MARY MCALEESE, President of Ireland

On 11th November, 1997, Mary McAleese was inaugurated as the eighth President of Ireland, and second female elected to that position. Mary McAleese was re-elected on Friday 1st October 2004 being the only validly-nominated candidate. She is a barrister and former Professor of Law. Born on June 27th 1951 in Belfast, she is the first President to come from Northern Ireland. She is married, since 1976, to Dr. Martin McAleese, an accountant and dentist. They have three children, Emma, born 1982 and twins Justin and SaraMai, born 1985.

The eldest of nine children, President McAleese grew up in Northern Ireland through the violent times that have come to be known as ‘The Troubles’. Her family was one of many adversely affected by the conflict. She graduated in Law from the Queen’s University of Belfast in 1973 and was called to the Northern Ireland Bar in 1974. In 1975, she was appointed Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology at Trinity College Dublin and in 1987, she returned to her Alma Mater, Queen’s, to become Director of the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. In 1994, she became the first female Pro-Vice Chancellor of the Queen’s University of Belfast.

President McAleese is an experienced broadcaster, having worked as a current affairs journalist and presenter in radio and television with Radio Telefís Éireann. She has a longstanding interest in many issues concerned with justice, equality, social inclusion, anti-sectarianism and reconciliation. The theme of her Presidency is ‘Building Bridges’

MARY ROBINSON, 1st Female President of Ireland – 1990 ~ 1997

President Robinson was born Mary Bourke to two physicians in County Mayo in northwestern Ireland, the only daughter among five children.

Born on 21 May, 1944, in Ballina, County Mayo, Mary Robinson is a barrister by profession and was appointed Reid Professor of Criminal Law in Trinity College Dublin when she was 25 years of age. With her husband, Nicholas (married 1970) she founded the Irish Centre for European Law in 1988.

Born in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland on May 21, 1944, Mary Robinson was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where she received a Master of Arts degree in 1970. She also earned a Barrister-at-Law degree from the King’s Inns, Dublin, and a Master of Laws degree from Harvard University.

At the age of 25, Mrs. Robinson was appointed Reid Professor of Constitutional and Criminal Law at Trinity College, where she also served as lecturer in European community law. With her husband Nicholas, Mrs. Robinson founded the Irish Centre for European Law in 1988. From 1969 to 1989, Mary Robinson was a member of Seanad Ãireann, the Upper House of Parliament. She has also served on the Dublin City Council and the International Commission of Jurists.

In December 1990, Mrs. Robinson was inaugurated as the seventh president of Ireland. not only was she the first woman president of Ireland, she was, at the time, one of only three female heads of state in the world. As president, she represented her country internationally, developing a new sense of Ireland’s economic, political, and cultural ties to other countries and cultures. Linking the history of the Great Irish Hunger to today’s nutrition, poverty, and policy issues, she articulated a special relationship between Ireland and developing countries.

The Robinson presidency was characterized by inclusiveness and a concerted effort to use the office not only to improve the situations of marginalized groups within Ireland but also to draw attention to global crises. Mrs. Robinson was the first head of state to visit famine-stricken Somalia in 1992 and also the first to go to Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide there.

In recognition of her efforts in Somalia, Mrs. Robinson received the Special CARE Humanitarian Award in 1993.
She resigned the presidency on Sept. 12, 1997, 11 weeks short of her full 7 year term, to accept the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. In September 1997. Mary Robinson is universally acknowledged as the most successful President in the history of the State. She elevated what was a figurehead role into a means of highlighting the needs of the disadvantaged and of raising Ireland’s international profile. She opened the doors of Áras an Uachtaráin (The Presidential Residence) to people from all walks of life and created a special emphasis on Ireland’s “Diaspora“. the many thousands of Irish people living abroad.

 ANNIE MOORE, First Immigrant to be processed through Ellis Island

Annie Moore was the first immigrant to be processed through the newly opened Ellis Island. She was born in Cork City on January 1, 1877, and left from the Deepwater Quay for New York, on December 20, 1891. Accompanying her on the SS Nevada (Guion Line) were two brothers, Phillip, age 7, and Anthony, age 11. They arrived at Ellis Island on New Year’s Day 1892 – her 15th birthday! We are told that she received an elaborate ceremony and a $10 gold piece. They had left to join their parents in Brooklyn, New York, who had emigrated two years previously with their eldest child, Tom.

Annie Moore who arrived in steerage and inaugurated Ellis Island initially joined her parents, who had arrived several years earlier, apparently in a five-story brick tenement at 32 Monroe Street in Manhattan. Records indicate that Annie Moore later moved to, among other places, a nearby apartment on New Chambers Street — near the Newsboys’ Lodging House and the Third Avenue El on the Bowery. The area now includes the Alfred E. Smith Houses, a public project constructed in the early 1950’s and named for the governor who grew up nearby, and the Knickerbocker Village complex of rental apartments built in the 1930’s. According to the latest research, Annie’s father was a longshoreman. She married a bakery clerk. They had at least 11 children. Five survived to adulthood and three had children of their own. She died of heart failure in 1924 at 47. Her brother Anthony, who arrived with Annie and Philip on the Nevada, died in his 20’s in the Bronx and was temporarily buried in potter’s field.

