2014.10.29 kilgore news herald women in business special section

A&A KILGORE NEWS HERALD SPECIAL EDITION • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

WOMEN IN BUSINESS

DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST JOB: My first job was as a staff accoun-tant in public accounting.

WHAT WERE YOUR PRIORITIES WHEN YOU

FIRST BEGAN WORKING? My priorities were to learn every-thing possible to be knowledgeable in every area possible.

DESCRIBE YOUR JOB NOW:Controller over all Financial matters including Accounts Payable and Re-ceivable and all budgeting and cash flow management matters.

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES NOW?

Taking care of all business respon-sibilities to the best of my ability.

WHAT ADVICE DID YOU RECEIVE BEFORE YOUR FIRST JOB? HOW WAS IT

HELPFUL or UNHELPFUL? Remain focused and you can do anything you set your mind to. Yes it was and still is very helpful.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG

WOMEN BEGINNING THEIR FIRST JOB?

A job is what you make it. We all have the abilities to perform a job to the fullest. It’s our mind set that can make or break us. Treat others with respect and you to will earn their respect. Our job is full of members from our second family. Always re-member that.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU OVERCOME IN THE

WORKING WORLD? One of the hardest challenges when I started was earning the respect from individuals. Young woman have to remain focused and never let anyone try to bring you down. If you have the knowledge then use it and al-ways know the words to express the knowledge.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED

IN BUSINESS? There are only four things you can do with numbers: add, sub-tract, multiply and divide, the rest is relative. Too many people want to complicate business but if we keep it simple, successes can be realized.

WHAT’S THE WORST ADVICE YOU’VE

RECEIVED IN BUSINESS? I have often heard that every man or woman for themselves. This is so wrong. It takes an ar-my to run a successful business. With that you need a strong ar-my focused on one goal “SUC-CESS!”

WHAT’S THE ODDEST THING THAT’S EVER HAPPENED TO YOU

ON THE JOB? The oddest thing that has ever happened was when I was asked if they could speak to the real person over financials. To their surprise they were!

WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISHED

YOU KNEW 10 / 20 / 30 YEARS AGO?

I wish that I would have started my career in private accounting at Energy Weldfab Inc. Some-times we go in circles to find our true place in life. This is and was where I was meant to be. Words cannot express how grateful I am to be a part of En-ergy Weldfab!

WHAT PARTICULAR STRENGTHS DO YOU BRING TO

YOUR BUSINESS: As a successful woman in busi-ness I have always strived to work with people. Even in man-agement you should never feel or act like you are above someone else.

WHAT SKILLS/STRENGTHS SHOULD GIRLS AND

YOUNG WOMEN DEVELOP TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

You have to have some people skills. Without being able to re-late to coworkers, business rela-tions or even the general public you are missing out. You have to know how to communicate with others.

WHAT WISDOM DO YOU, AS A WOMAN IN BUSINESS,

HAVE TO SHARE? A successful woman in busi-ness is as valuable as a success-ful male. Always keep in mind though you should be willing to at least try any job that you ask any other coworker to perform.

HOW HAVE YOU BALANCED WORK AND

FAMILY? You have to always have time for family but you have to have time for work also. Some days you have to work harder to remain ahead to have time for family. Al-ways remember your children are only little once. You can never get that time back if you miss it.

DESCRIBE A WOMAN WHOSE EXAMPLE HAS

BEEN VALUABLE TO YOU IN BUSINESS:

I was once told to always find a way to talk to the person who holds the key to business door. Sometimes that means that you have to start conversation off small. Always compliment the person you are speaking with.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014KILGORE NEWS HERALD PAGE 2

Stephanie Humphrey

40 years-old • Controller at Energy Weldfab, Inc. for 12 years

A&WITH

Metro Feature

The transition from college student or stay-at-home mom to full-time profes-sional requires a number of changes. Those changes include updating your wardrobe to give it a more professional feel. Clothing that’s acceptable for a jaunt to the store or a night out may not be appropriate for the office.

Just what constitutes a professional wardrobe has changed over the years,

and the guidelines for such attire are no longer as firm as they once were. But it still behooves a woman to add some classic, professional pieces to her closet. While skirts and pantyhose may no longer be mandatory, dressing conser-vatively and cleanly in an office environ-ment is always a safe bet.

In order to achieve a wardrobe trans-formation without breaking the bank, the fashion experts at Marie Claire ad-vise adding separates to build around

a base suit. Find a suit that is flattering to your figure and make it a workplace staple. Then purchase coordinating pants, sweater sets, shirts, another skirt, and accessories that can be mixed and matched with elements from the suit to create different looks. If your budget allows, purchase another suit in a dif-ferent color so you can continue to build wardrobe possibilities.

When selecting base pieces, opt for neutral colors of tan, gray, black, and

blue so that these items can be worn repeatedly without being noticed. Acces-sories and blouses can offer pops of color when necessary. A nice handbag or pair of shoes can quite easily add color to an otherwise monotone ensemble.

When selecting items from the rack, look for those that fit well but aren’t too constrictive or racy. Inquire with your new employer’s hiring manager

Building a business wardrobe

See WARDROBE, Page 11

Integrated Psychiatric Solutions • 738 Hwy 259 N • Kilgore, TX • 903-218-5663

Thank you ladies for your hard work every day. I am so proud of you for making our growing company successful. IPS has hired 159

for behavioral health services, we welcome your interest in joining our team of healthcare professionals. Sherry Bustin, CEO

Celebrating Women in BusinessCongratulations Ladies!

WOMEN IN BUSINESS KILGORE NEWS HERALD PAGE 3WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014

DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST JOB:

My first job out of college was with State Farm Insur-ance. I was an In-Office Claims Representative. At that time, In-Office claims was new to the industry. We were able to handle smaller claims over the phone and forward the larger claims out to the field offices for inspec-tions and further handling. After getting fully licensed and trained, I chose to take my career to the next level and go handle those larger claims in the field.

WHAT WERE YOUR PRIORITIES WHEN YOU FIRST BEGAN

WORKING?When I first began my in-surance career in 1996, I wanted to learn as much about the insurance indus-try as I possibly could, so that one day I could follow in my father’s footsteps and become an Insurance Agent.

DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT JOB:

Currently I am an Indepen-dent Insurance Agent who has partnered with Integra Insurance Services. Partner-ing with Integra has allowed me the opportunity to write business for some of the top Independent Insurance car-

riers in the market for both personal and commercial lines of business.


As one of the few female Insurance Agent in Kilgore, I am looking forward to providing my clients with a different perspective to the insurance market. I plan on

using my 15+ years in the insurance industry to help guide my clients to obtain the best coverage for the best price.

WHAT ADVICE DID YOU RECEIVE BEFORE YOUR FIRST JOB? HOW

WAS IT HELPFUL or UNHELPFUL?

To always be on time and lis-ten before you speak. These two pieces of advice has been extremely helpful dur-ing my career. Being on time to everything shows you are prepared and respectful of others time and listening to others has been very im-portant during my career. If you listen before you speak you can gather how that in-dividual is feeling and what is important to them. Then you can follow up in a more appropriate manner.



Mrs. Deana Covin taught me to always act like a lady no matter what the circum-

stance. So I would pass that advice on to other young women beginning their first job.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU OVERCOME

IN THE WORKING WORLD?

As a female claims adjuster, I faced many challenges as this is typically known as a man’s job. Every day I was faced with insured’s and contractors who were skeptical that a woman was handling their claim. When I left the claims industry, I can proudly say that I was an “A” rated adjuster. This was obtained by my man-agement reviewing my claim files, performing re-inspections of claims that I had handled and customer satisfaction from the in-sureds.

