Hello, Illuminating Women Sisters!
We are currently in the process of gathering recipes to put in an Illuminating Women Cookbook. The cookbook is being published by Morris Publishing and will be available after the new year. We will send out preorders later this fall and send you a certificate of purchase when your order is paid. The certificate can be used to give during the holidays to show what gift you are giving until the books are completed.
Start thinking about how many you’d like to order for friends, and family, and don’t forget yourself.
We look forward to seeing your tasty submissions.
ILLUMINATING WOMEN COOKBOOK
Send your favorite recipes to be published in the Illuminating Women Cookbook using type-n-save.
We will be gathering recipes until November 30th.
The recipe submission portal will be closed at that time.
CLICK URL BELOW TO SUBMIT YOUR RECIPES
https://www.typensave.com/get-started/
User Name – Illuminate
Password – simmer125
Empower ~ Encourage ~ Educate
We build strong connections accepting and celebrating the diversity among women.
Our community is built on supporting and valuing our members gifts and talents used through their vocation and purpose.
Congratulations to Brenda Reiss for winning Illuminating Woman of the Year!
Brenda Reiss, Illuminating Woman of the Year
Susan Creighton, Woman who Educates
Michelle Mrachek, Woman who Encourages
Tied with
Beata Jachulski Baker Woman who Encourages
Terri Thorne, Woman who Empowers
Congrats to all nominees for 2018’s Illuminating Women™ Awards!
MEMBERSHIP
All members receive the following
Visibility and promotion on our website
Complimentary entry into monthly Girls Night Out and Brick and Mortar
Discounts to monthly luncheons and other Illuminating Women™ events
More visibility, friendships, connections and outreach
First rights for vendors and sponsors at Illuminating Women™ events
Members have special privileges for promotional opportunities and more.
Nicole Lux-Ritchie
"I started with Illuminating back in the early days. I was trying to build a business in this area and learn how to navigate the social aspects of business and networking and making connections. In traditional networking we say our elevator pitch and practice being suave and professional. I have learned so much from those types of networking and they definitely have a place. Illuminating Women™ is and has always been, different. Here we chat and learn and make friends. As Jill says, "Illuminating Women™ is a connecting group, not a networking group" This is true and it is also a great place to learn authentic networking skills beyond the cool elevator pitch and snazzy offerings. I often tell people that it is a wonderful place for beginning networking, for learning how to make quality connections and longtime friends."
Rachel Barnett
"I joined Illuminating Women™ in early 2014 when the group met at Cecilia's store front in Issaquah. I've watched Illuminating Women™ grow from a small circle of girlfriends supporting and educating each other to the robust group it is today. The ladies of Illuminating Women™ have watched me grow from someone who introduced herself with a question mark, and wasn't sure if she made the right decision in opening a business, into someone who has found her voice and is living through her passion. I've made wonderful friends, received life changing wisdom, and have expanded my community to 900+ women that I can reach out to when I need a second opinion or recommendation. I can never adequately express how much I appreciate the ladies in this group. There is no other place that I can go talk to women who will give me advice about my body/health as I age (gracefully), a place to get dinner, and a business resource."
We are pleased to support the following non-profits:
Building Your Ideal Lioness Pride – Resisting the urge to bite back, freeze or flee… how to handle feeling under attack by one of your own.
Nikkie Achartz, CEO of SNAP Savvy Strategies LLC, is a well-known Branding Consultant, Business Growth Strategist, transformational speaker and workshop facilitator who has extensive experience in marketing strategy, sales psychology and image based branding. Her portfolio features professional industry leaders, authors, speakers, coaches, and some of the top names in social media.
CEO SNAP Savvy Strategies, LLC
Lisa Fischer is a Certified Wardrobe Stylist. Speaker, and Author with over 16 years in the image industry. Lisa’s interest in fashion began while modeling for clothing boutiques in high school then later went on to compete in the Miss Washington USA pageant system. After college, Lisa worked many years in the Human Resources field where she learned and taught the importance of personal development, first impressions, customer service and polished professional branding. Her love for the image industry grew as she transitioned in 2001 to teaching and leading etiquette and manners programs throughout Western Washington for Final Touch Finishing School, a premiere etiquette, civility and protocol school. Growing up as an only child in a poor single family unit, there was a lot to learn. Today Lisa focuses on helping professional women achieve confidence by building an image strong personal brand through image mastery strategies.
Joanne Harrell, Senior Director for U.S. Citizenship, has worked at Microsoft, since 2001where she’s led teams in the Sales, Marketing and Services disciplines focused on Enterprise, Public Sector and Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) customers and partners.
