CONTENTS
FEATURES
MEMBERS NEWS
From the President
Sally Stetson, Co-Owner of the Salveson Stetson Group, is The Forum's President for 2001-02. She has been a Forum member for seven years and a member of the board for three. She served on the Program Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Membership Committee, which she also chaired.
Q: What are your goals as Forum President?
A: This is an exciting and challenging time for The Forum. We are approaching our 25th anniversary, and it is an appropriate time to reflect on where we've been and where we're going. The Forum has a rich history to celebrate! This year we will focus on several objectives: (1) a special 25th anniversary celebration to reflect on our history and highlight the unique nature of our organization, (2) provide the resources and support to accelerate the mission of the Executive Suites Committee, (3) engage existing members in the organization to become more involved by participating on committees, attending monthly programs and providing feedback and ideas to develop new initiatives and (4) cultivate strategic alliances with other resources in this region to further our mission of advancing women leaders.
Q: Can you comment on some of the committees and their initiatives?
A: One exciting dimension about our organization is our members and their level of involvement at the committee level. Clearly, Executive Suites is a visible and highly active committee with the mission of increasing the number of women on for-profit boards, but we also have a diverse number of other groups working diligently as well. The Visibility Committee, headed by Kyra McGrath, is a newly energized group determining approaches to raise the visibility of the organization and increase the impact and influence of women in The Forum. Molly Raphael is Chair of the Women in Politics Committee, and this particular group is working to increase awareness of political issues. They have developed a program in January that will prove to be highly informative. The Forum also formed a Sponsorship Committee, headed by Sharon Smith, to evaluate and define how we develop relationships with corporations and other organizations to support and fund our current and future initiatives. Media Dialogue, with Susan Jaffe and Donna Brennan leading that particular initiative, has been interacting with the local media to identify how women are being portrayed in key publications and have been influential in raising awareness and positively changing behaviors. The Forum's 25th Anniversary Celebration is being led by Marian Marchese and has a number of active committee members working on ways to approach this special milestone (this committee will meet on October 3, 8:30 a.m., at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll's offices. Call The Forum office to RSVP). The Program Committee, co-chaired by Emmy Miller and Sonia Madison, is evaluating programs that will be relevant and exciting for our membership. Membership Committee Chair Karen Kaufman has been active throughout the summer recruiting senior women to The Forum and determining ways to retain and engage existing members. Our committees always welcome new members, so everyone should think about becoming involved on some level.
Q: What programs are you most excited about this year?
A: The Leadership Breakfast, featuring Dorrit Bern, CEO of Charming Shoppes, Inc., will clearly be a highlight in September. She has led the dramatic turnaround of the organization, and it will be very interesting to hear her tell the story. Executive Suites will be holding a board training session in October, which should be very informative for our members. In addition, we are partnering with WHYY in October for three meetings, highlighting several of our members on a variety of topics. We also have a speaker discussing the "Sandwich Generation" in November, and in January, through collaboration with the Women in Politics Committee, we have an expert from the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers University talking about gender issues in politics and the need for women in office. I'm particularly excited about Vicki Pryor speaking in February. She is President and CEO of SBLI Mutual Life Insurance Company, and she is a dynamic speaker who will share her thoughts on leadership. Of course, the holiday dinner is the one program I truly enjoy, as it allows us time to network and have fun.
Q: To what do you attribute the success of the Leadership Breakfast?
A: The Forum has been very successful in growing the Leadership Breakfast series by inviting talented CEOs in the region to speak to our members, which allows them to reach a broad audience of executive women. The interesting presentations by various leaders, including Larry Weinbach, CEO of Unisys; Judith Rodin, President of the University of Pennsylvania; and Jack Brennan, CEO of The Vanguard Group, have been well received. One successful program each year builds on the next, and the participation level continues to grow. Success breeds success.
Q: On a personal level, how do you feel about your Forum involvement? How has your membership affected you both professionally and personally?
A: Throughout my career, I have been committed to being involved in community and professional organizations. The Forum has been a wonderful organization to be involved with as it has provided me with relevant business resources. At the same time, our members have served as an incredible support system for me both professionally and personally, and I value the wonderful friendships I have formed.
Mark the Date for Annual Leadership Breakfast
Mark your calendars for our Annual Leadership Breakfast on September 21. Our speaker will be Dorrit Bern, President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Charming Shoppes, Inc. Thank you to our sponsors: First Union, our Presenting Sponsor, and Ernst and Young, Sunoco and Lee Hecht Harrison, Inc., our Benefactor Sponsors.
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Donna Frisby-Greenwood of ICGF Receives Annual Forum Award
The Forum presented its Annual Forum Award to Donna Frisby-Greenwood, Executive Director, Inner City Games Foundation (ICGF), at the Annual Meeting and Dinner on June 12. National Penn Bank sponsored the annual meeting, which was hosted by Moore College of Art and Design. As Executive Director since 1999, Frisby-Greenwood oversees all of ICGF's programming and development activities, including the creation of new programs, the expansion of existing ones and nurturing financial support for Philadelphia. She is most proud of having registered thousands of young people to vote during her tenure as National Executive Director of RockTheVote. The Forum Award is presented annually to an up-and-coming executive woman who has spent 7-12 years building a strong career base, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership within her organization and who has a strong commitment to her own professional development and that of other women. Also, she has strong community service and displays the kind of leadership talent that The Forum seeks to promote and retain in this region. As part of the award, The Forum provides a scholarship to a leadership development program.