WHAT HAS CHANGED ABOUT YOU

SINCE YOU BEGAN WORKING? BOTH GOOD AND BAD...

I have grown in my knowl-edge of the insurance indus-

try thru both personal and corporate venues.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE

RECEIVED IN BUSINESS?

My parents taught me The Golden Rule, to treat peo-ple the way you want to be treated.



I’ve been fortunate enough that I really haven’t been given any bad advice throughout my career to this day.


ON THE JOB?I was walking on a roof with 4 other people in-specting alleged storm damage on what appeared to be a perfectly good roof, when I apparently stepped on a weak spot and ended up in the attic of the in-sured’s house.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU

WISHED YOU KNEW 10 / 20 / 30 YEARS AGO?That listening is the best quality.

WHAT PARTICULAR STRENGTHS DO YOU

BRING TO YOUR BUSINESS:

I bring over 15 years of ex-perience from different ven-ues of the insurance industry which enable me to be a bet-ter business woman. I bring knowledge of knowing the people of the community which affords me many cli-ent possibilities.

WHAT SKILLS/STRENGTHS SHOULD

GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN DEVELOP TO

BE SUCCESSFUL?A former State Farm Execu-tive, Mike Hargis, once told me before I got into the in-dustry, that communication was the key to succeeding. He said that if you can’t com-municate, that you won’t go very far in your career.

DESCRIBE A UNIQUE WAY A WOMAN CAN

HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE JOB:

Typically women are more compassionate and their in-ner passion relates well with customers.

WHAT WISDOM DO YOU, AS A WOMAN IN BUSINESS, HAVE TO

SHARE?The amount of time you put into your job results in the amount of success you will have.

ARE YOU A BUSINESS OWNER? DESCRIBE

YOUR PATH TO OPENING YOUR OWN

BUSINESS:After years of on the job training, I have acquired the desire to own my own in-surance agency and become a successful independent

Jana Perkins40 years-old • Owner & Agent at

J Perkins Insurance Agency

A&WITH

See PERKINS, Page 11A

Norma Hunter

315 E. Lantrip St.Kilgore, Texas 75662

903-984-2024 Proud to be a Woman in

Business

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Bobbie Guinn, Co-Owner

BBLAKEFURNITURE

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By Blockbuster VideoMon-Sat 9-6 Sun 9-5

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“I am Blessed and Proud to be a

Woman in Business and thankful to all of my buyers and

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Caryn Couch

903-987-1242Fax 903-983-5805

[email protected]. homesineasttexas.com


DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST JOB:Keypunch operator for an oil & gas reporting company. It was data entry for the first generation of computers.

WHAT WERE YOUR PRIORITIES WHEN YOU FIRST BEGAN WORKING?

To make enough money to move out on my own and pay my bills.

DESCRIBE YOUR CURRENT JOB:Consumer/Real estate lender.

WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITIES NOW? To be able to spend time with my family and pay my bills. Some things never change.

WHAT ADVICE DID YOU RECEIVE BEFORE YOUR FIRST JOB? HOW WAS IT HELPFUL or

UNHELPFUL? Don’t go into banking. Female bankers don’t advance nor make any money. And I didn’t go into banking for 27 years. Now I’m glad I’m in it. I really enjoy what I do.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN BEGINNING THEIR FIRST JOB?

There will probably always be one person you will not be able to get along with on your job. Don’t let that person determine how well you do.

WHAT HAS CHANGED ABOUT YOU SINCE YOU BEGAN WORKING? BOTH GOOD AND BAD...

When I began working, I just knew that I would be a “ca-reer girl” and after I retired, I would do volunteer work. And I was a “career girl”, until I had my daughter. Then I got to be a stay-at-home mom for 14 years and volunteered

all the time. Now I’m back at work AND volunteering.

WHAT’S THE ODDEST THING THAT’S EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON THE JOB?

My very first day on the job after having been a stay-at-home-mom for 14 years was at Peoples State Bank in Lakeport. Early that day, before I’d even had a chance to meet everybody, a truck hauling chemicals tried to turn the corner off of 149 onto 322 and didn’t make it. The truck turned over on its side and they evacuated our building. We sat at Bodacious Barbecue until the spill was cleaned up, which wasn’t until late that afternoon. I didn’t know whether it was an omen or not.

WHAT PARTICULAR STRENGTHS DO YOU BRING TO YOUR BUSINESS:

I am a people pleaser which helps tremendously with lend-ing. My customers know that I sincerely want to help them.

WHAT SKILLS/STRENGTHS SHOULD GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN DEVELOP TO BE

SUCCESSFUL?Honesty, integrity, education.

WHAT WISDOM DO YOU, AS A WOMAN IN BUSINESS, HAVE TO SHARE?

Learn everything you can about your company/business. Go above and beyond what is required. Don’t ever say “that’s not my job”.

HOW HAVE YOU BALANCED WORK AND FAMILY? I am fortunate that I never had that issue.

Kim Triece59 years-old • Assistant Vice President / Lender at Kilgore

National Bank

A&WITH Metro Feature

Starting a business is no small task. But as the 21st century progress-es, more and more female entrepreneurs are embracing the challenge of starting their own businesses.

Though each entrepreneur has his or her own motivation for start-ing abusiness, the chance to be your own boss and turn an idea into a successful business is a driving force for both male and female entrepre-neurs. And though male and female entrepreneurs face similar hurdles when starting a business, many female entrepreneurs might be more hesitant to set out on their own, fearing that old stigmas about women in the workplace might affect their chances at success by making po-tential investors or financial institutions wary of women setting out on their own. Though such concerns unfortunately are legitimate, women should not assume that such stigmas prevail. The continued success of female entrepreneurs has shed new light on just how successful female entrepreneurs can be. The following are a few tips for women looking to start their own business.

* Seek out a mentor. Many female entrepreneurs have blazed the trail you are about to embark on, and such women can prove an invaluable resource as you begin your journey. Find a female business owner you can connect with and ask her for any advice she can offer. She might not be able to help you with any specifics regarding your business, but she can very well share stories of what you can expect as a woman setting out to start her own business.

* Have an airtight business plan. As unjust as it is, a stigma about women in the workplace still exists in the minds of some professionals. This means women must be especially diligent and detailed when creat-ing theirbusiness plan. One helpful hint is to act as if you are pitching yourself. Look at your business plan and ask if you would invest in your-self. Ask yourself the questions you would ask a fellow entrepreneur if he or she approached you with the same business plan you just developed. There’s no harm to be done by using every resource at your disposal, especially your own business savvy and experience.

* Don’t expect to finance the business entirely on your own. Unless yourbusiness is going to be especially small, you’re going to need capital to start your business. If you think you can finance the business on your own, you might want to reconsider. A business loan or investors can help you plan for the unexpected. If you attempt to go it alone, open yourbusi-ness and then find you need a business loan, the lending institution might find your brand has already been damaged and is less likely to succeed. That can make it harder to secure a business loan. Though it’s possible to finance your business entirely out of your own pocket, it never hurts to partner up with a bank or a handful of investors.

* Rely on your support system. Many women with business experience might feel they need to prove something to themselves when starting their own business and need to do so entirely on their own. While that’s great motivation, underestimating the value of your support system, in-cluding your spouse, children and even your mentor, is a mistake. Rely on these people who all want you to succeed, and turn their support into extra motivation.

