From the President
Happy New Year! May it be a happy, healthy, and prosperous one for you and your families. The Forum is looking forward to a successful 2004 as well. If 2003 is any indication, fulfilling our wish should be no problem!
We have started our fiscal year with some exciting programs and initiatives, as you’ll read in this issue. Membership Chair Marian Marchese and her Committee have developed a three-part approach to membership that they believe will provide new and prospective Forum members with an added level of service.
You’ll read a recap of our press coverage for the Women on Boards Research Report. This report garnered both print and radio coverage in the regional media, and we look forward to the continuing work of the Executive Suites Committee.
There is a summary of the fabulous speech given by PBS CEO Pat Mitchell at our Leadership Breakfast in September. Pat talked about being the first woman president of a major broadcast company and the challenges she faces daily.
Although not covered in this issue, we had an excellent program in November entitled “Inside the State Room and at the Captain’s Table: Conversations with Five Philadelphia Women from Governor Rendell’s Cabinet.” The incredible response to this program was a testament to the wonderful work of the Women, Policy and Politics Committee and confirms The Forum’s growing interest in and attention to the political process.
We are fortunate to have many Forum members regularly attend Forum program and committee meetings. Share in their excitement about our mission. Attend as many meetings as you can, join a committee, get involved. Our membership will be stronger for it.
Reaching In, Reaching Out, to Forum Membership
In an effort to reach out to members, The Forum has developed a new three-pronged approach to membership. “We want our members to get as much as possible out of their Forum membership, even more than they are getting now,” says Membership Chair Marian Marchese. “We’re always looking for ways to increase the services available to members and for ways to keep them involved in The Forum.”
Membership is now divided into three components: general operations, retention, and recruitment. Marchese, who was solely responsible for the membership function, is now focusing more on reviewing and processing applications and on general operations.
Co-Chair Cindy Wollman has taken on the recruitment function for the committee. “We will be more proactive in looking for new members,” says Wollman. “We don’t want to miss any opportunities.”
Wollman is targeting potential members, working with current Forum members to develop those target lists. For example, member Molly Raphael, a health care consultant, has been instrumental in helping to compile a list of potential members from the health care industry. Other industries being targeted include insurance, financial services, and pharmaceuticals.
Co-Chair Jane Storero is focusing on the retention aspect of membership. “Our goal is not only to get women into the organization but also to get them involved in The Forum’s many initiatives and committees,” says Storero. To make them feel welcome, whenever possible new members are contacted and invited to attend an upcoming meeting, which has been a Forum practice. However, now Storero says board members are becoming more involved in the “welcoming” process and have recently established a “meet and greet” committee to facilitate this. “This is a great way for a new member to get an introduction to the many activities of The Forum in an informal setting. We like to introduce new members to the different committees and get these women connected with a committee that interests them.” In addition, Forum Executive Director Sharon Hardy is available to talk with both long-standing and new members about which Forum committees they would like to join.
Another positive aspect of the new membership initiative is its trickle-down effect on The Forum’s committees. “By recruiting women from targeted industries,” explains Wollman, “we can support our committees’ efforts. For example, we can offer Executive Suites a greater pool of prospective board members and resources.”
“This membership initiative is just one way we’re working to support our members,” adds Marchese.
Read All About It!
Women on Boards Report Makes News
In September, The Forum released Women on Boards Research Report 2003, its third annual report on the status of women on boards and in the executive suites in the largest publicly held companies in the region. The report highlighted the major findings in a study by the Executive Suites Committee of data for the year 2002.
Thanks to the efforts of the Forum board, the Executive Suites Committee, the Visibility Committee, and our media consultant Carol Lunger, Women on Boards 2003 received phenomenal coverage in the media. Both the Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News ran articles on the report in both print and online formats on September 24th. “Philadelphia Firms Lag in Women on Boards” received page 3 coverage in the Inquirer’ s Business section, while “Study: Women ‘inching our way’ to Parity in Philly’s Boardrooms” was featured on page 2 in the Daily News.
Two days later, the Philadelphia Business Journal ran an editorial entitled “More Women Needed on Boards.” KYW News Radio on September 28th aired a story on the report, as did WHYY-FM in its Morning Business Report on September 29th at st1:time Hour="18" Minute="50">6:50 and 8:50 a.m.
In October the Courier Post published an article “Women Crash the Boards–Philadelphia Area Firms Slowly Adding Female Directors” in its Sunday edition. Also, in December the Inquirer published “Women in Board Seats Increasing,” an article about a national study of women on boards that mentioned The Forum and the Women on Boards report.
Excellent coverage!
Change the Nature of Power and the Concept of Leadership, Says Mitchell
Pat Mitchell, President and CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), was the speaker at the Leadership Breakfast held in September at the Four Seasons Hotel. In her speech entitled “Many Voices, One Future,” Mitchell talked about how far women have come in this country “since our emancipation less than 100 years ago, but our journey to fullest potential continues.”