On February 8, 1993 President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, unveiled a bronze featuring Annie, Phillip and Anthony at the Deepwater Quay, Cobh. The work was commissioned by the Irish American Cultural Institute and the Cobh Heritage Trust. The sculptor was Jeanne Rynhart, of Bantry, Co Cork, Ireland. Later in the same year, President Robinson unveiled a statue of Annie Moore at Ellis Island.

MAUREEN O’HARA ~ Actress

Maureen Fitzsimons was born the second of six children to Charles and Marguerite Fitzsimons on August 17, 1920 near Dublin, Ireland. Though tomboyish as a youngster, she eventually developed an interest in acting and as a teenager auditioned for the Abbey Theatre School. After Alfred Hitchcock gave her a role in JAMAICA INN (1939) with Charles Laughton, the English actor claimed to “discover” her. Laughton had gone to America in 1931 and signed a movie contract with RKO Pictures where he was about to star as Quasimodo in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (1939). He brought Maureen back to the states with him to play his Esmeralda in the film and changed her name to O’Hara. HUNCHBACK became her American film debut, RKO signed her, and she never looked back.

In 1950, John Ford first paired O’Hara with a co-star for his film RIO GRANDE who would change the direction of her career– John Wayne. The two became fast friends and went on to make four more films together, the most notable being Ford’s THE QUIET MAN (1952) as well as the western comedy MCLINTOCK! (1963), and O’Hara became known as the leading lady who gave Wayne his sex appeal. Her characters were frequently cantankerous to say the least, and whether she won Wayne or he won her in the end, it was always a good show.

In real life, O’Hara was married twice and had a daughter named Bronwyn (after Anna Lee’s character in HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY) before she met and married aviator Charles Blair in 1968. After two more films, O’Hara retired from the big screen in 1971 to be a full-time wife and mother and after Blair was killed in a plane crash in 1978, she continued to manage his commuter airline business, Antilles Air Boats, in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In 1991, O’Hara made a brief return to the screen as John Candy’s mother in ONLY THE LONELY and starred in a TV movie called “The Christmas Box” in 1995 as well as another TV movie, “Cab to Canada,” which aired on CBS in 1998. Aside from these occasional roles, she is currently living out her retirement between homes in St. Croix, New York, Los Angeles and her native Ireland.

(Source: Famous Irish Women)

Can you name some other famous Irish Women?  Feel free to leave your nominations in the comments section!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally.
I’m married; I have two daughters and seven beautiful grandchildren.  I love action movies, good food and good books.  Ballroom dancing is one of my favorite pastimes.  I’ve recently taken up golf and I find that to be very relaxing.  I try to take care of my health by eating right and exercising on a regular basis.  I have to say potato chips and chocolate chip cookies are my weakness.  I love life, meeting new people and just having fun.

I am the founder of Grace and Charm Success System, which includes over 30 unique training programs designed to improve organizational and personal behavior, business and social graces and effective team building. I also host Success with Grace and Charm radio show and has been a guest on over 100 other television and radio programs. It airs every Tuesday at 2pm est. on Blog Talk Radio.

What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place?
I consider myself a serial entrepreneur.  I love the excitement of creating and seeing the end product.  My most recent venture is Grace and Charm.  Grace and Charm is an etiquette and personal development company.  As a coach, I help my clients create an image of greatness so that others can see the greatness behind it.

I remember my very first formal event, which was my prom.  After prom everyone went to dinner.  When I walked into the restaurant ant sat down I knew immediately I was out of my element. I was so self conscious that I could not even eat my food.  After that experience, I swore I would never be in that position again.  That situation was the motivation for me to become an Etiquette and Image Coach.  I really want to help others gain the confidence and self assurance needed to succeed in their business as well as their personal life.

Tell us about the organizations your company supports and why?
“My Dreams Do Come True” is a non-profit, grass roots organization, in which I function as the CEO. We provide prom dresses for girls whose family may be experiencing financial difficulty.  Every girl should be able to attend her prom.

I also created and developed a personal development program for girls, called Ideal Girl Global.  Ideal Girl Global is a personal development program consisting of etiquette, image and leadership training for girls 8-18 years old to equip them to succeed in today’s competitive market place.

Why did you choose them?

Because of my experiences growing up with a lack of social skills and limited monetary resources, I wanted to provide a service within my community to help young girls learn proper social skills, as well as experience those exciting social events young girls dream about. I remember how embarrassed I was when put into certain social circles and I want to make sure that young ladies of today have a place they can go to learn these skills, regardless of their background or economic status.

How do you support them? For instance, do you volunteer, donate products and services, money? Do you serve in a leadership capacity within the organization?
I do most of the leg work on my own and with my own resources most of the time. But I do partner with various local organizations n my area and coordinate drives for the prom dresses, conduct workshops and ask for in kind gifts depending on the group needs.

