual Paige’s Butterfly Run is the vehicle for this fundraising, and for 2010 all proceeds after expenses will fund pediatric cancer research and patient programs at Golisano Children's Hospital at Upstate.

Paige's Butterfly Run is now comprised of three events: 1) a USAT&F certified 5K race through downtown Syracuse neighborhoods (including the unique Centipede category!) 2) a fun fitness run/walk, and 3) the 40-ft. "Caterpillar Crawl," a free, quick and fun scramble for kids five and under. Participants in the 5K race and the fitness run/walk events are encouraged to ask family and friends for sponsorships, with prizes awarded to the top individual and team fundraisers. There are age group awards for the 5K run and finishers ribbons for all participants in all events.

Women entrepreneurs with a "running spirit" and an interest in fighting pediatric cancer are encouraged to run or become sponsors.

Ellen Yeomans and Chris Arnold are parents of Paige Yeomans Arnold, the child whose memory is honored each year with Paige's Butterfly Run. In 2010, they donated $160,000 to the Golisano Children’s Hospital from the proceeds raised at the run.

The proceeds will benefit Upstate’s Dr. William J. Waters Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders by funding pediatric cancer research and providing special services for children treated at the center.

Local woman entrepreneur Tracy Higginbotham, President of Women TIES, has appeared in the Chicken Book for the Soul: Stay-At-Home-Moms edition arriving in bookstores in April 2012.

Her story "A Golden Glow" details Higginbotham's entrepreneurial passion, dedication to her sons, and determination to promote women entrepreneurship in New York State. In the story, she discussed the powerful choice she made to become a woman entrepreneur. The story highlights her entrepreneurial beginnings, her passion and dedication for inspiring women entrepreneurs, and her desire to raise two sons who understand the powerful choices women make in their lives to improve their families and the world.

Women entrepreneurs, stay-at-home moms, and work-at-home moms are invited to a special event featuring a presentation, conversation, and book signing to celebrate the powerful choices women make to improve their families, themselves and the world.

The event is hosted by Erika Davis, Owner of Creekside Books and Coffee.

Tracy Higginbotham is the Founder and President of Women TIES (aka: Women Together Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success) a company dedicating to helping women entrepreneurs expand their local, state and regional marketplace in New York State.

In 1995, Tracy created her first company – Five Star Events – an events management company which she ran for 15 years. In 2005, Tracy embraced her passion for supporting other women entrepreneurs and created her second company, Women TIES, in order to create a larger and stronger geographic buying network for women business owners across New York.

Higginbotham is a graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and post graduate studies in Business Management.

Higginbotham has been the “Ask the Entrepreneur” columnist for the Syracuse Post Standard since 2002; a columnist for “Today’s CNY Woman” magazine; business blogger to national website "AskAmyDaily.com", Advisory Board Member of the State University of New York at Oswego School of Business; and Board Member of the Upstate Women's Business Center in Utica.

Her dedication to supporting women entrepreneurship was recognized by the Small Business Administration in 2005 and in 2011 when she received the Region II "Women Owned Business Champion Award." The Women Business Champion award is given to someone for their significant contributions as an outstanding small business person and for dedicated support of small business.

This event was moved from May 1st to June 13th.

Women entrepreneurs start businesses in order to grow them one day. We don’t create them to keep them status quo. Growth is an essential element in sustaining a business no matter how new or old the company. The pros and cons of growing an enterprise are best learned from women who have been successful in the process.

At this semi-annual Women TIES Great Watertown Event, Amy McEathron, Founder of IMEC, who has grown her company substantially since 2006 by adding eight employees and contractors will share personal business lessons and experiences to inspire other women entrepreneurs to do the same. She’ll also discuss overcoming the fear of growth. Learn how taking slow, small growth steps will help you create the larger company you imagine.

The event will also allow you to promote and market your company’s services and products as well as supply you with a sales contact list of attendees to foster future economic ties between Greater Watertown women entrepreneurs. This event will be a strategic networking opportunity!

This event is cosponsored by The Business of Women a networking group for women and men of the North Country which gives them the opportunity to meet with, learn from and inspire each other in their business, professional and personal lives. The Business of Women was founded in 2004 and its annual fall conference is sponsored by the NYS Small Business Development Center at Jefferson Community College in Watertown. For more information, contact Sarah O'Connell at the SBDC, 315-782-9262 or visit www.facebook.com/BusinessofWomen.

The event is also co-sponsored by Northern Federal Credit Union. Northern FCU is a NCUA insured credit union providing mutual value banking solutions and unparalleled member service. Northern FCU offers a wide array of financial products and services. Learn more about how they can help your business today at www.www.northernfcu.com.

Amy McEathron, Founder and President of I.M.E.C. Amy has over 20 years of experience in the Independent Medical Evaluation Field. Amy started a branch office for a competitor and was shut down without warning. Her clients were so impressed with Amy’s professionalism and service that they urged her to start her own company. In June of 2006 IMEC was born.

Amy started with two folding tables, a couple of computers and a fax machine. Through her hard work she has grown the business to having two full time and four part time employees. She has grown out of two office spaces and into IMEC’s permanent home in Downtown Carthage N.Y. IMEC facilitates independent medical evaluations for fields such as Workers Compensation, Personal Injury, Liability, 207 A/C, and Fitness for Duty. Amy loves what she does and the friendships she has formed with her clients.

Building a brand takes vision. It takes passion and sweat. And perhaps, most importantly, it takes discipline. The discipline to never waiver from your brand’s DNA and what your message to the world will be. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of brand consistency. Endless studies prove consistency increases awareness and helps cement an emotional connection to a brand. Women entrepreneurs must embody their brand in words and actions, in everything they do, every day. They must “live the brand.”

At this special luncheon, Roberta Favitta and Cheryl Ebert, Brand Consultants for the Cooley Group, Inc, an employee owned company, will inspire and educate women entrepreneurs on creating a stronger brand identity and the benefits of recreating a corporate brand. The presentation will cover how these two women helped reshape their own company’s brand, when if ever, you should rebrand, why branding is important, and how to create effective marketing and communication materials to continually promote brand awareness.

Women entrepreneurs are invited to bring promotional materials and samples of their products or service to increase summer sales. Women TIES believes in the buying and selling power of women.

Roberta brings over 30 years of experience in Sales-Training-Advertising-Marketing she taps into when consulting with a client about their branding needs. She and her husband have been small business owners in multiple restaurants and a manufacturing company. Being a Brand Consultant is a culmination of Roberta’s knowledge gained by working with many businesses. Her diverse background offers insight to the needs of her clients no matter the size of their company or their project.

Roberta is an active volunteer for various organizations in Rochester, including Big Brothers Big Sisters as well as a new charter school scheduled for opening in 2013. She graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2011 from Medaille College in Rochester and continues to pursue her education via online classes.