The Spot Mag: Celebrating Women in Business

spot mag

C E L E B R AT I N G W O M E N I N B U S I N E S S

THE

January/February 2019 CREATING A VISION: HER SPOT GOT BOOBS?

A P P C O N N E C TS B R E A S T C A N C E R S U RV I V OR S

A L L I S O N VA N C E M O O R E :

L I S T E N I N G , N E G O T I AT I N G A N D R E A D I N G BETW EEN THE L I N ES

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

IN TH IS

Issue H E R SP O T

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C RY STAL’S C H AMP IO N S

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IN TE R N ATIO N AL WO ME N

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FASH IO N

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MIN D FULN E SS

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Feature: Allison Vance Moore Listening, negotiating and reading between the lines. See the article on page 32 COVER PHOTO BY LIFE AND LENS PHOTOGRAPHY

Contributors CO - FO UN D ER & EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN

CR E ATI V E D IR EC T OR: DARYL BELL

DESPONIA VOGASARI BRITTANY SWEARINGEN ANTHONY GONZALEZ ANIKA JACKSON REDICK KIRSTEN FLORY CRYSTAL SWEARINGEN ANGIE WILLIAMS WR I TE R S :

KIMBRA CALLAGHAN BRIAN BYERS PHO TO G RA P H Y:

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

Crystal’s Compellation 2018 was a Whirlwind – between getting ready to send my oldest daughter off to college, putting my faith in building my Real Estate business by founding my own Brokerage in Crystal Clear Realty, opening and operating Crystal’s Spot Café & Lounge, and deciding to launch this Magazine (something this aspiring young journalist always dreamed of doing!) – and the term Adventure would truly be an understatement!

Life can be funny sometimes….

As a young girl I always wanted to work in entertainment, whether that be to help produce Oprah’s show where I selected and pre-interviewed the guests, intern for Access Hollywood where I would interview a who’s who of Celebrities in the world of television and film, or work to create the most amazing commercials the world has ever seen at a large, New York advertising firm.

I attended KU with high hopes and aspirations, and when life hit me (working 2-3 jobs while going to school), I adapted and made adjustments. And, I’ve never regretted the path that I’ve chosen. I have 3 beautiful, smart, and kind daughters that I give my all to.

I’ve learned so many lessons along the way which have literally and figuratively made me who I am today. I love what my career in Real Estate has brought to me mentally, spiritually, and financially, as I’ve become both a stronger and a more determined business woman.

As I’ve been planning how I want to spend the next phase of my life, as well as reflecting upon what genuinely inspires me, I’ve learned that being around other successful women and shining a light on them does my Heart and my Spirit good. I’ve never been one to be fully in the spotlight, even when I was a child, wanting always to showcase others around me. This Magazine, and in my estimation this important platform, allows me to do just that.

I feel The Spot Mag will be a vehicle that, in Celebrating Women In Business, may very well help aspiring, like-minded souls find support and inspiration. Catering to women from vastly different socio-economic levels, demographics, locations, races, and ethnicities, The Spot Mag truly celebrates women making waves in business and in life. We have enough people trying to downplay our accomplishments or minimize our power, and in this magazine I strive to showcase other women in their full strength, while being honest and open about the many challenges and obstacles we face.

I hope the authenticity and the genuine feelings expressed throughout these pages shine through and illuminate the situations featured, as well as reveal to the world my deepest mission in Empowering Women! I’ve been so extremely excited to ‘show off’ this magazine and share it with you while, in the most vulnerable of ways, present to the world my Vision! Drop me a line if you can and let me know what you think, and above all, Please Enjoy!!

Crystal /CrystalsSpot

Crystal Swearingen, Co-Founder | Editorial Director

@theSpotMag

women@thespot.mag

her

Spot

CLOSING THE DEALS, BAKING THE COBBLER, AND GIVING BACK LAWRENCE, KS 4

“To truly get a sense of another’s Essence, one must do their genuine best to envision from Whence they came.”

– Seneca

Beating the odds after seeing many friends and relatives succumb to the harsh realities of gang life, as well as drug and alcohol addiction, Crystal came to Lawrence to attend o u n d e r s t a n d C r y s t a l The University of Kansas and fulfill Swearingen’s driving pas- a lifelong dream of being a journalsions - reversing decades ist. of poverty within her lineage, while striving to create Gen- What Swearingen did not plan on erational Wealth for those she holds was Life throwing down the inevidear, in addition to consciously table fork in the road. Pregnant at seeking to strategically Empower twenty-one, working two and three Women at every turn - requires go- jobs (even starting her own child ing deeper into the psyche of this daycare out of her home to help Wichita-born, Lawrence-bred dy- make ends meet), and attending school full-time, she married and namo.

