Women@Work May/June 2014

Want to know more about this year’s Women of Excellence winners? See page 21.

Funding Your Startup

HOP to It! Get more productive at work

Do YOU Have a Career Plan?

MAY/JUNE 2014

New Job? What to do if your old boss begs you to stay

Women of Excellence 2014 Award Winners

Private Rooms and Baths…Comfortable Surroundings…

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Publisher George R. Hearst III Editorial Janet Reynolds, Executive Editor Brianna Snyder, Associate Editor Genevieve Scarano, Editorial Intern Design Tony Pallone, Design Director Colleen Ingerto, Emily Jahn, Designers Contributing Writers Melissa Fiorenza, Anna Zernone Giorgi, Jennifer Gish, Jayne Keedle, Stacey Morris, Anne Saile, Genevieve Scarano, Cari Scribner Contributing Photographers Vincent Giordano, Colleen Ingerto, Emily Jahn, Tyler Murphy Sales Kurt Vantosky, Sr. Vice President, Sales & Marketing Kathleen Hallion, Vice President, Advertising Tom Eason, Manager, Display Advertising Michael-Anne Piccolo, Retail Sales Manager Jeff Kiley, Magazine Sales Manager Circulation Todd Peterson, Vice President, Circulation Dan Denault, Home Delivery Manager Business Nick Gagliardo, Chief Financial Officer TimesUnion.com Paul Block, Executive Producer Women@Work Advisory Board: Anne Saile†, chair; Marri Aviza†, Kristen Berdar†, Debra Best†, Nancy Carey-Cassidy†, Andrea Crisafulli-Russo†, Kathleen Godfrey†, Tammis Groft, Ann Hughes†, Julie Massry Knox, Theresa Marangas†, Frances O’Rourke, Lydia Rollins†, Curran Streett†, Joella Viscusi, Karen Webley, Kirsten Wynn †

Advisory Board founding members

Capital Region Women@Work is published six times per year. If you are interested in receiving home delivery of Capital Region Women@Work magazine, please call (518) 454-5768 or visit capregionwomenatwork. com. For advertising information, please call (518) 454-5358.

Capital Region Women@Work is published by Capital Newspapers and Times Union 645 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12212 518.454.5694 The entire contents of this magazine are copyright 2014 by Capital Newspapers. No portion may be reproduced in any means without written permission of the publisher.

Capital Newspapers is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hearst Corporation.

After back surgery elsewhere, this patient didn’t expect more pain than he went in with.

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pg.

36

Contents May/June 2014

www.capregionwomenatwork.com

@ WORK 10 Bitstream

42 Creating Your Career Path

Business tidbits for all

14 Tips from the Top Excellence does not happen by chance

16 I Did It From the ground up

21 2014 Women of Excellence A look at this year’s winners

33 Waiting at the Bus Stop Helping siblings of the chronically ill cope

36 Hop to It! Here’s how to be more productive during office hours

38 Funding Your Startup How to find the money you need to get going

You need a solid map so you don’t get stalled

46 Stay or Go? What to do if you give your notice and your boss begs you to stay

58 The Last Word What should you do if your boss has a habit of yelling at you in front of other people?

@ HOME 48 Meals on the Go For Tamara Flanders food nourishes body and soul

52 Let’s Talk About Sex Figuring out the body-mind balance isn’t just about going to the gym

55 Getting Away Checking out Chautauqua

“

Find your passion and do everything in your power to make the world a better place for that cause.

”

— Curran Streett, 2014 Women of Excellence winner

 ON THE COVER: This year’s Women of Excellence. Photo by Vincent Giordano.

6 | women@work

Is your company in this issue?

Adirondack Economic Development Corp. .....38 Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber.......... 21, 38 Aligned Holistics.............................................36 American Cancer Society................................42 BBL Hospitality................................................58 Bellevue Women’s Hospital.............................42 Bus Stop Club................................................. 33 Capstone Inc...................................................21 CDPHP............................................................42 CDTA...............................................................58 The Center for Women in Government and Civil Society..........................................42 Deb Best Practices.....................................42, 46 A Different Drummer’s Kitchen.......................48 Dr. Bridget Finn...............................................52 East Greenbush First Niagara Bank.................58 GE Power & Water..........................................21 Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region...........21 Columbia Economic Development Corp..........38 Katie O’ Weddings and Events........................36 KPelham Associates........................................58 Lucas Confectionery and Wine Bar..................16 Make Peace with Food....................................48 New York Business Development Corp............38 New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services...........................42 Pride Center of the Capital Region..................21 The Saile Group, LLC................................ 14, 42 Siena College..................................................21 Small Business Development Center...............38 UBS Financial Services....................................21 University of Albany........................................52 U.S. Small Business Administration.................38 ValueOptions Inc.............................................21 Vanderheyden Hall .........................................42 WNYT-TV NewsChannel..................................58

Spring ~ the season of color!

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EDITOR’S NOTE

It’s Never Too Late A

t this point in my career, it would be logical to think my need for a career plan is over. After all, I’ve been a journalist for most of my working life with a six-year detour teaching high school English. That time in newsgathering, writing and editing adds up to well over 30 years, and I’ve reached the pinnacle of my desires more than once. Before I came here, I was group publisher of two alternative newspapers and two regional magazines.

And yet, what I’ve realized, is that the need for a career plan never really ends.

In an era where more people are working — and generally living — longer, the need to keep reinventing yourself and plan next steps is ever more important. It’s increasingly important to know where you want

WHO WILL BE CROWNED T H E 2014

to go rather than just drift along until you land. Taking that approach in this day of corporate uncertainties is more likely to end in a crash than anything else.

So I’ve been taking our career plan story on page 40 to heart. I’m revising my plan and then I’m going to work that plan.

Following career plans is something I feel fairly certain all Women of Excellence award winners do regularly. How else to explain the impressive high levels of achievement universally shared no matter their field?

It’s inspirational for us all to look at what these women have done. We, too, can follow our career dreams and make them a reality. All it takes is focus and determination — and, of course, a plan. W

Janet Reynolds Executive Editor jreynolds@timesunion.com

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Lower That

A

Road Rage

ccording to the United States Census Bureau, 10.8 million people spend 2 hours commuting every day.

That includes working women as well, who are accountable for traveling to work, running errands and picking up children every week day. Make your commute more relaxing by listening to your favorite music (make a playlist you can rock out to on the way), bringing your own water, tea or coffee to avoid long lines, and most importantly leaving your phone on silent to focus on the drive and getting to work safely.

C

ommunicating in the workplace should be a top priority of managers and employees according to Billie Nordmeyer of the Global Post. “The importance of business messages makes effective communication skills a critical business tool and an essential employee attribute.” Below are some tips from the top about maintaining communication at work.

Talking the Talk 10 | women@work

1. “The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn’t being said,” writes Peter F. Drucker, author of The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done.

Whenever a misunderstanding occurs in the office, speak up and talk about it in a calm manner. Then you will be able to clarify any issues and resolve them efficiently without conflict.

2. Be careful and respectful when using social media. Daniel Handman of Hirschfeld Kraemer LLP says, “First, employers must be careful with the words they use and the context in which they use them. Second, social media policies should be centered on one basic theme: respect.”

3. Professionalism on duty. “Take time to proofread all emails prior to sending, use a business email address with a proper signature; answer the phone professionally; and speak articulately and competently at all times,” writes Alyssa Gregory of Noupe.

4. Engage with your workers. “A group of people get together and exist as an institution that we call a company so they are able to accomplish something collectively that they could not accomplish separately,” says David Packard, late co-founder of HewlettPackard. Engaging with people at work increases communication within your company and also allows you to meet great colleagues.

Photos: GettyImages. Traffic, Nikida; Speech Bubble, Frank Ramspott; Plates, Floorjte.

source: tinyurl.com/ww14commute

“

Courage doesn’t always roar.

Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’

Breakfast Believers

 44% of Americans eat breakfast every day

T

he United States Department of Agriculture, and the Food and Agricultural Organization, have interesting data about Americans and their breakfast habits before work. Here are the numbers, courtesy of Statistic Brain :

”

— Mary Anne Radmacher

93% of Americans believe breakfast is the most important meal of the day

22% of breakfast skippers are obese 31% of children eat breakfast at school

79% of parents eat breakfast with their children

 21% of fast food sales are breakfast meals source: tinyurl.com/ww14breakfast

9 to 5

By Jeanne A. Benas

capregionwomenatwork.com | 11

BITSTREAM

mployers often have dress-down days to boost employee morale and improve camaraderie. Turns out allowing more casual dress days at work can also increase employees’ self esteem according to imprintablefashion.com.

• 90% of all U.S. companies have casual day of some kind

source: tinyurl.com/ww14dresstoimpress

• Over 40% of companies have expanded their casual dress options in the last three years

Women in Fortune 500 board positions

Inching Upward W

omen are advancing in business leadership positions. According to Catalyst.org’s business statistics, in 2013 14.6 percent of women held Fortune 500 executive officer positions and over 15 percent of women held Fortune 500 board seats. For both statistics, that is over a 2 percent increase since 2010. source: tinyurl.com/ww14Fortune500women

12 | women@work

• 81% of employees felt that this improved morale

15.7% in 2010

• 57% of employees felt that they were judged more on their performance than appearance

• 51% of employees do best work when casually dressed

• 43% of employees felt that their boss was more approachable

“

The only way to enjoy anything in life is to earn it first.

”

— Ginger Rogers

16.9% in 2013

Photos: GettyImages. Hangers, Sappington Todd; Rulers, Valeria Petcu; Weeknight dinner, food collection.

E

Dress Down, Feel Better

Warm Weather

Weeknight

Dinners

T

oo hot to cook dinner after work? Try dining al fresco with your family. Favehealthyrecipes.com has over 20 fun weeknight dinner ideas for the warm months ahead. (Grilled chicken sandwiches, mojo beef kabobs, and greek style pasta with feta cheese are definitely on our list.) source: tinyurl.com/ww14warmweeknightdinners

��

TIPS FROM THE TOP

Excellence Does

Not Happen By Chance

Anne Saile is an award-winning CEO, entrepreneur, executive coach, author and owner of the Saile Group LLC, a leadership and business consulting company. For more information, visit sailegroup.com.

Photo by Andrea Uvanni

By Anne Saile

I

heard of a woman who once commented that she just knew she’d never receive the Women of Excellence award, that she’d always be in the audience. “Why would someone say something like that about themselves?”

I wondered. She explained that she just doesn’t feel that she’s that lucky, she never wins anything. This woman isn’t alone in how she feels. So many feel that way at one point or another in their lives.

She, like many of us, attends the lunch to hear the inspirational stories and cheer on the women who get the awards. And that is just the point — the women who get the awards aren’t lucky; they are inspirational.

Excellence is not something that happens by chance. It is not a stroke of good fortune or luck.

As Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

I have been attending the luncheons for years. The speeches are my favorite part.

They are indeed inspiring. It’s fascinating to hear what the women share with the sold-out crowd. At every gathering I’ve attended, I’ve walked away thinking I learned something important that I didn’t already know about more than a few of the women. They share so much of themselves when they are on that stage.

