Women2Women Magazine Summer 2018 by Hoffmann Publishing Group

+ 2017–2018 Women2Women Programming Recap

+ A (Salty) Success Story

congratulates our very own

TONI MILLER

for being the honored recipient of the prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award

The ATHENA Leadership Award was inspired by the goddess of Greek mythology, known for her strength, courage, wisdom and enlightenment. The Award is presented to individuals for attaining professional excellence, community service and actively assisting women in their achievement of professional excellence and leadership skills.

We congratulate Toni on her professional and personal achievements!

The Future Is So Bright …

Berks COunty intermediAte unit

Dr. Jill Hackman, Executive Director

“Tompkins VIST Bank give us the confidence to conduct our daily operations without interruption,” says Dr. Jill Hackman, Executive Director. “They give us immediate service, no matter what the

or need.”

Need a local decision? For banking, call 888-238-3330 or visit VISTBank.com.

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Karen Marsdale, Senior Editor

Sara Frassinelli, Managing Editor

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Women2Women Advisory Council

Kelly Beaver, Vicki O Ebner, Toni Eckert, Lizette Epps, Bethany Kirkner, Susan Looney, Karen Marsdale, Julia Nickey, Mary Jean Noon, Chiara Renninger, Regina Rinehimer, Trish Shermot, Connie Skipper, Alison Snyder, Vanessa Wanshop

Women2Women encourages women to create connections, gain knowledge, open doors and build strategic alliances, and much more. Our goal is to create more women leaders in Berks County by providing a forum where women from diverse backgrounds can learn, share ideas and mentor each other. Membership is free and Women2Women Magazine is a publication of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance.

To join: W2W@GreaterReadingChamber.org

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Women2Women Magazine is published quarterly by Hoffmann Publishing Group, Inc. Reading, PA

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Women 2Watch

It's the

Dirty

"D word" but does it really need to be?

Generations ago, getting divorced was taboo — no one wanted to talk about it and for those women who experienced it, a heavy stigma followed.

By Lizette Epps, Founder — Breadth of Hope LLC | Photos by Bonita Zerbe, Dave Zerbe Photography Studio

"It's perfectly acceptable to get yourself a pint of Ben and Jerry's, curl up in bed and watch a movie or two while you cry your eyes out. When you are done, get a good night's sleep, get up in the morning and put your best face forward. Each day will be a little bit better."

- Lizette Epps

The rate of divorces in the US has increased dramatically in more recent years, with one of every two marriages now ending in divorce and many with children involved. While divorce is no longer a rare occurrence, the stigma that women experience, especially at the hands of other women, has not diminished. You can be made to feel like a failure, someone who is uncaring and unworthy of being loved, mean-spirited and sometimes just plain old damaged goods. As a two-time divorcee, I know firsthand that those stigmas are the furthest thing from the truth. I also know, that we need to summon our inner strength, find support, and nurture ourselves to establish our new normal and find our happiness.

Divorce is a deeply personal decision and takes a toll, not just on your life, but the lives of your children, extended family and even friends. The D word evokes different feelings for different people. For some, it means heartbreak — an ending sometimes likened to a death. For others, it is viewed as a blessing — liberating and a time of rebirth. No matter your view on divorce, there will be many unexpected and uncontrollable situations that you must face. Everything from social, mental and emotional health impacts, as well as the financial struggles that will come your way. The overwhelming feelings of loss and confusion can be paralyzing and often it may feel like you are in a constant state of chaos. Going through a divorce feels like you are in the middle of a tornado, everything is happening to you all at once and very quickly. Being able to take a step back and break the process into manageable steps will be important for your psyche. The good news is, that there is life after divorce and even if you go through it more than once, you can still come out okay on the other side.

First and most importantly, you will need time to grieve. The dissolution of a marriage is like a death. The longer you’ve been

partnered, the longer you will need to mourn the end of the relationship. You shouldn’t throw a pity party for yourself, but you should go easy on yourself emotionally. Don’t beat yourself up or engage in negative self-talk. It’s perfectly acceptable to get yourself a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, curl up in bed and watch a movie or two while you cry your eyes out. When you are done, get a good night’s sleep, get up in the morning and put your best face forward. Each day will be a little bit better.

Along with the change in your relationship, you will find that your friendships will also change. Friends that you made as a couple may not want to continue being in a friendship with you. Many of my married female friends kept me at a distance because if divorce could happen to me, the reality that it could also happen to them was too much for them to bear. It becomes hard for people to decide to whom they want to remain loyal. I’ve found that people who were friends with me before the relationship remained my friends afterward. Others either remained neutral or became lost friendships because it was too complicated for them to pick a side. The reality is that as a divorcee, your social pool has now changed, so you will have to find new friends that are like you. Your support system will grow and the new friendships will help ease your pain and bring feelings of happiness with it.

"One

thing I learned after I got divorced is for the first time in a long time: I like being by myself sometimes, like I was my own best friend. I enjoy "me time" to cook my favorite foods, listen to any music I want, read, watch movies, or fall asleep outside in a lounge chair under the stars."

- Camille Stock

My friends who remained close became an excellent source of emotional support during this challenging time. They were my sanity and my most significant assets in keeping me grounded and focused. When we hurt emotionally and deeply, it is difficult always to think rationally. It’s at these times that your friends will keep you from acting out or doing things that are not a part of your typical character. As women, we want to bear

"Once

we both got over the fear that the other person was going to run off with our daughter or do something to prevent the other person from seeing her, we could move forward with a child-focused arrangement."

- Vanessa Wanshop

the brunt of what happens to us in life, and it’s important to remember that you have people in your corner who will keep you from going over the edge. Camille Stock shares, “I make a point of reaching out to other women who I know are going through a divorce to be a support system. We all need to lean on each other and let these women know they will get through this time in their life.”

Aside from friends, it will also be essential to seek out professional support for yourself and any children who may be going through this with you. Children are equally as impacted by divorce as you are. The stress of their parents no longer being together can cause children to act out or pull back. During these times, it is important to remain focused on your children, regardless of how you feel about their other parent. Co-parenting is difficult because it requires both adults to focus on the child or children and what their needs are. Vanessa Wanshop shares, “Once we both got over the fear that the other person was going to run off with our daughter or do something to prevent the other person from seeing her, we could move forward with a child-focused arrangement.” Professionals can help you and your children deal with the emotional impact and feelings of sadness and loss that they are struggling with and may not want to share with you. Your friends will be great to help you through the day to day, but a professional will be able to help you craft the path to your new normal.

"you feel like you are not the best parent for your children because you, yourself, are lost. It is best not to isolate yourself at this time. Seek professional help, lean on family and friends for moral support or anything they have to offer, from keeping you company to helping with the children."

- Jenny Batista

Being one half of a whole is easy when you are in a relationship because roles and responsibilities are established and shared. When that WE no longer exists, the self-doubt and questioning of self-worth begin. It’s easy to get stuck in an emotional rut where fatigue and depression creep in. It’s at these times, with the help of your supporters, that you will have to dig deep and take a good hard look at yourself. Who are you? What makes you happy? When are you at your best? Divorce will force you to find your self-worth! As you answer the questions that come to mind, you will see that the answers become the stepping stones to the new path you are creating for your life. “One thing I learned after I got divorced is for the first time in a long time: I like being by myself sometimes, like I was my own best friend. I enjoy “me time” to cook my favorite foods, listen to any music I want, read, watch movies, or fall asleep outside in a lounge chair under the stars,” says Camille.

"Being in control of your financial destiny requires that you be an active participant

in everything from paying the bills, credit report ratings, insurance coverage and active oversight where your investments are concerned."

- Regina Rinehimer

If you were not responsible for handling the finances in your relationship, you will now oversee them in your new lifestyle. “Every household which goes from two incomes to one struggles and stresses. Living within the means is the best way to mitigate some of that stress. Once you realize that it will not be the same level of living, you can start moving on,” says Vanessa.

