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.

C4W Member Profile: Leigh Thomson

What is your profession? Admissions Coordinator –  Southern Wesleyan is a 100 year old non-profit Christian university offering both undergraduate (BSHS and BSBM) and graduate degrees (MBA and MEd) for the working adult where you take class one night a week as a full-time student.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I enjoy volunteering at my children’s school currently serving as PTA VP of Fundraising.  I like to travel, play golf and soccer, boating and spending time with friends and family.

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

What inspired you to become a member? A former colleague introduced me to C4W and then I became impressed with what C4W aims to accomplish, programs offered and the networking opportunities.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? C4W has provided me the opportunity to hear excellent speakers and meet other professional and compassionate women in business.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Going back to work full-time has forced me to constantly reevaluate the balance of work and home-life to be sure my priorities are aligned with my family’s goals and allowing time for personal happiness.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Networking is critical in getting to know what opportunities are out there.  Always think positive and don’t be shy about meeting others – consider everyone a potential friend when you meet them.  Attend any free networking event and have business cards at all times even if you are not employed.  Be sure to set up an account on Linked In and befriend anyone that is doing something you are interested in.

How can people connect with you? Feel free to email me at lthomson@swu.edu or call 843-266-7981.  I can also be found on Linked In.

C4W Member Profile: Michelle Forrester

What is your profession? Professional Organizer

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Reading, Volunteering in the community, sending time with my family going to the movies.

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

What inspired you to become a member? I was at one of the speed networking events and I learned what the Center for Women do in the community and I really like the purpose of the organization.  So, I join for that reason.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It has showed me how to listen more to what individuals say so that I can understand what they need.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? I’ve learned that as a woman I can achieve my dreams and goals if I focus on strengths and put them to work in every area of my life.  And in doing this I have a well-balanced life.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? I truly believe if women would look on the inside of their selves they will find the strength to overcome any situation and circumstance in the economy.

How can people connect with you? They can connect with me on my website: www.stylebyconstantine.com, Twitter: @StyleConstant, Blog: styleconstant.blogspot.com, Facebook Fanpage: facebook.com/stylebyconstantine, or LinkedIn: Michelle Forrester

C4W Business Member Profile: Ashley T. Caldwell, The Modern Connection

What is your profession? Owner and Founder of The Modern Connection, a social media firm based right here in Charleston!

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Playing with my rescue dogs, socializing with friends, taking in the sights and sounds of Charleston, reading, shopping and meeting new people!

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

What inspired you to become a member? When I first moved to Charleston and started my company, I heard from so many people in the community about the Center for Women. I couldn’t help but join and have been so grateful I did!

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? The Center for Women has impacted my professional career and business growth tremendously. Everything from networking and meeting other women to speaking to business owners and appearing in the media – The Center fostered positive and beneficial connections I otherwise would not have made.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Being a woman has allowed me to approach my day-to-day life with power, resourcefulness and intuition as well as empathy and compassion. As a business owner, I feel my femininity provides a powerful advantage and relatability that has helped me succeed.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? I’m a firm believer in the idea that if you follow your passion, success will come to you. If you truly love what you do, people can recognize that. Best advice: Do what you love.

How can people connect with you? You can check us out on the web at: www.TheModernConnection.com, www.Facebook.com/TheModernConnection or follow me on Twitter: @AshleyTCaldwell!

Skill-Building for Local Women Leaders

Nearly 47 percent of South Carolina organizations have no women in decision-making roles according to a 2008 report by Clemson University’s Arthur M. Spiro Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership. To prepare more women to step into decision-making roles, the Charleston, S.C. Center for Women has launched a new Women’s Leadership Institute. The Institute is designed to teach Lowcountry women the skills and strategies necessary to become capable leaders. The Center for Women, a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization and the only comprehensive women’s development center in South Carolina, focuses on making personal and professional success an everyday event for women in the Lowcountry.