Here are some of my favorite lessons: 1. That failure is an option. In fact for many of the Women of Excellence, failure or great loss was the springboard to suc14 | women@work

cess in something else. My grandmother had a favorite saying, “when one door closes, another one opens.” Each year we hear at least one story about a woman who overcame a failure that would have made many other people run the other way or give up; instead she used the opportunity to see the possibility left over from that thing that failed. She moved on. She kept her compass pointed in the direction of doing good. She built a great business. She started a non-profit. She conducted vital research. She made the world better.

2. Relationships matter — a lot. I don’t think I have ever heard a Woman of Excellence stand up and take all the credit for her accomplishments. The list of people mentioned is always long. This reinforces that success is never a solo act, and that the most successful women recognize this fact and are not afraid to give others credit for the part they played in their success. They reciprocate generosity and kindness. They appreciate their family, and they recognize that without the love and support of family, they wouldn’t be where they are today. More than one woman on the stage has moved audience members to tears sharing stories of how sacrifices were made, examples were set, and values were instilled for them by someone in their family, helping build the foundation for where they are today.

Almost every one of them has a hero — a mentor — who has helped them along their way.

3. It’s more than ok to ask for help — it’s vital. This is a difficult thing to do. Why? Because we are afraid to admit that we need help. We fear that if we let someone else know that we lack some basic knowledge, that our worth will somehow be diminished. But by asking for help, we build our own capacity, and we allow others the opportunity to demonstrate their own accomplishments.

4. By doing good, we can also do well.

I can’t recall a single woman who has received the award who wasn’t generous with her time and talent in addition to holding a job in our community or running a company or agency that people depend on.

5. These women are humble, kind, and aware of their blessings. They are dreamers. They are often very funny, and they see the humor in their own lives. They have learned how to master something. They seek wisdom and they share it freely. They reach in front of them for support while extending a hand behind to bring someone else to another level. They are grateful. Most of all, they are not bystanders; they are engaged in life.

The stellar accomplishments of the 2014 Women of Excellence eloquently make the point that values in life and values in business do not have to be at odds.

Excellence does not happen by chance. W

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I DID IT

By Brianna Snyder | Photos by Colleen Ingerto

From the Ground Up Looking for good wine and gourmet cheese?

Talk to Heather LaVine.

H

eather LaVine didn’t expect she’d one day be the owner of the Lucas Confectionery and Wine Bar, one of the newest hip places in Troy.

LaVine grew up in the Glens Falls area and went to college outside of Philadelphia to study history — “which I’ve used very little of,” she says, laughing — and then she spent some time in Washington, D.C., with Teach For America. After that, she landed in Western Massachusetts and got her MBA in sports management.

“My dream from the time I was 8 years old was to work in baseball,” she says, “and during grad school I decided that minor league baseball was where I wanted to be.” LaVine put out a call to minor-league teams all over the country and got an offer from the Tri-City ValleyCats. “The best job offer I got was here in Troy, so it was this great little homecoming,” she says. continued on page 18

16 | women@work

Share the Power of a Wish® As a volunteer for Make-A-Wish® Northeast New York, you can help us to grant wishes for local children facing life-threatening medical conditions.

Our more than 200 volunteers, ranging range from board members to wish granters, are key to the 90 wishes we grant each year to children and teens across the 15 counties of the 518 area code. We’ve granted nearly 1,400 local wishes since our founding in 1987, and each wish starts with a volunteer dedicated to helping make a positive impact on children and families with the Power of a Wish®.

Wish granters are trained to meet with a qualified child to discover, plan, and fulfill the child’s one true wish. Wish granters commit their time to make the wish as unique as each child and a lasting memorable experience for each wish family.

We have regular training sessions throughout our chapter territory, and we’re happy to talk with you about the rewards of being a Make-A-Wish volunteer wish granter.

Just call us at (518) 782-4673, or email cconley@neny.wish.org.

www.neny.wish.org

I DID IT

You can buy lots of locally made cheeses at the Lucas Grocery.

continued from page 16

While working for the ValleyCats, she met Vic Christopher, who later became her husband. The two discovered that they worked really well together and eventually LaVine and Christopher left the ValleyCats and set out to do something else.

“The reason we fell in love in the first place was that we truly appreciated and respected the other person and how they did their job,” LaVine says. “We felt like we were a team and we wanted to find a way to work together again. The wine bar piece was really not necessarily top of mind, but we were doing a lot of traveling — specifically to big cities, which is what we like to do, and we constantly found ourselves in wine bars.” Both are wine lovers and discovered they also loved the wine-bar ambiance: it’s a place to linger and relax. In contrast with a restaurant or a bar, which usually count on turning over tables, a wine bar is a place you can stay for hours.

“The wine bars we visited and loved were welcoming to single women, too, and that was something that when we thought about it — or especially when I thought about it — we realized there weren’t really a lot of spaces back here that I would feel comfortable just going to by myself, like taking a book or taking a computer and hanging out for a while,” she says.

Taking inspiration from the bars they visited in New York, San Francisco and 18 | women@work

Philadelphia, the couple wanted the Lucas Confectionery to represent each of those great cities’ cultural vibes, as well as Troy’s. They put the focus on boutique, artisan makers of wine and cheese. The cheese at Lucas is locally made and you won’t find Yellow Tail merlot here, but you may find an amazing Croatian red that’ll knock your socks off.

Lucas Confectionery opened in November 2012, so the operation is still relatively young, but that hasn’t stopped the two entrepreneurs from expanding.

In May 2013, they opened the garden area behind the bar, which is a lovely, open, rustic space. In October 2013, they opened the grocery, also attached to the building, where they sell fresh produce, artisanal cheeses and cured meats. And they’re currently working on reviving The Tavern, a popular Troy mainstay in the ’30s through the ’90s. (Look for more on that this summer.) “The growth piece is really important for us,” LaVine says.

“There will be more to come.”

LaVine and Christopher are still working to completely restore the 18th-century building that houses their business, and eventually, LaVine says, they might open up the second floor, too.

“We have this whole building here,” she says. “We don’t have plans to come down anytime soon.” W

Why the “Lucas” in Lucas Confectionery?

In 1863, an Austrian immigrant named Charles F. Lucas opened up The Confectionery, where he sold candy and candy houses. (You can see one of his sugar castles at the Rensselaer County Historical Society.) Eventually, the confectionery grew to become a catering business and family restaurant and in 1870 was renamed the Charles F. Lucas Confectionery and Ladies Restaurant. The restaurant shut its doors in 1951.

And you’ll find local produce and boutique sauces and products, too.

easy chic www.evokestyle.com Albany NY Stuyvesant Plaza 1475 Western Ave. 518.512.5240 Rhinebeck NY 6406 Montgomery St. 845.516.4150 The garden has a ceiling that opens up in the summer and an attached patio.

These women were chosen to be our 2014 Fab5 for what they Evoke inside and out!

The Download on

Heather LaVine Title: co-owner, Lucas Confectionery and Wine Bar Age: 36 Lives In: Troy Family: husband, Vic Christopher and Charlie and Groucho, our two terrier mixes; King, our cat Guilty Pleasure: “Traveling. I think it is essential to my personal sanity and it is important for getting new ideas and keeping things fresh in business.”

Surprising Fact: “I run a business that stays open quite late, but I am a morning person. Staying up past 10:30 pm is a challenge for me.”

Source of Inspiration: “There is always room for betterment and growth. That gets me out of bed and guides me everyday.”

Favorite Wine and Cheese: “Where do I start? For cheese, it is probably the Humble Pie from Woodcock Farm in Vermont. It is has this incredible buttery, nutty flavor that I dream about. For wine, I am really enjoying the Rhonestyle wines coming out of California.”

Biggest Challenge to Overcome: “I’ve managed people before and it’s really important to the success of a business that you give feedback, both positive and constructive, and

Vic Christopher & Heather LaVine, owners of Lucas Confectionery

do it quickly. Sometimes those conversations are hard and sometimes you make the wrong decision when you hire people. And then you have to basically say, ‘This isn’t the right spot for you.’ It’s easier to tell somebody that it’s not a good fit if they’re blatantly disrespectful or if they know this isn’t for them. But it’s much harder to tell someone that when they’re trying really hard. That’s been a big challenge for me.”

2014 Fab5 photography for Evoke Style by Joann Hoose

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Siena College congratulates Linda Richardson, Ph.D. and all of the Women of Excellence honorees!

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© 2013 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. | AR04C378 | AD-09-13-0395 | 470551PM-0913 | 09/2013

Hiscock & Barclay congratulates the recipients of this year’s

Women of Excellence Awards LLP

80 State Street / Albany NY 12207 / (518) 429-4200

WWW.HBLAW.COM

ON THE COVER

Best of

the Best This year’s Women of Excellence honorees

By Brianna Snyder | Group photos by Vincent Giordano Individual photos by Colleen Ingerto story begins on page 22

ON THE COVER continued from page 21

W

e love the annual Women of Excellence Awards and the chance to honor local women doing great work. Presented by the Women’s Business Council and the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce, this is Women of Excellence’s 23rd year of acknowledging talented, successful regional women.

This year’s awards luncheon and ceremony will be Friday, May 30, and is sponsored by Cap Com Federal Credit Union, GE, MVP Health Care, the Times Union, Capital Region Women@Work, and Open Stage Media.

All seven honorees were nominated by peers and colleagues, and selected by a board of award-recipients from past Women of Excellence ceremonies. “The Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber is proud to honor some of the region’s most accomplished women,” says Laura Dehmer, vice president of the ACRC. “For 23 years we have recognized so many inspirational women, and this year is certainly no exception. We look forward

to sharing the stories of seven successful women with the entire community.”

The Women’s Business Council, an arm of the chamber, is committed to promoting women’s leadership through many programs. Women of Excellence acknowledges women in seven categories: distinguished career, excellence in management (100+ staff and volunteers), excellence in management (1-99 staff members), excellence in business, excellence in the professions, excellence in sales or marketing,

and emerging professional.

“This year’s Women of Excellence Award honorees demonstrate strong commitment to work, community service and their families,” says Mark Eagan, chamber president and CEO, in a press release. “They have distinguished themselves among their peers and are setting an example for everyone in business by enjoying professional success and personal fulfillment. We are proud to honor them as Women of Excellence.”

Dr. Meng-Ling Hsiao – Distinguished Career Executive Chief Engineer, GE Power & Water

D

r. Meng-Ling Hsiao, executive chief engineer at GE Power & Water, is celebrating her 28th year with GE. When Hsiao came to the U.S. from her native Taiwan in 1977, she was one of only three women in her electronic engineering department at the University of Pittsburgh.

What this award means to her: It is an honor to be recognized for what I love to do and have fun with. This award is a testament to the recognition of diversity and that engineering professions are highly fulfilling and rewarding careers.

Favorite part of her job: I have the privilege to work with amazing people to develop environmentally friendly, reliable and sustainable energy solutions for the world.

Advice? Have fun with what you do.