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Crystal Swearingen, Crystal’s Spot photo by Life and Lens Photography

2015

2016

LAWRENCE BOARD OF REALTORS PRESIDENT

KANSAS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS SALES PERSON OF THE YEAR

would have three daughters – Brittany, Adrianna, and Halle – over the next decade.

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Challenges continued to play a part in her life. After a divorce in 2014 - with no prospect of commission, due to the havoc of completely reorganizing her family structure – and coming faceto-face with her daughters relying on her to provide, she found the resolve to begin networking and learning from Top Realtors and International Agents around the country, many of which she still calls on to this day.

rating with professional investors throughout the real estate process, as well as helping each individual achieve their respective goals.

A natural next step for Swearingen became to pursue her own company, aptly named Crystal Clear Realty. As Founder of the only Minority-Owned Real Estate Brokerage in Lawrence and the only Residential Real Estate Company on Mass. St. in Downtown Lawrence, she holds multiple first-time home buyer workshops in Douglas, Johnson, and surrounding counties. In addition, she has helped mentor new agents and plans on using her pasAfter attending Local, State, and sions to create an inviting, unique, National Conferences, and learning and innovative Boutique Firm with that there was no ‘one size fits all’ Concierge Services for clients near approach to Real Estate, she decid- and far. ed to follow her intuition and focus on what she felt most passionate Working with homebuyers and inabout, which was educating pro- vestors from around the country, spective homebuyers and collabo- Swearingen has showcased her

2016 GRADUATE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY, SELECTED AS 1 OF 16 RECIPIENTS FROM AROUND THE US

ability to communicate and get the job done for clients, who many times purchase investment properties sight unseen! She explains, “In this day and age, technology really allows me to work for my clients at all times. Whether it be showing an apartment building via Facetime to a West Coast investor, setting up an online, showing scheduling for a homebuyer after putting the kids to bed, or writing contracts and getting electronic signatures that can be completed from clients’ mobile phones, I’m able to be accessible and available whenever my clients need me.”

2017 LAWRENCE REALTOR OF THE YEAR

her longer-term future, Swearingen now faces 2019 with the preparation and quiet excitement of a seasoned pro.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Swearingen made the courageous choice in the second half of 2018 to ‘Go All In’ with her chips and fully bet on herself.

Creating four businesses in the last 6 months of 2018, she opened the only African-American owned business on Mass. St, Crystal’s Spot Café & Lounge. She founded the above-mentioned Crystal Clear Realty and chose to house it in the upper offices of the Café, figuring many clients would enjoy stopping in, relaxing over a cup of coffee, and discussing their specific needs in a welcoming, personalized environment.

Though 2014-2017 were increasingly productive for her, resting on her laurels in 2018 just didn’t mesh with Crystal’s style, as her desire and willingness to both learn and grow continued. Faced with sacrificing time, energy, and money in the short term to invest in both herself and In addition, Crystal helped con-

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“

She remebered who she was,and the game changed.

-LALAH DELIAH

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”

ceive of and create The Spot Mag (also housed inside the Café, and which you happen to be reading right now), focused on Celebrating Women In Business and standing as one of the only combination African-American AND female-owned, mid-tier magazines in the Midwest. Oh, and by the way, you can now purchase her delectable, homemade cobblers served every weekend at the Café on her newly formed e-commerce site, crystalsfamouscobblers.com.

ability to produce a hearty laugh. With her trademark, enthusiastic smile, she says, “Laughter and helping everyone feel at ease comes naturally to me. I’m always looking for ways to relate to people, from the first-time homebuyers who seem nervous about the purchase process to the seasoned investor looking at ten-plus properties a year. I always strive to be approachable, knowledgeable, and an active listener, so I can help clients and customers reach their goals, whatever they may be.”

