Advertisement
Women In Financial Services –
It Should Be An Ideal Match
By Susan W. Sweetser
Wanted: Entrepreneurs
and self-starters who
desire to run their own
businesses and to make a
difference in the lives of
their clients. Be your own
boss. Long hours (though
flexible) to start. Possibility
of working from home.
Small financial rewards
initially as you grow your
business. Large future
income potential.
The above advertisement is one
that should attract many women.
Who wouldn’t want the opportunity
to reap large financial rewards for
doing something good for people?
And who wouldn’t want flexible
hours and the ability to work at
least some of the time from home?
The answer, at least according to
industry statistics, is women. What
is it about a career in financial serv-
ices that fails to attract women? We
know that, on average, fewer than
20% of career agents in the top life
insurance companies are women.
We also know that an even smaller
percentage of women reach the top
sales tiers of these organizations.
And yet, women are searching for
meaningful, rewarding careers.
They want flexible hours to achieve
balance of family life and career
life. They want financial security
for themselves and their families.
A career in financial services
should be a natural fit for women.
Women are relationship builders
and problem solvers. We know
that today successful careers in
financial services are built on a
solid foundation of relationships.
We are no longer motivated by
the single transaction. We want to
help our clients holistically address
their changing needs over the
course of their lifetimes. But, in
Reproduced from National Underwriter Edition, January 16, 2004. Copyright © 2004 by The National Underwriter Company
in the serial publication. All rights reserved. Copyright in this article as an independent work may be held by the author.
order to best meet those changing
needs, you need to have a solid
grasp of increasingly complex con-
cepts, and you need to be able to
motivate the client to act on the rec-
ommendations you have made – in
short, you have to be able to sell.
And, in selling, you have to risk
rejection. For women, who have
worked so hard for acceptance as
equals and who have worked so
hard to prove their ability, rejection
is very hard to take.
Companies, however, are catching
on that women agents are vital to
their future success. One, women
know how to talk to other women –
we’ve been doing it our entire lives.
And, opportunities for future growth
are heavily dependent upon being
able to tap into the various and
diverse segments of women’s
markets successfully.
Women as a group are terribly
underinsured and in search of sound
financial advice.Of course, women –
as clients – tell us that gender is
not an issue for them in choosing a
financial advisor (OppenheimerFunds
Women and Investing survey, 5/9/02).
But, they also want an advisor
who will pay them the attention
they deserve, who they can trust,
who will respect them, who has
greater experience than their own,
and who understands the client’s
desire to maintain control. In other
words, women want advice and
options from their advisor, but they
want to make the final decisions.
These are qualities that women
agents possess and, accordingly,
provide them a unique advantage
in the women’s marketplace.
Women agents are acutely aware
of the many pressures on their
female clients’ time because they
are experiencing many of the same
challenges. This is not to say that
male agents do not have the same
challenges – many do. But women
truly understand what other
women are dealing with.
Having made the case that women
are great relationship builders
and have a natural affinity in
women’s markets, what are the
barriers to their success as financial
professionals?
The fact that they remain a dis-
tinct minority among the ranks of
advisors at a time when women are
entering other professional careers
in greater numbers tells us that we
have not done a great job of advo-
cating this career to women.
The first barrier is the lack of women
role models. When women look at
this career, they want to see other
women who have succeeded.
Women who love this career are
able to balance it with family and
other personal obligations, are able
to truly make a difference in their
clients’ lives, and are earning enough
to support themselves and their
families in the lifestyle they want.
The lack of role models sends the
subliminal message that this may
not be a career women want. Think
of it this way: How would you feel
if you walked into a room and every-
one there was vastly different from
you? Perhaps they all spoke another
language that you did not speak or
understand.That’s how many women
feel walking into an agency where
there are few, if any, role models.
Many agencies have no women
agents at all. In some agencies,
the only employed women are the
support staff. One truly is a lonely
number.
Let’s assume you currently have no
women agents but want to recruit.
What do you do? If you provide
your female recruits with support
and education and you help them
develop a market, you will be able
to increase your numbers of success-
ful women agents. But, you have
to make a commitment to truly
support them, coach them, offer
positive reinforcement, role-play
client planning meetings with them
and help them to get comfortable
with closing a sale.
The one message I consistently
have heard from newer women
agents is that they want more
guidance on closing and they
want a mentor who will listen,
coach, guide and challenge them
to overcome obstacles.
In addition, they want to have
contact with other women agents.
If there are none in your agency,
then find others within your com-
pany who would be willing to
provide an internal network.
And, encourage them to associate
with organizations designed to
provide them with ideas, encourage-
ment and support, such as Women
in Insurance and Financial Services
(www.w-wifs.org). Encourage them
to obtain their professional creden-
tials, such as the CFP, CLU, ChFC
and CLTC. Successfully obtaining
these credentials will not only
increase their base of knowledge,
but also their confidence in their
own abilities.
Developing their target market
early on and critically assessing
whether that market is viable to
them is also key. If they have no
natural market – and you have no
target market to offer them or help
develop – then you will continue to
experience low retention rates for
your women recruits.
It sounds like a lot of work.
Actually, it’s more of a commitment
to making it work, than work itself.
And, it is a commitment worth
making – women agents will be
key revenue drivers for you. They
have a passionate commitment to
their clients, and that passion
begets client loyalty.
Loyal clients who have been moti-
vated to implement successful
plans will be your best advocates.
And, you will have succeeded in
doing well by doing good. It doesn’t
get any better than that!
Susan Sweetser is second vice
president, women’s markets,
Massachusetts Mutual Life
Insurance Company, Springfield,
Mass. She can be reached at
ssweetser@massmutual.com.
C: 72492
 {corner cubicle}

ACCEPT A NEW CHALLENGE

We all know people who are complacent. They don’t push themselves to learn and grow.
Dell is a proud sponsor of Women for Hire. They never offer to do more. They’re content with getting away with what’s expected.
No more, no less.
At Dell, we’re committed to understanding and meeting
the challenges many of us face at work. Through career Don’t be one of them.
development, mentoring programs and networking
In my early twenties, I worked in public relations. First at ABC News, assisting with the
groups, we offer opportunities to support our employees’
promotion of superstars like Barbara Walters, and then at NBC News, where I was the
successful career paths and help strike a balance youngest press manager handling publicity for Maria Shriver, Jane Pauley, Tim Russert,
between professional and personal lives. Our goal is to Stone Phillips and others.
ensure that Dell is a great place to work, grow and aspire.
Success real time. Capture it at Dell. I would call newspaper reporters throughout the country and TV producers at shows like
Entertainment Tonight to ask if they wanted to interview Shriver about her celebrity spe-
cials. I’d pitch the media to cover the latest ratings coup for Russert’s Sunday public
affairs program, Meet the Press.

Inevitably, the answer was yes. “Yes, we want to promote Maria’s work.” “Yes, we want
to praise Tim’s success.”

I thought I was good at my job. Really, really good. I had great friends in the media and
the talent at NBC was pleased with the exceptional results of my work.

When I left NBC, I was hired as the Director of Communications at Nickelodeon, where
I was responsible for developing and executing the press strategy for the consumer prod-
ucts division. Instead of TV anchors, I was now working with animated characters.

During my first couple of weeks in this new position, I figured the best way to wow my
new bosses would be to secure some high profile media coverage for a new line of back-
to-school gear. I called several reporters hoping to land a big article. When I asked if
they’d want to write about the licensed products, half the reporters said a big fat no. The
other half didn’t even return my calls.

I panicked thinking I had lost my touch. My husband would see me near tears at night
Trisa Thompson uses a Dell Latitude D610 for fear that I had gotten in over my head. Clearly I had underestimated how easy it was
to sell superstars, and how much more challenging it would be to sell lesser known com-
modities.

He quickly reminded me that I was making a very healthy salary, which meant throwing
in the towel was totally out of the question.

Instead, I had to push myself to think more strategically about corporate communications.
I couldn’t get by on my basic knowledge; I had to step out of my comfort zone to devel-
op new contacts and conceive of fresh ideas. I did all of that and more during my three
years with the kids cable network. And it was a sometimes nerve-racking, but always
invaluable, career advancement experience.

So I say to you, if your job has become too easy, if you’re able to do it by rote, consider
making a change. Ask your boss to assign more challenging projects. Seek difficult
assignments. Learn a new skill. Push yourself. You’ll feel like a superstar if you tackle
CAREERS AT DELL. CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITIES. the unknown.

Tory Johnson
Founder & CEO
How do you get started? Visit www.dell.com/wfh.
Women For Hire
womenforhire.com
Dell and the Dell logo are registered trademarks of Dell Inc. ©2006 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Dell Inc. cannot be held responsible for errors in typography or photography. Dell is an AA/EO employer. Workforce diversity is an essential
part of Dell’s commitment to quality and to the future. We encourage you to apply, whatever your race, gender, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or veteran status. 3
 {in this issue}
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21 Money maker Nell Merlino
25 Cleaning genie Tara Aronson
27 Publishing pro Robyn Spizman
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35 Global guardian Katherine Chon
37 Artsy activists Edwina Meyers & Gail Velez
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‡&KDQQHO$QDO\VLV 39 Winning woman Beverly Kearney
‡'DWD$QDO\VLV 41 Balanced boss Daria Myers
‡0DUNHWLQJ6WUDWHJ\ 43 Legacy ladies Jennifer Cook & Nancy Thomason
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22 Special Pull-Out Centerfold: Networking Know-How
SUBSCRIBE FREE ONLINE

VISIT WOMENFORHIRE.COM AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR MAGAZINE AT NO CHARGE. WE’LL DELIVER FUTURE ISSUES RIGHT
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womenforhire.com 5
{contributers}

Lindsay Weitz
Lindsay Weitz has been designing for Women
For Hire for six years. She works as an art
director at a boutique ad agency in Soho and
does freelance graphic design work for clients
such as DailyCandy. Her work can be seen at
lindsayweitz.com.

