Progress Women in Business: Profiles of Success in Southern Chester County
Michelle Kichline Chester County Commissioner
A Chester County Press Publication • 2015 Complimentary Copy
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Table of Contents HARRY TILLMAN AUTOMOTIVE, LLC
Women in Business Q & A 20 Amanda Novak, Human Resources Manager, Tri-M Group 20 Betsy Huber, Township Supervisor, Oxford 20 Caryn Dolan, Manager of Public Relations and Marketing, Paradocx Vineyard 21 Christine Grove, Managing Director, Oxford Arts Alliance 21 Crystal Messaros, Herr’s Snack Factory 22 Bhawna Jha, M.D., ARK Spine Care and Pain Management 23 Holly Samuel, Attorney, Samuel Law Firm 23 Jian Ying Lemper, Jenny Chen Pediatric and Family Dentistry 25 Kathi Lafferty, Owner, The Mushroom Cap 25 Kathleen Caccamo, Owner, Bedbugzz 27 Marjorie Kuhn and Sheila Washington, Co-Owners, Longwood Art Gallery 28 Margarita “Maggie” Garcia-Taylor, Garcia-Taylor Insurance Agency, Inc. 29 Shane Morgan, Founder, The Giving Garden
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PROGRESS Profiles 8 Michelle Kichline, Chester County Commissioner 12 Elizabeth Davis-Cerami, Owner, Yo'R So Sweet 18 Carrie Freeman, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Southern Chester County
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On the cover: Michelle Kichline, Chester County Commissioner Photo by: Richard L. Gaw Cover design: JoAnn Bissinger
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Letter from the Publisher
Welcome to the 2015 edition of PROGRESS, our annual publication that explores the continually-changing business culture of southern Chester County. In this year’s issue, dedicated to Women in Business, the Chester County Press is pleased to introduce you to 15 women currently making their mark in different professions and industries throughout southern Chester County. As you’re about to read, each woman we are profiling comes to her job from her own unique background, with her own set of goals, with the influence of a wide variety of people and experiences. Through Q & A interviews, we introduce you to 12 women who are rising fast in the fields of human resources, law, medicine and health, agriculture and professional landscaping, wine making and more. We also shine special light on three women we feel are doing some extraordinary work in their chosen fields: newly-elected Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline, United Way of Southern Chester County Chief Executive Officer Carrie Freeman, and Elizabeth Davis-Cerami, the owner and proprietor of Yo’R So Sweet in Kennett Square. In this edition of PROGRESS, we think you’ll find that each of these profiles takes you into the world of what truly makes these women unique, and more importantly, what makes their contributions to the vibrancy of southern Chester County so crucial to our future. Randy Lieberman, Publisher randyl@chestercounty.com
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Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline says that she keeps her office door open so that people know that she is available to talk to.
By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer t’s a Friday morning in late January. Michelle Kichline has been a member of the three-person board of county commissioners for all of six weeks, but she has already settled into something of a routine—a busy routine. This particular day started with an early-morning forum where the Chester County Economic Development Council presented a review of the previous twelve months of work and a preview of what the year ahead holds. Later in the day, Kichline will tour the emergency services training center, a centerpiece of the county’s efforts to ensure public safety. Her schedule for the day before was even more demanding. That day started with a meeting of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, a meeting that ran through lunch. Then Kichline hopped on a train back to Berwyn. She was in her office in West Chester in time for a meeting with Mark Rupsis, the county’s chief operat-
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ing officer, in the afternoon. She stopped home long enough to briefly see her husband, Michael, and their two children, Amanda and Andrew, and to make sure that everyone had eaten dinner. Then it was time to leave for an awards banquet at a chamber of commerce. Kichline doesn’t mind the busy schedule. “I’m really excited to be a county commissioner,” she explained. “It’s something that, with my skill set, I thought I could serve Chester County well. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve the residents of Chester County, and I take it very seriously.” Kichline was sworn in as county commissioner on Dec. 16, 2014, to fill the unexpired term of Ryan Costello, who had been elected to the U.S. Congress in November. She joined incumbents Terence Farrell and Kathi Cozzone on the board of county commissioners, and while she relies on their wisdom and experiences, Kichline also comes to the job with some definite ideas about what kind of commissioner she wants to be. “I keep my door open symbolically because I want people to know that they can always talk to me,” she said. Kichline takes the job of governing seriously, whether it’s working at the local level or overseeing one of the best-managed counties in the state. Perhaps this is because of the experiences of her parents, Bela and Angela Haris. In 1956, her parents fled their home in Photo by Steve Hoffman Hungary to escape the rule of the Communist regime. Chester County Commissioner Michelle Kichline was sworn in on Even as young adults, they had the courage to leave Dec. 16, 2014, joining fellow commissioners Terence Farrell and Kathi Cozzone. everything behind for freedom. “My parents grew up in an environment where they didn’t have the freedom to speak, to express their views,” Kichline explained. Her parents came to the U.S. and chose to live in Chester County because of the great schools, strong communities, and job opportunities. Kichline grew up in Tredyffrin Township, the county’s largest municipality, and she learned about the importance of local government at an early age. Her mother worked as the head of a department for Upper Merion Township. As a teenager, Kichline did an internship with Tredyffrin Township, and was undecided as to whether she wanted to pursue a career as a township manager or as a lawyer. When she graduated from Conestoga High School, she decided to go to the University of Pennsylvania to major in political science. After that, she pursued a career in law, earning a degree from the Beasley School of Law at Temple University. She clerked with a judge for a year, and then went to work for Wisler Pearlstine LLP, a law firm in Blue Bell, Pa. For more than a decade, Kichline represented school districts and municipalities. She counseled school administrators on a wide variety of issues, including employment and education law. In this capacity, she gained significant experience litigating education and employment law before the state and federal courts. She developed a specialty in special education law. She was asked to join the Tredyffrin Township Zoning Hearing Board. Even though the demands on her time would be significant, Kichline thought it was important to be involved in local government. She discussed serving on the board with her husband, and they worked out a plan. “I told my husband, these are the nights I am going to need to be out late with meetings and we figured out how we could both make it work. I think it’s very important that women get involved in local government,” Kichline explained. Continued on Page 10
Michelle Kichline... Continued from Page 9
She eventually became the chair of the Tredyffrin Township Zoning Hearing Board, the first woman to ever to hold that position. “Every time you make a decision, you’re making a difference in the fabric of the community,” she said. Next, Kichline was elected to the township’s board of supervisors. She was on the board of supervisors from 2010 to 2013, chairing the board for the last two years. With 30,000 residents, Tredyffrin Township is Chester County’s largest municipality. The annual budget exceeds $17 million. During the time that she was on the board of supervisors, the township refinanced its bonds and saved taxpayers nearly $2 million in debt service payments. The township also had a fully funded pension program. Kichline is proud of the fact that while she chaired the board of supervisors, the township passed a comprehensive update of its zoning codes to address the changing needs of the township. “We looked at our zoning code and revised it to protect the little open space that the township has,”
