Business owner Jacqueline Campbell (left) receives her NAWBO membership from Jennifer Cortese, Business Banker at Byline Bank.
Women-owned businesses help shape our communities for the better, creating jobs, driving the economy and paving the way for future leaders. During National Small Business Week, Byline Bank is celebrating all women in business by covering expenses for three inspiring small business owners’ annual membership to the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). In keeping with the theme of this year’s event, “HERstory in the Making,” each of these women is writing her own unique story of success.
NAWBO represents the interests of 12 million women entrepreneurs across all industries nationally. Formed in 1978, it connects women with chapters located across the country—including here in Chicago, which boasts the nation’s largest NAWBO chapter.
This year, Byline Bank is honored to provide membership fees for:
- Jacqueline “Jaq” Campbell, President, CEO and Senior Wealth Advisor of Alexander Legacy Private Wealth. Campbell leads an investment practice focused on planning and asset management and partners with the Carson Group, a $20 billion RIA.
- Beatriz Lira, Agent and Owner of State Farm in Chicago. Lira is a regular recipient of State Farm Awards, including the State Farm SVP Club and State Farm Ambassador Travel.
- Candice Payne, VP of Commercial Lending for Greystone Mortgage Bank. An entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, Payne has built several small businesses from the ground up, including 5th Group Realty, Body Werks Spa and her nonprofit Action for a Cause.
“Byline Bank is honored to provide NAWBO memberships to Ms. Campbell, Ms. Lira and Ms. Payne to help them advance their businesses,” said Stephen Ball, Senior Vice President and Head of Business Banking at Byline Bank. “As a leading small business bank, we understand the importance of female-led local businesses. These women are pillars of our community and create important access to capital and resources to help their neighbors thrive.
“With a NAWBO membership, these three admirable leaders will be able to expand their professional networks and lean on a national community of female business professionals across industries,” added Ball. “We hope it will empower them to expand and grow their enterprises here in Chicago and across the country. When we support each other and help our local business leaders succeed, our whole community benefits.”
Like Byline Bank, NAWBO prizes diversity and encourages members to bring all their varying expertise and insight to the table. By participating in the NAWBO community, these influential business owners can now tap into a range of educational, networking and business development opportunities without the financial burden of annual membership costs.
As members of the Chicago chapter, these recipients will find new ways to propel business growth and ignite personal as well as professional development with like-minded peers. They’ll join with women leaders from across Chicago at regular networking and professional growth events while elevating their brands on a powerful local platform. They may also participate in NAWBO Institute programming, which includes training and education to equip members with the tools and resources it takes to succeed at any size or stage of organizational evolution.
Want to help more women in business succeed? Visit NAWBO.org/chicago to learn more about how the organization is empowering women business owners.