If you are not financially savvy, it is vital for you to educate yourself. My first divorce rocked me financially, and my finances were utterly upside down. I quickly used the internet as a resource to begin teaching myself everything from credit scores and rebuilding to savings and budgeting. I also attended free financial seminars that were held by local banks and eventually took economic classes to make sure I knew all that I could to ensure my financial security. Don’t let finances intimidate you, even if you are upside down. As you take charge of your money you will gain more confidence.

The consensus is that divorce is messy. It feels like a never-ending road when you are going through it, but you can survive it. Allow yourself to grieve, lean on those who are there to support you, seek professional support, make new friends, take charge of your finances and celebrate your new life!

Lauren Marks

Ann Endres

Dawn Palange

An Interview with Toni Miller Women2Women’s 2018 ATHENA Recipient

Alexis Williams, Special Programs Intern — GRCA

What were your goals as you were growing up? Did you ever have a goal to be in a business role?

Early on in my life I had a heart for helping others and felt a calling in my life to do something to give back to others. As I aged into my teen years I felt a calling to working with children and youth in the church, or some form of ministry. It was here that I was given a lot of responsibility for planning and leading big church programs in this area. I went to Seminary for a couple of years to prepare for full-time ministry, and during this time I worked with at-risk kids in the inner city schools of Kansas City. I never had a goal to be in a business role but always knew that God had a plan for my life and I just needed to trust that plan and believe that each step of my journey was there for a reason. And even though I am in business, I have still found ways to fulfill my calling to help others. Whether is it mentoring at work, being part of foreign missions trips, volunteering at women’s shelters and rehab programs, in my church or one-on-one with students…I think I’m still fulfilling my higher calling.

What, or who, would you consider to be your role model or that which impacted you most in your formative years?

My mother was my role model. My mother loved her children unconditionally and deeply. She sacrificed so much for us. As a child I was raised in a military family home. My father married a war bride from Germany and our life was about one move after another across the US and Germany. My father was an alcoholic who was physically and emotionally abusive not only to my mother but also to his children. He was gone all the time and she was left to raise us. Ultimately, he deserted my mother when

he married another woman and left her with five children to raise. She lost everything…he left us penniless and she had to work all the time but never complained. The work she did was very manual labor. Her job options were limited because she never went to high school because of the war in Germany. We were poor in possessions but not in spirit. She supported us in every way. She encouraged us to do our best in school, she supported us in all our activities, encouraged us to go to college and gave us her last penny to help us out. What better role model could a child have than the unconditional love and support of their mother that believed in her children and helped us be our best despite our life circumstances.

If you needed to choose your proudest moment in life what would that be, both professional and personal?

It would be easy to say things like being the first in my family to graduate from college; pass my CPA exam — all four parts in one sitting; complete my MBA and be chosen as top graduate student; achieve senior executive leadership positions; win awards like Take the

Lead, CFO of the Year, NRF Power Player or Athena Award…these are all things I’m proud of but not what defines me or what I’m most proud of. I’m most proud of my marriage of 38 years to my best friend, Chris Miller, who has been my biggest supporter and partner in life…and proud of the son we raised that gave me an opportunity to try to be a great model like my mother was to me.

You are a woman known for great strength with a love of people. Is that different today for women leaders?

No, I don’t think so. It’s a matter of choice. We have a choice to live life with courage and confidence knowing that we can’t always control life’s circumstances, but we can choose to live with strength and courage as we overcome difficulties, roadblocks and trials that confront us. We can be bold and live with greater purpose. We need not be defined by adversity and trials but refined by it. And that requires us to find joy and purpose in life that goes beyond us… how we can make positive differences in the lives of others, and love is part of the equation. People want to know that they are loved and appreciated and that they matter. We should never misjudge the love of people and putting others ahead of ourselves as a weakness.

A question for all Americans; what advice Do you give to young women professionals?

As much as we want to believe that the playing field has been leveled and all the glass ceilings have been broken for women, they aren’t. We still work in a world where there is still much work to be done. But we should continue to have the courage and confidence to

(continued page 13)

A Modern Name with Old-Fashioned Service…

Imbesi Principal Agent

Darlene established Contemporary Insurance in 2000 based on that philosophy. The primary companies represented are the Erie Insurance Group, Progressive Insurance and Foremost Insurance.

With over 30 years of insurance experience, she enjoys all aspects of the insurance business: service, marketing and management responsibilities. Darlene remains active in assisting clients with all of their insurance needs.

She enjoys traveling, doing volunteer work and especially spending time with her family. She is on the board of directors for Mary’s Shelter, president of the Shillington Business Association, a member of the Shillington Lions Club, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, and Insurance Agents & Brokers of PA. She also works on various committees for local nonprofit organizations.

Darlene

bring about the change needed so that women can realize their full potential in whatever fields they choose. And women need to do more to support other women! That’s why I like the W2W program…it does just that!

Stay true to your values and convictions and never compromise those in order to get ahead. Character and integrity are two of the most valuable assets you own and you should always value them. Living a life of character and integrity will gain you the respect of others so that you can lead and make a difference in the lives of others. Be real, genuine and authentic!

Give back…pay it forward and look for ways to expand your world to include others so they can benefit from your experiences, gifts, talents and passions. It takes time and energy but it’s worth it.

If you were receiving the “Lifetime Achievement Award” what would you want that award to represent?

The award should represent the life of an imperfect person that lived an imperfect life but saw her life as a classroom of learning… learning to be the best person she could be, learning from her mistakes, learning from others and learning to make life more about others than herself. Having not yet won the prize of achieving it all…she continues to strive to find ways to learn, live, give and love more.

Describe your definition of leadership.

Leadership …easy answer…bringing people together for common goals and purpose. Real answer...serving others first! It’s about having a vision and being able to share and communicate the vision and make it a reality. It’s about influence, and motivating and inspiring those you lead to be the best version of themselves so that together we can achieve great things. Good leaders care and listen while promoting a positive work environment that then encourages others to grow and develop and respect each other. Leadership is not about a position but about earning and gaining the respect of others so that they want to follow you along for the journey. Leadership requires some risk taking and the courage and confidence of your convictions

"I believe in servant leadership. It’s a philosophy that espouses the concept of putting the needs of others first and by doing so helps others develop and perform at their highest level... No job should be too small or beneath the leader. It’s about leading by example. Servant leadership requires investment of time and a higher level of emotional intelligence."

in order to make the best decisions as well as the courage to admit when they were wrong and then make it right. Leadership is a lifelong journey and it’s about coming to more self-awareness, learning from good things and bad things, learning from others and from their experiences. Leaders don’t know it all… they learn from others and must realize that their learning is never over.

How do you describe your leadership style?

I believe in servant leadership. It’s a philosophy that espouses the concept of putting the needs of others first and by doing so helps others develop and perform at their highest level. I think it is important to serve others first and for the people I lead to witness this…not just talk but words put into action. It’s about letting them know that you care for them as a person not just as an employee and for the work they do. No job should be too small or beneath the leader. It’s about leading by example. Servant leadership requires investment of time and a higher level of emotional intelligence.

What has been your most difficult decision, both professionally and personally?

Personally — Deciding to live courageously after my husband and I lost our only child (21-year-old son) 12 years ago. It meant deciding to walk through the darkness of grief and realization that life as I had dreamed of and hoped for would never be the same…it meant finding the courage to breathe again and find new joy and purpose. Grief is hard work and I decided that living with grief, regrets and what-if’s was robbing me of joy

and I had the opportunity to use this trial and adversity to make a difference in the lives of others that may also be hurting.

Professionally — I have always advocated for women in the workforce. That meant acting courageously and using my voice to effect change in the business world where women struggled to get the same opportunities for position and pay as men and use their voice for change. I also had to make a difficult decision to speak the truth and confront directly when I faced my own “Me Too” moment, fully understanding that confronting it could have cost me my job, my career, my livelihood and security.

What last words do you want to leave with our readers?

