women with know how july 2011

8/6/2019 Women With Know How July 2011

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Kerry Barr OConnor

Executive Director for

Dress for Success Charlotte

Investingin Your Employees

July 2011

Home Staging+ More


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July2011|ConnectandGrowWithWomenInOurCommunity

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From the publisherDear Readers,

I have been very fortunate in the last few months bybeing honored by the Mecklenburg Times as a 201150 Most In uential women, and also I have beenelected as Vice President of Issues Management ofour local chapter of Metropolitan Business andProfessional Women and Vice President ofBusiness and Professional Women for North Carolina.For those of you not familiar with BPW, it is awonderful organization for all women in the workplaceand you couldnt be with a better group ofempowering women.

We meet the 3rd Wednesday of every month for lunchand outstanding speakers.

For More information please visithttp://www.mbpw.org

Women With Know How Magazine has a designteam!

Dustin Shores of Dustin Shores Photography andCristina deCasto of eSplash Marketing will bemaking some great changes to the magazine in thenext few months.

For those of you who have been asking for video inthe magazine, we will now have it available!!

Last, but not least, our new logo will be in the Augustissue, created by the very talented team at Moonlight

Creative.

Have a very Happy and Safe 4th of July!!

Mimi

Mimi ZelmanPublisher


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Publisher/PresidentMimi L. Zelman

[email protected]

Vice President MarketingWendy Whitehurst

[email protected]

Design and Page ProductionDustin Shores

Christina de Castro

of eSplash MarketingContributing Writers

Mary Elizabeth MurphyMarcie Williams-Browning

Robyn CriggerAmy Whathman

April Oliver

Cover Photographyby Dustin Shores Photography

For more advertising information call

Mimi at 704-491-1207or email her at:

[email protected]

Copyright 2011

4 PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHTChristina de CastroeSplash Marketing6 How Does a Common Weak Link Hurtan Organization?

10 7 Tips to Making Your

Advertising Campaign

12 Home Staging + More14 Women and Retirement:Myth vs. Reality16 Investing In Your Employees20 Is the New Food Pyramid Better?24 Live a Little Greener Every Day26 Kerry Barr OConnorExecutive Director for Dress for SuccessCharlotte32 Hosting A Star Studded 4th

Contents


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Tell us about your self.I recently graduated from

Winthrop with a Fine Artsdegree. I chose a Fine Artsdegree because it gave me theknowledge and skills to pursuemy passion in art and design.Before moving to the Charlottearea, I received a degree inDigital Media in Charleston,South Carolina, where I wasborn and raised. Moving toCharlotte area, has been awonderful experience becauseI love the area, people andits a great place for a youngprofessional like myself to getstarted.

What does eSplashMarketing do?eSplash Marketing is aCharlotte marketing company

specializing logo design, and inwebsite design, photography,

e-mail marketing, print design,social media marketing,business identity solutions.

How did you get startedin this business?While I was in college I workedas a part time web andgraphic designer for eSplashMarketing. After graduating, Ihad the opportunity to become

more involved with eSplashMarketing and take on a moreleading role in the businessand design end of thecompany. I loved whateSplash Marketing had to offerbecause it allowed me fullcreative control for designing.

What is unusual orunique about yourbusiness, in comparisonto your competitors orsimilar businesses?We offer a unique brandingfor businesses and createwebsites that utilizesprofessional photography.Many internet companieswho design websites haveto outsource the photos oruse stock photography but

we offer professional images.We are also easy going, hardworking and creativeindividuals that love what wedo .

PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT

Christina de CastroWeb Designer for eSplash Marketing


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What are some of yourgreatest challenges inyour business? Some of the greatestchallenges of our business ispromoting our business and

networking. We are aninternet marketing companythat works hard to deliver highquality design and we focus onthe client and their needs rst.

At the end of the day, there isusually very little time topromote and network ourselves.

What advice wouldgive other youngentrepreneurs startinga business right ofcollege?Always be positive, learn how

to network and promote yourbusiness. Its important for a

young entrepreneur to learnthat running your ownbusiness you have to wearmany hats. Be prepared tolearn as much as you canabout each area of the

business for example,you are going to be the Accountant, Secretary, SocialMedia Guru, Sales Rep., andwhat ever other roles yourbusiness requires. Be willingto learn a lot, each day theirare going to be challenges butall of the hard work will pay off.

Where do you seeyourself ve years fromnow?I see eSplash Marketingcompeting as one of the topinternet marketing companiesin Charlotte. I would also liketo broaden eSplash

Marketing into the Charlestonarea, with more locations.Personally, I want to continuelearning as much as I canabout art, design and growingour business.

Christina de CastroFront-End Developer andWeb Designer13850 Ballantyne Corporate Place,Suite 500Charlotte, NC 28277phone 704.200.2420mobile 704.582.9033fax [email protected]

www.esplashmarketing.com


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Of all aspects of a company, what one impacts practically the entireorganization as well as customers, and can help or hurt the bottom line? It may sound simple or of little consequence, but the actual results are real and valid.

The answer is communication .

BY ROBYN CRIGGER, CEO

Compass Career ManagementSolutions OI Partners Inc.

YOUR CAREER

How Does aCommon Weak Link Hurt anOrganization?


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Companies and organizationshave all been guilty of dismiss-ing the importance of goodcommunication. What doesthat mean anyway goodcommunication?

Communication involvestwo aspects: speaking/ relaying information andlistening/receiving. Thereis no communication withoutboth parts. Whether the twoare employer and employeeor employee and customer,or even vendor and employer BOTH need to be good atlistening as well as speaking.