Allyson Lubow
Cover photographer Allyson Lubow is a portrait
and fashion photographer who lives in Brooklyn,
New York. She has shot for magazines such as
Bust, Mass Appeal, and German P.M., and her
work as been exhibited extensively in galleries
in New York and Kansas City. She is currently
working on a book of teenage portraits during
a pivotal time in their lives. Learn more at
alubow.com.

Marcia G.Yerman
“Empowering women has always been one of
my priorities,” says Marcia G. Yerman, New
York City-based writer, artist, and curator. For
this issue, she did the reporting for the profiles.
“Having the opportunity to interview such
remarkable individuals was special.” Yerman,

Louis Joseph Comeau IV

whose work focuses on women’s issues and the
arts, hosted and produced the television series
Women in Art, and organized the exhibitions
Domestic Affairs and Visions of Life. Her per- Louis Joseph Comeau IV is a Brooklyn-based,
sonal essays are included in When I Look in the Pratt Institute-educated illustrator. He has
Mirror: Voices Connected through the Bonds of contributed original work to several issues
Sisterhood. Learn more at marciagyerman.com. of this magazine. His regularly updated, fully
illustrated blog can be viewed at
loujoe.blogspot.com.

DON’T SHY AWAY FROM…
Asking for more direction if you don’t understand what’s
requested of you. Try saying, “In order to complete this assign-
ment accurately, I’d appreciate further clarification about your
expectations.”
Attending industry events alone. While there’s often safety in
numbers, the comfort causes some people to miss out on the
valuable networking available at work functions. You wind up
standing in a corner talking about everyone, instead of talking to
them. Go it alone and don’t leave until you’ve introduced your-
self to at least three people.
Accepting compliments about your work. Women often dismiss
kudos aimed at them because they don’t want to appear conceited.
While it’s ok to be humble and to share credit with others, don’t
downplay your achievements and don’t allow others to diminish
your contributions.

womenforhire.com 7
What IMAGE do you see of yourself?
WE’RE BIG ON ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO BE GUTSY IN THEIR CAREERS.
THIS MEANS STEPPING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONES TO TAKE RISKS
AND SEEK CHALLENGES. WE ASKED FOUR GUTSY GALS IN DIFFERENT
INDUSTRIES TO SHARE THEIR COURAGEOUS MOVES.
Yo u ' r e u n i q u e .
You've always been the one to come up with innovative
ideas, the one whose talents drive the group faster and take it
farther. At Canon U.S.A., we're looking for those people who
stand apart from the crowd. Our exceptional teams encounter
no boundaries. We encourage ingenuity and passion – it's what
takes us and our employees to the top. If you'd like to be part
of a company where you can develop your career with your
own style, look no further! Discover more about the success
and opportunities Canon can offer you. Benefits include
competitive salaries, profit sharing, a 401K plan, and more.
To view all job opportunities or to apply online,
please visit our website www.usa.canon.com
click on "Careers."
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V.
{gutsiest moves} GUTSY GALS
“No doubt about it, I made my gutsiest move nine years ago when I transferred with Dell from
Mexico City to global headquarters in Austin, Texas. I knew little about the demands of corporate
America and could not foresee the impact on my career and family.
Despite a few difficulties, I never have regretted the decision.
Professionally, I’ve had unique experiences and have assumed greater responsibility within Dell, a
company that opened a whole new world for me. Personally, although my husband and I are
Mexican, we are now raising two wonderful children who are 100 percent Texan.”
VIVIAN KOBEH, SENIOR MANAGER,
DIVERSITY, ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMUNICATIONS / DELL INC.
“The gutsiest move of my career was to create a job that did not exist. I needed an outlet for my cre-
ative skill and the stability of the corporate environment. At the time, I worked in the Competition
Department of the company and there was a curiously cool graphic station in our area. I found out
that the company paid graphic artists to come in when needed to develop presentations. I contacted
a graphics instructor and asked about the cost of onsite training.
Guess which was most cost effective? That's right: to train me and have me become the new presen-
tation guru. Three months later I was a key player of the newly formed Marketing Department.”
ANGELA G. DANIELS, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT,
WOMEN'S MARKETS / NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
“The gutsiest move I ever made was taking my brand new college degree and moving to Chicago to
accept a job as a management trainee with a rental car company I had never heard of.
Fortunately, that company was Enterprise and I was offered amazing opportunities to learn—not just
about renting cars, but about customer service, marketing and leadership. It was certainly a risk at
the time, as Enterprise was a much smaller and less well-known company, but it was a risk I had to
take, and 14 years later, I’m so glad I did!”
MARIE ARTIM, ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT,
RECRUITING / ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR
“In 2000, when I served as Regional Personnel Manager, I found that a number of the concerns
shared by women managers were the same ones I struggled with early in my career: stress manage-
ment, conflict resolution, work/life balance.
I pulled several of these managers together for a ‘Women in Leadership’ development seminar. I
didn't ask for permission to pull managers out of their stores, to pay for their travel and accommoda-
tions, or to create my first true 'open forum' sharing and learning seminar. The format allowed
women to share their experiences and encouraged those who had ‘been there’ to nod their heads and
speak up about solutions they’d found.
We grew the number of seminars for the region each year and measured outcomes. You can't imag-
ine the thrill I felt when we expanded this to the entire company.”
MICHELLE WHITEHEAD, DIRECTOR,
PROFESSIONAL RECRUITMENT AND CAMPUS RELATIONS / WAL-MART STORES, INC.
womenforhire.com 9
{bulletin board}
GET AHEAD
GET SMART SPRING 2006 with Women For Hire’s
CAREER FAIRS Brand New National
with ABC’s
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Good Morning America
Tune-in from 7 to 9am weekdays to the WASHINGTON, DC:
MARCH 2 Take advantage of all that Women
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For Hire has to offer by creating a
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“Don’t expect a big raise or bonus if you do

what’s expected of you. For that you get a
weekly paycheck. If you want more, you’ve
got to do more, going above and beyond the
basics of your job.”
Tory Johnson on
Good Morning America
GET CONNECTED
with the Women For Hire Network
None of us can do it all on our own. We need a support system that
includes professional women who shares our struggles and successes.
Join the all-new Women For Hire Network to benefit from connection
with other members. You can also submit your career-related questions to
“Ask Tory & Team” to receive personalized feedback from our CEO and
her crack staff of pros within 24 hours. You’ll be invited to dial in to
monthly conference calls hosted by various special guests, including
authors and industry experts. Visit womenforhire.com for details and to
register today.

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>à >˜ ˆ˜`ÕÃÌÀÞ i>`iÀ° DONATELLA ARPAIA QUIT PRACTIC-
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better for it.
3FBEZ UP KPJO PVS UFBN “I grew up in a foodie environment,’’