It’s always been very humbling for me to receive any awards or recognition because I have always preferred not to be in the limelight, rather, just graciously serve in the background without worry about who receives the praise and accolades. I’m just an abnormally normal woman that despite many trials and adversities in life has never given up. They have helped me to have more courage and confidence. As I have gotten, hopefully, a little wiser as I have gotten older, I have realized more and more that my life is not just about me. It’s more about finding ways to do more for others whether at work, church, in my volunteer activities and in my relationships. It’s about making a difference one life at a time because everyone matters and deserves to be heard and loved. And sometimes we just need someone to believe in us like my mother believed in me.

Thank you, Toni Miller — leader, mentor & community advocate!

By Toni Eckert, W2W Advisory Board Council

Getting a Little

Combine a woman’s natural, entrepreneurial spirit, the power of Women2Women programs, and a pinch of salt and you get the perfect recipe for starting a successful business — all in less than a year!

Having experience in beauty, wellness, cosmetology sales and management, Rachel Eskin understood the benefits of Salt Therapy or Halotherapy in communities across the country. A natural remedy used to treat upper and lower respiratory conditions — cold and flu, allergy, asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, COPD, sinus infection, sinusitis, hay fever, and emphysema — salt therapy has been around for thousands of years. As a leader with dreams of opening her own business, Rachel decided to bring these amazing healing benefits to Reading, PA.

In spring 2017, Rachel attended the W2W Expo, met with a consultant, and shared her quest. She was then connected with business resources through the Senior Corp of Retired Executives (SCORE) and the Jump Start Incubator — and The Salt Lounge opened in April 2018, literally one year later!

Besides business resources, Rachel credits Brittany Decker and her Leadership Berks family for encouraging her to go to the W2W expo. “It really all goes back to Leadership Berks. The amazing connections I made there completely changed my life,’ said Eskin.

Besides inhalation therapy, The Salt Lounge also offers massage, salty yoga, and children’s programs. Take the leap and get a little salty with Rachel at The Salt Lounge located at 4 Wellington Blvd., Wyomissing, PA; 610-7434613; www.thesaltlounge.net.

Rachel Eskin, owner of The Salt Lounge

Financial Traps to Avoid During Divorce

ivorce is an emotional and difficult process for everyone involved. So much is happening at once, and many people don’t know exactly where to start. If you are contemplating or moving forward with a divorce, there are certain financial implications that should be considered.

Your financial circumstances are going to change and you should begin preparing for this as soon as possible.

HERE ARE SOME DIVORCE TRAPS THAT YOU SHOULD AVOID FROM THE DESK OF A CERTIFIED DIVORCE FINANCIAL ANALYST (CDFA):

$ If you have never looked at the family finances, now is the time to do so. It is critically important that you have a handle on what assets you jointly own and how much they are worth. Check your credit score and search for any assets that your spouse may have hidden from you.

$ Update wills, trusts and beneficiary designations on retirement and insurance plans, so your ex doesn’t end up inheriting an unintended windfall.

$ Keep taxes in mind. A stock portfolio split down the middle might not really be equal, if there are embedded losses or gains in the portfolio.

$ Consider other ways to divorce. Litigious divorces can cost tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees and last for years. Opt for

alternative ways to reach an agreement, such as mediation or collaborative divorce.

$ Splitting up retirement plans? That involves tricky tax rules, so be sure you have the proper paperwork and talk to legal and tax advisors.

$ Don’t be house poor. Many divorcing spouses want to keep their homes for emotional reasons and to provide stability for the kids. But maintaining a house also means mortgage, tax and upkeep expenses. Make sure you put real thought into how any proposed settlement will affect your finances five, ten and twenty years down the line. Can you afford to keep the house, or will the upkeep and taxes be too much? Perhaps more retirement assets would be better.

$ Photograph all of your belongings and real estate. This will help you keep a log of all of your property and the condition of the home.

$ Realize that you won’t get everything you want in the property division. Don’t spend months and thousands of dollars fighting over furniture, appliances, or other personal items. Make a short list of “Must-Haves” and be prepared to compromise on everything else. Look at the big picture: is this asset best for your situation? Do you really want to spend time, effort and money to hold onto the china you were given for your wedding?

Keith R. Hoffman, CPA, CDFA, Herbein + Company, Inc.

$ Many people who receive spousal or child support rely on that money for daily necessities. It is important to make sure those payments keep coming. What would happen if your ex-spouse died or was disabled? Taking out a life or disability insurance policy on your ex may be a prudent step in ensuring that your future is secured. Make sure that you own the insurance policy to give yourself the most protection.

$ NEW LAW: For any divorce or separation agreement executed after Dec. 31, 2018, or executed before that date but modified after it (if the modification expressly provides that the new amendments apply), alimony and separate maintenance payments are not deductible by the payor spouse and are not included in the income of the payee spouse. This is HUGE. Deductible alimony is often used as a negotiation tool in the divorce process. However, if the divorce is not settled by December 31, 2018, the deductibility

The role of a CDFA is to make sure clients and their lawyers fully understand how the financial decisions they make today will impact their financial future — analyze a settlement proposal before the

Women 2Women: Changing Lives One Woman at a Time

A RECAP OF ANOTHER AMAZING PROGRAM YEAR

By: Rachael Romig, Special Programs Coordinator, GRCA

It’s hard to believe that another program year of Women2Women events has come to an end and the programming for 2018–2019 is in our sights. Those that attended our events this year know the impact of what we offer both for professional but also personal development. As we have done in previous years, we’ve shined the spotlight on inspirational women in our community, offered workshops to help women overcome life’s obstacles and had a lot of laughs. If you attended the event with Heather Chandler, CEO of Sealstrip, on the topic of Generational Differences in the Workplace you’ll know the laughs I’m talking about! (Insert tasteful and honest millennial vs. baby boomer joke here!)

For the program year of 2017–2018 we had over 2,300 women in attendance at 22 events and that doesn’t even include the fun summer events we have coming up! We had the pleasure of hosting Kathrine Switzer, the first woman to run the Boston Marathon, as our Launch speaker and at our annual Spring Renewal Expo we were honored to have not only Romy Newman, cofounder of Fairygodboss, but also Jen Croneberger, a native of the area and published author who spoke about how to be your best self.

Our Latina Initiative De Mujer a Mujer is an outstanding story of growth for Women2Women as a whole. Since its launch a few years ago the number in attendance continues to rise and we reach more Latina women of our community each year. What started as 20–30 women at the events in 2014 has risen to around 50–60 women at each event this year. We can’t wait to see the expansion next year!

Why Women Want Professional Development

This year we dove deep into research on women in the workplace, their views on the availability of developmental resources within their company and how we can better offer what they are looking for. Did you know:

• Nearly half (47%) of the women surveyed in the US believe men have better access to professional development and career growth opportunities than they do. The US ranked 10th in comparison to other countries in the G20 who believe men have better access to these types of opportunities.

• The percentage of women on boards overall in the US is between 11–12% and has barely increased in the last decade which is stunning considering research shows that boards with more diversity perform better.

One of the special programs within Women2Women that offers this extra development outside of our scheduled events is our Lean In Circles, small groups that meet regularly to learn and grow together. Lean In Circles, founded by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, are found at companies

like Bank of America, Google, Zappos and American Express, to name a few, and they have embraced Lean In Circles for their employees as they see a need to offer an innovative model for leadership development for promising employees. Today’s young professionals are learning and developing in different kinds of environments than their predecessors, finding peer engagement and mentoring at times more relevant than traditional formalized classroom training and an effective alternative method of cultivating leaders.

We here at Women2Women see it clear as day; women are ready for the development, crave it and will do what they must to get it, even if that means searching for a new job with those opportunities. Our advice? Put those development dollars back into your company, and most importantly your women!

The Millennial Female in the Workplace

As everyone knows, millennials in the workplace has been a hot topic. Being a millennial myself, I am happy to see and hear the changes in the dialogue on the ways companies can change their workplace culture to help millennials integrate instead of being unchanging.

