As baby boomers (who happen to also be sisters) we have been natives of the Kansas City area for most of our adult lives. As kids growing up at a time before there were computers in every home, cable TV with hundreds of channels or a Starbucks coffee shop on every corner, it seemed we were taking the less obvious approach to solving our childhood problems. It might have been figuring out a clever way to supplement our allowance, by using our marketing and communications skills to sell the neighborhood kids lukewarm lemonade and stale leftover holiday candy. Or maybe it was utilizing our entrepreneurial skills to set up a neighborhood "zoo" where we charged admission for a tour to see our stuffed animals strategically placed in the trees and lined behind the backyard fence. All of this just to avoid doing homework or being completely bored.

We have somewhat different personalities and have taken different career paths. But we still have the important things in common—like our sense of humor, a mutual respect for family and friends, enjoying a good bottle of wine and good conversation with sisters and friends about everything ranging from pantyhose, to nightmare bosses to world news. We both like discovering new secret spots and finding out the "inside scoop" on just about everything. But the one area we both really have in common is our desire for making things simple! Having too much information, not enough information, wrong information or simply not having a comprehensive source where we can get the information ---makes us crazy! So for the first time since our childhood, we have once again pooled together our business experience, communications skills, creative juices and fondness for Kansas City to form a business "sistership" and bring you it's all about HER (IAAH).

Welcome to it's all about HER (IAAH). Our mission is to be Kansas City's comprehensive online tool for women who want the "inside scoop" on those less obvious… and sometimes obvious resources and ideas they need to manage their lives.

Like many other women in the Kansas City area, we personally love the adventure of stepping into a new "girlfriend" lunch spot, discovering the "sale of the century" at our favorite boutique and getting a tip from a friend on a secret spot where we can find that rare antique, that perfect gift or a cute new chotsky for our home. Yet we still want to be well informed when it comes to the more serious decisions in our lives – like where to go to get that second medical opinion or remove those crow's feet? Where to begin when it's time to make a career change? Do we remodel or do we move? What do we do with the kids this summer that they haven't already done? Or where is a good place to take a romantic rendezvous in the area? But just as important, where can we go to get the "inside scoop" to help us make those decisions?

Everyone knows it's the woman of the household who makes the primary decisions. She's the CEO (Chief Executive Officer,) the COO (Chief Operations Office,) the CMO (Chief Medical Officer,) and of course the CCBW (Chief Cook and Bottle Washer.) She's bombarded constantly with all types of decisions. But when it comes to locating the best resources to make those decisions, there has not been one simple solution in Kansas City that gives women answers and ideas. We believed there was a demand for a comprehensive and convenient place where Kansas City area women could go 24/7 to get those less obvious and sometimes obvious resources and ideas for the things they need. And after talking to other women who agreed, that's why we created it's all about HER (IAAH).

Unlike our mothers who had to rely on getting their scoop from friends at bridge club or church circle, the phone book or the newspaper --- we have so many more sources. Unfortunately, most of them have only bits and pieces of information scattered between them. Sorting through them all to find exactly what you're looking for can be daunting. IAAH gives you more than a phone number. It provides the basic information that a woman needs, on the resources she is interested in, all in one comprehensive place.

We know there is no better source than a close friend for getting information, but it's always good to have a back-up plan. That's why we hope it's all about HER will become like a new best friend. The friend that is always there-- right at your fingertips, who helps simplify your life and always has the "inside scoop" when you're tackling a project, planning a memorable event in your life, or simply diggin' around for a new groovy idea.

Happy hunting,

Vicki and Valissa

WARNING!!!

If the "About Us" summary and background was enough to bore you to tears, we suggest that you stop reading now! Otherwise, if you have nothing better to do, and want the inside scoop on IAAH company officers, feel free to read on at your own risk!

THE 'INSIDE SCOOP' ON VICKI SMITH

VICKI SMITH – Managing Partner
While most kids in kindergarten declared a more typical career ambition, Vicki was sure by the age of 5 that she would be a psychiatrist. Of course, the other kids had no idea what that was and quite frankly didn't care. But it was an early indication of her curiosity, intrigue and desire for the "inside scoop" about the human mind and what makes people tick. So it was no surprise when she decided to focus much of her undergraduate and graduate studies in psychology and communications.

Personality profiles might characterize Vicki as "life's administrator." The kid in charge! (somebody in the neighborhood had to make the final decision or break the tie between which game to play -- 'Kick the Can' or 'Red Rover') Leadership, organization and delegation of tasks came as easy to Vicki as breathing. And attention to detail is like a sixth sense to her. Let anyone, including a sister, sneak into her bedroom, lift one item off her dresser then place it back--- and Vicki would bust them every time.

For personalities like Vicki's, working is seldom a question. In fact, it serves them well. And that is what Vicki has spent over 20 years of her career doing. Her education coupled with her personality was a perfect fit for the career path she took. Whether it was her leadership roles in Fortune 100 companies, in not-for-profit organizations, or as an entrepreneur Vicki has had plenty of opportunities to utilize her creativity, psychology and leadership skills. Just attempting to figure out all the chaos and personalities one deals with in the workplace, naturally kept her skills sharp.

