Welcome to WomenStar.com®, "A Place Where Women Shine."® Our vision continues to expand. Therefore, we welcome your input.
WomenStar.com® is a program of the Women's Integrated Network, L.L.C., owned by Laurie Williams, Mary Catherine (M.C.) Smothermon, and Susan James. The initial idea was conceived in 1992 after Ms. Williams' strong, but unsuccessful race as a first-time candidate for Congress in Oklahoma's 5th District. Ms. Williams saw that this new tool, the Internet, could be one of the answers to the lack of media attention that many candidates, particularly women, face when running for office in Oklahoma.
The need for a website where women could discuss politics, business, and personal matters also became evident to M.C. (Mary Catherine) Smothermon, who ran for Congress in Oklahoma's 5th District in 1998. Ms. Smothermon began her Internet journey by using www.smothermon.org as a campaign tool. She continues to maintain a connected group of hundreds of users through email lists as a result of her website.
The concept of the Women's Integrated Network, L.L.C., has grown beyond the initial vision of facilitating political discussion and will reach throughout the metropolitan Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, the State of Oklahoma, our Nation, and (we hope) the World, for business, social, spiritual, and personal needs.
We are looking forward to growing and learning with you.
Please email us at any time to tell us your thoughts.
Laurie Williams
Laurie Williams has a varied background in law, business, education, politics, and civic matters. She graduated with an A.B. degree, cum laude, from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, and received a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law in Norman, Oklahoma. Ms. Williams has practiced law as an administrative law judge, regulatory lawyer, as a partner with a large law firm in Oklahoma, and as "of counsel" to a law firm. She served as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at the University of Oklahoma and ran a close, rewarding, but unsuccessful United States Congressional campaign in Oklahoma's 5th District. Ms. Williams serves various civic organizations, including the State Trails Advisory Board of the State of Oklahoma, Citizens for City Trails, Planned Parenthood of Central Oklahoma, and the Quail Creek Homeowners' Association.
You may reach Ms. Williams at lawillie@womenstar.com.
Mary Catherine (M.C.) Smothermon
Mary Catherine (M.C.) Smothermon has varied experience in business, politics, and non-profit organizations. Ms. Smothermon established and developed the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN), a non-profit organization that facilitates the care and counseling of people and families whose lives have been changed by AIDS and HIV in Oklahoma. Ms. Smothermon has been a partner in a restaurant and is an Emergency Medical Technician. Ms. Smothermon is a magna cum laude graduate of Oklahoma City University from which she was chosen and recognized nationally as a Truman Scholar. Ms. Smothermon was the 1998 Democratic Congressional nominee in Oklahoma's 5th District and has been involved in numerous civic activities. Ms. Smothermon is a Juris Doctorate candidate as a Truman Scholar at the Oklahoma City University School of Law.
You may reach Ms. Smothermon at mc@womenstar.com.
Susan James
Susan James currently owns and operates her own web design and consulting firm. Ms. James has served in management and computer operations with a Fortune 500 company where she worked for 10 years. Ms. James was a partner in an Internet company developing websites, products, and services for use on the Internet. Ms. James has a degree in Human Resources with an emphasis in accounting and general business administration. She also manages real estate and aviation investments for an Oklahoma limited liability corporation of which she is a member.
You may reach Ms. James at sjames@womenstar.com.
You
Of course, you, as a member and user of WomenStar.com®, are one of the most important facets of WomenStar.com®. We are excited about the possibilities and look forward to meeting you.