Business Woman January 2017

January 2017

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Inside

WHAT’S

For men of all ages . . . and the women who love them!

4 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR 7 leadership skills

7 ways to help you get noticed.

9 Medical Marijuana in the Workplace

What employers need to know right now!

11 Combining Professional Development and Creativity New approaches—the answer lies in a little creativity.

13 Women and Retirement saving

Saving should start early and continue throughout your lifetime.

15 Self-defense skills

Benefiting your mind and body—and community.

17 Why women need life insurance What all women need to know.

April 8, 2017 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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22 ACHIEVEMENTS & APPLAUSE

Awards and accomplishments.

23 meet and greet

Regional networking events and meetings.

5 cover story Officer A. Graybill of Spring Garden Township Police Department is committed to protecting and serving her community. As a respected police officer, she patrols the streets to help make them safe. But her dedication doesn’t stop there. Graybill is the trainer for RAD (Rape Aggression Defense system) offered by York College and the SGTPD. Her goal is to coach women of all ages about safety and to give them defense moves to deter a would-be attack.

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Note

Editor’S

January 2017 Vol. 14 - No. 1

“”

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER

Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

appy New Year! I hope you should consider purchasing life you had a wonderful insurance. You have health, auto, holiday season. and homeowners insurance, right?

And now, let’s get “The elevator to success is out Find out why life insurance is just as ready to make 2017 a highly successful important as those insurances. year in reaching not only your career of order. You’ll have to take the Last spring, medical marijuana goals but also in having a fulfilling stairs … one step at a time.” was approved for residents of personal life.

Pennsylvania. But what does that ~Unknown Isn’t it curious the difference in our mean for the employer? It’s still a perceptions from Dec. 31 and Jan. 1? little murky, but there are some things It’s just one day, but on Dec. 31 we’re employers should know now while looking back, perhaps a little sad for the powers that be decide on how the what we think we should have done or regulations will be implemented and could have done, or remembering missed opportunities. what certain terminology means.

Conversely, on Jan. 1, we have positive expectations. It’s I want to thank all those women who have allowed us our chance to make new resolutions and commitments for to highlight them on the cover or BusinessWoman. I often setting new goals for the year. All we need is to be resolute hear, “Oh, I have to have my picture taken!?” but the photos in our dedication to attaining those objectives. turns out great and we enjoy reading their story. I love January is National Personal Self-Defense Awareness learning about women in our region and how they got to Month. A new goal could be to make sure you are where they are today. These are women who are involved prepared for a physical attack. Learn about organizations in not just their careers. They also carve out time to make and products that can help you to be better prepared if the a difference in the community. If you know of someone of unthinkable happens to you. It may come as surprise at merit, please send me an email so we can consider her for how mentally empowering that knowledge can be. an upcoming issue.

To break glass ceilings, however, you won’t need selfWishing you success in the coming year, defense moves but rather leadership skills. And whereas men’s leadership skills are assumed, we women have to prove ours. Learn how you can get your leadership skills noticed.

Whether you are single, married, raising children, Christianne Rupp have a career outside the home or you are a homemaker, Vice President and Managing Editor

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Story

Protecting and Serving Her Community

By BARB MURPHY

I

t isn’t an illusion: Women walking out of York College’s Grumbacher Center look a little more confident than when they went in. Most likely, they’ve just come from the RAD (Rape Aggression Defense system) self-defense training, offered by York College and the Spring Garden Township Police Department.

Awareness gets top billing for the reason for the training. Prevention is its costar as the major weapon in keeping women safer.

Today is different from yesterday.

Gone are the days when the streetlights were used primarily to let kids know when they needed to go home. Summertime meant jumping on your bike in the morning, maybe coming home for lunch, definitely for supper, and being “in” when the street lights came on.

It’s a luxury we took for granted, never anticipating there would be an end to that innocence.

Kids now rarely play outside, and videogames and electronics are only part of the reasons neighborhoods are ghost towns during the day.

Parents are only too aware of the dangers of allowing kids to possess the simplicity of days gone by.

Reality dictates that we must all pay attention to our surroundings, our gut feelings, and, sadly, the daily news.

No training can be a 100 percent guarantee to personal safety, but it can up the odds and spike selfconfidence.

RAD training is given by Officer A. Graybill of Spring Garden Township Police Department, with assistance from other officers from SGTPD as well as York College

police officers.

The training is free. Graybill is that impassioned about teaching a woman to have less of a “victim mentality” and to gain skills in preventing calamity. The focus of RAD is to give both physical and, maybe even more importantly, mental tools to ensure that women get to go home, rather than to the hospital.

Or worse.

She is definitely up for the challenges of coaching women of all ages to think about safety. Graybill said that even as an adolescent, safety was on her mind.

Graybill recounted how she and

her sister were visiting colleges, and while her sister was examining things like curriculum, classes, and activities, her interrogations were centered on the safety of the campus.

She’s been teaching RAD for 15 years and has seen a lot of changes since its local inception in 2002.

One of the most prevalent changes is that parents often feel that it is too dangerous to let kids go just about anywhere on their own.

College campuses are more risky than in bygone days, and when the director at York College approached the Spring Garden Township Police Department about starting

RAD training and offered to fund the trainee who would then train security at the college, Graybill was the most logical choice. Being a petite woman, Graybill embodies a stature many women can identify with.

The current classes are four in number, three hours each. Mental strategies are as important as the physical—not only for prevention, but also for dealing with an actual attack. One of the ultimate goals is for “muscle memory” to kick in from practicing repetitive moves.

At the final session, simulated attacks are implemented on students.

The scenarios, which are totally optional, bring reality, even if it’s a “manufactured” reality, to what is learned in the classroom in conjunction with the physical drills.

Trainers are dressed in fully protective gear and replicate what an actual attack may be like. The student is not told in advance what the “assault” will technically be to make it more lifelike.

Though this can be the most stressful part of the training, it can also build the most confidence, even if the student does not react the way she may think she would.

Over the years, Graybill has had numerous diverse reactions to the simulations. One of the most memorable was a young woman who had done very well on all the drills, but there was just something “different” about her, related Graybill.

“Something in her eyes,” says Graybill.

The young woman told her her biggest fear of the class was doing the scenarios. Graybill reiterated that it was not mandatory to participate

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Graybill demonstrating a move that can be used against an attacker. to complete the training.

After taking a big breath, the woman said, “You don’t understand; I do have to do this.” Following that proclamation, she “kicked butt” and was fine the next time she took the class.

The young woman never revealed why it was so important to her, but knowing she got her through it cemented Graybill’s commitment and her mission of why she teaches.

