Exceptionalpeoplemagazinemarchapril2018issue hr by Atela Productions, Inc.

March/April 2018

Egan

Detective Erin

Dr. Sharon DeVivo

LillianDukes

Women of Excellence and Influence Exceeding Barriers

To Negotiate Successfully, Consider Ethnicity and Gender Becoming a Super Achiever is About Taking Calculated Risks

Olga Custodio

axine Dr. M Lubner

Lysa Scully

Founder and Publisher Editor-in-Chief Monica Davis Writers & Editors Jon Crump Marla Gem Suzanne Harris Company Writers & Contributors Donna Carletta Kathy Kentty Pat Markel Other Contributors Andrew Horton Greg Williams Jack Canfield Art and Graphics Designer Jenette Antonio Sityar

Exceptional People Magazine is published bi-monthly by Atela Productions, Inc. The opinions of the contributors are not necessarily those of Atela Productions, Inc. Exceptional People Magazine is a copyright of Atela Productions, Inc. The contents of this publication may not be printed, copied or distributed without the express written consent of the Publisher. Copyright © 2018 All rights reserved.

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P R O D U C T I O N S , INC.

Letter from the Publisher When you wake up each day, are you truly grateful for the day, or do you immediately start complaining about all things that have gone wrong in your life the day before? Sure, you may have challenges to face that day but being grateful for all the good things that have happened is the first step to successfully overcoming those challenges you are faced with. Challenges often mean it’s time for change in some area of your life. They also help you build character and strength. Your attitude plays a significant role in how each day begins and ends. It has an amazing impact on your overall success and your health. A good attitude can provide you with the motivation you need to succeed beyond your expectations. Mary Kay Ash once said, “If you think you can, you can. If you think you can’t, you’re right.” Try following these strategies for improving your attitude for success: • Discover what inspires you the most and use it to jumpstart your motivation. • Surround yourself with positive people. When you're around positive and inspiring people, you're more likely to adopt those traits. • Take a leap of faith. Don't be afraid to take initiative and plunge forward towards your goals. People who take action always find success. Adopt a “go with the flow” attitude. We all make mistakes. No one ever achieves success the first time they attempt an endeavor. Success requires a series of actions that includes changing directions and making small tweaks to our original plans. You have to allow for mistakes. When you have a "go with the flow" attitude, you'll find that you're able to pick yourself up and continue moving forward when you do make mistakes. The next time you think you’re having a bad day, consider all the things that have gone right, be grateful and continue to press forward.

Monica Davis

Contents Extraordinary Profiles

Detective Erin Egan

Dr. Sharon DeVivo

Lillian Dukes

Dr. Maxine Lubner

Lysa Scully

Retired Air Force Lt. Colonel Olga Custodio

NYPD’s First Female Flight Instructor

Vaughn College’s First Female President Transforms College’s Structure

Navigated From Engineer to Corporate Vice President From Zimbabwe to Flying in the American Skies Lysa Scully Speaks About Being Head of LaGuardia Airport

Broke Many Racial and Gender Barriers

It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed. Napoleon Hill

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EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

rom an early age, Erin Egan loved science, math, and aviation. One of her parents is a private pilot, and Egan thought she would one day become an astronaut. As Egan grew older, she focused on energies on becoming a pilot. Her hard work paid off — she became the first female Pilot in Command of the New York Police Department’s Air-Sea Rescue helicopter and crew. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautical Science, Egan completed the grueling police academy in 1998. By 2007, she was a detective and her unit’s first female pilot instructor. Egan has not only saved many lives while on the job, but also she has survived potentially deadly helicopter malfunctions. We learned from Detective Egan, a lot about the dedication and commitment it takes to become a police officer and how to effectively deal with challenges.

Monica: Would you say that you chose your career or did it choose you? When did you realize that the field of aviation and aeronautics was your calling? Detective Egan: From my earliest memory, I always wanted to be an astronaut. I grew up during the 1980s and I would have done anything to get into the space shuttle. I loved science and math, but as I got older and needed to make decisions on how I was going to get there, I ultimately decided on a more practical career path of becoming a pilot. I felt that goal was more realistic and attainable at the time. Monica: Not all paths are straight on the road to success; we all must take some detours on the way to our destinations. What lessons have you learned along the way that helped you become the best version of yourself and did those lessons help you move upward while working in the industry? Detective Egan: Sometimes we make decisions for reasons we didn’t expect would come our way when trying to attain a goal. We must take the good parts of that decision to focus on and make the best outcome we can.

Monica: What were a couple of challenges you encountered during the pursuit of your career and how did you overcome them? Detective Egan: After deciding to become a pilot in the Airborne Law Enforcement sector, I had to become a police officer first. I was accepted into the NYPD Police Academy in 1998 and it was a life-changer. A police officer’s job is very difficult — helping

March - April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES people in need, constant danger, life and death decisions, difficult situations and experiences, long hours, missed holidays, and missed time with family and friends with very little appreciation. There were many times I doubted myself and doubted that I would get to achieve my goal. I just kept at it and I was lucky enough to be transferred to the Aviation Unit after only five years on patrol. Unfortunately, the political climate of today makes it even harder on the people who decide to protect and serve our communities. Monica: You have become an extraordinary leader in your field. What strategy would you advise women to take if they’re considering entering a similar field that’s dominated by men?

Monica: When you began your journey on this path, who mentored and encouraged you to press forward regardless of the challenges you might face? Detective Egan: My grandmother had a tremendous effect on my life. She was a woman beyond her time. She was educated, worked, and married later than most during that time. She lost her husband at young age after having four children and managed to continue to do it all by herself. She wasn’t perfect, but I always felt inspired to be like her. Monica: How did performing rescue operations help change your life personally? How did your perspective on life change? Detective Egan: Rescuing someone who could have lost their life is a profound feeling. The rescues I have been involved with will stay with me for the rest of my life. I have met with some people afterwards and you can see how a brush with death has changed their lives for the better. Most people are appreciative of how you risk your life to save theirs, and that is a great feeling. I truly understand how quickly everything can be taken away. Monica: What motivates you every day? When you get up in morning, what do you look forward to the most?

Monica: What are the guiding principles that you live by every day? Detective Egan: I maintain my integrity; I try to always do what’s right, not what makes people happy. Monica: Based on your experiences at the time you began your career, what differences have you noticed in your field? In what ways have things become better for women? Detective Egan: This is a hard question to answer, because certain things have gotten easier and certain things have actually gotten harder. When I first started in this field, I feel I was accepted more because I had the background and education to back up my opportunity. The guys still had to “teach me” and I depended on them. When I got the opportunity to teach others and to command a crew is when things got harder. There are always a few who have difficulty learning or taking direction from a woman who has more experience than them. Sadly, I found it was mostly supervisors. These issues rarely occurred within the crew. The crew would see how I conducted myself and I rarely had an issue. Monica: To whom or what do you owe your extraordinary success? Detective Egan: I owe it to people like my grandmother and other women who have pioneered in their field. Seeing other women do something first makes you believe you can do it too. Monica: Sometimes when you’re not able to walk through “the door of opportunity”, you have to create an opening where there isn’t one. There will always be occasions where women are not viewed equally as men even though they perform at the same levels and even beyond. How do you approach those times when you need to create an opening and there doesn’t seem to be one? Detective Egan: For me I just kept at it, trying to prove to the people who made it difficult for me they couldn’t stop me. I have changed the minds of some but not all, and I have accepted that. I am confident in myself that I know who I am and what I can do. Sometimes, that just has to be enough.

Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

Detective Egan: This must be a profession you WANT to do. A person can burn out quickly dealing with the daily stressors of being a police officer, so it must be something someone feels they have to do. Having confidence and knowledge are the best tools to succeed in this field. You must believe this is something you’re good at and also have the knowledge to back it up in order for people not to bring you down. Unfortunately, it is not only men who create the challenges we face in the workplace. My strategy was to just be one of the guys and to not separate myself by gender or expect anything different because I was a female.

Detective Egan: It used to be the excitement of what is going to happen today and what type of challenge would I face. Two and a half years ago that changed when my daughter was born. Spending time with her is what I look forward to most. I waited a long time to decide to have children, because I didn’t want it to interfere with my career. Now I know it was the best decision I could have made.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES Monica: A few months ago you participated on the “Women Exceeding Barriers” panel at the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. Here’s a quote from Dr. Sharon DeVivo, president of the college: Detective Egan: “While much progress has been made to grow the number of women in STEM fields there is still much work to be done. Women voices in these fields add a diversity of thought that is so often needed to leapfrog innovations. Employers must create environments that are welcoming to all and designed to support traditionally underrepresented groups.” Monica: What areas do you believe still need improvement when it comes to equality for women in STEM fields? Detective Egan: I think we’re are at a point in society that women can be accepted in any role, but unfortunately there are always the few men and women who don’t want to you see succeed.

Monica: If you could go back in time and visit yourself as

March - April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

a young child right now, what advice would you share with yourself based on what you know today? Detective Egan: Listen to others who have been in your field, respect their experience, and learn everything you can from them. Use all of the resources available to become the best version of yourself. Their advice could help you not make the missteps they may have made. Monica: What legacy would you like to leave and what advice would you like to offer young ladies growing up in today’s world? Detective Egan: Don’t give up, no matter how hard it may seem to be. Don’t let others who want to tear you down bring you down to their level. Always rise above and strive to do better. Monica: Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Detective Egan: Don’t let anyone tell you, “you can’t”! 

Dr. Sharon DeVivo: VAUGHN COLLEGE’S FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT TRANSFORMS COLLEGE’S STRUCTURE

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

aughn College of Aeronautics and Technology President Dr. Sharon DeVivo and five other women who defied long-ingrained gender stereotypes to become highly successful professionals recently participated in a panel discussion. The “Women Exceeding Barriers” event was held in October 2017 at Vaughn College’s New York City campus. “This event was an outstanding example of Vaughn’s commitment to ensuring that the next generation of leaders is well-equipped for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead,” DeVivo said. An employee of the college since 1996, DeVivo was named president in 2014. She is the first woman in Vaughn College’s history to hold the office of president. Under her administration, Vaughn College transformed from a primarily training institution to one that offers multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees in aviation, engineering, technology, and management.

“It is important to me that long-term career success be a hallmark for a Vaughn degree and…that we are on the right path for our female students, minority students, and all students,” DeVivo said.

She earned a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s degree from Fordham University in New York City, and a Bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany. DeVivo serves on the boards of The Wings Club, the International Aviation Women’s Association, and the Queens Advisory Board for the Boy Scouts. We hope her story enlightens and inspires you to realize your true potential and motivates you to use it in a way that not only enhances your life but impacts those around you. Monica: Would you say that you chose your career or did it choose you? When did you realize that the field of aviation and aeronautics was your calling? Dr. DeVivo: I’m a Navy brat and was very fortunate to have done my first two years of college at the University of Maryland in Munich, Germany because my Dad was stationed in Wales at the time. While I was there, I got to meet Carolyn Barnaby, who handled all of the communications for the campus, and I thought, “I want to be her.” That’s how it started for me. My first job in higher education was in public relations and that was my position when I came to Vaughn College 22 years ago. I always loved being on a college campus and on this campus my

Sharon and Samantha

March - April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES passion is walking with students on their journey and helping them to launch successful lives and careers. Monica: Not all paths are straight on the road to success; we all must take some detours on the way to our destinations. What lessons have you learned along the way that helped you become the best version of yourself and how did those lessons help you move upward while working in the industry? Dr. DeVivo: Like so many people, I have faced situations with difficult bosses and colleagues who forced me to re-think my place in an organization and what I believe about how to be successful professionally. In those situations, I had two options: leave the organization or try to find a way to stay and make it work. I have done both! The important life lesson is that it has toughened me up. It taught me how to speak up for those things that really mattered to me, and to understand that sometimes it’s not always a great fit with an organization. If there isn’t a fit, you have to decide whether to stay — if you can’t bend to the organization, then it is time to go. Monica: What were a couple of challenges you encountered during the pursuit of your career and how did you overcome them?