I recently read a study produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers called “The Female Millennial: A new era of talent” and I swear I was reading a report about ME. Over 8,000 female millennials all over the world were surveyed and a few excerpts stuck with me from the 42 pages.

• To achieve sustainable change the public and private sectors must change the conversation; they must also focus on developing talented junior women now for future leadership.

Testimonials

While we know that our efforts touch the lives of women in our community, we never truly know the impact we have on them until they tell us. We always welcome feedback about our programming, advice on topics for the next year, and wonderful comments like these…

“In an ever-changing world and being in a profession that has been domi nated by men, Women2Women has allowed me to find, meet, assist and become friends with women of all ages and backgrounds in the pursuit of common goals — gaining knowledge, self-respect, the respect of our peers and succeeding in our chosen fields.”

— Martha Alvarez Taylor IE, MBA Manager of Engineering Processes, C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc.

INPERIUM MANAGEMENT SERVICES

“De Mujer a Mujer is truly a one of a kind experience. I walk in to each event excited to hear a new story, and I walk out feeling more motivated than ever. I look forward to De Mujer a Mujer each month because it’s incredibly empowering being surrounded by so many positive and professional women. It’s a simply wonderful combination of positivity, great food, and even better people.”

— Yesenia Justiniano, Paralegal, Kenneth M. Kitay & Associates LLC

• The female millennial is also more confident than any female generation before her and considers opportunities for career progression the most attractive employer trait. To be successful and capitalize on the aforementioned traits, employers must commit to inclusive cultures and talent strategies that lean into the confidence and ambition of a millennial female.

• Millennials want their work to have a purpose, to contribute something to the world and to be proud of their employer. Image matters to the female millennial.

Check out the report and read it as a woman striving to build other younger women leaders, then read it as an employer hoping to merge their current culture into one that aids millennials in succeeding. Warning — traditional methods just won’t do! See “Why Women Want Professional Development” for a way to offer this to your young professionals (pst — they are called Lean In Circles)!

Onward to the Future!

There are so many things that we are working on for the future and we are excited to share them with you. We’ve carved out goals like reaching the younger demographic (those millennials!) to sculpting our De Mujer a Mujer events so that every other month we will offer a professional development workshop. We are also excited to turn our De Mujer a Mujer End of Year Celebration into a Latina Conference for development!

This year we also continued our Youth Summer Reading Program initiative which brings free books to local community organizations, so they can read the book with their children’s summer reading groups. We went a step further than only offering the book again and made sure the organization had discussion questions on the book, a social media promotion plan and a volunteer if they needed one. This year’s book choice is A Wrinkle in Time and we felt it gave the perfect message: love the qualities that make you unique. We were able to continue this initiative into the summer of 2018 because of generous donations from community members and local businesses!

We couldn’t do any of this without the volunteers that head our committees and help us to achieve our goals. This year our volunteers spanned 6 committees and offered 300+ hours of their own time and we can never thank them enough. It takes a village as they say, and our village is a smooth-running machine because women of Berks care just as much as we do to bring the Women2Women organization to you.

And thank you to YOU; our readers, W2W members, sponsors and donators. This is a unique program that has done a lot of good, made positive changes for the community and offered a listening ear to women making sure you get what you want and help you get to where you want to be! We can’t wait to see you next year!

YLEnd a Hand

ou can help homeless single mothers and children find their way to wholeness. You can do that by volunteering to help Hannah’s Hope Ministries. The mission of Hannah’s Hope Ministries (formerly Bridge of Hope Berks County) is to identify and proactively address the needs of homeless women and children in order to restore them to physical, emotional and spiritual wholeness. This is done by “meeting the women where they are”; by empowering women to address their individual needs, strengths and challenges. Case Management Services and some financial assistance (depending on their needs) can then provide guidance and accountability to help keep them on track and make truly lasting changes in their lives.

Hannah’s Hope Ministries is excited to announce that we are in the process of purchasing a home on Upland Avenue in Reading. This home will be used to house six families, and it will enable these families to have 24/7 support in a loving and constant care environment.

We are very much a volunteer-driven organization. We would not be able to serve our families without our wonderful volunteers. With the addition of the home to the services we offer, we have need for even more volunteers. Opportunities include:

Move-in and Set-up of the Home: We will need help with everything from packing/ unpacking and loading/unloading the trucks and setting up the kitchen and making the beds (although the mothers and children will do that once they are moved in!).

Teaching our Mothers about Life Skills: Our mothers will be required to attend classes on topics including but not limited to parenting, money management/financial education, nutrition, employment, housing issues and legal issues. Additionally, we will be looking for help with teaching the women and children about life skills such as basic table manners and other forms of etiquette. If you have expertise in any of these areas, we would love to have you address our mothers about one or more of these topics.

Bible Studies: Our mothers will be attending weekly Bible Studies and facilitators will be needed.

Our families will be required to participate in Community Service. We will need someone who could work with agencies such as Voice Up!, the Holleran Center and the United Way to develop and coordinate these opportunities.

Children’s Programs: Hannah’s Hope Ministries is looking for volunteers to facilitate children’s programs, tutor and babysit while mothers are in their workshops.

If you are interested in learning more about Hannah’s Hope Ministries, please visit our website at www.hannahshopeministriesreading.org, or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ hannahshopeministriesreading. You may also call Linda Matthews, Program Director, in the office at 610-655-7716, or email her at lmatthews.hannahshope@gmail.com. We would be happy to meet with you to talk about your interests.

Lend a Hand is included in each edition of Women2Women magazine. Greater Reading area nonprofits can submit requests for donations of goods and services or a call for volunteers. For more info or to be featured, contact Rachael Romig at Greater Reading Chamber Alliance: rromig@greaterreading.org.

I’m a Second Wife…

By Sara Frassinelli, Marketing Associate at Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Ihaven’t gone through a divorce, but my husband, Phil, has. He had recently finalized a divorce to his first wife when I met him and was not looking to date. Spoiler alert, I am so wonderful that he ultimately couldn’t resist.

Before meeting Phil, I had not envisioned dating someone who had been married previously. I can recall, very early in our relationship, asking him how someone so wonderful could be available, which was when he somewhat sheepishly admitted that he had been recently divorced. It was a lot for me to process and I wasn’t sure how to proceed.

As we moved forward, I had to make allowances for his closure and healing process. My best advice? Look at situations objectively and know that if issues arise, they aren’t necessarily about you or even the problem at hand. Baggage from a first marriage is nearly inevitable, but if you’re honest and communicate with one another, you can overcome.

A strong benefit was that Phil certainly knew what he did want, as well as pitfalls to avoid when it comes to marriage and partnership. For example, he felt that he and his first wife didn’t spend enough quality time together, so he prioritized things for us like date nights and weekend getaways.

There was also the advantage that he had no children with his first wife, so it was truly a clean break. If you date a divorced person

My best advice? Look at situations objectively and know that if issues arise, they aren’t necessarily about you or even the problem at hand. Baggage from a first marriage is nearly inevitable, but if you’re honest and communicate with one another, you can overcome.

with children, there will certainly be more to navigate. The best thing to remember is that the most important people in the situation are the children. Their feelings and happiness trump that of you, your partner and your partner’s ex, which seems simple in theory, but becomes much harder in practice.

Lastly, when it comes to dating someone who has been divorced — do not rush into marriage with them.

“Research suggests that divorce is much more likely in a second marriage if the relationship is less than a year old,” psychologist Kalman Heller writes in a recent article on Psychcentral.com.

Phil was in no rush to propose and we took our time before getting married, so we had the benefit of full knowledge of one another’s personalities, strengths, quirks, and — let’s be honest — annoying habits.

Nine years later, we have been married for just over four years and have a crazy fun two-and-a-half-year-old son. We have created a marriage and family of which we are both very proud. Rest assured that life after divorce can be great, and second chapters can be even better than the first!

divorce advice

The financial stakes are high if not planned correctly. This is the time that you need to meet with your trusted financial advisor to carefully create a monthly budget, obtain a credit report and have a full discussion that examines all assets and liabilities. Many times the emotional aspect of the situation eliminates the clarity needed to focus on what the new reality will be for the newly divorced.

