Julie Rae Weeks

Julie's obituary will be found after the following information FOR PLANNING PURPOSES: If you will be attending Julie's service AND reception following, please RSVP to info@reynolds-jonkhoff.com or call 231.947.6347 no later than March 13, 2017. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS may be directed to The Leelanau Conservancy, P. O. Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654 (www.leelanauconservancy.org) The Women's Resource Center, 720 S. Elmwood Suite 2, Traverse City, MI 49684 (or call 231.941.1210 for credit card donations) or the Glen Lake Community Library, P. O. Box 325, Empire, MI 49630. TO VIEW THE LIVE WEBCAST OF JULIE'S SERVICE: (Do this in advance of the service) (Webcast will work on mobile or desktop) Make sure you have an updated browser and try to avoid WIFI if at all possible. Visit rjfh.tv and setup a live stream account. To create an account: - click login in top right (at rjfh.tv) Click join live-stream (blue text in box) bottom right Enter an email address where a link will be sent Goto that email and click the link that live-stream sends Check your email and click activate my account Enter your name and create a password (make note of this for the day of the service) (You will use this email and password to login on the day of the webcast) ON DAY OF THE SERVICE, visit www.rjfh.tv click on Julie's photo Select login (blue text in box) Enter the email address and password that you created press login and your in. If you have any issues setting up an account, please call reynolds-jonkhoff at 231-947-6347 prior to the day of service. (Not on the day of service) RELATED LINKS TO VIEW TESTIMONIALS: Leelanau Conservancy Blog Womenable ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONS: Some of Julie’s publications: • “The American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report” (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) • Global Women Entrepreneur Leaders Scorecard (2015, co-author) • “Loan Characteristics and Performance Among Women- and Men-Owned MSMEs in Ecuador: An Analysis of ProCredit Lending Data, 2001-2013” (2014, for IADB Multi-Lateral Investment Fund) • Three chapters in the “US Roadmap to 2020,” on strategies to accelerate women’s enterprise development (2010, for Quantum Leaps) • “Innovation and Women’s Entrepreneurship: An Exploration of Current Knowledge” (2010, for UNCTAD) • “Assessing Business-Enabling Environments: How Gender Changes the Equation” (2010) • “Rwanda: Investing in the Empowerment of Women in Business” (2009) • “Women Entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa: Characteristics, Contributions and Challenges” (2007) • “Mapping the ‘Missing Middle’: Determining the Desire and Dimensions of Second-Stage Women Business Owners” (2007) • “The Performance, Progress and Promise of Women’s Business Centers in the United States: A Summary of Three Research Studies” (2006) • “Support for Women’s Enterprise Development in the United States: Lessons Learned” (2002) • “Women-Owned Businesses: Breaking the Boundaries, the Progress and Achievement of Women-Owned Enterprises” (1995) Some of Julie’s Selected Presentations/Major Addresses: • Contributed to an International Think Tank event on global best practice and research, organized by Women’s Enterprise Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government in Edinburgh, Scotland, May 2015 • Moderated a panel discussion among global awardees of Enterprising Women magazine’s Enterprising Women of the Year award (2014 & 2015) • Reflected on trends in the women’s entrepreneurship movement in the United States on the 25th anniversary of the Women’s Business Ownership Act of 1988 at the Women’s Business and Enterprise Conference, Scotland, May 2013 • Testified on important trends in the women’s entrepreneurship movement in the United States at a U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing, November 2012 • Spoke to numerous stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors on women’s entrepreneurship issues on a U.S. State Department-underwritten speaking tour in Kosovo and Macedonia, March 2012 • Participated in a panel discussion concerning policies and programs to encourage growth-oriented women’s enterprise development at the “We Own It Summit” in London, June 2011 • Addressed a national conference of women’s enterprise supporters and ambassadors on international trends in women’s enterprise development at a conference organized by Tillväxtverket in Stockholm, Sweden, April 2010 • Presented the findings of a 5-country study on women business owners in the Middle East and North Africa at a launch event attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania in Amman, Jordan, June 2007 • Spoke and moderated a panel presentation focused on US best practices at the “Accelerating Women’s Entrepreneurship Forum” held in conjunction with an OECD SME Ministerial meeting in Istanbul, Turkey June 2004 OBITUARY: Julie R. Weeks of Empire, a leading advocate for women's rights and entrepreneurship in the United States and Internationally, died February 18, 2017 at the age of 59 as the result of brain cancer. She passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones, and guided by the caring hands of staff at Effie's Place in Leland. Julie was born on November 2, 1957 to George C. Weeks and the late Mollie Rae (McKinley) Weeks in Lansing, and grew up there and in Arlington, Virginia before moving to Leelanau County where she attended the Glen Lake High School. In her senior year she attended the Leelanau School since the school millage