Twitter

Hello there!

Let me tell you about myself so you can decide whether to connect with me or not.

I’m Elena Verlee and I’m a multi-passionate entrepreneur that has sold two businesses for six-figures, and currently have two companies in PR, as well as a coaching company.

My Sites

PR In Your Pajamas – for coaches, authors, moms and change agents wanting an easy system for do-it-yourself publicity to help get buzz for their business.
Cross Border PR – for technology companies wanting a full-service agency to successfully launch their product or service in the US, Canada or UK.
Connect The Dots – kick-ass (and fun) coaching that integrates left-brain analytical skills and right-brain emotional intelligence to create a successful blueprint for your business and personal life.

Where Else To Find Me:
I’ve recently been named in Forbes.com as one of “20 Women for Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter” and you can find a list of other press here.

I’m proud to say in just over a year, this blog has been included in:

1. Alltop.com’s Best of the Best PR Blogs

2.VisaBusinessNetwork.com’s blog roll for over 100,000 of their small business members

3. PR Web’s “25 Essential PR Blogs You Should Be Reading”

I’m speaking at various in-person or web/teleseminars on PR, Social Media, DIY Marketing and growing a business with vision, values, passion, and yes, money.  Subscribe to my blog or a free product on my blog to make sure you hear about my events.

Where to Connect With Me
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In

Q and A:

What’s your Business Background?
I’ve practiced PR and lived and worked in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia. In 18 years I’ve worked with hundreds of clients in a range of industries – from high-technology to make-up, from mom entrepreneurs to billion dollar companies.  I’ve placed these clients in The Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Globe and Mail, Financial Times, CBC-TV and many major European publications. I’ve also worked with niche or local press like The Mompreneur Magazine, SavvyMom, Urban Rush, Breakfast TV, Santa Barbara Press, Honolulu Advertiser, The Vancouver Sun and so on.

I’ve had my own successful six and seven-figure businesses, running teams of 15 – 20 people – all from my home office. I’ve had both a service-based business (PR, Coaching) and a product-based, Internet business (selling men’s socks online). I’ve sold two companies for six-figures, including a family business with 150+ employees involving cars and most recently in 2007 our Internet business that attracted a ton of media and a buyer in just nine months.

A few years ago, I became interested in personal coaching and was certified by the International Coach Federation and a top coaching school – The Coaches Training Institute. Not only did I take courses for over a year, certification included a six-month course that met weekly, at least 100 paid coaching hours, passing an oral exam and a written exam that takes 3 – 5 hours to complete.

Are you available to be a guest on teleconferences/speaker at an event?
Yes, subjects I speak on at teleseminars: getting PR, getting started in social media, creating marketing plans, developing a business without sacrificing your personal life, turning obstacles into opportunities. Please contact me to schedule an appointment to discuss your needs.

Do you provide any business coaching or consulting?
I work with professionals wanting to make the leap to entrepreneurship, or small business owners wanting to create a marketing and lifestyle blueprint tailored to their own vision of success.  Calls are done by Skype.  If you’d like to see if we are a fit, more information is here.

What do I do when I’m not working?
I’m an avid reader and often have multiple books on the go.  I just finished “Lance Armstrong’s War”, “Committed” (Elizabeth Gilbert) “Her Fearful Symmetry” (Audrey Niffeneger), “Heat – Adventures of a Kitchen Slave” (Bill Buford). I’m looking for a new book, any suggestions?

I don’t watch a lot of TV but I like Entourage and just discovered Glee. I’ll catch a movie often and what makes my night is a good bottle of champagne as I found out Moet and Chandon gives me headaches. I really, really like bubbly…

Playing with my two boys keeps me young, and my triathlete husband encouraged me to try my first triathlon which I finished in April 2010.  I’ve just learned to swim, borrowed a bike but my two feet kept me going and I finished with a smile on my face!

I’ve just moved back to Vancouver (actually, a small island just 15 minutes from Vancouver) after a couple of years in Asia, and I’m sure once winter hits we’ll be looking for somewhere warm to go to for a couple of months.  What can I say, I’m a tropical girl.  Thank goodness for virtual businesses.

Once in a while when I have a huge block of time, I take out my paint brushes and create colorful bouquets of flowers or pastoral landscapes.  I’ve even sold a few of my paintings, so there’s a creative streak in me that needs a bit more nurturing.

I look forward to getting to know you