RWM April 2012 Issue by Rochester Woman Magazine

april 2012

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PLATTER CHATTER

skin cancer PART III:

THE CELLAR DOOR

prevention

QUEEN OF ARTS JERSEY BOYS’ NATALIE GALLO

got doodie? The Woman Behind This Pet Product Powerhouse

rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012

w w w. r o c h e s t e rwo m a n m ag . c o m

“COMEDY WITH SPRINKLES”

Photos by Ken Huth

- The New York Times

April 3 - April 29 | By Tracy Letts | Directed by Mark Cuddy (585) 232-4382 | Groups: (585) 232-1366 x3057 | www.gevatheatre.org Some characters use profanity. Recommended for ages 15 and up.

2011-2012 Season

Co-Produced by

by Volunteers of America

BETTER BRANDS AMAZING PRICES

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RESALE STORES

april

contents ETC

platter chatter: THE CELLAR DOOR

fashion forward

special feature: skin cancer part 3

LEADING WOMAN

FABULOUS FINDS

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

LOCAL BUSINESS MATTERS

IN HER OWN WORDS

tIPS: RWM SPRING CLEANING

HEALTHY WOMAN

QUEEN OF ARTS

COVER STORY: GOT DOODIE?

WISDOM IN A TRAFFIC JAM

FITNESS

RW INSPIRE

WORLD OF WOMEN SPORTS

MAKING DOLLARS AND SENSE

SPECIAL FEATURE: JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT

GARDENING DIVA

RW READS AND WRITES: JEREMIAH’S HUNGER

EVENTS CALENDAR

RWM PETS

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ROCHESTER

WOMAN magazine

OUR TEAM... Publishers

Kelly Breuer Barbara McSpadden

Editor-in-Chief

Barbara McSpadden

Creative DIRECTOR Kelly Breuer

Graphic Design Jessica Bates Melissa Meritt

Letter from the PUBLISHERS “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face…you must do the thing you think you cannot do.” -- Eleanor Roosevelt We’re excited to bring you this issue of Rochester Woman Magazine as we celebrate women entrepreneurs. Since women-owned businesses contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, it’s only fitting that we devote an entire issue to the many terrific women in our area who have created successful businesses of their own. According to the U. S. Department of Labor, the number of women-owned businesses has grown significantly in recent years. Between 1997 and 2007, the number nationwide grew by 44%, twice as fast as firms owned by men. This has added roughly 500,000 jobs to the market, while other privately-held firms have decreased employment. The innovative woman on our cover this month epitomizes that entrepreneurial spirit. Kristin Elliott is a mother, teacher and business owner. A few years ago, Kristin saw a need for a very special pet product and after much research and development, created the Doodie Pack. Her amazing dog utility pack has taken the pet product industry by storm and is continueing on its path to getting bigger and even more successful in the pet product market. Read all about her wonderful, inspiring story on page [32]. And just in time for the warm, sunny weather, we bring you the final installment of our three part series on The Skin Cancer Epidemic. This last chapter in the series discusses the best ways to protect ourselves from the damaging rays of the sun. It’s a must-read for everyone before they head out to enjoy the sunshine for yourself, family and friends. Read all about it on page [12] This issue of Rochester Woman Magazine also marks the launch of a brand new website for us. We’ve redesigned the site and given it a much needed facelift so that we can provide you, our readers, with more information to inform, entertain and inspire you. We’ve even added video testimonials from some of our incredible advertisers and readers. Go online to www.rochesterwomanmag.com and check out for yourself all of the wonderful information that is right at your fingertips. Then, let us know what you think! We hope you enjoy this spring issue . Winter, such as it was, appears to have fizzled and gone, so there’s nothing stopping you from going out, sitting on your porch and enjoying our latest edition.

Kell y & Barb

On Our Cover...

Photography for the cover story was provided by Brandon Vick Photography and makeup and hair was done by Tiffanie Niger from Hair by Tiffanie.

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Photography Todd Elliott Jenniffer Merida Brandon Vick

Contributing Writers Jessica Bagley Jenn Bergin Sarah Jane Clifford Ashley Cooper Colleen Flaherty Frances Grossman Aki Henderson Sherrif Ibrahim, M.D. Joan E. Lincoln Angella Luyk ZIna JC Nelson Mark Forrest Patrick Sraddha Prativadi, M.D. Caurie Putnam Nicole Shein

Advertising Sales Bob Farrell Lorna Lee

Advertise with us...

Unlike any other publication in the Rochester area, our feature articles address major topics that interest local women. Each issue includes articles on health, fashion, fitness, finance, home matters, dining, lifestyle and personal perspectives, as well as a spotlight on local Rochester women. Ads are due on the 15th of the month prior to publication. The print magazines will be distributed locally in over 350 locations and will be in your inbox electronically by the middle of every month. The publication is available free of charge. Contact our home office 585.924.4426 10 East Main Street Suite 301 Victor, NY 14564 info@rochesterwomanmag.com Download our media kit at www.rochesterwomanmag.com The magazine is published 11 times a year by InnovateHER Media Group, llc. 10 E. Main St., Suite 301, Victor, NY 14564. Copyright © 2012 InnovateHER Media Group, llc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without the consent of the publishers. Rochester Woman Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts, photos or artwork. All such submissions become the property of InnovateHER Media Group, llc. and will not be returned.

april movies...

Set in modern day and based on the characters originated by Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Jerome “Curly” Howard, the story centers on the slapstick adventures of the three stooges skillfully played by Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean P. Hayes and Will Sasso.

4/13

Logan Thibault (Zac Efron), a Marine, survives three tours in Iraq. He attributes his good fortune to a photograph he carried of a woman (Taylor Schilling) he has never met, and he sets out to meet his good-luck charm when he returns to North Carolina.

4/20

This Disney Nature documentary spans 15 years as it follows a chimpanzee named Senengal and her journey from childhood to motherhood.Reflecting chimps’ genetic closeness to humans, these animal subjects inject plenty of humor and drama into this remarkable film

4/20

4/27

A second-rate cage fighter, Luke Wright lives a life of beatings and chump change...until the day he blows a rigged fight. As payback, the Russian Mafia murders his family and banishes him from his life forever. Luke then witnesses a frightened twelve-year-old Chinese girl, Mei, being pursued by the same gangsters who killed his wife; he jumps to action...and straight into a deadly high-stakes war.

Startup Weekend is Coming to Rochester April 27-29

Startup Weekends are 54-hour events where developers, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups

The weekend-long, hands-on experience allows entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs to find out if startup ideas are viable. On average, half of Startup Weekend’s attendees have technical backgrounds, the other half have business backgrounds. Beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, attendees are encouraged to bring their best ideas and inspire others to join their team. Over Saturday and Sunday teams design and develop business plans while constantly streamlining their startup vision. On Sunday evening teams demo their prototypes, listen to judges’ feedback and in some cities, win prizes.

Startup Weekends are specifically designed for entrepreneurs interested in receiving feedback on an idea, looking for a cofounder, or who want to learn a new skill. We also welcome anyone looking to test the entrepreneurial waters. Startup Weekends are risk-free environments where everyone is expected to roll up their sleeves and dive into the exhilarating world of startups.

Rochester Startup Weekend is being held April 27-29 at Eastman Business Park, 200 West Ridge Rd. Those looking to test their ideas or entrepreneurial spirit can sign up at Rochester. StartupWeekend.org. The registration fee is $99.

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Easter Seals New York 2nd Annual Walk Kick-off Event Easter Seals New York will present its 2nd Annual Walk Kick-off Event hosted by Buffalo Wild Wings on Thursday, April 26th, 2 0 1 2 . The KickOff Event will be the perfect opportunity for Rochesterians to come together, have tons of fun, and hear about the services Easter Seals New York is doing for individuals with disabilities or special needs in the Rochester community. For a donation of only $5, attendees will enjoy free refreshments and drink specials, including Buffalo Wild Wings’ signature chicken wings, and participate in a Chinese Auction to win prizes from restaurants and attractions around Rochester. This Kick-Off event is the lead-in to Easter Seals New York’s 6th Annual Walk With Me Rochester taking place on Saturday, June 2nd, at Sahlen’s Stadium. “The Walk and Walk Kick-off Event are wonderful opportunities for people to come together, have fun, and fundraise for services for children and adults with disabilities,” explained John W. McGrath, MPA, Executive Director of Advancement for Easter Seals New York. “The support we see from these events, not only from our corporate sponsors, staff, and volunteers, but from the Rochester community, is always wonderful. It shows how valued Easter Seals New York services are in the Rochester community.” Easter Seals New York provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families, to have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities. For 90 years, they have helped children and adults living with disabilities, and their families. Last year, Easter Seals New York provided vital services to over 18,000 individuals throughout the New York State. For more information about Easter Seals New York or the Walk Kick-off Event, call (585) 957-9247 or visit www.eastersealsny.org.

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the Cellar Door sugar mountain bake shot

Modern, Fresh, Inspired Food by nicole shein I photos by brandon vick When it comes to restaurants, Victorian architecture is a lovely asset, but Victorian cuisine is less so (after all, there’s a reason that aspic hasn’t made a comeback). Fairport’s Cellar Door restaurant provides all the ambiance of an historic era, with modern, fresh and inspired food.

Once a coal cellar, then a post-Prohibition taproom, this cozy and low-ceilinged space, located in the Green Lantern Inn, boasts some amazing details: a stunning stained-glass peacock, a hostess stand re-imagined out of an antique Vulcan stove taken from the historic home’s servants’ quarters. There is overflow and banquet seating upstairs, beneath arched doorways and crown moulding, near beautiful window seats (where you can imagine young women of yesteryear curling up with the latest Dickens or Godey’s Lady’s Book).