failed in Glen Lake. She graduated from the University of Michigan with BA and MA degrees in Political Science. On June 6, 1998 she married Walter R. Hoegy, a fellow graduate of the University of Michigan. They enjoyed 18 years of marriage, a union that was 'meant to be', both working in the Washington D.C. area where they shared their love for the outdoors - biking, kayaking, walking, orienteering - and music, theatre and band music. When both retired from the Federal government in 2006, Julie and Walter moved to their dream log home in Leelanau County where Julie started her business, Womenable, with a mission to 'improve the environment for women-owned businesses worldwide'. Lovers of the natural environment, they became active supporters of the Leelanau Conservancy which they had joined 5 years earlier. Like her mother, Julie was a tireless campaigner for women's rights and she utilized her many skills to help propel and empower women both here and abroad. Julie brought a sense of humor and purpose to everything she did. Her work took her to many places including Rwanda and Liberia, where Julie met President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman to lead an African nation. She worked in more than 30 countries. Julie's strong sense of justice, combined with the skills she gained at U of M in politics, public opinion, economics and especially in research methods, led to her being a valuable asset and well-respected leader in her long career. After graduation she worked in Detroit at Market Opinion Research as V. P. of the Political Group, and Market Strategies as V.P. of Politics and Public Affairs. She was then called by The White House to work for the Small Business Administration as the Deputy Chief Counsel for Statistics and Research. When a new President came into office, Julie switched to the non-profit sector, where she served as Managing Director and Director of Research at the Center for Women's Business Research. Another change in Presidents found Julie back in Federal service as the Executive Director of the National Women's Business Council, which advises the U. S. Congress, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, and the President of the United States. As President and CEO of Womenable, Julie's national and international activism led her to Board positions with: The Association of Women's Business Centers, for which she served as Chair; Enterprise Women Magazine; Global Banking Alliance for Women; International Council for Small Business; International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship; the National Association of Women Business Owners; and WEConnect International. She also served as a Strategic Advisor to Quantum Leaps and more recently, to its FutureForward initiative. Near and dear to Julie's heart was her work on the boards of the Leelanau Conservancy and the Leelanau Peninsula Economic Foundation. A highly respected professional locally, regionally and globally, Julie has researched and authored numerous articles and publications pertaining to women's entrepreneurship and empowerment. Her work extended far beyond the borders of the United States and has impacted hundreds of thousands of women worldwide. At the forefront of women's entrepreneurship policy development at home, she was also influential in the growth of women's enterprise in the United Kingdom and Europe. In 2004, she was invited to advise the UK government's Small Business Service in the implementation of its women entrepreneurial strategy, and was a frequent keynote speaker and presenter at seminars and conferences through Europe. The national women entrepreneurial community is organizing an initiative to continue Julie's legacy, both in the U. S. and internationally, and as a result, Julie's work with her company, Womenable.com will not stop, but continue into the future. Julie was a daughter, a loving wife, a stepmother to Walter's four children, a super grandmother to nine grandkids, a friend, a mentor, a lover of nature and music, a social rights activist who spent her lifetime and career helping others. Her mantra, quoting Margaret Mead, was: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." Julie Weeks was one of those people. She was loved, and will be missed, by many locally, in the U. S. and abroad. Julie is survived by her husband, Walter Hoegy, her father, George Weeks, four step-children, nine grandchildren, aunts and cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother, Mollie and brother, Donald. Julie sincerely appreciated her family and extended family of friends, the expertise of the team at the Cowell Family Cancer Center for their help navigating her fight with brain cancer. We thank Orchard Creek for therapy, and help from Munson Hospice in helping the staff at Effie's Place. A memorial service celebrating Julie's life will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 18 at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St., Traverse City. Rather than flowers, Julie specifically asked that she be remembered through memorial contributions to The Leelanau Conservancy, P. O. Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654 (www.leelanauconservancy.org), The Women's Resource Center, 720 S. Elmwood, Suite 2, Traverse City, MI 49684 (call 231.947.1210 with credit card donations) or the Glen Lake Community Library. P. O. Box 325, Empire, MI 49630. Please share your thoughts, memories and photos of Julie with her family by visiting www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Traverse City.

Julie Rae Weeks

November 2, 1957 - February 18, 2017