County 69: Vanderburgh

This summer marks the sixth year for the Advancing Women in Business Seminars.  Each year, our Office of Community and Rural Affairs partners with the Indiana Small Business Development Centers and local groups, like the Evansville YWCA, to host a unique networking and educational event for female entrepreneurs.  The first of this summer’s four seminars was in Evansville.    

Lt. Gov. Skillman honors Jeanne Amsler,
a winner of the 2012 Celebration of
Hoosier Women Artists competition.  

I look forward to meeting all the women who attend the seminar, but in Evansville, I was eager to see one in particular.  Jeanne Amsler was one of the 2012 winners of my annual Celebration of Hoosier Women Artists competition.  She was unable to attend our award ceremony in March, but I was happy to greet her at the ceremony and honor her for her winning painting, “The Ross Theater,” now hanging in my state house office.  


Jeanne’s art is her business, and it was good to know we were helping to connect her with the people and tools she needs to promote her work.  ISBDC counselors are there to make connections with women who need help managing the often overwhelming work of starting and running a business.  They are there to ask the right questions and provide valuable, first-hand business experience. 

Last year, the ISBDC helped start 266 businesses, 100 of which were owned by women.  Each of them got their start by reaching out to the SBDC and working with an experienced counselor.


Clients range from physicians and PhDs to stay-at-home moms with dreams of a start-up bakery.  It couldn’t be easier to connect with ISBDC counselors and start a conversation about your business.  Visit www.isbdc.org and fill out their Business Assessment tool to get started!