Sue Urda

An entrepreneur since 1988, Sue Urda knows the challenges that young businesses face and readily shares her experiences with others.

As Co-Founder of the successfully growing Powerful You! Women’s Network, her vision is to contribute to a global consciousness of women helping women succeed in business and in life. Sue’s mission is to provide venues for women to create relationships and grow their businesses, build self-confidence and self-awareness, and to foster attitudes of empowerment, gratitude, courage and self-sufficiency among all women everywhere.

Ms. Urda is the recipient of numerous awards for her business acumen. In 1994, her company, Universal Rewards, Inc. was named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies. In 2002, in partnership with Kathy Fyler, their company, Network Display, Inc. was also named to Inc. Magazine’s list of the 500 Fastest-Growing Private Companies.  In the same year, the company won several design awards from P.O.P. Times, a display industry leader.

As a natural leader, Sue has enjoyed a wide array of experiences. She has contributed to the growth and smooth operation of all types and sizes of organizations, from Retail Manager to Customer Negotiations, from Health Insurance Manager to Employee Placement Agent, and then as an entrepreneur.

In retail, working for a major department store right out of college, Sue learned quickly about teamwork and motivation as the manager of 22 employees. Her interpersonal skills became apparent in her next position at a floundering manufacturing company where she was responsible for soothing vendor relationships and maintaining product flow.

As a manager in a claims department for one of the countries largest health insurance companies, Sue managed a staff of 28 people, processing claims and working with claimants in special, catastrophic situations.

Later, looking for a more intimate work environment and a place where her efforts would be directly rewarded, Sue joined a fast-growing employee placement firm, where she achieved a high level of success by leveraging key contacts and cultivating client accounts. Sue enjoyed the challenge of a risk-reward situation, and knew this was how she would move forward in the future, preferably in an environment where she could design her own destiny.

Her first entrepreneurial opportunity came in 1988, when Sue joined her father in the start-up venture Universal Rewards, Inc.  Sue served as Vice-President and part-owner of the company which designed, manufactured and sold neon signs and other lighted display units. In her role, Sue came to understand how to start, grow and operate a business in a very competitive industry. She dedicated herself to learning all aspects of business ownership including the development of sales materials, direct marketing and sales, managing the staff of administrators and sales reps, and managing the company’s cash flow.

It was in working closely with her father that Sue found her passion for entrepreneurship. After her father’s death in 1994, Sue closed the doors of Universal Rewards, Inc. and teamed up with Kathy Fyler to start another company,  Network Display, Inc., a manufacturer of signs and displays for the point-of-purchase industry.

The company quickly became a success, with major clients including Pepsi-Cola, Krispy Kreme, Guinness, Champion, Nathan’s, and many other display companies and brokers. Sue led all the company’s marketing and sales efforts. From working with designers, to developing marketing campaigns, to client presentations, Sue worked to build the company and make a name in the industry.

As the company continued to grow, Sue and Kathy felt they wanted to make a more substantial contribution to individuals and to the world. The transition was made in 2002. With the creation of an Internet Commerce website marketing health and wellness products, they strove to educate individuals on wellness and to provide inspiration. Sue also became involved with many networking groups and a publishing company where she contributed as a writer, ad designer, sales rep and corporate strategist.

As a result of these efforts, in 2004 Sue was asked to serve on the Steering Committee for the Governor’s Conference for Women in New Jersey and was a panelist in the Because We Are Women personal development workshop.

This period of time proved to be a journey of self-discovery and growth, resulting in the study of personal and spiritual development.  From this, Sue began to create seminars and workshops for women. In January 2005, Sue and Kathy Fyler expanded these efforts and launched Powerful You! Inc., a company designed to assist women to live balanced and powerful lives, and to grow both professionally and personally through network meetings, workshops and building relationships. The message would be communicated through local chapters throughout the nation.

Since the company’s inception, it has grown to almost 40 Chapters throughout the country, with almost 500 members. In a nationwide effort, Powerful You! has launched the Networking with Intention™ National Tour.  This series of events will take place around the country and is designed to bring women together for growth, sharing and connections.  As a result of this effort, new Chapters are continuing to be formed, with the goal of a total of 150 chapters during the next year.

Sue Urda is also the author of the e-book, Networking and You… Perfect Together and the Co-Creator of the Inspirational Movie, Stepping Stones.