How has your support impacted the organization?  You/your company?
Both of these programs are supported by Grace and Charm. We strive to serve as role models and mentors to the young ladies, emphasizing the importance of education and the development of proper social skills necessary to compete in today’s global economy.  Knowing that I have young women from these programs looking to me for guidance and direction, it makes me work even harder to ensure I practice what I preach to them in my personal and professional life.

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?
The biggest risk I took is when I decided to leave General Motors, “my good job.”  My decision to start a business was one of the best life decisions I’ve made, I have no regrets.

From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?
What keeps me going is my faith in God.  I do not want to leave this world without making a difference.  It is also very important that I leave a legacy for my grandchildren.  I want them to be able to look at my life and draw inspiration.

I have had many role models and mentors.  But if I had to name anyone, it would be the men and women we don’t hear about, the men and women who do not make the news, but overcome hardships and obstacle we can only image.

How is the current economic situation affecting your company/organization?
I’m in the process of reinventing myself and my business model.  I can’t say I’m not affected; however I don’t pay a lot of attention to the doom and gloom of the media. If I did that I would not be here. I believe this is the best time to start a business, the opportunities are endless.

What one thing would you like to learn this year?
The one thing I would like to really get a handle on is social networking- the how, the why, and the when.  I also have to add Belly Dancing.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I am a life time student, so I’m ever learning.  In five years I would like my businesses to be on auto pilot as much as possible.   I want to travel and give back to my community.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Stay away from the dream stealers; they come as friends, family, and co workers.

Which, if any social networking sites do you belong to?

Facebook.:  http://www.facebook.com/graceandcharm

Twitter:  http://www.tweeter.com/graceandcharm2

Linked IN:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/graceandcharm

For more information, visit: http://www.graceandcharm.com

 
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally.
I am a 48 yr old woman, nurse, business owner and senior advocate.  I have cared and advocated for seniors since I was 17 years old.  For the last 7 years I have owned a Visiting Angels franchise in Ann Arbor, Michigan. www.visitingangels.com/annarbor
 
What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place?
I love seniors!  I feel honored and privileged to meet, spend time with and help seniors and their families.  For a better explanation of why I chose what I do, I invite you to go to this site http://www.alzheimersreadingroom.com/2009/07/visiting-angels-angil-tarach-rn.html and click on the “Love Letters” link.  It is a guest blog I wrote for Great Places Inc. describing an experience I had while working in a nursing home at 17 yrs old.  This job at 17 set in motion a lifelong passion caring and advocating for seniors.

Tell us about the organizations your company supports and why? 
There are several we support in a variety of ways, so I’ll just tell you about a few.  The Alzheimer’s Association, the American Red Cross Family Caregiving Program, Private Duty Homecare Association, and local senior centers, groups, and associations.  Someone is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease every 70 seconds.  This devastating illness not only affects the person, by taking their life, but affects their families in profound ways.  Research and support are necessary, and we feel this is a great cause.  The Red Cross Family Caregiving Program is a wonderful program for the nearly 50 million Americans providing care for a loves one.  We support the PDHCA because of the advocacy to help people stay in their homes, where they prefer to be over a nursing home.  We support organizations in our community that provide senior resources, socialization, and advocacy.

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?
The biggest risk was walking out of a job as an Infection Control Coordinator for the State of Michigan to open my agency.  The biggest obstacle has been a personal health crisis I faced a year after opening my agency.  I am chronically sick with Sjogren’s Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
 
From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?
My inspiration comes from being able to help seniors and their families, as well as seeing and hearing about seniors receiving poor treatment and care.  One role model was a boss I worked for as a hospice nurse, named Ingrid Deininger.  That was the absolute best company I ever worked for a nurse.  Ingrid really cared about her patients and staff, and hired the same kind of caring people.  Ingrid would do whatever it took to help patients, and created a very caring, cooperative, and supportive work environment.  It felt like a family of people that always put the patient’s care and well being ahead of anything else.   I have formed my own agency in that same manner.  It has never been about having a business and making money for me.  It has been about providing the best care available to help out senior clients and families.  My agency is directed with care, dignity, respect, relationships, and as much independence as the client can possibly have in mind, first and foremost.

How is the current economic situation affecting your company/organization? 
Michigan has been hit hard economically and we are no exception.  It saddens me to get calls from people who need care and can’t afford it.  We have managed to continue our mission, even in trying times.

What one thing would you like to learn this year?
How to better organize myself and my time.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Traveling the country and speaking on my book, “Behind the Old Face” and the national training program that is based on the book.  I anticipate better care and treatment of our seniors because my book and training program has changed minds and hearts towards seniors, their lives and their care.
 
What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?
I spend time with family and friends.  I have 2 adorable grandchildren that I really enjoy.  My fiancé’ and I spend time relaxing in the pool, going to concerts, sporting events, having people over for dinner.  I love to travel, and particularly love spending time in the Caribbean, relaxing on a beach and snorkeling.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers? 
There are a lot of things I could share so limiting it is difficult.  The things that come to mind are follow your passion, and don’t give up, no matter what challenges you face, or what anyone says.  Know if someone did it before you, you can do it too. 