Through all of the trials and tribulations of the last three decades, as well as the hard-earned accolades that have come her way, Crystal remains filled with both humility and an ever-present

Swearingen continues, “I’ve always wanted to help other people achieve and reach their goals. With Crystal Clear Realty, I hope to recruit, train, and motivate agents who really want

Crystal, 2015 Lawrence Board of REALTORS President.

world to me! Making them proud and giving them a sense of security are my first priorities. From picking them up every day after school to making sure we have some semblance of a routine - even with Crystal’s Spot, crystalsfamouscobblers.com, The Spot Mag, and Crystal Clear Realty being operational now - finding time for them to feel both appreciated and heard is my priFamily remains a central component mary, daily goal!” in Swearingen remaining grounded, as she emotionally reflects, “My daughters Crystal’s most identifiable qualities are the most important thing in this when you first meet her remain a gento make a career they can be proud of in Real Estate. Being a Boutique Firm located in the Heart of Downtown has its advantages. We plan on having regular office hours, and if you ever see the “Realtor On Duty” sign up, come on in. I will ALWAYS love to talk to you about the Housing Market and Real Estate Investing!”

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Crystal’s three daughters, Brittany, Adrianna and Halle.

uine kindness and an undeniable resilience and Strength of Spirit. She sincerely believes the daily struggles she looks back on helped forge the gratitude and the character she counts on everyday, be it in cherishing her family, nurturing her friendships, or overseeing her business ventures. Developing trust and working relationships across many sectors with personal and business relationships alike remains incredibly important to Swearingen.

She reflects inward for a moment and adds excitedly, “People some-

times ask me how I have time to do the baking for Crystal’s Spot along with the Real Estate Company, as well as tend to the additional businesses. Well, that’s the main reason I decided to house Crystal Clear Realty and The Spot Mag inside the Café - so I can work while I bake! I make calls, write contracts, schedule showings, sell ads, and bake Peach Cobbler, all while preparing for our events on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at Crystal’s Spot!

It’s amazingly symbiotic!”

C R Y S TA L’ S C H A M P I O N S

Wak’ó Mujeres Phu ~ nu Women Mural

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ourteen women and three girls changed the landscape of the Lawrence Public Library this Summer. This ambitious project originated from a chance trip to Watson Museum by one of the founders, Connie Fiorella Fitzpatrick. Upon arrival, Connie began searching in the Women in History section, and she realized there were no faces that looked like hers. The museum lacked information on the Women of Color who helped make Lawrence the wonderful community it is today. After research, grants, countless city commission meetings, permits, and the meeting of fans

OUR PROJECT TITLE ENCOMPASSES A FEW OF THE MANY LANGUAGES REPRESENTATIVE OF PAST AND PRESENT WOMXN WHO CALLED THIS LAND THEIR HOME. EACH WORD TRANSLATES LITERALLY INTO “WOMXN” SO THAT THE TITLE STANDS ALONE AS HOMAGE TO WOMXN’S HISTORIES. THE PROJECT IS A MULTI-SENSORY ONE THAT HIGHLIGHTS WOMXN OF COLOR ACROSS VARIOUS HERITAGES, LINGUISTIC TIES, AND CULTURES.

and foes along the way, Connie - along with these brave women and young girls - stayed the course. After three weeks of community painting and priming - and three months of political persistence - they created a beautiful masterpiece that illustrates the stories and the journey behind Womxn of Color. For additional information on this mural, as well as the lovely ladies that helped bring this important history to the forefront, check out their website at wocmural.com/theteam.

Wak’ó: Representing the indigenous womxn of Kanza.

Mujeres: Spanish, the second most spoken language in KS. ~ Phu. nu: Vietnamese, the third most spoken language in KS. Thank you from all of us at The Spot Mag and Crystal’s Champions - for taking the time, persevering through every obstacle, and creating such a vibrant piece of art that conveys the impact of these unsung heroes. We salute you!

Crystal’s Champions is dedicated to strong and inspirational women and organizations that are making a difference in the community. To nominate a champion, email us at women@thespot.mag.

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Addie Mehl, Aminah (youth), Connie Fiorella Fitzpatrick, Imani Wadud, Iris Nicole Cliff, Ivory (youth), Jasmine Deng, Leah Evans, Marylin Hinojosa, Mónica Carvajal Regidor, NedRa Bonds, Nia (youth), Nohemi Alvarez-Landa, Sandra Yoder, Sierra Two Bulls, Vanessa Reynaga, Yueyang (Sally) Jiang. Photos by Leah Evans.