Tips for female entrepreneurs

Go

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I was first employed as a Counselor intern for a psychi-atric hospital after finishing my Master’s degree in psychol-ogy. On the first day, the per-son I was suppose to shadow quit due to “stress”, and I was instructed to do her job un-til further notice. Although, terrified at the time due to no experience, I quickly learned that flexibility and adaptabili-ty were very important skills if I was going to have a career in healthcare.


WORKING? To learn, learn, learn all that I could about the field of psy-chiatry and to surround my-self with the best and bright-est people in the field.


As CEO of IPS, I oversee the daily operations as well as provide consultation and expertise to hospitals with be-havioral health inpatient and outpatient programs. These responsibilities include re-cruiting and retaining the best staff with experience in behav-ioral health, staying abreast

of the most current state and federal regulations for behav-ioral health, and managing costs and budget to ensure the success and sustainability of the company.

WHAT ARE YOUR

PRIORITIES NOW? My work priorities are to work on things that mat-ter, that make a difference in others’ lives. It is also my priority to enjoy family and friends, and to not be work-ing all the time. I love the work I do and am passion-ate about it, but I know the most important things in life are the relationships we have with others.

WHAT ADVICE DID

YOU RECEIVE BEFORE YOUR FIRST JOB? HOW


The advice I received was to be either a teacher or a nurse, as if that were all the choices available for women. In the 80’s and 90’s, my col-lege counselors advised me to choose careers that would al-low me more flexibility to be at home with the children. I did not view this as help-ful. I don’t believe everyone should make the same choic-es; not everyone should be

a work-at-home Mom or a CEO. I want women to be able to choose unencumbered by gender choosing for us.

WHAT ADVICE DO

YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN BEGINNING

THEIR FIRST JOB? Believe in yourself and own your own success. Don’t fall into the trap that everyone has to like you for you to succeed. Let your personal passion, talents, and interests guide you.

WHAT CHALLENGES

HAVE YOU OVERCOME IN THE WORKING WORLD?

The working world is accus-tomed to having men in its’ leadership roles, and I used to find myself explaining how I became a CEO as if I needed to do so. To view women as having a place in the board room is not easily accepted by many; but when I’m there, it seems like we are making progress.

WHAT HAS CHANGED

ABOUT YOU SINCE YOU BEGAN WORKING?

BOTH GOOD AND BAD...

For the good, I try to make work decisions based primar-ily on the facts, and not how I simply feel about something. For the bad, this means I’m not always the most-liked person in the room.

WHAT’S THE BEST

ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED IN

BUSINESS? Look for people smarter than you, and surround yourself with people who can chal-lenge you and inspire you.

WHAT’S THE WORST


BUSINESS? It doesn’t matter who gets the credit. Well, it does. After giving my ideas to others on-ly to see them take credit for it and get promoted taught

me this lesson. When a good idea is shared with me, I’m careful to credit the per-son for their idea.

WHAT’S THE ODDEST THING THAT’S EVER

HAPPENED TO YOU ON THE JOB?

One time an 87 year old wom-an asked me to come closer to her because she wanted to whisper something to me. She surprised me with a quick slap to my face, and stated she’s been wanting to hit someone all day. I laugh when I look back on this because I know how she feels some days, and at least I was able to provide her some relief.

TELL A FUNNY

ANECDOTE FROM YOUR CAREER:

I took some career guidance tests after high school that said I should consider flower arranging as a career choice.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW

NOW THAT YOU WISHED YOU KNEW 10

/ 20 / 30 YEARS AGO? I have learned that not ev-eryone is honorable and ethi-cal in business. Early on in my career, I was naïve and believed everyone valued the same things I valued.

WHAT PARTICULAR

STRENGTHS DO YOU BRING TO YOUR

BUSINESS: I value good employees and let them know how much I appreciate and value them. I work well under pressure, and I view obstacles as merely challenges to be solved.

WHAT SKILLS/STRENGTHS

SHOULD GIRLS AND YOUNG

WOMEN DEVELOP TO BE

SUCCESSFUL? Know what your core values are and don’t compromise on them.

Learn from the feedback you receive from others and be open and willing to change your strategies. Don’t be afraid to take risks.



Women can have an enor-mous impact on any job. They give voice to how women would view some-thing, which is especially important if you need their support for an idea to work. Women are intuitive and this unique trait lends itself to better decisions and better outcomes.

WHAT WISDOM DO

YOU, AS A WOMAN IN BUSINESS, HAVE TO

SHARE? Embrace being a woman in business. Don’t try to be any-one other than you - your genuine self. Some peo-ple will try to define you and limit your potential if you let them. It is up to you to teach others how you want to be treated in business.



BUSINESS: My path included getting college degrees in psychol-ogy and taking jobs in vari-ous areas within the field to get experience. I wanted

to learn all I could and was willing to try multiple roles. From intern to thera-pist; then, director of a psy-chiatric program to adminis-trator of psychiatric services; then, Vice-President over multiple programs to CEO of hospital; and eventually opening my own company was the path I chose over the last 20 years. I am grateful to the people who encour-aged me and helped me de-velop. Nobody can succeed on their own.

HOW HAVE YOU

BALANCED WORK AND FAMILY?

When I’m not working, I’m with my family. Balancing this for me included say-ing “no” to other things that would take time away from my family. Nothing is more important to me than my family and I strive to give them the best of me and not what’s leftover after work.

DESCRIBE A WOMAN

WHOSE EXAMPLE HAS BEEN VALUABLE TO

YOU IN BUSINESS:

My sister Kathy has inspired me most in business. She believed that everyone mat-tered, and she always saw the best in others. Even while battling breast can-cer, she never stopped car-ing and helping those around her including total strangers. Kathy taught me

to give back no mat-ter how successful or how challenging life may be. Memory of her reminds me daily of what is important in life, and to never lose sight of it.

FAVORITE

QUOTE: Favorite quote: “We cannot change what we are not aware of, and once we are aware, we cannot help but change.”

Sheryl Sandberg

Sherry Bustin48 years-old • Chief Executive Officer at Integrated Psychiatric

Solutions (IPS) for 2 years

A&WITH



Investor Relations Manager at a Mortgage Loan Com-pany … basically a file slave.


WORKING? Making rent and not having to work on weekends.


Every day is an adventure in working with a positive, inno-vative staff, helping to change and help patient’s lifestyles, and constantly learning some-thing new and exciting.


Seeing that everyone on the staff and in our pa-tient books grows towards the goals they have set for themselves. My passion lies in finding out why an indi-vidual is personally afraid of failure, and breaking the mold that holds them back so their dreams become a reality. Whether it is weight loss, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or even buying their kid a certain Christmas gift, the process and the idea re-mains the same.



My father always told me to put my finances and my se-curity first, passion second. It was helpful for my naïve mind at the time, but I’ve found that keeping an entrepreneur spirit and taking risks financially to gain in the long run can be more fulfilling and rewarding than a steady paycheck could ever do.



The most reliable way for anyone to predict the future is to create it. Great chal-lenges make life interesting; but overcoming them makes life meaningful. Its not the failure, but how you react to the failure that determines your happiness and success.



I have opened and closed 4 businesses. Financially, I have been completely and totally broke with no options. Pro-fessionally, I have had entire

staff that quit and left without notice, jeopardizing my repu-tation. An immediate family member was diagnosed with cancer 16 hours away from where I lived and I did not have the time or money to even visit. There were several times in my early 20s that I would staff a retail store (on my feet, mind you) from 7 AM to 9PM during holiday months, and then have to leave and complete 3 hours of paperwork until the next day. That went on for 2 months straight, 7 days a week. Ex-haustion, fatigue, mental breakdowns...you name it, I have found a way to experi-ence it with my career path.

