Our chamber’s history started May 8, 2002, as the only Women’s “State” Chamber in Nevada’s 160-year history and one of three standalones (not connected to any city chambers). Our chamber is not an affiliate trade organization, so all monies paid for membership, sponsorship, advertising or donations stays right here in the state of Nevada to promote our programs, scholarships and grants to help our members and community.

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The Women’s Chamber was founded by June L. Beland, with her background in Entertainment Industry, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and an owner of ABC Publishing a celebrity, entertainment & business publication company since 1977. She brings 46 years of ownership in the advertising, marketing, and media world of magazine publishing. Some of her accomplishments include Country Music Forum Magazine, Friar’s Club Magazine, Hollywood Report, Beverly Hills News, high-end award programs and modeling school curriculum approved by the Post-Secondary education board of the state of California; She knew the importance of spreading her message and decided to incorporate her various publications to the chamber which include: Women in Power Magazine®, Chamber Bi-Monthly BusinessNews®, WCCNV Member Registry®, ATHENA International Award Program®, and Nevada Women’s Hall of Fame Program®

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As a resident of Nevada since 1994, she found that women were not given the respect they deserved in the business model of Nevada. Women were also not given the resources, contacts, mentoring, inspiration, empowerment, or leadership. Women had no place to go to get help for business or career to reach their goals.

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June’s inspiration to offer guidance to women in Nevada was encouraged by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in which she was a member. June’s ultimate goal was to reach out to women asking, “what can I do to help women in Nevada?” After meeting with her for hours and becoming her mentor for business in Nevada, the U.S. Chamber encourages June to start a Women’s Chamber, not a city but a State Chamber, giving her the power, she would need to have Nevada take women seriously in the business world. So, the training began and long story short, here she is celebrating eighteen years and along the way made history for the Women’s Chamber.

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June is very fortunate to have the best mentors in the world, “her parents,” who definitely showed June you can do and be anything you want in life (poor or not). Her parents where poor but found joy and built their career in the music industry way back in the 1930s, so what does that tell you? You too can do anything you want, if you put the hard work, time, investment, and seek mentors to help with education (whatever level) along with getting resources, constructive networking, and connections that you will need in your career or business.

 

Coming from big cities and a women business owner since 1977, June never worried about getting help as a woman, she found top women in her community that became her mentors for many years. In Nevada, when she established the Women’s Chamber, she found out she was not going to be popular in the political arena or the corporate business community. From 1994 to 2005 there were not a lot of women’s groups available to stand behind her, but she made some noise, then started to build relationships with the diversity departments of big business and the rest is history. Mrs. Beland’s whole goal is to give back to women through support, encouragement, relationship building, financial leads, mentoring, empowerment, contacts, and resources which could assist them to start or grow their business or move into a career of their choice.