A Collaborative Boutique

featuring 16 unique stores with apparel, home decor, gifts & more!

Something for everyone!

Be our friend: @shopkbandco 825 Massachusetts Street, Suite A Lawrence, KS 66049 785.856.2075 shopkbandco@gmail.com

I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N

Dynamic Friendship WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN ACROSS THE GLOBE

BY DESPONIA VOGASARI

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ne of the reasons this magazine remains very close to my heart, other than the fact that it Celebrates Women In Business, is because it celebrates ALL women in general. ‘Successful’ women are not just the women who have already prospered in life, made more money than they could imagine, and afforded themselves luxurious vacations in exotic destinations. Successful women, in my estimation, are those who have challenged the status quo, defied stereotypes, and regardless of the outward negativity and inner voices telling them they’re incapable, managed to push through obstacles to ‘just do it.’

Thus far, during my very young professional career, I’ve glimpsed so many of these aforementioned stereotypes. Women often work twice as hard to prove their worth. I sometimes find myself disappointed in this fact, but I’m proud of where things seem to be headed, thanks to strong women inspiring us daily. I believe how they carry themselves, express themselves, deal with situations, and continuously prove their worth again and again deeply affects us all.

One woman in my life that has defied the status quo in her community is my good friend, Zoha Hasan. Zoha is a 22 year-old

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Zoha Hasan, Houston, TX.

from Pakistan. Her family moved to the US in 2006 when she was 10. Their first trip to the US involved visiting relatives in Houston, TX, and they immediately recognized great potential for a better life for their family.

As many immigrants do, Zoha’s parents wanted a brighter future for their children.

They believed that moving to the US would provide them with opportunities that Pakistan could not, and they felt that starting elementary school would help ease the children into the language and culture, as well as better equip them for life after college .

So, they applied for American Citizenship, and Zoha’s parents managed to find jobs and start their life in this country.

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I met Zoha in October of 2016 at the National Basketball Association’s Houston Rockets organization. We both started out as interns in neighboring departments. She worked in Suite Sales, and I worked in the Corporate Development Department. We were timid and intimidated, yet driven and eager to take on the world.

For the duration of our internship, we found we had quite a bit in common. We supported each other the whole time. Being two young, female interns in a predominantly male industry helped us learn much about ourselves and one another.

After Zoha attended the University of Houston as a Pre-Medicine and Human Resource Management major, as well as worked for the Rockets, she worked for the NFL’s Houston Texans in the Fan Development Department. She currently works for Apple in the iOS Troubleshooting department based out of Cupertino, California.

Through all of this hard work and persistence, Zoha has become unique in the Muslim community in having this kind of experience and exposure. To better under-

stand how revolutionary Zoha’s dreams and career may be, one must attempt to put themselves in her position, understand her background, and ‘walk in her shoes.’

Zoha comes from a place where a woman’s expected to stay at home and focus on taking care of her children and the house, while a man strives to be the Breadwinner. She sums this cultural dynamic up by saying, “I think women from Pakistan living in the West and women living back home differ greatly in the sense of cultural differences.

For example, all of my aunts and cousins in Pakistan have at least a Bachelor’s Degree, and they’re married into educated families.

However, they stay at home and prefer to be a Homemaker and Housewife instead.”

Zoha continues, “In contrast, here in the West, my mom, my aunts, and I completed our education to excel in our career paths.

We chose to be involved and to be in the fields that interest us, as well as have a proper career, along with still having family values and maintaining the culture.”

While Zoha has gained much admiration in her community for her point of view, she has also been on the receiving end of distaste and resentment. Being a practicing Muslim in the US, especially at this time, can serve as quite a challenge. Even in Houston, a vastly international city known to accept differences and possess a modern, tolerant way of thinking, instances have arisen where Zoha and her family have been discriminated against. For example, her family is building a house in a predominantly Christian sub-division, and some of their neighbors have initiated lawsuits, temporarily prevent-

“It’s not easy being a practicing Muslim in this day and age and it is only getting harder and harder.”

ed them from building on the land, and espoused beliefs that a Muslim family could cause volatile issues or depreciate the n e i g h b o rhood’s value as a whole.

Another cultural dynamic facing Zoha involves arranged marriages. Very common in the Muslim c o m m u n i t y, at first this idea truly frustrated me. Though reasonably well-traveled and culturally ‘educated,’ I simply couldn’t fathom the concept.