Match your passions with your career.

Take on tough assignments and see tasks through to build confidence and to gain credibility. Continue to develop your capacity to learn in order to position yourself for expanding responsibilities.

Challenge she’s had to overcome: Each career change came with new challenges of needing to quickly comprehend additional knowledge on associated industries, businesses, products and technologies. My desire to continuously broaden knowledge across multiple disciplines and my passion for intellectual challenges have helped me prepare for career transitions effectively.

Moment when she knew she’d made it: It has been a series of moments along my career that I felt accomplished and recognized. Each moment came after delivering my best. continued on page 25

22 | women@work

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ON THE COVER continued from page 22

Ashley Jeffrey – Emerging Professional Executive Director, Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region

A

s executive director of Girls Inc. of the Greater Capital Region, Ashley Jeffrey helps young girls realize their full potential. It’s a job Jeffrey says she always wanted. “When I saw their mission — ‘to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold’ — I knew I wanted to be involved,” she says. Jeffrey’s been E.D. for a little over a year and a half now, and she’s never been prouder.

What this award means to her: This is one of the awards I always hoped I would get. It’s really nice to not have to wait until you’re a distinguished career person to be recognized. If people appreciate the work at all different levels and times it’s positive reinforcement that you’re doing a great job.

Favorite part of her job: I love that even as executive director I’m not far

removed from what our core mission is every day. I have girls that come up to my office and show me the grades they get on their spelling test and math test. I never forget how important my job is.

Advice? Try to surround yourself by other role models and mentors.

Challenge she’s had to overcome: I think it’s my age. I’m 31. For women, we’re always trying to compete against other men and we end up competing with other women because there are fewer seats for women at the table. It’s not a competition. We should be joining arms and moving together. Lifting as you’re climbing.

Moment when she felt she’d made it: Getting the job as executive director was a “Mary Tyler” moment: “I’m going to make it after all.”

Amy Johnson – Excellence in Business President, Capstone, Inc.

“I

think excellence in business means a couple of things,” says Amy Johnson, president of Capstone, Inc. “The most obvious answer is creating an organization that performs to the best of class in your industry or region or in the country.” Johnson founded Capstone, which specializes in retained search, in 1995.

What this award means to her: It’s an affirmation. We all go through life believing we have a good compass and believing that your business associates and your family keep you centered and balanced in life, and they do. The award just affirms this.

Favorite part of her job: Helping people. Working with young companies and existing companies to get to new levels. Stepping back six months, 12 months, 18 months and being able to share in their

successes as organizations and professionals is valuable to me.

Advice? Be passionate about your career of choice. Love what you’re doing.

Challenge she’s had to overcome: Balance in my life between work and family and community. I have a hard time saying no. I so want to make everyone happy and give back because I really feel I’ve been very fortunate.

Moment when she felt she’d made it: There have been so many a-ha moments I can’t pick just one. When you have your first child, when you meet Steve Jobs, or buy a vacation home and actually start taking time off without feeling guilty. Even now I feel like we’ve accomplished a lot, but I’m still pushing myself to get to that next ridge. continued on page 27 capregionwomenatwork.com | 25

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Girls Incorporated® of the Greater Capital Region

Congratulates

Executive Director Ashley Jeffrey 2014 EMERGING PROFESSIONAL Inspiring the Women of Tomorrow to Become “Strong, Smart, and Bold ”! sm

962 Albany St., Schenectady, NY 12307 374-9800 • www.girlsinccapitalregion.org

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We would also like to salute the other Women of Excellence being honored Thank you for what you do!

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ON THE COVER continued from page 25

Dr. Linda Richardson – Excellence in Management (100+) Vice President for Academic Affairs, Siena College

L

inda Richardson, vice president for academic affairs at Siena College, has been with that school since 1991. Overseeing a huge staff may sound difficult, but Richardson makes it sound easy.

What’s her secret? ”Things are going to work out as long as you have the right people in place,” she says. “And you have to give people credit when it’s due.

Spread the wealth.”

What this award means to her: It really means that my mother was right about something. She’d quit school when she became a single parent and so she really understood the importance of education.

Her value of education and her work ethic have really stayed with me for a really long time. I know she’d be proud of me. I give her all the credit for this.

Favorite part of her job: Perpetually

being with a group of 18- to 22-year-olds.

They keep you alive, they keep you current, they keep you thinking.

Advice? Surround yourself with good people. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Believe in yourself and you always have to have a sense of humor.

Challenge she’s had to overcome: I didn’t finish my doctorate until after I was 40. The biggest challenge was at that time in my life I had a young son who was not yet in school and I had a full-time job while I was trying to get my doctorate done, so juggling all those responsibilities was hard. Especially at that age, for me it was a little bit more of a challenge.

Moment when she felt she’d made it: When the president [of Siena] came down to my office and said, “How come you have four windows? I only have three.”

Renee Abdou-Malta – Excellence in Management (1-99) Vice President, New York Region, ValueOptions Inc.

R

enee Abdou-Malta’s been with ValueOptions Inc. for most of her career. “I started my career as a nurse in a hospital in 1985, moved to the area, and came into this company and had a very nice career progression. It sounds easy and simple,” she says. “It wasn’t. But it’s been a great experience.”

What this award means to her: I’m honored to be recognized as a woman of excellence and to share this award with past, present and future awardees is just terrific.

Favorite part of her job: My monthly team meetings. During those I meet with my group, we share ideas, we problem solve, we listen and we certainly do a lot of laughing.

Advice? You need to be honest, communicate effectively, surround yourself with positive people, maintain your

integrity and never, never lose your sense of humor and set challenging, achievable but realistic goals.

Challenge she’s had to overcome: After I got married and moved here I lost my entire family every year starting with my father and the last one was my 30-yearold brother. That was probably the most difficult time in my life. Some days it was hard to get out of bed, but I did. I focused on my job and the positive things in my life. And from that point forward I never take a thing for granted.

Moment when she felt she’d made it: After working at ValueOptions for 10 years, I decided I needed to move on to a new company and left the organization.

Within two months my COO asked me to return with a promotion to be a member of the senior leadership team. So I knew I’d definitely made my mark. continued on page 29 capregionwomenatwork.com | 27

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ON THE COVER continued from page 27

Carol Nieckarz – Excellence in Sales and Marketing Account Vice President, UBS Financial Services

B

efore Carol Nieckarz, account vice president at UBS Financial Services, began the career she has now she started as an IT tech manager. Now she helps clients make good decisions with their investments. How does she succeed? “It’s all about building very trusting relationships with individuals and corporations.

That’s the secret to my success.” Nieckarz says work-life balance is also crucial: “The things that are important in my life I want to keep important,” she says.

What this award means to her: This award is one of the highest compliments that I could ever receive. It’s a pinnacle of recognition. It means everything to me.

Favorite part of her job: I’m one of those lucky individuals to say I love my job. We have a great group of clients

we work with. We build very strong, deep relationships and we have a very holistic approach.

Advice? Define your goals; visualize what you want for yourself and your life; be persistent about sticking to your goals, but not afraid to change them when necessary.

Challenge she’s had to overcome: My first husband was diagnosed with cancer at 30 and passed away at 33. At that point in my life I took a step back and decided I wanted to make a career change.

Moment when she felt she’d made it: When I was able to make choices in my life both professionally and personally. It’s not about how much money you make. It’s knowing what you want for your life and your business.

Curran Streett – Excellence in the Professions Executive Director, Pride Center of the Capital Region

C

urran Streett became executive director of the Pride Center in 2012, but she’s been involved in the center since she was 15. After traveling all over the country to help people in the LGBT community, she’s back in Albany and making waves.

What this award means to her: It’s amazing that [the Women’s Business Council is] honoring the work that I’m doing on behalf of the LGBT community.

I see it as a recognition from the community that the work we’re doing is important and an indication that more people than ever really believe in the need for and the urgency around supporting LGBT people.

Favorite part of her job: Knowing that we’re changing and saving people’s lives.

I [recently] got a note that said “Thank you for keeping our family whole,” from

a parent who didn’t think his marriage would survive after their child came out gay. And that’s what’s amazing is people assume that so much has gotten better but there’s much more work that needs to be done.

Advice? Find your passion and do everything in your power to make the world a better place for that cause.

Challenge she’s had to overcome: I’m constantly challenged by not being able to do more for more people. The challenge for resources is ever-present.

Moment when she felt she’d made it: When I got this job, my partner coached our 2-year-old to say “congratulations!” and hand me my new business card. And now when she sees my business card she says, “Proud of you, Mama!” or “Congratulations!” My best accomplishment was setting a good example for her. continued on page 30

capregionwomenatwork.com | 29

ON THE COVER

30 | women@work

continued from page 29

The 23rd annual Women of Excellence Awards Luncheon takes place May 30, 2014, 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Marriott Hotel on Wolf Road in Albany. Sponsors are KeyBank, MVP Health Care, the Times Union and Capital Region Women@Work. Women of Excellence Unplugged, a panel discussion with the award winners, will take place on Sept. 16 at the Century House in Latham. For information, and to register for both events, visit acchamber.org. W

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NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT

Waiting at the Bus Stop

Helping siblings of the chronically ill cope

By Cari Scribner | Photos by Emily Jahn

F

or families with a child with special needs or chronic illness, much of their time and attention is focused on that child, which can leave siblings feeling left out. The Bus Stop Club aims to change that.

The agency’s mission is to provide siblings ages 5 to 15 with emotional support in a safe, fun environment. It’s their chance to be the center of attention, in the company of peers. Along with group support, kids and their families take part in activities that can include visits to Six Flags, bowling, snow tubing, swimming and trips to cheer on local sports teams.

Launched in 2004 by pediatrician Brian Sheridan, now working in Guilderland, and incorporated as a nonprofit in 2009, the impetus sprang from Sheridan observing children stuck in waiting rooms while their sibling was at a doctor’s appointment.

“I’d seen families coming in and the sibling had absolutely nothing to do; they were sort of pushed to the side,” Sheridan says. “We started the group and at our first session, we had three kids. It has just taken off from there.”

Today 140 families participate in The Bus Stop Club at six locations, including local YMCAs and the newest site at Siena

College in Latham. Sheridan chose the name, The Bus Stop Club, after driving by a bus stop and seeing kids playing with their friends.

Professional health care volunteers lead the support groups. The agency has a total of 40 volunteers now, some without experience in the healthcare field but trained by The Bus Stop Club professional volunteers. Many volunteers help with tasks such as putting together mailings, serving pizza at meetings, or even sitting next to the new child in the group to make him/her feel more comfortable. continued on page 34 capregionwomenatwork.com | 33

NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT continued from page 33

Angela Tobin, the agency’s executive director, is one of two paid staff members, the other being a very part-time person in charge of paperwork. Although she’s paid for a 24-hour week, Tobin logs in far more hours, but says it’s a labor of love.

“I started out as a volunteer,” Tobin says. “I was a school psychologist evaluating students, and I wanted less paperwork and more hands-on work to make a real difference in the lives of kids. I love [The Bus Stop Club]; it betters me as a person and I love seeing the kids grow.”