The author of “Forgive Yourself” and “Journey to Your Heart Space”, Brenda Reiss truly walks her talk. She discovered the power of self-forgiveness when a series of life events put her in a very dark place. Failed marriages, abuse, and severe health issues were just a few of the challenges she faced.
La Dama de las Estrategias
Maresa Friedman’s history in technology dates back to the early days when browsing the web was only text based. She has partnered with organizations like NFL and Tory Burch to create impactful marketing strategies. Her audiences say she has a knack for being able to take highly technical concepts and translate them into digestible snippets.
Two-time Emmy award winning journalist with a demonstrated history of working in the broadcast media industry. Storyteller and content creator for television and social media. Skilled in Breaking News, Journalism, Television, Broadcast Television, and Storytelling. Strong media and communication professional with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) focused in Broadcast Journalism from University of Southern California. She is also a Rodan & Fields Consultant.
Wellness Entrepreneur, Best-Selling Author, and Founder of the Powerhouse Women
Offering Decades of Expertise ~ Guiding trusted Supplement & Wellness Choices
Jill is very passionate about women’s needs and issue believing in the importance of health and wellness for physical, spiritual, and mental self-care; helping to strengthen women. Born and raised in Walla Walla Washington, a graduate from Western Washington University, Jill has for many years been active in the communities she lived in advocating for social justice, special needs children, animal rescue, and environmental concerns. In 2014 she had a vision to bring women together building a community for connection, education, and empowerment helping women have more illuminated lives by encouraging, learning, and supporting each other. Illuminating Women was born and with the help of many women, I. W. continued to grow throughout the Puget Sound area providing quality programming, supportive community, and fun engagement.
Jill Nichols-Hicks grew up in Walla Walla, Washington surrounded by wheat fields that have now been exchanged for grape vines. She graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Speech/Communications with a minor in Anthropology. Her goal was to continue on to seminary to become a Lutheran Pastor. However, her life direction changed when she met her husband, who was studying to be an archaeologist. While raising her 2 children, Jill worked in the funeral industry supporting families dealing with loss, then as an Isagenix and PawTree wellness representative helping people and their animals to claim their best health.
Tracy Klinkroth is an entrepreneur at heart. In 1995, after being laid off from one of Seattle’s largest ad agencies, she threw caution to the wind and opened Epiphany Research, her own marketing research firm. In 2005 she spun-off ChickChat – a female-forward Marketing Research & Events firm. One of ChickChat’s main goals is to de-mystify Marketing Research and uncover real consumer insights; thus, ChickChat takes the focus group out of the stuffy conference room and into women’s homes. A few of Tracy’s research clients include: New Balance, Starbucks, Frito Lay, Best Buy, UW Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Swedish Hospital, The Washington Wine Commission and Capital One.
Judge Rachel Bell’s mission is to focus on preventive, rehabilitative and restorative justice initiatives to move the needle for marginalized people in her community and beyond.
Dr. Brenda Butterfield has over 30 years of experience working with people in the US and internationally. As a compassionate mental health therapist, professional development trainer, and instructor in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), she helps individuals, families, and caregivers to better cope with life’s challenges.
Debrena Jackson Gandy is a Master Coach with over 20 years of transformational coaching experience. She is known for producing powerful and permanent results with clients, and is passionate about empowering women to design and live juicy and bountiful lives. Her personal mission is to awaken, inspire and empower others to create the lives they desire and deserve.
Justice Mary Yu is the first Asian, the first Latina, and the first member of the LGBTQ community to serve on the Washington State Supreme Court. She was raised in Chicago by immigrant parents; her mother came from Mexico and her father from China. She was the first in her family to graduate from college. After more than 14 years as an accomplished trial court judge and an extensive record of service both on and off the bench, Justice Yu was appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court in 2014. She wants women to feel comfortable with diversity and with who they are, and to know they do not have to become someone else in order to have a voice and presence in the world. See more about 
Bettina Carey is an accomplished business consultant, advisor, coach and publicist that boasts 25+ years of marketing and branding experience. As a servant leader, Bettina’s commitment and goal is to create outstanding results that enhance and strengthen relationships with her clients. Her authenticity, energy and passion are cornerstones to her success.
Kelly McNelis is the founder of Women For One, a global community that empowers women to embrace their voices and make life happen, on their own terms. With over 20 years of experience as a nonprofit and small-business consultant, Kelly empowers generations of women around the world to build the relationships, community, and confidence they need to achieve their wildest dreams.