Women2Women Magazine Winter 2020 by Hoffmann Publishing Group

100-Year Anniversary: Women’s Suffrage pg. 10

Nix the Resolution, Set a Goal pg. 16 W2W 2020: Full Programming Schedule pg. 17 Spotlight on: The Women at RKL pg. 29 pg. 6

The Journey of

CONNECT GROW LEAD

Sara Frassinelli, Managing Editor

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Trish Shermot, Alison Snyder, Vanessa Wanshop

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.

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Reflections

Welcome to the edition that covers voting and elections – from when women were finally granted the right to do so all the way to the big vote coming up this year, with steps you can take to be a registered and, more importantly, informed voter.

On the topic of elected officials, we are proud to shine a light on the story of Johanny Cepada. It may inspire you to considering running yourself! Additionally, we’ve got some great insight into food sensitivities, intolerances, and allergies.

Excitement is high for the 2020 programming year of Women2Women. In these pages, you will find a recap of our incredible Evening of Empowerment, as well as this year’s entire schedule. Mark your calendars now. Here’s to a female-boosting new year!

Sara Frassinelli, Managing Editor

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The Journey of Johanny

Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz and I exchange several introductory emails before we’re able to connect. She takes my call for an interview while she’s en route to a catering job with her business Mi Casa Su Casa

Is this a bad time?

“No, no. If you’ll just be patient with me, I can tell you my story,” she says. We spend the day together. A few hours on the phone over multiple phone calls, and late night follow up texts because now we’re operating like old friends. I realize as we talk, however, that I’m not special. She seems to treat everyone in her path with this kind of warmth and respect. She is interested and curious. And her story? Her story is one of hard work, courage, and perspective.

GETTING HER FOOT IN THE DOOR

Born in New York City (46 years ago) to immigrant parents from the Dominican Republic, Johanny says her parents very much believed in the American dream, and valued family and education. Johanny’s mother sent her to live with cousins in the Dominican Republic from the age of 9 to 14. Johanny recalls

making a signed pledge with her cousins that one day they would open a business together. At 14, Johanny returned to New York, where her mother promptly enrolled her in an all-girls Catholic high school.

After she graduated from high school and college, and following time abroad in Paris, Johanny had dreams of working with the UN or in international business. But she quickly realized that she wanted to work with kids. And more than that, she had a talent for it.

She saw an ad in the New York Times for an amazing organization called Grand Street Settlement and she applied for an entry-level position she was very much overqualified for, because, in her words – “I just had to get my foot in that door.”

At Grand Street Settlement, Johanny made it her mission to become invaluable. “I had a vision and I had goals. Whatever I do, I give 150%,” and the Grand Street Settlement job was no exception. Johanny describes one of the tasks of her new job that, for someone else, could have felt demeaning. “I was in charge of making sure my boss had a pitcher of water every day with a certain level of water and a certain level of ice. But you know

what? I made sure that was the best pitcher of ice there was. Every day. Every single day.”

When she wasn’t pouring water, she was finding other ways to shine in the position. She made it her business to do the best possible job and “put forth a positive attitude” grounded in faith, and within just a few months she was offered a full-time position. No more pitchers of water.

Johanny spent a decade at the Grand Street Settlement, working on funded initiatives, such as teen pregnancy prevention, selfdefense classes, college and career counseling, and more. A self-proclaimed proponent of higher education, Johanny pursued her Master’s Degree alongside her full-time career at Grand Street Settlement. Her office was housed out of a school, and a couple of years in, the principal at the school where Johanny’s agency was located offered her a full-time guidance counselor position. Johanny was interested in the position, but it came with a substantial pay cut. And she wasn’t willing to take that cut. Instead, she negotiated a part-time position that she would be able to work alongside the Grand Street Settlement position. The two positions had a wonderful synergy to them. She kept her hours separate and well documented, but as far as the services and energy of the two jobs, Johanny says: “It was all very well integrated.”

YOU HAVE TO MAKE A WAY

In the meantime, Johanny had been traveling back and forth to Reading to visit family. By then her mother was living in Reading with her younger sister, having moved out of New York for a better cost of living. Johanny’s cousins – the same ones with whom she’d signed the pledge as young children – had opened a restaurant in Reading. About 2 years later, when they were ready to sell, Johanny saw the restaurant as more than the fulfillment of a childhood dream – she saw it as a realistic business opportunity. Working two positions in New York City was taking a toll, especially because, by that time, Johanny had two small children. “I was giving so much to my community,” she says. “I needed more time for my family.” Johanny believed that by buying the restaurant and opening her own business, she’d have more, not less, time for family. “Everything fell into place,” she says.

Johanny was able to purchase the business, and launch Mi Casa Su Casa. It’s been 12 years, and the restaurant has expanded greatly in that time. Johanny and her husband, Felix Freytiz, are about to open the third location in 2020, at a site in West Reading. Johanny excitedly reports their plans for the new space, including buffet lunches and experience-based Latin-inspired dining. There’s a lot of potential for the new location, Johanny says. “It’s an artsy, progressive area,” and she’s excited to bring something new to West Reading.

And what about her belief that opening the business would be a boon and not a detriment to her family? Has that worked out according to plan?

Minor President and CEO

Continued on page 8

“Tompkins VIST Bank understands non-profits in a way that other banks don’t.”

“We help animals by helping people,” says President and CEO Karel Minor. “When we provide veterinary services to people who are in need, we keep more animals safe and sound in their homes.”

To help achieve their mission, Humane Pennsylvania relies on Tompkins Financial for banking, investments and employee health insurance. “They keep finding new ways to help us grow and succeed.”

Johanny reports that she has been able to be more available to her children. She was able to give them a space in the restaurant growing up and keep them nearby. She was able to be soccer mom, and a girl scout mom, even running the cookie sale out of the restaurant itself. Less commuting has meant more time living. Still, she’s had to work hard at making the opportunity work for her family. “Sometimes I had to check myself. Like when I decided that a 6 pm closing time wasn’t going to work anymore, and I’d have to move closing time up to 4 pm.”

And what about her children who are now 15 and 14? Does she want them to work in the restaurant?

“My dream is their dream,” Johanny says simply and poignantly. She says that while she has always been pro higher education, she also sees the vast economic toll it takes on this generation. “I don’t want them to have debt. I want to work with them. If college is in their future, I want to work together to make that happen.” What she really wants her children to know is that “you have to make a way.” Just like she has.

PERSPECTIVE AND POLITICS

Still, Johanny says this is not a dream that could have happened in every place. “There’s no way I could have bought commercial property in New York City,” she says. The fact that such a thing is financially viable in Reading is one of the reasons Johanny is proud of the city where she lives and works.

She also sees that you can achieve concrete results in Reading. This is why she decided to run for office and get involved in local politics – something she had no interest in – in New York, because the impact seemed small and the risk great.

But in Reading, the impact is real. She believes in the people of Reading, and the potential. It just needs “the right set of eyes” and because Johanny has lived elsewhere before embracing this city wholeheartedly, she feels she has the perspective to understand just what Reading has to offer.

Her political aspirations began in 2015 when, as a local business owner, she found herself asking incumbent City Council members questions about decision making, such as why they make decisions without asking their constituents, especially as it relates to increasing permit fees and taxes.

Johanny decided to run against the long-term incumbent, and while she lost the race, she came just 75 votes short of beating the winner. Johanny saw this as progress, and not discouraging. Moreover, while other politicians focused on the “supervoters” –voters who have a consistent voting record, Johanny and her team went knocking on doors of areas of the city usually ignored, and registered new voters. While she lost the election, she actually won in those previously ignored areas.