An example of planning that may create long-term financial strife in the years ahead would be the habit of one person that is laser-focused on keeping the house. This may be an extreme show of emotional “want” that is not necessarily a healthy financial decision. Most people love their home, the memories and the neighborhood. The emotional upheaval that is happening offers that consolation prize of the family home as a large part of divorce debates. However, that “prize” can prove to be a costly financial interruption that is dangerous to long-term financial security. To keep that house one would need to carefully create a monthly budget as a housing cost estimate. Ongoing costs and considerations include: mortgage payment (one spouse may “buy out” the other spouse and need to obtain a mortgage to do so), home owners insurance, property and school taxes associated with the home, utilities and ongoing maintenance which all add to the list very quickly. Once you have a monthly budget based on these considerations, you should add another 10–20% annually to cover any larger issues that may require additional costs for property

maintenance. This is where you would begin to compare the cost for the desired property and your actual cash flow situation. Are you in the position to handle all costs? Be very honest with yourself about this position. The absolute worst thing one can do is to have a home that is a continued financial stretch. The term “house-poor” applies to this situation.

Although your home is an asset, you need to look to the future and take care to calculate how your financial future may look. Selling the home and taking your share of proceeds may be best.

Make sure that all debt is reviewed and considered with both parties …..I repeat, ALL DEBT! Oftentimes a spouse is surprised with debt that has been applied for in the name of their soon to be ex-spouse and themselves. This is where many people have financial mishaps occur. Do not leave your name on ANY debts. Make sure that all credit cards, personal loans, automotive loans and all of those wonderful retail credit cards offered and not paid off, are not inherited by you! Not addressing these items during the divorce planning creates painful financial woes. Please be diligent in providing complete information for divorce planning.

There are stories of couples that have remained together because they were so in debt that they could not afford to divorce. Have a plan and be responsible.

An example of planning that may create long-term financial strife would be keeping the house. This may be an extreme show of emotional “want” that is not necessarily a healthy financial decision. Most people love their home, the memories and the neighborhood. However, that can prove costly to long-term financial security. Are you in the position to handle all costs? Be very honest with yourself. The absolute worst thing one can do is to have a home that is a continued financial stretch.

Some additional advice is to get your credit report and correct any inaccuracies to the credit reporting bureaus. Always remember that a great credit rating is worth working hard to keep in great order. Pay on time, every time and pay more than the minimum payment. This helps to maintain and build a healthy credit rating.

Name changes and Social Security has always been complex if not addressed correctly with the Social Security Administration. If you change your name following the divorce, follow the guidelines that are offered on the Social Security website. You will need to provide some details to support your name change request. Do this as soon as possible. Do not wait to change your name because your name is associated with your Social Security number and creates legal complexities if not addressed.

More information that is very important to know regarding Social Security; if you have been married for 10 years or more, each spouse is vested in the other’s Social Security account, which means that you can collect benefits on your former spouse’s Social Security record if you are at least 62 and if your former spouse is entitled to or receiving benefits. However, if you remarry, you generally cannot collect benefits on your former spouse’s record unless your later marriage ends (death, divorce or annulment). Most importantly to remember is that every Social Security benefit is different from your friends, family, etc. Check out your personal benefits and plan for your future with accurate information.

Being in control of your financial destiny requires that you be an active participant in everything from paying the bills, credit report ratings, insurance coverage and active oversight where your investments are concerned. Do not blame others for your financial plight. Render yourself with the power of knowledge and step up to the challenge of learning the correct way of managing your financial life. Many times people continue to live the same lifestyle they had prior to now being single. This will not be your best option based on the single income situation that you are now living in.

Taxes and divorce need to be planned carefully. Determining the tax implications of selling or transferring assets is necessary. Value of assets may be equal at the time of distribution among marital assets but they might include vastly different consequences when sold. Best practice for the couple would be to meet with a Certified Public Accountant and Financial Advisor to create a true tax plan for the assets, who will maintain the asset and particular change in tax considerations based on the individual’s future tax situation.

Business and divorce can create unique complications. Owning a business together is not uncommon. Many times, most of the assets that the couple own are tied up in a family or closely-held business. In fact, the acrimony of a divorce can easily seep into the business, unsettling employees, disturbance of day to day operations and upending customer relations. Putting safeguards in place before they are needed is mandatory. If you have a business and this is not already in place, take the time to include business strategies such as buy-sell agreements, equity ownership divisions and exit strategies. Another safeguard in place before it is ever needed.

My best advice is to take care of your money and how it is used. Find wise investments, save money and do not spend it all on meaningless things. This thing called divorce is a true process. Stay courageous and focused. Just keep moving forward, one

Change those beneficiaries! You will probably want to change the beneficiary on your life insurance policies and retirement accounts. Contact the provider of these plans and request a change of beneficiary update. Do not forget to make these updates because there could be a scenario of unintended consequences

Investment Officer, Wells Fargo Advisors

Wells Fargo Advisors is not a legal or tax advisor. However, I will be glad to work with you, your accountant, tax advisor and/ Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo

The Best Reading in Reading

your divorce checklist

—By Jill Scheidt, Esquire, Masano Bradley Attorneys at Law

If you’re contemplating divorce, you’ll need to gather the following at a minimum for your own peace of mind and for your lawyer. Of course, this is just a general list and depending on the specifics of your situation you may need to gather additional documents. But the list below is a good starting point for you to have in hand when you meet with your lawyer for the first time:

1. All financial records for both you and your spouse. Basically, anything with a dollar sign on it, including:

• Last 3 years of tax returns with W-2’s

• Year-to-date paystubs

• Bank account statements (if you don’t have access to the account online, go to the bank and get access)

• Retirement account statements

• Loan statements such as credit cards, car and student loans

• Mortgage statements

• Closing documents from real estate purchases

2. Run a credit report which you can do annually for free on www. annualcreditreport.com. Identify which debts are in individual names and joint with your spouse.

3. Locate all of your original important documents and put them somewhere safe, including

• Passport

• Social security card

• Birth certificate

• Car titles

Women2Women Magazine EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Jessica Bezler

Reading Health System

Lizette Epps

Carpenter Technology Corporation

Sara Frassinelli

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Kelly Hancock

Community Volunteer

Tracy Hoffmann

Hoffmann Publishing Group

Sarah Hunter-Lascoskie

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Karen Klein

Fulcrum Information Resources

Karen Marsdale

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Rachael Romig

Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Monica Rush

Penn State Health – St. Joseph

Hope Wolf

Solo Laboratories

4. Make a list of personal property acquired during the marriage and photograph any items of significance.

5. Consider making duplicate copies of sentimental photographs, videos, and other portable items since doing so now is easier than later.

6. If you have minor children, write a detailed schedule that they follow with all of their activities and school obligations noted. Also, try to put in writing how you celebrate holidays, birthdays and vacations as well as changes over the summer as compared to the school year. If you are in a custody negotiation, you will be asked what schedule you want and there are many moving parts when creating a written custody order. The more detailed you can be, the better.

7. Gather your children’s report cards and medical records, and anything else that you believe to be significant for your attorney or a Judge to know about when deciding custody.

An Absolute MustProfessional Development:

Whether you are just starting out in your career, are a seasoned professional, or a business owner with employees of your own, professional development will provide you with a multitude of benefits and opportunities that you may not have otherwise had . It is essential for professionals, regardless of industry or position in the organization, to keep up with technology and trends in the industry while maintaining the knowledge and skillset to keep current in the marketplace.

