Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast: the Magazine - March 2016

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Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast

the Magazine

Educating

Business Women for a Brighter Tomorrow

March 2016 Vol 2, Ed 1

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March 2016


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On the cover: Dr. Stephanie Duggan, accompanied by Quint and Rishy Studer Painting by Kim Hannan

In This Edition Organizing Chaos

Excellence: Above & 22 Beyond

8 Sacred Heart Hospital’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stephanie Duggan shares how the organized chaos of the emergency room resonated with the natural risk taker in her as she “found” her chosen career.

Aspiring for, and pursuing excellence in herself propelled Marine Captain Katie Higgins to earn pilot status in the elite Blue Angels tactical performance team.

18 Don’t

Accept “No”

30 Standing Tall

Port Authority Director Amy Miller learned early on how to stand on her own two feet in a highly competitive world portside.

March 2016

She claims to be an “odd duck” but “excellence” and “integrity” are the key words in describing Florida Forest Service employee Cathy Hardin.

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Balance, Boundaries, Attitude Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle

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The Ten Commandments of Hiring

16 Attitudes of Highly Successful Women 20

Build Your Interviewing Confidence

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Pursue Your Passion Conference & Gulf Coast Kid’s House

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The Story of Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast

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The Trickle-Down Effect of Good (and Bad) Leadership

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How Community Banking led to Community Leadership - Donna Mair shares how the Woodbury group of companies invested in women as leaders ahead of the trend in the U.S.

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Superwoman Isn’t Your Name

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Recommended Reading

“I am so impressed with Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast, the Magazine! I love that the magazine actually devotes enough time to do in-depth articles. That’s brilliant in an age where we have too much short format reading. It is beautiful to look at and is well laid out! What I enjoy the most are the profiles of women in the community, some I’m acquainted with and some I’m not and I love learning about them, reading their advice to women in leadership as well as advice to women contemplating leadership.” Diane Mack, President, Diane Mack Advertising

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Magazine Team It’s so exciting to realize we are beginning the second year of Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast, the Magazine! Upon starting this venture, we had several goals in mind: • to spotlight some of the many successful women in the Gulf Coast area, • to provide valuable content that would help our business community to take their businesses to the next level, • to bring an awareness of the activities of Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast to a larger audience, • and to provide another arena for advertisers that were interested in tapping into the business and professional woman audience. We are honored for the many that have helped us achieve these goals and have contributed to this venture so far. Your support, mentoring and encouragement is appreciated! Quint Studer - for your mentoring. Your words of wisdom are invaluable and we are grateful for your support. Malcolm Ballinger and the team at Ballinger Publishing - your professional advice and partnership are phenomenal. The featured interviewees - we all benefit from the time you took to share your story for our readers and we are confident your wisdom will inspire many others. Our advertisers - your partnership makes it possible to bring this magazine to the Northwest Florida business community. Our contributing writers - we could not do this alone. Thank you for adding flavor and your writing skills to this magazine. The many women of PWGC - thank you for helping spread the rich resources that our contributors provide in this magazine to the many women professionals across the area. Here’s to a successful 2016!

Kolleen, Kim, Elizabeth & Jenn Interviews: Kolleen Edwards Chesley Art Director & Photographer: Kim Hannan Business Manager: Elizabeth Nims Ad Executives: Jennifer Harrison Kolleen Edwards Chesley March 2016

Other Contributors: Quint Studer Rachael Gillette Sheri Hamilton Laticia Jackson Maggie Posey Amie Remington Rachel Rowan Michelle Woods Smith Susan Young

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Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast - P.O. Box 1125 Pensacola, FL 32591 (P) 850-529-0908 www.powerfulwomengulfcoast.com email to: Directors@powerfulwomengulfcoast.com

Read Online All Year

Published for PWGC by Ballinger Publishing.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within, however, PWGC is not responsible for any errors or omissions that might occur. PWGC does not endorse the advertisers and disclaims all liability for claims or damages that may result from transactions with PWGC, The Magazine advertisers or from the purchase or use of advertised products or services. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part in any way without written permission from PWGC.

Kolleen Edwards Chesley Kim Hannan Elizabeth Nims Jennifer Harrison

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March 2016


How

Organized Chaos LEADS TO

Value Leadership by Kolleen Edwards Chesley Photography by Kim Hannan The phrase “Don’t become a seeker of success, become a person of value” by Albert Einstein is an amazing way to summarize the business philosophies of Dr. Stephanie Duggan, chief medical officer and practicing emergency medicine doctor at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. She creates value in many ways, whether it is leading the medical staff at the hospital, building relationships while treating her patients in the emergency department or spending quality time with her husband and three children. Stephanie is an example of a natural risk taker who’s not afraid to jump in with both feet. Her horse riding coach told her when she was in sixth grade, “You know Steph, the career will pick you and pick something that you don’t ever have to go to work.” That resonated with her and when she was looking for a career, she took notice when it happened to pick her as simply as his advice said it would. While in medical training one particular day, she was assigned to the emergency department. When Stephanie walked into the resuscitation room they were treating an active code, a patient without a heartbeat from a gunshot wound, and they were in triage mode. The doctors performed a thoracotomy, where they crack open the chest cavity to access the heart. They were hand massaging the patient’s heart to try to get the circulation going. “At that moment, watching all the nurses, the trauma docs, the radiology techs, the emergency docs, the radiologists, and March 2016

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everyone else,” said Stephanie. “We were

already raw, they are ragged,” explained

added the role of chief medical officer.

all working together to do what we could

Stephanie. “So if you can meet the pa-

In her role as CMO, she provides daily

to save that life, I just felt completely at

leadership to the doctors and medical

home.”

staff for the hospital. A female CMO is not the norm in the healthcare industry.

Unfortunately, the bullet had done too

From a March 2014 article by Becker’s

much damage and though this was the

Hospital Review on “100 Hospital and

correct procedure, in this case they were

Health Systems CMOs to Know,” only 13

not able to save the patient.

out of the 100 were women.

“There is a mentality in the emergency

Building relationships is important

department where you thrive on that

to Stephanie and when she added the

adrenaline and you are able to main-

role of CMO, it reduced the amount of

tain and continue to think,” explained

time she could spend in the emergency

Stephanie. “You almost become sharper

department.

in the middle of the chaos, and I loved it; I absolutely loved it.” It was right then that Stephanie realized that organized chaos in the form of an emergency room doctor had picked her as her career path. Stephanie and her natural personality really suits her being an emergency department doctor. “It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice,” is a quote that resonates with Stephanie. It’s credited to John Templeton but stood out to her when she heard Roger Federer repeat it in an interview as a response

“I’m used to being hands on, so it turned from relationships with patients to relatient on a human level, you have a much better chance of finding out how you can

informal leaders,” explained Stephanie.

best help them. I’m always humbled by

Instead of a one to two day project of a

that fact that someone will take me as a perfect stranger and be willing to share with me what’s really the reason they are really in the emergency department. Because it’s not always what they put down on the triage sheet.” Stephanie also credits extra hard work for her success, “I wasn’t the brightest,

about what he thought was the most im-

but no one was going to outwork me.”

portant thing in life. For Stephanie, the

Being one of the few female doctors ac-

simple act of being pleasant and respectful to people is one of the ways that she connects with her patients and is able to do a better job. Most people don’t plan a visit to the

tually worked well for her. She got along with the nurses and other staff which helped her get noticed. In many careers, some women can feel held back from leadership because of their gender. That

emergency department, so Stephanie has

was not the case with Stephanie.

to be able to build a relationship with her

“It doesn’t matter if you are male or

patients quickly and gather the information she needs for a fast diagnosis and treatment plan and for the majority of the time with people who she has never treated before and might not ever treat again. “Sometimes when they come in, they’re PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

tionships with department chairmen and

female, just be the best and let your work stand for itself,” she said. Nonetheless, she still worked extra hard to make sure she stayed ahead of her peers.

case in the emergency department, it’s turned to one to two year projects of creating systems for the hospital that will last whether she is there or not. “Success for me is knowing that if I get hit by a bus tomorrow, the things we put into place will continue,” said Stephanie. Stephanie very much values the opinions of her doctors and medical staff. “The patient is always at the center of the decision, but you have to help people understand why we are making a change,” said Stephanie. “Not for better metrics or reimbursement; it’s because if I come to the hospital or my family or yours, we really want to have the best experience possible and if you don’t listen to people on the front line, I don’t know how you can make an informed decision.” Some of the best business advice she ever received was from a female mentor of hers and concerns working with others

A lot changed for Stephanie when she 9

on encouraging change. Stephanie was March 2016


frustrated after proposing something

That advice has allowed her to be a better

when her team couldn’t automatically

leader, be a better facilitator and accom-

see that the path she was proposing was

plish more in a changing environment.

what they needed to do.

