We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Valerie Cason Williamston. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Valerie below.
Alright, Valerie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
30-year educational leader, and life-long learner, with a passion to enrich the lives of others by instilling a love of learning and curiosity for it in everyone, founded Savvy Senior Connections, LLC on March 13, 2022. While serving as caregiver for her elderly grandfather, I noticed an alarming disconnect in the conversations between my grandfather and his service providers. I didn’t feel that he received enough information to help him to make the most informed decisions about his health care and other needs. So, as an effort to educate, inform, and build meaningful relationships between seniors and service providers, Savvy Senior Connections in partnership with Val Will Educate, LLC, and other businesses and community organizations, I host FUN and engaging educational events throughout the Hampton Roads area to provide opportunities for seniors and service providers to connect! This approach is personalized to reduce the stress for seniors because they feel comfortable with asking questions it also of provides creative ways to keep Seniors actively connected to services and other seniors!. Activities include Pop-UP day Parties where seniors line-dance, sing, read poetry, paint, do service projects, attend book clubs, take computer classes, eat and enjoy FUN creative fellowships!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
Savvy Senior Connections is A Senior-centered membership organization specializing in enriching the quality of life and developing lifelong learners for 55+ active Seniors by partnering with the community to Link Seniors and Services together to build meaningful relationships and to educate Seniors on informative resources on Advocacy, Community services, Education, and Social engagement opportunities in various locations throughout the Hampton Roads area.. I believe I mentioned my why in my previous response. However, I will add that I am most proud of the fact that we have a thriving membership of likeminded individuals who are committed to living their Best life each day! They are FUN kind, supportive, and genuinely love and respect each other and the mission of the organization! What really sets our organization apart from the others is the depth of the education component. With my background in education, I make every effort to provide teachable moments in everything that we do! It’s not enough for us to do a project or event; we go beneath the service and research the why??? They take Genealogy classes, 6 of them completed a 11 week course and graduated from the Va Beach Senior Citizens Police Academy! They are determined and motivated to take risks and to try new things! I motto is to Keep It Moving! That’s what they do:
Our Platform or areas of focus is known as ACES, which stands for Advocacy, Community Service, Education, and Socialization!, All activities that we have fall under one of the 4 categories. Our members are asked to select one or two of the Teams to be a part of in order to plan Team activities.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Prior to launching my business, I worked with a business coach/mentor. In addition, I participated in a rigorous course through a local University, called Dream Builder. It was so helpful and walked me through the process each step of the way! I highly recommend this because it gave me the knowledge and confidence needed to step out of my comfort zone to start my business.! Also, it provided me with countless resources and a support system of people in different phases of the entrepreneurial journey!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
My faith in God, transparency, consistency, visibility, and creativity, has led to my best source of new clients is word of mouth! The members in the group share with others and they in turn, join! In addition, our active presence on social media has been a great source as well because it gives potential members a visual picture of the things that we do!
Contact Info:
- Website: Www..savvyseniorconnections.com
- Facebook: @savvyseniorconnections
- Linkedin: @Savvyseniorconnections
- Twitter: @SavvySeniorCon1