2019 Girls & Business Conference
March 15, 2019
Presented by the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Last week the Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce was excited to host the annual Girls & Business Conference at John's Pizzeria and Restaurant in Fenton, MI. This year's conference hosted nearly 70 young women from Linden High School
, Fenton High School
and Lake Fenton High School
along with 12 businesswomen (and one businessman) to from our local communities.
Special thank you to our sponsors:
Financial Plus Credit Union
John's Pizzeria and Restaurant
John's Pizzeria and Restaurant
Operating Engineers 324
The State Bank
Medawar Jewelers
The day was led by Chairman and Lead Facilitator, Chelsea Mills of Behind Your Design/Freeze Frame Photo Lounge/HorseStarz
; keynote speaker, Joanie O'Sullivan-Butler of J.P. O'Sullivan Distributing, Inc
; a branding presentation given by Ed Koledo of Talent Development & Talent Investment Agency
; and Tracy Ledford of Financial Plus Credit Union
who shared insight regarding credit and debit.
Our other facilitators included:
Tracy Aubuchon, Owner of Rejuv Ave Skin Spa
Heidie Cieselski, Executive Director of Fenton Area Public Schools
Ashley Prew, Attorney with The Law Offices of Casey D. Conklin, PLC
Heather S. Menary, CFO of Dee Cramer
Shawn Hall, Owner of Sugar Shack | Life+style
Alisa Chapple, Owner of Chapple Electric Services
Jen Ward, General Manager of Tri-County Times
Melinda Keway, Director of Epic CNC Training Academy
Elizabeth Kavanagh, Apprentice Operator of Operating Engineers
Heidie Cieselski, Executive Director of Fenton Area Public Schools
Ashley Prew, Attorney with The Law Offices of Casey D. Conklin, PLC
Heather S. Menary, CFO of Dee Cramer
Shawn Hall, Owner of Sugar Shack | Life+style
Alisa Chapple, Owner of Chapple Electric Services
Jen Ward, General Manager of Tri-County Times
Melinda Keway, Director of Epic CNC Training Academy
Elizabeth Kavanagh, Apprentice Operator of Operating Engineers
The committee who coordinates this event:
Chairman: Chelsea Mills, Behind Your Design
Shelly Day, Fenton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Cheryl Reardon, Fenton Area Public Schools
Heather Fuller, Linden Community Schools
Brad LaRowe, Lake Fenton Community Schools
Stacy Daul, The State Bank
Liz Knight, Corner Bar & Grill

When people think back on a wedding, they usually remember the big moments, the ceremony, the first dance, and the reception. But it's often the thoughtful details that make a big day feel even more special for both the couple and the people celebrating with them. This July, we had the chance to be part of another Macksood family wedding as Connor and Gabrielle tied the knot. After helping with Hannah and Reed's wedding, it was so much fun to work with the family again and create another collection of custom pieces for such a memorable day. From custom signage to personalized drinkware, every item added a little something to the celebration. A Wedding Full of Personal Touches Connor and Gabrielle wanted every part of their wedding to reflect their personalities, their style, and the story they wanted to tell. That's exactly what custom products can do. For their big day, we created custom pens, cups, napkins, a felt letter board sign, photo coasters featuring the couple, and an acrylic sign. We also created custom shirts and socks that added another fun, personalized element to the wedding festivities.

Opening a new business takes a lot of planning, and your brand is one of the most important pieces. Before customers ever walk through your doors, they're already forming an impression through your logo, website, signage, and marketing materials. That's exactly what we've had the opportunity to help create with Fenton Pilates Studio as they prepare to open in downtown Fenton. Our goal has been to create a brand that's just as welcoming and intentional as the experience they'll soon offer inside the studio. Building the Foundation Every great brand starts with a strong identity, and for Fenton Pilates Studio, that journey began with a logo. We created a clean, modern logo inspired by the studio's beautiful front window overlooking Leroy Street. It's a subtle detail that gives the brand a unique connection to its home in downtown Fenton while creating a timeless look that can grow alongside the business. From there, we designed and developed a custom website that introduces future clients to the studio and makes it easy to learn about classes, instructors, and the welcoming environment they're creating. We also coordinated a professional video shoot to capture the studio before opening day. While it's easy to think of photography and video as something you do after launching, creating content ahead of time helps build anticipation, gives people a reason to follow along, and provides a library of authentic visuals for the website, social media, and future marketing efforts.