««Þ œ˜ˆ˜i ̜`>Þ vœÀ vՏ‡Ìˆ“i >˜` «>À̇̈“i «œÃˆÌˆœ˜Ã\ says Arpaia, who has mastered the art of
FDUHHUVKRPHGHSRWFRP combining her business savvy with a pas-
sion for all-things food. “I’m dynamic
and the restaurant world has lots of
es on these front-of-the-house duties,
while partnering with the hottest chefs,
who handle the kitchen.
Raised on Long Island by parents who
came to the United States from Italy with
nothing, Arpaia was nudged in the direc-
tion of law by a restaurateur father who
stressed education and independence.
There was just one problem for Arpaia,
who showed a natural aptitude for law by
passing the bar exam the first time she
took it: “I absolutely hated it,’’ she says.
Arpaia had first-hand knowledge of the
demands and the risks of the restaurant
business from watching her father and
brother, but that didn’t deter her from
renting a space and putting a law career
behind her. She secured a loan, which she
repaid within seven months, and negotiat-
ed a favorable lease, while earning a rep-
utation for her hospitality, style, and
vision.
Whether it is entertaining politicos like
focuses on making each guest feel wel-
come, which is why Zagat’s crowned her
a “hostess with the mostest.”
She has also expanded well beyond the
restaurants to books and the Internet, with
a television show also in the works.
Arpaia provides seasonal tips and recipes
on the website for Spiegel Catalogs,
where she works as an entertainment con-
sultant. On her own site,
donatellastyle.com, she offers specialty
products including, tomato sauce, almond
cookies, and olive oil.
Arpaia also mentors and empowers her
female employees. “I try to inspire the
women in my organization and promote
from within. I’m big on loyalty.’’
Perhaps even greater than her culinary
talents is the example Arpaia sets for
other career women. She wasn’t afraid
to follow her inner voice, and, by giving
up one path and starting over in another,
she’s found the essential ingredients to
exceptional personal and professional
/…i œ“i i«œÌ ˆÃ >˜
µÕ> "««œÀÌ՘ˆÌÞ
“«œÞiÀ° ˆˆ˜}Õ>ÊV>˜`ˆ`>ÌiÃÊ>ÀiÊi˜VœÕÀ>}i`Ê̜Ê>««Þ°Ê aspects—public relations, creativity, pres- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg or success.
"WBJMBCMF QPTJUJPOT NBZ WBSZ CZ TUPSF
womenforhire.com 15
 { go getters
WHEN SHE’S NOT JUGGLING TWO
JOBS AS THE DIRECTOR OF A TOP SPA
And there is only one you.
As the world's largest bottler of nonalcoholic beverages, we can IN NEW JERSEY AND AS A FREELANCE
MAKEUP ARTIST IN NEW YORK CITY,
offer individuals with your unique brand of talent, drive and
LORA CONDON VENTURES INTO A
MUCH DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT
vision, a career with numerous advantages. We provide global
opportunities, exciting career paths, excellent compensation and THAN SEAWEED WRAPS AND AIR-
benefits, and a dynamic, positive culture that is truly our own. BRUSHED FACES.
There's only ONE you... It also happens to be the place where she
has found a way to combine a lifelong
and we'd like to get to know you better.
passion with her entrepreneurial interests.
Log in and complete your online profile.
Condon, 35, devotes her time outside the
www.cokecce.com/careers beauty arena to working with abused and
abandoned animals that were originally
slated for the slaughterhouse.
An animal lover since her youth, Condon
Our People. Our Products. Our Pride.
sought an apprenticeship with a horse
whisperer in her area, and also became
certified in equine reiki, a centuries-old
hands-on therapy. This training has
enabled her to promote holistic health to
horses, in addition to her expertise with
people.
“Since horses are sixty percent muscle,
Getting acquainted with talented people is important to our success. Tell us about your skills, education, goals and experience by creating your professional more than half their bodies have the
profile on our newly redesigned career site. Search our current openings, complete an online profile and instantly seek your dream job using our concept potential for strains, pulls, and other
search technology. You can also set up a search agent which will send you automatic e-mail notifications of future positions that match your interests.
injuries,” says Condon. “Keeping horses
loose and pain-free through massage
Explore Opportunities in these Functional Areas: enables them to perform at optimal capac-
ity, which can be equally important for
Sales/Management Operations (Production/Warehouse) racing and mounted patrol.”
Distribution/Logistics Finance/Accounting/Internal Audit
Service/Repair Human Resources She started offering her services to a local
farm, and has since expanded to work
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. and its Bottling Companies are an equal opportunity/drug free employer requiring drug and background checks on all new hires. with the New York Police Department.
"Coca-Cola" is a trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
She says her clients recognize the
improved balance, motion and awareness
in the animals she treats.
Named Kneaded Touch, Condon has
expanded her offerings to include pro-
grams for dogs, which have similar skele-
tal structure to horses. Her fees range
from $40 to $60 per treatment and fortu-
nately, her day jobs continue to provide
steady income to lean on while the busi-
ness is in its infancy.
To spread the word, Condon consistently
thinks of ways to promote her work,
using marketing tactics as simple as wear-
ing a shirt with her logo to flooding sta-
bles, veterinary offices, and pet stores
Photo by Alex Gomez
womenforhire.com
HEALING
HANDS:
LORA
CONDON
with business cards and brochures about
her services.
“There’ll always be someone to tell you
no,” says Condon, who recognizes the
need for non-stop networking. “You
never know who you will meet who will
need your services or who’ll know some-
one else who does.”
While it’s easy to become complacent in
a current position rather than pursuing
your passion on the side, Condon believes
there are four ways to stay motivated and
juggle multiple priorities:
• Do one thing each day to move your
new business forward.
• Constantly hone your networking skills.
• Evaluate what you are willing to lose,
and don’t be afraid to fail.
• Don’t worry about being too old to try
something new.
It would have been easy to abandon her
dream of starting a business by blaming a
busy schedule, but that didn’t deter
Condon from rising extra early in the
mornings to head to the stables before
reporting to her day spa. She knows that
discipline will pay off.
“Life’s not always a straight path,” she
says. “If you have been doing one thing
for twenty years, it doesn’t mean that you
have to be doing that for the next twenty
years.”
Kneaded Touch – Horse and Dog
Massage 973-715-3826
17
 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
{
go getters
AT BANK OF THE WEST,
WE VALUE THE INDIVIDUAL.
A BODY OF LUXURIOUS WORK:
JEENA HUNGET
A shopping trip in 1998 in search of some
new bed sheets ended up planting the
Different perspectives generate fresh ideas. That’s why at Bank of the West, we value diversity seed that allowed Jeena Hunget to create
her ideal life.
of gender and equal opportunity for our female employees. Year after year, we continue to
grow stronger thanks to our unique blend of people. After all, in today’s competitive banking “I thought, ‘Why buy 500 thread count
sheets when I don’t have 500 thread
environment, it is our employees with innovative ideas that keep us a step ahead of the rest. count pajamas?’’ says this 32-year-old
mother of two.
www.bankofthewest.com
She woke up on New Year’s Day in 2005
and decided to work on her third baby,
Body Linens, her line of luxurious one-
hundred percent Egyptian cotton sleep-
wear.
Armed with a college degree in marketing
with an emphasis on retailing and mer-
chandising, as well as experience as an
assistant buyer for a major retailer,
Member FDIC
Photo by Jason Pirtle
Hunget was determined to get her dream
off the ground.
“These things helped me prepare for the
business venture, but I also learned so
much along the way,” she says. “It has
taken a lot of hard work and perseverance
and there were many bumps. Many things
took more time and money than I initially
thought, but in the end, I know my prod-
uct is better because of it.’’
She started with research on the Internet
to find fabric, which led to a trip to New
York, where she met with fabric manufac-
turers from around the world and discov-
ered the perfect match for her collection.
She returned home to Russellville,
Missouri and instantly got to work on
designing a line of sleepwear.
womenforhire.com
With the basics accomplished, Hunget
threw her energy into developing a web-
site (bodylinens.com) that would drive
sales. “I knew this was the key to our
success, and I wanted to make sure it
looked professional.’’
Recognizing that she didn’t have the
required expertise, Hunget hired a pho-
tographer to shoot all of her products and
a web developer to design a logo and the
site.
“The first day the website was up and
running was so exciting,’’ she says of the
official launch. “I have my very first
order–it was from my sister–prominently
displayed in my office I also have my
first order from someone I don’t know
hanging beside it.”
“I had been thinking and talking about the
idea of offering pajamas by thread count
for eight years and seeing my dream
become a reality has not only been an
achievement for myself, but for my entire
family,’’ Hunget says.
Products from Body Linens were includ-
ed in gift baskets at TBS’s 1st Annual
Comedy Festival, which drew the atten-
tion of Seinfeld’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus,
who sent a thank-you note acknowledging
how she loved the sleepwear. The paja-
mas have also been included in gift guru
Lash Fary’s media tour for his new book
Fabulous Gifts as an example of just that.
This year Hunget is focused on increasing
name recognition, search engine position-
ing, and product selection. Men’s and
women’s robes, boxer shorts for men,
matching children’s pajamas, and addi-
tional colors and styles for men and
women are slated to be introduced this
year. She designs every product herself,
from a $50 nightie to a $125 classic pajama.
Since that innocent day of shopping for
sheets triggered an idea, Hunget has
found the perfect balance between her
business and personal life.
“I am so lucky,’’ she says. “I honestly
have the best of both worlds. I own a
business that I’m in love with, which also
allows me to be at home.’’ Can’t argue
with that.
19
 { go getters
FINANCING FUTURES:
NELL MERLINO
NELL MERLINO KNOWS THAT WHILE ASPIRING FEMALE
ENTREPRENEURS OFTEN HAVE A HOST OF INNOVATIVE
IDEAS,THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS ONE MAJOR OBSTACLE
BLOCKING THEIR PATH TO SUCCESS — MONEY.
That’s why in 1999 she co-founded Count-Me-In for Women’s
Economic Independence, an online service that provides women
with access to business loans, consultation, and education. The
organization makes business loans between $500 and $10,000
available to women across the country who often have a harder
time accessing financing than male business owners. It has given
approximately 700 business loans to about a quarter of the peo-
ple who have applied.
Photo courtesy of Count-Me-In
womenforhire.com
The loans are funded by donations raised through the private and
corporate sectors, as well as Invest in Women Notes from the
Calvert Foundation, a socially responsible institution that sup-
ports community development organizations.
Merlino, 52, now has taken matters a step further with the for-
mation of Make Mine a $Million, a new part of the Count-Me-In
program. Only six percent of women-owned businesses have
revenues of a million dollars or more, and her goal is to show
women with micro-businesses the path to getting to the million
dollar mark. Women who have been in business at least two
years with at least $250,000 in revenue, with “real evidence and
opportunity to get to $1 million,” are encouraged to apply for a
loan, says Merlino.
Seven women who were accepted into the Make Mine A
$Million program started with financing from Count-Me-In,
which demonstrates that even a small amount of money to get
started can go a long way. Whether it is $3,000 for equipment
or other needs, Merlino says, “We loan the money because when
you are borrowing, you are expanding.”
When considering an applicant for a loan in the Count-Me-In
program, the premise of the business, the applicant’s experience
with the product or service she is offering, credit rating, and the
presence of any family members who run their own businesses
are all taken into account.
While Merlino believes “all business owners are creative,” their
chances of success are heavily weighted in the application
process. She recounts a woman who had an innovative proposal
for an upscale line of dog biscuits, but lived in an area that did
not have the upscale clientele to support her product.
The Count-Me-In website (count-me-in.org) is a valuable
resource for women looking to start their own businesses, with
features ranging from a starter checklist to the “Biz Line” where
users can e-mail questions and receive responses from Merlino’s
team within 48 hours.
Thirteen years after conceiving and producing the Take Our
Daughters to Work Day initiative for the Ms. Foundation in
1993, Merlino’s passion for empowering women to succeed in
their work is still unwavering.
“Women must have confidence in their vision,’’ Merlino says.
“That is the whole idea of business.’’
21
 Always look professional.
An unusual handbag or eye-
catching pin can double as
a great conversation piece.
If ever in doubt, take the
conservative route.

Networking Necessities: 1Attire For Hire

13 Stylish Steps to Success
Rehearse a 30 second spiel Keep them handy at all times, a Mint
about who you are and what not just while attending Details make a difference.
In A you have to offer so you’re professional events. To avoid Make sure your mouth is
prepared when asked. Make mix-ups, separate your own minty fresh before any
it short, snappy and to the cards from those you collect. kind of encounter. Fresh
Nutshell point.Practice in front of a Presentation counts, so avoid
P P breath is also a great
mirror or for friends until it dog-eared cards in rubber- confidence booster.
sounds comfortable, banded wads. Ask for a
compelling, and engaging. contact’s card while offering
3 your own.

