SWM June 2012 Issue by Barbara McSpadden

JUNE 2012

FITNESS:

THE CORPORATE CHALLENGE

the deaded “S” word: SWIMSUIT

SWM WOMEN INSPIRE: MELISSA MIDGLEY SUSAN BASTABLE BETSY BEDIGAN

SHANDRIST & Q HILLSMAN:

BUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR SYRACUSE STUDENTS W W W. S Y R AC U S E WO M A N M AG . C O M

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012

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we give you

MORE OPTIONS

at St. Joseph’s College of Nursing

If you want a career in nursing, you belong at St. Joseph’s. Choose an option that fits your goals and lifestyle. Gain hands-on patient care experience early in your first semester. Plus, when you’re done, you’ll enter a profession with excellent job placement. • • • • •

Traditional Weekday RN (AAS Degree) 2+2 Option with an Affiliated College (AAS then BS Degree) Dual Degree with Le Moyne College (AAS then BS Degree) Weekend RN (AAS Degree) LPN/Advanced Placement (AAS Degree)

Attend one of our on-campus information sessions: Sat., June 16, 2012 @ 11 a.m. Sun., Oct. 14, 2012 @ 10 a.m. Sun., Nov. 4, 2012 @ 10 a.m. CALL US @ 315.448.5040 OR VISIT US @ WWW.SJHCON.ORG ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE OF NURSING

206 Prospect Ave., Syracuse, NY 13203 ACCREDITED BY

NLNAC

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS. The St. Joseph’s College of Nursing at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the college of nursing. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs and other school-administered programs.

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june

CONTENTS ETC 7 PLATTER CHATTER 9 FASHION FORWARD 10 W.B.O.C.’S LEADING WOMAN 12

JUNE FABULOUS FINDS 14 WISE WOMAN 17 FOR A GOOD CAUSE 20 IN HER OWN WORDS 22

FITNESS 24 COVER STORY: HILLSMAN FOUNDATION

SPECIAL FEATURE: I-SCHOOL SUCCESS

SWM INSPIRE 35

xx 46

48 4

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

WISDOM IN A TRAFFIC JAM

SPECIAL FEATURE: MAMMOGRAMS

HEALTHY WOMAN: SKIN CANCER PART 2

SPECIAL FEATURE: IRONMAN SYRACUSE

MAIN EVENTS/CALENDAR 48

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OUR TEAM... PUBLISHERS

Kelly Breuer Barbara McSpadden

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Barbara McSpadden

EDITOR

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”--B.B. King Among all the intelligent and memorable things my mama has told me in my life, one thing has always reoccurred in our conversations: “Nobody can take your education away from you.” She’s right, and so is B.B. King! This edition of Syracuse Woman Magazine focuses on education and many aspects of learning. First and foremost, we’re proud to feature Shandrist and Quentin Hillsman on the cover because the Hillsman Foundation is a perfect example of how powerful the mentorship path can be. The Central New York power couple came to the area several years ago and from the start, they knew they wanted to give back and give back big. After spending time with the Hillsmans, I learned more about the foundation’s Full Circle Mentorship program and how it’s helping students in the Syracuse City School District. You need to be living under a rock to be unaware of the educational budget funding issues in the state, let alone Onondaga County. To witness a foundation “starting somewhere” in order to benefit a struggling sector of education, is beyond inspiring. Plus, you must have noticed this, Quentin Hillsman, or Coach Q, is the first-ever man to grace the cover of SWM! I told Coach Q he was going to be the first “Syracuse Man” on the cover of CNY’s premier award-winning women’s magazine, and that there was a lot of pressure on him. As cool as can be, he replied, “OK. No problem.” That sounded good to me! He credited his “cool” demeanor to the fact that he’s usually the “only man” at most times because he’s the head coach of Syracuse University’s women’s basketball team. Nevertheless, we’re honored to have our first “Syracuse Man” and our first “Syracuse Power Couple” hitting newsstands to represent SWM for the month of June! Turn to page 26, to learn more about the mentorship program and get to know the Hillsmans better, too. As mentioned earlier, SWM is leading the way for women’s magazines in the region. We proudly accepted two titles for our editorial content for the 34th Annual Syracuse Press Club Awards, held on May 5, 2012, at Drumlins Country Club. This was the first competition we entered since launching in January 2011, and we couldn’t be more honored to be recognized for our hard work. We won first place for a sports story published in our inaugural edition, “Mother, wife, professional…triathlete,” and also we won second place for a human interest feature published in last year’s Breast Cancer Awareness edition, “Pregnant and battling breast cancer... now what?” I also had the pleasure of emceeing the awards ceremony alongside Post Standard columnist Sean Kirst. It was great to honor my fellow media colleagues. Congratulations to all the SPC winners! We are honored to receive recognition for what we do at SWM, but we’re far more proud to feature so many intelligent, inspiring, beautiful and creative women (and aman) in this edition. Take some time to read about all the aspects of education we have covered, as well as our special Ironman Syracuse 70.3 Race Day guide on page 46. We will be at the expo for this event as a proud sponsor! Also, be sure to stay abreast of all our events by “liking” us on Facebook at SyracuseWomanMagazine and following us on Twitter, @SyrWomanMag. Remember this as you flip through these pages: You’ll always be learning and you’ll always be making a difference in the world. You can lose the shoes off your feet and the shirt off your back, but your mind is your own and it’s a beautiful thing!

Farah F. Jadran

ON OUR COVER… Cindy Bell, of Focus Studio, 900 N. Salina St. in Syracuse, shot our June cover outside the Hughes Middle School in Syracuse. Photographed are Shandrist and Quentin Hillsman, founders of the Hillsman Foundation. Quentin also is head coach of the Syracuse University women’s basketball team.

Farah F. Jadran

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kelly Breuer

GRAPHIC DESIGN Jessica Bates Melissa Meritt

PHOTOGRAPHY Cindy Bell Kelly Kane Raine Dufrane David Fulkerson Rick Policastro Alan Tieuli

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Farah F. Jadran Amber Lynn Brenza Alyssa LaFaro Angela Luyk Jill Romano Tami S. Scott Debbie Stack Caroline Tisdell Carmen E. Zafar

ADVERTISING MANAGER Renee Moonan

ADVERTISING SALES Linda Jabbour

ADVERTISE WITH US...

Unlike any other publication in the Syracuse 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 Syracuse 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 315.434.8889 2501 James Street, Suite 100 Syracuse, NY 13206 info@syracusewomanmag.com DOWNLOAD OUR MEDIA KIT AT www.syracusewomanmag.com The magazine is published 10 times a year by InnovateHER Media Group, llc. and Eagle Publications, 2501 James Street, Suite 100, Syracuse, NY 13206. Copyright © 2012 InnovateHER Media Group, llc. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without the consent of the publishers. Rochester Woman Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, manuscripts, photos or artwork. All such submissions become the property of InnovateHER Media Group, llc. and will not be returned.

JUNE MOVIES...

6/15

6/22

The story of small town girl Sherrie and city boy Drew, who meet on the Sunset Strip while pursuing their Hollywood dreams. Their rock ‘n’ roll romance is told through the hits of Def Leppard, Joan Jett, Journey, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Night Ranger, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake, and more.

Set around an incoming asteroid threatening to end life on Earth. Steve Carell stars as a man whose wife leaves him amidst the ensuing panic, prompting him to seek out his high school sweetheart, who yearns to be with him when doomsday arrives. Keira Knightley plays the female lead, a neighbor of Carell’s character who accompanies him on a romantic road trip to find her. Magic Mike follows Mike (Channing Tatum) as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Alex Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money.

6/29

7/3

The classic story of Peter Parker an outcast high schooler who was abandoned by his parents as a boy, leaving him to be raised by his Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) and Aunt May (Sally Field). Like most teenagers, Peter is finding his way with his first high school crush, Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone), and together, they struggle with love, commitment, and secrets.

LDA OF CNY WORKS TO ENHANCE LEARNING FOR CHILDREN

“To enhance the quality of life for children and adults with learning disabilities by providing advocacy, programs and educational resources.” The Learning Disabilities Association of Central New York’s mission focuses on serving five CNY counties. The LDA of CNY is the only statewide association in New York that specifically represents the needs and interests of children and adults with learning disabilities, their families and professionals who support them. Another key component to the mission is to create opportunities for success for all individuals affected by learning disabilities and to reduce the incidence of learning disabilities in future generations. The LDA is the leading advocate nationally for laws and policies that create opportunities for people with learning disabilities.

One of the most prominent movements is the SAIL (Summer Adventures in Learning) program which offers classes designed to enable students ages 6 to 13 with learning difficulties, to succeed and maintain their skills during the summer months. The classes are offered in a small and relaxed environment, and taught by teachers trained in learning disabilities. Emphasis is on self-advocacy and individual learning styles. For more information on SAIL or to get involved with the LDA of CNY, visit www.ldacny.org.

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Etc...