An example: When I made thedecision to purchase a buildingfor our business, I neededa sign made. I asked mycontractor for arecommendation of a

reputable sign company.When I meet with a companyrep, I relayed what kind of sign I wanted for my business.Interestingly enough the signrepresentative wanted to showme samples of a wide varietyof signs, but nothing like I haddescribed.Did I do business with thatsign company? NO!

The sign company may havemade excellent signs, but therepresentative didnt listen orshow me what I wanted. Ifound that to be disrespectful.If there was a reason that my

sign idea wasnt a wise choice,the rep could have explained,noting their expertise in thatbusiness.

What do you as anemployer or businessowner relay to youremployees about how tocommunicate?

Are you a good listener? This


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is SO IMPORTANT!!! Are youdemonstrating what you wantthem to do? Do your employ-ees feel empowered to handleany dispute or concern? Dothey know what you expect

of them?

Meet with yourorganization and discussdifferent scenarios, i.e. whenthere have beenmisunderstandings orconfusion, etc. Encourageopen exchanges about howit was handled or what couldhave been done differently.We ALL learn from ourmistakes anddisappointments. We can also

learn from each others. Whatworked for someone mightalso work for you.

Do your employees knowwhat you would expect

them to do? Your employees may evenhave a better idea for handlinga dif cult situation than you.Employers are NOT perfectand do not have all the an-swers. Let them know that.We learn so much from eachother by LISTENING!

How often do you talk

to your employees?Make a habit to have multiplecasual exchanges with your

workforce throughout the year.Be sure to ask about them andto LISTEN to what they haveto share. Improving yourcommunication can spurproductivity and improveyour bottom line!

Robyn Crigger - CEOCompass Career ManagementSolutions/OI Partners

8509 Crown Crescent Court,Charlotte, NC

Tel: [email protected]


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1. What WORKED Isnt What WILLWork: Sometimes, we re ect on thepast and project it as what will happen inthe future. Realistically, what was a goodmeans to advertise 5 years ago, much less,last year isnt always relevant. Ask aroundto your trusted posse about where they ndout about events and businesses and doyour homework Find out what companiesare making moves and dynamicallyadapting to communication means andwhat companies are staying stagnant intheir progression.

2. Dont be Motivated on PriceSolely: Weekly, I have new andpotential clients come to me and unloadtheir horror stories of working withadvertising companies From those who

over-promise and under-deliver to otherswho literally took their money and ran. It hashappened to me personally. You get whatyou pay for. If you get something for free orat little cost, do not expect miracles. Thinkof it this way If a doctor offers you a freetreatment, would you be willing to accept allrisks associated and be comfortable withthe procedure.

3. You Gotta Do It: I cannot tell youhow many companies and event

planners that I encounter who fail time andtime again. The new trend is believing that ifyou have a huge social media base,throwing out some mentions on socialmedia are going to gain you massiveattention Not so much. There is asomewhat science and etiquette to social

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR BY KIM HUGHES

Owner of 704events.com

7 Tips to Making Your Advertising CampaignSuccessful


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media and most do not marketing correctly.While social media can and if usedcorrectly, will build your business, dontskimp on advertising on avenues that arebuilt speci cally for that cause. Socialmedia is what is says social media.

4. Stay In Tune With Your Brand: Corporations like Coke, Pepsi,McDonalds and Apple have done afantastic job with their branding, marketingand advertising Not only are thesecompanies a household name, they arealso brand consistent through all medias.You dont have to spend a billion dollars ayear in advertising to utilize their practices.If you have an ad on one media that iscompletely different than an ad on anothermedia, you will do nothing but confuse thepeople you want to attract and you getpeople believing that the two companiesthey see are not related! Find a designer ormarketing agency that you love (or ask us,we have trusted contacts that we areevangelists of!) and entrust them withgiving you a strong, appealing andconsistent message that can be received

across all medias.

5. Diversify: Our social andcommunication culture is scatteredand our attention spans are being taken inmultiple directions. Here is a fun factoid:When one logs on to a website, theirattention span averages 3.5 to 5 seconds.

I know that not everyone in Charlotte uses704events.com and though I am working toalways increase my users, I always suggestthat people advertise outside of me. Be onthe radio, be in print, do some guerillamarketing The more avenues you areseen on, the better your results will be!

6. Track, Track, Track: Once you usean advertising source, are you doinganything to see how the campaign wasreceived? Ask people how they came toyour event or business. If someonepurchases something from you online,send them an email and ask them how theyheard about you. Granted, your answerswill not be completely accurate (sometimespeople dont remember where they heardabout you or give you an inaccurateanswer) but it will give you a strong base tobegin with.

7. Give It Time: On average, it takespeople 7 exposures to a business,event, product, etc., before they will takethe step to engage. Our attention span isasked to be directed a thousand different

ways and it takes time for a concept to sinkin. Be patient.

Kim Hughes,Owner of [email protected]


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Home Staging is the act of preparinga private residence for sale in the realestate marketplace. The goal of staging isto make a home appealing to the highestnumber of potential buyers, therebyselling a property more swiftly and formore money. ...Wikipedia.orgWell, yes. But it is always about themoney! Money for the homeowner andRealtor.

1. A Staged home sells as much as

80% faster and 7% higher on averagethan its non-staged counterpart.

2. The faster a home sells, the faster thehomeowner gets out from under themortgage, taxes, insurance, HOA fees, utilities,and maintenance costs. This can save themtens of thousands of dollars.