The other is that God willing we will all grow old.  We will either care for an aging relative or we will know someone who is.  Our seniors are amazing people with decades of service, contributions, struggles, and accomplishments.  They deserve enormous respect, and excellent care.  You only have to think about yourself or parent(s), and how you would want to be treated to provide wonderful treatment and care of our elderly.  Seniors face incredible challenges as they age.  It is not easy to lose independence, physical or mental health.  Do not look at an elderly person as the person they currently are, but look Behind the Old Face, recognize the person they have been, and provide the same dignity as if you were in their shoes.

The majority of unpaid family caregivers are women.  This can be an incredibly difficult journey.  Do not think you can do it all or have to.  Do not feel guilty for what you can’t do.  You must take care of yourself to provide care for someone else.  Get help early and often, so you have time for yourself.  It will make an incredible difference in how you feel, and how the person you care for feels, and journey will be much better.

Which, if any social networking sites do you belong to ?
LinkedIn- http://www.linkedin.com/in/angiltarachrn
Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/VisitingAngelsAnnArbor
Twitter- http://twitter.com/AngilTarachRN
My Blogs- Ann Arbor News http://www.annarbor.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-cp.cgi?__mode=view&blog_id=1&id=1022 Wellsphere – http://www.wellsphere.com/angil-tarach-rn-gcm-profile/144235   National Senior Living Provider’s Network- http://nslpn.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=author#Angil 

For more information, visit: www.visitingangels.com/annarbor

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally.
I live on 50 acre farm with my husband and 15 year old son where we raise pure bred boer goats. I was not born a country gal but now that I am here I love the peace and quiet and being an animal lover love the fact that I can enjoy having many animals. I currently have 2 horses, Najomi Spirit Jac and Cute Candy Girl, an African Grey Parrot named Thunder, a Guinea Pig named Monkey, two cats, Smokey and Red, a Chihuahua named Petey and 5 other farm dogs!

My background and natural talent is design and marketing and I run Creative Concepts Design & Marketing Group which I started in 1994 when my son was born so I could work at home when he was young and have ever since.

I also run Women of Today, a professional group that helps women connect and grow in business and supports them in marketing their businesses in professional, affordable ways which has just gone global.

What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place?
The thing I enjoy most is the reward of seeing women succeed in marketing their businesses because of the support we can offer as well as working one-on-one helping them fine tune their marketing. I am an ideas person by nature and love to help them pull the piece together. I already mentioned why I started Creative Concepts. As for Women of Today, I realized a need in our area for a networking group for women as well as the fact that I saw women who excelled in the area of their expertise but needed support getting their businesses seen.

Tell us about the organizations your company supports and why?
We support various organizations. One being the Women’s Community House, a local shelter for abused women to help make an impact in our community. Another is The Canadian Cancer Society and try to form a team each year for the Run for the Cure as a tribute to the women we know who have battled breast cancer.

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?
The biggest risk I have recently taken is to go Global with Women of Today and put my main focus on building it. There are many wonderful women’s organizations many of which are free to join and I although I know the reasons, I have a challenge ahead of me proving that a paid membership is worthwhile to women thinking of joining!

From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?
I draw inspiration from daily devotionals and Thoughts from the Universe that both come to my e-mail each morning. I also love to read about women in business succeeded beyond measure. Women who have overcome hurdles such as Ali Brown,

How is the current economic situation affecting your company/organization?
The current situation has not shown an impact because of the fact that women need to market more than ever in challenging times. We do our best to make sure the women get results from their marketing.

What one thing would you like to learn this year?
I would like to learn to become a master of marketing online. There are so many things to learn and I am eager to learn them all. I am blessed to have gotten to know so many wonderful women that I can learn from!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I see myself with more time to myself and my family enjoying the help of a fulltime assistant taking care of all the administration leaving me to do what I do best. I also envision a head office with a conference centre/meeting facilities.

What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?
I love to spend time with our horses and read, I love to soak up all the information I can.
I also love to create photo books and do that as a hobby as well as for other people as part of my business.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Never underestimate the power of networking. In my opinion it is the most important method of marketing your business. Take it seriously, learn the art, work it into your marketing plan and schedule the meetings into your day and be there!

Which, if any social networking sites do you belong to (feel free to include links)?

I belong to too many to mention them all but the ones I am most active on are:
Ryze http://www.ryze.com/go/creativeconceptsonline
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/sherry.simoes
Linked In http://www.linkedin.com/in/sherrysimoes
Ning http://www.ning.com/sherrylynnsimoes
Biznik http://biznik.com/members/sherry-simoes
The Self Growth Network http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/sherry_simoes.html

Networking Expert on several Ryze Networks:
HER Mastermind, A Bit of Humble Pie, Real Women Real Success, Small Business Owners and Women of Today.

