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

Mentoring Veterans - American Corporate Partners

Memorial Day gives us a chance to think about the sacrifices made by men and women in the United States Military, past and present. The sacrifices are great, and these women and men are in need of our support. Transitioning from the military to civilian life is a challenge for them, and American Corporate Partners is one group that works to make this easier.  

American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a mentoring program to support veterans who have served on active duty since 2001, helping them to move from the military to civilian careers. The mentors of the ACP program are experienced professionals from major corporations across America. Women take an active part both as mentors and as members of the Board of Directors and the Advisory Council of ACP. Women Board members include Isobel Coleman and Amy Goodfriend.

The women on the Advisory Council of ACP are active in a variety of volunteer projects. Diane Bodman, a former Law Professor at the South Texas College of Law in Houston, is currently deeply involved in the Red Cross as a volunteer with the wounded Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom servicemen and servicewomen at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. Christine Ferer is CEO of the media services company, Vidicom, and serves as Mayor Bloomberg's Special Assistant and Liaison to families affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Mary Jo Myers has been a military spouse for over forty years, and is a Trustee for the Fisher House Foundation, helping to establish the "Hero Miles" program that uses donated frequent flier miles to purchase tickets for families of hospitalized military members to visit their loved ones. Lynne Pace, also a military wife, is a Member of the Board of Directors of the "Sentinels of Freedom" Scholarship Foundation, which provides life-changing opportunities for severely wounded service personnel. Each of these women helps in their own way. We should all do the same.

Colleen Costello Made Senior Principal at Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Langan Engineering & Environmental Services promoted Colleen Costello to Senior Principal. Colleen, who has a Masters in Geochemistry from Lehigh University, has 20 years of experience directing comprehensive site investigations and remedial activities. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Memorial Day Weekend - Barbecues and Baseball (I mean Fastpitch!)

Memorial Day Weekend is a time to remember and celebrate our veterans, have barbecues with friends and watch baseball. Although Eri Yoshida plays baseball for the Chico Outlaws in California, most women play professional softball instead of baseball, in the softball league - National Pro Fast Pitch (NPF). The 2010 NPF season has just begun. As the softball season ends for colleges, the NCAA Women's College World Series in Softball begins June 3, 2010. The Washington Huskies and top player Danielle Lawrie will have the opportunity to defend their Women's College World Series title. Read more about the Women's World series on nytimes.com.

Internet Week New York Starts June 7, 2010 and Women are there in full force!

Internet Week New York, a week-long festival of events celebrating New York's internet industry and community, takes place June7 - 14, 2010. There are events for everyone on all kinds of topics. Some of the amazing women featured include:

BakeSpace.com Founder Babette Pepaj who will discuss what it takes to grow a lean startup and build a sustainable business.

Forbes will present Melanie Wells interviewing Ana Maria Irazabel, Director of Marketing for Pepsi in the U.S.

dropio will discuss start up stories with Rachel Sterne from Ground Report and Nora Abousteit of BurdaStyle.

NYSMRT hosts an event on social media and pets including Kimberly Miller - VP, Consumer Marketing, PeoplePets; Kristyn Pomranz - Editor, I Can Haz Cheezburger; and Jane Harrell, Associate Producer, Petfinder.com, Discovery Digital Media.

See the schedule of events to find out where and when all this and more will be happening.

Joanne Bischmann Made VP, Communications for Harley-Davidson

Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE: HOG) appointed Joanne Bischmann Vice President, Communications. Joanne had been their Vice President of Licensing and Special Events. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Kathy Ireland Made Director of Securitizations at Allonhill

Allonhill, an independent third-party review firm specializing in mortgage due diligence and credit risk management, appointed Kathy Ireland as Director of Securitizations. Kathy had been Vice President of Special Projects for Fidelity Southern Corporation, a holding company for Fidelity Bank. Read more in the Business Wire press release. 

Patricia Lizarraga and the Hypatia Captial Group Host CEO Roadmap Seminar June 29, 2010 in New York

The Hypatia Capital Group, a private equity firm whose deal sourcing strategy focuses on the top female executives of the Fortune 1000, is hosting the Private Equity CEO Roadmap seminar on June 29, 2010 in New York. The seminar provides an insider's view on how to successfully utilize industry knowledge to obtain a CEO position with a leading private equity fund. Speakers at the seminar include Eileen Auen, CEO of PMSI Inc., and Laura Weil, CEO of Urban Brands. Read more about the CEO Roadmap Seminar.

Patricia Lizarraga (pictured) is the Managing Partner of Hypatia Capital Group. She is a successful entrepreneur and merchant banker and before Hypatia, was a Managing Director of Credit Agricole Securities' New York mergers & acquisitions group. She started her merchant banking career at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Patricia is on the board of directors of the Harvard Business School Women’s Association.

Renee White Fraser Talks About Success

Renee White Fraser, a social psychologist, is the Founder of Fraser Communications, a fast growing business in Los Angeles. Renee is also Co-Host of "2MinutesWith", a daily radio talk show that offers sound advice on business success. Renee had this to say about starting her own business:

What inspired you to start your business?

The ad business was full of big ad agencies offering big ideas with big budgets and few senior people.  I thought being smart, savvy and senior, I could create a team that could make a difference.
 
What steps do you think are necessary for an entrepreneur who wants to move her business to the next level?

To move to the next level you have to invest in your people, yourself and your infrastructure.  That means taking risks.
 
What challenges and opportunities do you see in the present economic environment?

Lance Armstrong, when asked his favorite part of the Tour de France, he surprised everyone.  They thought he would say downhill.  But, he said “uphill, because that’s when you see the lead change.”  I think you have to look for opportunities and go after new customers looking for better responsiveness, fresh thinking and more creative pricing.
 
What advice do you have for women who are just starting out?

