Karen Marsdale, Senior Editor Sara Frassinelli, Managing Editor
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Women2Women encourages women to create connections, gain knowledge, open doors, build strategic alliances, and much more. Our goal is to develop 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.
Penn State Health St. Joseph UGI Energy Services, LLC
UGI Utilities, Inc.
Wells Fargo
Platinum Investors
Alvernia University
Boscov’s Department Store, Inc.
Carpenter Technology Corporation
East Penn Manufacturing Company, Inc.
Encompass Health
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Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
Gold Investors
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Elegance Derma Spa
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Herbein + Company, Inc.
Highmark Blue Shield
L.A. Spa & Nail Bar (Wyomissing)
Masano Bradley
Reading Dermatology Associates
RKL LLP
Sweet Street Desserts
Tompkins VIST Bank
VA Productions, Inc.
Visions Federal Credit Union
Wyomissing Hair Studio
De Mujer a Mujer
Giant Food Stores
HGSK Law Firm
EnerSys
Met Ed/ First Energy
Reflections
Most women I know, myself included, don’t have a lot of free time in their schedules. Careers, family responsibilities, volunteer work, kids’ sport schedules, and social events all clamor for time and attention. The whole work-life balance thing seems unrealistic, so we wanted to find some better strategies for you. This issue is jammed packed with everything you need to get organized, start delegating, and accomplish more in a less stressful way. From helpful apps to easy dinners to the ‘right’ kind of busy, we have it all.
Additionally, we are giving you the full scoop on the 8th annual Women’s Conference + Expo coming up. This event will inspire and empower you with two amazing keynote speakers, four in-depth breakout sessions, as well as lunch and vendors you’ll love. Plus, we’ll announce this year’s ATHENA award winner. Mark your calendars now for April 30th –we promise you will be glad you did.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
Jessica Bezler Reading Health System
Raquel J. Capellan Community Advocate
Heather Christie
Real Estate Associate Broker & Author
Lizette Epps
Carpenter Technology Corporation
Sara Frassinelli
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Kelly Hancock
Readers, as always, I would love to hear from you! Please drop me any thoughts, suggestions, or story ideas you may have via the email address below. Here’s to a simplified, streamlined, and sunny spring!
Sara Frassinelli, Managing Editor sfrassinelli@greaterreading.org
Community Volunteer
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Amy Impellizzeri
Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing
Amy B. Klatt Herbein + Company, Inc.
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Fulcrum Information Resources
Karen Marsdale
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Rachael Romig
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance
Monica Rush
Penn State Health – St. Joseph
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Elegance Derma Spa
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The Compleat Baldwin Brass Center Frock
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BUSY is the New Black
But Are You Doing It Right?
Busy has become the new buzzword – the go-to response of nearly every woman to “How’ve you been?”
Due in part to the immediacy of contact provided by the evolution of technology in the workplace, caregiver responsibilities, and the erosion of downtime, busy is an inevitable fact.
So, is being busy a bad thing?
In a 2018 Forbes.com article (“You Are Way Too Busy; It’s Hampering Your Ability to Think And Be Productive,” Dan Pontefract, July 9, 2018) the author argues that there is an actual “busyness crisis.”
At least one often-cited study by a technology market research firm (Email Statistics Report 2015-2019 by The Radicati Group, Paolo Alto, CA) estimates workers send and receive on average 122-126 emails per day. Giving just 1-3 minutes of time to each of those emails translates to over 6 hours on email communication alone.
MarketWatch cites Nielsen reports to proclaim that “American adults spend more than 11 hours per day watching, reading, listening to or simply interacting with media.” And startlingly that’s an increase from 9 hours, 32 minutes, four years ago (“People spend most of their waking hours staring at screens,” Quentin Fottrell, August 4, 2018).
So how do we get anything done? And how do we turn the busyness crisis into something much more productive and joyful?
I asked five Berks County women (Alneasa Jordan, Susan Looney, Brooke Dower, Rachael Romig, and Aparna Mele) who balance hefty careers alongside volunteer and non-profit work and other demanding schedules, to provide some insight into how they’ve worked to become a smarter kind of busy. Their collective insight led to some interesting takeaways that can benefit all women, no matter how “busy” you are.
LET PASSION BE YOUR FUEL.
ALNEASA JORDAN, Director of Human Resources at DoubleTree by Hilton in Reading (ranked number 1 among 500 DoubleTree hotels), oversees a staff of 225, is the President of the hotel’s CARE program (a community outreach initiative of DoubleTree) and is also the founder of Girls Empowerment Movement (“GEM”). Through GEM, Mrs. Jordan acts as a “Fairy Godmother” helping local under-privileged girls go to prom by providing dresses, hair and makeup. GEM has helped 70 girls go to prom since its founding in 2014, and Mrs. Jordan anticipates helping 40 more girls this spring.
And how exactly does she do it all? After 19 years in the hospitality industry, and a decade in human resources, Mrs. Jordan, married for 20 years and working mother of 4, runs on adrenaline provided by a career and life of service. She credits her parents’ strong sense of service and community as a powerful example. She is rightfully proud of her work through CARE and GEM and says she actually considers her service time the only “downtime” she needs.
DR. SUSAN LOONEY, named the sixth President of Reading Area Community College in 2018, also says she’s found a tremendous sense of fulfillment and passion in the service mission of her position. Her path to the RACC presidency includes 20 years working in higher education, and Dr. Looney is just getting started. Her enthusiasm for higher education and for the mission of Reading Area Community College is incredibly contagious. In fact, infectious enthusiasm is a common trait among the women interviewed here. For example, after 14 years in the teaching profession, how does BROOKE DOWER, awardwinning teacher in the Reading School District, caregiver and swim coach, describe her job? “I love it.” Teaching? Yes. But
Continued on page 8
Alneasa Jordan Dr. Susan Looney Brooke Dower Rachael Romig Dr. Aparna Mele
also, the special grade where she’s found a home. “I love teaching Second Grade. It’s the biggest growth year. I never want to do anything else.” Her students agree. She was nominated for a 2018 Inspiring Teacher Award along with only 30 other teachers in the nation. Reflected clearly in her students’ appreciation for her, it’s clear that Ms. Dower’s joy and passion for her career is real.
RACHAEL ROMIG, Special Programs Coodinator at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, and owner of Just Breathe, a wedding and events planning company, has found a passion that is similarly energizing. After years of helping friends and family plan events and weddings (essentially as her gift to them), Ms. Romig decided to monetize this hobby she loved. In late 2017, she developed the business plan and launched Just Breathe. A few weeks later, she took on the position at the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance. One might expect that with those two big life transitions, Ms. Romig would describe 2018 as “busy” or “crazy” or a “hurricane,” but when asked, she used none of those terms. She described 2018 as “such a positive year.” Telling, indeed.
DR. APARNA MELE, a gastroenterologist at Digestive Disease Associates, founder of My Gut Instinct, a non-profit committed to community health awareness, and mother of two, exudes a similar positivity. “Health care can be so depressing and often is only reactive,” she says, but she’s found a way to infuse passion into her profession and life, by focusing on a preventative care message. The momentum has grown since she started My Gut Instinct in 2013. “I realized we are too focused on the visuals of health and the metrics of health. We are only worried about how
you look on the outside.” Dr. Mele decided to shift the focus to the inside, and, while advocating that diet has a place in every disease, she started a local movement. She’s grown her non-profit successfully to synergize with her practice allowing her passion to fuel both these professional ventures in which her singular message is to focus on improving the inside and the outside will follow.
