The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.

Nancy Hyde, Hyde & Company CPA’s, P.C.

Nancy Hyde is President of Hyde & Company CPA’s, P.C. an accounting firm located in Oklahoma City established in 2002.

Nancy has extensive experience with individual and small business tax clients covering a variety of industries for over thirty years. She frequently represents and assists clients with the Internal Revenue Service examinations and other issues. Nancy’s specialties include individual and business tax and compensation planning, retirement plan design and administration.

Nancy’s prior experience as a court appointed trustee for individual and business debtors in bankruptcy included responsibility for management, protection and liquidation of assets. These duties require direct coordination with business owners, creditors, lending institutions, court employees and bankruptcy judges.

Nancy’s active involvement with the Oklahoma Society of CPAs reflects her current membership as a member of the Small Firms Committee. She previously served as the Oklahoma Society of CPAs President, past Chair of Nomination’s Committee and Committee on Taxation. She has also served as Chair of the Internal Revenue Service Liaison Subcommittee. Nancy was inducted to the Society’s Accounting Hall of Fame. She was honored for her innovative leadership of the Small Firms Committee with the OSCPA Presidents award in 2003. Nancy was a finalist in the 2003 Journal Record Woman of the Year “50 Making a Difference”. She is also a member and past president of the Oklahoma City Chapter of American Woman’s Society of CPAs and a current member of the Executive Women’s Forum.

Current activities with the American Institute of CPAs reflect Nancy’s active involvement as a past member of the Tax Executive Committee, the governing body for the AICPA Tax Division. She has also served as Past Chairman of the Tax Forms Committee and Member of Relations with IRS Committee, National Task Force on Restructuring the IRS, and Group of 100 Committee. Nancy received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma. Nancy is also a Certified Valuation Analyst.

Nancy is also a qualified expert witness in United States District Court for Western District of Oklahoma, District Court of Oklahoma County and District Court of Cleveland County, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, and United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

Nancy has served the community as a member and Past President of Church of the Servant Foundation and Chaired the Finance Committee. She volunteers her time to speak to numerous business and non-profit organizations on income tax, business and management topics. She has hosted international college students from Japan, Thailand and Taiwan. In August, 2009 Nancy participated as an instructor in the Peace Through Business Program at Northwood University, Dallas, Texas. She also serves as a mentor to an Afghanistan Woman Business Owner. She is involved as a co-chair of the Peace Through Business Oklahoma City, Peace Pal Program. Nancy is committed to mentoring at the local, national and international levels.

Pam Guffey, Gold Star Graphics

Gold Star Graphics, a screen printing, embroidery, and promotional products family business was founded in 1987 by Pam Guffey and her husband, Stan Guffey. Gold Star creates custom t-shirts, bags, sweats, hats, as well as other products from ink pens to high-end golf accessories.

Gold Star began as a contract screen printing company and has grown substantially, acquiring a diverse customer base ranging from elementary schools, churches, and major universities, to global, corporate, and retail enterprises.

Customer satisfaction is the number one priority at Gold Star. She feels that purchasing apparel, accessories, and promotional items should be an enjoyable experience, free of pressure and free from stress. Her account representatives work closely with customers to help create the perfect product for their business. With 22 years of experience assisting customers with custom imprinted goods, Gold Star Graphics is a fundamental resource for business marketing needs.

In addition to her business acumen, Guffey is very active in her community and was recently elected to the Oklahoma State Board of PEO. A devoted member who is committed to the PEO sisterhood, Guffey is serving the organization as treasurer for the current year. She was appointed as chairperson for the Program for Continuing Education and Oklahoma Continuing Education, and was the representative on the 2009 State Convention Hostess Board, on which she served as treasurer. Additionally, she was the delegate to the International Convention in 2007. Guffey’s PEO heritage is long and rich, having had a grandmother and mother serve the same chapter, as well as numerous other family members.

As an active member of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Guffey donates time and talent chairing the decorating committee. Pam and Stan are always willing to help with church functions in any way possible.

Married to Stan for 38 years, Guffey lives in Oklahoma City with her husband. They have two sons, Lance and Kyle. Lance works in the family business, while Kyle is an entrepreneur.

About Gold Star Graphics
Gold Star Graphics has greatly evolved from its beginnings as a contract screen printing company 22 years ago; to the company it is today. Still providing screen printing, Gold Star Graphics also provides embroidery and discharge custom imprinted services, as well as promotional products from insulated mugs, pens, and padfolios to belt buckles, tool sets, and golf gear.

Gold Star is located at 8812 S. Bryant, just south of I-240. Additional information about Gold Star is available at www.goldstarok.com.

Ronda Mikles, Mikles’ Marketing & Management, Inc.

Ronda Mikles is the president of Mikles’ Marketing & Management, Inc., a consulting firm that specializes in customer relations seminars, staff development workshops, sales and motivational conferences as well as retreats.

Her workshops have taken her all across the United States from San Francisco to Philadelphia, Chicago to Denver, as well as Washington, D.C. and Kodiak, Alaska.

She is past president of the Oklahoma City chapter of American Women in Radio & Television, has served as a judge at the National Commendation Awards in Washington, D.C. for outstanding radio and television programming nationwide, has been named by Oklahoma Baptist University as a recipient of its prestigious Profile in Excellence award, and is a past president of OBU’s Alumni Board of Directors.

Ronda was the General Sales Manager of the Oklahoma News Network for over five years and was named one of the top two sales managers of the year for Clear Channel Communications.

Angie Hedges Hendricks, Bentley Hedges Travel

Bentley Hedges Travel has been a leader in the travel industry in Oklahoma for over 38 years and a Travel Leaders affiliate for 4 years.