Monica: When you began your journey on this path, who mentored and encouraged you to press forward regardless of the challenges you might face? Dr. DeVivo: I have been very fortunate to have two primary mentors in my life and both of them were named John. The first was my dad. From almost the moment I was born, my dad and I had a special relationship and he was a constant source of encouragement and inspiration. After he retired from more than 20 years in the military, and a short stint as a social worker for troubled youth, he enrolled in a Master’s of Divinity program and became an Anglican priest. The courage to follow your heart is something that I deeply admire about him. The other significant mentor in my life was the former president of Vaughn, Dr. John Fitzpatrick. I worked for him for 17 years and he encouraged me to pursue a doctorate and the presidency, while also teaching me how to be a generous leader and how to support other people in their dreams. Both of these men have been there for me when I doubted myself and inspired me. Monica: How has serving as president of Vaughn College changed your life especially since you are the first woman to hold the office, and how do you believe it has impacted the lives of the students who attend the college? Dr. DeVivo: As a colleague of mine was fond of saying (also a woman to break the glass ceiling), “I may be the first, but I know there will be many who come after me.” Becoming the president of this institution is a tremendous honor and I hope an inspiration for the women of our community, particularly our female students. I think it provides them with a model for their own journey. Both higher education, and even more so the STEM fields, have far fewer women in the C-suite then Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

Dr. DeVivo: My biggest challenges have involved balancing my career and my family. I have a daughter in college and a son in high school, and when my kids were small I was pursuing my doctorate degree. I was enrolled in an executivestyle program and I would go away one weekend a month over a few years, and to me it went pretty quickly. However, if you ask my kids they thought it was the longest time in their lives! As I have been given more responsibility, my time away from home has increased and this means less time with my kids and my husband. I would love to think that relationships can take care of themselves, but I know that is not true! The other major hurdle I have faced in the last year was the diagnosis and later passing of my dad from brain cancer. I supported my parents through that difficult journey and it was, ultimately, heartbreaking. It also had the immediate effect of prioritizing what was really important in my life. The result has been — three months later — that I am really trying to carve out time for myself and my health. I have made some small changes like exercise and trying to get more sleep, but it is definitely a “work in progress.”

many women, and for that reason we tend to think we don’t deserve to be “at the table.” When in fact, most of the time, we are more than qualified to be where we are and have so much to offer. I have found in my own career that the majority of men want a great colleague to work with, and when that doesn’t work I just try not to expend a lot of energy on that person. Sometimes, I have then ended up supervising that person and that can be even trickier (and intimidating). In those cases, I set clear expectations and provide the same time and energy that I do on other team members, but that same level of difficulty can happen when supervising women. I think it comes down to setting a tone as a leader and then being consistent in how you apply your leadership — and when you don’t get “buy-in,” then you have to have the tough conversation. Ultimately, this community depends on me to provide the leadership that keeps this institution moving forward and serving students well — and if that is not happening, then I have to make changes.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES they should. For me, it becomes an issue of creating the next generation of men who will support their partners so they can pursue opportunities and also creating cultures in the workplace that value women’s contributions and provide them with the flexibility to have a family and a career. Women should not have to choose between those two options — there should be enough support at the family, organization and nationwide environment to support their paths. Monica: What motivates you every day? When you get up in morning, what do you look forward to the most? Dr. DeVivo: What motivates me is the success of our students. Nothing makes me happier than having a student who I have known for several years walk across the stage while I hand her a diploma knowing how hard she worked to get there. The other “giddy” moment is when they tell me where they are working or years later when they achieve something amazing. On a daily basis, having a group of colleagues who are like-minded with a common vision of providing a transformative educational experience — that is what makes this position exciting.

all tools that leaders need to build into their schedules and protect so that they can be great leaders. I am preaching to myself, too, on this one! Without the balance, I can’t be good for Vaughn or good for my family. Monica: To whom or what do you owe your extraordinary success? Dr. DeVivo: No one succeeds in a vacuum, and any success I enjoy is because of the great community of faculty and staff who are committed to the same vision and mission that guides this institution. The major team I rely on is my family — my husband and two children — they keep me grounded and laughing!

It will be all right in the end, and if it’s not all right then it’s not the end.

Monica: What are the guiding principles that you live by every day? Dr. DeVivo: Be kind. This is probably number one in my book. Even if I have to deliver a tough message I can still be kind, understand another person’s perspective, and really listen to what they have to say. We are all on a journey and while our paths converge, I can be kind. Monica: Based on your experiences at the time you first began your career, what differences have you noticed in your field? In what ways have things become better for women? Dr. DeVivo: In my 27-year career I think that it has gotten harder for all of us in some ways. The biggest culprit is our phones and our inability to ever be disconnected from our jobs. Back when I first started my career, there was no email I could check at all hours and the weekend was a real break. That said, technology has also allowed us to be connected in a way that was never possible before and can make my work more focused and efficient. What we need, what I need, to find is the balance that allows us to be efficient, but also incorporate times of rest. I am just reading a book about rest and the value it has in providing creativity and better outcomes; sleep and exercise are also important. These are March - April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

Monica: Sometimes when you’re not able to walk through “the door of opportunity”, you have to create an opening where there isn’t one. There will always be occasions where women are not viewed equally as men even though they perform at the same levels and even beyond. How do you approach those times when you need to create an opening and there doesn’t seem to be one? Dr. DeVivo: There have been times in my career where I thought, “I am really in over my head. How the heck am I going to do this?” Those are the times that I needed to take the time to listen, reflect, and have a great colleague who I could talk it out and make a plan with. I think others appreciated that approach and valued it. I’m not saying it was quick and easy, or that I always ended up friends with every person I have ever worked with, but there was respect. I have a strong work ethic and I will get the job done, and that speaks volumes. I think you have to be patient, do what makes you successful, and try really hard not to worry about winning everyone over. Monica: Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology hosted an extraordinary panel of women in late 2017 who talked about their careers in aviation and technology. The event was called “Women Exceeding Barriers.” As you know, these two fields are dominated by men. What are some key characteristics that women must possess to succeed in maledominated industries? Dr. DeVivo: Women or minorities in male-dominated fields need to know that they have value and an important contribution to make to the organization that they have joined. With that “voice,” you need to have a sense of humor and be positive about the change you seek. I find men are usually very willing one-on-one to have the conversation

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Sharon and her students.

Dr. DeVivo: I would tell that little girl not to be so afraid — you can do it and trust that you have what it takes to make it. That might sound funny coming from someone in my position — clearly, I have faced some fears to get to where I am — but I think if I had been more confident earlier in life, I might be in a different place. It took me a long time to believe in my voice.

Monica: What areas do you believe still need improvement when it comes to equality for women in STEM fields?

Monica: What legacy would you like to leave and what advice would you like to offer young ladies growing up in today’s world?

Dr. DeVivo: Aviation and aerospace has made some progress in expanding the field to include women and minorities, but there is much more work that has to be done. If companies really want to embrace a diversity of people and a diversity of thought, then I think they have to search out smaller institutions like Vaughn that serve a predominantly minority population from a low socioeconomic background and provide them with the support to finish a degree and be successful. Our students are passionate about contributing to their field, but they need a helping hand to get there. Vaughn can provide the academic and professional skills, and companies can provide the knowledge and resources to help students get to the finish line. Companies going to the same sources and expecting a different outcome is not what will change the workforce. Monica: If you could go back in time and visit yourself as a young child right now, what advice would you share with yourself based on what you know today?

Dr. DeVivo: I have an amazing and talented 19-year old daughter who inspires me with her passion for equality and justice. I think the next generation of women has got this — without a doubt. They know who they are, what they are passionate about, and they are not willing to settle for second-best. If I have helped create a pathway, then they will take it and make it a six-lane highway! Monica: Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Dr. DeVivo: There is a great line in the movie “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” that goes something like this, “It will be all right in the end, and if it’s not all right then it’s not the end.” I find that quote so inspiring — no matter what challenge I am facing, I need to trust myself and my team and we will figure it out — no matter what.  Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

about women or minority representation and are generally very supportive. I think that when there is a majority of men in leadership positions in an organization, they are also responsible to make sure that women and minorities are well-represented — whether it’s on a board, a panel, or a management team.

Lillian Dukes

NAVIGATED FROM ENGINEER TO CORPORATE VICE PRESIDENT

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

illian Dukes navigated her way from a career as an engineer to one as a vice president and global operations leader. In the last 20-plus years, Dukes has improved start-up, turnaround, and mature manufacturing environments using her strategic organizational skills. She has also implemented cost reduction and sustainable growth at a variety of companies, including American Airlines, American Eagle Airlines, Spirit AeroSystems, and General Electric.

night knowing that I have operated with integrity, been fair in my business dealings, and made the best decisions I could based on what I knew at the time.

Dukes is not only an international public speaker, but also a well-known mentor and humanitarian leader. She mentors students and employees in their professional growth.

As far as upward mobility is concerned, my progression came as a combination of having excellent mentors and sponsors, a willingness to take risks with new opportunities, being open to moving to more remote locations, and embracing change as an opportunity to reinvent myself. Hindsight being 20-20, I am thankful for the opportunity to learn from both my successes and my mistakes and move on in the knowledge that I can do better the next time.

Lillian Dukes’ interview is filled with extraordinary advice that can last you a lifetime. We hope you find as many golden nuggets of inspiration as we did.

Monica: What were a couple of challenges you encountered during the pursuit of your career and how did you overcome them?

Monica: Would you say that you chose your career or did it choose you? When did you realize that the field of aviation and aeronautics was your calling?

Lillian: Challenge number one was being female in predominantly male environments. Learning to navigate the political climate had its challenges; however, growing up with 17 brothers and having savvy mentors helped me excel in these environments. My mentors shared with me information others would not. They let me know how I was perceived by the executive team and what I needed to do to overcome misconceptions.

Monica: Not all paths are straight on the road to success; we all must take some detours on the way to our destinations. What lessons have you learned along the way that helped you become the best version of yourself and how did those lessons help you move upward while working in the industry? Lillian: The best version of myself developed out of a need to be true to my beliefs and the things I enjoy. It was not uncommon for me to change positions because the joy in my work had waned. In the past, I have moved from a professional environment to volunteer work and from engineering to supply chain in search of the next challenging opportunity and a chance to make a difference. I have had the pleasure of experiencing engineering, supply chain, operations, maintenance, and manufacturing. Through all of these experiences, I have learned that satisfaction for me is a combination of both professional endeavors and humanitarian pursuits; it’s these environments that allow me to lead as well as get involved in the day-to-day work. It’s going to sleep at

Another challenge experienced in these male environments was not being included in certain activities. Decision makers get to know potential succession candidates during recreational outings such as golfing and hunting. It was very unlikely for a female to be invited on any of these trips. But that’s where relationships were developed and promotional decisions made. Monica: You have become an extraordinary leader in your field. What strategy would you advise women to take if they’re considering entering a similar field that’s dominated by men? Lillian: I would advise women in predominantly male fields to identify mentors they respect and trust. Focus on developing meaningful relationships with them and maintaining those relationships throughout their careers. As they progress in leadership, women will also need to find sponsors. Sponsors are people who have a seat at the table and are part of the succession planning process. These people are crucial the higher you progress through executive leadership roles. It should also be noted that most of these mentors and sponsors will be men. Since few women are in these fields, finding a female mentor may be very difficult. Professional organizations like AWESOME provide opportunities for female supply chain executives to network and discuss their Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

Lillian: My career was birthed out of my love for math. It was a journey of discovery. My initial exposure to aeronautics was immediately out of college during a stint working for GE in their satellite division in Valley Forge, PA. This path later transitioned into a 25-year career in aviation. Aviation was initially chosen out of necessity. I stayed in the field for the excitement and challenge of doing something different on a daily basis. When I think of how careers are formed, I think it’s more about searching endlessly for an opportunity to do what you love in an environment that you enjoy.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES career strategies. If you are a female executive, by all means be a mentor to other women in your organization! Monica: When you began your journey on this path, who mentored and encouraged you to press forward regardless of the challenges you might face? Lillian: My best mentors have been former bosses and colleagues. They challenged me, provided guidance, and were always very open and honest with me. They have all become very good friends and still provide valuable guidance even at this point in my career. All of them are men. Later in my career, I added a woman to my list of mentors. She is an executive coach who has become a good friend and has been invaluable in helping me develop a comprehensive strategy for my professional and personal pursuits.

