BUSINESS Ask An Entrepreneur
6 Diversity & Inclusion
17 Naked & Afraid
20 Continuing Education
26 Sizzling Summer Reads
28 Women of United Personnel
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EDITOR’S LETTER
5 MANAGING ME
16 MONEY WITH MICHELLE
19 STILETTO STATEMENT
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AUGUST COVER
LEGAL QUEEN AMY ROYAL
ISSUE 23 AUGUST 2013
Published by The Lioness Group. Founder, Natasha Clark.
Editor-in-Chief Katelyn Gendron Art Director Leonardo Pilares Director of Photography Denise Smith Columnists Crystal Senter Brown Kristina Chapell Aliyah Cherrisse Brenda’s Child Michelle Perry Higgins Contributing Writers Erin K. Corriveau Carley Dangona Lamara Hunter Paige Cerulli Emily Thurlow Jennifer Sawyer
Š2013 Lioness Magazine is the first online magazine geared toward female entrepreneurs. We deliver sharp and compelling information on a variety of topics that are relevant to female entrepreneurs and professionals. Our mission is to elevate, educate and support female professionals. We celebrate the unique challenges and achievements of women in business. We believe women are multi-dimensional creations who flourish, personally and professionally, when they take time to nurture their spirits.
welcome to editor’s letter Katelyn Gendron
There’s no off switch in life, why should work be different? When I read Carley Dangona’s cover story on Amy Royal of Royal LLC in Massachusetts I was please to find a kindred spirit. I too, lack a “shutoff switch” as Amy called her desire to work, even while standing in line at Disney World. Truth be told, I’m the same way. I wake up in during the night thinking about our next issue. Some might call me a work-a-holic, as I can frequently be seen at my laptop at 3 a.m., but others might call me and those like Royal, dedicated. Maybe Americans really do live to work as opposed to working to live. Maybe it’s just today’s corporate culture. Or could it be that we take pleasure in what we do and would rather be at work than at home watching television or gardening. If I, like so many women out there, would rather be at work than at home does it mean I’m missing out or suffering in some way? I don’t think so. I believe that just makes me and those like me a go-getter because we’ve only got one life to live, right? Speaking of one life, make sure not to miss Carley’s other feature on Laura Zerra, owner of Zerra Expeditions, and participant in the Discover Channel’s survival show, “Naked and Afraid.” For those who haven’t seen the show – and I hadn’t either until this article – a man and woman are left in a desolate location with just one tool and only enough clothing to cover up their unmentionables. It’s a game of survival and Laura certainly came out on top. She’s an inspiration, not just for appearing on a show that left her battered and bruised, but also because she demonstrates to so many women that we don’t have to be Barbie dolls, we can actually grit our teeth and rough it!
Katelyn LIONESS AUGUST 2013
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ASK An ENTREPRENEUR 1) How long have you been in business?
I have been building my business since 2009. I started by teaching safety trainings to farmers on ergonomics and injury prevention. Once I earned my massage license in 2011, I began to build my bodywork practice. I have quickly grown to a full schedule of clients and a workshop schedule that is consistently booked. 2) Why have you chosen to dedicate yourself to this particular business/industry?
Lydia Irons. Photo courtesy of The Flexible Farmer.
Answers By: Lydia Irons, licensed massage therapist, speaker and consultant, The Flexible Farmer, Hadley Mass., www.theflexiblefarmer.com
I have always been involved with the farming community and learned first hand how hard it can be on the body. I wanted to offer farmers and other occupational workers solutions to the problem of being chronically injured or in pain. I knew that education was a big part of that, so teaching trainings was the first step. I love teaching people how to work with their bodies in the most safe and effective way. I soon realized that to really change the lives of my clients, I needed to also offer hands-on work for people looking to heal from and prevent injury. Massage therapy was the model of bodywork that I connected to the most. It is such a powerful aid to the body’s ability to heal and is relatively low impact to the client. I also love it! It is a great way to connect directly with someone and really teach them about their musculature. 3) What makes business/product unique?
The Flexible Farmer is unique for two major reasons. First, because of the targeted population I am trying to reach. You often hear the phrase “target market” in regard to business, but I have really focused in on tradespeople. It is [a] community of people that are not often told, “You don’t have to be in chronic pain.” More often they hear “muscle through” or “shake it off.” I am telling farmers, carpenters and mechanics that not only can they avoid injury by learning how the body works, but they also can recover from the demands of work with massage. It is a very unique idea for this community.
Second, my business is unique because of my specific background and education. I have not only worked on many farms and for manual labor jobs, I also have studied the working body in an academic context. In college I took many anatomy and body mechanics courses as well as agriculture courses. I wrote a thesis on how the body works under the specific conditions of farm labor. I use all this knowledge to deepen my workshops and connection to my clients.
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4) You could have worked for anyone and would have been successful, why become an entrepreneur?
The biggest reason is because no one was doing what I am passionate about. Sure, I could have [been] successful at a spa or even as a farmer but, I would have always felt that I was doing something second best. I have a fierce passion that the folks who grow our food, build our houses and fix our cars shouldn’t have to sacrifice their physical health to do it. I became an entrepreneur by default and it has worked out great! 5) What was your last, “why did I go into business for myself” moment?
Just this past month! Though I don’t get that feeling often. I had just presented and had an exhibitor booth at a large agricultural conference and I forgot to give myself a day off. I wished I could have called in and said “can someone cover my shift?” but, when it is just you, you just have to push through it. But, I have to remember that if I am not running at full steam it is a disservice to my clients. 6) Every female professional should have __________.
Confidence! In the quality and power of their ideas. I don’t know how many times I heard that “farmers would never spend money taking care of themselves” or that “no one would pay for me to teach them about ergonomics.” I never let that faze me; I knew that what I wanted to do was important and even if it didn’t take off right away (which it has), I was doing work that I was passionate about. This can be especially hard when you are trying to create something totally new and different. If you retain that confidence than people see that and they believe in you. 7) If you could steal some business mojo from another mogul, who would it be and why?
J.K. Rowling. She has this amazing drive to do what she is passionate about and it has payed off wildly. She had an idea that she just had to put out into the world and it ended up touching millions of people. She also has used her monetary success for a lot of philanthropy and I feel like if I ever have that kind of success I will do the same. If I could touch just a fraction of the lives she has I would be unbelievably fulfilled.
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8) What is your business motto?
The Flexible Farmer’s tag line is “Bodywork for Working Bodies” but my motto is “be of service.” It can be hard to remember sometimes when I am doing my accounting or working on new marketing or the hundreds of other consuming tasks that come with running your own business, that what I do, I do so that I can be of service to the trades/farming community. I try to always remember that every low back I get to stop seizing and every first-time landscaper I teach how to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome is a victory. It is always serving the community.
ASK An ENTREPRENEUR
clients. I have already teamed up with a talented herbalist to create some products and I would love to keep the momentum of that.
12) When someone is telling their friend about your business, what do you hope they say?
I hope they say that they learned something from me. That when they took a workshop or
had a massage they learned how to care for their working body. I hope they say they felt empowered to start working smarter, not harder. And, of course, I hope they say they left my office feeling more relaxed and more flexible and that they can’t wait to come back!
9) If you could give other entrepreneurs three tips, what would they be?
First, keep thinking about how you can make your idea better. Don’t just settle with what you have thought of for now, keep growing and expanding. Thinking about the big picture always leads me to ways I can make my business better and more effective.
Next, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t please everyone. There have been a few times that I was just not a good fit as a massage therapist for a client or I just didn’t click with a group I was presenting to and it used to make me feel like a failure. But, the truth is that sometimes you are going to meet people who don't line up with you and that is OK. Just make sure you handle the situation with dignity and grace.
Lastly, don’t forget to thank your support network. It is so important to have people who cheer you on and remind you why you are doing what you do. Remembering that they help your business prosper by supporting you as a person is very important. Let them know you appreciate them and they will keep helping you to be your best.
10) Has there been a piece of technology or software that has been a lifesaver to you?
Yes, I have an online scheduler that makes it possible for folks to book their appointments on their own time. This means that I don’t have to always be the one making the appointments and that my clients can book when they have time. And for farmers and tradespeople that time is often very early in the morning!
11) What is your goal for the next year?
To hire on another massage therapist and more trainers so I can reach more people. I would also love to open an apothecary of herbal and natural products to help have a more holistic approach to caring for my
Lydia Irons performs body work as a licensed massage therapist and owner of The Flexible Farmer in Hadley, Mass. Photo courtesy of The Flexible Farmer.
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Amy Royal
Photos courtesy of Denise Smith Photography
Entrepreneur knows just how to give clients
‘Royal’ treatment By Carley Dangona
Amy Royal, owner of Royal LLP, a “womanowned, management-side labor and employment law firm,” in Northampton, Mass., wears many hats in addition to running her own business. As a mother, wife and daughter, her family frequently inspires her work.
“I’m always looking for another business idea to sink my teeth into,” Royal said, adding that she doesn’t really have a “shut off switch.” She once worked with a client by phone while waiting in line at Walt Disney World. A mere four or so hours of sleep is enough for her to feel refreshed and ready to begin a new day.
For her latest project, Royal is writing a selfhelp book for families facing the cancer diagnosis of a loved one. Her mothers’ own battle with the disease inspired the idea. Royal said she’s always been a strong writer and wanted to create a tool for families that would assist them in becoming advocates for their loved ones.
“Navigating the medical community and health care system is very difficult and you really have to be an advocate [for yourself].
Those are skills that are trained in me as a litigator that I want to impart to help others,” she said.
“I’ve always been very driven and determined,” Royal stated, explaining that she never views the word “no” as a permanent stumbling block, but rather as inspiration to find a better means of achieving her goals. “I think the biggest issues that women face is working in environments that support a worklife balance.”
She cited law firms as one type of workplace that enables women to achieve that harmony because the working hours don’t necessarily fall “within the confines of a traditional day.” It was a personal goal to create that atmosphere within her business.
“They’re my world,” Royal said of her two sons Brandon, 7, and Dylan, 8. “For the past four years I’ve been their baseball coach. I also coach soccer. I just want to be a part of every aspect of my kids’ lives.”
Royal grew up in Longmeadow, Mass., and returned to Western Massachusetts after
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Amy Royal
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attending law school. She resides in Deerfield.
“It was really important for me to move back to Western Massachusetts not just because my family is here, but because I always knew this was a region is where I wanted to raise a family,” she explained.
Royal said owning a business allows her to set the hours she works and that, combined with the use of technology such as remote computer access and text messaging, affords her time with her children.
In addition, Royal’s husband serves as the business and operations manager for the firm. He designed the Royal LLP building, which she owns. The pair has been married for 11 years.
She began her career 13 years ago working for the Massachusetts Attorney General. Royal said she did not have a case specialty at that time, but was exposed to all areas of the law because she was required to represent the office regardless of premise.
“I had a burning desire to start my own practice, with the notion that I would create a law firm that would support women and minority attorneys,” she said, noting Royal LLP was established in 2008. “We’re woman-owned,
women-managed and five of our attorneys are women.”
Royal said, “I don’t, in terms of my educational background, have any business experience. Everything I’ve learned has been on the job.”
She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in both English and history from Smith College in 1997. In 2000, she earned her Juris Doctor from Albany Law School of Union University.
Royal treatment Royal said that she reassures the clients by letting them know she deals with these issues on a daily basis. She tells them, “As bad as it looks on paper – the allegations that have been made against them – I can tell them you’re not alone, other people have gone through this. It is horrendous to go through, but we’ll get through this.”
For Royal, the most difficult cases she’s handled are when she would have to defend the Department of Children & Families (DCF) in its decision to remove a child from a home.
In addition to her work and family life, Royal volunteers with nonprofits. “What’s really important to me is getting involved in the community. I really think people need to get more involved in their community because it really does make such an impact,” she stated.
Royal said cases involving harassment claims are her forte. “They are the most fact-intensive and emotionally charged, but they can be the most fulfilling,” she added.
Her favorite part of working as a volunteer is listening to the personal testimony of people who have benefited from a nonprofit’s services. “It’s reinvigorating,” she said.
In her very first appearance on behalf of the state, a parent appealing the DCF’s decision, cornered Royal and said, “How can you do what you’re doing? This is my family.”
Under those circumstances, Royal LLP represents the employer. “Companies are made up of people from top to bottom. When someone in management is accused of doing certain things, they just want to be vindicated,” she stated.
She currently serves as chair for the United Way. Royal is also on the board of directors for the Center for Human Development Inc., Human Resources Unlimited and Aditus Inc.
In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, creative writing and basketball.
Royal LLP has offices in Northampton and Springfield, Mass. For more information about the company, visit www.royalllp.com.
Development Council connects women of influence Reserve the morning of Oct. 24 for the annual Women’s Business Development Council ‘s (WBDC) breakfast, which will take place at the Stamford Marriott in Connecticut. This signature event brings together more than 500 women and men including entrepreneurs, corporate workers, community organizers, CEOs, legislators and other individuals will discuss leveraging women-owned businesses to bring positive and long-lasting economic change to Connecticut and throughout the world.
“Connect – Grow – Influence: Women with Impact” will feature the growing effect of women business owners as decision makers, architects of change and economic influencers with a focus on women in diverse industries. The 2013 panelists include Sarah Fisher, professional race car driver and CEO of Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing, LLC; Susan Duffy, executive director, Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership at Babson College and Laurie Tucker, senior vice president, Corporate
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Marketing of Fedex Services. The panel moderator will be the Executive Director of Connecticut’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, Teresa Younger.
The Honorable Nancy Wyman, lieutenant governor of Connecticut is the Honorary Chairwoman. The Honorable Denise L. Nappier, Connecticut State Treasurer will be a guest speaker. Diana Sousa Jepsen, vice president of Corporate Communications of Cigna Corporation will serve as mistress of ceremonies.
“The WBDC annual breakfast has proven to evoke stimulating conversations with longterm consequences,” WBDC CEO Fran Pastore said. “WBDC is honored to be considered Connecticut’s leader in entrepreneurial training and education for the past 16 years.
“With women fueling economic growth at an unprecedented rate, we are proud to bring a stimulating topic to the Connecticut
community that can drive our economic development for future generations,” she added.
Sponsors for the 2013 Women’s Business Development Council Breakfast include First Niagara Foundation; The Vince and Linda McMahon Family Foundation, American Express Open and Xerox Corporation. Sponsorship opportunities and tickets for the breakfast are available. For more Information, call 203-353-1750 or email WBDC at breakfast@ctwbdc.org.
WBDC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women become economically self-sufficient. WBDC is the leader of entrepreneurial and financial training for women in Connecticut and has been educating, empowering and promoting women through entrepreneurship, financial education and expanded career opportunities for 16 years.
For more information visit www.ctwbdc.org or call 203-353-1750.
Managing Me
Overbooked days shouldn’t mean elimination of exercise By Brenda’s Child
According to the American Heart Association, every minute a woman dies from heart disease. Most of us know that maintaining a healthy weight, eating right and moderately exercising can reduce our risks. The latter, exercise, for some of us is one of the easiest things to eliminate from an overbooked day.
There are numerous information sources out there that educate us on how we can make it happen: scheduling it in our planner as an appointment, exercising during television commercials, buddying up, or taking the stairs. My personal favorite are squats while cooking. Whatever the case, it is critical for our health that we fit it in whether through intervals or in an hour, whether it’s salsa lessons or walking.
Here are my personal benefits of exercising that maybe you didn’t think of:
• A new wardrobe twice a year (in a smaller size)
• More energy (to do your to-do list)
• Decreased PMS symptoms (my family loves this)
• Feeling powerfully strong (Wonder Woman)
• Exuding a new sexiness (which can increase libido) • A round butt that was formerly flat (squats)
• Cute workout clothes (more shopping)
• Networking (thanks to group exercise)
• Less cravings for vices (wine, chocolate and carbohydrates)
• Or feeling less guilty about that glass of wine (because you burned 600 calories)
Brenda’s Child has made it her life’s mission to inspire people through poetry and stories and through leading by example with courage, confidence, and integrity. She emphasizes self-love, worth, and value. She also feels obligated to tell the truth ... even if it hurts. Visit www.brendaschild.com
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Region’s diversity champions join forces
Baystate Health in Springfield, Mass., is hosting a conference offering the region’s diversity champions and leaders’ inspiration and direction to build and support diversity and inclusion as a business imperative.
The Baystate Health Diversity & Inclusion Conference will take place Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield, Mass.
Baystate Health believes that diversity and inclusion are a business imperative. In alignment with its business goals, development goals and in support of the community, this conference provides a unique opportunity to collaborate, share best practices, and collectively define what diversity and inclusion means for the region. The one-day event will feature keynote speakers, skill development, best practice sessions, networking and will cover the following topics:
• Building the business case and demonstrating the business imperative for diversity and inclusion; • How to be an effective diversity champion; • Connecting diverse employees to organizational objectives; • Mentoring across difference; • Leveraging inclusion to drive successful customer relationships; • Using your power of influence and privilege to advance diversity work as a diversity champion; and • Enhancing inclusive leadership skills. Conference partners and underwriters include: Association of Diversity Councils, Big Y, Freedom Credit Union, Hampden Bank, Health New England, HRMA of Western New England, Pioneer Valley Credit Union, Springfield Technical Community College,
Travelers, United Way of Pioneer Valley, Westfield State University, Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts and YMCA of Greater Springfield.
Supporting organizations include: AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Amherst Area Chambers of Commerce, Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Bredenberg Associates, Human Services Forum, Leadership Pioneer Valley, The Lioness Group, NAACP Springfield MA Branch, Pro Springfield Media, Regional Employment Board of Hampden County and UnityFirst.com. The schedule of events is as follows:
• Registering and networking from 8:30 to 9 a.m.; • Opening remarks from 9 to 9:30 a.m.; • Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Roundtable from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. – The Business Case for Diversity: Moving from Nice-to-Have to Have-to-Have with moderator Philip Berry, executive director, Association of Diversity Councils; • Breakout Sessions from 11 a.m. to 12: 15 p.m. – Case study Presentation: Developing a Diversity Strategy to meet Organizational Outcomes; Panel Discussion: A Diversity Champions’ Toolbox: Tools for Reaching the Tipping Point; or Skill Development Workshop: Becoming an Inclusive Leader: Driving High-Performance and Engagement presented by Global Novations a Korn/Ferry Company; • Lunch and keynote address from 12:15 to 2 p.m. – “Inclusion Insights” by Dr. Steve Robbins; • Breakout Sessions from 2:15 to 3:30 p.m. – Panel Discussion: Connecting Diversity & Inclusion to Organizational Objectives; Skill Development Workshop: Mentoring Across
Difference presented by Washington Orange Wheeler; Case Study Presentation: Formalizing Inclusive Leadership into Work Environments; • Industry Roundtable Discussions: Leveraging Diversity and Inclusion from 3:45 to 5 p.m.; and • Evening Networking Reception from 5 to 6 p.m.
Other confirmed speakers include: Philip Berry, executive director, Association of Diversity Councils; Margaret Beturne, assistant nurse manager, Baystate Orthopedic Surgery Center; Sharon Bueno Washington, partner, Washington Orange Wheeler; Nancy DiDia, executive director, Chief Diversity Officer, Boehringer Ingelheim; Jennifer Faulkner, director of Communications, Baystate Health; Deborah Foster, Chief Diversity Officer, United Way Worldwide; Ralph Frazier, Global Novations a Korn Ferry Company; Mike Garreffi, News director, WWLP; Joelle Murchison Hayes, vice president Diversity & Inclusion, Travelers; Andres Gonzales, Chief Diversity & Inclusion officer, Baystate Health; Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, director of Multicultural Affairs & executive assistant to the president, Westfield State University; Chris Mendoza, vice president Multicultural Market Development MassMutual; Dani Monroe, president and founder, Center Focus International; Anne Paradis, CEO, MetroTek; Myra Smith, vice president of Student and Multicultural Affairs, Springfield Technical Community College; Lisa Strack, IBIS Consulting; and Lorie Valle-Yanez, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, MassMutual. Join the conference’s LinkedIn group for regular conference updates. For immediate questions, contact diversity@baystatehealth.org or 413-794-7722.
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‘Shark Tank’s’ Daymond John to headline MACs Women’s Entrepreneur Summit Motivators and Creators (MACs) Women’s Group is set to host their annual summit and expo: MACs Women’s Entrepreneur Summit, MACs Celebrate You! 2013. Hundreds of women from across the New York metropolitan area will gather for a full day of networking, learning and inspiration. The event will take place on Oct. 4 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, N.Y.
The day will include a powerhouse keynote address by Daymond John, founder, president and CEO of FUBU, and an investor on the ABC reality television series “Shark Tank”; sales, marketing financial and motivational workshops presented by MACs Women’s Group Founder, Michelle Christie, and other prominent women in their respective fields. Immediately following the summit, there will
be a “Meet the Speakers” Networking reception plus local businesses will feature their products and services in the expo area.
“The Celebrate You! Women’s Summit was created with a mission of educating, supporting and celebrating women entrepreneurs,” Christie said. “The day is organized to provide opportunities to grow your business, connect with corporate sponsors and meet like-minded women to forge lasting relationships.”
MACs Women’s Group specializes in connecting women entrepreneurs with a focus on business success and achieving positive results. Through empowering meetings, educational resources and celebrative social networking
events MACs Women’s Group provides a productive home for aspiring and professional women business owners with an innate focus on creating supportive and nurturing alliances for women ages 21 and older.
As the most progressive Women In Business group in Westchester County, N.Y., MACs Women’s Group is an innovative resource offering a wide range of robust initiatives aimed at creating sustainable growth for you and your business!
For more information about MACs Women's Group or Annual Summit related events, please visit our website at www.macwomensummit.com or contact Christie at michelle@macswomen.com or 914-2978672.
The one-day event will feature keynote speakers, skill development, best practice sessions, networking and will cover the following topics: • Building the business case and demonstrating the business imperative for diversity & inclusion • How to be an effective diversity champion • Connecting diverse employees to organizational objectives • Mentoring across difference • Leveraging inclusion to drive successful customer relationships • Using your power of influence and privilege to advance diversity work as a diversity champion
Baystate Health Diversity & Inclusion Conference A conference offering the region’s diversity champions and leaders inspiration and direction to build and support diversity and inclusion as a business imperative.
September 10, 2013 8 AM – 6 PM • MassMutual Center Springfield, MA $160 per person (10% discount for groups of 8 or more)
* Includes cost of conference and parking. Online Registration: http://baystatediversity2013.eventbrite.com
Conference Partners
• Enhancing inclusive leadership skills
Luncheon Keynote Speaker A powerful storyteller with a powerful story to tell, Dr. Steve L. Robbins has an unnmatched ability to inspire people even in the midst of disrupting and challenging the way they think about the world.
• Association for Diversity Councils • Big Y • City of Springfield, Health and Human Services Department • Health New England • The Travelers • Westfield State University
Partnership opportunities still available. Contact us for more information diversity@baystatehealth.org
For more information: Tel: 413-794-7722 Email: Diversity@Baystatehealth.org Website: baystatehealth.org > About Us > Diversity and Inclusion > Diversity and Inclusion Conference
Money with Michelle
The woman’s guide to finding a financial planner By Michelle Perry Higgins
With women making more money today than ever before, there is a growing need for them to seek professional financial guidance to safeguard their future. According to a Pew Research Center study released this past February, a record 40 percent of all households with children younger than the age of 18 include mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income for the family.
Yet despite their growing financial importance, women still remain an underserved group in the financial world. A 2010 Council on Asset and Investment Management (CAIM) study shows that 70 percent of women are unhappy with their financial planner or the advice they are given. That statistic needs to change.
We in the industry need to realize that women’s needs in this area are significantly different than men. Women’s approach to problem-solving comes from a completely different perspective than men and so our approach must reflect that.
Female clients want to be more included in the financial discussion and to be given the respect they are due in the process. The CAIM study shows that women don’t want to be told what to do. Instead, they want to be given information and options on the best course to take. I see this nearly every day in my practice. Because women and men have such differ-
ent needs, their process in choosing a financial planner should also be different. Here is her five-point plan to find the right one for you.
accordingly.
1. Do Your Homework It’s important to know the options you have available. Make a short list of qualified planners nearby and schedule face-to-face interviews. I highly recommend asking friends or colleagues for referrals. The Internet is a great source for secondary research but a personal recommendation speaks volumes.
4. Be Ready to Learn The right financial advisor will have a wealth of knowledge to transfer, but you must be ready to receive it. Go into your first appointment armed with a basic understanding of financial terms so that your time together will be more productive. Savvy planners are aware that their clients have limited knowledge and generally take care to ensure that they understand fully. Good planners love to teach, so you should take full advantage of that.
3. Have an Ear for Patience Women feel comfortable with someone who listens and is willing to invest time with them. I think it’s important to find a planner who demonstrates patience. The CAIM survey concurs, noting that most women want to have an ongoing relationship with their planner, and they want someone who will take the time to teach them financial skills. The smart planner who recognizes the growing importance of women will embrace this line of thinking and change
There is no single approach to choosing a financial planner that will work for everyone, but these steps are a good starting point. At the end of the day, it’s all about finding a business relationship that will last over time. There is no overnight solution, but it’s a step that many women will find that they need to take. Ultimately, finding a planner you can trust to help you build a successful financial future can be a rewarding experience that could pay off handsomely down the road.
2. Be Prepared to Ask Questions You should go into each interview ready for an indepth conversation. Your financial wellbeing is extremely important. Nothing should be too trivial to discuss. You should ask questions about your retirement, children’s college funding and your career plans. A good planner will answer your questions thoughtfully and should ask you plenty in return.
5. Trust Your Gut Women are typically very perceptive when it comes to assessing other people. This should apply to your financial advisor as well. Your planner should not only be someone who is qualified on paper, he or she should also be someone who makes you feel comfortable. They should definitely be someone you trust and you feel will understand you. If you feel even a little uncomfortable or hesitant, I say trust that feeling.
Michelle Perry Higgins is a financial planner and principal of California Financial Advisors in San Ramon, Calif. Higgins specializes in wealth management, and has built a successful practice advising executive professionals into retirement. Her passion for financial management has helped hundreds of individuals better understand investing and financial planning. For more information, please visit www.calfinad.com.
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Laura Zerra
“You still feel alone in the situation. It was a surreal
feeling; like being in a zoo.”
– Laura Zerra
Naked, yet unafraid, woman survives Panama By Carley Dangona
Laura Zerra, owner of Zerra Expeditions in Belmont, N.H., managed to survive 21 days on Cayo Agua Island in Panama on sea urchin, caiman and lobster while naked and in the company of a stranger. She was featured on “Naked and Afraid,” the Discovery Channel’s extreme survival program that tests the endurance of even the savviest outdoor enthusiasts.
For each episode of the show, which airs Sundays at 10 p.m. EST, a man and a woman who have never met before are dropped off in a remote location, naked, with only one personal item each to exist for 21 days in the wilderness. Zerra explained that The Discovery Channel contacted survival schools in search of willing participants. Having traveled extensively, her name kept appearing, so the network extended an invitation.
A skeleton TV crew is on hand to film the show; the contestants are left alone at night with hand-held cameras and a satellite phone for dire emergencies. There is no prize offered for the journey.
“You still feel alone in the situation. It was a surreal feeling; like being in a zoo,” Zerra said.
“There was never a question of ‘no’ in my mind,” Zerra said upon receiving the invitation from the Discovery Channel. “I thought [my participation] would provide a totally unique experience.”
Zerra was paired with fellow primitive survivalist Clint Jivoin for the fourth episode of the show that originally aired July 14. She brought a machete; he brought goggles. They were to build shelter, find food and water and construct a raft to reach the extraction point at the end of the journey.
The waters surrounding the beach habitat – what the two had to cross for rescue – were
swarming with more than 30 species of shark, including bull and tiger sharks.
Directly behind the beach was swampland inhabited by caiman, pit vipers and boa constrictors. The lack of clothing meant no protection from insects or the elements. Without shoes, hiking became difficult due to the lack of traction.
While most would consider a stay on a tropical island an ideal getaway, the duo quickly discovered it was actually hell on earth. Within hours of the first day, Zerra cut her finger to the bone while splitting a coconut. She called the injury “a rookie mistake that was a huge challenge [to deal with].”
Zerra said, “It was an amazing experience. It wasn’t always pretty, but I still loved it.”
Due to days of consecutive torrential downpours, creating a fire was delayed, exposing
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Stiletto Statement
Second just isn’t good enough By Aliyah Cherrisse
In order to get a full understanding of the terms that I will focus on, those terms must first be defined. As defined in the dictionary: Second is (1) coming directly after the first, (2) a very short period of time, (3) a moment. Place is defined as (1) a designated area or a particular space, (2) to put in a particular spot.
We all know that first place is better because the way I see it, “If you are not first, then you are last?” Seeing what the meanings are of those two words gives me an even nastier taste in my mouth about second place. Since I can recall, I have been placed second to so many people, situations and hearts. If almost doesn’t count, how can being in second place?
It took me a while to really get this piece into writing because it is hard to get so personal, but hey, here I testify. In life we get what we accept, negotiate, or stand up for. So if we accept being second, then we’ll never be first. If we do not negotiate a better salary, schedule, or days off – just hypothetically speaking – then we will get what is in the bottom of the barrel. If we do not stand up for what we believe in or for what we know we deserve then we will get what others see as fit. Now ask yourself: “Is this really where I want to be? Is this really what I want? Do I not deserve more? Do I not deserve my fairytale ending? Is there not a man out there strictly for me?”
Women are becoming more and more receptive to playing second. This is ruining us as a whole, ruining the generation of women to come, and ruining the homes of other women. Why is it that we allow ourselves to fall prey to, second place? I don’t know about you, but I am selfish when it comes to my man. I do not want to share, I do not want to have to creep around because I love open affection. If I want to talk to a man at the wee hours of the night or morning, I do not want to have to wonder if it is OK if I call due to the fact that he is at home, comfortably laid up with his “number one.” He’s not losing any sleep and surely not thinking about you. OK, well maybe you crossed his mind but only for him to think about when is the next time he is going to “hit it” again. I mean really, think about it, second place is just in the way. Lets not forget to mention “The Queen B, Karma!” How you get him is how you lose him or how you lose you hair stressing out over him with a new second place chick!
Ladies, be smart, do not keep falling for that “play your role” crap. Do not allow your fear of loneliness to mislead you to believe that playing second is where it is at because the drama that can be associated with that is not worth it. The years of hurt from you falling for all the sweet nothings and fake pillow talk is not worth it. It is easy to shut all of that down, simply by loving you first. Love yourself enough to know that God has more for you. God has someone for all of us, for the bible states, “It is not good for a man to be alone” Genesis 2:18.
Please don’t mistake your “singleness” as a means to accept being second to anyone, instead see it as just a “season,” which too shall pass.
If you think you deserve short changed love, then that is exactly what you will endure. If you think and accept that being in “second place” is OK, then that is where you always remain. So what if he’s buying you this and buying you that and making you a dream world, full of promises. Ask yourself, “Does this Louis Vuitton bag hold me at night? Do those Prada shoes tell me they love me, and how good I look before I walk out of the door to start my day? Does that Donna Karen dress fill that gaping whole and dark spot of loneliness you are feeling because he is never there? You can do bad all by yourself! You can get whatever your heart desires, just work for it or wait on God.
Be stronger than your flesh and your mind. You are somebody’s number one but he will never find you nor will you see him coming if you are still being someone else’s “second place” side chick, playing miss patient. It is our fault men are the way they are. We allow it, we except it, we ignore it, we make excuses for it, and they know it. Let’s rise above what the next person believe you are worth, do some soul searching, and come to know our worth and claim it! Build the courage to say, “Nah, I’m good!” – Signing off, Aliyah Cherrisse!
Aliyah Cherrisse, born and raised in Atlantic City, N.J., has grown to be a very educated, vibrant, and driven intellectual. As a graduate of Morgan State University, with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Marketing, Aliyah has put her studies to use in branding herself as the “Multimedia Personality” she is to-date. Currently pursuing her love of entertainment, Aliyah is known for her titles of “Fashion Show Production Assistant, Radio/TV Personality, Curvy/Full-Figured Model, Red Carpet Correspondent, Host, and Blogger,” but let's not forget to mention: this is all while being a single mother! With no intentions on slowing down, Aliyah anticipates what God has awaiting ahead for her!
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Naked, yet unafraid
“For me, it’s more about being comfortable about situations
where most people aren’t. I love
to be outdoors, it makes me
feel human.”
the pair to the wrath of sand flies that left no area of skin unbitten. Zerra’s feet swelled like sausages in reaction to the bites. She was unable to relieve the pain and swelling until a fire was started for her to steam medicinal leaves. Zerra described the ordeal by saying, “It was like trying to start a fire from a sponge.”
“Hypothermia became a very real threat,” she admitted. “It was very wet and cold during the day – you just didn’t want to leave the shelter.”
Zerra said that she was also stung on her other hand by a venomous caterpillar during construction of the shelter. As a result, her lymph nodes swelled greatly. Zerra noted the swelling and cut on her finger did not heal until weeks after she returned from Panama.
Jivoin fared better than his partner, for the most part, but that is because he took fewer chances than Zerra. He left her in the middle of the water because he was afraid of what he
couldn’t see. At one point he refused to eat a sea urchin despite it being the only meal to be had. Overall, he seemed more concerned with conserving energy.
“He wasn’t willing to take the risks I was,” Zerra said, adding that her counterpart preferred to “play the safe card” and “conserve calories.”
It was Zerra that found a clean source of water, built a trap that caught two lobsters, speared the urchin and caught a juvenile caiman for them to share. She credited Jivoin for getting them through the stint with his sense of humor.
Both suffered weight loss. Zerra lost 17 pounds and Jivoin lost 40. Zerra said that she never felt hungry, but would suddenly have to lie down to rest.
“Food was not guaranteed,” Zerra explained, adding that much of their calories were spent
regulating their body temperatures. A cotton sheet to cover them while sleeping would have provided much needed comfort, she said.
Zerra has loved the outdoors since childhood and has served as a survival instructor since the age of 10.
“For me, it’s more about being comfortable about situations where most people aren’t. I love to be outdoors, it makes me feel human,” she said.
Zerra was born and raised in Feeding Hills until she moved away in 2003. Her dad would take Zerra and her two older sisters hiking on a regular basis. Once she was old enough, Zerra would venture into the wilderness alone.
Some of her earliest outdoor memories include climbing into a coyote den and sneaking up on a heron, only to be surprised by the sight of a bobcat that was hunting the bird.
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Culinary agency whips up recipe for fundraising success Three members of The Lisa Ekus Group, a Hatfield, Mass.-based culinary agency, have joined together to try to raise $25,000 for the Massachusetts chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).
Erin Couture
is one of four members of The Lisa Ekus Group who’re participating in an effort to raise $25,000 for the Massachusetts chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Photo courtesy of The Lisa Ekus Group
Sally Ekus, Corinne Fay, and Samantha Marsh, of The Lisa Ekus Group, have joined with Erin Couture, vice president of Commercial Lending at Florence Savings Bank, to participate in the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 20, as a part of the Team in Training, the country’s largest endurance training program. Couture, Fay, and Marsh will run the halfmarathon and Ekus is running the full marathon to raise awareness for blood cancers and to raise funds for patient services and treatments.
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“Abigail was undergoing treatment at Massachusetts General [Hospital] when I first found out about Team in Training. I feel so lucky that top-notch treatment and cuttingedge research were available to help Abigail. I am thrilled about the new merger between Massachusetts General and Cooley Dickinson Hospitals and I hope this means we are closer than ever to finding a cure,” she said. Couture has run in three events for Team in Training and has also participated as a fundraising mentor.
“I remember that I was too sick to go trick-ortreating so my parents dressed up and hid behind doors in our home to give me the Halloween experience,” Ekus recalled.
Marsh, of Amherst, Mass., lost her best friend Jamie Greenberg to Leukemia just this year. “When I started training I had never run more than three miles in my life. Training has been an amazing way for me to transform the heartbreak of losing a dear friend into something productive. I feel lucky to be able to give back to an organization that helps people like Jamie and I believe our fundraising can make a real difference,” Marsh said.
Couture saved her sister’s life. Abigail DeJackome was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in January 2011 and
Donations can be made at http://pages.teamintraining.org/ma/nikesf1 3/TeamLisaEkusGroup or mailed to The Lisa Ekus Group, 57 North St., Hatfield, MA 01038.
Ekus, born and raised in Hatfield, Mass., is celebrating 26 years cancer-free. As a 3-yearold, she was diagnosed with leukemia and had to undergo chemotherapy for two years.
At one point during her treatment Ekus was too weak to even make it up the stairs on her own. Sally became a patient honored by LLS and a local man ran a marathon in her honor, bringing her the finisher’s medal after the event. This will be her third event with Team in Training, and she has raised more than $50,000 for LLS. She hopes to continue to grow the Massachusetts’s chapter and educate the community on the various ways they can get involved.
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Couture gave her the life saving bone marrow transplant she needed to get her cancer in remission.
This is Fay’s second event with Team in Training. She began running in honor of coworker, Ekus, and in memory of a friend’s father who had recently passed away. She has raised more than $10,000 and feels extremely lucky to be able to run and raise money for such a worthy cause. Ekus, Fay, and Marsh are all employees of The Lisa Ekus Group, a Hatfield-based culinary agency.
Naked, yet unafraid
“It’s been great to see so many
strong women in a survival genre – it’s been a long time coming.”
“I’m so addicted to having these crazy adventures,” she admitted.
Zerra said she always knew she would work in the outdoors because of the love and passion she has for the wilderness.
She now lives in Belmont, N.H., and has been running her business, Zerra Expeditions, a company that offers survival training and expedition leadership.
Outdoor recreation leadership is a male-dominated field, but that fact only inspires Zerra. Jivoin initially thought she was an actress the Discovery Channel planted on the island.
“I know so many women that are so hardcore and do get out there,” Zerra said. “Unfortunately, the public figures and the people owning the businesses and the people that are teaching these skills are often male.”
Zerra said of the show, “It’s been great to see so many strong women in a survival genre – it’s been a long time coming.”
She continued, “That’s another driving force behind my business. I want to work specifically with women – not because I hate men, I love men.”
Zerra explained that she not only wants her skills to serve as a model and inspiration for other women, but would like to focus on classes and trips geared for them.
She described the process of establishing her company as “re-inventing the wheel” because she serves as both an expedition guide and survival instructor. Generally, a person serves as one or the other. Zerra is in the process of further refining the scope of her business. “I could use like 10 more of me,” she said. “It’s been really overwhelming and challenging.”
Her website outlined her past experiences: “Zerra began spending summers working at Great Hollow Wilderness School in Connecticut teaching primitive survival and in 2004 obtained an internship with the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont. There she documented the slaughter of the last wild herd of bison and continued to expand her knowledge in primitive survival in the harsh West Yellowstone winter. In 2007, she moved to Vermont to teach at Roots School, focusing on brain tanning [processing leather] and meat processing.” “During the winter of 2008, Zerra bought a
one-way ticket to Mexico. She hitchhiked and hopped freight trains south to Oaxaca, then up the west coast of the country, studying jungle survival. When not teaching survival, she worked seasonally at various jobs including mushroom hunting in Oregon, tree planting for the Forest Service in Idaho and leading horse treks at the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm.”
It concluded, “In 2010, Zerra spent a year apprenticing as a farrier with Sharp Shoeing in Belmont, N.H. She worked nights processing wild game at the Baker River Deer Farm and had a brief stint on an offshore crab boat out of New Bedford. In 2011, Zerra moved to Colorado to further her knowledge of animal preservation at A Lasting Memory Taxidermy.”
As for her future plans, Zerra said she’d like to work around the world. Most importantly she wants to succeed at balancing her interests and passions with her work, remaining open to the professional opportunities she encounters along the way. For more information about Zerra, visit http://zerraexpeditions.com or www.laurazerra.com. To learn more about the show and to watch past episodes, go to http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/naked-and-afraid.
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Rapidly changing world promotes continuing education, career changes
A recent University of Phoenix survey finds that more than half (55 percent) of working adults are interested in changing careers, with nearly a quarter (24 percent) extremely or very interested in a career change. Only 14 percent of American workers are in their dream careers. The most desired careers are in arts and sciences (17 percent), business management (16 percent) and technology (14 percent).
The survey also looks at the barriers to career change and whether or not working adults are living up to their own expectations, and those of their parents. The online survey of more than 1,600 U.S. employed adults was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of University of Phoenix in April 2013.
Who wants to change careers? Although 78 percent of younger workers in their 20s are interested in changing careers, they are not the only ones. In fact, 64 percent of working adults in their 30s are interested in changing careers, followed by 54 percent in their 40s, 51 percent in their 50s and 26 percent who are 60 years or older. Even in upper levels of
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management, there is a considerable desire to change careers. Forty-three percent of C-level executives are at least somewhat interested in changing careers, with more than a quarter (26 percent) very or extremely interested.
“It is not uncommon for working adults to consider one or multiple career changes,” Dr. Bill Pepicello, president of University of Phoenix, said. “Choosing one career path after high school or college and sticking with it for the rest of a career is becoming less common as the pace of business and technology quickly change jobs and industries. At University of Phoenix, we see many working adults coming back to school 10 to 20 years after they started their careers to prepare for a new career or find new growth opportunities in their current industry.”
Where workers live can have a considerable effect on their interest in changing careers. Working adults in San Francisco are much less likely than workers across the nation to want to change careers, with 60 percent saying they are not at all interested in changing careers, compared to the national average of 45 percent. New
Yorkers are more interested in change than most Americans, with 33 percent of working adults in New York City reporting they are very or extremely interested in career change, compared to the national average of 24 percent. Overall, 62 percent of New York City workers are at least somewhat interested in career change. Sixty-seven percent of workers in Atlanta and 60 percent of those in Los Angeles are interested in career change, followed by Chicago (55 percent) and Dallas-Ft. Worth (52 percent).
The survey also reveals that workers in small and very large companies are less likely to want to change careers than those working in mid-size companies. More than half (52 percent) of workers in companies with less than 100 employees are not at all interested in changing careers, compared to 38 percent in companies with between 100 and 10,000 workers and 42 percent with 10,000 or more employees. Living up to Expectations Ninety percent of working adults report that they had career plans when they were
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younger. Of those, nearly three-quarters (73 percent) say that they are not currently in the career they had planned when they were younger, while only 27 percent are in that career. Among those who had career plans when they were younger, women (77 percent) are significantly more likely than men (68 percent) to report that they are not currently in the career they had planned.
Those with college degrees are more likely to have followed their anticipated career path. Seventy-nine percent of working adults without a bachelor’s degree who had career plans when they were younger are not currently working in that career, compared with 63 percent of their counterparts who do have a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education.
Eighty percent of working adults say that their parents had career expectations for them while they were growing up. Of those whose parents had career expectations for them, half (50 percent) report that they have done better in their career in terms of reaching those goals. Twenty-seven percent consider their achievements about equal to their parents’ career goals for them and 23 percent feel they have done worse compared to those goals.
skilled trades (8 percent) and military (3 percent).
Barriers to Career Change Among those working adults who are interested in changing careers, 95 percent identify barriers that are preventing them from doing so. More than half (57 percent) cite a lack of financial security, while 40 percent have uncertainty about what other career to change to and 37 percent identify a lack of adequate education or experience. Nearly one-third (32 percent) fear the unknown and 31 percent consider themselves to be too advanced in age or in their current position to change careers now. Forty-three percent of those without a bachelor’s degree identify lack of adequate education/experience as a barrier, which is significantly higher than those with a bachelor’s degree or more (26 percent).
“There is a skills gap in America, which has contributed to more than three million open positions,” Pepicello said. “There are definitely opportunities, and professionals
who have done their homework will have an advantage. It is important that those looking to change careers understand where the jobs are, the necessary skills, how experience from previous employment will translate to a new industry and the skills they still need to grow.”
To help individuals take control of their career search and management, University of Phoenix has introduced the Phoenix Career Services™ portal, a comprehensive set of career resources and tools. This includes the Career Interest Profiler that assists in discovering how one’s personal interests relate to careers; the Job Market Research Tool that helps determine where the jobs are, salary information and what companies are hiring; and a Career Plan, a personalized roadmap that enables individuals to create a detailed plan for their academic journey. To learn more about Phoenix Career Services, visit www.phoenix.edu/careerservices.
Living the Dream Only 14 percent of American workers say they are in their dream careers. Nearly onein-five (19 percent) workers who say they are in their dream career work in business management, followed by 16 percent in health care.
Working for yourself or being at the top of an organization does not necessarily help. In fact, only 20 percent of business owners say they are in their dream careers. Sixteen percent of C-level executives say they are in their dream career; only slightly higher than the national average. Location does seem to make a difference as San Francisco workers are more likely to be in their dream careers (22 percent). Only eight percent each of workers in Dallas-Ft. Worth and Los Angeles say they are in their dream careers.
When it comes to the most desired careers, 17 percent of workers identify careers in the arts and sciences as their dream careers. This is followed by business and management (16 percent), technology (14 percent) and healthcare (12 percent). Education and psychology/social sciences were both identified by 11 percent of workers as desired dream careers, followed by criminal justice and security (10 percent), LIONESS AUGUST 2013
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Summer reads spice up beach days
Scandal, secrets, suspense, and a strong, smart female crime reporter chasing down a serial killer? Check!
Bestselling crime author and investigative reporter Hank Phillippi Ryan has written this summer’s quintessential beach thriller – “The Other Woman” – and critics and fans are on the edge of their lounge chairs. Winner of the Mary Higgins Clark Award – one the world’s top suspense honors, named for the iconic bestselling author – the novel follows the adventures of investigative reporter Jane Ryland, as she uncovers a dangerous political cover-up linked to a ruthless serial killer.
“The Other Woman” is the first installment in Ryan’s newest series of suspenseful crime thrillers, and was released in paperback by Forge Books July 2 – at the height of the vacation read season. It is also an Agatha Award finalist and Anthony Award nominee for Best Novel of 2012, as well as a Daphne Award nominee in mainstream fiction.
The novel’s insider take on dirty politics quickly made it a Boston Globe bestseller and mustread for crime fiction fans everywhere, after its release last fall. Rife with suspenseful plot twists and turns, readers take a wild ride with Ryland, as she stumbles into a political sex scandal — a high profile Senate candidate who may be carrying on an affair. Simultaneously, an intriguing male police detective is looking for a serial killer hunting young women in Boston. Ryland and her crime-fighting ally connect the cases, and realize they face a determined killer who will stop at nothing to silence them. Ryan’s second hardcover in the Jane Ryland series, “The Wrong Girl,” will be released in fall.
For readers and critics, Ryland’s riveting adventures are the perfect antidote to the summer heat – even as the sun shines, they bring on the chills!
A former U.S. Senate staffer and political campaign aide, HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is the investigative reporter for Boston’s NBC affiliate, and has won 28 Emmys and 12 Edward R. Murrow awards. A bestselling author of five mystery novels, Ryan has won the Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She’s on the national board of directors of Mystery Writers of America and is the 2013 President of Sisters in Crime. Visit her on the web at www.HankPhillippiRyan.com.
Tricia Canavan, president
Jennifer Atwater,
branch manager, Easthampton office
Carole Parlengas,
vice president and chief financial officer
Women United: Female-based business flourishes By Emily Thurlow
Businesses have job openings and there are certainly people out there seeking to fill them, but ensuring the two are a good match for one another is a talent. For almost 30 years, United Personnel has been doing just that; committed to supporting businesses, people and communities throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut by linking up clients with staffing solutions in the clerical, accounting and medical office fields as well as light industrial personnel.
What sets United Personnel apart from other recruiting firms is the fact that they are not only a woman-owned business, but sport an all-star female staff as well.
“We have a very supportive workplace,” said Tricia Canavan, president, who came
on board with the company when she was 16. She’s carried on her parents, Mary Ellen Scott’s and Jay Canavan’s, vision as founders of the organization in 1984.
The company has demonstrated its viability and ability to align individuals with careers and businesses with employees, while managing to find a balance with their own employees whose lives often include demands outside at work and at home, as evidenced by their numerous accolades over the past several decades. In 2000, Mary Ellen Scott – who served as president at the time – earned the “Businesswoman of Distinction” courtesy of the Pioneer Valley Girl Scouts, the Top 100 Woman-led Businesses in Massachusetts from 2003 through 2011 by Babson College/Commonwealth Institute, the 2007 “Woman of the Year” Award – also to Mary Ellen Scott – by the Greater Springfield
Chambers of Commerce and many others.
“Our recruiters want to help and see people succeed. There has been a big uptick in unemployment in the biggest cities in the Pioneer Valley, but there are jobs available out there, waiting to be filled. Job hunting can seem like a black abyss, but we take it very seriously to help our candidates navigate through that to find them the right job and/or the business with the right employee,” she said. The dedication and commitment that her employees show to those they serve is something that can be traced back to a cooperative and understanding workplace.
“We have a very family-friendly atmosphere here. Frequently, women may experience
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Christine Phillips,
Laurie Savaria, Staffing Services manager
executive vice president, Operations
Becky Ramah,
assistant vice president, Information Technology
Pam Thornton,
Business Development coordinator
demands outside the workplace, at home or at schools with their children,” Canavan said, adding that United Personnel has a high number of working mothers. “Here, everyone pitches in. There is never a ‘that’s not my job description.’”
And that approach isn’t just granted to a “special group” of individuals; in fact, it is applied and offered to everyone.
“It’s about flexibility. I have three kids of my own. I know that when you get a phone call that may require you to leave, you need to leave, because quite frankly, that’s the most important thing. I wouldn’t do one thing and expect something totally different from my employees … it’s about teamwork,” she said, adding that she felt companies oftentimes overlook talent that need more flexibility. “Not only does a little flexibility create a better work environment, it increases loy-
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alty as well.”
But for those who are still out their hunting, Canavan advises not to give up, but to rather continue to put one’s “best face forward” and network as much as possible. And considering the company’s reputation, which includes receiving Inc. Magazine’s top 500 Fastest-growing Companies award two years in a row and employing 700 people a day throughout the Connecticut and Pioneer Valley in offices out of Springfield, Easthampton and Pittsfield, her advice shouldn’t be taken lightly.
“Never underestimate the power of conversation and making connections. Talk to everyone. Meet people. Be on time and dressed professionally. More than anything, carry a positive attitude with you everywhere,” she said.