C4W Member Profile: Liz Price, R.N.

What is your profession?  I am a registered nurse at a local community hospital in the newborn and Level II nursery. I have most recently started my own business, Nurse at Night, Inc. My greatest goal for the business is to help new parents by caring for their newborn at night to assist them in getting a good night of sleep so they can be well rested for the next day.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I love doing anything that involves spending time with my husband and two lively boys. You will find us at the park, aquarium, children’s museum, or volunteering at our church.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? Less than a month

What inspired you to become a member? My friend Corrie with Teacups and Trucks introduced me to this wonderful community of women. After the first networking meeting I knew I wanted to be a part of this organization. It supplies you with so many wonderful resources and introduces you to wonderful women who know exactly what you are going through and will journey along side you.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It has surrounded me with women who are like-minded and it has helped give me the courage to take a leap of faith in the business world and start my own business.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? I love being a woman, a wife, a mother, and a friend. I have always tried to stay true to myself and who God has created me to be and I feel very blessed to be a woman.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Find out what your passion is, think of a way that it can help others, and go after your dream. Surround yourself with people that will encourage you and eliminate those around you that tell you your goals are unreachable. Pray about your business idea and get a true sense if its something you should pursue. Get involved with the Center for Women and let them lead and guide you in your steps to becoming the woman your were called to be.

How can people connect with you?

Email: liz@nurseatnight.com

Phone: 843-270-2910

You can also visit my website: www.nurseatnight.com

C4W Member Profile: Erin Marqua

What is your profession? Owner of Gourmet Bay Catering with my husband, Patrick Hickey.  I handle all the internet marketing and he handles the kitchen.  Gourmet Bay caters weddings, special events, corporate functions and everything in between. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I love hanging out on Folly Beach with my husband and two pups Pelota & Maple.  We are an outdoor loving family and enjoying swimming, SUPing, surfing, and beach walks.  I also love to travel in Europe and take photos.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? I just joined!

What inspired you to become a member? I joined to network, gain new relationships both professionally and personally, and participate in the one-on-one counseling at the business center.  I’m excited to empower other women business owners and get advice from them along the way. 

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? Positive. I have already met many wonderful women who are interested in what I do, how to help, and in turn need my help.  Last year was the 1^st time Gourmet Bay Catering participated in the Women in Business Conference Culinary Showcase and we decided to do it again this year.  It’s one of our favorite events. 

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? I love being a woman in Charleston.  There is great opportunity for women in business nowadays and the Center for Women is making it easier to succeed.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy?   Be yourself and work hard.  Owning a business isn’t easy, but it is worth the sacrifice.  

How can people connect with you?

erin@gourmetbay.net

twitter: @GourmetBayCater

www.facebook.com/GourmetBayCateringCharleston

http://www.gourmetbay.net | http://erinmarqua.wix.com/erin

C4W Member Profile: Debra Shelton

What is your profession?  Global Receptionist of MeadWestVaco Specialty Chemical Division.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Supporting, planning and living my life with my family.  I’ve been in yoga classes for 11 years, have found a new interest in birds of prey and just recently completed a photography class. My desire is to inspire and encourage those around me.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women?  I’ve been a member of the SCD Women’s Network for 2 years and MWV has been a member of the C4W for the past 2 years.

What inspired you to become a member? I am inspired by those who touch our human side.  Being myself is the only option for me.  As individuals, the privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.

What kind of impact has the Center for Woman had on you?  The women of the Center for Woman have supported my walk forward in certainty and with integrity.  I feel strongly that the people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with concern.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you?  Living day-to-day as a woman inspires me to encourage and hold up all women.  That’s who I know myself to be.  Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, or the smallest act of caring- all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  As women, we have unique gifts of purpose, caring appreciation and gratitude. I try to pass it forward every day.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy?  Treat others with dignity, honor and respect. Nurture your relationships and strive to represent the best of who you are and what you do.  My message to send out is to “Dance While You Can,” no one cares if you cannot dance well, just get up and dance to your own life song.

