But, does that good ol’ boys network still exist? Is male chauvinism in the workplace a thing of the past? While it may be found in small doses, women in northern Colorado are figuring out how to rise above it. And they’re foregoing the good ol’ boys network to rebuilding the structure of business — right down to the golf swing.

Ann Clarke, executive managing director for the Northern Front Range and Greeley chapters of eWomenNetwork said in the past it was harder for women to have access to information.

“Now, there is almost becoming a good ol’ girls network,” she said. “A decade ago there wasn’t a woman to be found in so many of the service groups. These days, you go to a charity golf tournament and there are many competent women. They are finding out a lot of business gets done when having fun. Now there isn’t an organization out there that doesn’t have men and women.”

Clarke, 61, of Masonville said her passion has always been helping women become more successful in their businesses. Her career was in marketing before she became a full-time speaker. She then got involved in eWomenNetwork.com, buying a franchise and bringing it to northern Colorado.

“Women need to make a conscious decision to give their business to other women,” she said. Clark purposely seeks out female dentists, mechanics and other professionals because she believes in the pay-it-forward mentality.

Perry Buck, vice president of Cache Bank and Trust in Greeley, works with a lot of men.

Her tip to other women is to be confident.

"You should be able to look them in the eye and have the confidence they aren’t looking down on you,” she said. "If you have confidence in yourself and believe in what you are doing, regardless of gender, it will show. They won’t look at you as male or female.”

Although she hates to admit it, she has experienced discrimination in another state. However, Buck said it doesn’t happen much anymore.

“There is a tremendous effort to stop it in the workplace through training and seminars,” she said. “I think a lot of times now a days, harassment can be self-imposed. Things can be taken out of context. Now a days men don’t even know if they can open a door for a woman or not.”

To ease situations like these, Clarke said to remember not to take things too personally.

She also recommends finding a mentor who is at a high level.

“Find somebody who will be your cheerleader,” Clarke said. “Mimic them. Dress like them. Do the activities they do. They will help you achieve the level you want.”

Though many fields still have a higher percentage of one gender over the other, Clarke believes this is really changing.

“There is no job anymore that is considered nontraditional,” Clarke said. “There is literally nothing. I encourage young women to thank their moms, because they had to fight their way through doors that, today, young women just walk through.”