WHAT HAS CHANGED ABOUT YOU

SINCE YOU BEGAN WORKING? BOTH GOOD AND BAD...

I have changed negatively by

embittering myself to staff members. Mixing profes-sional relationships with your best friends can really com-plicate a lot of things, and now I hesitate to expand my relationships with co-work-ers. However, I have learned how to conduct myself pro-fessionally with empathy and understanding towards many different stories and situa-tions while positively im-pacting the business or job. At my first job(s), I would never have worried about the company’s well-being when it came to inter-office trials or conflicts, and now it is a natural reaction and decision to act in the most productive way possible.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE


Never quit on your worst

day. If your best day comes along and you’re still not happy, then you have no business being there. But on your best day with your best results, the positive usually outweighs the negative.



Make close friends with all of your staff. It’s okay to mix personal and professional re-lationships.



Working with the public provides plenty of opportu-nity for strange encounters. As far as the “oddest” thing, once I was challenged to do an entire sales pitch with only facial expressions and

no words. Surprisingly, I was able to sell our product to one customer.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU

WISHED YOU KNEW 10 / 20 / 30 YEARS AGO?

Like most, I wish I knew how “fun” school really is compared to paying bills.



Initiative and commitment. Not a day goes by without me learning a new position or skill and stepping in for someone, somewhere.

WHAT SKILLS/STRENGTHS SHOULD

GIRLS AND YOUNG WOMEN DEVELOP TO

BE SUCCESSFUL? Never be afraid to commit yourself fully to one posi-tion and allow yourself to grow within the company. No manager is impressed by entitlement, but much more enthralled with those who have a strong work ethic and a coachable attitude.



Learning how to and teach-ing others to compartmental-ize is a great leadership tech-nique for women, especially because women are known for their anxiety and distress levels. My best employees and my best days all come from when everyone checks their problems at the front door and focuses 100% on the task at hand. Let your job be your escape from stress, not the cause of it or the place where it goes to fester.


SHARE? Be a problem-solver, not a

Kristi Matthews24 years-old • In her first year

as Patient Care Director at Kilgore Integrated Health

A&WITH

NEWS HERALD photo by JAMES DRAPER

Kristi Matthews (left) visits with Kilgore Chamber of Commerce President Cindy Morris during October's Morning Brew networking session at Alle-giance Specialty Hospital.

See MATTHEWS, Page 11

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SINESS • HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS •SINESS • HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS •BUSINESS • HOME • AUTO • BUSINESS •US

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INSURANCE AGENCYPERKINS

“Always have & always will do the right thing.”

736B Hwy 259 NorthKilgore, TX 75662

Jana PerkinsINDEPENDENT [email protected]

903-986-1188 “I’ve been in the insurance industry since 1996, and now I’ve struck out on my own, happy to offer you a choice from more than 10 of the most competitive carriers available.”

Kilgorenb.comTyler - Troup - Kilgore - Liberty City

903-986-2265

Recognizes its Shining Stars in the City of StarsRecognizes its

Shining Stars

Standing from left: Katie Woodall, Banking



I worked for an Orthodon-tist making plaster models of patient’s teeth, tracing X-rays, and doing office work. I worked 20 hours a week while in high school and still managed to be the Valedic-torian. You can do it if you work hard and stay focused. If I can do it anyone can.


WORKING?I was very young so priori-ties were different a bit, but basic good work habits were the same. Being on time for work, doing a good job, get-ting praise from my boss, and making extra money as a teenager. My priorities primarily were being the best I could be within the office walls.


I’m the CEO for a Behav-ioral Health hospital. We have other service lines but Behavioral health is our core business. We help people who have behavioral issues and diseases that affect their mental health. I’m responsi-ble for overseeing everything

that goes on in the hospital. It is very stressful but also in-credibly rewarding.

WHAT ARE YOUR

PRIORITIES NOW?Older and wiser, my priories now extend far beyond the office walls. I try to be very aware of how my actions im-pact everyone from my corp. office to our employees, to my community. I try to be the very best representative I can outside the office as well. My priorities still include those basic things like punc-tuality, doing a good job and meeting goals but now it includes doing well from an ethical standpoint. It is also very important to me that the people I work with respect me and I’m willing to roll my sleeves up to earn that respect.



My grandmother was a huge influence on the woman I have become. She grew up in the Great Depres-sion and from her stories I have learned to never gripe or complain. She had tre-mendous struggles to over-

come just to get an educa-tion and survive during that time. She was a Steel Mag-nolia for certain. There are people who always have it worse than you do. Be sen-sitive to that. Following the Golden Rule, basic manners, and hard work were valu-able pieces of advice given to me for my first job and they still apply today.

WHAT ADVICE DO

YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN BEGINNING

THEIR FIRST JOB?Keep your standards high. Become the employee that your boss cannot live with-out, even if you have to work twice as hard. You can do anything you set your mind to ... anything.

WHAT CHALLENGES

HAVE YOU OVERCOME IN THE WORKING

WORLD? At first glance people see a nice, petite Southern wom-an who doesn’t look like she could handle herself in the corporate world ... but I can ... and I have to work twice as hard to prove it.

WHAT HAS CHANGED

ABOUT YOU SINCE YOU BEGAN WORKING? BOTH GOOD AND BAD...

I used to see the world through rose colored glasses. I try not to do that anymore. I’ve become much more a re-alist...which is not nearly as fun. (Smile)

WHAT’S THE BEST


BUSINESS?Work hard and maintain high standards. There are no shortcuts. Don’t think you are too good to do anything that you ask others to do.

WHAT’S THE WORST


BUSINESS? The boss does it, so they don’t care if you do it. So untrue! As an employee you

have to hold yourself to the highest standards, always, no matter who is watching.



I could write a book on this subject but I’ll keep it to one incident! I was interviewing a lady for a position once and she confided in me that there was a blip on her back-ground check. When I asked her what it was she stated, “I was convicted of killing my ex-husband.” WOW!... wasn’t expecting that but af-ter 27 years of hiring and fir-ing folks you hear it all!

TELL A FUNNY

ANECDOTE FROM YOUR CAREER:

Many years ago I was hired as and RN charge nurse although I was younger than most of the nurses I was hired to supervise. I showed up on the floor for shift report that an older nurse colleague was giving. She had no idea that I was her new super-visor and I did not tell her any differently...I just let her continue with be-ing downright mean to me. The “pecking order” can be pretty strong in business sometimes. She was right in the middle of

a long list of “bedpan” du-ties that she handed off to me when the Nursing Di-rector walked up and asked how my first day as House Supervisor was going so far. Needless to say she was very embarrassed to say the least. It made me be aware of how new people feel in work situations sometimes and how important it is to treat people nicely and not let your arrogance overload everything else. Moral of the story ... don’t treat peo-ple badly going up the ca-reer ladder for one day they may be your boss.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW

NOW THAT YOU WISHED YOU KNEW 10

/ 20 / 30 YEARS AGO?You can’t make people be something that they are not. Personally or professionally. I tend to see all the good and incredible potential in peo-ple, even when they don’t see that in themselves and I’m always disappointed when people choose not to live up to their own potential.

WHAT PARTICULAR

STRENGTHS DO YOU BRING TO YOUR

BUSINESS: I can “fix” things quickly. I like to problem solve and move on. I can wear many hats and juggle many balls at

once and still seem to keep it all together. I’m pretty sure that this is a blessing as well as a curse.

