l t r: Morina Chmielak - BPWEV President,  Esther Bird - 1st Vice President, Ruth Hill - The Jubilee Center

The Business and Professional Women of Englewood and Venice (BPWEV) held a well attended  workshop ‘Jewels of Business’ at  Plantation Gold and Country Club on December 5, 2020.  The speakers in the morning were: Veronika Winsky - Owner of “The Dream Life Formula Coaching”, a dynamic, inspiring presenter who left the ‘rat race’ corporate world after 8 years, determined tofulfill her own calling. Now a speaker and coach she speaks on virtual and live stages globally and teaching her clients how they can get re-energized and clear on their own purpose driven path, not some day but NOW!

Mark Rizzo addressed the subject “How to Stay Safe Online”.  His background of 37 years of experience supporting the DoD Intelligence Community, IT platforms, ISSO for Genco Engineering Services, Inc. and his developing and managing securityplans and guidelines to establish a safe and protected operational environment, certainly gave him the knowledge and experience togive advice and suggestions on how to stay safe online.  Mark currently is assisting the North Port Police Dept.’s IT department. He is also teaching mobile phones, tablets, and PC’s at the Senior Friendship Center of Venice.

William C. Mechling concluded the morning program with his presentation on "Improving your personal Health/ A Health Insurance Perspective”.   William (Bill) is an Ohio licensed attorney who spent over 33 years working in the health industry.  Bill began his career,after graduating from Law School, in the health insurance industry with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Central Ohio where he held the position of General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and President. After his 25 year career at Blue Cross, Bill accepted market lead roles with UnitedHealthcare in both their northern Ohio and Central Ohio markets.  During his 8 years at UnitedHealthcare, Bill became intimately involved in the market introduction of an innovative product named RealAppeal which aimed at reducing overall health care costs by improving the individual  health of UnitedHealthcare's insured.  As a member of the RealAppeal test market and a spokesperson for the product, Bill has become an advocate for the importance of  personal health and how to empower individuals to achieve and maintain lifelong wellness.  His motivational  presentation and narration of his personal journey to good health will inspire other people to follow his lead.  

After lunch the program continued with 3 more presentations.  Dr. Christopher Cortman,  renowned Florida Psychologist and author of 3 books, talked about “Dealing with Personal Challenges”.  Awarded a Doctorate of Psychology in San Diego, CA in 1983, Dr. Cortman has practiced in Florida since 1985.  He received the  1st place Reader’s Choice Award by  the Venice Gondolier Sun for “Best Psychologist” in the years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2917.  He also won the award for “Outstanding  Contributions to  Psychology in the  Public” in 2015 in the state of Florida. He appeared nationwide on talk radio and television, including Disney Radio, MTV, and ABC. Dr. Cortman continues to maintain a successful private practice while pursuing projects that enable him to meet a larger need for psychological expertise in the community. These projects include frequent public speaking with the use of ‘edu-tainment’, as he prides himself on providing an ‘educational’ experience riddled with humor that keeps the audience involved and ‘entertained’.

Dr. Karen Helmick, LAc.DOM,  educated the audience about “Cosmetic Options for Women”.  Dr. Karen grew up in Maryland, always wanting to become a successful professional athlete. She had the desire and work ethic, just not the genetics. So she changed her tactics and started to coach others and reveled in their successes. She coached track and field athletes until the strain of constant travel became too much for her.  She left coaching and moved into being a collegiate professor.  During that time her debilitating migraine headaches that had already started while attending college, became unbearable. Nothing seemed to work for these headaches that conventional medicine had to offer her.  Finally she tried acupuncture.  It changed her life so significantly that she decided immediately to change careers and study Oriental Medicine.  As  practicing Acupuncturist and Doctor of Oriental Medicine she is happy that  all her previous knowledge and careers meld so beautifully together - encouraging her patients toward better health. In her free time, Dr. Karen enjoys riding her horse, Omega, and spending time with her 4 rescue mutts!

Cynthia Fredericks talk about “How Do I Get It All Done” was very informative and educational with excellent advice to the audience on how to function more efficiently, skillfully, effectively in order to get your “to do list’ accomplished as originally planned, rather than procrastinating!  Cynthia is an excellent example on doing what she preaches.  Not only is Cynthia the treasurer for BPWEV, but she is also a star member of the EnglewoodChamber of Commerce. She is the co-founder of Triple S Englewood, a support group for business people.  Her husband and Cynthia currently own and operate  the "Quick Signs” shop in Englewood,  where they live with their dog, Max.  Cynthia moved from Kansas to Englewood in 2015. While in Kansas Cynthia served as the Director of the Volunteer Center at Hutchinson Community College where she coordinated with over 100 non-profit organizations throughout the community to place and support volunteers.  She sent the audience home witha “To Do List Self Appraisal”, with great advice on that list.