The Cellar Door’s food shows the same attention to detail that is apparent in the architectural and decorative details of its beautiful space. The select menu of sandwiches, small sharing plates, and entrees changes every six weeks or so, to incorporate seasonal produce. Chef Matt Laurence also likes to use local products--Yancy’s Fancy cheese, Heron Hill wines, Flour City pasta, and Pellegrino Peppers from PA. These peppers, an almost coulis-like concoction with a lively zing, are the perfect condiment for Chef Laurence’s dish of steak and sunny-side up eggs. Despite being presented with many dishes to sample, I just had to finish this old standby--the steak tender and pink-middled, the eggs with gorgeous orange yolks and just-set whites, both accented by the huge flavor of the peppers. Another dish I wanted to gobble was a panko-crusted haddock filet. Classically executed with lemon, butter and herbs, the fish itself was everything fish should be: flaky, delicate and flavorful. Less traditional but still delicious were root vegetable samosas with mango chutney and coriander mint sauce. These contained chunks of potato, carrot and yellow squash along with chickpeas, encased in a thin, crunchy pastry shell. Dishes like these prove owner Stephanie Laurence’s assertion that the Cellar Door is “not a freezer-to-fryer operation.” Take, for example, the pretzels, which are made using old-world methods that include a

dip in lye to create a shiny, chewy crust. Offered as tapas with dipping sauces, these pretzels also serve as the roll for a popular sandwich, the Black Friday, in which slices of turkey had the unmistakable character and oomph of a fresh-roasted bird, and were dressed simply with thyme mayonnaise and mixed greens. Bitter greens took center stage as an entree salad, supported by oranges, olives and thin shavings of fennel. These flavors-sweet, salty, and the particular anise taste of fennel--were discrete yet well-harmonized. Accompanied by a Riesling vinaigrette, they made this salad both simple and sublime. The last dish I tasted was a leek and goat cheese tart. The crust was handmade, buttery and fabulous; the filling, creamy but with enough tang from the cheese and bite from alliums to balance the sumptuousness. Alongside the tart was a surprise, in the form of spaghetti squash topped with arrabbiata sauce. This so-called side could have stood on its own merits as an entree, especially if paired with some seafood, but also provided a fine foil for the creamy, buttery tart. With purposeful, inventive meals for vegetarians as well as for omnis, new creations showcasing local and seasonal ingredients, and some old classics like crab cakes and steak, The Cellar Door pays homage to the past, while embracing the future of food and dining. The Cellar Door is open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11-2, and for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Visit their website at http://www.thegreenlanterninn.com/cellardoor.aspx .

:: fashion forward

Successful Entrepreneurship Equals Belief In Oneself. by joan e. lincoln

Personally, I never ever imagined I could be an entrepreneur or president of my own business. For so long I worked diligently marketing, promoting and selling for a variety of small business owners. These successful entrepreneurs were local folks who took a risk and made their idea fly. My career and business path have all been extremely rewarding, apparently I was subconsciously collecting data and the confidence that I required, so that when the time came I would have the knowledge and network to launch my own dream! Rochester’s Female Fashion Entrepreneurs is tight network of incredibly talented people. Andrea Geer Design, Interior Designer Blynn Nelson of Reckless Necklace, Kelli Berg of Simply Beautiful Events, Tammy Swales Photography, Stacey K Floral to name a few. These female entrepreneurs have a talent and a passion that drives their business potential. They are all progressive thinkers, extremely creative and talented! I find this group of women inspiring, full of insight and all have a great impact on the Rochester market. Anyone can become whatever they want to be, when they believe in themselves and work toward that goal. Rochester’s Entrepreneurial Network http://www. ten-ny.com can be a helpful network. I sought out the advise of SCORE www.score.org and the SBA through Brockport College www.sba.gov. I participated in may seminars and one -on- one sessions helping me groom my concept allowing me the open my business within 5 months of putting pen to paper with my business plan. Topic sessions I participated in were marketing, finance and the law. The knowledge that I gathered assisted me in unleashing my business potential. There are of course, a magnitude of resources to tap into in order to expand a business concept you may be dreaming about. Entrepreneurs have invented new products and services that touch each of our lives everyday. It is because of their risk taking that we have been able to experience so much. Whether it be a food product, line of clothing or a snow making machine they had a vision and they went for it. They financed, marketed and are now enjoying the benefits of their labor. The future needs entrepreneurs as they create jobs and provide a way of life for many. 10

Join us in celebrating the Entrepreneurial Spirit...live life with Panache! april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

prevention

::special feature

Skin Cancer Part Three: By Sherrif Ibrahim, M.D., Ph.D.

This is the third article in a series about skin cancer. In the first installment we discussed the three main types of skin cancer and the risk factors for their development. In the second piece, we discussed approaches for treating skin cancer, with particular focus on Mohs surgery and how it is the treatment of choice for a large percentage of cancers. In this article, we will discuss issues that revolve around the prevention of skin cancer. It is important to stress that while the cure rate for the majority of skin cancers is high, the best treatment is still prevention. Sun exposure remains the biggest risk factor for the development of almost all cases of skin cancer, and it is something that is largely preventable. While it is impossible to completely avoid sun exposure over the course of your life, understanding how to be smart about sun protection can greatly reduce your chances for having a suspicious growth appear on your skin or minimize the chances of getting a second cancer if you have already experienced a first. The Basics – It all adds up What we have learned over the years is that the risk of developing skin cancer is related to one’s cumulative ultraviolet exposure. In other words, imagine that the skin has a memory – a running meter of all the ultraviolet light (UV) you have been exposed to, whether from the sun or an artificial source such as a tanning lamp, and this meter starts ticking from the moment we are born. The meter is literally a gauge of how much damage has occurred to the DNA within our skin cells and, the more damage we accrue, the higher the chance for developing skin cancer. So if you want to argue that you only sit in the sun for short spurts or that you never lay out in the sun, the argument doesn’t hold, because your skin doesn’t know if you get your UV light four times for 15 minutes or once for an hour – it’s all the same (in fact, there is evidence that indicates intermittent sun exposure is worse for you). While there is some inevitable progression of sun damage in everyone’s skin, there are certainly some things to do slow the rate by which it occurs.

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Sunscreens Much confusion revolves around the selection and proper use of sunscreens. With so many products emerging on the market, it is difficult to know which one is right. Typically, most dermatologists will recommend purchasing a sunscreen that is labeled as ‘broad spectrum,’ meaning that it blocks the two main types of UV light: UV-A and UV-B. However, testing by various consumer agencies tells us that not all broad spectrum sunscreens are created equally and great discrepancies exist between them. In an attempt to demystify the sunscreen situation, the FDA recently announced their first changes to sunscreen labeling regulations in over 30 years, (http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm258416. htm). The goal is to create labeling standards to allow consumers to better understand the differences between various products, and all sunscreen companies should incorporate these changes this year. The SPF, or sun protection factor, will still remain. The SPF is a measure of how much longer it will take the average person to burn when the sunscreen is used correctly. So using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 means that your skin can withstand 15 times the amount of sun before turning red. While it is true that an SPF of 30 filters out about 97% of the sun’s harmful rays, these numbers lose their meaning if the sunscreen is not used correctly. When sunscreens are tested to determine their SPF, they are used at 2 grams per square centimeter of skin. This translates to a great deal more sunscreen than the average person applies, or about a teaspoon of sunscreen for every square inch of exposed skin. In practice, this would mean that you would need one ounce, or about a golfball size of sunscreen to cover your face, neck, arms, and legs applied every two hours. Most sunscreens come as a 3 or 4-ounce tube, so if you are spending a day out on the boat, that would mean using an entire tube within one day. If you are applying less than this amount, than the effective SPF drops precipitously. A simpler way to think about it is if you’re still getting pink or tan while using a sunscreen, the number you are using is not high enough, or you are not applying the product in sufficient amounts.

As 2012 continues, sunscreens will be required to display a product information label similar to labels found on other foods and medications to allow for better comparison by consumers. They will not simply be able to claim ‘broad-spectrum coverage’ without giving an exact amount of both UV-A and UV-B protection. Those that do not will be labeled as follows: “Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert: Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.” Other changes that the FDA has mandated include the elimination of outrageously high SPF claims such as 100 or 150, and replacing them with a maximum number of 50+, as well as providing information on what terms such as ‘waterproof’ mean and providing a time in minutes (either 40 or 80) of how long this protection lasts. Terms like ‘sweat proof’ and ‘water resistant’ will no longer be allowed. The dermatology community as a whole has embraced these changes and sees them as a great way to help consumers better navigate the seemingly endless variety of products and get the best protection for their skin. The Myth of the Base Tan As spring is upon us, the lessons learned last summer are by now long forgotten. Instantly, you think before putting that sunscreen on that maybe if you just let your skin get a little base tan at the beginning of the summer or before your vacation, then you can avoid getting those painful pink burns and smearing on gobs of sunscreen. In reality, the idea that a base tan protects you from the sun’s harmful rays could not be farther from the truth. As our skin tans, it is an indication that the DNA within our skin cells is incurring damage. In other words, what signals the body to turn on the tanning response is mutations to DNA caused by UV exposure so, by definition, if you are getting tan, you are causing damage. By allowing skin to stay dark over the course of a vacation or the summer, you are continuously damaging the DNA in your skin and putting yourself at risk for developing potentially fatal skin cancer and premature aging. So for all of you beachgoers who think you are doing yourself a favor by getting that base tan, in reality you are worse off because you have removed your body’s natural warning sign to seek shade – the burn – and allowed your DNA to accrue more and more damage, ultimately increasing your chances for developing skin cancer. But what about my Vitamin D? The role of vitamin D in our bodies is a topic of recent debate in medicine. We are aware of the important function of vitamin D in bone health and there is some early evidence that it may be important in cancer prevention and a host of other functions. While the exact optimal dose of daily vitamin D is a still a topic of contention, what

most physicians and certainly all dermatologists will agree upon is that the sun is not a healthy source to get this dose. It is true that there is production of vitamin D in the skin that occurs with sun exposure, the amount of sun needed to maximize this production is minimal and far below the amount of sun that would make a person’s skin red or tanned. Studies indicate that incidental exposure to the backs of your hands for a few minutes a week is sufficient to maintain adequate levels of vitamin D. Furthermore, common foods such as milk and orange juice are fortified with vitamin D, and vitamin supplements are cheap and readily available. So while the exact role of vitamin D and the correct amount of vitamin D are yet to be determined, what we do know is that UV exposure causes cancer, and anyone who tells you that the sun is a good way to generate vitamin D is doing a great injustice. It’s Never Too Late to Start Many skin cancer patients will often wonder if it is too late to start incorporating some of these changes into their lives and the answer is a resounding no. As mentioned earlier, the skin does have a running meter of sun exposure, and there is a point on that meter where the damage is so great that a skin cancer will form. The goal should be to prevent the meter from hitting that point and once you have reached that point at once spot on your body, the goal should be to prevent creating more damage at all the other places of the skin. In other words, the first skin cancer should be a wake-up call to start making life changes with respect to sun exposure in an effort to prevent additional cancers from forming. Broad brimmed hats (not baseball caps or visors), sunscreens, protective clothing, avoiding the sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2p.m., avoiding indoor tanning booths, and smart sun behavior in general are all ways that you can contribute to the prevention of skin cancer. As with anything else in life, moderation is the key to maintaining good health.

