Meet The Instructors

Jeneen Barlow, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Barlow Enterprises, formerly known as A More Excellent Way Presenters, Inc.

Barlow Enterprises, a consulting and motivational speaking company, seeks to provide the business community, students, families and individuals with the processes they need to “Work. Love. Live. BE More Excellent.™” She and her husband, Omar Barlow, are most well-known for their Destiny Statement Series™.

A graduate of The Creative and Performing Arts High School of Philadelphia and of the University of Pennsylvania’s Young Entrepreneur Program at Wharton, Jéneen has been involved with the arts for 20 years and she enjoys collaborating with other leaders in business that share her mission to empower, educate, and motivate through the arts. Since graduating from Rider University with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, and from Eastern University with a Masters of Science degree in Urban Economic Development she has used her unique background to write curricula, research and development programs, teach, dance, and establish vehicles for empowering youth through adults to overcome their fears and just do what they would do if they had no fear. Jéneen is currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania College of Liberal and Professional Studies.

A few topics on which she presents are: discovering purpose and vision, parenting, young adult development, leadership, spirituality, relationships, and overcoming fear. Articulate and mild, yet poignant in her approach, Jéneen is skilled at searching out the audience’s needs and providing them with the information and motivation they need to become instant agents of change. Whatever the need, she is creative in her address and often uses dance and visual arts to further clarify the principles of the process on which she is presenting.

Her passions for research, education and for assisting others in transforming their lives is further evidenced in her role as Founder and former Director of Eastern University’s Eastern in the City (EIC) and in her role as Affiliate Faculty at Eastern University. She uses the information she has to develop programs and to counsel prospective students in choosing programs of study that agree with their skills, talents, and life’s purposes. Jéneen successfully assuages the fears of those she assists and she convinces them that they already own what they need to pursue their passions.


Franne McNeal, Significant Business Results Coach, HR
Energy, helps entrepreneurs get more clients, revenues and
profits. Franne is a serial entrepreneur, author and keynote
speaker who has coached over 450 entrepreneurs. 83% of her
clients have gained 2 new clients within 2 months of coaching.
Franne also provides executive coaching to individuals and
teams to facilitate improved performance, process and profits.

Join these two this dynamic, seasoned entrepreneurs for a 13 -week series created to encourage and prepare new and existing entrepreneurs with the information they will need to start, sustain and expand their business. Each person will participate in a pre-business self-assessment, and will learn how to prepare a business plan from scratch. Discussions and exercises will include topics on how to research, market and finance a business concept.

Thursdays, 6:30 PM- 8:30 PMDates: Thursdays, March 29th — June 14th
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Saturdays, March 31st — May 19th
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: The Business Center for Entrepreneurship
7500 Germantown Ave. (Conference Room)

Call (215) 247-2473 for pricing and/or other options

Ready, Set, Start!

Join this dynamic, motivational 13 week series created to encourage and prepare new and existing entrepreneurs with the information they will need to start, sustain and expand their business. Each person will participate in a pre-business self-assessment, and will learn how to prepare a business plan from scratch. Discussions and exercises will include topics on how to research, market and finance a business concept.

Thursdays, March 29th — June 14th
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Saturdays, March 31st — May 19th
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Location: The Business Center for Entrepreneurship
7500 Germantown Ave. (Conference Room)

Call (215) 247-2473 for pricing and/or other options

New Jersey Construction Craft Laborers’ Apprenticeship Program for Ladies

This is for the Ladies ALL AGES
You don't have to live in Jersey


The Laborer's Union is Opening Up---- Hop ON IT.
ON THE JOB PAID TRAINING
Time: March 5, 2012 at 9am to March 9, 2012 at 1pm
Location: New Jersey Construction Craft Laborers’ Apprenticeship Program
31 Mott Avenue
Monroe Township, New Jersey, 08831

Organized By: Julianna Berardo
Event Description:
Notice of Recruitment
Home Performance Laborer Apprentice Program
The New Jersey Construction Craft Laborers’
Home Performance Laborer Apprenticeship Program is
Currently accepting Apprentice applications

Applicants must:

Be 18 years of age or older
Be physically able to perform the work of the trade
Applicants are required to take and pay for drug test


The program consists of 2,000 hours of on the job training (two years or longer) and a minimum of 540 hours of related classroom instruction. Apprentice pay rate begin at 70% of a Journeyman’s rate with 10% increases spread throughout the program based on work hours and related classroom instruction.