“Even though we lost, I knew we had empowered voters.” For the next election, Johanny faced an uphill climb, an incumbent who was listed on the ballot twice. While he couldn’t win both positions, he was allowed to run for both, and Johanny lost her challenge to this seeming unfairness. In response she initiated a write-in campaign, garnering a record-breaking 117 write-in votes. When the winner chose his position, leaving the District 6 City Council seat open, Johanny offered up her 117 write-in votes and made a plea that she should gain the appointment. The City Council chose John Slifko instead.

And the truth was, Johanny says: “It was so heartbreaking. So disenfranchising.” But she decided to put her energy into her business and trust her faith. She supported the new appointee, and as she says, “he worked hard and did earn my respect.”

When Slifko passed away in January 2019, and the seat was open, Johanny applied again, and this time gained the appointment. In a story of persistence paying off, finally, Johanny earned a spot on the November 2019 ballot. When I spoke to her days before the election, she was cautiously optimistic about her future in local politics, having just returned from a trip to Chicago to study community projects and a resident leadership training program. “Now it’s in the hands of the people.”

And indeed the people spoke, handing her a sizable victory on Election Day in District 6.

Maybe it’s because she’s lived in other places, and maybe it’s because she’s lived in Reading for just long enough now, but Johanny says that here in Berks County, she can really have an impact as a business leader and as an elected official. And that, it seems, is the greatest victory of all. 2

By Amy Impellizzeri Author/Lawyer/Advancement Director www.amyimpellizzeri.com

How the Vote Was Won: The Definition

of

Determined Females

100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE

“Don’t worry or fret, we’ll get there yet” reads one of the popular pro-suffrage posters used during the 72-year campaign to win the vote for women. It speaks to the resolve and sheer perseverance of the American heroes and patriots who fought for this basic democratic freedom.

SUFFRAGE CONVENTIONS

The crowd began to gather in front of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Seneca Falls, New York long before the 10:00 a.m. meeting on July 19, 1848. They were curious about the short notice in the newspaper announcing a two-day discussion of “the social, civic and religious condition and rights of women.” Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were among the five women who planned the meeting. Impatient for the pastor to show up with the key, someone decided to climb through an open window and let everyone in the church. The crowd, ultimately numbering 300, rushed inside to claim the best seats. Surprisingly, Lucretia Mott’s husband, James, chaired most of the meeting. The women organizers were fearful that if they assumed a leadership position, which would have been unusual for women at the time, it might jeopardize their cause. They would have been accused of acting “unseemly,” to use their term. Quickly overcoming their fear, this was the first and last time a man conducted a women’s rights meeting.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton was the primary author of a Declaration of Sentiments to be discussed by those in attendance. Modeled after the Declaration of Independence, it proclaimed that all men and women are created equal. It then listed eighteen grievances where women were not treated as equals. For example, women experienced discrimination in employment, property rights, and education. Eleven resolutions “demanded women be regarded as man’s equal” and receive equal rights. The resolutions passed unanimously except for one advocating women’s right to vote. Stanton had added this one despite the misgivings of the other women who felt it was too radical. Frederick Douglass, the noted abolitionist orator, gave an impassioned plea in its defense as did Stanton. As a result, the right to vote was included with the other resolutions which were signed by 68 women and 32 men including the host pastor and nine members of the church which had a reputation for supporting reform causes, particularly abolition.

The Seneca Falls convention launched public agitation for women’s rights. It represented the germination of a seed planted eight years earlier. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott met at the World’s Anti-Slavery Convention in London in 1840. The leaders refused to allow them to participate as delegates because they were women but did grant them seats in a spectator gallery. This experience of injustice led the two women to vow

that they would address discrimination against women further when they returned to the States. The seed planted during their conversations in London resulted in the Seneca Falls Convention. The National Park Service has done an admirable job of preserving and describing this important event at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park (ps.gov/wori//index.htm).

Soon, advocates of suffrage announced meetings in other cities and the women’s rights movement was underway. Suffragists sponsored local, regional and national conventions. Nine hundred people attended the meeting in Worcester, Massachusetts October 23-24, 1850 which was the first to be identified as a national meeting.

Suffragists reluctantly suspended their activities during the Civil War when legislators promised that if they devoted their efforts to supporting the war effort, they would be given the right to vote following the war. Legislators broke this promise when they adopted the 15th Amendment, granting only African American men the right to vote. Bitterness lingered for years following this betrayal.

LECTURERS AND STATE CAMPAIGNS

Suffrage lecturers crisscrossed the country speaking on behalf of suffrage. They often testified before state legislative committees. Rev. Dr. Anna Howard Shaw was probably the most prolific.

She delivered approximately 15,000 suffrage lectures. She described one harrowing travel experience in her autobiography. While on her way to a speaking engagement in Ohio, she discovered a bridge was out due to flooding. She could see her destination on the other side of the river but the only way to get there was to cross a train trestle. Rather than miss her scheduled talk, she walked across the trestle.

State campaigns were another means of working for women’s suffrage. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were among those who participated in the Kansas campaign in 1867. They had met in 1851 and soon became close friends and allies. Their division of labor was unusual. When they arrived in a new town, Anthony would secure a building, have posters printed and posted in preparation for that evening’s lecture. Meanwhile, Stanton would take a beauty nap! Travel conditions were often primitive. They even found themselves sleeping in a room above a bar. Despite their efforts, the state referendum on the constitutional Amendment to give women the vote was defeated on November 5, 1867. Working state by state was a slow process. It wasn’t until the 1890s that the first four states ratified suffrage (Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and Idaho).

Following the Civil War, suffragists had founded two separate national organizations. They merged in 1890 to become the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). They worked at the state level to secure suffrage in order to build support for a national Amendment.

Continued on page 12

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony

Shaw described particularly grueling conditions during the South Dakota campaign in 1890. Traveling throughout the state for nine months with Susan B. Anthony, they sometimes rode forty to fifty miles in uncovered wagons. Often, they slept in a one-room cabin with the owner’s family. Water was at a premium because of an ongoing drought, making bathing a rare luxury much less experiencing a shortage of drinking water. But they persisted.

The Pennsylvania campaign in 1915 was unique because suffragists traveled 5,000 miles throughout the state, visiting all sixty-seven counties, with a replica of the Liberty Bell with its clapper chained to its side. The Justice Bell, as it was called, would ring when the state constitutional Amendment passed, granting women the right to vote. Reading was a stop on the Liberty Bell tour. Shaw, now president of the NAWSA, spoke there on October 5 and at twenty-seven other locations throughout the state. Unfortunately, the Amendment was defeated, and the suffragists’ efforts weren’t rewarded with a ringing of the bell. The bell is on display in the Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge National Park.

SUFFRAGE ORGANIZATIONS

A group of young women became active in the NAWSA and organized the Congressional Union as an auxiliary group in 1913 to focus on a national Amendment. They differed from NAWSA in other aspects. NAWSA members identified themselves by yellow which became their national suffrage color after Kansas chose it in 1912 during its second suffrage campaign to represent the sunflower, the state flower. White dresses with yellow sashes became the unofficial uniform. The Congressional Union, renamed the National Woman’s Party (NWP) in 1916, adopted white, purple and gold, a variation of the British suffrage colors.

In terms of advertising their cause, the approaches of the two groups differed significantly. NAWSA members adopted creative promotional strategies which included songs, a suffrage cookbook, plays, balloons, flyers dropped from a plane and jokes submitted for use by comedians. Influenced by British suffragettes, women in the Congressional Union, led by Alice Paul and Lucy Burns, advocated a militant approach. NAWSA leadership opposed their tactics and ousted them from NAWSA by the end of 1913. NWP members are perhaps best known for picketing the White House beginning in 1917. They carried banners such as the especially provocative one which declared:

Kaiser Wilson

Have you forgotten your sympathies with the poor Germans because they were not self-governed?

