february 2013
Dr.Kane Diane A passion For Her Career
Red
is the Color of Life
leadership lessons
From the Fire Service
Connecting with viewers for 25 years
f o r a l l t h e t h i n g s t h at yo u a r e . . . r o c h e s t e r w o m a n
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rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013
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w w w. r o c h e s t e r w o m a n m a g . c o m
A comedy about books and the people who love them.
February 19 - March 24 When the members of a devoted book club become the subjects of a documentary filmmaker, their intimate discussions of life and literature take on new meaning with the camera rolling. Add in the unexpected arrival of a provocative new member and the sudden inclusion of some questionable titles, and long-standing group dynamics take a hilarious turn. This engaging play is sprinkled with wit, joy and novels galore! Written by Karen Zacarias Directed by Sean Daniels
2012-2013 Wilson Mainstage Season Sponsor: WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM
ROCHESTER
WOMAN magazine
(585) 232-4382 | www.GevaTheatre.org | Discounts for groups of 10 +
OFFER ENDS FEB 28 2013 *SOME RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY *CANNOT HAVE BEEN A MEMBER IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS
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Greece-Ridge Greece-Ridge Mall
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February
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ETC 7
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PLATTER CHATTER 8
FASHION FORWARD 14 QUEEN OF ARTS 16 FABULOUS FINDS 18 FOR A GOOD CAUSE
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LEADING WOMAN 22
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HEART HEALTHY 24 IN HER OWN WORDS
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FITNESS CORNER 28 COVER STORY: Ginny Ryan
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SPECIAL FEATURE: Susan Roberts
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HEALTHY WOMAN 41 SPECIAL FEATURE: Circle of Red
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SPECIAL FEATURE: Leadership Lessons
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ARTIST VIEW 46 WISDOM IN A TRAFFIC JAM
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RW INSPIRES 53 RW EVENTS 57
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LOCAL BUSINESS MATTERS
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Introducing Our New
St. Ann’s Care Center in Webster. The new St. Ann’s Care Center at Cherry Ridge brings a whole new kind of care to Webster. First of all, it adds Transitional Care and Skilled Nursing to our Webster campus. That means we provide a full continuum of care–all in one place. But the St. Ann’s Care Center at Cherry Ridge also brings you a revolutionary new approach, called person centered care. The result? Small, friendly “neighborhoods” where we can get to know you better.
Country kitchens where you can gather for meals– or even do some cooking of your own. And a whole new way of doing things that gives you more choices than ever. It’s something brand new. But it comes from a very old belief: that it’s a wonderful privilege to care for The Most Important People on Earth. For more information, call St. Ann’s Community at 585-697-6311. Or visit www.StAnnsCommunity.com.
at Cherry Ridge
ROCHESTER
WOMAN magazine
OUR TEAM...
Publishers
Kelly Breuer Barbara McSpadden
Editor-in-Chief
Barbara McSpadden
associate editor Ashley Cooper
Creative DIRECTOR Kelly Breuer
Art Director Melissa Meritt
Letter from the PUBLISHERS “The shape of my life is, of course, determined by many things; my background and childhood, my mind and its education, my conscience and its pressures, my heart and its desires.”--Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea The heart is a powerful muscle. It pumps our blood to keep us alive, it even speaks to our mind and helps us make important decisions. The heart also chooses its soul mate, the one who captures it, keeps it and completes us. The heart most often has a mind of its own leading us down a path that, if left only to the mind, we might never have chosen. It’s hard to trust your heart and follow where it leads because the path isn’t always clear, but in the end the heart is always true and almost always puts you in a place that you truly want to be, although you didn’t know it at the time. The month of February is painted red as we celebrate the heart. The American Heart Association has deemed this month, Go Red for Women to draw attention to heart disease and its effect on women. As you may know, heart disease is the #1 killer of women. So, we have decided to “Go Red” for our February edition of Rochester Woman Magazine, and feature some of the incredible women and stories behind the heart of this month. Our cover woman is a familiar face to just about everyone in Rochester. For the past 25 years, Ginny Ryan has been delivering the news to our living rooms every weeknight. Fulfilling her dream of being a newscaster, Ginny is doing what she’s always loved, while still filling her most important role as wife and mother. Ginny and the rest of the women from 13 WHAM are also helping to support the Go Red Campaign, so we thought she would be the perfect cover for this “red” issue. Read Ginny’s story on page [30] We’ve filled this issue with articles on many of the women who make up the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red here locally. Women who have promised to extend their time, devotion and resources to raising heart disease awareness. Women like Daisy Algarin, Loraine Segar, Rita Bartol and Joyce Zimowski just to name a few. Rita Bartol, SVP also wrote a guest column for us inspired by the funerals for the two West Webster firemen who were killed on Christmas Eve in the line of duty. Read her inspiring and thought provoking piece on page [44] February also means that spring is just around the corner (well hopefully. this is Rochester after all...). As you head out around town, take a copy of Rochester Woman Magazine along for the ride. In fact, shoot a photo of yourself and your friends reading the magazine in different locations and post it on our Facebook page. The picture taken in the most unique location each month will win dinner at a favorite RWM restaurant. So go have some fun and show us the best places to enjoy RWM!
Kell y & Barb
On Our Cover...
Photography for the cover story with Ginny Ryan was provided by Rome Celli owner of RocImages.com and was taken on location at Channel 13. Hair was provided by Tiffanie Niger owner of Salon Bella Vita, Pittsford.
Graphic Design Jane Marseglia
Photography Rome Celli Jenniffer Merida Tammy Swales Brandon Vick
Contributing Writers Rita Bartol Kristine Bruneau Kari Cameron Ryan Connell, MD Rebecca Even Holly Farnham Amy Gallo Amanda Hebing Joan E. Lincoln Amy Long Angella Luyk Maureen “Katie” Male Sraddha Prativadi, MD Caurie Putnam Nicole Shein Linda Tyree Brandy White Whitbourne Stephanie Williams
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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 585.287.5362 1115 E. Main St, Box 60 Rochester, NY 14609 info@rochesterwomanmag.com Download our media kit at www.rochesterwomanmag.com The magazine is published 11 times a year by InnovateHER Media Group, llc. 1115 E. Main Street, Box 60, Rochester NY 14609. Copyright © 2013 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.
etc... february movies...
2/8
2/14
Little RochOscar Party
On Saturday, February 23rd, join local non-profit organization Bivona Child Advocacy Center for the 8th annual “Open that Bottle Night!” at the Locust Hill Country Club. All proceeds support the Center that helps more than 1,000 abused children each year. Festivities include a cocktail-hour silent auction and wine tasting, as well as a live auction exhibiting 2025 highly-coveted prizes. Be sure to bring a bottle of wine to share with your table! In its eight years, Open That Bottle night has successfully raised over $1,000,000 for Bivona Child Advocacy Center; this year’s signature event will be a fun-filled evening of entertainment, fine wine and dining, travel, and sports for a great cause.
Unlimited funds have allowed Diana to live it up on the outskirts of Miami. There’s only one glitch: The ID she’s using to finance these sprees reads “Sandy Bigelow Patterson”… and it belongs to an accounts rep who lives halfway across the U.S. With only one week to hunt down the con artist before his world implodes, the real Sandy Bigelow Patterson heads south to confront the woman with an all-access pass to his life.
When a mysterious young woman arrives in a small North Carolina town, her reluctance to join the tight knit community raises questions about her past. Slowly, she begins putting down roots, and gains the courage to start a relationship with Alex. But dark secrets intrude on her new life with such terror that she is forced to rediscover the meaning of sacrifice and rely on the power of love in this deeply moving romantic thriller.
2/22
Dwayne Johnson stars as a father whose teenage son is wrongly accused of a drug distribution crime and is looking at a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years. Desperate and determined to rescue his son at all costs, he makes a deal with the U.S. attorney to work as an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel on a dangerous mission -- risking everything, including his family and his own life.
3/1
Nell Sweetzer (Ashley Bell) is found alone and terrified in the woods. Back in the safety of civilization, Nell realizes that she can’t remember entire portions of the previous months only that she is the last surviving member of her family. Just as Nell begins the difficult process of starting a new life, the evil force that once possessed her is back with other, unimaginably horrific plans that mean her last exorcism was just the beginning.
8th Annual Open that Bottle Night!
It’s that time of year again. The nominees are out, the Golden Globes have been presented, and movie-buffs everywhere are tingling in excitement for one of the most anticipated events of the year: The Academy Awards. Rochester knows how to celebrate the Oscars with a bang as The Little Theater, located on East Avenue, will host the 2013 “Little RochOscar Party.” Whether you’re a true blue film fan, or simply a fashionista determined to scan what the attendees are wearing, you’ll love to view the awards ceremony on Sunday, February 24 on the “big screen.” Doors open at 6:30PM, “Little” entertainment starts at 7:30PM, and the show starts at 8:00PM.
Order your tickets today: $35 for members, $40 for non-members. Admission includes a champagne toast and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. Call (585) 258-0400 to reserve a ticket today. A grand total of nine films are nominated for “Best Picture,” this year—it’s sure to be a night to remember. To see a full list of nominations, visit http:// oscar.go.com/nominees. Cheer on your favorite leading men and ladies of 2013 in style!
If you would like to help with setup or during the event contact Donna Lipari, Special Events Coordinator, at (585) 935-7831 or by email at dlipari@BivonaCAC.org. The doors open at 6:00pm. Register to attend online at www.bivonacac.org
The Child Advocacy Center model was created in 1985. Since then, there have been more than 700 such centers established across the country. Bivona is an acredited member of the National Children’s Alliance. Accreditation assures partners and the community that they are meeting national standards for delivery of care and services. National studies indicate that the cost of providing children with coordinated care through a Child Advocacy Center saves about one-third of the cost of accessing the social and legal agencies individually. The savings represent $1,000 per child. Bivona saves the community about $1 million each year. Although Bivona receives some government funding, much of their support comes from people within the community. Bivona is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
chatter ::platter 8
february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
Bonzai
Not Your Average Sushi
By Nicole Shein | Photos by Brandon Vick Confession: I’m a bit of a sushi
fanatic. Traditional nigiri, inventive fusion rolls covered in crunchies and Sriracha, Japanese maki, grocery store California rolls — doesn’t matter. If I can dunk it in wasabi-spiked soy sauce, I’ll eat it and go back for more. So when I heard that there was a new sushi place opening in the South Wedge, I was eager to check it out. Banzai is owned by Nicholas and Matthew Grammatico, the brothers behind Park Avenue’s Piranha Sushi Bar. Last fall, they noticed that the up-and-coming neighborhood, although full of bars and hip boutiques, was lacking one thing: a place to get healthful late night fare. “We wanted to expand the options beyond pizza and garbage plates,” explains general manager Nathan Nickens. “A lot of people in the South Wedge are health conscious, and particular about what they eat.” At Banzai, even vegans can get their midnight munchies fix, since there are several vegetable and tofu sushi options, as well as vegan miso soup, a selection of salads and several dim sum that are meat-free. Carnivores can give the red curry chicken wings, roast duck steamed buns, or pork dumplings a try. When I visited, it was all about the delicious fishes — which is actually the name of one of Banzai’s deluxe maki rolls. That one includes escolar, avocado, chile pepper, tomato and onion crunchies, and it’ll be tops on my list to try next time. The platter of sushi that was presented to me included several pieces of nigiri, a beautiful sashimi rose of escolar and three rolls. Nigiri, for you sushi noobs, is the non-rolled kind, with a piece of fish sitting atop a rice ball. I tried tuna and salmon, and each was fresh, tender and even silky. The beauty of nigiri is that it lets you truly experience the pure flavor of the fish, without being distracted by other tastes competing for your attention. The same goes for sashimi; Banzai’s escolar is a firm, white-fleshed fish with a rich, buttery texture. A quick dunk in the soy sauce helps cut its succulence, but sashimi lovers should not pass this one up. The deluxe maki rolls — which Nickens describes as “California style” — are loaded with funky additions. If you’ve eaten this kind of sushi before, you’ve probably encountered avocado, cream cheese, onion crunchies and mango. Banzai takes the fun a step or several further, throwing raspberries, cilantro, bacon, diced tomatoes, seared beef and honey into their rolls (although, I should clarify, not all at once). Traditionalists might be tempted turn up their noses at such combinations as the Hot Rod (eel, bacon, cream cheese, scallion, avocado, teriyaki sauce) or the Mistletoe (salmon, raspberries, honey, cream cheese and avocado) but trust me, Banzai makes certain that the flavors play perfectly well together. Take the Fancy Pants roll, which marries tempura shrimp, cream cheese, and onion crunchies, then tops them with avocado, teriyaki and diced tomato. The tomato and avocado added a welcome Southwestern note; the tempura coating and onion crunchies made the roll burst with texture; the cream cheese did its usual velvety thing; and teriyaki sauce tied it all together with Asian flair. Not to worry, old-school sushi lovers can still enjoy the usual eel, octopus, shrimp, tobiko and snowcrab nigiri or maki, as well as classic rolls like California, spicy yellowtail and Philly. And Banzai’s drink menu, which includes several varieties of sake and beer, as well as inventive cocktails like the Green Buddha (a tart but balanced blend of green tea vodka, St. Germaine, Chartreuse and lemon) or the Bite the Berry (a fruity, festive variant of margarita made with fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice, silver tequila and triple sec). Banzai offers sushi happy hour, from 2pm-6pm Monday through Saturday, and 4pm-10pm on Sundays. The sushi chef stays until 10pm Sunday through Wednesday, and until 1am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The bar itself stays open until 2:00 am every night except Sunday, when it closes at midnight, and offer dim sum items until close. Banzai is located at 682 South Avenue.