Applications must be filled out in person at the address listed below from March 5-9, 2012 between the hours of 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Applications will not be mailed out. The New Jersey Construction Craft Laborers’ Apprenticeship Program provides an Equal Opportunity Apprenticeship.

New Jersey Construction Craft Laborers’
Apprenticeship Program
31 Mott Avenue
Monroe Township, New Jersey, 08831
Phone: 732-521-0200 press #1 for Apprentice Program
Tell them N.E.W sent you.

Black History – it’s not just about our past, it’s about our future.

Join Nathaniel Lee as he presents the 2nd forum in his “Addressing the Crisis” series Where local organizers and concerned residents discuss:
“The Crisis Facing Black Men in Our Communities”
Men aren’t born, they are raised. We invite all to participate in this informative event featuring such speakers as:
• Michael Coard, Attorney/Activist
• Khabyr Hadas, UNIA Minister of Education
• Paul “Earthquake” Moore, Activist
• Nathaniel Lee, Writer, Organizer

This event is free open to the public and will include poetry and musical performances by special guests.

WHERE: Myers Recreation Center
5800 Chester Ave.

WHEN: Friday, February 24th
6:00 – 8:00 PM


Black History – it’s not just about our past, it’s about our future.

Whitney Houston

This about sums it all up!

Income tax rules affect your Web business

Did you start an online business in 2011? If so, you might have income and expenses that affect your federal income tax return.

Here are three items to consider.
Home office deduction. Do you use part of your home or apartment on a regular or exclusive basis for conducting your web business? Do you have a separate studio or other freestanding building where you work exclusively in your business? Do you store your business inventory in a specific place in your home?

Answer yes to any of those questions and you may be able to deduct part of the cost of utilities, insurance, and repairs made to your home.
Payments to independent contractors. Paying a vendor to create your web site or handle administrative tasks means you may need to file information returns — generally Form 1099 — to support your deduction.

You're required to send copies to the vendor as well as to the IRS.
Documentation of expenses. Though your business is online, you probably use your vehicle for work-related errands or sales calls. Track your mileage to determine whether you should calculate a deduction based on actual expenses or the standard mileage rate.

For 2011, the standard rate for business miles was 51¢ from January 1 through June 30. The rate increased to 55.5¢ from July 1 through December 31.

Another expense to document: Telephone use. For a land line, you can deduct the cost of long distance business calls. The regular monthly charge is not deductible unless you have a dedicated business line.

For your cell phone, keep records of business usage so you can deduct that portion of your bill or plan.

Give us a call for rules on claiming other expenses related to your online business, including merchant fees, start up costs, and website development.

Growing up

Guest post written by my buddy Bernardo Graham

As a child growing up in Texas, I was raised by great parents in a medium income family. We really didn’t have a lot, but we learned how to stretch a dollar and get our money’s worth in whatever we bought. My dad was always the one to teach us about buying cars and houses and all the things that went along with those. My mom taught me how to shop for everything in a house and how to find the best bargains on my clothes. I don’t think that we ever bought anything that was not on some type of sale or that we did not have a coupon for. So when I got out on my own of course I got my dad to help me find the perfect house for me. He also told me to shop for my electricity company through Electricity companies. He always knows where to look for anything to go along with a house. Now my mom is going to help me start filling up the place with some used furniture that she gave me, and she is going to help me sew my own curtains. Before I know it, this place is going to look like home.

Seasons change

I love the spring - always have. I love watching the trees and flowers bloom, the warm weather, and the red robins, yellow cardinals and bluejays flying around. The air smells "springy" and people seem to be more happy.