These five women are proof that productivity is an attitude that starts from a passion within.
BE REFLECTIVE, RATHER THAN REACTIVE, IN YOUR USE OF TECHNOLOGY.
When asked if she considers technology a lifesaver or a necessary evil, Dr. Looney responded that her cell phone is “a blessing.” She doesn’t put an out-of-office response on her emails on weekends or when she goes away (and she does take her vacations!) so that she can respond to emails while she’s out and arrive back in the office refreshed and up to speed. As. Dr. Looney points out, everyone’s body clock is different. She happens to be a morning person, a habit she dates to childhood when she was up early to care for horses on her family’s Delaware horse farm. For her, this translates to waking early and reviewing emails as early as 4:30 am when she can give items that need it, her thoughtful response.
Rachael Romig uses technology in a similarly reflective way. Ms. Romig describes a time when she thought it was important to be the first one to respond to incoming emails, but no more. She likes being able to keep up on emails in real time (although
she turns off the notifications so she can check email on her own time), but often does not respond right away, instead taking a more thoughtful approach to her email and other communication. Ms. Romig suggests this approach is necessary for mental health and time management. “When I respond, I want it to be impactful.”
MAKE SELF-CARE A PRIORITY.
It’s clear that wellness is a priority for productive women. It’s also clear that there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Dr. Looney for example is in a 5 am work-out group every weekday. “I have a victory in my pocket every day by 6 am,” says Dr. Looney.
Rachael Romig also makes her gym workouts a priority and has recently added a weekly yoga class to her Tuesday nights that she calls “non-negotiable.”
Brooke Dower has a seemingly simple self-care trick. She arrives at school a full hour early each morning, so that she can have time before starting the day to grade papers and get organized for the day. Inspirational audiobooks help jump start her day as well. “Right now, I start each day with Michelle Obama, and I love that.”
RE-CONSIDER MULTI-TASKING.
Brooke Dower is the mother of four and spent a significant time as primary caregiver to her terminally ill mother who passed away in 2017. Her warmth is evident, as is the organization necessary to keep all the balls up in the air. Rather than trying to juggle everything during the week, Ms. Dower spends her Saturday nights planning and prepping the week’s meals. “I love Pinterest,” Ms. Dower says. Not so much for classroom ideas, but for recipes and meal planning that free her up for more creativity in the classroom and time for her family of 6.
Aparna Mele also advises that she has improved her life by reducing so-called “multi-tasking.” “I realized recently that multi-tasking doesn’t necessarily make you more productive.” She recommends that whatever you’re doing should get 100%, and then move on to the next thing. For this reason, we scheduled our telephone interview at 9 pm on a weeknight instead of trying to cram it in during the day. “I had work and then family time, and now is my time for you,” Dr. Mele said as we talked. There was no rush or resentment for the time she was taking to give insight and advice, just enthusiasm and passion in her message.
Like all the women featured here, Dr. Mele has found a recipe that works. And while she’s certainly busy, she makes it look good and comfortable.
It seems that if you focus thoughtfully on tasks that you are passionate about, communicate impactfully and make time for self-care, you might achieve a busy that fits you just right. 2
Written by: Amy Impellizzeri (aimpell@gmail.com)
Apps Assemble!
As a novelist, I like to imagine an early frontier woman traveling via a time machine and landing in 2019. What would she make of us? Women who wear pants, lead companies, and still run households—all while tapping small electronic, hand-held gadgets? It’s true—our phones are changing the way we interact with the world. We are at ground zero of The Social Media Revolution that, I suspect, would blow the minds of our predecessors.
When used effectively, smart phones and tablets make our work (and our lives) more efficient. Below is our best-of-the-best, can’t-live-without, must-have apps that any twenty-first century woman needs.
The Top Apps to Make Your Life Easier
William Shakespeare said, “Better three hours too soon, than one minute too late.” With that in mind, these TIME MANAGEMENT APPS made our list as required apps:
Apple Calendar – It’s built into macOS and iOS so it’s the common-sense place to store calendar entries on Apple devices. Just enable iCloud and you can keep your calendar up to date across your devices.
Wunderlist: To-Do Lists & Tasks – A simple to-do list and task manager that helps you get stuff done. Capture, share, and complete your to-dos while instantly syncing between your phone, tablet and computer.
Teuxdeux – Take your list-making to the next level with this bare bones, but visually compelling and highly usable to-do app.
30/30 – Top task manager. The gesture-based interface is completely free of clutter with a fully customizable task list: label, time, icon, and color.
Orison Swett Marden said, “A good system shortens the road to the goal.” Ah, so it is true with these apps for BUSINESS ORGANIZATION:
Evernote – Clip pieces of information from the web, tag them for easy searching, and alter them by adding or removing portions, or even embedding pictures, tables, audio, video, etc. Easily handles organic notes, journaling, to-do lists, recipes, contacts and more.
Expensify – Automate your expense report management, receipt tracking, and business travel. Offering a slick user interface, save countless hours of grueling manual entry.
Anywhere Pad – Go paperless with this meeting solution for executives, senior managers, and professionals. It provides easy and secure access to meeting documents, makes scheduling meetings efficient, and facilitates collaboration among colleagues.
Cardmunch – Save those business cards with this transcription service that captures business cards and creates contacts in user’s phone.
Susan Sontag said, “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” Whether business or pleasure takes you on a trip, these TRAVEL APPS are indispensible:
Waze – Get traffic updates in this community-based navigation app. Join other drivers who share real-time traffic and road information.
Trip Advisor – Need a recommendation for a hotel or restaurant? Check out the reviews and then book your accommodations or reservations.
Hipmonk – A fast, easy travel planning app that compares top travel sites to find the perfect flight or hotel at the cheapest price.
Noonlight – No matter your location, this connected safety platform triggers requests for emergency services with the click of a button.
White Noise – Can’t sleep on the road? Maybe all you need is some background noise. Check out this app for relaxing sleep sounds.
Emily Oster notes, “No one likes doing chores. In happiness surveys, housework is ranked down there with commuting as activities that people enjoy the least.” That’s why these HOME ORGANIZATION APPS make your life at home easier:
Hello Fresh – Want a convenient, fun, simple, and fast recipe idea? Your meal starts here!
RetailMeNot – Find online and in-store coupons all in one place.
Our Groceries – Synchronize your grocery list on all the smart phones in your household.
LastPass – Put all your passwords in one place with this password manager, generator, and vault.
Unfilth Your Habitat – Timed challenges related to housekeeping and sprucing up your living area.
Continued on page 12
Jim Rohn makes a lot of sense when he says, “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live in.” These HEALTH & WELLNESS APPS are just what any body needs:
Studio – Put a boutique fitness studio in your pocket. Take treadmill, outdoor running, and strength conditioning classes on your own time.
HeadSpace – It’s time to slow down. Find bite-sized, guided meditations, focusing on stress, sleep, concentration, and anxiety.
Lose-It – Get your personalized daily calorie budget and weight loss plan while tracking your food and exercise across all of your devices.
Hormone Horoscope – The official Hormonology app shows women what their mood, energy, love life, health, and more will be every day based on where they are in their monthly cycle.
There is an expression that if you want something done to give it to the busiest person around. Watch out working moms! These MOMMY APPS will help:
Baby Connect – This baby tracker records daily information about children: feeding, diapers, sleep, mood, activities, medicine, photos, and more, allowing parents, nannies, and child care staff to exchange messages.
Care.com – Check out this huge online marketplace for finding and managing family care (for children, seniors, pets, or even homes).