3. The cost of Staging a home is almostalways (if not always) less money thanthe rst price reduction.

4. Realtors simply do not get paidunless and until a home salecloses. They invest time and energymarketing a property, but it must actuallysell before they earn any money.Staging their listings brings higher offersand faster sales, which enables them to

work on securing their next listing.RISMedia published a report in 2010illustrating the signi cant impact Staginghas had on the real estate market. Of the500 Realtors from across the countrysurveyed at the National Association ofRealtors Expo:

96% believed buyers react better toStaged homes than vacant ones

94% believed vacant homes takelonger to sell than Staged homes

94% believed vacant homes sell for less money than Staged homes The majority of Realtors surveyedagreed that vacant homes take twice

as long to sell and sell for at least 15%less than a Staged home .

Occupied homes also do very well whenStaged. This year, those homes wevestaged that were occupied by familieswith children averaged only 14 days onmarket! You dont have to hide your kidsand all their possessions to present thehouse in a positive light.Home Staging is really about makingmoney for the homeowner. With typicalROIs exceeding 250%, it simply doesnt

REAL ESTATE BY CAROL SCHULENBERG

Owner & Principal StagerBallantyne Home Staging ASP

Home Staging+ More


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make nancial sense to try to sell a homewithout the assistance of a ProfessionalHome Stager. Staging the property isalways less than the rst price reduction.Staging is so effective that we ndourselves working with more rentalproperties for investor owners who want toget a new tenant in place as quickly aspossible.

RedecoratingRedecorating is all about using what ahomeowner already owns and simplyredoing the dcor by rearranging furniture,wall art, and accessories. Its a growingbusiness because so many people simplydont know what to do with a certain roomor how to make their mix & matchpossession work for them. And, with theeconomy being so unsettled for so long,many people are opting to re-do instead ofbuy new.

Color ConsultationsAs a CfYH Color Consultant, we helppeople select colors that re ect who theyare and how they want to feel in aparticular space, room, or the entire house.Of course, the use of color is a signi cantpart of home staging as well. Color has thepower to evoke strong emotions, so we useit carefully when Staging a home to sell buthave wide open options when working a

redecorating or new home client. Andwhen we refer to color, it is more than thewalls. We take into consideration the

ooring, countertops, cabinetries andaccessories as well.

New Home StylingThis service helps new homeowners reducetheir stress levels and get their new placeset up more quickly. Its a hybrid servicewe offer that crosses over decorating,redecorating and home stagingboundaries. These clients bene t by ourexpertise in determining how to use theirfurnishings and accessories from theirprevious residence for maximum impact intheir new residence.Carol Schulenberg is the owner ofBallantyne Home Staging. She is anAccredited Staging Professional, CfYHColor Consultant, and Certi ed DecoratingProfessional.

For more information on her company,visit www.ballantynehomestaging.com oremail her at [email protected]

Carol SchulenbergOwner & Principal StagerBallantyne Home Staging

ASP, CfYH Color Consultant, Certi ed DecoratingProfessionalPhone: 980-322-5825www.ballantynehomestaging


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Are you dreaming of a

leisurely retirement enjoyinga second cup of morningcoffee, or is a sunrise roundof golf more your speed?Either way, youll needto know the facts so youcan guide your retirementdreams with realism.

Historically the road toretirement hasnt beensmooth for many women. Infact, the SocialSecurity Administration(SSA) reports that 17percent of all elderly, singlewomen live in poverty. Withtodays longer life spans,this gure has the potentialto rise. By recognizing thefollowing myths for what

they are, you can takecontrol of your nancialfuture and help improve thisstartling statistic.

Myth #1 Social Security will takecare of me in retirement.The reality is that SocialSecurity income probablywont be enough. At thestart of 2011, the averagemonthly retirement bene treported is $1,177. SSAdata also shows thatwomens bene ts are

almost a third lower thanmens. Not only do womenearn less than men duringtheir working years, theyalso take more time awayfrom work than their malecounterparts (U.S.Department of Labor).Add the uncertain futureof Social Security to thesestatistics, and you can seewhy its more important thanever to plan foradditional income sourceswhen determining yourretirement income target.

A bene ts estimator isavailable on the Social

Security Administrations

website (www.ssa.gov).Use it to get an estimate offuture bene ts dependingon when you plan to retire.

Myth #2 I wont need nearly asmuch to live on when Iretire.The assumption soundsreasonable when you

consider the costsassociated with raisingchildren and commutingto work each day. On theother hand, if you want tospend your leisure timetraveling, it will come witha cost. Its probably safeto assume that youll havehigher health care costsand potentially long-termcare costsin your lateryears, as well.

A rule of thumb that manynancial professionals use

is that youll need 60 to80 percent of your currentincome in retirement

FINANCE BY APRIL M. OLIVER

CFP CERTIFIED FINANCIALPLANNER

Women andRetirement:Myth vs. Reality


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(adjusted for in ation) tomaintain your currentlifestyle. Of course, itdepends on how you planto spend your time onceyou are no longer working.It might be a good idea totest your planned budgetfor a few months before youretire. That way if yourincome and expensesseem unrealistic, considerpostponing retirement orlooking for ways todecrease your expenses.

Myth #3 My 401(k) contributionswill fund my retirementwithout my involvement.Its true that a 401(k) is asmart way to save forretirement withbefore-tax dollars. Sincemany employers offer amatching feature, you mayhave an opportunity forinstant return on yourinvested dollars.

The good news is thatmany women arecontributing to their

employer-sponsored plans.In fact SSA data suggeststhat in 2008, 51 percent ofwomen employed full-timeparticipated in their planthrough work.

Unfortunately, a commonmisconception is that youcan sit back and the planwill manage itself. Fact is,you might get even morebene t from your plan bytaking an active role in yourinvestment selection. If youhave several years untilretirement, choosing tooconservative investmentsmay cause you to fall shortof the dollars you need. Onthe other hand, if retirementis approaching, you mayneed to move aggressiveinvestments to the moreconservative side. The mostimportant thing toremember is to review your

choices regularly to makesure your investmentselection is still in line withyour goals.