Many different outlets can be tapped into when it comes to selecting professional development training. You can choose from specialized training agencies, formal education institutions, language classes, seminars and various workshops. No matter what option you decide on, it is important to realize that you are taking a step towards learning and improving your skills. Frequently seeking out continuing development opportunities can provide you with the following benefits:

Lizette Epps — Founder, Breadth of Hope LLC

1. KEEPING CURRENT IN YOUR INDUSTRY

Every industry has things that change or get updated from time to time. Staying on top of new laws, regulations, and methodologies is of value because it shows initiative to stay connected to what is going on in your area of expertise. Knowing what the latest developments are and being able to relay them confidently is invaluable.

2. ATTAINING A COMPETITIVE EDGE AND DEVELOPING NEW SKILLS

Complacency in your career can sneak up on you. New employment opportunities are exciting, and there is an eagerness to apply everything we know to do a good job. Once you reach a level of doing your job consistently well, it is time to see what else there is to learn. You may find that you come across ways to work smarter and can take that back to the organization to create efficiencies. Seeking out development opportunities shows employers that you have the drive and motivation to keep your skills current and stay on top of workforce needs.

3. NETWORKING

Professional development classes will often take you out of the workplace and into a setting with peers who you probably do not know. In turn, creating the perfect opportunity to network and share information amongst yourselves.

—

This upcoming programming year, the Women2Women Programming Committee and the Latina Initiatives Committee are excited to present all our audiences with professional development opportunities. Our goal is to help develop more women leaders and provide the opportunity for them to grow professionally, be inspired and network with other women in the community.

Visit www.berkswomen2women.com to learn more.

Insist

Insist on the LASIK Experts

Drs. Primack, Altman and Shah

Thinking about LASIK? Insist on the LASIK experts.

Drs. Jonathan Primack, Adam Altman and Kevin Shah have more than 45 years of combined LASIK experience and are the area’s only Board-Certified and Cornea Fellowship-Trained LASIK specialists. They are also the most experienced in Berks County with Bladeless Custom LASIK performed in the on-site laser suite in their Wyomissing surgery center. Plus, they have been voted “Best of Berks” in 2017 the third year in a row. That’s experience you can trust. So if you’re thinking about LASIK, insist on Drs. Primack, Altman and Shah at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania the LASIK experts.

Call 610-378-8500 for a FREE evaluation. Learn more at LASIKdoneRight.com.

Health 2Wellness

Mental, Spiritual, Physical Health & Wellness

THE COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT: Obesity

In 2016, Reading Hospital and local partners conducted a Community Health Needs Assessment that identified key health issues in Berks County. One of those health issues is obesity, with about two in three residents in Berks County — or 200,000 adults — overweight or obese.

According to The Community Health Needs Assessment, about two in three residents in Berks County, or 200,000 adults, are overweight or obese. The 1998 National Institute of Health Overweight and Obesity Clinical Guidelines defines overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 and obesity as a BMI of ≥30 kg/ m2. BMI correlates well with total body fat on a population basis; however, it has limitations identifying excess abdominal fat which is independently associated with greater health risks. For example, men who have waist circumferences greater than 40 inches, and women who have waist circumferences greater than 35 inches are at a higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Given its contribution to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers it is no wonder why obesity is a top priority in Berks County. However, it is not just the prevalence of obesity and health risks associated with it that makes headlines but also the detrimental cost it continues to incur on the economy. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimated the annual medical cost of obesity in 2008 to be $147 billion in U.S. dollars.

Addressing obesity is more than just weight loss; it requires a multifaceted approach to education and promoting behavior

change Developing a detailed plan that includes parameters for healthy eating, and physical activity, and addresses barriers to behavior change is the foundation to obesity treatment and prevention. Unfortunately, this is not what we find in the many self-proclaimed weight loss programs that exist today.

Sifting through the weight lost industry can be overwhelming to say the least. A simple Google search for “weight loss” brings up about 46,500,000 results. Many of these programs boast a competitive edge on weight loss and health. They work hard to convince the consumer that there is an easy and fast way to achieve optimum weight loss and health, but only if you have the money to pay for it. The consumer can find clarity in an industry saturated with fad diets and gimmicks by identifying resources that use evidence-based practices. These practices incorporate successful strategy to improve outcomes derived from various sources of evidence including research, national guidelines and specialized knowledge and skills of experts. Experts include Registered Dietitians in diet, food, and nutrition as well as Exercise Physiologists and Certified Personal Trainers in physical activity and fitness. Weight loss education helps target the motivation and the change in behaviors necessary to make weight loss a successful and a long-lasting effort.

Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles make it difficult to match our food intake with the energy we need in a day; consuming far more energy from food than needed results in the growing rate of obesity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity and Guidelines for Americans provides science-based guidelines to help children and adults improve their health through appropriate physical activity. All adults should avoid inactivity and some physical activity is better than none; those who participate in any amount of physical activity gain some health benefits.

Clinical Guidelines define overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 29.9 kg/ m2 and obesity as a BMI of ≥30 kg/m2.

BMI correlates well with total body fat… however, it has limitations identifying excess abdominal fat which is independently associated with greater health risks. For example, men who have waist circumferences greater than 40 inches, and women who have waist circumferences greater than 35 inches are at a higher risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

To achieve long-term lifestyle change, dietitians and nutrition experts alike work with clients to set up specific, realistic health goals and meal plans tailored to each person. Meal plans that encourage whole food, fiber-rich, portion controlled are individualized to the person. Strategies that impact food preparation, mealtimes, snacking and emotional eating should also be included in creating a health promoting diet. Additional recourses to successful healthy eating include keeping a food diary. People who keep a food diary lose twice as much weight as those who do not, according to a 2008 study published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Whether it is by old fashion pen and paper or the latest software that helps transcribe a picture of what you eat onto a food log, the food diary helps create accountability and addresses problem areas within the diet. A weight loss goal involves more than a number on a scale but also addresses the changes that need to take place in eating habits and exercise routine in order to achieve long-term weight loss.

For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or an equivalence combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. Aerobic activity should be performed in episodes of at least 10 minutes, and preferably, it should be spread throughout the week. For additional and more extensive health benefits, adults should increase their aerobic physical activity to 300 minutes (5 hours) a week of moderate-intensity, or 150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalence combination of moderateand vigorous-intensity activity. Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities that are moderate- or high-intensity and involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, as these activities provide additional health benefits.

Fighting obesity is more than numbers on scale, daily calories, and minutes on a treadmill. It starts with education to provide the principals for an individualized plan that addresses behavior change, motivation and how to overcome barriers.

By Lizzy Hawk, MS, RDN, CDE, and Andrea Thompson, RDN, LDN, Penn State Health, St. Joseph

A Tale of Two Hearts

By Sara Dickey, Development Director, American Heart Association

Sisters, daughters, and twins are all titles that Cecilia and Katarina were used to being called but survivor was one they never expected. Their Heart Story began in the summer of 2016 when Katarina woke up with a terrible cold. Over the next few hours, she was in and out of consciousness and rushed to the emergency room where the medical staff performed CPR, put in a breathing tube, and gave her epinephrine before she was sent to Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital via Life Flight. It was there that her parents, Ed and Krista, found out that Katarina was in severe heart failure.

While Katarina was being cared for, the hospital gave her twin sister Cecilia a chest x-ray as a precaution. Despite not having any symptoms, the x-ray showed that Cecilia was also in severe heart failure and was immediately admitted. Six days later, both girls underwent open heart surgery to receive special pacemakers that helped both sides of their hearts to squeeze better. Finally, after ten long days, the girls were on their way home.

2018 BERKS COUNTY HEART WALK

Gring's Mill Recreation Area, Reading Saturday, September 29, 2018 9AM–Noon

Their official diagnosis is idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, meaning that their hearts were enlarged and weakened by an unknown cause. Heart failure is a chronic disease that occurs when the heart muscle is not pumping efficiently. There is no cure.

Two years later, the girls have regular visits with the heart failure team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. They take a variety of medications to help their hearts work more efficiently, lower their risk of dangerous arrhythmias that cause the heart to suddenly stop, prevent fluid buildup, and keep their hearts from further deteriorating.