MARK YOUR CALENDAR & CELEBRATE 125 YEARS OF THE RESCUE MISSION

The Syracuse Rescue Mission celebrates 125 years of changing lives in the Greater Syracuse community. This mile stone event is being celebrated throughout the year with a series of events and activities. Be sure to mark your calendar now and help celebrate the RM’s success. The Great Cardboard Campout to end homelessness and hunger is an activity that school, church, youth groups and families and friends can participate in by agreeing to sleep outside, all night, in a box. Cicero United Methodist Youth will host a campout on June 8 and St. Michael’s Lutheran Church will host one on June 9. On Sept. 13, the RM will host its 125th Anniversary Lunch with speaker Chris Gardner author of the autobiography, “The Pursuit of Happyness.” On the following day, Mission Alfresco will take place. The Sept. 14 event is an alfresco dining experience where the location is not revealed until 4 p.m. that day. Diners must wear red and bring their dining accoutrements (all in red) and converge at the revealed location for a unique dining experience. Register for these events online and check out the 125 ways to support the Rescue Mission at www. RM125.org.

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Finish your degree part time...at SU. Do you dream of a fulfilling career but lack the credentials you need for the job you want? A Syracuse University degree can put you on the path to professional rewards and greater financial security. And you can study part time through University College, while you continue to work and meet your family responsibilities. Reduced tuition, grants, financial aid, and even child care assistance can make it affordable, and UC advisors will guide you every step of the way.

Start Now.

Whether you want to apply to a degree program or just take a course to help you advance in the workplace, SU can help you reach your goals.

Attend an information session! Thursday, June 7, 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 22, noon Thursday, July 5, noon Wednesday, July 11, 5:30 p.m.

GET STARTED Visit uc.syr.edu/sw

To reserve a spot, call 315-443-9378, or visit www.uc.syr.edu/infosession. Sessions are held at University College, 700 University Avenue. Free parking is available.

Summer Session II classes begin July 2. Fall classes begin August 27. 8

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

Scan to request information.

“Sho rt ly af te r I g ra d u at ed from S U th ro u g h U nive rs it y C olle g e, I re ce ived a prom ot io n at wor k. ” M on ica B ro wn ’09

B.S. Soci al Work Co lle ge of H u m an Ec

ology

limp lizard: BARBECUE ALTERNATIVE WITH FLAVOR & FLARE BY AMBER LYNN BRENZA I PHOTO BY KELLY KANE Good grub. Cold beer.

Good times. That’s the promise of the Liverpool branch of the Limp Lizard Bar and Grill. Located in the heart of the village, the year-old branch of the Limp Lizard franchise is quickly becoming a Syracuse hotspot, a testament to their “follow-through on the promise” of their motto. The Liverpool location of the Limp Lizard Bar and Grill officially opened on April 12 last year as Mother’s Home-style an homage to the recently closed Mother’s Restaurant. Limp Lizard co-owner, Scott Schimpff, fell in love with the location and decided to take over Mother’s Restaurant. “I thought, ‘this would make a great barbecue joint,’” he said. “So we took it over and started remodeling.” Adorned with animal horns and skulls, Schimpff refers to the Limp Lizard as a “kind of southwestern-y, barbecue steak joint.” Pulling inspiration from southern states and the biker clientele it caters to, the owners also decorate the previously dilapidated house with memorabilia from decades passed, including older car and motorcycle collectibles. Schimpff also decided to mix the old with the new while updating the timeworn Upstate New York location by using old barn wood from three local recycled barns. “It was an old, old house,” Schimpff said. “We redid it; it was a dilapidated building that was resurrected and built new with old. It’s unique in that way.” Schimpff, along with other co-owner Tina Toth, are also thinking of adding a private dining banquet room to the back of the restaurant, in order to cater to larger groups. But the southwestern-y influence doesn’t stop at the restaurant’s décor; it also carries over into the flavors used in their signature dishes. “We use a lot of darker, southwestern flavors,” Schimpff said. “Chipotle peppers, tomatillos, and black-eyed peas are staples on our menu.” Other menu staples include two of their best-selling items: their “Kick Butt Carolina Pulled Pork,” which is described as a slow-cooked pulled pork sandwich topped with homemade coleslaw, with an emphasis on its messiness. Another favorite is their “Smoked Chicken Wings,” which, according to Schimpff, “can’t be made fast enough” to keep up with their customers’ demands. Other menu items include typical Tex-Mex fare such as tacos and

quesadillas, as well as an array of wraps, sandwiches, and burgers. With upward of 50 menu items to choose from, it’s likely that even the pickiest of eaters will find themselves at home at the Limp Lizard. Calling the village of Liverpool home also adds to the success of the Limp Lizard’s third branch. “Just being in the village is nice,” Schimpff said. “Being able to sit out front; it’s quiet, but there are still people milling about.” The prime location right off the Thruway also gives the restaurant a good mixture of local patrons as well as visitors passing through from Canada. The Limp Lizard provides Syracuse with a unique, downhome feel with a tinge of Upstate New York. “We offer a unique alternative to barbecue, not just typical barbecue,” Schimpff said. And that unique alternative seems to be a hit with patrons from all over. “It’s starting to grow and be a nice monument to the village of Liverpool,” Schimpff said. “Kind of like Heid’s, but we’ve only been open a year.” Offering kids’ menu options as well as catering possibilities, the Limp Lizard has locations in Syracuse, North Syracuse, and Liverpool. For more information, visit their website, www.limplizardbbq.com.

::FASHION FORWARD

BY CARMEN E. ZAFAR Open your eyes and take your hands off your ears. Yes, we said, “swimsuit,” and while that’s been a dreaded thought we’re here to tell you it’s going to be a good swimsuit season for all of you. Instead of dreading the moment Central New York turns a corner and the summer sun comes out to play, look forward to it! Why? Because there are many fashions coming back from decades past and they’re hotter than ever! Designs, cuts, patterns and colors that flatter every single body type are out there waiting for you to choose and make a summertime statement.

Hour Glass & Larger Bust

A style like this one has real-deal underwire for a hidden bra and ensures full support no matter the size of your bust. The low cut hip accentuates your gorgeous shape and shows off your curves without covering them up! This suit is best worn as a halter or a one-shoulder piece. Find a solid, jewel tone or a bold pattern you like for the most flattering look. 10

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

Tummy Conscious?

Have you wanted to sport a twopiece, but have some hesitation? Never fear, try something that’s both chic and sporty. Rouched fabric is not only a hit for a formal function, but also the beach! Rouching helps camouflage anything you might be worried about, but it still allows you to wear that two-piece you’ve been dreaming of.

Creating Curves

Make waves in a hip-accentuating suit even if you’re not as curvy as you might want to be. A soft, thin fabric with a little skirt or an added ruffle will make your suit a fashionable hit this summer. A higher waste helps create curvy hips for a “straight down” body shape. Choose between your favorite solid colors so not to draw away from the hip illusion with a busy pattern.

Sushi & Jazz Cruise on the Emita II

6:00 pm Departure from Dutchman’s Park Cash Bar and Fresh Market Display

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Wednesday, June 27th • Wednesday, July 25thth Wednesday, August 29thth 46 per person inclusive tax & gratuity Tickets are available at Mohegan Manor or online at: www.MoheganManor.com $

Add Sushi Platters to your Cruise! or let us help you plan a Rehearsal or Shower Sushi Party on board!

58 Oswego Street, Baldwinsville, NY • (315) 857-0079

“How did I end up in a leadership role at Turner Broadcasting? It all started at Fisher.” Veronica Sheehan Senior Vice President of Network Operations Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. St. John Fisher College Alumna, Class of 1988

D I S C O V E R

T H E

W O R L D

W I T H I N

www.sjfc.edu

::W.B.O.C’S LEADING WOMAN

BY ALYSSA LAFARO I PHOTO BY CINDY BELL

“I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people tick, what makes people the same, what makes people different,” explained Christine Allen, licensed psychologist and executive/personal life coach. It’s this fascination with the human mind that led Chris into her unique coaching career in 2008. “I always feel like I like to learn. I never know all I want to know. So I took a few coaching classes and decided I wanted to launch my own business.” So what exactly is coaching? Well, it’s really not that different from coaching baseball. Chris works one-on-one with clients, helping them develop a personal skill or goal for the future that can be applied overall in a team setting. She gives encouragement and listens to the client’s concerns. “It’s not therapy,” stressed Chris, “It’s really about focusing on a goal, a way they want to grow or develop toward the future.” She works with two types of coaching, executive and personal. The main difference? Executive coaching is when a company, firm, or organization pays for and sends one of their employees to see Chris. Personal coaching is based upon the individual’s choice to do it, not a company’s. When Chris first considered starting her own business, she knew she would need to get some help and make some solid connections to do so. “Executive coaching requires a fair amount of getting off my butt and out into the world,” laughed Chris. “As a psychologist doing psychotherapy in a private practice, you really don’t need to leave your office.” Women Business Opportunities Connections (WBOC) helped rescue Chris from the “ivory tower,” as she puts it, and introduce her to these inspirational women that could help her learn the tools of promoting a business. “I think the support generally for women business owners, like the ‘you go girl’ mentality, other people who really believe in you, I think the camaraderie, the collegiality, all of that really gives me more confidence.” In having such a unique business, too, it’s good for Chris to use WBOC to make connections to women and organizations interested in using her services. “There are actually a couple of business opportunities in terms of doing some training that came directly from marketing, letting other women in the organization know what I was doing,” said Chris. What’s different about Chris’s business is that most people who practice executive or personal coaching have an MBA, not a psychology degree. “The advantage of hiring a clinical psychologist to do executive coaching is that we really do know the science of behavior change, of human behavior,” said Chris. “We’ve worked with people who are really stuck in very maladaptive patterns of behavior. I think we have great skills in helping people develop self-awareness, managing their emotions.” In regard to her future, Chris wants to give back to WBOC. Once she can unlatch herself from some of her other responsibilities, she hopes to somed ay be on the WBOC’s board of directors or hold a higher position there. She’s currently an adjunct faculty member in the psychology department at Syracuse University, an adjunct faculty member at Upstate Medical University’s psychiatric department, and serves on the governing council of the New York Psychological Association. “I would really like to help women promote [themselves] in a world that is still very much dominated by men,” explained Chris. “As women we need to find a way to have confidence, get out there, and compete with men.”