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she explained. During her time with Tredyffrin Township, Kichline played a role in the formation of the Business Advisory Council. This entity partnered with business owners and property owners to develop a strategic plan for attracting and retaining businesses in Tredyffrin. The plan included a comprehensive review of tax and zoning structures, as well as transportation needs. In the same year that she joined the Tredyffrin board of supervisors, Kichline also joined the Paoli Transit Task Force. Then, in Oct. 2013, she was appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett as a Chester County commissioner to the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA), where she serves as a member of its Audit, Labor, Operations, and Management subcommittees. As the chair of its subcommittee on strategic planning, she has been instrumental in articulating the DRPA’s role as a transportation provider. The DRPA has a $450 annual budget. In 2014, she was part of the advisory group that worked with PennDOT, Amtrak, and Septa to obtain $30 million in funding for Phase One of the Paoli transit project. As a result of her work in Paoli,
she was elected to the board of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County. The work with the DRPA, in particular, helped prepare her to make decisions about projects that are large in scope, and how to work with large budgets. After she became a county commissioner, Kichline was also appointed as the public sector co-chair of the VISTA 2025 Executive Alliance, a public/ private economic development initiative for Chester County. “I am excited about the VISTA 2025 focus on a balance of progress and preservation,” she said. “I am impressed with the quality of work that has been completed on the strategy so far. VISTA 2025 is an excellent platform that will guide our actions in support of Chester County’s economy for years to come.” She plans to be active in reaching out to communities throughout Chester County to get volunteers for the teams and committees to work on the VISTA 2025 policies and documents. Kichline has already decided that she wants to seek a full four-year term as commissioner, and has submitted her letter of interest and resume to the Chester County Republican Party.
For now, she’s looking to accomplish as much as she can during her time in office. “What would matter to me is that we maintain the fiscal discipline that I inherited here,” she said. Governing isn’t always easy. There are a lot of difficult decisions that need to be made. Sides are often taken. It’s sometimes difficult to get people to set aside their own interests to work together for the common good. Kichline doesn’t see herself having any problems handling the day-to-day challenges of elective office. All she has to do is think about her parents, and the courage that they displayed coming to the U.S. Her mother was just 18 at the time and had little more than the clothes on her back. That helps to put politics into perspective. Even if the schedule is a demanding one, Kichline is prepared to do the work necessary to maintain Chester County’s success. “I’m fortunate that, in everything that I’ve done, I feel like I’ve been able to make an impact,” she said. “Now, I want to do the best I can as a Chester County Commissioner.” To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty.com.
www.chestercounty.com | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 | PROGRESS
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Elizabeth Davis-Cerami’s dreams have taken her from the corporate world to owning one of the most unique eateries in southern Chester County
“You always go, By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer When she was a teenager, filled up with wild, fanciful dreams, Elizabeth DavisCerami told her mother that she wanted to spend her life as an artist -- a painter, to be exact -- and live her life as a true bohemian, a poet with a brush and canvas. Her mother responded to Elizabeth by asking her to name all of the most famous artists in the world. Elizabeth quickly reeled off a dozen with relative ease. “All right,” her mother said. “How wealthy were they? They weren’t. Not only did most of them die poor, but most of them were men. You are a black woman. You’re going to college.” The journey of Elizabeth Davis-Cerami, one that led to her to become the owner of Yo’R So Sweet, a successful creperie in The Market at Liberty Place in Kennett Square, may have not wound its way through art school and a life spent with paints and canvases. Yet, the decisions she has made that enabled her to operate one of the most unique eateries in southern Chester County can rightly be called a form of art -- a fine-tuned, well-orchestrated application of principle, experience and confidence. Born in Jamaica, Davis-Cerami arrived in the United States when she was 11. After Photo by Richard L. Gaw
Elizabeth Davis-Cerami of Y’or So Sweet, at The Market at Liberty Place in Kennett Square.
after a yield” earning degrees from Hofstra University and Fordham University in New York, she spent 20 years with Deloitte, nine of them as the Global Controller for the consulting division. In her role, she helped drive the expansion of the company’s consulting division to an international powerhouse, one that integrated accounting departments in 20 countries around the world. She traveled over the world – to Asia, South America, Africa and Europe. “At the time, I thought it was the best job I could ever have had,” Davis-Cerami said. “I would pinch myself because I couldn’t believe what I was doing. But I always knew that I wanted to run my own business. I did not have what I would call a watershed moment. My transition was a very gradual one, but eventually, I realized that I needed to make a transition in life.” By the time Davis-Cerami left the corporate world in 2005, several factors were dovetailing at the same time. The accounting industry was going through a major upheaval. She was beginning to see many of her long-time colleagues start to talk about retirement. At one point, Davis-Cerami was juggling her time between her family and Deloitte offices in Connecticut, Nashville and Chadds Ford. She and her husband and two young boys decided to move full-time to Chester County, twelve years ago. From 2005 to 2011, Davis-Cerami was one of the owners and managing partner of Noble Decor, a unique custom home furnishing store that catered to interior designers and architects. The business was successful, but the influence of food on her life has always served as an aromatic backdrop, and the idea of someday owning her own restaurant continually lingered as some far-off idea. “I don’t remember any point in life when I wasn’t cooking,” Davis-Cerami said. “For instance, when I was growing up, my friends were all eating Wonder white bread and I was eating fresh bread that my mother had just baked. When I was at Hofstra, I longed for the taste of fresh-baked bread, so I would gather all of my ingredients in the dormitory kitchen. It made me happy and it made other people happy.” Since its beginning in 2013, Yo’R So Sweet has served as the unofficial greeter to the Market at Liberty Place in Kennett Square, a gathering place filled with delectable tastes, both sweet and savory. Along with staffers Robin Densten and Nicole Slesinski, Davis-Cerami has fashioned her creperie out of her own creativity. “Crepes are fun, a present filled with things, like having a little gift,” she said. “Food doesn’t just feed your body. It feeds your soul, and it begins with your eyes. It makes you want to look at it, and then touch it, and then eat it. “One of the most pleasurable experiences I have is from people who have purchased my cakes and my crepes, and they find their way back to me and say that their experience made them so happy,” she added. “Not only did I please them but I’ve made something that they could share with others. I put a lot of love and passion into what I do. It’s not rocket science. I’m not saving lives. But it doesn’t matter. I’m creating a little piece of joy that can go a long way, to add value and meaning to your life.” It can be argued that an entrepreneur is either born into the life or developed over time into one. For DavisCerami, her background in the corporate world, she said, helped prepare her to operate her own business -- first at Noble Decor, and now at Yo’R So Sweet.