If decisions like these seemdaunting, you dont have to

make them alone. Byestablishing a relationshipwith professionals who canhelp you at critical times,you can face your unique

nancial challenges withreality and eageranticipation of yourretirement dream.

April M. Oliver, CFPCERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERpractitioner

Advisor is licensed/registered to dobusiness with U.S. residents only inthe states of CA, CO, FL, IA, MD, MI,MO, NC, NY, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA.

Brokerage, investment and nancialadvisory services are made availablethrough Ameriprise Financial Services,Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Someproducts and services may not beavailable in all jurisdictions or to allclients.

2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All

rights reserved.


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One of the most rewarding parts of beingthe Director of Corporate Training for UNCCharlotte is sitting in the back of aclassroom and watching a participant nodtheir head in agreement with what theinstructor is saying, scribbling notesfuriously in their participant guide to makesure they havent missed a single nuggetof information, or talking through a casestudy with fellow participants to come upwith a perfect solution. Its an amazing andsatisfying thing to see the lightbulb comeon during a course discussion. Ive actuallyheard the comment Ooohhh, thats why wedo it that way. Now I get it.

Learning and Development is theframework for helping employees todevelop their personal and organizationalskills, knowledge and abilities. There is nodoubt that a well-trained anddeveloped staff will be a valuable resource

to their company. Companies shouldsupport learning, in general, and not just insupport of knowledge needed for theemployees current or next anticipated job.It should be noted that the key factor iskeeping the employee interested,attending, engaged, motivated andretained.

What were talking about here is employeetraining. Youre going to see the wordtraining used fairly heavily in this article,but learning is in many ways a better wayto think of the subject, because learningbelongs to the learner, whereas trainingtraditionally belongs to the trainer or theorganization. Learning conveys a higherrealm of understanding.

Learning and Development is moreimportant now than ever before. Therecession has meant that many businesseshave stopped investing in the skills of theiremployees meaning that rms are at riskof losing pro tability and risk losing theircompetitive edge.

However, after two years of signi cantbudget and staf ng cuts, 2010 was awelcome relief to most U.S. training

organizations. Training budgets accordingto Bersin & Associates (which dropped 21percent between 2007 and 2009) began tostabilize and many L&D organizationsinitiated hiring during the year. In fact,Bersin & Associates reported in March2011 that organizations on average spent1.4 percent more on HR programs, services

BUSINESS BY AMY WARTHMAN

Director of Corporate Training

Investing In YourEmployees


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and systems in 2011 than in 2010According to Training Magazine, total 2010U.S. training expendituresincludingpayroll and spending on external productsand servicesinched up $600 million to$52.8 billion. Below are some additionalinteresting facts. How does yourorganization stack up to these gures?

Average training expenditures per learner $1,041 Average hours of training per employee 40.1 76 percent of survey respondents saidtheir training budgets either stayed the

ame or decreased

61% of Mandatory or Compliance Trainingis delivered online 23% of Executive Development isdelivered online 76% of companies do not use podcastingas a method of trainingEmployee learning and development is

taking center stage as businessleaders increasingly understand that ahighly skilled, knowledgeable workforce iscritical to achieving growth and success.When it comes to learning anddevelopment, the number of training hoursisnt the key measurement factor. Thetraining program has to add value to theorganization. Its importance to align yourtraining programs to the overall strategicgoals of the organization.

If there is a silver lining to the recession, itsthat companies were forced to focus on theissues that really matter. Many companieshave had to streamline and consolidatetheir training functions and the result is thatits business and talent strategies havebecome more closely aligned. This in turnwill lead to greater bottom-line results.

The reasons to promote employee Learning


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and Development cannot beoveremphasized.

ProductivityLearning and Development helps in

learning how to complete new tasks andtake on more responsibility, employees canlearn advanced techniques to help themcomplete everyday tasks more ef ciently this obviously leads to increasedproductivity of the employee and that helpsthe organization further achieve it long-termgoal. When an employee is ef cient in theirwork processes, there is a direct parallelwith improved nancial gain for theorganization.

QualityLearning and Development helps inimproving upon the quality of workproduced. Workers are more con dent andstudies have shown that there is a positivecorrelation between the competencies thatemployees hold and the long-term growthand productivity of the organization.

Organization ClimateLearning and Development helps to createthe reputation of a great place to work andresults in fewer wage demands, lessabsenteeism, and a longer list of jobapplicants.

Reduces Turnover andImproves Job SatisfactionLearning and Development helpsemployees feel valued and therefore builda positive perception and feeling about theorganization. From the employeesperspective, the provision of learning anddevelopment opportunities assists with theachievement of performance objectives. Italso provides a framework to understand

what new skills and knowledge can beacquired, and how this can be applied inthe work environment. It gives individualsgreater autonomy over their career anddevelopment, and acts as a motivatingin uence. If your employees feel satis ed,they will share this positivity with yourinternal and external customers, vendors,suppliers, etc. Furthermore, when peopleknow that a company believes in theirpersonal growth, they are likely to stay withthat company for a longer period of time.

Team StrengthLearning and Development can helpcreate the sense of team work, team spirit

and team collaboration, especially if agroup of employees go through trainingtogether. It allows them the opportunity totake the information and tools they acquiredduring class and apply them to theireveryday jobs. Additionally, those teammembers can act as a great resource onceback on the job.

The bottom line is this. Learning andDevelopment is an investment. Its aninvestment just like the building that youoperate from, or the computers you use todo business or the marketing you provideyour customers. Learning andDevelopment is an investment in your mostprecious resource your people.