E laine’s Estate Furnishings
Hours:
Wednesday - Friday 12:00pm - 5pm
Saturday 12:00pm - 4pm
Furniture
Paintings
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2755 Monroe Avenue, Rochester,NY 14618
Jewelry
Home
Office
585.269.4638
The Essential Juicing Detox with Demaris Pinedo of "Just Juice" Friday, February 1st 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Kick Start 2013 with a Healthy Lifestyle... Refresh, Renew, Revive! Learn how using organic, raw juices can improve your health and rid your body of harmful toxins. Cost: FREE
Meet the Naturopath! Thursday, February 28th 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Dr. Suzanne Sheldon, D.N. discusses natural healing. Learn how you can balance your body through stress management, nutritional counseling, thoughtful use of supplements, and muscle testing. Cost: FREE
*See clinic for details. Each clinic is a member of the Massage Envy network of independantly owned and operated franchises. Š2012 Massage Envy Franchising, LLC.
Fountain of Youth Organics 46 Main Street, Brockport www.foyorganics.com
Workshops are limited to 20. Reservations Recommended. Call 637.3696 or Email patty@foyorganics.com
Valentine’s Specail for your Romantic Night Out
“
Get ready to spend Valentine’s Day with great friends or a special loved one. Savor a complimentary glass of wine and a box of chocolates while you enjoy a relaxing wash, blow dry, and style and a complete make up application. - $80
Book On-Line Today!
By Playfull Jenn
Yes, I do
Those parties.
585.689.0887 playfulljenn@gmail.com www.partygals.biz/playfulljenn CELL
24 High Street, Suite #4 Fairport, NY 14450
585.678.4466
www.hairwelove.com
WEB
Now Offering:
Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics Stop In Today For A “How To" Session With One Of Our Talented Artists. Learn The Art Of Applying Eye Shadow And Other Tips & Tricks That Will Help You Put Your Best Face Forward! Makeup Sessions Are Only $15
CUSTOMER-FOCUSED, TECHNOLOGY-LEADING, DERMATOLOGY EXPERTISE At Dermatology Associates of Rochester, and our partner organizations DermaSpa and Skin Search, we provide the experience, technology and vision that creates a higher level of dermatological care and results for patients of all ages. Dermatology Associates offers a wide array of medical and cosmetic procedures, including Botox, Juvederm, CoolSculpting and much more. DermaSpa, Rochester’s premier medical spa, offers facials, microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, chemical peels and many more services. Skin Search participates in sponsor initiated clinical trials that research new therapies and procedures for conditions involving the skin.
Janice C. Loss BS BA RN CCR and Lesley C. Loss MD, Owners of Dermatology Associates, DermaSpa and Skin Search
Discover all the advantages that our woman-owned and managed businesses can provide to you and your skin!
Rochester 585.272.0700 Clifton Springs 315.462.1495 WWW .D ERM R OCHESTER . COM
Like us on Facebook to get news about our monthly specials!
Jôlie Salon & Day Spa Mani/Pedi - $50 Buy a $100 Gift Certificate and enjoy a $25 Gift Certificate for yourself!
585.271.5450
joliesalon.net
1624 Monroe Ave, Rochester, NY 14618
Bushnell's Basin • 585-385-9149 672 Kreag Road • Pittsford, NY 14534 kitchenthymedesignstudio.com
Angela Johnson Dance Company offers a safe and encouraging environment with Christian morals for dancers young and mature alike to express themselves through movement and dance.
Since 2007, GLOW has been providing Rochester with the most precise, natural looking custom spray tans around! Now you can learn from the best at our premier training facility. GLOW Sunless Tanning & Training Facility is the only place in Western New York to learn hands on training & get certified from nationally renowned sunless trainer, Anne Marie Marshall. Only Local Sunless Tanning Distributor Wholesale Products & Solutions Equipment & Accessories Custom Spray Tanning Training Certification Product Knowledge Classes
Visit our booth at the RWM Go Red Ladies Night at Benedetto’s on February 7th
1551 MONROE AVE I BRIGHTON I 585.621.GLOW WWW.GLOWSUNLESSTANNING.COM
::fashion
forward
By Joan E. Lincoln I Photos By Dori Pallini-Stathopoulos
The Emperor alone was allowed to wear purple robes during Roman times. Senators had to make do with purple ribbons on their togas. German emperors continued the tradition of wearing purple robes as a symbol of power and they were joined by the cardinals in 1468. Strict clothing regulations were enforced in Europe up to the times of the French Revolution. Pure colors were reserved exclusively for the rich nobility. Preparation of pure bright colors from natural sources was very tedious. Development of complex technical processes such as extracting carmine from the cochineal insects or red dyes from madder plant made it finally possible to achieve bright red tones. Wearing red coats was the exclusive right of the nobility in medieval times and the red robes of kings, cardinals, judges and executioners announced their power over life and death. During the Elizabethan era, only members of the aristocracy wore red. The Sumpuary Laws were implemented during this period, which dictated who could and who could not wear red. Sumptuary laws were enacted in many centuries and countries. In Elizabethan England, these laws attempted to restrict the sumptuousness of dress in order to curb extravagance, protect fortunes, and make clear the necessary and appropriate distinctions between levels of society. The other concern was that letting anyone wear just anything must lead inexorably to moral decline. If you couldn’t tell a milkmaid from a countess at a glance, the very fabric of society might unravel. Why Is The Red-Carpet Used?
No-one seems absolutely sure of the origin, but like so many aspects of our culture and even science, it has been suggested that it goes all the way back to ancient Greece and the classical play Agamemnon. A character in the play, Agamemnon himself, is welcomed home by his wife to a grand reception with a deep red and purple carpet, the colour of the gods! He is an arrogant character and his wife Clytemnestra wants to show this by having him literally walk all over the gods, eventually he does but only after protesting that a red carpet is only worthy of a god. One way or another this fable passed down through centuries with the purple fading to a plain deep red which only the most important members of society were to walk on. Railroads seem to have really commercialized the practice commonly rolling out red carpets on platforms to direct passengers to the correct location on the train. Known for its style and prestige, perhaps it was during the 20th Century that the “red carpet treatment” was born. From school proms to weddings and nightclubs, red carpets are a common feature of any special event today, giving the guests a feeling of importance and status and the occasional airs of high importance. It has also been utilized to honor those who have passed on from the red carpet to the afterlife. Today it has been widely embraced by the entertainment industry, with the world’s most famous red carpet perhaps being the one at the Oscars ceremony where many of the world’s most glamorous and beautiful celebrities have their image beamed to TV stations and magazines everywhere as our society’s modern gods. Just How Long Is The Red Carpet At The Oscars?
Research registers a 500ft. long and 33 ft. treatment experience. Joan E. Lincoln owns Panache Vintage and Finer Consignment in Brighton Commons.
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february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
Get Your Dance On for Heart Health!
Across the United States and in your community dance, learn simple ways to stay heart healthy, enjoy music and participate in health screenings.
Saturday, February 9, 2013 Noon - 4 p.m. EastView Mall Main Court
FREE Drawings and Giveaways FREE Health Screenings and Heart Health Info FREE Dance Demonstrations and Lessons Ballroom, Jazzercise, Swing, Zumba, R&B Line Dancing and more To schedule a FREE cholesterol/glucose test or to register for a dance demonstration: Call (585) 919-3899 or visit spirit.thompsonhealth.com
Exclusively at your Spirit of Women Hospital Š2012 Spirit Health Group. All rights reserved.
arts ::queen of
By Amanda Hebring This Valentine’s Day, why not opt for something a little out of the norm to do with your loved one? What could be more romantic than flaming torches, manipulating metal and forming glass? The Arc + Flame Center (AFC) on 125 Fedex Way in Rochester offers a creative alternative to the habitual candlelit dinner. The commendable women of RocAFC- Kate Cosden, Eunsun Choi, Sue Angell and Candace Martens took the time to chat with me about their one-of-a-kind facility. Formerly located within Mahany Weld, the AFC was compelled to branch out due to the high demand for glass, welding and smithing classes. With their current facility having been developed as of January 6, 2012, the AFC is looking to the future to expand their outreach of creative welding, smithing and glass work to the community of Rochester. Once entering the doors of the Arc + Flame, I could instantly smell the rustic musk of hot metal. Everyone that passed by flashed a bright, welcoming smile; I could see their hands were well-worn from their physically demanding line of work. The center offers a wide range of classes for anyone from novice to experienced. Each department offers small introductory classes and a multi-week long professional course. The introductory courses focus on teaching basic fundamentals of the craft whereas the professional courses help students create a veritable sculpture. In the blacksmithing and glass department, instructors offer a three-to-four hour “date night” in which couples can come in and create a sculpture together. Blacksmithing also includes a knife-making course in which students are free to make their own blades. Eunsun Choi and Sue Angell spoke with me about the programming for the glass and jewelry department. Along with soft glass and boro glass classes, fusing and slumping tutorials are offered, which have proven to be a hit within their department, especially with children and teens. The Arc + Flame center also collaborates with MCC, Brockport and RIT for classes in which art majors utilize the facility as it houses the many unique tools and machinery needed for their work. With the RocAFC ladies being former students of RIT, each knows what Rochester has to offer local artisans. We have a tight-knit, culturally-mindful community that allows artists to work together to create a creative “underground” for others to get involved in. The Arc + Flame Center is reflective of said community. The facility helps to give beginners an outlet and a venue to come to and fulfill their “primal need to create.” It also grants the veteran artist an opportunity to expand his or her own talent. The AFC ladies also look to promote and support women artists with their facility. As welding and blacksmithing are perceived to be a maledominated art form, Candace Martens and Kate Cosden offer a “Women Only” class in hopes to challenge women to take on this seemingly-intimidating art form and make it their own. So what’s to come for the ever-thriving community at RocAFC? Martens explained that they are looking to expand and plan on adding to their programming to include copper-smithing, glass blowing and pipe welding. The AFC participates in “Beads of Courage” in which they make beads for kids with cancer which they do every first Sunday of the month. They also are hosting an “Open House” March 2nd from 11am until 4pm. This Valentine’s Day, why not fan the flames of love by creating something together that will last forever?