For more information: Sherrif Ibrahim, MD PhD is Assistant Professor of the URMC Department of Dermatology and the Wilmot Cancer Center. His practice is focused on procedural and surgical dermatology including the management of skin cancer with Mohs surgery.

rochesterWomanMag.com :: march 2012

::leading woman

By Ashley Cooper I photo by todd elliott Suzanne Nasipak-Chapman understood the value of civic outreach at a young age. “I can remember going to the library at age four or five and restocking the shelves,” she says with a chuckle, “I grew up as a Naval Officer’s daughter; both my parents were significant volunteers in their community.” Nasipak-Chapman is confident that her parents’ modeling behavior in reaching out to their community will forever be ingrained within her, continuously inspiring her to be the committed public servant she is today. “It really does take a village to do all things,” Nasipak-Chapman shares. “We all need to take responsibility for making our community great. I wouldn’t describe myself as an activist, but I believe people should take an active part.” A native of Syracuse, Nasipak-Chapman’s naturally magnanimous personality led her to Boston College where she pursued an undergraduate degree in psychology, “of all things” she laughs. “The background of my education has allowed me to be successful,” Nasipak-Chapman observes, claiming that her background in psychology has granted her the ability to “listen to people, solve problems, and help people grow.” She was given various opportunities while in the workforce, to address specific needs within her company, such as attending to risk management and diversity issues. Nasipak-Chapman also has a history of working with non-profit companies that specialize in mental health treatment and benefitted from her expertise when it came to the insurance aspects of the operation. In September of 1987, just three years after graduating from college, Nasipak-Chapman relocated to Rochester where she found herself employed at (formerly) the largest insurance agency in Rochester, prominent in neighboring regions, Hatch Leonard Naples. Before long, Nasipak-Chapman was made senior vice president of the agency. However, the journey from sales to partnership was not bereft of its challenges. “Think twenty-five years ago,” she explains. “Back when I started in insurance sales, there were very, very few women in that role.” NasipakChapman recalls that in her early days at the agency, she would often have to approach clients with a male counterpart so that customers would feel more at ease. Once she had built a rapport with customers in their initial appointments, proving herself to be a dedicated, capable employee, the male counterpart was no longer needed. “It was important to be assertive without being aggressive,” according to Nasipak-Chapman. She commends her superiors, co-workers, and clients at Hatch Leonard Naples as being especially encouraging to Nasipak-Chapman as one of the few women employed at the agency. She says that these individuals ceaselessly came to her with thoughtful comments, inviting her to prestigious and educational events. They never stopped recognizing her strengths and achievements, and knew when to offer constructive criticism. Nasipak-Chapman remembers them fondly as being, “good role models.”

In 2005, the insurance subsidiary of First Niagara Bank bought Hatch Leonard Naples. Nasipak-Chapman was transferred to First Niagara Risk Management as Regional Director and eventually appointed april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

as Market Executive in 2011. Her responsibilities extended from risk management to the addition of business development, which includes evaluating the needs of the community. She also has sat on the boards of larger committees including Lifetime Assistance Foundation, Rochester Business Alliance, and WXXI Public Broadcasting Council. She feels that what is most rewarding about her job is the fact that she witnesses the success of so many, whether they are employees or customers. Apart from her parents, Nasipak-Chapman draws the most inspiration from her brother, Paul Nasipak, from her supportive husband and children, and from her colleagues, who’ve never ceased to cheer her on. Nasipak-Chapman also offers some endearing words of empowerment to women struggling to find their identity in the midst of their careers. She feels especially gratified by the fact that First Niagara has advocated a work environment that supports women, but understands that not all workforces are as encouraging, and many still are conflicted in terms of achieving balance in their lives. “It is important to dream and dream big,” confirms Nasipak-Chapman. “It’s also important to reassess those dreams at different stages of life because your needs and desires change. Don’t be afraid to express those dreams,” she says. Nasipak-Chapman encourages women to be comfortable with themselves, to evaluate where their strengths and desires lie, and to advocate for those strengths and desires to the best of their ability. “Ask yourself ‘what are you doing to get advancement?’ And if there’s a brick wall, ‘what are you doing to get around it?’ ”.

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::fabulous finds

super finds for

april the excessary store

Brand new and coming to you April 14. 2012! RIT alum, Tanvi Asher, has taken her inspiring love of fabric to a whole new level. Each scarf is a handmade, one-of-a-kind, wearable work of art, like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never seen before! The Excessary Store is located at 121 Park Ave., but you can get a sneak peak online at www.excessary.com.

2 16

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

vintage china

Petunia Rose Vintage China has a collection of hand-selected vintage pieces in a whimsical assortment of patterns and designs. All combine to create a truly unique and beautiful setting for your home, or any special occasion. They also have vintage flatware and stemware to compliment the china as well as serving pieces, luncheon and dessert sets, and even vintage chandeliers. Whether you have 20 guests or over 400, there is something for everyone! Visit Petuniaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at www.petuniarose.com to see some of their beautiful pieces or schedule a consultation for your special event!

3 something blue Jill Bates, AKA “The Fashion Physician“ combined her hobby and business degree in 1980 and founded Jill Bates Fashion Designs. Since then she has specialized in scarves, accessories, and bridal alterations. She puts something blue in all of her wedding alterations- a blue lace agate- for calming the bride, and bestowing the traditional ‘something blue’ for each and every one of her brides. “The Fashion Physician” is located at 320 N. Washington St in East Rochester. You can give her a call at 585-385-0074 and view her work on Facebook.com/JillBatesFashion.

::fabulous finds

fountain of youth organics

FoYO- a little shop with a big, local heart, carries unique organic products that are hard to find at other stores including pantry items, food, and even vitamins. Hard to find gluten-free and allergen-free foods are also available, and chosen by owner, Patty Hawley, because of their taste and exceptional quality. Visit FoYO at 46 Main St. in the town of Brockport or online at www.foyorganics.com.

there’s beauty within

At Jackson & Hines, in the village of Pittsford. Pamela Hines and her daughter simply filled their store with all of their favorite things. Everything in the store is exquisite- from well-known cosmetics like Smashbox, to imported organic skincare, and including their own private-label chocolates and teas. Stop by their shop at 4 North Main Street in Pittsford, or see their online store at www.jacksonandhines.com.

rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012

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One in six couples have trouble becoming pregnant, and 7.3 million Americans suffer from infertility. Luckily, there is an organization that can help. Erica Walther Schlaefer and her husband, A.J. Schlaefer, started Parenthood for Me in 2009 after going through years of fertility treatments and adopting their son from Korea in 2009. “Our mission is to provide financial and emotional assistance. We provide grants for those undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or the adoption of an infant, whether it be domestic or international,” Erica said. “It cost us $75,000 out of pocket to become parents. If people don’t have enough money and find themselves unable to have children, we want to help them.” Parenthood for Me is an international organization, and has given grants to those all over—from New York to California. To finance these grants, Parenthood for Me holds a variety of fundraising projects, such as their Annual Gala, sponsored by CNY Fertility, which will be held on April 21st at The Inn on Broadway. Although the grants do not provide enough money for the entire adoption of IVF cycle, which costs 9,000, Parenthood for Me is able to help those who need assistance. “We knew parents looking for money to go pick up their adopted son, Liam, in China. Without the extra money, they weren’t able to go, and were heartbroken,” Erica said. “But our grants were able to help them go pick up their son.” The Gala and a variety of other events are a great opportunity to spread the word about infertility, as many who attend have not had a direct experience with the issue. “Infertility is very misunderstood and taboo, so we try to educate on it and all that things that go along with it,” Erica said. Erica pointed out that fertility issues are not covered by insurance because it is not considered a life altering disease and the 7.3 million Americans who suffer from infertility include those who conceive their first child, and then cannot have more children, as well. “Even if someone does not have a personal experience with it, once you talk to them, stories pop up,” Erica said. “It’s a universal thing, and when they hear the number of people that struggle with it, they think—what if I couldn’t have my grandkids? Family is a fundamental thing of life.” Erica and A.J. also offer emotional support by giving those who are struggling someone to talk to that truly understands. “We all have gone through the same basic struggle to have a family,” Erica said. Erica also has a blog that details her own personal experiences as well as profiles of other parents and activists. “It has been a huge outlet for me, and people have told met that the blog has really helped them cope. It helps them feel like there is someone else out there who is going through the same things.” Parenthood for Me is currently accepting grant applications, and the info is available at http://www.parenthoodforme.org . You can also find information on attending the gala at the website, or visit Erica’s blog at http://parenthoodforme.blogspot.com. rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012 19

::for a good cause

By Jessica Bagley I photo by jenniffer merida

::local business matters

Robal Glass

Going Green and Leading The Way

By By Jenn Bergin I photo by jenniffer merida

from the Genesse ARC.

“I’m a little outspoken,” Bonnie Webster told me, when we met in her beautiful showroom in Avon on a rainy-morning.

“I’m driven by feeling good about what I’m doing,” Webster explained. “And knowing that I’m truly putting a good product in people’s homes.”

For some reason, I wasn’t surprised.

Webster is hands-on. She works with customers and contractors on product design and often cleans and crushes the recycled glass herself. It takes 500 recycled beer bottles to make a standard tub surround. This recycled waste creates a truly beautiful and quality product that will last the duration of the home.

Webster is the Vice President of Monroe Industries, a family-run business which custom manufactures countertops, shower walls and floors and vanity tops. Her husband started Monroe Industries with his parents in 1987 and Webster joined the team in 2000, focused on helping to sustain and grow the successful company. Today, Webster is leading an industry in transition - as the developer of Robal Glass, the company’s recycled glass composite product line. This innovative and eco-responsible product is a combination of 82% recycled post-consumer, pre-landfill glass and bio-based resins that are cast into a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors designed to save the environment and help architects qualify for LEED points. Long before “going green” gained mainstream attention, Webster was interested in developing a more sustainable method to manufacture her products. “When I came on board, people thought ‘how cute’ - here’s this ‘girl’ asking for these ‘girly’ changes,” Webster said. No one is saying that anymore. Monroe Industries is now regarded as the greenest composite company in the country. They plan to license the technology used to develop Robal Glass to other companies worldwide. Robal Glass was developed in 2008 and while business has doubled over the past five years, the amount of waste produced has remained the same. The company donates unusable products to Habitat for Humanity and 1% of all sales are donated to charity. By year-end, Webster strives to purchase the majority of recycled glass used for the product line locally, 20

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Webster is one of only two women in the country working in the composites industry. She is an active spokesperson, encouraging the government to promote quality building products and the use of biobased resins. “I’m definitely in a man’s world,” Webster said. “But they get used to me. I know what a 2x4 is and I know how to use a tape measure.” She is also a mother of two – and in addition to providing a quality product that consumers can feel good about, she offers some great cleaning tips. “Get rid of bar soap,” Webster recommends. It sounds simple, but the oils in traditional soap cause soap scum. By switching to a liquid soap the amount of time, and chemicals, used to clean your shower is cut in half. Bonnie Webster is not afraid to challenge the norm and her innovative ideas really resonate. For more information on Robal Glass, visit www.robalglass.com

