It's the second time around on the National Association of Women Business Owners circuit for Plano resident D'Forman.

The first time was in 1986, when she was a member of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Dallas, an organization that merged with the National Association of Women Business Owners, or NAWBO.

She stayed with the group for two years, dropped out, and rejoined a decade later because of a change in the NAWBO programming.

"I joined again because of the Master Mind program," said Forman, owner of the Plano–based graphic design firm, Forman Group Inc.

"It's an informal board of advisors group of 12 women in noncompeting industries, who meet regularly to discuss business problems in a totally confidential format."

For Forman, rejoining the organization meant serving as secretary of NAWBO's Dallas/Fort Worth Chapter. Other Plano NAWBO board members are Trudy Bourgeois, owner of The Bourgeois Company of Plano, and Katrina McBride of eXo associates, inc. Allen resident Suzi Berman, owner of D Media, is also a board member.
NAWBO estimates that there are 125,000 women business owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and they're not shy about getting them to join the organization.

"Our mission for this year is to increase NAWBO's visibility in the business community, increase NAWBO's membership, and increase NAWBO's public policy involvement," said Wendy Lopez, president of the group's Dallas area chapter.

Forman estimates there are at least 120 members in the local organization, women that she says are "very professional, very aggressive women who are in it for the business and not for the socializing."
This seems to work for today's women business owners, as there are nearly 7,000 NAWBO members in more than 90 chapters across the country. And then, because NAWBO is affiliated with Les Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mondiales, or World Association of Women Entrepreneurs, in 33 countries, their national headquarters are in Washington, D.C.

Meetings are held the second Monday of each month, usually in the form of a luncheon with a speaker or a panel of speakers.

That's the way NAWBO conforms. What it doesn't do is administer service to the community, although there is a golf tournament in the fall benefiting the organization's programs. This year, the tournament falls on Oct. 27 at Brookhaven Country Club in Dallas.

Otherwise, this group is all about networking and educating women business owners. Typically, members are small to medium–size business owners. They can be doctors, lawyers, accountants or people like Forman who, fresh out of the Drake University's graphic design program, started her business at the age of 23.

Now 42, it seems like a bold move, but at the time, she felt there was no other choice.
"I was working for someone else and asked for a raise and she said, 'No,' " says Forman, who goes by D, but whose real name is D'Ann.

"At that time, I was making nothing. My fiancé, who's now my husband, said, 'Go ahead and I'll support you.' "Now," she adds, "we work together and the business is my child."
Berman had a similar experience, starting her graphic design firm eight years ago after coming away from the University of Texas with a degree in advertising from UT's School of Communications.
After college, she worked in sales for the Austin American Statesman, before returning to her Dallas home turf, where she went to work for a print graphics agency. While at the agency, a client hired her away and now, at age 36, in her virtual office setting, she employs mostly freelance writers, photographers, illustrators, and designers.

This year, Berman is serving as co–chair of marketing of the local NAWBO affiliate. She says, above all, networking is an important component of the organization. "It's women helping women succeed," she says. "It's a very diverse group with women from all walks of life, in all kinds of businesses on all different levels, from first–year business owners to the seasoned corporate executive.

"It's all about relationship building," adds Berman, "and businesses are built on relationships."
Much has changed since she started her own business back in 1995. For one, there is the NAWBO Capital Concepts lending program for women–owned businesses, which she says is invaluable because, "Women business owners have a lot of difficulty securing loans and this makes it easier for women to get money."
There are also the corporate discounts from such companies as UPS, IBM, Women's Enterprise, as well as some of the local banking institutions.

Other assistance has come from the members. "I've gotten human resources advice, as well as advice on leasing office space," says Berman. "I've also gotten accounting and bookkeeping advice and tips on business development and training."

Determined to make a go of her business, Berman is the mother of a 5–year–old boy and has another son on the way. Until her youngest child is born in late September, she says she will keep on going.
"I'll work up to the very last minute," she says. "After that, I have a staff and they'll keep the business going for me."

She says the current economic climate has definitely had an effect on her business. "It's been challenging," she says. "But I've survived and so have the other women."

Forman says the survival has more to do with "looking at a problem from all sides and if something goes wrong, figuring out the best way to fix it.

"I'm good at thinking ahead," she says. Berman says she's more likely to be a perfectionist, which isn't always so good, but "it's good for my clients. I catch details and troubleshoot problems for them."

On the flip side of the coin, she says she's "creative with a business mind.

"I can adapt easily to situations, I believe in myself, and I have confidence in myself and my abilities," she says. "I also have a very positive outlook and I see challenges as opportunities. Instead of going, 'oh no,' I see it as an opportunity."

Contact staff writer Shawn Floyd at 972–398–4267 or at floyds@starcntexas.com.

©Plano Star Courier 2003