20,000,000 American women are not self-governed. Take the beam out of your own eye.

1913 Official Program

Inez Millholand 1913

Alice Paul Signs

Kaiser Wilson Banner

Alice Paul Sewing Suffragist Flag

Photography: Dave Zerbe Studio of Photography

Authorities jailed approximately 168 protesters for obstructing traffic even though they were on the sidewalk. Jail keepers treated some of them brutally. Those who participated in a hunger strike initiated by Paul were force fed.

FINAL VICTORY

The Susan B. Anthony Amendment, as it was nicknamed, was introduced in every session of Congress for forty-three years. In 1914, for the first time, it was brought out of committee. However, the Amendment did not receive enough votes in both the House and the Senate until 1919. It passed the House on May 21 and the Senate on June 4 and was submitted to the states for ratification. Pennsylvania was the seventh state to ratify. Passage by the Tennessee legislature met the required number of thirty-six states necessary for its passage. Both NAWSA and NWP claimed the victory, when, in fact, each group contributed to its success.

On August 26, 1920 the vote was won. The 19th Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution, seventy-two years after participants of the Seneca Falls Convention passed the resolution advocating women suffrage. 2

By Susie Stanley

Here in Berks County, a group of nonprofits, education institutions and individuals have formed the nonpartisan Berks Women’s History Alliance to provide a framework to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage in America in 2020. Under the banner The Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial, the Alliance has launched a website to promote activities and exhibits of its member groups: www.berkssuffrage2020centennial.org. If you or your organization would like to be part of the Berks Women’s History Alliance, join us! The Alliance welcomes groups who would like to promote their efforts to observe the centennial as well as individuals who want to volunteer and support these county-wide efforts.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THREE KEY EVENTS:

• Kick Off Event - Saturday, March 14 at the Berks History Center featuring the locally-written and produced play System Shakers, Barrier Breakers: The Suffragists

• Berks History Conference - Saturday, April 4th at the Berks History Center featuring 4 distinguished speakers that will explore Women’s History in Berks County

• Berks Suffrage 2020 Anniversary CelebrationWednesday, August 26 at The DoubleTree, Reading. Don’t miss this commemorative celebration of the final passage of the 19th Amendment granting American women the right to vote 100 years ago.

Tickets go on sale in 2020.

Left to right: Eileen Ritz portraying Lucy Burns; Ellie Hunt portraying Elizabeth Cady Stanton; Carol Toomey portraying Anna Howard Shaw; Hallie Vaughan portraying Alice Paul; Joan Reppert portraying Ida B. Wells.

As we enter another presidential election year it can be challenging to separate issues from personalities, and facts from distortions. The talking heads on television and radio seem to bring their personal bias to what is reported, making it difficult to focus on the important topics that influence our votes.

Before considering whom to vote for, it’s important that you are registered to vote. To be eligible to vote in Pennsylvania, you must be:

• A citizen of the United States for at least one month.

• A resident of Pennsylvania and your election district for at least 30 days before the next election.

• At least 18 years of age on or before the day of the next primary, special, municipal, or general election.

Once your voter registration form is complete, your registration is effective 10 days after processing by the Department of Elections.

If you want to receive an absentee ballot by mail, a written application must be received by the Department of Elections at least seven days before the election and it must be returned by the close of business on the Friday before the election.

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO REGISTER TO VOTE:

& medicine, education, politics, science & technology, sex & gender, and world/international. Each of the categories contains specific topics with pro and con arguments.

In addition, the site has a section devoted to the 2020 presidential election and tracks the views of all candidates who meet the criteria of having an active campaign and raising at least $10 million. Users can view side-by-side comparisons of the candidates or examine specific issues to see where the candidates stand.

Perhaps the most interesting feature is the candidate matching quiz, where the user answers a series of questions on a number of topics and then sees which candidate aligns with their views.

According to its website, ProCon. org is organized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit nonpartisan public charity, and uses professional researchers and rigorous editorial standards to explore more than 80 controversial issues from gun control and death penalty to illegal immigration and alternative energy.

VOTE411.org

Because Your Vote is Your Voice

1. In person at the Berks County Elections Office located at Court and Reed Streets in Reading, Pennsylvania.

2. When applying for or renewing a Pennsylvania Drivers License.

3. By mail using a form available at many municipal buildings, state liquor stores, and some branches of the United States Postal Service.

4. At state government offices including but not limited to armed forces recruitment centers; area agencies on aging; and offices of special education.

5. Online by visiting https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/ Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx.

Once registered, there are several online resources that provide information on the candidates, the issues, and general information about the election process.

ProCon.org

As its name suggests, ProCon.org provides the pros and cons of controversial issues organized by category including health

Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund (LWVEF), VOTE411.org provides nonpartisan information with both general and statespecific information. Unlike ProCon. org which highlights controversial issues, VOTE411.org focuses on the registration process including absentee ballot information, election dates, polling place locations, and registration deadlines.

It provides a user-friendly snapshot of the next scheduled election and key deadlines associated with it. Users can enter their home address and find the polling location closest to their residence.

VotesPa.com

Votes PA is an official Pennsylvania government website that provides information on registration status, upcoming elections and absentee ballots. It provides election return information at the federal, state, and county level for both the current year and dating back to 2000.

In a section titled Find Voter Registration Status users can enter their personal information and receive a snapshot of their voting status, party, United States Congressional District, State Senatorial District, State House Legislative District and closest polling location. 2

Karen

Klein,

Fulcrum Information Resources kklein@fulcrum-info.com | 610 927-1701

LATINO LIFE

I Want to be at Tables

Other Than the Kitchen Table

The year 2020 is going to be a great year of celebrations for us women. It’s the year that we celebrate 100 years of women having the right to VOTE. With that right came lots of choices and options – they came slowly, but they came. We now have the right to be business owners, have careers, are able to have a degree and much more. We, women, have come a long way and I won’t deny that we still have battles to fight when it comes to defending certain rights, but at least now we are allowed at the table, and I’m not talking about the kitchen table either.

As a woman myself, I do not take for granted the battles that other women fought for me to be where I am today. Today, how do I respect and honor the right that was given to me? I will tell you how I do it. I speak up when I have the opportunity and if the opportunity doesn’t arise, I make the opportunity. I don’t allow anyone to treat me differently just because I’m a female. And so that my possible future granddaughters don’t suffer, I have also taught my daughter to be the same way. I remember when she was a little girl and we were at a party and she was offered a pink toy versus a blue toy. I recall her asking me, “Mommy, how come I was offered the pink toy, don’t I have a choice? I want the blue one!” And I knew right then and there that I was raising my little girl to know that she is equal and has every right to a choice.

We must continue to honor this right. This doesn’t mean that we are trouble makers or that we are Negative Nancies because we ask questions or desire to be where men are. This means we will no longer keep our mouths shut. This means, I can bake a mean apple pie, but I also can lead troops in the army. I can be in legislatures, a judge, in executive boards, I can be the president of the United States, if I wanted. Many women today are the decision-makers in their homes, or the main breadwinners; however, if we want to stay home and raise our kids we may also have that choice because, at the end of the day, we can decide for ourselves and we will not tolerate someone else making our rightfully hard-earned decisions for us.

Women, appreciate and take advantage of what other women have fought for us to have. Essentially it’s really the right to have a voice at the table… use that voice at every table that you can. 2

By Rosa Julia Parra, CEO, Palo Magazine

Nix the Resolution, SET A GOAL

In 2020, it’s time to stop making resolutions and start goal-setting instead.