Corporate and Custom Training: We can deliver any of ourprograms on-site at your facility, or they can bescheduled at UNC Charlotte. All programs can be tailoredand customized to accommodate your speci c trainingneeds. Please contact Amy Wartham to discuss how UNCCharlottes programs can bene t your company ororganization.

Amy WarthamDirector of Corporate TrainingPhone: 704-687-8723

E-Mail: [email protected]


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The big news from the USDA in June wastheir announcement of the new MyPlateFood Guide.Gone is the pyramid. There are severalgood points about the new, colorful foodplate. A big one that I noted is that itdoesnt necessarily support the foods thatour government subsidizes through the

Dept. of Agriculture. The old pyramid wasstructured around the foods that weredirectly supported by the USDA.meat,dairy and grains. Less that 1% of subsidieswent to fruits and vegetables. Anothergood thing about the plate is that it iscolorful and easy to read. Fruits andvegetables cover half the plate with grains

and proteins being divided on the otherhalf. This directly supports the PhysiciansCommittee for Responsible Medicine andtheir recommendations to help reduce heartdisease, cancer and other diet-relateddiseases as well as obesity.

Does the new MyPlate give Americans all

they need to eat healthy? In my opinion,there still is some work to do. Researchshows that a more plant based dietsigni cantly reduces Americas diet-relateddiseases. In fact, up to 85% of ourdiseases could be prevented through betternutrition. My own personal plate would looka little different.

WELLNESS BY VICKIE BUNZEY

IstheNew Food

Pyramid Better ?


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The USDA recommends 9 to 13 servingsof fruits and vegetables per day. Lets sayyou eat 10 servings per day. Of this ten, 8should be vegetable and 2 should be fruit.My green vegetable portion would take uptwo-thirds to one-half of my plate. My redwould be a smaller portion.If you read through the guidelines, the Fruitsection lists both fruits and fruit juices.Whole fruit is always better. Eating a wholepiece of fruit will ll you with ber anddigests slower making you feel full longer.This also keeps your blood sugar morelevel because the sugar in whole fruit doesnot convert as quickly as fruit juice does in

your blood stream.

Protein should be eaten at every meal. The guidelines do include eating 8 ouncesof sh twice per week. This is good asmost of us do not get enough Omega 3

fatty acids through our diet. When makingsh choices it is best to choose wild caught

and those sh that are lower in the foodchain. Fish like wild Alaskan salmon, Alas-kan halibut, striped bass, sardines and her-ring are excellent choices. Fish like sword

sh tend to have high toxin levels such asmercury. When choosing other proteins likered meat, limit the consumption to once ortwice a week. Dont forget about your plantproteins. Include beans or legumes as aprotein a few times a week for a vegetarianmeal. As Americans we eat too much ani-mal protein. Scaling back on animal proteinhas signi cant health bene ts. Rememberthat a serving size for animal protein is

about the size of your palm and the thick-ness of your palm (3 to 4 oz.). Beans are cup to 1 cup per serving.

Grains should always be whole grains.These are grains that are intact and have


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not been ground or changed. Whole grainsare digested slowly and also help keepblood sugars level. Processed grains arevirtually void of nutrients and convert tosugar very quickly in your bloodstream.Whole grains will also provide you protein.Think about eliminating an animal proteina few times a week and having steamedbrown rice or quinoa with fresh sautedvegetables from the farmers market.

Dairy can be controversial and a decisionthat you should make for yourself. Inaddition to www.choosemyplate.gov,research www.pcrm.org.If you choose dairy, choose organic. You

can also try your own food experiment byeliminating dairy for two weeks and thenadd it back in. Determine for yourself howyour body reacts to dairy.

The recommendation to cut back onfoods high in solid fats, addedsugars and salt is good advice. The list ofsaturated fats includes cakes, cookies, icecream, pizza, cheese, sausages and hotdogs. These foods also include

hidden sugar and salt. In other words, thisis the typical American diet. There is nodetail as what fats to choose. Choose goodfats each day like nuts, avocado and oliveoil. Olive oil is generally your best choicefor cooking or salad dressings. Choose avirgin, rst expressed oil. Be wary of othervegetable oils as they can be highlyprocessed and do more harm than good.

Food labels are also mentioned. You areencouraged to read your labels. However,the guidelines still accept making choicesthat include trans fats, added sodium andsugar. I would encourage you to makechoices that eliminate additives to yourfood. Eat fresh, whole foods versuspackaged and processed food.

This is just a brief analysis of the newMyPlate. It is a step in the right directionto help Americans clean up their plates. Iwould encourage you to continue toeducate and research your own foodchoices. Make a comparison betweenMyPlate at www.choosemyplate.gove andthe Power Plate at www.pcrm.org.

For more dietary consultation, Vickie may be contacted atwww.YourBalancedHealthStyle.com704-995-1951.

Ref. Dr. Andrew Weil; ChooseMyPlate.gov; pcrm.org


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People can often getcaught up in their normalroutines but its important

to try to be a little moreeco-conscious in our dailylives. There are many easyways that people can havea positive impact on theplanet and on their homes.

Try these simple and earth-friendly tips to help take goodcare of your family, home and

planet.

Trade TransportationAccording to www.epa.gov,leaving your car at homejust two days a week canreduce greenhouse gas

emissions by an averageof 1,600 pounds per year.So, try public transporta-

tion if you can. Carpool,walk or bike to work andget the kids in on the act,too. Some schools sponsorWalk to School days tohelp cut emissions and getkids more physically active.