After great deliberation, I finally plucked up the courage and asked her, “How are you okay with this?” She thoroughly replied, “Arranged marriages have quite a negative connotation in the Millennial Generation. People have believed for the longest time that ‘arranged marriage’ means

two people being married off without their consent to strangers. However, it’s quite the opposite actually.”

Zoha continued, “In my family, there are about fourteen couples that had arranged marriages, and all of them have been happily married for 20+ years. Modern-day, arranged marriages do work, in the sense that two people are introduced and given time to get to know each other (usually a span of 6-8 months), and after approval from both sides, the families meet in order to finalize the engagement ceremony and the wedding events. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with this method of arranged marriage, because it’s quite similar to the concept of ‘blind dates.’ I’ve also seen it work for my parents, who have been married for 26 years, as well as the 14 couples previously mentioned, so I’m definitely not opposed to it.”

I believe the idea of having people in our lives that show us another world outside of our own and introduce us to new perspectives helps provide a broader view on life, and this experience can educate in ways that a textbook or college degree fall short. In my view, we need more women in the world that empower one another, challenge stereotypes, choose to take a different path in order to achieve, and think differently. We must strive for more female doctors, lawyers, engineers, politicians, CEO’s, and small business owners.

But, most importantly, we need to remember that the younger generation of strong women is watching us - CLOSELY - regardless of our race or religion.

What example do we want to set for them?....

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FA S H I O N

THE SEASONS PASS, TRENDS END.

everything changes.

BY BRITTANY SWEARINGEN

S

ummer 2018, qualified by the rise of ‘athleisure,’ led us all in line to buy one of the hottest shoes among young fashionistas: The Fila Disruptor. The monologue from older adults described how our shoes were simply a carbon copy from their adolescence. As much of a seasonal staple as an item can be, an even stronger constant may be the inevitable expose on why the trend was such a deplorable mistake.

This may have sincerely been the longest summer of my life, marked by a transition of jobs, college plans and familial dynamics. It was also the summer that I wore my Fila Disruptors every, single day. The thing about fashion in the modern era is this: no matter how much I love my Fila’s and how dependent on them I became, one day I simply took them off for the last time – even after I had sculpted my entire wardrobe around the single sentiment, “Can I wear my sneakers?”

me to think they ever worked so well, when now I’m almost certain they did not. But, that’s rather marvelous, isn’t it?

The haze surrounding every trend and seasonal necessity that only the acutely experienced can peer beyond speaks volumes.

The carousel never stops turning. A new season brings new trends and new norms that we sink our claws into with unwavering ferocity, as if our items will not be flooding the online ‘depop’ community in six month’s time. A strange phenomenon occurs when you realize the stream only runs forward, and never backward. As I spend the day with family in my home, I realize the shoe doesn’t wear the same. The shoe itself has not changed, but I have. I’m suddenly far too snug AND loose in the same moment, as I try to remember how things were before. Much like my inability to imagine these Disruptors in the wardrobe I now know and love, I have difficulty remembering the motions in my life before I left home and the people that mean the most to me.

As I’m looking into my dorm room closet (doorless, of course) at my oh-so-beloved, all-white shoes, I’m struggling to The seasons pass, trends end. Everything make them fit into my style. In fact, I can changes. hardly imagine what on earth possessed

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MINDFULNESS

BEGINNER’S MIND AND SELF CARE

BY ANTHONY GONZALEZ, LCSW

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he practice of self-care has far too frequently been connected with “doing” and what we “do” for ourselves.

Getting a massage, reading a book, taking a walk. While all of these activities are wonderful routines to prioritize, I see self-care as a much more introspective practice.

Among the clients with whom I have the privilege of working, many are professional women, and we try to move past simply finding tasks that alleviate stress. Instead, we work to explore and attend to the reasons WHY we become stressed and overwhelmed from the outset. Exploring our expectations, judgments, and often unmet or unspoken needs are what create stress or intense emotional experiences. Self-care is rooted in working to validate our experiences and seek understanding of why we feel the way we do.

ceived notions, i.e., the rules and myths we allow to guide us - not only about the world in which we live, but also about ourselves. These myths are developed over time, often from our childhood or through impactful experiences as an adult, and they can be incredibly difficult patterns to break.

The Zen principle of Beginner’s Mind is an approach that can help open our minds and hearts to new perspectives, new feelings, and new relationships.