Summer muSic camp Sunday, July 14– Friday, July 26, 2013
Jazz I StringS Voice I guitar
World-class music programs in the breathtaking Finger Lakes, for middle and high school students
For information please visit esm.rochester.edu/keuka
1855 Monroe Ave. • 585-242-8777 Brighton Commons • Twelve Corners RichardsFineJewelers.com
finds ::fab
fab
Great gifts for your man…
For the “Non-Conformist”…
Ladies, you know that your man is truly one-of-a kind; he can hardly stand to be one with the masses. When it comes to gift exchanges, you seem to be perpetually challenged to “think outside the box.” For those seeking to do something a little out of the ordinary this Valentine’s Day, Rochester’s historic ‘Little Theater’ has just the thing! For $20 each, you and your sweetheart can Share the Love with the Center for Youth. Treat yourselves to popcorn, soda, live music, and a feature film of your choosing. The patron admission includes a donation to the Center for Youth! Entertainment and a fantastic cause! Questions? Call Donna or Damara at (585) 473-2464 centerforyouth.net/index.php/all-events/
For the “Foodie”…
Tour the regal Casa Larga vineyards linked armin-arm with your loved one on February 16th for the 5th annual “NY Ice Wine and Culinary Festival.” Indulge in the sweet “nectar of the gods” as well as in some of the region’s finest cuisine. No need to resent the cold, this event is indoors to maximize your “warm and toasty” experience. Wine accessory demonstrations will be offered as well as local food tastings sure to pamper your senses. Tickets are on-sale now through February 15th. www.casalarga.com/IceWineFestival 2287 Turk Hill Road, Fairport | (585)223-4210
For the “Romantic”…
::fab
For the man who loves to sweep you off your feet….literally! DancEncounters offers $8 drop-in classes almost every night of the week. Channel the likes of Astaire and Rogers in a Monday evening ballroom course, or experience the passion of the alluring dance that originated in Rio de la Plata in “Fundamentals of Argentine Tango” available on Sundays. For the nostalgic (and energetic), drop-in for a Wednesday evening “Beginning Swing” dance lesson; you won’t be sorry you’ve stopped by.
finds
www . d a n c e n c o u n t e r s . c o m / classes.html | 215 Tremont Street, Door #8 | (585)473-8550
For the “Adventurer”…
2013 valentines who favor active dates will love the growing trend of indoor rock climbing. Whether you’re a novice or expert, RockVentures is the ideal location for everyone. It’s a well-known fact that couples who play together, stay together. Check out RockVentures on University Avenue and take advantage of their competitive walk-in rates. Make a double or even triple date of it for a group discount. Beginners are advised to complete the introductory class which includes admission, harness and helmet, as well as climbing shoes rental and skills instruction. Rock-climbing is a trust-building activity, encourages strength, patience, and endurance — all while having a blast! www.rockventures.net | 1044 University Ave | (585) 442-5462
For the “Old Soul”…
The Rochester Auditorium presents an exclusive Valentine’s Day concert on Friday, February 15th featuring “Superstars of ‘70’s Soul Jam.” For those pining a blast from the past, you’re sure to take a stroll down memory lane with the likes of The Stylistics, Emotions, Cuba Gooding Senior, The Main Ingredient, Blue Magic, and Blue Notes! Tickets are available now at the Auditorium Theatre! Enjoy a romantic evening with your man and some of the greatest music of the decade. www.rbtl.org/events.aspx | 885 East Main Street, Rochester | (585) 222-5000 rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013
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good cause ::for a By Brandy White Whitbourne I Photos by ROCimage.com
In September of 2011, her boutique doors were finally open to the public.
‘A Boutique with Heart’ is located in Rochester’s east side, nested in Pittsford’s own Schoen Place. After descending a flight of stairs and entering a quaintlooking shop, you will find owner Lisa Schwingle ready to grant you a warm greeting and a friendly smile.
The store was originally called, “Less Worry…Be Happy: A Boutique with Heart.”
It is easy to be enthralled by the many homemade scarves, gloves, paintings and jewelry for sale. This shop is truly one-of-a-kind as there are not only items from local vendors but also items that are hand-made in the shop by Schwingle herself. It is also unique in that proceeds go to local non-profit organizations to enrich community well-being. Whether for silent auctions, trunk shows, fashion shows or funding, Schwingle is ready to give to charities such as American Heart Associations Circle of Red, University of Rochester George Eastman Circle, Dream Factory Inc., Camp Good Days and Special Times, H.U.G.S. Charities, Rochester Rotary, UNYFEAT, Melissa’s Living Legacy, Ronald McDonald House, Day Star Charity, Sisters of St. Joseph, Ontario and Monroe County ARC, Embrace Your Sisters, and many more. “I have not turned anybody down,” said Schwingle. “And if I couldn’t help them, I would find a way.” Schwingle specifically mentioned not-for-profit organization “Melissa’s Living Legacy” which was orchestrated in efforts to aid teenagers coping with cancer. She said that teenagers and their families are often overlooked among the demographics affected.
“I wanted people to worry less and concentrate on getting healthy,” said Schwingle. “When you’re sick, you can’t pay your mortgage, car payment or get groceries. People can’t afford to become sick.” Although Schwingle never envisioned herself as a store owner, she always dreamt of lending her creative talents to something bigger than herself. “I wanted to be an art teacher,” said Schwingle. “My mom told me that there was no money in it and that I needed to go to school for computers and that’s what I did. I got my BA degree in Computer Science and worked in corporate offices for eight years.” Today Schwingle is keeping busy, dividing her time between working at Perlo’s Italian Grill in East Rochester at night and manning the boutique during the day as its sole employee. She says that even when she is home, she cannot stop working as she brings her knitting projects in tow. “I want to hire eventually, but I would love to wholesale to other stores,” said Schwingle. “I would also like to get an online store going.” One such endeavor that Schwingle anticipates is to start heading instructional classes on how to make jewelry and knitted pieces.
“There are a lot of smaller charities like this that people are not aware of,” Schwingle said.
Schwingle’s commendable goal is to raise $12,000 annually to go to the various nonprofits; time and time again, she has managed to exceed her own standards. Her most stressful thoughts arise when she considers the countless other local helping organizations that currently exist, but have yet to approach her.
Having a father pass away from colon cancer three years ago compelled Schwingle to reach out; she started making bracelets to earn funding for cancer research. She also began to sign up for walks with a cause and eventually became the chair of the “Positively Pink” walk in Pittsford in 2011.
“I don’t think I stick out,” said Schwingle modestly on how she feels about her personal investment in giving back to the community in comparison to other storefronts like her own. “We’re all in this for the same thing, which is to help people. We are all in this for a good cause.”
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woman ::leading 22
february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
::leading
By Linda Tyree | Photo by Jenniffer Merida
As the Chief Medical Officer of St. Ann’s Community, one would think that there would be little room for anything outside of work. But, Dr. Kane has managed to combine a successful career and with the help of her husband, Tom Pesciotta, and raise a family. She and her husband are the epitome of working as a team. Dr. Kane describes her husband as her rock, her anchor and her hero. During her 3rd year of Residency at Strong Memorial, she discovered that they were expecting their first child. Tom agreed to be a stay-at-home dad, putting his music career on hold. Now that their three children are grown, he is utilizing his degree in Composition and Music Education from Boston’s Berkley Music School as the Director of Rochester Big Band and enjoying his passion for Jazz. As for their children, their son Daniel (25) is in Law School at Case Western, Sarah (23) is in nursing and Susan (18) is studying accounting at Syracuse University. The family also has a yellow lab named Toby. Dr. Kane always felt torn between her career and family, but she made sure that as her career advanced, she made time for the important things in her children’s lives. She was always the “party mom” at school and tried to make each holiday party special. They also had “Pesciotta Night”. Every Friday night is reserved for family time and they go out for pizza or a movie and they continue that even today. Dr. Kane acknowledges the importance of blocking the world out and parents spending time with their children. Occasionally, she and her daughters will have a girl’s day out and enjoy those special bonding moments.“These opportunities and memories solidify a family. Friends will come and go, but family is forever.” said Dr. Kane. In a sense, Dr. Kane’s family is much larger than her husband and children. During her Residency rotation, she fell in love with geriatric medicine. She views working with the elderly as a very special calling and considers it a privilege. In reality, the Rochester area is privileged to have such a caring physician working with our elderly. When speaking of the programs at St. Ann’s, Dr. Kane radiates enthusiasm. During her tenure there, she has overseen many changes that help the elderly have all of their needs met as they live their final years.
Dr. Kane feels blessed that she has grown in her career and her passion for her work is evident as she spoke about St. Ann’s Community. She sees the opportunities at St. Ann’s Community as one stop shopping for seniors. When seniors choose to live at the Community, they can ask themselves where will they be in 15 years, and will my needs be met. Under Dr. Kane’s tenure, St. Ann’s has private practice doctors at their independent living facilities, an 84 bed sub acute unit, long term care, and an end of life hospice unit. In late April, St. Ann’s will be opening a cardiac program. The cardiac program will be a “bridge” between hospital to home for someone who’s had a cardiac event (cardiac surgery, etc). It will involve several disciplines including nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech. In addition, this summer, in conjunction with Rochester General Hospital, they will be opening a wound care center, complete with a hyperbolic oxygen chamber. Anyone working with or caring for seniors knows that is a much needed facility.
woman
Hard work, dedication, passion, and compassion—these are the words that describe Dr. Diane Kane, not only in her professional life, but also in her personal life. This amazing woman has blended work and being a wife and mother by applying these aspects to everything she does.
Under Dr Kane’s leadership, St. Ann’s Community was the first organization in New York State to utilize the MOLST (Medical Orders for LifeSustaining Treatment) form from the NYS Department of Health. According to Dr. Kane, if she doesn’t ask the hard questions now when her patients are able to make decisions, she can’t advocate for them when they are unconscious or unable to respond. Looking to the future, Dr. Kane wants to make a global impact and change in geriatric medicine. She is a strong advocate for the elderly and she wants to expand her horizons in order to effect change for them. Her goal in the next few years is to share her knowledge with policy makers and health care professionals. From Rutger’s University, to Medical School at the University of Massachusetts to her Internship and Residency at Strong Memorial, to St. Ann’s Community, Dr. Kane has built her medical career on hard work and dedication. She feels very fortunate in life and she wants to help others. This is evident in her career, as well as her personal life. She feels that the elderly over the years have given her so much more than she has given. The Rochester area is very fortunate to have this amazing woman as part of our community.
rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013
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healthy ::heart By Ryan Connell, MD
This February is the 10th anniversary of the American Heart Association’s “Go Red For Women” campaign. This is a great opportunity to recognize the impact heart disease has on so many people in our community. Heart disease remains the number one cause of death in America and is responsible for 1 out of 3 deaths. Additionally, there are many people with chronic heart conditions that significantly limit their daily lives. For many years, the extent of cardiovascular disease in women was underappreciated. Heart disease can affect women in different ways than men and even cause different symptoms that were previously not recognized as heart attacks. We now know that cardiovascular disease is nearly as common in women as in men. Heart disease is even responsible for more deaths in women than men and kills more women than all cancers combined. This month is about increasing awareness of the heart disease burden on women and doing everything we can to reduce this as we move forward. Despite the many remarkable advances that have been made in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, prevention remains key in minimizing the risk of developing heart problems in the first place. The major risk factors for developing heart disease are similar in men and women. Some of these risk factors can’t be avoided. These include age, a history of vascular disease, strokes, kidney disease, diabetes and a family history of premature heart disease. These are important to identify, and they obviously can’t be changed. There are other risk factors which can actually be altered. These are referred to as “modifiable risk factors” and include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, poor diet, inadequate exercise and tobacco use. Optimizing these areas can help avoid heart disease in the future.