Business
Card Cool
IN OUT

Attend formal and informal Arrive early to survey the

2 Go Where
People Go
events – from professional
association meetings,
career fairs, and industry
conferences to parties, picnics,
and book lectures. Research
4 room. Scan name tags that
interest you. Approach top
people first, like the guest of
honor or a keynote speaker,
who may become busy later
people and companies on. It’s often easier to talk
anticipated to attend so you to people who are alone
can wow them with your than those in a group.
knowledge. i

5
6
Work it, Girl!Ê

“What do you do?,” “How’d you Not only will it help make you
Listen get started?," or“What’s your appear more approachable, a
connection to the host?” are welcoming smile puts people –
Up good icebreakers. A compliment and you -- at ease in a new
always works too - either about setting.
something they’re wearing or a
tidbit you’ve read or heard about
them. Your immediate goal isn’t
always to land a job; it’s to make An
a strong contact.
All–Purpose
8
Smile

A firm handshake – not a weak Remembering names makes you The food line is a great place to
or clammy one – is professional more memorable. Repeat their meet people, but think twice
and makes a strong first
impression.
7 HELLO
The Name
Game
name as you’re introduced; then
say your own so they’ll have a
chance to remember it. “Hello
Emma Johnson, it’s nice to meet
you. I’m Taylor Smith.”
Cafeteria 101
11 about carrying around a plate
of hors d’oeuvres. Only an
octopus can shake hands,
exchange business cards and
nosh on those pigs-in-a-blanket
all at once. Have a snack before
an event so you’re energized
and focused on making
9 new contacts.

Shake it, Baby

10
Send a note within 24 hours It’s not over yet, so don’t drop
thanking your new contact for the ball. Remain top of mind
their time. If necessary, remind with your new contacts by
them of who you are and Keep politely staying in touch with
suggest a follow-up step. Are calls, emails or gentle
A Notable they going to refer you to Following Up reminders. Let someone know
someone else? Provide you they’ve made a difference by
Thank You with another contact? helping you.
Pass your resume along?
Offer to reciprocate the favor.

12 13
 { go getters
A 34-year-old mother of three, Tara
Aronson has turned a season often associ-
ated with drudgery into a business dis-
pensing tips for lessening the boredom
and monotony of spring cleaning.
What began as a simple freelance article
about cleaning for The San Francisco
Chronicle nearly a decade ago has
grown into several books, cleaning
tips dispensed via the Internet at
mrscleanjeans.com, and television
appearances for a woman now dubbed
“Mrs. Clean Jeans.” Aronson received
such a large response to that initial piece
in the Chronicle that it led to a twice-
monthly column in the Home section of
the paper, and she eventually scored a
book deal in 2003 with the help of a liter-
ary agent.
“After the first book, my credentials as
an expert were secured, and I received
my first offer to appear on television to
discuss organizing family life,” says
Aronson, who has since received a steady
demand for her work. “Today, I’m limited
only in the amount of time I am willing to
work on magazine and newspaper assign-
ments or travel to TV appearances.’’
By 2004, she had published her second
book, Mrs. Clean Jeans Housekeeping
with Kids, and her latest offering is
Spring Cleaning, a tip guide to the sym-
bolic break from the cold to warm weath-
er that often involves a home makeover
of sorts.
“After being indoors for an entire season,
it’s time to throw open the windows and
do all the deep cleaning that we haven’t
done during the winter months,” says
Aronson, who earned the “Mrs. Clean
Jeans’’ moniker after instructing her best
friend from high school on how to wash
toddler denims.
Aronson’s dedication and hard work
demonstrate that she’s not only handy
around the house; she’s also a smart
career woman. Follow in her footsteps
by declaring your expertise and building a
following for your knowledge, just as
she’s done in the area of cleaning. There
are several smart and simple ways to
begin spreading the word about who you
are and the knowledge you have to offer:
• Submit articles to newspapers and trade
publications in your industry.
• Offer to chair a committee at your com-
pany or a charity of your choice.
• Speak at conferences.
womenforhire.com
MAKING GREEN
FROM ADVICE
THAT’S CLEAN:
TARA ARONSON
• Share your knowledge and advice in
alumni bulletins.
• Start a monthly e-newsletter for friends
and family, asking them to pass it on.
ARONSON’S ECO-SMART ADVICE
Part of spring cleaning includes rid-
ding your home of unwanted and
unused items. These are three fresh
ways to discard those objects while
helping the environment and others
at the same time.
TECH EQUIPMENT: sharetechnology.org
This site introduces you to ways that
your old computer can help non-
profit organizations and people with
disabilities.
EYEGLASSES: lenscrafters.com
Store locations accept drop-off
donations, which the company makes
good as new and delivers to those in
need in developing countries.
MOBILE PHONES: collectivegood.com
Donate phones, pagers, and PDAs.
Three simple steps allow you to
choose the charity you want to sup-
port, with categories from animals
to international aid.
25
 are as diverse as our business.
{ go getters

Diversity is about embracing all that is different about ourselves - ideas, people,
experiences and opportunities. Our differences are bound together by our common
business goals. We firmly believe that a commitment to diversity is critical to our
company's future success.

Albertsons is totally committed to diversity at every level of the company. Even

more important to us is our fundamental belief that diversity is at the core of our
ability to grow and become the best employer and best marketer in the world.

We are proud to support Women for Hire.

Plan to visit us at the
Women for Hire Spring Career Expos in
Chicago at Navy Pier on March 7th,
Los Angeles at Sheraton Gateway on April 4th and
Boston at Sheraton Boston on April 11th. BOOK SMART:
www.albertsons.com ROBYN SPIZMAN
Robyn Freedman Spizman, a highly-accomplished author and
television and radio personality, wants to bring out the bestseller
in all of us. She’s coached hundreds of would-be authors on
every step of the publishing process—from how to develop their
ideas to promoting their work to book buyers everywhere. Now
she’s partnered with expert Rick Frishman on a new series,
Author 101™, designed to deliver their success secrets to both
aspiring and accomplished writers.
“Many women have a book inside of them that’s screaming to
break out, but they don’t know where to start,” says Spizman,
who notes that writing is a wonderful way to share your message
with the world and position yourself as an expert in any chosen
field.
Yet publishing is a complex and highly competitive business tra-
ditionally dominated by “fixed ideas, set procedures, and gate-
keepers that vigilantly filter what makes it through,” she says.
“To succeed as an author, you must go through a rigorous
process, which starts with a well-written proposal that includes
an overview of your topic, a bio, the competition, sample chap-
ters, and how you’ll lead the promotional efforts of your work.”
To get you started, here are some of Spizman and Frishman’s
book basics:
DETERMINE YOUR BIG IDEA. “The first step in creating your
book is coming up with a great idea deserving of an entire book.
What separates a great book idea from being a magazine article
is that you can elaborate on the topic with enough benefit that
actually warrants a few hundred pages. Since the book market is
wallowing in volumes on every subject imaginable, the central
theme of your book must be unique. It must strike a nerve that
hasn’t been touched because publishers won’t waste time on
uneventful manuscripts.”
A BOOK IS A BUSINESS. “As an author, book sales must
always be foremost in your mind. Initially, you must convince
yourself by finding a theme in which you passionately believe
and will devote endless hours of time promoting. Then you must
sell an agent, a publisher, and the reading public. Give signifi-
cant thought to the audience for your book and how you’ll reach
that group to sell books. Your ability to promote your work—
through speaking engagements, a press tour, an Internet cam-
paign, and more—will often determine if your book gets pub-
lished. Attend book signings and join a writing class to connect
with people in the literary and publishing industries. Explore
major publishing houses, small publishers, and even e-books to
get your work out there.”
ANTICIPATE CHALLENGES. “Everyone faces obstacles in the
process, so you won’t be alone if any of this happens to you.
Writer’s block, rejection letters, failed promotional strategies are
a few of the common publishing problems. In Author 101™ we
focus extensively on how to avoid them.”
Visit author101.com for advice and to learn how you can enter
to win a publishing contract.

