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LEADING LADIES inspiring progress PRESENTED By
Montour County’s hometown newspaper
The Danville News An edition of The Daily Item
SEPTEMBER 2021
Lisa Streett-Liebetrau
CAMP KOALA
OFFICE: 94 Chestnut St., Mifflinburg, PA (717) 258-1122 www.campkoala.org
After losing her sisters in a car accident in 1989, Lisa Streett-Liebetrau spent the next twenty years grieving in silence, while she made her way through college, career and motherhood. After twenty years, it was time to turn her tragedy into helping others who had been through a similar experience. She started Camp Koala in 2008, to let grieving children know they are not alone. “There were organizations helping grieving adults, but nothing for kids, often the forgotten mourners. Kids are expected to bounce back, but unfortunately that isn’t often the case. Children just grieve differently from adults.” In 2016, Lisa made her way back home to Union County, and started a camp here. After many years of successful camps and support groups here, Camp Koala was able to purchase its first building in the heart of downtown Mifflinburg. “It’s always been a dream of mine to work my way back home, to support the people who helped us at our darkest time. We’re ready to put our roots down here, and offer more programs in our local community. The next step is a renovation of the building and paying down the mortgage. We need the help of our community during our capital campaign to open our office. We’re excited to be able to offer programs for grieving children and teens in our own space.” After graduating from Mifflinburg High, Lisa completed her MFA at Brandeis University and became a freelance Costume Designer and University Professor. She and her husband Jon have two children, Victoria and Max. Lisa is the Founder and Executive Director of Camp Koala, offering camps and grief support groups for children and teens who have experienced a death.
Amy Swineford Hi, I am Amy Swineford, owner and operator of Nail Trends, a nail salon in Selinsgrove, PA providing gel services, manicures, and pedicures. After graduating from Empire Beauty School and then receiving valuable training in business planning and financial management from the Small Business Development Center at Bucknell University, I opened my business in 1997. Creating a successful small business has required working long days, minimal vacation, fierce determination and perseverance, but the rewards include developing a wonderful group of loyal clients who have become close friends. Sharing the warm, fun, and friendly atmosphere at Nail Trends with them has made it feel like family. Being self employed is a demanding enterprise under any circumstances. But being self employed during the pandemic has generated an entirely new set of challenges and obstacles. Closing for two and a half months created difficulties that required patience, imaginative problem solving, and more perseverance. However, opening again gave me a fresh new appreciation for my business, my career, and socializing with my clients and the community in general! Outside of my business, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Matt, gardening, loving animals, biking, skiing, and traveling. Fun Fact—I am left handed, but always file nails using my right hand.
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NAIL TRENDS
1372 N Susquehanna Trail #270, Selinsgrove, PA (570) 541-2263 facebook.com/NailTrends.nailsalon
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Lynda Tompkins
With three decades of design, construction and leadership experience in the log & timber home industry, Lynda Tompkins is the proud owner of Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes. Under Lynda’s leadership, Timberhaven manufacturers premium-quality kiln-dried traditional and engineered Log, Timber Frame, and Hybrid Homes as well as Timber Accents and Outdoor Timber Structures. Given her expertise, perseverance, and innovation, she implores her team to invest patience, time and energy on every project to ensure expectations have been exceeded in design, quality and, most importantly, customer service. As a world-wide manufacturer of the premium-grade engineered log and timber, Lynda holds her team accountable for executing this product to perfection. Other founding principles include understanding and considering all ethical consequences related to every decision, creating a family-centric workplace, emphasizing the importance of building lifelong relationships and giving back to her community. Lynda and her team have been recognized by the National Association of Homebuilders for nearly a dozen achievements for Excellence in Home TIMBERHAVEN LOG & Design and Marketing. In 2016, Timberhaven was named Pennsylvania TIMBER HOMES Business Central’s Top 100 Organizations for setting the industry standards 1081 Salem Church Road, by which to measure quality, value, customer service and complete Middleburg, PA experiential satisfaction. (855) 306-5678 The Timberhaven Team possesses 30 years per employee on average www.timberhavenloghomes.com industry experience. With this unparalleled dedication and continued info@timberhavenloghomes.com hard work, coupled with the founding principles of the business Lynda maintains, Timberhaven has secured a leading position in the log & timber frame home industry. “I am proud of and abundantly blessed to work with my Timberhaven family.” -
Lynda
Women with business in their blood Common traits Some women seem to have it in their blood; it is as though they were born to be businesspeople. Generally, these women are go-getters. They are driven and they love taking charge. Without trying to stubbornly impose their point of view, they enjoy the art of persuasive argument and getting others to share in their vision of the world. These women are driven by their selfconfidence and their belief in their skills. Chief motivations Women who choose to go into business appear to share a number of common motives. Firstly, they share a desire to reach their potential without constraints and to let their creativity run free. Business women often choose to go out on their own because of their frustrations with the limitations of the business world or typical work environments. Secondly, time management is another common motivation. Managing your own schedule allows you to invest your energy in the right places and at the right times. Being financially independent also fuels women to create their own businesses. Being business owners
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means being able to reap every dollar generated by their determined efforts. To be a business woman—a good business woman— involves conviction. Yes, you need to have business in your blood, but above all, you need to truly believe in your skills and in your business.
