Contents
Features
Committee Notes
Member News
Forum Events
From the President
As we near this anniversary milestone, let’s focus not only on our achievements over these past 25 years but also on our future initiatives.
This is an exciting time for The Forum of Executive Women. As we approach our 25th anniversary, we are reviewing our past accomplishments and looking toward the future, determining the direction in which we are going and specifically identifying our future goals.
There are a number of interesting initiatives underway. Marian Marchese is leading the 25th Anniversary Celebration Committee with strong support from a sizeable and committed group of committee members. At this point, we are planning a gala celebration during the second week of November 2002. As plans become further solidified, we will share more details with you.
One unique aspect of The Forum is that most members become involved in existing committees, as well as take the initiative to organize new special interest groups. One good example illustrating this is the newly formed Artistic Adventures. This group, led by Beryl Byles, was formed last summer to offer several arts-related programs throughout the year. In October, the group went to see “The Elixir of Love” at the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Before the performance, they had dinner with the stage manager, who briefed them on the nuances of this specific performance. The group sponsored a number of additional events throughout the year.
I would encourage all members to become more involved in The Forum by attending programs, participating on committees or organizing a new special interest group that may appeal to other members. Your involvement enriches your experience within The Forum and also helps to cultivate strong friendships and valued business contacts.
Finally, I would like to take the time to congratulate the Executive Suites Committee, led by Katie O’Brien and Lila Booth. This committee has taken significant steps to meet their goal of increasing the number of women serving on corporate boards. Last fall, The Forum received three requests from local financial institutions and a privately held company to assist them in identifying women who could effectively serve on their boards. Several committee members are engaged with these organizations to aid in adding women to their boards.
Needless to say, as we move forward and approach our 25th anniversary milestone, I would encourage more members to actively participate in The Forum. We need to continue to strengthen our organization by meeting its mission: to advance women leaders in the greater Philadelphia region.
Utilizing the talents and expertise of our members will be critical as we continue to advance our mission in this region throughout the next 25 years. If you are interested in becoming more involved, please call me or Sharon Hardy, and we would be delighted to discuss your interests and determine ways you can apply your ideas to support our organization.
—Sally Stetson
Celebrate the Past, Present and Future of The Forum
What started in 1977 as a connecting point for a handful of Philadelphia-area women in corporate leadership roles has grown into a dynamic network of 300 women of influence.
Come help us celebrate the past, present and future of The Forum of Executive Women on November 13 (tentative date). Look for an e-mail about this exciting event soon.
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Immortalize YOUR Words of Wisdom for Forum’s 25th Anniversary
In honor of our 25th Anniversary, The Forum of Executive Women is collecting its members’ words of wisdom and publishing them as a special keepsake box of cards.
The Words of Wisdom card box is a special, limited edition product – an elegant box containing 52 cards. Each card will feature the words of wisdom from one of our members. This is a meaningful way to communicate the collective power and variety of life experiences of Forum members. The Words of Wisdom will be displayed during the Forum’s 25th Anniversary Celebration on November 13, given to each member, and sent to the media.
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Forum members are invited to send an original statement of up to 60 words expressing a thought YOU want to share. We are seeking expressions of a variety of tones and life experiences, around the following topics: adversity, juggling, nurturing oneself, moving up the ladder, mentoring, beauty of work, peace and solitude, choices, meaning of success, looking back, power, creativity.
FOR EXAMPLE:
My father was a refugee from Nazi Germany who came to the United States in the 1930s. His experience taught me that freedom and equality for all people can never be taken for granted. My passionate involvement in civic work stems from that simple truth.
— Susan Jaffe
Everyone is born with an instinct for success – it comes hard-wired like speech, intelligence, and grace. If cultivated, this instinct will grow; if thwarted, it will die. The most important gift we can give our children is to cultivate this instinct, for those who succeed are neither the smartest nor strongest. They are those who believe they can.
— Nancy Moses
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS
The deadline for submissions to the Forum office is March 21, 2002. A committee headed by Joan Schwartz will judge submissions, and the most memorable and insightful 52 will be immortalized in our special Words of Wisdom keepsake card box. Only original submissions will be accepted since quotes from others may present legal issues.
The box and cards are being designed by Moore College of Art and Design students through a special competition sponsored by The Forum.
Check your mail and e-mail for an entry form and more details on the Words of Wisdom.