Mom to Mark, 5, and Eric, 2, Tobin works from a small office in her East Greenbush home. With an assortment of toys underfoot, as well as Mark’s ongoing fascination with the photocopy machine, Tobin does much of her work in the evening when her husband Stephen can watch them.

“I also do a lot of work during naptime,” Tobin says with a laugh.

The nonprofit relies entirely on donations. Tobin praises her board of directors and planning committees for special

events with helping the agency financially. The agency also holds fundraisers, which includes a June 2 golf tournament at The Fairways of Halfmoon and a bowlathon later this year.

For now, Tobin hopes to spread the word about The Bus Stop Club and its mission. “It’s all free, and we want to help as many kids as possible,” Tobin says. “Every child that learns how to express herself, calm down, or deal with guilt is a success story. They’re still kids; that’s what matters.” W

One Mom Shares Her Story For the Cole family of Voorheesville, The Bus Stop Club has been invaluable.

The club has helped 8-year-old Cuyler better understand what’s going on with his sister, Casey Cole, 10, who has significant mental health and developmental special needs.

“It’s safe for Cuyler to be there with other children who get it,” says mom Crystal Cole.

“He’s shy, but in the group he speaks up and knows everyone else will understand.”

34 | women@work

Crystal says Cuyler has learned more about his sister’s illnesses and is better able to process the information after being in group support sessions. “He has permission to talk about his sister; she’s not a big secret,” Crystal says. “I couldn’t do play dates when Cuyler was young, but now he tells his friends his sister has a hard time, then he goes ahead and invites them over.”

The family has taken part in The Bus Stop Club activities including an Olympic event at

Siena College on the court where the basketball team plays. “You would have thought they took him to the moon and back,” Crystal says with a laugh. “It’s powerful for us as a family when we all go to events.”

No matter what’s going on in the family’s busy schedule, The Bus Stop Club evenings are sacred time. “It’s time for Cuyler that’s written on our calendar,” Crystal says. “I can’t even quantify how much it has done for all of us.”

Kathleen Godfrey

President & CEO

2007 Woman of Excellence Excellence in Business

The Download on Angela Tobin Age: 34 Lives in: East Greenbush Title: Executive Director, The Bus Stop Club Education/Recent jobs: Undergraduate degree in psychology from St. Lawrence University; graduate degree in school psychology from The College of St. Rose. Worked for an agency called Kid’s Care as a school psychologist evaluating and helping children from birth to five years of age. Now works about five hours a week at Access Therapy Group evaluating preschool age children, as well as 24 hours per week as Executive Director of The Bus Stop Club.

Stress relief: Although not a morning person, Tobin rises at 5 a.m. three or more days a week to go to the gym. “I can only go when the kids are sleeping,” Tobin says. “But I’m in bed by 9 p.m.”

All in the family: Tobin’s family, including mom Marie DiBella, dad Joe F. DiBella and brother Joe L.

DiBella, all live close by and are involved in The Bus Stop Club (Joe F. and Joe L. serve on the agency’s executive board of directors). Stephen Tobin is one of seven children, most of whom live nearby within blocks of one another; some on the same street.

Downtime: Tobin is an avid reader, and recommends the fiction books The Snow Child and You Before Me. Wish list: “I wish we had more volunteers and that the organization goes national so we can help more kids and families,” Tobin says.

Guilty pleasure: Watching Breaking Bad while eating frosting.

Surprising fact: Angela is married to Stephen Tobin, whose family owns and operates Yankee Trails.

One of their first dates was literally on a bus. “Stephen was driving a group to Turning Stone Casino, so I rode along,” Angela says. “We went in for the buffet, then sat on the bus and watched a movie, then drove back.”

Congratulations to the 2014 Women of Excellence!

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Here’s how to be more productive during office hours

Here at Women@Work, we love finding ways to use the Internet to our advantage when it comes to upping our productivity. These are a few of our favorite share-worthy sites.

By Melissa Fiorenza | Illustrations by Colleen Ingerto

T

ry to think of one reason why you wouldn’t want to be as hardworking and diligent as you can be during the day. Impossible, right? Not only does getting stuff done feel great, but slacking off so much that your work spills over into your home life feels, well, awful. But sometimes, staying focused can be a real challenge — especially with all the distractions (ahem, Facebook) we’re surrounded by these days. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get yourself into high gear that are easy, safe and immediate. Read on.

1

GET MORE ZZZZS. According to researchers from Harvard Medical School, one-third of Americans 36 | women@work

aren’t sleeping enough to function at peak levels. In fact, they estimated that sleep deprivation costs U.S. companies $63.2 billion in lost productivity per year! “Self care is key to being more productive; you have to manage your energy and the fuel you need to get through the day,” says Cathy Crosky, who provides executive coaching and career transition services to clients in the Capital District. Try to get to bed an hour earlier than you normally do or think you need to, she says, and see what happens.

2

TAKE BREAKS. That may sound like the opposite of being productive, but it can actually help a lot. “Your brain needs breaks; it can’t sustain long periods of time focusing on the same thing,” says Crosky. Every hour

calm.com – When you need to relax between projects, this site lets you set a timer, pick a pretty nature scene and enjoy soothing music. donothingfor2minutes.com – Bad at letting yourself take a mental power break? Click here and just try not to move your mouse. getcoldturkey.com – If you don’t trust yourself to avoid Facebook or other addicting sites that distract you during the day, use this program to temporarily block yourself from them. futureme.org – Sometimes, an encouraging note from yourself — to yourself — is all you need to jumpstart your day. Here, you can schedule an email for your future self for free. lifehacker.com – The tips, tricks and everyday shortcuts compiled here are genius. For purposes related to this article, search for the “10 Ways to Do Everything Faster” list and get going.

or every hour and a half, she advises getting up and walking away from the task at hand for a few minutes. Walk to the copier, walk down the hall, just get moving. And if you can’t get away from your desk, do some stretches and focus on your breathing. “Breathing is a great way to refocus yourself. Spend three minutes of just breathing, in and out, and relax.”

3

DELEGATE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. Women tend to take a lot, and we often think we have to do it all ourselves.

Crosky suggests really checking yourself: “Where can you delegate at work, where can you ask for help, and, where can you delegate at home?” Making your home life less crazed will have an impact on how you perform at work. “Always make sure you’re using your energy on things that are the most important.”

MANAGE YOUR VIRTUAL INTERRUPTIONS ...

It happens all too often: one minute you’re knee deep in a project, and the next, you’ll looking at someone’s wedding photos. Sound familiar? “We all have our productivity saboteur of choice — Facebook, email, Pinterest, etc.,” says Amita Patel, founder of Aligned Holistics, a coaching services company. The trick to managing them?

Don’t tell yourself you won’t do it for an entire day, she says. “That’s unrealistic and you’ll just crave it more. Set aside your indulgence breaks and then enjoy guilt-free!”

7

SCHEDULE YOUR WORK. JUNE “Nothing goes on my to-do list unless it also goes someplace on my calendar,” says Lisa Giruzzi, Albany-based author of Bringing Out the Best in Your Employees, peak performance coach and speaker. To really get your work done, it’s helpful to plan out when exactly you’re going to do it. “Treat it like an appointment,” adds Giruzzi.

… AND PHYSICAL DISTRACTIONS. Got a door to your office? Close DO it when you need to get NOT stuff done. Work in a DISTURB cubicle? Hang up a sign: “In the zone, come back later!” And if you need to, set boundaries with chatty coworkers thoughtfully, clearly and respectfully, says Patel.

(Also in this category, we’d add: take a look at your workspace. If you think you’d be more productive with a less cluttered desk, cooler temperatures, brighter lighting or a more comfortable chair, make those adjustments too and see if they help.)

5

8

4 Production illustration (on previous page): Frank Ramspott/GettyImages.

6

HAVE A GOOD BREAKFAST. It goes without saying that eating healthy and exercising have an impact on how productive you are, but it’s worth reiterating the importance of a great breakfast. Consider sources of vitamin B — eggs, spinach, melon, broccoli, for example — which help you concentrate and boost your energy, and find what works for you. “I drink a green smoothie every day, because I know if I have a green smoothie, my brain is going to work a lot better than if I were to have something less nutritional like a donut,” says Giruzzi.

ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR SUCCESSES, AND HIT REPEAT. Ever hear this popular quote from Tony Robbins?

“Success leaves clues.”

Giruzzi points out that you can apply this idea to your productivity levels.

“Think about a time when you were really productive, or when you were able to get a big project done before it was due,” she says. Then ask yourself, how’d you do it? Where were you?

What factors may have contributed to your success? And most importantly, can they be repeated? W

Stop procrastinating… right now • Set a timer and challenge yourself to get the task done before the timer goes off, suggests Liz Brazier, lifestyle coach and podcast host of the Live Your Life Now show. For example, she explains, if a report will take 45 minutes to do, set a timer for 40 minutes and try to get it done before it goes off. “If it isn’t complete when the timer goes off, no issue as you will be 90 percent done and feeling good!”

• Make promises to someone about what you will accomplish and keep them, suggests Giruzzi. Got something on your plate right now that you haven’t touched yet? Tell a coworker, your supervisor, even your significant other when it’ll get done. It’s easier to break a promise to yourself than to someone else.

• “Move things you want to do the least to the top of your list and attack them first,” says Katie O’Malley, owner and event planner at Katie O’ Weddings & Events in Troy. “You won’t have this daunting task hanging over your head and you will definitely feel better once it is crossed off the list. Plus, then you have more fun tasks to look forward to.”

• Ask yourself why you’re procrastinating. Patel says that, often times, we tell ourselves little lies to rationalize procrastination. ”I’ll have more time later,” or “it isn’t that important.” In reality, she says, these excuses come from an underlying fear. “Maybe we are anxious because we don’t want to try something new, we’re scared of failing or we are overwhelmed.” Be honest with yourself. Then figure out a solution.

capregionwomenatwork.com | 37

Funding Your Startup

By Anna Zernone Giorgi | Illustrations by Emily Jahn

V

enturing out with your own startup can be an exciting endeavor. The thrill of making your mark with your own product or project — not to mention becoming your own boss — offers unlimited possibilities — assuming, of course, you can find the money.

If you’re ready to make the leap into entrepreneurship with your own startup, though, don’t let the challenge of finding funding stop you in your tracks.

While setting out on your own is hard work, numerous resources and support are available to help you find the money you need.

Opportunities are plenty, but choosing where to begin can be confusing.

“The thing entrepreneurs think is that they need to go to the bank to get a loan. We tell them first to start saving right away. Stop going to buy your coffee out. See what you can barter in trade. If you’ve got a skill or a service, and you need something, see if another small business will barter with you. Sell things that you don’t need. There’s a lot of ways to raise money where you don’t have to borrow. If you’re going to do something small, there are lots of ways you can save up,” says Janet Tanguay, entrepreneurship manager at the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber.

38 | women@work

ou

ey y n o m nd the going fi o t How ed to get ne

When you’re ready to pursue additional financing, whether from lenders or investors, the first step toward financing should be to step back and compose a solid business plan. It’s one of the first items lenders and investors will require.