Think big.  Try to dig down to your best qualities and competencies – imagine those on steroids. 

Guida R. Sajdak Made Chief Financial Officer at Chicopee Bancorp

Chicopee Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBNK) appointed Guida R. Sajdak Chief Financial Officer. Guida had been their Senior Vice President of Finance. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Roxana Velásquez Martínez del Campo Made Executive Director of the San Diego Museum of Art

The San Diego Museum of Art named Roxana Velásquez Martínez del Campo Executive Director of the Museum, the first female ever appointed to this job. Roxana had most recently been Director of  Museo del Palacio de Bellas Artes. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Mary Schapiro to speak at the Financial Women's Association Event in New York June 14, 2010

The Financial Women’s Association is hosting an event in New York on June 14, 2010, “A Conversation with SEC Chairman, Mary Schapiro". Mary will be interviewed by Maria Bartiromo of CNBC. They will talk about her role as the 29th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and her plans to restore public confidence in the agency by increasing market transparency, reviving markets and rejuvenating the economy. Read more on fwa.org.

Dr. Lynn R. Goldman, Made Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Services at George Washington University

The George Washington University named Dr. Lynn R. Goldman, pediatrician and epidemiologist, as Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS). Dr. Goldman most recently served as a professor of environmental health sciences at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, principal investigator for the Johns Hopkins National Children's Study Center and dual principal investigator for the National Center of Excellence for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response (PACER). Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Natasha Giordano made Chief Executive Officer at Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals

Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. appointed Natasha Giordano President and Chief Executive Officer and will be elected to the Company's Board of Directors. Natasha had been the company's Chief Operating Officer. Read morre about natasha's career in the prnewswire press release. 

Marge Magner Named to Ally Financial Board. Other women appointed to Boards.

Ally Financial Inc. (Ally), headquartered in Michigan, announced that Marjorie (Marge) Magner has been appointed to its board of directors by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Marjorie is a founding partner of Brysam Global Partners, and before that served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Global Consumer Group at Citigroup. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

First Financial Bancorp (Nasdaq: FFBC), headquartered in Ohio, appointed Maribeth S. Rahe to its Board of Directors. Maribeth is President and Chief Executive Officer of Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Inc. Read more about it in the prnewswire press release.

Incyte Corporation (Nasdaq:INCY), headquartered in Delaware, appointed Wendy Dixon, Ph.D. to its Board of Directors. Wendy is a  former Chief Marketing Officer and President, Global Marketing at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

McCormick & Company, Inc (NYSE: MKC), headquartered in Maryland, appointed Patricia Little to its Board of Directors. Patricia is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Kelly Services, Inc. Read more in the Business Wire press release.

Maria Coyne Made Head of National Business Banking Segment at KeyBank

KeyBank (NYSE: KEY) appointed EVP Maria C. Coyne Head of its National Business Banking Segment. Maria most recently served as Executive Vice President of Key4Women and Director of Client Eperience for KeyBank National Association. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Dr. Anita Jones Named to ATS Corporation Board of Directors

ATS Corporation (NYSE Amex: ATSC), an information technology company located in Virginia, appointed Anita K. Jones to its Board of Directors. Dr. Jones, who holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University, is a Professor Emerita at the University of Virginia's School of Engineering and Applied Science, where she has taught since 1988. Dr. Jones is currently a senior fellow of the Defense Science Board, a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a trustee of InQTel, and a member of the Executive Committee of the governing corporation of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Nicole Jones Made General Counsel at Lincoln Financial Group

Lincoln Financial Group (NYSE: LNC) appointed Nicole S. Jones Senior Vice President and General Counsel. Nicole had been Deputy General Counsel at CIGNA Corporation. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

A List of Jobs at PepsiCo

PepsiCo is one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies. The jobs at PepsiCo are very different and require a variety of types of expertise.  Read more about jobs at PepsiCo

Monica Lozano Made Chief Executive Officer of ImpreMedia

ImpreMedia LLC, the hispanic news and information company, appointed Monica C. Lozano Chief Executive Officer. Monica Lozano had been Publisher and CEO of La Opinion, the nation's largest Spanish language daily newspaper, as well as Senior Vice President of Newspapers for ImpreMedia. Monica also serves on the Board of Directors of the Walt Disney Company and Bank of America Corporation. Read more in the prnewswire press release.

Linda Stewart, CEO of Epoch Workforce, Sees Changes in the Workplace

Linda Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of Epoch Workforce, has always understood that having the right people in the right place is the only way to ensure strong business results. She believes it is even more important today because of the convergence of four significant marketplace factors in this new economy: the pressure to deliver better business results and manage fixed costs; the growing demand for leadership talent as 77M baby-boomers begin to exit the workforce; the requirement to remain globally competitive when life cycles for products and services has decreased from an average of 5 years to less than 14 months; and the emergence of accomplished professionals and executives seeking alternatives to traditional employment.

In response to this, Linda, who is a former Executive Vice President of Fidelity Investments, created a business to help companies meet these challenges in a cost effective way and help accomplished executives find great project based work. Her business, EPOCH Workforce, a talent broker of sorts, was built around a new way to deploy and manage talent; one that helps companies solve specific business problems or accelerate critical initiatives with experienced “done it before” talent. This new workforce model, while relatively new in the US, has been practiced in Europe for decades. It represents the intersection of three well known and mature businesses, Executive Recruiting, Consulting, and Temporary Staffing of high level professionals. While this model makes great business sense for companies, it is also an attractive model for professionals including women, and EPOCH has engaged many who have established independent practices in significant project based work. The staffing industry analyst group predicts that by 2020, over 20% of the total workforce will be made up of independent contractors and EPOCH seeks to be the thought leader in this market and the “go to” organization for companies seeking the best talent in the marketplace today.