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Top 10 Most Inspiring Women 2016

Anne Green

Our Newark Delaware / 1st State Marketing | Owner | Visit Website

Jane Clark, Co-Founder & Creative Director of Brandswan, a Delaware web design agency

Why We Chose Anne Green

“What impresses me most about Anne is that she moved from Canada to Delaware and totally started what no one else has here in Newark: a very popular, resident-owned news page. With over 7,000 likes on Our Newark Delaware’s super active Facebook page, Anne has quickly become known for knowing what’s going on in our local hood. I first met her at a Wonder Women Tea event at the Blue Hen Bed and Breakfast, so we already had something in common. What I love most about her is that she builds people up. Always supportive of local businesses and meeting new people, she is a genuine joy to be around and I’m proud to know her. As a client, she is absolutely delightful to work with. Read on…”

Jane Clark, Co-Founder of BrandSwan

Anne Green

Our Newark Delaware / 1st State Marketing | Owner | Visit Website

 

The Story

Tell us how it all started. Why? What’s the story?

It all started in fifth-grade writing for the monthly school newsletter. Later I was the editor in chief of my college’s monthly newspaper “The Whirlwind.” Interesting isn’t it how we can trace the roots of our interests back to our childhood?

I noticed that in correlation in early 2008 when I started a business in Onratio called Mississauga Kids. I often described that advertising guide as a “color yellow pages for kids and families.” I printed over 123,000 copies and distributed them my Canada post to homes in the city. Naturally, I created social media pages for Mississauga Kids since it was an excellent way to keep in touch with the young mothers who followed me.

When I moved here to Delaware, I started a Facebook page and called it “Our Newark Delaware” to keep lists of businesses, clubs and organizations in the area that interested me. Pretty much everything interested me! So I started sharing and connecting and now that Facebook page has over 7,000 followers, and it just keeps growing!

Biggest Success

What is your biggest success so far?

I think my biggest success with the “Our Newark Delaware” facebook page is how civil it is. That’s not always easy on a social media platform these days. I try to keep the page light and friendly, but there are times when tough topics come up, school budget issues for instance. I never mind if followers post polite discourse.

There have been a few times I’ve had to call someone who posted out. I usually delete their post and message them saying that they are welcome to re-post their opinion in a more polite respectful way. What I find interesting is that they are often very nice about it. They usually acknowledge that they went too far and tell me how much they enjoy having the page as a resource.

Biggest Challenge

What is the biggest challenge in your industry? What are you doing to deal with that?

The biggest challenge I have with “Our Newark Delaware” is creating an environment where local businesses on social media actually “get social.” I like to connect people and businesses. So I do a lot of tagging and cross posting. Everyone should be doing that.

If you run a restaurant on Main Street, and you know the shop down the way just put up an excellent display of fall fashion items in their window take a picture of it! Share it and tag them! I’d even go so far as to suggest if you run a restaurant and the restaurant down the street is promoting a fundraising event share that! Yes! I did just say promote your competition! Why? Because as much as your customers love you, they are not going to eat every meal out at your restaurant. So why not share some of the love?

I’d love to create that kind of environment on local social media platforms.

Advice

What advice would you give to a business owner starting out in your industry that you wish you would have known going in?

The advice I give business owners, and human beings in general, is to be kind. There’s enough negative, aggressive karma in the world. Let’s not create more. Cooperation and collaboration will go a long way towards building a successful business.

Also, ask for what you need or what. So often people think the answer will be “No.” so they don’t ask for what they want or need. Ask! You might be surprised by how often people say yes because they want to work with you. Especially if, as I mentioned earlier, you’re kind and fun to collaborate with on projects!

Surprise Tidbit

What don’t most people realize about you or your company?

Most people don’t realize that everything I do with “Our Newark Delaware” is free, for now. It’s a hobby. I also own Commercial Marine Expo, and I have a few small clients who pay me to do some social media work for them.

It’s a labor of love, and while I do try to post things in a timely matter if I’m on vacation at the beach, or busy with my real job it has to wait.