When it comes to leadership, Stephanie

Her mentor said, “Whenever you are

shared her favorite traits of leaders in-

looking at a problem, always have at least

cluding humor, connecting and listen-

two solutions that you can live with,

ing. Unlike leadership traits, which are

because then you have people debating

skills and competencies, Stephanie is one

solutions, not debating whether you have

of those rare individuals who also exem-

a problem or not.”

plifies leadership character. Leadership

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character goes deeper than traits and represents values and virtues. With all of her success now, it’s amazing to hear from where she started and how much emotion is still tied to her earlier days. She was paralyzingly shy in high school, didn’t fit in and was bullied. “It still hurts,” she reflected. “I mean, the kids in eighth, ninth, and tenth grade were just mean.” “It’s how you handle the adversity,” she continued. “Especially for young girls, don’t let what other people think you are define who you are. You have to find your own voice and then believe God made you a unique individual to find your path. The joy of life is finding out who you are and living with that passion.” In addition to being a person of value, Stephanie advocates continuing to learn and grow. Another quote she appreciates is from Eleanor Roosevelt: “Do one thing every day that scares you.”

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Stephanie added, “Because then you aren’t afraid to try and you are still

www.CitySpree.com 850-512-1199

pushing yourself.” I would guarantee she challenges and pushes herself every day! ***

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March 2016


Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle Balance Boundaries Attitude

by Maggie Posey, LMHC, LMFT and Michelle Woods Smith, LCSW

Over seven years ago, we decided to open our own mental health therapy services practice. There were many decisions, risks, research, planning, and challenges to learn what it actually takes to open and maintain a business. We had both worked in a large community mental agencies and decided the ability to provide services in a way that we could fully dictate made the effort worth it. Throughout the years it has become evident that in order for us to be healthy we have to practice what we preach. It goes without saying that we would not be very effective at our job if we didn’t genuinely believe and carry out in our own lives what we encouraged others to do. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be extremely difficult. As women we are expected to perform many roles-business owner, employee, mother, spouse, friend, and the list goes on and on. Often a sense of busyness wears us out with little to no energy for nurturing ourselves. This can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, empty, alone, sad and many more. Creating within self a sense of balance is one of the keys to a healthy lifestyle. Balance

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can be gained through the consistent practice of nurturing

self. Thoughts are shaped by attitudes and perceptions, which

your body, mind, and spirit. Ignoring even one of these will

are formed from our beginning. Perceptions are simply how

likely cause either physical or emotional problems.

we view the world. This is played out in our attitudes and our

We are made up of a body, mind, and spirit. Each part of self needs attention. It is up to the individual to decide specifically how this is done and what works for her. Following are some suggestions we feel are crucial to overall well-being and keeping us healthy and sane in each of the roles in our lives.

First, the body or physical self gets nurtured through assuring one’s basic safety needs including food, clothing and shelter. Safety includes living conditions that are physically safe. If not met, focusing on the mind and spirit is more difficult. Nurturing the physical self also includes taking care of your body. Research reports the physical and emotional benefits of regular exercise. This can be anything that creates movement. Exercise for some does not sound appealing. If that is you, at least do some research on the many choices that are readily available (including free apps). We are fortunate enough to live in an environment that provides many different unique and beautiful opportunities to just be outside and move our bodies, which is also free. Again, research has proven that cardio exercise naturally increases production of the chemicals in our brains that control our mood and make us feel good. Sleep is another component of taking care of our bodies. Yes, we really do need an average of eight hours of sleep. We probably all know that children do better with a nighttime ritual/routine. Guess what? So do adults. Sleep hygiene studies encourage going to bed and waking at about the same time is best for us. Electronics before bed are not good, so put down that Candy Crush. Regular sleep will help you manage your day and mood better as you will be rested and able to think more clearly to handle whatever comes up.

Spiritual self is that part of us that defines our purpose and meaning of life and shapes our beliefs and values. It is defining what gives one joy, a sense of well-being, an ability to serve because we choose it, not out of obligation. It grows our faith in what we believe, and embraces the visualization of self in a positive light. If we are engaging in actions/behaviors that are outside of our value system, we will feel bad. Defining a set of values and living them out creates a sense of well-being.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (a best practice for the treatment of many mental health disorders) states that our thoughts create our emotions, thus creating our emotional PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

approaches to situations both inside and outside of ourselves. Our attitudes often view situations as good or bad, hard or easy, all or nothing. This can be summarized in thinking patterns appear to be black or white with no in between. It is healthy to learn to view situations not as black or white, but gray. Accept that we can see things in a balanced way. Feelings and thoughts are not facts. Just because it pops in our head does not mean that it is true. Look for the good in every situation, decide you are a human who succeeds and makes mistakes, take care of your feelings thoughts. Nurturing of one’s self, the body, mind, and spirit is the foundation for being in healthy relationships and creating balance. Our happiness begins within us and our ability to give and receive love, nurture, and care signifies healthy living. Nurturing of self and others in a reciprocal way creates healthy relationships. We all need to look at the people in our lives and make sure we are choosing others that are healthy. It is unrealistic to assume that every person in our lives is healthy. It is important to figure out what relationships you need to either let go of or upon which some new and healthier boundaries need to be placed. Being realistic, there are people in our lives that have to stay even though they are unhealthy. Remember even if the relationship has a long history of being unhealthy, it is okay to create new boundaries that are respectful and protect self. Healthy relationships have clear boundaries. It is okay to say no. However, if an assessment of the people in one’s life reveals that the majority of relationships is not reciprocal, then take heed and consider how this contributes to your overall stress level and sense of balance and well-being. Admittedly so, it is difficult to think of doing all of this. However, time spent addressing each part of self is well worth the gains that provide strength to manage difficult circumstances and the overall sense of well-being that comes through the practice of nurturing the mind, body, and spirit. The balance created within translates to the home, workplace, and relationships.*** Maggie Posey, LMHC, LMFT and Michelle Woods Smith, LCSW are owners and counselors at Finding Peace Counseling. They can be reached at findingpeace@findingpeacecounseling.com or at 850-471-1234.