Another recollection was of a woman who had been shot by her ex-husband; he had also killed her boyfriend. She took the class because her ex-husband was being released from prison.

Another student was an older woman who had been pushed down by her attacker; she had survived but wanted to be more self-reliant.

Working through these women’s

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emotional baggage was just as important as teaching them the physical moves and mental preparation. And it’s very difficult to tell a woman that she may at some point actually have to hurt someone.

It’s a mindset especially of the older set that is arduous to overcome.

Former generations of women were taught to be polite, pleasant, sweet, and non-confrontational.

It’s a mentality that could be very dangerous.

Age is a non-issue when it comes to the training, as children as well as grandmas have taken it. One pregnant mom brought her 8- and 10year-olds after they were approached in their own yard by a stranger.

She herself came back for a later class after the birth.

York College proclaimed in the beginning that the class would always be offered for free so that

~ January 2017 | BUSINESSWoman

nobody would be turned away because they couldn’t afford a $10 class.

Free, however, doesn’t indicate subpar or bargain-basement instruction. In fact, just the opposite.

The ultimate hope, of course, is that participants never need to engage this schooling. We as women can make ourselves less likely victims.

Some key points: Put down your phone. You can’t tell if someone is following you and watching you if you’re engrossed in conversation or apps on your phone.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Only then can you notice something that is out of the ordinary.

Don’t put yourself in a situation that could be bad. Going out and getting high or drunk and then stumbling home could put you at risk of being attacked.

Keep doors and windows locked at home. Yes, even if you’re at home, keep them locked so you don’t have unexpected “guests.”

Call 911 if someone you don’t know is at your door.

Keep your car locked at all times.

This not only protects you from having someone hide in the back, but it also keeps someone from stealing valuables from your car.

Trust your gut feelings. This could be one of your most powerful weapons. Don’t doubt them. Worry about apologies later if needed.

“I’d much rather apologize later than have it go the other way,” Graybill emphasized.

• For information on future classes, email Graybill at agraybill@sgtpd.org.

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Ways to Get Your Leadership Skills Noticed

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By JEN LAWRENCE

new study by Pew Research has shown that women equal men in most qualities needed to be a good leader, such as intelligence and innovation. In some areas, such as ethics and the ability to mentor employees, women are seen as better qualified for leadership than their male counterparts.

And yet, only 5 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. What’s the deal?

The study found that one of the key reasons women are not in more senior positions is that, unlike men, whose leadership abilities are assumed, women have to obviously demonstrate their leadership skills in order to be promoted.

While it is frustrating that the glass ceiling continues to exist, there are a number of ways to get your leadership skills noticed so that you can rise to the top: 1. Say no without explanation.

Women are often socialized to be nice and say yes to any reasonable request. While this might work well in some areas of your life, it does not serve you well in the executive suite.

The reality is: You need to say yes to those things that allow you and your organization to meet stated goals (these are the things on which your performance is graded).

In order to free up the time to meet your obligations and still have a life, you need to say no to almost everything else.

2. Never justify your seat at the table. Women often spend valuable meeting time outlining their BUSINESSWomanPA.com

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experience and skills to establish credibility. Don’t waste time justifying why you have been invited to the party, as it undermines your authority.

If you were invited to a meeting or to be on a project, assume that you are qualified to be there, are there for a purpose, and that others value your ideas.

3. Don’t be the office mom.

Women are often socialized to be helpful. If someone is struggling with his work, it’s natural to want to pitch in to help. Studies show that women spend a disproportionate amount of time when compared to male colleagues on what Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant refer to as “office housework” like mentoring and coaching others.

Often, this work is not recognized and can actually be held against you if it takes time away from your other responsibilities. If you find that you spend a lot of time helping others, make sure that

mentoring and coaching is part of how your performance is measured.

4. Don’t over-explain. Women, especially if they are mothers, are often used to explaining things over and over in order to be heard. If you explain things too much at work, it can weaken your position.

Assume that your audience is smart and that if they don’t understand what you are saying, they will ask you for clarification. State things once: clearly, confidently, and factually. Then, assume your message was received.

5. Be firm but kind. While it rarely pays to be nice at the office, it always pays to be kind. One of the areas where many women leaders excel is in softening a hard message with diplomacy.

While it is not fair, women who are very aggressive at work are more harshly viewed than aggressive men.

Aim for assertiveness at all times; be truthful and firm, but kind.

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6. Take a risk. One of the areas where men are perceived to outperform women is in taking risks. Leaders drive business forward by taking calculated risks, whether it’s launching a new product, expanding into a new territory, or making an acquisition.

If you want to be taken seriously as a leader, you must be comfortable with taking risks. If this is not something that comes naturally, take a class in risk management.

Practice taking small risks in your personal life or with business issues where the stakes are lower to increase your comfort level with the process.

7. Negotiate to win. Women are seen as superior to men at reaching a compromise but inferior when it comes to negotiating a more profitable deal.

While win-win is ideal for many situations, sometimes business presents a win-lose scenario, such as negotiating price, trying to win a

bid, or competing for a promotion.

Practice negotiating for the win and get comfortable with disappointing others on occasion.

As Isaac Asimov wrote, “It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.”

By making your leadership skills clear, you have a better chance of cutting through gender biases and ascending to the top of your organization.

Once there, you can prove that women make excellent leaders and improve things for the women following in your footsteps.

• Jen Lawrence finds inspiration everywhere. She’s written on what changing her hair color taught her about change management, what Eleanor Roosevelt can teach us about business, and how talent planning is like baking a cake. She is the author of the book Engage the Fox: A Business Fable About Thinking Critically and Motivating Your Team. She is currently writing a book on women and leadership. www.engagethefox.wordpress.com

CAREER

Medical Marijuana in the Workplace . . .

What Employers Need to Know Right Now!

By DENISE ELLIOTT

L

ast spring, Pennsylvania joined more than 20 other states when it legalized marijuana for medicinal use. Gov. Wolf signed Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act (MMA) on April 17, 2016, and it went into effect one month later.

While the primary purpose of the act is to set up a system by which qualified patients can become certified to use medical marijuana and by which growers and dispensers can produce and provide the nowlegal product, the tentacles of the act reach beyond the medical world—specifically, into the world of employment law.

Since its passage, the act has sent ripples of uncertainty and confusion into human resources offices across the state. Unfortunately, although more than six months have passed since the act was passed, we don’t know much more about its impact on employment law now than we did then.

But that’s not to say we don’t know anything … so what do

employers need to know now?

