Linda Fitzgerald
By John Gifford
Publisher & Editor
Born out of a transition, Linda Fitzgerald was going through after her husband passed away, Women’s Place Network, Inc., initially had a focus of helping women to make a transition in their lives — to empower them.
It continues to do that and more.
Started in 2006, Women’s Place Network had a website by 2007, but Linda saw the need for face-to-face meetings. By February 2008 neighborhood meetings were taking place in Ohio, and by June of 2008, meetings were taking place at Greenwood, South and in Avon, Ind.
In addition, there are now recently added neighborhood meetings on the Northside and on the Eastside (Irvington).
The transition that Women’s Place Network emphasizes is one from me to us and being part of something more, rather than a me-centered value system. An emphasis is made to encourage women to think critically about themselves in relation to their professional lives and to help them examine what they want, what they currently do, and how they need to go about accomplishing what they want. The group provides an environment that allows them to assess their needs and priorities, as well as identifying their target market and facilitating networking strategies to reach this target.
One of the group’s core concepts is that successful business growth is based on personal relationships between persons who share a common vision, similar goals, like interests, and mutual respect for each other and each other’s business vision.
Linda’s background includes a Master’s Degree training in Counseling Education and Organizational Development. She has worked in Social Service Programs, including one at Fayette Regional Hospital in Connersville, Ind. She has also worked at United Church Home and led fundraising at Beech Grove Hospital. In short, Linda’s background has focused on getting people to work together and building a net of relationships to carry out a goal.
A word coined by Linda, “Connectworking,” represents Women’s Place Network’s unique mission: building relationships that are broader than the typical business networking group — business and more. In fact, in order to include a broader array of individuals in the group, women who are home managers can also belong to the group. Their connections within the community can often be equally valuable in developing networks of strategic partners.
The Small Neighorhood Networks have several purposes:
- Develop & build longlastingrelationships of trust & integrity
- Support each other in achieving individual goals
- Promote each others’ business & professional goals
- Be a resource for one another for growth & development — in all aspects of our lives
One of the group’s techniques led to the quick follow-up and scheduling of a meeting between myself and Linda. At the end of each of their meetings, members get out their scheduling books, computer, etc. and set up one-to-one meetings with those other members with similar or complementary interests. It is scheduled into the meeting itinerary. When Linda mentioned this I dutifully pulled out my schedule book and we set up our meeting time.
Now it is time for you to schedule yourself for one of their meetings.
Contact Linda at (765) 265-3207 or linda@awomensplace.org; website at www.awomensplace.org.