The girl’s journey is long from over; nearly a quarter of all children diagnosed with cardiomyopathy will one day require a heart transplant. Ed and Krista’s goal is to keep them

off the transplant list until better treatments can be found. Katarina and Cecilia are now beautiful young ladies who, while having weakened hearts, live relatively normal lives.

Ed, Krista, Katarina, and Cecilia, along with their brothers Spencer and Nate, are excited to serve as this year’s Ambassador Family for the Berks County American Heart Association. Their goal while serving in this role is to raise awareness around their daughters' rare disease and the importance of having AEDs in public places. They want to enjoy every day as a family and keep the girls thriving!

To learn more about the American Heart Association and sign up for the 2018 Berks County Heart Walk in September, visit www.heart.org.

Women-Centric Support Group Brıngs Hope to the Community

By Chrissy

Hope is finally here for women who have felt alone after being diagnosed with any heart ailment or suffered from a cardiac event.

It can be difficult to find other women to connect with and talk to who understand the emotional change inherited with a new diagnosis. Heart Sisters Heart Attack & Disease Survivors Support Group, located in Berks County, PA, is spreading the message of hope and compassion to women who suffer or are fighting against all types of heart disease in and around our area.

We provide a group setting where you can come and comfortably express your fears and feelings about your heart disease with other survivors. Sharing your anxieties of every pain and your “what ifs?” is comforting because we understand. It doesn’t matter how short

or how long you have been on your journey of your “New Life,” as we are here for you.

Attending our Women’s Support group will introduce you to other women survivors, emotional support, understanding, compassion, shared experiences, encouragement, comfort, new friends and the knowledge that you’re not alone. We can make a difference in many lives, while also spreading the word about Heart Disease being the #1 killer of women above all cancers combined. This collective action can greatly impact the world.

Heart Sisters Heart Attack & Disease Survivors Support Group meets every second Thursday of the month at St. Ignatius Loyola School, 2710 St. Albans Drive, Sinking Spring, PA 19609. You can visit our website: www. HeartSistersSurvivors.com, call Bev Pohlit

at 610-781-5557, or Chrissy Hartline at 484-955-4372 for more information. Please remember, You’re Not Alone!

Summertime brings brighter days and sunny outlooks – a new horizon brimming with possibilities. At HealthSouth Reading Rehabilitation Hospital, this is your time to shine with personalized rehabilitation programs that help you regain independence after an accident, illness or surgery. Just give us a call and let our experienced team of rehabilitation experts start the process for your brightest summer yet.

Hartline and Beverly Pohlit, Heart Sisters Heart Attack & Disease Survivors Support Group Founders

The Newest Skin Treatment is No Sweat!

Advances in medical procedures provide us with so many options when it comes to improving our appearance. There’s no doubt that when we look good, we feel good about ourselves. And when it comes to having a great look there’s no better start than having great looking skin.

Laser treatments remain effective in improving the skin’s appearance through the elimination of brown (age) spots, treating redness on the face or other red areas of the body, hair removal and even tattoo removal.

Facials also do wonders for skin rejuvenation, especially Himalayan Salt Stone facials. This specialty facial detoxifies and aids in skin tightening and as your body absorbs essential minerals into the skin it gently relieves stress leaving you feeling rejuvenated.

Microneedling, or Collagen Induction Therapy, provides an accelerated approach to reducing the appearance of fine lines, scarring, and stretch marks and promoting an overall tightening of the skin. Microneedling treatments create invisible micro perforations in the skin that stimulate the production of collagen, enhancing the creation of healthy new skin.

Microneedling with PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) takes the benefits of microneedling to new levels, magnifying the results by using the internal essence of your blood — life-giving fundamental protein growth factors. By taking a sample of your blood (similar to a blood test), platelet-rich plasma is separated in a centrifuge and reintroduced into the treatment area using the microneedling process, producing amazing results. This process is also extremely effective for hair restoration.

What’s not surprising is that with so many treatments available to enhance your appearance, there’s now a truly innovative treatment that addresses another skin issue — underarm perspiration and odor. It’s estimated that 7.8 million people in the US alone suffer from hyperhidrosis or severe underarm perspiration. These sufferers deal with constant embarrassment from offensive sweat, odor that results in unsightly perspiration and deodorant stains on clothing. Relief is now within reach with the introduction of a truly innovative treatment, miraDry®.

miraDry works by delivering localized heat through precisely controlled microwave technology to the armpit area, destroying glands that lead to sweaty, smelly underarms. The patient is awake and comfortable during the entire procedure, which takes only about 2 hours in the office. After the miraDry procedure is performed, patients may no longer need to rely on antiperspirants to control sweat and odor and unsightly stains on clothing are a thing of the past. An added benefit of miraDry is the considerable reduction of underarm hair. This procedure, originally designed for those with extreme perspiration problems, is now being embraced as an aesthetic procedure for both men and women that simply don’t want to deal with underarm sweat, odor and hair. As Dr. Hendrix, physician at

After the miraDry procedure is performed, patients may no longer need to rely on antiperspirants to control sweat and odor and unsightly stains on clothing are a thing of the past. An added benefit of miraDry is the considerable reduction of underarm hair.

Reading Dermatology states, ”In the case of miraDry, we provide hope to those that have been prevented from being confident at work or school by helping them feel clean and carefree in their everyday lives."

miraDry is the only non-invasive FDA approved treatment for the permanent reduction of underarm perspiration and is now exclusively available in Berks County at Reading Dermatology’s Center for Heathy Skin in West Lawn.

By Amy Hendrix, CRNP, Elegance Derma Spa

More 2Know

Creating Pathways for our Students to Succeed

| A COUNTY-WIDE COLLABORATION |

By Ellen Albright, Director, Workforce Development, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance

Choosing a career path is no easy task. With so many options available in today’s global economy, narrowing down the world of work can be a daunting mission. Think back to your own decision-making process when you were in high school. How did you decide on your personal career path? Were there mentors, school counselors, or family/ friends that influenced your journey? Did

you match your passions with your skillsets? And taking it one step further, did you even know of ALL the opportunities that were out there in the job marketplace?

Now, think of a student you know that is currently navigating their own career journey. Maybe it’s your son or daughter, niece or nephew, a grandchild, or the intern in your office. How equipped do you feel these students

are with knowledge about their choices? Are these kids utilizing all the services available to them to explore job opportunities for their future? And, what are schools doing to better prepare these students for the world of work? This article will serve to answer these burning questions, and we hope it will leave you feeling energized with opportunities to engage the future leaders in your circle!

A MODEL OF COLLABORATION: BERKS COUNTY CAREER PATHWAYS ALLIANCE

While all Berks County school districts have been working to support the development of their students’ college and career readiness, educators have realized a collaborative approach will maximize these standalone efforts. In the winter of 2017, leadership members from Berks County school districts, Berks County Workforce Development Board, Berks Business Education Coalition, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce, Reading Area Community College, and RM Palmer attended a Leadership Forum led by the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) and facilitated by the National Center for College and Career Transitions (NC3T) with funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This meeting formalized the Berks County Career Pathways Alliance.

The purpose of the Alliance is not to command a “one-size-fits-all” countywide career pathways model. Rather, it is to offer a framework of well-researched recommendations and support to enhance and expand K-12 career education. Presently, all Berks County school districts and both career and technical centers have joined the Alliance along with post-secondary representatives, employers, and workforce development partners.

The continuum of career education pictured below offers a broad view of a K-12 approach to preparing graduates to be college and career ready. At the high school level, students may enroll in a career pathway — a sequence of courses centered around a career cluster. In a career pathway model, students are not asked to choose a specific career; rather, they are given opportunities to explore career areas. The Pennsylvania Department of Education has identified five broad career

COLLEGE & CAREER READY LEARNERS CONTINUUM OF CAREER EDUCATION HIGH SCHOOL PATHWAYS

clusters, and the Alliance recommends that districts organize their high school pathways around them.