From a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy point of view, allowing yourself to be willing to try new ways of interacting with the world can break the mold that may have brought you to where you are. When you feel overwhelmed or stressed, you might ask if there is a different way of viewing this situation.

Ask yourself, “Would I feel the same way if I worked to accept reality as it is, without desiring it to be different, at least for that moment?”

Beginner’s Mind lets you become a One of the most difficult aspects of student of life again, opening yourself healing is overcoming our precon- to childlike curiosity and enthusiasm,

and even letting yourself make mistakes without fear or judgment. This approach can help reinforce foundational principles of wellness, such as humility, acceptance and honesty, in large part because you are no longer under the pressure of being an expert at all times. The Beginner’s Mind, or Willing perspective, helps you to maintain an optimistic attitude and can often aid you in finding solutions to problems or struggles you may have never otherwise considered.

Additionally, Beginner’s Mind helps us to simply remain in the moment and to focus on what you learn from each experience. We can begin to remove the rigidity of our old ways of thinking and open ourselves to much greater possibilities. Challenge yourself to become a student again with a Beginner’s Mind. Allow yourself to feel and think with excitement and hope. And, as you approach times when external

stressors can become overwhelming, make efforts to be open to the experience and “stop to smell the roses.”

Anthony is the Clinical Director at The Delray Center in Delray Beach, FL, which is one of the most clinically and medically advanced mental health treatment centers in the United States.

Anthony is a proud alumnus of the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare. Anthony has advanced therapeutic training in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Prolonged Exposure Therapy.

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N AT I O N A L N E W S

G OT

boobs?

BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR MALIHA MIAN CREATES AN ONLINE COMMUNITY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, AND CAREGIVERS

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BY ANIKA JACKSON REDICK HOUSTON, TX

What do you do when you survive a divorce with two young children, own a bustling law firm, and find out that you have breast cancer?

If you are lawyer Maliha Mian, you start an online platform and an app, aptly titled “Got Boobs?”

could see myself sinking. You don’t feel good, you don’t feel loved.”

After friends suggested she share her journey, Mian created a YouTube video diary and began to share her story via Facebook. “I had so many women reach out to me, many Mali h a , d i a g n o s e d w i t h s t a ge of whom were married and still felt 2-breast cancer in September 2015, alone. They didn’t want to burden was shocked to receive the diagno- their spouses.” sis. She was healthy, an avid runner, and had no history of cancer in her In consultation with peers and family. Unable to care for her daugh- doctors, Maliha decided to embark ters while undergoing chemother- on a new challenge to help others apy, Ms. Mian felt alone, unloved, feel less alone, creating a compreand scared. “My situation was not hensive online platform with an acjust the cancer.” explained Mian. “I companying app that would help all

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We empower and inspire people by connecting them to a wealth of educational information and doctor approved resources, and create a support network that matches users on similar journeys, and inspires them through shared experiences and in turn, sharing their own stories.

Want to join the inspiring movement?

Sign up to become a test user and much more by visiting: gotboobs.com.

/gotboobs

@mygbcommunity

N AT I O N A L N E W S

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that solution, with a complete, comprehensive platform for breast cancer fighters, survivors, and their support systems. It’s the first of its kind to provide users with a specifically tailored profile, content, inspiration, and a connection to others “Too many are embarking on the on similar journeys.” cancer journey feeling alone and overwhelmed with diagnosis, med- “My situation was not just the canical terminology, treatment options, cer. I had just gotten divorced, a and long-term survivorship”, said mother of two young girls, and I Mian, “I wanted to provide a solu- was working nonstop,” explained tion. I believe Got Boobs? provides Mian. “I could see myself sinking. I members of the breast cancer community and meet them ‘where they were’ in their own process – whether seeking information, awaiting diagnosis, receiving treatment, surviving, or aiding as a caregiver.

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had some strength, but I also got some coaching from my doctor. You don’t feel good, you don’t feel loved. That’s why this platform is so important. I had so many women reach out to me, many who were married and still felt alone. They didn’t want to burden their spouses. So that’s why this idea to connect online became an outlet and place to receive that love. I came up with the idea of integrating a Facebook type atmosphere but with a private journal and record.”

“My situation was not just the cancer. I had just gotten divorced, a mother of two young girls, and I was working nonstop,”

N AT I O N A L N E W S

Got Boobs? is a unique vehicle to promote health and mental wellness in an easily accessible format while connecting a diverse population of users to a community of support from peers to professionals.