Monica: You’ve helped shape the future of companies like Spirit AeroSystems, American Airlines, and General Electric. These represent aviation and technology – two huge industries that continue to have a great impact on how we live on a daily basis. What does it mean to you to know you’ve played a role in shaping the way these companies do business and develop sustainable growth? Lillian: I guess even with all I have done, I am still not satisfied with my accomplishments. When I emerged from college, I had grand visions of conquering the world. Those visions have grown dim as the progress and impact I hoped for got harder to achieve. Reaching a level of impactful leadership where I can effect change on a larger scale has driven my pursuits. When you look at the executive leadership makeup of many companies, there is still much work to be done in advancing women at all levels — including board-level positions. Although I have not personally achieved that level yet, I hope I have been instrumental in paving the way for future leaders. The lasting change I have made is in the people I have had the privilege of leading, those who have gone on to progress their careers in a meaningful way. That type of change is the most impactful and sustainable.

humanitarian work on a regular basis, and take daily time to reflect on what really matters. Stepping back and being more thoughtful about life makes a difference in what I do every day. Monica: What are the guiding principles that you live by every day? Lillian: My guiding principles include: • My relationship with God is the foundation on which I live my life. • Integrity is not negotiable. • “People don’t care how much you know until they can see how much you care.” • Live life with enjoyment and purpose. • Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Monica: Based on your experiences at the time you began your career, what differences have you noticed in your field? In what ways have things become better for women? Lillian: The increase in focus on women in STEM-related fields has increased the enrollment of women in these fields and heightened the awareness of the impact we have made in the profession. This increase in awareness has helped girls in their early years gain better insight and support in pursuing STEM-related disciplines. This increased participation in the field can be seen at the college level as well as in the workforce. The challenge we continue to face is that although participation in STEM fields has increased, the representation of women in decision-making roles at a professional level is still lacking. There remains much work to be done at all educational and professional levels. The fact that there are still many areas where a female has yet to be the first is a testament that it’s not time to start celebrating our progress. Monica: To whom or what do you owe your extraordinary success?

Monica: What motivates you every day? When you get up in morning, what do you look forward to the most?

Lillian: God for being my foundation! My parents for being phenomenal examples, who through their example as successful foster parents of 21 children, showed me what it meant to care about others. And a host of people who helped and supported me along the way!

Lillian: Being a breast cancer survivor, I am often reminded that life should not be taken for granted. I live with a purpose to ensure that, as one courageous 12-year-old AIDS victim said, “I do all I can, with what I have in the time I have in the place I am.” That same young man died the following year.

With that in mind, I have transitioned into a consulting profession that enables me to work on my own terms, to do March - April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES approach those times when you need to create an opening and there doesn’t seem to be one?

a young child right now, what advice would you share with yourself based on what you know today?

Women have a unique contribution to make in the business community. Research has shown that when we expose organizations to all types of diversity, the business experiences improvements in profitability. You would think that evidence would be a sufficient case to drive the needed change. Unfortunately, it hasn’t. Monica: If you could go back in time and visit yourself as

Monica: Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Lillian: My closing word is to other leaders. We must help the next generation of leaders. There were few females to encourage and guide us. We must rewrite the story for future leaders. Reaching back and helping the next generation is our responsibility — not an option. We are responsible for ensuring future outcomes for women in STEM-related fields is markedly better than what we experienced. Change isn’t easy or comfortable, but in the end it’s always worth it!  Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

In the past when I have been hindered by a lack of opportunity, Lillian: I would write my young self a letter. In that letter, my approach was to first work with my mentors to determine I would tell her that life doing what she loves will have its a potential course of action. If the suggested actions were challenges and may at times be painful, but perseverance not successful in my current company, then I would seek pays off in the long run. The key to true success lies in not opportunities at another company. This approach is not allowing people to tell her she can’t, not giving up when at always easy if you are married or have times it feels like she is on this journey alone, other responsibilities that prevent you not losing herself in who others say she from picking up and moving for a better should be but knowing who she is, and to be We must help the next opportunity. I frequently recommend to conscious of how her decisions impact others. generation of leaders. young professionals to not be afraid to take I would also encourage her to be the best at There were few females their biggest risks early in their careers. Once what she does, never get complacent, learn you have others to consider in the decisionto encourage and guide all aspects of how a company operates, gain making process, your options may become us. We must rewrite experience running a P&L [Profit and Loss], more limited. and learning to play golf is also probably a the story for future Monica: A few months ago you good decision. leaders. Reaching participated on the “Women Exceeding And as I got weary giving her this long list of back and helping the Barriers” panel at the Vaughn College of things to do, I would tear it up and just say, next generation is our Aeronautics and Technology. Here’s a quote “Live with purpose and be true to yourself.” from Dr. Sharon DeVivo, president of the responsibility — not an Nothing much matters after that. college: option. Monica: What legacy would you like to leave Lillian: “While much progress has been and what advice would you like to offer young made to grow the number of women in ladies growing up in today’s world? STEM fields, there is still much work to be done. Women Lillian: A crucial element I have learned through the years is voices in these fields add a diversity of thought that is so that great leaders are first phenomenal servants. They act with often needed to leapfrog innovations. Employers must create a conscious awareness of the risks and consequences of their environments that are welcoming to all and designed to decisions. Being entrusted with the well-being of a company support traditionally underrepresented groups.” and its employees is nothing to take lightly. If you desire to Monica: What areas do you believe still need improvement lead, then lead in a manner that builds people up, exceeds when it comes to equality for women in STEM fields? your fiscal responsibilities, and honors your loved ones in the Lillian: We need more female decision makers in all STEM process. Doing anything at the cost of your own authenticity or fields. We must implement systems that enable us to hold integrity is never worth it. Being a builder of people, leaders, institutions accountable to their efforts in increasing the and enterprises comes with great responsibility —guard it at number of female decision makers in their organizations. We all costs. I can only hope that I have done a good job building must also improve the pipeline of females in STEM-related people, encouraging others to lead with excellence, and fields from grade school to the boardroom. positioning companies for future growth.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

From Zimbabwe to Flying in the American Skies:

Dr. Maxine Lubner’s Story March -April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

r. Maxine Lubner, who was born in Zimbabwe, broke national and gender barriers to become an aviation professional.

Dr. Lubner, currently a professor and department chair at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in New York City, has also promoted aviation educational exchanges between the United States and Tanzania. She earned a Ph.D. in Sociomedical Sciences from the Ivy League school Columbia University in New York City. Dr. Lubner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an Honors Degree in Counseling Psychology (equivalent to an MS in the USA) from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. She also holds an FAA Private Pilot certificate, which she earned while in graduate school. Dr. Lubner has developed her career in aviation in the areas of education, safety and research. As a mentor to Vaughn College students, she encourages them to consider the breadth of opportunities in aviation and aeronautics in addition to flying in the friendly American skies. Dr. Lubner was a panelist at Vaughn College’s 2017 “Women Exceeding Barriers” event..

Monica: When did you realize that your calling would be in the field of aviation and aeronautics? Dr. Lubner: It was a slow process. As with many pilots, when I was about 12 I wanted to learn to fly. Initially, I was discouraged and I put the idea aside. It was only when I was in graduate school that I learned to fly. I was still not really thinking about aviation, but I ended up writing my doctoral dissertation in that field. I was fortunate to learn how to apply a variety of disciplines to the advancement of safety, aviation and education. Now, sharing the joys and satisfaction that comes from pursuing such a useful and enjoyable career in aviation is my favorite part of being in this field. Monica: What was your fascination with flying? Dr. Lubner: It’s enjoyable. It’s intellectually demanding. There’s some physical work involved in controlling a plane when one is learning to fly. One has to concentrate in a way that is rewarding. Because it is a relatively new field, aviation technology and procedures are still changing rapidly. Almost any career interest one has can be pursued in the exciting world of aviation. Travel and transportation opens one to new experiences and understanding. Aviation adds global connections and international, cross-cultural perspectives. Improved understanding of human behavior and social forces

Monica: What strategy would you advise women to take if they’re considering entering a similar field that is dominated by men? Dr. Lubner: I think learning to have tenacity, determination, and the willingness to work really hard are important. I had to be exact and work twice as hard or twice as long as my male counterparts in order to be at the same position as they were. The idea of using social sciences and statistics to improve safety was not shared by many, men or women. Today, though, these concepts are accepted and no longer considered as strange (or too feminine). However, I think that women in male-dominated fields still need to accept that they have to work much harder. Monica: When you began your journey down this path, who mentored you and really provided encouragement for you to continue when you faced various challenges? Dr. Lubner: I would say the husband and wife team, Drs. Bruce and Barbara Dohrenwend who invited me to Columbia University and led me to live in New York., Other faculty members at Columbia were marvelous educators. Dr. Jack Elinson bravely went flying with me, counted me as a friend, and continued to demand that I find applications of social sciences to aviation safety and education long after I graduated. Actually, it was seeing Barbara, who was the first female professor and head of a department that was very impressive to me. Her achievements allowed me to imagine that it was possible to achieve a high academic position and remain an elegant, gentle and dignified woman. Dr. Elmer Struening was kind enough to permit me to write a dissertation combining aviation safety and public health, which hadn’t been done before at Columbia. The experience was quite nice for me because I could study whatever I wanted, but I could also make all my mistakes by myself too! Later, I found others who were willing to take a chance on me. Dr. Al Diehl, then at the FAA helped me conduct research for him and find a way to obtain US residence. Dr. Diehl was very good at developing challenging ideas and introducing me to others in the field. He is still among my most treasured mentors and friends. Certainly, I owe my current position to Dr. Sharon DeVivo, who met me when I was being hired elsewhere. She was quite direct in having me come to work for her instead! She noted that my being a woman was an asset. This was a first Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

We were thrilled at the opportunity to interview her about her experiences and the impact she’s had in the field of aeronautics.

has been developed because of aviation safety demands. This important knowledge is being applied to other fields, which is particularly inspiring to me.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

for me. Fortunately, I have been able to grow a variety of programs at Vaughn and see students achieve success in many, many aviation areas including flying, airport and airline management, business and safety.

or a controller. It is satisfying when I can help students to see the variety of opportunities that exist in aviation, such as airport management, airline marketing, cargo, finance or aircraft leasing

Monica: That’s wonderful that you had people who stood behind you and wanted to support you. What motivates you every day? When you get up in the morning, what do you look forward to the most?

Monica: What are some things that interest you today?

Dr. Lubner: Well, I can’t fly now because of an eyesight issue. Also, I remember deciding not to pursue flying itself as a career because I thought I would want to have a family and I wouldn’t want to be working with erratic schedules. I realize in hindsight, that didn’t have to be so. But nevertheless, I focused more on research and developing educational programs. So there are days where I don’t think about flying but whenever I do, it’s still something that I know I enjoy and that I have a passion for. I love the fact that aviation technology is still growing, changing and that often the people in the industry are equally passionate. My colleagues and friends can talk for hours about aviation topics. It’s just really fascinating to me. So, that definitely is a motivator -- the content area itself. Working at Vaughn College, it’s very fulfilling to see students who come to study here because they also love aviation. I try to be a mentor to them and help them see how they can broaden their horizons and increase their networks in this field. Some students start off just wanting to become a pilot March -April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

Dr. Lubner: Well in terms of the work that I’m doing, I still am interested in safety and how to promote safety. I’m more interested also, these days, in how the principles of what we’ve discovered and learned in aviation can be applied in other industries such as medicine or highways. I’m curious about how we can train pilots more effectively using simulation. I believe that it is important to understand and address why certain countries have much worse aviation safety records than other countries. New technologies, such as drones are fascinating. Understanding how cargo moves around the world, and the world can be connected through aviation are fun. Monica: Based on your experiences at the time when you first began your career, what differences have you noticed in the field of aviation and in what ways have things become better for women? Dr. Lubner: Well, definitely there are more women and minorities in the field now and they’re more confident. I think just the sheer number of women and minorities entering the aviation field reduces discrimination because as more people have exposure to them, they can see that work or motivation are hardly related to demographics. It doesn’t really matter what your gender is when you’re writing, speaking, or

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES contributing to something. For me as a woman, it is a relief to walk into a professional gathering nowadays and not feel isolated because there are usually other women around. Monica: To whom or to what do you owe your success? Dr. Lubner: Certainly all my teachers who had the patience for me to learn -- and a very supportive family -- and friends are important. They don’t mind listening to me. Many of my colleagues and supervisors have allowed me to try and correct new ideas. Monica: When you encountered challenges and those times where you wanted to achieve something but there didn’t seem to be an opening for you to move forward, how did you find a way to overcome it?

Monica: What areas do you believe still need to be improved when it comes to equality for women in STEM fields? Dr. Lubner: I think the Me Too Movement is helping improve equality for women these days. Many discrimination problems can be solved by talking about them in a serious way, and by exploring the nuances to discover common agreements or creative solutions. Another approach could arise from the understanding of research that shows that early exposure to aviation is related to people choosing this as a career field. I suspect people’s interest in science does arise early too. If we can serve as mentors, teachers or employers, we can start to change the culture, and have young people see the world and their work in a more nuanced way. Helping people realize that diversity of demographics and ideas is valuable could promote expansion of STEM fields.

Education is important. Work, health, and safety— I think those are my basic values.