The WBOC is a local non-profit organization that has been providing support to women and access to innovative events and workshops for 20 years. Whether running our own business, working for an employer or launching a new endeavor, women are connected through their entrepreneurial mindset. Syracuse Woman Magazine is a WBOC signature sponsor that aims to promote a common mission. For information on how to become a member, visit www.wboconnection.org. JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

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::FABULOUS FINDS

JUNE YUMMIES CHEESECAKES

Does dad have a sweet tooth? A personalized treat might be your best bet for Father’s Day this year. Yummies offers a wide range of products to suit a variety of budgets and tastes. Its most popular products include sweet and savory mini cheesecake platters, candy pops, Turtle Chocolate Cheesecake and Caramel Apple Cheesecake. Custom options are available upon request. WWW.YUMMIESCHEESECAKES.COM BELLAIRE I (315) 638-1295

DIANNA

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

If you think a tie is an overdone gift for dad, think again. You can choose from a wide variety of unique and stylish ties at the Designer Warehouse. Ties are only $10 and they’re all capable to make a statement. Choose one to match dad’s personality or surprise him with something different so he can be the bestdressed dad. VAGABONDRAGS@AOL.COM I 222 WALTON ST., SYRACUSE I (315) 428-0668

EUREKA CRAFTS

Is your papa the top chef in the family? Surprise him this year with tools he can use in the kitchen. Choose from a wide selection of handmade products made from the finest wood. Exotic Mills salt shaker and pepper grinder sets are a “can’t go wrong” gift, or choose a unique bottle stopper constructed by George Bagnall. If dad’s into chopping and dicing, a JK Creative Wood cutting board made from walnut, oak, Padauk and Purple Heart, might do the trick. WWW.EUREKACRAFTS.WORDPRESS.COM I WALTON ST, SYRAUCSE I (315) 471-1601

210

HALL OF FAME BARBER SHOP Who doesn’t like a clean, close shave and a top-notch barber cut? Hopefully dad will enjoy it. Hall of Fame Barber Shop not only offers custom barber shop services, but also a unique atmosphere. Bring a group of your pals and hang out while you each get “faded.” Each barber chair allows you to watch the latest sports contest on a mini flat screen TV. You can also watch the game on the waiting area’s big screen or play a game of Ping-Pong. Liverpool shop is located at 612 Oswego St. in the village. WWW.IGOTFADED.COM I 120 WALTON STREET, ARMORY SQUARE I (315) 807-8865

DESIGNER WAREHOUSE

::FABULOUS FINDS

super finds for

THE BLUE TUSK PUB & WINE BAR

With 69 beers on tap and great grub, The Tusk might already be one of dad’s favorite spots. Grab him a T-shirt from the well-known watering hole so he can sport his Tusk pride. Long and short-sleeve designs are available depending on the season. Prints and logos vary and rarely repeat so you’ll always be sure to snag a unique T just for dad! WWW.BLUETUSK.COM | 165 WALTON ST., SYRACUSE | (315) 472-1934

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012

HOT Careers!

You’re not a MAN. . So why would you ride a MAN’S BIKE ?

Cosmetology

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Did you know there are bikes made specifically for the woman’s body?

Financial aid available if qualified...and most are!

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Getting the right bike for YOU is important. We care enough to take the time to get it right!

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410-0188

NEW Classes Enrolling NOW!

Manlius 692-4812

N.Syracuse 458-5260

INTRODUCING

UPSTATE GOLISANO AFTER HOURS CARE AT COMMUNITY GENERAL L

The area’s first after-hours program designed just for kids and young adults through age 21.

NOW OPEN! Hours: Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.

Call 492-KIDS (5437) WWW.UPSTATE.EDU/AFTERHOURS

Featured entrepreneur ::WISE WOMAN

Tessa Kennedy

Founder, New Histories Jewelry

essa Kennedy will be graduating in May 2012 from Syracuse University with a Masters of Fine Arts. This degree will be an additional step towards her dream: turning her passion for art into a full-time job by launching her business, New Histories Jewelry. Kennedy grew up in a very creative household and always expressed a great interest in the arts. After college, she explored various career options, but ultimately decided to go back to school to research jewelry history and focus on her fine art practice. After exploring the Victorian era to create one-ofa-kind jewelry pieces, she realized that starting a jewelry line based on historical creations was her calling. She took a leap of faith, decided to pursue her passion and will be getting a business license this May. She mentions that it was not an easy decision to make. When getting started, she had many fears to overcome:

failure, financial insecurity and low demand. Kennedy also experienced missteps along the way, learning through many rounds of designing, prototyping and advanced technical training. Nevertheless, she soldiered on. Eventually, orders started pouring in; based on the high demand, she had to contract with a company in Rochester to help her with production. Now overcoming her initial fears, Kennedy is building up her business and looking at the future with confidence. She is looking forward to attending national and international trade shows and is excited about her upcoming interview with “Lucky Breaks in Accessories” for Lucky magazine. Kennedy believes that women have to conquer the roadblocks that come with entrepreneurship, noting: “You have to be able to convert rejection and negative energy into positive fuel for your business.”

wise words of wisdom… “If you are doing what you love, you are doing the right thing.” –Tessa Kennedy

PAGE DESIGN BY ISCA DESIGN STUDIO

WISe HappenIngS: The Bare Necessities of Starting a Business WHEN: June 5, 12:00 – 12:50pm, June 27, 5:30 – 7:00pm WHERE: WISE Women’s Business Center You are unique! And so is your business idea! But how can you translate all of that into a business?

Public Speaking

Financial Literacy

WHEN: June 25 and 26, 6:00 – 8:00pm WHERE: WISE Women’s Business Center

WHEN: June 6, 13, and 20, 6:00 – 8:00pm WHERE: WISE Women’s Business Center

Learn how to cope with nerves, how to use personal disclosure, keep an audience engaged, and identify a “style.”

Become financially organized to capture your expenses, create a budget, save more, spend less and build your asset base.

A women’s business center… run for women, by women.

FINd uS oN:

WISE Women’s Business Center // 2610 South Salina Street // Syracuse, NY 13205 // (315) 443-8634 // jmlenwea@syr.edu A PROGRAM OF THE FALCONE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Small Business Administration.Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least 2 weeks in advance. Call (315) 443-8634.

Including sugar-free and gluten friendly cheesecakes!

Diplaying Fish Theme Cake

::FOR A GOOD CAUSE

BY TAMI S. SCOTT

Grief cannot be measured, but the good news is, neither can hope. Thousands of people come to HOPE for Bereaved for help each year. Whether their loved ones died from an illness, accident, addiction, suicide or murder, the nonprofit provides a multitude of programs free of charge for those grieving the death of a loved one. “I can tell you that the HOPE Center provided me with a lifeline at a time when I felt like I was losing my mind,” said Kelly Hey, a Manlius resident. “When the pain of losing someone is so raw, having someone to talk to that really understands how you feel through their own personal loss, is a comfort. To be told that all my feelings were ‘normal’ was just what I needed at that time. And to see other people who had experienced tremendous loss smiling, at a time when all my smiles were forced, made me realize that I too would be okay again.” Last year, more than 170 people participated in HOPE’s inaugural 8K run/3K walk, raising $4,420 for its cause. The event is vital for HOPE as the organization does not receive annual institutional funding from any source, said HOPE’s founder, Therese Schoeneck. Proceeds from the race enable HOPE to provide its core services, which include support groups, counseling and a monthly newsletter, all free of charge for the bereaved. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to raise the community’s awareness about HOPE’s support group and services, which, in turn, means we can help more people,” said Schoeneck, who was delighted with last year’s turnout, results and feedback. Competitive runners, joggers and casual walkers are again encouraged to sign up and take part in HOPE’s Second Annual Remembrance 8K Run/3K Walk, to be held Sunday, June 10, in Marcellus. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. outside Marcellus High School. Walkers get a 15-minute head start to help cheer on runners when they reach the finish line. The walk begins at 10 a.m., and the run is set for 10:15 a.m. Prizes will be awarded for first place in a variety of categories. There also will be many fun kid-friendly activities during the event. “One of the things that makes our run/walk special is that people can participate in memory of their loved one, friend or co-worker,” Schoeneck said, adding there will be memory tags to wear as well as the opportunity to bring pictures or mementos that will be posted on memory boards. After the event, the boards will be on display at the HOPE’s center located at 4500 Onondaga Blvd. in Syracuse. New to this year’s fundraiser is the chance for participants to obtain pledges, an ideal way to support HOPE for those not running or walking. Anyone who raises $250 will receive a $25 VISA gift card. Those who raise $500 will receive a $50 VISA gift card. Friends and family are also encouraged to form teams. Visit www.hopeforbereaved.com for more information. 20