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february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
The risk factors for heart disease that can’t be changed are still useful to know about. When these are present, preventive medications such as aspirin may be recommended and there may be stricter targets for cholesterol levels. Further, extra attention is often given to warning signs of heart attacks when someone has risk factors. Cardiovascular disease can occur at any age, but is more common as we get older. The risk of heart disease increases significantly for men over 55 and women over 65. Similarly, a family history of premature heart disease (defined as a heart attack in a 1st degree male relative under 55 or female relative under 65) also raises your risk. People with a history of vascular disease (such as peripheral artery disease or carotid disease), strokes, kidney disease or diabetes develop cardiovascular disease at alarming rates. Diabetes is a particularly important risk factor. It carries such an increased rate of heart problems that it is often considered an equivalent to having coronary artery disease. Women with diabetes are at even higher risk of having a heart attack than men with diabetes. All diabetic patients should be treated as aggressively for heart disease as someone who has had a heart attack. Keeping blood sugars under good control can also reduce the risk of developing diabetic heart complications. One of the most common modifiable cardiac risk factors is hypertension, or high blood pressure. It is more common as people age and an estimated 70-80% of women over 70 have high blood pressure. It is associated with increased rates of heart attacks, heart failure and some abnormal heart rhythms. The risk of heart disease is dramatically improved when high blood pressure is effectively treated. Medications are often required and should be taken regularly to have maximum benefit. A low salt diet and regular exercise can result in significant improvements as well, with some people even eliminating the need for medications.
Obesity has unfortunately become an epidemic in America. It has been associated with increased heart disease as well as numerous other health complications. It is not clear if obesity itself causes heart disease or if it is
Making appropriate changes to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease is an ongoing journey. Recognizing if you are at increased risk for heart disease and the ways you can improve is a perfect first step. Ideal targets for blood pressure, weight and cholesterol are not the same for everyone. You should talk with your doctor about your own risk factors and what you can do to reduce them. To help with this process, a personalized cardiovascular health assessment tool is available on our website, www.ucva.com. This is a way to assess your overall cardiovascular risk and help identify any areas that need improvement. If you find that you are at increased risk, identify any changes you can personally make to improve it. Go through the risk assessment again with your new goals and see what impact it has on your cardiovascular health. You just might be surprised by how much is in your control. Visit us at www.ucva.com for more information. Go Red this February, but go healthy for life!
healthy
Smoking has been associated with about half of all heart attacks in women. It is the modifiable risk factor with the greatest potential for benefit. Even smoking just 1-2 cigarettes a day will more than double your chance of having a heart attack. If you smoke, quitting is likely the best thing you can for your heart and your overall health. The beneficial effects on your heart start almost immediately. There are now numerous options available to help people quit smoking. Your doctor can assist you with the options. Making a commitment to quit smoking is not easy, but the benefits are definitely worth it.
more a factor of the diseases that come along with obesity. Many people with obesity also have hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes which definitely do cause heart disease. A healthy diet and regular exercise can independently reduce the chance of developing heart disease, regardless of blood pressure, cholesterol and weight. Diet and exercise programs should be tailored based on your individual medical history. Talk with your doctor about what is best for you.
::heart
s
Cholesterol is another common modifiable risk factor that has been clearly linked to heart disease. High levels of LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and low levels of HDL (“good cholesterol”) carry the greatest risk. Like blood pressure, cholesterol can be managed with both medications and changes in diet and exercise. The class of cholesterol medication known as statins is particularly important in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. Statins appear to even have benefits beyond cholesterol improvement which are not fully understood. Diets low in saturated fats and high in grains and fiber can improve cholesterol levels 10-20%.
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Go Red for February, Go Healthy for Life!
rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013 25 UCVA Physicians, left to right: Ryan Connell, David Fries, Matthew Funderburk, Ryan Hoefen, Peter Kringstein, Marc Odorisi, George Pancio II, Tejan Patel, Nathan Ritter, Abrar Shah, Sarah Taylor, Joan Thomas, Robert Vannozzi, Maurice Varon, Daniel Williford
Words ::in her own
Kelly Johnsson Photo By Heidi Frawley Photography
Kelly Johnsson knew she should have listened to her body. But she didn’t. Kelly was constantly tired, and felt mild tingling in her jaws and hand. Her body had been trying to tell her something for weeks, but she still didn’t listen. And it nearly killed her. Kelly finally went to the hospital after she could barely walk up a flight of stairs. Doctors said she had Mitral Valve Prolapse and a ninetyfive percentage blockage near her heart. Emergency heart surgery saved her life. Today, Kelly tries to walk every day and eat healthy foods. She’s glad she finally listened to her body. Thanks to research funded by the American Heart Association, she’s around to encourage others to listen to their bodies too.
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february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
Aisha O’Malley Photo by Tammy Swales
As a college student, Aisha O’Malley felt unusually tired and run down. Doctors removed her hyperactive thyroid, but the damage was already done. A year later, she went into heart failure. Aisha lived in the hospital for three to four months before finally receiving a heart transplant. Her second chance at life brought an intense passion for heart health. Aisha eats healthier options and works out three to four times a week. She has motivated friends to pay attention to nutrition and exercise too. Aisha is back at school working on a Master’s Degree. She wants to be a director for an organ donation agency. Thanks to research funded by the American Heart Association, Aisha’s not tired anymore.
Karen Hart
Photo by Tammy Swales
Karen Hart was active, fit and always on the go. But one afternoon, while doing yard work, she was slowed down by pressure in her chest. Karen went straight to the hospital and couldn’t believe what doctors found. Karen suffered from a blocked artery and plaque rupture. Doctors immediately inserted two stents to relieve the pressure. Now Karen is in cardiac rehabilitation to regain her strength. Karen is working hard to get back to the physical activity she loves like skiing, kayaking, and biking. Thanks to research funded by the American Heart Association, she’s back to being on the go.
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Barbara Rykojc Photo by Tammy Swales
ones is never at a loss . As a writer, she has feature stories, celebrity d health and science news al media outlets. But her eer was almost cut short.
Barbara Rykojc is someone you can count on. She cares for the elderly, helps her husband with his business and cares for her three children. But when her shortness of breath wouldn’t go away, she knew it was time to take care of herself.
as Marsha woke from a ouldn’t move part of her elt a tingle in her left side. amily called 9-1-1. X-rays he’d suffered a stroke. uldn’t move her arm for nths and wondered how write. But she started on and taught herself to n.
Barbara’s doctor thought she had asthma and ordered an inhaler. It didn’t help. A stress test showed nothing of concern. But Barbara lost her father to heart disease so she went to a cardiologist. An angiogram revealed a 100% block of her right artery. Barbara went into emergency surgery to receive four stents.
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::fitness
corner
ow that the New Year is in full swing, I know that many of us have started hitting the gyms, fully determined to get in shape, rebuilding the muscles in our bodies. Perhaps you’ve finally found a workout routine that works for you and you’re starting to see the results— now it’s time to take it to the next level. The muscle that is going to require the most TLC is the heart. In honor of Heart Disease Awareness month, let us go forth and give our hardest-working organ a little more of our attention and look at some practices that are sure to prevent its wear and tear. Your co-workers and/or family members might jokingly tell you to “take a chill pill,” but you might want to actually take their advice. Take a moment to speak to a child in your life. You will be amazed by the amount of stress they are subjected to on a daily basis. It’s affecting people at an earlier age and on a more continual basis. Your body reacts to stressful situations by releasing adrenaline, cortisol and noradrenaline into your system. These hormones actually cause your arteries to narrow while your heart rate increases. Operating a heart that isn’t getting ample blood flow is sort of like running your car without any oil—bad things are bound to happen, namely high blood pressure. Living in a constant state of stress might cause these symptoms to morph into more serious and permanent heart conditions. One sure way to measure the condition of your heart is to track your exercise and resting heart rate. Your heart rate is simply a count in beats per minute (BPM). An efficient healthy heart in a mature adult should be operating at 60 BPM or less. Anything higher indicates that the heart is working twice as hard to complete any given task. Being smart about your cardio health is the key to reigning in a hyper heart. When exercising, you shouldn’t be gasping for breath, flopping around and flinging sweat off of your body. If you look and feel like that externally, try to imagine how your heart is coping. It is safe (and most beneficial) to exercise in your target heart rate zone which is 60-80% of your maximum heart rate. Staying in this zone will help to ensure that your heart isn’t needlessly taxed. It also keeps your body burning fat instead of muscle which will make both you and your heart happy. Most of the time, stress in life is simply unavoidable. We already know that exercising is an effective way to lower both your blood pressure and resting heart rate. You can negate all of that hard work by putting the wrong foods into your body after you get out of the gym. Too many times, I sit down with women and learn that a majority of their diet comes from takeout or the freezer section in the grocery store. My first piece of advice is always going to be to leave all the processed foods behind. Starting to cook healthier will help to prevent you from ingesting unnecessary fats and sugars and put you back in charge of the fuel that is going your body. Involving your family members in the food making process is a wonderful way to encourage healthy living throughout the household. Take the time to pamper your heart. You need to spend a little time on just you. Why would you want to work and stress for years to simply end up too sick to truly enjoy your retirement years? Your heart needs to be fed properly and allowed to rest the same way that any of your other muscles do. Heart health needs to be a priority in your life. If you take care of it, it will take care of you. If you would like to contact me with questions or comments please feel free to e-mail me at pdpt@rochesterathletic.com. Keep up the hard work, ladies!
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Rebecca Even is the Fitness Director for Rochester Athletic Club in Pittsford. february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
story ::cover 30
february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
By Caurie Putnam | Photos by ROCimage.com
he afternoon of my January 3rd interview with anchorwoman Ginny Ryan was frigid. It was much like the weeks and days of television news preceding the interview: bone-chilling. First was the murder of twenty-six innocents at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14th, followed ten days later, on Christmas Eve, by epic tragedy in our own region with the murder of two West Webster firefighters. These stories were with me as I entered 13WHAM that cold day to interview Ryan – someone I had never met, but, like many of you, felt I already knew through watching her on television for over two decades. Ginny greeted me almost immediately and her initial words both shocked and warmed me: “I am so sorry about your cousin Caroline,” she said, referring to a family member of mine who was murdered in her classroom in Newtown. “All the children touched me, but Caroline in particular because that’s my daughter’s name.” And just like that, in two sentences, Ginny Ryan showed me what makes her the powerhouse, staying journalist she is: her love of family, her innate ability to connect with others, and her understanding that news is not just something her viewers watch, but something they live.