Venmo – For parents of college kids, you can send money and make purchases via this app and your young adult children will love you.
Cozi – Three-time Mom’s Choice Award Winner for the best shared-calendar to manage everyday mom life.
At the end of the day, never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. These ENTERTAINMENT APPS should help you find time to relax:
WTSO – Wines Till Sold Out helps you find your favorite wines at deep discounts.
Feedly – Get all of your online information in one spot. Compile news feeds, blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels in this single app.
Goodreads – A good book is the best entertainment. Get authentic reviews and recommendations with Goodreads.
Castbox – All the podcasts and radio stations you love, right at your fingertips.
That’s it! The best-of-the-best apps you’ll need to assemble for your active, modern life. We hope our recommendations make your days easier! 2
Check out page 36 for the top financial apps.
Written by: Heather Christie
Them:
You’ve Changed.
Me: I Know. For the Better!
A look at the new Women2Women website and how it’s changed to better suit you.
If you receive our monthly e-newsletter, you may have heard that Women2Women has a new website. Perhaps you even clicked the link to check it out for yourself. If you didn’t get a chance yet, that’s okay, but let me tell you about the NEW intel you’re missing (apart from the stunning design work of yours truly)!
Home Page – When you land at www.berkswomen2women. com, you’ll see the change! The bold purples, the teals, the subtle grays…boom! After you’ve shaken off how beautiful it is, you can dive deep into the data behind why we do what we do, when, and how.
About Us – While we are in our eighth year as “Women2Women,” a women’s network had been growing for many years before the inception of our amazing program. We offer a little behind the scenes of the women who came together to form W2W including an awesome photo of the first ever cover of this magazine! Look how far we’ve come!
Women’s Conference to you in Berks… that’s a big deal. You can also find the 2019 agenda and speaker schedule here too in case you were wondering if the Conference was really for you. (Psst – it is. Trust me.)
The Marketplace/Member Resources – We created this section to serve as a portal of educational resources for you! Here you can find helpful articles about topics we regularly discuss, videos, websites that we love, and (my favorite) all our event takeaways! While we can’t offer you the full event, any handout or mental leave-behind our speakers offer is housed here for you.
W2W Conference & Expo – Our newest page to the site outlines our upcoming 2019 all day conference that is the feature of this edition of the magazine. We thought it deserved its own page. We are bringing topics that were discussed high level at the PA
The Marketplace/Investors – We also created this portal for our investors, without whom we wouldn’t be able to do all that we do. On the “News from our Investors” page, you can find discounts and specials that our partners are running at their businesses. Make sure to check back often (monthly/seasonally) to see what is being offered! 2
Written by: Rachael Romig, Special Programs Coordinator
ASKED&ANSWERED
What is your best ‘life hack’ tip for a busy woman?
Amanda Hand: Grocery delivery services like Shipt and Instacart. Also putting household items on delivery like laundry detergent, cat litter, pet food, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.
Barb Moyer: We all hate to say no to a request, but if you know your current mission/focus, you can cheerfully respond, “I would love to, but my priority right now has to be (fill in the blank, ie my family, getting my master’s degree, etc.).”
Christy Sanders Girard: Would the task take you less than 60 seconds? If so, then do it right away with no procrastination. Simple things accomplished boost your energy to accomplish more.
Elizabeth Lehman Vlastos: Setting the alarm and getting up early! Not a morning person at all – but those extra 30 minutes to get my thoughts and plan together for the day while having a hot cup of coffee in peace are priceless for a busy, working mama!
Francine Scoboria: Take a bubble bath every night! Self care and time to relax will help you maintain energy and optimism each day.
Jenn Bosco: Using a planner and your phone to make sure to note all events, even the ones you think that you won’t forget. Relying only on memory can be hard for a busy woman.
Julie Hunsberger-Stubler: Delegate and empower others to tasks at hand. We can’t do it all. However, we can do it if we work together.
Karin Long: Mastering a 5-minute-or-less face that takes you from “oh my gosh my alarm didn’t go off” to “looking put together at the office”!
Kirsten Polentz Haas: Meal planning! I write out a daily dinner menu each week. It saves time and helps keep us on track with diet and grocery budget.
Laural Miller: Purge purge purge. Not just with physical stuff, with mental, emotional and spiritual clutter as well. Take inventory of your life and ask yourself what adds value and what detracts. Then make quick choices to change.
Lauren Minnich: Scheduling time for self care (massage, hiking, mani/pedi) in advance. It’s an appointment with yourself to have a break from the business of life and to refresh yourself. That way, you’re well rested and ready to take on the world!
Leigh Anne Sobjak: Meal prepping for my toddler and getting my work outfits, accessories, etc., put together the night before! Makes it so much easier the next day and I’m ready to take on the world!
Limarys Rodriguez: Create a schedule and stick to it! It’s so easy to say I’ll work late today, and it turns into working late several days. Sticking to a schedule and scheduling me or family time will help with your overall well being.
LouAnn Bickley Culbert: Teach your husband & children “life skills,” such as cooking, ironing, cleaning, etc. Then have them “practice” these skills at home.
Sharon R. Kummerer: Dry shampoo!! Saves sooooo much time, no need to blow dry and style everyday to still look great!
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Tuesday, April 30, 2019
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading - 1741 Papermill Rd, Reading, PA 19610
8th Annual WOMEN’S CONFERENCE + EXPO 2
If you are a regular attendee of our monthly Women2Women events, you know what’s in store. This program year we have packed every single room at every single venue because our speakers have been on point, discussed issues that women need to hear, and have left our attendees not only wanting more, but ready to go back to their lives and empower themselves to be more, anything and everything! We are continuing this trend into our Conference + Expo. Take the day for yourself. To be inspired. To learn something new and apply it to your life. This day is for you. For all of us. Grow with us, connect with us, and let’s lead together!
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Did you know we have been awarding an ATHENA since 1993?
The 2019 nominations are in and the award recipient is ALISON SNYDER, Assistant Vice President, Personnel –East Penn Manufacturing.
The ATHENA award is presented to a woman, or man, who is honored for attaining professional excellence, community service and for actively assisting women in their achievement of professional excellence. The ATHENA Leadership Model, developed by Athena International, identifies eight distinct attributes that are reflective of women’s contributions to leadership. Know a woman who exemplifies these attributes? Tell her! Always tell her.
9:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
We’ve amped up our breakout session offering this year from three to four opportunities to hear from excellent speakers. These topics were chosen based off survey answers by you, our members, and what was discussed this year at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women in Philadelphia. We decided to bring these top-of-mind topics to Berks!
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“NICE GIRLS CAN GET THE CORNER OFFICE: HOW WOMEN RISE”
– Amy Teal, CEO – Lancaster Rehabilitation Hospital
2
Where is the balance between being too nice and being too bossy? In addition to finding that balance, how can women combine hard work, talent, bravery, and more to rise to the top? Walk away with tools to help you achieve this balance, build strength, and be brave as you grow in your careers. Hear the many, many lessons that Amy learned the hard way in her career over the years but kept moving forward.
“BRANDING YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS”
– Andrea Folino, Co-owner - Folino Estate & Winery and Vintner’s Table
3
Whether you own a business or work for a corporate entity, it is your personal brand that takes you to the next level. Stop hiding and learn to build a brand that allows you to establish meaningful relationships with your customers, clients & those who are waiting to meet you! Andrea’s success story and tips will offer strategies that will translate into long-term success.