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Committee Notes
ARTISTIC ADVENTURES
Since the first Artistic Adventure last October, a trip to the opera and dinner with the stage manager of the Opera Company of Philadelphia, this group has enjoyed three more outings: The Nutcracker by the Pennsylvania Ballet last December, a brunch and tour of the Eakins Exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in January and a trip to New York to see La Boheme at the Met.
For information on the group’s future plans or to join, please contact Beryl Byles, 610-353-6545, or BByles@aol.com.
PROGRAMS
The Program Committee is making plans for the Leadership Breakfast to be held in September. See the calendar on page 4 for a listing of our other programs.
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EXECUTIVE SUITES
This committee sponsored a very successful Women on Boards workshop. This program was part of The Forum’s initiative to increase the number of women on corporate boards of directors. Topics included “Why Due Diligence Is Important,” “The Board and Responsibilities of Board Members,” “Board Dynamics” and a “Power Panel” discussion and lunch. The stellar group of panelists included Forum members Jane Pepper, Dianne Semingson,
Debbie Fretz, Molly Shepard and Judee von Seldeneck, as well as Dick Smoot, Retired CEO, PNC Bank; William Avery, Former Chairman, Crown Cork and Seal; Bruce Crawley, President, Crawley, Haskins and Rodgers; G. Bradley Rainer of Eckell, Sparks, Levy, Aerbach, Monte, Rainer & Sloane; Nancy Sundheim, SVP & General Counsel, Unisys; and Geraldine A. Sinatra, Partner, Dechert law firm.
VISIBILITY
Members at the last committee meeting in early February discussed several items, including developing a consistent message for The Forum and producing projects and events to enhance the organization’s visibility. Among its many initiatives, the committee is working on a Forum brochure, developing a tagline that will be used on all Forum correspondence and publications, and formulating plans for promoting The Forum. The committee is also working to ensure that communications put out by other Forum committees and projects convey the messages developed by the Visibility Committee.
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New Members
EMILY BARROSSE, Vice President, Publisher, Specialty Medicine, Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Independence Square West, Ste. 300, Phila., PA 19106, 215-579-2946
LINDA DAVIS, President, Davis Management Compnay, 201 Berlin Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034, 856-795-4800, ldavis@davismngt.com.
LINDSAY JOHNSTON, Vice President Human Resources, PECO Energy, 2301 Market St., Phila., PA 19103, 215-841-4583, lindsay.johnston@exeloncorp.com
DYAN DOUGHTY KELLY, Vice President, Manchester, 1735 Market St., Phila., PA 19103, 215-563-7800
SHOSHANA LOEB, PH.D., Founder & Chairman, Elity Systems, 285 Davidson Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873, 732-564-1870, shoshi@elity.com
KAREN O’BOYLE, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer/Managing Director, Diversified Search, One Commerce Sq., 2005 Market St., Ste. 3300, Phila., PA 19103, 215-656-3583, karen.o’boyle@divsearch.com
KAREN RUEF, Vice President Executive Resources, Lincoln Financial Group, 1500 Market St., West Tower, Ste. 3900, Phila., PA 19103, 215-448-1439, kkruef@lnc.com
BRYNA SILVER, ESQ., Synnestvedt & Lechner LLP, 2600 Aramark Tower, 1101 Market St., Phila., PA 19107, 215-923-4471, Bsilver@synnlech.com
LILLIAN SWANSON, Assistant Managing Editor/Ombudsman, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 400 N. Broad St., Phila., PA 19101, 215-854-2206, lswanson@phillynews.com
ELLEN TOPLIN, President, Toplin & Associates, 1301 Virginia Dr., Suite 310, Ft. Washington, PA 19034, 215-793-4666, ellen@toplin.com
MAUREEN WARD, AIA, Director of Facilities, Planning & Space Mngt., Univ. of PA School of Medicine, 233 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Dr., Phila., PA 19104, 215-898-2876
MELISSA WEILER GERBER, Executive Director, WOMENS WAY, 1233 Locust St., Ste. 300, Phila., PA 19107, 215-985-3322, mweilergerber@womensway.org
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Speeches/Publications
ELIZABETH BENNETT, Founder, Bennett & Associates, spoke about money laundering at the holiday meeting of the League of Women Voters of Swarthmore, and she spoke at the Women’s Resource Center “Navigating Divorce” program. Elizabeth also had an article entitled “Abusive Offshore Trusts in Divorce Cases” published in the American Journal of Family Law. In addition, she has been appointed an alternate to the Zoning Hearing Board for the Borough of Swarthmore.