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::IN HER OWN WORDS

BY DEBBIE STACK I PHOTOS BY DAVID FULKERSON

As a child, my sisters and I couldn’t get enough of two things — paper and school. After school, during the summer, and any time in between, we “played school”. As the eldest, I was always the teacher, in charge of dispensing paper in varied colors and textures for writing and art projects. In junior high I became editor of the school newspaper I helped to found; in high school I was yearbook editor. So it came as no surprise that I chose journalism for my college major and career field, after considering and eventually rejecting teacher, archaeologist, librarian and genetics researcher! While raising and playing school with my own children, I was a freelance writer until the day I walked through the door of the Erie Canal Museum as its public relations coordinator. But a fortuitous thing soon happened. My public relations job was restructured. I was now museum educator as well as PR person, promoting the education programs I created to help children and adults learn about the world’s most famous canal. Paper and public education perfectly partnered together. It’s a partnership that led me to teaching in Syracuse University’s museum studies graduate program; forming my own company teaching visitors about Syracuse through guided tours; and working as a writing coach, freelance editor and co-author of two non-fiction books. Today in my role as director of interactive education at WCNY, I have the pleasure of being part of America’s largest educational institution — PBS — and engaging learners of all ages through the TV and radio programming. WCNY broadcasts special educational outreach programs, whether it’s Clifford the Big Red Dog literacy lessons for preschoolers; educational workshops and town hall meetings exploring issues such as falling high school graduation rates; or writing educational content for the WCNY website (an electronic form of paper!), that intertwining of interests is stronger than ever. Soon WCNY will open its new Broadcast and Education Center. The entire 56,000-square-foot complex is actually a one-of-a-kind dynamic classroom. The TV and radio studios, the master control center where television programming for all nine NYS public television stations will be broadcast from and the green technology applied in the construction of our LEED platinum-certified building…it can all be utilized to spark curiosity and to educate children and adults. We’ll offer Enterprise America, a hands-on learning experience for middle and high school students. Imagine a place where everything from restaurants, financial institutions, local government and even the media are run by young people. They are introduced to entrepreneurship, careers and work skills centered on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) where jobs of the future will be and for which they need to be prepared. There also will be story hours and summer day camp for children; teen drop-in programs and an entrepreneurship club; and student art exhibit space and performing arts opportunities. Through our Center of New Learning, adults will enjoy educational offerings rich and varied, often tied into our television and radio programming or to interests and needs in the 19-county area we serve. It’s exciting, challenging and rewarding, it’s connecting to our community in meaningful ways, and it’s public education that feeds my passion for education and paper, especially red construction paper these days, for Clifford ears of course! 22

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

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::FITNESS

BY JILL ROMANO I PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALAN TIEULI

A good company makes it a priority to stay “financially fit” if it wants to prosper, but many do not realize that staying physically fit is a good way to ensure greater financial fitness. “If you’re an employer, and you have healthier employees, your bottom line is healthier. Employees will take fewer sick days, and have more energy,” pointed out Dave Oja, a name familiar to serious runners of the Syracuse area. “That sort of thing translates to profit.” This year, on June 19, the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Corporate Challenge celebrates its 30th year of heralding this very message of physical fitness in the workforce to Syracusans of all employment backgrounds and running abilities. The Corporate Challenge began as a reaction to the New York Marathon, which was just getting started in the late 1970s. JPMorgan was a sponsor of the marathon, but they wanted to come up with something for their clients that was a little more achievable than a 26.2-mile run. Thus, the Corporate Challenge was born with its unique 3.5-mile distance, longer than a 5K, but still doable at nearly any age or level of fitness. The event began in Upstate New York, but now, it takes place in seven countries on five continents. It is bank owned and operated, and the rules are the same in every city in which it is held. Whether it’s Syracuse or Singapore, the race is the same distance, the same price, requires the same number of hours worked to take part, and it is always held after work on a weekday. Even with these same rules, each event has its own identity that reflects the business community of the area, according to Alan Tieuli, a representative for JPMorgan Chase and the Corporate Challenge.

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

The Corporate Challenge allows for the worlds of work and play to coalesce, a way for people to have their cake and eat it, too (although most of what people eat at the event is barbecued!). Oja, the race director for the area Corporate Challenge, attributes its success in Syracuse to the friendly competition. “It’s a nice mix of competition, but you also get this tremendous camaraderie atmosphere,” Oja said. “And all that is seasoned with business networking.” Running as a company team is an important element of the Corporate Challenge’s attraction. It’s easier to get motivated by running with a group, and as Kristin White notes, “There’s a certain amount of extra pride that goes along with competing for your company name.” White is a professional triathlete, and she also works as a pharmacist for Wegmans. She has placed first among women five times at the Corporate Challenge, and she loves the event because of the opportunity to get together with coworkers outside the workplace. She prefers to compete with a team, saying, “I like the extra component of having people out there cheering for you. And even if you’re not doing your best, you can be excited for [your coworkers] if they’re having a good day.” There is no event like the Corporate Challenge, and it is always rewarding, whether financially or physically. Oja mentioned some success stories, saying, “People would tell me, the first race I ever ran was the Corporate Challenge. I used to be a smoker, and then it was so much fun, I stopped smoking and became a runner.” White expressed a similar sentiment: “There are thousands of people who run, but even if only two people pick up the sport of running or pick up daily exercise, it’s worth it for those two people.”

our kids’ future

BY FARAH F. JADRAN I PHOTOGRAPHY BY CINDY BELL

What do you see while driving down East Colvin Street on Syracuse’s South Side? Answers might vary, but in general, there’s noticeable blight and evident poverty. Continue driving down Colvin, and then turn onto Jamesville Avenue. Now you’ll pass Mt. Sinai Cemetery and you’re fast approaching the Percy Hughes Magnet School of the Syracuse City School District. Most are aware of the financial struggles of New York schools, and the Syracuse schools in particular, but there is truly more to Hughes than meets the eye. For the second year in a row, select Hughes students have participated in a program that was designed to instill motivation, drive and confidence in their individual interests and abilities. Quentin and Shandrist Hillsman established the Hillsman Foundation, Inc. in 2008. Quentin, also known as “Coach Q,” is the head coach of the Syracuse University women’s basketball team. The foundation’s programs were created to benefit underserved youth in the greater Syracuse area; to broaden their selfawareness, build self-esteem, encourage academic success and enhance their experiences outside of their current circumstances, 26

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

by mentoring and through the arts. This Full Circle Mentoring program is a collaboration of programs created to enhance the life possibilities of under-served students. Through mentorship, it’s the Hillsmans’ hope that students involved, will learn healthy problemsolving techniques, life skills, social skills, financial education and management; and discover ways to choose their future, despite whatever their current life circumstances may entail.

schools, earn an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree, and most importantly, how you can pay for such educational paths. “What about the Avid program?” Burt asked aloud. She continued to let her students know that because they’re “AVID kids” (Advancement Via Individual Determination), they have an added resource for educational funding. “This helps your family, not just you,” Fay explained. “It will help you pay for school.”

Although Shandrist and Coach Q have a few programs currently implemented through the foundation, the mentoring program has come to the forefront of their general focus because it’s about to come full circle. The program is on its way to “graduating” its first group of eighth graders. While the foundation has been in existence for four years, the Full Circle Mentoring program is only in its second year. Last year Shandrist, Coach Q and the school administration helped generate a group of seventh graders (eighth graders were not included in the initial year because it’s a two-year model) who would benefit best from the program.

AXA financial advisor Angi Renna chimed in to the discussion and asked the kids whether or not they knew the exact steps it took to earn each degree and what type of certification is necessary for different jobs. Angi has become a staple in the program, as she and Shandrist Hillsman are the primary mentors working with the kids week after week. “The program would not be what it is without Angi’s involvement,” Shandrist said. Angi’s extensive knowledge on financial planning and entrepreneurship make her a critical asset to the Hillsman Foundation’s motto: “Excellence is a State of Mind.” Angi is not only focused on her career goals but she supports the aspirations of others by serving as board president of the Women’s Business Opportunities Connections. Shandrist says Angi’s ties to the community, both professional and philanthropic, make her a fine example for the Hughes kids.

MENTORING COMES FULL CIRCLE During a regular Wednesday session for the mentoring program, Mrs. Fay Burt’s Hughes eighth graders are thoroughly engaged. They’re discussing the college process and what it means to apply to

::COVER STORY

SETTING THE STANDARD FOR

Continuing the class discussion, Angi mentioned that a successful person learns both in the classroom and outside of it, through personal experience. “There’s a lot they can’t teach you in school or that you can’t learn from books,” Angi explained. “You need to experience it…be the job.” She went on and informed the kids that there may very well be times that they’ll participate in a nonpaying internship or they may volunteer at an organization in order to gain insight into the career field which interests them. In addition, Angi said there was a period of time when she worked 70 to 80 hours each week in order to build her own financial advising business. In a nutshell, she emphasized hard work, low pay and long hours can tremendously pay off for a determined individual. Agreeing 100 percent with Angi, Shandrist spoke up and said, “Coach Q was not just head coach [of Syracuse University’s women’s basketball team] right away…it took 13 years of hard work to get where he wanted to be.” She then asked her husband of nine years to share his first job with the class. “What was your first job, coach?” The kids learned that Coach Q worked in a Foot Action store prior to becoming a high school basketball coach at the Newport School in Kensington, Md. Coach Q also shared that he played basketball at a professional level on a “touring team” overseas. When SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012

::COVER STORY

benefits to the kids and they met with former Syracuse City School District Superintendent Dan Lowengard to discuss what the district’s needs were and how the mentoring program could be implemented. “He [Lowengard] said he had the perfect school for us,” Shandrist said about the preliminary planning. “[Hughes] was a blend of ‘right on the fence’ kids, those who could go either way (in terms of graduation and retention).” No matter, Shandrist says all the kids in the program are receptive.