While college preparation has always been an integral and key component of K-12 education, career awareness and planning is a more recent focus. Pennsylvania has adopted Career Education and Work Standards requiring all districts to develop a K-12 Guidance Plan (Chapter 339) and has expanded career and technical education programs of study that align with in-demand careers. At the federal level, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has replaced the No Child Left Behind legislation. In September 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) submitted its required ESSA plan, which includes K-12 career readiness accountability measures and a proposed report card, Future Ready PA Index

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION: A NEW VISION

Berks County is fortunate to have two outstanding career and technical centers — Berks Career and Technology Center (BCTC) and Reading Muhlenberg Career and Technology Center (RMCTC), offering STEM-related career pathways for in-demand, high-wage careers.

Pennsylvania’s career and technical education (CTE) has come a long way since its “vo-tech” days. State-approved technical programs combine college preparation with real-world career skill development, giving students a jumpstart on both post-secondary education and careers. For those who choose to go directly into the workplace, CTE graduates are far better prepared to enter a skilled career rather than a low-skilled, minimum wage job with little room for advancement. CTE graduates have relevant and highly marketable, employable skills and earn at least one industry-recognized credential, giving them a competitive edge in entering high-skill, high-wage careers.

REAL WORLD OPPORTUNITIES

Learning academic and technical skills is one thing, and one very important thing at that. However, applying those skills in real-world work experiences is where students make the connection between today’s learning and tomorrow’s future careers. Work-based learning experiences may last from a few hours to a few weeks and include job shadow experiences; internships; and a multitude of programs involving business mentoring, speakers’ series, career fairs, and much more! One of the priority objectives set by the Alliance is to provide internship experiences for students attending all Berks County high schools. Presently, 13 of the 18 Berks County public high schools offer an internship component, up from just three high schools three years ago. During the 2017–2018 schoolyear (first semester), 228 students from across 13 schools engaged in internships, learning first-hand about a business or other profession. In addition to work-based learning experiences, students engage in experiences provided by post-secondary institutions such as seminars

Career Awareness (K–5)

Exploration & Career Plan (6–8)

Planning & Preparation (9–12)

on campus, visiting professors, mentoring relationships, student competitions, and the opportunity to earn college credit through dual or concurrent enrollment options.

The Berks County Career Pathways Alliance values work-based learning and college/trade school exploration opportunities and is diligently working to ensure that all students have access to these experiences.

We are fortunate in Berks County to have many forward-looking business leaders and school officials embracing the ever-changing workforce demands and needs. Widespread conversations have begun regarding the importance of being strategically focused on advising and offering opportunities for our youth to ensure a well-prepared future workforce in Berks County. As we navigate ahead, we must harness the idea that collaboration and coordination between schools and businesses is a priority.

Additional details about Career Pathways can be found at: http://bit.ly/berkscountycareerpathways.

Interested in finding out how your business can open its doors to students who want to explore careers in your field? Contact Ellen Albright at Greater Reading Chamber Alliance at ealbright@greaterreading.org.

MASANO BRADLEY

ISSUE: 1704

ORG/PUB: Women 2 Women

United Way’s Blueprint for Leadership Program: A Design for Individual and Community Growth

By Chris Spanier, United Way of

Berks County

Many of us probably have a memory of walking into a school cafeteria and migrating towards the table of people we knew, rather than sitting at a table with unfamiliar faces. Adriane Hoke shared this analogy when speaking about one of the strengths of United Way’s Blueprint for Leadership (BFL) Program. “It may be uncomfortable to sit at a different table, but you have the opportunity to grow. BFL encourages you to get out of your comfort zone, take risks in spreading your wings and learning more about yourself, others and the community.”

The BFL program is a 7-week training opportunity for individuals representing the diversity of our community to develop skills to serve in a leadership role with an area nonprofit. Participants are paired with a mentor and gain leadership and communication skills, as well as learn about nonprofit board governance. The program is led by an advisory committee, and local experts teach the varied sessions. The program is conducted annually, with each class consisting of about 12–14 participants.

“I was apprehensive when I began the program because I wasn’t representing a company, compared to most participants. I was asked to participate through my NAACP volunteer role. I didn’t know much about the

“It may be uncomfortable to sit at a different table, but you have the opportunity to grow. BFL encourages you to get out of your comfort zone, take risks in spreading your wings and learning more about yourself, others and the community.”

program, and I wasn’t sure of what to expect. My husband encouraged me to take on the experience and expand my comfort zone. I am so glad I did because I’ve gained new skills and friendships,” says Hoke. She credits her fellow participants, her mentor Steve Schumacher (former BFL Chairperson) and United Way with creating a positive experience during her 2015 participation.

“United Way’s mission is centered on making our community a better place for everyone. BFL is important as we include and engage the talents of many different experiences, and in turn, help develop community leaders and strengthen our county,” says Tammy White, President, United Way of Berks County. Since the program’s inception in 2013, nearly 75

participants graduated from the program, with many now serving on committees and boards of organizations such as Community Prevention Partnership, Centro Hispano, Habitat for Humanity, Safe Berks, United Way and more. Others cite their BFL experience as the inspiration to continue their education and to tackle new career goals.

Hoke adds, “The program is needed in Berks County because we are a diverse community and that needs to be reflected in leadership roles.” She notes the networking and communication skills as helping her in both her professional and community work.

Hoke and her husband own a local business, Claim Adjusters, Inc., and she also created a new business in 2015, The Etiquette Lady. Her volunteer work keeps her busy, as well. She serves on the board of Berks Community Action Program and continues her NAACP involvement, along with volunteering with the LGBT Center of Greater Reading, BCPS and the Wyomissing Soccer Club. She also coaches distance running and cross country for Wyomissing Area School District, where she and her family reside.

“I loved BFL; I found it fulfilling, humbling and positive. I encourage others to put themselves at that ‘new table’ and grow.” For more information, visit www.uwberks.org.

Adriane Hoke

Asked & Answered

Take it a day (or an hour) at a time and stay present. No worrying about the future or regretting the past.

—Vali Heist

Find your passion.

— Tina Flood

You are your best asset.

— Annarose Ingarra-Milch

Have your friend squad intact; it’s great to know you are not alone!

— Marina Dobroskey Gehman

Even when it feels hopeless and dark, just know that this feeling won’t last forever. The world keeps turning and there are good days in the future.

— Nicole VanCoeur

This is only temporary.

— Peg Calvario

Understand that you grow more when you are put to the test than you do standing still.

— Judy Engle Aulenbach

Control what you can… Remember— change is inevitable; growth is optional.

— Chris Apostolou Spanier

WHAT’S YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE FOR SOMEONE FACING

MAJOR CHANGE?

Express gratitude every day for 3 things, not big things but the simple beauties of life. Gratitude allows us to feel joy while life is turned upside down.

— Sharon Mast

Stay positive, no matter how difficult things become...a negative outlook will only produce negative results.

— Cheryl Huntzinger

Be flexible. You’re never too old to learn something new.

— Mary Ellen Farrow

I know of many people who have endured serious life challenges or transitions and have come through them with the help of God...and an abiding faith that they would somehow survive the storm.

— Phyllis McLaughlin

Develop a positive mental attitude and set goals that are short term in order to boost that self confidence.

— Sabrina Tarantino-Logozzo

Lean on friends, clergy, professionals in the practice of psychology/therapy. You can’t do it alone nor should you.

— Jenny Batista

ADVANCING HEART & VASCULAR CARE

ASK US HOW

Comprehensive heart and vascular care helps our communities thrive.

Every day, your heart and blood vessels work together — keeping your mind and body functioning at its best. The heart and vascular team at Reading Hospital does the same. Our expert cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and vascular surgeons work together to get you back to the life you love. From preventive testing and diagnostics to minimally invasive surgical options such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for treatment of complex cardiovascular conditions — advanced heart and vascular care is in your community.

Discover why Reading Hospital is a life-changing destination for heart and vascular care at RHCardio.org.

Eric Elgin, MD Chief, Section of Cardiology