womenforhire.com 27
equal opportunity employer supporting diversity and a drug-free work environment
RAISING A CHAMPION
AND BATTLING A BULLY:
LINDA ARMSTRONG
Despite weathering several abusive
relationships and the hardship of being a
single mother, Linda Armstrong always
encouraged her son to pursue his athletic
goals. And while raising her boy, she
displayed the toughness and determina-
tion to forge ahead through life’s unex-
pected obstacles that would one day
prepare her son Lance to battle cancer
and become a seven-time champion of
the world’s most prestigious cycling
event, the Tour de France.
Her own fight against an uphill battle in
life while raising a future athletic super-
star is the subject of her book, No
Mountain High Enough – Raising Lance,
Raising Me. “I always had a hope and
dream that I could rise above it,” she says
about the troubles in her life.
Armstrong, 52, got her GED in 1970, had
the courage to walk away from a mar-
riage rife with mental abuse and infideli-
ty, and earned a real estate license in
1990. Today, after 15 years as a global
account manager with a technology giant,
she is involved in fundraising, advocating
for children, and addressing issues that
include teenage pregnancy and domestic
abuse (lindaarmstong.com). She also
works as an unofficial spokesperson for
the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which
has raised millions of dollars to fight can-
cer.
Raised in Dallas as the oldest of three
children and the daughter of an alcoholic
father, Armstrong took on babysitting
jobs at age ten. Her escape was watching
the Donna Reed Show, the embodiment
of the perfect family she hoped one day
to have. Yet in high school, she dated
the captain of the football team and got
pregnant. Her mother didn’t approve and
forced her to move out.
The romance turned abusive, forcing her
to drop out of school and take on clerical
and receptionist work to support little
Lance. “I didn’t have a soft place to land
because I had no skills,” she says. “But
I’m like a seed. Where you plant me, I
will blossom.”
When Lance was three, she got married
and began a decade of mental abuse that
she eventually brought to an end because
it was affecting more than just her life.
“I believe in marriage and that people
should be together,’’ she says. “I kept
thinking he would change. I didn’t want
Photo courtesy of Linda Armstrong
to fail, and I always had a hope and
dream that I could rise above it. But this
was affecting Lance.”
As a mother, Armstrong has always been
at the top of her game. Even with the
backdrop of a difficult childhood, she
pushed Lance to set goals and to pursue
his dreams. “Follow your heart,” she told
him, adding, “I’ll do the rest.’’ She’s
always believed that part of parenting is
to “find the one thing that children are
passionate about, and support it.”
womenforhire.com
{ conquerers
When Lance moved out at 18, she felt
like her right arm had been cut off. Yet
ever the optimist, Armstrong recalls
thinking, “You’ve got to love them and
let them go.”
Having undergone therapy to help heal
the psychological scars of her earlier rela-
tionships, she married Ed Kelly, a retired
IBM executive, in 2002. They enjoy a
healthy, loving relationship outside of
Dallas. This petite and charming dynamo
is now able to talk about her challenging
life experiences, which once made her
feel alone and ashamed. “I am at peace
knowing that I can help other people.”
As for those ubiquitous yellow Livestrong
wristbands, Armstrong wears two of them
“because I’m the mom!”
Armstrong’s will to overcome hardship
— to find “the diamond in the dumpster,
the blessing in every bummer” — is
transferable to your own career trials.
Use her shining example to win yourself
a yellow jersey in the workplace.
HOPE: A good attitude and optimistic
outlook are the first steps in your journey
to success. Follow that up with solid,
realistic goals that’ll get you to the
finish line.
HELP YOURSELF: Counseling and educa-
tion were two key elements that helped
Armstrong pull ahead of the pack. You
can help yourself too – by seeking help
for your challenges, taking a course, or
sharpening your existing skills.
HELP OTHERS: Armstrong shares her
story to help others in trying circum-
stances to overcome the odds. Reach out
to your clients, co-workers, and friends in
need. You’ll not only feel good about
yourself, but you’ll build a reservoir of
goodwill.
29
REACH
REACH
REACH
IMAGINE
IMAGINE
IMAGINE One Firm,
FOCUS
FOCUS
FOCUS
PURSUE
PURSUE
PURSUE
REACH
REACH
REACH
IMAGINE
IMAGINE
IMAGINE
FOCUS
FOCUS
FOCUS
PURSUE
PURSUE
PURSUE
REFUSING
TO BE A VICTIM:
CINDI BROADDUS
{ conquerers

REACH IMAGINE FOCUS PURSUE REACH IMAGINE FOCUS PURSUE

REACH
REACH
REACH
IMAGINE
IMAGINE
IMAGINE
Many Pathways
FOCUS
FOCUS
FOCUS
PURSUE
PURSUE
PURSUE
REACH
REACH
REACH
IMAGINE
IMAGINE
IMAGINE
FOCUS
FOCUS
FOCUS
PURSUE
PURSUE
PURSUE
She had already endured the deaths of her parents in a four-year span, a failed marriage,
and the challenge of raising her three daughters as a single parent, but apparently all that
hardship for Cindi Broaddus was preparation for the harrowing night of June 5, 2001.

While riding in the passenger seat with a companion in the middle of the night on a trip
Imagine being a part of an organization where you can go from Newcastle, Oklahoma to San Diego, Broaddus suddenly found herself covered in
as far as you can dream. deadly sulfuric acid after an assailant flung a gallon of it off a bridge and through the
windshield of the car. The only thing that stood between Broaddus and death turned out
Imagine being a vital part of the solutions that help mid- to be her choice of footwear that day. She had worn sneakers instead of sandals, protect-
sized businesses become extraordinary… while also ing her feet enough from the burning
achieving great personal satisfaction. acid for the doctors to administer the
You have the power to contribute to the new, inspiring morphine shots to alleviate the excruciat-
growth driven vision of this organization. ing pain.
RSM McGladrey is a leading provider of financially focused business
services to midsized companies. It has an alternative practice structure After numerous surgeries and reconstruc-
with McGladrey & Pullen LLP, a partner-owned CPA firm which delivers audit and attest services. When tive procedures, Broaddus thought about
considered together, the two companies rank as the fifth largest provider of accounting, tax services and her three grown daughters and realized
business consulting in the U.S. RSM McGladrey recently acquired American Express Tax and Business she had two options: “Either I am going
Services, which ranked fifth in Crain’s list of the New York area’s accounting firms. to be a survivor who feels sorry for
In the New York region, RSM McGladrey has a continuing professional services relationship with McGladrey myself, or I am going to go out and try to
& Pullen LLP and with Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP, licensed public accounting firms, both of which provide make the world a better place,” she says.
audit and attest services. Though separate and independent legal entities, they can work together to serve
clients’ business needs. All three firms are members of RSM International, an affiliation of separate and She also found a way to look at the les-
independent entities. sons of personal growth and discovery
As an accountant in our New York offices, you will be part of a team that provides innovative solutions for brought on by this catastrophic event,
the financial and consulting needs of growing businesses in the middle market arena. New York area clients despite the fact that the perpetrator was
include manufacturing, distribution, service, not-for-profit, healthcare organizations, real estate, small busi- never caught. “Had this not happened to
ness, and hedge-funds/broker dealers. me, I probably would never have gone
We currently have openings for Associates, Senior Associates, and Photo courtesy of Cindi Broaddus, pictured with her three daughters outside of my comfort zone,” she says.
Managers across our varied industry groups, in both Audit and Tax.
In addition to a very competitive salary, we offer an outstanding benefit After transitioning from an at-home mother to an advertising salesperson with a local
program, including 401(k) plan with employer match, tuition assistance, cable station to put her daughters through school, Broaddus found a new calling follow-
medical/dental/vision insurance and assistance and time to prepare for ing her near-death ordeal. She wrote A Random Act, which features the lessons she
the CPA exam. We also offer ongoing training and development as well as learned from that night, and still finds time to go on the public-speaking circuit. Helping
unlimited career potential. her spread her message along the way has been her brother-in-law, Dr. Phil McGraw, who
Learn more about us, and to apply online, please visit featured her on his show in 2002 and 2005.
www.rsmmcgladrey.com/careers/careersmain.html
Broaddus has also experienced a small taste of politics, teaming up with a state senator in
West Side Office 1185 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036-2702 Tel 212.372.1000 Fax 212.372.1001 Oklahoma to push through legislation that became the Cindi Broaddus Act, which makes
East Side Office 750 Third Avenue Ninth Floor New York, NY 10017-2719 Tel 212.986.3900 Fax 212.697.9182 it a felony to throw anything from a bridge or overpass in their state.

RSM McGladrey is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Years of skin grafts after that nightmarish evening, Broaddus refuses to dwell on why it
happened to her. Triumphantly, she is not consumed with hatred for the person who com-
mitted the heinous act. “Forgiveness is a gift that we give ourselves,” says this eternal
optimist. “I didn’t want to be bitter, and I didn’t want my children and grandkids to bear
that burden.”

“Being a victim gets you nowhere,” says Broaddus. “Make every day count. We are all
here on the earth for some reason.”

womenforhire.com 31
 { do gooders
BUILDING A MUSEUM
WORKING WOMEN
CAN CALL THEIR OWN:
KATHERINE HONEY Artist Jennifer DeDonato’s “First Ladies of the Sky: Soaring to New
Heights” honors Harriet Quimby, the first licensed female pilot in 1911

