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From the President
As I embark on my year as Forum president, I am proud to lead an organization that is strong, dynamic, and at the forefront of women’s organizations in the st1:place>Delaware Valley. I believe my role as president is to preserve the Gift of the Forum — to enhance it, shine a light on it, share it with all of you, and bring it to more women in our region.
My challenge to you this year is to join me in advancing women’s leadership in the Philadelphia region. I encourage you to help us set the plan, work the solution, and act as a catalyst to reach our goals. We have an incredible organization; I believe it can only get better!
There have been several significant milestones for the Forum in the past year or so. For example, the recognition of the value of women’s leadership in city and state government has grown in leaps and bounds. We have received increased media coverage following the release of our Women on Boards 2004 report this year. Our Leadership Breakfast continues to draw sellout crowds — and more media attention — every year.
Our challenge is to build on these milestones, and I believe we will meet this challenge readily. We have a tremendous network of committed women, and I am fortunate to have a fantastic board and dedicated committees with whom to work this year.
Our strength is our membership. Our future is you. I call myself the “translator” for the Forum. I will work diligently to bring the best of the Forum to the business community and to represent each of you in a way that reflects your commitment to the success of the Forum’s mission. I ask you to confirm your commitment to the Forum this year — volunteer for a committee, attend a program of interest to you, invite a guest to a meeting. Discover the Gift of the Forum.
Forum Program Survey Results: “Our Members Are Our Greatest Assets”
The results of the Forum Program Committee survey are in, and bottom-line survey results indicate that members think the organization’s programming is “excellent.”
That is just one of the results of the web-based survey, which queried members about program content, pricing and location, as well as other areas concerning their membership.
According to Program Committee Co-Chair Paulette Gabriel, who spearheaded the survey team, “Our goal was to acquire good information that we could use to guide our programming planning for the next 18 months or so. Also, we wanted to ascertain whether programs appealed to the diverse needs of the membership. The survey, written by the Program Committee under the direction of Karen Ruef, past co-chair, was easy to take and easy to administer. I believe we accomplished our goal.”
Sampling of Survey Results
“The results prove that the Forum’s greatest assets are our members,” says Gabriel. Consider these results: More than 70% of Forum members have post-graduate degrees.
Nearly 60% of respondents have been Forum members for more than 4 years.
“Ninety percent of members are satisfied with their membership, and that’s incredible,” says Gabriel. What do members value most about their membership? Networking, networking, networking!
The top-rated event was the annual leadership breakfast. Members see this event as a “must do” for connecting with other members. One member noted, “If I can get to only one event a year, this is it.” Beach Day is also highly valued, as it offers members social time in a relaxed environment.
Action Plans
The Program Committee has taken several initiatives in response to the survey results, and more are in the works. In August, the Program Committee had its first strategic planning meeting to set the strategy for the next 18 months, using the survey results to drive some of the strategy, according to Gabriel. For example, Forum members were interested in mentoring. “Creating Mutual Opportunities for Growth and Development” was held on November 9 at The Union League. Also on the agenda are a program on volunteerism in February and “Behind the Scenes at the Kimmel Center” on February 24, 2005.
Special thanks to PNC Advisors for their sponsorship of our October WPPC program, “Behind the Ballot Box: Do Political Pollsters and the Media Have an Influence on Election Day Results?” We also appreciate the generosity of Meridia Audience Response in providing their services and interactive technology for this program.
Endo Pharmaceutical CEO Shares Her Five Principles of Leadership
Endo Pharmaceutical Chairman and CEO Carol A. Ammon was the speaker at the Forum Leadership Breakfast in September. Ms. Ammon talked about her career path, the defining moments in one’s career and what she believes are the five principles of leadership, which we highlight in this excerpt.
Five Principles of Leadership
I want to share with you five basic principles of leadership that have evolved for me over the course of my career and that I believe have helped me make a difference. Taken one by one they may seem elementary, but it is in the context of a working environment, executing these principles, where their impact can really be felt.