Winston

Churchill

says, “Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”

Every day we set goals. Some are easy and some are downright hard. We may feel fulfilled and proud by goals we’ve set, but sometimes we’re left with mixed emotions of both satisfaction and confusion. We may have set a worthy goal, but it may not have been the right goal for you or the right process used. Taking a step back and reflecting on some key questions before embarking toward a goal can make the difference between success and failure.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

• Why this goal? Why is this important to me? Try to identify why you want it – is it status, a better title, more money, or something more intrinsic – a feeling of satisfaction, personal development, more confidence, etc.?

• What do you envision the outcome to be? Put a clear picture in front of you on the end result.

• How will you feel if you achieve this goal? Powerful, more confident, proud, resilient?

• Will achieving this goal make you a better version of yourself? Will it add value to your life?

• What personal strengths or characteristics, skills, and knowledge do you currently have that can help you along the journey?

• What obstacles might you face (your own thinking/excuses, time, money, others’ opinions, a lack of perspective...)?

• What if you don’t succeed? Will you still care in a few weeks, a few months? Will you feel like a failure? Reflect on how you see success and failure. What were you taught?

• Think about a time when you were both successful at something and when you failed. What made the difference? What contributed to the success and the failure (identify both internal and external factors)? How can you take what you learned and apply it to this journey?

• How motivated are you to get started and stay the course? Sometimes we want something badly, but we aren’t fully motivated to do all the heavy lifting and excuses then become the norm.

• What can help you stay motivated when you feel like you are falling behind? (Again, reflect on your own thinking as well as outside influences that can support you. Do you need an accountability buddy, a cheerleader, more education, more time, coaching, a different perspective...?)

• What are you willing to sacrifice to achieve this goal? Is that sacrifice larger than the goal and are you willing to pay the price? (Think relationships, money, time, etc.)

These are questions that are personal to each of us and we need to be clear with our intentions and the level of motivation we have to get to the outcome we desire. Take the time to set yourself up for success. Periodically pause on your journey to appreciate your commitment and the obstacles that are teaching you lessons. Don’t be afraid to change course if needed. Express gratitude to those who are helping you on your path to success. Quiet the internal and external voices that are holding you back. Remember, your journey is personal and when you prepare yourself for the ride, the goal will always be within reach. 2

By Sharon Mast, Owner & ConsultantSpark Solutions & Support

2020 PROGRAM BROCHURE

CONNECT GROW LEAD

To register for events, visit www.berkswomen2women.com

DAYANA BLANDON, HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER –CarbonLITE

Finding Your Voice & Navigating the Workplace

In a world of labels, titles, and expectations, who are you? What do you believe in? How do you see yourself, and your voice, in and out of the workplace? It is crucial to stop to think about these questions in order to see a richer vision of your life ahead professionally and personally.

Mujer Mujer

DATE: THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2020

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Reading

Cost: $5/person (includes admission to Caliente)

LILY OSWALD, CEO –SORRELLI JEWELRY Success & Transfer of Power in a Family Business

Lily shares the story of Sorrelli, a local turned global business that has grown exponentially, and her own, including stepping away to pursue other passions and goals and then asked to come back to rebuild after a decline. Hear her story of growth as a woman in the corporate world, her passion for sustainability in corporate culture and her return to her family’s business.

DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2020

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Reading Cost: $25/person (includes lunch)

DR. KRISTA SCHENKEL, FAMILY MEDICINE

PHYSICIAN – PENN STATE HEALTH ST. JOSEPH’S MEDICAL GROUP

Always Put Your Oxygen Mask on First – Taking Care of Ourselves

February (and all months) = loving yourself so join Dr. Schenkel as she shares her expertise on taking care of yourself mentally, physically and emotionally to be the best version of you. You must always put YOUR oxygen mask on first!

DATE: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2020

TIME: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

VENUE: Crowne Plaza Reading

COST: $25/person (includes lunch)

2020 YOUTH SUMMER READING PROGRAM

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. The program aims to encourage more children to read ageappropriate literature, enjoy what they are reading and continue to read through the summer to combat the “summer slide.”

This year Women2Women is thankful to partner with VISIONS Federal Credit Union to bring a fun and educational book on financial literacy to children in Berks.

CONNECT GROW LEAD

SIGNATURE EVENTS

Save the Dates!

WOMEN2WOMEN CONFERENCE + EXPO

Save the date for our annual full-day Women’s Conference filled with breakout workshops, keynote speakers and recognition of the 2020 ATHENA award recipient. Plus, visit with more than 40 vendor tables from W2W sponsors and women-owned businesses at our Expo. Connect with other women in the community both personally and professionally who are on the path to empowerment and growth!

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 | 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading

2ND ANNUAL DE MUJER A MUJER AWARDS CEREMONY + CELEBRATION

As a celebration of impact to the Latino community, De Mujer a Mujer hosts a program year-end celebration and awards ceremony honoring three Latina women who are contributing to the success of others in Berks in categories Community Impact, Young Latina, and Small Business Owner. Join us to elevate these amazing recipients over appetizers and drinks!

ERICA MONTALVO, NURSING ASSISTANT–WYOMISSING REHABILITATION & HEALTH

Pretty, Just Pretty

Mujer Mujer

You need to love yourself, accept you for who you are, and you will be a better you because of it. This session is dedicated to women who are trying to overcome trials and tribulations with chronic diseases, language barriers, or who have dealt with sexual and domestic assault. This is for women who are having trouble with accepting themselves as being beautiful no matter their race, religion, size, shade, ethnicity or religion. You are pretty…just pretty, no matter what.

DATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Reading Cost: $5/person (includes admission to Caliente)

WOMEN2WOMEN + DE MUJER A MUJER JOHANNY CEPADA, BUSINESS OWNER & CITY COUNCIL WOMAN

Knowing Your ABC’s Aspirations/AccomplishmentsBelief System/Balance/BeingChallenges/Conquering

Mujer Mujer

What gives you butterflies in your stomach? What drives you to get things done? What do you believe in? How do you balance life? What are your challenges? How do you conquer them? Knowing my ABC’s has led me to follow my passion!

DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2020

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading Cost: $25/person (includes lunch)

This program is offered through Women2Women and De Mujer a Mujer to remind the women leaders in our community to embrace each other’s differences, whether through age or cultural background. When we work together, amazing things happen! Learn more about our De Mujer a Mujer programming and how to get involved at this session.

Thursday, June 18, 2020 | 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading

2019 Recipients: Lourdes Peralta, Alneasa Jordan, and Genesis Munoz

MARTHA ALVAREZ

TAYLOR, MANAGER, INDUSTRIAL ENGINEER – C&S WHOLESALE GROCERS

A Long Journey Towards a New Beginning

Walk in Martha’s shoes with us… Hear her story of going from a Director of Engineering in Colombia with a driver, a nanny and bodyguard, to a guerilla abduction and ransom that forced her and her family to relocate to America. A new beginning included learning a new language, obtaining a new education and being a nanny herself. Martha is a De Mujer a Mujer committee member and inspires others every day.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Venue: Stokesay Castle

Cost: $25/person (includes breakfast)

Mujer Mujer

JOSEPHINA

& ROCIO ENCARNACION, FOUNDERS & OWNERS –MY SOURCE ENTREPRENEUR, LLC

The Key To Success in Entrepreneurship

Let’s focus on the importance of self-improvement and how we can use it to create a business model that can impact our own lives and others through entrepreneurship. We will focus on three dimensions of who we are as human beings and how this can influence our success as entrepreneurs. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how success in entrepreneurship is based on what we believe about ourselves and the environment.