Elizabeth Davis-Cerami... Continued from Page 13
“I went into owning Yo’R So Sweet absolutely fearless,” she said. “The fact that I didn’t have prior experience in the food industry was just a challenge that pushed me more to see if I could do this. If you can bring your enthusiasm and excitement to a project, but also know that you have the skills to run a business, then you’re okay. If you fall down, you can pick yourself up. It’s not going to scare you to fall.” For every entrepreneur who has cast caution to the winds and created a new reality, it is realistic to claim that there are hundreds more who are content to dream of what could be, but never
will. On a cold, January afternoon, at the counter of her creperie, Elizabeth Davis-Cerami displays a stunningly decadent crepe cake dusted with confectionery sugar and hints of marmalade. Her life has come full circle. She has created a new art. “When you’re afraid, acknowledge your fear,” she said. “Your fear is a warning, but it also has the same meaning as a yellow light. Be cautious, and then go. Acknowledging your fear means that you can begin answering those questions, and then answers begin to come to you. “You have to realize that it’s not a stop, but merely a yield. But you always go, after a yield.” To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, e-mail rgaw@ chestercounty.com.
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Carrie Freeman: Helping the United Way help southern Chester County By John Chambless Staff Writer “People involved in non-profits are full of hope at all times,” Carrie Freeman said. “We have to be.” As the CEO of the United Way of Southern Chester County since 2003, Freeman is at the head of an organization that gives just over $1 million each year to area non-profits. “I absolutely love my job,” she said with a smile. “Every day is an adventure. You never know what the day will hold.” Working out of a modest office on State Street in Kennett Square, Freeman is involved on a daily basis with helping the organizations that serve people in our communities. “Smaller is better,” she said. “I love being intimately knowledgeable about my community. Here, I really know my little southern Chester County area. I know the needs and I know the people.” Freeman grew up in Elizabethtown in Lancaster County, and went to Smith College in Northampton, Mass., where she got a degree in education. She was hired out of college in 1979 by Charles F. Patton himself to teach at Unionville Middle School. There, she worked for 10 years before leaving to be a full-time mom. She was lured back to the workforce and ran the Tick Tock Early Learning Center for a decade. The school relied on funding from the United Way, so when the organization was looking for a new leader, she already knew the ropes. In her first year at the helm of the local United Way, Freeman oversaw the distribution of some $535,000. In the years that followed, the funding needs have grown, but the donations have fluctuated as national crises called for immediate attention. “Every fall, it seemed like horrific things were happening,” Freeman said. “It was Katrina, lots of other things. So it was a case of people saying, ‘Help locally, or help Katrina victims.’ Then the recession hit, and that certainly didn’t help.” The United Way receives no state or federal support. It’s up to Freeman and her board of 27 to raise every penny. If donations don’t come in, area agencies don’t get crucial support, and the community suffers. “We have a huge impact on the community,” Freeman said. “Part of my job is to be very cognizant of the unmet needs in our area. And a prime example is the
new homeless program called 'Family Promise,' that will begin in September. “We have no shelters in southern Chester County,” Freeman said. “But we have a growing homeless population, especially of children. It is dramatic. There were over 500 homeless school-age children in our four school districts last year. About three years ago, I got together with the director of the Kennett Area Community Service food cupboard. Our United Way funds were going to them, and then homeless people were coming to them, and we were putting them up in hotels. It was workable, but it wasn’t ideal.” A community focus group worked for two years to set up what has become a local chapter of Family Promise, a national program that uses churches to shelter homeless families with children until they can get back on their feet. “There are 13 churches that will agree to host homeless families with children in their spare rooms,” Freeman explained. “We provide the cots and the linens. But the church agrees that four times a year, for a week at at time, they will provide families with dinner, socialization, a room to sleep. Then, in the morning, they give them breakfast and a bag lunch. “We have found a day center in West Grove, at the
Photo by John Chambless Carrie Freeman (left) is the executive director of the United Way of Southern Chester County, which was instrumental in starting The Garage Community and Youth Center in Kennett Square. With her are Mikey Glass, right, the director of the Garage, and Kristin Proto, the executive director.
old convent there,” she said. “It will be a place for any parents who are unemployed to meet with social workers, and have computers available for job searches. The group has a board now, and they are well on their way to being a great answer to an unmet need in southern Chester County.” The United Way has also funded a transportation service that gets needy people to medical appointments, and a program created by United Way and area Rotary clubs that teaches budgeting. There’s a map on Freeman’s office wall that shows the four school districts served by the United Way of Southern Chester County. “That’s about 113,000 people, and it might be more now,” she said. “But it’s manageable. We can always have our ear to the ground. ‘Small but mighty’ is how I like to describe us.” The allocation process each year is the same, Freeman explained. All the proposals from the area non-profits arrive in the office in February. Then in March, a panel of community volunteers and United Way staff hears requests from area non-profits who are seeking funding. The available funds are then doled out to individual organizations -- a process that always leaves someone out. “It’s the community that makes the decisions on the money,” Freeman said. “They make the recommendations. They decide where the limited funds will go. It’s very hard to say no. There are plenty of non-profits who are doing great work. You want to give them money, but that’s the hard part about being a panelist. They have to figure out which programs get funded, and to what extent, to have them accomplish what they can.” Freeman said, however, that the area is blessed with people “who get involved in caring for the community.” With very wealthy families and very poor families living so close to each other, getting funding for support is largely a matter of educating people about the public needs, Freeman said. Once people and companies find out how much good the United Way does, it’s usually smooth sailing. “We don’t see homeless people on the streets, so you may never know about them,” Freeman said. “But people are open to being educated. And then they’re open to doing something about the problem. “We have so many skilled professionals who are willing to donate their time. So when an agency comes to me, and let’s say they’re having a problem with their budgeting and investments. I can reach out to incredibly competent people from Bank of America who happen to live here, and they volunteer to do a financial analysis of the agency to present to their board. We’re blessed in this area because of all the major companies, and this is a bedroom community for many of them.”