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March 2016


Ten Commandments by Amie Remington, Esquire

2

Last week, I counted 30 different federal

fairness and equity, business owners can

laws that apply to employers in Amer-

recruit, select, and hire great employees without running afoul of the law.

ica. The applicability of each federal law to an individual employer depends on the employer’s size and location and whether or not the employer has a federal contract, the workforce is unionized, the employer is family owned, the employer participates in any federal programs such as E-Verify, and other factors. In addition, each state has its own set of employment and taxation laws. This is enough to make the most Type B, laid-back business owner a bit neurotic. Throw in the fact that municipalities have ordinances and regulations separate from the state and federal laws, and many business owners may face full-scale neurosis. However, there is no need to panic. The vast majority of these laws have a storied history and are designed to protect American workers. They ensure worker safety, equitable pay and fair treatment. With preparation, common sense, and an eye towards March 2016

The first and most important rule of recruiting, selecting and hiring great employees is that individual candidate’s sex, color, race, religion, national origin, age, marital status, and handicap/ disability is, in most cases, completely irrelevant to his or her ability to perform the tasks of the job for which they have 3 applied. Therefore, on applications and in interviews, questions relating to these topics should be completely

avoided.4 For example, hiring managers should never have a preconceived notion that they prefer a female to a male for a certain position (or vice versa) because gender simply isn’t a legitimate consideration for most jobs. There are limited exemptions to the rules regarding what factors should not be considered, but using an exemption you don’t qualify for can be costly. Before you decide to exclude a candidate from consideration 14

Hiring

of

The

1

for any of these reasons, it is best to seek counsel from your human resources de-

partment or your employment attorney.5 If you don’t take this step, your next step may be determining whether or not you have insurance coverage to defend a wrongful failure-to-hire claim. Job advertisements should reflect only legitimate job functions. In years past, one airline recruited “bright, resourceful, cool, collected, social, reliable, bubbly, confident and pretty” young, unmarried women. Another requested females “not over the age 25” with a bachelor’s degree or higher, who were “at least 160 cm,” whose weight was proportional to their height and who did not wear “dental braces.” 6 Females in

these positions were terminated if they became too old (about 32), married or became pregnant. Thankfully, we can fast-forward to 2016, when advertisements actually reflect the duties and tasks associated with the job. PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


After a well-crafted, on-point advertise-

candidates, rather than, say, an apples-

have logical explanations and can lead

ment is placed, it is imperative that your

to-fudge-covered-brownies comparison.

to a win-win scenario: the applicant gets

company train the person responsible

After all, fudge covered brownies will

selected for a great job and you end up

for hiring. All interviews should be

always win, right?

with a loyal employee.

Finally, some positions may merit a

No article on hiring and selection would

thorough background check. Remember

be complete without a discussion on

that an arrest is very different than a

social media. My best advice is simple:

conviction. Applicants should have the

Do. Not. Ever. Use. Social. Media. To.

opportunity to explain irregularities in

Vet. Candidates. One quick glance at

their background checks, and inquiries

a person’s profile will tell you several

should be specific to the job sought. For

things that are protected by law (and

example, if you are selecting someone

not relevant to the job), such as marital

In the interview, all applicants should

to handle large sums of money, or who

status, religion and whether or not the

be asked the same job-related questions.

may have access to financial systems or

candidate has children. Instead, use the

Avoid the temptation to go off-script.

data, you would be looking for convic-

legitimate techniques listed above and

The benefit is that you can then do an

tions for embezzlement, theft, or other

you’ll end up with a great employee.

apples-to-apples comparison of the

money-related crimes. Often, applicants

***

conducted by a person with a thorough understanding of the job description and the day-to-day functions of the job, such as time, educational, skill and physical requirements, any certifications or qualifications, along with anything that might automatically disqualify a candidate for the job.7

1. Ok, there aren’t Ten Commandments in this article. But

questions related to pregnancy. (Anyone with manners knows it

“Ten Commandments” was catchier than, say, “Six Command-

is rude to ask questions related to pregnancy anyways, right?)

ments,” right?

5. By “employment attorney,” I really do mean “employment

2. Warning: lawyers love footnotes. I am no exception.

attorney,” I don’t mean your best girlfriend who is a fantastic probate attorney. I mean someone who can define all 30 em-

3. There are a few bona fide exemptions from this rule. For

ployment laws. You wouldn’t go to a dermatologist for a broken

example, some types of religious institutions can insist that can-

arm or an orthopedic physician for a weird mole, would you?

didates practice the same religion. However, even within that

Same concept applies here.

exemption, there are exceptions, so business owners should seek expert help if there is any question or doubt.

6. Seriously. This is true.

4. As a protected category, “sex” is quite broad. Sex-based

7. For example, if the job requires a license/ certification, it is

considerations include sexual orientation. It also includes

likely fair to exclude all candidates who do not possess it.

Amie Remington is General Counsel for Landrum Human Resources Companies, Inc. www.LandrumHR.com, www.LandrumStaffing.com

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March 2016


Attitudes

of Highly Successful Women by Susan Young, MSA and Susanne Gaddis, PhD printed with permission

With earnest intentions, women will set goals and get busy in

behaviors that propel them forward faster. Highly successful wom-

hopes of accomplishing them. Regardless of their sincere efforts

en:

and hard work, results can fall short and disappointments arise.

• Set high standards and expectations. A remarkable dif-

There is a significant difference, however, between spinning your

ference between people who fail and people who succeed is their

wheels and gaining traction. Busyness does not always equate to

level of standards. Successful people set, maintain, and nurture

progress or moving forward. Many people stay busy being busy

higher standards for excellence, education, self-care, quality

to cover up their lack of results and productivity. Others may stay

friendships, and self-reliance. They willingly develop the habits

busy working hard, but not smart. Do you sometimes feel like

and behaviors necessary to support their

you are dancing as fast as you can, but getting

efforts.

nowhere fast? It is exhausting, isn’t it?

• Maintain an optimistic outlook. The

Achieving your goals is not simply about

main difference between optimists and pes-

desire, strategies, and persistence. Given that

simists is the way they process information.

we all have the same hours in a day and the

Optimists believe the best is yet to come and

freedom of choice, why is it that some women

when good things come they have sticking

fail while others succeed? Highly successful

power. Pessimists, on the other hand, believe

women know that their attitudes determine

that the worst is yet to come and that if some-

their altitudes and use this winning mindset

thing good happens, it won’t last. Healthy

to their advantage.

optimism enables successful women to

Peak performers, high achievers, and

become a self-fulfilling prophecy and magnet

goal getters share common attitudes and March 2016

for manifestation. 16

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• Don’t treat failure as an end result. Successful women

• Invite valuable feedback for continuous improvement.

keep going until they succeed. In fact, some people say that if you

• Have a clear vision of their desired outcomes. Highly

haven’t failed, you haven’t tried. They let F.A.I.L. stand for “First

successful women can visualize what it will look like and feel like

Attempt In Learning” and E.N.D. mean “Effort Never Dies.”

to meet, achieve, and exceed their goals.

• Embrace change and face it head-on. Highly successful

• Continuously set new goals and build success upon

women ask themselves, “What is the next step?” and remain open

success, feeding forward momentum.

and flexible to new situations. Change brings opportunities to learn, grow, and expand their experience.

• Create an environment that helps rather than hinders.

• Are not victims of circumstance and take personal re-

• Ask the right questions to uncover blind spots.

sponsibility for their choices. They hold themselves account-

• Seek the resources necessary and ask others for help

able and don’t play the blame game. Some of the most successful

when they need it.

women in the world were born into poverty or adverse circum-

• Have a can-do attitude and are open to new ways of

stances. Others have found the strength and courage to be resilient

being, doing, and thinking.

through economic hardship, divorce, illness, single motherhood, and more. By taking personal responsibility, they were able to

• Face their fears and do it anyway. Risk-taking is an essen-

overcome, conquer, and create meaningful lives with significance

tial part of getting out of their comfort zones to keep growing and

and purpose.

achieving.

• Experience a variety of positive emotions which rein-

Think about the successful women for whom you feel great admi-

happy, interested, hopeful, appreciative, and determined.

being, and what attitudes do they bring to the world? Do as the

force and support their goals. They are passionate, excited,

ration, respect, and affection. What are they doing, how are they successful do and you will find it will work for you, too.