LILA BOOTH, General Partner, LBCII, was a featured speaker on “Harmonizing Company Culture and Employment Law” at a program sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Human Resources Committee.
RENEE LOVE, CEO, Omega Group, led a Focus Theatre Consumer Panel at a national sales conference for Toys ‘R Us last August.
NANCY MOSES, Cultural Development Consultant, had an article entitled “Have a Plan, and Make the Most of Arts and Culture” published in the December issue of Public Management Magazine.
LINDA RESNICK, President, CEO Resources, presented at the New Jersey Technology Council’s Power Networking Program for Women in Technology.
IVY SILVER, of the Commonwealth Consulting Group was a speaker at the 2001 LIMRA International Sales Conference. She was on a panel discussion about the difference factors among successful brokers and how insurance carriers can help brokers differentiate themselves in the employee benefits market. Also, Ivy was re-elected as Chair of the Abington Art Center for a second two-year term.
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Awards
LYNDA BARNESS, President, The Barness Organization, writes that her company received a Community of the Year Award from The Builders League of South Jersey at its annual MAME Awards banquet. The Barness Organization took home a total of eight awards.
GLORIA GUARD, Executive Director, People’s Emergency Center, received two prestigious awards: the Girl Scouts Take the Lead Award and the United Way Citizen Volunteer of the Year Award.
EILEEN HEISMAN, President, National Philanthropic Trust, has received the ACFRE designation. Only 55 persons nationally have qualified for this designation, which is given by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals. Eileen is the first to receive this designation in the Philadelphia area.
ANNE SCEIA KLEIN, President, Anne Klein & Associates, received the Maxine Elkin Award for excellence in public relations at the Public Relations Society of America’s 33rd Annual Pepperpot Achievement Awards ceremony in December. Also at the ceremony, Anne’s firm received a First Place Pepperpot award in the category of Special Events and a Meritorious Achievement award in the category of Public Service.
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Business News/Moves
DEBORAH CHIUMENTO, Senior Vice President, Bank of America Private Banking, was named Market Executive of Private Bank Office, which offers comprehensive wealth management and estate planning services to high net worth individuals and families in the tri-state region. Her new address is 100 Four Falls Corporate Cntr., Ste. 500, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, 610-975-9576. Also, Deborah was elected to the Board of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Appointments/Elections
LYNN AXELROTH, Managing Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, has been elected to a three-year term as a member of the Board of Overseers, Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, University of Pennsylvania, and has been appointed to its Executive Committee.
SUZANNE FAIRLIE, President, ProSearch, has been named to the Legislative Board of the National Association of Personnel Services, a national trade association for the recruiting industry.
SUSAN JAFFE was appointed to the board, Moore College of Art and Design.
KATHERINE NEWELL, Partner, Decotiis, Fitzpatrick & Gluck, has been reappointed to the Consumer Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission by Lieutenant Governor Mark Schwicker.
BRYNA SILVER, Partner, Synnestvedt & Lechner, LLP, served as co-chair of the Jewish Book Festival of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Philadelphia, and was a speaker on national and community trademark practice in Europe for a forum sponsored by the International Trademark Association.
JUDEE VON SELDENECK has been appointed Chair of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
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New Business
THE STAR GROUP (Linda Rosanio, CEO) has won the Fox Philadelphia television account. The agency’s STAR/Rosen Public Relations division will be largely responsible for the account.
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FEBRUARY 28
Leading in Times of Uncertainty
Speaker: Vikki Pryor, SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company
Breakfast meeting
The Pyramid Club
MARCH 21
Honoring Women Firsts
Program in celebration of Women’s History Month
Breakfast meeting
The Pyramid Club
APRIL 16
Meet the Forum
(members only event)
Dinner meeting
Chloe Restaurant, Philadelphia
MAY 16
Stress Management and Alternative Medical Treatments
Breakfast meeting
Jefferson Hospital
JUNE 11
Annual Meeting
Evening program
Bistro St. Tropez, Marketplace Design Center, Philadelphia
AUGUST 8
Beach Day
Joan Rochford’s house,
Avalon, NJ
A special thank you to the sponsors of The Forum’s Annual Holiday Dinner
Presenting Sponsor: Temple Womens’ Center for Heart Care
Spnsors: PNC Advisors, Verizon
Benefactors: Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker LLP and
The Commonwealth Consulting Group
The Forum is grateful to the Franklin Institute for hosting this event.