How can people connect with you? debra.shelton@mwv.com

C4W Member Profile: Robin Giangrande

What is your profession? I actually have two professions. I work as an Independent Wine Consultant with WineShop at Home, holding private wine tastings in people’s homes and offices and offering limited edition artisan crafted wines direct from Napa Valley.  I also work as a Medical Billing Advocate for my own company, RG Advocates, helping businesses and individuals control their healthcare costs.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career?  I love to read and admit to watching way too much television. I also enjoy my pets – 4 dogs, 4 cats and 2 sugar gliders.  And I love sitting with a friend enjoying a glass of wine.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women?  For about 3 years.

What inspired you to become a member?  Their mission, the programs they offer and the wonderful people who work there.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you?  The first workshop I took there was on “how to network” and I learned many skills that still help me today. And I am still in contact with some of the women who took that workshop with me. I have also built solid working relationships with other women because of connections I have made as a member.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? There are a lot of adversities that are faced by women and I have studied them and experienced them over many years. However, as I get older, I also recognize that life is simply difficult for many, men and women alike.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy?  Take the time and make the effort to build real relationships. These relationships will stay with you and help you to build your career or your own business.

How can people connect with you?  I’m out and about networking a lot. My email address is napatastings@gmail.com. Visit either of my websites www.LiveLifeWithWine.com or www.RGadvocates.com. I look forward to new connections and building new relationships.

C4W Business Member Profile: Lori Swan, TD Bank

What is your profession?  Commercial Lender for TD Bank.
 
What do you enjoy doing outside of your career?   Spending time with my husband and daughter, running, boating.
 
How long have you been a member of the Center for Women?  Brand new member.
 
What inspired you to become a member?   Now that I am a Commercial Lender I want to seek out businesses influenced by women in hopes of providing commercial financing for them.  This is a great networking opportunity!
 
How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you?  I have continued to learn to prioritize and multi-task.  As always, the struggle to be the best mom with family coming first while maintaining a successful career can overtake you.  Being a woman makes me focus on both aspects of my life and makes me do/be the best I can be.
 
What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy?   Persistence!  I am learning that nothing can be taken for granted or that success is going to be handed to you.  You have to get out of your comfort zone and join so many others who are doing the same to make success happen for you. 

How can people connect with you?  You may contact me at lori.swan@td.com.

C4W Member Profile: Alissa R. Collins

What is your profession? Attorney with Stuckey Law Offices, LLC in downtown Charleston.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I love giving back. I am a member of the Historic Rotary Club of Charleston, serve on several Young Lawyer Division Committees, and I’ve been the Chair of the Cinderella Project for 9 years which is an organization that provides free prom-wear to females attending prom throughout the tri-county area.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 2 years.

What inspired you to become a member? I attended the “We Can Do It” 20th Anniversary Celebration in 2010 and was very impressed with both the message and the current members.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It’s provided incredible networking opportunities.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? As women we are expected to juggle (and succeed) in many roles. I enjoy breaking stereotypes, especially ones that suggest there isn’t a place for women in the legal field. Some of the best attorneys I know are women and I certainly aspire to be like them.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? When underestimated, don’t get discouraged, rather use it as motivation to prove them wrong.

How can people connect with you? Phone: 843-577-9323 or Email: ACollins@stuckeylaw.com

C4W Member Profile: Lisa Burbage

What is your profession? I am the Director of Recruiting and Training for ERA Tides Realty, where I sell real estate as well.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career?  In my spare time, I have enjoyed being active in the Charleston community. Currently I am a Board member for the College of Charleston School of the Arts. Hobbies and ways to unwind include swimming, walking/running, reading, entertaining and attending art performances.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 2 years

What inspired you to become a member? Professional development and networking.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? Opportunity to network with like-minded women.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Reach out to people one-on-one and network.

How can people connect with you? Either by phone, (843) 793-4430 or email, lburbage@eratidesrealty.com

C4W Member Profile: Cindy Cartmell

What is your profession? While my title is Vice President of Human Resources & Communications at MWV, my profession is truly people.  I have a wonderful job that allows me to focus on who people really are, what motivates them, and where they can be best positioned to do amazing things.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? My personal life is focused on my family and friends.  I have two children, ages 9 and 12, who keep me running around town with all of their activities.  The best part of the day is the conversations we have around the dinner table.  I try to hold that time sacred during the week as it is where I learn the most about what is going on in their worlds.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? I’ve been a member of C4W for 5 years.