WHAT SKILLS/

STRENGTHS SHOULD GIRLS AND YOUNG

WOMEN DEVELOP TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

Be an independent thinker. Show your intelligence with-out being arrogant. Roll your sleeves up and get it done...no matter what that is in life. Be willing to work your mind and body as hard as you have to in order to ac-complish your goals. Always GET BACK UP!



Women have a unique abil-ity to see the softer side of things. They can bring sen-sitivity and humanitarianism to the table in an otherwise harsh corporate world. This is especially true if you work in health-care where both business savvy and a big heart are often needed.

WHAT WISDOM DO

YOU, AS A WOMAN IN BUSINESS, HAVE TO

SHARE? No matter how many times you fall down...what matters is that you always get back up.

HOW HAVE YOU

BALANCED WORK AND FAMILY?

I have been a single working mom since my daughter was 5. Its not easy being mom, dad and career person but it can be done. Her actions today are the best testimony to how she was raised. She is finishing a Bachelors De-gree in Business and will move directly into her Mas-ters and finish by the time she is 22. In addition, she is considering a law degree at this point. We’ll see. She

Karen Ross49 (and holding) • Chief Executive

Officer at Allegiance Specialty Hospital (7.5 years with ASH)

A&WITH

We are thankful for those who have placed their

1101 E. LantripKilgore, Texas

903-986-1857 www.mobbsrealestate.com

Honoring Women in Business

Crystal DeBerry, Jessica Holmes, Charlotte Mobbs, Linda Melton

See ROSS, Page 11

DID YOU KNOW?Women make up a fast-growing segment of the home improvement market. According to research by Sears, Roebuck & Co. and Investor’s Business Daily, 53 percent of married women are responsible for basic household maintenance and repair. Women also comprise 50 percent of all residential buyers at major home improvement stores and generally spend more than men when shopping. Women also make 85 percent of all remodeling decisions around the home. As a result, more retailers cater to female shoppers in their home improvement promotions.

2700 Stone Road • Kilgore, TX 75662 • 903-984-5000 www.lairdins.com

LAIRD INSURANCE AGENCY“Let our Women in Business

help you with your Insurance needs.”

L to R is Nikki Humphrey, Nancy DeBerry, Kelly McClendon, Wanda Langford, Ruby Havins, Robbin Hedrick and Tishia Martin. Not Pictured: Norma Caskey-Graham.

Celebrating Women In Business

Main Street Flowers & More212 E. Main

903-983-2320Floral Designs

GiftsTrophies

PackagingGift Wrapping

Bill Paying & More

Metro Feature

Balancing work and family life is a major challenge for many professionals. Many established professionals find it stressful to juggle the demands of suc-cessful careers with the obligations they have to their families, and regaining that balance once it has been lost only adds to that stress.

Part of the difficulty of balancing work and family life is that the challenge is ongoing. The threat of losing your work-

life balance is never too far away, but there are steps men and women can take to regain that balance once it’s been lost.

* Start documenting your activities. No one operates at 100 percent ef-ficiency all the time, but balancing ob-ligations at work with those at home is especially difficult when time is routinely lost to trivial matters or tasks at work that can be delegated to others. These time-consuming tasks have a tendency to add up, but professionals rarely take note of the smaller tasks or distractions that

cost them time. Start documenting your activities on a daily basis, jotting down how each hour of your day is spent, both at home and at work. Do this for several weeks, after which time a pattern will likely develop, and you can see where you are wasting time and where you are being most efficient with your time. When you sit down to examine your notes, look for ways to free up time with-out sacrificing the quality of your work or the quality of time you spend with your family. Don’t be afraid to make changes.

* Don’t go it alone. Teamwork is im-portant at home and around the office and can help overburdened profession-als regain their work-life balance. If you tend to go it alone in the office, reach out to your colleagues more often, seeking their help on projects and offering your help in return. This can drastically cut back on the hours you spend in the office, giving you more quality time at home. But you also can work with your family to free up more time. Assign tasks around the house so you aren’t doing chores during the time you do have at home. Split cooking duties with your spouse or even the kids if they’re old enough and delegate other household tasks as well. Such tasks can be tackled while you’re at work so the family can spend more time together each night and on weekends.

* Stop emulating Atlas. In Greek my-thology, Atlas was condemned to stand-ing at the edge of the Earth and holding the weight of Uranus on his shoulders. Many professionals can no doubt em-pathize with Atlas, even if taking such weight on their shoulders was self-in-flicted. Regaining work-life balance may require taking some of that weight off of your shoulders by learning to respectfully decline extra projects around the office or in your personal life. You can still pitch in on special projects at work without

spearheading them, much like you can still spend time with your kids at the ball-park even if you aren’t their coach. Cutting back on your obliga-tions is a great way to reduce stress and free up time to focus on the things that mean the most to you.

* Think outside the box. If you have exam-ined your daily activi-ties and commitments but can’t seem to find any ways to regain your work-life balance, start looking for unique ways to make the time you spend at work and the time you spend at home more proportionate. Consider telecom-muting one or two days per week to free up time to spend with your family. If moving is an option, consider mov-ing closer to your office so you aren’t spending so much time commuting to and from work each day. Even if you have seemingly exhausted all options, chances are strong there is a solution to help you regain your work-life balance. But some-times that balance requires a little creativity and some give-and-take with both your employer and your family.


Now hiring Professional Drivers. Apply inside.


Making vinyl signs at a sign shop.


WORKING? Education and success.


My family.



Having to be a minority in the insurance industry.



I treat my clients, just like I would like to be treated with respect.

WHAT SKILLS/

STRENGTHS SHOULD GIRLS AND YOUNG

WOMEN DEVELOP TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

Continue your higher edu-cation and get a degree to

become an independent woman.


SHARE? Stay true to yourself and stand behind your beliefs.



BUSINESS: I started as a customer ser-vice rep and studied and passed (the) state test to get my property and casu-alty license. After a couple of years studied and passed my life and health test, then applied for my general lines agent license. I have more than ten years expe-rience in the insurance in-dustry, thought it was time to start my own insurance agency. I tried the indepen-dent side of insurance for 3 years and then was recruit-ed by Farmers Insurance to become a bilingual agent to help my Kilgore commu-nity with their insurance needs. My agency is doing well thank God.

Regaining your work-life balance

Connie VanciniOwner/Agent at Farmers Insurance

A&WITH

Metro Feature

Many top level business executives, including some CEOs, began their careers in entry-level posi-tions. Such positions may not fulfill a post-grad’s dream, but they are often great opportunities for freshly minted graduates to learn about a given industry.

Like many opportunities, entry-level jobs are often only as valuable as employees want them to be. Those who approach entry-level opportuni-ties with a good attitude and a strong desire to learn are the ones who are most likely to someday consider their experiences as entry-level employees as invaluable. With that in mind, the following are a few ways entry-level workers can make the most of their opportunity.

* Maintain a good attitude. Chances are your first few months as an entry-level employee will be spent performing tedious tasks that may have little to do with your long-term career goals. Approach-ing such tasks with enthusiasm may be difficult,

but do your best to maintain a positive attitude. Your coworkers and bosses will observe how you respond to your workload, and that response can dictate your future with the company. In addition, those who are above you on the company food chain no doubt performed some menial entry-level work when they began their careers, and a poor attitude that suggests you are above such work will only harbor resentment among those who have al-ready paid their dues.