Mitchell, the first woman president of a broadcast company, talked about her appointment to that position and her concerns that there are no other women presidents of a national broadcast company. She went on to talk about how the journey toward power is far from over, especially for the women of Afghanistan. She talked about Afghan women journalists, some of whom PBS has mentored, and how they are “trying to tell their stories that will not be told without their voices.”
Just as women can change the nature of power rather than be changed by it, Mitchell suggested that we “change the concept of leadership rather than letting leadership be defined by one gender or one race or economic status.”
As women, Mitchell said we “bring a different perspective to our jobs” that is empowering, not diminishing. “We do make different kinds of managers and leaders—and I think the end result is a better, more diverse environment.”
Mitchell outlined what it takes to be a leader. Being a leader for women means that “when we are at the table where decisions are made, we use our voices, our perspectives, our full range of experiences to help realize the fullest potential of the enterprise we represent or support or lead.
“Being a leader for women means reaching back for others who are still struggling against the twin hurdles of poverty and prejudice here and everywhere.
“And it means that when we reach the top, we drop ladders for those coming behind. We plan for our succession.”
Forum Events
FEBRUARY 10
“Opportunities to Influence the Local Economy Through Angel Investing”
Breakfast Program
FEBRUARY 26
“Making a Difference with Your Passion—Creating a Legacy”
Speaker: Orien Reid
Breakfast Program
Leading Sponsors:
Blank Rome LLP
NewCourtland Elder Services
APRIL 21
Roundtable Meeting with the Union League Business Network
Breakfast Program for Forum Members only
APRIL 27
Executive Suites Program
Leading Sponsors: Exelon, Harmelin Media
Benefactor: Right Management Consultants
Partners: Davis Management Company, DLS International, Liberty Business Strategies, The Barness Organization
JUNE (DATE TBA)
Annual Meeting and Forum Award Presentation
Leading Sponsor: National Penn Bank
Partner: Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management
Member News
New Members
Terry D’Alessandro, Executive Vice President/Division President PA, Sovereign Bank, 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 610-320-8400, tdalessa@sovereignbank.com
Abbe F. Fletman, Partner, Wolf Block Schorr & Solis-Cohen LLP, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215-977-2478, afletman@wolfblock.com
Joanne O. Hutcheson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Delaware Investments, 2005 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215-255-8911, jhutcheson@delinvest.com
Phyllis Savar Levy, Director, New Products/Innovation, McNeil Nutritionals/Johnson & Johnson, 7050 Camp Hill Road, Fort Washington, PA 19034, 215-273-8895, outrep@aol.com
Robin W. Neifield, CEO, NetPlus Marketing, Inc., 625 Ridge Pike, Building E, Suite 300, Conshohocken, PA, 19428, 610-897-2380, rn@netplusmarketing.com
Natayle Paquin, Esq., Chief of Staff, The School District of Philadelphia, Board of Education, 2120 Winter Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1099, 215-299-7823, npaquin@phila.k12.pa.us
Janice Price, President & CEO, Kimmel Center Inc., 260 South Broad Street, Suite 902, Phila., PA 19102, 215-670-2323, jprice@kimmelcenter.org
Nancy Walker Rogers, Vice President Institutional External Affairs, Kimmel Center, Inc., 260 South Broad Street,
Suite 901, Philadelphia, PA 19102, 215-790-5850, Nrogers@Kimmelcenter.org
Jill B. Steinberg, Partner/Managing Director, Prudent Management Associates, 1735 Market Street, Suite 3902, Philadelphia, PA 19103, 215-994-1062, jsteinberg@prudentmanagement.com
Leslie S. Stiles, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Commission for Women, 205 Finance Building, Harrisburg, PA 17120, 717-787-8128, lstiles@state.pa.us
Pamela B. Strobel, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, Exelon Corporation, P.O. Box 805398, 10 South Dearborn, 37th floor, Chicago, IL 60680-5398, 312-394-7332, Pamela.strobel@exeloncorp.com
Speeches/Publications
ELIZABETH BENNETT, Chair, Collaborative Family Law Affiliates, was an instructor at a training seminar on the collaborative process.
KAREN FRIEDMAN, President, Karen Friedman Enterprises, tells us her company was featured in Gen. Alexander Haig’s news magazine program “Communicating with Clarity, Confidence and Charisma,” airing on PBS, Tech-TV, Yahoo Broadcast on demand, and United Airlines in-flight programming. Also, her article entitled “It’s Time to Get Personal: How to Build Trustworthy Bridges During Difficult Times” was published in Enterprising Women Magazine.
IRENE HANNAN, Director, Women’s Business Advisory Services, Wachovia; LORI REINER, Partner, Goldenberg Rosenthal; and JANE STORERO, Partner, Blank Rome Comisky & McCauley, spoke together on a panel at the Temple University League of Entrepreneurial Women’s Fourth Annual Entrepreneurship Conference.
GAYE PINO, CEO, Paper and Ribbon Supply Co., was featured in a radio advertisement campaign for American Express Open Network.