About a third of the funding comes directly from people who give from their own pockets. “We have 15 people who have each given $10,000 or more this year,” Freeman said. “And then thousands of others give what they can.” The United Way is careful not to fund any non-profit 100 percent, Freeman said, because funding allocations can fluctuate, and no organization wants to be totally dependent on one funding source. Once a new program is up and running, Freeman said, it’s her job to let it run itself. “I do a lot of mentoring of agencies,” she said. “For the 21 agencies that we fund, they all know me, they feel comfortable coming to me with their problems and needs, and I really relish that relationship. Our purpose is to fund programs with measurable results and mentor them as needed. But United Way doesn’t run individual programs. We develop programs addressing unmet needs in our community and get them into a sustainable format.” In the course of a day, Freeman said, “People call me with referral questions, I’m working with agencies, going out to speak wherever I can to tell the story of southern Chester County’s human needs, planning fundraisers. I go speak to whoever will have me.” The recent Kennett Chocolate Festival is a major source of funds for the United Way, and the sellout crowd was an indication of its popularity, Freeman said. “We can only do it because people donate cakes and treats. We had over 240 entries this year. That’s indicative of the level of giving in this area.” At the top of Freeman’s wish list is getting a chance to tell more people about how the United Way serves the local community. “We need more businesses to welcome us to speak to them,” she said. “We don’t have that many large businesses. You’re never too small to invite us in, even if I’m only talking to seven people. Employee giving is so painless. It’s so easy to give $1 a week. You don’t even feel that in your paycheck, but it’s still $52 a year going to United Way to help the community.” During a walk over to the Garage Community and Youth Center in Kennett Square, which gets annual financial support from the United Way of Southern Chester County, Freeman waved to people who honked as they drove by, and she discussed agencies served by the United Way like she’s talking about old friends. “I would never move up to a bigger United Way,” she said. “To me, the attraction of this job is that I can be in trenches with the people. It’s always, ‘Hope springs eternal.’” For more information, visit www.unitedwayscc.org.
———|Women in Business Q & A|——— AMANDA NOVAK Human Resources Manager, Tri-M Group Q: Who first inspired you to want to enter the business field? Novak: My father. From a very young age, he instilled in me the value of hard work and dedication. Through his continued support and encouragement, he is the one who has led me to where I am today. He pushed me hard, and helped me achieve my goals. Q: What agencies and institutions have helped open doors for you? Novak: I’ve been extremely fortunate to be part of such an amazing family here at Tri-M. I started at Tri-M when I was in college providing basic administrative support. They were aware of my interest in human resources and right before graduation, I was given an opportunity to intern solely for HR. Upon graduation, a full time offer was waiting for me. After a few years in the department, an organizational change occurred and [Tri-M Chairman of the Board] Tom Musser and [Tri-M President and Chief Executive Officer] Jim Horn approached me and asked if I was up for the challenge of leading the entire HR function for the company. I anxiously accepted and without their trust in my skills and abilities I wouldn’t be where I am today. They’ve allowed me to make mistakes and learn from them while continuing to support me and my continued growth in my profession. Q: Talk about what personal qualities make a good human resources director. Novak: Integrity. It demonstrates sound moral and ethical principles and it’s the foundation to building a successful relationship in the business world, as well as being a successful human resources professional. Q: What is the most satisfying component of your profession? Novak: It’s hard to pick just one, but being able to play a part in directly influencing our corporate goals as it relates to the growth of the company. Human resources is responsible for the recruiting, training, development and retention of our employees, which plays a huge role in ensuring the continued success of Tri-M. Q: Is the place and role of women in the business and entrepreneurial marketplace becoming an equal field? Novak: In my professional experience, it’s always been an equal field. At Tri-M, women have always been given the same opportunities for career advancement and growth, so I’ve never been exposed to an unequal field. Q: What advice would you give a young woman who has aspirations to succeed in the business world? Novak: I would tell them to follow their heart, be passionate and don’t give up, as well as be confident in themselves and their abilities. To learn more about the Tri-M Group, visit www.tri-mgroup.com. BETSY HUBER Township supervisor for Upper Oxford, government relations director PA State Grange, and executive secretary PA Young Farmers Association Q: You were the first woman to serve as the president of the Pennsylvania State Grange. What was that like? Huber: Serving as president of the PA State Grange was a fantastic experience and a great honor. The Grange recognized women as equal members from the very beginning in 1867, which was 50 years before women got the right to vote. I don’t know why it took so long for PA State Grange to elect a woman president, but I was not treated any differently than my male predecessors. Q: Can you talk about the importance of women in the agriculture industry? 20
PROGRESS | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 | www.chestercounty.com
Huber: Women have always been equal partners on the farm, but only recently have they been recognized as such. More than half of farm operations have one spouse working off the farm for extra income or health benefits. In the past, the husband was always listed as the operator, even if the wife was doing the day-to-day management—that has largely changed now and the wife is more often listed as principal operator. Women are naturally nurturing so they make excellent farmers as caretakers of animals or plants. Often, women are the bookkeepers and record keepers, filling an important role on the farm. Q: Who or what first inspired you to get involved in agriculture? Huber: I was born and raised on a dairy farm in Westtown, Chester County, and almost all of my relatives were farmers. I appreciated my upbringing which taught responsibility, and the friendships and cooperation among farm families. The agricultural community is still a close-knit group of friendly, caring folks. Q: Which people or agencies, if any, supported you in the beginning? Huber: I was a 4-H member for eight years and a member of the Junior Grange from age 5 to 14. Both of these organizations provided leadership experiences and education in life skills. People can join the Grange as a full member at age 14, which gives self-confidence and self-worth to youth. This experience encouraged me to pursue leadership positions and participate in local government. Q: What personal qualities do you need to make a living in agriculture? Huber: Passion, dedication, and commitment. Q: As an advocate for agriculture, what is the biggest misconception about farmers or farming? Huber: I hate the term “factory farming” because even large farms are family-owned and operated. Just because they farm a lot of acres or raise a lot of animals does not mean they don’t take personal interest and care about what they produce. At least 97 percent of all farms are family-owned, though they may be incorporated for business purposes. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women, in your line of work? Huber: Setting aside time for family. There are so many important things to take care of at work that there is temptation to neglect family and home life. Q: What advice would you give to young women considering entering the business world? Huber: Take advantage of every opportunity to learn all you can about your chosen profession. There are many, many opportunities for continuing lifelong education, even easier now with webinars and distance learning. The world is changing so fast that you need to be constantly learning to be successful. Groups like the PA Young Farmers Association provide continuing education for adult farmers. To find out more about Upper Oxford and the Pennsylvnia Young Farmers Association, visit: www.pagrange.org, www.payoungfarmers.com, and www.upperoxford.org. CARYN DOLAN Manager, public relations, marketing, and events at Paradocx Vineyard Q: Can you describe your duties with Paradocx Vineyard? Dolan: I started as a Paradocx wine associate at the Winery location in Landenberg, then started to take on more responsibilities as time went on. I now handle all marketing and promotional efforts and initiatives for Paradocx and three retail locations. I manage two retail locations: the Winery in Landenberg and the Market at Liberty Place in Kennett Square. I manage a staff of more than 20 people, which includes training and developing store personnel in areas of relationship building,