1. The act contains an employment anti-discrimination provision that states as follows: “No employer may discharge, threaten, refuse to hire, or otherwise discriminate or retaliate against any employee regarding an employee’s compensation, terms, conditions, location, or privileges solely on the basis of such employee’s status as an individual who is certified to use medical marijuana” (MMA §2103(b) (1)).

Although more than 20 other states have legalized medicinal marijuana, for purposes of the Pennsylvania act, an “individual who is certified to use medical marijuana” refers only to individuals certified under Pennsylvania law.

An employee who is certified in another state would not necessarily be entitled to the protection of Pennsylvania’s provision.

We know that it will take some time for Pennsylvania to implement the regulatory framework necessary

to begin the certification process, set up dispensaries, and begin actually distributing marijuana (1824 months). But until that happens, no adult in Pennsylvania will be an “individual who is certified to use medical marijuana.” 1 For the sake of argument, however, let’s assume that an employer is confronted with an employee that voluntarily discloses use of medicinal marijuana. In such cases, it is recommended that employers be aware of the anti-discrimination provision of the act and that care be taken not to discriminate against any employee solely on the basis of his/her voluntary disclosure of medicinal marijuana use.

2. Employers are not required to accommodate the use of medical marijuana at work, and employers retain the ability to discipline employees for using marijuana at work. Along these lines, the MMA provides: “Nothing in this act shall require an employer to make an accommodation

for the use of medical marijuana on the property or premises of any place of employment. This act shall in no way limit an employer’s ability to discipline an employee for being under the influence of medical marijuana in the workplace or for working while under the influence of medical marijuana when the employee’s conduct falls below the standard of care normally accepted for that position” (MMA §2103(b)(2)).

While this seemingly employerfriendly terminology permits disciplining users of medical marijuana if they are “under the influence” at work, we unfortunately do not yet know what is meant by “under the influence.”

This term is not included in the definition section of the act and is not specifically defined for purposes of the above provision at §2103(b) (2). Elsewhere in the act, certain chemical levels are specified when discussing what is meant by “under the influence.”

Section 510, for example, prohibits

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the operation of high-voltage electricity or any other public utility “while under the influence with a blood content of more than 10 nanograms of active tetrahydrocannabis (THC) per milliliter of blood in serum” (MMA §510(1)(II)).

In other subparts of §501, however, “under the influence” is used without defining the term. Another challenge of interpreting this provision of the act and defining “under the influence” is that marijuana chemicals can remain in the body for several days after use and after the “influence” period has passed.

Because the act requires the implementation of regulations down the road, we are hopeful some of this uncertainty will be addressed.

Until then, we recommend that employers reach out to their drugtesting providers and begin to ask questions about enhanced testing, including saliva testing, and what resources, if any, the provider has for helping employers comply with the act while maintaining a safe and productive workplace.

In the meantime, employers can continue to utilize and enforce their drug-testing and drug-free workplace policies, even when the drug being used is medicinal marijuana.

3. The act prohibits certified users from performing certain safetysensitive jobs while “under the influence” of medicinal marijuana:

“”

Should you have specific questions about the law, your policies, or your employees, you should not hesitate to call counsel and seek further guidance.

• Performing any duty that could result in a public health or safety risk (MMA §510)

4. The act does not require employers to “commit an act that would put the employer or any person acting on its behalf in violation of federal law” (MMA §2103(b)(3)). For example, an employer would not be required to accommodate a truck driver using medicinal marijuana if such accommodation violates federal Department of Transportation regulations.

health insurance.

That marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance, is illegal under federal law, and is not an FDA-approved medical treatment lend support to those employers and insurance companies objecting to coverage.

Section 2102 recognizes these concerns and objections and gives clear guidance to insurers and health plans in Pennsylvania regarding their requirements—or rather the lack thereof—to provide health insurance coverage for medicinal marijuana.

5. Insurers and health plans are not required to provide coverage for medical marijuana (MMA §2102).

The inclusion of Section 2102 in the act is consistent with a nationwide consensus that medicinal cannabis need not be covered under

6. The act does not, currently, supersede an employer’s rights under the ADA. For example, under current interpretations of the law, employers are not prohibited by the ADA from discharging an employee who tests positive for marijuana, even if the use

• Operating or being in physical control of chemicals that require a permit issued by the federal government, state government, federal agency, or state agency

is pursuant to a valid prescription.2 However, the employee who voluntarily and proactively discloses medical marijuana use, due to a serious medical condition, may be entitled to protection under the ADA. In such a scenario, the employer should engage in the interactive process with the employee.

Seeking guidance from counsel in such situations is strongly recommended.

As with any new law, we have much left to learn. As the Pennsylvania Department of Health begins to implement regulations, we are hopeful that some of our questions will be addressed, including what is meant by “under the influence” and whether the anti-discrimination provisions apply to those certified to use medical marijuana in other states.

In the meantime, should you have specific questions about the law, your policies, or your employees, you should not hesitate to call counsel and seek further guidance.

•

Denise Elliott is an attorney in the Labor and Employment Practice Group at McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC. She focuses her practice on defending self-insured employers in workers’ compensation matters and representing clients in employment discrimination litigation. delliott@mcneeslaw.com Note – children who require medical marijuana to treat one of the enumerated conditions in the act may be able to obtain out-of-state certification pending implementation of the act’s certification framework. There has been no such allowance for adults to obtain temporary out-of-state certifications.

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• Operating or being in control of high-voltage electricity or any other public utility • Performing any employment duties at heights or in confined spaces, including, but not limited to, mining • Performing tasks that the employer deems life threatening to either the employee or any employees of the employer

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This could change, however, as the MMA evolves and as we further understand how “under the influence” will be defined in Pennsylvania. Further, the EEOC may change its position on the protected nature of medical marijuana as more states legalize its use.

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CAREER

New Approaches Combine Professional Development and Creativity

By SAMM SMELTZER

T

here seems to be a natural tendency to draw a line between personal and professional development, similar to the line we attempt to draw between our work life and our family life.

Despite this desire, the distinction proves to be a challenge time and time again—a consistent challenge that we willingly take on because of the imagined outcomes of balance, satisfaction, and genuine happiness.

Professional satisfaction plays a huge role in our way of life. The question then becomes—how do you find it? The answer lies in a little creativity. Embracing your creative side may seem counterintuitive in a logic-driven work environment, but it is the key to ultimate engagement.

Personal development and professional development are one and the same. You cannot obtain the balance, satisfaction, and genuine happiness you seek without looking at the whole picture.