1. Hire the best people. This means hiring people who are smarter than you, people who will take the lead, who will challenge you, who can teach you. For this principle to work, you really need to leave your ego at the door. You want to have people working for you who will tell you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear.
You can have the greatest products and enormous market opportunities. But none of those things will make any difference unless you recruit the best people to carry your vision forward. And that brings me to principle number two.
2. Have a clear vision for your company. You need a vision for your company, but it doesn’t have to be a long, esoteric vision statement. What you need is a clear, specific vision that employees can get their arms around. It should be a vision that every employee, no matter his or her level, can easily articulate. You want people to dream the dream with you.
3. Reward your people. This is where I see senior managers falling short. Compensation is important, but several studies show that it is not the most important factor for employees today. To make a real difference in your rewards program, it’s important to find out what truly motivates your people.
It’s much easier to keep your average performers than it is to keep your high performers, because your high performers can go out and find another job tomorrow. As leaders, we need to send a clear message that we want people to stay with our organizations.
You can send that message by designing a performance system that rewards people who do extraordinary things. Spread compensation. Put in a pay-for-performance system. Don’t dismiss the smaller gestures that can have a huge impact. I hand-write birthday cards to employees. You would be amazed at how that simple gesture makes employees feel wanted and appreciated.
4. Create an environment where people can be successful. Your high-impact employees will carry your company’s torch proudly if you establish an environment where people can be successful. What does that kind of environment look like?
For starters, it’s an environment where every person’s opinions and ideas are listened to and valued. In this type of environment, a company thrives.
5. Have passion for what you do. If you are working at your job just for the money, and if you are not proud of what you are doing, you’ve lost your passion. When you lose your passion, your ability to make a difference as a leader is diminished. When you are passionate about what you are doing, you are focused, you have purpose and you are determined. You’re also having fun. That’s why it’s so important to feel passionate about your work, because there will be many trying days over the course of your career.
My point is this: Identify your passion, your dream. And take the initiative to remove any barriers in the way of that dream.
If we pick our work based on how we want to make a difference, we’ll be successful.
M E M B E R N E W S
New Members
Amanda Bennett, Editor/Executive Vice President, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 400 N. Broad St., Phila., PA 19130, 215-854-2529, abennett@phillynews.com
Hon. Mary Digiacomo Colins, Judge, Court of Common Pleas, 229 City Hall, Phila., PA 19107, 215-686-7926
Carol Eicher, Vice President/Business Director, Rohm & Haas, 100 Independence Mall West, Phila., PA 19106, 215-592-2883, ceicher@rohmhaas.com
Susan Herbst, Dean, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, 1114 W. Berks St., Phila., PA 19122, 215-204-7747, herbst@temple.edu
SteFanie Kadin Fine, Executive Vice President for Business Development & Strategic Planning, Jewish Employment & Vocational Service, 1845 Walnut St., Phila., PA 19103, 215-854-1800, SKFine99@yahoo.com
Mary Keefe Kelley, Partner, MGA Partners Architects, 234 Market St., Phila., PA 19106, 215-925-0100, mkeefe@mgspartners.com
Helen K. Lafferty, Ph.D., Univ. Vice President, Villanova Univ., 105 Tolentine Hall, Villanova, PA 19085-1699, 610-519-4510, helen.lafferty@villanova.edu
Denise McGregor Armbrister, Senior Vice President, Wachovia Corp., Executive Director, Wachovia Regional Foundation, Wachovia Regional Community Development Corp, 123 S. Broad St., Phila., PA 19109, 215-670-4310, denise.m.armbrister@wachovia.com
Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director, Philadelphia Film Office, 100 S. Broad St., Ste. 600, Phila., PA 19110, 215-686-2668, Sharon@film.org
Harriet G. Weiss, CEO, CRW Graphics, 9100 Pennsauken Hwy., Pennsauken, NJ 08110, 800-820-3000, hweiss@crwgraphics.com
Speeches/Publications
Lynn R. Axelroth, Managing Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, spoke on financing performance agreements at the fall meeting of the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry in Tampa, Fla.