product knowledge and customer service. I also manage events, fundraisers, and donations. Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job? Dolan: Knowing that customers, friends and family enjoy our wines and enjoy the experience they have when they visit one of our locations. The compliments I receive from customers, businesses, and acquaintances on how well things are managed and marketed are satisfying. I just have a passion for local, and Paradocx is a company that grows, produces and bottles all of their wine in Landenberg. Q: Who or what first inspired you to take the lead in a business? Dolan: In any job I take on, I have a strong passion to have them succeed in business. Q: Which skills helped you succeed at your job? Dolan: My knowledge of sales, customer service, marketing, promotion and design led me to where I am today. Q: What personal qualities do you need to operate a business? Dolan: Positive attitude, commitment, creativity, organizational skills, and business savvy. Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job? Dolan: Juggling all of my different duties. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women, in your line of work? Dolan: I don’t see any challenges for being a woman in this business. Q: What advice would you give to young women considering entering the business world? Dolan: Know what you want and have a positive attitude. Demonstrate commitment, creativity, organization skills, and business savvy. To find out more about Paradox Vineyard, call 610-255-5684, or visit www. paradocx.com, or @PDXvineyard. CHRISTINE GROVE Managing director of the Oxford Arts Alliance Q: Who or what first inspired you to take the lead at the Arts Alliance? Grove: I was volunteering at the Arts Alliance when the managing director position became available. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the volunteers and board and felt the OxAA was a wonderful addition to downtown Oxford. I do not have a background in art, but appreciate the contributions of our many artists friends to the community. Q: Which people or agencies supported you at the start? Grove: There is a wonderful network of support in Oxford. Oxford Mainstreet, the Chamber of Commerce and the local business really support each other. Q: What personal qualities do you need to operate a business? Grove: At the OxAA, we are a bit different than most businesses. However, I do feel that to be successful in a small town, you need to be a team player, and a good neighbor to the community. Personal qualities I feel that are important include honesty, organization, financial savvy and commitment. Q: What’s the most satisfying part of heading a business? Grove: For me, it is seeing how the OxAA has grown in the past three years, and the impact we are having in the community. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women entrepreneurs? Grove: I don’t think it is just women entrepreneurs, but all entrepreneurs face the unknown when starting out. Small business owners sacrifice time, money and emotion into building their dream. The challenge is “will it succeed?” Q: What advice would you give to young girls or women considering entering the business world?
Grove: I would ask women of all ages to get a good financial background and really understand the commitment it takes to be an entrepreneur. Owning your own business is not a part-time job. For those entering the corporate world, find a mentor. Talk, and more importantly, listen to what others (both men and women) are saying. Q: How do the arts support a community and the financial well-being of a downtown? Grove: Studies have shown that the arts help in revitalizing a town. The OxAA brings to downtown art lovers at our gallery openings, students of all ages at our art and music lessons, and a gathering place for the community. We encourage our guests to eat at local restaurants prior to our movie series, or when coming into town. To learn more about the Oxford Arts Alliance, visit www.oxfordart.org, or call 610-467-0301. CRYSTAL MESSAROS Herr’s Snack Factory Q: Herr Foods is well known as a company that creates a family environment in the workplace. Why is that important? Messaros: Family is very important. My grandfather, James S. Herr, founded the company and built our culture based on family values. As years pass, together with employees we have continued a family environment. We have created bonds with each other, friendships that get us through our day. We rely on each other to get our jobs accomplished. We celebrate exciting times in each other’s lives and support each other during the hard times. Q: Can you talk about the hospitality aspect of the business? Messaros: At our Nottingham location we enjoy welcoming guests to the Herr’s Snack Factory tour. Our team of approximately 25 members share the story of Herr’s and the process of manufacturing snacks. We host about 112,000 people throughout the year. The tour takes close to an hour and guests are able to see up to four different snacks being manufactured. It is a great learning experience for all ages. Through the year we host many events that are open to the public. In May, we have Cruise Night, in August we have Bike Night, in October we have Halloween Happenings, and in December we have our Christmas Snacktacular. We also have the privilege of hosting guests at the Nottingham Inn Kitchen and Creamery. Our team of approximately thirty members provides a comfortable dining experience with a familiar menu. The Kitchen is open seven days a week. Q: Who or what first inspired you to take part in a business? Messaros: My grandparents first inspired me and continue to be my inspiration. I admire them for the energy they invested in starting and operating a business, raising a family, spending time in the community, all while enjoying the opportunity given to them. They worked hard as a team and never gave up. Q: What personal qualities do you need to operate a business? Messaros: My personal opinion is that you should be dedicated to learning, have a desire to listen, and a willingness to make changes. Q: What’s the most satisfying part of your job? Messaros: The feeling that for the most part everyone who visits, enjoys the time that they spend with us. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women, in your line of work? Messaros: I don’t think I face any challenges that would be any different from anyone else. In business, there are always challenges that become opportunities! Continued on Page 22 www.chestercounty.com | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 | PROGRESS
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Q: What advice would you give to young women considering entering the business world? Messaros: My advice would be to make sure you are doing something that you enjoy, and then of course, work hard at offering your best to your job, community and family! To learn more about Herrs, and the Nottingham Inn, visit www.herrs.com 9800-63-snack) and www.nottinghaminn.com (610-932-4050). BHAWNA JHA, M.D. ARK Spine Care and Pain Management Q: Each of the women we are profiling for PROGRESS has pointed to an influence or influences who inspired them to enter their chosen fields. Who was your inspiration to enter the medical field? Jha: My parents inspired me to become a physician. Growing up, I could see the joy and satisfaction my mother, a surgeon, achieved from treating her patients and making a difference in her patients’ lives. I grew up in a small community where I had the opportunity to experience first-hand what a difference compassionate and well-rounded care made to the local community. This inspired me to follow her footsteps and become a physician. Q: ARK Spine Care and Pain Management is known as a communitybased health care pain center. What led you to opening your own practice? Jha: There are complex labyrinthine layers between patients and doctors in large hospitals which detract from efficient and timely care a patient should receive. I aim to provide a comprehensive, direct care to our patients which is tailored to each individual patient’s needs rather than following a
