GT Business Is First in Women’s Networking Alliance IE Chapter

The Women’s Networking Alliance, a Northern California-based networking group formed to bring women business owners together to help each other promote, grow and expand their businesses, announced the opening of its newest chapter in the Inland Empire recently last month. As the Women’s Networking Alliance (WNA) continues to grow throughout the West Coast, the need for a chapter in Southern California arose, and the Inland Empire was a natural fit. The Inland Empire chapter, Chapter 120, is lead by Jennifer Araiza, founder of The REC Center (www.thereccentergt.com), an Inland Empire-based non-profit community center. WNA Chapter 120 covers Riverside and San Bernardino counties. According to Araiza, WNA was the right choice both for her and for Southern California small-business owners. “This is the first WNA in Southern California and is needed for a business owner like me,” stated Araiza. In an effort to grow her business as the Founder/CEO of The REC Center, Jennifer spent many hours researching women’s networking groups. While there were many groups available, none seemed to be directed at small-business owners nor did they have the same mission as WNA, which really attracted her to the group. As the website states, “WNA is about forming sincere and genuine partnerships in an environment which is comfortable and real.” In her research, Araiza discovered the Women’s Networking Alliance and contacted WNA founder Debbie Quintana, to see how she could start her own chapter in Southern California. “WNA is the whole package. It is a very professional and established group, with low membership dues and annual membership which allows stronger relationships and a structure that really has the small-business owner in mind,” Araiza said. Founder Quintana had always planned on expanding into Southern California and admitted she was thrilled at the prospect. “We’re careful where and with whom we expand and Jennifer is the perfect fit to be a Chapter President. We’re proud to have her on the team and look forward to meeting professional business women in the Inland Empire area,” Quintana said. Their most recent meeting took place Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.