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Sheri Purdy Hello! I'm Sheri Purdy, Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. Born and raised in Northumberland, I am a Penn State University alum, with my branch located in the Courtyard Offices in Selinsgrove. Choosing a career with Edward Jones seemed natural, as it is a company that shares so many of my personal and business philosophies, like honest business practices, the utmost integrity and a strong focus on doing what is in the best interest of our clients. As a Financial Advisor, I channel my strategic business skill set to help people achieve their financial dreams. I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to understand a client's full financial picture, including protection against the unexpected. I am blessed to develop personal relationships with my clients to ensure each client feels understood and educated on all aspects of their financial life. I enjoy helping my clients make informed decisions.
Sheri Purdy – Edward Jones
1372 N Susquehanna Trail Suite 170, Selinsgrove, PA (570) 743-1025 www.edwardsjones.com
Sheri Purdy
IRT-1948J-A
Financial Advisor
When I'm not at work, you will find me spending time with my two children and Fiancé. We enjoy riding bikes, golfing, Family Game Night and cheering on our favorite teams - PSU football and Yankees baseball. You may also find me participating with the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce or helping the CWC Kidz Choir sing loud and proud!
edwardjones.com
Member SIPC
1372 N Susquehanna Trail Suite 170 Selinsgrove, PA 17870 570-743-1025
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Their dream is to get under the ho
Auto mechanics, like many other typically male trades, has seen sparse representation by to now. But contrary to many young men, who often take up the trade for lack of other ide women are actually passionate about it. There are more than a few women who proved th military vehicle shops in Iran, for example. Nevertheless, for them and all the others like the lot of courage and determination to be taken seriously, and they can encounter prejudice e
Women wanting to become auto mechanics are good problem solvers, and they are dyn tenacious as well. They love to take things apart and put them back together again, and th of convincing male coworkers of their expertise is a motivation to excel. At the local auto se women mechanics might have to make a special effort to reassure prejudiced clients that competent and efficient, but once their work speaks for itself, there is little to hold them ba change with time, as more women put on the overalls and show the world that they are sk motors and electrical systems.
Other skills required for mechanics are a mastery of car electronics, an analytical and tech and an ability to communicate with clients about their automotive needs. Women who ar about this trade and who are ready for the challenge of proving themselves to be skilled w work and meet with success.
How women can make their way in maledominated fields
Women have made great strides in various industries over the first two decades of the 21st century. But the fight for equality is far from over, as evidenced by the array of fields that remain predominantly male. In 2017, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics tracked the percentages of women in a variety of professions, ultimately finding that many professions are male-dominated. For example, the BLS found that only 20 percent of software developers were female, while roughly 63 percent of financial analysts are male. Each of those fields can be lucrative. Women may face an uphill battle as they look to establish themselves and subsequently thrive in male-dominated fields. That challenge can be overcome by employing various strategies. Build your network. Networking is essential for modern professionals. Networking also can make it easier for women to thrive in male-dominated fields, as they can seek advice from professional colleagues, male and female, about hurdles they can expect. In addition, professional networks can serve as support networks as
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well. That can be invaluable as women face the challenge of establishing themselves in male-dominated fields. Work with professional women’s organizations. Many professional organizations now cater exclusively to women within certain professions. Working with these groups places women in direct contact with peers with varying levels of experience. That means women will have access to people who have faced and overcome challenges at various phases of their careers. Work with your employer. Wage gaps have narrowed in many professions, but that’s not the only way industries have become more accommodating to women. Many businesses now recognize the need to change not just their pay structures, but also their working environments to make them more accommodating to women. Women who encounter problems at work, such as routine resistance to their ideas and input, should discuss such frustrations with their employers.