The piece that is often overlooked is this: When we venture into the work environment, we do not shut off the personal side of ourselves

for the interview. For most, when we begin our professional careers, we show up with everything we have. This is why, when the job offer doesn’t come, it hurts.

Interviews are vulnerable experiences for the interviewee, just as annual performance reviews and feedback sessions are for established employees. Each experience has an impact on us overall, making the expectation for a divide between personal and professional impossible and unreasonable.

The traditional approach to professional development has continued without much change and is structured with this divide in mind. The results frequently are minimal and lack buy-in, creating a sense of disconnect for the individual working on development.

This has only fueled the growing industry of personal development and self-help, with no link being made to connect the two.

Creativity in the Workplace Creativity has often been a tool for stress relief, hobbies, and even personal development, but it is rarely

seen in the work environment.

Many have not engaged in a creative art form since perhaps middle school, and it can be extremely uncomfortable. However, the benefits and outcomes easily justify the discomfort.

In 1989, Bob Pike introduced the world to Creative Training Techniques, which use a participantcentered approach. Understanding that individuals participating in training sessions tend to have short attention spans, Pike incorporated icebreakers and energizers, which quickly engage the audience. This allows attendees to take ownership of their learning and discover on-thejob applications easily.

The interactive methods used by the Bob Pike Group create buy-in and enthusiasm and ultimately change behavior. Some of these methods you may recognize, such as flip charts for brainstorming and games to test new knowledge or share takeaways.

Pike showed that when we bring the learning and development back to focusing on the individual, growth begins to occur.

The Four Ways of Knowing Researchers John Heron and Peter Reason shared with the world a research method known as cooperative inquiry and a theory known as the Four Ways of Knowing.

The purpose of their work was to engage others in a new research method; however, the structure has proven ideal for individual development.

As inspired by Heron and Reason, there are four ways we can essentially know our experiences.

Three of the four are fairly common to us, and we engage in them on a regular basis. They are: experiential, propositional, and practical. The fourth, less familiar, is presentational.

Every day, we have the opportunity to run any of our experiences through these three levels and obtain different levels of new knowledge. In practical terms, this new knowledge is what we call “life lessons.”

Experiential knowledge comes from the lessons we obtain in the moment. For example, we receive a standard email after interviewing for a job telling us we are not being selected. In that moment we might

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feel sad, and our moment lesson is that not getting what we want makes us sad.

Propositional knowledge comprises conceptual lessons that we obtain either directly from or linked to the experience. For example, our conceptual lesson may be that the employer’s practice of notifying candidates who are not moving along in the process is not ideal.

Practical knowledge includes action lessons we learn as a result of the experience. Our action lesson may be that we don’t want to work for an employer with practices that make applicants feel that way.

The fourth way of knowing is presentational knowledge, and it is frequently bypassed because the purpose is more exploratory. As adults, we often believe we do not need these lessons because life and age have made us experts at acquiring everything we need to know from the other three ways of knowledge.

Presentational knowledge requires us to take the moment lessons and run them through a creative method to obtain a deeper, clearer understanding of our moment lessons. This new knowledge then becomes the basis for your conceptual essons and action lessons. It has the potential to completely change your learning outcomes, otherwise known as “life lessons,” from an experience.

Creative methods can be traditional art forms such as painting, drawing, writing, or discussing matters from an abstract approach.

Understanding Our Perspective Returning to our example of not

comes to mind is pink because pink is your little girl’s favorite color, and you were planning on buying her the toy of her dreams with the extra income from this new job.

This could completely change the perspective of what this rejection represents to you. It could also reposition your conceptual lessons: They are less about the employer and outside world and more about you.

The result is an action lesson that will move you forward on the path to what you desire.

The conceptual lesson learned with this new knowledge could be that the rejection hurt because you were letting down your daughter.

The action lesson could be what you will do to be the role model you want to be for your daughter, because her opinion of you matters.

What we often miss is that the common three ways of knowing— experiential, propositional, and practical—generally engage the left side of our brain, which is for logical thinking.

The right side of the brain, which is tapped during the fourth way of knowing—presentational— accesses imagination and creativity but also awareness, insight, and intuition: three huge pieces that make us who we are and cannot be ignored or separated if you are looking to live and work a life you love.

Creative painting is one of the techniques Smeltzer uses in her leadership development sessions.

•

getting a job offer, let’s say that we chose to attempt to describe our

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moment lesson’s feeling of sadness using a color. Maybe the color that

Samm Smeltzer is CEO and founder of Leadership Arts Associates, a firm that empowers, educates, and engages leaders to thrive personally and professionally. www.leadership-arts.org.

TOGETHER WE’RE BUILDING A HEALTHIER COMMUNITY helps MY COMMUNITY

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CAREER

Women and Retirement Saving

P

lanning and saving for retirement may seem like goals that are far in the future. Yet saving, especially for retirement, should start early and continue throughout your lifetime.

Here are four reasons why saving matters to women—and especially to you!

Do You Know?

•W omen are more likely to work in part-time jobs that don’t qualify for a retirement plan. And working women are more likely than men to interrupt their careers to take care of family members.

Therefore, they work fewer years and contribute less toward their retirement, resulting in lower lifetime savings. If you work and if you qualify, join a retirement plan now.

•O f the 63 million wage and salaried women (age 21 to 64) working in the United States, just 44 percent participated in a retirement plan.

Remember, even small amounts can earn interest and add up over time.

•O n average, a female retiring at age 65 can expect to live another 20 years, two years longer than a man the same age. Savings can increase a woman’s chances of having enough

money to last during her retirement.

• By and large, women invest more conservatively than men. Choose carefully where you put your money and learn how to improve your investment returns.

Start Here ... Start Now Here are eight questions to help you think about retirement and take charge of your financial future: Do you work for an employer that offers a retirement plan? If your employer offers a retirement plan, join it as soon as you can and contribute as much as the plan allows.

Most employers with a 401(k) plan match a fixed percentage of the employee’s contribution. The most common match is 50 percent of the employee’s contribution up to a maximum percentage of wages or salary (usually 6 percent).

The majority of employers who provide matches offer 50 percent or more. That’s like getting free money! While all job categories may not be included in your employer’s plan (those of part-time or temporary workers, for instance), your job may be one that is.

Have you worked at the job long enough to earn retirement benefits?

Under some plans, such as a 401(k) or a traditional pension plan, you

have to work for a certain number of years—say, three—before you become “vested” and can receive benefits (vesting simply means that you have worked long enough to earn the right to benefits from a savings or pension plan).