“CREATING A DYNAMIC & ENGAGING WORKPLACE: FOR WOMEN & ALL!”
– Trish Shermot, Director, Government Relations/ Regional Urban Development - Visions Federal Credit Union
We’ve all been part of the “Good to Great” organizational movement and welcome the opportunity to be the change agent at our own organizations committed to a healthy, creative work environment. Join us for this robust, interactive session and gain access to valuable tools that you can use to eliminate negative energy, build trust and create synergy within teams. With snippets from Cy Wakeman, Simon Sinek, Malcolm Galdwell, and D. Michael Abrashoff you will walk away with a plan for leading change and creating dynamics that will engage, enrich and exponentially improve your work environment.
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“MAKE IT RAIN: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS”
– Jill Scheidt, AttorneyMasano Bradley Attorneys at Law
It’s the season when April showers bring May flowers. Come join us to learn strategies to make it rain in your field, whether it’s sales, service or manufacturing. You can be in control of your destiny.
The panelists will discuss the traits of effective business development, including engagement, influence, motivation, problem-solving and risk-taking while also sharing strategies for choosing and preparing for an event, inviting guests, networking while there and how to follow up to see results.
10:30am – Accompanied by Heidi Masano, Managing Partner, Masano Bradley Attorneys 1:30pm – Session not offered
11:30 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.
Enjoy lunch, networking and a chance to visit with our sponsor and vendor tables before we launch into our first Keynote Speaker!
THE BOOK NOOK – NEW for 2019!
Looking for a new book to “improve you”? We didn’t just bring ideas from the PA Conference for Women to Berks, we brought the books! Make your way to the Book Nook and take a seat in a comfy chair for a second to look through our book selection. Buy one or buy all, at a discounted price. Options include:
• No Ego: How Leaders Can Cut the Cost of Workplace Drama, End Entitlement and Drive Big Results
– Cy Wakeman
• You Are a Brand!: In Person and Online, How Smart People Brand Themselves for Success
– Catherine Kaputa
• Managing Up: How to Move up, Win at Work, and Succeed with Any Type of Boss – Mary Abbajay
• Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate – Fran Hauser
• How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion or Job – Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
WHAT’S YOUR STORY? WHAT I LEARNED FROM TWO DECADES IN TV NEWS – Kym Gable
Kym Gable, KDKA CBS 2 News, Pittsburgh, will discuss how to show, tell, and listen to make an impact offering attendees a booklet with 10 skills and solutions. Her motto is “You can’t live an extraordinary life if you keep doing ordinary things.”
Learn more about Kym and her chapter of the charity “Inspired Women Paying it Forward” on page 21!
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
You again can attend one of the breakout sessions. Last year we received an overwhelming response to “Give us more breakout sessions!” so we have. Professional and personal development is top of mind today, but if you’d rather visit with the vendors, enjoy!
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
WORK & LIFE: STRATEGIES TO MANAGING IT ALL – Brenda Rosado
Brenda Rosado, Enterprise Car Services, asks: How do you balance it all? Work and life? It’s hard! You, the individual, are the single most important person when it comes to managing your working life and career. No one ever said it was going to be easy to achieve success at home and at work. So perhaps the question should be, what is your work life strategy? No one else is going to do it for you. So, let’s make a plan and stick to it.
Learn more about Brenda on page 21.
3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
WINE RAFFLE GIVEAWAY
Let’s end the day with a tribute to self care: wine! This year we will be choosing one lucky attendee to win a wine basket! We’re not talking two bottles here, we’re talking invite over your friends, put out some cheese and laugh ‘til you cry amounts. The winner will be chosen at random and you must be present to win!
Partner of Masano Bradley, member of the firm since 1981. Her practice emphasizes
Living and Loving Berks County … for 88 Years and Counting
Nancy Shannon lives at Country Meadows of Wyomissing and has called Berks County “home” for 88 of her 93 years. “I like just about everything about living here,” she says. Shannon and her husband operated two Berks County businesses over the years. Married in 1947, the couple opened Shannon’s Meat Market and Grocery Store in Muhlenberg Township. She recalls one of her favorite memories of the market, saying, “We sold penny candy, and the kids would stop in with their pennies on their way to school to get some treats. That was fun.”
After 14 years, the couple closed the market to pursue an opportunity to purchase a local pub—Johnny and Hon’s Grill in Muhlenberg Township. “It was known for being a rowdy place, and we did clean it up,” says Shannon. “We had a nice clientele and got to know many different people—politicians, lawyers, blue collar workers and neighbors.” The business truly was a family-run venture as the Shannons’ three sons helped to run the establishment, when they could. “They learned how to cut meat, cook, run a business… it was a learning adventure for all of us, and we all learned together,”
she says, adding that the couple made time to ensure their sons had ample time for school and extracurricular activities. While she handled the cooking and added several new items to the menu, her husband took care of the bar side of the business. After 20 years, the couple sold the business to one of their sons.
The Shannons enjoyed traveling with friends and family during retirement. When her husband passed away 10 years ago, Shannon realized that maintaining a home was too much to handle. That’s when she moved to Country Meadows where she continues to enjoy spending time with people. “I’ve made lots of friends here,” she says. “Here you can just walk out and there is somebody around to talk to.”
She also enjoys staying busy and says, “At Country Meadows, there’s always something to do. Additionally the location on Tulpehocken Road, directly across the street from Tulpehocken Creek, offers convenience. “It’s handy to everything; we’re near the malls, doctors, lawyers, medical buildings…it’s a perfect location, and there are a lot of conveniences here. It’s like a college campus.”
#T PTEN Reasons to Attend the CONFERENCE
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
#one Women’s lives are changed for the better! #careerbuilder #lifechanger
#four Meet the 2019 ATHENA Award recipient and hear how she “is the change”! #AthenaAward #BucketList #Bethechange #two #movingonup
#five Eenie meenie minie moe, so many break-out sessions, you’ve got to go #You’veGot2Go
KEYNOTE BIOS
This year at the Women2Women Conference + Expo we are again hosting TWO spectacular and inspirational keynote speakers. We are proud to host these women with topics on understanding and telling your story and how to strategize work and life. As women, we do it all, and we forget to 1 – remember that we all have a story and that it not only makes us who we are but it inspires others; and 2 – remind ourselves that the “balance” we are always seeking is right around the corner.
Kym Gable
What’s YOUR story? Kym Gable has been asking thousands of people that very question for over 25 years. Kym is a story-teller. She works part-time as reporter/anchor at KDKA-TV, the CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh. Kym is a 2-time Emmy and Telly Award winner, as well as an accomplished freelance producer, emcee, speaker, confidence coach and voice actress.
Kym takes a multi-passionate approach to life and business as an entrepreneur and investor. Through her new company, Vision and Voice, she also helps individuals and companies tell their OWN stories by improving communications skills and enhancing presentations to make an even bigger impact in their businesses. As an advocate for those less fortunate and those in crisis, Kym’s mission of community outreach is her driving force. Kym volunteers and raises funding for several nonprofit organizations.
She recently founded a chapter of the charity support network called “Inspired Women Paying it Forward.” She also serves her community through the Rotary Club and Pittsburgh Professional Women. Her motto is “You can’t live an extraordinary life if you keep doing ordinary things.” She and her husband, Jeff, are raising twin teen-aged girls with those same principles of leadership, service, and compassion.