• Are creative. They pursue creative ways and alternative solutions to achieve their objectives. When things don’t go the way they want, they shift into a new direction. When the going gets

This article is an excerpt from the upcoming book, “Let’s Goal Girls…The Ultimate Goal Getting Success Guide for Women” by Susan Young, MSA and Susanne Gaddis, PhD. As professional speakers, Susan and Susanne share decades of experience motivating the masses and helping people improve their lives. Their new book is full of tips, tools, exercises, and cutting edge research to help you: set and achieve your goals, maximize your potential, overcome challenges, and strike a healthy work/life balance. Please visit www.SusanSpeaks.com and www.CommunicationsDoctor.com to learn how they can help you take your Goal Getting Success to the next level.

tough, the tough get creative! • Have nurturing relationships. They realize that support and energy from other people help to foster their growth and synergize their dreams. They don’t go it alone. They get an ear to hear and supportive people who champion their pursuits.

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March 2016


Port Director

Amy Miller: When it’s RIGHT to not take “No” for an answer

by Rachel Rowan as interviewed by Kolleen Edwards Chesley Photography by Kim Hannan

Amy Miller’s grandmother was a real-life Rosie the Riveter. She was a welder in World War II, and in the 60s and 70s, she became an officer in her labor union—an unusual position, as most women “weren’t officers of anything but garden clubs” at the time, according to Amy. It’s from her grandmother that Amy learned how to command respect from her male counterparts. “There’s still this tendency for the men that I’m negotiating with to talk to me in that, ‘Well, let us tell ya, little gal,’ voice,” Amy said. “So you have to assert yourself in such a way that doesn’t offend them but kind of puts them in their place. And I think I got it from my grandmother because I’m really good at it!” Amy carries on her grandmother’s example in an unusual position of her own. As the director of the Port of Pensacola, she is one of just nine other female port directors in the country, and she is the only female director in the March 2016

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Gulf of Mexico region. There are 115 directors nationwide.

“Take as many writing, public speaking and communications courses as you can take,” Amy said. “You can apply

She is also unusual in the port industry because of her back-

that knowledge in virtually any career field you choose, and

ground. She holds a journalism degree from Ohio University,

it gives you really, really valuable training in how to speak

and she started out as a government reporter. Ten years into

properly and how to speak clearly. How to stand up in front

her reporting career, while working at a community paper

of 10 or 15 or 100 or 500 people and convey your message.”

in LaPlace, La., she was offered a PR job at the Port of South Louisiana. She has worked her way up in the industry in

Amy is not a fan of the typical “boss” behavior of giving com-

various departments—communications, sales, finance—ever

mands and expecting people to follow orders. Instead, she

since.

prefers a hands-on approach: she empowers her team to make decisions on their own whenever possible, and she shows

As port director, Amy is a powerful player in the city: the

them respect and appreciation by giving them more responsi-

port brings in $2.5 million dollars in revenue each year with

bility, even at the lowest level. People

an economic impact many times

aren’t motivated solely by money,

above that. But Amy doesn’t see her-

she said, but what she can’t say with

self as a CEO.

a pay raise—which is rare for city

“I’m just a department head with

employees—she says with a piece of

the City of Pensacola,” Amy said. “I

chocolate and a thank you note.

think that attitude really keeps me

“It’s just a little thing,” Amy said.

kind of grounded. I’ve been around

“But, I took the time to think about

the industry a long time now, and I’ve

them and that means the world.

seen some people make some pretty

There are things you can do to show

abrupt and pretty unsettling falls from

employees that you care about them,

grace. The type of person that tends

that you appreciate them, that don’t

to happen to is the person who starts

necessarily reflect in their check-

thinking they’re the end-all, be-all.

book.”

You have to be really careful to stay

Amy’s workplace mentality pairs well

grounded.”

with her advice to women in busi-

Amy credits much of her success to

ness, which boils down to adhering to

her ability to read people, which she

the Golden Rule along with a dose of

believes is a skill important to wom-

humility: “How does the saying go?

en no matter where they fall on the

‘Be careful of what hands you step

corporate ladder. It has helped her navigate business negotia-

on as you work your way up the ladder because one may be

tions with all kinds of people—especially men who attempt to

connected to the behind you have to kiss on the way down’. ”

assert themselves over her.

Being careful, however, does not mean being meek. To get

“You have to be able to tailor your message so that you are

ahead and fight for what they deserve, women should not be

understood by whoever’s listening to you,” Amy said. “Some-

afraid to speak up and demand attention. Amy says many

times I have to be very firm and very blunt. Other people

women of her generation and the one after were raised with a

you have to be more genteel with. Another woman, whom I

homemaker mentality, which tells them that the man is always

admire very much, used to say, ‘Sometimes you have to put

right, and if someone says no, even when you really need and

on your Junior League smile’. ”

deserve for them to say yes, you should stop asking.

Reading people and being able to level with them comes from

“Sometimes, you gotta be the ‘B’, ” Amy said. “You can do it

Amy’s journalism background. To high school girls who hav-

politely with class and with grace, but, sometimes, you just

en’t yet figured out what career they want, she highly recom-

have to not take no for an answer.”

mends a degree in communications. PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

19

(continued on p. 42) March 2016


LD

BUI

Your Interviewing

CONFIDENCE

by Sheri Hamilton

have to time to research you (and there are legal reasons they might not want to), it doesn’t mean that the hiring manager won’t get curious and do a search. While that beer keg stand pic may have been so cool a year ago, or last weekend, that may not be the first impression that you want them to have (unless you are going to be a beer party host).

Whether you are interviewing with a new company, or applying for a promotion within your current company, here are some tips to help you build your confidence and with it your dream job. References While some companies may not contact your references, an increasing number of larger companies are using automated questionnaires for your references to fill out. While your references may really like you, these questionnaires are very detailed (think personality test) and asking your references how they will rank you on various behaviors can avoid disappointing results.

Resume You’ve poured your heart and mind into the “perfect” resume but make sure you also have the knowledge of how and why behind what you accomplished and what the results were. Sample questions that hiring managers could ask might be: “It says on your resume that you did <insert amazing project here>. How did you measure results? Why did you approach that project the way you did?”

Online Reputation You’ve heard it before, but don’t forget to Google yourself and review your Facebook page for any inappropriate pictures or postings. If you have them, check other sites such as Twitter, Instagram or any other social networking sites you post on. While a company’s HR department may not March 2016

Research It sounds basic but sometimes it’s easy to forget what was in the job posting until they ask a specific question about it. Don’t forget to check out the company’s Facebook, LinkedIn, 20

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


which demonstrate you understand the job and are truly inter-

Twitter and their website, as well as Googling them. Knowing more about the culture, mission, vision and values can help you assess if you want to work for that company or department.

ested in it. Be Yourself! If you’ve rehearsed your lines so many times that you sound like you’re applying for an acting job, your real personality isn’t coming through. Communicating who you

While Glassdoor may not always be accurate, it can help to check it out. In addition, research can assist you with #6 and #2 below.

are and what you can bring to the table will showcase your skills and abilities. Remember that the interview may be like a first date, but the job should be more like a long term, happy, successful relationship. It’s about you fitting in with compa-

Dress While you are researching the company or the department you want to move into, look at pics or observe how employees are dressed. You know to wear your best suit to the interview, but it can be helpful to see how conservative, or not,

ny or department as much as it is the right job for you, your goals and aspirations. So be you, not who you think they want. Because you’re unique and wonderful and deserve to have a job

the company/department is. Your bright green neon shirt may fit in at the advertising agency, but not at the bank!

and career that allows you to live your dream.

Body Language When you are coming up with answers to interview questions, what is your body saying? If your answer to a question is that you are enthusiastic and eager, but your body language more closely resembles a napping sloth, it’s time

The bottom line? Know yourself, find your competitive advantage, communicate it and be ready to start your new career! ***

to make sure your eyes, smile and body position match the image you want to convey.