Monica: Oftentimes, it’s something better. I want to read a quote from Dr. Sharon DeVivo, the president of Vaughn College and then I’d like to get your response. She says, “While much progress has been made to grow the number of women in STEM fields, there is still much work to be done. Women’s voices in these fields add a diversity of thought that is so often needed to leapfrog innovation. Employers must create environments that are welcoming to all and designed to support traditionally underrepresented groups.” What are your thoughts? Dr. Lubner: I agree - that is absolutely correct, and I think that’s something I try to live by as well — to encourage people to feel confident to offer diversity of perspectives. I think as an educator, we also need to help students to find and nurture their interest, motivation, creativity and enjoyment to enter and succeed in STEM fields. I hope that those students will, in turn, become employers, teachers and mentors who encourage diversity not only of demographics, but of talents and views. It’s important to lead by example, as a mentor.

Monica: If you could go back in time and visit yourself as a young woman, what advice would you share with yourself based on what you know today and what you have accomplished?

Dr. Lubner: Trust those who seem interested in the work itself, so that demographics will not become an issue. Also, I would be more careful to not sell myself short, particularly regarding compensation, responsibility, and scope of work. I enjoy learning, reading, and hearing people talk about interesting things. So, I would do more of the same. Monica: What legacy would you like to leave and what advice would you give young ladies growing up in today’s world? Dr. Lubner: To not judge a book by its cover. Understand that people offer depth and complexity of ideas and talents that can be useful in the workplace and in society in general. Try to see that there’s a context and an environment that shapes behavior as much as what an individual person does. Understand that often the way to fix things is not to blame others but to see the same broader context of interactions of events, people, and behaviors that someone can shape or adjust to promote safety and to promote wellbeing. Education is important. To promote love or passion, hard work, health and safety -those are my basic values. Monica: Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. Dr. Lubner: Thank you. It was a pleasure.  Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

Dr. Lubner: My default is to work harder. It is hard for me to accept “no” as an answer right away. I try to find alternatives or compromises. I am also keen to build consensus. I like to ensure that competing ideas and challenges are properly examined and that people feel comfortable or excited to implement a new project or program. Sometimes it seems that if you keep going, you might not find the solution that you thought you wanted at first but you’ll find something else useful instead.

Lysa Scully

Shares Insights About Life and Being the Head of LaGuardia Airport

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

ysa Scully is using her three decades of professional experience at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as the General Manager of LaGuardia Airport. Scully supervises a 400-person workforce to carry out the mission of the twentieth-largest airport in the United States. Her duties include overseeing an $8 billion renovation of the airport while ensuring ongoing operations are as minimally interrupted as possible. Scully earned an MBA in Finance from New York’s Pace University and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She also holds an Airport Certified Employee (ACE) designation from the American Association of Airport Executives. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Scully and we believe her success and advice will inspire you to reach for your dreams. Monica: Would you say that you chose your career or did it choose you? When did you realize that the field of aviation and aeronautics was your calling?

Monica: Not all paths are straight on the road to success; we all must take some detours on the way to our destinations. What lessons have you learned along the way that helped you become the best version of yourself and how did those lessons that help you move upward while working in the industry? Lysa: Don’t be afraid to try something new, even if you aren’t 100% certain of your success. If you wait until you feel entirely comfortable with a challenge or job situation, you may see the window of opportunity close before you enter it. Monica: What were a couple of challenges you encountered during the pursuit of your career and how did you overcome them? Lysa: I did encounter a few, and really only a few, cynics who thought an aviation leader should have an aeronautical background to be successful. I was able to prove to them that leadership is about managing people and ensuring you use the talent in your organization to their maximum capability. I did not need to be technical

Monica: You have become an extraordinary leader in your field. What strategy would you advise women to take if they’re considering entering a similar field that’s dominated by men? Lysa: Be yourself, SPEAK UP, and be adaptable. Great ideas don’t always start out great, but they do start out spoken aloud. I offer the same advice to men and women – leadership is not silent. Monica: When you began your journey on this path, who mentored and encouraged you to press forward regardless the challenges you might face? Lysa: I had two great mentors — one male, one female — at different times in my aviation career. Both of them, however, did the same thing for me — they pushed me to take on different opportunities and always gave me the confidence they “had my back” Knowing this made it easy to step outside my comfort zone and stretch myself into areas which were somewhat unfamiliar. Monica: What does it mean to you to have complete command of one of the largest airports in the country? The decisions you make and implement impacts a huge staff and thousands of travelers every day. Lysa: I consider being in my job a tremendous privilege. I have a personal commitment to the public to serve them well. I gain great satisfaction by the chance to help shape travelers’ impressions of our region and positively impact their travel experience. Knowing that a traveler through LaGuardia had a great experience, got to their destination safely, and sees the improvements materializing as we rebuild into a Whole New LaGuardia is what drives me and my staff. Monica: What motivates you every day? When you get up in the morning, what do you look forward to the most? Lysa: I am internally motivated to do a good job, but I also am trying to set a great example of leadership for my teenage sons. I want them to know that nothing is out of bounds, regardless of your gender, and doing good for the public is a great career choice. In the mornings, I look forward to seeing the next visible change in LaGuardia’s landscape as I enter the airport to start my day. It is a thrill to be at the helm of an airport undergoing a complete multi-billion-dollar transformation — all to benefit our customers. Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2018

Lysa: My early career was focused on the financial aspects of the transportation industry. I was always open to new opportunities, however, and when a financial-based position in the aviation business entered my view, I took it with great excitement about the industry. Once embarking on an aviation role, I knew I had found the field which would keep me challenged and satisfied for a very long time.

to succeed, but I did need to know how to work with my technical staff, help develop their skills, and give them the support they needed to be successful in their roles.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES

Monica: What are the guiding principles that you live by every day? Lysa: Be real, be focused, and be kind. Monica: Based on your experiences at the time you first began your career, what differences have you noticed in your field? In what ways have things become better for women?

It Always Seems Impossible Until It is Done.

Lysa: Happily, I see very little differences in treatment for women in the industry these days. The ability to advance is blind to gender or other differences today in ways it wasn’t 20 years ago when I entered the field. Success for women, however, will still require them to be strong in their opinions and be willing to speak out on an issue before they are 100% comfortable. I think we are helping young women to understand this more than ever, but it is always a good reminder.

Monica: To whom or what do you owe your extraordinary success? Lysa: My parents instilled in me very early the importance of an education and being strong. I am first- generation American; my parents left their native countries (Mom: Germany; Dad: Italy) with the dream of a better life in America. They worked seven days a week, many long hours, in a family pizza business, and pushed me to pursue an education so I wouldn’t have to do the backbreaking work they did. I never wanted their sacrifices to be in vain, so I always kept my work ethic strong and my goals in clear sight. Monica: Sometimes when you’re not able to walk through “the door of opportunity,” you have to create an opening where there isn’t one. There will always be occasions when women are not viewed equally as men even though they perform at the same levels and even beyond. How do you approach those times when you need to create an opening and there doesn’t seem to be one? Lysa: Being flexible and taking chances. You can’t wait for the opportunity to come to you; sometimes they are hidden in plain sight. Early in my career, I approached my boss and said I was bored with my job — I was able to do my work in a few hours and wanted to do more. I was cautioned by others this wasn’t a good career strategy. But I took a risk and asked to assist another division during part of my day to learn about what they did. This was at first met with surprise, but left a lasting impression on my boss and others about my interest in creating my own opportunities. Never be afraid to say you can do more or want to do more. March-April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

Monica: A few months ago, you participated on the “Women Exceeding Barriers” panel at the Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology. Here’s a quote from Dr. Sharon DeVivo, president of the college:

Lysa: “While much progress has been made to grow the number of women in STEM fields there is still much work to be done. Women voices in these fields add a diversity of thought that is so often needed to leapfrog innovations. Employers must create environments that are welcoming to all and designed to support traditionally underrepresented groups.” Monica: What areas do you believe still need improvement when it comes to equality for women in STEM fields? Lysa: We must continue to encourage young women and girls from the earliest ages not to shy away from the sciences. We must encourage them to ask questions, always be open to raising their hand in class, to volunteer for a new assignment, or to pick the hardest project to showcase themselves. If we can instill confidence in girls at a young age, they may not be as hesitant to enter and remain in STEM- related fields. Ensuring they have the support network and examples of success is critical. Monica: If you could go back in time and visit yourself as a young child right now, what advice would you share with yourself based on what you know today? Lysa: Enjoy your success and don’t wish the years away — they go too fast! Monica: What legacy would you like to leave and what advice would you like to offer young ladies growing up in today’s world? Lysa: I am honored to be part of the complete rebuilding of LaGuardia into a 21st century airport and am thrilled to be part of the legacy we will leave when it is done. I hope young women might see that the airport was led by a woman during this transformative time and perhaps motivate them to enter this field. As for advice, “You can do anything, be anything, if your heart is in it. Pursue your passions, do what feels right, and you can’t go wrong.” Monica: Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Lysa: I offer Nelson Mandela’s quote, which I always keep close in mind, “It Always Seems Impossible Until It is Done.” 

RETIRED AIR FORCE LT. COLONEL OLGA CUSTODIO

IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH IT

etired U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Lt. Col. Olga Custodio broke multiple racial and gender barriers during her 24 years of service. Custodio was not only the first Latina to graduate from the Air Force’s undergraduate pilot training, but also the first to be inducted into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame. Custodio continued to defy long-standing biases during her military career; she was the first female T-38 undergraduate pilot training flight instructor at Laughlin Air Force Base and also the first female T-38 pilot instructor training flight instructor at Randolph Air Force Base. Both military bases are in Texas.

After finishing her Air Force service, Custodio spent 20 years as a pilot for American Airlines. A graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, she also earned an Air Transport Pilot Certificate (with several ratings). Custodio is currently an active member of the Women Military Aviators Association, Women in Aviation International, the Allied Pilots Association, and the Order of Daedalians (a fraternal and professional order of American military pilots). We hope her story inspires you as much as it did us. Monica: Would you say that you chose your career or did it choose you? When did you realize that the field of aviation and aeronautics was your calling? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: I always wanted to join the Air Force. When I finally got the opportunity, the best Air Force field had just opened to women. Timing is everything! Monica: Not all paths are straight on the road to success; we all must take some detours on the way to our destinations. What lessons have you learned along the way that helped you become the best version of yourself and did those lessons help you move upward while working in the industry? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: It took me 10 years to reach my goal to enter the Air Force. I never gave up on my dream and constantly looked for and was open to opportunities. Monica: What were a couple of challenges you encountered during the pursuit of your career and how did you overcome them? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: My challenges were being denied and having the patience to continue the journey while hoping for the opportunity. March -April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

Monica: You have become an extraordinary leader in your field. What strategy would you advise women to take if they’re considering entering a similar field that’s dominated by men? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: Always give 100%+ and never give up your integrity. Speak your mind when something doesn’t seem right and stand by the truth of believing in yourself. Know that sacrifice is only temporary for longterm success. When you work hard for something, you will do everything to make sure you don’t lose what you have achieved. Monica: When you began your journey on this path, who mentored and encouraged you to press forward regardless of the challenges you might face? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: I did not have any female mentors (being the first in most positions), but I did find male peers who were willing to encourage me. My husband and family were THE most important support for me. Monica: You have broken many barriers and achieved many “firsts” in your career to include becoming the first Hispanic woman to graduate from the United States Air Force Undergraduate Pilot Training and the first Latina to be inducted into the San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame. Each time you achieved a “first”, how did it impact your perspective about life and how do you want your achievements to impact other women who come after you in your industry? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: Trying to be “first” was not my goal. Those just happened organically and by fate. Realizing the “first” title has helped me realize how important my giving back and showing young women and men that they can make their dreams come true. I believe being a role model and encouraging all is the most important role at this stage. Monica: What motivates you every day? When you get up in morning, what do you look forward to the most? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: I am involved in several nonprofits. My focus is in education and motivating students as well as awarding several scholarships in aviation. My equal focus is coordinating and finding excuses for the family to gather and celebrate family time and special moments! Monica: What are the guiding principles that you live by every day? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: Be true to myself and make sure that what you see in me is what you get. Transparency is key! I have my faith in God that carries me through everything and anything.

EXTRAORDINARY PROFILES Monica: Based on your experiences at the time you first began your career, what differences have you noticed in your field? In what ways have things become better for women? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: The number of women in this field is still lacking. Women not only have professions, but also carry the responsibility of family. Most successful women have found the balance between having a profession and a family life. My personal perception is that men only have to focus on their professional careers as the “normal” breadwinners, even though there are many single moms doing both. If men had to raise a family and try to pursue a successful professional career, I’m not sure how that would be. I know it takes a village and that is key to a woman’s success. We need to learn to ask for help. Monica: To whom or what do you owe your extraordinary success?

Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: “While much progress has been made to grow the number of women in STEM fields, there is still much work to be done. Women voices in these fields add a diversity of thought that is so often needed to leapfrog innovations. Employers must create environments that are welcoming to all and designed to support traditionally underrepresented groups.”

Nothing is impossible as long as you believe in yourself and your dream. Surround yourself with people who share your dream and want to support you in any way they can.

Monica: Sometimes when you’re not able to walk through “the door of opportunity”, you have to create an opening where there isn’t one. There will always be occasions when women are not viewed as equally as men even though they perform at the same levels and even beyond. How do you approach those times when you need to create an opening and there doesn’t seem to be one? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: I always say that if the doors close, look for the windows. Being looked at as an equal isn’t what should be relevant; it’s what you can bring to the table that can elevate the goal. Team players are as important as one person’s performance. Leaders who give credit to their team are better leaders than those who take the credit for everything. Monica: A few months ago you participated on the “Women Exceeding Barriers” panel at the Vaughn College of

Monica: What areas do you believe still need improvement when it comes to equality for women in STEM fields? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: First, introducing STEM to young students (elementary grades) is important. Planting a seed of interest in these fields and telling them that they can do it if they choose. Monica: If you could go back in time and visit yourself as a young child right now, what advice would you share with yourself based on what you know today? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: I’m not sure, because everything I experienced made me who I am today. Experiences and the choices we make are what develops our character and our determination to be the best that we can be.

Monica: What legacy would you like to leave and what advice would you like to offer young ladies growing up in today’s world? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: Nothing is impossible as long as you believe in yourself and your dream. Surround yourself with people who share your dream and want to support you in any way they can. My mantra is, “Querer is power.” This translates to, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Monica: Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: Thank you for this opportunity to share and hopefully encourage others to dream and achieve. 

Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

Ret. Lt. Colonel Custodio: My family and my faith in God. Also knowing that given the opportunity I had to do the best I could and the rest would happen as it should. The biggest obstacle for anyone is selfdoubt and getting past it.

Aeronautics and Technology. Here’s a quote from Dr. Sharon DeVivo, president of the college:

March/April 2018

Brand Checkup:

Are You Building and Monitoring Your Online Profile? 8 Ways to Reward People for a Job Well Done

Pam Yeung Patricia Doss

Contents Extraordinary Profiles

Patricia Doss

Pamela Yeung

Daughter of Greek Immigrants Realizes Her American Dream Through Dog Grooming Combines Caribbean and American Roots in School Board Seat

Empower Yourself

Becoming a Super Achiever is about taking Calculated Risks

Brand Checkup: Are You Building and Monitoring Your Online Profile?

To Negotiate Successfully, Consider Ethnicity and Gender

8 Ways to Reward People for a Job Well Done

5 Easy Steps to a Great Online Reputation

Lighter Side of Life

55 57 58

Recipes Look for Me in Office Supplies Profile Resources

Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood. What lesson have you learned today?

Daughter of Greek Immigrants Realizes Her American Dream Through Dog Grooming

Patricia Doss

March-April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

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any little girls dream of having a pony, but Patricia Doss’ father bought her one when she was 10 years old.

Doss, the daughter of Greek immigrants, loved all creatures big and small from an early age. She saw how hard her parents worked in their restaurant business. Doss’ father had no education and little money when he came to the United States. However, through hard work and saving money, he became an excellent provider for his family. After trying everything from cake decorating to hairstyling, Doss eventually found her niche as a dog groomer. Working alongside her long-time husband, Tom, she has built a prosperous business based on her love of both animals and people. Patricia shared with us, her experiences of how she combined all the skills she learned from different jobs to build a successful dog grooming business. We hope you gain as many useful insights as we did during the interview. Monica: What was your affinity towards animals that eventually led you to start a dog grooming business?

I used to go down to the creek near our house and I'd play with the minnows and bring home turtles and frogs and anything else -- cats and dogs, anything I could find. They just followed me. It was like I was the pied piper. My mother, of course, had a fit. Can you imagine? Monica: You're basically from an entrepreneurial family where your mother and father were both in the restaurant business. So I'm sure it was natural for you to gravitate towards starting your own business at some point, but what were some lessons that you learned from your parents while growing up, and not so much from what they told you — but from their daily actions? Pat: To me, it was watching my mother make gourmet Greek cookies or pastries and working with the dough in a way that it takes a great artist to do and teaching that to me at an early age. It was watching my father cook at the restaurant and then whatever was left over from dinner that night he managed to make into a lunch special the next day.

So, just seeing all that and watching them create; I think it was just amazing to be around. It was about wanting to be an entrepreneur after watching them and seeing their accomplishments through hard work and dedication and what being your own boss did for them. It was about watching how they treated all of their clients, their customers at the restaurant, the kindnesses, and just the dedication through hard work and saving their money and getting a nice, beautiful home. All of these things that I saw them do, I was able to see at a very early age. Monica: Before you got to the point where you started grooming dogs, you took on many different roles in terms of the type of work that you did. You enrolled in beauty school, then you bought a struggling restaurant, and then you began to paint the interiors of apartments. When you were doing all of those different things, did you have a plan at all or were you trying to find your way until you found your true purpose? Pat: Yes. I do believe that God had a path. Looking back I surely know I was taking the appropriate steps and going in the direction that I was intended to go. Of course, at the time when you're standing there in it, you don't realize where you're going but when you look back; surely you see where you've been. Then you can look forward, but I cannot look too far forward. I did do the restaurant first because I just knew I could do it by watching them. It was really gutsy because I took on a debt from a failing business and borrowed the money and we turned it around. I realized just being a newlywed and the way this restaurant was going, it was going to absorb our lives 100 percent, and we would not have any other sense of life other than working hard. I just didn't know if I wanted to do that. My husband is a musician, singer, and songwriter and he hardly had any time for that; so I said, “I think we should probably pursue something different.” He did have some students that he was teaching guitar. We were living in Alabama at the time. It was very cheap. We didn't need to make a lot of money, but the beauty school there was pretty good. Once they saw how fast I could roll Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

Pat: My father was an immigrant from Greece who came here and was in the restaurant business. On Sundays, he would get the racing form out and start looking at race horses to do a little gambling and have fun. I asked him, of course, what he was doing and he told me. He taught me how to handicap. He would take me to the race track with him on Sundays and as soon as I saw animals it was all over. It was all I wanted to connect with.

I saw how they utilized their skills to maximize what they were doing through their artistry and their cleverness and just their sense of dedication to what it was they loved to do. I know that sounds strange, but putting icing on a cake is not much different than tying up a little dog's hair and putting a bow on top of its head. I'm just using hair as a medium where some artists use food and make beautiful things out of it.

EMPOWER YOURSELF a perm, blow out a customer’s hair, cut hair, and how well I knew all the colors on the chart, I just gravitated towards it and it was very easy for me to learn. They saw I could do a lot of work for them. So I got a lot of business and a lot of education through blow drying and cutting.

something that you would like to do; then you could offer your help to them like I did when I started. I offered to help a very good groomer and I didn't ask for any money. My husband was still working the painting business. I said, "If you'll help train me, I'll work for you for free."

Again, I didn't know where that was taking me until I got back to Maryland. We moved back to Maryland and I needed money. My sister had a painting business. So once again, I used my artistic skills with my arms and my hands. So the cooking, the painting, the hair styling -- all that helped me succeed. I went right through it like I knew this is where I wanted to be.

That was a great deal for her and she knew I was capable. She gave me those skills. So just those kindnesses from people and following your heart and your dream and not being afraid to step out there and ask for help. I think is very courageous and that's what I would advise a young person to do. Don’t be afraid. Just go out there and follow your heart, ask for help, and give it your all.

Monica: Would you say then, that all of those different skills that you had in terms of working with the restaurant, the painting, and then of course the beauty school was a combination of all of those things that impacted your success today as a dog groomer? Pat: Absolutely. One hundred percent. Also, that ability I think I have and it's inside of me to connect with animals. That's going back to touching that horse and having him move over a foot with just a little press of my finger. There's a connection that if you press too hard the animal will push back against your hand and will not budge at all but if you push just right, the animal will move. That connection is what people call dog whisperers. They have the ability to calm themselves and connect with the dog through touch and the dog immediately feels safe and wants to be touched by you. You've got to connect with their mind because their mind is not that big, but they deal with senses, they deal with smells, they deal with breath. If you have any sense of fear in your breath they won't react with you. They'll want to get away from you. So, not only do I know how to do it, I know how to see it and I have helped a lot of groomers along the way. Monica: Can you offer any advice and words of encouragement to people who are thinking about going into business, but they're afraid of really taking that leap of faith? Pat: I think you should follow your heart and your passions. I think if you could ever find somebody who is good at March-April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

EMPOWER YOURSELF Start at the ground floor and just work yourself up and don't be in a hurry, because you may miss something along the way. I'm still learning today, Monica. I'm learning from every dog I groom, I’ll think I've seen it all, and then one will show me something that I haven't seen before. Let me give you an example. Say a dog is afraid to have something cut underneath of his eyes, maybe he's had a bad experience before, maybe he's gotten poked but he's just fearful. I'll try to approach him in a normal way by grabbing his chin hair and then trying to go in with my scissors and try to get under his eye. That doesn’t work. And I'll say, "Ah, okay. Because you've had a bad experience, something has gone wrong. You don't know how to do this." So I have to back up and teach him, educate him by starting in a different way. I'll hold him behind the neck kind of like the mama dog would hold her baby dog or a mama cat would hold a little kitten.

Monica: You and your husband have built and run a successful dog grooming business since about 1984. In terms of working with animals, what have they taught you about yourself? I'm thinking patience is one thing you’ve learned. Pat: That's the word. I've applied patience in my cooking, my home, how I talk to and treat other people, into my Bible study, and church. I think it just slows me down. It slows my heart rate down and it just teaches me how to be more aware, because if you're moving through life too fast you're going to miss a lot of things along the way. Monica: It has been said that you are a complete entrepreneur. Can you define the word complete in this sense and what it means to be a complete entrepreneur? Pat: I guess successful would have to be a key word because you can be an entrepreneur, but I guess being successful at it and having longevity gives you the knowledge that you've done things right and keep improving on that entrepreneurship. Don't ever stop learning. A lot of people don't know what they want do and they sometimes do things for years and

Monica: What do you consider to be the key elements or principles of running a successful business? Pat: Honesty comes to mind first. I'm totally honest with my clients. Our logo on our cards that we hand out is, "An informed pet owner is our best client." I don't hold anything back. Trust; I need them to trust me just like the dog. I bring them into the grooming room. I let them be involved in the grooming process for a few minutes, so they leave there knowing me a little bit better than just over the phone and the receptionist who took your appointment. That's why owning your own business gives you that chance to have that one-onone connection with your customers. Monica: Do you have any tips or advice for people in terms of business growth? Pat: Get a good partner if you can, somebody you can trust to help you, because you're not going to be able to do it all by yourself. You may start small like I did in the little basement of my home, but it quickly grew into a six day a week business from 8:00am to 7:00pm. It was pretty dynamic. At one point we were grooming 40 dogs a day back in the '80s and '90s. So, I had a lot of employees. Treat your employees well and they will be good to you. Be honest and be dedicated to your craft. Monica: What has kept you grounded both in your personal and professional life? Pat: What has kept me grounded? My husband of 36 years. I think the key component in staying sane is having a good relationship with somebody whether it's God or a partner. It’s the relationship I have with my husband and also the relationship I have with each and every client who comes in. I get to talk about their life a little bit. I get to know their kids -just loving folks and having them love me and wanting me to be a part of their life because like you said in the beginning, their dogs are their children. I believe that wholeheartedly, being a pet owner myself. You invest a lot of time with them and they bring back a lot of love. So if I can just do a little bit more for each individual person that I meet and make their lives a little easier knowing that, "Hey, I just left my dog with Pat and now I'm going to go about my business and I don't have to worry because I know he's in good hands." It's a great feeling, a great reward inside that I feel in my heart every time I help a person out. Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

I become the mama dog -- something comfortable. Then I hold them by the back of their skin on their neck and it's so comforting to them. Now, I don't have to hold them from the chin. So when I go in for the approach again, it's new. They don't remember that first approach. With this approach, since nothing has gone wrong, they have succeeded and I have succeeded and they're content and they've learned. There the learning begins. So, you have to be tricky and it takes years and years to gain those skills.

years and are never happy and they don't make changes in their lives to do whatever it is their heart tells them to do. I think I fell into this path and followed the steps that led me to where it started to grow as a business and a career.