Brenda Rosado
Brenda is the Group Car Sales Manager with Enterprise Car Sales, working her way up the company chain of command from a sales consultant. Over the past 6 years, she has opened two new dealerships in NYC, managing them to see top sales results. She is focused on creating a positive company culture within Enterprise and leads many development workshops throughout the year on work and life strategies. Brenda graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelors in Sports Management.
Join Brenda as we wrap up the Conference day and talk through work/life strategies. She will leave you ready to face whatever is coming at you next with a plan in place, and a goal to #slaytheday! 2
WOMAN2KNOW
Meet JULIA NICKEY:
Regional Director, Marketing & Communications for Penn State Health St. Joseph
Q: What is the most valuable way women can support each other?
A: I think the best – and most natural way – is to bring others along with you! If you can do business with women you enjoy working with, value their input, can build from their strengths, and allow them to take you to the next level, it’s a win-win situation. I am grateful in my role that I can make the decision – most of the time – on whom to do business with. I have a wonderful local network of women entrepreneurs and small businesses that I intentionally call upon when needed. This ranges from helping me with event planning and social media strategy, conducting customer service excellence training, and ordering branded organizational apparel and promotional items; these women help me excel in my role at Penn State Health. And they make daily work life fun!
Blame your hormones!
Schedule your free consultation today.
Broadcasting Road 610.750.5158
BeBalancedCenters.com
Q: What’s your mission?
A: I’m a lifelong Berks Countian and absolutely love it here! I can honestly say I’m in the perfect role that combines the love for my community, the desire to make a positive impact in peoples’ health, and the outlet of creativity in marketing. In 2018, I was promoted into the regional director of marketing and communications at Penn State Health covering the Berks area. In this role, my professional mission is to find ways to deliver the health and wellness services to the community in easy-to-use and interesting ways. Whether it’s through hosting health fairs, managing health screenings, coordinating physician educational talks, or promoting the supportive services at various locations, my goal is to help connect people – either in-person or through different channels – to Penn State Health to allow them to live happy and healthy lives. As for 2019, my focus is helping women in the community improve their health and align their health goals through new programs, services, and events.
Q: What three things do you recommend that contribute to your success?
A: 1. Question authority and challenge the status quo. Resurrect that rebellious teenager in order to make a difference and make things better.
2. Expect and welcome change. It’s going to happen! Look on the bright side and get on board with it.
3. Have a goal of where you’d like to be professionally, know how to get there, and follow it. This may be tough to do on your own. If you need professional coaching, I know a great contact!
Q: What do you consider women’s main asset?
A: Simply put, women have the ability to get stuff done! This is an underrated asset but, in my opinion, extremely important in both our personal and professional lives. Take a look at the amazing things that happen in schools – outside the classroom. I guarantee all the fun events, successful fundraisers, and creative sales that bring communities together and enhance students’ love of learning are all designed, developed, and executed by women. And these women are doing all this as volunteers! That is just one example, there are many more. This asset alone should be lifting women professionally, but research shows women are still lagging in the workplace. In a study conducted by LeanIn.org, the Women in the Workplace 2017 data shows that women remain underrepresented at every level in corporate America. As the ones who make things happen, we can do better. 2
Receiving an extra copy of W2W, or finished reading yours?
Pass It Along!
Make an impact by sharing the inspiration with other women in your life who may not already be receiving a copy.
STOP STRESSING SPOILER ALERT: IT’S BAD FOR YOU!
The women featured throughout this magazine are accomplished and inspiring. Some work to improve their communities, some teach the next generation their knowledge, some devote large portions of their time to those around them, and some do all this while also managing a family. While glossy pages shed a positive light on their achievements, behind the lens, some of these women may struggle with the pressure of professional accomplishment combined with personal obligation. Like many of us, they may suffer from stress.
Stress is the reaction of the body and mind to events happening around us. When something traumatic happens, like encountering an angry dog off its leash, the “fight-or-flight” stress response serves to protect us from injury. Heart rate
increases. Breathing is faster. Blood sugar levels rise. Muscles become prepared to run. Pain is dampened, so we might not feel an injury, even if one exists. This type of stress is beneficial and, in fact, necessary to our survival.
Chronic stress looks different. Perhaps a parent’s cancer treatments are causing concern about living arrangements or finances. Perhaps a challenging project at work isn’t going well. Perhaps a teenager’s behavior leads to arguments within your family. These types of chronic stress can cause damaging effects, as the mind and body try to adapt to a constant feeling of anxiety or fear.
WHAT
ARE THE EFFECTS OF CHRONIC STRESS?
POOR SLEEP
Difficulty “turning off” your mind at the end of the day
Sleep may be interrupted or fragmented
Daytime tiredness, lack of productivity, and slow metabolism
HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE ARE HIGHER
Increased strain on your heart
Elevated risk for “metabolic syndrome,” which includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
MUSCLES
ARE TENSE
Muscles are constantly “engaged” as if to run away from a perceived threat
Leads to chronic back or shoulder pain, as well as headaches
POOR DECISION MAKING
Lack of attention for both simple and complicated decisions
May overeat or drink too much alcohol
May engage in risky behaviors like driving too fast or using drugs
DIFFICULTY INTERACTING WITH PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE
Depleted emotional energy, not leaving enough to deal with the ‘normal’ parts of life
Becoming aggravated more easily at your partner or children
Avoiding important discussions and favoring communication by e-mail, rather than in person
When we have chronic stress, our ability to deal with the tasks of daily living becomes impaired, and, over years, our bodies and minds bear that burden by developing heart disease, diabetes, and possibly dementia.
Sarah J. Luber, D.O., a physician specializing in Internal Medicine at Reading Hospital, finds that — quite often — patients who schedule an appointment for a physical concern have a symptom they haven’t even considered: stress.
And, that stress has the potential to cause health problems and reduce the patient’s quality of life.
“Women, especially, have expectations that they must have the perfect work life or home life, be ‘super moms’ and juggle a lot of activities — and do all of them well,” Dr. Luber says. “Some women are stressed by those expectations, and others are stressed because of the significant challenges that life can bring. Whatever the cause, it is important to identify the root of the stress, so we can treat it appropriately.”
Treatment for stress is individualized, based on what is causing the
stress and what may work best for the patient.
Krysta Brown, DO, a specialist in Internal Medicine at Reading Hospital, says that in many cases, everyday stress can be reduced by practicing mindfulness, through exercise, meditation, or by making time for activities that bring joy. Mindfulness is really any activity that brings calm and joy, which helps reduce stress and increase calmness by helping the person focus on the moment and clearing the mind of worry. Dr. Brown talks with her patients about identifying these mindfulness activities; they could be anything from a walk outdoors to making time to watch your favorite movie or free apps that help people through mindfulness practices, sometimes for as little as one minute in length.
Dr. Luber agrees. “Mindfulness is like exercise for your brain muscle,” she says. “For patients who are uncomfortable trying mindfulness or meditation, I suggest shorter strategies for trying to stay in the moment and reduce stress. We talk about what strategies might work best.”
Continued on page 26
Both Dr. Luber and Dr. Brown advise that a woman with a busy schedule and high expectations should evaluate what is realistic, prioritize activities and delegate responsibilities. Patients who are not able to make these evaluations in a healthy way may need support from a therapist.
Dr. Brown asks her patients, ‘How much is this stress affecting your daily life? Are you able to function at your job? Take care of your family? Take care of yourself?’ If the patient is so overwhelmed that they are having trouble performing at work or at home, then that signals they may be in an acutely stressful situation or dealing with a psychological disorder that would benefit from therapy and, perhaps, medication.