Sheri owns Hamilton Resources, an HR consulting company that

Possible Interview Questions (and Answers) Will there be

offer HR consulting to small businesses with interview questions

helps job applicants build interview confidence and skills. They also

behavioral based interview questions? A panel interview? Skills check? Knowing what type of interview to expect combined with your research will help you prepare confident and articu-

and solutions for their employee development needs. Contact her at sheri@hamiltonwellnessresources.com, 850-232-5175.

late responses. Umm, like, you know? Do you know what your bridge is? No, not the Three-Mile Bridge; the type you use in your speech. So many times when we interview and are nervous and hesitate, we use a bridge or filler word to fill the gap. Again, rehearsing answers can provide you with the feedback and confidence to make sure you like, umm, you know, get your message across clearly and concisely. Smart Questions Remember that research referred to in “Research”? That’s a great way to generate possible smart questions. Asking “what is your ideal candidate like?” typically is not going to score you any points as the interviewer has probably been asked that question numerous times and their usual answer is going to be to recite the job description for the umpteenth time. Smart questions will allow you to use your research and ask intelligent questions, PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

21

March 2016


Inspiring EXCELLENCE

BEYOND

the FLIGHTLINE

by Kolleen Edwards Chesley

Capt. Katie Higgins is already an accomplished woman. At 29 years old and a Marine Captain, she has logged over 400 combat hours plus 1300 flight hours. She is one of a handful of women military-wide that fly the C-130, a large combat plane. She has been deployed and served in combat zones on two separate occasions. And, in October 2014, she joined the elite ranks of the Blue Angels and made history by becoming the first-ever female Blue Angel pilot. She is part of the team that flies 70 flight demonstrations in 35 cities throughout their season. She is truly someone to admire and respect. Even with all of her career success, Katie displays true humility and quickly turns the focus to others: “We’ve had women on the team since 1969, so I’m not a ground-breaker with the Blue Angels. I’m definitely not a ground-breaker with women in the military in general. Women served in World War II and women have been in Marine Corps aviation since the early 1990s.”

keeping us safe.” She is grateful to be able to draw attention to these hard working women and the sacrifices they are making for all of us. Katie is not the only female with the Blue Angels. There are 19 females on the team, including in public affairs, event coordination, jet maintenance and some in the paint shop making sure each jet proudly displays the Blue Angel signature color and look. Being the first female pilot with the Blue Angels, Katie does have a spotlight shined on her probably more than her male counterparts, which is something again she has turned into an opportunity for others. “That is neat because I get to bring the message of the Blue Angels to a demographic that maybe hasn’t seen the Blue Angels as a life path or a possibility before,” she explained.

She is thankful to those women who have carved the path for her to be able to get where she is today and appreciates the opportunity to shine the spotlight on them while beyond applauded herself.

“I think the best part is definitely talking to the kids, being able to give autographs, being able to talk to them about the Blue Angels, about flying, about the military,” she added with a smile.

Katie is equally quick to mention the women currently serving in combat.

“Or about achieving success in any path they choose,” she added very seriously. “It’s really awesome to talk to somebody and say, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ and the kid says ‘I want to be a firefighter.’ And, then I can say, ‘Oh, that’s awesome! What do you have to do to become a firefighter?’”

“We do have women that are overseas right now, fighting ISIS, serving, standing watch over North Korea and other areas,” she applauded. “We have women that are fighting the good fight now which gives me the opportunity to fly these airshows that have large gatherings in the United States. They are the ones March 2016

You could just hear in her voice the natural mentor and teacher in her take over. 22

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


Katie’s natural tendencies to inspire greatness in others and the mission of the Blue Angels are in sync.

photography courtesy of United States Navy

“Our mission at the Blues is to inspire excellence through our pride and professionalism,” she said. “We’re not trying to recruit, we’re not trying to say you need to join the military. We encourage people to pursue excellence in whatever field that calls to them. You can be a doctor, lawyer, janitor, business owner, or an artist. You can do whatever you want to do but we hope to inspire you to excellence in that path.”

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

Katie also looks to her own experiences as opportunities for excellence. “You can set a goal and even if you fall short of that goal, you can still succeed at shaping yourself as a better person,” she explained further. “If you can experience a moment in your life that betters you as a person, that’s success. Whether it betters you in your financial state, or ethically, or betters you as a person through hardening you against criticism, as long as you come out as a better person for whatever you’ve done, I would say that is success.” During times of failure, Katie still looks to gain something from that moment. The phrase she turns to for support and gives as advice to others comes in the form of an African proverb that 23

March 2016


says, “Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.” “It’s not the easy times in your life,” she said. “It’s not the smooth sailing that shapes you as a person; instead, it’s those rough seas and the storms you have to weather that will make you a better woman, will make you a better officer and a better Marine, a better pilot, a better wife, a better mother.” Marines could not serve with excellence without exhibiting some common leadership traits. Traits such as resilience, adaptability, dependability, integrity, endurance, and courage. And, undoubtedly, they must be disciplined. When it comes to Katie, I was curious as to where she developed that discipline. Her father was a Navy pilot and both of her grandfathers were military pilots as well which makes her a third generation aviator. Did her discipline and work ethic come from the military men in her life? Actually, no. Katie credits her mom for instilling drive in her. Her mother assumed the role of homemaker after Katie and her brother were born so she could stay home and raise the kids. “My father was gone all the time because

the Gulf War happened when I was younger; he was one of the first people to respond to Sept. 11, so my mom was the one that was constantly around and instilled in me a drive.” Katie was also a competitive swimmer; she swam year round on a club team from six years old and onward, eventually swimming in college. Her mom “used

“She is phenomenal,” Katie says, speaking of her mom. “She doesn’t get a lot of the credit because she is a stay at home mom and she deserves that credit.” Listening to her talk about her mother with such respect and admiration was moving. It’s great feedback and inspiration for those women that are stay at home moms to remind them they are able to make a difference and serve such a vital role in the lives of their children. Katie’s biggest hero experience in life is also her biggest fear. When it comes to being scared of something, Katie fears not having a family and not having children. Her career has been the focus of her life.

swimming as a way to form me into somebody who worked for a goal,” she said. “In swimming, you’re not going to get faster if you don’t put in the hours; if you don’t try. That obviously helped with teammates and learning how to socialize with other kids, so swimming was a good outlet for me, but my mom really was the one that instilled in me that hard work and the discipline.”

“My biggest fear is that I never achieve that balance between a family and a successful career. I could continue on in the Marine Corps and never have children for the next 30 years and be very successful but never have that family balance.” “I never came to this team to break down any glass ceilings or any barriers or to be recognized for my gender,” Katie said firmly on being recognized for being a

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woman in her career. “I’ve made thousands of decisions in my life to get to where I am. Whether that’s go to the Naval Academy, join the Marines, become a pilot, or fly C-130’s.” “I’ve had these major decision that I’ve made,” she continued. “And that I’ve had to work towards to achieve these decisions and the only decision a lot of times I’m recognized for is the one I had no control over, on being a female.” “Once we finally achieve equality, I will no longer be a story. ‘First women’ will no longer be a story.” If she is successful with inspiring excellence and more and more women become successful in whatever fields, then Katie becomes less and less relevant. Let that sink in for a minute. Above all, Katie wants to remind our readers to remember and recognize the women (and men) currently serving overseas. “I get thanked for my service at every single show that I go to and while I definitely appreciate that,” Katie said. “I want to take all of those thank yous and I want to send them to those men and women overseas because they are the ones that truly deserve them.” “Luckily in the United States we can have airshows with thousands and thousands of people because of those men and women overseas keeping us safe and taking the fight to the enemy instead of letting them come over here,” she added. “I’m able to do my job and fly this awesome airplane and have a great time doing it because of those people that are sacrificing and because of their family and their children who are also sacrificing. I would encourage Americans to not forget about those people overseas.” Thank you, Katie, for all you have done and will do to protect our nation. Above all, thank you for being such and inspiration for others in whatever path they are on in life. ***

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The

story of

PWGC

by Kolleen Edwards Chesley

If you want to start a not-for-profit organization, the first thing

frequently at chamber meetings and such. We all belonged to

you complete is a business plan. You survey the local area to

various chambers and other local organizations and we each had

see what competitors are doing and what the potential for your

experience in leadership. We also saw each other at events held

organization could be. You determine budgets and marketing

by an organization called The Women’s Business Center out of

plans. You do a thorough analysis before you move forward.