What inspired you to become a member?   I had lived in Charleston for about 4 years and realized I hadn’t done a great job of networking professionally.  One of my co-workers set up a meet and greet with C4W and after seeing the results of their actions, I was hooked.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? At MWV we continue to drive strong engagement with the women in our organization.  We created a Women’s Network several years ago, and C4W is one of the local organizations we encourage our employees to get connected with.  Regardless of experience (or title for that matter) we all have something substantial to share with others.  I like that C4W is the type of organization that provides a ‘hand up’ versus a ‘hand out,’ meaning they build skills that can be applied in so many areas of our lives.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you?  For the past 10 years I’ve been the only female member of our senior leadership team.  It’s been rewarding, challenging and very educational working with the dynamic group of men on my team.  We’ve learned a lot from each other.  It took me a while to take the position seriously, meaning to understand the breadth of my responsibility to ensure women in our organization get the right level of recognition, development opportunities, and quite frankly time in front of senior leaders.  I’ve learned that women network differently than men.  We have a smaller number of relationships that are deep.  Men have more relationships but often times lack the depth.  They are therefore better networked given they know more people.  I encourage women in our organization to build more networks; to sit at the table in meetings and by all means have a voice.  I’ve challenged women to stretch and take risks.  As a result I’ve had the honor of seeing them do amazing things, both personally and professionally.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy?  The important thing to remember is this:  The only thing that gets in your way is yourself.  So many of us can make an exhaustive list of why we can’t do something.  I myself can come up with the best excuses of anyone.  As women we have a bad habit of getting in our own way, over and over again.  As yourself the question “why not?”  Then challenge every single answer you come up with.  Force yourself to, as Nike would say, just do it.  Take the risk.  Make the effort.  Don’t worry about failing.  If we can figure out how to get out of our own way, it’s amazing to see what we can achieve.

How can people connect with you? 

Cynthia.cartmell@mwv.com or 843-740-2017.

C4W Member Profile: Christie MacConnell, SCWBC Director

What is your profession? Director of the South Carolina Women’s Business Center (SCWBC)

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women?  Approximately 9 months. I was exceptionally fortunate to have met Jennet Robinson Alterman, the Executive Director of the Center for Women, and shared with her my professional experience working for Women’s Business Centers in Maine and in upstate New York. I was able to connect with Jennet and the Center for Women when they were in the process of writing a grant and applying for funding from the US Small Business Administration to create a women’s business center in South Carolina. I was thrilled when the Center for Women received the funding and I was offered the Director’s position.

what inspired you to become a member?  The opportunity to meet, network and learn from other professional women. The work that the Center for Women has done in this community is very impressive.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? Profound, I am now the Director of the SCWBC, an affiliate of the Center for Women. The Center for Women is such a logical organization to host a Women’s Business Center. The SCWBC focuses on helping women launch and be successful small business owners. We offer free, one on one counseling, educational workshops, networking and mentoring opportunities.  For many years, the Center for Women has been helping women with their Entrepreneurial Women Series programs and the Women in Business Conference.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? It makes me smile to know that there are so many great women out there will to help others!

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? This too shall pass, work hard and smart and believe in yourself!

How can people connect with you? I can be reached at 843.763.7333 x 212 or Christie@SCWBC.net. Please visit the SCWBC website: http://scwbc.net and on Facebook too: https://www.facebook.com/scwbc.

C4W Member Profile: Meredith Goodwin Repik

What is your profession? Executive Director, March of Dimes

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Spending time with family and friends, relaxing in my backyard or cleaning!!!

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 1 month

What inspired you to become a member? I went to a luncheon at the Harbor Club in January, the people there were very nice and the networking opportunity was great!

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? So far the impact has been great, I am very excited about being a part of this wonderful group of women.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Keep trying and do not give up!

How can people connect with you?  I am a people person and enjoy learning about people and their backgrounds and getting ideas from them, I am a very social person and enjoy the beach, pool, snow skiing, roller skating and much more.