FAMILY FEATURES

Live a LittleGreenerEvery Day


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Clean GreenYou dont need harshchemical cleaners to takecare of household cleaning.Natural products likebaking soda can tacklemany of your everydaychores. Arm & HammerBaking Soda is safe andcan be used to scrubaway build-up on the grill,freshen the carpet, and caneven take on patio furniturecleaning and pool care,too. You can also keeprecycling bins deodorized

with a regular sprinkling ofbaking soda. Get more tipsat www.armandhammer.com.

E-CycleIf you have electronics thatyou no longer use, manyof them can be recycled.Recycling old computers,DVD players and otherelectronics helps savenatural resources, andreduces land, air and waterpollution due to hazardoussubstances such as leadand chromium. Find out

where to recycle yourelectronics atwww.earth911.com.Wash WiselyThe average washingmachine uses 40.9 gallonsof water per load,according to www.epa.gov. If you are looking tobuy a new washer, shop fora high-ef ciency one thatuses less than 28 gallonsper load. Wash only fullloads of laundry to savemore water and energy.

Go OutdoorsEven if you live in an urbanarea, there are still waysyou can plant your owngarden. Without abackyard, head up to theroof. Planting a rooftopgarden can help absorbpollution, reduce heat gainand ultimately result inenergy savings. For easymaintenance, plant treesand perennial owers tocreate an urban oasis ortry a vegetable garden andenjoy fresh produce froman unexpected location.

Try a Natural MakeoverSpruce yourself up withnatural products that willmake your skin and hairfeel refreshed. To exfoliateyour face and body, make apaste of three partsbaking soda to one partwater and rub in a gentlecircular motion toremove dead skin cells. Forsqueaky clean hair, sprinklea small amount of bakingsoda into your palm withyour favorite shampoo andrinse as usual. Baking soda

will help to remove residueand leave hair cleaner andmore manageable.

It may not seem like much,but every step you takemakes you, your home andthe earth a little better off.

Photo courtesy of Getty


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I am very fortunate to have met Kerry BarrOConner, who to me really is a woman withknow how and is a women with remarkablestrength and courage!She has had a major curve ball thrown ather and every time I see her she alwayshas a beautiful smile on her face and she isbeautiful from the inside and out!

Kerry is generous and gracious with hertime and talent and she possess aninternal glow that truly de nes her. Sheradiates con dence, compassion, fortitudeand open arms for everyone she meets.What follows is an insight to a truly amazingwoman!!

Tell us about you:Kerry Barr OConnor was named ExecutiveDirector for Dress for Success Charlotte inDecember 2005 and charged withre-building the organization shut down dueto a lack of sustainable funding. Dress forSuccess Charlotte re-opened its doors toclients in November 2006 afterdeveloping and implementing a businessplan that called for a more diverse donorbase, expanded board of directors, and

new community partnerships, including a60 member community advisorycommittee. In 2008, Dress for SuccessCharlotte, an af liate of Dress for SuccessWorldwide, and one of more than 100af liates now in 10 countries, was namedRookie of the Year for Best Practices in allarea of operations.

In April 2009, Dress for Success Charlottelaunched a capacity building campaign,Beyond the Boutique, to help move itsoperations from an 853 sq ft space to aspace large enough to accommodate itsgrowing programs and services. OnJanuary 18, 2010, Dress for SuccessCharlotte moved to a newly renovated5,040 sq ft facility Boutique and CareerTransformation Center complete with a fullyequipped Community Resource Room,inventory intake and storage area, privateof ces, boutique and private dressingrooms.

In 2010 Dress for Success Charlotte served896 clients: a 70% increase in services tonew clients and a more than 100% increase

Kerry Barr OConnorExecutive Director forDress for Success CharlotteBy Mimi Zelman


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in services to returning clients. Much of thisgrowth was due to the organizationsstrategic response to the highunemployment rate, including newlylaunched and expanded employmentretention and career advancementprograms and initiatives, including aProfessional Womens Group, a fullyfunctioning, multi-user Career Center, aFinancial Literacy Program, and the GoingPlaces Network.

A former newscaster, Kerry changed careerdirections after becoming involved with theAmeriCorps VISTA program and has sincebeen involved in non-pro t management for25 years. She has worked and volunteeredfor several organizations in New York, Ohio

and now North Carolina developing newinitiatives and raising millions of dollars.With a philosophy that everyone hassomething to give, Kerry is most passionateabout organizations that provide the toolsand support needed to help people realizetheir potential and work towards selfsuf ciency.

A native of Albany, New York, Kerry and herfamily moved to Matthews, North Carolina inJune 2005. She and her husband Tim havea 19 year-old daughter entering hersophomore year at UNC Charlotte and a 16year-old son entering his junior year atWaddington High School.


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How did you get started in the Not-For-Pro t world?In 1985, what started out as a briefsabbatical from the broadcasting world toreassess my career choice turned out tobe a perfect in the right place at the righttime scenario. It was during this time Ilearned of the VISTA (Volunteers in Serviceto America) program and an opportunitywith an anti-hunger organization. I wasassigned to the Regional Food Bank ofNortheastern New York and after my oneyear commitment to VISTA was ful lled, Iwas offered a permanent fulltime position.It was an easy decision for me to stay asthe rst year taught me a great deal aboutthe inequities and injustices within our richnation. With 20% of the food produced inour country being lost between the eld andtable, nearly 2 times the amount neededto feed every hungry American, I wasexcited and determined to be part of aneffort to help identify, secure and deliverresources to those most in need. Shortlyafter, I was offered the Associate Directorposition and for the next nine years, I hadthe privilege of working alongside a

phenomenal executive director and mentorwho put service above self and promotedexcellence and professional developmentamong his team. We grew the organizationfrom 3 full-time employees to more than 30and developed many programs andinitiatives that received nationalrecognition, including an award winningannual appeal and the development of aprivate label canned food program. Weexpanded the program to distributemillions of pounds of food to more than700 agencies in a 23 county service area.Through my work with the Food Bank, Ibecame involved with several other non-pro ts and civic organizations, and joinedthe boards of others, including the Alliancefor the Mentally Ill and Rotary. When myhusbands job took us to Cleveland, Ohio,