Mobile that held Pensacola meetings. At the time, that was the

Well, for us, I guess we chose the non-traditional route. I fre-

only organization that held meetings strictly for women in business focused on helping women in business. We were content.

quently get asked about the story of Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast (PWGC) and how we got started, so I’ll at-

Then, Hurricane Ivan hit, and literally

tempt to tell it as best I can from my perspective.

overnight everything changed. If you

Let me start with a little background: three of us

were here through Ivan, you know exactly what I mean. Not only did the physical

women, Natasha Parvey, Kathleen Shoop and I

landscape change, but with the landscape

knew each other from business networking. All

changes, the infrastructure for business

three of us were in sales careers and we attended

networking changed. Entire chapters of

networking meetings to get exposed to prospec-

organizations ceased to exist, or were put on “indefinite hold,”

tive clients. Natasha and I both served on the board of American

because their members were dealing with recovering from the

Business Women’s Association and Natasha was also on the

storm. Restaurants and other venues closed down for repairs so

leadership team for the chapter of Business Network Interna-

even if networking meetings were planned, there was no place

tional (BNI), where she was a member. Natasha also lived a few

to hold them. The Women’s Business Center closed its doors, for

streets over from where I did so she and I had built up a casual

unrelated reasons to Ivan. Without business networking meetings,

friendship. Kathleen and I didn’t know each other as well, but

we were getting to know each other as we would see each other PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

29

(continued on p.40) March 2016


Cathy Hardin: S TA N D I N G TALL among the trees

by Rachel Rowan as interviewed by Kolleen Edwards Chesley Photography by Kim Hannan Cathy Hardin has a deep seeded drive for excellence. “I think

In 2014, Cathy was awarded two awards in connection to her

some of it is just born in people a little bit. A lot of it is just

service as county forester. She was named both Florida Tree

my beliefs; I believe God has put you here for a purpose and

Farm Inspector of the Year and Southern Region Tree Farm

he doesn’t want you to do it half-heartedly,” explains Cathy.

Inspector of the Year “for her exemplary effort educating and

Even with this strong conviction, like most of us, Cathy can

working with forest landowners in Florida,” according to the

be critical of herself.

Pensacola News Journal.

She considers herself her “own worst enemy.” She sometimes

She is quite modest about her achievements and chalks up

feels limited by her knowledge or intimidated by the presence

most of her success to the blessings of God.

of more experienced people. And, be-

Cathy continues to work hard to be a benefit to our

cause she works in a field dominated

county. “I have always loved nature” so this role is a nat-

by men, she said she often feels “like

ural fit for her. She says, “and I love that I feel like I’m

the odd duck.”

helping people, that’s my biggest joy.” And, then with a

But, she knows that to get by she just

big smile, she added, “and I don’t have to sit in an office

needs a little help from her friends.

for eight hours a day!”

Cathy has learned to pull herself up

Her awards and the benefits to our county are evidence

by seeking support from her friends

of her success but being applauded for that success is

and her church network.

not what drives her. “I guess I

As a Florida Forest Service employee,

don’t really think about success

Cathy is an authority on urban and

that much. I just do what I’m

rural forestry, forestry education programs, insect issues,

supposed to do.”

prescribed burns and beyond. She is also the person to

“Doing what you’re supposed

call with questions about the trees on your home or busi-

to do” is part of how Cathy

ness property: what to plant, where to plant, and how

defines

healthy your trees are. March 2016

30

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


success to which she adds “doing so with integrity and excellence” and “meeting your goals.” “Always strive to do a little more than what’s required,” Cathy said. “I always tell myself to be excellent. I remind myself that honesty is the best policy. Always do stuff with integrity.” One of the ways Cathy keeps herself on track is by regularly reviewing her goals. “I review the goals they (government) give me.” She keeps them written out on a spreadsheet that she uses every day so she can’t miss them. With her personal goal setting, she takes it even deeper by consistently asking herself questions, such as, “What is my purpose in life? What am I here for? Am I accomplishing that daily, not just 20 years from now?” Other focuses for Cathy include she’s learned the value of being organized and getting to bed on time. She also places a high value on maintaining relationships with her friends, coworkers, supervisors, other county foresters, and God. According to Cathy, successful people share certain traits: they practice excellence, work hard, are willing to learn, and they don’t pretend to know everything. She appreciates when successful people are willing to share what they know. “I’m the kind of person that, if I know them well enough, I’ll ask, ‘How do you do that?’” Cathy said. “I don’t just watch it; I want to know how they accomplish it.” As county forester, Cathy works with many different agencies and different people. She has learned that working together with others doesn’t have to be a battle. “Different people have different values and that is okay,” Cathy said. “If they don’t value the same thing, we can still work together.” She extends that idea to differences in style, such as approaches to organization, timeliness and structure. “Just because somebody is unstructured doesn’t mean they can’t be successful,” Cathy said. “They just process things different than I do. I’m a very linear, structured, chronological person, but not everybody is and that’s okay.” Cathy didn’t come by her success—or her current position—easily. Born and raised in Cantonment, she wanted to find a job in

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

(continued on p. 33) 31

March 2016


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March 2016

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Escambia County so she could stay close to home. However,

County when the county

after she was turned down multiple times for jobs here, she

forester position became

decided to accept her first position in a different county. Still,

available, but she almost

she doesn’t regret going after the positions in the first place.

didn’t take it. She had decided to put down roots

“Whether you think you’ll get the job or not, interview for it,”

in Tallahassee, and choos-

Cathy said. “It’s very important to allow yourself to fail.”

ing to leave and virtually

Moving was tough, but it turned out to be one of the best

start over—even though

things she ever did. Cathy grew as a person and gained more

she would be returning

self-confidence, and moving to a place where she didn’t know

home—was incredibly

anyone forced her to learn how to network.

difficult.

After serving as county forester in Gadsden and Leon

What helped her make

counties, Cathy was asked to move back home to Escambia

the decision to return, and

When should you consult the county forester?

what helps her make many important life decisions is asking the people around her for advice.

• If you have questions about trees on your property (home or office), including what kind they are, where they should be planted so that they thrive, and what kind of trees will grow best. • If you want to know about the health of your trees or the risks they pose. • If you are a rural landowner who needs technical assistance including land management plans (Cathy’s specialty!) to attract certain kinds of wildlife or to manage and sell the timber on their land. • If you need recommendations on disease or insect issues, such as the Southern pine beetle. • Cost: free

“It’s important to get a lot of counsel,” Cathy said. “Counsel from people that know me best, counsel from people that are ahead of me on the road. You weigh that counsel, you present it before God, you pray, you talk to Him and you let Him lead.” Cathy loves her job because she feels like she is doing something worthwhile, and she often finds it helpful to refocus and remind herself why she loves what she does. “I love that I feel like I’m helping people,” Cathy said. “That’s my biggest joy and I love that I don’t have to sit in an office eight hours a day. I love the land, and I want to stand up for the land. I want people to understand creation, and I want people to see God through creation.” ***

FINDING THE

RIGHT FIT IS

HUMANLY POSSIBLE

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March 2016


The Trickle-Down Effect of Good (and Bad) Leadership

by Rachael Gillette

You make a difference.

likely to split with your spouse.

Your behavior affects others more than you may think.