Five Ways to Manage Stress
“I try to get a sense of where they are in life and how their functioning is being affected,” Brown adds. “If a patient comes in, vents and feels better, that is an indication she may be able to work through her stress without counseling.”
Dr. Brown and Dr. Luber say that medication is a last resort, but one that might be required for patients with acute stress, psychological disorders or thoughts of harming themselves. Both physicians agree that whether a woman is experiencing a serious psychological disorder or everyday stress from a hectic lifestyle, everyone can benefit from focusing on the moment — whether through mindfulness, exercise or an activity that brings joy and a sense of calm. These activities improve your brain’s health and overall health, and they can greatly improve your quality of life. 2
Article Contributors:
Allison M. Barrett, MD, FACS, Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, Penn State University
Sarah J. Luber,
Krysta Brown,
DO, Internal Medicine, Reading Hospital
DO, Internal Medicine, Reading Hospital
Get up and DANCE at home for 30 seconds like no one is watching. It usually helps bring you back in the moment and breaks negative thought patterns.
Try creating a “SMILE FOLDER.” If you’re having a tough day, you can open it and see past positive feedback from other people.
EXERCISE, when possible. It helps emotionally and psychologically, because it increases chemicals in your brain that create a positive mood.
Only have a minute? Think of three things for which you are GRATEFUL. If there’s a specific issue/problem weighing on you, MAKE A LIST of all possible solutions and pick the best one for your situation.
Dr. Barrett Dr. Luber Dr. Brown
Work and Life: Strategies to Managing It All
Work and life? How do you balance it all? There is no doubt, it is hard. You, the individual, are the single most important person when it comes to managing your working life and career. No one ever said it was going to be easy to achieve success at home and at work. So perhaps the question should be, what is your work life strategy? No one else is going to do it for you. So, make a plan and stick to it. Set career and personal goals and think through how these might be achieved. Remember, if you aim for nothing, you’re sure to hit it!
What impression are you having on others? Awareness of and managing the impression you create will contribute towards reputational development and will help to build organizational and career credibility. There are other areas that help with creating your impression. Confidence, working smarter, speaking up at meetings, persistence, determination and resilience.
Working women need to do something every Sunday night. Sit down with her calendar and plan out EVERYTHING that is happening in the week ahead.
• Her work schedule
• Her kids’ schedule
• Any appointments that her family might have
• Time for herself
• Time for her and her spouse
• Time spent on social media
• Events
Work and life often do not balance. Sometimes we give more to work and sometimes we give more to life. The key to organizing your life as a working woman is staying ahead of the chaos. When we have a plan and clear goals, we can achieve success in both areas. At times where I see women fail is when she chooses to work instead of meeting other obligations. Can we commit to other obligations (ie. kids’ sporting events, date with spouse, etc.) in spite of the fact that you aren’t getting paid and reporting to someone else? When we are at work give 100% effort. When we are at home, give 100% effort. Be the best version of yourself always and set yourself up to win.
Join Brenda at the W2W Conference + Expo to hear more about this topic, learn from her and apply the discussed strategies to your daily life! Learn more about Brenda, our afternoon Keynote speaker, on page 21. 2
Written by: Brenda Rosado, Group Car Sales Manager
Macular degeneration, or AMD, is a leading cause of vision loss in Americans 50 and older. And early detection and treatment is the best option. Fortunately, some of the best macular degeneration specialists in the region are right here at Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania.
Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania is the leading ophthalmology practice in the region, with experienced specialists in glaucoma, cataracts, retinal disease, LASIK, pediatrics and more. And our macular degeneration specialists Dr. Michael Cusick, Dr. Barry Malloy and Dr. Anastasia Traband are Board-Certified and Fellowship-Trained. That’s experience you can trust. When it’s macular degeneration, don’t take chances. Insist on Eye Consultants of Pennsylvania. Learn more at EyeConsultantsOfPA.com.
Call 610-378-1344 for an appointment.
Anastasia Traband, MD
Barry C. Malloy, MD Michael Cusick, MD
STREAMLINE Your Supper
Let’s face it. Even for people who enjoy cooking, getting dinner on the table night after night can become a chore.
And, while it’s tempting to call for a pizza or order takeout, studies like one published in ScienceDaily clearly indicate that people who cook at home rather than relying on takeout or dining out have healthier overall diets and spend less money on food.
The study, conducted by researchers from the University of Washington School of Public Health and published in 2017, indicates that home-cooked meals generally provide more nutrients and fewer calories than food purchased at restaurants or retail locations. Over time, this results in health benefits and decreased food spending.
But, with precious little time after working a full day outside of your home or caring for family inside of your home, getting a healthy meal on the table every night may seem like an overwhelming task.
Fortunately, most grocery stores are loaded with time-saving products that help you streamline weeknight cooking. Pre-cut vegetables, rotisserie chickens, steamed shrimp, salad bars and, in
some cases, kits that contain everything you need for a balanced meal are readily available.
With a little advance planning, some help from your favorite grocery store and a good stash of staples in your pantry and freezer, you can make meals that come together quickly and give you a head start on another meal for the week.
The key, according to Mary Alice Waltz, a Cumru Township working wife and mother who also is active in community and church activities, is to remain organized and take steps ahead of time to minimize effort required when you get home from work.
If possible, cook ahead of time, she advised. A big batch of soup, chili or a stew made in a slow cooker on Sunday can provide lunches or a second dinner later in the week.
Instead of preparing rice for one meal, make a double or triple batch so it’s ready for another meal that week, Waltz suggested. Extra rice also can be frozen in a plastic bag or container and thawed as needed.
Even quicker, pre-cooked rice can be purchased in cups or pouches on the grocery shelf, or frozen in bags in the freezer section.
Rely on frozen vegetables – either those you’ve purchased in season and frozen yourself, or what you find in the grocery store freezer. Frozen butternut squash can be turned into a quick soup, or chopped spinach (and perhaps some of that extra rice) added to canned lentil or tomato soup for a quick lunch or dinner. Keeping your cupboard stocked with canned beans, crushed and diced tomatoes, broth, tuna or salmon, pasta, rice and grains, olive oil, vinegar and a variety of spices can avoid last-minute trips to the store and provide flexibility.
If you’re baking chicken, bake a double batch and make chicken salad with what you don’t use for dinner. Serve the chicken salad in lettuce cups for a low-carb option, or pair with sliced tomatoes drizzled with some good olive oil, a splash of vinegar and some salt and pepper.
Roasting two instead of one can yield spice-rubbed pork tenderloin for one night and pork and black bean tacos for another.
Sheet pan dinners, on which you roast protein and vegetables in the oven on the same pan, save on both time and cleanup.
For more inspiration, type “quick, healthy meals” into your browser and find tips, recipes and shortcuts. Meanwhile, try this 20-minute One-Pot Greek Pasta recipe from Eating Well. It relies on whole wheat pasta you make ahead, so prepare a batch on Sunday and store it in the refrigerator. 2
Written by: Susan Shelly
For even more tips for streamlining your supper, see page 31.
One-Pot Greek Pasta
Makes 4 Servings
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 links fully cooked chicken sausage, sliced into rounds
• 1 cup diced onion (pre-chopped from the freezer aisle is fine)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (or the equivalent from a jar)
• 1 (8-ounce) can of no-salt-added tomato sauce
• 4 cups lightly packed baby spinach (found washed and ready to use in the salad aisle)
• 6 cups cooked whole-wheat rotini pasta
• ¼ cup chopped, pitted Kalamata olives
• ½ cup finely crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup chopped fresh basil, dill or parsley (optional)
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage, onion and garlic; cook, stirring often, until the onion is starting to brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Add tomato sauce, spinach, pasta and olives; cook, stirring often, until bubbling hot and the spinach is wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons water if necessary to keep the pasta from sticking. Stir in feta and herbs and serve immediately.