MARJORIE BRODY, President, Brody Communications Ltd., kicked off the 2003 “Women: A Week-Long Celebration!” conference in Louisiana and was a keynote speaker for the presentation entitled “I Am Woman–Watch Me Lead.” Also, her book Help! Was That a Career-Limiting Move? won first prize in the nonfiction category in the 10th Annual Writer’s Digest International Self-Published Book Awards contest.
Awards
ANNE CASEY and her company, DecisionOne. were recognized with the Information Technology Services Marketing Association’s Gold Award for Services Marketing Excellence in the category of Increasing Sales Effectiveness.
EILEEN HEISMAN, President, National Philanthropic Trust, was recognized by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Philadelphia Chapter as “Fundraising Executive of the Year” for her local contributions and leadership role in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
KYRA MCGRATH, Vice President, Strategic Projects, WHYY, was named one of the 2003 Women of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal and the National Association of Women Business Owners.
PAGE MORAHAN, Co-Director, Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women, tells us that the ELAM program for medical and dental women faculty was selected as the 2004 recipient of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Edward B. Shils Entrepreneur Education Fund, administered by the American Dental Association.
FRANCES PIERCE, President & CEO, Data Systems Analysts, was the recipient of the Women’s Fund of New Jersey Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Technology. Also, she was selected as one of 25 Women of Distinction by the Philadelphia Business Journal and the National Association of Women Business Owners.
LINDA ROSANIO, CEO, The STAR Group, is the recipient of the Paradigm Award, which is given by the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce to the region’s most accomplished businesswoman. She will receive the award in March, at which time she will donate the Paradigm Gift to a charity of her choice.
PATRICIA WELLENBACH, Executive Director, The Wellness Community of Philadelphia, was honored with the St. Francis Medallion by the Women’s Auxiliary of St. Francis Country House, a skilled nursing facility.
Cindy Wollman, President, Sun Printing House, is proud that her company was awarded a grant from PA WedNet to provide specialized training to all employees. Also, Sun Printing was awarded “Best Workplace in America” by the Master Printers of America for the fourth consecutive year.
Business Moves/News
AUTUMN BAYLES has been named Chief Information Officer, Tasty Baking Company. She is the first CIO in the company’s history.
FRANCINE CARB, President and CEO, Markitects, announced that her company has achieved certification as a women’s business enterprise from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.
LILA BOOTH, founding partner of LBCII, announced her retirement. She continues to be active in the community and, in fact, was a presenter at a meeting of the Wharton Women Alumnae Network.
RALF RUNDGREN GRAVES, Principal, Astrion, tells us that her company provided a two-week professional development program for nine cantonal treasurers from Bosnia/Herzegovina as part of USAID’s efforts to assist in the development of local governments in that country.
ELAYNE HOWARD, President, Elayne Howard & Associates, announced her company’s new web site, www.elaynehowardassociates.com.
KAREN KAUFMAN, Principal, The Kaufman Partnership Ltd., announced that her company has introduced the Kaufman Impression Management System, designed to expedite the development of impression skills through the dual process of assessment and evaluation resulting in one’s ability to make a good impression.
ANNE KLEIN, President, Anne Klein & Associates, announced that her company has moved to new offices at Ten Lake Center, Suite 108, Route 73 North, Marlton, NJ 08053. The telephone number remains the same.
Appointments/Elections
SUZANNE FAIRLIE, President, ProSearch, was named a member of the LaSalle University Advisory Board and served as a panelist for a discussion on “Does It Matter,” as seen in Harvard Business Review’s May 2003 issue.
PAMELA GODWIN, President, Change Partners, was elected Chair of the Advisory Board for Penn State Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies.
SUSAN O.W. JAFFE was appointed to the Board of Visitors, College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, and to the Board of Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse.
MARIAN MARCHESE, President, VIRTU Interactive, was appointed to the Board of Governors of the Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum.
EMMY MILLER, President, Liberty Business Strategies Ltd., was named Chair of the Human Resource Society’s Learning Network.
JANE PEPPER, President, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, was named chair of the Board of Visitors for the Ambler College of Temple University and nominated to the board of the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Also, she was awarded the Robert W. Crawford Achievement Prize by the National Recreation Foundation in recognition of outstanding service to improve the quality of life for the youth of Philadelphia.
ALLYSON SCHWARTZ, State Senator, was named to Governor Rendell’s Advisory Committee on Minority and Women-Owned Business Opportunities.
MELONEASE SHAW, EVP/COO, PRWT Services, was appointed Chair of the Governor’s Commission on African American Affairs.
JOIE SMITH, Managing Director, Touchstone Partners VIP Search, was elected President of the board of Harbour Point Owners Association, a Marriott property in Hilton Head Island. She also was appointed to the Abington Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees and to the Advisory Board of Abington Art Center.
GERI SWIFT, President, Women’s Business Development Center, was appointed to the Governor’s Ad Hoc Advisory Committee on Minority and Women-Owned Business Opportunities. Also, she was elected to the Board of the Association of Women Business Owners.