DATE: THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2020

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Reading

Cost: $5/person (includes admission to Caliente)

Women2Women WELLNESS EVENTS

NIGHT OF WELLNESS AT BLDG7 YOGA

Join BLDG7 Yoga + Women2Women for a night of wellness to clear your mind, take time for you, and meet other likeminded women over drinks & snacks following your yoga session. Spots are limited. All yoga levels available!

DATE: SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2020

Time: 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Venue: BLDG7 Yoga Cost: Varies based on session

KICK N’ SIP: SELF DEFENSE CLASS

Join the instructors of ATA Martial Arts for a fun-filled afternoon of wine and cheese tasting and self-defense tactics. Get your friends together to try new things, learn how to defend yourselves, and have fun! Spots are limited.

DATE: SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020

Time: 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Venue: ATA Martial Arts Cost: Free to attend!

Josephina Encarnacion Rocio Encarnacion

SARAH COLANTONIO, PARTNER –WORK WISDOM LLC

Equity at Work: Concrete Ways to Mitigate Unconscious Bias

Explore the benefits of diversity in the workplace with us while acknowledging our propensity for bias. Each attendee will take a short quiz prior to the event to learn more about themselves, and at the end be able to self-assess. Participants will be given a number of concrete practices organizations and companies utilize to create a more equitable culture in their workplace. Together we can create amazing places to work in Berks!

DATE: THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Venue: Inn at Reading

Cost: $25/person (includes lunch)

ANNE CORLEY BAUM, VICE PRESIDENT DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS AND LABOR RELATIONS –CAPITAL BLUECROSS + AUTHOR

Dealing with Different Personalities –And Enhancing

Yours

We all face challenges with different – sometimes difficult – personalities. This presentation will illuminate the most challenging personality types, explain how to work with and manage them, and teach you how to avoid making these mistakes yourself. This knowledge will help you to navigate the speedbumps on the road to the corner office.

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Reading Cost: $25/person (includes lunch)

Women2Women POSSIBILITIES FOR A BETTER YOU

MEET GREATER READING –LEADERSHIP BERKS SOCIAL

Learn More About LB with Women2Women

Join Women2Women at the Leadership Berks Social to connect with current and prospective Leadership Berks participants, alumni, community leaders, and friends. Learn about the program components, learning experience, and value for individuals, employers, and community organizations. Discover why Leadership Berks remains the premier resource for leadership and professional development, relationship and networkbuilding, and community engagement and talent retention in Greater Reading.

DATE: THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2020

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: The Gables at Stirling Guest Hotel Cost: Free to attend!

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHTS WITH ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY

Preferred tuition for W2W members!

The W2W + Alvernia partnership aims to assist in growing more women leaders and next generation family business leaders within the Greater Reading community through enabling W2W members to access adult and graduate education at Alvernia at a preferred tuition rate.

DATES: APRIL 7, 2020 & NOVEMBER 10, 2020

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Venue: Alvernia University Cost: Free to attend!

GLADINE FRASSO, REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY MANAGER – I AM MENTALLY TOUGH

Advocating for Yourself –Salary Negotiation & Leaning In

Mujer Mujer

Having confidence and knowing your worth will help you to negotiate your job’s salary. Gladine will be sharing her own personal story of discovering she was being underpaid, how she built the confidence to ask her boss for a raise, and the steps she took to prepare for the crucial conversation. Leave this session with advice on advocating for your worth!

DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Reading

Cost: $5/person (includes admission to Caliente)

THE WOMEN OF WELLS FARGO ADVISORS Financial Habits of Successful Women

Join Regina Rinehimer, Associate VP – Investment Officer, and Radene Gordon-Beck, First Vice President – Investments, as they walk us through what financial success looks like at all life stages. All ages and stages of life will be discussed at this workshop and audience participation/activities will be offered to give a clear understanding of where you stand in life, and where you could be!

DATE: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Venue: Stokesay Castle

Cost: $25/person (includes breakfast)

Visit our website to find videos, takeaways & photos from past events, resources to positively guide your professional development & more!

To register for events, visit www.berkswomen2women.com

AIDA LONE, ADMINISTRATOR –PRECISION HEALTH CARE

Anything is Possible

Mujer Mujer

Aida is a testament to “living the American Dream.” Coming from poverty in Communist Albania to owning and running her own business here in Pennsylvania, she will share that anyone can reach their goals and realize their dreams. Join Aida as she shares her “American Dream” story and offers advice on how you too can reach your goals.

DATE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2020

Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Crowne Plaza Reading

Cost: $5/person (includes admission to Caliente)

Regina Rinehimer Radene Gordon-Beck

LADIES AROUND TOWN

Women Behind All About Women, Women in Medicine: Who Defines Us?

Doctors Kristine Leaman, Holly Metzgar, Jaylaine Ghoubrial, Christina DeAngelis, and Melissa DuBois shared their empowering story of creating their OB/GYN practice that consists of all female office staff and providers. Ranging from pushing past barriers to having each other’s backs through the process, their panel inspired the audience to seek a positive work environment and maintain a work-life balance.

“The women spoke very frankly and did not shy away from emotion. I think it demonstrated to the audience that you can be vulnerable and still be professional.”

“The panel was very inspirational, they gave us the examples on how we as women can elevate each other, support each other to great success. They are truly an example of how we don’t need to compete with each other, that we need to help one another to greatness.”

Meet Greater Reading: Connect & Serve

Over 150 attendees came together to connect and learn about volunteer leadership positions within local community organizations. Women2Women partnered with Leadership Berks and Greater Reading Young Professionals to expand the annual LB event of creating meaningful connections. Attendees got to meet and talk with various local organizations about their missions, visions, and opportunities. Leadership Berks’ mission is to create more leaders in our community; a perfect partner!

The Voices of De Mujer a Mujer Committee on Cultural Awareness in the Workplace

Amanda Hand and Raquel Lopez addressed the incredibly important topic of cultural awareness in the workplace. They shared stories about their experiences within their career, and helpful information about overcoming obstacles in the workplace helped our audience members become better allies.

“The topics were very relevant to our industry today, very informative and gave us great tips on how to handle and whom to go to.”

Continued on page 24

Evening of Empowerment 2019 Recap

Over 230 women came together to celebrate Women2Women’s annual Evening of Empowerment featuring keynote speaker Tala Raassi!

Women were empowered by Tala’s inspiring journey as an Iranian-American author, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. Her inspiring, yet relatable story encouraged women to be their authentic selves even in the face of adversity. We saw many new faces in the crowd for this event, and we hope that they were all influenced by Tala’s bravery and perseverance.

Attendees had the chance to network with other attendees and sponsor companies, hear from the Women2Women council, and eat some delicious food!

“She was incredible and I thought the whole event was amazing. The food, the people. This was one of the best events I’ve attended.”

“Tala had an inspiring story. I found her honesty in answering questions to be very refreshing and insightful. In America, the public perception of the Muslim culture is very jaded, and it was inspiring to hear from an American-born Muslim and her life and her accomplishments growing up in that world.”

“She was a great speaker and was very likeable. The venue did a fantastic job again with food and the room. I was hoping to leave feeling inspired and network with people and I could check the box on both of those things!”

“She was so down to earth and relatable! She really gave me a lift based on her experience as a woman in a difficult political climate but also as a woman in power. That is my first W2W event and I can’t wait to attend more. I came alone and 3 women introduced themselves to me and were very encouraging. What a positive experience!”