* Be ready to chip in. A willingness to cooperate and work a few extra hours when help is needed is a great way for entry-level employees to get no-ticed. But while helping coworkers is great, make sure your own responsibilities aren’t suffering because you’re too quick to lend a helping hand. Once you have cleared your plate, you can then approach your boss and express your willingness to help. Such gestures will be appreciated and will help you get noticed for all the right reasons.

* Learn the lay of the land. Companies vary with regard to culture at the office, so while a casual

environment might have prevailed at a past in-ternship that does not necessarily mean your new employer fosters the same environment. When starting an entry-level job, pay attention to how the staff interacts with one another, including how decisions are made. Such information can help you as you look to advance your career and build rela-tionships within the company.

* Develop your skills. No one expects you to be fully satisfied with an entry level position for your entire career, so don’t be afraid to seek opportuni-ties to further develop your skills. Such opportuni-ties may present themselves within the company via an interesting project or outside the company via a class at the local college. Take advantage of any chance to develop your skills, and don’t feel guilty about pursuing opportunities that have little to do with your current position so long as you’re still doing your job to the best of your abilities. A good company will be impressed by your desire to learn and grow your skill set, so don’t hesitate to seek such opportunities.

Make the most of your entry-level jobMETRO IMAGE

Employment AgencyWhat do you do?

www.manpowerjobs.com702 Hwy 259 N. Kilgore, Tx

903-984-7700

Ensuring the CARE in Healthcare

Bernie Ware, Dietary Manager; Marla Gaberial, RAC Nurse; Denise Weatherford,

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Overton Healthcare Center

Metro Feature

As the old saying goes, “A woman’s work is never done.” Unfortunately, many women find this adage still rings true, par-ticularly in regard to the workplace.

According to the AFL-CIO, the average 25-year-old woman who works fulltime, year-round until she retires at age 65 will earn $523,000 less than the average working man. The U.S. Department of La-bor says that women earn roughly 20 per-cent less than men. Though women have made large advances toward economic

equality, a disparity in pay between men and women still exists.

As if unequal working wages weren’t enough, many women face barriers in find-ing jobs and advancing their careers. The term “glass ceiling” refers to the unseen, yet unbreachable barrier that keeps minorities and women from rising to the upper rungs of the corporate ladder, regardless of their qualifications or achievements.

Many women feel they have gone as far as they can with their employer thanks to a lack of options at the supervisory level, or an unwillingness of higher-ups to consider

them for advancement.As difficult as it can be for women to

advance, there are ways to break through. In 2009, a report by Bloomberg News discovered that many women in top CEO positions earned substantially more than their male counterparts. Female CEOs of Yahoo!(R), PepsiTM and KraftTM earn salaries as high as $45 million.

Despite progress, there are still many women earning less and getting left behind. There are strategies women can employ to change this.

* Be more aggressive in negotiations. When negotiating salary, don’t be shy. Be aggressive when pursuing a salary that is commensurate with your experience.

* Get involved. Network with like-mind-

ed women who have already paved their own way in the business sector. Women working in predominantly male fields can develop networking opportunities that are enjoyable to both men and women.

* Find a mentor. Networking remains one of the key ways to advance in the business world. Relying on the experi-ence of a mentor can help you with your

career and the pressures that come with it. Seek mentors whose accomplishments you admire and who are willing to offer advice and encouragement.

* Start your own business. Women who find their careers have hit dead end smay want to consider going into business for themselves. This way they can spread their wings and be in charge.

Breaking through the glass ceiling


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DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST JOB: I was 16 and worked for Production Data Service, gathering production and drilling data from the Railroad Commission for customers.

WHAT WERE YOUR

PRIORITIES WHEN YOU FIRST BEGAN WORKING?

At 16, my first priority was to make my own spending money. As a student in the Vocational Of-fice Education program at Kilgore High School, my next priority was to learn how to work and be a part of the business world.


As a Real Estate Broker, I manage a real estate firm with a total of seven Realtors, including myself. As a Realtor, I assist clients in buying and selling residential and com-mercial properties.


Behind God and family, my priorities are to do the best job possible repre-senting my clients and their best in-

terests, whether buying or selling.

WHAT ADVICE DID YOU RECEIVE BEFORE YOUR FIRST JOB? HOW WAS IT

HELPFUL or UNHELPFUL? My office education instructor was the late Helen “Pudge” Griffin. She told us to start with a profes-sional appearance. It was helpful because you get only one chance to make a first impression, whether in personal or business relationships.



Prepare yourself with education and knowledge of the field in which you are interested. Conduct yourself in a professional manner. You can be strong and still be a Lady.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU OVERCOME IN THE

WORKING WORLD? I was the shy, quiet type growing up. I had to get out of my comfort zone and learn to network and de-velop relationships

WHAT HAS CHANGED ABOUT YOU SINCE YOU

BEGAN WORKING? BOTH GOOD AND BAD...

Well, the obvious change since I be-gan working is that I have aged and matured quite a bit. I worked 24 years for Texaco as the Natural Gas Marketing Coordinator for East Texas and North Louisiana. That experience, along with 6.5 years in Real Estate, has given me the op-portunity to grow and gain the self-confidence I need to fully represent the needs of my clients. With the crazy working hours of a Realtor, I don't make the time to work out like I used to. That is something I am currently trying to change.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED IN

BUSINESS? That I am representing my busi-ness at all times. My character and actions as an individual reflect on the reputation of my business.

WHAT’S THE WORST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED

IN BUSINESS? I don’t really recall any bad advice.


ON THE JOB? A few years ago, I began receiving a number of disturbing text mes-sages from a stranger. A visit from the County Sheriff took care of the problem.

TELL A FUNNY ANECDOTE FROM YOUR CAREER:

I am sure there are many, but none come to mind at present.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW NOW THAT YOU WISHED

YOU KNEW 10 / 20 / 30 YEARS AGO?

Appreciate each day that you have and those that you love. Give the best that you have to your career, but experience and savor the mo-ments with your family.

WHAT PARTICULAR STRENGTHS DO YOU BRING TO

YOUR BUSINESS: I have had a number of clients tell me they came to me because they knew they could trust me. I am both humbled and hon-ored to hear that and take it very seriously. My standards are very high when it comes to hon-esty and integrity. My expecta-tions are equally as high when it comes to the agents associated with Mobbs Real Estate Group. We have a great group of Real-tors.

WHAT SKILLS/STRENGTHS SHOULD GIRLS AND

YOUNG WOMEN DEVELOP TO BE SUCCESSFUL?

Self-confidence, the ability to work under pressure and/or han-dle several tasks at once, and the ability to analyze a problem to determine the best solution.

DESCRIBE A UNIQUE WAY A WOMAN CAN HAVE AN

IMPACT ON THE JOB: As a Realtor, she has the knowl-edge and training to handle the legal transaction. As a woman, she has the understanding of how emotional buying or selling a home can be.

WHAT WISDOM DO YOU, AS A WOMAN IN BUSINESS,

HAVE TO SHARE? I have to repeat my answer from above: Give the best that you have to your career, but expe-rience and savor the moments with your family.

ARE YOU A BUSINESS OWNER? DESCRIBE YOUR PATH TO OPENING YOUR

OWN BUSINESS: After taking a severance package from Chevron Texaco, I earned my real estate license, then later my Broker’s license. Real Estate is a natural fit with my husband’s construction business.

HOW HAVE YOU BALANCED WORK

AND FAMILY? It was not always easy. I com-pleted my Bachelor’s Degree in business while working full time at Texaco and raising a family. I think most working mothers feel inadequate at times. I knew that I was doing the best to provide for my children. Now that my children are grown, I spend time with my three beautiful grand-children as often as I can.