::SHIFT+CONTROL

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::in her own words 22

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

::in her own wqrds

By Aki Henderson I photo by jenniffer merida

“Is it hard working in a predominately male industry?” Or “How is it working for your Dad?” These are the questions most people ask me when I introduce myself. I would be lying if I said it is a piece of cake. Working around men is challenging. Demanding respect and getting them to listen to you as an equal sometimes seems impossible. Proving to people that you are capable of doing the job is difficult when your dad owns the place and co-workers perceive that everything was handed to you. Having to prove yourself carries a heavy burden at times, but I take it with stride. My strength was tested long before I started working for my dad in the automobile industry. I made a life changing decision at the age of 15. Some thought it was a mistake, but it was the best decision I ever made. Everyone has a story, here is mine. My sophomore year at AC Reynolds High School in Ashelle, NC I was an executive officer in student council, and a member of the National Honor Society. My teachers loved me, and I got along great with all my classmates. I went to a school where less than 10% of the student body was African American, and I refused to be stereotyped or known as anything less than model student. Until one day, the smell of food began to make me nauseous. I didn’t think anything of it, until every morning, this same feeling came over me. I got a hold of a pregnancy test thinking to myself. “I can’t be pregnant, people look up to me.” My heart sank as I gazed at the inevitable result “Oh God, I’m pregnant”. The next day, I shared the results with my boyfriend. His chin dropped, tears welled up in my eyes. There was only one option in our minds. I was going to have an abortion. No one could ever find out that I was pregnant. His uncle agreed to give us the money, and we were going to get it done and move on…until I told my big sister, who opened her big mouth and told my mom. My mom devastated with the news, looked right at me and said “How could you do this Aki, I was so proud of you. You know what your sister and I have both been through, how could you?” My mom and sister both had their first child at 16. Raised in a single family home all my life wasn’t easy at all. So my mom couldn’t understand how I could let this happen to me. She then shared the news with my dad. My mom, overwhelmed, asked my dad to come get me. Fifteen, pregnant, and leaving my boyfriend and all my childhood friends behind, I moved to Ohio to live with my dad. On the long drive to Ohio, my dad looked at me and said, “If you still decide to have an abortion, that’s fine, I will pay for it, but before you do, I need you to talk to someone first so that you can make an informed decision.” I had no choice but to go along with it, I didn’t have the money to pay for the abortion myself.

My dad took me to a counselor who talked to me about adoption, keeping the baby, or abortion. After speaking with her, I realized that I wasn’t pregnant with a problem, but with a baby. Wow, a baby! All of the sudden it became so real to me. I have a baby inside of me, and I want to keep it. I didn’t know anything else at that moment in time, but I wanted my baby. My mom finally calmed down, and three months later she wanted me back home. Happy to be back with my friends, family and boyfriend, life started looking better…except for the one embarrassing fact that, I was 15 and pregnant. Holding my head up high in a school where I was once a model student was very hard as my belly grew. I quickly got over the shame, and I worked hard at keeping my grades up and staying focused on preparing for my new child. One teacher asked me “How are you going to go to college with a baby?” I went home crying to my mom. How dare my teacher ask me that? My mom looked me right in the eyes and said, “Aki, it’s not going to be easy, but you will go to college. Just because things are hard, doesn’t make them impossible.” The very next day, my mom had a few words with that teacher, and immediately withdrew me from her class. One month before my baby was due, my best friend and my mom planned a baby shower. All my friends from school came. I couldn’t believe it. I thought they would be ashamed of me, or not support me, boy I was wrong. They were there, and surprisingly enough, their parents brought them there, and I had so many gifts, clothes, diapers, etc. I didn’t have to go shopping for a year! April 26, 1993 I gave birth to my first born son, Rodregous Deontraz Stevens II. He was 9 lbs, 12 oz, and 22 inches long. He was so big he was the baby of the week. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. He inspired me to become the student body president, homecoming queen, prom queen, and graduate with a 3.6 GPA. I received an academic scholarship and graduated from what was then the largest university in the country, The Ohio State University. Would you believe it if I told you I did all this while working part-time? My baby is now 18, in college with a football scholarship. What I thought at one time was a problem, is one of my biggest blessings. Against all odds, when we as women are tested, we can tap into our inner strength and achieve what some may think is impossible. I found that out at a very young age. Every day I come to work challenged by working with mostly men, and for my dad. How is it you ask? I would be lying to you if I said it was a piece of cake…But after all that I have been through, it is a walk in the park. rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012 23

::rwm spring cleaning Our upholstered furniture, area rugs and wall-to-wall carpet give us comfort and warmth bringing function and fashion to our homes. Upholstery fabric, both beautiful and beneficial, collects soil (particulate) and allergens (allergy causing irritants) quite efficiently. Professional cleaning, by removing the deep down grit and odors, prolongs the life by restoring the look, feel and the smell of our upholstered furniture. Pollutants enter our homes through the air, cling to our clothing, our shoes, children and pets. Synthetic pollutants found in our homes include residues from motor oil, gasoline, acids, asphalt, lawn and garden fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides, industrial chemicals and gases, automobile exhaust and tire residue. Organic Pollutants such as pollens

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from flowers, trees, indoor and outdoor plants, dead leaves, insects and insect droppings as well as human and pet skin, hair and dander find their way onto our furnishings. These pollutants (irritants) combine to form an “environmental stew” providing the breeding ground for mold, mildew, dust mites, viruses, fungi, and bacterium. Upholstered furniture, carpet, oriental and area rugs are magnets to these harmful microorganisms. As home owners, a through vacuuming of our furnishings (HEPA or water filtered), to keep these harmful contaminates at a low level, is necessary on a scheduled basis. Eventually a professional cleaning to significantly reduce the threat of these irritants to our health and to prolong the life of our furnishings will be needed. The U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency suggests our carpet and upholstery be professionally cleaned, depending on use, from every 6 to 18 months. When looking for a rug and upholstery cleaning service it is important to find a well established company with high credibility and experienced personnel. A company that uses child, pet and environmentally safe cleaning products and equipment is important. Be sure to check references and testimonials. A good source is your local Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List. Check out the company’s website. Call them and ask lots of questions. Are they helpful, knowledgeable and pleasant? Start today. You and your family will feel better just knowing your homes furnishings are clean and healthy.

::healthy woman

By Sraddha Prativadi, MD

Women are taking on more leadership positions in business and society every year. Bleeding for menstrual abnormalities can be intrusive and prohibitive to ones life and goals for the family and professional life. Many women live with menstrual abnormalities, not knowing that there are several excellent options now available to help take control of bothersome, embarrassing and disruptive bleeding. There are oral medications that can help manage heavy periods and irregular bleeding. The Mirena IUD device is also a good option to use to decrease menstrualrelated bleeding. However, an increasingly popular procedure called endometrial ablation is helping to decrease the rates of hysterectomy and allows the avoidance of the chronic use of oral medications. There are two types of ablations. A resectoscopic approach to the endometrial ablation excises the problematic uterine lining or endometrium, resulting in decreased bleeding. Non-resectoscopic techniques often require less operative time and are used more frequently. There are many types of ablation available to women in the Greater Rochester area. One technique involves the introduction of a radiofrequency array into the uterus and administration of energy to get rid of the endometrial tissue. Another procedure uses highly heated circulating water in the uterus to destroy the tissue. Still another approach utilizes a special balloon filled with hot fluid to administer heat to destroy the tissue. A final technique uses the power of freezing temperatures to destroy the tissue and create analgesia at the same time. These particular techniques are only appropriate for women who have completed childbearing and have a form of permanent contraception in place. Many providers require a woman to have permanent contraception in place before considering these techniques for control of abnormal uterine bleeding. These techniques also best treat bleeding in woman who is cycling regularly. Women with irregular cycles or bleeding after menopause require other forms of evaluation and therapy. These techniques also cannot be used in women with uterine abnormalities, a desire for future pregnancy, previous uterine surgery of certain types, enlarged uterus.For women in which cancer could be a possible reason for the bleeding, separate and distinct evaluation and treatment techniques are used. Many times, a surgeon will prepare the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endometrium with hormones to help maximize the therapeutic effect of the ablation. What is a reasonable therapeutic outcome? Decreased bleeding. While many women will experience no bleeding or amenorrhea, this not a guaranteed outcome of the procedure. Some women experience increased pain and bleeding after these procedures. Thus careful evaluation by and discussion with your trusted healthcare professional is of paramount important. Many physicians offer these procedures in their offices, making the procedure more accessible to patients and more easily to be accommodated into a womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s busy schedule. Pain and anxiety are managed by a variety of simple measures that are tailored to each patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. These procedures are also done in the hospital, with excellent access to anesthesia services and slightly more organization needed to arrange logistics for a patient. If heavy periods or irregular bleeding are impeding your life, ability to enjoy special occasions and decreasing your productivity or confidence in the workplace, I encourage you to speak with your health care professional and seek out the freedom that is afforded to you by the many wonderful options we have at out our fingertips. Dr. Prativadi practices at Madonna OBGYN she can be reached at www. madonnaobgyn.com or by calling (585) 698-7077.

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::queen of arts

By Caurie Putnam

From April 3 – 29 the hit musical Jersey Boys will be in town as part of the Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s 2011-2012 season. This is the second time the Tony and Grammy award winning “Best Musical” about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons has come to Rochester. Jersey Boys sold out during its first visit to Rochester in 2009 with an impressive 52,000 attendees. “I’m really excited to get to Rochester,” said Natalie Gallo, 26, who plays Frankie Valli’s wife Mary Delgado. “I’ve never been but I’ve heard wonderful things about the people and the city.”

“I would not have been able to do what I did without my family,” Gallo said. “They went through a lot for me.” She told her father, at age fifteen, that someday she would perform on Broadway. The Jersey Boys is her second national Broadway tour – her first was Mama Mia!, which she left in October 2011 for the role of Mary Delgado. “It is such a joy to be on stage every night with the cast of Jersey Boys,” Gallo said. “I love being at work.”

Rochester Woman Magazine caught up with Gallo on a train between Schenectady, New York and Manhattan. She was jetting home to the Big Apple on her day off during the tour’s three week stint in Schenectady.

Gallo’s advice to young women interested in acting is to study hard, get professional training (Gallo attended Park Point University) and get involved in community theatre.

Gallo is used to being busy – there are just three women in Jersey Boys and they play an impressive fifty-two different characters! But, this busy life on and off stage is what Gallo dreamed of since she was fifteen growing up in a small town 45 minutes outside of Pittsburg.

She also said: “There are a lot of ‘rules’ about how to make it in this business, but my best advice is to follow your gut. Everyone has their own craft and their own style, you have to find yours.”

“I was a cheerleader in elementary school and when I didn’t make the team in high school I was devastated,” recalls Gallo of the moment that started her down a path towards Broadway. She went home crying and found a flier in the mail about music and dance lessons in Pittsburgh. “From that day on my life completely changed,” Gallo said. She got heavily involved in dance, music, theatre and community theatre. Her parents, who own an Italian restaurant, would drive her two hours several times a week to lessons.

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Gallo believes that even when challenges occur good things can come from them – just like happened to her with her rejection from cheerleading. “I didn’t realize how important that moment was until I was older and could look back,” Gallo said. “If you stay strong and stay positive you’ll get wherever you want to go.” When you go to Jersey Boys this month, look for Natalie Gallo. For ticket and other information on Jersey Boys, visit www.rbtl.org

::SHIFT+CONTROL

::cover story 32

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

got doodie?