Photo Credit: Dave Zerbe Photgraphy

Mary Jean Noon, W2W Council Chair, Julia Nickey, W2W Council Member, Pamela Shupp, GRCA Executive VP & COO with Tala Raassi, 2019 Evening of Empowerment Keynote Speaker

Joan Johnson-Freese BreakingintoaSecureField

Joan Johnson-Freese, Ph.D., has spent the bulk of her academic career in non-traditional, male-dominated fields. She has a doctorate in political science but the arc of her academic research has focused on space security, dealing with things like space weapons, missile defense, and the Chinese space program. For the last 25 years she has taught military education, currently as a professor at the Naval War College (NWC) in Newport, Rhode Island, and as an adjunct professor at Harvard University.

“We sometimes joke that there are only three things the military doesn’t like – women, civilians, and academics – and I’m the trifecta,” Dr. Johnson-Freese said, adding that she encountered some resistance and friction when she was the first woman named as a department chair at the NWC in 2002.

Six years ago, Dr. Johnson-Freese attended a conference on women, peace, and security that altered the trajectory of her career. She discovered that the topics of women, peace, and security were more than just conference sessions, much more. The Women, Peace and Security Agenda had been codified as United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) in 2000. UNSCR 1325 states that more women need to be included in security-related decision-making and that a gendered perspective should be considered in policy making and implementation.

“(The conference) connected a lot of the dots in my life regarding security, regarding seeing policies put into action, how it affects women differently than men comes into play,” Dr. Johnson-Freese said. “For example, in many countries of the world, more women than men work in agriculture. Yet, in those same countries, women can’t own land. And the way aid is given out, it’s given to landowners. So, you give the aid to the wrong person.”

When women are not included in peace talks the agreements frequently don’t last. In many cases the men involved don’t understand the issues but are unwilling to yield the power they hold and upset the status quo.

According to Dr. Johnson-Freese, studies show that including women in policy decision making has two distinct advantages. First, women bring issues to the table that men don’t, often because men are simply not aware of them; and second, women have very different styles of problem-solving and conflict-solving.

“Any women who has had their entire family to their house for Thanksgiving dinner understands that,” she said. “You don’t sit certain people next to each other.

“Women focus on solving problems, and that can be through compromise or it can be through trying to find alternative answers. But men, when they come to problem solving, they want

to win. It’s a competition, where one person will win, and one person will lose. That often doesn’t solve problems, at least, not on a long-term basis.”

Achieving a leadership position requires confidence, competence, and mentorship, but those three factors apply differently to men and to women.

“Research has shown that women who are equally competent to men in skills like math will underestimate their competency, while men regularly overestimate their competency,” Dr. Johnson-Freese said. “Women have to be not just competent, but hypercompetent, and that competency can, in many instances, research has shown, come back to be a negative on them if they are perceived as threatening to their male coworkers.”

A few years ago, Dr. Johnson-Freese attended a lecture given by four women astronauts from Canada, South Korea, China, and the United States. An audience member asked, “What’s the hardest part of being or becoming a woman astronaut?” and the Canadian astronaut immediately said, “Oh, please let me answer that. The hardest part is having to prove my competency to my male colleagues every single day.” The other three women on the panel nodded vigorously in agreement. Having one’s competence questioned on a regular basis can undermine confidence and negatively impact the path to leadership.

The third prong in the leadership trifecta, mentorship, may be experienced differently depending on one’s gender. Dr. JohnsonFreese said that when a man is promoted in the Navy, he becomes a “Sea Daddy” and he brings the best and the brightest of his colleagues with him as he moves up the ladder.

“There is not an equivalent (role) for women, and in fact, when I was department chair, I found that when I wanted to mentor or promote women, it was viewed as favoritism.

“It’s this idea that it’s not a level playing field. There are even differences, and studies have shown that in the United States, men feel that as long as women get the same opportunities to

compete for jobs, they’ve done their job. That’s enough. Whereas, in, for example, more pro-feminist countries like Scandinavia, measurement is not based on opportunity. It’s based on outcome. Do you actually get well-qualified men and women into positions?”

After attending the Women, Peace and Security conference six years ago, Dr. Johnson-Freese read a lot about the topic and attended more conferences on UNSCR 1325. She created a course on it at Harvard but soon realized that although work in the field is extensive, there were no introductory materials. As a result, she wrote the book Women, Peace and Security: An Introduction that she uses in her class. UNSCR 1325 has become her passion project, and she plans to make it her sole focus for the remainder of her career.

“It’s important. I have a two-year-old grandson, and I hope to have granddaughters as well, and I know what kind of a world I want them to grow up in, and we need to work for it.” 2

By Karen Klein, Fulcrum

Information Resources kklein@fulcrum-info.com | 610 927-1701

HMasano@MasanoBradley.com

HEIDI MASANO

Half of Heaven: Why Women are Needed in National Security

Joan Johnson-Freese, Ph.D., will be the International Women’s Month speaker at the World Affairs Council of Greater Reading luncheon meeting on

Wednesday, March 13, 2020 presenting “Half of Heaven: Why Women are Needed in National Security” at the Inn at Reading from 12-1:30 pm.

Dr. Johnson-Freese holds the Charles F. Bolden, Jr. Chair in Science, Space & Technology, and is former Chair of the National Security Affairs Department at the Naval War College (NWC). In her faculty capacity she teaches Security Studies to US military officers and security practitioners from the United States and over 50 other countries. She is part of the Government Department faculty of Harvard Extension School and Harvard Summer School since 2004, where she teaches courses on Women, Peace & Security, Leadership in War and Peace, and Grand Strategy and US National Security.

As a political scientist and educator, her research focuses on space security and Women, Peace & Security. She is the author of seven books on space security, the most recent (2016) Space Warfare in the 21st Century: Arming the Heavens and over 100 published articles, many with a focus on the Chinese space program. Dr. Johnson-Freese has published multiple articles on aspects of Women, Peace & Security and her book Women, Peace & Security: An Introduction was released in December 2018. She regularly works with media including CNN, NPR, The New York Times, ABC, CBS, and Time Magazine on these topics. 2

To register for the event, call 610 375-7880 or email contactus@wacreading.org.

ASKED&ANSWERED

Tina Flood –How can we make things better? Grow economy? Relieve poverty?

Robin Jumbelick Thomson –Believe you can, together we can.

David Mattes –What’s the worst that could happen?

Wendy Kerschner –Modeling accountability.

Anastasia –Each for All, and All for Each.

Regina Rinehimer –Life is not free… let’s talk about it!

Cory Varona-Corniel –Be the VOICE to make a difference.

Laura Taylor –What could possibly go wrong?

REAL RESULTS FOR

Paula Barrett Consulting Services Group

WOMEN2KNOW @ RKL

RKL recently held a firm-wide women’s event. Two women, Amy Anstine and Wendy Lakatosh, were instrumental in the implementation of this event and the creation of a women’s initiative in their office.

1. What led you to create a women’s initiative within RKL’s York Office?

Amy Anstine: Several female leaders in our firm’s York office used each other as a sounding board. We discussed work matters, family issues and our shared experience as female professionals. We realized if we benefitted from this connectivity and engagement, others may as well.

2. How did you start the process of forming the group?

Wendy Lakatosh: We reached out to a few other women in our office and formed a steering committee, which intentionally included women at varying stages of their careers. The goal of the committee was to identify ways we can support each other as women in public accounting.

3. Tell us about the evolution of the initiative and how you’ve come to now have a firm-wide annual event for women.

Amy: It is important as the leaders of an initiative to be open to hearing what your audience prioritizes and wants to learn. At the start, the steering committee had some very specific thoughts on what women’s initiative would look like, but we soon discovered that didn’t align with the wants and needs of our female team members. Once we realigned our mission and message, the initiative was well-received and we saw strong engagement. We soon realized that women throughout RKL could benefit from the chance for connection, reflection and engagement.