Too often, employees, especially women, quit work, transfer to another job, or interrupt their work lives just short of the time required to become vested. Ask the personnel office, retirement plan administrator, or union representative about the vesting period and other details of your company’s plan.

Do you keep copies of the documents that define the provisions of your retirement plan? In addition to asking questions of company or retirement plan officials, you should keep copies of the summary plan description (SPD) and any amendments. The SPD is a document that retirement plan administrators are required to prepare, and it outlines your benefits and how they are calculated.

The SPD also spells out the financial consequences—usually a reduction in benefits—if you decide to retire early (earlier than age 65 in many plans).

You probably received a copy of the SPD when you joined the pension or savings plan, but you may request another one from your employer or plan administrator.

Also remember to keep retirementrelated records from all jobs. They provide valuable information about your benefit rights, even when you no longer work for a company.

What happens to your retirement benefits if you change jobs? You may lose the retirement benefits you have earned if you leave your job before you are vested.

However, once vested, you have the right to receive benefits even when you leave your job. In such cases, the company may allow, or in certain cases may insist, that you take your retirement benefits in a lump sum when you leave.

However, other companies may not permit you to receive your money until retirement. The rules for your plan are spelled out in the SPD. A word of caution: If you receive your retirement benefits in a lump sum, you will owe additional income taxes and may owe a penalty tax. A better way is to reinvest your savings in another qualified retirement plan or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) within 60 days. You avoid tax penalties and you keep your long-term retirement goals on track.

If you do want to reinvest the money, it is important that you do not directly receive it. If you receive the money directly, you will have to pay a 20 percent withholding

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tax on the amount you receive and then file for a refund in the next year, providing proof that you have transferred the funds to an IRA. Instead, instruct the retirement plan to transfer your money directly to an IRA you have established or to another qualified retirement plan. This is easy to do using simple forms supplied by the new plan.

Do you know how you can save for retirement even if you don’t belong to an employer-sponsored retirement plan? Anyone receiving compensation or married to someone receiving compensation can contribute to an IRA. In addition, if you are self-employed, you can start a Simplified Employee Pension Plan (SEP) or a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (SIMPLE).

As with other retirement savings plans, there may be tax consequences, and possibly penalties, if you withdraw your savings early.

Are you tracking your Social Security earnings? More women than ever work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward a monthly income at retirement.

These earnings can mean some income for you and your family in the form of monthly benefits if you become disabled and can no longer work. If you die, your survivors may be eligible for benefits.

In addition, you may be eligible for Social Security benefits through your husband’s work and can receive benefits when he retires or if he becomes disabled or dies.

Special rules apply if you and your husband have been employed and both have paid into Social Security.

Special rules also apply if you are divorced or if you have a government retirement plan.

To calculate your benefit estimate, visit the Social Security Administration’s website (www.ssa. gov).

Are you entitled to a portion of your spouse’s retirement benefit if you and your husband divorce? As part of a divorce or legal separation, you may be able to obtain rights to a portion of your spouse’s retirement benefit (or he may be

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able to obtain a portion of yours).

In most private-sector plans, this is done using a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) issued by the court. You or your attorney should consult your spouse’s plan administrator to determine what requirements the QDRO must meet.

Are you aware of the rules that govern your retirement plan and the retirement plan of your spouse if either of you dies? The rules are different for defined contribution and defined benefit plans.

If you or your spouse belong to a defined benefit plan (a traditional pension plan), the surviving spouse may be entitled to receive a survivor benefit when the enrolled employee dies.

This survivor benefit is automatic unless both spouses agree, in writing, to forfeit the benefit. You will need to check the SPD or consult with the plan administrator regarding survivor annuities or other death benefits.

If you are a beneficiary under your spouse’s defined benefit pension plan, you may want to request a copy of the SPD and other plan documents that describe your spouse’s vested benefits. You will probably want to make the request in writing, and you may be charged a fee for the information.

The rules may be different if you or your spouse participates in a defined contribution plan (such as a 401(k) plan). Consult the plan administrator for details about spousal rights.

It’s Up to You Once you’ve answered these questions, you’re on the road to learning more about financial freedom.

As a resource for women (and men), the Employee Benefits Security Administration has issued Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future and Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning. The booklets include resources and website sections.

• Source: Department of Labor – www.dol. gov

Self-Defense Skills Benefit Your Mind and Body— and Your Community

I

By MEGAN JOYCE

believe [assault] is a problem. They understand the statistics are real— but they really don’t think it’s going to happen to them or their family,” Leeland said.

Leeland stresses that self-defense training benefits a woman in multiple scenarios, not just when she is the lone target of an attack.

When armed with the knowledge and confidence that self-defense training brings, she can then help others in addition to herself if a situation arises.

“The only people who can ever step in to save other people’s lives are the people that have training,” Leeland said. “You think, ‘Self-defense is about protecting me,’ but no—it’s also about protecting the people around you.”

Sexual assault on college campuses in particular has gained recent media attention. A fall 2015 survey out of Penn State University’s main campus revealed 28 percent of its female students reported having been sexually assaulted while at the university.

“It’s an epidemic, and the problem that I see is the fact that most selfdefense classes … use the basic martial arts, and then they teach the girl to break away and run from the attacker,” Leeland said.

Fleeing isn’t effective, Leeland said, if the attacker is the faster runner or if he has a gun. And if the woman drops her purse during the altercation, he added, the attacker then has her driver’s license or college ID and knows where she lives.

This is where effective self-defense training comes in. In cooperation with more than 40 trained WSDC instructors from across Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and eastern BUSINESSWomanPA.com

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n a world where 1 out of 5 American women will be assaulted in their lifetimes, self-defense training is about more than just increasing a woman’s physical prowess. It’s also about creating a psychological shift—giving her the confidence to set healthy emotional and physical boundaries that are not to be crossed.

David Leeland, president and founder of Women’s Self-Defense Centers of America, had excelled at combative sports all his life, including wrestling, boxing, and martial arts, in addition to his Navy Seal training. He has also received advanced training in hand-to-hand combat, rape aggression defense (RAD), and anti-abduction and hostage taking.

It wasn’t until six years ago, however, when his daughter fended off an attempted gang rape at a local bowling alley, that Leeland realized the urgent need to teach all women how to defend themselves.

“I had never taught my loved ones while I was learning; it was something I was learning for myself,” Leeland said. “At that point, I had to live with the fact that my daughter could’ve been killed or gang raped that night, and I never took the time to teach her to defend herself.”

Soon afterward, Leeland stepped down from his slate-roofing business and began spending as much time as he could going to schools, churches, and other community spots to “teach anybody who’ll listen” how to defend themselves.