EMPOWER YOURSELF Monica: You certainly found your passion and you are living it. So many people these days don't seem to have a passion for anything in particular, so they live their lives feeling empty or unfulfilled.

Pat: I think a lot of people are frustrated and angry too and they look for other ways to get gratification and reward. I think they just need to turn it inward and find out who they are and what they are good at and how can they pursue it. It could be starting with just taking a class. I didn't even mention before grooming dogs I took flower arranging classes. I took cake decorating classes. Can you see how all of that is about creating beauty?

Monica: They love you. That's always good when you're in business and your customers love you and they can't do without you. Pat: Isn't that something? It's the kind of love that is different from your own family. They depend upon you. They need you for their life to be sane. It's like having a good doctor, a good dentist, or a good hairdresser.

So I truly believe that you should hold Him dear to your heart and love everyone. Just be the best person that you can be and never be afraid to ask for help because we certainly all need it from time to time.

I did all the things that my soul was telling me to do that made me happy, that brought me back – it didn't make me any money. Flower arranging and cake decorating, those certainly didn't. I could have gone on to be a baker, I suppose. When I came home at six years old on a neighbor's pony and parked it in my yard and said, "Daddy, I want one of these," I can remember the look that he gave me. It's was like, "Oh, Lord. We've got to buy her a horse." It seemed like it was from then on it was animals that I knew I would end up with. Monica: Is there anything specific that you want to talk about?

Pat: I won first prize at the Virginia State Fair for my jams and jellies. This is the first time I've ever dabbled at making jams, jellies, and pickles. My friend and I said, "Well, let's just enter them in the fair this year." So, last year we both won several blue ribbons and we were just beside ourselves. We had no intentions of winning anything. We were beginners at this and lo and behold I get another little feather in my cap saying, "Wow. You're good at this too." Monica: There's something else that you can move into if you decide you don't want to do dog grooming anymore. Pat: The older I get, it's possible but I've still got another 10 or 15 years I think, God willing. I'm in good shape. So my customers keep saying, "You're not going to retire soon are you?" I'll say, "Well, not this year." They'll say, "Well, don't retire too soon. My dog is only three years old." March-April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

Monica: Does your husband work in the business or he is supportive in a different way? Pat: He does all the bookkeeping. He's hands-on. I've taught him how to clip. He does nails. He cleans ears. He does the bathing. He does the blow drying. The only thing that he has really not perfected, and I haven't asked for it, is the final scissoring where I have to do the styling. He's already done so much work to prepare the dog. Monica: The two of you make a wonderful team.

Pat: Well, I knew the minute I met him. We got married soon after. I knew that it was him and that was it and I think he felt the same way. I knew that whatever we do, we're going to do it together. Monica: You have such a wonderful story to share starting from your early childhood to what you're doing now and how you're having an impact on your customers through your business. It's amazing, because you are in a business where you'll never run out of customers. Pat: Oh, no. In fact, cat grooming is one of my biggest things. Not everybody wants to groom cats. But if I can go back and just say one thing about striving for something bigger than you think you can reach, it's seeing my father who had a sixth-grade education from Greece who came to this country and he has a matched marriage with my mother. Back then that's what they did. They said, "You're going to marry this person." That's what they did in that culture. He came here and he did the same thing -- he asked a restaurant owner, "Can I work for you for free if you teach me the restaurant trade?" When I said to the groomer that I wanted to do the same thing, it was like my father was talking

EMPOWER YOURSELF through me. Just watching him build an empire and having nothing. This is what the American Dream is all about. Monica: It's taking a little or nothing, and turning it into something. Pat: Just work hard and be good to people, and trust that God will provide and you'll be successful. Monica: That's where having faith comes in. Pat: Having faith, yes. Always. Even through the bad times. We had hard times, but we got through them. Everybody gets affected. When a client can't pay their bill or they'll call and say, "I lost my job or I can't do this or I'm going to have to hold off on grooming." I'll tell them, "But your dog needs grooming. Let me groom your dog. I'll just keep note of everything and when you get back on your feet, you pay what you think is correct and we'll start back up again." Usually, it brings them to tears. They're just so grateful that somebody was nice to them. Monica: That's why you have such a successful business, because I know there are a lot of business owners or entrepreneurs who would not do that.

Pat: I saw my dad feed the homeless on the streets. I saw my father bring them in the restaurant and give them a plate of food. Monica: That's what I appreciate about people and that's what I love to do, to reach out to those who are in need. I always tell people, you don't have to know someone in order to help them. Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Pat: My last word is; God has a plan for all of us. I just recently found that out by being baptized again. So I truly believe that you should hold Him dear to your heart and love everyone. Just be the best person that you can be and never be afraid to ask for help because we certainly all need it from time to time. Monica: That's a wonderful message and I really appreciate you sharing that. Pat: I appreciate you, Monica, for thinking of me and thinking that dog grooming is an interesting subject to talk about.  37 Exceptional People Magazine | March - April 2018

Pamela Yeung

A Strong Advocate for Giving Students Optimal Educational Opportunities

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amela Yeung, whose parents hailed from Saint Martin and Curaçao in the Caribbean, instilled in her an entrepreneurial spirit and a hunger for higher learning. Yeung recently became an elected member of the Garrisonville School Board in Stafford County, Virginia.

continue this journey. I was going to school because she wanted me to graduate.” Miss Green sat me down and said, “This is not what your mom would have wanted.” She was the one who made a difference in my life and had an impact at that point.

Yeung, whose mother died when she was 21, considered dropping out of Howard University. However, a Dean at the Washington D.C. college urged Yeung to stay the course. She finished her Bachelor’s in Business and Information Technology and went on to earn a Master’s in Science and Technology from Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University.

I was in despair and I remember that day vividly. Mom dying of cancer and you're just overwhelmed and you're in this world all by yourself. I felt that Miss Green brought me out of a deep darkness, and I vowed from that moment on that I would help whichever child, student, or person when they are in need, to take that time —because you just never know what that person's going through and where you're taking them.

Now, Yeung works in both information technology and healthcare. For decades, she devoted time to helping other qualified candidates get elected to their desired offices. Yeung realized her passion for education and experiences as a single mother of four children would serve her and the Garrisonville School Board well. After an unsuccessful first campaign, Yeung persevered and won a seat on her second try. We hope her story will inspire you to live your best life and share your blessings with others.

Pamela: It all just started out by nurturing my own children, because my mom passed away when I was 21. I was at Howard University. My mom was born on Saint Martin, the Dutch side; my dad was born in Curaçao, which is also a Dutch island. So they knew some English because of some of the English-speaking islands. My parents were able to learn more English and then work in the hotel and restaurant industries. And that's how they ended up meeting a lot of Americans, like Toni Morrison. I met her when I was 13. She came to my home, ate my parents' food. My parents were friends with her. When she visited Howard University, I was already a student there. She came to my home before she won the Nobel Prize in Literature. But my point was that my parents were planning on building a hotel to serve everyone because they loved to cook and they loved to entertain. Well, that didn't happen because my mom passed when I was still going to Howard University. I was going to drop out at an early age. Miss Green was the Dean. I walked in one day and I said, “Okay, I'm here to let you know that I'm quitting because my mom passed and there's no reason for me to

That's where I got that bug to help others. It was deep in me and I always would say, “What's next?” I saw this young man — I believe it was 1984 — and his voice sounded like Reverend Martin Luther King. I always wondered, “Who is the next young man or young woman that's going to show up and make a difference and make us proud?” His name was Barack. Nobody believed in him because everybody was for Hillary and Edward. Not only was he an African American, but also the Kennedys believed in him. There's something about the Kennedys. If they believed in this young man, there must have been something there. I went out and started getting signatures for him, and you know the rest was history. After he won the first time, I did it again the second time. It was something that he said which was, “If you want change, do not complain but run.” And I said, “Okay. You know what? I'm not ready to run, but I will continue to do things to help those who are running.” That is when I not only opened up my home for him in 2008 and 2012, but in between, I helped Kaine, McAuliffe, and Northam. I helped the attorney general, everybody who came to realize there was something special here in Northern Virginia. What was so unique about these experiences is that I brought people from all walks of life together. It was the young people that I was after, even though older people came — but I was really looking for those young people to get them into politics and make them love it. And that's where my journey began. Monica: Before we continue talking about your career, I'd like to talk about things from your perspective as a parent. You are a parent of four children who are all successful students and you've always had a passion for education. What are some things you've done to keep your children motivated and inspired to fully embrace education? Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2018

Monica: I want to thank you for this opportunity, and I'm looking forward to talking to you about what you do in your community and the huge impact you’re having not only on students but also parents.

So, while raising my kids, I always took that into perspective.

EMPOWER YOURSELF Pamela: While growing up, my parents instilled in me that there was something nobody could take away from you and that’s your knowledge, and that knowledge was power. You gain knowledge through education and if you educate yourself, everything is possible. Don't just tell them one time; you make them believe it.

If you believe it, you are one step closer. I used to help them with their homework. But one of the things I did different was when the school, for example, would say, “Yes, go ahead and use a calculator.” When they were at home, I said, “No, you're not using a calculator. You're going to use your brain.” I would put pennies on the table and I said, “You will count those pennies.” I was used to going to school 11 months in a row — in the Dutch system, you had a one month break. You went to school from August all the way to June. So, I thought it was a waste of time for kids to have three months off. By time they get back to school, everything is forgotten. So what I used to do during the summer is get those books that had a little bit of everything — it had math, spelling, everything. So my kids wanted to stay in school because they knew when the summer came around, they would have school. I made it fun. Everybody had a different book and I had the book for the following year. So, if they were in fifth grade, I would choose a sixth grade book for the summer because that's the grade they were going to be in. They would read two hours a day. Once they were done, I would make memories for my kids. They would either go to the pool or they'd go to a park, and it was always something different. So we had adventures and I made their day into an adventure. And I loved it myself because I love to educate kids. That's how I did it. By the way, there was no TV. I raised my kids on no TV because I grew up that way. You had TV maybe for an hour where you watched a cartoon or something, but there was no TV because there was no need. There's no need that a child March-April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

sit in front of a television for three or four hours. You just go out and play. Monica: There are many parents, whether it's a single-parent home or both parents are there, who work long hours and they barely seem to have the time to get involved in their child's education. So, how can parents participate in making education more of a priority? Pamela: I had a full-time job and with four children. Every moment that I had to spare — if I took a day off, I would actually go to school and take them their lunch and have lunch with them that day. It was my off day, but I made it about them. Whatever it is that you couldn't do during the week, you can make up over the weekend. I also had babysitters. Make sure that you choose the right babysitter. Yes, I know there are some parents who don't have those means. But these days, we have YMCAs that help kids with their homework. I was a single mom. I did what I needed to do. I spent a lot of time with my kids and I just made it happen. I felt that bringing four children into the world, there was nobody going to tell me, “You're going be on welfare and you're costing our society money.” I worked hard. I finished my education. I'm making six figures, but I make sure that I take care of my kids. And you know what? I have not always made six figures. There were times that I needed to get food stamps. My kids never knew that. There were times that I didn't work. But when I was working, I put money away. I put money into stocks or I put money away just for that time when I was not working. I always made sure I had money for at least three to six months and I always found another job. I always look 10 years ahead. What do I need in 10 years to make sure I’m reliable and sustainable? I earned my master's degree. I got my master's and my PMP [Project Management Professional] in the same year in 2010 — I had both of them because that would supply me with another 10 years in the job market — because the older you get; they want you to

EMPOWER YOURSELF retire early. I needed to make sure that I could take care of my kids. But I just continued to push forward. Monica: You eventually decided to run for the school board. What was the driving force behind your decision to do that? Pamela: Because I lost the first time I ran — not only because of that, but because I want to make a difference. I ran the last time when President Obama started talking about the gap, closing the gap between the rich and poor. Everybody was telling me, “You're going to lose because nobody's interested in the gap. Nobody cares about the haves and the have nots.” And I said, “I care because the gap is getting bigger. The rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. People who were middle class or almost in middle class but not poor — they're the new poor. We are going back to institutional racism if we do not address this right now.” Virginia is where I've lived for the past 20-plus years. I raised my children right here. This is a red state. There's no reason to go anywhere else. If I'm going to make a difference, I'm going to make a difference right here.