The Woman Behind This Pet Product Powerhouse By Caurie Putnam I Photos by Brandon Vick

The master bedroom in the 150-year-old Victor farmhouse where Kristin Elliott lives with her husband Rick and three daughters is carpeted. But, underneath the carpet is a beautiful painting on the wood floor of a family tree containing the names of the many generations of Elliotts that lived in the home before Kristin and Rick. The painting under the carpet is a wonderful example of Kristin Elliott’s life: There is so much more to it than meets the eye. A mother of three, a wife, a high school science teacher, a practitioner of a natural lifestyle, and an award winning entrepreneur and business women. That is Kristin Elliott. The Doodie Pack In no arena is duality more evident than in her award winning pet product the Doodie Pack. Kristin came up with the concept of the Doodie Pack in 2007 after seeing a beautiful, well dressed couple walking two black labs. In their hands were plastic bags. Kristin immediately got the thought of creating a product that would eliminate the need for dog owners to have to carry their pet’s waste themselves.

“I wanted to put dignity back into the dog walk,” Kristin said. “It is an issue every dog owner has to deal with.” She designed the Doodie Pack, a lightweight utility backpack that dogs can wear, with that purpose in mind. A lover of nature and the outdoors – who calls herself a “Country Mouse”—Kristin also saw the benefit of pet waste management for the environment. “Twenty percent of groundwater contamination is from pet waste,” Kristin said. “The pack is great for the environment.” But, four years later, the Doodie Pack is so much more than a waste management tool. It is a product that has changed not only the lives of pets, but Kristin and her family’s life. The Duty Pack Regina Helfer, of North Greece, is a long time Doodie Pack customer who knows firsthand the benefits of the product beyond what Kristin first envisioned it for.

“The pack helps my dogs emotionally,” says Helfer, whose two Burnese mountain dogs Freeport and Mr Cooper and Landseer Newfoundland Penny wear Doodie Packs often. “They are working dogs by nature and when I put the packs on their back they get right into working mode.” Freeport, Mr Cooper and Penny are all reading therapy dogs through Lollypop Farm. They carry books in the pockets of the Doodie Pack, not waste. “The pack has been a godsend to me and the dogs,” Helfer said. “What Kristin started out creating the product for has blossomed out into so much more.” The pack has not only allowed dogs like Helfers to help people, but has allowed Kristin to contribute to agencies that help people and animals in need. All of the packs can be custom embroidered, much like an LL Bean Back Pack (the packs are actually modeled after the same durable, reflective materials LL Bean Back Packs are). “A number of dogs have been adopted out by rescue agencies because their packs were embroidered with ‘Please Adopt Me,’” Kristin said. Other packs are embroidered with a pink ribbon. Each time a customer purchases a Pink Ribbon Pack $5 is donated by Doodie Pack the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Kristin estimates her company has given about $8,000 to various charities from sales of the Doodie Pack in just a few years. “There isn’t a group we can’t help,” Kristin said. “We’ve seen the pack used for waste management, training, environmental protection, promotion, health, wellness, safety, not-for profits, hiking, therapy and more.” A Pet Product Powerhouse The pet product industry in the United States is huge – generating $84 billion in sales annually. And the small business started on a farmstead in Victor is getting attention beyond adoring pet owners. “There’s really not a product like this,” said Russ Herman, the owner of the Pet$aver Superstore in Brighton and Greece. “It’s practical, lightweight, reasonably priced, and a lot of value.”

rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012

Herman was the first local business to begin carrying the Doodie Pack about three years ago.

::COVER STORY

Since then, the pack has gone national. It is in forty brick and mortar stores nationwide, booming online and has the potential for a private label soon. It is the official uniform for the national Toyota Spokesdog Team. The team wore Doodie Packs on a six week, thirty city, bus tour to promote pet safety. Invisible Fence also uses Doodie Pack uniforms on its training dogs in about 400 franchises nationwide.

“I’ve never stopped making their lives a learning experience,” said Kristin, of her daughters. “I am always teaching them and having them open their eyes to new things.”

Additionally, pet industry magazines have taken notice of The Doodie Pack – Modern Dog Magazine named it one of “10 Must Haves for the Dog Park” and Fido Friendly Magazine named it one of the Best Products of 2011.

Helfer has seen the Elliott girls working with their mom and is always awed. “Kristin is raising three outstanding daughters who are taking away so much from the experience she has created for them,” Helfer said. “She’s an incredible mother.”

Kristin has also been featured in the industry standard Pet Product News twice. Herman also attributes the Doodie Pack’s success to the creator. “Kristin is very dynamic,” Herman said. “She’s a very positive individual that anyone in business who comes in contact with her can’t help like her.” When it comes to accolades, Kristin is humble.

Teaching Through Example In addition to being a role model for her own girls, Kristin, who graduated from the University at Buffalo and Roberts Wesleyan, is a role model for youth everyday as a teacher. For the past eighteen years she has taught in the Gates Chili School District and currently teaches environmental science.

“I’m so immensely proud of the success the pack has gotten,” Kristin said. “But if I had to make a list of who I am I wouldn’t put entrepreneur first. I’m a Mom first.” A Family Affair The proudest recognition Kristin has gotten from her product comes not from afar, but within her own home. Her daughters Savannah, 13, Payton, 11, and Carlee, 8, have taken a strong interest in the company.“It’s surreal to watch my daughters learn with me,” Kristin said. “I couldn’t have done this without my husband and girls.”

The girls are active in all parts of the company. Payton loves to write about the Doodie Pack and help with advertising. Savannah enjoys photography and taking pictures of the product on the family’s two cocker spaniels Ally and Maisy for the website and promotional purposes. And Carlee loves accompanying her Mom to festivals to sell the product.

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

“I love being in the classroom,” Kristin said. “I want to share everything I know.” Kristin’s students know that outside of the classroom their teacher is a business woman.

“Being a teacher I crave learning,” Kristin said. “I wanted to keep learning even though I was at a good place in my career. Inventing the Doodie Pack was my way of going back to school.” Indeed, Kristin, who has always been creative, had never created a product before the pack. She worked hard to learn the ins and outs of designing, market analyzing, field testing, manufacturing, promoting and selling a product – taking classes and attending conferences nationwide. She also immersed herself in social media.

She personally maintains an active Twitter feed (@DoodiePack) and Facebook page for Doodie Pack and is readily accessible to her customers. “Being in business is about being authentic and transparent,” Kristin said.

::cover story

“I hope to teach them that you can do anything if you love it enough,” Kristin said. “And to leave the world better than you found it.”She credits her own love of learning to the creation of the Doodie Pack.

“I don’t think I could have done this without the Internet,” Kristin said. “I learned so much and had so many mentors that I met online.”

The Future Kristin’s plans for the immediate future are to continue to grow Doodie Pack and keep it “fluid and healthy.” Continuing to contribute charitably and to impact the Rochester community is high on her priority list. Recently she moved the manufacturing of her products to Fieldtex in Rochester. She hopes that at some point she can use the business lessons she’s learned to inspire and help other women with an entrepreneurial spirit. “I see myself going into business mentoring or teaching down the road,” Kristin said. “I want to give back. We all have to give back to each other.” She looks forward to each new day as a mother, wife, teacher and businesswoman. “When you love something you can’t wait to get out of bed in the morning,” Kristin said. “I’m really blessed to have jobs I love immensely.”

“I hope to teach them that you can do anything if you love it enough and to leave the world better than you found it.”

rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012

::wisdom in a traffic jam

Dear Angella, About three months ago, I started a job that I thought was going to be a perfect fit for me. I was helping a friend sell some jewelry she was making. I sold quite a few pieces. When I met with her to discuss my commission, she gave me some jewelry. I was really counting on a check what do I do now. Wendy Dear Wendy, There used to be a time when a hand shake sealed the deal. This was all you needed, it was your word. Not anymore, in today’s economy, you need to put everything in writing. This protects not only you, but the other parties involved. Did you sit down with your friend and discuss what your commission was going to be? Did you clearly define your role as sales person? If not, the only thing you can really do is ask her to pay you a commission from this point forward. We all make assumptions from time to time, and occasionally they cost us more than we bargained for. Here are a few items, which you should always get in writing. 1. An employment agreement. You want to clearly define the role the new employee is expected to fill. You don’t want to keep them guessing, they cannot be held accountable if they don’t know what is expected of them. Be sure and include any special projects or tasks they will be working on. What are their hours, and days they will work? Again make sure you add in salary, potential bonuses or stock options. 2. Anytime you are working with a building/service contractor, you need to make sure you are getting what you are paying for, and your satisfaction as well. If there is work being preformed, clearly spell it out. There is no detail that is too small. For example, what is the thickness of installation I will be getting, or how often will the corners

be vacuumed out? You want to include a start and finish date. With a service contract, you want to add when they should renew, or a way for either party to terminate the relationship. 3. Dealing with a sales contract? If you are buying a product, or many products, you want to ensure that you are protected. What if the product comes to you damaged? Can it be returned, and if so who is responsible for the cost? Include a guaranteed date of delivery. If it arrives after the delivery date, are you still expected to take delivery? According to Lisa Riggi, president of LHR administrative Services, “When meeting with a new client, we review their needs. The contract is tailored to those specifications. I make sure we are both satisfied. Then and only then do we both sign.” You want to make sure both parties are satisfied with what they are signing. Once signed you only have three business days to back out of any deal. If at any point, you are having doubts or concerns, renegotiate your contract, or cancel it all together. Without getting it in writing, you can cause a lot of unnecessary problems; you could loose a client or friendship. Do you have a question for Angella? Send it to Angella@wisdominatrafficjam. com or visit her at www.wisdominatrafficjam.com

rochester WomanMag.com :: march 2012

::fitness

By Colleen Flaherty

As Mother Nature has toyed with our emotions this winter, spring is sure to bring the warmer weather we’ve been hoping for. The time is now to start planning family vacations and weekend holidays. Trips in nature offer more than just the typical exercise and fresh air. I was very, very fortunate to have adventurous parents that from a young age exposed me to many exotic places. From camping in the Adirondacks to vacationing in Cancun, Mexico, there was always an itch to “get outta town”. I fell in love with the lobsters of Maine, apple orchard near my grandparent’s cabin in North Carolina, beaches of Florida, ancient artifacts of Egypt, and the mountains of Vancouver. As I look back, I am grateful first and foremost. I felt privileged and “worldly”. I got to play, collect random knickknacks, hike, explore, and sleep in a tent (or hotel)! But every trip brought something new to learn and once in a lifetime opportunities. When we camped for example, I learned survival skills; safe fire building, how to prepare food with no kitchen, how to play in nature.