DESCRIBE A WOMAN WHOSE EXAMPLE HAS

BEEN VALUABLE TO YOU IN BUSINESS:

I have two. First is my mother, Nona Gordon. She was a stay-at-home mom until I was 15. She then spent over 30 years working in business, eventually retiring from the East Texas Treatment Center. She was a great exam-ple of a Christian mother to her daughters as well as teaching us the work ethic needed to suc-ceed in business. The second is the late Helen “Pudge” Griffin, who helped me get started in the working world. Not only was she one of my favorite teachers, she later became a Realtor as well.

Charlotte Mobbs55 years-old • Broker/Owner at Mobbs Real Estate Group

A&WITH

DID YOU KNOW?The automotive industry has long been a male-dominated in-dustry. Things could begin to shift after the actions taken by one major automaker. In late 2013, Mary Barra was named the chief executive officer for General Motors. Barra, who has worked for GM in various capacities for the past 33 years, be-comes the first woman ever to lead a major automaker. Barra began working at GM in the Pontiac Motor Division when she was 18 as a means to pay for college tuition. Most recently she was the executive vice president of global product develop-ment, purchasing and supply chain for GM. According to GM, Barra was picked for her wealth of knowledge and managerial skills, not for political correctness.


1312 Industrial Blvd Kilgore, Tx 75662 903-984-5005

We would like to salute our female employees and thank them for their hard work and

dedication to our company.

Front row left to right: Denise Quebedeaux, Laura Scarlett, Barbara Barton, Laura Tingle

Back row left to right: Jennifer Barnes, Nashunda Mitchell, June Boyle, Stacy Browning, Carrie Deramus, Melissa

Wortham, Jennifer PaceMissing: Malisa Morgan, Janie Sartin

Connie VanciniInsurance Agent

Karina Reyes CSR

Autos • Home • Life • Business719 Harris StKilgore, TX 75662Bus: 903-984-8101Fax: [email protected]

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Ashley & Sheila Your Beauticians Pet Salon

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Lavonia StoneOverton Health Care

31 years

Reane WalkerRainbow Realty

30 years

Dody KeiserRainbow Realty

30 years

Kay Myers/ManagerSafeway Transportation

16 years

Rosy Rodriguez/Co-OwnerTacos Las Tenjanitas

1 year locally

Diana Rodriguez/Co-OwnerTacos Las Tenjanitas

1 year locally

Norma Hunter/ OwnerAmazing Grace Floral

2 years locally

Amanda AtkinsVP, Retail Office Manager

Austin Bank15 years with Austin Bank

Karen Ross/CEOAllegiance

28 years exp

Carol GilchrestManager

Blake Furniture15 years

Caryn CouchLicensed Agent Since 1991Rainbow Realty Since1998

Barbara BartonAccounting Manager

Coastal Chemical23 Years

Stephanie Humphrey, Controller

Energy Weld Fab12 years

Tonya Willis/ OwnerCircle Cafe

30 years in business

Connie VanciniAgent

Farmers Insurance4 years in Business

Jessica WoodallCo-Publisher

Kilgore News HeraldSince 2001

Kathy KennedyKilgore Health & Rehab

20 Years

Martha FertitaOwner/ OperatorMain Street Florist

Since 1981

Pam DeCeaultExecutive Vice PresidentKilgore National Bank

Since 2000

Norma Caskey-GrahamCustomer Service Representative

Laird Insurance 42 years

Bobbie Guinn/Co-OwnerArpco. Valves

4.5 years

Charlotte Mobbs/OwnerMobbs Realestate

3.5 years

Andrea Koll/Office ManagerDr. McNabb/

Kilgore Integratedsince 2007

Judy KennemerMerle Norman

21 years in business

Sheila Atkins/ OwnerPaws R Us

3 years Locally 29 yrs exp.

Kathy LukerManpower

Employment Agency7 years

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Barbara Bynog/Co-OwnerEast Texas Tire

1 year

Donna Beets/ Sr. Branch Office Administrator

Edward Jones11 years

Jacqueline DavisGrant Moore Center

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Jana PerkinsJ Perkins Insurance Agency

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Jan Wylie/PositionColdwell Banker

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Metro Feature

The responsibility of raising a fam-ily while maintaining a career is nev-er easy. Working moms often wish there were more time in the day to spend with their families or get more done at the office. While there’s no way women can add a 25th hour to their days, there are ways to manage your time more effectively so you can get around to doing those things you never seem to have the time to do.

* Get a head start. Perhaps no time of day is more hectic for a work-ing mother than the morning, when she must get ready for work while getting the kids ready for school and ensuring they have a good breakfast. Some moms even drop their young-sters off at school. That’s a lot of tasks to tackle before you even sit down in your office to answer the first e-mail or listen to the morn-ing’s first voicemail. To make morn-ings less frantic, get a head start the night before by laying out the next day’s clothes for you and encourag-ing your kids to do the same. Prepar-ing lunches, packing a gym bag and even setting the coffee maker can all be done the night before to save you time and make mornings more relaxing.

* Take public transportation to work. Public transportation may not be available to all working moth-ers, but those with access to a train, subway or bus might want to take advantage of that opportunity. If you do, you can spend your daily com-mute catching up with work instead of sitting in traffic behind the wheel of your car. Even if public transporta-tion takes a little more time to get you to work than driving yourself, that extra time can be spent prepar-ing for the day ahead.

* Catch up on work over the week-end. The weekends are a time when many working mothers look to un-wind, but spending an hour or two catching up on work on a Saturday or Sunday morning is a great way to make the week a little less hec-tic. As the week progresses toward the weekend, set aside certain tasks that aren’t urgent but can be easily addressed in an hour or so over the weekend. This frees up time during the week to tackle larger projects and might even allow you to leave your

office earlier on weekdays.* Prepare or even cook meals in

advance. The days of yore when mom cooked all the meals are largely a thing of the past, as nowadays both parents tend to share cooking du-ties. Moms can cut down on the time it takes to serve up family meals on weeknights by cooking meals in ad-vance. Think of dishes you can prepare on the weekends and then freeze until you’re ready to serve. Or purchase a

slow cooker that slowly cooks your meal all day while you’re out and about. By the time you and your fam-ily arrive home at night, dinner will be ready and you will have more time to relax after a long day.

* Share the work. Sharing your workload pertains to both home and the office. At home, don’t feel like you have to be a superhero capable of handling all of the household tasks like cooking, cleaning and walking

the dog on your own. Share these responsibilities with your spouse and even your children when they’re old enough. At the office, don’t be afraid to delegate tasks to your coworkers or ask for favors from coworkers who might be able to help.

Managing time effectively is of paramount importance for working mothers. Learning to do so effectively can make for a better personal as well as professional life.


problem-finder.

ARE YOU A BUSINESS OWNER? DESCRIBE YOUR PATH TO OPENING YOUR OWN BUSINESS:

Donald Trump says it best … all entrepreneurs must be willing to fail their way up. There are endless kinds and amounts of obstacles, the idea is to be part of the 10% who find a way to overcome challenges.

HOW HAVE YOU BALANCED WORK AND FAMILY?

Find a way to motivate yourself with important family times and events. I work closely with my staff and Doc to reward my time off around the times I know will be important and memorable for my family.