For more information, visit: www.womenoftodayinc.com

Tell us about your business.
Our network serves women both professionally and personally. First, we provide female business professionals (real estate, mortgage, designers, attorneys, insurance agents, etc) a means to brand themselves as specialists in the fastest growing segment of homeowners: Independent Women (Never married, Widows, Divorcees, etc). Second, we provide an online resource for independent women to connect with professionals (real estate, mortgage, family law attorneys, designers, insurance, etc) in their community that understand the unique needs and wants of independent women

Please tell us what being a business owner means to you and why you became an entrepreneur in the first place?
As a real estate professional, I have in essence been an entrepreneur for a long time. (My mother will tell you it started when I was in third grade organizing a school carnival in Altadena). The benefits of owning my own business far outweigh the disadvantages. First I am doing something that I am passionate about: connecting women with savvy business women to make sure their most significant financial investment process goes smoothly and with people they can trust. I found over my ten years in real estate, that many of my clients were single women, divorced or widowed, and many of them were completely overwhelmed when I first met them and didn’t know where to begin…by the end of the process they were ecstatic, and that for me was extremely rewarding…helping women feel great about their accomplishment!

What or who has been your greatest influence in business and why? Smooch (yes that’s her real name!) Repovich Reynolds, CEO of Repovich Reynolds Group. She was my “big” sister at our all girls prep school in Pasadena, and I have watched her over the years build her own company The Repovich Reynolds Group, publish her own book on recruiting: “Be Hunted”, raise three children and serve as Head of The Alumnae Association for our school. She is an amazing woman: strong yet filled with grace, and I am honored to call her my friend.

What would you say is your greatest professional accomplishment to date?
Being self -mployed for the past 12 years, and successfully being in business with my husband.

What’s the best advice you have received in business that you wish to pass on to our readers?
I would say for me that time-blocking helps me keep focused and accomplish my daily tasks, which help me achieve my long term goals. In general I am an organized person, but because I spend a lot of time on the phone and I am passionate about this business, I can get sidetracked, so I also keep a timer on my desk.

What has been the most effective marketing initiatives or programs you have used to promote your business?
I would say the experience I have developed in blogging over the past year has been HUGE!! I had no idea the power (Google Juice) this gives a website. I am still learning and there are many way ahead of me, but I find it fun to explore my creative side.

What one thing have you learned as a small business owner that has served you well over the years?
I think keeping your eye on the end result and not letting myself get disappointed or disheartened when something goes wrong. I have to continue to remind myself I am one step closer to the result I want. As my husband always said when showing properties to prospects: you have to have the “throw-aways” in order for the client to gain perspective and know what they want when they see it.

Are there any resources or tools you’d like to share with other small business owners that have helped you run your business?
I read a great book called “ The Four Hour Work Week” and I loved it! I am working toward having a Virtual Assistant for personal and professional to free up some time for my family. I am now using Twitter and I think if it is used strategically it can be a HUGE benefit to your site and your message.

What do you do for fun/relaxation?
We live close to the beach and when I need to clear my head, or feel alive again: we go for a walk through the dunes to the sea. We also enjoy travelling, wine-tasting, entertaining with friends and family, skiing and playing tennis.

What is Number One Business Goal you plan to accomplish over the next year?
I want to reach 1300 professional teams throughout North America.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am also passionate about an organization called Mothers Fighting For Others that helps educate young Kenyan girls: www.mothersfightingforothers.com/, and the Founder Rocky Turner is someone that inspires me incredibly! In addition to her “girls in Kenya” she also has 6 children! She started this organization to raise funds to clothe, school, feed and provide for young girls in Kenya. Check it out: she should be in your interviews of Women on a Mission!

Thank you for this opportunity.

How can our readers connect with you online?

WEBSITE: www.WomenHomeowners.com

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/ginnymees

Sara Henderson is Founder and President of Building Bridges to the Future (BBF), a charitable foundation with programs in Indonesia. Sara is a New York native and retired investment banker, who worked and lived in Indonesia for many years. She went to the Aceh province of Indonesia after the 2004 Tsunami, and felt an urgent need to aid the people she found in this region. As the founder of BBF, Sara started livelihood and education programs for the local communities in Aceh, helping people create self-sustaining enterprises. She created opportunities for entrepreneurial, savvy, and hardworking women in the villages she went to. Among her programs are goat dairies, mushroom houses, as well as education programs. Sara is now looking at starting a number of pilot programs in Upstate New York, where she can provide her hard-earned know how to local communities.

Sara Henderson and Crew Building Bridges

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally.

What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place?

Sara is retired, so one of the great benefits of starting BBF was that it gave her, as she calls it, a new burst of life and a new challenge as this is not her profession. She loves being in the field, being active, and being able to help communities in need in some of the world’s most remote places. It is extremely rewarding to empower people to build vibrant and profitable enterprises, whether it means providing them with goats to start a goat dairy, or with the education they need to receive much-needed literacy, as well as certifications and diplomas. Working in Aceh, a region affected by 30 years of conflict that only ended in 2005, has given Sara the opportunity to be an integral and beneficial part of a community where her work and dedication can truly be felt at the most intimate level – within the families she helps.