template driven, protocol based care. As a community based doctor, I aspire to provide easy and direct access to our patients. This helps build a rapport with our patients, which in my opinion is the key to better outcomes. Q: There are always intangible skills that every person brings to his or job, outside of the technical skills they develop. In your view, what are the key intangible skills someone in the medical profession needs to cultivate in order to do their job better? Jha: I think having a positive attitude plays a huge role. Also, the ability to listen and understand patient’s real concerns are important attributes. My trainings in Interventional Pain, Neurology and Psychiatry have helped me develop skills to manage chronic pain and its different facets which enable me to offer a well-rounded care for the best possible outcome in our patient population. Q: We live in a society where in the event of pain, the overwhelming impetus is to fix, and not heal. And yet, your practice is all about healing. How do you frame the mission of your practice of healing for a society that is wired for the quick fix? Jha: My dedicated trainings in Psychiatry (Cambridge University, United Kingdom), Neurology (Penn State University) and Interventional Pain (Penn State University) have given me a unique insight into the management of chronic pain from different perspectives. I treat chronic pain as a sign which needs understanding of the underlying process rather than just a symptom which needs a quick fix. Best outcome is only possible if the real cause or correct diagnosis is made. Q: According to statistics, the number of female physicians has increased by over 400 percent since 1981. However, statistics also say that despite this increase, the practice of medicine remains disproportionately male overall. What are the factors that you feel contribute to these numbers? Jha: I come from a family where most of the physicians are females, in my medical school and during my residency, as I remember, women were
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PROGRESS | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 | www.chestercounty.com
not outnumbered. Truth be told, I do not believe there are any barriers for women in medicine. To your readers who are interested in medicine, I would like to say that this is a good field for women and they will feel supported all along. Q: What advice do you have for young women who are interested in pursuing a career in the medical field? Jha Find your passion. Have a vision. Hard work, confidence and perseverance will see you through to a successful career in medicine. There will be ups and downs but you cannot win a battle unless you fight it. Be resilient. If you have all these ingredients and enjoy the challenge, the arc of success will bend towards you. To learn more about ARK Spine Care & Pain Management, visit www. ARKSpine.com. HOLLY SAMUEL Attorney, Samuel Law Firm Q: How you were inspired to pursue your career in the legal profession? Samuel: I didn’t decide I wanted to go to law school until very late. Originally, I wanted to go to art school. I left after one semester, took a semester off, worked at an art boutique, and thought that maybe a career in art wasn’t for me. I transferred to Wilmington University, took a class in criminal justice, and enjoyed it immensely. I fell in love with the entire legal system. Q: At 27, you decided to begin your own law practice. Which people, institutions or agencies have supported you in this decision? Samuel: I had been at a general law firm, practicing all types of law, and I really felt that my passion is for personal injury. My motivation for going out on my own was to find my niche at an early age, so that 20 years from now, I could have a firm concentrating specifically on personal injury. Throughout the process of starting my private practice, I’ve had incredible support from my family and from my husband, Hillary Sheridan. Q: What intangible skills do you feel enable you to better do your job? Samuel: I really believe it comes down to hard work and dedication. Starting my own business has taught me that I can’t stop. Every single day, I am an attorney. I am a business person. I have become all these things that I didn’t know were in me one year ago. I have passion, not only for the law, but for my clients. Q: What’s the truest sense of satisfaction your receive from your profession? Samuel: The satisfaction is in the independence of being out on my own. Now that I’ve become my own boss, I don’t think I could not be my own boss. Structurally, with a law firm, I feel it’s important to know what works for you. For me, it’s preparation and organization. I can write my own business plan. I can write where I want the firm to be in five years, and structure it from Day 1 to try and make it succeed. Every step I take in my business, I do it because I think it’s the right move, not only for this moment, but for five and ten years from now. There’s a satisfaction in being able to do that when I’m 28. Q: Let’s look at the challenges that still face women entrepreneurs. What challenges, if any, do you face in today’s marketplace? Samuel: When I first graduated from law school and walked into a courtroom, I looked around and I noticed that 80 to 85 percent of the people in the courtroom were middle-aged men. I still see obstacles for women in the business community. Since I’ve been a licensed attorney, I have been referred to as a secretary, by men who did not realize that I was an attorney. I’ve had it happen on multiple occasions, from people who just assumed that I was not an attorney, let alone a business owner.
Q: What advice would you give a young woman who is seeking to enter the legal profession? Samuel: I would recommend that once you make your decision, that there is no turning back. When you take that first step, you have to look at the resources that are available. For me, there were so many on line. I would recommend that they do research about whatever profession they’re looking to get into. If they really want to take that step, they have to know that the resources are out there....and it never hurts to make a phone call. To learn more about Holly Samuel, visit www.samuellawfirm.com, or e-mail hksamuel@samuellawfirm.com. JIAN YING LEMPER Jenny Chen Pediatric and Family Dentistry Q: Can you explain the training that you’ve had in dentistry? Lemper: I originally studied medicine in Beijing, China and then specialized in dentistry. I then went on to earn a Ph.D. from the University of Texas medical school in experimental pathology. However, my love of dentistry was never very far from the surface. I therefore went to the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine to earn my DMD, which was necessary to practice in America. Q: What do you emphasize when it comes to treating patients? Lemper: I first and foremost place myself in my patient’s position. Patients often come to us in pain, anxiety, and fear, and I try to treat each of them with the utmost respect, which is how I would like to be treated. I always listen to my patient’s concerns. I always treat them with gentleness and compassion. I do my best not only to make my Continued on Page 24
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Q & A... Continued from Page 23 patients happy, but to make them healthy and look great as well. Q: What is the most satisfying part of your job? Lemper: There are so many things about my job that I find satisfying. I am able to improve my patients’ health, make them happier human beings, and alleviate their fears and anxiety. I think it is most satisfying when someone comes in with poor dental health, having avoided the dentist for many years, and I not only make them healthy and happy again, but also not afraid of the dentist anymore, and therefore they are committed to a lifetime of dental health. Q: Who or what first inspired you to take the lead in a business? Lemper: I grew up in China during a time before the government opened up to private enterprise, and things like TV sets and washing machines were practicably unattainable luxuries. I have witnessed with amazement the progression of China to an international business marvel on par with any country in the world. Women from the beginning were at the forefront of developing business in modern China, and I was inspired by their example. Q: Which people or agencies, if any, supported you at the start? Lemper: I met my husband at the Penn dental school, and he was in the class above me. He was able to give me a lot of support at the beginning. We had to learn together how to open a practice, obtain patients, and a thousand other technical details. The modern dental practice is usually completely digital, including patient records and x-rays. My husband had a background in the computer industry, so he was instrumental in setting up the information systems part of the practice. We started as an all-digital practice, right around the time when many existing practices with paper charts and film x-rays were thinking about making the transition. Q: What personal qualities do you need to operate a business? Lemper: The most important quality you need is drive and determination to succeed. There is a famous saying in Chinese which translates roughly as, “where there is a will, there is a way.” You can have all the knowledge and ability you want, but without the drive to succeed, all your efforts come to naught. Conversely, with a strong will and determination, anyone of even moderate talent and ability can succeed. Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job? Lemper: One of the greatest challenges I face is the building of a team that shares my concern for patients and my practice philosophy. A good dentist is only as good as the weakest member on their team. If we do not all work together with the singular goal of providing the best service to every patient, the service is going to suffer. It has taken much time and effort to build a good team. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women, in your line of work? Lemper: I believe that society has taken great strides toward equality for woman in the workplace, and that the “glass ceiling” does not exist anymore, with more and more women running successful businesses and becoming top in their fields in every profession, from business, engineering, law, medicine, and politics. However, in many cases women are expected to succeed and take the traditional role in raising families. Balancing career and family is certainly the most challenging aspect of being a successful woman today. Q: What advice would you give to young women considering entering the business world? Lemper:I would advise them to decide what they dream of doing, make a plan, and then stick to it with determination no matter what obstacles they face. There is certainly no excuse in today’s world for a woman not to succeed! To learn more about Jenny Chen Pediatric and Family Dentistry, visit www.smilesinpa.com. 24