Intrigued by the notion that many women do well in math and
science in high school, yet do not pursue those fields in college,
SPECIAL AGENTS Katherine Honey did some digging.
The unsettling discovery of photos only depicting career women
listening and serving led Honey, 61, to do something big about
You have the power to changing the continued stereotypes of women in the workplace.
She created the Women at Work Museum in Attleboro, Mass.,
which honors the achievements of women and provides educa-
combat drug trafficking. tional programs that promote leadership, economic independ-
ence, and careers in math, science, engineering, and technology.
“Men and women have the same stereotypical attitudes about
Infiltrate criminal organizations. As a DEA Special Agent, you will investigate unlawful
women and their abilities, and that comes from our experiences
activities surrounding the trafficking of illegal drugs in the US. Enforce domestic laws
and common culture,” says Honey, who has been president of
and regulations. Arrest criminals who grow, manufacture and distribute these substances
the museum since it opened in 2003. “Part of the goal of the
worldwide. Shut down their operations, and bring them to justice. It’s a challenge we
museum is to break down differences.” In just two years, five
take on every day — and it depends on your instincts in the field, as you collect and
major exhibits and 35 events showcasing women’s accomplish-
analyze information, collaborate with local, national and international agencies, and
ments have been hosted at the museum supporting that vision.
prosecute major violators. This is a mission like no other. Make it yours. DEA is an
equal opportunity employer. www.dea.gov Open on Saturdays only, more than three thousand individuals
have visited the museum to date. With the launch of the muse-
We invite you to visit the DEA booth at any of the Women for Hire Career Expos
um's website (womenatworkmuseum.org), and the presentation
we will be attending this year. If unable, we challenge you to visit the DEA website,
of engaging events such as the Clara Barton Thank You Tea, the
www.dea.gov, to learn more and see if you qualify.
Dream it! Design it! program, and the opening of the exhibit
Women in Transport, Honey anticipates that visitors will exceed
five thousand this year.
U.S. Department of Justice
“My contribution to the success of the museum is directly relat-
DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION ed to my ability to communicate, collaborate, plan, manage,
TOUGH W O R K. V I TA L M I S S I O N. market, develop educational programs, match projects with qual-
ified volunteers, foster collaborative relationships, and to use
womenforhire.com
electronic devices and systems,” says Honey, whose biggest
challenge is pacing herself and the museum’s growth over the
next five years. “These skills have been developed over the past
forty years in my work as a classroom teacher, business owner,
and community activist.”
Currently on tap is a major fundraising initiative. “The goal of
the capital campaign is to raise $250,000 now, with a total of
three million dollars raised by the end of 2008,” says Honey.
Funds will be used to create a library, exhibit space, an area for
business meetings and educational programs, and a performance
and conference center with seating for 450 people. Given the
museum’s mission, the center will boast the latest technology,
including video conferencing to support mentoring efforts for
school-age students, communication with organizations around
the world for museum partnerships, and the development of
expertise in math, science, engineering, and technology for a
multicultural audience of all ages.
“I am working to ensure that the museum will have a variety of
revenue sources including grants, fundraising events, personal
and organizational development programs, and original products
with limited availability,” says Honey. The museum’s first prod-
uct is a note card that incorporates an original paper illustration
created for the “Women Who Fly” exhibit by Jennifer
DeDonato, which will be available for sale through September.
“People are very excited about what we have accomplished and
want to help increase the museum’s visibility and initiate
fundraising efforts,” says Honey. “We are ready to move this
incredible institution to a world wide arena.”
33
 { do gooders
While scanning an article detailing the
plight of a group of South Korean girls
who had been forced into prostitution at a
massage parlor near her hometown,
Katherine Chon couldn’t help but be
struck by a sobering realization.
She could have been one of those girls.
Born in South Korea, Chon knew that had
circumstances been different, she may
OPENING THE have well been part of the third largest
criminal industry in the world: the selling
$600,000, due in large part to grants from
such outlets as the U.S. Department of
State, the Fund for Nonviolence, and pri-
vate donors.
Polaris is the northern star that guided the
slaves to freedom during the time of the
American Underground Railroad, and the
Polaris Project, which fights a form of
modern slavery, has since become a
beacon in several cities, with volunteers
populating chapters in Los Angeles,
Seattle, Boston, and Denver, as well

WORLD’S EYES: of people into human slavery. Determined

to do something about a nefarious practice
that ranks in size behind only arms and
W HAT CA N
KATHERINE drug dealing among criminal practices
C H I L D H O O D F R I E N D S H I P worldwide, Chon formed the non-profit
as an office in Japan. The group provides
training and technical assistance about
combating trafficking to over 75 federal
and local law enforcement agencies
across the country. Its office in Tokyo

TEACH US ABOUT CHON Polaris Project during her senior year at

Brown University
operates the first 24-hour toll-free hotline
in Japan where citizens can report
in 2002. instances of trafficking.
CAREER GROWTH?
The organization “How we do what we do is so important,”
provides emer- says Chon, noting that it starts by pushing
gency shelter and the envelope, and not being afraid to adapt
It’s a learning experience and you never want it to end. comprehensive and revise. “Very often people have diffi-
case management culty letting go of things that don’t work.
to victims of traf- Yet we see ourselves as a social change
ficking, which is laboratory, where we can scrap something
Your early experiences are a powerful force. They influence beliefs, create attitudes and ignite change. when people are and start again.”
The company you work for has many opportunities to create a positive environment for change — by forcibly coerced
having a genuine commitment to providing you with the tools you need to grow and learn continuously. into performing The Polaris Project recently served as a
labor or commer- consulting organization to Lifetime
At Wachovia, we know that as you attain career milestones, they ultimately contribute to our combined cial sexual activi- Television’s mini-series Human
success. That's one of the reasons why we're consistently recognized as one of Working Mother's “100 Best ty. The Polaris Trafficking, and works diligently with
Companies” to work for. For more information about career opportunities, please visit us online at Project has helped Congress on anti-trafficking legislation.
over 60 clients in
wachovia.com/careers.
the past two years “I was very compelled to raise awareness
and operates a 24- first and foremost because I was passion-
hour hotline in ate,” says Chon. Her efforts have not gone
English, Spanish, unnoticed. Among other honors, she was
Korean and Thai awarded the prestigious BRICK Award for
that has processed social entrepreneurship by former
over 1,500 calls. President Bill Clinton.

Chon, 25, and fel-
low student and
co-founder Derek
Photo courtesy of Polaris Projecta
Ellerman, who are
based in
Washington, D.C., began with a start-up
budget of $50,000, raised from family and
© 2006 Wachovia Corporation Wachovia recognizes and values diversity. EOE, M/F/D/V.
friends. The projected budget for 2006 is
“I believe that individuals can make a dif-
ference,” says Chon. “Follow whatever
you are passionate about, embrace it, and
don’t be afraid to accept the challenge.
You can be scared of it, but do it anyway.”
Learn more and contribute at
polarisproject.org.

womenforhire.com 35
{ do gooders
MAKING MUSEUMS COOL:
EDWINA MEYERS AND GAIL VELEZ SHARE A MUTUAL
PASSION FOR EDUCATION AND THE ARTS, WHICH THEY
BELIEVE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL CHILDREN AND
ADULTS, REGARDLESS OF ECONOMIC STATUS OR MEANS.
Together Meyers, the director of External Affairs for the New
York City Administration for Children’s Services, and Velez, the
founder of Family Publications, a print and on-line resource for
parents and teachers, discovered the disturbing fact that low-
income families, hindered by financial barriers, often missed out
on the rich educational rewards offered by museums and other
cultural institutions. Focus groups also revealed that such par-
ents believed that those institutions held no meaning for them.
That newfound knowledge led the women to start Cool Culture,
a non-profit program that connects low-income families from
diverse backgrounds with more than forty museums, zoos, and
botanical gardens in New York by educating them on why it’s
hip, fun, and smart to take advantage of all that the city has to
offer.
“The idea had been brewing for three years, and we knew the
only thing that could happen was we’d succeed or we’d fail,”
says Meyers. Velez echoes her partner’s sentiments, “I don’t
know how we did it, but we did.”
Their brainchild provides 24,000 qualified families with free
entry passes and quarterly pamphlets detailing program listings,
womenforhire.com
EDWINA MEYERS
AND GAIL VELEZ
Photo of Edwina Meyers and Gail Velez courtesy of Cool Culture
events, transportation information, and affordable lunch
options, which help to eliminate any barriers to planning a
visit. Cool Culture also offers practical tips and advice to
parents and caregivers on how to make the most of each trip,
thereby enabling them to interact and learn with their young
children, which is an invaluable development tool. Visits
help foster verbal literacy, vocabulary development, and
critical thinking skills.
Early backers of Cool Culture, which started a year-round pro-
gram in 1999, included the American Museum of Natural
History, the Sony Wonder Technology Lab, and Edward Jay
Goldberg, a senior vice president of government and consumer
affairs at Macy’s, which provided a $10,000 grant.
While most cultural institutions are eager to welcome this under-
represented population, many lack the resources and community
presence to market to their facilities and programs effectively.
Cool Culture has been a welcome asset for these groups, which
also recognize that by making their venues more accessible,
they’re building loyalty among future generations of museum
visitors.
“There’s a fulfillment in being able to put something together
that works and that benefits everybody,’’ Meyers says. “It’s a
win-win situation.’’
Learn more and contribute at cool-culture.org.
37