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Executive Suites Builds on Success
The Executive Suites Committee scored a huge success with its "Women in the Board Room" breakfast meeting in April. The sellout audience listened as panelists Jane Salter, Immediate Past President, Board of Directors Network in Atlanta, and Toni Wolfman, Chair, The Boston Club's Corporate Board Resource Committee and member of The Boston Club's board of directors, discussed what they have done successfully for several years in these cities to increase the number of women on corporate boards. The Committee has been very active since then, meeting regularly to plan future initiatives and programs. The next program, a board training workshop on Tuesday, October 30, 8:30 a.m. through lunch, will offer Forum members an opportunity to learn about due diligence, board structures, the responsibilities of board members, and board dynamics. The Committee has invited a stellar group of speakers for this program. Also, the Committee is in the final stages of research for its White Paper, which is being developed as a business case for the Committee to use when approaching companies. Under the direction of Research Subcommittee Chair Vicki Kramer, the Committee has been verifying information members researched regarding the number of women on boards and the number of women in senior management and will be publishing the results soon.
A Strong Commitment "There was great enthusiasm from the membership following our breakfast meeting at the Pyramid Club," adds Executive Suites Co-Chair Lila Booth. "The Forum is committed to making a difference in helping to encourage CEOs to realize the potential contributions of women on their corporate boards." Says Co-Chair Katie O'Brien, "We are considering an advisory committee of CEOs who are interested in this initiative. We've already had dialogues with CEOs who are interested in getting women on their boards. We're facilitating that effort. The Forum Board has also funded research to create a Forum database of women who are interested in being on for-profit boards."
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M E M B E R N E W S
New Members
PEGGY AMSTERDAM, Executive Director, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, 100 S. Broad St., Ste. 1530, Phila., PA 19110, 215-557-7811
JUDITH COCHE, Director, The Coche Center, Academy House, Ste. 410, 1420 Locust St., Phila., PA 19102, 215-735-1908
ROSALYN MCPHERSON, Senior Vice President, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., Phila., PA 19103, 215-448-1173
MARY ELLEN PANOUSIS, Vice President, e-Business, W.L. Gore & Associates, 105 Vieve's Way, Elkton, MD 21921, 410-392-3600
SHAWN PUCCIO, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Two Commerce Sq., 2001 Market St., Phila., PA 19103, 267-330-2060
GLEN REYBURN, Vice President Sales/Manager of Philadelphia Trust Office, Hudson United Bank, 1845 Walnut St., Phila., PA 19103, 215-861-7178
SHERI RISLER, Partner, Ernst & Young, Two Commerce Sq., 2001 Market St., Phila., PA 19103, 215-448-5108
SHARON WEAVER, Group Executive Vice President, National Penn Bank, P.O. Box 547, Boyertown, PA 19512, 610-369-6371
DEBORAH WEINSTEIN, Esq, Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, 1515 Market St., 9th fl., Phila., PA 19102, 215-851-8403
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Speeches/Publications
LILA BOOTH, a consultant specializing in organizational culture and executive coaching, has written the guest column, entitled "Consequences: The Secret of Holding People Accountable," in the September issue of Harvard Management Update.
MARJORIE BRODY, President, Brody Communications, tells us her new column, "Communication Corner," made its debut in the March issue of Pharmaceutical Representative magazine along with her article entitled "Does Your Body Language Stop Your Sales Presentation Before it Starts?"
PAT COULTER, Senior Vice President, Salveson Stetson Group, was a speaker at the Conference Board's 2001 Annual Diversity Conference. She presented a workshop on "Generational Differences: Synergizing Talent, Experience and Different World Views."
SHERRI CULVER, General Manager, WYBE Public Television, was the keynote speaker at the Bucks County Strengthening Communities Conference. Also, Sherri received the Sarah Award from Women in Communications in June.
SUZANNE FAIRLIE, President, ProSearch, was one of five recruiters nationwide to serve on a panel of guest speakers at the Massachusetts State Personnel Association meeting on the topic of successful recruiting during economic change.
RENEE LOVE, CEO, Omega Group, was the keynote speaker at the 2001 Agri-Marketing Conference and Trade Show. Her topic was "Shakespeare and the Modern Brand-Innovative Branding Strategies, Optimizing Corporate and Product Brands after a Merger." Also, she was a speaker at a Johnson & Johnson Consumer Symposium in May.
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Awards
LYNDA BARNESS, President, Barness Organization, tells us that her company took home a record 10 Pinnacle Awards from the Home Builder's Association of Bucks and Montgomery counties at its Annual Pinnacle Awards ceremony.