“One of the characteristics we look for is a well-reasoned business plan. That’s whether it’s a startup business or one that is trying to expand. We want to see that

the project has been well thought out in terms of what the goals are and the capital that’s going to be required to complete those goals,” says Patrick J. MacKrell, president and CEO of New York Business Development Corporation (NYBDC).

A program like the Entrepreneur Boot Camp offered by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber can help you ensure you’re making the right first impression.

The 10-week course offers presentations by experts in a wide range of fields including law, market research, human resources, social media and insurance.

“You go through the rigors of learning about business. With our program, we have working sessions. The goal of our program is that students graduate with a business plan. Most lenders won’t take you seriously unless you have a solid business plan,” Tanguay says.

“

a regulated bank or a credit union, or a community-based lending organization.

Initially, the lender will look at the application and see if it meets the lender’s criteria. If that small business has potential, but it can’t qualify for credit on conventional terms, that lender has the option of putting the SBA guarantee on it. It essentially takes away some of the risk from the lender to promote smallbusiness lending,” Choi says.

There’s a lot of ways to raise money where you don’t have to borrow. If you’re going to do something small, there are lots of ways you can save up.

”

— JANET TANGUAY, entrepreneurship manager at Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber Counseling supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) also offers support in pointing you in the right direction. In the Albany area, the SBA funds the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the SCORE association. “They provide small-business advising, help in writing business plans, and support as an adviser or mentor for the life cycle of your business. Both programs are free and confidential,” says Erica Choi, senior area manager in Albany for the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Loans In addition to counseling, the SBA plays a big part in helping local entrepreneurs obtain loans. While the SBA doesn’t directly loan money to individuals or businesses for the purpose of startup, they do offer resources to local lenders so that funds are more readily available.

A startup business is likely to qualify for the 7(a) loan, which can help fund working capital to purchase necessities such as equipment and inventory.

“Our primary business loan program is loan guarantees. The loans are guaranteed by the federal government. The agency doesn’t actually provide the loan, but they guarantee a portion of the loan provided by a lender, which could be

The SBA issues the guarantee to the lender, not the borrower. “It reduces the lender’s risk if something should happen and the borrower defaults. Then, the lender can request the SBA to pay the percentage of the outstanding balance based on their guarantee percentage.

However, the borrower is still obligated for the full amount. But the benefit for the borrower is that you’re getting a loan in a situation where the lender would have had to otherwise tell you no,” Choi says.

The SBA plays a significant role in the lending offered from the NYBDC, a statewide resource with headquarters in Albany. “NYBDC is a consortium of bank lenders that have combined to establish a more expansive appetite for risk, or more expensive credit, to facilitate lending to companies that would not be able to secure conventional financing on reasonable rates and terms,” MacKrell says.

“We are the leading SBA lender in New York State by dollar amount. Our lending heavily relies on the SBA programs, although not exclusively. We do make loans that are not SBA loans.”

In addition to a serious business plan, NYBDC considers other characteristics of potential lenders. “We look closely at management. It wouldn’t have to be an

identical background, but we like to see management that could be aligned with the business venture — maybe something specific to the product, or general business management as a whole,” MacKrell says. “We also like to see some sense of equity. While that’s important, it’s more about the business model, the plans, and the management. The other thing that’s important if you’re talking about a startup is the historic credit performance of the principals.”

In addition to helping you create a solid business plan, local business advisers also can direct you to regional and special-interest loan programs for your specific location or industry. The NYBDC is a partner with New York State in the “Bridges to Success” program. The program is a loan initiative by Governor Andrew Cuomo intended to make government contracting more available to Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs). “The idea is to provide mobilization capital to enable women- and minority-owned businesses to have the capital necessary to bid on state and municipal contracts,” MacKrell says. “For all the government, state and municipal jobs, there’s always a financial capacity section. Before the state awards you the contract to do the painting, they need to make sure that you have the money to buy the paint. You’re not going to be able to put in a requisition for your first payment perhaps 30 days into the job, and you’re not going to get paid for another 60 days under perfect circumstances. You need to be able to carry the job for 90 to 120 days. That includes paying employees, buying materials, paying insurance premiums, and all the things necessary.”

Regional- or area-specific loans also are available through the SBA Microloan program. These loans cover smaller amounts, typically up to about $50,000.

Local sources of Microloans include Adirondack Economic Development Corp. and Columbia Economic Development Corporation. “In the Microloan program, the SBA loans money to nonprofits, who are then in turn relending these small capregionwomenatwork.com | 39

amounts out in their communities. Typically, these are community-based lenders there to support economic development,” Choi says. “It’s a good option if you’re looking for a small amount of money.

Any SBA Microlender also has to provide technical assistance to support that borrower to help insure their success.”

Other local organizations, such as the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber, offer a variety of private microloans, for amounts up to $25,000. Some of the funds are specific to women- and minorityowned businesses. Some are regional and available for the four-county area. Since these loans are offered and underwritten by the chamber, they can have more flexibility than a traditional bank.

“What’s nice about our loan fund is that we’re open to anything. We lend on character, passion for the project, and passion for the industry that they’re going into. It’s not just by the numbers. We look at each applicant as an individual and we talk to them about what their plan is, how they propose to be successful, and is there a possibility of getting paid back,” says Kevin Catalano, loan portfolio manager at the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber.

“We market them, we underwrite them, we counsel the borrowers, we put together all the legal documentation and we close them here.”

With so many reputable options available, even for relatively higher-risk startups, MacKrell cautions entrepreneurs against rushing into the loan process on their own to get immediate funding. “One of the biggest problems we see at the startup stage is that you can go online, fill in a couple of things about yourself, your birthday, social security number, and you can get $30,000, $40,000, or even $50,000 very quickly, but the terms are oppressive. They may require daily payments. They may require that they process the credit cards and they get paid first before anyone else, and then they send you the difference,” he says. ”That kind of debt load can be punishing in terms of the ability of the business to realize its potential and grow.”

40 | women@work

Ultimately, the benefit of an immediate payment may jeopardize your business’s long-term success. “You don’t need a business plan because it’s largely awarded on the strength of your personal credit score. But, if you spend a little more time doing the application and the business plan, not only are you going to have a better business, because you actually sat down and planned it through with a third party, but you’re also probably going to be able to get debt on more favorable terms,” MacKrell says.

Other Options If you’re not interested in pursuing a loan, procuring investors is another option. The popularity of the reality show, Shark Tank, has popularized the notion that it’s possible to find entrepreneurial success with the help of “angel investors,” successful multi-millionaires who are looking to invest in the next big thing.

However, negotiating with “an angel,”

while potentially lucrative, rarely comes without tradeoffs. “Typically, angel investors want a big chunk. They’ll give you a big chunk of money, but when it comes time to negotiate, they also want a big chunk on the other end. So, you have to decide whether you want to walk away from your business or give a lot of it away. True entrepreneurs do that, they’ll say, ‘Take it and I’ll start something new.’

So, it depends on the entrepreneur,” Tanguay says.

It’s all a matter of passion and commitment when working with angels. “Some people on Shark Tank are really passionate and they refuse to make the deal and walk away. So, you have to think about the fact that, yes, they’ll put up collateral up front, but they’re also going to take a lot at the back end. They’re there to make money. They typically want involvement,” Tanguay says.

If you’re not convinced that an angel can make your dreams come true, other

Is Crowdfunding for You? Perhaps you’ve heard about crowdfunding and wondered if it’s a realistic option for financing your startup.

Crowdfunding involves raising capital for a cause or business venture by asking large numbers of people, “a crowd,” to contribute small amounts individually. The reasoning is that if your cause, idea, or venture is worthy enough, family, friends, and even complete strangers from around the world will want to be part of it. So, how can you tap into the pockets of virtual benefactors and investors via crowdfunding websites?

To start, you can access a directory of crowdfunding websites on crowdsourcing. org, which bills itself as the leading industry website on crowdsourcing and crowdfunding. Here, you can

narrow your search to sites that concentrate on business crowdfunding and the type of support you need.

Some crowdfunding sites that specialize in business ventures offer financing options that are intended to support new ventures.

Sites that specialize in equity crowdfunding require that you offer investors equity in the business. Some sites specialize in securing accredited investors, who can offer the largest amounts of money. Debt crowdfunding allows you to borrow from lenders or groups of lenders, though often with interest. Other options include your offering investors a product sample or a service in return for their investment.

The most common types of crowdfunding sites involve

the solicitation of donations from contributors without the offer of any benefit. It’s the type of support you often hear about in relation to social causes and personal pleas. Contributors are often anonymous. However, the competition can be tough. On some sites, you’ll be competing against a wide range of solicitors. Other sites focus on product or business-related endeavors and even can be industry-specific.

Not all crowdfunding sites are created equal. The required documentation differs by site and the type of funding you’re seeking. “The things you have to watch out for on those sites are that they all take a fee. And, some of them require you to hit your goal. So, if your goal is $10,000 and you’ve only

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raised $8,000, your money could be stuck there until you hit your goal,” says Janet Tanguay, entrepreneurship manager at the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber. “It’s important to read the fine print before you sign on so you know what to expect.”

And, don’t think that crowdfunding is the easy way out. “It’s work. It’s not like you can just post it and walk away from it and hope someone finds it. You have to embark on an advertising campaign and get it out there, either through social media, or by using other ways to get people on board to help you send your message out. You can’t just sit there if you want people to find it.

It really becomes a branding and marketing campaign,” Tanguay says.

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types of investors ,such as Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), partner with the SBA. “SBICs are licensed and regulated companies by the SBA, but they are privately owned and managed investment funds. Like other typical investment funds, they are trying to make capital available to small firms. They raise their own capital and receive SBAguaranteed leverage on that capital. Those licensed SBICs have the same incentives as other investment companies to share in the success of a small firm that’s going to take off, but it fills a gap in cases where conventional financing isn’t going to work,” Choi says.

Whatever type of financing you pursue, don’t step out alone.

“Advisers can set you up for success and help you make sure you’re prepared to talk to a particular type of lender.

They can help if you’re going to apply to a conventional lender for a 7(a) loan, or talk to a Microlender, or an SDIC because you’re probably going to prepare for each of those a little differently,” Choi says.

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Creating Your Path D

eb Best likes to think of a career plan as a “personal strategic plan,” the kind of thing a CEO would write to guide her business, except in this case, the business is you.

If so far in your work life your career plan has consisted of daydreaming about the day you finally get away from that suck-up who sits across the cubicle, it’s time to dream bigger. And dreams can’t be realized until you define what they are.

On paper. In some detail. With a path to guide you there.

“People don’t give themselves the time or permission to do that. It’s not just about your career or your business, what are you passionate about?” says Best, owner and principle of Deb Best Practices, a Niskayuna-based business that specializes in providing expertise in human resources, recruiting, strategic planning and training 42 | women@work

You need a solid map so you don’t get stalled to organizations from five to more than 1,000 employees. “When you say it or you write it down it starts becoming real. It’s out of your head. You’re activating it.”

