Outstanding women in business.

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IT'S BETTER AT THE TOP.

The Pinnacle Club is host and home to a number of women's networking groups.

When Deb Nash took over the position of Executive Director of Sales & Marketing for the Pinnacle Club, it was painfully obvious to her that too few women were among the member roster. Nash possesses an instinctive ability to see what's missing in a space or situation and course correct. She recognized that the club provided the ideal place for women to network, to hold business meetings, to entertain clients, and to connect with other professionals. So she made it her mission to make the club inclusive rather than exclusive, forming alliances with women's groups seeking desirable, convenient and professional meeting space downtown-a rare commodity at other than some of the city's pricier hotels. Furthermore, Nash sought to attract events to the club that would provide attractive business connections for existing women members.

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It's better at the top, a year later.

Women's networking groups like Women Business Executives (WBE) and eWomen Network have declared the Pinnacle Club their flagship location for association meetings. Participating members of WBE and eWomen have made contacts with other female business professionals to grow their organizations and to do more business with other women business owners and managers.

It's a phenomenon supported by the changing face of America's (and Denver's) workforce.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics shows that by 2010, 41 percent of the U.S. workforce will be contingent; meaning not full-time, but hired for specific projects. Also by 2010, one-third of our nation's workers will be over 55 years old. The contingent worker and the older worker will need to network and actively market their talents.

If women want to lead, rather than follow, the trends of this emerging

business culture, they'll need to expand their networking efforts beyond what worked in previous decades.

They'll need to cash in on the strengths of a niche group in this case, other women in a focused networking effort.

Melodie Reagan is an expert on America's emerging business culture. Her company Auromira handles interim executive staffing and consulting nationally.

That's where networking comes in. Reagan, president and founder of Women Business Executives (WBE) and CEO and founder of Auromira Executive Advantage, books all WBE events at the club. With more than 300...