Tell us about the organizations your company supports and why?

BBF focuses on partnering with large organizations to create small, local programs. BBF believes it is important to develop a diverse array of opportunities and design programs that fit the needs of those who will benefit from them.

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?

Probably the biggest risk for Sara is working in rural and isolated places that are not always politically stable, and many times there are no other NGOs working there. Sara took an enormous risk in flying to Aceh and starting a foundation there when she planned on a peaceful retirement close to her family in New York. Sara felt that she had no choice when she saw the devastation in Aceh. It proved to be both challenging and rewarding, and after 5 years of activity with a staff that has grown to 30 Sara is truly proud of the achievements of BBF. Of course, every day in Aceh presents a new set of obstacles: At one point Sara raised the Indonesian Army to reclaim a Water Tower from a village chief that was given to her by Oxfam.

From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?

Two people inspired Sara to start on a new path after her retirement from investment banking: her father and a close friend, Lilly Kasoem. Sara’s father was a creative and dedicated individual who purchased a farm in upstate New York and has influenced Sara with new ideas and the power of creative thinking with agriculture. Lilly is extremely committed to charitable causes and has inspired and helped Sara create her programs in Indonesia.

How is the current economic situation affecting your company/organization?

While the economic situation has made things difficult for everyone, BBF’s programs are very efficient and continue to be attractive to large foundations and individual donors that want to see a big difference with what they donate. They can create great and sustainable programs for small amounts of money, which means that despite the crisis, BBF programs are still running and providing people with important benefits. As a result BBF programs have continued to grow, expanding into villages that no NGO has reached.

What one thing would you like to learn this year?

One of the goals for 2010 is starting a number of pilot programs in Upstate New York. Therefore, Sara is dedicated to learning the intricacies of working in a developed country like the United States as she looks to expand BBF’s programs to Upstate New York.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

The goal is to run part of BBF’s programs in the United States, starting with New York. Sara’s goal is to replicate her programs in her native New York and bring her experience to local communities that are underserved and where BBF programs can provide new opportunities. Of course, she still wants to run programs in Aceh, but also expand to more US states, as well as other countries where her help is needed.

What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?

Sara loves to travel, spend time with her children and grandchildren, and play with her dog. She also loves to read and go to the movies. She is a very active woman and loves to be surrounded by wonderful people.

Which, if any social networking sites do you belong to?

http://twitter.com/BBF_JMD

http://www.facebook.com/pages/BBFJMD/62017475746?v=info

WEBSITE URL: http://buildingbridgestothefuture.org/

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally.
As the CEO & Founder of Leading Women I have the privilege and challenge of running an organization that is 100% committed to helping women advance in their careers and helping organizations advance the women who work in them. I guide overall strategy and work with amazing women who run our local affiliates. Together we work to inspire, power and honor the success of women leaders in organizations and strengthen and align women’s initiatives, networks and affinity groups. Our overarching goal is to increase the numbers of women in senior  management and on corporate boards.

What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place?
I once read a quote that went something like this: you are called to the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep hunger. I believe that Leading Women is the fulfillment of that calling for me. It enables me to reach out and support the success of other women – through mentoring relationships, live presentations, online resources and my new book, No Ceiling, No Walls: What women haven’t been told about leadership from career-start to the corporate boardroom. Since childhood I’ve worked for women’s equality and advancement – sometimes more directly than others. I don’t feel like I chose my profession, rather I believe that it chose me.

Tell us about the organizations your company supports and why?
On a very deep and important level, Leading Women supports the community by helping women live rewarding lives – and we help the community of women become more confident and stronger leaders. In addition to that, the structure of Leading Women allows me and our affiliate presidents to support the community in a variety of ways. We contribute time, money and or our efforts to not-for-profits thatinclude: local organizations that serve people with disabilities, Girls Inc – one of our presidents sits on the local board, Big Sisters of RI, and others.

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?
The biggest obstacle has been the total upheaval of my personal and professional life following a divorce. It taught me the importance of grieving, the power of forgiveness and how to live a life of joy even in difficult times.

From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?
When I listen carefully, I’ve been inspired by my inner voice. Within my family, my grandmothers were both strong, feisty women who suffered no fools. In particular my maternal grandmother was proud of her heritage and the matriarch of her family. Their example countered all the limiting and discounting messages directed at women of my generation. Today, I am profoundly inspired by the courage, resourcefulness and impact of Nobel Peace Prize winners Wangari  Maathai and Aung San Suu Kyi. I’m also inspired by  the 15 women who are CEOs of FORTUNE 500 companies. Their diversity is a great message to me and to all women that there’s no single mold we have to fit in order to make it to the top of an organization.

How is the current economic situation affecting your company/organization?
We have been blessed to be growing in this tough economy. Because we offer a highly cost-effective online solution to developing women leaders, new companies have found and are parterning with us.