But what exactly is “it”?

A career plan should be a written description of your ideal job, says Anne Saile, president of Saile Group, LLC, in Clifton Park. It doesn’t have to include a specific title but it should cover all the basics. In your perfect job, are you a CEO or a mid-level manager? How many people do you oversee? Is it a 9-to-5 job or does it include a lot of flexibility? Is the commute short, long, or do you work at home? Think about who already might have the job you want. That doesn’t mean you’re lurking over that person waiting to take his or her spot, she says, but it helps you better articulate the role you want to have. And by thinking about that person’s

work, you get a better idea of what you’d need for the position.

Include salary information in your career plan, she says, because people so often get tripped up by that question during job interviews, and it’s a lot easier to handle if you’ve thought about it before.

It also allows you to prioritize. For some people, salary is not as important as satisfaction from the work they’re doing each day or a chance to grow and develop new skills.

And you don’t necessarily have to marry yourself to the particular industry you’re already in, Saile says. She used to oversee Bellevue Women’s Hospital.

Now, she runs a company that sells commodities to the heavy-construction market and she runs a coaching business for CEOs and executives who have to make high-stakes decisions. It’s all because she

Photo: muharrem Aner/GettyImages.

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evaluated what talents, skills and desires she brings to the table and knew that those would drive her no matter what field she was in.

“I ask people to picture their ideal job: How many staff do you see reporting to you, if any? Do you feel like you want to work as part of a team or do you work alone? Do you want to write, or do you hate writing? Do you want to do something that’s hands-on work or something that involves a computer?,” Saile says. “Be clear about the major focus.”

A career plan should be a crossroads of a person’s talents, passions and whether she can get paid for them, Best says. If you’re not sure what those passions or talents are, plenty of assessments exist — whether online or paper — to help you with that self-exploration. Or, she says, you can seek the help of a consultant.

And then it’s time to dream on paper.

You don’t have to plan every last detail.

Sometimes being too specific in a plan can make you blind to opportunities when they arrive because they don’t fit the exact timeframe or picture you’ve drawn up for yourself. And don’t get overwhelmed by trying to plan your life from the present to the day you plan to retire in Phoenix. It’s hard to project out that far, so look at the next three to five years instead. Get down a true description of where you want to go, and some ideas about what you may need — whether training or a formal degree — to get there.

For Karen Carpenter Palumbo, president and CEO of Vanderheyden Hall, a children and family services agency in the Capital Region, sticking to the vision

The U.S. Department of Labor offers tools for thinking about your career and deciding where you want to go. It also advises asking yourself some basic questions in order to arrive at a career plan: 1. What are you doing when time seems to fly by?

2. What do you look forward to doing?

she’d laid out early on in her career meant making sacrifices. Her background was in social work, and she knew she wanted a career that involved politics and making a difference in the lives of people or an institution. She says she always admired former Gov. Mario Cuomo. So when she looked at her career plan and left a decent paying state job as director of a community services program to spend eight months commuting from Kingston to Albany for a fellowship with The Center for Women in Government and Civil Society (part of Rockefeller College in the State University of New York system), she did it with the goal of working for him. Shortly after finishing the fellowship, she became an assistant secretary to the governor, and went on to be the highest-ranking Cuomo appointee remaining after he left office.

“Some people call it going sideways. It comes with risk,” she says of the decision to give up a salary at the time as part of her career goal. “[But a career plan] in some ways, it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You’re led toward that. You meet people who want to help you be part of it.”

She’s since had leadership roles at CDPHP and the American Cancer Society, and was appointed by the Spitzer administration as Commissioner of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services. And she says it’s all because she continued to reevaluate her direction and stick to the foundational ideas about what she wanted in a career.

“You’ve got to be in touch with what you like, what you are good at, what you enjoy, what you want to do to make a difference,” Carpenter Palumbo says. “It

3. Who do you know, real or fictional, who has your dream job?

4. Do you think you’re ready for a career change or a career shift?

At careeronestop.org, the department has a list of online assessments, salary and benefit information based on location and tips on what education is required for various careers to help you in formulating your next step.

keeps you mindful of who you are.”

And when writing that plan, it’s important not to be self-limiting, Saile says, even if the industry that you’re hoping to be in is a tough one. “Of course we have to factor in what’s happening in our industry, and we have to be on top of it, but I don’t think we should automatically rule ourselves out as candidates for a great career in that field because we have made the assessment that there’s not enough room for us. Of course there’s room. There will always be room for talented, focus, driven people. People who are focused, who know what they want to do in their career are invaluable to their employer,” Saile says.

Saile once mentored a young woman through The Center for Women in Government and Civil Society who knew exactly what she wanted. Her career plan unfolded like a movie script, right down to seeing herself at the head of a conference table. The young woman knew she wanted to work at a high level in government as a policy maker, and she wanted to do it in Washington, D.C. Job opportunities came but they were never quite right, whether it was the specific kind of work or a salary that didn’t make the cut. Each time an offer came, the woman reached out to Saile for advice, and each time, Saile told her to hold out because it wasn’t the role she’d described so specifically in her career plan.

That’s hard to do in a down economy, Saile says, when the fear is that other opportunities won’t come along. But that young woman now works in President Obama’s budget office.

“We undervalue our worth. We undervalue our talent. Fear that we can’t do better can be a major obstruction in making the best career choice,” says Saile, adding that having a mentor can help you stick to your plan and encourage you. “Too often people settle on a career that might not be right for them because they’re afraid to take chances.”

That’s why it’s so important to have the road map. The destination, and how to get there, all becomes clear. W Jennifer Gish is the Times Union’s features editor. capregionwomenatwork.com | 45

Should I Stay Or Should I Go?

By Jayne Keedle

What to do if you give your notice and your boss begs you to stay

46 | women@work

Photo: retrorocket/GettyImages.

P

eople often say it’s easier to find a job if you already have one. But what happens when you land that new job, tell your supervisor you’re planning to leave, and your boss tries to persuade you to stay? It happens more often than you might think.

Albany Career Coach and counselor Dr. Tom Denham says leaving a job is not unlike ending a relationship. Typically, the person doing the leaving has thought long and hard about breaking up. The other party, meanwhile, may never have seen this coming.

“Now you have a boss who’s in shock,” Denham says. “They may get angry. They may go into denial. Then they may start bargaining, ‘Please don’t leave me, the place will fall apart.’” If your boss is in bargaining mode, then you might find yourself with a counteroffer.

So should you stay or should you go?

To answer that question, Denham says, first you need to be crystal clear on the reasons why you decided to look for another job in the first place.

Do you feel stymied or underappreciated in your current position? Are long hours or your daily commute detrimental to your health or family life? Are you having personality conflicts with colleagues or with your supervisor? Has your job changed in unanticipated ways or have your own career goals changed?

Make a list of the top 10 reasons you decided to move on. Don’t just include practical issues, such as a bigger paycheck. Consider your personal values, too, and weight your list according to what is most important to you. Are you looking for less stress or for greater challenges? Are you looking for a company or a position that is more aligned with your personal values? Ask yourself where do

you want to be in five years, in 10? Then consider what steps you need to take to achieve those goals.

“You need to get your priorities in line,” says Patricia McDonald, a human resources professional and career counselor in Albany. “What are the negotiables? What are the non-negotiables?

You have to get clear about what’s really important. Self-awareness is key.”

Of course, if you really love the job you have and are just looking for a little more money or a better life-work balance, a raise, promotion or more flexible hours may be all the incentive you need to stick around. Be aware, however, that accepting a counteroffer may not be the best career move in the long run.

In her 25 years working in human resources, career counselor and recruiter Debra J. M. Best says she’s both been on the giving and receiving end of counteroffers. But though it’s always nice to feel appreciated, she says, if you’ve put that much energy into finding another position, you already have one foot out the door.

“Counteroffers, I’m sure they work at times, [but] I’ve never seen them work well,” says Best. “In my experience, the employee ends up leaving anyway.

Sometimes they will stay, but not for long. Whatever factors moved them to either look for a job or entertain being recruited, those issues are probably still there — and money and a higher title won’t change that.”

What might change, however, is the relationship between you and your boss if you decide to stay. As in any relationship, little is to be gained by staying if your heart’s not in it, says Denham, and if you’ve already committed to taking another job, you’re no longer emotionally invested in your old one.

Knowing that you took steps to leave often erodes the trust that previously existed between you and your employer.

Even if you are persuaded to give it another go, it’s always going to be in the back of your supervisor’s mind that

you may not be totally committed. As a result, it’s unlikely you’ll be groomed for greater things.

S

ome people apply for other jobs just to see what they’d be worth in the marketplace and then try to parlay other offers into a raise or promotion at their existing company. Be warned, this is a risky proposition.

“If you’re applying for a job in a similar field, in a similar company, it’s likely your company is going to find out about that,” cautions Denham. “You have to be very careful if you’re going.”

As a negotiating strategy, it can also backfire. “I don’t think anyone likes to be strong-armed on either side,” says Best.

“This is not the way to get promoted.”

Indeed, you could end up painting yourself into a corner. Upon receiving the news that you’ve been offered a position by a competitor, your boss might ask you to leave immediately.

Depending on your company’s policies, you may be locked out of your computer or escorted off the premises by a security guard within hours to ensure that you don’t make off with any contacts or trade secrets.

Above all else, Denham says, “What you don’t want to do is get caught up in bargaining.” Your supervisor may offer you more money, or try to guilt trip you into staying on to finish a project that will fail without you. This, undoubtedly, would make life easier for your boss. But if you’ve already made the decision to go, stand your ground.

This is business, it’s not personal. Express your gratitude and be professional.

If you don’t slam the door as you go, and your company really does appreciate your talent and the work you’ve done, Best says, you may find the door is open if you want to return in the future. When all is said and done, remember, you are the only person who truly has your best interests at heart. Feel confident that you know what is best for you, and follow your heart. W

How to Make a Graceful Exit 1. Put your resignation in writing, clearly and concisely. This will serve the dual purpose of helping you clarify why you are leaving and will document that you gave sufficient notice.

2. Give plenty of notice. If you’re in a higher level position, Best recommends a month’s notice. Denham recommends handing in your notice on Friday, after noon, which gives your boss the weekend to digest the news.

3. Never burn a bridge. You may be quitting because you can’t stand your manager but this is not the time to say that. “Resist the temptation to vent,” Denham says.

“People usually regret that later.” Thank your boss for everything you’ve learned and wish him or her the best. It’s a small world and you don’t know who they know or when you might meet again.

4. Don’t leave your boss or your colleagues in the lurch. No one is indispensable, so you shouldn’t feel pressured to stay on longer than you want to, even if it means leaving before a particular project is completed. However, you can help ease the transition by grooming someone to take over for you, by writing a job description with notes for your successor, or by making yourself available for questions or as a mentor after you leave, Best says.