THE HILLSMAN MISSION BEGINS… “The core of this [the Hillsman Foundation] was to get to the kids,” said Coach Q in an interview outside of the Hughes School classroom. Seated alongside his wife Shandrist, he talked about a class he took when he was a young student, and how it changed his perspective. Growing up in Suitland, Md., Coach Q said he “vividly” remembers taking a class that taught him and his classmates about “everyday things” kids are unfamiliar with or might take for granted. What’s considered an everyday thing? According to Coach Q and his fifth grade teacher, everyday things include knowing how to open a bank account, write a check, tax responsibilities, philanthropy and overall, it was about basic life skills. “I remember sitting with my mom and learning how to write a check,” he said. As a part of the class, he was required to research how much it cost to activate household utilities and cable access, and then, how much it cost to maintain those services. His findings also are vivid. “Wow, mom, you have to pay for TV?” Coach Q said he was stunned to learn that something like TV actually cost money. “As a child, we don’t think of things like that,” Coach Q said. After this, he “began valuing what went into living every day.”

Some nerves lingered in the air as Day 1 of the program kicked off last year with a group of Hughes seventh graders, but the Hillsman crew marched in with a mission and an end goal in mind. “Are you guys gonna give us homework?” asked a few students. Shandrist says they moderately replied. “Sometimes we will.”

Life lessons like these were so influential in Coach Q’s education, but Shandrist did not have the opportunity to take such a class or be better informed of these life skills as a child. She had to learn these skills on her own as she entered adulthood. For these simple reasons, the Hillsmans decided this was an important set of values to instill in students in Syracuse. Also, this wasn’t just about any students in Syracuse, but those who are under-served and ultimately in danger of not completing high school or even considering attending college. The couple moved to Syracuse in 2005 when Coach Q was named head coach of SU’s women’s basketball program. While the Hillsmans felt more established at this point, Q was coaching and Shandrist was running her event planning business, they decided it was time to give back. However, deciding how to do that was not as easy as one might imagine. They both had many interests and ideas for the Central New York community they were getting to know and the focus for an organization or program was still unclear. They exchanged ideas for a few years, and finally they realized they kept coming back to one idea. Aspects and life skills we may take for granted every day, are much more important than we might think. Coach Q’s childhood experience was in all respects, “priceless,” he said. The main Hillsman Foundation initiative, the aforementioned Full Circle Mentoring Program, was an end product almost two years in the making. The Hillsmans worked on developing partnerships with different groups and individuals that would provide

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

Shandrist Hillsman speaking with eighth grade student, Anum Islam

THE HILLSMAN DEFENSE How are Shandrist and Coach Q able to juggle numerous professional endeavors, a family and the foundation’s mission? If you were to sit across a table from the Hillsmans for a few minutes, the answer would be apparent. They’re genuine. They support each other and they admire each other a little more every day. Reminiscing about the night they met made their mutual admiration quite clear. On a beautiful May afternoon, sitting a few inches apart on a bench alongside the wall of Armory Square’s popular restaurant, Lemongrass, they enjoyed a gourmet lunch, but more importantly they enjoyed each other’s company. “He thought I was real fly,” Shandrist said as they talked about how a mutual friend had “set them up” back in 2000. The “meeting” took place at Shandrist’s apartment since the mutual friend also was her roommate at the time. After dinner was finished, Shandrist and Q sat in her living room and talked until 6 a.m. while they ate Fruit Loops straight from the box. At one point of the evening (or morning), Q leaned over to Shandrist and told her, “I’m going to marry you someday.” At Lemongrass in May, that story still made Shandrist smile so big, she lit up a dim-lighted room. “My father always said that you know within the first 10 minutes if that person is ‘the one’ or not,” Shandrist said. However, Q looked at me and said, “I knew immediately.” Once again, Shandrist lit up the room. From the set-up dinner to present day, Shandrist says “they’ve been together ever since.” Their passion and drive to help under-served Syracuse students become contributing members of society has made their bond even stronger. They now feel like they’re on a joint mission to give back to a community that has been so good to them. But what makes the foundation’s work worthwhile? A poignant example would be this: Toward the end of an eighth grade Full Circle Mentoring session, Coach Q, Shandrist, Angi and Mrs. Burt collectively asked the class, “Who is going to try?” Almost immediately, every hand in the classroom went up.

“There’s a lot they can’t teach you in school or that you can’t learn from books, you have to experience it.”

-Angi Renna SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012 29

::COVER STORY

he returned from playing professionally he indeed took “a lesser job, which ultimately paid off,” in the end. “You have to start somewhere,” added Angi. “What’s the benefit to that hard work?” Raising her hand to reply was Hughes eighth grader Lamadriana Cherry, “Bigger and better things…achieving success.” Angi gave props to Lamadriana’s eloquent answer and replied to the class, “That’s right, and it’s not just for the money. It should bring you enjoyment and fulfillment.”

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::SPECIAL FEATURE

BY CAROLINE TISDELL I PHOTO BY KELLY KANE

Leaving sunny California for Upstate New York is far from typical, but once Leena Chitnis was accepted to Syracuse University’s IMBA program, she knew it was the right choice. Leena moved from San Francisco to start a new chapter in her life, and the award-winning Whitman School of Management offers the IMBA program, which allows students the flexibility to organize their learning time in concert with their professional and personal lives. Although Leena could have done the program from West Coast she decided that it would be beneficial to live close to the school and campus resources. After living in Syracuse for a few years, Leena is proud to say that she will “forever bleed Orange and will be a Salt City girl for life.” Her transition from working to being a student has been tough but equally rewarding. “Though I consider myself a natural-born entrepreneur, I never imagined myself getting an MBA,” Leena said. She originally wanted to earn a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, but was rejected and is now pleasantly surprised at her success with economics and finance. “I guess life has a way of rerouting you whether you realize it’s in your best interest or not.” Just recently, Leena has gone on to create a startup business of her own called BumbleB, a Web portal that has two completely distinct functions. One is to connect entrepreneurs around the world to each other as well as directly to consumers. The second function is to connect distance learning MBAs around the world in a careerfocused website. The portal, she said, fulfills the need of business students to connect. This past year, Leena was quite confident in BumbleB that she took the idea to Fulbright Commission in a bid to win a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship from the U.S Department of Education. Leena applied on two previous occasions, but the third time was the charm. She just received the tremendous news that she was named the Fulbright Fellow, and will be traveling to Greece. “The hope is to encourage and increase opportunity-based entrepreneurship not just in Greece, but in the U.S. as well,” Leena said. “While I am in Greece I will also pilot the student version of BumbleB, which will connect MBA distance learners around the world via a career-focused social network.” Leena’s family’s experience taught her at a young age to never fear hard work. Her parents, especially her father has the true American Dream story. He came to the U.S. from India with little in his pocket but has made a remarkable life for himself and his family. “He has had an amazing life and career where he had to fight for everything he had. In fact, I come from a family of talented people who have worked hard for their success,” Leena said. It is also because of her mother that Leena learned to be vocal and assertive. These inspirations have, without a doubt, made her into the young woman she is today. Leena takes pride in being a young entrepreneur. “This path isn’t for the faint-hearted or weak of stomach. Entrepreneurship means putting an idea out there that you are passionate about, and hammering away at it until people stop laughing at you and actually have to look at you with respect.” 32

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

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SYRACUSE WOMEN

BETSY BEDIGAN

Director of Communications, North Medical

BY AMBER BRENZA I PHOTO BY CINDY BELL “They can take everything away from you, but they can’t take what you know.” Such are the words Betsy Bedigan, director of communications for the North Medical family of practices, lives her life by. As a mother, a professional, and a student, Bedigan knows the value of education; a quality instilled in her by her own mother.

When Bedigan’s first marriage ended, her mother suggested filling her time by going back to school to get her associate’s degree. Later on in life, she would take her mother up on that suggestion. She had gone through the motions before by graduating high school and then attempting college, but her education didn’t go as expected. “I flunked out of college the first time I tried because I didn’t know me,” Bedigan said. “I didn’t know what I wanted and what to do; I just could not get my head wrapped around it.” As a 20-something single mother with no formal education, Bedigan began a career in sales through the Avon Company. As her sales experience increased, so did her opportunities, and after spending 10 years working from home for a company she and her second husband started, she had the opportunity to work for Mark Russell and Associates, a prominent advertising company in Syracuse. “I’ve always loved advertising. My mother would say, ‘my God, girl, you’d watch the television for the ads and analyze the ads, not the programs,’ and I still do it.” Three years later, when she had experience and an associate’s degree under her belt, Bedigan asked Russell about taking the next step in the company. The answer she got would change her career path forever. “He was very sincere,” Bedigan said. “He very kindly said, ‘Betsy, you’re great. I love your energy, I love your enthusiasm, but you don’t have a four-year degree.’” Those words were the driving force behind her desire to better herself with a bachelor’s degree. “All the street smarts in the world, all the good work, all the understanding; there was so much I could do, but I didn’t have the four-year degree,” she said. “I knew that my vision for myself: a sense of independence, a career path that would get me where I could have an impact, was out of reach — it felt unattainable without that four-year degree.” Armed with her business experiences and a personal drive to go further in life, Bedigan set out to achieve a bachelor’s degree. She went around knocking on the doors of local universities with a deal in mind for her education. “I would give them one year of my life, 12 whole months, if they could give me a college degree in those twelve months.” Le Moyne College accepted her gamble, and gave Bedigan the education she had been looking for, thanks in large part to Pat Bliss, director of the Center for Continuing Education at Le Moyne. Bliss and Bedigan planned out Bedigan’s year at Le Moyne, which would entail extra course loads, taking courses out of sequence, and even testing out of certain courses (continued on page 38)

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012

::SWM INSPIRE

“Never once have I woken up and thought, ‘Oh God, I have to go to work.’”