HAPPY CRAVEN FERNANDEZ, President, Moore College of Art & Design, was the recipient of three awards: the Fleisher Art Memorial Founders Award, the Chamounix Mansion Year 2001 Honoree Award and the Logan Square East Older American Award.
HARRIET HANKIN, President, CGI Consulting Group, was selected as Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year for 2001 for the Greater Philadelphia Region in the Business Consulting category. Also, she was named this year's Business Woman of the Year by the Great Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.
EILEEN HEISMAN, President, National Philanthropic Trust, has earned the professional designation of Advanced Certified Fund-Raising Executive conferredby the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
BONNIE PLUNKETT, Managing Director, Alternative Capital Source, and LORI REINER, Partner, Goldenberg Rosenthal, were two of The 2001 Best 50 Women in Business Award recipients.
LINDA ROSANIO, CEO, The STAR Group, announced that the agency's current campaign for the United Way of Southeastern PA garnered seven local ADDYs plus Best of Show and three regional Gold ADDYs. On a national scale, the campaign was selected as one of Ad Age's Best Spots for 2000, was chosen for inclusion on the Association of Independent Commercial Producers Reel, and was named an O'Toole finalist. The campaign also was awarded an international Bronze Clio award. In addition, the company's Star/Interactive division has become a premier member of the Macromedia Alliance Partner program.
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Business Moves
BERYL BYLES, Principal, Bridge Consulting Associates, this fall will be teaching a new course entitled "Developing a Leadership Mindset" in the College of General Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Also, she was invited to serve on the Board of Advisors for the College of Business and Technology, Southeastern Louisiana University. Beryl is also excited to tell us she served as a "super" for the Opera Company of Philadelphia. A super is essentially an extra who is a part of "stage business" or a nonsinger.
PAULETTE GABRIEL has been promoted to Vice President, Wyeth Pharmaceutical, with responsibility for organizational change and transformation at Wyeth.
TERRI GELBERG, President, Gelberg & Associates, announced the move of the firm's offices to 1818 Market St., Ste. 3000, Phila., PA 19103. The new telephone number is 215-575-7610.
JUDY NEWMAN, President, Details and Executive Details, announced that, along with executive gifts, invitations and a variety of paper needs, she will soon be opening "Details at Home," specializing in items for the home.
CLAUDIA POST, President, announced that her company has changed its name from Diamond Courier Service to Diamond Transportation Group.
JENNIFER STILLER announced she is returning to the private practice of health law under the name Jennifer A. Stiller, Attorney at Law, 625 Haydock Ln., Haverford, PA 19041, 610-642-3366. Also, Jennifer was a speaker at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute's Fundamentals of Health Law course and at the Annual Meeting of the American Health Lawyers Association. Appointments/Elections
LYNN AXELROTH, Managing Partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, was elected to a three-year term on the Governing Committee, American Bar Assn.'s Forum on the Construction Industry.
VIVIAN GREY, Principal, Vivian Grey & Associates Marketing Communications, has been elected to the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. Also, she was elected chair of the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature.
PAGE MORAHAN, Co-director, Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program for women, MCP Hahnemann University, was appointed to the Coordinating Team for the AXXS project, Office for Women's Health Research, National Institutes of Health. Also, Page was first author on a paper comparing women's advancement programs at seven U.S. medical schools, published in the January 2001 issue of Academic Medicine.
DIANNE SEMINGSON, President, DLS International, was elected Chairman of theBoard, World Game Institute, a global research and education organization.
SHERRY SWIRSKY, Partner, Schnader Harrison, was appointed to the National Skill Standards Board. Sherry is the only practicing lawyer among the 27 board members.
GERI SWIFT, President, Women's Business Development Center, was elected Vice President, Training, of the Association of Women's Business Centers.
KAROL M. WASYLYSHYN, President, Leadership Development, was elected Vice Chair of the Widener University Board of Trustees.
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New Business
The STAR Group was named agency of record for Virtua Health. Errata In the April issue of The Forum newsletter, we incorrectly identified Robin Robinowitz as being elected to the board of trustees of LaSalle University. It was Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President and Executive Director, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, who was elected to the board of trustees. Also, Sharmain was appointed by Mayor Street to the Board of Directors, Redevelopment Authority, City of Philadelphia. We apologize for this error.
Forum Events
SEPTEMBER 21 Leadership Breakfast Guest speaker Dorrit Bern, CEO and Chairman, Charming Shoppes, Inc. Four Seasons Hotel
OCTOBER 2, 9, 23 WHYY Women's Leadership Series 6:30 p.m., WHYY
OCTOBER 30 Board Training Workshop Montgomery, McCracken Walker & Rhoads 8:30 a.m.
NOVEMBER 8 Spinning Plates at Mid-Life Guest speaker Linda Rhoads Evening program
DECEMBER (date TBA) Holiday Reception
JANUARY 31 Women in Office Guest speaker Debbie Walsh, The Eagleton Institute, Rutgers Univ.
FEBRUARY 28 Guest speaker Vikki Pryor Breakfast meeting The Pyramid Club