Exploration on vacation teaches more than the obvious. It’s an opportunity to educate your children something out of the ordinary, something that will stick with them for the rest of their life. Wandering in the woods or walking a beach can be calming, often meditative. Being “one with nature” can positively affect the youngest soul. Bonding as a family lasts a lifetime even if it feels like it only mends issues of the moment. Sharing travel experiences is a great bonding tool, as you can talk about and recount them for years to come. One day your children will (also) say, “Thank you parents for all the opportunities you’ve allowed me, all the things you’ve taught me, and all the love and guidance you’ve given me where ever we’ve left our foot prints (or miniature house made from forest findings!).” Colleen Flaherty is a personal trainer at Fore Performance on Monroe Ave. Contact her at maherstrength@gmail.com or visit http:// optimistbrightlife.blogspot.com.

Travel has shaped my personality and cultivated creativity, imagination, independence, awareness of other cultures, respect for nature, and a thirst for adventure; traits that I think every child should have the chance to harvest though exploration of “strange” lands.

rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012

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Inspire

rochester women

Elizabeth Schirmer Vice President of Sales and Customer Advocacy

BY jenn bergin I PHOTO BY jenniffer merida

It’s often said that the happiest people are those who truly love what they do. Well, Elizabeth Schirmer can’t stop smiling.

At age 27, Schirmer is the Vice President of Sales and Customer Advocacy at Sweetwater Energy, a local start-up company that uses innovative technology to produce low-cost, concentrated sugars from agricultural residues. These sugars can then be used as a substitute for oil. “We are on the clean-energy, green-alternative to petroleum path,” Schirmer said. It may seem like quite a task for a woman still in her 20’s. But Schirmer is not your average twenty-something.

After high school, Schirmer was personally offered an internship at PAETEC by then-Chairman and CEO, Arunas Chesonis, an opportunity that she was chosen for after being honored by the Women’s Council of the Rochester Business Alliance as a recipient of the Young Women of Distinction Award. Upon graduating from Villanova with her B.S. in International Business and Marketing and an Economics certificate from East China Normal University in Shanghai, Schirmer chose to return to Rochester and to PAETEC, where she began her career in Marketing and Communications. Sweetwater Energy was established in 2006, by PAETEC cofounder Jack Baron, as a dedicated producer of bio fuels, primarily ethanol. In January 2010, Schirmer joined Baron at the company and became Sweetwater Energy’s first paid employee. She spent her evenings working toward her MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing at the University of Rochester, with a focus on Sustainability Management Strategy at Harvard University’s School of Public Health extension graduate studies program. Schirmer calls her decision to join a start-up company “a no-brainer” and finds the tangible and measurable contribution that can be made on a daily basis a benefit of working for a small company. “As a young professional, it’s a rare opportunity to have the chance to work at a start-up. I could not say no,” Schirmer said. “I had to ask myself, is the juice worth the squeeze? And it was – a million times over.” Schirmer is passionate about creating a work/life balance and she is sincere about “paying it forward.” Recognizing the impact that the Young Women of Distinction Award made in her life, she now works with the organization to help empower young women on a personal level and to offer other girls the same opportunities she was given. She is a Compeer volunteer and has been a mentor to a young girl through her teen years, taking her ice skating and to try on prom

rochesterWomanMag.com::::april april2012 2012 rochesterWomanMag.com

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“ It’s not a job when you love what you are doing.” Jean Daniel

Director East Rochester Senior Center BY jessica bagley I PHOTO BY jenniffer merida

Jean Daniel has been active in the community for her entire life. Starting her activism in Toronto and moving to Rochester in the ’60s, she has been the director of the senior center in East Rochester for almost 50 years. Jean began the senior citizen group in 1962, after she was asked to spearhead a project for the seniors of Temple Beth El in Rochester. “The first month, we had a luncheon and had eight people,” Daniel said. “I told them to bring a friend the next month. We eventually outgrew the Church and moved into a building in 1978. Now, the senior center is named after Jean, and has between 250 and 300 members. The Senior Center is a meeting place for fun and fellowship and serves as a community resource for information and guidance on meeting the needs of our older residents. The Center also provides a group setting for work, exercise and educational programs, as well as a link with other senior citizens in Monroe County and agencies and businesses serving seniors. The center offers a variety of activities—from speakers to line dancing to choirs and is open from 9:00 am -3:30 pm. Members must be 55 or older or married to someone 55 or older . “We have a monthly and yearly program with speakers, recreation activities, and offer fellowship for people in the community,” Daniel said. On Valentines Day, the Jean Daniel Senior Citizen Center honors those who have been married for 50 years as well as those who are over the age of 80. Jean also brings in tax counselors to help both the community and the members of the senior center, as well as a podiatrist every third month. Although the group was made up of mainly seniors living alone when it began, now, there are a lot of couples, as well. “But we do have a very interesting singles group,” Daniel said. “It started with our men who were widowers, and didn’t want to go home to eat alone. So we began a group dinner for these people, and they love it.” Jean is a Toronto native, and moved with her husband and daughter to Rochester for her husband’s work. Jean lived in England for five years while her husband was in the Royal Air Force in WWII. While in England, she had her oldest daughter. After returning to Canada, Jean stayed active in the community and had her second daughter. While her daughters were in school, Jean was the District Chairman for Home and School, or what we call Parent/Teacher in the States. “When I moved to Rochester, I volunteered for 12 years as a volunteer aid at the airport, and met some very interesting people,” Daniel explained. “I also did Braille translations from 1961 until last year.”

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

(continued on page 46)

“I love everything about Rochester.” ReverEnd Mary Ramerman Spiritus Christi Church

By ashley copper I PHOTO BY todd elliott

Reverend Mary Ramerman knows all too well what it’s like to face adversity. After being controversially confronted by the Rochester Diocese in 1998, Corpus Christi Church’s then Pastor, Father Jim Callan, was dismissed from serving as the the parish administrator. For the twenty-two years prior, Callan had reconstructed a depleting congregation by altering the parishioners’ focus. Under his leadership, Corpus Christi went from being a struggling parish of a couple of hundred attendees, to a bountiful body of 3,000. Corpus Christi had been known for its extensive outreach programs and for its non-partial embracing of all individuals, Catholic or otherwise. The hierarchy did not recognize the practices that had been adopted by Corpus Christi, which included allowing non-Catholics to participate in Communion, celebrating gay and lesbian unions, and ordaining women. The Vatican resented the fact that Callan permitted Mary Ramerman to hold the position of Associate Pastor of Corpus Christi and she was consequently asked not to wear vestments. Ramerman objected, planted firm in her advocacy for equality among the sexes in the church and continued to approach the altar. She was fired shortly after Callan. Though Callan and Ramerman had been considered excommunicated by the Rochester diocese, they founded, along with other members who had either resigned from, or had been fired from their positions at Corpus Christi, the “New Faith Community”, which is known today as Spiritus Christi. Although not officially in communion with Rome, Spiritus Christi observes the traditions of the Catholic Church while still adhering to their own values that center around being an inclusive parish. In Spiritus Christi’s early days, Rev. Ramerman was often distressingly scrutinized. She explained that when people approached her, she never knew if their intentions were to condemn her or to offer her their support. I asked Rev. Ramerman how she was able to cope with criticism. She replied that for her, it was necessary to learn that, “you can’t please everyone. You have look deep within yourself and express what you believe.” She went on to say that what is most “mentally freeing” is when know that “you are at peace with who you are and at peace with God.” “I think the thing that’s really helpful is to have people you find that can encourage you,” Rev. Ramerman began, “so that when you have times of feeling unaccepted, you have your ‘hug group’people who remind you the meaning of who you are and what you’re about.” Rev. Ramerman illustrated her own words by revealing a touching example. She recalled that when she started praying before the church, there were certain faces in the congregation that she would fixate upon, because they were smiling, supportive faces. In spite of the hindrances that Rev. Ramerman and the other (continued on page 46)

rochester WomanMag.com :: april 2012

::rw inspire

elizabeth schirmer (cont) jean daniel (cont)

Rev. Mary Ramerman

dresses, while also encouraging her to pursue her college dreams. Schirmer finds balance and re-focuses her priorities through yoga and is working to become a certified instructor. She plans to use the practice to work with children in need and veterans, to help alleviate post traumatic stress and aid in healing.

leaders of Spiritus Christi have encountered, she assured that she never doubted, in the midst of trial, her life’s purpose.

Not only is she inspiring, Schirmer also continues to allow herself be inspired. She is currently training for her her first triathalon with her boyfriend, an Iron Man tri-athlete, and the couple hopes to work with Achilles International to help people with disabilities participate in and benefit from athletics. Schirmer’s constant smile is proof that doing good really does makes you happy.

As the director of the senior center, Jean gets many of the same benefits form the group as the members do, and loves being involved with the group after almost a half century. “I get so much friendship and love from the members,” Daniel said. “They are so helpful and will do anything for me. It’s not a job when you love what you are doing.” For more information on the center, visit http:// www.eastrochester.org/community_centers/ seniorcenter/index.php or call 385-3643

“I knew when I was seven years old that I wanted to be a minister, so that was clear to me,” she stated. Rev. Ramerman originally hails from California, where she worked as both a school teacher and youth minister. It was 1983 when she and her husband, along with their then two year old son, packed all their belongings into their Volkswagen, eastbound for Rochester, anticipating the opportunity to do inner-city work. Today, Rev. Ramerman is the Pastoral Administrator of Spiritus Christi Church, and was ordained as a priest in 2001. “I love being involved in peoples’ lives on a deep level,” Ramerman stated, “When people get married, I get to know why they love each other. When somebody dies, I get to be around the family and see the joy that they remember about that person. If someone is struggling with guilt, I get to help them see a better future for themselves.” Rev. Ramerman joins a hall of fame of women who have advocated equal rights. Part of her inspiration comes from her own ancestor, Mother Joseph, a nun and architect who fought for her dignity in a man-dominated, predominately English-speaking environment.