I continued volunteering with local boardsand working in senior managementpositions for several non-pro ts, includingthe Make A Wish Foundation, AchievementCenters for Children and Camp Cheerful,and Ohio Boys Town. I thoroughly enjoyedworking with volunteers, donors and staffpassionate and committed to improving thequality of lives of others. While a long wayfrom my original career goal, the time spentin the broadcasting business helped meput the missions of various organizationsand the people and families they bene ttedin front of media and in a way it would beeasy to tell the story. Raising awareness ofthese missions resulted in new and strongercollaborations with numerous stakeholdersand community leaders. How have your prior career experiencesprepared you for your journey withDress for Success Charlotte ?I have been fortunate that the positions Iveheld over the past 25 years, whether in asenior management position, or heading upa transition team during a search for a newexecutive director, and the people I have

worked for and with have helped prepareme for my role at Dress for SuccessCharlotte. I have worked in both start-upand more established organizations and innearly every area of operation. Each rolecame with its own valuable set oflessons and experiences. Prior to joiningthe Board of Directors in December 2005as the acting, interim executive director,Ive had several opportunities to assumeleadership roles on various projects and inthe communities Ive lived. Success alwayscomes easier when you surround yourselfwith people who are smart, passionate andequally excited and committed to creatingcultures that enable others to thrive andmake a difference.


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What would you most like our readers toknow about your journey in business? Inlife?There are many times in life when peoplegive you a hand up in business and in life.Sometimes you recognize it at the time, andin other cases it may take awhile beforeyou recognize what someone has done foryou. It may come as a little nudge whenyou dont think you are ready or it might feellike a big uncomfortable shove. I have hadmany hands up along the way and I try inall that I do to reciprocate. I believe I havelearned more from the people I have hadthe privilege of serving then they have fromme and I am so very grateful they haveallowed me to walk just a few stepsalongside them on their path to selfsuf ciency. We are richer, stronger andwiser when we empower each other.

Who would you describe as yourmentor(s) and why?I have been blessed to have had severalwonderful mentors in my life, but if I had tochoose one, it would be my mother. I amthe third oldest of eight children and my

father died when I was a teenager. Mymother, an RN at the time, returned toschool to pursue her MPA while workingpart-time as an outreach coordinator for aninner city parish. There were some very leantimes growing up and I know it was her faiththat got us through the most dif cult times.She sacri ced so much for us and nevergave up. After she retired from the StateOf ce for Aging, she began teaching at alocal community college, remained activewith many organizations and her adoptedinner city parish. At 70, she renewed hernursing license and started the parishnursing program so low-income families,many who dont speak English, haveaccess to basic medical care. During themost dif cult times for our family, sheconstantly reminded us through her actions

that while we may not have as much asothers, we have so much to give to others.Our family is spread out across thecountry, but we all remain very close andoften talk about our time growing up in ourcrazy house lled with way too manyteenagers at one time. The memories ofwhat we didnt have are long gone. Wewere rich in so many ways and I credit mymother for quietly reminding us of our many,many blessings.

Whats on your bucket list and why?I have always enjoyed excellent health butwas thrown a curve ball last Novemberwhen I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer.Thanks to the love and support of familyand friends, I successfully completedtreatment on June 1. I want to go toGreece some day, but the experience hasled me to look at my bucket list muchdifferently and has helped me to realizewhat is really important in life today myfamily. My children are teenagers and willbe out on their own before I know it, sospending as much time with them whilethey are close by is whats on my bucket

list. Greece can wait, but in themeantime, I can keep that dream alive bymaking moussaka, tzatziki and fassoladaand sharing it with my family around ourdinner table.

If you could do one thing differently inyour life, what would that be?I think one of the great regrets in life ismissing an opportunity to tell someone howmuch they mean to you. I missed thatopportunity with my father and I dont wantto experience that regret with anyone else.I have a few people in my personal and inmy professional life that Ive grown apartfrom over the years, but who have touchedmy life in positive ways. I realize now is thetime to reach out to say thank you.


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About Dress for Success:The Mission of Dress for Success is topromote the economic independence ofdisadvantaged women by providingprofessional attire, a network of support andthe career development tools to helpwomen thrive in work and in life.

Suiting ProgramDress for Success Charlotte is a non-pro torganization that helps low-income womenmakes tailored transitions into theworkforce. The organization is dedicatedto providing interview appropriate clothing,career growth and con dence boosts.Each Dress for Success client receives two

out ts, shoes, accessories, cosmetics andhygiene products when she has aninterview. When she gets a job, she isinvited to return for an instant workingwardrobe, up to ve out ts depending oninventory, and she is invited to join theProfessional Womens Group.Dress for Successs mission is direct,immediate and simple. Suits donated aregiven away to a woman who is on the roadto economic independence. Every clientis treated individually and with dignity andrespect.No fees are charged to clients or memberagencies.