“I’ve done a number of speaking engagements where I’ve spoken to professional businesspeople, and one thing I find is that they do

Lifestyle

Susan Reitnauer showing one of the self defense products by Damsel In Defense.

Florida, Leeland designed a selfdefense curriculum for women of all ages and skill levels, from teenagers to seniors.

“You don’t have to be in shape; you don’t have to be coordinated.

One of the fears that keeps people out of these classes is they think they will look silly, overweight, or clumsy,” Leeland said.

According to its website, WSDC teaches techniques based on the Department of Defense Training as developed for U.S. Special Forces.

Classes focus on using gross motor skills that require one defensive action, rather than memorizing a series of moves to disable an attacker.

“We use the skeletal anatomy and we use the neurological system, and we teach just a little bit of psychology, because we can know somewhat what is going on in the mind of an attacker,” Leeland said. “Once we teach a person the scientific elements of an assault, actually performing the technique is rather simple.”

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Susan Reitnauer, Independent Damsel Pro director with Damsel in Defense, said the company also aims to simplify self-defense alongside its mission to “equip, empower, and educate women”—and men and children, too. Damsel in Defense specializes in stun guns, pepper sprays, personal alarms, caremergency tools, digital protection, family-empowerment books, and concealed-carry purses.

Reitnauer said that stun guns and pepper sprays are Damsel in Defense’s two most popular items for protection. Their pepper spray shoots 16 feet, increasing the chances of keeping an attacker at a distance.

The stun gun requires only a half of a second of contact to repel and startle an intruder. One to two seconds of contact leaves an attacker mentally dazed, and three to five seconds can cause loss of muscle control and balance as well as disorientation, Reitnauer said.

“The energy passing to the

~ January 2017 | BUSINESSWoman

attacker will not affect the person who is holding the stun gun,” she added.

Just as a woman trained in selfdefense can safeguard not only herself, but also her family, Damsel in Defense includes children in their protective scope too. To protect kids from sexual predators and other forms of unwanted touch or assault, the Safe Hearts line of books, puzzles, and lunchboxes helps parents impart essential awareness to their kids.

“When it comes to protecting our children, certain conversations are easy and even natural to have,” Reitnauer said. “What are much harder to address are the dangers that could be lurking from those around us whom our children love.”

Damsel in Defense donates monthly to Wipe Every Tear (www. wipeeverytear.org), an international charity that provides safe houses and education to young women trafficked in the sex trade. Its founders traveled to the Philippines in 2013 as part of a mission to prevent sex trafficking, and in 2015, Damsel in Defense funded its second home in Cambodia to

support girls rescued there.

“Our goal together is to help empower your children to take ownership over their own hearts and bodies and raise their awareness and ability to protect themselves against anyone who tries to harm them,” Reitnauer said.

For Leeland, spreading women’s self-defense skills easily wins out over increasing WSDC’s bottom line.

“If you don’t have [the money to pay], you come for free—no questions asked,” he said. “But I will not allow a woman to be assaulted just because she could not afford to come to the class.”

Similarly, rather than encouraging their self-defense students to get their friends and family to come pay for classes, Leeland and WSDC instructors urge the women to simply go out and share their new knowledge.

“We encourage our women to teach their friends—even if it’s just one or two things—but teach your daughters or nieces or ladies you have coffee with, because that one thing you might learn from a friend might be the one thing that saves your life someday.”

Why Women Need Life Insurance What Female Executives, Mom-Preneurs, and All Other Working Women Need to Know

By BRIAN GREENBERG

Here’s why: 1. You provide financial value, regardless of your employment or marital status. Today, many women are making more money than their spouse or they are working as a single parent and the head of a household.

For stay-at-home moms, recent estimates valued their contribution at approximately $120,000 a year (taken from the duties performed in the household on a regular basis such as childcare, cooking, and housekeeping, among others).

2. Life insurance replaces your income. Because your contributions

Lifestyle

I

n the 21st century, women are redefining their roles at work and at home. Women have more options than ever, from full-time careers outside the home to careers as full-time homemakers with stops nearly everywhere in between.

While women are achieving an unprecedented work-life balance, a piece of the puzzle that is more often missing than not is life insurance.

Other types of insurance—such as health, auto, and homeowners— are top of mind, but life insurance tends to slip through the cracks.

According to the Life Insurance and Market Research Association (LIMRA), 48 percent of women are without any type of life insurance.

Although this number has risen about 5 percent in recent years, it still isn’t high enough. Now more than ever, women need life insurance.

bring value, that value needs protecting. According to Loretta Worters, vice president with the Insurance Information Institute, if a stay-at-home spouse dies, the family would need someone to handle the household duties.

That’s no small task. The cost could be substantial and a life insurance policy would help to cover those expenses.

If your income helps to support you, your children, and/or your partner, a life insurance policy will provide financial support for them in the case of your death. This can help cover not only the cost of the funeral and anything related to it, but also with everyday living expenses.

Of course, it’s unpleasant to think about and plan for your own death, but it is a responsible way to make sure your family doesn’t have to worry about such things on top of having to cope with your loss.

3. Life insurance protects your interests. If you’re single and you don’t have any children, you still may have a need for life insurance. If you carry a high amount of debt, have a co-signer for a loan, or if you take care of an aging or ill parent or family member, having life insurance will help protect your estate, your cosigner, and those you care for.

If you don’t have insurance but do have debt, typically the executor of your estate will sell whatever

they can to help pay off your debts when you die. If you have a co-signer on a loan, however, that person will be responsible for repaying it.

If these scenarios do not apply to you, you can probably put off purchasing a life insurance policy temporarily. But keep in mind: It’s less expensive to purchase a policy when you’re younger rather than when you’re older.

4. Life insurance is less expensive for women. Life insurance premiums are priced largely according to the average life expectancy for your gender and age. Women pay less than men, primarily because men have a shorter life expectancy than women. In fact, women reportedly

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Every Hero Has a Name.

Is your military hero also your spouse, child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor?

Help us put a face and a name to the courageous men and women who are currently serving or who have served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Salute to Service

Lifestyle

is an online photo gallery honoring the military heroes in our lives.

Upload your hero’s picture, name, and information at VeteransExpo.com/salute-to-service.

outlive men by about five years.

Women also tend to develop cardiovascular problems, like heart attack or stroke, later in life than men do. This longer life expectancy results in lower life insurance premiums.

If you’re wondering how much or what type of life insurance you need, here’s a tip: Multiply your income by anywhere from three to 15 times to arrive at the amount of life insurance you should consider buying.