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

::world of women sports By Sarah Jane Clifford

In my youth, I was very active in sports participating in horse jumping, etc. I often wondered if that activity helped me when I created and conducted my own business…the Gymnastics Training Center. Well, according to Cynthia Kocialski’s comments as posted on “The Work At Home Woman” web site, it very much was a factor. The Intent to Win “In sports, the link between progressing in a sport is directly related to your track record of winning,” said Kocialski. “Athletes know that when they step on the playing field, they must have the intent to win and must live in the moment – for the next few minutes or hours their world is only the game and what must be done to win it. “I see many young entrepreneurs that want to start the next Google or Amazon,” she wrote. “They are very talented people, but they don’t have the intent to win. “Many entrepreneurs believe it’s about effort. If they try hard and long enough then they will eventually succeed at their business. But that’s not true. Who hires an attorney who loses all his cases, but tried his best? Who engages a physician that never cures their patients of their ills? Find me an investor who will back an entrepreneur whose previous companies have all failed? Athletes understand the importance of a consistent level of excellence and winning. Performance Under Pressure “Athletes learn to perform under pressure. While there is the pressure to get good grades in school, it’s not as intense as athletics. If you don’t do well in math, you may get a B or C for a grade, but you will still move to the next level. If you don’t do so well in a season you may never have the opportunity to play the sport again. 48

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

“Even in practice, athletes are under pressure to perform. They have to jump so high or spin so fast by a certain date, or their lack of progress becomes detrimental. If a sports coach knows an athlete is capable of doing something, but just can’t get it, there will be no sympathy from the coach. The coach will push the athlete to perform. “In order for a company to grow, it must bring in sales so it can pay the staff and reinvest for the future. Without that external pressure to perform, companies remain marginal. In sports, there’s the coach. In a business, it’s the mentors, advisors, businesses coaches, and shareholders that can provide the accountability necessary to push the company to succeed.” More About Kocialski Kocialski is the founder of three tech start-ups companies. In the past 15 years, she has been involved in dozens of start-ups. She writes the Start-up Entrepreneurs’ Blog www.cynthiakocialski.com. She has also written the book, “Out of the Classroom Lessons in Success: How to Prosper Without Being at the Top of the Class.” The book serves up tips, insight, and wisdom to enable young adults and parents of kids to know what it will take to forge a successful career, no matter what their academic achievement. Many Thanks Thank you Cynthia for confirming my gut feeling that sports played a major role in getting my business off the ground and keeping it going for some 26 years! If you have information, ideas, comments or suggestions for “World Of Women Sports,” please contact Sarah Jane Clifford at 585/388-8686. Her e-mail is gtc@frontiernet.net. Clifford owns and operates The Gymnastics Training Center of Rochester, Inc., 2051 Fairport Nine Mile Point Rd., Penfield, NY 14526

::making dollars & sense By Zina JC Nelson

For newlyweds looking to start off on solid financial footing, these days, the path to success may seem filled with potential pitfalls. However, finding your way doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. The key lies in learning how to manage the money that you take in, and using this to build up a nest egg that will allow you to get through the shaky days. The first step to financial security involves putting together a budget, and sticking to it. It isn’t a glamorous task, but it is necessary, and one that you should not bypass. It will also involve the cooperation of both sides of the marital equation, too, because sticking to a budget is a lot like rowing a boat—if you’re both not paddling in the same direction, you’re not going to get anywhere. Assuming you’ve successfully put together a budget that works for your new household, and you’re sticking to it, the next step is to establish goals for saving money. Now that it’s clear how your money is being spent, it should also become clear how much you can actually set aside from your paychecks each month. When setting these goals, look at it from two levels. First, you’ll want to identify shorter-term goals, for expenses such as home improvement or a vacation. You’ll also want to establish longerterm goals, for things like a home you can call your own or fulfilling college education plans. Ideally, you’ll want to save at least 10 percent of your earnings, although no amount is too small. Keep in mind, even a dollar a day adds up to $365 a year. Also, try to make the saving process as easy—and automatic—as possible, using such options as direct deposit from your bank account or direct payroll deductions. 50

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Now that you’ve set up a savings list, you need to compare that list with what you’ve established as a budget. This is an important step, because it may become apparent that your expenses are keeping you from achieving your savings goals as quickly as you’d like, and need to be reexamined. Ask yourself and your spouse where the both of you can spend less without drastically cutting your standard of living. Start a “pay yourself first” program, by automatically setting aside an amount each month. This amount can then be increased if you get a raise or pay off an installment loan. Here are some other suggestions to cut back on your spending: Look at the big expense in your budget and think about how you might cut them. Try to keep only small amounts on any credit cards you have, and pay off most of the balance each month, whenever possible. Charge items only when absolutely necessary. Don’t make an impulse buy, whether it be a new piece of electronics or a new item of clothing. Take your lunch and snacks to work. Avoid vending machines. Buy in bulk; use coupons. Entertain at home instead of going to a restaurant. Rent a DVD instead of taking a trip to the theater. After you’ve trimmed and cut, you may still find that you’re unable to meet your savings goals. If this is the case, it’s time to reevaluate those goals. You may need to change the time frame you’ve set to meet them. For example, perhaps that romantic vacation to Rome isn’t in the cards two years from now—maybe five years is a more realistic goal. Sometimes, though, you’ll need to adjust the goal itself.

Once all the hard work of budgeting and saving is accomplished, the next step is to put your hard work into place, and stick to it. The good thing is, once saving becomes part of your routine, money will begin to accumulate, and in less time than you’d think, too, through the power of compound interest. Even at just $1 a day, saving that money with a mere 4 percent interest rate will yield $1,929 after just five years. In thirty years, that amount grows to $21,169. If you continue to set savings goals, these amounts will grow fueling more and more of the dreams you have for the future. And, in turn, it will also allow you to start making financial savings plans that can significantly improve your chances of living a comfortable lifestyle, all the way to retirement. Who would have thought a simple thing like actually saving could have so many benefits? This article appears courtesy of Zina JC Nelson. Zina is a Registered Representative offering securities, including variable products through MetLife Securities, Inc.(MSI) (member FINRA/ SIPC), New York, NY 10166. Insurance and annuities issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MLIC), New York, NY 10166. MSI and MLIC are MetLife companies. She focuses on meeting the individual insurance and financial services needs of people in several different occupations/professions and businesses. You can reach Zina by phone at 585-241-5279

::special feature 54

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

By Ashley Cooper I photo by todd elliott

Patricia Leva’s earliest brushing with Junior Achievement came about while she was still in middle school. Having been a highly assiduous student, Leva naturally assumed she would be tested on the information presented by the JA volunteer who, at the time, was representing Kodak. So Leva listened attentively, as she always had, but as she listened, her incentive for being vigilant changed from merely wanting to receive a good grade to wanting to ensure that what she was hearing could be translated for her own life. “I really understood, from that moment forward,” Leva recalls, “how important it is to understand what you’re learning in school and how to apply it to the real world.” Patricia Leva is a delight. She seems to have an unending supply of energy, which I covet, but she is also engaging, putting those around her at quick ease, flashing a friendly smile and sporting an agreeable sense of humor. Leva is also incontestably passionate about her work with Junior Achievement. I asked her how she made the transition from being involved with JA as a student to becoming considerably more involved as President and CEO of the Rochester chapter. “I had gotten my undergrad in business and I was also certified to teach business at the secondary level,” Leva explains. However, she had reservations about teaching students, hardly her junior, the elements of business when she lacked real-world experience. “I really wanted to be able to add value,” she says, “so I said, ‘you know what? I’m going to go into the business world for a little bit, get some work experience, and come back to the classroom.’ ” Leva began working as employee for Chase Manhattan Bank in Rochester where she had worked as an intern in years prior. “I had some unbelievable mentors who really saw potential and kept coming to me with new opportunities. Chase is obviously a financial institution and with financial literacy being one of the pillars of Junior Achievement, we were encouraged to get involved in the community and Junior Achievement was an option.” Leva consequently worked as a volunteer for JA as a Chase employee bringing “real-life” perspective to the classroom. She saw the merit in using tools such as the math skills her class had been learning at the time and showing the students how they manifest in the business realm. Leva states that she “began to feel strongly about the importance of kids understanding the relevance of that they are learning, and about being able to read and write financially, being economically self-sufficient, and able to achieve their dreams.” That is what JA is all about. Founded in 1919, Junior Achievement is a highly revered, non-profit organization that serves to educate students, developing the necessary skills in order to achieve economic success. Volunteers usually come from a corporate background or speak professionally from successful financial experience and teach programs in classrooms worldwide. This is done with the permission of the instructor as volunteers enable future entrepreneurs to visualize a profitable future for themselves. JA

program curricula are carefully designed to supplement what is already being presented in the classroom. JA also focuses on preparing students for the workplace, stressing the importance of attaining an education, presenting business ethics and principles, increasing economic awareness on a global scale, educating in terms of spending habits and budget-keeping, and helping to develop financially wise habits that will benefit and enrich the lives of students. Leva explained that “many of the students we reach may not be otherwise exposed to the kinds of skills and experiences JA provides.” Kids in all grade levels have the opportunity to be involved with JA, which boasts of some notable alumni, including Habitat for Humanity founder Millar Fuller, Rick Santorum, and Dan Rather. After having worked at Chase for fifteen years, Leva left and gradually became more enmeshed with the Junior Achievement until three years ago, when JA’s former president retired and it was confirmed that Leva, an enthusiast for the organization and true visionary, would make an ideal candidate for the open position. For Leva, JA was a good fit. She had, after all, experienced all aspects of the company having initially participated as a student, dedicated her time as a volunteer in the classroom, and finally, as a regional leader. Patricia Leva also understands the markings of a good leader. She believes that a in order to successfully lead others, one must be trustworthy, passionate, inspirational, humble (she elaborates on this point by saying, “be proud of your team”), possess a sense of humor, have a vision, and establish a presence. She also adds that a leader continually finds ways to set himself or herself apart through �perhaps “innovation” or “continual creativity.” Since Leva has stepped in as president of the Rochester area, JA has flourished. Leva confirms that JA has grown in their student- reach (chiefly toward middle and high school students), “increased” and “diversified” their funding via unique events as the “Titan of Business Challenge,” and established “board-restricted funds to ensure the propensity of JA programs.” However, she presents a surprising statistic in that “opportunities for JA are endless as far as I’m concerned. While we reach 13,000 students, we still only reach about 6.5% of the market. We still have so much work to do.” Leva is anticipating the 2012 Titan of Business Challenge that will take place April 30th at St. John Fisher College. Local high school students will participate in a competition that simulates the experience of being a CEO of a corporation. They are expected to make executive decisions that are no different from those a real CEO would have to experience. Students gain a wealth of knowledge in regards to the corporate world and through events such as this, are encouraged to pursue opportunities that will help them excel. In terms of offering advice intended to empower women everywhere, Leva states: “Leading comes natural to some, and for others, it needs to be cultivated. Either way, education is the key to a lifetime of opportunities, and it should never stop. Seek out a mentor who is willing to give you tools and experiences that will help you become a better leader. And whatever it is you choose, make sure you are passionate about it.” rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012