DESCRIBE A WOMAN WHOSE EXAMPLE HAS BEEN VALUABLE TO YOU IN BUSINESS:

My mentor Julia Davis, Dallas, TX, has been very valu-able to me as far as setting an example of the perfect bal-ance in the workplace. Talking with her, she has a way of making you feel like you are the most important person in the world to her and she emphasizes with any and all headaches and heartaches, however she accepts NO ex-cuses and pushes and empowers you to be the best you that you can be. Her tips and advice on how and what to do with my businesses, my attitudes, and my teams were motivating, and she taught me along the way to be able to think for myself professionally and make great managing decisions.

MATTHEWS Continued from Page 6

has a 3.5-4.0 GPA, teaches Sunday School and has two part time jobs in addition to being very active in her so-rority. Scripture teaches us that you can tell a lot about a person by looking at their “fruits”. She’s my greatest ac-complishment.

DESCRIBE A WOMAN

WHOSE EXAMPLE HAS BEEN VALUABLE TO

YOU IN BUSINESS: I was born in the Mississippi Delta at a time when most girls got married young an started a family so anything from that “norm” was not traditional. My grandmoth-er was a huge influence to me in every aspect of my life. She taught me to be a strong, independent thinker, to march to my own beat...that I didn’t have to follow

the “norm”. She was a true role model who taught me to be a Steele Magnolia... to be a woman who can handle her business but do it with a grace befitting a woman. I was taught to get an educa-tion first, get a job and take care of myself, live life and hopefully after some life ex-periences I would be better equipped to make major life decisions (like getting mar-

ried and having children). I was always taught to be able to take care of myself, espe-cially financially, so my well being would not be depen-dent upon another.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS?

Everything I am or have ac-complished has been from the grace of God. I don’t lose sight of that.

ROSS Continued from Page 7

agent in my hometown of Kilgore.

DESCRIBE A WOMAN WHOSE EXAMPLE HAS BEEN VALUABLE TO YOU IN BUSINESS:

Mrs. Deana Covin was the director of the Rangerettes when I was a freshman Rangerette, just prior to her retire-ment. She’s a lady of integrity who lead by example. She taught all the Rangerettes how to be a lady. She believed in the ability for all of them to develop a good character. Without this, I would not be where I am today and my goal is to emulate her in my life, which would hopefully carry over into my business.

PERKINS Continued from Page 3

or human resources department to find out if the workplace has any restrictions on wardrobe. There may be employee guidelines, particularly in certain industries, such as law or education. If no such re-strictions are in place, keep skirts to knee-length and avoid particularly low-cut tops. Save more re-vealing items for nights out with friends.

Many employers have adopted dress-down days as perks for their employees. Although you may be invited to dress more casually, avoid dressing for a day at the beach or hanging around the house. Opt for trouser-style jeans that are free of rips and

embellishments. If athletic shoes are allowed, make sure they are clean and not the pair you wear while tending to your garden. Avoid graphic T-shirts that feature potentially offensive or suggestive mes-sages. In more conservative companies, dressing down may be opting for khakis instead of suits. It is important to know the difference.

Women who are adding to their wardrobes can include these all-timebusiness staples.

* Classic black pump shoes* Crisp, button-down white shirt* Fine-knit sweater in a bright color

* Camisole or shell in a neutral color to wear under blazers

* Cardigan in black or white that can be worn over tops or dresses

* Fitted, sleeveless dress that can be paired with a suit jacket or cardigan

* Straight-hemmed skirt in a neutral color* Flat-front black, gray and tan pants* Neutral-colored wool coat and a rain jacketOver time, women can add to their wardrobes as

budgets allow and they learn more about what is acceptable at their places of hire.

WARDROBE Continued from Page 2

Smart time management tips for working mothers

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“She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.” Proverbs 13:16

“There is no substitute for hard work.” ~ Thomas Alva Edison. You have to roll up your sleeves and get it done. There are no short cuts. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because you have a degree or a title that success just comes automatically. Education is only a step. It’s what you do with what you know that counts.

“Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”~ Winston Churchill. Keep a positive attitude, stay strong and enthusiastic and move forward no matter the setbacks. Defeat starts in your mind.

“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” ~ Thomas Paine. Be a leader or a follower but don’t pull in the opposite direction. Be a team player in whatever capacity you can. You are either contributing to the success of the team or you are contributing to its downfall. There is no in between.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

“If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12

“In all toil (work) there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.” Proverbs 14:23

Now ladies, let’s get right down to the good stuff. Good old fashioned advice from successful Southern women:

“Don’t date where you work.” A workplace romance can have serious consequences for your reputation and your career. It just makes people uncomfortable. Even if they say they are O.K. with it, they’re not. My grandmother always said, “Don’t get your honey where you make your money.” Words to live by.

“Don’t stop and throw rocks at every dog that barks at you.” my grandmother. Don’t waste valuable energy keeping up with what a competitor is doing. (or their yapping) Use that time and energy to focus on pushing ahead on your own goals.

Have integrity. Don’t just talk about it. Do the right thing. Even if it hurts... especially if it hurts. You’ll be blessed for it in the end. Folks want to do business with people that they can trust. People see the truth in your actions, not your words.

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. This includes gossiping or badmouthing the people who write your paycheck and your supervisors.

Lift up your coworkers. Don’t tear down. These folks are the backbone of any business. Take care of them.

Never forget those who have helped you along the way. This includes your company, your community and your coworkers. Don’t step on others for personal gain or compromise your values just to get ahead.

It’s not all about you. Enough said.

No matter how many times you get knocked down, get back up. Success will never come if you have a defeated mindset.

Honesty matters. Folks can tell when you are being untruthful. They are just too gracious to call you on it. In business, people might not get the answer they want, but they will respect your honesty.

Don’t be so arrogant that you underestimate your competitor. They might just be tougher than you think.

And finally a little parable with a great lesson…

There was a woman walking down the road when she he heard a rustle at her feet, and looking down, she saw a snake. Before she could move, the snake spoke: ‘I am about to die, said the snake. “It is too cold for me and I am freezing. There is no food and I am starving. Put me under your shirt and take me home with you.”

“No,” said the woman. “I am forewarned, I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite, and your bite will kill me.”

“Not so,” said the snake. “I will treat you differently. If you will do this for me, you will be special. I will not harm you.”

The woman resisted awhile, but this was a very persuasive snake with beautiful markings. At last the woman tucked it under her shirt and carried it home. There she laid it gently on the grass, when suddenly the snake coiled, rattled and leapt, biting her on the leg.

“But you promised!” cried the woman.

“You knew what I was when you picked me up!” said the snake as it slithered away.

Here’s the lesson --- You knew he was a snake and that he would bite you when you picked him up. The sooner you put him down, the better off you’ll be. There are lots of snakes in the business world. Learn to recognize them.

Behavioral Health is our core business…it’s what we do best. We have proudly served East Texas since 2003. Our hope is that you would consider us if you ever need quality behavioral care for your loved one.

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Dear Reader,

By the time you get to this back page article, you have undoubtedly read some wonderful things and amazing accomplishments from some incredible women in this “Women in Business 2014” edition. As a community we have lots to be proud of in relation to our ladies in business, the strong roles they play and the positions they hold. I say, “Job well done” to the working women of East Texas. I’m proud and humbled to be in such great company.

I have thought a lot about what I would like to convey in this article, so instead of listing accomplishments or credentialing I would like to do something different….I would like to give something back. So in the lines to follow I would like to share some words of wisdom gathered over my 30 years as a career woman. My hope is that you find something that helps you along the way, and if I am lucky you will think of me, smile and have a foundation of inspirational thoughts and words to pull from when those tough decision times roll around in your own career.

Here are a few of my traditional favorites:

2014.10.29 kilgore news herald women in business special section

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