How do you want people to remember you? At Behind Your Design, we know that every interaction helps shape your reputation. Your personal brand isn't just about what you do. It's about how you communicate, the confidence you bring, and the lasting impression you leave on others. We're proud to share that Behind Your Design Owner Chelsea Mills will be the featured speaker at the Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce's Women Connect networking event on Thursday, August 20. During this engaging morning, Chelsea will share practical strategies for building a personal brand that creates meaningful, lasting connections in both your professional and everyday life. Connect, Learn, and Leave Inspired Women Connect brings local women together for networking, learning, and encouragement. Attendees will enjoy a light breakfast while connecting with fellow professionals and gaining practical takeaways they can begin using immediately.

When choosing promotional products for your business, it's worth investing in items that deliver value long after they're received. The OGIO® Gear Cube is a premium storage solution designed for organization, durability, and everyday use, making it an excellent branded gift for employees or clients. Stay Organized Wherever Work Takes You If your team travels, works in the field, attends trade shows, or manages equipment daily, staying organized is essential. The OGIO® Gear Cube offers structured storage for tools, cables, technology, safety gear, samples, or personal items. Its collapsible frame folds flat for easy storage, while interior elastic loops, mesh pockets, and lined compartments help keep everything in its place. Custom Branding with Everyday Value The removable top panel can be customized with your comp any logo using heat transfer decoration, creating a clean, professional finish. Custom branding does more than promote your business. It also helps employees quickly identify their o wn gear, reducing mix-ups at job sites, events, and shared workspaces. Built for Daily Use Cons tructed from 400D recycled RPET ballistic polyester, the OGIO® Gear Cube is designed to handle demanding work environments. Features like padded handles, a structured design, durable zippers, and m ultiple interior storage options make it a dependable companion for work or travel. A Promotional Product That Keeps Working Unlike many promotional items, the OGIO® Gear Cube becomes part of someone's daily routine. Whether it's given as an employee appreciation gift, onboarding item, or client thank-you, it's a practical product that keeps your brand visible every time it's used. If you're looking for a premium promotional product that combines organization, durability, and thoughtful branding, the OGIO® Gear Cube is an investment your team w ill appreciate for years to come.

When most people think of Hawaiian shirts, they picture tropical flowers and palm trees. Today' s custom Hawaiian shirts offer something much more exciting: a completely custom design built around your brand, event, or organization. At Behind Your Design, we've been creating custom dye sublimated Hawaiian shirts that are as unique as the people wearing them. Every shirt is designed from scratch , allowing us to incorporate your logo, colors, artwork, and custom patterns into apparel that's both memorable and fun to wear. Designed Around Your Brand Unlike stock Hawaiian shirts with a logo added afterward, our shirts are fully customized from edge to edge. Using full-color dye sublimation, the artwork becomes part of the fabric for vibrant graphics that won't crack, peel, or fade. Here are a few recent projects we've created:

When it comes to promotional products that combine practicality, durability, and everyday value, custom coolers are hard to beat. They're more than just a way to keep drinks cold. They're the kind of branded item people reach for again and again, whether they're heading to a football game, packing lunch for work, or spending the weekend outdoors. As back-to-school season kicks off and football returns, custom coolers become especially relevant. They're also one of the most appreciated employee holiday gifts because they continue to be useful long after the holidays are over. Perfect for Back-to-School and Tailgating Season Back-to-school doesn't just mean students are heading back to class. It also marks the return of football season, weekend tournaments, and tailgating events. A branded cooler is the perfect companion for college football games, youth sports tournaments, camping trips, beach days, road trips, and family picnics. Every time it's packed for another adventure, your logo goes along for the ride, creating lasting brand visibility.

