I am so thrilled to have Linda Rutledge as the Chick of the Month. Linda was the very FIRST CHAIR CHICK For Chicks Connect and she has been an amazing leader in this organization ever since. Linda goes out of her way to introduce people when she feels they would have a good connection. She has referred many women to Chicks Connect as well as many of our amazing Tele Seminar Guests. I appreciate Linda, her strength, her enthusiasm, her love of Learning and helping others to learn, her super big heart and her financial knowledge! Thank you Linda for being YOU! And for being here for US!

Tell us about yourself so that we can get to know you better.

I was born in Phoenix, AZ many years ago, married my husband, Ron in 1978 and moved to Oregon later that same year.  We settled here and raised our family: Russell, now age 28 and Robert, now age 24.  Russell and his wife Christina have three very cute (if I do say so myself!) girls (ages 5,3, and 1).

I spend my time as a financial planner helping clients to achieve their goals, I am involved in a community choir (Conchords Chorale) from Sept through June, I bowl on a league each week during the Fall and Winter, I golf on a league and with my husband during the Spring and Summer (and any other great day or on vacation!), I am a Toastmaster (DTM level), member of the Lake Oswego Chamber, take voice lessons each week, and I’m Chair Chick of the Ladies of the Lake Chicks group that meets each week on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.

What inspired you to do what you do professionally?

I love to mentor and teach.  Ever since the 3^rd grade I wanted to be a teacher.  In 1978 I graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors of Art in Education, married my husband, Ron, and moved to Denver, CO…all in the same month.  I never did become an educator in the public schools but instead chose management and supervision of others as a career.  I worked in the credit card servicing field for 25 years but left in 2001.  I was so frustrated that we had trained an entire generation to live on credit.  Later, I chose the field I’m in now, Financial Planning, because I could again use my mentoring and education skills to help people be better prepared for retirement and for life in general.  I’m using my talents for good instead of evil!

Tell us a story of how you made a difference in someone’s life.

I have helped many people take steps to overcome fear of public speaking.  I’ve been a Toastmaster over 20 years and continue to grow as a speaker but also I mentor newer members to grow.

I also know that I have helped my clients financially in ways that might surface years later…but that’s the beauty of planning….be prepared to weather storms.

What have you gained personally from being a member of Chicks Connect?

When I joined Chicks in late 2010, I was looking for a group of women who I could learn from, who would give me encouragement, help me see my own strengths, help me grow as a businesswoman, share wisdom…I found it at Chicks.

What have you gained professionally from being a member of Chicks Connect?

I started my own business in late 2011!  I formed Rutledge Financial Solutions and partnered up with another independent advisor.  Together we will be doing some joint marketing to find folks who are looking to make improvements financially or who are looking for someone they can trust to help them to plan their financial future.  I never would have taken that step without Chicks.

Any words of wisdom for other Chicks?

Join.  Stay committed.  Share yourself with others.  Open yourself to possibilities.  Invite others constantly.  Do the homework!  Take the time to reflect on what is important to you.  Explore some possibilities.  Even if you fall flat on your face, you’re still 5 feet further than you were!

How can people reach you if they want to know more about what you are up to in the world?

Linda Rutledge  cell: 503-860-8108  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Maureen Williams is this month’s Chick of the Month because of her willingness to jump right in and invite 500 facebook friends to her initial Chicks Connect Informational meeting.  She is amazingly connected, warm-hearted and willing to do whatever it takes to get things accomplished.  She is the Chair Chick of the Vancouver Chicks and has already had her second informational meeting and invited another entirely different group of women.  If you haven’t already reached out to Maureen to get to know her make sure you make the connection.  I appreciate you, Maureen!

Tell Us About Yourself
I Grew up in St Louis, MO, middle of 3 children - older sister lives in MN, younger brother lives in CO.  My parents passed away in 2005.  I have lived in California, Alabama, Oregon and Washington - have been in the Northwest for 18 years and love it. Happily newlywed to Jay Williams who is an amazing man who introduced me to SendOutCards and the best of network marketing.

I've been working as a distributor for SendOutCards (SOC) for the past 1 1/2 years.  I was always a "Card-sender" and after my mom died in 2005, I expanded my card sending to ALL of my family members (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) and it was costing a fortune so when I first saw SOC, it just made sense to me financially.  After I learned more about the passion and mission behind SOC and met so many great people, I was hooked on the business because everything is about "giving to give", sending out kindness and making the world a better place - win, win, win situations - I LOVE IT!

My goal is to make a difference in lives every day by sending cards, spreading positive energy, love, support and empathy. 

As a member of Chicks Connect, I am deepening friendships and meeting new amazing women.  I am also working on becoming even more confident in talking about network marketing and I am working on some of the resistance I have to making phone calls :-)

My advice to all women who would like to know more about Chicks Connect is to Join NOW!  It's an amazing group that just keeps getting better!!

You can connect with me at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or find me on FB Maureen Burke Williams!

Cat is one amazing Chick. She has a thirst for learning and then turning what she learns into Action. Her enthusiasm is contagious! She has a love of life, love of business and love to help others live a healthier, happier life. Cat is the most faithful Tele Seminar Chick thus far in our membership. I can always count on her to join the call and have creative, thought-provoking questions for the guests. We at Chicks Connect want you all to know about what this Chick is up to in the world!

Ali Davidson is an amazing chick indeed. Her passion for life and her love of helping others is out of this world. Ali heard about Chicks Connect and wasted no time inviting all of her connections to an informational meeting where she had members sign up right away. It wasn’t long before she had her membership solidified and the other women in her area started an entirely new group. As a result of those efforts, there are now 5 different groups in the area of Central Oregon. Ali’s excitement and leadership is what has grown Chicks Connect in the Central Oregon area. Her compassion and coaching, as well as her business experience and expertise prove a valuable asset to her chapter and the other chapters in the area. Ali tells us a little bit about herself...

There's a whole new kind of e-commerce headed our way, based on a revolutionary new web technology that was pioneered by two of our very own Member Chicks! We caught up with Erin Hopkins and Allison Love of AutoMarketing Pros, Inc. to learn more about their backgrounds, their vision, and the values that drive them to change the lives of their clients... Automatically!

Leslie Ann’s contributions to Chicks Connect have been tremendous. She saw the vision from the very start and was able to create the image and brand that you see today. She has proved to transform businesses with her logo and branding design many times over. She has a natural eye for design and is truly living her passion. We at Chicks Connect value her professionalism, her creativity, and her expertise in her field. We feel very grateful to have her on board as our Creative Chick. I would highly recommend Leslie Ann for your branding and marketing needs. We asked her a few questions: