Women in Business, Jobs, Women Entrepreneurs, Women in the News: News On Women

Worl War II Women Pilots Honored

President Obama signed into law a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP).  The WASP were started in World War II to fly non-combat military missions in the United States. More than 1,000 women joined the WASP from 1942 to 1943. Three of the pilots, Elaine Danforth Harmon, Lorraine H. Rodgers and Bernice Falk Haydu, watched President Obama sign the bill awarding them and their fellow pilots the Congressional Gold Medal. Read more in the White House press release.

Women in Government New Appointments

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Gayleatha Beatrice Brown to be Ambassador to Burkina Faso. Gayleatha, who holds an MA from Howard University, is a career Minister-Counselor of the Senior Foreign Service, and is Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. See White House press release 7/2.

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Fay Hartog-Levin to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Fay, who holds a JD from Loyola University School of Law, is a Senior Consultant at the Res Publica Group. See White House press release 7/2.

Michelle Mahfouz Made EVP at Sterling Bank

Sterling Bank, a subsidiary of Sterling Bancshares, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBIB) appointed Michelle Mahfouz Executive Vice President and Manager of Personal Relationship & Business Banking. Michelle had been Senior Vice President of BBVA Compass' Business Banking Division in Houston. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

A List of Women in Business Getting New Jobs

IMS Health (NYSE: RX) appointed Kimberly S. Gray Chief Privacy Officer. Kimberly, who holds a JD from Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law, had been Chief Privacy Officer at Highmark. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Wipro Technologies, the global IT services business of Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) appointed Martha Bejar as President, Global Sales and Operations. Martha had previously been Corporate Vice President for the Communications Sector at Microsoft Corp. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

WorldGate Communications, Inc. appointed Lori Sofianek Senior Vice President of Customer Operations. Lori had been Senior Vice President of Cassara Management Group, Inc. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG) appointed Elizabeth (Betsy) E. Cadwallader Vice President, Credit Risk Management. Betsy, who holds an MBA from University of Cincinnati, had been a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Ann Kaplan Named to Goldman Sachs Bank USA Board

The Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs Bank USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), appointed Ann F. Kaplan an independent director of Goldman Sachs Bank USA. Ann is Chair of Circle Financial Group, an investment and wealth management membership organization, and an Adjunct Professor of Finance at the Columbia University School of Business. Ann had been a General Partner of Goldman, Sachs & Co. and a Managing Director after the firm became a public company. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Board Appointments of Women up for the first Six Months of 2009

Twenty four women were appointed to boards in June09 as reported on NewsonWomen.com, a significant improvement over the June08 total of 8. Major companies appointing women to boards in June included Bank of America, Goodrich, Navistar and FedEx. While the second quarter registered a slowdown, the six month total of 128 appointments showed an increase over the 2008 six month level of 117 appointments.

Pam Mortensen Made SVP at J.C. Penney Company

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) appointed Pam Mortensen Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager of Fine Jewelry. Pam had been Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager of the Fine Jewelry and Watch Division at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Monica Luechtefeld Believes Small Business Owners Are Key to the Future

Monica Luechtefeld is Office Depot’s Executive Vice President of E-Commerce and Direct Marketing.  In her role, Luechtefeld oversees the company's global E-Commerce strategies and is responsible for Direct Marketing in the Office Depot North American Business Solutions Division, including Advertising, Creative Production, Creative Services, Circulation & Analytics and Online Marketing.

To lend small businesses a helping hand, Office Depot recently launched the "Small Business Self-Bailout Plan".  As part of this "self-bailout plan", Office Depot launched "The Survival of the Smartest" website thesurvivalofthesmartest.com, aimed to be an online resource for small businesses. Monica had this to say about the new website:

 “Office Depot has always been committed to helping women entrepreneurs. Particularly during this tough economic time, small business owners need smart, simple solutions to not only help their business weather the storm, but also thrive. We believe that small businesses are the answer to the current economy’s troubles – and the key to getting it going again. That’s why we are inviting small business owners to visit thesurvivalofthesmartest.com for smart tips and resources on how to survive the economic downturn, and to enter Office Depot’s Adopt a Small Business contest. Five hundred small businesses have the chance to win a total of $1 million in prizes. Through both the website and the contest, we hope to help small businesses get access to smart resources they need to be successful in this economic environment and beyond”. 

Monica has been committed to online marketing from the start. When asked about some of the challenges she faced in her career and how the challenges helped her get ahead, she told this story:

 “The greatest challenge and risk of my career happened about 15 years ago, just a few years after I first joined Office Depot. In 1993, Office Depot had a unique opportunity to test a new venture – known as the Internet. A team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was looking to move the Internet from strictly government and academia to the business world. MIT invited about 12,000 suppliers to their campus to learn about the Internet. I was fortunate to be a part of those early conversations in 1993 and 1994, and from my experiences in the field – working as a salesperson for years – I really got it. I understood the impact the Internet would have on business relationships and truly believed that this new form of communication was the way of the future for business to business. Looking back now, the decision to participate in MIT’s test venture seems obvious, but back then it was a huge risk for both Office Depot and me personally. It took two long years to connect our first 500 customers; and then 11,000 in year three and ultimately 39,000 in our fifth year. During that time I was always challenged by colleagues and peers. I can recall meetings where I was told to give up and that the Internet was a fad – and that I was wasting my talent and the Company’s money. Now of course, 13 years later, Office Depot’s Internet business generates $4.6 billion in annual sales. From my experience and the challenges I faced, I’ve learned that you have to be the evangelist for your idea and for your vision. If you have a passion – you need to communicate it, and you need great mentors. And when it’s about business, it’s critical that you build a plan that drives a result and be accountable for the results.”

Monica believes in women in business:

 “Women business owners are leading the way for small business. In fact the number of women-owned businesses continues to grow at twice the rate of all U.S. firms and these businesses’ economic influence is increasing at speeds exceeding the national average. Office Depot continues to introduce programs and initiatives specifically tailored for the female business owner. Some of these initiatives have included: the Office Depot Success Strategies for Businesswomen Conference, our signature Supplier Diversity and Tier One programs, and our Women’s Advisory Board composed of leading businesswomen.  We are very proud that Office Depot has been recognized with a number of awards in including: National Association of Female Executives Top Company to Work For; Women’s Business Entrepreneur National Council Top Company; Women Executive Leadership Top Organization; among others.”

Penny Baldwin Made SVP Global Integrated Marketing and Brand Management at Yahoo!

Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) appointed Penny Baldwin Senior Vice President, Global Integrated Marketing and Brand Management. Penny had previously been Managing Partner of Young & Rubicam Brands, Y&R Advertising and Wunderman Direct Marketing. Read more in the Company press release.

Peggy Gustafson to be Inspector General, SBA

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Peggy E. Gustafson, Inspector General, Small Business Administration. Peggy, who holds a JD from Northwestern University, currently serves as General Counsel to Senator Claire McCaskill, where she advises the Senator on government oversight issues. Read more in the White House press release 6/29.

Maryann Goebel Made Chief Information Officer at Fiserv

Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ:FISV), a global provider of financial services technology solutions, appointed Maryann Goebel Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer. Maryann had been Executive Vice President and CIO for DHL Express in Bonn, Germany, and before that held executive positions at General Motors, PepsiCo Business Solutions Group, and Bell Atlantic. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

A List of New Jobs at Avon

Avon, whose product line includes beauty products, fashion jewelry and apparel, has jobs available in my area in marketing and other categories:

Manager, Commercial Marketing (Fragrance/Personal Care), located in New York;

Manager, Commercial Marketing (Jewelry/Foundation), located in New York;

Manager, Commercial Marketing (Home/Wellness), located in New York;

Manager, Commercial Marketing (Color/Skincare), located in New York;

Jewelry Manager, Product Development, located in New York;

Senior Designer for Global Jewelry Division, located in New York;

Art Director, US Beauty, located in New York.

Cheryl Casone Accepts the Challenge to Make a Difference

Cheryl Casone, one of FOX Business Network's women news anchors, has had a front row seat to the business challenges in this uncertain economic climate. Cheryl now faces some family challenges of her own and tells us about keeping it all going:

"I never thought I would do a Triathlon.....and as of this writing, I have never done one.  Why would I do this to myself? Why when I have a sick parent, a job that drains me mentally and sometimes physically, and I live in a city that never sleeps, would I want to complete a Triathlon? Working at a startup network like Fox Business requires an amount of dedication and passion I've never experienced until now. We have a big fight ahead and we bring our top game each day.
 
A colleague and friend of mine at the New York Post, Holly Sanders, knew I was done with my marathon days and suggested I try to mix up my workout regimen by entering the Nautica NYC Triathlon set for July 26th, 2009.  Five months later, I spend six days a week in a pool, on a bike, or running in Central Park.  I have dealt with blisters, cramped feet, bruises, sunburns, sore muscles, and overall fatigue. 
 
Although I originally wanted to do this for the physical challenge, I am now challenging others to join my program by helping me raise money for Colorectal Cancer, the disease that my Dad, Joe Casone, is currently dealing with. Dad acknowledges if he had followed proper screening guidelines, his outcome would have been very different.  Now, I can run, swim, and bike in his honor, and hopefully raise awareness that Colorectal Cancer is preventable!"