For example, if you’re a 40-yearold woman making $50,000 per year at your job, you will want to look at buying a policy that’s worth about $750,000. This is a general rule of thumb and does vary by age, so it’s important to speak with a life insurance agent.

You can also select a term life policy at a less expensive premium for a specific amount of time, or you can select a permanent plan that will last the rest of your life and provide you with additional financial planning options.

The type of insurance you choose and the amount you purchase depends on what your goals, needs, budget, and family situation are. For instance, if you are still young and single, your life insurance needs will be much different than if you are a bit older, married, and/or raising a family.

•

Brian Greenberg is a multifaceted entrepreneur currently serving as a founder and executive of multiple online businesses, including serving as president of True Blue Life Insurance. Greenberg is in the world’s top 1 percent of life insurance and financial services professionals. www.TrueBlueLifeInsurance. com

The Job Fair brings job-seeking veterans of all ages, active military, and their families together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent.

York

April 20, 2017 • 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo Center • Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York

Jumpstart your career! Skip the line – register to attend online!

www.VeteransExpo.com • 717.285.8136 18

~ January 2017 | BUSINESSWoman

to alk g T ? n ire ibiti h to exh ! g t y n i ok abou toda o L us

Thyroid Disease: Know the Facts

By ROCHELLE A. SHENK

A

Wellness

s we go through life, we often hear about various medical conditions—such as heart disease, high cholesterol, or osteoporosis—and the steps we can take to prevent those maladies. We don’t often hear about thyroid issues, but they are more common than you might think.

The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck.

It’s part of the endocrine system, a system of glands that produce, store, and release hormones into the bloodstream so they can reach the body’s cells.

The main hormone is thyroxine, or T4, but there’s also T3, or triiodothyronine.

The thyroid takes iodine found in the foods we eat and converts it to these two hormones. They act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature.

Olusola Osundeko, M.D., medical director of Holy Spirit Endocrinology – a Geisinger Affiliate, explains that the chance of experiencing a thyroid issue, such as overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive

(hypothyroidism) thyroid, increases as we age.

“But it can occur at any age. No matter what age you’re looking at, it’s three times more common in women. People mistakenly think that it has something to do with the amount of reproductive hormones post-menopause, but it has to do with the thyroid hormones,” he stresses. “We’re not sure if there’s any specific trigger, but thyroid issues can

run in families.”

He explains that underactive thyroid is more common than overactive—about 5 percent of the population is diagnosed with underactive thyroid, while 1.5 percent has overactive thyroid. The symptoms for both conditions differ.

Osundeko points out that with an underactive thyroid, the body seems to slow down: tiredness, weight gain or difficulty losing

weight, and a slower heart rate.

With an overactive thyroid, people may experience heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, and muscle weakness or have bulging eyes.

“None of the symptoms is unique to a thyroid condition. The challenge we face is that online websites may have misleading information about symptoms and thyroid issues. It is really important for people to take the issue seriously and see their

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doctor and get tested,” Osundeko says.

Once a diagnosis is ascertained, there are treatments for both conditions. He says that an underactive thyroid can be treated by medication, and guidelines have been developed for dosage levels.

However, medications may need to be adjusted. Osundeko explains that it takes 10 to 14 days for the medicine to kick in and six to 10 weeks for lab work to show changes.

The overall results timeframe is generally within three months.

However, medication needs to be taken on an ongoing basis.

Additionally, some people experience a condition known as Hashimoto’s disease, in which the immune system attacks the thyroid.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the thyroid becomes inflamed, which causes hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. The disease progresses slowly and causes chronic thyroid damage, leading to a drop in thyroid hormone levels in the

Olusola Osundeko, M.D., medical director of Holy Spirit Endocrinology – A Geisinger affiliate. blood. The signs and symptoms are mainly those of an underactive thyroid gland.

“With an overactive thyroid, it’s more difficult to manage the medication. Not only does the body make proteins that stimulate

thyroid function, but some over-thecounter medicines contain iodine, and they can stimulate the thyroid,” Osundeko stresses.

Treatment for overactive thyroid involves medication. Generally, individuals are on the medication for

18 to 24 months. Osundeko explains that in that timeframe, about a third of patients go into remission and don’t need the medication any longer.

“Treatment for overactive thyroid is a balancing act. It requires close monitoring so the thyroid doesn’t become underactive,” he says.

Those who don’t go into remission usually are treated with radioactive iodine to kill the thyroid. In rare cases, the thyroid is surgically removed, and he says that’s the course of treatment for patients who cannot tolerate the radioactive iodine or for pregnant women.

Osundeko says that thyroid cancer is not as common as either under- or overactive thyroid issues, and there’s generally a good success rate, especially if it has not spread to other parts of the body. Specific treatment plans depend on the type and stage of cancer and could include thyroid hormone therapy, radioactive iodine treatment, surgery, chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and surgery.

Thinking about a Career Change?

Wellness

On-Line Publishers is hiring an Account Representative to join our growing sales team.

On-Line Publishers, Inc., is a 20+-year-old publishing and event-production company focusing on print, events, and Web products in south-central PA. We are seeking an Account Representative to help us expand our OLP Events division.

The successful candidate must:

• Be hardworking, positive, assertive, detail oriented, outgoing, and enjoy selling products they believe in

• Be self-motivated and able to multitask effectively

• Have strong presentation and verbal communication skills

• Have well-developed prospecting and cold-calling skills

• Be eager to take on new selling opportunities

• Demonstrate strong organizational abilities and a “team spirit” attitude

If you would like the opportunity to sell exciting products that our attendees enjoy and respect, please send your resume and compensation history/requirements to danderson@onlinepub.com.

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 • 717.285.1350 • www.OLPEvents.com

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~ January 2017 | BUSINESSWoman

Did you know ...

60% of all personal wealth is controlled by women

57% of all bachelor’s degrees and 60% of all doctor’s degrees Women buy more than 50%

Women earned about

of all new cars in the U.S.

Women purchase or influence

85% of all products and services Women make decisions in 80–85%

the purchase of

of all healthcare purchases

Contact your account representative today to reach this powerful market.

717.285.1350 • 717.770.0140 sales@BusinessWomanPA.com

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Marketing and Your Business

of the month Check it out at BusinessWomanPA.com

You need to get your product or service in the hands of potential consumers. Marketing does that, and it includes sales, public relations, pricing, packaging, and distribution.

We’ll gather fresh information on marketing strategies, and bring them to you once a month in an easy-to-read e-newsletter called The Fresh Press.