Wendy: We banded together with other women’s groups throughout the firm (like Women of Wyomissing) to kick-off planning for an event that would bring women together firmwide. Our first event was four years ago this fall, with 85 women in attendance. It featured a panel discussion with female leaders of our firm about their career progression. From post-event surveys and anecdotal feedback, we learned that the attendees enjoyed hearing other women’s journeys and having an opportunity to meet women outside of their offices or service lines. This positive feedback was the foundation for making this an annual event.

4. Have you seen a difference in the women at RKL? How so?

Amy: I believe our local women’s groups and annual firm-wide event have generated more conversation and engagement among women in our firm. As a result, we’ve seen new friendships, collaborations and mentorship opportunities across the RKL footprint.

5. What would be your advice to other women in business who want to start their own network and don’t know where to start?

Wendy: It starts with a conversation among like-minded women and requires the ability to hear what is important to women at all stages of their careers. Once a group is formed, it is important to stay fluid and responsive to its members or audience needs. At RKL, our women’s initiatives and event are always evolving, which keeps our members well-served and engaged.

Women who attended the RKL Women’s Initiative event were excited about their experience.

• Tracy Montag, manager, Senior Living Services: “I think the RKL Women’s Event is very important, and I enjoy it. I think it’s important for the women to get together and network, and also to find out what other people are doing, what they like about RKL, what they do. I just think the bonding is important between the employees.”

• Angela Briggs, manager, Medical Billing, a first-time attendee: “It’s really good to see how unified the women in our profession can be, and how many women are on the RKL team. I think it’s important that we can be together and be unified.” 2

WOMEN2KNOW

Meet

Ruthann J. Woll, CPA Partner, Tax Services Group

Why is your position unique to women in our community?

Nationally, a small percentage of women are partners in accounting firms. It is a privilege to have made partner at RKL LLP. I have been able to raise a family, utilizing a flexible work schedule while still being able to attain my professional goals.

What has led you to your current career path?

I started my career at the firm as a staff accountant and have had the fortune of being able to stay with the company through a handful of mergers. We are a much larger company than when I started here. This has given me the opportunity to expand my interests and develop in different expertise through the years. I currently lead our firms’ Individual Tax Practice.

Would you wish to acknowledge a mentor or friend who helped you aspire to this point in your life’s journey, and why?

Both Laurie Peer and Paula Barrett have been mentors to me throughout my career. Each one of them has a successful career as a partner at RKL. They both have taken the time over the years to listen and be a sounding board for me and my career. Being around both of these highly motivated women has shown me that I can be successful, too.

What words of wisdom would you offer to other women?

“It is okay to ask for help!” While I am still learning this mantra every day, I have learned that having a support system at home and at work is very important. I have two children who are very active in sports and although I would love to be everywhere at once, I can’t do it.

What is the best advice you have received?

The best advice I’ve received was to ask for what I needed. There were many times when I didn’t think I could get it all done between my personal and professional life. Once I learned that asking for help didn’t mean I was failing, it was a game changer. I have a great department full of professionals who are always willing to help out when needed.

I remember one time, our office managing partner told me about a woman in the office who was going to quit. Once he learned that it was because she wanted to work less hours to focus on her family, he worked with her to find a schedule that accommodated her needs. She was really happy to find out that the firm was flexible, and that they didn’t want to lose her. That story always reminds me to not make assumptions and to ask for what you need.

Meet

Paula K. Barrett, CPA/ABV, CVA, CEPA Partner, Business Consulting Services Group

What has led you to your current career path?

I have an aptitude for math and have always been interested in business. I enjoy working with people, helping people and solving problems. I have been able to use my analytical skills and financial background to assist people in starting businesses, growing businesses and helping business owners to develop an exit strategy. It is a very interesting and challenging career; one in which I am continuously learning and helping clients move forward and solve problems.

Would you wish to acknowledge a mentor or friend who helped you aspire to this point in your life’s journey, and why?

Tom Beaver was my boss when I joined the firm 30 years ago. Over the years he became a mentor as well. He encouraged me, challenged me and supported me throughout my career. As a reduced-hours professional I always appreciated the flexibility I had and worked hard to meet my client expectations. The demographics of our profession were rapidly changing with more women accounting graduates entering the workplace. Tom saw the need to figure out how to adapt and change to incorporate and retain more women professionals in our firm. I became a Partner 20 years ago as a reduced-hours professional and know that his attitude and support helped me push forward!

What words of wisdom would you offer to other women?

Surround yourselves with people you can be inspired by and learn from. Be open to learning from others’ experiences. Accept help when offered and bring others along with you.

What do you consider women’s main threat?

Ourselves! We have to consciously remind ourselves of our worth and not allow others’ insecurities bring us down. Stay true to ourselves and don’t get caught up in trying to take responsibility for more than is ours.

What three things do you recommend that contribute to your success?

• Continuous learning. The day I stop learning is the day I stop living.

• Strong self-awareness is critical. Be open to constructive feedback. It allows you to grow!

• Establish your “no gives,” those things you are absolutely committed to and won’t miss, personally and professionally. Helps with making decisions and keeps you aligned with your values.

COMMUNITY CALL OUT

Youth Volunteer Corps of Reading is a program run by VOiCEup Berks that engages Berks County youth age 11 to 18 in service to the community. In this program we help youth develop service projects in issue areas that are important to them. Last year, one such service project entitled “Girls Supporting Girls. Period” — a middle school project to advocate for menstrual equity in underserved schools — was named the 2019 Project of the Year across the international Youth Volunteer Corps (YVC) network. YVC has more than 30 affiliates throughout the U.S. and Canada, with over 4,000 projects taking place each year, and only one receives this top honor. The concept of menstrual equity, or equal access to feminine hygiene products, refers to the notion that access to menstrual products should be a right and not a privilege. It is a big problem in women’s prisons, shelters, and underserved schools and it can become a huge health issue. “Girls Supporting Girls. Period” is an effort by a group of girls from Reading to highlight the issue and advocate for menstrual equity in underserved schools. The group is expanding the project in 2020 by initiating a large-scale drive for period supplies this winter. Their goal is to collect thousands of period supplies to be donated to women’s shelters, women in poverty, and schools in the Reading School District. Collection sites during the month of January include Goggleworks (201 Washington St., 1st floor) and Berks Community Health Center (1110 Rockland St., Reading).

Please consider helping these young women advocates by donating to their drive. For additional information contact info@voiceupberks.org. 2

Sunday, Feb 17, 2020 11:00 to 3:00 Inn at

Bad A ** Bikers

LOCAL WOMEN CYCLERS GAINING OPTIONS

Reading Radsport Festival, August 3rd and 4th, 2019, returned to the streets of West Reading and City Park in Reading for the third year. The two-day cycling festival, presented by Tower Health-UPMC Health Plan, encourages the community to embrace healthy lifestyle choices and engage in physical activity. While the event continues to grow, one area the organization continues to focus on is increasing participation and interest within the women’s cycling community. Both event promoter Kacey Lloyd and the local cycling group Oakbrook Ladies Auxiliary Cycling Club are using Radsport as an opportunity to engage women’s participation in cycling.