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KATHI LAFFERTY Owner of The Mushroom Cap, and coordinator of the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival Q: Who or what first inspired you to take the lead in a business? Lafferty: I grew up with grandfathers who owned their own businesses here in Kennett Square. I guess maybe it could be said that it is in my blood. Q: Which people or agencies supported you at the start? Lafferty: Friends and family at the start. Mushrooms got me in the door in Philadelphia when I decided to expand my children’s consignment business into new and pre-owned children’s clothing back in the late ‘80s. I sold mushrooms to sales reps in Philly every time I went to a show. And they loved my mushroom salad – they actually had me bring it in so it could be served for lunch. Q: What personal qualities do you need to operate a business? Lafferty: Perseverance and vision. Q: What’s the most satisfying part of heading a business? Lafferty: Making it successful. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women entrepreneurs? Lafferty: Funding, time management, making connections. Q: What advice would you give to young girls/women considering entering the business world? Lafferty: Get a business and/or marketing education, but also educate yourself completely about the business you might want to start. Q: What’s the best thing about being in the Mushroom Capital of the World? Lafferty: There are lots of “best” reasons, but I have to say that as Mushroom Festival and Mushroom Drop coordinator, it is the support of the mushroom industry, the community, the sponsors and volunteers who make
it rewarding. The end result is giving back over $600,000 via grants and collecting tons of food for our Kennett Food Cupboard -- making people happy! To learn more about The Mushroom Cap, call 610-444-8484 or visit www. themushroomcap.com. KATHLEEN CACCAMO Owner, Bedbugzz Q: You’re in your tenth year of owning Bedbugzz. What or who inspired you to open the business? Caccamo: New York City is where I began my career as an interior designer and retailer, and the city has always been a source of inspiration. I always dreamed of opening my own shop to combine the two interests. I had been working part-time in Kennett Square and knew what stores already existed. When we opened Bedbugzz in 2005, our vision was to decorate kid’s rooms as well as to be a unique children’s gift shop. As the economy changed along with our customer’s needs, the business expanded to include clothing for babies. The shop continues to grow along with our customers and the sizes we carry has grown. We are very proud to have customers for whom we’ve designed nurseries and dressed since they were born. Q: Tell me about the intangible qualities that you believe it takes to be an effective entrepreneur. What are those intangible qualities that you yourself bring to your business? Caccamo: I have to compete with all of the big-box stores and the endless on-line shopping venues. Being a small business I have the luxury of actually listening to what my customers want and I try to accommodate their needs. When looking for new product I want it to be fun, happy, and trendy. I like to focus on quality of craftsmanship and uniqueness of design, while keeping in mind the need to be fairly made with the highest standards Continued on Page 27
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possible. I spend a lot of time on-line doing research, identifying and understanding what the latest trends are. Q: How has the retail industry changed, in terms of the continuing influence of women in the business marketplace? Caccamo: Moms are a huge influence. Most have spent time in the corporate world before they begin raising families and they have the ability to see voids in the marketplace. Many moms jump in and start creating products to fill those voids. Since being in business for just about ten years, I’ve seen the industry change. There are many more independently-owned, small businesses. Being a small business owner, I haven’t had to deal with the “glass ceiling” that tends to exist more so in the corporate world. Most of the shops in Kennett Square are owned and run by women. Women are clearly a force in creating independent businesses. Q: What do you enjoy most about your job? Caccamo: I love helping my customers find the perfect gift or outfit. But I truly love meeting the kids, and seeing what they are drawn to in the shop. I have so much fun talking to them and asking them what they like to do and if they have any brothers or sisters. They’re always fun and creative with their answers. I also enjoy hosting events and classes in the store, which help new moms connect with each other. Q: What kind of advice would you give a young woman who is seeking to someday own her own business? Caccamo: The first thing I would say is to be passionate about what you’re doing. You put your heart, soul, and a lot of time into a business, so you have to love it! The second is that you have to have a massively strong support system. I couldn’t do this without my family and good friends. If I
have meetings or need to go out of town for buying trips, I know my husband has the home front covered. Similarly, if he’s in a crunch at work, I have a dedicated and reliable staff to cover so I can get home and manage kids, homework, and dinner. The rule of the day is teamwork, teamwork, teamwork! To learn more about Bedbugzz, visit www.bedbugzz.com. MARJORIE KUHN AND SHEILA WASHINGTON Co-owners, Longwood Art Gallery Q: Who or what first inspired you to take the lead in a business? Kuhn, Washington: We were both in the corporate world and rapidly getting tired of the politics and stress. We decided to try our hand at owning a business and were attempting to figure what type of business would be compatible for both of us. We both love art and helped in framing design when we went to a frame shop to have a piece framed. I saw an ad in the paper for a retirement sale at Longwood Art Gallery in Kennett Square. I called Sheila and we decided to see if we could get some good prices on art to purchase. We wound up purchasing the business. Q: Which people or agencies supported you at the start? Kuhn, Washington: Our husbands, the previous owner, a friend who does custom framing and the Small Business Development Center (where we learned how to write a business plan). Q: What personal qualities do you need to operate a business? Kuhn, Washington: Integrity, determination, patience, optimism. Q: What’s the most satisfying part of heading a business? Kuhn, Washington Being your own “boss,” meeting new people and developing business/customer relationships and friendships. Also, in Continued on Page 28
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Q & A... Continued from Page 27 framing, the ability to take a project from the design phase, through the labor phase, to the finished project. It’s so satisfying seeing the final result and the expressions of glee and appreciation on a customer’s face when they see their framed piece. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women entrepreneurs? Kuhn, Washington: Being taken seriously by financial institutions when starting a business. Q: What advice would you give to young girls/women considering entering the business world? Kuhn, Washington: Starting a business is not an easy process. It takes determination, believing in yourself when others question your choices, forging ahead despite negative responses by others. To find out more about the Longwood Art Gallery, call 610-444-0146 or visit www.longwoodartgallery.com. MARGARITA “MAGGIE” GARCIA-TAYLOR Garcia-Taylor Insurance Agency, Inc. Q: Who first inspired you to take the lead in a business? Taylor: My husband. He is my biggest fan and supporter. I almost lost him three years ago, and that is when we realized life is indeed very short. Being in business has allowed us to check off items on our bucket list—together! Q: Which people or agencies supported you at the start? Taylor: My husband, ex-bosses, many friends from the various networking groups, the community and my family. I felt like George in “It’s a Wonderful Life” with all of the support. I’m very thankful every day to have their love and support.