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Occupations such as firefighting, trucking, and auto repair are increasingly practiced by women.
Learn how to be more assertive in the workplace Gender equality in the professional arena has come a long way in the 21st century. But while great strides have been made over the last two decades, women still face challenges unique to females as they look to establish themselves professionally and advance their careers. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women still earn roughly 80 percent of what men are paid in the same positions. Professional women often must walk the thin line between being too nice or too aggressive, a pressure not often faced by men. Assertiveness is an art for both genders, and women can take steps to be more assertive without giving the impression they’re ruffling feathers. Be confident in your speech. It is easy to fall into “weaker language” habits when advocating for an idea. If unsure about the reaction to a proposal, you might say, “I think this is a good idea” or “I believe this will impart change.” More assertive language is to simply stand behind the point: “This is a good idea.” Confidence can go a long way. Allow people to disagree. It is acceptable for
others to disagree with you. This can lead to discussion and an opportunity to present evidence why something should be done in a certain way. It also enables you to point out the strong points in their argument. Listening to all ideas can sway people in your favor, even if they don’t necessarily agree with all you believe in. Be proactive and future-oriented. This is especially pertinent when asking for raises or promotions. Explain to a boss how you respect yourself and that your work merits the right compensation. Point out clearly defined future goals and successes you’ve had that warrant consideration for higher pay. Don’t fear conflict. Conflict doesn’t have to be confrontational, especially when respectable language is used and everyone is allowed to voice their opinions. Conflict can inspire great change. And remember, while you need to have solid relationships with coworkers, they do not have to be your best friends. Assertiveness in the workplace can help female professionals achieve their goals and showcase their value.
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Ann Hilliard
With a fascination in self-employment and interest in real estate sales. Ann Hilliard walked away from a traditional office administrative position in the early 1990s to start a brand new career as a real estate agent. Balancing her priorities as a working mom and with support from her husband, Dave, she worked long days and weekends, taking minimal time off as she established her business and reputation. Now, 30 years and hundreds of real estate transactions later, she remains highly involved in the local real estate market as the broker-owner of RE/MAX Bridges, a fullservice real estate company she established in Lewisburg in 2017 and RE/MAX River Valley Realty. A Northumberland based firm she acquired two years later. She now leads a sales team of 10 real estate agents. When faced with the challenges of this profession, you can choose to rise or fail. For me, failure has never been an option” she said. “More times than I can tell you, it’s been said ‘You can’t do that’ or ‘That wlll never happen· or ‘That’s not going to work.’ I’ve continued on my way and have found success in hard work and never giving up”. Through all the busy years, Ann also has insisted on allocating a portion of her time and energy to charitable interests. She was an active band parent while her two children were in high school and organized a fund drive to purchase a grand piano for the school. Having taken every step with her son from Tiger Cub to the Boy Scout Eagle Award, she developed a strong interest In the Boy Scouts camping program and served as the committee chairwoman for Camp Karoondinha in Union County for several years. In recent years, she has organized community donation efforts to secure milk for summer lunch programs and collected needed supplies for students in several area school districts, including personal hygiene products and water bottles because water fountains were turned off amid the COVID-19 outbreak. She also remains a strong supporter of Camp Koala, a grief program for children who have suffered the loss of a caregiver or sibling. ‘’I’ve been blessed. I have what I need," she said. “The path to fulfillment is gifting to those who may not have all they need. It’s a cycle that helps others and repays the gifter”.