Heather Wang Made Company Officer at GE

GE appointed Heather (Xiaojun) Wang an Officer of the Company. Heather, who holds an MBA from Rutgers University, is Vice President, Human Resources for GE International. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Lynn Rosenthal Named White House Advisor on Violence Against Women

Lynn Rosenthal, an expert on domestic violence policy, has been appointed the White House Advisor on Violence Against Women. This is a newly created position at the White House, dedicated specifically to advising the President and Vice President on domestic violence and sexual assault issues. Read more in the White House press release 6/26.

Megan Costa DeVault Honored as Central Florida's 2009 40 Under 40 Woman of the Year

Megan Costa DeVault, a commercial litigator in the law firm Akerman Senterfitt's Orlando office, has been named “Central Florida’s 2009 Outstanding Female of the Year” in the Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 competition.  Recognized for her business achievements, personal success and community involvement, Megan was selected for this honor by the Orlando Business Journal. Megan also balances work and family life as a 31-year old mother of two.
 
“Megan is an inspiration to all of us,” said Charles Brumback, Office Managing Shareholder for Akerman’s Orlando office. “We are thrilled for Megan to be recognized for her outstanding efforts both in the courtroom and within her community."

J. Heidi Roizen Named to TIVO Board. Lori Cohen named to CSI Board

TiVo Inc. (Nasdaq: TIVO), headquartered in California, appointed J. Heidi Roizen (pictured) to its Board of Directors. Heidi is CEO of Skinny Little Things, LLC (SkinnySongs), which she launched in January of 2008. Before that, Roizen was a Managing Director of Mobius Venture Capital. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Conversion Services International, Inc. (CSI), headquartered in New Jersey, appointed Lori Cohen to its Board of Directors. Lori has recently been named CSI's President and Chief Executive Officer. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

A List of New Jobs for Women in Government

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Meredith Attwell Baker (pictured) as Commissioner for the Federal Communications Commission. Meredith, who holds a law degree from the University of Houston, most recently served as Acting Assistant Secretary of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. Read more in the White House press release 6/25.

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Judith G. Garber to be Ambassador, Republic of Latvia. Judith currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State. See White House press release 6/25.

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Karen Kornbluh to be Permanent Representative of the U.S. to OECD. Karen, who holds a Masters from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Center for American Progress. See White House press release 6/25.

President Obama nominated Charlene Honeywell to a Federal District Court judgeship. Charlene, who graduated from University of Florida’s College of Law, currently serves as a Circuit Court Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida. See White House press release 6/25.

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Brenda Dann-Messier to be Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, Department of Education. Brenda, who received her M.Ed from Rhode Island College and her ED.D. in Educational Leadership from Johnson and Wales University, is currently the President of Dorcas Place. See White House press release 6/24.

President Barack Obama intends to nominate Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones to be Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State. Kerri-Ann, who holds a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University, had served previously as the Director of the National Science Foundation’s Office of International Science and Engineering. See White House press release 6/24.

Women in Business Racing to Increase Sales and Create Jobs

The Make Mine a Million Race, a year-long competition co-founded by Count Me In and American Express OPEN for women entrepreneurs who want to grow their companies, is off and running and some early results are in. When we checked at the 100 day mark, all particpants were working hard to meet their goals. Now the first quarter results are in and I am excited to report a number of women beat their goal for the quarter despite the economic downturn.

“Building a million-dollar business is an extraordinary achievement in its own right, and it is even more impressive when you can accomplish it during the worst economy in two generations,” said Nell Merlino (pictured), Founder and President of Count Me In. “The success of this program’s front-running women embodies the spirit and resolve of our country’s women entrepreneurs to persevere in the face of adversity,” said Susan Sobbott, President, American Express OPEN. “Eighty-eight percent of women business owners say that managing through the current economy has made them a better business owner and are more likely to have a positive outlook on business over the next six months, according to the American Express OPEN Small Business Monitor.”

The M3 Race Leaderboard shows Collette Chapman of Chapman Concierge, who is racing toward $1million in sales, in first place for that category having achieved 132% of her sales goal for the first quarter. For the companies with over $1million is sales who are committed to growth and job creation, Colleen Bonniol of MODE Studios Inc. is first in that category, reaching %110 of her goal.

Lisa Lee Made Reporter at Dow Jones & Company for Investment Banking

Dow Jones & Company, a News Corporation company, added Lisa Lee to a new Dow Jones editorial team reporting on companies and events for the global investment banking community. Lisa, who holds an MBA from Columbia University and has an extensive background in the financial services industry, had previously been a Financial Reporter for Thomson Reuters and The Deal magazine. Read more about it in the prnewswire press release.