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
For nearly half a century, the Institute for Defense Analyses has
been successfully pursuing its mission to bring analytic objectivity and
understanding to complex issues of national security. As a not-for-profit
corporation operating three federally funded research and development
centers that serve the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, Unified Commands and Defense Agencies, we provide a solid
and exciting foundation for career growth and longevity. And, through
specialized analytic, technical and scientific talent, we are moving
steadily forward, confidently increasing our capabilities to face the
country‘s important security issues.
How will you put your
expertise to work every day?
IDA is seeking highly qualified individuals for professional opportunities in
the following areas:
• Economics • Electrical Engineering
• Mathematics • Mechanical Engineering
• Systems & Computer Science • Statistics
• Chemistry • Materials Science & Engineering
• Biochemistry • Operations Research
• Chemical Engineering • Physics & Astronomy
Along with competitive salaries, IDA provides excellent benefits including
comprehensive health insurance, paid holidays, 3 weeks’ vacation and
more — all in a professional development environment that encourages
individual thinking and produces concrete results. Applicants selected
will be subject to a security investigation and must meet eligibility require-
ments for access to classified information. US citizenship is required.
Please email your resume to: resumes@ida.org, or mail to:
Institute for Defense Analyses, ATTN: Employment — WFH,
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282-8314.
Visit our website for more information on our specialized opportunities.
EOE.
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}
leading ladies
RACING TO THE TOP:
BEVERLY KEARNEY
Photo courtesy of University of Texas
When she was one of only two survivors out of five bodies
pulled from the twisted metal of a car wreck in 2002, Beverly
Kearney found herself having to rapidly embody the lessons she
imparted to the athletes on her juggernaut track team at the
University of Texas.
“You are the captain of the ship, and you will decide the level of
your own success,” she always told her athletes. Now it was up
to Kearney to determine just that for herself as she fought to
recover.
After suffering serious spinal cord injuries and some paralysis,
and while seeing her weight plummet from 138 pounds into the
90-pound range, Kearney showed that all of her preaching about
hard work and perseverance applied to her own life as well.
A demanding taskmaster and stickler for detail in her practices,
Kearney backed up all of her words with her dedication to
rehabilitation.
womenforhire.com
“It just was, ‘I am going to walk,’” she says “Anything I do, I
am going to give it my best.”
Four months and three surgeries later, she was in the stands at
the 2003 Texas Relay, supported by a walker.
Her stunning return was no surprise, for this is a woman who
lost her mother during her senior year of high school and was
left with six siblings trying to pick up the pieces. This followed
a difficult childhood in which she was forced to adapt to chang-
ing circumstances when her family moved all over from
Mississippi to Kansas until she was in the ninth grade.
Kearney also battled sexism and racism to reach the top of her
field since beginning her coaching career 17 years ago. When
Texas won the 1992 Division I-A Indoor Track Championships,
Kearney became the first black female head coach to guide a
team to an NCAA Division I-A title and just the second black
coach of any gender to accomplish the feat.
“The most important thing to me is to coach from an empower-
ing point of view,” Kearney says. “The sign of a great leader is
someone who helps people believe in their own abilities. I coach
from my heart.”
After initially becoming a coach in order to earn her master’s
degree in adapted physical education, Kearney, 48, now boasts a
resume as decorated as any track and field coach in the nation.
Between indoor and outdoor track seasons in her 17 years as a
head coach, including 13 at Texas, Kearney has won 35 Coach
of the Year honors and coached 30 NCAA champions. She also
is a member of the Women’s International Hall of Fame, and her
athletes have hauled in nine Olympic medals since the 1992
Olympic Games.
Kearney’s contributions will progress beyond the track as she
creates her own foundation, Pursuit of Dreams, designed with a
multicultural emphasis on work ethic, discipline, and success in
sports. She is currently soliciting support from private funding
and corporate sponsors.
One of Kearney’s favorite metaphors is that of a person faltering
on a tightrope. If she looks back, her balance gets worse and
progress stops. The key is to not look down, but rather to
always look ahead. Kearney believes that what keeps a person
moving “is the desire to get to the other side.”
39
 We advance medicine.™
w h e r e
B R I L L I A N T C A R E E R S B E G I N
One of the premier healthcare institutions in the world, NYU Medical Center combines the impressive
resources of Tisch Hospital, the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, and the NYU School of Medicine.
We’re the first choice for entry-level professionals from diverse fields for one simple reason: our
commitment to developing our people through continuous learning and exposure to the best minds in the
industry. So, whether you’re interested in a career within healthcare; within science; or in another area such
as management, finance, or administrative support, NYU Medical Center can offer you the resources,
recognition, challenges, and rewards that you need to perform at your very best. We are always looking for
talented people to join us in the following areas:
Management • Research
Allied Health/Professional
Administration/Office Support
NYU Medical Center provides its staff with far more than just a place to work. Rather, we are an institution
you can be proud of, an institution where you’ll feel good about devoting your time and your talents. And
just as our employees invest so much in us, we invest in our employees. We’re pleased to have one of the
most competitive compensation packages not only among New York’s hospitals and healthcare institutions,
but within the corporate sector as well.
To find out more about us and to apply online please visit www.nyumc.org and click on “CAREERS.” We
are an equal opportunity employer.
www.nyumc.org
leading ladies
}
FULFILLING
MORE THAN A JOB,
A LIFESTYLE:
Photo courtesy of Origins
DARIA MYERS
TO DARIA MYERS, HER JOB AS PRESIDENT OF ORIGINS IS A part-time for Bloomingdale’s while in college was nurtured by
LIFESTYLE AND A PHILOSOPHY, NOT SIMPLY A PAYCHECK. her mentor, Jeanette Wagner, the Vice Chairman Emeritus at
Estee Lauder. “She was an amazing supporter of women in
Focusing on a “different perspective for beauty,’’ intent on business,” Myers says.
reducing stress and promoting a healthy lifestyle, Myers wants
the Origins brand to become a way of life for its employees and Wagner also warned Myers that failing to look beyond life in
customers alike. the office would result in a narrow perspective on the world,
so Origins’ latest high-profile partnership is no surprise.
Massage and reiki, a method of natural healing, are available
on-site to Origins staff members, who are also encouraged to
volunteer on company time. Working in soup kitchens, chil- Last year, Origins launched a major initiative with Dr. Andrew
dren’s hospitals, and retirement homes have all been company- Weil, a renowned advocate of integrative health and the head
of the Weil Foundation, a not-for-profit organization supporting
sponsored initiatives geared toward promoting service and
camaraderie in the workplace. integrative medicine by funding the training of physicians and
other practitioners, public education, research, innovations in
patient care, and policy reform. The popular line, which bares
It is an integral part of the brand that Myers oversaw as a senior
the name of the 63-year-old white-bearded doctor, promotes
vice president for 10 years before a brief hiatus while working
on another Estee Lauder line. She returned as president of skin’s healthy, vibrant appearance. It continues to generate
Origins two years ago. great buzz and a big following among beauty editors and
department store shoppers alike.
“The brand and who I am connect,” says Myers, 50, who started
her career as a secretary with Estee Lauder after graduating from Myers also had 55 of her Origins staffers undergo Weil’s “Eight
Hunter College with honors and a major in French and Italian Weeks to Optimum Health” plan, yet another example of how
literature. lifestyle and the workplace mesh under her leadership. If a
company is committed to its core values, it must “walk the walk
A “cosmetic fever” that developed when Myers was working and talk the talk,” she says.
womenforhire.com 41

FAST-TRACK MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
GREAT PAY
Rent-A-Center, the largest rent-to-own company of furniture,
appliances, computers and electronics, with stores in all 50
states, Puerto Rico and Canada, has immediate Management
opportunities at its store locations in your area. These positions
are all fulltime, 5 days a week, Monday-Saturday.
Applicants must be energetic, conscientious self-starters experi-
enced working with the public. Duties include managing cus-
tomer accounts, collections, sales, and scheduling customer
services including delivery, product service and pick-up of mer-
chandise in customers’ homes. Prior retail, sales, customer serv-
ice or related experience is required. Retail or restaurant man-
agement experience required for all management positions.
The RAC benefits package includes 401K, with matching, den-
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pany holidays, and job training.
If you are a professional and want to take advantage of this great
opportunity for unlimited growth in a stable company, apply
today. Candidates must possess top-notch customer service
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Rent-A-Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment is
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tion and pre-employment drug screening.
For immediate consideration, apply on-line at
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est RAC store location. To locate your nearest RAC
store call 1-800-205-2005.
leading ladies
}
CARRYING THE
CHARITABLE TORCH
FOR MARY KAY:
JENNIFER COOK AND
NANCY THOMASON
One is a former police officer and served as Mary Kay Ash’s
personal bodyguard, the other was the cosmetic queen’s execu-
tive assistant for 30 years, which means that together this unlike-
ly duo has a wealth of intimate knowledge of the lady whose
eponymous company became a pioneer in women’s business.
Nancy Thomason and Jennifer Cook witnessed firsthand the
unending wisdom, energy, and enthusiasm Mary Kay showed
toward giving back to the community, helping women, and
encouraging her sales force.
“She was just an inspiring, motivating woman and the sales
force loved her,’’ says Cook, who often watched her boss write
personal letters to top achievers in her company. “She was a
great mentor.”
Now Cook, Director of the Mary Kay Museum, who began with
the organization in a “work-my-way-through-college job,” and
Thomason, an Executive Project Specialist, see to it that their
beloved leader’s objectives of community service and enriching
the lives of women are continued through the Mary Kay Ash
Charitable Foundation (MKACF), which funds research for can-
cers affecting women and battles the epidemic of domestic
abuse.
Mary Kay, who died in 2001, formed the foundation in 1996
with a primary focus on cancer research after having watched
her husband, Mel, succumb to the disease in 1980. In 2001, the
foundation underwrote a PBS documentary about domestic vio-
lence, which affects one in three women, and continues to fund
women’s shelters in every state.
“It was Mary Kay’s greatest desire that a cure would happen in
her lifetime,” Cook says about the concentration on cancer
research.
womenforhire.com
Photo of Cook & Thomason courtesy of Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation
“Mary Kay always talked about living by the golden rule,” says
Thomason. “She wanted to help women. It was an extension of
her dream.”
Thomason got to see the inner workings of Mary Kay’s life
when she was hired as her personal bodyguard following a 60
Minutes segment in the eighties on Mary Kay’s enormous rock
star popularity. Even Thomason figured there had to be a differ-
ent side to Mary Kay in the quieter moments—that she couldn’t
possibly be so relentlessly upbeat and driven all the time. She
soon found out otherwise.
“Mary Kay was highly energetic. She was the real thing,”
Thomason says with great nostalgia, love, and respect. “She
lived what she taught, and was a wonderful person and role
model.”
Although Thomason and Cook had very different responsibilities
in the organization prior to their current roles, their impressions
of Mary Kay are astonishingly similar. They often preface state-
ments with “Mary Kay said…” or “Mary Kay taught us…”
There’s one particular Mary Kay maxim that they’ve committed
to memory: “A leader has two important characteristics. First,
she knows where she is going, and second, she is able to per-
suade others to come with her.”
Mary Kay most definitely molded these two leaders, both of
whom humbly say they’re simply following Mary Kay’s edict
that “the only way to succeed is to help others.”
“We knew her heart, and it is our responsibility to continue to
communicate her desires to others,” Cook says.
Learn more and contribute at mkacf.org.
43