“A report from Catalyst, a research organization specializing in expanding opportunities for women and business, reveals that companies having more women in their leadership team have a 34 percent higher return to shareholders,” says Jennet Robinson Alterman, Executive Director of the Center for Women. “Business, government and communities all face a multitude of critical issues and need a pool of women leaders and decision-makers who can resolve pertinent issues and help deliver improved financial performance. We believe the Center can play a key role in equipping local women with the right mix of knowledge, skills and abilities to help prepare them for these positions.”

National research into women in business conducted by Braithwaite Innovation Group, a local professional development organization, shows that business women skilled in communications, negotiations, conflict resolution, and general leadership abilities are better positioned to assume more responsibility. I found the Lowcountry full of professional and executive women – educators, entrepreneurs and former Fortune 100 company executives – who have these skills and who are willing to pay it forward to improve the status of women in South Carolina.  We have designed the Women’s Leadership Institute sessions to be highly interactive, using discussion, practical application, assessments and experiential exercises. Our goal is maximizing learning about leading oneself, leading others and leading within organizations.

This is the first intensive skill development program offered by the Center for Women. Topics covered in the monthly sessions will assist local women in building a wide array of leadership skills as well as gaining a broader and deeper business perspective for their increased workplace, community, home and personal effectiveness. Women can choose to take as many or as few classes as their schedule permits. Each course adds value as a stand-alone session or as part of a comprehensive year-long program. Based on feedback from recent Center for Women program and event participants, the women’s leadership classes will be held Saturday mornings, starting at 9:30 a.m. and will run for three hours.

For companies in the tri-county area who may not have learning and development opportunities or personnel in-house, this program provides them with affordable access to resources that would cost tens of thousands of dollars to create and deliver. “A Women’s Leadership Development study conducted in December 2011 by Mercer Consulting revealed that 71 percent of firms do not have a clearly defined plan for developing women for leadership roles,” noted Doretha Walker, past president of the Center for Women board of directors and also a leadership program faculty member. “This new program will provide a distinct cost effective advantage for Lowcountry employers looking to get ahead of the curve in training their female employees.”

For more information and to enroll, visit the Center for Women’s website at http://c4women.org/womens_leadership_institute.html.

Jane Perdue is a leadership and women’s issues consultant, speaker, writer, and Principal, Braithwaite Innovation Group, a Charleston. S.C. based female-owned professional and organizational development company.

Originally appeared in CharlestonCurrents on Monday, January 16, 2012.

C4W Member Profile: Chelsea Shamsedin

What is your profession?  Talent Coordinator at CTS International

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Spending time with family and friends, traveling, going to the beach, exercising, and reading.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? Just joined.

What inspired you to become a member? I really believe in what the C4W does for women by helping them to succeed and wanted to become involved.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? It has made me want to contribute more of my time to helping advance successful women in the lowcountry. I want to be someone people can reach out to and depend on.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Being a woman encourages me to live my life in a positive way. I know I am compassionate, kind, and nurturing.  I’m always willing to help when needed.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? We gage people by what actions they take and accomplishments they achieve. Be proud of who you are and what you are capable of and share it with the rest of us!

C4W Member Profile: Vickey Boyd

What is your profession? Publisher for the Moultrie News and Sales Manager for the Charleston Mercury and MUSC Catalyst.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I enjoy anything outdoors- hiking, riding bikes, and going to the beach. One of my fears is to be stuck somewhere and not have a good book in hand. And so reading ranks high up there too.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? I am not exactly sure but most of the years since I moved here in 2002.

What inspired you to become a member? The philosophy and mission of the organization inspires me.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? I have learned about different issues and problems and seen some of the solutions for women and their struggles.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? I embrace my femininity and enjoy every day I get to go out in the world and have new experiences.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? I would suggest that you find a good organization such as the Center for Women and join. Draw from the strength of your sisters. And within that organization find your own personnel mentor. Always be open to new ideas and suggestions. You must allow yourself to grow and experience new concepts. In today’s world all you can be sure of is change. And it is not change, but evolution. Be prepared to evolve.