We won’t spam you with offers. That’s not what this newsletter is. Look for an email from The Fresh Press in your inbox or go to www.BusinessWomanPA.com and sign up to receive this FREE newsletter.

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Watch

Women to

Kim McAndrew has joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty as a Realtor® and member of the Leslie St. John Team. McAndrew specializes in residential sales throughout Central Pennsylvania. She is active in St. Theresa Church in New Cumberland.

Karen Quigley has been hired by Landis & Associates to supervise accounting staff. Quigley brings more than 25 years’ experience in public accounting to the firm. She is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and business management.

April Seward has joined Berkshire

Judith Zimmerman Walter, of Zimmerman’s Automotive in Mechanicsburg, was presented by the Car Care Council, Women in Auto Care with the 2016 Female Shop Owner of the Year Award. The award is given to a female shop owner who is dedicated to her business.

Wavelength Marketing, LLC, a full-service, integrated marketing, advertising, and public relations firm headquartered in Columbia, Pa., recently received a 2016 Gold MarCom Award, an international competition for marketing and communication professionals.

Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty as a Realtor®. Seward specializes in residential sales throughout Central Pennsylvania and has a background in customer service. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in behavioral science from Penn State.

Applause

ACHIEVEMENTS & Tara Houser, First Capital Federal Credit

Union, has received the designation as Certified Strategic Marketing Executive (CSME). Houser helps promote the credit union through various marketing efforts.

Do you have an announcement?

Please email your announcements of career advancements and professional new hires to crupp@onlinepub.com. Electronic photos should be saved as a tiff, jpeg, pdf or eps at 300 dpi. Or mail to: BUSINESSWOMAN, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512. Photos sent through mail will not be returned. Please – no duplicate releases.

While We Were Out ...

Belco

A $1,000 donation to the Salvation Army was recently made by Belco at the WGAL News Channel 8 Salvation Army Coats for Kids Telethon.

Sharing your photos is now easier than ever!

BusinessWoman would love to share what’s happening while you were out and about! Upload your picture(s) and descriptions at: businesswomanpa.com/whilewewereout

HB McClure

Dominic Bailor, residential service manager of HB McClure, recently presented a check to Feel Your Boobies® founder Leigh Hurst. HB McClure donates $1 for every residential service call, maintenance inspection, and installation completed during October 2016.

Connections

Belco employees recently teamed up with AAA to volunteer at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank boxing up food, cleaning, and moving boxes.

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~ January 2017 | BUSINESSWoman

Meet and

Greet

American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) Camelot Chapter 6 p.m.

3rd Monday of the month Radisson Hotel Harrisburg, Camp Hill Marianne Troy, President 717.761.9013 mariannetroy@gmail.com www.abwacamelot.com Lancaster Area Express Network 7:15 – 9 a.m.

3rd Wednesday of the month Lancaster Country Club 1466 New Holland Pike, Lancaster Gail Tomlinson 717.715.2595 tomlinson.gail@comcast.net www.LAEN-ABWA.org Lebanon Valley Chapter 6 p.m.

4th Wednesday of the month Hebron Fire Hall 701 E. Walnut St., Lebanon Penny Donmoyer 717.383.6969 www.abwalebanonpa.com Penn Square Chapter 11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.

1st Thursday of the month Hamilton Club 106 E. Orange St., Lancaster Laurie Bodisch, president 717.571.8567 lbodisch@fult.com www.abwapennsquare.org Wheatland – Conestoga Chapter 6 p.m.

1st Tuesday of the month Heritage Hotel 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster Kimberly Warner, President kwarner@murrayins.com www.abwa-wc.org Women @ Work Express Network 11:30 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

2nd Thursday of the month Heritage Hotel 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster Diane Brooks diane@virtualbizzassistant.com www.abwalancaster.com

Shippensburg Women’s Area Networking (SWAN) Noon 1st Wednesday of the month Rotating location Amanda Ridgway, President shipswan@yahoo.com www.facebook.com/shipswan

Executive Women International Harrisburg Chapter 5:30 p.m.

3rd Thursday of the month Rotating location Deb Pierson dpierson@piersoncci.com www.ewiharrisburg.org

Women Inspiring Success Express Network 7 – 9 a.m.

2nd Tuesday of the month Various locations Wanda Stiffler 717.891.7808 wls1211@hotmail.com

Insurance Professionals of Lancaster County (IPLC) 5:45 p.m.

3rd Tuesday of the month, Sept. – May Heritage Hotel 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster Krista Reed, Treasurer kreed@gunnmowery.com www.internationalinsuranceprofessionals.org/ group/117

Women’s Business Center Organization (WBCO) 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

2nd Tuesday of the month Sept. through April Alumni Hall – West Campus York College of PA 441 Country Club Road, York Lynne Breil, Executive Director lynne@theprofessionaledgeinc.com Julie Sterner, Administrator jsterner@ycp.edu www.wbcoyork.org

International Association of Administrative Professionals Capital Region LAN 5:30 p.m.

3rd Monday of the month Holiday Inn Harrisburg East 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg Pam Newbaum pneubaum@pinnaclehealth.org 717.782.5787 www.iaap-harrisburg-pa.org

Women’s Capital Area Networking (WeCAN) 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

3rd Wednesday of the month West Shore Country Club 100 Brentwater Road, Camp Hill Abeer Allen, President 717.514.4449 info@wecanconnect.org www.wecanconnect.org Women’s Independent Networking Group (WING) Noon 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month Wyndam Garden 200 Louck Road, York Lisa Barshinger 717.747.6393 info@wingofyork.com www.wingofyork.com Women’s Network of York 11:30 a.m.

3rd Tuesday of the month Out Door Country Club 1157 Detwiler Drive, York Lori Detter, President president@wnyork.com www.wnyork.com

Hershey LAN 5:30 p.m.

2nd Tuesday of the Month Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive, Hershey 717.508.1710 Sherry Hoover shoover@hersheys.com www.hershey-iaap.org Pennsylvania Public Relations Society 5:30 p.m.

Last Thursday of the month Erin Kanter, President pprshbg@gmail.com www.pprs-hbg.org

BUSINESSWomanPA.com

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January 2017

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23

Connections

Yellow Breeches Chapter 6 p.m.

4th Wednesday of the month Comfort Suites 10 S. Hanover St., Carlisle Kerina DeMeester kerina1011@gmail.com

Central PA Association for Female Executives (CPAFE) 1st Wednesday of each month Refer to the website for the meeting location Adrienne Toman, President 717.713.7255 info@cpafe.org www.cpafe.org

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