Sue Kozel
Company: Sue Kozel, SK Visions, Cream Ridge, NJ
Company Description: SK Visions dedicates between 10-20% of its annual sales to donations to area non-profits for homeless children & those surviving domestic violence. SK Visions is a full-service public/media relations firm specializing in bio develop., creative & strategic planning, media outreach & "thank you" tools. Sue Kozel has a downloadable "Thank You" Note on her web page to help people say "thank you".
Nomination Category: Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneur Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Community Involvement Program of the Year
Nomination Title: Sue Kozel - SK Visions - Community Leader
Tell the story about what the nominated individual or company achieved during the eligibility period (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
Sue Kozel has dedicated 10 - 20% annually of her small business sales to benefit non-profit organizations serving NJ women and children. Sue's philosophy is "we can change the world, if we want to". In particular, in 2004 after her Township's Environmental Commission was abolished, Sue and SK Visions created the first annual Environmental Student Advocacy Scholarship, and donated $500 each to 2 students, designed a jade crystal award to mark their leadership, and secured Congressional Record proclamations from Congressman Rush Holt.
She is sponsoring women business programs through the National Association of Women Business Owners (South Jersey Chapter), the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, and donates dozens of high end gift baskets to causes. Nearly $30,000 in sponsorships and ads, direct donations, silent auction items, holiday gifts for homeless children and their moms in Domestic violence shelters, ads, and tickets have been made by SK Visions since 1998. "In my childhood, I grew up homeless and swore if I escaped poverty, I would work to make a difference." She has been named a 2004 Star Award Recipient from NAWBO South Jersey, the 2003 Athena Award Recipient by the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce (WMCC), the 2002 WMCC Circle of Excellence Small Business Award recipient, and a Woman of Achievement by the NJ General Assembly in 2001. "It doesn't matter how much money we make if we can't do it for good."
One key innovation Sue has developed is a downloadable "Thank You" Card which is found on her web site www.skvisionsmedia.com. "I've always felt that we don't take the time to thank the people who turned our lives around. Now, there are no more excuses. Two women entrepreneurs helped me create the image, and I wrote the accompanying poem."
Probably the biggest change in Sue's life has been the decision to begin funding her dream projects now and not waiting for the perfect time to begin work. "At this stage in my life, I just have faith that others will share a vision and funding will materialize. It's as if I am no longer being a prisoner of money."
"The recognition I receive helps me assist women business owners, women and children fleeing the environment and to underwrite environmental awareness project. If I receive monetary awards, I apply them to a book project, in 2nd draft,
which presents a Children's book designed to be a holiday classic. 'The Christmas Ribbon' is my gift to our greater community, and when completed and if it becomes a national bestseller, I will create a community foundation to support creative therapies to help children survive violence and bereavement."
List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: List each link on a separate line, begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.website.com]. NOTE: You may submit supporting materials for your nomination offline, but only judges who request them will see them:
http://www.skvisionsmedia.com - See the In the News section with 2 stories included with permission
The Messenger Press - Giving Gifts from the Heart
The Asbury Park Press - Photo - click there - Front Page Cover Story - Xmas 2002 about my childhood growing up homeless and how my mother instilled creativity and beauty in my life through her innovative mind.http://www.injersey.com - go to the Asbury Park Press, and then after entering that site, search for Kozel - will find eight top articles, including an Earth Day 1,000 word Op-Ed, (April 20 2004) which outlines my philosophy of environmental
stewardship and leadership.http://www.gmnews.com - do a search for 180, Turning Lives Around, Amanda's Easel, Sue Kozel to find articles I have either been quoted in on community projects, been a spokesperson for clients, or written as op-eds.
Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography of the nominated individual or leader of the nominated company:
With two Masters (American History, NYU and Labor Relations, RU), Sue Kozel brings an unconventional approach to addressing business challenges in the fields of strategic media planning, media outreach, diversity awareness, and public service. A regional Chamber of Commerce leader, Sue and SK Visions speak for underdogs in "Cause-related" marketing and her systematic approach to media relations. Married for 22 years, she and her husband Chris love hiking in national
parks. They live on a 9 acre farm where they practice organic farming with natural predators. Operating a home-based business and in business since 1989, Sue hopes for the day when all people are rewarded for their talent.