C4W Member Profile: Ronnell Freeman

What is your profession? Private Investigator

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Reading

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? 6 months

What inspired you to become a member?  I see how the center is helping woman succeed by having different events.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? I am able to meet and network with people I have never met with before.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? As a woman I am looked at as not qualified to do certain jobs, however this has only made me stronger after proving myself.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? I would like to encourage them by saying that success lies in the hand of the beholder. If you want it you can have it, it may not be easy but it will be worth it.

C4W Member Profile: Megan Hartley

What is your profession? Executive Consultant with Rodan + Fields Dermatologists /Broker-in-Charge of Charleston Real Estate Associates

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? I love to travel, read, but mostly I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? I have been a member for just a few months, but have used their services when I  moved to Charleston a year ago.  I  loved all the sessions I have attended at the  Center 4 Women which made me want to join.

What inspired you to become a member? I love all the wonderful training and information that the center provides for women in the Charleston community.  They have such diverse programming and wonderful speakers.  I believe the center makes a difference for hundreds of women in our area.

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? The center has helped me transition into my new life here in Charleston, I actually ran into my new business partner at the center.  I know the center has been instrumental in changing my life.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? Nothing is easy about being a woman!  Mother, Sister, Daughter, Friend, etc. are only a few titles that we hold as women.  I strive everyday to make sure that I am the best I can be regardless of which title I am fulfilling at any given moment.

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy? Don’t let ANYONE get in the way of you reaching your goals.  Set goals and set them high for yourself.  Being in real estate in the present economy has been very challenging to say the least, but that has helped move me to my new venture as an Executive Consultant with Rodan + Fields Dermatologists.  I have been given a gift, and I plan on making a difference in my life and the lives of others.  I have partnered with two of the most successful women in the world.  They are pioneers in the industry and have been called the “Dermatological Dream Team”.  What they have done for acne they are now doing for Anti-Age.  They have one of  the most competitive pay plans of any Direct Sales company, and the positioning in today’s market is perfect.  This is a ground floor opportunity, and I look forward to reaching my goals.  I truly believe this will happen, and I am looking forward to reaching for the stars.

C4W Member Profile: Patricia J. Bean

What is your profession? Travel Agency Owner, Bean Cruises and Travel

What do you enjoy doing outside of your career? Visiting/assisting with care for my new grandchild due in January 2012; gardening; beach combing; casual biking; and since my career IS traveling – travel!!

How long have you been a member of the Center for Women? Just joined after the “Speed Networking” event in November and signed up that evening.  I particpate in many networking groups back home in Rochester, NY so wanted to try it when I was living in Charleston which is half the year (November thru April).

What inspired you to become a member? Had such a positive impact with “Speed Networking” that I thought “this is a group for me”!

What kind of impact has the Center for Women had on you? The day after the event, not only did I go to my nearest Regions Bank and open a business account (they were the sponsor for the event), that I also happened to run into Patty Austin, Sr. VP who spoke that night for Regions Bank at that branch!  What luck!!  I love to give business to those who support me.

How has living day-to-day as a woman affected you? It’s definitely made me stronger as an individual.  I received alot of criticism from not only other people, but my own family for starting a career in the travel business right after 9/11 and the up and coming online travel booking business.  But 10 years later, I am still going strong letting people know there is still value in a travel agent beyond measure!

What kind of message would you like to send out to women who are trying to succeed in today’s economy?   I started my business at the worst possible time – post 9/11 when other travel agencies were closing their doors not only due to the fear people had of traveling, but due to the fact that the airlines cut all domestic travel agent commissions since they thought they could get along without us by selling online – and look what’s happened to the airlines these days!  The way I figured it, business could only get better since we were at our lowest point.  And it has, but did slow down at the end of 2008, along with everyone else’s business due to the economic downturn.  Best piece of advice:  Hang in there!