Q: How did you get involved in the insurance business? Taylor: I purchased a renters policy from my local Allstate Agency. The agent came to my apartment to drop off the policy. He asked me if I ever considered working in insurance and I was not interested –at all. Every time I paid for my insurance policies in person at the Allstate Agency, Brian Roselli would constantly ask if I was ready to join their team. Finally, after a couple of years, Brian asked again I said yes. He fell out of his chair in shock. Q: What personal qualities do you need to operate a business? Taylor: Stay positive, be gracious, have tenacity, be ambitious, flexible, and honest, have a work ethic, and the ability to ask for help. Q: What’s the most satisfying part of your job? Taylor: Helping customers and protecting what they love most. I have the privilege of calling many of my customers my friends. Q: What special challenges, if any, face women in your line of work? Taylor: The insurance industry as a whole has improved over the last few years. There were plenty of times when I would attend a meeting many years ago when I would be one of a handful of women with 80 or more men in attendance. As women, in any industry, we had to become stronger to compete by enhancing our knowledge, by becoming specialists, and by being organized to accomplish goals. Currently, the industry has highly regarded women who are impacting the industry in a positive manner. Q: What advice would you give to young women considering entering the business world? Taylor: Be passionate about your product. Prepare by researching all aspects of the business they are considering. Ask for help, and utilize community programs available at your local college or SCORE. Learn from real life experiences. Also, surround yourself with people you admire and that are successful. You will learn from them. Be ready to work extensively and wear many hats. Do not get discouraged when you have a hiccup within your operations. Pick yourself back up and continue on
What can UD do for you? The University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies can help you build your professional skills, improve your organization’s bottom line, and enrich your life.
Career enhancement Customized learning Degree completion
• Certificate programs
• Academic and career counseling • Customized learning solutions for your organization • Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes • Credit courses— online or in the classroom
UD is for you! 302-831-7600 866-820-0238 (toll-free) continuing-ed@udel.edu www.pcs.udel.edu CP022515
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PROGRESS | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 | www.chestercounty.com
your journey of success. To learn more about the Garcia-Taylor Insurance Agency, Inc., call 610-932-4935. SHANE MORGAN Founder of The Giving Garden, and management plan coordinator for the White Clay Wild and Scenic Program Q: What first inspired you to enter the field of garden planning and design? Morgan:It was a very gradual process. My parents were not gardeners, but I spent a lot of time in other people’s gardens as a child, spent a lot of time outdoors exploring, and became interested in ecology. After I graduated from college with a degree in environmental resources management and biology, I went on to work as a lab instructor at Swarthmore University. It was there that I had the opportunity of working with native plant ecologists, on a beautiful campus that doubled as Scott Arboretum. My career choices and the direction I took all slowly blossomed from there. Q: No one who achieves any degree of success gets there alone. Who helped you along the way to achieving your goals? Morgan: There were several people who helped along the way, but Harriet Wentz, a landscape designer and the former education director at the Brandywine Valley Association (BVA) was instrumental in helping me achieve my goals. I began working with Harriet during the summers as an intern at BVA, she introduced me to landscape design and I began doing small projects on my own. Eventually, people started asking me for help with their own gardens, and my life’s profession slowly evolved. Q: What do you think are the intangible skills that you bring to your profession? Morgan: Having keen interpersonal skills – the ability to work with a cli-
ent and understand their vision, while at the same time, having the ability to communicate the benefits of gardening ecologically and making compromise. It’s letting my clients know that there is no such thing as a no-maintenance garden and getting them to understand that it’s a living, changing system that requires patience and adaptability. In other words, it’s not like a room in your house that you redesign and get instant results. Gardens are living landscapes. Q: How do you find balance between your family, your profession and your role as the management plan coordinator with the White Clay Wild and Scenic Program? Morgan: There is a Watershed Management Plan for the White Clay Creek and a Steering Committee, that help me to determine where I need to devote most of my time and energies to. With the Giving Garden, I’m becoming more selective with my clients ensuring that we have the same understanding of what it is to have a naturalistic landscape. As for my family, I am my own boss and I have a home office, which allows me some flexibility, but it can also prove difficult to walk away from work when it is always there in front of you. Q: What advice would you give young women who are interested in following your career path, who have the same dreams that you had, and were able to achieve? Morgan: You have to be passionate about what you do. If you have a passion then follow it no matter when or how it develops. I don’t come from a traditional horticultural background and I took a long, winding route to get to where I am, but every step along that way has formed who I am and what my vision is. I try to keep my passion alive by going to conferences and networking with others in the field, as well as keeping up to date on the latest practices. I’d say to them, “Keep educating yourself, and don’t give up when it starts to become hard.” It’s a never-ending process. To learn more about Shane Morgan and The Giving Garden, visit www. thegivinggarden.com.
www.chestercounty.com | Wednesday, February 25, 2015 | PROGRESS
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