Reading Radsport Festival, directed by Kacey and Gabe Lloyd, is one of the many events their event production and marketing firm, Long Tail Creative, is involved with each year. Both have a background in cycling, with Kacey being an accomplished 6x National Champion across three disciplines: Road Cycling, Track Cycling, and Cyclocross. She has transitioned from being a successful athlete into a successful event promoter, working with high caliber events across the United States. Throughout her years in the sport, Lloyd has seen the industry place more focus on women with expanding options on the retail floor and more pressure on events to offer equality when it comes to prize purses and team incentives. Even though it’s a time-consuming process, Lloyd has always pushed her team to put the time in and come up with creative ways to make sure the women’s teams can get to Radsport because she sees value in it not only for racers but for the community. Lloyd says, “We put the time into recruiting so that the women’s teams know we want them here, and they know that we offer equal prize money, and they know that opportunities to engage the community exist. We know women’s racing is just as exciting as men’s racing, and we want to showcase that with a full field of competition, so it’s not only entertaining for everyone who comes out to watch, but it’s also inspiring. We hope that the event will encourage more women and girls in the community to get involved, or at least recognize cycling as an option.” When Lloyd saw what the Oakbrook Ladies Auxiliary Cycling Club was up to, she was impressed and invited them to have a dedicated tent space at the races.

The Oakbrook Ladies Auxiliary Cycling Club was born out of the desire to see more women on bikes. The club attended the Women’s professional race on Saturday in West Reading. They were able to use the event to come together with other like-minded community members and share their passion for cycling. The Oakbrook Ladies Auxiliary Club (OLACC), created in early 2018 by Christa Bender and Traci Grant, was established to develop women’s focused group rides in the Reading area. At the time, they felt that while there were many rides and clubs available in the city, there was a lack of rides specifically for women.

The club is an extension of the Oakbrook Brewing/JB Bike Shop Club, a local racing team comprised of men and women. OLACC is mainly focusing on being social, engaging, and encouraging to new riders. The OLACC weekly ride has an average of 25 riders and has adopted co-ed rides to encourage more participation. After watching Reading Radsport, Bender sees many commonalities between the professional women’s fields and the OLACC. “I thought the racing at Radsport was awesome. I feel that women who race and women who ride recreationally both really enjoy riding and the camaraderie that goes along with it.” Bender wants to see the OLACC continue to grow by making it a fun and inclusive environment where members consistently ride together. She envisions Reading Radsport four to five years in the future in which women from the OLACC compete in the women’s professional race. “It would be awesome to see members of the OLACC in the criterium. To find those riders interested and encourage them to compete would be great.” Bender, however, is quick to point out that the club is a low-pressure environment. “We let riders know that we are riding and will be there to ride with them whenever they are ready.” This outlook is what continues to bring riders back week after week. Like Lloyd and Radsport, OLACC’s ultimate goal is to encourage the community to get outdoors and ride their bikes. Hearing from Bender, it sounds as if Lloyd is doing her job right. “We will continue to encourage and grow,” says Bender, “and if none of our riders are interested in racing, we are confident that they will continue to support women’s professional racing events because they are so exciting to watch!”

HEALTH2WELLNESS

Skin Care by Alyce Relocates

If your skin is seeking some expert attention, stop by Skin Care by Alyce at its new location at 934 Penn Avenue, Wyomissing. The fully renovated boutique med spa has expanded in size, upgraded equipment and treatments and now has a beauty bar to offer express services.

Remodeled to perfection and handicapped accessible, Skin Care by Alyce is in walking distance from Tower Health, Wyomissing’s new luxury apartments, and West Reading’s main street offerings. With more than 25 years of experience, Alyce Versagli leads a team that provides medical-based skin care solutions that target your specific concerns and produce visible results. Since Skin Care by Alyce was established in 2001, advanced skin care trends have changed to address the desire of subtle changes with minimal downtime. “Of course we offer a limited selection of relaxing facials and body massage treatments,” says Alyce, “but our new med spa caters to more medical treatments such as Botox, Dysport, fillers, lasers for hair removal and facial capillaries, CO2 for resurfacing, radiofrequency micro needling for firming, and plasma rich platelets for regeneration. Skin Care by

Alyce has recently been a five-time winner of the Berks County Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur award. 2

Skin Care by Alyce 934 Penn Avenue, Wyomissing, PA 19610

610-685-2575 | www.skincarebyalyce.com

Let’s Be Clear: Food Allergies, Intolerances, and Sensitivities

Food allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities are becoming more prevalent in the United States. About 10 percent of the U.S. population has a food allergy. Most food allergies are diagnosed in childhood but adults can also be diagnosed with new food allergies. It is not known how many people have food intolerances or sensitivities because there is no official way to diagnose them.

WHAT IS A FOOD ALLERGY?

A food allergy is an immune reaction to eating a specific food. The immune system attacks the protein in the food that is typically harmless. A food allergy will trigger the same response every time a food is eaten. Common symptoms of a food allergy vary and can include an itchy mouth, hives, throat tightening, or difficulty breathing. Some food allergies can be severe or life threatening in some people and must be taken seriously.

With the exception of lactose intolerance, most food intolerances or sensitivities are diagnosed by removing the suspect food from one’s diet. If symptoms do not occur when the suspect food is not eaten, then an intolerance or sensitivity is diagnosed. To diagnose lactose intolerance a blood test or hydrogen breath test can be used.

An allergist or your primary care provider can help diagnose a food allergy or allergies. One way to diagnose food allergies is a blood test. The blood test will measure the body’s response to the food by measuring the allergy-related antibody or immunoglobulin-E (IgE). If the IgE to a specific food is high then a food allergy is diagnosed. Another way to diagnose food allergies is a skin prick test. The allergist will place a solution containing the food allergen on the forearm or back then will prick or scratch the skin so the solution goes just below the surface. If there is a reaction on the skin then a food allergy is diagnosed.

WHAT IS A FOOD INTOLERANCE?

A food intolerance is when a person does not properly digest a food and a food sensitivity is when a person has a physical response to eating a food. Typically a small amount of the food can be eaten without symptoms, and symptoms are usually less serious than a food allergy. Common symptoms can include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or gas.

Nutrition Intervention –Things to Consider

PREVENT NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY

In addition to understanding and following your allergist’s or primary care provider’s guidance, the key way to prevent nutritional deficiency is by eating other foods that provide those nutrients in the foods you must avoid. A Registered Dietitian can make a complete nutrition assessment and help you explore safe and nutritious alternatives and substitutes for foods to which you are allergic or have a sensitivity.

LEARN TO IDENTIFY INGREDIENTS AND LABEL READING

Label reading for potential allergens and understanding the ingredient list can help to assure that you can tolerate certain foods. Foods can change due to manufacturer product substitutions and reformulations.

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 identifies eight foods or food groups as the major food allergens. They are milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. While more than 160 foods have been identified as causing food allergies, these eight account for over 90 percent of documented food allergies in the U.S. and represent the foods most likely to result in severe or life-threatening reactions.

In 2013, the FDA issued a rule defining “gluten-free” for food labeling, which helps consumers, especially those living with celiac

disease, be confident that items labeled “gluten-free” meet a defined standard for gluten content.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT FOOD CONCERNS OUTSIDE YOUR HOME

Managing food allergens in schools should take a comprehensive approach focusing on prevention, caution, and preparation for an allergic reaction. Schools present an opportunity for children to learn about self-management with oversight provided by welltrained adults.

When dining out, it helps to research in advance, either online or by speaking with the restaurant’s manager. In addition, always notify your server of a food allergy and ask questions about food or food preparation for clarification. Consider giving the server a “chef card” that lists the specific foods that you must avoid. Be cautious at buffets as they may have cross contamination. Some experts recommend that individuals with peanut and tree nut allergies avoid Asian cuisine, as it frequently uses these ingredients in ways that might not be easily identified.

Once a food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity is diagnosed, it can be managed, providing relief from symptoms while discovering ways to include foods to nourish your body. 2

Article Contributors:

Nicole Rhoads, RD, LDN, Registered Dietitian, Penn State Health St. Joseph Ann T. Wellock, RDN, LDN, Registered Dietitian, Reading Hospital - Tower Health

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