Re/max bridges realty 633 N Derr Dr, Lewisburg, PA (570) 768-4792 www.remax.com
Re/Max River Valley Realty 166 8th St, Northumberland, PA (570) 473-8888 www.remax.com
Victoria and Kristine Rosancrans
Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the CHANGE that you wish to see in the world.” This is the mantra that Victoria and Kristine Rosancrans follow daily in all that they do, whether it be in their personal, work, or community life. Victoria works as a home health nurse and Kristine works as a manager with the Pennsylvania Department of Health. During the evening is when they come together as a team to put service above self in the city of Sunbury! They can be found serving as the President and Vice President of the Sunbury Rotary Club, advocating for Children in the court system as CASA volunteers, and operating the Support Unit with the Northumberland Fire Department. They both actively participate on 6 other Sunbury Committees, and Victoria is currently campaigning for a seat on the Sunbury City Council! Their Charity, called “Santa’s Miracle Gift of Giving” is in its 6th year of providing gifts and food to families in need, in the Sunbury area. They also play Santa and Mrs. Claus and are the co-chairs of decorating the city for the holiday season. They most recently started a Community Outreach Facebook Page, called “Stay Sunbury Informed” promoting new businesses in the City of Sunbury as well as keeping citizens informed of all community activities! You never know where they will pop-up to do a “Live and On Location Broadcast!” Their goal as a couple is to promote unity, acceptance, community participation, volunteerism, joy, love, and staying connected with one another in all things! Paid for by the Candidate
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SUNBURY CITY COUNCIL vote victoria rosancrans
Jody Ocker When Jody Ocker was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force Nurse Corps, she did not anticipate making it a 28-year career. Through 13 duty stations and 2 deployments (Iraq 2007 and Afghanistan 2017) her experiences from combat to senior administration taught her to form and lead teams successfully. Jody retired as a full Colonel in December 2017 returning to Sunbury to be near family and enjoy all the comforts of hometown life.
ThinkSUNBURY
225 Market St., Sunbury, PA (570) 286-7820 sunburypa.org/think-sunbury
Not ready to slow down after the fast pace of military life, Jody became involved in her community. She worked for the City of Sunbury as the City Administrator for two years. Currently she serves on the boards of the Northumberland County Historical Society and Sunbury’s Revitalization, Inc (SRI). Jody chairs SRI’s Think SUNBURY Committee, which she founded earlier this year. The mission of ThinkSUNBURY is to promote a “whole community” approach to community and economic development in which residents, business owners, property owners, investors, non-profits, and city officials build partnerships and collaborate to reach common goals. Jody also co-chairs the Sunbury Semiquincentennial Committee tasked with planning events for 2022 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of Sunbury’s establishment in 1772. “I am happiest when I am living my values: integrity, service, and leadership. It was a privilege and honor to serve my country beside my brothers and sisters in arms. Now I want to use my experience, skills, and values to serve our community.” Paid for by Ocker for Mayor Committee
Kristine Horten
Kristine Horten was born in Johnstown Pennsylvania. She graduated in 1997 from Bishop McCort High School and started working for Verizon. In 2001 she and her husband Aaron relocated to the Susquehanna Valley. Kristine worked for Service Electric until having her children. She started teaching Zumba classes to raise money for Christ United Methodist Church and eventually opened her own fitness studio in Selinsgrove. After closing the studio she worked full time at a local coffee company as their floor manager but finally found her passion in real estate in 2017 with Bowen Agency Realtors. Kristine has been a top producer with the company since 2018 and a yearly multi-million dollar producer in residential and commercial sales. Recently she has formed a partnership with Heidi Dunigan, Realtor at Bowen Agency, to be able to better assist her clients and continue to grow her business. Kristine is a member of the Selinsgrove Rotary and is the Selinsgrove VFW Post 6631 Auxiliary Senior Vice President and Pennsylvania VFW Auxiliary District 17 Color Bearer. She is very active with the Auxiliary for their monthly Bacon Cheeseburger Nights raising money to give back to the veterans and local community. Kristine and her husband live in Kratzerville with their 2 sons Carter, 18 and Porter, 16. In her spare time she loves spending time with her family, especially her children and their friends or traveling the world. Kristine accepts any of her boy’s friends that walk through the door as one of her “kids”.
bowen agency realtors 1372 N Susquehanna Trail, #110, Selinsgrove, PA (570) 743-2165 www.bowenagency.com
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A look at the modern business woman which leave women disproportionately responsible for childcare and household tasks. Without a proper support system, it’s difficult for women to strike a balance and advance in the workplace. Yet despite these hurdles, many women are thriving in the business world, and companies, as well as communities, are the better for it.
