RutherfordCABLE, a leading networking and professional development organization serving local business professionals, will offer a free workshop Thursday, March 7, from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. 

The event, sponsored by State Farm, will be held at State Farm’s regional office at 2500 Memorial Blvd. in Murfreesboro.  The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required to assure your seat.  Please visit rutherfordcable.org to register.  All are welcome! 

“RutherfordCABLE’s purpose is to provide top-quality, professional opportunities, networking, development and events to our members and to the business community in Rutherford County,” said Janice Smith, RutherfordCABLE President and Staffmark District Director.  “We invite the community to this special event sponsored through the generosity of one of our key sponsors, State Farm.  Gail Perry-Mason will not only be informative, she is an entertaining, energetic ball of fire!  I can promise you will enjoy yourself and learn a lot at the same time.”

Keynoter, author and trainer Gail Perry-Mason, First Vice President and Senior Director of Investments, Oppenheimer and Company, will travel from Grosse Pointe, MI, to conduct the workshop.  Perry-Mason’s presentation will provide an overview of her own experience, as well as make the following key points:

• How to establish your own multiple streams of income,
• How to establish your own personal Board of Directors,
• How NOT to run your own household like a nonprofit, and
• How to balance your household and your budget at the same time.

            “CABLE encourages every woman to reach her full potential, and at State Farm, we share that view,” said Deb Thompson, State Farm Vice President of Agency/Sales.  “Everyone knows we make it our business to be like a good neighbor, and part of that is making a positive difference in the communities where we work and live.  Furthermore, CABLE helps women realize their dreams by reaching their full potential. It’s for these reasons we proudly support this organization.”

Keynoter Perry-Mason is well qualified to share her own story, and what she’s learned over the years. Early on, Perry-Mason learned what she knows the real way:  through living it.  She also made sure she educated herself, studying at Eastern Michigan University while working full time. Perry-Mason said her first fruits of financial knowledge were from her own mother. 

“My mom said, ‘Have a joint account with Jesus at the credit union that only you and Jesus know about.’  That was my financial literacy growing up.” But she knew that wasn’t enough.  Her first job was a receptionist, then a secretary, and then on to become a respected financial advisor and coach.  Today, she advises clients and is a published author.

      Perry-Mason has overcome the odds:

• Began life in foster care
• Labeled “special needs”; couldn’t walk or talk at first
• Adopted by a loving mother
• As a full-time receptionist, studied on her own at night to take the licensing exam to become a financial advisor, via a photocopied textbook
• Took the risk, booked a hotel for her first seminar, speaking to more than 200 people that night and opening several accounts
• Now a mother of three sons, all well-educated
• Now a respected trainer, speaker, author and advisor
• Volunteers one day a week teaching economic empowerment and life skills to high school students
• Named one of Detroit’s Most Influential Women in the Financial Industry by the Women’s Informal Network
• Founder and Director of the Money Camp for Teens and the first Youth Investment, Inc.
• “Girl, Make Your Money Grow” became a #1 bestseller
• Member, leader and officer in many local organizations and nonprofits
• Recipient of Professional Business Woman of the Year, Crain’s 40 under 4
• Her mottos:  “Success Benefits Others First,” and “Opportunity Doesn’t Happen Without Sharing.

About RutherfordCable: 

RutherfordCABLE is a four-year-old organization of more than 160 members providing professional and personal development, as well as business growth, through building long-term relationships and structured networking and referrals.  The organization is the first chapter of the 30-year-old NashvilleCABLE.  Monthly breakfast meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month, with informal networking beginning at 7:30 a.m., followed by structured, facilitated networking and a top keynote speaker.  Meetings are concluded by 9 a.m.  Free networking events are held monthly, as well as a Reading Group, outreach events and activities, workshops and more.  The organization’s mission is “Connecting Women and Opportunity.”  For more information, and to join RutherfordCABLE, visit rutherfordcable.org.