Description: JoAnn R. Forrester is founder, president and owner of S I Business Associates, a business growth management firm established in 1975. Over 75,000 hours of experience in teaching, consulting, financing, human relations and business development classes, writing and public relations, seminars and individual consultations have made her a prominent woman on the business scene in Pennsylvania. As a financial consultant and growth management specialist, JoAnn has specialized in helping small businesses grow and prosper. She has raised over 40 million dollars in business capital for her business and not-profit-clients. A number of her clients have won local, regional and national recognition for their achievements as small business owners. In 1998 she co-developed the PRICE IT PERFECT(TM) Cost Management and Analysis program for small business. Through the use of the cost analysis and projections of the Price It Perfect. Jo Ann Forrester has been able to secure loan proposal approvals of over 40 million dollars in capital for small business owners.In recognition of her contributions and advocacy of small and woman owned business JoAnn is a recipient of the prestigious 2010 Greater Pittsburgh YWCA Tribute to Women in the Entrepreneur category.
Concentrating on small businesses, Jo Ann's experience includes developing over four hundred business plans and being the on-site consultant for the Women's Entrepreneurial Training Program for the City of Pittsburgh and the State of Pennsylvania. From 1991 to 1995 she served on a Pennsylvania Governor's Task Force for the development of a strategic growth plan for women business owners. A member of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Advisory Council for the Western Pennsylvania District, JoAnn was appointed the first woman in Chair of the Council in May of 1993.
Co-author of STEPS TO OWNING YOUR OWN SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS and the DAVID Vs GOLIATH MARKETING WORKBOOK, JoAnn has led hundreds of men and women into an understanding of the often confusing world of business. Jo Ann is a nationally certified trainer for the National Foundation of Women Business Owners and on site reviewer for the National Business Women Owners Corporation. She has shared her expertise with many organizations and institutions, including Carlow College, Chatham University, Robert Morris University, and Community College of Allegheny County.
JoAnn has served as 5 times as regional President of the National Association of Women Business Owners, and has served on the 2008-09 National Nominating Committee for NAWBO. She was actively involved in establishing WOMEN DIRECT the largest directory of women business owners to be published in the United States. In 1995, Jo Ann served as the primary consultant in the study, FINANCIAL PORTRAIT OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS, an in-depth regional survey of women business owners and their economic strengths conducted by the SBD of Duquesne University. In 1999, Jo Ann received recognition as one of the Top 50 Women Business Owners in Pennsylvania and in 2000 she was awarded the SBA Women in Business Advocate Award for the state of Pennsylvania. In March of 1996, Jo Ann was elected to the Pennsylvania Honor Roll of Fame and in 2000 JoAnn was installed in the National Women Hall of Fame. JoAnn is co-founder of Celebrate & Share, an organization, which supports and highlights the achievement of women business owners.
JoAnn's advocacy and support of small business has led her to be appointed to a number of board positions, including First Commonwealth Bank, Community Development Corporation, the Business Loan Review Committee of the URA of the City of Pittsburgh, and Program Manager for the Allegheny County Working Capital Loan Fund. less
