Gelie Akhenblit
Gelie Akhenblit, CEO /Founder of NetworkingPhoenix.com, has singlehandedly changed Arizona’s business networking landscape by launching and successfully executing her vision for this company. Founded in October 2008, by a then 27-year-old entrepreneur who quit her corporate job to pursue her dream of creating a platform for local networkers to connect, NetworkingPhoenix.com today is Arizona’s leading online resource for business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals. Since its inception, NetworkingPhoenix.com has skyrocketed in popularity quickly becoming one of the most visited websites in Arizona; and with over 25,000 members the website's growth still shows no signs of slowing down. Growing a successful company in five years is quite a feat, but the drive for Gelie is in helping others meet their goals and building relationships. Her motivation is to create something that improves people’s lives daily – whether it’s helping them find that perfect job or making connections with the right people who can help them grow their own business venture. In addition to her website business, Gelie also speaks in engagements on the importance of having a strategy when engaging in social media and face-to-face networking and the power of building and maintaining strategic relationships. Gelie has been rewarded with recognition for her business acumen and community service: In 2010, she was the recipient of NAWBO’s Emerging Visionary Award (which was created specifically for her) and AZ Magazine’s 35 Women Entrepreneurs Under 35. She is currently one of three finalists for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious 2011 Young ATHENA Award