While pursuing this goal she had one of those Ah Ha! Moments. It was out of her own personal frustration with the lack of a single, comprehensive source to discover new ideas, and find places and resources around Kansas City that are of importance and interest to women that IAAH was born. A tool that could do some of the legwork for women and provide more than a phone number for the kind of ideas and resources she used. So after market validation with friends, family and other females she proceeded to develop (along with her business partner) what she viewed as an untapped need and a niche in the market to create it's all about HER.

Now Vicki utilizes her natural tendency of right-brain thinking to try and tame the left-brain tendencies that seem to take the forefront when working in the business world. She uses this unusual mix of intuitive and analytical thinking to give women in Kansas City the "inside scoop."

CURRENT CAREER
Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for a major Kansas City healthcare system, and managing partner of VSquared Productions, Inc.

RETRO MEMORIES
The torture of the Tony home permanents that her Mother gave her sitting at the kitchen table; being the first girl in class to wear a red vinyl mini skirt with her red vinyl maxi coat and a pair of go-go boots; the original Barbie doll she still has pristinely stored in its case; going to the drug store soda fountain after school for a Cherry Phosphate, rolling her hair on juice cans in order to achieve the perfect "do" and sitting in front of the black and white television watching the Beatles first appearance on Ed Sullivan, the first man to walk on the moon and footage from the largest rock concert ever -- Woodstock.

THE "INSIDE SCOOP" ON VALISSA SMITH

VALISSA SMITH – Managing Partner
Valissa spent most of her childhood daydreaming. And dreamers typically have no idea what they want to be when they grow up because their imagination is endless and often unrealistic. But that didn't stop Valissa. When she watched Captain Kangaroo on the black and white set back in the 60's no one ever told her that she couldn't be on television, so that's where she ended up for more than 20 years.

As a Broadcast Journalist, Valissa was always looking for a more creative but balanced way to tell the story. The television news industry works well for an entertaining, people-person, gotta-have-both-sides-to-the-story, kind of girl. Once, she bought 100 Weebles, moved them around like chess pieces on the newsroom floor to demonstrate to viewers how a political caucus works. She even followed a mother's pregnancy through birth at a midwifery center out in the middle of the Smoky Mountains. She received an award as the first reporter in Kansas City to crawl through a burning house to demonstrate how to get out alive. Digging up the "inside scoop" and sharing it with everybody else is what really floats her boat. The case is true whether she's a news anchor, video producer or a strategic communications consultant. But her most memorable stint of diggin' up the dirt was eight years as that lively, fun-spirited morning show co-host at the CBS affiliate in Kansas City.

After chasing one too many ambulances, Valissa decided to leave television. That's when she started daydreaming again. This time, about spending the first summer ever hanging out with her daughters. But major frustration set in when her attempt to track down a simple summer kid activity turned out to be like Heraldo Riveria's investigation of Al Capone's vault… empty ! After conducting a massive search by who-ya- know, telephone and the world wide web… Valissa decided there had to be a better way to find what she and every other mother was looking for; fun for the kids and sanity for the mom. That's when she and her business partner created it's all about HER .

Besides being a Communications Guru for Kansas City business and not-for-profits, Valissa also is the co-anchor of a business that uncovers the less obvious and sometimes obvious resources and information in the Kansas City area. It's her way of creatively bringing to you the late-breaking and investigative "inside scoop" that pertains to Kansas City moms and their families.

CURRENT CAREER
Managing Partner for VSquared Productions, Inc. the parent company of it's all about HER; communications consultant, freelance reporter and media trainer; voice over & video talent; public speaker and event emcee; board member and volunteer for various Kansas City organizations.

RETRO MEMORIES
Daydreaming for hours from the tree house that dad built; jumping to Jack LaLaine every morning with her mother; wondering why Mr. Greenjeans' pants were in black and white; introducing her Twiggy doll to Barbie, Ken and Midge; riding her pink, banana seat bike down to the "Little Store" for a Slo Poke; wearing clothes covered in miles of rick-rack; roller skating on the back patio with a pillow buckled to her buns; and daydreaming (appropriately) through another episode of "Lost In Space."

Our professional gratitude goes to those business owners who were willing to be our first sponsors and participants. They believed in our concept and need for a Kansas City focused online tool and information source that provides women the "inside scoop" on those less obvious and sometimes obvious resources they need to manage their lives.

Special recognition and thanks goes to our web developer, graphic artist, contributing article writers, accountant, legal advisor, focus group participants and last but not least, our family and friends who listened to our idea, encouraged us, gave us honest feedback, then said "Yeah! You go girls."

An extra squeeze goes to the following people for their encouragement and support as we created this on-line service for women: Michael and Sylvia, Mom and Dad, Rick, Pat and Jim, Velinda and Jeff, Claire, Emma and Chivas (the dog)... who laid patiently under the dining room table as we worked and tolerated our sometimes bizarre behavior.