With this in mind the pair conducted a study of 265 pairs of high-level managers (HL) and their mid-level manager direct

Although you may not have heard of the term “social conta-

reports (ML). The results were dramatic: “We found highly

gion” you are probably aware of the phenomena. Writing for

significant correlations on a variety of behaviors.”

the Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/) Jack Zenger

Within the behaviors that appeared contagious, there were

and Joseph Folkman discuss whether or not “social contagion”

some that appeared even more contagious than others. Behav-

affects leaders and how your behavior can have a profound

iors that had the highest correlations between managers and

affect, for good or bad, on those around you.

their direct reports clustered around the following themes,

We know that emotions are contagious. Research by UC San

listed in order of most contagious to least contagious:

Diego’s James Fowler and Harvard’s Nicholas Christakis has shown that happiness is contagious, for example. If you have

Developing self and others

a friend who is happy, the probability that you will be happier

Technical skills

rises by 25 percent.

Strategy skills

We also know that behaviors are contagious. Christakis and Fowler determined that if you have overweight friends, you’re

Consideration and cooperation Integrity and honesty

more likely to be overweight yourself. If you quit smoking, your friends are more likely to quit. Rose McDermott of Brown University found that divorce is contagious. She concluded that if you have a close friend who’s divorced, you are 33 percent more March 2016

Global perspective Decisiveness Results focus 34

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


The upshot is: “The things you do poorly have a reasonable probability of being mimicked by others. Your peers, your direct reports, your partner or spouse, and your children also have a high probability of practicing the example you set.” Leadership skills may not be something you are born with, but they are within your control. Take action to be a better leader now! For more information please visit www.studeri.org or contact info@studeri.org *** Read the rest of the article at (https://hbr.org/2016/01/ the-trickle-down-effect-of-good-and-bad-leadership?utm_ source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=harvardbiz) to find out more on the impact you make. Originally hosted on Studer Community Institute website, http://studeri.org/2016/01/32074/ Rachael Gillette is the Director of Professional Development for Studer Community Institute where she is responsible for creating curriculum and implementing leadership training programs. She can be reached at rgillette@studeri.org. The mission of the Studer Community Institute is to improve the quality of life for the people in the Pensacola Metro Community.

“When people look at a good leader, research shows one of the number one things is ‘can they be concerned and care about me?’ When you look at female leaders, that’s one of their ultimate strengths is that they just seem to be naturally good at personal relationships and that’s what this [magazine] is all about, creating personal relationships. Some women actually make the better leaders because that’s one of those natural strengths they have.” Quint Studer Founder of Studer Community Institute PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

35

March 2016


HOW

CommunityBanking led to

CommunityLeadership

by Kolleen Edwards Chesley

This is the story of how a group of local community banks is succeeding against the norm for women in banking. The norm is that it’s rare to see women in leadership in banking. National statistics show that women enter a banking career as tellers and other lower ranking positions in numbers about equal to and often larger than men; however, the ratio of women to men lessens as you look higher into the positions of banking executives. At the top, men still vastly outnumber women. Donna Mair has been fortunate to not have had that stark reality limit her career. She is one of many women in a tight-knit, supportive, and successful community of independent banks in Pensacola. Donna is not only a member of the community; she holds a high leadership position as Presi-

Her dad was a big influence on her. “He was such a hard worker,” said Donna. “He certainly lived by example and he loved what he did. He loved banking.” Warrington Bank, Bank of the South and Bank of Pensacola (previously known as First Navy Bank) were all founded by Charles P. Woodbury, a forward-thinking man who became one of Northwest Florida’s most successful businessmen. These three locally-owned and operated community banks are independent and they also operate as sister banks by sharing resources and common leadership among them. “Mr. Woodbury’s philosophy was: if it’s good for the customer and good for the bank, then you do it,” said Donna. “I’ve always lived by that.”

dent of Bank of the South.

March 2016

South, had an opening for her secretary position and Donna was looking to go fulltime, it was a perfect fit. “Rose Marie was one of the smartest ladies I ever met in banking and she was probably one of the first women bankers in the area,” Donna reflects. “She was willing to let me learn anything I wanted to learn and really be a good mentor to me. I think that’s one of the important things, you let people learn as much as they are willing to learn around you. Nobody is indispensable, the organization runs better if you let people grow and that’s what I was allowed to do.” She was a good teacher to Donna and con-

Mary MacGregor, her vice president, is

“I started as a teller at the walk-up win-

grew up hearing banking all my life.”

cashier and vice president for Bank of the

There are others: “At Bank of the South,

was Pensacola Junior College at the time.

banking family, my dad was a banker, so I

when Rose Marie, who was the current

she is now retired from full-time banking.

time in 1973 while going to college at what

from day one,” Donna said. “I come from a

a teller for the first couple of years and then

tinues to lead on their board even though

Donna started working at the bank part-

dow that we used to have and just loved it

was Rose Marie Tyrrell. Donna worked as

basically the face of our bank. She started

Surround Yourself with Success Donna’s rise to the top of the bank had a lot to do with the supportive people that were around her. One of those first influences 36

at the bank in 1975 and every customer knows her.” Gail Russo, the President of Warrington Bank, has a similar story to Donna and has PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


worked her way up to the top, as well. “I work very close with her,” says Donna. “As well as Martha Kilpatrick. Martha retired after she was at the bank for 50 years and still sits on the board as well. Mar-

One of the ways they encourage growth is

time,” Donna said on celebrating others.

to cross-train everyone. “It’s critical. Not

“And I recognize when they do something

only for the good of your people because

and I just hope it’s the way that I treat peo-

the more they know, the better, but it’s also

ple that shows I appreciate them.”

critical for us being a small bank,” she said.

“Learn everything you can,” Donna shared

tha was the cashier and vice president at

for those looking to improve their career.

Warrington Bank back in the ‘50s, so there

“Come in with a smile on your face and ab-

have been opportunities for women in this

sorb everything. My thing to myself is your

organization that have really been good.”

day is what you make it, it can be a good day or a bad day. You can choose to make it

These are just a few of the many women

a good day.”

over the years that have risen to leadership in these sister banks. “It’s been women for a long time,” Donna said reflecting back to the officers of Bank of the South over the years. Was that strategic to promote only women, I asked? “We’ve just had the right people at the right time and it’s worked out it’s been women, I guess,” Donna replied. “We’ve all been given opportunities and I don’t think any of

For Bank of the South and their sister Donna was a single parent during her career and she thought back to that time.

banks of Warrington Bank and Bank of Pensacola, it’s admirable to look at their leadership and see that opportunities were

“Boy, it was a struggle working and raising

there and so many women rose to the

a child and so I try to recognize that with

challenge to take them. Looking deeper

my young parents,” she said.

you can admire a culture that was created

Cross-training hurts less when employees need to be out. “I hope I’m encouraging to them all the

and still carries on in these locally-owned, smaller but oldest banks in Pensacola many, many years ago by Mr. Woodbury and say thank you! ***

us have ever felt that we’ve been held back.”

If you are willing to do the work that it

takes and you have the right skills, then it

doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman. “You have to work hard and do the right thing. People know what ‘the right thing is’ and you just have to keep that focus,” Donna added. “Surround yourself with good people; that’s a key.”