MELISSA MIDGLEY

Teacher, Solvay Elementary School BY ALYSSA LAFARO I PHOTO BY RAINE DUFRANE For Melissa Midgley, a second grade teacher at Solvay Elementary School, teaching isn’t merely a passion she pursues because it’s a noble profession. She teaches because she wants to do for those students what her teachers have done for her, transform each and every one into a lifelong learner. “I just want to instill a love for learning, finding information, and reading,” said Melissa. Melissa’s passion for learning started with her grandfather, or “Nonno”, Albert Pedrotti. “Before we could play, he’d write math facts for me,” explained Melissa. But this didn’t deter her from wanting to spend every weekend with her grandfather. She looked up to him, admired his drive, his self-education. “He had a love for education and learning. He was self-taught. He came over from Italy and worked and provided for his family.” Learning was never easy for Melissa, though. When she was in third grade, she was diagnosed with learning disabilities in reading, writing, and math. “I was one of those struggling students,” she explained. “I was on a kindergarten level for all those content areas.” So her parents discovered Marsha Coplon, a special education teacher for the Syracuse City School District, to help Melissa. Through rigorous one-on-one tutoring, Melissa was able to get back up to her level. “In high school, things really started to click for me. I’m getting on honor roll, I’m getting on high honor roll, I’m president of my senior class… It was the foundation that Marsha had laid for me that got me to that point.” Marsha helped Melissa realize she not only had a passion for learning, but a passion for teaching. “She is absolutely the reason I teach,” explained Melissa. The learning didn’t stop with Marsha, though. The morning after getting all riled up about a contestant getting kicked off of American Idol back in 2005, Melissa decided to call in to Sunny 102 because Mike “Big Mike” Fiss had been talking about the incident on his radio show. Big Mike answered the phone and he and Melissa instantly hit it off. He even came to her classroom one day to read to her students. After spending three years as a regular call-in on the show, in January 2009, Melissa was offered the early morning spot (5:30 – 8:00 a.m.) as Big Mike’s co-host. And now every morning, Melissa’s alarm blares at 3:30 a.m., alerting her that it’s time to get ready for a long, long day. “Never once have I woken up and thought, ‘Oh God, I have to go to work,’” said Melissa. “Big Mike has truly changed my life [because of ] the opportunities that he has provided me with.” After learning the rules of the radio business, Melissa had something that many of us do not, two careers that she loved and allowed her to continue learning new things on a dayto-day basis. How many more learning experiences could she have? A few, in fact. (continued on page 38)

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

“I liked the idea of a challenge, and I just did it.” SUSAN BASTABLE

Chair & Professor, Le Moyne College Department of Nursing BY ALYSSA LAFARO I PHOTO BY KELLY KANE Susan Bastable knew she wanted to be a nurse when she was just 4 years old. “My mother read me a book called Nurse Nancy,” explained Susan. “I bet she read me that book, and I am not exaggerating, 100 times.” Today, Susan is not only a nurse, but a professor and the chair of the department of nursing at Le Moyne College. Susan’s love for education stems from early memories with her father. “He is the ultimate educator,” Susan said. Because he absolutely cherished education, he made sure to instill that same lust for learning in all of his children. Whenever she would struggle with a homework assignment, she’d place her work on the hassock in front of her father’s chair and sit on the floor in front of it, eager to learn. “He spent one solid hour on a math problem or a chemistry problem or a geometry problem to be sure that not only could we step ourselves through this and understand the process, but that I could teach it back to him.” Today, Susan administers that skill set to her students, making sure they not only know how to do something, but how to teach it to someone else. “Teaching and learning is an interdependent process. The teacher can learn from the student and the student can learn from the teacher. It’s really a two-way street.” Susan also believes that it’s very important to stress to students this is only the first step of their lives, of their nursing careers, and of their education. Health care is a very dynamic field, said Susan, and whether it comes to formal or informal education, nurses should be learning every day. When Susan first started nursing back in the late ‘60s to early ‘70s, the field of nursing was just beginning to really take off in regard to education. By this time, Susan knew she wanted to teach, but there were only 12 doctoral programs for receiving a doctorate in education in the country at this period. Luckily for Susan, her husband had just received a position in New York City, one of the few cities that offered two outstanding nursing programs. “I was accepted to both (NYU and Columbia). I decided to go to Columbia.” Before Susan began her role at Le Moyne, there had yet to be a nursing school in existence there. The project had been in development since the mid-‘90s, and it wasn’t until August of 2004 when the very first class came through. Before interviewing for the job there, Susan had spent 14 years teaching in the nursing program for Upstate Medical University. Susan never backs down from a challenge. It’s what drives her. But looking back, she doesn’t know how she had the guts to jump into something so totally new, unaware of whether it would succeed or fail. “I didn’t know it was going to be successful,” said Susan. “I liked the idea of a challenge, and I just did it.” Susan has helped to truly transform the nursing program at Le Moyne. Although the program was clearly advertised for (continued on page 38)

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012

BETSY BEDIGAN (CONT)

::SW ::SHIFT+CONTROL INSPIRE ::SWM INSPIRE

based on her knowledge from life experience. Bedigan knew how much work this would entail, and despite the hardships associated with going back to school later in life (her second marriage suffered the consequences of a busy schedule, though she remains friendly with her ex-husband), Bedigan graduated with a bachelor of science in business with a minor in organizational development in just 15 months in May of 2002. Bedigan’s current career at North Medical Center in Liverpool encompasses many different roles in the medical communications field, but three years ago when Bedigan first began work with North Medical, the role of director of communications came with a very broad job description. Through “Besty-izing” her tasks and making a name for herself as an invaluable employee of North Medical, Bedigan’s career has evolved. And that evolution and variety is what she loves most about her job. Currently enrolled at Empire College to begin work on a master’s degree, Bedigan’s overall desire is to get a master’s in business administration. And though she’s slightly apprehensive to take this next step in her life, her appetite for knowledge has simply not been appeased. “I’m not fully cooked yet,” Bedigan said. “My degree from Le Moyne opened up the world for me, and I’m still challenged to go and learn more.” But as Bedigan continues to expand her knowledge and possibilities in life, she never forgets where she came from. “We pick many different roads,” she said. “I know I wouldn’t be sitting in this chair without it.”

MELISSA MIDGLEY (CONT) As a woman with many passions, Melissa finds her greatest strength comes from looking at all the amazing people in her life who have built and framed her to be the person and woman she is today. “For much of this inspiration, I look to my friends and family,” said Melissa. “Many of these inspiring people have had many life obstacles that they have over come. In their strength, I find strength.” While she is very fortunate for the opportunities she has had, Melissa still has many aspirations for her future. “Over the next few years I would like to continue my work with local charities and organizations that do outreach and help people achieve their life goals,” Melissa said. This past year, Melissa started working for Weight Watchers. Once she started losing the weight, she decided to attend training and get certified to teach classes there. “I truly believe if something good comes your way you have to pay it forward,” she said. As of today, she’s lost a total of 55 pounds. Another lesson gained (lessons are better than pounds, after all). Today, Melissa is so grateful for her trifecta of supporters – Marsha, Big Mike and her friends. And you can’t forget about her students. From studying math with her grandpa to hosting a radio show to losing weight, all of her experiences have helped her in the classroom. “And if I won the lotto tomorrow,” explained Melissa, “I would still get up and go to the radio station and teach and do weight watchers. I wouldn’t stop any of it.”

SUSAN BASTABLE (CONT)

those who already had nursing experience, Susan still received a lot of questions from those with no experience in the field. “I still got hundreds of phone calls from people who wanted to be a nurse,” said Susan, “and a lot of them were high school students.” Another challenge, Susan thought. In reality, she knew Le Moyne couldn’t afford to do a four-year bachelor’s degree program. But one day it finally clicked. In 2005, she called Marianne Markowitz, the dean of St. Joseph’s College of Nursing, and propositioned her. “I said, ‘Take your two-year program, which is an associate’s degree, and take our two-year upper division program, which is really the junior/senior four year degree, and articulate them together in such a way it’s seamless for the student to get two degrees in four years for much less money than a regular four-year degree,’” explained Susan. Marianne loved the idea, and together they have revolutionized the four-year nursing degree in Syracuse. Now, each year, the four-year bachelor’s program gets more than 500 applications for 45 spots. “It’s very popular. It’s the first model of its kind in this country,” said Susan, who recently presented the program’s concept at a conference to all the directors of associate and bachelor degree nursing programs in New York state. She is not only trying to achieve this for herself, but for her students. “My students inspire me,” Susan said. “When I see the lights turn on, when I see the sparkle, when I see the motivation they have because this is an integral part in their educator role, that they’re going to become the future nurses of tomorrow, that’s all it takes.”