5. Avoid bargaining. If you are determined to leave, stay strong. Thank your employer for the experience, say how much you’ve enjoyed working there, and make a clean break. When asked why you are leaving, Denham suggests keeping it simple: “You’re leaving for a new opportunity that’s more in alignment with your long term career goals.”

capregionwomenatwork.com | 47

MEALS ON THE GO

Eating

Mindfully For Tamara Flanders food nourishes body and soul

By Brianna Snyder | Photos by Tyler Murphy

Tamara Flanders, founder of Make Peace With Food

48 | women@work

S

o many of us are conflicted about food. What to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, where to eat. It’s a daily challenge to figure all of that out.

That’s why Tamara Flanders founded Make Peace With Food. It’s there that she practices holistic health, working one on one with clients and “doing very personalized programs,” she says, “based on how they developed their relationship with food and how it’s serving them.” She helps clients meet their health goals and discover their strengths and weaknesses.

“They’re not just changing habits but learning about how to develop better habits and how those changes influence them in positive and negative ways,” Flanders says. These are people who never learned how to eat healthfully, struggled or struggle with eating disorders or have general body-image problems.

“It can be very emotional work,” she adds. “People’s relationships with food can be very emotional. You look at comfort foods and food addiction, that stuff can run deep as far as the hold they have on you.”

Food has “always been a big part of Must-have my life,” Flanders says. “I stopped eating meat when I was pretty young and my Pantry Items: family didn’t know what to do with me.

I started cooking pretty young.” Then DRIED BEANS she started experimenting with vegan DRIED HERBS ism and vegan cooking, which led her to APPLE CIDER discover a few things: “I wasn’t getting VINEGAR sick anymore and my hair was good and QUINOA my skin was good and my weight was good. I used to be sick a lot and now I’m not sick anymore,” she says. “That prompted me to take on a career about food as health.”

She also majored in Women’s Studies at SUNY New Paltz (as well as getting certified as a counselor through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition) and the combination of the two influences the way Flanders works with her clients. She knows food and eating are layered in complicated feelings and issues, particularly for women.

Top Tip for Healthy Cooking: “Keep it simple and eat foods that are in season. Just go to the farmers market and smell and touch and ask questions.

I think you can get the best education from doing that.”

In addition to working with clients, Flanders teaches cooking classes at A Different Drummer’s Kitchen and runs virtual wellness, detox and “28-day transformation” programs online. “I usually get women in who are telling me that they’re sick of riding the diet yo-yo and have never learned to just be in charge of themselves and their impulses and they want something that’s going to last,” she says. “They’re looking to have that next part of their life be really happy and healthy and energetic.”

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How to Eat Mindfully: n Learn to listen to your body’s messages. “We live in a very prescribed society,” Flanders says. “If you look a the standard American lifestyle, you eat when you’re told to eat [three meals a day] and often we get to the point where we’re over-hungry and there’s a lack of impulse control and you overeat.” Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full, and take note of what that feels like. n Figure out what to eat. “What kind of food makes you feel good and feel satisfied?,” Flanders says. “Let go of the diet mentality.” n Look at the rest of your life: your personal relationships, your job, your family. Are you living a fulfilled and happy life?

If not, what do you want to change? How can you better your quality of life? When you’re happy you’re more inclined to eat and live healthfully. W

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Black Bean and Quinoa Burgers The key to making this meal work as a 30 minute meal is to use leftover (already cooked) rice and beans. The rest is quick and easy!

Ingredients 2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed, drained 1 1/2 cups cooked and cooled quinoa 1 small red onion, minced and sautéed. ¼ cup bread crumbs 2-3 tbsp. fresh chopped herbs (basil or cilantro are most recommended) 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 egg Olive oil Method 1. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil for 3-4 minutes.

2. Using food processor, blend quinoa and beans and pour into a good size bowl. Mix in, onion, breadcrumbs, garlic, onion, and egg. Toss in fresh chopped herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Using moistened hands, shape bean mixture into two 3- to 4-inch-diameter patties.

3. Cook on griddle in sauté pan over medium high heat about 3-4 min on each side until browned.

4. Top with slices of ripe avocado

Cooking Greens with Tahini Dressing Ingredients 1 bunch cooking greens (broccoli rabe, kale, collards, beet greens), or a blend of different types 6 tbsp. tahini (sesame paste) 2 cloves garlic 1 handful fresh cilantro 1 tbsp. maple syrup 2 tbsp. tamari, or soy sauce Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1/3-1/2 cup water Method 1. Steam your greens for 2-3 minutes, shock them by running them under cold water (to stop the cooking process) and set them aside.

2. Sauce: Put all ingredients, with just using ½ of the water into food processor or blender. Puree until creamy. Add more water slowly to obtain desired consistency. (Thickens in the fridge) capregionwomenatwork.com | 51

Let’s Talk About Sex

Figuring out the body-mind balance isn’t just about going to the gym

“

It’s not about frequency. It’s about satisfaction.

”

— DR. BRIDGET FINN, counselor

A

s ladies of the Lean In generation find themselves more successful and on more equal footing with the men in their lives — at work and at home — they’re also finding drawbacks to that success. Specifically, issues are cropping up in the bedroom, where, according to an article a couple of months ago in a New York Times Magazine, couples who share the housework equally have 1.5 times less sex than couples who don’t.

That’s frustrating news for those of us who already struggle to find a work52 | women@work

life-sex balance in our busy routines. Do we really need to add another issue to discuss at the end of an already wildly busy day? It’s enough to make you pull the pillow over your head.

On the other hand, a healthy sex life — one in which both partners’ needs are being met — is critical, experts say, to overall health. So we decided to talk to some local experts about how to handle your needs and your partner’s — especially when the partnership is going so well in other areas such as housework.

First we need to recognize that sex is relative. What’s adequate to one may be categorized by a partner as ridiculously unacceptable. A key factor, says Dr. Bridget Finn, a sex-therapy counselor based in Latham, is that life gets in the way. “Humans are humans,” she says, “and we all have the same issues coming at us that can deplete our sex desires and relationships.” These include fatigue, stress, boredom, monotony. “We need

to recontextualize what we’re talking about: it’s not about frequency. It’s about satisfaction.”

Gordon G. Gallup, Jr., professor of psychology at the University of Albany, has his own theory of why libidos may go down when couples appear to be working well together in every other aspect of their lives. “I’ll bet most of these effects are driven by fluctuations in testosterone levels,” he says. “If you took saliva samples and assayed them for men before and after they switched from traditional male to female roles, you find precipitous drops in testosterone levels.”

Thanks to broad cultural expectations, certain household chores are largely associated with women. You know already what those are: laundry, dishes, toiletscrubbing. For men it’s grass-cutting and gutter-cleaning. Swap those around and it’s possible hormones start fluctuating or subtle, subconscious emasculation is happening to the man folding towels.

Photo: Lane Oatey/GettyImages.

By Brianna Snyder

Or maybe — just maybe — men are discovering what women have known all along: When you work all day and come home to cook and clean, you’re just too exhausted to have sex.

Finn says that’s a big problem. Sex is an important part of our lives and has certain undeniable physiological effects (see sidebar). Whether you’ve got kids or don’t, have been with your partner for three years or for 30, whether you’re married, dating or single, Finn says you need to make sex a part of your life. (FYI sex includes masturbation, or the more euphemistic “self-pleasure.”)

“Sexual relationships and intimate relationships demand an intentional, active participatory process,” Finn says. “You have to be engaged and sex has to be a priority. We need to wake up every day and say, ‘What am I going to do today to connect with myself sensually and erotically?’ and that can occur in all kinds of ways across the board.”

Our general cultural mindset about sex, which tends to suggest sex is an indulgence and not a necessity, often works against us thinking about sex as a right, Finn says. Sex is naughty and to demand it is greedy. The other problem, says Finn, is the cultural expectation of women to be passive about sex — how many bestman speeches have you suffered through where the punchline is something about women not giving it up anymore after marriage? — and the expectation that men are “rock hard, 24/,” as Finn puts it.

Those are harmful generalizations that have real consequences: the man who’s, not ready to go all the time seems less manly and the woman whose libido is strong isn’t very ladylike.

“We start to believe what we hear in regard to both genders,” Finn says. That can really warp our expectations when it comes to managing our relationships.

T

he first step toward a healthier relationship with sex, then, is to accept that is fluid — everyone’s needs and expectations are different — and realize that sex is crucial. You and your

partner should have regular conversations about what you want from your sex life, and make that sex happen. For some people, that could mean having sex a couple of times a week and for others it’s just once a month, Finn says.

Quality over quantity.

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Improved sleep Improved immune system Decreased stress Improved lifestyle choices. “When we are sexually connected with someone we tend to live healthier.

We make better choices with food and exercise,” Finn says.

• Improved mood. “It makes us happy; good sex makes people happy.”

Another thing we need to accept, Finn says, is that we can’t really rely on someone else to make sex happen or to inspire desire in us. That’s why selfpleasure is important: It helps you learn what you need, want and like and how to get it. “As an individual it’s your job to be inspired sexually and bring that to the relationship,” Finn says. “We have to keep it exciting and compelling and that demands communication. Everybody has access to arousal and desire. Everybody has this reserve within them. It’s about giving yourself permission. It’s about creating a lifestyle that serves the purpose of keeping you healthy that way.

“We’re overstressed. We’re overtired.

We’re overworked,” Finn continues. “It’s become a social status to be busy. “‘I’m so important; I’m so busy.’ What happens is out the door goes any kind of energy towards creating this kind of lifestyle and it really is a lifestyle. It’s kind of like going to the gym. With my clients I say, ‘An orgasm a day keeps me away.’ Imagine the world if people just had better sex.” W

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Getting Away:

Chautauqua

THE MILLER BELL TOWER — Photo by Greg Funka

By Stacey Morris | Photos courtesy Chautauqua Institution

T

he summertime charm of the Adirondacks and Hudson Valley is well documented. But it’s the western territory of our state that often tends to be all too unfamiliar to many Capital District residents.

Take the Chautauqua Institution, for instance, the 750-acre spread on Lake Chautauqua that springs to life each June for nine weeks of concerts, lectures, celebrity appearances, and a host of outdoor activities. Where else can you take in a chamber concert, listen to a lecture delivered by a best-selling author, take a leisurely sailboat ride, and cap it off with a performance by the Beach Boys ... all in a single day?

With rich offerings that center on the arts and outdoor recreation, the Chautauqua Institution is often likened to a summer camp for adults. But most will tell you it’s an experience that defies categorization.

“It’s like trying to explain the taste of chocolate,” says Tom Becker, president of the Chautauqua Institution, a nonprofit, board-run entity. “It’s not like anything

or anyplace else.” The property has a small number of year-round residents, but the majority of the institution’s lifeblood courses through the nine-week summer season that’s jam-packed with more than 2,000 scheduled activities.

Chautauqua got its start in 1878 as a Methodist retreat, when it consisted of platform tents and a few meetings. Through the influence of the Utopian Movement that was sweeping that part of the Empire State and the Midwest, the camp evolved into an interdenominational organization, with an emphasis on continued learning.