Eileen Heisman, President, The National Philanthropic Trust, will be speaking on charitable giving in January at “Mastering Tax and Estate Planning for Family Offices.” Also, The Trust and Lightbulb Press have published Your Guide to Donor Advised Funds, featuring an introduction by Eileen.
Kyra McGrath, Vice President for Strategic Projects and General Counsel, WHYY, appeared on CN8’s morning program to discuss the FCC’s fine of CBS for the Janet Jackson incident at halftime of the Super Bowl, and spoke about video on demand at the Iowa Digital Television Symposium.
Milissa M. Tadeo, Senior Vice President, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, gave a presentation to gaming and law enforcement officials on the introduction of the redesigned $50 note. Also, she completed an Executive MBA program at Villanova University, graduating Beta Gamma Sigma.
Appointments/Elections
Autumn Bayles, Chief Information Officer, Tasty Baking Company, was elected to the board of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, along with Forum members Natalye Paquin, Chief of Staff, School District of Philadelphia; Lisette Shirdan-Harris, President, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Pennsylvania Chapter; Sally Stetson, Principal, Salveson Stetson Group; and Milissa M. Tadeo, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Suzanne F. Fairlie, President, ProSearch, was named Vice President of the Pinnacle Society.
Abbe F. Fletman, Partner, Wolf Block Schorr and Solis-Cohen, was elected to Albert Einstein Healthcare Network’s Board of Overseers.
Paulette Gabriel, President, Key Leadership Initiatives, was appointed to the Philadelphia Human Resources Planning Group board.
Irene Hannan, Senior Vice President, Citizens Bank, was elected to the board of directors, the Pennsylvania Bankers Association.
Leslie G. Mayer, President & CEO, Mayer Leadership Group, was appointed to the board of City Year Philadelphia.
Margaret A. McCausland, Partner, Blank Rome LLP, was appointed to the Board of Editors for The Corporate Counselor.. She was named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” and one of the 50 top “Female Super Lawyers” in Pennsylvania by Law & Politics Magazine and received the Citizens Pro Bono Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Gloria Rabinowitz, President & CEO, GCM Group LLC, was elected President, Wharton Alumni Club of Philadelphia, for 2004-2005.
Molly Raphael was appointed Chair, Medicare Oversight Board, HGS Administrators, Highmark Insurance.
Georgia Shafia, President & Owner, City Cleaning Company, was elected to the board of the French Heritage Society.
Sherry A. Swirsky, Partner, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, was appointed General Counsel to the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Pennsylvania.
Ellen Toplin, President, Toplin & Associates, was elected Secretary of the Board for the American Red Cross, Penn Jersey Region’s Blood Services Division. She also chairs the board’s Marketing Communications Committee. In addition, Toplin & Associates was voted one of the best places to work by the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Karol M. Wasylyshyn, President, Leadership Development, was elected to the Board of Directors of the Stockton Rush Bartol Foundation.
Melissa Weiler Gerber, Executive Director, WOMENS WAY, was appointed by Mayor John Street to the Children’s Commission.
Awards
Lynda Barness, President, The Barness Organization, was presented with a 2004 Environmental Action Award by the Bucks County Audubon Society in September.
Tine Hansen-Turton, Executive Director/CEO, National Nursing Centers Consortium, was awarded an Eisenhower Fellowship and will be traveling to New Zealand to work on nurse-managed health center and nurse practitioner issues. Also, she was a main presenter at the national HUD and CDC Healthy Homes for Children Conference in Florida this past summer.
Janis LeBude, President/Owner, PROTOCALL Staffing Services, tells us her company was honored as Small Business of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey at its 10th Annual Pinnacle Awards Dinner.
Charisse R. Lillie, Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, was named one of the 2004 Women Leaders in the Law by the Legal Intelligencer, Pennsylvania Law Weekly. In January she will be awarded the Learned Hand Award by the American Jewish Committee.
Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, was honored by the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware Valley at its “A Credit to Greater Philadelphia Awards” luncheon.
Regina O’Brien Thomas, head of the Family Wealth Management Group, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, was honored by Law & Politics Magazine and Philadelphia Magazine as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer,” and was named among the top 100 lawyers in both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania as well as among the top 50 female lawyers.
Business News/Moves
Gail Bubenick, CEO, SIERRA Communications, designed and delivered a Leadership Development Program for managers in Wyeth’s information systems department, and designed and delivered a program for Forum member Alice Bierer to create teamwork with Essex Grain’s internal and external sales force.
Judith Coche tells us The Coche Center has re-opened its second location in Stone Harbor, N.J.
Terry D’Alessandro was appointed Sovereign Bank’s Market Chief Executive Officer for Philadelphia, South Jersey, Delaware and Chester County, responsible for commercial, business banking and retail and strategic alliances in the market.
Barbara J. Gohn is Managing Director, Ashbridge Investment Management, LLC, Philadelphia.
Andrea R. Kramer has moved to new offices, where she will continue her practice of employment and labor law, at Two Bala Plaza, Ste. 300, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, 610-660-7745.
Nancy McCullar will be leaving the position of CEO, Girls Incorporated, to become the CEO of Girl Scouts-Greater Valley Council in Allentown, Pa.
Rona Sebastian, who came to Philadelphia in 2000 from Los Angeles to serve as Vice President, The University of the Arts, has returned to L.A. to serve as President, The Herb Alpert Foundation, based in Santa Monica. She hopes that all the wonderful colleagues she connected with during her tenure in the Forum will keep in touch. Her email is rs.haf@mindspring.com.
Pamela B. Strobel was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Exelon Corp., and President, Exelon’s Business Services Co.
Delia Stroud was promoted to Vice President, Supply Business Operations and Governance, PECO Energy. Also, she was elected to the board of Lights of Liberty, a nonprofit cultural organization.
Vicki Tauscher joined the Houston-based EquaTerra as Vice President & Client Executive. E-mail: vicki.tauscher@equaterra.com.
Deborah Weinstein has opened The Weinstein Firm, offering legal and consulting services on workforce issues to business, law firms and entrepreneurs, located at 225 W. Germantown Pk., Ste. 204, Plymouth Meeting, PA. Phone: 610-940-0123.
Tricia Wellenbach, Executive Director, Wellness Community of Philadelphia, participated in a two-week management development program for executives of community-based health care organizations at the John E. Anderson School of Management at UCLA this past summer.
New Business
Marian V. Marchese, President, VIRTU INTERACTIVE, announced that her company has entered into a joint venture with National Software Testing Laboratories. The joint venture, called VIRTU MOBILE, is a mobile media company that creates and delivers mobile content for the teen and young adult market. Also, VIRTU is working with two new pharmaceutical clients and a number of area colleges, and has just completed a strategic planning assignment for Community College of Philadelphia.
Personal News
Linda McAleer, President, The Melior Group, completed the MS 3-Day, 50-Mile Challenge Walk for the second consecutive year. She thanks the Forum members who sponsored and supported her.
Thank you to our Leadership Breakfast sponsors.
Presenting Sponsor
Leading Sponsor:
Benefactors:
Forum Events
DECEMBER 6
Holiday Dinner
Hotel Sofitel
5:30 registration
6:30 dinner
Leading Sponsor:
Commerce Bank
FEBRUARY 24, 2005
“Behind the Scenes at the Kimmel Center”
APRIL 13
Executive Suites Program
Breakfast Program
Leading Sponsors:
PECO Energy, Sovereign Bank
Benefactor:
Diversified Search
MAY 18
“The Naked Truth”
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Jean Kilbourne, author
Dinner Meeting
The Union League
Leading Sponsor:
Independence Blue Cross
JUNE 2005
Annual Meeting and Forum Award
Presentation
Dinner Program
Leading Sponsor:
National Penn Bank
Benefactor: Delaware Investments