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JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

291-011_M201_APRSyrWomanMag.indd 1

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::SHIFT+CONTROL

Bradley’s Jewelers Diamond Giveaway

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::WISDOM IN A TRAFFIC JAM

Dear Angella, I have what I believe is a good idea for a business. I am not sure what my first steps should be. Do I really need a business plan? Where do I start? Tonya Tonya, Your business plan is a good start. I however believe there are a few questions you should answer before you start to develop your plan. Most of these questions will come up again when you make the leap to formalize your business plan. What I am suggesting is to make sure you have a viable business. It’s important that you write the answers out to each of these questions, and let a few trusted people look them over. In our minds we often understand what we are saying, but the key is can others. 1.) Who are you? What qualifies you to run this or any business? What experience do you have? Are you planning to learn on the job, or take business classes? What is your background in? 2.) What exactly is your business going to offer? What product or service will you be offering to others? Who will be your client? How will you attract these clients? 3.) Who is your competition? What makes you different from everyone else? 4.) Will you need an office, warehouse space? Are you planning to work from home? Travel to different cities? 5.) When do you plan to start this business and start taking on new clients? 6.) What about expenses? Will you get a loan, or use your credit cards? How will you pay the bills until you have steady revenue?

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

These are just a few questions to get you started thinking about what it is you want to do. The better you can define and answer these questions, the easier your business plan will be. Once you are satisfied with your answers, ask yourself if you feel good about your business idea. If you do, then the next step is to put together your business plan. If you do not, then you need to reevaluate your business idea. When you are ready, your business plan can be anything from a simple one page document to a 100page document. It all depends on the amount of research and data you want to put into it. There is no required amount. If you are still feeling overwhelmed there are many books you can read, such as “Business Plans for Dummies”. The Internet is full of books and guides. If you would like to talk to someone about your plan you can reach out to SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) www.scorerochester. org or SBA (Small Business Administration) www.sba.gov. Who better to talk to than people who have been in your shoes? They are there to be the sounding board, to ask questions in order for you to flesh out your idea better. If you don’t know where to find information, they can help you. They may be able to make suggestions that you might not have thought of. Don’t let the business plan scare you into not pursuing your dream. Take a few minutes out of each day to work on it. Before you know it you will have your working business plan. I say working, because you will continue to make changes and adaptations throughout your business. Take the leap and join the world of business owners. Angella Luyk is CEO of Midnight Janitorial Inc. and published author of Wisdom in Traffic Jam. Want to learn more about her or have a question, check out her website www.wisdominatrafficjam.com or www. midnightjanitorial.com or contact her directly 585-414-6960.

According to Stanton, the kilovolt output of a mammography machine is very low compared with other X-ray examinations – so low that the mammography rooms aren’t shielded as other exam rooms are. Use of a lead thyroid collar to deflect scattered radiation is common for other types of X-rays, but not recommended during mammography. “Often times the thyroid collar itself can interfere with the imaging,” Stanton says.

Thyroid cancer accounts for only 3 percent of all cancers in women, and researchers have found the increase in diagnoses across all ages and genders since 1980 is a result of advanced diagnostic technology catching thyroid cancers that would otherwise not have posed a health risk.

ACR and SBI point out that use of a thyroid collar could obstruct the screening, causing shadows to appear on the mammography image that interfere with proper diagnosis. St. Joseph’s Imaging does have thyroid collars available for patients who request one. Most importantly, do not put off or forgo necessary breast imaging care based on misguided assumptions – talk to your doctor if you have questions or concerns.

Olga Stanton, Director of Radiology for St. Joseph’s Imaging Associates of Syracuse, says that while the thyroid is more susceptible to radiation damage than other organs in the body, there is almost zero risk of developing thyroid cancer from mammography. “The X-rays delivered to the breast are 100 percent absorbed by the breast tissue,” she says. “There is literally no scattered radiation produced when you have a mammogram.”

For more information on mammography, visit www.mammographysaveslives.org.

::SPECIAL FEATURE

Recent controversy sparked by the popular Dr. Mehmet Oz, in which he claimed thyroid cancer is “the fastest-growing cancer in women” due in part to X-ray radiation exposure, may have you secondguessing that recommended, periodic mammogram screening. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this flawed assumption, the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast Imaging want you to know.

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BEFORE

::HEALTHY WOMAN

Mohs Surgery

Skin Cancer Part Two AFTER

BY SHERRIF IBRAHIM, M.D., PH.D.

This is part two of a three part series addressing the skin cancer problem in America.Our next issue will deal with prevention of skin cancer.

In last month’s issue, we provided a background to the types of skin cancer and drew attention to the astounding numbers of cases. In this month’s issue we will focus on the treatment of the common types of skin cancer with special focus on Mohs micrographic surgery. Typically, if someone has a suspicious growth – for example, an area on the face that bleeds easily and never heals, they will go to their doctor to have it examined. Some primary care doctors will perform a biopsy in the office themselves; while others will recognize that this growth may be a skin cancer and refer them to a dermatologist. The dermatologist will then perform a biopsy of the growth to determine if it is malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). The purpose of the biopsy is not to remove the growth entirely, but to sample it to ascertain its characteristics. The biopsy is sent to another doctor, the pathologist, who will look at the skin under a microscope and generate a report back to the dermatologist. If the growth is confirmed to be a skin cancer, the dermatologist will either treat the cancer or refer the patient to a skin cancer specialist and, in many cases, a Mohs surgeon. DIFFERENT CANCERS NEED DIFFERENT TREATMENT To refresh, there are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma. BCC and SCC together account for 95 percent of all cases of skin cancer. Despite the fact that melanoma makes up less than 5 percent of skin cancer, it is responsible for about 80 perfect of the deaths due to skin cancer, which is why we hear so much more about it in the news and society. Because melanoma can be deadly, the treatment options involve more aggressive surgery than for BCC or SCC, requiring removal of a large safety margin of normal skin to ensure that the melanoma is completely removed. Treatment of BCC and SCC differs than treatment for melanoma. Because these cancers have a much lower chance of metastasizing (spreading to other parts of the body), the surgical margin for these cancers does not need to be as big. As long as the cancer is fully removed, there is no advantage to removing the large safety margin of normal skin like what is done for melanoma. Furthermore, because these

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

cancers originate in outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis, a variety of treatment approaches exist depending on the characteristics of each individual cancer and patient. The enormous advantage to treating skin cancer as opposed to internal cancers is that dermatologists can see and feel these growths and assess their response to treatment. MULTIPLE TREATMENT OPTIONS EXIST The biggest risk factor for the development of skin cancer is chronic sun exposure and fair-skinned individuals who tend to burn easily are at highest risk. For this reason, skin cancer tends to develop in the areas of the body that accumulate the most damage from the sun’s rays – the scalp, face, neck, backs of the hands, shoulders, and shins. The approach to treatment will depend on the type of cancer, where it is located, whether or not it has been treated before, as well as individual patient factors. For instance, when tumors are very superficial and in areas that are less cosmetically sensitive such as the back, a procedure called electrodesiccation and curettage (ED&C) can be used. Colloquially referred to as a ‘scrape and burn’ procedure, the dermatologist numbs the skin and destroys the cancer by removing the top layer of skin. This only works for low-risk, thin cancers and does not work well on the head and neck. Other options such as freezing, topical creams, lasers or other light-based methods only work for very small, superficial cancers and do not yield a high enough cure rate for cancers that have had the chance to grow thicker or bigger, and should not be used for cancers on the face. SURGERY IS THE GOLD STANDARD With all of the above treatment approaches, the goal is to destroy the skin cancer. For small, thin cancers this results in cure rates around 90 percent. However, the main drawback with these treatment modalities is that the skin is destroyed, so there is nothing to analyze or look at under the microscope and hence, no way to confirm that the cancer has been removed. The only way to get feedback if a cancer has been treated adequately is with surgery because with surgery, skin that is removed can be looked at by a physician and determine if it is free of cancer. One can imagine that surgery on the back or the arm is a bit more straightforward than surgery on the nose or the lip. On the back, the

dermatologist can numb the skin and remove the cancer with a small margin of normal skin (typically about ¼ inch on each side) and sew the remaining skin together in a straight line. This specimen then gets sent to a pathology center and the pathologist will examine the skin to determine if the cancer is completely removed. The advantages to this approach are that it is fairly quick and results in a high cure rate with minimal difficulties to the patient. The disadvantages are that BCC and SCC often have ‘roots’ or projections of the tumor that extend beyond the obvious cancer. So, on occasion, a report will return several days later that indicates the cancer has not been removed entirely and the procedure will need to be repeated. MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY Because about 85 percent of BCC and SCC occur on the head and neck, it is often not possible to remove a cancer with a wide enough margin of normal skin without encroaching upon important areas such as the lips, ears, or eyelids. Furthermore, once a cancer has been removed from an area such as the nose or the eyelid, it is often not possible to sew the edges of the skin directly together and complicated surgical reconstruction of the skin is needed. It would not be advisable for a physician to perform an intricate reconstructive procedure without first confirming a cancer has been removed. In these cases when skin cancers are in high-risk areas, when tumors are aggressive or infiltrative in their growth patterns, or when their edges are ill-defined, Mohs micrographic surgery results in the highest cure rates and is the treatment of choice. WHAT IS MOHS MICROGRAPHIC SURGERY? Mohs micrographic surgery, or simply Mohs surgery, is named in honor of Dr. Frederic Mohs, the physician who developed the technique over 50 years ago. Since then, many technical improvements and refinements have established it as the most definitive way for treating BCCs and SCCs. The major difference between Mohs surgery and the methods listed above is meticulous microscopic control. With Mohs surgery, the pathology laboratory is in the surgical office and the surgeon also acts as the pathologist. With the advantages of having a laboratory on-hand and undergoing training in how to look at skin under the microscope, the Mohs surgeon can remove the skin cancer