Rochester Family – Part 1
Virginia “Ginny” Ryan was born in Northside Hospital (now Rochester General) in 1963 to Virginia and Joe Ryan. She was the youngest of three and raised with her sister Cindy and brother Terry in a tight-knit, family centered neighborhood in Gates. From a young age the news captured Ginny’s attention. “I remember watching Watergate unfold and my sister, who was nine years older than me, was really interested in it,” Ginny said. “Working for the Washington Post and being a newspaper reporter sounded like the greatest job in the world.” But, her family’s own, personal, news dominated a large portion of her childhood when her father died. Ginny was just seven years old. “My mom had been a stay-at-home-mom and suddenly she had to get a job and learn to drive,” Ginny remembered. “But she did it and she is the best role model I could have ever asked for in terms of doing what has to be done.” Ginny went through a period where she did not want to leave her Mom to go to school – something common in children that have lost a parent. But, she connected with a teacher named Ms. Ryan who got her over that hump. “She was a great teacher who taught me to like school again and encouraged me to write,” Ginny recalled.
rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013
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story ::cover
When she graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School and left for college at Buffalo State, she was sure what she wanted to do with her life: write for a newspaper. But the universe had other plans. Freshmen were not allowed to write for the school newspaper and Ginny did not want to wait to get involved with the news, so she joined the only media outlet on campus open to her: the radio station. “It was a complete fluke,” said Ginny, of the path that led her to broadcast media. “I wanted to be a newspaper reporter.” Ginny enjoyed reporting, writing, and airing news for the radio station so much that she changed her major to broadcasting. And, before she knew it, she went from a student of broadcasting to a professional. “I started working just two days after graduation,” said Ginny, of her first professional position as a reporter at WENY-TV in Elmira, “I could not wait to start!”
Rochester Family – Part II
Ginny did not stay in Elmira long – Rochester was calling her home and she listened. “I love this community so much,” Ryan said. “It is such a cliché to say it is such a great place to work and raise and family, but it is. I am so glad I stayed.” In 1987 she was hired as a weekend reporter by 13WHAMTV, the station she has remained at throughout her career. “I’ve been so fortunate to be here for twenty-five years,” said Ginny, who currently anchors the five, ten, and eleven o’clock news. “The culture in our newsroom is really supportive. It’s like a family.” And, as much as 13WHAM has been a rock in her life, she has become a rock for the station over two decades of journalistic excellence. “She is a newsroom leader,” says Allison Watts, WHAMTV’s director of digital media, “Her voice is always heard and people seek her opinion out. She is not just someone who reads the teleprompter.” Watts remembers that when she started out at the station fourteen years ago as a young producer Ginny did something that she had never seen another anchor do: pull up a chair after every broadcast and debrief with her. “This is a fast moving, high stress industry and for an anchor to pull up a chair is rare,” Watts said. “She is like a teacher. Her impact on people whether they leave or stay at the station is tremendous.” Those are words echoed by someone who has stayed at the station even longer than Ginny: Don Alhart, the associate
news director, who began at 13WHAM in 1966. “Ginny is much more than someone who reads news,” Alhart said. “She cares about news, cares about good journalism, and realizes the value of getting to know our viewers. I couldn’t ask for a more ideal co-anchor.” While at 13WHAM Ginny, who is a finalist for the 2013 Athena Award, has worked on some of the most defining stories in Rochester’s modern history – the abduction and murder of Kali Ann Poulton, the Arthur Shawcross serial murders, the Brink’s Heist, and 9/11.
“Some of the best stories I’ve done are of ordinary people who do extraordinary things,” Ginny said. “It’s the people that don’t have the famous names that have made the most impact on me.”
On a typical weekday Ginny gets to the station at 2 p.m.; preps for the 5 p.m. news; delivers the 5 p.m. news and then pulls up a chair to discuss it with her producers; works on the 10 and 11 p.m. news stories; eats a quick dinner; preps for the 10 p.m. news; delivers the 10 and 11 p.m. news; debriefs with her producers again; and leaves the station around midnight. If that sounds extraordinary, what happens next is even more so.
story
And it truly is the people of Rochester – a place she calls the most giving community in the country - that motivate Ginny.
Rochester Family – Part III
::cover
“September 11th in Rochester was really not unlike what we saw in Webster recently,” Ginny recalled. “The vigils, people coming out and donating things, ribbons; often the worst things I see in our community bring out the best in people in our community.”
Ginny will drive home to Pittsford from Henrietta, sleep for a few hours, and wake up at 6:30 a.m. Why so early after working the night? To get her kids ready for school. Yes, Ginny is also a mom. “Ginny has been dogged in her determination to not let her career keep her from being a mom,” said 13WHAM anchor Doug Emblidge, who has worked with Ginny since 1990. “If you’re at the top of our profession you’re usually working nights. Ginny has worked nights the entire time she’s been raising her kids and has found a way to make the best of it.” Ginny began working at 13WHAM just two weeks after she began her family. She married Jeffrey Curran, an elementary school teacher in the Gates Chili School District, in 1987. Ginny and Jeffrey, who met in college when they were both interns in Washington, D.C, are the parents of Caroline, 17 and Jeffrey, 21. “Each stage goes by so much faster than the next,” said Ginny, of parenting Caroline – currently a senior at Pittsford-Mendon High School and Jeffrey, who is a senior at Cornell University and currently home in Rochester on an internship. “But I have thoroughly enjoyed it all.” As Ginny and Jeff prepare for an empty nest, catching up on two decades of lost sleep is not on the top of Ginny’s list. She sees herself getting more involved with volunteer work, something she is already extremely committed to. She currently serves on the board of directors of Heritage Christian Services Foundation, CMAC, and the public relations committee of Wilson Commencement Park. She also volunteers with the Ad Council of Rochester and Camp Good Days and Special Times. Ginny also serves as the master of ceremonies at about 30-40 events for Rochester area not-for-profit organizations each year. “You don’t get that number of requests to MC because you’re on TV,” Emblidge said. “You get them because people admire your work and admire you.”
rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013
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feature ::Special
By Kristine Bruneau | Photo by ROCimage.com
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Since then, Roberts established a best-in-class compliance function, implementing new online compliance resources and hiring a team that delivered results. “As a company, we’ve stayed out of trouble and I believe that’s due in large part to our compliance program,” says Roberts. “We’re one of the very few companies in the medical device and pharmaceutical arena that doesn’t have a corporate integrity agreement (CIA) or a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the government.”
When asked what she loves most about her job, the 2013 Athena Award nominee, who has played a leading role in navigating Bausch + Lomb through some of its most challenging legal issues, replied without hesitation: “The people. I’m blessed to work with more than 11,000 terrific people around the world. It’s the people that make Bausch + Lomb great.”
This is a big deal in these industries. CIAs are complex, multi-year agreements that require an organization to implement or maintain an effective compliance program with government oversight. DPAs are agreements in which a company agrees to specific actions in exchange for a dismissal of criminal charges.
Born in Conklin Forks, NY – a hamlet south of Binghamton – to a warehouse manager and homemaker, Roberts was the youngest of five children.
Because of her success, Bausch + Lomb, in 2008, appointed Roberts to chief compliance officer and its executive leadership team, where she’s one of the first women to serve as an executive leader.
“We didn’t have a ton of money, but we had a lot of love,” says Roberts, recalling that her parents made the best of everything. “We went camping, saw Niagara Falls, and then toured the Robert Moses Power Plant (laughs) – because it was free.” Growing up, Roberts played football and baseball to keep up with her older brothers and friends. Competitive in sports during high school, she also earned good grades. Although she really wanted to be a forest ranger in Colorado, Roberts’ parents encouraged her to go to Binghamton University. There, she took Philosophy of Law and loved it. Her professor urged her to give law a try because she did well in the class. While earning her bachelor’s degree, Roberts worked three jobs to put herself through school. When her parents dropped Roberts off at law school, her father turned to her and said “knock ‘em dead.” Minutes later her mother whispered “you can always come home.” Mindful of her parents’ words of wisdom, Roberts was committed to working hard and staying grounded. Upon graduating cum laude from Albany Law School of Union University, she was recruited by Harter, Secrest & Emery in Rochester. “They were the only firm that said if you pass the bar then within a year you could try your first case,” says Roberts. Just six months after passing the bar exam, Roberts tried her first case – and won. This was a thrilling moment for a young woman who loved to think on her feet and do battle. She stayed with HSE for seven years and was on the partner track when an opportunity in Bausch + Lomb’s litigation department arose. She almost ignored it, until a couple of well-meaning friends dared her to submit her resume. Always up for a challenge, Roberts pulled her resume together, studied Bausch + Lomb’s annual report, and was offered a job managing the company’s global litigation. “I enjoyed learning about the different legal systems around the world,” says Roberts, who also helped educate and train company employees how not to get the company sued. During her tenure, she built a reputation for her ability to consistently and effectively address the root causes of complex issues and manage risk within Bausch + Lomb. In 2005, when Bausch + Lomb’s troubles with some subsidiaries escalated, the board of directors recognized the need for a standalone compliance structure. Who better to lead the effort than Roberts? But Roberts, who had little experience in compliance, wasn’t so sure. It took a bit of self-introspection for her to get comfortable with this new challenge. “I read or heard somewhere that when opportunity knocks you have to answer the door – even if you’re in your bathrobe! This is so true;
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Roberts joined Bausch + Lomb in 1995 after several years as a trial lawyer at one of Rochester’s oldest law firms, Harter, Secrest & Emery. She then held positions of increasing responsibility in Bausch + Lomb’s law department, including serving as vice president and assistant general counsel. Today, Bausch + Lomb credits Roberts’ leadership and vision for building ethics and compliance into Bausch + Lomb’s global daily business operations.
you never feel that you’re completely prepared to take on something new.”
::Special
Executive vice president and chief compliance officer for Bausch + Lomb Susan Roberts usually begins her day by running and praying. She says that faith, family, and friends are principles that guide her and have helped shape her into the woman she is today.
Roberts believes that it’s the job of leaders to earn the trust of shareholders, customers, and employees. It’s trust that sets Roberts apart as an inspiring role model for women in and outside of Bausch + Lomb. She is an indemand mentor within Bausch + Lomb, sharing ways to achieve success and growth in all stages of career development. Roberts is also the executive sponsor and an active member of the Bausch + Lomb Women’s Network. Its mission is to make Bausch + Lomb an employer of choice for women by promoting personal and professional development, enriching the community, and encouraging employee health and wellness. A former recipient of Rochester Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” award, Roberts was also named a “Woman Worth Watching” by Diversity Journal in 2008. In quoting Charles Darwin – ‘It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.’ – Roberts offers a challenge to women and future leaders to “adapt to change and be flexible.” Grateful for the people and blessings in her life, she adds, “My parents taught me that no matter what you do, you need to be courageous, be real, and be kind.” Taking that mindset to heart, Roberts supports a variety of local, national, and international charitable organizations. For Roberts, however, the YWCA in Rochester shines bright. More than two years ago, Jean Carroll, YWCA president & CEO, invited Roberts to tour the YWCA facility. Roberts was touched by the number of homeless women and children in our community and she wanted to do something about it. “As a mother myself, I couldn’t imagine how it must feel for a mom to not be able to provide her children food, warm clothes, and a safe place to live.” Roberts issued a personal challenge at the 2011 Empowering Women Luncheon, which raises funds that support YWCA programs and services. During the luncheon, Roberts gave a bracelet to every donor who pledged at least a dollar a day for the year. Engraved with the words “YWCA Empowering Women Every Day,” the bracelets served as a reminder of the impact each person can make in the lives of women and children in our community. In 2012, Roberts built upon the prior year’s success and sponsored the “Pathway to Empowerment” charm. “Everyone,” says Roberts, “has the power to change someone’s day with something as simple as a smile or an act of kindness.”
rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013
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::healthy
woman
By Sraddha Prativadi, MD
As I get older my fascination with the heart has transformed into one on the metaphysical plane. Is it important to tend to the heart not just in terms of the hardworking muscle that it is, oxygen, blood and various lipid study panels? Of course it is. I believe people do die of a broken heart...or worse - living a less than fulfilling and vibrant life while not listening to one’s heart. Listen to your heart, or as is said in India “dil ki baat”, the speech of the heart, or “heart talk”. Silencing one’s mind, self-judgment and need for external approval and getting in tune with your “dil ki baat” leads to a more authentic life that is filled with purpose, meaning and passion that will permeate all your activities and relationships. How exciting this is when it is achieved in one’s life! Find the love within yourself and love yourself first. This month brings attention to the Go Red campaign from the American Heart Association and the efforts to raise awareness of cardiovascular health issues in women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, leading other feared diseases like cancer in loss of life every year. There are many types of heart disease but the most common, and preventable; type is coronary artery disease, or a thinning or blockage of the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle itself. There also exist diseases of the heart valves and heart muscle itself but this month’s focus is on the modifiable risk factors for coronary artery disease. The risk factors for heart disease in women are age over 55, family history of heart disease or heart attack, obesity, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and lack of exercise. Your age and family history are clearly not risks that you can change, however you can empower yourself to make positive lifestyle changes that will decrease the impact of the other risk factors. Prevention is better than a cure. This is most true with heart disease. And, like with most things in life, it is not the big, dramatic things that we do, but rather the small, consistent daily habits that we have that determine the trajectory of our cardiovascular health. Develop lifestyle habits that will help create cardiovascular health. Make sure you have established an empowering relationship with a health care professional and discuss your risk factors for heart disease. Get your cholesterol level tested and make sure your blood pressure is in a normal range. Getting screening for diabetes is also important and your physician can work closely with you to decrease the impact of these risk factors. Smoking has been shown to increase a person’s chance of developing heart disease. So, exchanging those cigarettes for a gym membership or some other positive outlet is well worth the effort. Again, your physician can help
assist and empower you with this process. Most of us are thrilled when a patient initiates this conversation herself. Managing your weight is another significant way in which you can decrease your risks for heart disease. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. So, empower yourself with action! Literally, action! Get moving and work your muscles and your heart. Exercise in your target heart range for 30-60 minutes daily. Go visit your doctor and have the important conversations about cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes screening. Speak with him or her about what you can do to quit smoking and decrease your weight. Having that supportive professional relationship will increase your chances of success in achieving your heart healthy goals. Observe a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, heart-healthy proteins and good fats that will maximize your energy and strength. And with all this attention being paid to the heart organ, don’t forget about your heart from a metaphysical perspective. Are you living, working and breathing from your heart space? Are you doing what you love? Do you love yourself? Are you living a life of meaning and purpose? For those of you still searching for an external source of love and romance this month, I leave you with this beautiful poem from Rumi, Ever since I heard my first fairy tale I started looking for you Not knowing how blind that was Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere They are in each other all along - Rumi
Here’s to your heart health, physically, emotionally, and spiritually this February. Go Red for Women! Please visit www.GoRedfor Women.org (American Heart Association) and www.acog.org (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) for more information on signs and symptoms of a heart attack and stroke and how you can maximize your heart health. Dr. Prativadi is partner at Madonna OBGYN, Invision Health. She enjoys working with each woman in creating a plan of action to maximize her health and creating an empowering relationship through which each patient can achieve her highest level of health, physically, mentally and emotionally. www. madonnaobgyn.com rochesterWomanMag.com :: february 2013 41
feature ::Special By Ashley Cooper “Red is the color of life. It’s blood, passion, rage…Red is the color of love. Beating hearts and hungry lips. Roses, Valentines, cherries. Red is the color of shame. Crimson cheeks and spilled blood. Broken hearts, opened veins. A burning desire to return to white.” –Mary Hogan So emblematic, so poignant a color, red was judiciously selected by the American Heart Associate ten years ago to pay homage to the countless lives that were taken too soon. It was chosen to catch a fallen world’s eye so that it could more easily envision a day with no more casualties. Still the “number one killer of women,” heart disease claims 600,000 lives per year in the United States alone. To put things in perspective, approximately one out of every three women will die of heart disease before next year. Jennifer Pratt, Senior Regional Director of Communications for AHA says that an overwhelming percentage of women are still quick to belittle its prevalence. “They are still surprised when they hear the statistics,” according to Pratt. The mission of the Go Red! campaign is to ensure the facts do not fall on deaf ears; raising awareness for heart disease as well as dispelling the long-standing folklore surrounding it remains central to its focus. And since the inception of “National Wear Red” day ten years ago this February, the campaign has made astounding strides, particularly in our neck of the woods.
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Western New York is to be commended for its history of fierce devotion to the Go Red! campaign, most notably, the city of Rochester. “Our community is very open to it,” says 2013 Go Red! Chairperson, Naomi Silver of Rochester. “This is a great part of the state to be involved with the campaign-our local and regional offices are filled with outstanding professionals.” One such professional is Silver herself; from one ‘Red’ expedition to another, the Red Wings Chief Operating Officer and Chief Boardman embraces her new role in leading the 2013 campaign. “I am very fortunate to have been asked,” says Silver. “I always felt close to the mission and understand how much it means to people.” Silver lost her father, legendary Morrie Silver, to heart disease when she was only fifteen years old. “[Heart disease] is something that we may not think about until we’re directly affected,” explains Silver. “It’s always on my mind. The knowledge, the education, the fund-raising for the mission is of the utmost importance. Each year, the campaign becomes stronger and the community’s awareness intensifies. We’re coming up on a month where two hundred local businesses in our community will be involved with Go Red! It reminds us of what we need to do to improve the health of ourselves and the women in our lives.
of 13 WHAM proudly support the “Circle of Red”
There’s so much we can do in terms of prevention. If we can get out in front of this, highlighting heart heath in this way really makes it central. That is our mission.”
• Daisy Rivera-Algarin, Circle of Red Co-Chair and the Senior Marketing Specialist for the City of Rochester. • Ginger Zimmerman, Circle of Red Co-Chair, Heart Transplant Survivor and Founder of Gingersheart International. • Rita Bartol, Senior Vice President at Five Star Bank. • Berlin Bermudez, Research Administrator at University of Rochester. • Lauren Kelly, Student at Pittsford Mendon High. • Susan Munn, Vice President and General Manager at Entercom Rochester. • Rosalie Rivera-Arzuaga, Sr. Mortgage Loan Officer at Citizens Bank. • Hilda Rosario Escher, President and CEO of Ibero American Action League. • Joann Santos-Santiago, Director of Collegiate Sci and Tech Entry Program, Monroe Community College. • Lisa Schwingle, Owner, Lisa’s Boutique With Heart. • Laraine Segar, Mother and Community Volunteer.
• Joyce Zimowski, Senior Vice President at Unity Health System. The Circle of Red members recently had the opportunity to take a formal tour of URMC’s Cardiovascular Research Institute and will be featured at the annual Go Red for Women luncheon expected to take place on October 30, among other local events that reflect their passion in generating awareness everywhere. All too-often it’s been stated that when it comes to caring for their health, women most typically place themselves last, attributing to the “silent killer” reputation characteristic of heart disease. In a personal address to women everywhere, Naomi Silver charges, “We have to be our own, very-best advocates. It is critical that we take responsibility for our health. It’s very easy to close our eyes to a problem we think we may be having.”
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This year’s inaugural “Circle of Red” class, proudly sponsored by 13WHAM (and nationally by Macy’s and Merck & Co., Inc.), includes the following:
• Belimar Velazquez, Director of Marketing & Inside Sales, US and Canada at Carestream Health.
::Special
Doubtlessly, Silver is spearheading the Go Red! movement in Rochester with the same spirit and fervor that her father had when he championed the “72 Day miracle,” essentially keeping the Red Wings franchise here for good in the 1950’s. For the next year, Silver will be surrounded by a bona fide support system known as the “Circle of Red,” whose members have “made a personal financial commitment to funding heart disease research and awareness, are influential in the community, as service as ambassadors for the American Heart Association,” according to Pratt.
• Dr. Joan Thomas, Chief of Cardiology at Unity Health System, UCVA.
Part of the American Heart Association’s campaign includes offering accessible resources to women in efforts to engage their attention. In taking a moment to peruse www.GoRedForWomen.org, users will find a free assessment tool called, “The Go Red Heart Check Up” where individuals will be able to identify the common, and perhaps not-too-common symptoms of heart disease as well as preventative measures to decrease riskfactors. Before completing the online check-up, the AHA advises that users refer to current readings of cholesterol, blood pressure, triglycerides and fasting glucose levels. It’s true that in one decade, the American Heart Association’s Go Red! campaign has led to 330 fewer deaths per day due to heart disease, but there is still work to be done. It is anticipated that Rochester will have set the example on “National Wear Red Day” so that on February 1sts in years to come, the streets will be painted red. Naomi Silver promises, “The direction will always remain the same until we can eradicate this as a health issue. We’ll keep chipping away at it until every single woman is aware.”
• Alicia Tejada, Innovation and Product Development Engineer at Caribbean Liquid Sugar Global Services Inc.