The Hottest Concepts.
The Hottest Opportunities.
Always a premium B L E N D.
A t Brinker International, diversity is
more than an initiative. It’s an
inherent philosophy that has helped
us become an award-winning place
for outstanding individuals from all
walks of life.
Diversity. Integrity. Balance.
Passion. Growth. Family. It’s our
six values that make us Brinker.
We are proud to be recognized
as one of FORTUNE’s 2005
“Top 50 Companies
for Minorities.”
Visit us at www.BrinkerJobs.com
EO E
LESSONS LEARNED FROM
EVERYDAY WOMEN:
ABIGAIL KIES
Some people and the lessons they teach
us become a part of us forever. I have an
MBA from an Ivy League university and
work as a leadership coach with success-
ful executives. Yet when I think of peo-
ple I admire, it’s everyday women—my
childhood housekeeper and two friends—
who come to mind.
In elementary school, I went home for
lunch, where Mattie often greeted me.
We’d chat and laugh. She valued my
contributions and encouraged me to ques-
tion. We didn’t necessarily agree on
everything, and she didn’t always like my
opinions, but it wasn’t about agreeing or
disagreeing. She cared what I thought and
she taught me that it’s important to allow
others to be heard. If I came home upset
over something that happened, by the time
I left to go back, I had a new attitude about
what I could do to turn the day around.
She often shared about her extended fam-
ily. It was obvious that she stepped up
and took charge. Regardless of the emo-
tional or financial strain it created for her,
she made it work. Her unhesitating sense
of responsibility is a powerful example,
and a lasting lesson. From her, I learned
resilience, forgiveness, and unconditional
love. She taught me that everyone matters,
and each one of us can make a difference.
I met Mindi just over a year ago. Like
Mattie, at first glance, she isn’t a typical
leader. She’s 38 with three kids, has sig-
nificant debt, no college degree, and is in
the middle of a nasty divorce. Mindi is
also back in college fulltime pursuing a
degree with a double major in English
and Psychology, working paid internships
with two of her professors, and getting
straight A’s.
Amidst all of this, Mindi is there for her
friends—lending an ear, watching their
kids, offering advice, or just laughing.
She has taught me the value of accepting
what is and powerfully moving forward
{ forever friends
without excuses. Her passion, integrity, like Mattie, Mindi, and Liz.
and courage are awesome.
The women I love, and probably the
Then there’s Liz. She and I became women all of us love, are the ones who
friends in third grade. We spent our time taught us, and continue to teach us, about
together writing stories, baking, and play- life. Through their example and encour-
ing in the street. She was smart, though agement, the leaders in my life teach me
not brilliant. Yet, as a child and now as not how to lead specifically, rather how to
an accomplished doctor, she has always be responsible, authentic, courageous,
worked harder than anyone around and committed, contributing, and unstoppable.
has been eminently successful.
Kies is a leadership coach in New York.
What I’ve learned from Liz is the power
of stretching—of setting high goals,
working to reach them, and always attain-
ing them. She wasn’t class president or
the newspaper editor, yet she has always
exuded leadership. It’s as if she has a
magic touch. In reality, she has a clarity
and commitment that is unstoppable, and
she makes it look so easy. The payoffs
are enormous: top schools, top positions,
grants, job offers.
The only person who sometimes doesn’t
appreciate her accomplishments is Liz
herself, another part of what she’s taught
me about leadership. Her own doubts or
self-judgments matter little given her
actions and the results she creates, which
are due to her uncompromising commit-
ment to always taking life on and going
for broke.
Sometimes we learn about leadership
from brief interactions with people we
hardly know, such as a neighbor who
stops by with a meal after we have sur-
gery—a leader quietly committed to cre-
ating a sense of community. As recipi-
ents, we experience what a huge differ-
ence it makes not only in our lives, but in
the lives of those around us as well.
Leaders recognize that even seemingly
small gestures can have a lasting impact.
Other times, we have someone in our life
for years who repeatedly expands our
idea of what’s possible and what we’re
capable of achieving. Someone much Illustration by Joe Comeau
womenforhire.com 45

Photo of Lorelle, Jemison, and Lorelle’s
daughter, Lindsey. Courtesy of Lorelle
Mae: Linda and I met in the last century
as freshmen at Stanford University. We
did not know each other, but we were
both young African American women
from Chicago, outgoing and loved physi-
cal activities.
Linda: Mae breaks the stereotypical view
that most people have of extremely smart
women. Yes, she is brilliant and I would
put her intellect up against any woman or
man; but she is also fun, funny, down to
earth, compassionate, artistic, and beauti-
ful, inside and out. She is most definitely
not a nerd.
Mae: We both loved dancing. Dance has
been very important in our friendship and
has served to strengthen it over the years.
I admire Linda for her incredible dance
skill, interpretation, and energy. You can
tell a lot about a person by the way they
move, and if dance is your avocation,
even more of your character and aspira-
tions are revealed.
Linda: My favorite college memories are
of the two of us choreographing dance
performances. How many astronauts do
you know who can tear it up on the dance
floor and then break down exactly what it
would take to create artificial limbs for
someone who would like to dance, but
can't because they have no legs? I am in
awe of her.
Mae: I respect Linda because she had the
nerve to pursue professional dance after
graduating from college with honors in
Italian and Psychology. I wanted to go to
New York to pursue a career as a profes-
sional dancer, but after much discussion
AN ASTRONAUT
AND AN ANCHOR:
MAE JEMISON
AND LINDA LORELLE
with my mother, I went to medical school
instead. Dance is something Linda and I
continue to share—if no one else can
appreciate why movement brings such a
smile and a connection—all we have to
do is look at each other. At Linda’s wed-
ding we danced—hard enough to sweat—
into the night.
Linda: Mae is one of the most gifted
speakers I have ever heard. She has the
ability to take you where she wants you
to go, yet all the while you don't realize
you're being led there. Once you get
there, you have that Aha moment! She
always does it with humor.
Mae: Linda’s outlook on life is confi-
dent, enthusiastic, strong-willed, and
energetic. She goes for what she wants.
And if it does or does not work out, she is
ready for the next episode. While some
of my friends might have been skeptical
about my career path, Linda was always
supportive. Talking to her about going to
Africa as a doctor or becoming an astro-
naut or leaving NASA did not faze her.
Linda: Our friendship has strengthened
through the years because we accept each
other as we are and continue to support
each other no matter what. There were
times when we didn't see each other for
quite a while as our lives took us in dif-
ferent directions. But each time we come
back together, we pick up where we left
off. When I got my TV job in Houston
while Mae was training at the Johnson
Space Center, it was a dream come true.
It was meant to be for me, her best friend,
to cover her historic launch. It was
extremely emotional for me—I cried dur-
womenforhire.com
{ forever friends
ing liftoff—and one of the highlights of
my career.
Mae: Linda is a bit sappy, and it’s won-
derful. Linda is not constrained about
displaying warm fuzzy emotions. It is a
quality that I have come to appreciate
more and more as I have gotten older and
realized how rare and beneficial genuine
positive emotions are in this world. From
her undying love for “Teddy,” her child-
hood teddy bear she brought to college
with her, her teary eyed news coverage of
my space shuttle launch, to her compas-
sionate delivery of scholarships through
her charity for students who would nor-
mally not get to go to college, Linda
makes us all take a deep breath and smile.
Linda: I have so much respect for what
Mae has accomplished and continues to
accomplish professionally, but I have just
as much admiration for the kind of person
she is. She is as real as they come. Our
friendship has endured because I know I
can be my true self with her, warts and
all, and that she won't judge me. She'll
just be there, and that's a true friend.
Dr. Mae Jemison blasted into orbit
aboard the space shuttle Endeavour in
1992, becoming the first African
American woman in space. Today, the
Jemison Group focuses on the integration
of science and technology into everyday
lives. Linda Lorelle is an Emmy Award-
winning anchor in Houston whose reports
have not only touched lives, but saved
them. The Linda Lorelle Scholarship
Fund provides major college scholarships
to Houston-area students.
47
{fair well}

The Credit Solutions recruiting team, lead by Corbin Gammill, Anna Berger and Cigdem Akaryol,
hired seven women, all of whom are pictured here, at the November 2005 Women For Hire
event in Dallas,Texas.
“I heard about Women For Hire through the
accounting department at Texas Woman’s
University. My teachers encouraged me to
go and I’m so glad I did because it gave me
a running start on my future.”
KATHARINE LOBRECHT

“A friend told me about the Women For

Hire event, which I attended with high
expectations that were surprisingly ful-
filled. Since joining Credit Solutions,
I wake up excited for work, which not
everybody can say about their jobs.”
LISA HUYNH

Pictured, from left to right, Amanda Cruz, Marinela Taylor,

Lisa Huyhn, Amanda Medina, Cigdem Akaryol, Katharine
Lobrecht, Alyssa Tran, Ernestine Day, Anna Berger, along
with Corbin Gammill, front. Photo by TrinityPhotography.net

“I juggle the hats of artist, writer, and
businesswoman. When I ran across
Women For Hire on the web, I was at the
store shopping for my power suit within
the hour. I’ve chosen to take a step back,
but am now with a company that is grow-
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now my imagination is alight with possi-
bilities. Now I’m the Field Office
Administrator for Oncology Service at
Varian Medical, the manufacturer of lead-
ing cancer fighting radiation treatment
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CINDY PEMBROKE

“Upon moving to Houston, I became a position?’ The companies at the Women

recruiter for a global staffing agency. Yet
with previous experience in the automo-
tive and pharmaceutical industries, I knew
there were other companies available to
me that would be anxious to utilize my
skills and experience.
I highly recommend the Women For Hire
Expos to not only friends and family
across the nation, but also to women that
I come in contact with every day. I also
push them to try to attend the breakfast
seminar held prior to the event. It is a
truly inspiring and helpful service to
women.
It gives me great pleasure to answer the
question: ‘How did you get your current
For Hire Expo had positions open and
needed good candidates to fill them. My
interview process was quick, as it took
less than 30 days from initial screening to
offer letter.
My new position is Retail Development
Manager with Gulf States Toyota (GST).
I am in charge of product training for my
area. I was offered a wonderful compen-
with this company is very bright.
sation package including salary, bonus,
three weeks vacation and company car.
It is extremely difficult to get your foot in
They even pay me to work out!
the door, but I got in thanks to the Women
For Hire Expo.”
VONDA LEE
I’m excited because GST has a rotational
program that will allow me to see other
facets of the company and increase my
skill sets. This means my career path can Email us at jobs@womenforhire.com with
be whatever I choose it to be. My future your success story.
womenforhire.com 48