The Physician & Patient Advisory Boards, hand-selected by Mian for experience in their chosen field and passion for breast cancer awareness

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Maliha Mian, Founder of Got Boobs?.

will advise on and share how to improve the layout, toolkit and other features which are all inspired by Mian’s personal breast cancer journey. All advisory board members will represent Got Boobs? by contributing information and educational information from launch.

Maliha hopes to reach a global com-

munity, including both breast cancer peers and medical professionals, empowering men and women along their journeys and sharing their stories so as not to feel alone, isolated, and powerless.

Check out her website for more information at www.gotboobs.com and download the app by searching ‘gotboobs’ everywhere apps are available.

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Maliha Mian and daughters Zoey and Zaria.

Anika Jackson Redick is a wife, mother, community volunteer, philanthropist, and brand strategist. As Founder/ CEO of Philanthropic Fetes Founder and Social Graces Social Club, Jackson Redick fosters friendships, business opportunities, and community activism for her members through events and via the Social Graces Social Clubhouse in downtown Houston while maintaining a thriving PR, marketing and event company. In her role as VP of Strategic Partnerships for Real Beauty Real Women, Anika creates collaborative opportunities for brands and non-profits and co-hosts Real Beauty Real Women Radio, a popular visual and radio show that highlights socially conscious men and women.

Among her philanthropy, Mrs. Jackson Redick serves as an advisory council/ founding family for the Greater Houston Community Foundation’s Center for Family Philanthropy, is Chairman of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, and is a founding steering committee member of the national Planned Parenthood Affiliate Board Leader Council.

LOCAL MUSIC SPOTLIGHT PHOTOS BY BRIAN BYERS

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Allison Vance Moore, with her husband Jim, and three boys Alex, Parker and Finn.

F E AT U R E

Working for

Moore

BY KIRSTEN FLORY

O

ne warm summer day in 1976, when Jimmy Carter appeared during a parade at the airport in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, a young parade attendee with big, hazel eyes being held by her Dad eagerly awaited. Carter, the Governor of Pennsylvania at the time, was campaigning for the Presidency. He walked over to her, and she generously offered him a sip of her root beer. The young girl didn’t realize the magnitude of that moment, but a few months later, Jimmy Carter was elected the 39th President of the United States.

porary stay her home. Allison lost her biological father at a very young age in a tragic drinking-and-driving car accident. Shortly following the tragedy, she encountered the great fortune of being adopted by her current father, David Vance.

That young girl was Allison Vance Moore - the daughter and granddaughter of a military family. She grew up moving every few years and living Her family settled in Leavenworth, on military bases, making each tem- Kansas, at the beginning of high school,

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and Allison went to work paving the way for her future. She learned quickly the art of making friends. Throughout this time period, she worked several fulltime jobs in addition to school, and she was elected Senior Class President. She graduated in the top ten per-

her familial support system halfway around the world proved to be quite challenging.

Dorm life, roommates, and college class sizes of several hundred students prompted Allison to look for alternative avenues to identify her strengths.

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cent of her high school class, garnering funds to help her start her college career.

After graduating, Allison made her way to the University of Kansas to be a Jayhawk. Immediately and unexpectedly, her family relocated back to Germany for a second time. Navigating a large university with

She supported herself through a variety of jobs in the service industry. One of her favorites took place at a local country club. She drove the beverage cart and worked the 19th Hole during golf season. She became a regular, smiling face to the golfers on the course.

Always a connector, she continuously asked

questions to learn more about these professionals. Being the “new kid” so many times in her life, she was very comfortable engaging with people from all walks of life. Many of these golfers happened to be the stakeholders, property owners, and a literal “who’s who” in the community, where she’d eventually plant her roots and launch her professional career.

These vital introductions, which started as a young, employed college student, grew and became lasting, career friendships and client relationships.

After college, Allison decided to stay in Lawrence and begin her career in the marketing department of an international travel agency. In 1998, as that company sold for the fifth time, Allison sought new employment. Upon hearing this news, her neighbor at the time made a recommendation. The neighbor had planned

“

The “good old boys club” was alive and well and she had to prove herself daily to demonstrate market knowledge, negotiation skills, listening skills and the ability to read between the lines.