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::gardening diva

By Frances Grossman There are countless reasons that we can analyze andponder this wonderful question. Yet, the only reason that counts is because IT FEELS GREAT! As the spring season is unfolding, I can not help but get excited. I’m energized, inspired and feeling the anticipation of what’s on the horizon. Last year was a ho-hum spring. We had it, lived through it and kept on going. I personally didn’t get a tremendous sense of satisfaction from the usual perky, delightful change in season. Fast forward a bit to this past winter…What a tease! The indoor months seemed long but things were incredibly mild for a Rochester winter. It seems to me that everyone I speak with these days is raring and ready to go for a new color-filled spring. In the next couple of months I’m going to share some valuable new information with you. I thought it would be fun to reveal what I’ve learned from our greenhouse growers regarding the newest and best flower introductions for this year. I’ve been so excited to ‘sink my teeth’ into discovering what I’m going to grow this year. I’m looking for beautiful and easy plants that will make a big impact in my garden and containers. I believe I’ve found a few that exactly fit the bill and you are the first to know! First, I’d like to introduce Silver Stream™ Lobularia is a dainty, yet mighty delight! This plant is in the alyssum family and shares the same crisp white blooms on vibrant green foliage. The little flowers resemble a white cloud of blooms at a glance and have a sweet honey fragrance. Bruce our grower calls this plant “well-behaved” I chuckled at first, but truly appreciate the sentiment as I learned how this variety is easy and quick to grow, forever blooming, loves the heat and looks equally fantastic planted in the garden or containers. Next on the must have-list is Mercadonia ‘Gold Dust’. These sweet little yellow-ish gold blooms resemble the traditional buttercup flowers of our youth and offer a vibrant punch of color. This pretty plant is easy to grow, gorgeous as a training plant in your containers or window boxes and equally beautiful in the garden as great filler. My third ‘shout out’ is a stellar plant with a new twist! 3D Osteospermum is a spectacular choice for planting now as this plant loves the cooler temperatures. This is among the top must-have plants for adding bright color to my spring garden. If you don’t mind a bit of dead-heading (the expired blooms), you’ll be rewarded by ongoing purple, pink, yellow and a unique white/blue blooms all season long. Osteospermums will continue blooming through several light frosts. There are two exciting new features to the new 3D variety. First, the flower head is much fuller – almost resembling a double bloom and second, unlike traditional Osteo’s, this new variety stays open, happily adorning your gardens, window boxes and containers around the clock. My final plant feature is the essence of ease. Succulents are one of the hottest rising trends in gardening. There is so much that can be done with these plants. The textures and assortment of colors truly lend themselves to be a source of live decorating for the garden. As part of the cactus family, succulents need little care and LOVE the heat. Their root systems are shallow making it a snap to tuck these sassy little plants in a variety of nooks, crannies and planters. There is only one real problem that I have with succulents…It’s almost impossible to just stop at one or two or a basketful! The incredible variety of choices makes it extremely fun to shop for and garden with these plants. Next month, I’ll be sharing what I’ve learned about edibles, another popular and oh so fruitful opportunity in gardening!

Frances Grossman is the president of Grossman’s Garden and Home. www.grossmans.com april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

Phone: 585.647.1150 Fax: 585.647.2177 214 C Lake Ave, Rochester, NY 14608 www.voawny.org www.StepbyStepRochester.org

::rw reads & writes

Local author Elizabeth Osta, in her historical novel, Jeremiah’s Hunger, tells a 19th century saga of starvation, rebellion and survival. The book follows Jeremiah through the twists and turns of the Irish political scene as he marries, fights for Ireland’s freedom while cultivating land to help his family survive. Survival is a topic Osta is familiar with as a recent breast cancer survivor. Jeremiah’s Hunger is based on a family story that dates back to the nineteenth century. Descendents of her great grandfather, Jeremiah Buckley’ eventually make their way to Livingston County and ultimately to Lima, New York. Below is an excerpt from Jeremiah’s Hunger: “I hear her, I hear her! Oh , dear God. It’s the banshee/Oh dear God!” Jeremiah woke to see his wife sitting straight up in bed, her white dressing gown damp and slinging to he chilled body. The light of the full moon illuminated the rich red hair that fell over her shoulder. Her blue eyes stared straight ahead, her body full with the weight of their first child, perched as if ready for flight. “What is it, Mairead?” he asked, lapsing into the Irish name for Margaret that he’d first heard her called as a child. “What’s frightening ye so?” “Didn’t ye hear her? Was I the only one? Did you not hear the banshee?” Margaret looked to her husband in disbelief. “She was calling, calling, I heard her, plain as day. The low moaning sound. It was awful! Did ye not hear her?” Margaret reached out to Jeremiah who wrapped her in his arms and rocked her and soothed her, saying he had heard no such thing, no such thing at all. “Sure, your mind’s playing tricks on ye with the baby due anytime now and all ye’ve been taking care of, what with the New Year and all the doings. Hush now, hush it’ll be fine. Just wait and see.” He wouldn’t go so far as to say there was no such thing as a banshee for he himself had heard the wailing when little Eliza died. The dreaded banshee, the fairy who foreshadowed death. He was as certain then as Margaret was now that he’d heard her. It was real and it was just as she said. Awful. He’d never said a word of it to anyone and now wished he’d never heard it so he could tell Margaret there was no such spirit. He laid her back down and brushed her hair from her brow. Then he lay down close beside her. After her breathing returned to a deeper rhythm, he said again, “Sure it’s only your mind playing tricks on ye. Sur.e there was nothing, Aren’t ye as fit as a fiddle and ready for this wee one? Isn’t this child an answer to prayer?” About the Auther: Elizabeth Osta was born in Buffalo, raised in Syacuse and graduated from Nazareth College. She taught children with special needs, was a school principal and later became a training specialist for New York State Education Department. Osta has received numerous awards for her writing including the Democrat and Chronicle Golden Pen Award. This is her first novel. Jeremiah’s Hunger is available locally at the Irish Import Shop in Pittsford and Writers and Books on University Ave., or online at www.borealispress.com. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Jeremiah’s Hunger will be donated to the Pluta Cancer Center. 60

april 2012 :: rochesterWomanMag.com

There are more than 107,000 children, in the U.S. like Maria, who are available for adoption and waiting for their forever family. Help Lift Mariaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wait www.ChildrenAwaitingParents.org

presents

Ginny Ryan

WHAM13 News Anchor

Cultivating Success A conference, inspiring women to grow Featuring:

May 10th

8:30am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4:30pm

Keynote Speaker: Ginny Ryan Breakout sessions on entrepreneurship, career planning, personal development and work/life balance. Networking and Business Expo Registration fee: $79 (breakfast & lunch included)

Canandaigua, NY

Visit www.pwflnys.org for more information and to register.

SOHO Rochester

Events

april calendar

ORGANIZATION: Premier Promotions TIME: 9am-4pm WHERE: Rochester Riverside Convention Center WEBSITE: www.SOHOrochester.com

6 A FINE ART BENEFIT FOR AIDS CARE

TIME: 5 PM-9PM WHAT: Local Award-winning artist Brian O’Neil will present a one man show “A Bridge Between Two Worlds”. Proceed will benefit AIDS Care WHERE: The Arts & Cultural Council, 277 N. Goodman St.

IASC 9th Annual Pasta Dinner

ORGANIZATION: Italian American Sport Club TIME: 12pm-5 WHERE: The IASC 1250 Buffalo Rd., Gates WEBSITE: www.IAASCofrochester.com

Women for Women: Up Close and Personal

ORGANIZATION: 103.9 WDKX TIME: 12pm-6pm WHERE: Max at High Falls WEBSITE: www.WDKX.com

Red Wings Baseball Opening Day

ORGANIZATION: Red Wings TIME: 7:30pm WHERE: Frontier Field WEBSITE: www.redwingsbaseball.com

Do you have an event coming up? Submit your information to events@ rochesterwomanmag.com

EASTER SEALS WALK KICK-OFF EVENT

TIME: 5:30-7:30 WHAT: To raise awareness of the 6th Annual Walk With Me Rochester in June. For a $5 donation, attendees will enjoy free refreshments and drink specials and participate in a Chinese Auction. WHERE: Buffalo Wild Wings in Henrietta Where: Temple Concord, 910 Madison St.

SMP Rochester River Challenge ORGANIZATION: Flower City Challenge TIME: 7:30am WHERE: Genesee Waterways Center Elmwood ave, Rochester, NY WEBSITE: www.flowercitychallenger.com

rochesterWomanMag.com :: april 2012

::RWM pets By Mark Forrest Patrick, CDT VA

With the arrival of spring it is time to think about lawn and garden needs for the growing season ahead. As you make your plans for your outdoor space please keep your family pet in mind. There are plants, shrubs and mulch that are harmful to your pet. If you are not sure which gardening materials are pet safe ask the local gardening professionals or visit http:// www.aspca.org/Home/Pet-care/poison-control.aspx for a complete and updated listing. Planning ahead with the proper information can make this a safe and happy summer for your entire family. When preparing your garden and yard here is a suggestion to save you frustration later. Refrain from allowing your canine companion seeing you dig in the yard or garden. Once your pet observes the behavior, it has given them permission to follow the same activity and behavior. There are several reasons why your dog may dig here are a few of the most common. A.) Boredom and lack of activity. B.) The environment is not desirable (lacking toys and playmates). C.) Digging for burrowed animals or insects. D.) Seeking comfort in hot weather. E.) Seeking attention by digging in front of you. To address these concerns you will need to get to the root cause of the problem. When you allow your pet to roam and play outside alone the chance of him/her becoming bored and lonely intensifies. Monitor his/ her activity and if you observe him/her scrapping on the ground give the command of â&#x20AC;&#x153;NO DIGâ&#x20AC;? and go outside and give him/her some attention with a ball or walk the lawn with him/her. While it may appear that he/she

is enjoying their time outside, dogs are pack animals and need company. Include in his daily routine additional exercise and stimulation with playtime outside. Allow your companion to run and play with his toys outside. Some dogs have an excessive desire to dig and in this situation, create an area that is their safe digging zone. The area should be soft sand and/or top soil, if you see him/her begin to dig bring him/her to the area and dig a hole. Encourage your pet to dig in the designated digging area. If he/she continues to dig in the forbidden areas place chicken wire one to two inches under the soil in the area that he had dug before. When placing the chicken wire under the soil fold the sharp edges under to avoid injury. Place large rocks into the ground around the buried wire, creating a boundary. If the digging continues, keep him/her inside and only allow him/her out during supervised and controlled visits. When correcting a behavior it must be corrected at the time of the activity. If it is after the fact it is too late and your pet does not understand what you are correcting him/her for. Regardless of what method you take to eliminate and stop the digging, the most important rule of thumb is not to punish your dog for the behavior. If digging continues despite your best efforts contact a professional to assist you with the challenge and address the root cause for the behavior. Digging is an undesirable behavior and if not corrected can lead to serious frustration for pet and owner alike. Mark Forrest Patrick is the owner and trainer at Tuxedoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s K9 Training Camp. Visit www.tuxedosk9.com for more details.

panting.

SAVE THE DATE!

radio Talk Radio Real Estate, Rentals & Home Improvement

with your hosts Steve Hausmann & Patrick Coyne

Talk radio… for house hunters, home owners

and large, flightless birds everywhere.

Saturday, June 9, 2012 The Fast & The Furriest® 5K, 10K Races and 1-Mile Dog Walk Help us raise funds and awareness for Rochester Animal Services, and stay for the pet festival including contests, live music, exhibitors, vendors and more.

Saturday Mornings from 9-10 am SportsRadio 950AM ESPN

So what are you listening to?

Questions? Call 311

www.rochesteranimalservices.com Outside the city call 428-5990

Stream the show online at:

PropertySourceRadio.com Where you can also find Past Shows, Show Blogs and Pat’s Picks.

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