layer by layer and examine the removed tissue under the microscope until normal (cancer-free) skin is obtained while the patient waits in the office. By evaluating 100 percent of the edges of the removed skin, the highest rates of tumor clearance are obtained and the chances of the cancer growing back are close to zero. In fact, by using the Mohs technique, cure rates for treating skin cancer approach 99 percent. The other main advantage of having microscopic control with Mohs surgery is that the amount of healthy tissue removed is kept to minimum. While other methods have to roughly estimate the amount of normal tissue to remove, often unnecessarily large amounts of normal skin can be removed, or recurrence of the tumor can happen if any cancer is left behind. With Mohs surgery, the cancer is removed while removing the least amount of healthy skin. This maximizes the functional and cosmetic outcome resulting from surgery. Once the Mohs surgeon has confirmed that the skin cancer has been removed, then reconstruction of the area occurs on the same day in the same office. In addition to training in skin cancer surgery and pathology, Mohs surgeons also undergo training in facial reconstruction. By removing the cancer and the smallest amount of normal skin, areas of the face can be repaired with the least cosmetic impact and the best results.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: The American College of Mohs Surgery: www.mohscollege.org Sherrif Ibrahim, MD PhD is Assistant Professor of the URMC Department of Dermatology and the Wilmot Cancer Center. His practice is focused on procedural and surgical dermatology including the management of skin cancer with Mohs surgery.

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012 SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012

4545

::SPECIAL FEATURE

BY CARMEN E. ZAFAR

What makes you who you are? For some people it’s the job they have, their leadership in the community or the role they play in the household. But for some, it’s all of those aspects in addition to one distinct habit, a habit that many might consider “crazy.” While some people might not every run a 5k race, let alone walk a full mile in his or her life, there are numerous people who would gladly do the latter, but times 70! That’s right, times 70! If you think that running a half-marathon (13.1 miles) is an incredible feat, you’re absolutely right, it is. However, try imagining that you will be swimming 1.2 miles and cycling 56 miles prior to that half. With the IronMan Syracuse 70.3 race fast approaching, we spoke to two repeat “Iron People” in the Central New York community to find out what makes them compete and why it’s important to them. Read on… KRISTIN WHITE

Age: 40 Occupation: Single mom, pharmacist at Wegmans & pro-triathlete

KRISTIN WHITE

Q: Why do you compete in the 70.3 Syracuse? A: I do the Syracuse race for a few reasons: First I think it’s very important to support local races. Second, I absolutely love the course! Jamesville and the surrounding areas are incredibly beautiful. And finally, it’s awesome to be able to race in my hometown with so many family and friends cheering me on! Q: What makes you an Ironman? A: The technical answer is that I’m an Ironman because I finished a 140.6-mile (the full Ironman distance) triathlon. In reality, what makes me an “Ironman” is my perseverance when faced with a challenge. I love triathlons because it keeps me fit, healthy and happy! MIKE BROOKINS

Age: 41 Occupation: Television Meteorologist for CNY Central, father & triathlete Q: Why do you compete in the Syracuse 70.3? A: I do the Syracuse 70.3 Ironman because with enough of the correct training, simply put, I can. In 2010 I was elated to just get across the finish line for the first time. The amount of time it took to complete the race didn’t matter. In June, I will race the Syracuse 70.3 Ironman for the third consecutive year to set a positive example for my three daughters. I want them to realize the importance of exercise and most importantly, that with enough persistence, anything is possible. Q: What makes you an Ironman? A: I believe that what makes me an Ironman are all the hours of training, family scheduling, physical pain and post workout recovery in the months leading up to the Syracuse 70.3 Ironman. You can’t fake completing a half-Ironman distance. It’s like marathon running and many other endurance events, the hardest part of the race is getting to the starting line well prepared and healthy. I also enjoy fighting the urge to not quit during a race when my body is screaming “stop now!” By forging on during a race I often end up paying a price after with aches and pains, but I do it with a big smile on my face!

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

MIKE BROOKINS

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Event THE MAIN

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER GALA: CAROL M. BALDWIN BREAST CANCER RESEARCH

SWM NIGHT AT CLUB SUSHI AT MOHEGAN MANOR

This was an extra special Syracuse Woman Magazine Night because of our great giveaway! Manlius resident Heidi Menikheim and her Lucky 7 arrived to the Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville in a stylish limousine. All attendees enjoyed sushi, appetizers, drinks and excellent networking company.Th anks to Dennis Sick and the restaurant staff, the night was a great success!

Events

Celebrating 10 years of the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY’s mission was nearly 800 guests at the annual gala at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona. Among attendees were numerous survivors and their family and friends, along with many attending in honor of loved ones who have passed away during their battle. Syracuse Woman Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of CMB Fund events and to have been in attendance at the gala. We salute the fund and its volunteers and committee members for their commitment to the mission of finding a cure for breast cancer, and to support those in the CNY community battling the disease.

JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM

In its fourth year, the Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion Show has continued to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY. This year’s event attracted more than 600 guests and touted local celebrities and community leaders. As well, the latest local fashions raved the runway! Congratulations to event founder Michele Castrilli, RMH events coordinator Brian Hayes and the RMH board and fashion show committee for pulling off another fantastic fundraiser. Also, thank you to Rick Policastro Photography for shooting this event once again and providing these photos for SWM!

JUNE CALENDAR 6 WBOC PROGRAM

TIME: 4:30 to 6 PM WHAT: Annual meeting & “Salute to Women Entrepreneurs,” Meet the 2012-13 WBOC Board. WHERE: The Genesee Grande, 1060 E. Genesee St., Syracuse REGISTER: www.wboconnection.com; $10 WBOC program; $25 program guest.

9 CARS ‘N COFFEE

TIME: 7:30 to 10:30 PM WHAT: All sport, vintage, classic, custom cars and trucks welcome. Start the morning off with a cup of coffee and conversation with others, weather permitting. WHERE: Wegmans, Route 57 in Liverpool CONTACT: For more details, call Ron Balduzzi at (315) 345-8164.

BELLA CASA CELEBRITY FASHION SHOW

SKANEATELES GARDEN CLUB: WHAT’S BLOOMING

SUMMER BREWFEST

TIME: 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM WHAT: Save the date for a tour of seven beautiful gardens in Skaneateles. TICKETS: $20 for the luncheon; $20 for the tour. CONTACT: Skaneateles Garden Club at P.O. Box 96, Skaneateles, NY 13152

TIME: 5 to 10 PM WHAT: Sample over 150 microbrews and craft beers. Brought to you by the Taste of Syracuse team. WHERE: Clinton Square, Syracuse TICKETS: www.cnysummerbrewfest.com; General Admission, $50; Designated Driver, $10. Connoisseur’s Tent, $100.

15 & 16

TIME: 7 PM to 6 AM WHAT: Each dollar you raise will help save lives. How far will you go to make a difference in the fight against cancer? WHERE: C.W. Baker High School, Pelcher Arcaro Stadium WEBSITE: www.relayforlife.org

TIME: 6 TO 8 PM WHAT: Let’s network with a great crowd (women and men) and enjoy a local hot spot after hours with a wine tasting, too. Bring a friend and join us for some fun! WHERE: DOLCE VITA WORLD BISTRO, 907 E. GENESEE ST., SYRACUSE

RELAY FOR LIFE B’VILLE

SWM NIGHT

SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM :: JUNE 2012

The highly intelligent Audi A6 is here. And not a moment too soon. After all, the roads aren’t getting any smarter. That’s why we engineered a car that makes 2,000 decisions a second. With features like the Audi quattro® all-wheel drive system and Google Earth™ navigation, you’ll be able to effortlessly navigate almost anything the road throws your way.* Add in Audi drive select, which allows you to adjust the car’s handling and responsiveness, and maybe you won’t even notice the giant hole in the road maintenance budget. We’re on a mission to smarten up the roads, and engineering the Audi A6 is only our first step. Learn more at audiusa.com/A6.

The road is now an intelligent place.

Burdick Audi is the only New York State dealer to have earned entry into the Audi Magna Society for 2011 Visit www.burdickcars.com or Stop by our showroom and experience all that Audi has to offer

*Audi quattro and Google Earth navigation features are not standard on all trim lines. “Audi,” “A6,” “quattro,” “Truth in Engineering,” the Audi Singleframe grille design, and the four rings and Audi emblems are registered trademarks of AUDI AG. Google Earth is a trademark of Google Inc. ©2011 Audi of America, Inc.

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The roads are underfunded by $450 billion. With the right car, you may never notice.

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JUNE 2012 :: SYRACUSEWOMANMAG.COM