Pamela: One of the things I ran on was smaller class sizes. I ran on transparency. I ran on diversity, because I think that with diversity comes change. The school system recently started putting a subgroup together about diversity and I said, “You know, you cannot understand diversity unless you take a class to know what it's about so that you can have empathy, so that you have feelings and understanding of how other people feel in this world. That would get you a step closer because, without doing that, you don't know what it's about.” That would get you a step closer to understanding a diverse society. I want to work with the students to ensure they get a good education. I want our students to be safe and feel safe. I want our teachers to teach and not have to pack heat. I want law enforcement to do their job and to keep our community safe. I also want them to look at implementing risk assessments because some of the students, the ones who are isolated, are those that the teachers should be paying attention to. Don't look at the ones who have the baggy pants. That's a style. You can ask him to pull up his pants and they do sometimes. When I think about it, that's their artistic view. It's not hurting anyone.

I want fairness. I want kindness. I want a comforting environment for our students, because the students know which teachers care. They can feel it. We need resources. Yes, you could put a cop in every school. That's fine but we also need behavioral social workers to help, because my questions still remain. Are we disciplining the right students? Are we doing it fairly and equally, across the board? Monica: A part of being a member of a unit, such as a school board, obviously requires leadership skills. What unique leadership skills do you possess that you think set you apart from others on the board? Pamela: From what they've told me, it’s passion — passion and the belief that we can change. We need to have a goal. The mission needs to be a strategic plan for the school system itself. First, close the gap between the haves and the have nots. Decrease the number of young black men dropping out of high school. We need goals. What are our goals? We need to list them and we need to go after them. We're a school board for a reason, meaning that we're a team. We come from different backgrounds, but we need to look at the school system as a whole. What is best for everyone, not just for our area, because if you're looking at a specific district, then you're being selective in what you want to focus on. Teachers deserve a raise. They need to eat. They go home. They correct papers. Sometimes they use their own money to buy food for some of the kids who come to school without lunch. If they get a raise, they're happy. The students are going to be happy. My leadership style is basically not stopping, not halting. That's where my passion comes in — because they're human beings, they're teachers, they have families that they have to feed, and they are teaching our children. Monica: What do you believe are the qualities needed to become a successful board member? There are lots of school boards, but what makes a school board successful is Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2018

Monica: Congratulations on winning the second time around. What is your vision for improving education within Stafford County, both from a standpoint of the teachers and the students?

But you're not looking at that child who is sitting there eating alone or those kids who are talking about another child on Facebook. If somebody's warning you about a child who has problems, how come you're not talking to that child and asking, “What's bothering you?” Parents know their kids better than the counselors and teachers, and should share any issues they are aware of.

EMPOWER YOURSELF when you have the right members on board. What are those qualities that you should present, as a member, to help make that school board successful? Pamela: You need to be able to listen. It's one of the highest qualities, I think. Second, what you don't know, you need to find out. There's nothing wrong with asking questions if you don't know. You need to learn everything in due time. I know you have to ramp up as quickly as possible, but you need to know a little bit of everything. So you look it up.

If you need to know a little bit about the budget, look it up. You need to know the classrooms and how many teachers and you need to know about the Virginia Education Association; just look it up, anything and everything. You need to know about your population growth. Then put it all together. What I've been doing is having meetings with the different facilities, the different teacher groups, and instructors. Where you're lacking knowledge, you find it.

Learn anything you can about special needs and have an answer to a question. If there's something you think that you would do different or better, investigate it. Come up with a solution. Monica: Are you happy with what you've accomplished thus far? Pamela: I'm happy with the success of my children and that I was put here. I brought four children into the world. God bestowed the strength in me and said, “You're going to raise them as my children.” And I wanted to do the best job possible. This is why I spent day in, day out making sure they had what they needed to be successful — fortitude, being humble, and having a passion to strive to be better and to help others; and I see it come to fruition.

We need to have empathy for those that do not have hope and give a smile, a nudge, or a gentle word.

Don't take your community for granted. Make sure that everybody's included. I feel that you will succeed best if you're transparent and you're getting everybody involved.

It's about being humble and seeking knowledge and understanding and just being patient and willing to lead. Monica: What advice can you give anyone who is considering running for public office? How should they prepare themselves for what's ahead? Obviously, as you know, there are going to be challenges. Pamela: There are always challenges, and you face them head on. If you're interested in running for school board, one of the things I’d suggest you do is going to the meetings. Go to supervisor meetings. Attend as many meetings as you can. And one of the things I did, I actually saw myself sitting in one of the chairs. I envisioned myself sitting in one of those chairs and I said to me, “How would you answer that question? What would you want to change? What would you like to do? What would be your mission? What would be your goal?” You have to think about what you would like to change. You have to have that passion. And if you're just doing it just to have a position, then don't run. If you are going to do it from the bottom of your heart, to help make a change, you are going to do all you can to make it happen.

March-April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

As far as the accomplishment in terms of politics, it's a journey and I don't even know where it ends.

Right now, my mission for the next four years is to ensure I reach as many kids as possible — and also as many parents as possible; those who are disillusioned and stressing about how they're going to take care of their kids or get a better education for their children. Monica: Would you mind closing the interview with your last word? Pamela: Well, I always try to believe that I'm contributing a valuable attribute to anything I do, especially to this position as a school board member, where I’m building consensus and helping others. I just want to be looked at as an inspiration for young people, not just girls but the youth, all kids. I want to make sure they get the chance to become leaders. I think everybody has it in their heart to make a difference in somebody else's life. We need to have empathy for those that do not have hope and give a smile, a nudge, or a gentle word. I love my Wawa coffee, the mocha chocolate. For the past two years, the person behind me gets a free cup of coffee. It doesn't matter who it is. Whoever's behind me gets that 12-ounce, 16-ounce, whatever it is that they have in their hand to drink. Monica: Well, thank you for such a wonderful interview. This has been a pleasure. Pamela: It's my pleasure also. 

EMPOWER YOURSELF TO

SUCCEED THRIVE and

Professional and Personal Development

cquiring great success and achievement often requires you to take on some level of risk. As most super achievers have taken a number of risks in their lives and it is very often that very risk taking that made them successful, it seems pretty obvious that super achievement and accepting some level of risk are synonymous. The secret though, is to know the difference between taking a calculated risk and blundering into something that is just plain foolish risk. Every super achiever that I have studied understands the art of only taking only calculated risks. THE ART OF TAKING CALCULATED RISKS Building success and following your entrepreneurial spirit will most certainly require you to assess many situations, opportunities and events and to take calculated risks that will move you to the next level of achievement. Any big idea or major goal you have will require you to stretch yourself and to expand your activities and thinking beyond your current comfort zone. I have compiled a simple plan, described below to allow you to mitigate the risk, while still allowing you to expand your horizons and to take calculated risks only. TAKING CALCULATED RISKS IS ESSENTIAL Knowing when to put your chin out there and to accept some level of calculated risk is an essential part of the process of separating yourself from the crowd. Knowing when to take a calculated risk is the one variable that very often separates the super achievers from the rest of the mediocre crowd. It is your willingness to accept some level of risk that will advance you to the next level of abundance and achievement but never allow the risk to stretch you into realms in which you could lose everything. March-April 2018â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; Exceptional People Magazine

EMPOWER YOURSELF As you climb the ladder to greater levels of success, you have more and more to lose. It is wise to assess every risk that you intend to take even more carefully. When you are young and don’t have too much to lose, you have not moved too far from the starting line. Losing everything and having to start over is not as costly as when you have created some level of success already. As you move further down the path to super achievement it is prudent to mitigate any risks that you take and to only put a small portion of your accumulated wealth at risk. I am conservative and I limit my risk profile as follows: • Speculative risk – Max 10 % of your net worth. • Moderate risk 10 – 20 % of net worth. • Calculated risk 20 – 30 % of net worth. I have found this ratio of high risk to moderate risk, a safe bet when exploring any new opportunities. As you get a little older and you have a family that depends on you, it is crucial that you are wiser and more prudent in your risk profile and choices.

Take risks only in areas where you have knowledge and expertise. My experience has shown me that every time I have entered into a venture that is outside of my area of competency and taken a risk, I have lost my shirt. Never invest or take any risk in any venture that is outside your core area of competency. If you do not understand the business or the marketplace, steer clear and avoid taking any risk at all. The biggest challenge when you try to enter into an area that is outside your area of expertise is that you are taking a risk in an area, where you don’t even know what you don’t know. You have no foundation to build on, you don’t know who to ask the right questions or how you should go about making the venture work. You can never take a calculated risk in any area where you do not have the competency to know what to calculate or how to weigh the risks. MITIGATE OR REMOVE THE RISK ALTOGETHER

1 2

Risk is necessary to succeed

The more you have to lose and the more people that depend on you, the more prudent and calculating you must be.

3 4

Only invest in areas in which you have expertise – stick to what you know

Conduct in-depth, due diligence and create clear plans and measurement criterion before taking on any risk.

Have the discipline to pull the plug on any risk that has gone sour.

Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2018

The secret of most super achievers and great risk takers is that they understand how to mitigate or remove the risk from the equation completely. The way to do this successfully is to never take on any risk that will overextend you, to the point of complete disaster if things do not work out. Conduct in-depth due diligence before accepting any risk and always assess any risk against the potential return. If something appears too good to be true and the returns seem to be just too incredible to be true, then more often than not, they are. Create a bottom measure or floor level where you will pull the plug on any investment. Do not fall into the trap of throwing good money after bad. 

emember the saying: “Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names [words] will never hurt me”?

It was something my friends and I used to chant in the playground when we were being teased. Now, as an adult I have to wonder – who on earth coined that phrase? I’d like to tell them that they were wrong. Very wrong! I only have to watch the negative impact on my children’s mental wellbeing when they’re at the receiving end of a nasty comment or taunt. And, I only have to watch my social media feeds in horror as I see what business owners are writing and sharing with their communities. They are using words which have the potential to seriously tarnish their credibility. When words are not chosen carefully they can damage your reputation which will ultimately impact your career and your business.

Here are some examples: 1. A freelance journalist, who after writing and sharing her thoughts on Twitter caused so much of a stir that one of her major client’s (a large Australian newspaper) terminated her contract. 2. An executive who was about to sign a significant contract with an employer however found himself back in the job search queue after a reference check showed up negative comments and a situation that this employer did not want to be associated with. 3. A prospective client who was about to hire a Virtual Assistant promptly changed his mind after he saw her write on Twitter: “I have so much work to do but you know what? I just can’t be bothered.” Three separate examples of situations where ‘words’ have impacted negatively on someone’s reputation, resulting in the loss of a client/work.

Checkup: ARE YOU BUILDING AND MONITORING YOUR ONLINE PROFILE? By Annemarie Cross

EMPOWER YOURSELF Not pretty. So, when was the last time you did a brand checkup to confirm the words and information being posted online about you and your business is building (and not destroying) your credibility? Monitoring your online profile is critical and will allow you to: 1. Ensure that every piece of communication is professional and on-brand and therefore continues to influence your credibility and reputation in a positive way. 2. Go into damage control should you find something that is negative and potentially harmful to your brand. 3. Respond and engage with people who are commenting about your products/services. 4. Monitor the conversation about your industry to see latest developments. It’s also a great way to keep track of what your competitors are doing.

Here are five (free) tools I recommend that will enable you to start monitoring your online profile: 1.

.com

When is the last time you googled yourself? Go on – be honest! No, it’s not narcissism but a highly recommended online profile management strategy. Make sure you Google yourself regularly to remain informed of what other people will find should they search for you on this platform. 2.

Alerts

The search terms you’ve entered into Google Alerts will be emailed to your inbox as often as you have requested.

Search for conversations on Twitter about you and your brand. You can also search for various topics (i.e.: hashtags). 4. Similar to Google Alerts, Twilert will send you a report of all your relevant search terms directly to your inbox as it appears on Twitter. 5. IceRocket searches through a variety of online services including your blog. Building and monitoring your online profile is vital for all business owners. Here are some tips on how to build a strong online brand/ profile:

1. Get totally clear on your signature brand and your authentic brand voice. This is how you are going to stand out from your competitors. 2. Get clear on your brand message. What do you want to become known as an expert/specialist in? Being uncertain and posting about a variety of topics will only weaken your brand/information and confuse your prospects. 3. Only share relevant, on-brand information. Wouldn’t want a prospect to read something – don’t post it! Watch your words CONSTANTLY! 4. Have a solid brand communications plan and how you’re going to raise brand awareness. 5. Take consistent daily action to communicate your brand.

Exceptional People Magazine | March-April 2018

5. Source great comments from happy customers, which can later be developed into testimonials (social proof) – with the author’s permission of course.

To Negotiate Successfully, Consider Ethnicity and Gender By Greg Williams

EMPOWER YOURSELF

hen negotiating, does ethnicity and gender matter? You betcha!