ON THE CALENDAR
CAROLYN HOLLERAN & KATHERINE WILLIAMS + MARTHA & RAMONA TURPIN –WOMEN IN THE WORKPLACE: THEN & NOW
Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Time: 8:00am – 9:30am
Location: Crowne Plaza Reading
Cost: $25/person (includes breakfast)
Join us for a conversation with Carolyn Holleran and granddaughter Katherine Williams , as well as the Turpins (mother and daughter). They will discuss the generational differences they see & experience in the workplace, facilitated by Julia Klein, CEO and Chairwoman of CH Briggs. What’s changed, stayed the same, and where is the work still to be done to continue to advocate for women?
DATNILZA METZ –DE MUJER A MUJER
Date: Thursday, April 11, 2019
Location: Crowne Plaza Reading
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Cost: Free to attend (registration required at berkswomen2women. com – admission to Caliente included)
Join Datnilza in discussing how women in the Reading area have instilled characteristics in her that will truly aid in becoming not only a woman leader, but also an agent of change. As an Honors Student at Alvernia University, Datnilza double-majors in Business Management and Human Resource Management and double-minors in Political Science and Communications. She is a current sophomore, a proud Reading Collegiate Scholar, Peer Mentor, Resident Assistant, Student Ambassador, and is spearheading the student chapter of the Alvernia Women’s Council.
DESTINY PEREZ –DE MUJER A MUJER
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2019
Location: Crowne Plaza Reading
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Cost: Free to attend (registration required at berkswomen2women. com – admission to Caliente included)
Growing up poor was difficult for Destiny. She was not a good student at school, she was hanging with the wrong crowd, fighting and getting suspended. Since she was 12 years old, she was always told she would be nothing, including her school counselor who told her to drop out of high school, get her GED and give up getting her diploma. Destiny was pregnant in the 12th grade. Destiny did not listen to any of them. No matter how long the road or how many doors close, you need to move on and that’s what Destiny did.
KEDREN CROSBY, MPSEMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT LEADERSHIP: THE SECRET INGREDIENT TO WINNING
Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2019
Location: Stokesay Castle
Time: 11:30am - 1:00pm
Cost: $25/person (includes lunch)
Join Kedren Crosby, President of Work Wisdom, a consulting firm in Lancaster, PA, for this interactive workshop to bolster Emotionally Intelligent Leadership, influence and impact. Learn about the four dimensions of Emotionally Intelligent Leadership (Authenticity, Coaching, Inspiration and Innovation) with their accompanying concrete behaviors. We will also explore common EI Leadership Derailers (Impulse Control, Stress Tolerance, Independence) and share our own best practices to mitigate the risk of derailment. By focusing on EI Skills of Assertiveness, Interpersonal Relationships, Independence and Stress Tolerance we will share methods to expand our selfawareness and usage of these career-enhancing EI behaviors.
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2019 • 7:30AM-4:00PM Crowne Plaza Reading Register at berkswomen2women.com
Get Ahead of the Curve in the Kitchen
• When cooking ground beef, make a double batch and freeze what you don’t use in gallon-size freezer bags. Flatten the meat in the bag so you can stack them in the freezer.
• Buy fresh vegetables when they’re in season and cut and freeze them for later use. Buying green and red peppers in season can result in considerable savings, as they are expensive to buy out of season.
• If you don’t freeze your own vegetables, rely on frozen from the grocery store. Steam-inthe-bag vegetables are a quick and easy way to add more vitamins and fiber to your meals.
• Prepare for cooking in advance by placing the pots, skillets and sheets pans you’ll need on the counter or stove before leaving home in the morning. If nothing else, this provides a psychological boost when you get home and start cooking.
• Wash and dry lettuce and other greens when you bring them home from the store or farmer’s market. Store in a plastic bag or glass bowl with a paper towel to absorb extra water and assure that the greens stay crisp.
• Whole-grain rolls (such as Pepperidge Farm) are great to keep in the freezer and take out and heat when you need them.
• Hit the salad bar for time-saving items such as sliced vegetables you can use for stir fry. Many salad bars include chicken strips, diced ham or other cooked meats that can save you time. Also, this allows you to buy just what you need.
• When chopping onions, celery or carrots, cut up extra and freeze in sandwich bags inside a gallon freezer bag.
LADIES AROUND TOWN
Christine Miles
The crowd at our 2018 Conference & Expo enjoyed Christine so much they called her back for another event! With over 200 in attendance, Christine engaged with the audience and asked, “Do you know the 6 questions?”
“I invited the entire education team with me as their holiday gift! It was wonderful.”
“Positive exchange of accurate information is essential to growth in a company. The topic shed light on one aspect of communication which is commonly overlooked. I found it helpful, now just need to apply it!”
“Listening is one of my weaknesses and am always working on making it a strength. This brief explanation of ways to learn how to listen will help me achieve my goal.”
Courtney Coffman
A millennial, a mother, and a CFO shared her thoughts and strategies with us on how she got to where she is today. Understanding yourself, as well as being confident and your own #1 advocate, were key takeaways!
“Courtney was excellent – she walks the talk and is the perfect example of how to be assertive and get what you want. She was so genuine and that is her true personality.”
“Courtney taught us to value our worth and assert for what we want.”
De Mujer a Mujer –Crossover Event with Rosa Parra
Rosa shared with us the importance of believing in yourself and going for what you want, no matter your age, and even if others are telling you not to.
“The topic was amazing, I will remember to take more than one cookie.”
“The event certainly met my expectations. She was a great speaker – she had me laughing and really focused on her message. I took a few things from the speaker that night.”
BE FEATURED IN OUR NEXT MAGAZINE!
PHOTOS: Snap a photo with your friends at any event and tag Women2Women on Facebook! Or email your photos to w2w@greaterreading.org.
**Make sure your photo is in HD so we can use it!**
QUOTES: Remember to complete the event survey with your thoughts on the event!
**Don’t forget to include your name!**
The W2W Latina Initiatives Committee working hard.
Senator Judy Schwank at event
Score! Getting Real About Goals
Life is hectic.
Between our careers, businesses, networking, social lives, and time for family – it’s easy to forget to think about what you want to achieve in your life; both professionally and personally. How often do you think about your goals and the life you are living? Goals should and can be the map to where you want to go in life.
Goal setting is one of the most powerful motivational tools in a leader’s toolkit. This could be because goal setting operates in ways that provide purpose, challenge, and meaning. “Goals are the guideposts along the road that make a compelling vision come alive. Goals energize people. Specific, clear, challenging goals lead to greater effort and achievement than easy or vague goals do.” (Blanchard, 2007)
As you start thinking about diving into goal setting here are some tips to help bring your goal setting to fruition:
1. Schedule the time
We already know, you’re busy! We already schedule out appointments, play dates, work meetings, family get-togethers – taking an hour to yourself to think about where you are, and where you want to be seems like it should be attainable, if we can plan it!
2. Write your goals down
Write down exactly what you want to achieve. Describing your goals in written form is strongly associated with goal success. People who can describe or picture their goals are between 1.2-1.4 times more likely to successfully accomplish their goals than people who don’t. (Mark Murphy, Forbes)
3. The why
Make a note of why the goal is important to you. How will achieving this goal impact your life and career? The why is what drives us to want to achieve these goals.
