C4W Member Profile: Cokie Berenyi

What is your profession? Finance & Investments // Red Triangle

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Alpine climbing and tennis

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? Over eight years

What inspired you to become a member? Helping other women succeed.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? Inspiration to help other women.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Created a quest for balance and equality.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Believe and be different. Invest and market yourself when others aren’t and you’ll be ahead of the game.

C4W Member Profile: Lynn Anne Gillen

What is your profession? Investment  Associate at Merrill Lynch.  I help people create a comprehensive financial plan in order to meet major goals in life such as a comfortable retirement and sending a child to college.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I love to travel, spend time with family and friends, read (historical fiction is my favorite), bake, play tennis, and I’ve started playing the piano again after 20 years.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? Since 2001

What inspired you to become a member? The Center for Women fills a unique role in the community by bringing together women at various stages in their lives and helping them succeed.  Plus—the programs and events are fun!

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? I’ve met amazing and inspiring women, fostered great business and personal relationships, and learned many new things about our community and the status of women.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Women have many choices in how they earn a living, manage their personal lives, and raise their families.  I love helping people with their personal finances—a career probably not available to me thirty years ago.  My generation is the fortunate recipient of women working very hard to make choices available to us.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Be persistent, surround yourself with supportive people, and keep learning new things.

C4W Member Profile: Sara Corbett

What is your profession? Public Affairs Specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I enjoy going to the beach with my son and husband

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 4 years

What inspired you to become a member? I love the services that Center For Women provides and how it helps the women in our community.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? I enjoy knowing that I have helped women in my community achieve their goals.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Being a woman gave me the ability to give birth to my son, there is nothing better in life.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Chase your dreams and don’t ever give up!

C4W Member Profile: Archie Burkel

What is your profession? Top Hat of The Hat Ladies (President and Founder)

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Writing, swimming, dining,  being a tourist (in my hometown and elsewhere).

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 12 years, which equals the length of time I have lived in Charleston.

What inspired you to become a member? It was so long ago and such the right thing to do, I am not sure I can remember.  In all probability, I read about it in Skirt! I was eager to learn all I could about my new town, and Skirt! was THE way to do it.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It has kept me centered!  There are so many causes to support and challenges to meet, being a member puts them into perspective.  Despite our individual differences and preferences, we are first and foremost women.  The Center is the perfect springboard from which to sort through and handle all that comes our way and to help and network with others, in the process.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Being a woman has not affected me in a negative way. As an educator, I enjoyed the same salary as my male counterparts; as a working Mother I had help with my child rearing and household responsibilities.  I was always able to do what I loved. A long time friend recently said I don’t know the meaning of the word “can’t.”  I am lucky my family, friends, and circumstances never made me learn it!

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? With all seriousness, I believe the messages can be pulled out of a hat:  Think outside the (hat) box; do things at the drop of a hat; never hang up your hat; most of all, toss your hat in the ring.  (And read Skirt! and join The Center for Women)!

C4W Member Profile: Amelia Phillips Hale

What is your profession? I produce fresh photography for happy people with my business Dreamland Images.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I love helping out in the community, cuddling with my pups, and relaxing with my husband.  I also love shooting film, and playing around with our old cameras.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? Since I moved here in 2009

What inspired you to become a member? All of the inspirational women involved in the C4W really drew me to join the group.  I was new to the area, and it was refreshing to meet strong women producing such powerful programs in the name of women.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? The Center for Women introduced me to the Charleston community.  It has helped me grow as a woman and business owner.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Being a woman is incredible!  It can have its’ challenges, but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.  Challenges always make you stronger, and provide you with a better understanding of the world.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Don’t be afraid to find what makes you come alive and do it!  Once you find your passion, it can drive you to accomplish so much.  As you come alive, so will those around you, which is the best part!

C4W Member Profile: Harriet Smartt

What is your profession? Retired, Career Consultant

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Volunteer activism within the cultural arts and the political realm.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 16 years.

What inspired you to become a member? When I first arrived in Charleston, I was quickly made aware of the challenges women were facing related to finding careers or jobs that offered them a livable income. I was also made aware of the many discriminatory hiring practices that were prevalent at that time. Therefore I felt it important to offer to help the organization which was one of the few offering support for women on a myriad of issues.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? I have enjoyed the association and watching the positive growth and influence offered women of this community.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? In SC, it continues to be a struggle for so many women, so I note that on a day to day basis. The Center for Women offers opportunities to open hearts and minds beyond the continuing prevalent thinking about the roles of women in society today.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Continue to follow your passionate interests. Women are always the most creative and resilient despite what might be swirling around in their world(s). Network with friends and family and you will emerge from this economic downturn with new and invigorated ideas and experience.