So it is with the seasons of life. Life takes us through changes - some good and some not so good, but "For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven."

Personally I was not be prepared for the changes that my life took and I definitely didn't necessarily like those changes either, but somehow I adjusted.

Right now my life's season seems to be in sync with the weather. The winter of my life has passed and I am now in a season of new beginnings. Sometimes I reminisce about the past, going back and forth about "what could have been" or "what should have been", but you know what I read this morning? This:

Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Now if that's not confirmation from the Word, then I don't know what is!

Peace and Love!

Few Things

Content by Mauricio Benson

There are very few things I enjoy more than snuggling up with my husband on the couch after a long day at work. I know it's so typical and American but we are really lazy when it comes to being at home… All we want to do is turn on the TV and veg out for a few hours. I recently went to www.tvbydirect.com to see about getting us some of the premium movie channels because all my friends kept talking about all the great shows on Showtime and HBO. I think our favorite at the moment is a new show called Game of Thrones because it is really similar to Lord of the Rings and that is by far and away our favorite movie. I guess I'm just lucky that my husband and I have such similar interests and that we enjoy spending time together. At the end of the day I suppose it's not that bad at what we really look forward to is being alone and cuddling in front of a great show!

Domestic Violence Still Kills

My heart has been heavy for the last few weeks. There have been so many tragic deaths...including celebrities. But the ones that hit me the hardest are those associated with domestinc abuse.

Please realize that domestic violence/abuse has no socio-economic limitations. It affects so very many women...and men too. You may see a person everyday and never know that they are dealing with this at home.

If your partner displays violent or abusive tendencies, pleas don't think that you can change that person. YOU CAN'T! DON'T TRY TO! You need to remove yourself from that situation at the first sign of violent or abusive behavior.

Here are some tell tale signs:

Do you:

1. feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
2. avoid certain topics out of fear of angering your partner?
3. feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
4. believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
5. wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
6. feel emotionally numb or helpless?

Does your partner:

1. humiliate or yell at you?
2. criticize you and put you down?
3. treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
4. ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
5. blame you for their own abusive behavior?
6. see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
7. or my personal favorite: does your parter hide your blood pressure medication knowing that you need to take it daily?
8. have a bad and unpredictable temper?
9. hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
10. threaten to take your children away or harm them?
11. threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
12. force you to have sex?
13. destroy your belongings?

Remember: It Is Still Abuse If . . .
The incidents of physical abuse seem minor when compared to those you have read about, seen on television or heard other women talk about. There isn’t a “better” or “worse” form of physical abuse; you can be severely injured as a result of being pushed, for example.

The incidents of physical abuse have only occurred one or two times in the relationship. Studies indicate that if your spouse/partner has injured you once, it is likely he will continue to physically assault you.

The physical assaults stopped when you became passive and gave up your right to express yourself as you desire, to move about freely and see others, and to make decisions. It is not a victory if you have to give up your rights as a person and a partner in exchange for not being assaulted!

There has not been any physical violence. Many women are emotionally and verbally assaulted. This can be as equally frightening and is often more confusing to try to understand.

Source: Breaking the Silence: a Handbook for Victims of Violence in Nebraska


THERE IS HELP FOR YOU!
For Women:
In the U.S., call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).

UK: call Women’s Aid at 0808 2000 247.

Canada: National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-363-9010.

Australia: National Domestic Violence Hotline 1800 200 526.
Or visit International Directory of Domestic Violence Agencies for a worldwide list of helplines, shelters, and crisis centers.

Male victims of abuse can call:
In the US, The Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men & Women specializes in supporting male victims of abuse and offers a 24-hour helpline: 1-888-7HELPLINE (1-888-743-5754).

UK: ManKind Initiative offers a national helpline at 01823 334244.

Australia: One in Three Campaign offers help and resources for male victims.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/domestic_violence_abuse_types_signs_causes_effects.htm