When women contribute to the business world, they often bring a fresh perspective that helps companies to accelerate their growth. Studies have demonstrated that gender diversity in corporate settings increases productivity and innovation. What’s more, women tend to bring a more humane leadership style to the table, one based on inclusivity and the empowerment of marginalized voices. This open-minded and collaborative attitude has been shown to improve a corporate team’s performance, products and decision-making. OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME Women continue to face numerous challenges in the business world. For one, the wage gap persists with full-time female employees making an average of $0.82 for every dollar earned by men in the same position. This disparity is even wider for women of color, Native American women and recent immigrants. Additionally, women in business are less likely than men to apply and be considered for management roles. Often, this is due to implicit or explicit bias among male employers. Another factor is the persistence of traditional gender roles among many couples,
NETWORKING RESOuRCES Women in business often lack the support and funding that have allowed men to be successful. Here are a few of the business organizations in the United States that offer resources, knowledge and encouragement to women. • American Business Women’s Association (abwa.org) • National Association for Female Executives (nafe.com) • The Committee of 200 (c200.org) • National Association of Women Business Owners (nawbo.org) • Ellevate Network (ellevatenetwork.com)
Strong Leaders Create Strong Communities Villager is proud to recognize the powerful women within our company and in the Great Susquehanna Valley!
Empowering Women since 1973 521 N. Derr Dr., Lewisburg, PA (570) 523-3244 Lewisburg@villagerrealty.com www.villagerrealty.com
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Sabra Karr
Sabra Karr is an Associate Broker and the General Manager at Villager Realty, Inc. She has been involved with many organizations in the Central Susquehanna Valley over the last 14 years. Sabra currently serves on the Board of Directors for Leadership Susquehanna Valley, the First Community Foundation Partnership Regional Advisory Board, the Board of Directors for Transitions of PA, and is a Director for the Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS®. She was recently involved with the Evangelical Hospital PRIME project, and is currently a member or chair of numerous committees and advisory groups. A career in real estate was Sabra’s destiny, as Villager Realty was founded by her parents in Lewisburg in 1973. Since that time, Villager Realty and the Karr name have become a standard for the best in service and superior results in real estate transactions. Sabra is involved in leadership on both the state and local levels and is an advocate for her industry. She was named Realtor of the Year in 2016 by the Central Susquehanna Valley Board of Realtors.
VILLAGER REALTY, INC.
521 N. Derr Drive, Lewisburg, PA (570) 523-3244 www.villagerrealty.com
Some of the qualities of a good leader are being authentic, ethical and civic-minded, and Sabra tries to incorporate these attributes into her personal and professional lives daily. While she has resided in 2 countries and 7 states, she loves giving back to this region she calls home. Sabra lives in Lewisburg with her fiancée Curtis, his daughter Lexi, and their dogs Koda and Carl.
Dr. Angela Muchler & Dr. Kelly Cormell
Sisters Dr. Angela Muchler and Dr. Kelly Cormell, natives of Lewisburg, opened their practice in September 2007. Inspired by the movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus”, the sisters began working together at Camp Victory, a camp for the deaf and hard of hearing while in college, and their interest grew into something much larger. Dr. Cormell attended Bloomsburg University, majoring in Psychology and Education. She continued on, earning her clinical doctoral degree in Audiology, also at Bloomsburg University, and is nationally certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. She also holds her certificate of clinical competence in Audiology and provides complete hearing care services to patients of all ages. Dr. Muchler earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sign Language Interpretation from Bloomsburg University. She also earned her Masters degree in Education of the Deaf/ Hard of Hearing as well as her clinical doctoral degree in Audiology from Bloomsburg University. She is nationally certified by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association and holds her certificate of clinical competence in Audiology. Susquehanna Valley Susquehanna Valley Hearing Professionals offers a full range of hearing care services to patients of all ages. Our highly experienced Hearing Professionals clinical professionals provide complete testing, evaluations and offer 2824 Old Turnpike Rd, Lewisburg, PA the most advanced hearing devices that are available. We can help you (570) 524-3277 make the best decisions on all of your hearing needs and for you to www.hearingaidspa.com achieve a better quality of life through better hearing. SEPTEMBER 2021 / The Daily ITem |
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