When you negotiate, control your ego, be aware of your environment, and be very cognizant of the influence that ethnicity and gender have on the participants involved in the negotiation. Recently, a prominent black professor, of a prominent university, was arrested. His arrest occurred as the result of a neighbor summoning the police after she thought, inaccurately, that he was breaking into what turned out to be his own home. Once the police arrived, they requested the professor produce identification proving he resided at the residence. In the discussion, a white police officer and the black professor exchanged negative words and the situation quickly escalated into what became a national discourse on race relations. The president of the United States weighed in, which escalated the affair to higher heights. From a negotiation perspective, we can glean many lessons from this circumstance.

• Although it may be difficult when negotiating, don’t allow the lack of control of your emotions, or that of the other negotiator, to ‘take’ the negotiation in a direction that’s not beneficial.

• In the heat of a negotiation, be mindful when the negotiation begins to spiral out of control. If you sense it quickly enough, call a ‘time out’ before it goes too far.

The president of the United States commented on the situation, which invoked ‘other opinions’ that ratcheted the situation higher.

• Always be aware of the effects that outside influences can have on a negotiation. In the planning stages of the negotiation, try to anticipate what outside influences you might encounter and consider how you might address them. Note: To defuse the situation, the president invited the main participants to the White House for a beer. Sometimes when negotiating, things can occur so quickly that you don’t have time for regrets of the past, or fear of the future. That can be dangerous! Always seek to control yourself and to the degree that you can, the other negotiator. You’ll have less stress in the negotiation. The negotiation will flow smoother. There’ll be less combativeness in the negotiation … and everything will be right with the world. 

The Negotiation Tips Are … • Always be aware of the impact an outside influence can have on a negotiation.

• In life, people ‘see’ the world through the lens by which they’ve come to view it. When negotiating, metaphorically view their expectations through their lens.

• Before and during negotiations, consider the background of the person with whom you’re negotiating and assess how that difference might cause that person to interact with you and you with him, in the negotiation. This is also true when there’s a gender difference between two negotiators.

• When you encounter negativity in a negotiation, call a ‘time out’ to get things back on track. Consider how you might do so in an environment that is nonthreatening and one that is mutually neutral to all parties involved.

The two individuals that initiated this situation were of different ethnicities

Exceptional People Magazine | March -April 2018

During the encounter, it was reported that the professor asked the police officer, ‘do you know who I am?’ The implication being that the professor was someone of prominence and thus the police officer should be aware with whom he was dealing and act accordingly. Upon hearing this, along with some other exchange of negative dialogue, the police officer became incensed, which caused the situation to become more elevated.

The police officer felt compelled to exude his authority and thus arrested the professor, even though the professor had displayed proof that he resided at the location.

8 Ways to Reward People for a Job Well Done By Pat Markel

EMPOWER YOURSELF

raise and rewards can do wonders to bolster an employee’s self-confidence and morale. No one can deny the effect praise and recognition can have on people. Even with your family at home, there are many ways you can reward people for a job well done. When you praise someone, you let them know you’re aware of their hard work. You acknowledge they’ve put forth a great effort to accomplish something and you’re celebrating with them for their accomplishment. Here are a few ways you can reward someone for their accomplishments. • Be sincere in your praise. Don’t praise a worker merely to make them feel better. This is even more important to remember with family members. If your praise is insincere, you may be considered manipulative, and you don’t want to give that impression.

• Be specific about your praise. Sure, you can tell someone they did a great job, but what was so great about it? “Your research paper was direct, to the point, and full of facts,” sounds much better than telling them they had a nice paper. • Praise them in front of others. Giving someone a pat on the back in private may make a person feel good for a few minutes. Recognizing their contribution or success during a staff meeting will extend that good feeling into days, if not weeks. There’s a double benefit to praising people in front of others: public praise may also encourage others to work harder as well. As with genuinely praising an employee or family member when they’ve done well, there are other ways to reward them without having to spend money.

Reduce their supervision. Some people are happier and do much better work when they’re allowed to work on their own. Giving an employee more freedom can be an excellent reward.

• By giving your employees less supervision, you’re letting them know they’re trusted and you have confidence in their abilities. • If you truly trust your employee to do their work without supervision, allow them the flexibility to work from home on occasion. Of course, whether or not you can allow your employees to work at home will depend on the work they do.

Give your team members who go above and beyond the call of duty a new title. Job titles don’t always have to mean more money. Sometimes receiving a title means more than getting a few more dollars in their paycheck. It shows that you’re pleased with their work.

Publicly recognize people that do their job well. At your next staff meeting, present that person with a certificate. Create a bulletin board in the staff lounge that has photographs of honored employees to continue to recognize them for their good work.

Encourage your team by giving them discount coupons to local businesses in your area. This could be a free movie and popcorn at the movie theater, reduced entrance at a family park, or a coupon for a free turkey around the holidays.

When employees feel like they matter, they’re much more willing to give their all for a company. Use some of these ways to reward people for a job well done. Not only will your team enjoy their job and the workplace much more, but you’ll find they’re more productive as well. Recognize and reward a job well done and your company will ultimately reap the benefits. 

Exceptional People Magazine | March -April 2018

• Give praise when it’s due. You cannot follow the old adage, “Better late than never,” when it comes to praising someone. Express your praise as quickly as you can when you see that someone has done something praiseworthy.

Here are some other ways you can reward people for a job well done:

Easy Steps to a Great Online Reputation By Kathy Kentty

EMPOWER YOURSELF

verything you do or say these days has the potential to end up on the internet. However, it is possible to control the way we are seen on the internet, at least to some degree, through online reputation management. Controlling the way the world sees you is much easier than you think. By taking specific actions, you can manage your

online reputation and create a consistent brand and image that bridges both the online and offline world. Managing your reputation involves monitoring what is said or seen about a person, brand or company on the web, encouraging the visibility of positive information, and suppressing negative information.

 Here are five ways you can begin managing your online reputation.

1 2 4 5

Look through each of the results on your spreadsheet and identify things you want to change. If there is anything negative, mark it as a priority to either delete or push farther down in the search results.

Start by doing a thorough assessment of your current online reputation. Conduct searches for your full name, company name, brand or other key phrases in Google and other search engines. Manage this information by placing it in a spreadsheet.

Look at what is showing up most in your results. Are your highest ranking URLS from Twitter and Facebook? Maybe you show up more on a personal blog or in YouTube videos.

With information about your current reputation available, you can now craft a strategy for building the image you want. Focus on both the “what” and the “where” of your content and message. What type of content will serve you best?

The last step in building your online reputation is to follow through on your strategy and start creating your content and promoting it in the search engines and other places with SEO (search engine optimization).

Once you have assessed your current online reputation and have a good strategy in place, you can then easily take control and manage the way you are seen on the internet. Keep your

message consistent across all your content and every online platform you use and you will build a solid base that will help you both in your business and personal life. 

Exceptional People Magazine | March -April 2018

LIGHTER SIDE OF

Life

LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE

Lemon and Fennel Marinated Bass Ingredients: 6 tbsp olive oil

1 teaspoon salt

Juice of a fresh lemon

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Zest of a fresh lemon, grated

2 (2 lbs each) bass

1 tbsp fennel seed, crushed

2 fennel bulbs, sliced

2 tbsp fennel, chopped

1 tbsp brandy (optional)

2 cloves of garlic, minced Directions: 1. Stir together in a large mixing bowl the oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, fennel seed, fennel and garlic. 2. Place the fish in a shallow container that has a lid. Score the fish four times on both sides. Pour the lemon mixture over the top of the fish. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. 3. Remove the fish from the marinade and discard the marinade. Mix the salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Sprinkle each piece of fish with the salt and pepper mixture. Place a slice of fennel bulb in each scored area on the fish. 4. Heat the grill to high. Grill the fish 12 minutes, turning after 7 minutes. 5. Remove the fish and place on a heatproof dish. Pour the brandy over the fish. Light the brandy and allow it burn out. 6. Serve with fresh lemon slices. 7. This dish not only tastes good but is fun to cook. Lighting the brandy removes the alcohol content and gives your dish a flare. Exceptional People Magazine | March -April 2018

LIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE

Raspberry Rice Ingredients: 3 cups of water 1 cup long grain white rice 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 cup of whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 (6 oz.) containers fresh raspberries, rinsed 2 (4 oz.) containers vanilla yogurt

Directions: 1. Pour the water into a large saucepan and place over high heat. Bring the water to a brisk boil. Add in the rice and the salt and reduce the heat to medium low. 2. Simmer the rice, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the water has been absorbed. Add the sugar and cinnamon to the saucepan and blend in well. 3. Reduce the heat to low and slowly pour in the milk. 4. Continue to simmer the mixture for 25 minutes or until the mixture is very thick, stirring often. Remove the pan from the heat and stir the vanilla into the mixture. 5. Cool for 1 hour or until the mixture has reached room temperature. When cool fold the raspberries into the mixture. Fold in the yogurt until completely combined. 6. Serve at room temperature or chill for 1 hour if you prefer. 7. Serves: 8 Note: You can substitute the raspberries with other fruits such as blueberries, blackberries, sliced strawberries or even fresh chopped peaches. March -April 2018 | Exceptional People Magazine

lIGHTER SIDE OF LIFE

Look for Me in Office Supplies By Dorothy Rosby

ome people are Shoe Store People. Some people are Furniture Store People. Some people are Any and All Store People. They can happily browse their chosen retail outlet even if at that moment, they’re not in the market for the object of their obsession, or anything else for that matter. Their favorite store is like an art gallery or museum to them, except that occasionally they decide to buy an exhibit. It isn’t uncommon for window shoppers to come home with windows.

I’m not a Vehicle or Hardware Store Person, but I worked at a hardware store when I was a teenager. That’s where I was when I heard Elvis died. But that’s not why I don’t like hardware stores. I don’t like hardware stores because I don’t like hardware. I understand the need for it; when you’re in the market for a sump pump or a socket wrench, nothing else will do. But wandering the aisles of a hardware store for fun? No thanks. I’ll wait in the car—or on a chaise lounge in the patio furniture department. As much as I like food, you’d think I’d be a Grocery Store Person. But I like my food prepared— by someone else. I do appreciate grocery stores though, since I fell in love with my husband at one, or at least got a serious crush on him there. We struck up a conversation right there between the bread and the greeting cards, and the rest is history. But if you see me wandering through the grocery store these days, I’m not browsing. I’m lost.

The point is, I only go into the above stores when I need something. And then I get in, grab it and get out as fast as I can. I do pay first. There is one type of store I linger in though, and that is the office supply store. I go there often for the printer cartridges but I stay to gaze at the pens, markers and highlighters. Then I make my way to the stationery and the notebooks. I love blank paper like a Hardware Store Person loves light fixtures. I’m not usually tempted to buy. I have plenty of all of this at home, and after I pay for printer ink, I won’t be able to afford a new pen anyway. My favorite of all office supplies are the planners. I have an electronic calendar, but for some parts of my life, nothing beats a good old-fashioned paper planner. The blank pages represent possibility which may or may not be realized, and organization, which never is. Filling out a planner in January with tasks is the highlight of my year. It’s downhill from there since I have to do them all. Still, I love looking at planners. It’s a shame I only need one a year. But that doesn’t stop me from browsing. 

Exceptional People Magazine | March -April 2018

My husband is a Vehicle Store Person. You can see why I worry when he goes window shopping. He’s also a Hardware Store Person, which is somewhat less worrisome. At least when a Hardware Store Person decides to buy an exhibit, he doesn’t need to get the bank involved.

I know a lot of women who are Clothing Store People or Shoe Store People. I like clothes, but to be a Shoe Store Person, you have to be a Shoe Person and there’s only one type of shoe I like: comfortable ones. Comfortable shoes take up a very small area in the women’s shoe department, and I really don’t care to look at men’s shoes.

Profile Resources Dr. Sharon DeVivo https://www.vaughn.edu/presidential-search/ Dr. Maxine Lubner https://www.vaughn.edu/spotlight-stories/maxine-lubner-phd-2/ Lysa Scully https://www.linkedin.com/in/lysascully/ Lillian Dukes https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilliandukes/ Olga Custodio https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-custodio-usaf-ltcol-ret-aa-captain-ret-3397a118/ Pam Yeung https://www.pamelayeung4schoolboard.com/ Patricia Doss http://www.patriciadeepetgrooming.com/

Magazine Design and Graphics, and Cover Design by Jenette Antonio Sityar

Knowledge is like money: to be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value. Louis Lâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Amour