What one thing would you like to learn this year?
Professionally – I’d like to learn how to keep my answers shorter whenI’m interviewed by the media. Personally, I’d like to learn how to more consistently recognize abundance and exude gratitude.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In 5 years I’ll be spending a substantial part of my time working on leadership development with women in other countries.

What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?
For fun and relaxation I love to ride my Paso Fino mare – there’s something fundamentally restorative about horseback riding in nature. I also love horse camping in Yellowstone National Park. Yoga, walking and reading are other pleasures as are time with my son, family and friends.

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
If you have been called to leadership – by an inner drive and/or someone tapping you on the shoulder, heed the call. Positions of leadership offer awesome opportunities to positively touch the lives of others.

Which, if any social networking sites do you belong to?
http://twitter.com/leadingwomen
http://www.linkedin.com/in/susancolantuono
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=102878
About Leading Women ~ Leading Women is recognized for our singular and innovative focus on developing women leaders in organizations. Leading Women inspires, powers and honors the success of the women leaders through a variety of leadership programs, strategic networking events and other resources designed to provide what women need to succeed from career-start to C-suite and corporate boards.  For more information on events, membership or to become a sponsor, visit our website at www.LeadingWomen.biz or call 401-789-0441.

Photo by Ethan Bunch

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do professionally.
I am the owner of deb’s little darlin’s family child care home, I love my job, I started my business in 2000, and earned a degree in early childhood in 2005.  I have been married for 13 years to my high school sweetheart and the love of my life Greg, I have 3 beautiful children abbey-11 ethan-7 and Noah-2

What do you enjoy most about your profession and why did you choose it in the first place?
Honestly, I started my childare because I wanted to be home with my daughter, and fell in love with it, I really enjoy molding and teaching children……..and touching the future.

Tell us about the organizations your company supports and why? 
I started UPFCCA because there was no support group  for childcare providers in Canadian county, and it was hard to find training and cpr and first aid trainings on your own.

What is the biggest risk you ever took professionally and/or the biggest obstacle you have overcome?
My husband was to be transferred out of state when his plant closed in okc, and we decided to convert our garage into a large family child care room and hire an assistant, this enabled my husband to reject the offer to move and finish his degree.

From where do you draw inspiration? Who have been your role models, mentors, etc?
I draw insperation from the childrens lives I have touched.  And from the parents who tell me often how grateful they are for my daycare.  My role models are other childcare providers who give me wisdom and advice daily.  Also the kids are the reason I decided to compete for Mrs. Oklahoma international 2010, I am partnering with CASA and the center for missing and exploited children and trying to break the silence of child sex abuse

How is the current economic situation affecting your company/organization?
I think it affects everyone, but we are surviving as best we can like everyone.

What one thing would you like to learn this year?
How to become more organized

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 
Running a childcare center that I will own. And working with great organizations to help protect children.

What do you do for fun/relaxation/entertainment?
Watch movies, bubble baths, and spending time with my family

Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
The Mrs. International pageant is about showcasing the accomplishments of married women.  Anyone can compete and make a difference in their communities,  cities and states for more info Please visit www.okpageants.com Or www.mrs.international.com

For more information visit:
www.debbiebunch.com, & www.debslittledarlins.org

Jennifer Storm was born and raised near Allentown, PA and attended Northampton High School. She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Services and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from The University of Phoenix.

In August 2002, Ms. Storm joined Victim Witness Assistance Program as the organization’s second Executive Director. Before joining VWAP, Ms. Storm was the first full time director of the Statewide Pennsylvania Rights Coalition, a non-profit coalition dedicated to securing and defending fully inclusive civil rights for LGBT people in Pennsylvania. During her tenure at Pennsylvania Rights Coalition, Ms. Storm worked diligently on obtaining inclusive hate crime legislation.

In 2002, the Pennsylvania legislature passed one of the most inclusive hate crime statues in the country. Governor Edward G. Rendell appointed Ms. Storm as a commissioner to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. She was later appointed to the Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Justice Systems Advisory committees where she also serves on the Terrorism Prevention and Local Law Enforcement Subcommittee.

Ms. Storm is active in many local committees and on boards such as: The Greater Harrisburg Foundation EGAL Board, Dauphin County Domestic Violence Taskforce, Joint Investigative Taskforce, Dauphin County Elder Abuse Taskforce, Northern Dauphin Human Services Advisory Panel and Criminal Justice Advisory Board of Dauphin County.

Ms. Storm has a unique story that she uses in the promotion of her non-profit organization and has recently chronicled in her memoirs. Jennifer Storm’s first memoir, Blackout Girl, tells the haunting story of her downward spiral into addiction that began when she was raped at twelve-years-old. She remained on a dangerous, self-destructive path for ten dark years, until one day she awoke in the hospital after attempting to commit suicide and realized she needed help.

Now, Leave the Light On offers a deeper look into Jennifer’s inspiring story of survival and transformation. With fearless honesty, she chronicles her journey as she embarked upon a new life in recovery, finally facing her traumatic past, her buried emotions, and the long-hidden truth about her sexuality. Jennifer holds nothing back in this courageous memoir.

