Retail Management and Operations expert. To include: merchandising, purchasing, marketing and advertising, sales and sales management, showroom layout and displays, bookkeeping and accounting, tax issues, human resources - hiring, firing, compensation, employee benefits, service department management, store maintenance, leasing - real estate and auto, purchase of land and buildings and capital equipment, franchising. Owned retail floor covering store; Owned wholesale floor covering business. Operated retail floor covering store for 42 years. Company became an early member of Carpet One. Opened a Prosource Wholesale Floor Covering Franchise that presently has locations in Louisville and Lexington, KY. Was an Armstrong Floor Fashion Center member and served on National Council. Served 2 years on active duty with U.S. Air Force as an accounting and budget officer.

Julie Brander is a recognized and highly regarded business expert and advocate for entrepreneurial business. Has her MBA and is an Adjunct Professor of Business with 20 years of entrepreneurial business experience. A dynamic and highly motivating speaker, Branders common sense approach has helped thousands of businesses in the area of growth and development on many levels. She understands how to help people stand out and how to leave a lasting impression. Her mission is to empower business owners through networking skills, relationship marketing and how to get what you want in order to grow your business. Founder and owner of a few businesses. Manufacturing, retail, non profit has her real eastate license and her MBA. Became a SCORE-Counselors to Americas Small Business, business counselor in 1997, was chairperson and facilitates all the business workshops. Organized a Successful Woman in Business Conference with an attendance of over 300 women in 1998. Was a guest on the CNBC show “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsche” as a business expert a number of times. Writes a weekly Business Blog, has been featured on webinars on business topics “How to Recession Proof your Business” “How to Really Start a Business” has written business articles that were published in the Business section of the local newspaper. Brander has been recognized with numerous awards from the SBA as the Women’s Business Advocate of the Year in 1998, was recognized with the Rising Star award for business leaders by Business New Haven in 2008. Julie can address relevant issues in business and offer powerful, practical guidance that is applicable immediately with the goal of how to effectively run a business in today’s tough economy. Topics include How to Market yourself on a low to no budget, How to Write an Effective Business Plan, Money Saving Tips on how to recession proof your business” to name a few.