According to Monica Rush, RN, Director of Rehab Services and Sports Medicine at Penn State Health St. Joseph and Certified Health and Wellness Coach, “It all comes down to the bigger “why” question. WHY do I want to make this change? I suggest you start by creating your “vision” – think about the long-term goal you want to achieve.”
4.
Make your goals SMART
Studies show if you have vague goals, you will not end up where you want to be. The power of using the smart goal system is that the formula is made to be simple and helpful. Using this system can help to build a framework and track accomplishments: Smart goals should be SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ACHIEVEABLE, RELEVANT, TIME BOUND.
Rush often recommends using SMART GOALS, and reminds us that a SMART goal always begins with two words: “I will….” and a vision of a new action or behavior you want to be doing on a consistent basis. Keep your goals POSITIVE.
SPECIFIC: Be specific about what you want to achieve. Use action words, state a target goal, and when it will occur.
MEASURABLE: Provide a way to evaluate the goal, use metrics or milestones to achieve throughout the time period.
ACHIEVABLE: Set goals that are realistic, yet still pushing you to do what you know you can, even if it’s a bit out of your comfort zone.
RELEVANT: The goals should be relevant to your life and roles.
TIME BOUND: Be specific on the desired timeframe.
A thought-out end point helps to make the goal smart, specifically with other obligations that will arise.
“Research shows it takes an average of 66 days to develop a new habit, so a good timeframe may be two to three months to revisit your vision,” says Rush. “Create small weekly achievable goals to help you reach your vision, this keeps you motivated and small achievements keep you moving in the right direction. It’s always good to have an accountability partner to keep you on track and accountable.”
5. Celebrate your wins!
Celebrate any milestone you reach along the way, be proud of yourself for taking any action toward the goal. Goals can be short or long term, but it’s important to not lose sight of the end vision.
Lastly, Rush reminds us all to be kind to yourself: “Know that we tend to over-estimate what’s achievable in a shorter timeframe and under-estimate what we can achieve over a longer period. Gradual change leads to permanent success. Any time the goal isn’t working for you, change the goal! The best type of goals flex when necessary.”
Make it a goal of yours within the next few weeks to take some time to yourself and think about where you want to be within the next few months, a year from now, or five years from now. Imagine where your goals could take you! 2
Written by: Amy B. Klatt – Marketing Manager, Herbein + Company, Inc.
• $99 per golfer, instructed by our PGA professional
• Tuesdays, June 4, 11, 18, 25 from 6-7:20 pm
• Wednesdays, July 10, 17, 24, 31 from 6-7:20 pm Clinics for non-beginners will also be offered simultaneously.
• Sign up online at themanorgolfclub.com or call Cheryl Heckman at 610.334.8690
Greater Reading Chamber Alliance & Manor Golf Club Are Teaming Up to Teach Women the Great Game of Golf!
DEVELOP YOUR DOLLARS
A Budget is Crucial to a Less Stressful Financial Future
For many, the idea of creating and abiding by a budget is unappealing. It takes time and requires a level of honesty that can be uncomfortable. However, budgeting is a necessary step in achieving long-term goals and financial success.
The good news is that many tools are available to help with the process and it will be easier to stick to a budget once you find a system that works for you. For some, a classic Excel spreadsheet might do the trick. For tech-savvy budgeters, there are many free budgeting apps available. For example, Intuit’s Mint is a free online-only personal finance app that incorporates all of your financial accounts. You can link your credit cards, loans, bank accounts and investment accounts in one place and get a big-picture view of your financial situation. Mint automatically syncs your information and categorizes it into buckets.
GoodBudget is another app designed to help you get a grip on household spending. Limited monthly use is free with fees added for more extensive use ($6 per month or $50 per year). This app allows you to track monthly expenses, annual savings goals and irregular expenses like gifts and insurance premiums. It does not sync with your financial institutions, so you will need to manually enter transactions.
Using one of these tools is a great way to determine whether or not you are living within your means. Roughly 80 percent of Americans carry some type of debt and these apps can reduce your risk of overextending your budget. They can shed light on unhealthy spending habits and show you how to achieve goals like buying a car, owning a home or saving for retirement.
In addition to saving for retirement, most financial planning experts recommend saving for an emergency. Three to six months of living expenses is the general rule of thumb for an emergency fund and having a solid budget in place will help you determine
the right amount. Once you’ve made a commitment to start saving, one technique is to have a small amount of each paycheck directly deposited into an account at a different bank than the one where you have your main checking account. By using a different bank, you avoid the temptation of transferring money from your savings to your checking account when it dips low.
Just like apps for budgeting, there are apps for saving. Acorns is an app that incorporates the idea of microinvesting and saving your spare change. For a small fee ($1-$3 per month), Acorns will link to your credit or debit card. Each time you make a purchase, the app will round up the amount and invest that spare change into a portfolio. Acorns will even link to your Mint budgeting app.
Budgeting doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Goals like a new car, home or nest egg can be a great motivator to become financially savvy and put you in more control of your money. 2
Written by: Ashley Blessing, CPA Supervisor – Herbein + Company, Inc.
What started as an idea is now three years old… can you believe it? Three years feels so new, so young, so fresh. Three years to many organizations is a period where they are working out the kinks and hoping that by their fifth anniversary things will be easy. We are very lucky in that those who have helped us get to this point have made this easy. And we want to pass that easy onto the organizations in our community. Do you want to get involved? I promise, we make it easy.
MISSION: The Youth Summer Reading Program offers Berks County’s schools, libraries and local organizations the materials needed to start their own, or add to their existing, summer reading program. A summer book choice, volunteer readers and discussion topics based on the book of choice are offered at no charge through the generous donations of community members, businesses, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance and Women2Women.
Y outhSummer ReadingProgram
Summer Learning Fun...
The program aims to encourage more children to read age appropriate literature, enjoy what they are reading and continue to read. Each child will receive his or her own copy of the summer book to start their own library.
Want to start a summer reading program? Already have one in place and would like to read our summer book choice? Just email or call Rachael Romig at rromig@greaterreading.org or 610-898-7775. 2
Summer is a time to celebrate, but when kids stop reading over the break they start falling behind. This is called “summer slide.” United Way, Ready. Set. READ! and The Summer Learning Coalition are working to help kids maintain reading skills over the summer months.
Dial 2-1-1 and learn what summer programs are happening in your neighborhood to keep kids reading and engaged over the summer.
Use these tips every day to help kids stay on track during the summer:
• Read with your child!
• Talk about what you see when you’re walking, driving, at the store, at the playground and at the library.
• Explain what things are, how things work and where you find things.
Let’s stop summer slide so more kids can succeed.
#BerksSummerLearning #Dial211 #KeepKidsLearning
2-1-1 is a FREE community information and referral service. You can also text your zip code to 898211.
The Highlands at Wyomissing represents an ideal – and trusted – model of inspired, engaging, extraordinary living for seniors. You’ll see and feel it the moment you arrive on our beautiful campus. When you walk through our doors, you’ll feel the excitement, camaraderie and vitality. Most importantly, you’ll feel a real sense of community.
FOR ALL OF YOUR WINDOW TREATMENT NEEDS
Cordless Lift Systems | Motorized Controls | Top Down & Bottom Up Feature TDBU
We take care of all of the details from measuring to installing your window treatments. Stop by our Design Studio to check out all of the window treatment options. We will bring samples to your home to finalize that best fabrics & colors in your lighting.