Continuing the Tradition Donna, like her father, leads by example. On mentoring other people in the bank, Donna said, “I would hope that I do. I just think you treat people the way you want to be treated and I love when people want to learn. I don’t ever see that as a threat.” “For leaders,” Donna said. “Nobody is indispensable so you want to encourage others around you to learn and grow and give them credit for what they do.” PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

37

March 2016


SUPERWOMAN Isn’t Your Name

by Laticia “Action” Jackson

If you have ever felt the need to shout, “I need time for myself,” welcome to the Superwoman Club. As women and business owners, we often find ourselves taking care of others as if it is programmed into our DNA. To make matters worse, we often believe saying “no” is a cardinal sin. As a result of being afraid to say no, we can find ourselves overwhelmed, overworked and sometimes overweight. What is even more challenging about being a Superwoman is when we finally decide to make time for ourselves, the feelings of guilt and selfishness take over. Does this sound all to familiar to you? If it does, allow me to tell you a little secret. Come close. Are you listening? Here it goes: it’s perfectly acceptable to take your Superwoman cape off an hour a day in order to do something healthy for yourself. Besides, if you don’t take care of yourself, how can you take care of anyone else? How will your business grow when you’re not well rested, hydrated or healthy? I understand the challenge of balancing life, work and family, but it’s finally time to take time for yourself. Yes, I used the word TAKE. The new year is here and there’s no better time to reset, refocus and rededicate time for a more healthier and productive you! How does that sound? Did I you just hear you exhale? I know it’s hard to accept that you need a break sometimes, but hey, even Clark Kent took time off! Therefore, allow me to provide you March 2016

38

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


with five tips to help you get back to you! Don’t forget, making a renewed commitment to yourself doesn’t

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Kathleen Vestal Logan, M.S., M.A.

Don‘t take yourself so seriously. If you make a mistake

Inspirational Speaker & Writer •

or things do not turn out the way you want them to,

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evaluate the situation take necessary steps to prevent the

Founder & President, Mainstay Financial Group

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Paint Your Palate Colorful

It’s Never Too Late to Love Your Body & Yourself Laticia “Action” Jackson

Each day aim for at least three different colors of food

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39

March 2016


(continued from p.29)

rebuild my business and attract new

experience. So had Natasha and so had

it meant redesigning my marketing efforts

clients; however, I absolutely had ideas

Kathleen. When we showed up to the

on how to reach out to potential clients.

for Natasha and her business and Kath-

next meeting there were more than the

I began to realize that by attending those

leen and her business. The funny thing is,

original three, there were about ten of

networking meetings, I also got other

Kathleen had ideas for me and Natasha

us. We had the same response from that

benefits than just meeting new people—it

also had ideas for me as well as each other.

meeting—empowerment, motivation,

was a place I had been able to share my

We were shocked at how much informa-

encouragement, and a focus on building

business concerns with others and gained

tion we shared openly to help each other

each other’s businesses.

a lot of great business advice.

and it wasn’t just social, it had a business

That was in 2004 and we called ourselves Women’s Business Lunch. In 2009, we added a second monthly meeting in Gulf Breeze. We continued to exist like that until 2013 when we incorporated as Powerful Women of the Gulf Coast. We created directors for the organization

Turns out, I wasn’t the only one lost and frustrated. Natasha, Kathleen, and I ended up having lunch on a Friday at Franco’s downtown. It might have been one of the few restaurants open and it was just weeks after the storm hit. We had no purpose;

and started building

focus, which is what we all needed at that

a true structure for the organization. We

time. We felt so empowered, motivated,

formalized our mission of promoting,

and encouraged after that lunch! And

advancing, and improving women in

right then, we all flipped open our paper

business. The organization was born

calendars (remember this was 2004!) and

organically out of a need that women

wrote in our next meeting a month from

we just wanted to have lunch and share

that day.

our frustrations with our local situation.

The feeling of motivation stayed with me

However, that meeting was amazing! I

and before the next meeting, I had told

had no idea what I was going to do to

a dozen or so other women about that

shared and has continued under a culture of women supporting other women. There is a lot more to tell, so stay tuned for another chapter in the story! ***

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850.857.0320 PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com


Recommended Reading Always Make Your Future

BIGGER than your past

by Kolleen Edwards Chesley Name a movie you’ve seen that you wish ended differently

that. This concept is the first law in Dan Sullivan and Catherine

than it did. Spoiler alert warning if you haven’t seen these: I’m

Nomura’s book, The Laws of Lifetime Growth.

about to reveal some endings! One that might jump out to you

Law number one is: always make your future bigger than your

could be Gone Girl because the movie ending was completely

past. This law can work for you no matter what your past has

different than the book ending. Maybe it is Message in a Bottle,

been. If you have had a phenomenal past, then your future can

because he dies in the end. For me, that movie is Hachi: A Dog’s

be even more phenomenal. If your past hasn’t been so great, this

Tale which is a true story of a faithful Akita, who after his own-

is your chance to rewrite that story and make your future better.

er dies continues to return to the train station where he used to

You have the power to choose to make your future whatever you

sit and wait for his owner every day for nine years. It’s a great

want.

movie but the dog dies at the end and the closer you get to the

The first step Dan talks about with this concept is the impor-

end, the more you see the sad part coming.

tance of believing that this law is possible no matter where you

Every one of us can probably think of a movie that we wish we

are in life or in your career. If you are at the beginning of your

could change the ending. Unfortunately, we can’t change the

career, you have a lot of opportunities to create a bigger future

endings. I can watch Hatchi a hundred times and like clock-

and most of the time they are pretty easy to see. However, if

work, the dog will still die in the end. It will always end the

you are towards the end of your career, you also have an equal

same. That’s because the script has already been written, the ac-

number of opportunities to create a bigger future, but you have

tors have already been cast, the scenes have already been shot.

to look harder to see them. I don’t believe there is ever a point

However, that’s not how life works. You can change life! Every-

where you have “done it all.” If you feel like you are stagnating,

thing that has happened in the past is already done; we can’t

try something out of your comfort zone! Joining a Toastmasters

change that. But, we have absolute control of what happens in

club is an example of something that was out of my comfort

the future. We can decide to do something completely differ-

zone when I did it, but soon became one of the best professional

ent right after reading this article and our lives will be forever

development programs I did. When I pulled this book off my

changed. The future for us is unwritten: that story has not been

shelf, I noticed my bookmark is my “Best Table Topics” ribbon I

told, those actors have not been cast, and those scenes have not

earned during my time in Toastmasters. I still treasure this

been shot. At this moment, we have complete control of all of

PowerfulWomenGulfCoast.com

41

(continued on p. 42) March 2016


(continued from previous page)

“PWGC not only provides a forum for women in business to network and share ideas, this dynamic group invests in our community by giving a significant portion of the proceeds from the Annual Pursue Your Passion Conference to nonprofit organizations who improve the lives of many in our community. As someone who is very passionate about giving back to our community, I appreciate that part of PWGC’s mission involves community support.” Cyndi Warren, CPA

Managing Member of Warren Averett

ribbon because speaking “off the cuff ” was one of the hardest skills I had to tackle. Look for opportunities to learn and grow. They are out there! Another step Dan talks about in this first chapter is to try to imagine what a bigger future could be by asking yourself what he calls the “R-Factor Question®.” The R stands for relationship and the question to ask is: “If I were sitting here three years from today, looking back on today, what would have to have happened in that time for me to be happy with my progress?” According to Dan, when you ask yourself this question and you put on paper what your dreams are, then you are creating a relationship between your current self and your future self. Don’t stop now! Check out one of my favorite books, The Laws of Lifetime Growth by Dan Sullivan and Catherine Nomura and make your future bigger than your past. *** (continued from p. 19) However, she warns, when you go after what you want, you have to know what your breaking point is. Decide ahead of time how much you’re willing to give or give up before you fight tooth-and-nail. Amy cited a situation many years ago where she confronted her boss about immoral and possibly illegal practices in which she refused to partake, and had her boss chosen to continue them, she would have walked. Luckily, he gave in, but Amy was willing to quit her job for what she believed in, and she was the only one of her coworkers to do so. The courage to confront that situation comes from self-confidence, which Amy defines as “the confidence of knowing you’re right and knowing that it’s that important.” Just like her grandmother, Amy has used her self-confidence to grow and succeed in an industry that is still coming around to accepting women. But her fun, quick-to-laugh personality has certainly helped—as is the fact that she isn’t afraid of a little self-deprecation. “I’m a dork! I’m just a goof-off. I’m just a geek and dork!” ***

March 2016

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