I’m hoping that I will be able to evolve “Our Newark Delaware” into an actual business so I can hire some writers and photographers and make the website more of a destination. My goal? I want to make “Our Newark Delaware” so wonderful everyone in Newark will want it to be the home page on their browser. If you’re going to dream, dream big!

Stay tuned for the next glorious gal…

More 2016 Most Inspiring Women

Day 10: Jennifer McMillan — Inspiring Women 2016

Day 10: Jennifer McMillan — Inspiring Women 2016

[Jennifer] has made enormous leaps and bounds as a woman business owner. Just last month she was invited to Amazon headquarters in Seattle, WA by senior management. They chose several women-owned companies who have been successful on their site — and Jennifer was one of them. They also wanted to know more about the launch of her new brand, JennyGems. Wow! This girl knows how to market her products and I’m so thrilled and honored to be apart of the journey.

Day 9: Stefanie Roselle — Inspiring Women 2016

Day 9: Stefanie Roselle — Inspiring Women 2016

From her animal fostering, amazing new office design to the rockin’ women’s organization she co-founded along with Amber Shader, she motivates me to grow on both a personal and professional level. She has a killer team of fellow #ladybosses for her company Social Butterfly. On top of all of this, she’s amazing at what she does. I had the opportunity to sit with her on a social media panel… this girl knows her stuff! I love love love how she supports other local businesses — even competitors. Her collaborative and embracing real life and online persona makes her a joy to interact with.

Day 8: Angela Kovall — Inspiring Women 2016

Day 8: Angela Kovall — Inspiring Women 2016

Angela is a ray of sunshine. Always beaming, she makes it her mission to know and help the people she meets along the way. (Apparently we went to the same high school!) She is is the inspiration for changing how I approach marketing — think not what people can do for you but how you can people. She is an excellent teacher on spreading feelings of goodwill and increasing others self-esteem. Angela genuinely wants to see people succeed and I find that energy to be absolutely contagious. She is wonderful to have in your corner. I can’t say enough positive things about her. Simply, she makes you feel good.

Day 6: Vicki Lam — Inspiring Women 2016

Day 6: Vicki Lam — Inspiring Women 2016

[Vicki] is reliable, always professional, and present. Seriously, she is everywhere. Vicki is my go-to resource for new and awesome networking groups and events. I personally use Vicki for all my promotional products because she gives you awesome ideas and the best advice. She understands branding and so she is an awesome partner for me. I am also very proud to call her a friend.

Day 5: Nancy Dibert — Inspiring Women 2016

Day 5: Nancy Dibert — Inspiring Women 2016

Everyone on #netde knew her and looked to her as an authority in the twitter universe. If you’re an entrepreneur in Delaware, you have most likely seen Nancy’s diligent social media outreach on Google Plus, Twitter and even Facebook. Every post is thoughtful, relevant —and for me, enlightening. Every day I learn something new, which in the marketing industry is basically a necessity… Nancy is a true gem. I was humbled that someone as successful as her was building me up and took notice.

Day 3: Mona Liza Hamlin — Inspiring Women 2016

Day 3: Mona Liza Hamlin — Inspiring Women 2016

[Mona] has a very calming and warm presence. Yet at the same time, she is a gal who knows her stuff. As a mother of 1 bulldog and 2 cats, I’m often in awe of moms who have it all: running their own business and raising their children! Not only is she a lactation consultant, but also a pediatric nurse. That alone makes her an authority in her industry and increases my adoration of her 10 fold. I love that she uses a real, holistic approach with her customers and in her life.

Day 1: Jessica Barnak — Inspiring Women 2016

Day 1: Jessica Barnak — Inspiring Women 2016

[Jessica] is lovely, bubbly, inviting and always composed. She continued to impress and inspire me as managing director for the networking group Polka Dot Powerhouse. Her positive energy is absolutely contagious. The biggest reason Jessica is on my list — her brand is absolutely on point: the perfect amount of professional, modern, and as creative as her interior designs.