Angela “Angie” Hedges Hendricks began her career in the travel industry in 1972. Her parents, Bentley and Alice Hedges founded Bentley Hedges Travel in Oklahoma City, OK in 1970 in her grandparents’ living room.

Angie has worked in virtually every position in the company and now serves as President and CEO. The agency is a Certified Woman-Owned Business.

Under Angie’s guidance, Bentley Hedges Travel consolidated outlying offices throughout Oklahoma and Texas into the Oklahoma City corporate headquarters as technology allowed for remote servicing of clients. Angie’s ability to keep the business plan flexible as the travel industry changed has allowed the company to sustain growth of nearly $7 million dollar agency employing 12 employees.

Angie is active in the South OKC Rotary, Greater OKC and South OKC Chambers of Commerce, a member of South OKC Chamber Team South Class II, serves as a member of the Personnel Committee at First Baptist Church of Moore, OK and serves on the Advisory Board of Travel Leaders. She is a 2009 Enterprising Women of the Year Winner.

In July 2008, Angie was asked by The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women – Peace through Business®2008 to mentor a woman business owner from Kigali, Rwanda who also owns and operates a travel agency. Again in 2009, Angie mentored another woman business owner of a travel agency. The bond between Angie and the women from Rwanda continues to flourish as they exchange ideas about their common vocation.

Angie is married to Steve Hendricks and they will celebrate their 31^t wedding anniversary in 2010. They have two daughters, Dr. Stephanie Aldret of Tulsa, OK and Sgt. Audrey Hendricks, Army Reserves, currently serving in Baghdad, Iraq. They reside in Oklahoma City with their dog, Reuben.

Terry Neese, Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women

DR. TERRY NEESE is founder and CEO of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women (IEEW). She leads the organization to accomplish its mission via two programs, both domestic and international training for women business owners in the area of public policy and entrepreneurial education.

Peace Through Business – educates and empowers women entrepreneurs in developing countries to achieve their dream of financial independence and community involvement as a woman owned business. Since its creation in 2007, the program has trained over 150 women entrepreneurs in Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Empowering Women – a book and training program authored by Dr. Neese that encourages women business owners to affect change through involvement in public policy. Training sessions have been held in more than 15 states.

Founder of Terry Neese Personnel Services, and an inductee into the National and Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fames, Terry is a past national president of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the largest women’s association of its kind. Terry’s involvement with women business owners and family issues is well documented through her participation in the following:

• Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP); Co-Founder and Past President – WIPP joins together a membership across the nation totaling over half-million women entrepreneurs and executives and serves as a voice for women in business at the United States Capitol.
• National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA); Distinguished Fellow – Terry led the organization’s Family Policy Center, where she developed policy ideas that helped women, families, and small businesses keep more of their earned money, and make better financial and health choices. In addition, Terry conducted bipartisan briefings on family issues with congressional leaders and their staffs and has regularly testified before the U.S. House and Senate.

A successful businesswoman, Terry made history in 1990 when she became the first woman nominated by a major political party for the seat of Lt. Governor of Oklahoma. She was recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the “Power 30” – the most influential small businesspersons in Washington, D.C. She was named an Outstanding Business Leader by Northwood University Board of Trustees in 2006. In 2008, Northwood University bestowed Terry with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Terry has been appointed to numerous councils and positions with nominations by prominent leaders, such as Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.

Terry is also a pilot and a member of the Ninety-Nines. She is married to Earl N. Neese. Their daughter, Kim Neese, is CEO of Terry Neese Personnel Services and is the proud mom of Emily and Erin. They all reside in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Dr. Susan Chambers, Lakeside Women's Hospital

I get the same satisfaction from delivering babies and caring for women today as I did twenty years ago. The experience I have gained over the years has given me much empathy for the day-to-day circumstances women have to deal with in our world.

Primary specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
Hospitals: Primary: Lakeside Women’s Hospital/Secondary: Integris Baptist Medical Center

License: State of Oklahoma/Oklahoma Board of Medical Examiners

Certifications: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Languages: English and some Spanish

Clinical Interest: Preconception counseling & Preterm labor

Degrees: BS, Biology, MD

Education: Southern Methodist University/University of Oklahoma, College of Medicine

Internships: Oklahoma Teaching Hospitals

Residencies: Oklahoma Teaching Hospitals/Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Affiliations: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, Oklahoma State Medical Society, Oklahoma County Medical Society, Oklahoma City Obstetrics and Gynecology Society

Farzana Ibrahimi has created a new brochure for her business in Afghanistan, Kandahar Health & Development Organization. Way to go, Farzana!

A glimpse at the brochure for Kandahar Health & Development Organization.

Click here to download Page 1 of brochure

Click here to download Page 2 of brochure

Terry Neese, founder and CEO of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, gives the students of the 2010 In-Country Afghan PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS class a warm welcome.

Terry Neese, founder and CEO of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, gives the students of the 2010 In-Country Rwandan PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS class a warm welcome.

NAME: Mahboba Ibrahimi

COUNTRY: Afghanistan

BUSINESS: Barg-e-Noghraee (The Silvery Leaf - documentary film)

After working as an Assistant Director for documentary films for four years, Mahboba, 34, decided to start her own business. Her first production under Barg-e-Noghraee was Phantoms of the Zoo, a film about war time in Kabul Zoo. Mahboba currently has seven employees.

Other projects include advertising spots, short movies, photography, as well as documentary film training for women. Training includes lessons on directing, shooting and editing.

Over the next five years, Mahboba would like to produce more films and provide more training for women in the field. She also hopes to find more markets for her products in international TV and screenings.

By attending PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, Mahboba hopes to learn more about management, marketing and accounting.

Mahboba is passionate about her business because she thinks film and documentaries will help educate and tell the stories about the challenges women in Afghanistan face.