Ms. Storm has marketed herself and her organization in a highly effective manner.  When she came on board as executive director of Victim/Witness Assistance program the organization did not have a uniform marketing plan.  Ms. Storm completely reinvented the agency’s image by creating a brand identity and unique marketing campaign for our agency. In there 21 years as a non-profit agency they have never had any uniformity within the agency; brochures were a kaleidoscope of different formats, colors and themes.  You would have never known that each of them came from the same organization.  There were no professional materials to give to prospective donors or clients detailing their services, history or mission nor did they have a webpage.  Jennifer applied for and received a highly competitive Organizational Capacity Building Grant from The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to fund this agency overhaul and contracted with The Bravo Group, a local public relations firm. The purpose was to create a more professional image for the agency and to create more awareness of the services they offer. 

Jennifer Storm is the ultimate survivor turned thriver. Ms. Storm speaks specifically about why as survivors, it is so important to take the next step into advocacy for victims’ rights. As a child and teen survivor of sexual assault Ms. Storm talks about her personal struggles and how she made the decision one day to end her silence and use her voice to help others. She uses her personal story to relate to and offer assistance and advocacy to others.  Her media appearances are vast, and include frequent appearances on all major networks including, ABC, FOX, NBC, NPR, CBS and PBS as the county spokesperson for victims rights. She had done over 500 media & radio interviews, both taped and live, in the past five years. She has appeared on local and national talk shows including The Harrisburg View and WITF’s prime time public affairs show SMARTTALK, Dr. Drew Live, Recovery Coast to Coast and many more.  In 2002, Ms Storm also publicly debated Oliver North live on his syndicated talk show Common Sense with Oliver North. She has been profiled or appeared in the following publications; Curve Magazine, The Advocate, Time Magazine, Rolling Stone, WE Magazine for Women, Women Magazine and many more.

Darcie Harris is a business consultant, mentor, coach, champion, and advocate for female business owners and executives. As CEO and founder of EWF International™, an Oklahoma City-based company offering peer advisory groups, coaching and consulting for female business owners and executives, Darcie has helped countless women realize their professional dreams. She finds the fulfillment of her own dreams by encouraging women to think big, pursue their passions and achieve their personal best.

An accomplished speaker, consultant, facilitator and trainer, Darcie thrives on helping women grow and challenging them to achieve their personal and professional goals. In particular, she enjoys teaching leadership skills to woman at all stages in their careers, giving them the encouragement, confidence, and inspiration to grow.

As a believer in the mantra, “Do what you love and love what you do,” Darcie has incorporated her love of horses and her experience as an equestrian into her leadership training through a talk encouraging women to embrace their power and use it for the greater good. She weaves her love of movies into a leadership course, using movie clips to demonstrate the qualities of women in leadership roles.

Prior to launching EWF International, Darcie managed a 24 hour a day crisis helpline with a staff of five and 250 volunteers. Under her leadership these volunteers faced the darkest days in Oklahoma history on April 19, 1995.Darcie managed the agency crisis response to community needs following the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building providing support and counseling to countless Oklahomans devastated by the tragedy.

Her previous roles in sales, marketing and management, combined with her love of learning, give Darcie a breadth of experience in entrepreneurship, strategic planning, project management, organizational structure and people-centered management.

Darcie is a respected media resource on women’s leadership and entrepreneurship and a regular editorial columnist for The Journal Record newspaper, the Executive Women’s Journal (published by EWF International), and is widely published on the Internet. She is certified in Conceptual Foundations of Organizational Lifecycles through the Adizes Graduate School for Organizational Transformation.

Darcie’s passion for people and creating a sense of community makes her work a labor of love. She describes her work with women as the most rewarding of her career. She loves to read, walk her dogs, attend yoga classes and especially loves to cook for friends and family, finding every excuse to gather people around a feast.

About EWF:

EWF International™ creates peer advisory forums of up to twelve women in non-competing businesses with diverse backgrounds, skills and strengths. Forum membership is by invitation and membership is renewed annually. More than 80% of the members renew for the next year.

During monthly meetings, participants bring their most important business issues to the group for discussion and feedback. On a rotating basis the members bring their most important business issues to the group for discussion and feedback. This is the place members take off their marketing smiles and tell the truth about the challenges they face.

Strict confidentiality assures that every member can be completely honest, knowing what is said in the meeting stays in the meeting.

As a structured process, each Forum is organized and led by a professional facilitator who understands the role of business owner, CEO or executive. EWF members learn from one another’s real-life challenges, not from theoretical business presentations. They love having access to the pool of experience, wisdom and talents of their peers to help them grow their businesses. Ask the current members and they’ll say they learn from one another’s real-life challenges, not from theoretical business presentations. They love having access to the pool of experience, wisdom and talents of their peers to help them grow their businesses.

For more information about Darcie Harris and EWF, visit:

www.ewfinternational.com,  www.darcieharris.com  
Twitter — twitter.com/ewf & twitter.com/darcieharris
Linked in — http://www.linkedin.com/pub/darcie-harris/3/151/72b