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feature
By Rita Bartol
::special
I attended calling hours and funerals of the two firefighters who were ambushed and killed in the line of duty on Christmas Eve in Webster. Two other firefighters were hospitalized with serious injuries from that day. During the calling hours, I watched as thousands of fire personnel, 911 dispatchers, police and EMT first responders, from across the US and Canada, paid respects to their fallen brothers — Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Koczowka, volunteers from West Webster Fire Department. Honoring service and bravery, their brothers and sisters walked hand over heart, past the casket, showing respect and support for men many had never met, yet referred to as “brothers.” These are not people of great wealth or political appointments, yet businesses and members of the community responded in with donations of food, hotel rooms, money and time to honor these brave men. These honors and events were not supported with government funds or bottom-line funds that diminished shareholder value. It was the heartfelt charity and kindness of neighbors who recognized a need. How do these people generate this kind of support? Why do very few “for profit” organizations generate this kind of engagement from employees, customers and shareholders? As I sat in the auditorium during one of the funerals, I had witnessed several things that day that are rarely recognized as practices that lead to successful leadership. The following are a few of those lessons that can be applied regardless of the industry or sector in which we work. You Are Family
As I waited at the West Webster firehouse for transportation to one of the funerals, family and friends gathered at this place for which they take ownership like their homes. Men and women were busy serving coffee and breakfast to the mass of people waiting for transportation to the service. Several thousand people were expected to attend the funeral. My fiancé, Sam DeRosa, a 34-year fire service veteran who leads the Monroe County Fire Bureau, arranged for a friend and West Webster fire fighter, Mark Cholach, to transport me to the funeral that day. I told Mark that I was so sorry for his loss and that mostly I was sorry he had to worry about my transportation that day. He said, “We are family. It’s what we do.” During each of the eulogies that day, I heard the words brother and family more than I heard the words work or manage or even lead. One of the officers of the firefighter association spoke to the large group of people at the firehouse before the buses left for the service. He recognized that some individuals (politicians and others) may feel entitled to a front row seat at the funeral inside the auditorium; however, those seats were reserved for the West Webster family. Political rank and firehouse rank outside of West Webster received no priority compared to family. A Focus On Behavior & Activities
The fire service in Monroe County has a comprehensive training program for paid and unpaid firefighters. These individuals learn how to wield an axe, carry people from burning buildings, and how to fight various fires and all of the associated dangers. Whether on the job or not, more than a focus on the technical ability, there is attention given to expected behavior and how to “watch out for each other.” Obviously, these men and women are literally “putting out fires.” Being swift in action is clearly a priority when dealing with public safety issues. In the workplace each day, how refreshing it would be if decisions could be made swiftly, without waiting a week for a four hour meeting to take place. The focus is on more than just the technical skills. They learn technical ability but the first lesson learned is about teamwork. As I waited at the firehouse, I read a flyer containing the obituaries of these men who passed away, as well as some instruction for the
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It was interesting to me that letter was very clear about the expected behavior of all participants and the expected focus on the immediate family. In addition, there was an expectation of physical appearance that day regarding black bands worn over badges, gloves worn with dress uniforms, and the protocol to be followed. There is a level of respect and honor that was discussed that day. The focus was on the service of others, not their own individual grief. Mentor Them
The “Explorers” are a group of young people who start to learn about fire service very early on. The majority of them become public servants, some paid and some volunteers. They are coached and mentored by more senior members of this group, in the hope that they will be retained for greater service to the community and to each other. This cycle of early recruiting assists with overall recruiting efforts over time, as this county does not struggle for volunteer members, due to the large numbers of members they retain. There is something to be said for all of these individuals, young and old, who recognize that being part of a cohesive group (family) assists with retention. The recruiting and war for talent corrects itself. These young recruits have someone watching out for them, contributing to their success early on. These individuals learn at an early age that there is significant reward in service to community. They are part of a “brotherhood” and a group that, combined, is bigger than themselves as individuals. They stay. They recruit others. They become mentors. Recognition For Above & Beyond Performance
I don’t know any fire service individuals who become millionaires in this line of business. They aren’t in it for the money. There are banquets, recognition
events, awards and honors bestowed on those who go above and beyond the calls to duty. The very behaviors that are taught, coached and mentored are also recognized. It’s not the wielding of the axe that receives recognition. It’s the respect shown, the integrity displayed and the action to help others that is recognized and rewarded. The values instilled come full circle when the same values and results expected, are recognized. This is not short term incentive that generates a short term behavior. This is the kind of reward that generates long term commitment and a high level of discretionary contribution. In time, the reward to these men and women is the affiliation with other respected individuals, and certainly not the money. Servant Leadership
These lessons, practices, principles and values may be applied to both public or private sector and any industry. The application of these ideals is the very heart of why employees remain engaged in their work and retained in the jobs they do. Servant leadership can be applied, whether that service is to the customer, shareholder, employee or the communities in which we live and work. The satisfaction and pride generated from this kind of leadership minimizes the evil generated by the few people who are self serving and destructive in their intentions. People don’t remember what you do for them but they remember how they feel. If leaders could generate the kind of commitment that encourages this kind of loyal service and sacrifice, consider the effect on the bottom line in industry where these lessons have never been spoken or applied. Rita Bartol is Senior Vice President Director of Human Resources & Training at Five Star Bank.
view ::artists
By Ashley Cooper
hile most twenty-something’s drift through the sacred days of youth endeavoring to “find themselves,” Angela Johnson has defied her own demographic stereotype with ease. “Artists are artists,” says Johnson, 27. “And a dancer’s gotta dance; I’ve never thought of being anything else.” Johnson had already toddled her way into dance when her family moved from Syracuse to Rochester. Quick to note her young daughter’s penchant for movement, Helen Johnson wasted no time in enrolling her in ballet classes. It promptly became evident that the three year old’s amusing tendency to mimic the ballerinas she had seen gracing the stage of Swan Lake was not merely a tot’s attention-getting gimmick. Johnson excelled in each of her classes, propelling the fortuitous career in dance that soon awaited her… Before joining the likes of Terry Fyke, PUSH Physical Theater, Ballet Mahnificat!, Draper Center for Dance Education, Hochstein, Pamela Wilkins-White and Jubilate (among others), Johnson had to withstand a young aspiring dancer’s worst fear: adolescence. As if enduring puberty isn’t torture enough for tweenagers, the cringe-worthy experience is maximized in the dance realm. Ballerinas dread the fate of a developing body type-something that may sever a prospective career permanently. As a former dancer myself, I recall the fear of being unable to control what my body would turn into. Johnson explained that at the age of ten, it was all she could stand to remain in dance class. All of a sudden, wearing a leotard in front of her contemporaries was awkward, and the emotional temperance that comes with pre-teendome was more than she could handle. “At that age, you either wish you are the best dancer in the class and you’re not, or you are the best dancer in the class, and everyone hates you for it.”
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february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
“I wanted to quit,” says Johnson, “My mom pushed me to go; she noticed a gift. She would tell me, ‘Angela, you’re in little pieces right now, but God is going to put you together. You’re going to tell me that you don’t want to wear the leotard that you were so excited to pick out?’ I began to love dance again. I don’t know what I would have done if she didn’t encourage me to stick with it.” Johnson’s mother has since passed away, but her loving adages still echo in her daughter’s ears. “She always told me to ‘be all there’ no matter what I did,” says Johnson, who has doubtlessly heeded her mother’s advice. As dance scholarships continued to fall in Johnson’s lap, and more opportunities to travel with reputable ballet companies crossed her path, Johnson knew, without a doubt, that she was venturing to go where many others fear to tread: she was doing exactly as she was created to do. Eventually, a serious leg injury nearly eradicated all possibilities that Johnson would dance again. “I couldn’t bear the first few months,” said Johnson. “I couldn’t live without dancing, but eventually I thought, ‘Ok. Maybe I can do this.’” “There is something within me that is so drawn to movement. During that time, I was always paying attention to how people moved—even watching people walk down the street to their own rhythm. It was so fascinating to me. I also started paying attention to body language-it is so powerful. I can tell so much about a person about the way they move, their posture.” As Johnson shifted into becoming an instructor of dance as well as a choreographer, she manages to incorporate her study of movement that she engaged in while rehabilitating her injury. In February 2010, Johnson opened a studio on East Main Street in Rochester: the Angela Johnson Dance Company. She says her philosophy on teaching is simply to “let little girls be little girls while emphasizing hard work, modest attire, having respect for the dancer and the audience while trying to convey the true heart of what is being performed.” As Johnson’s studio continues to grow, she adheres fiercely to the principles that she has maintained all her life. “My faith is a huge aspect of how I approach dance. Some of my best choreography has come from a dream that God has given me.” One such dream has turned into a full-length ballet entitled The Dream that is set to be performed this June. Audiences should expect an imaginative Cirque du Soleil-type feel, vibrant costumes, innovative prop and set work, and more.
traffic jam There are two programs that come to mind. In the Rochester area we have the NYS Small Business Development Center. (www.nyssbdc.org). If you or your business resides in New York, the SBDC can maneuver you around the obstacles to success. Among other things, they help their clients: understand the importance of a business plan, discover sources of funding, and identify avenues for exporting goods & services. There is also SCORE an organization of experienced business professionals that offers priceless counseling, business advice, and low cost educational programs to prospective entrepreneurs, existing small business owners, and non-profit organizations. (www.scorerochester.org) As a SCORE mentor myself I have a bit more experience and information on these programs. The one that comes to mind is the Simple Steps for Starting Your Business Workshop Series. This is a five week Saturday morning program that is run once or twice a year. The next one starts March 2, 2013- April 6, 2013. The topics they cover are Start-up Basics: This is an overview of the five week program and focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of being a business owner. The second week goes into your Business Concept: Provides you with the information to help make a “go or no-go” decision for your business idea. Has the core information to create a complete business plan for bankers and investors and gives you direction to get started. Week three will talk about your Marketing Plan: Some questions that will be answered are, what is marketing, what you are selling, who are you selling to and what is your message. Week four gets into the fun world of finance. Don’t let this word scare you off. They will discuss Financial Projections. You will learn the importance of financial planning and building your financial model. How to understanding financial statements and words like income statement cash flow statement and balance sheets will be discussed. Your final week will be showing you the money. Ok maybe not exactly, but they will discuss Funding Sources, and Next Steps that you need to take. You can plan to learn about borrowing-The “Six C’s of Credit” as well the different sources of capital-traditional and non-traditional. What I like about this type of program is you are in a classroom setting with other potential business owners. You can tap into their experiences, fears, and knowledge. Sometimes it’s nice to feel like you are not alone on this journey. You are also assigned a mentor for the duration of the program. If you have questions or concerns, your mentor is right there with you. Have a question for Angella? Send it to Angella@wisdominatrafficjam.com or check out her businesses www.onestoprochester.com or www.wisdominatrafficjam.com
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january 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
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::wisdom in a
Dear Faye, When deciding to start a business, there are a few questions you should ask yourself. • What do you do? (Products) • Who do you do it for? (Customers) • What do they want ? (Expectations) • How do you communicate with them? (Marketing) • Who are the competitors? • High level financials. (Your Best Guess for Revenues, Expenses & Profit.) Once you have the answers, write a one page business plan for each idea. Now compare these one page plans to see which one seems to excite you the most, which one do you believe you can really turn into a business. You may be able to narrow it down to your top two choices. Once you have these two choices you can seek out help.
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Dear Angella, I am interested in starting my own business. I have a few different ideas, but am having trouble narrowing down the perfect one. I have tried to read a few books, and while they are helpful I really am not getting my specific questions answered. I don’t have time to go back to school for a few semesters. Are there any other options for me? - Faye
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R O C H E S T E R
W O M A N magazine
Inspire rochester women
Laraine Segar Philanthropist, Volunteer
By Stephanie Williams | Photos by Jenniffer Merida
Think of a friend you may have. You know-the one who’s always breaking into conversation raving about her latest “new discovery.” It could be a fitness fad, a trendy eatery, or the latest breakthrough in exotic flavored water. Does this sound familiar? Could this even describe you? If you haven’t become acquainted, it’s a pleasure to introduce you to Laraine Segar, Rochester’s foremost doyenne of the social marketing universe. Segar, a well-known, perpetually connected philanthropist and mother of five who fully admits she can’t sit still, immersed herself in “social marketing” in a time when Facebook had yet to escape the Harvard lexicon and “My Space” was just a silly way to say “Home.”
Essentially, Segar has taken her social influence to the bank… literally. Tapping into the friends she has made from volunteering with organizations including the American Heart Association, the Junior League of Rochester and the Wilson Commencement Park, as well as fellow moms have proven to become a sustainable source of supplemental income – just as a thank you for getting the word out about products and services she genuinely loved. “Before BRAVO even had a TV show, a group of friends and I used to call ourselves the Real Housewives of Social Marketing,” says Segar, who amongst her several volunteer commitments is currently a regional director of ViSalus, a Los Angeles-based company carrying an array of fitness and weight management shakes, beverages and dietary supplements who depends on its local ambassadors to spread the good news and life-changing qualities of their product. The referral-based model, founded in 1997, provides some toogood-to-be-true incentives to its top recruits, presently a brand new BMW or an exotic vacation. It seems crazy, right? Well, Segar is up for any challenge, especially those that look impossible at face value. “Being challenged pushes me to do better. There was a joke in my house about one of the companies I had began social marketing for,” says Segar. “If you had met a certain amount of sales, then you would get a white Mercedes-Benz. My husband laughed and told me if I won that car, he would ‘eat his hat.’ Every time I got a paycheck in the mail from this company my kids would joke that it would pay for a windshield wiper or a headlight. I came up my driveway in my new car six months later with a hat-shaped cake for my husband.” It’s easy to be critical or skeptical of a story like Laraine and the White Mercedes. However, after sitting down for an hour with Segar over vanilla chai lattes, it’s clear it takes a now-rarified flavor of optimism and positivity to pull off the kinds of stunts believed to only exist in fiction. Segar draws much of her inspiration from (continued on page 56)
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inspire
“They need to keep in mind that their actions today will be scrutinized tomorrow.”