The property is filled with rental cottages, bed and breakfasts, hostels, and a few hotels and inns. Hardcore fans stay for most or all the nine weeks. The average visit is a week, but many locals come for the day or just an evening concert.

Buying a gate pass for a day or week entitles you to all scheduled programming such as concerts, lectures, and films. (Certain activities, such as cooking classes or craft workshops, have a materials fee.)

Beyond the institution’s idyllic gates are the sights of Chautauqua and Erie counties, and their lakes, vineyards, museums, and restaurants. It all adds up to being worth the trek, and because the locale is so far to the west, there’s nearly an hour more daylight.

Must-Sees Bestor Plaza Chautauqua Institution 1 Ames Avenue ciweb.org The oblong park is literally the epicenter of the grounds, with people of all ages congregating around the giant fountain, reading quietly on park benches, or enjoying picnic lunches on the grass. More than just a park, Bestor Plaza is bordered by a ring of restaurants, boutiques, the post office, bookstore, and two-story library. continued on page 56 capregionwomenatwork.com | 55

(716) 357-6211; chqgolf.com Open since 1914, the private club welcomes vacationers for a day or week of golfing on the beautifully groomed, 18hole courses designed by Seymour Dunn and Donald Ross.

Chautauqua Bike Rent 10 Massey Ave., Chautauqua (716) 357-9032 The grounds of Chautauqua Institution are ideal for leisurely bike rides through the hilly property for not only a good cardio session, but to take in the many points of interest such as Bestor Plaza, the Athenaeum Hotel, the Amphitheater, the Hall of Philosophy and Miller Bell Tower at the edge of Lake Chautauqua.

BESTOR PLAZA — Photo by Greg Funka continued from page 55

The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Center for Comedy 2 W. 3rd Street, Jamestown (716) 484-0800; lucy-desi.com Approximately 15 miles south of the Chautauqua Institution is Jamestown, the birthplace of comedy legend Lucille Ball. The museum includes recreated sets from DesiLu Studios, costumes, Emmy Awards, even a recreation of Ricky Ricardo’s iconic Tropicana Room.

Don’t miss the gift store with armloads of Lucy memorabilia such as pens, coffee mugs, and “Lucy For President: Keep It Fun” T-shirts.

Best Places for Couples The Lake Erie Wine Trail 8305 Main Road, Westfield (877) 326-6561; lakeeriewinecountry.org The wine trail along nearby Lake Eerie (about 20 minutes away) boasts 24 wineries, all of which make for a day of pleasant, and romantic, meandering.

Nearly a dozen lakeside restaurants can be found along the trail. Start at the Grape Discovery Center and proceed from there. (grapediscoverycenter.com) 56 | women@work

Best Family Attractions Midway State Park 4859 Route 430, Bemus Point (716) 386-3165 nysparks.com/parks/167/details.aspx Located across the lake from the Chatauqua, Midway is one of the oldest continuously running amusement parks in the country. Established in 1898 as a trolley park, Midway features a vintage carousel, bumper boats, miniature golf, and arcade, kiddie rides, food vendors, and go-carts.

Panama Rocks Scenic Park 11 Rock Hill Road, Panama (716) 782-2845; panamarocks.com Famous for its geologic rock formations, the park is a 15-minute ride away from the Chautauqua Institution and features hiking trails that meander through ancient ridges of rock-forming caves, towering rocks, passageways, and crevices. Scenic tree foliage and a backdrop of moss and ferns border all of it.

Outdoor Activities Chautauqua Golf Club 4731 West Lake Road, Chautauqua

Chautauqua Sports Club Chautauqua Institution 1 Ames Ave., Chautauqua (716) 357-6281 ciweb.org/recreation-sports-club A host of water sports can be enjoyed here, including swimming, kayaking, peddling across the lake on a paddle boat, or canoeing an afternoon away. If dry land is more your comfort, check out the croquet, shuffleboard, or lawn bowling.

Chautauqua Youth Club 1 Ames Ave., Chautauqua (716) 357-6290; ciweb.org/youth With organized activities ranging from crafts and nature walks to swim lessons and competitive sports, it’s an ideal way to develop children’s skills and independence, leaving adults with some muchneeded free time. Activities are divided into age groups ranging from preschoolers through high school.

Dining The Brick Walk Cafe Roberts Avenue, Chautauqua (716) 357-2042 A popular breakfast and lunch spot right on Bestor Plaza, the cafe is famous for its ice cream creations, as well as a variety of salads, soups, burgers, and hot and cold sandwiches.

Athenaeum Hotel 3 South Lake Dr., Chautauqua (716) 357-4444; athenaeum-hotel.com

Athenaeum Hotel 3 South Lake Dr., Chautauqua (716) 357-4444; athenaeum-hotel.com

Breakfast and lunch buffets are served daily. The hotel’s tapas and wine hour is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. daily, and includes small-plate servings of hummus, artisanal cheese plates, calamari, and mustard-glazed pork belly. The dinner menu ranges from ginger chicken potstickers and Moroccan chickpea stew to crispy veal schnitzel.

The 150-room historic hotel overlooks Chautauqua Lake and has been a gathering place for thousands over the years, including 10 U.S. presidents.

Tally-Ho 16 Morris Ave., Chautauqua (716) 357-3325 tallyhochautauqua.com/ The-Tally-Ho.html Set in the Tally Ho Hotel, the restaurant serves Sunday brunch and a pay-per-pound breakfast and dinner takeout or eat-in buffet.

A free shuttle is available to take guests to off-grounds restaurants. For a full list of dining options visit: ciweb.org/dining.

Accommodations While gate passes never sell out, accommodations are in finite supply on the grounds, so the sooner they’re booked, the better. All accommodations within the institution’s grounds are privately owned except for the Athenaeum Hotel and Bellinger Hall dormitory. Visit reservations.ciweb.org/ search.cfm for more information.

Heather’s Inn 4 Bowman Ave., Chautauqua (716) 357-4804; heathersinn.com The inn offers the best of both worlds: furnished apartment rentals with maid service and The Chautauqua Daily delivered to your door every morning. Considered one of the top locations on the grounds, the inn is only a block from Bestor Plaza and the Amphitheater. Along with its next-door sister inn, The Maple Inn, Heather’s Inn is open year-round.

Celebrating its 86th season this year, the orchestra will offer 21 concerts in the amphitheater this summer, including two accompanying Chautauqua Dance performances.

The Lucille Ball Comedy Festival Aug. 6-10 The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Center for Comedy 2 W. 3rd St., Jamestown (716) 484-0800; lucy-desi.com A tradition since 1991, past performers have included Ray Romano, Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, Joan Rivers, and Bob Newhart. The festival features performances by rising comedians, live bands, live comedy theater, I Love Lucy character impersonators, comedy classes, block parties, and late-night standup in the Tropicana Room. W

Upcoming Events The Chautauqua Theater Company 1 Ames Ave., Chautauqua (800) 836-ARTS; theater.ciweb.org The company’s summer season includes productions of A Raisin in the Sun (June 27-July 6); The May Queen (July 18-27); and The Tempest (Aug. 8-15).

The Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra 1 Ames Ave., Chautauqua (800) 836-ARTS ciweb.org/entertainment/symphony

Best time to visit

If you want to take full advantage of the arts and cultural programming, the nine-week season beginning June 22 is your best bet. However, the grounds and many of the hotels are open yearround. May and fall foliage season are ideal for partaking in the grounds’ beauty in a quieter way.

Try to avoid

There’s not much going on in the dead of winter, unless you’re a cross-country ski fan. All restaurants on the grounds are closed, and a handful of inns is open.

THE ATHENAEUM HOTEL

The Chautauqua Institution is approximately 360 miles west of Albany in Southwestern New York. From Interstate 90, take exit 60, turn left onto N.Y. 394 and follow it to the Institution. From the Southern Tier Expressway (Interstate 86/Route 17) take Exit 8 for Mayville/N.Y. 394. Make a right onto N.Y. 394 and follow it to the Institution. For general information, visit ciweb.org . For information on gate pass pricing, visit chqtickets.com/fees.php. capregionwomenatwork.com | 57

THE LAST WORD

“The best thing you can do is to remain professional. Even though your boss is acting completely inappropriate, you need to take the high road and schedule a closed-door meeting with your supervisor to talk about the issue. It’s never easy to approach your boss about a potentially awkward situation, but in the end you have to stick up for yourself and never allow yourself to be treated in a demeaning or demoralizing way.”

— Jaime Watson, Communications Manager, CDTA

Compiled by Genevieve Scarano

K

nowing what to do in sticky situations is one of the hardest parts of being a manager. Each issue of W@W we’ll feature a tricky issue with answers from area HR professionals, managers and business owners. If you have a question you’d like answered, drop us a line on Facebook, facebook.com/capregionwomenatwork, or send an e-mail to bsnyder@timesunion.com. Your question will be kept confidential.

“I’m definitely not a fan of yelling and I can’t imagine I would stick around in a job where that was a ‘habit’ of my boss … I would most likely remain calm and quiet until the situation was diffused.

Then follow up privately with my boss about the incident and why it can’t happen again. In other words, I would address the behavior before it became a ‘habit’.”

— Carrie Hillenbrandt, Director of Sales and Marketing, BBL Hospitality

“There are a variety of approaches to deal with anger and aggressive behavior in the workplace depending on the specific situation. The boss is demonstrating an inability to manage his/her emotions or let them rule her/his actions. While 58 | women@work

the behavior is unacceptable, it is not in your best interests to address this when emotions are high or escalate the yelling by engaging in a charged exchange.

You are responsible for controlling your emotions and maintaining a professional demeanor. Seek out a human resource professional to discuss the specific situation and approaches to a resolution.

When you speak with human resources be sure to focus on how the yelling is affecting your work. If there is not a human resources officer at your workplace, consider seeking out an HR expert in your professional network. In any case stand tall and breath slowly.”

— Katherine D. Pelham, Principal, KPelham Associates

— Elaine Houston, Anchor/Education Reporter, WNYT-TV NewsChannel 13

“First of all, no one should be yelling at anyone at work, but it does happen.

The first step to take would be a frank yet polite one-on-one with your boss discussing your concerns, letting them know that you feel belittled and a lack of respect when they raise their voice and that you are certain that isn’t their intent. It may take a few conversations to get the point through. If that doesn’t work, you will need to go to your HR department or up the chain of command.

The most important thing is to keep your dignity, not reciprocate and document the conversations and occurrences so if it does need to go further, you have proof. In their own way, a bad boss can be a valuable learning tool. Add it to the list of things you will never do as you progress in your career.”

– Teresa Fenner Spadafora, Vice President/Branch Manager, East Greenbush First Niagara Bank

Illustration: © iStockphoto.com/artvea.

Question:

What should you do if your boss has a habit of yelling at you in front of other people?

“I think once you get over the shock, it’s best to ask him or her if you could speak to them in the office. Then I’d say, ‘I’d appreciate it and think it’s best for you to do what I have done and call me in the office if you have something to say.’

I’d end by telling him/her ‘when you yell it makes everyone uncomfortable and your intent is lost in the yelling.’ I’d thank him or her and leave the office.”

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