”

to move out-of-state and wanted to connect Allison with colleagues at a local real estate firm. That fortuitous, first meeting sealed her fate, as Marilyn Bittenbender and Kelvin Heck felt Allison would be an excellent addition to the Commercial Real Estate division at Stephens Real Estate.

A few years later, Allison met and married the love of her life, Jim Moore. Jim operates a commission-based business in the Financial Services Industry, and they’ve been great sounding boards for one other as both of their careers have grown.

Allison recalls taking long walks with her husband after work and talking patiently through their days. Starting a commission-based sales career in 1998 proved to be no small feat, but Allison welcomed the challenge. Never afraid to ask for an introduction or talk to a stranger, Allison began growing her businesses by meeting with local business owners, developers, lenders, and attorneys. The work proved to be a rigorous, uphill battle filled with rejection and disappointment, as she sought to get in front of mostly male decision makers, but

she never gave up. She worked tirelessly every day - making calls, sending letters, setting up meetings, and asking for business, complete with the mantra of “under-promising and over-delivering.”

Navigating this business environment as a young female proved to be both intimidating and challenging.

Some clients simply did not want to work with a woman. Others actually perceived Allison would be incapable of working while having children.

Even fast-forwarding to 2018, only 15% of the commercial real estate agents at Colliers International are females. Women executives excelling in their field tend to do so because of their drive, tenacity, and ability to persevere, in many cases working harder AND smarter than others in their field. Allison remains the epitome of this rule.

As every business person knows, challenges abound around every corner. Case in point for Allison was the fall of 2008 while home on maternity leave with her third and youngest son. She watched news reports in

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shock as the economy took a significant nose-dive. The uncertainty of the business climate, combined with scrutinized lending, shook the marketplace. Clients, whose businesses were growing before, now looked at the prospect of shutting their doors.

Properties were going into foreclosure, and financial investors were at a standstill. The fear that bubbled up inside was palpable. How was she going to make a living in a career she’d loved for the past decade?

ing the disastrous Dot.com Bubble, when her team had decided to join forces with a national commercial real estate firm, Grubb and Ellis.

Persisting with strength and determination through a harsh economic climate, that team would eventually rebound and rebrand by 2010 with Colliers International, one of the top commercial real estate firms in the world.

Through it all, Allison remains clear that her fundamental career path stands truly as a male-dominated industry. The “good old boys club” seems alive and well, and she still feels she must prove herself daily demonstrating market knowledge, negotiation skills, the willingness to listen, and an ability to read between the lines.

Knowing her family counted on her, she pushed her fears aside and went back to work, building her business from the ground up once again. She looked at the financial recession of 2008-2009 as an opportunity to refocus on what she did best - uncovering her clients’ needs and goals and providing the best service possible Being accessible and resourceful to meet those objectives. and, above all, acting with integrity Allison recalled 2001 and surviv- has been her foundation for success.

new possibilities, and she puts herself ‘out there’ with a handshake and a smile as often as she can. Allison has built a successful business of her own and a highly regarded network, while creating a platform for others’ success. She remains humble and hard-working, for both her first-time AND her repeat clients. As a fierce advocate for her colleagues, friends, and customers, and most importantly for her family, Allison Vance Moore wears many hats in life - Senior Vice President, Mom, Wife, Mentor, Friend, Advocate, NegotiShe’s learned throughout her ca- ator, and Community Leader – and reer and her life to take nothing for it’s safe to say she truly wears them granted. She’s continually open to well!

Allison has absolutely loved getting to work with startup business owners, whether helping with their first lease or purchase or simply continuing to be a resource in helping them address changing needs as their companies grow. Some of the first, single-employee businesses that she helped years ago have multiplied, while adding jobs and benefits to the community. Allison values these ‘homegrown opportunities’ and shares in her clients’ joy when they succeed.

V s R E H s i l p m o c c A Celebrating the accomplishments of a woman-led commercial real estate office, inspiring each other and the community, and looking forward to another successful year ahead.

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Colliers International | Lawrence is a leading commercial real estate brokerage firm representing Lawrence and the surrounding area, providing sales and leasing of office, retail, healthcare, industrial, and land properties.

Allison Vance Moore sior allison.moore@colliers.com 785 865 9324

Colliers International | Lawrence

805 New Hampshire, Suite C, Lawrence, Kansas

Kirsten Flory

kirsten.flory@colliers.com 785 865 3821

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