:rw
Daisy Algarin
Rochester Economic Development and Marketing Specialist By Ashley Cooper | Photo by Roc Image
Joining the meritorious super-league of female forces compiling the 2013 “Circle of Red” is Daisy Algarin, Rochester Economic Development and Marketing Specialist. The American Heart Association “Circle of Red” is comprised of a local team of scrupulously-recruited individuals who have promised to extend their time, devotion and resources to raising heart disease awareness. This year, Algarin proudly serves alongside several prominent hometown heroes that include names like Rita Bartol, Dr. Joan Thomas, Ginger Zimmermann, Hilda Rosario Escher and Susan Munn, to name a few. Algarin is currently acting as co-chair. “The ‘Circle of Red’ campaign support was a personal decision I made,” says Algarin. “I have a family history of heart disease and high blood pressure. Upon entering my 50’s--although I had ignored symptoms since my 40’s--I couldn’t ignore anymore of my health issues. I know many women my age suffering with the same silent killer and I felt I had to do something. ‘Circle of Red’ gave me the opportunity to support the campaign financially and also invite other Latina women to join this important campaign through public awareness.” With all Algarin carries on her plate, it is impressive to note that she still has time to fervently dedicate her energies to the American Heart Association in the intrepid, forthright, go get ’em manner that she does. One of her greatest motivators is her own father, whose series of heart attacks in the mid-70’s prompted him to pay attention to his health. Now, Algarin says he presses on as a healthy, vibrant 80 year-old man. She doubtlessly heeds to his well-spoken advice: “Always follow a role model who is bearing fruit.” Perhaps you’ve frequented the likes of Savioa’s Pastry Shop, Chipotle at Mount Hope or Salvatore’s—Algarin has seen to it that these not only are not only in existence, but thriving. Apart from her work in launching some of Rochester’s most esteemed small businesses, but also in championing their success, Algarin takes her role as president of Las Latinas United seriously. Las Latinas United currently serves the community by reaching out locally to young latina women, supporting them in necessary capacities, and unifying them by highlighting common concerns and interests. The organization assists to challenge the Latin women of the community to not only critically consider their environment, but in responding to it as well. As Algarin explained to Rochester Woman Magazine, “They need to keep in mind that their actions today will be scrutinized tomorrow.” On her “once-in-a-blue-moon” days off, Algarin just might be spotted sporting her favorite flannel pajamas, curled up on the couch getting lost in her films of choice. As content as she is in those cozy, few-and-farbetween moments, nothing fulfills her more than dedicating herself to the community and its population that she so dearly cherishes. “I love getting up in the morning and looking forward to coming to work,” Algarin warmly exclaims. “It’s always exciting.”
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By February 1st, Algarin will have joined the legion of women across the nation and sported her best shade of red on “National Wear Red Day” hoping to fuel the awareness for heart disease with every step. Among Algarin’s other opportunities presented to her via the ‘Circle of Red’ campaign are a recent tour of the URMC’s Cardiovascular Lab where they february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
(continued on page 56)
::rw i
“What I like most about my job is having the ability to influence people on all levels.”
nspire
Rita Bartol
SVP Director of Human Resources, Five Star Bank ByBrandyWhite Whitbourne | PhotobyJenniffer Merida
Being senior vice president as well as the director of human resources and training for Five Star Bank may seem like a daunting task, but Rita Bartol is just the woman for the job. After studying communications at Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, Bartol found herself in charge of recruiting. “I just gravitated to it,” she said. “I decided to go back and get my master’s in human resources.” Juggling school, a daytime job, and new motherhood, Bartol managed to successfully graduate and land a human resource position for a retail company. She started making headway in her career by making lateral movements until 2010 when she received an opportunity from Five Star Bank. Residing in Richmond, Virginia at the time, she eagerly accepted the position and transferred to Rochester where she is currently keeping busy driving leadership function. “My schedule is not very regular,” said Bartol. “It is a fun and interesting job. It is different depending on the organization you are doing business with.” Focusing on organizational succession, executive and leadership assessment and training strategies has found her job to be propitious. Bartol continues to be inspired by her high school mentor and friend who demonstrated the value of maintaining trustworthiness and integrity in the business realm. “I hung out with a group of friends as teenagers. We are all competitive, went to college, have achievements and have decent jobs,” she said. “I was with people who always encouraged me.” Currently working on an electronic marketing and curriculum project for a Five Star University, Bartol finds her job to be very rewarding. “What I like most about my job is having the ability to influence people on all levels,” said Bartol. “I get to help people do what they’re doing better by becoming more organized and more successful, not just supporting them. I am making more of an impact rather than just giving advice.” When it comes to women in the business world, Bartol feels that we are making headway. “Anyone can be successful with the right skill and ability,” said Bartol. “Woman are still paid less but we need to take credit for what we do – keep believing and thinking that ‘we can’ and strive for achievements. You need to help yourself and focus on the bottom line. Personal or businesses, if you act like a victim you’re going to be a victim.” Bartol says the best advice for women looking to be successful is to practice servant leadership in any industry they’re in. “You never hear about people having good leadership,” said Bartol. “It is their coaching and mentoring that they talk about. Male or female, you need to (continued on page 56)
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Laraine Segar
Daisy Algarin
Rita Bartol
her faith; she keeps the Bible on her bedside table and reads the Book of Proverbs daily (“It helps me raise my children with thought, kindness and intention”). She fully endorses the message set forth in Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking, hailing it “a forever-lasting book that will never go out of style.” But nothing is as fulfilling for Laraine as volunteering.
observed the exciting progression in heart disease research as championed by the American Heart Association. Algarin and her fellow campaign members will also be commencing later in the year for the annual “Go Red for Women Luncheon set to take place on October 30th.
determine your best kind of leadership and help people practice consistently. The most successful ones are the ones who do that well.” Bartol is continually encouraged by the community around her. Discussing the recent tragedy in West Webster stirred many emotions within her. During Bartol’s time attending the firefighter processions, she noted and was immensely gratified by the respect, compassion and sense of community that she saw.
::rw
inspire
(cont)
“I will always volunteer in my community,” she says. “I feel bad for those who don’t volunteer because they are missing out on some of life’s best experiences – meeting other people while helping other people, it will always be my true passion. It’s always been my drive because I feel very strongly for women being successful and taking care of themselves.”
(cont)
Visit GoRedForWomen.org to learn more. Together, we can end heart disease.
(cont)
“They have so much respect for each other that it generated so many volunteers,” said Bartol. “They feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, like leadership. They’re inspiring people.” Such is the part of humanity that will continue to fuel Rita Bartol in doing what she does for others every day.
Rochester’s Battle against cancer gala 2013
On Saturday January 19th, 400+ guests enjoyed the newly remodeled Strathallen Hotel to help the fight against cancer. Rochester’s Battle Against Cancer Gala 2013 raised over $5,000 for the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at the University of Rochester Medical Center, to further and enhance cancer research. This formal, black-tie event had fashion models posing as statues in different colors that represent several types of cancer. The guests enjoyed music from DJ Evan Taverlaris, a candy bar, fondue station, and Hors d’oeuvres from The Strathallen’s Char Steak and Lounge.
February
7
Go Red! Ladies’ Night Benefitting Go Red for Women Organization: Rochester Woman Magazine and Go Red for Women Time: 5:30-8:30PM Where: Benedetto’s Restaurant 289 Alexander Street Cost: Free to attend
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27th Annual Chocolate Ball Organization: The Epilepsy Foundation Time: 5:30PM to Midnight Where: Rochester Riverside Convention Center Website: www.epilepsyuny.org/chocolateball.htm Cost: $200 per ticket
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Day of Dance Organization: Thompson Health Time: Noon to 4:00PM Where: Eastview Mall Website: Spirit.ThompsonHealth.com
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The 12th Annual Polar Plunge Organization: Special Olympics Time: Noon Where: Ontario Beach Park Website: www.polarplunge.net
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February Break Week-Movie Magic Organization: Rochester Museum and Science Center Time: 1:00PM Where: 657 East Avenue Website: www.rmsc.org
matters ::local business
By Holly Farnham | Photo by Jenniffer Merida
It is the start of a New Year and Joyce Zimowski, Senior Vice President of Operations at Unity Medical Group, has returned to the office after the holiday. Rather unexpectedly, she remarks, “I can finally breathe!” My inexperience would have assumed the opposite to be true, but in talking with Zimowski this early in January, I learned that she stands true to her words. Zimowski entered the workforce as a certified public accountant, but her professional career in healthcare took flight after Zimowski landed a position as a controller at Park Ridge Hospital. In time, she joined Unity Medical Group, where she has been sturdily planted ever since. In Zimowski’s thirty years with Unity, she has evolved as much as Unity has itself… “Healthcare has been very good to me,” Zimowski says. “I have enjoyed being a part of the changes we have made in the past thirty years and what Unity has grown into; we are much more than we used to be.” And so Zimowski breathes a sigh of relief not because the holidays have ended, but because she is content to be back where she belongs. She has much more than a title, or a paycheck…she has a sense of purpose—something she refuses to take for granted. Zimowski is responsible for business functions, support and operations of Unity with the support of colleague Michael Nazaar, M.D., Senior Vice President of Clinical Service Lines for Unity Hospital’s Health Care Service Division. Together, Zimowski and Nazaar oversee more than 300 physicians and clinicians She says of Nazaar, “He has a great sense of humor…he is focused on the success of the physicians so I can focus on business and I think it helps that we think a lot of like which makes working together really easy.” She attributes her success to staff members, whom she continually encourages to operate to their maximum capacity. Part of that, Zimowski says, comes from interacting with the physicians one on one and encouraging them to be resourceful in their practice, empowering them with the tools necessary to operate as “one.” “The healthcare industry has anticipated its difficulties…we have known for a long time that resources are scarce. We need to be innovative and creative in the ways we provide care and not sacrifice the quality of care we provide,” explains Zimowski. One ingenious device that keeps Unity in the cutting-edge of efficiency is known as the “Electronic Medical Record” which serves to relieve “waste” staff and push the hospital dynamics to operate as a single entity, championing the same cause-the progression of the healthcare system and the betterment of the people. The record will allow instant updates and access for healthcare providers, eliminating the headache of transferring medical records, outdated records and hopefully unnecessary procedures that cost the hospital and the patient money. Though the Electronic Record is one way to keep Unity growing, as well as the staff’s efforts to continually be seeking opportunities to be inspired, challenges still lie ahead…and Zimowski looks forward to the evolution: Zimowski concludes, “I have this conversation with a lot of people in the not-for-profit side, and it really comes down to a different attitude…there is something really rewarding when you know every day you come into the office you are going to make a difference.” “I told you I have been doing this for 30 years, I guess that shows how old I am but I proud of what I have done and I hope to be doing this for another 5 or 10 years.”
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february 2013 :: rochesterWomanMag.com
The time is now to stand together. To fight harder. To shout louder. It’s time to Go Red For Women.
GoRedForWomen.org ©2012, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. TM Go Red trademark of AHA, Red Dress trademark of DHHS.
Allison Janney, National Ambassador
Watch Allison’s story here ▶ or at Youtube.com/GoRedForWomen
Photograph by Jesse Dylan
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined. But we have the power to save our lives.