OFFICE/BOUTIQUE ADDRESS:

500A Clanton Road,Charlotte, NC 28217

TELEPHONE: 704-525-7706

WEB SITE:www.dressforsuccess.org/charlotteEMAIL: [email protected]


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FOOD


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Hosting A Star Studded 4th


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The Fourth of July calls for a carefreeparty, with good friends, fab food, fun and

reworks a real star-studded holidaycelebration.The entertaining experts from Wilton haveplenty of ideas to add star power to theoccasion, beginning with the decorations.Festive stars and stripes napkin rings in red,white and blue dress up napkins andcontainers of colorful blossoms to brightenup the table. Then, on to the main course.Serve an all-American favorite meal of grilledburgers and corn on the cob, appropriatelytopped with a star-shaped pat of butter.The grand nale is always part of this all-American celebration. Patriotic Pops cut intostar shapes de nitely say Happy Fourth ofJuly. Decorated in red, white and blue icing,red licorice and colored candies, theseeasy-to-make crispy rice treats are a favoritefor both youngsters and the grown-ups. Thekids can lend a hand to help decorate byplacing the candy pieces on the stars.Add a taste of nostalgia for the child in all ofus with Ice Cream Sandwiches everybodyloves em. Homemade brownies andbuttery vanilla cookies, sandwiched with

the ice cream avor of your choice are a cutabove ice cream truck offerings. The newice cream sandwich pan from Wilton ensuresperfectly shaped cookies for every treat.

Give them the air of the Fourth by rolling theedges in patriotic sprinkles and sugars. Or,dip part of the sandwich into melted candymelts and decorate with sprinkles for a funand festive nish.Even beverages can boast the star treatment.Star-shaped ice cube kabobs in the colors ofThe Fourth of July calls for a carefree party,with good friends, fab food, fun and reworks a real star-studded holiday celebration.The entertaining experts from Wilton haveplenty of ideas to add star power to theoccasion, beginning with the decorations.Festive stars and stripes napkin rings in red,white and blue dress up napkins andcontainers of colorful blossoms to brightenup the table. Then, on to the main course.Serve an all-American favorite meal of grilledburgers and corn on the cob, appropriatelytopped with a star-shaped pat of butter.The grand nale is always part of this all-American celebration. Patriotic Pops cut intostar shapes de nitely say Happy Fourth ofJuly. Decorated in red, white and blue icing,red licorice and colored candies, theseeasy-to-make crispy rice treats are a favoritefor both youngsters and the grown-ups. The

kids can lend a hand to help decorate byplacing the candy pieces on the stars.Add a taste of nostalgia for the child in all ofus with Ice Cream Sandwiches


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everybody loves em. Homemadebrownies and buttery vanilla cookies,sandwiched with the ice cream avor ofyour choice are a cut above ice cream truckofferings. The new ice cream sandwich panfrom Wilton ensures perfectly shapedcookies for every treat. Give them the air ofthe Fourth by rolling the edges inpatriotic sprinkles and sugars. Or, dip partof the sandwich into melted candy meltsand decorate with sprinkles for a fun andfestive nish.

Even beverages can boast the startreatment. Star-shaped ice cube kabobs inthe colors of the day are a celebratory wayto keep lemonade icy cold. Or, theyreperfect for chilling the holiday cocktail.

Visit www.wilton.com for more celebration ideas, to orderdecorating supplies, the Ice Cream Sandwich Pan or theSilicone Star Ice Kabob Molds.

Ice Cream SandwichesMakes about 12 ice cream sandwichesBrownies:

1 cup all-purpose our1/4 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter1-1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips2/3 cup granulated sugar2 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 325F. Spray Ice Cream SandwichPan with vegetable pan spray. In small bowl, combine

our, baking soda and salt. In large microwave-safebowl, melt butter with chocolate chips. Whisk in sugar,eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add our mixture; stir untiljust combined. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into eachpan cavity, spreading evenly. Bake 8 to 10 minutesor until toothpick inserted at an angle toward centercomes out clean. Immediately remove to cooling rack;cool completely. Repeat with remaining batter.

Patriotic PopsMakes about 2 dozen pops

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine4 cups mini marshmallows6 cups crisp rice cereal24 8-inch Cookie Treat Sticks

Red, Blue and White Cookie IcingRed and blue candy-coated chocolatesRed licorice

Spray Star Cookie Treat Pan and rubber spatula orwooden spoon with vegetable pan spray.In large saucepan, melt butter. Add marshmallows;cook and stir until melted. Remove from heat and addcereal; mix well. Press into prepared pan; insert cookiesticks. When cool to touch, remove from pan. Repeatwith remaining cereal mixture. (If mixture becomeshard to work with, microwave at 50% power 30 to 60

seconds to soften.)Outline treat as desired with Cookie Icing; add candyand licorice. Let dry at least 1 hour.


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Vanilla Cookies:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose our

1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter1/2 cup granulated sugar1/4 cup rmly-packed light brown sugar2 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 teaspoon lemon extract, orange extract

or ground cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 325F. Spray Ice Cream SandwichPan with vegetable pan spray.In small bowl, combine our, baking powder and salt.In large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter. Whisk insugars, eggs, vanilla and, if desired, other extractor cinnamon; mix well. Add our mixture; mix untilblended. Spoon 2 tablespoons batter into each pancavity, spreading evenly.Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted at anangle toward center comes out clean. Immediatelyremove to cooling rack; cool completely. Repeat withremaining batter.To Assemble:1 quart ice cream, any avor Assorted PatrioticMix Sprinkles and Red and Blue SugarsWhite Candy Melts, melted (optional)Scoop about 1/4 cup ice cream onto smooth side ofhalf of the brownies. Top with remaining brownies,pressing gently. If desired, roll edge of sandwiches insprinkles or sugars. Wrap and freeze immediately.Or,dip a portion of the sandwich in melted candy melts;add sprinkles and sugars. Freeze 5 minutes to set,then wrap and freeze until ready to serve.


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women with know how july 2011

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