EmpowHer 2012

Emp wher October 2012

Area women share their stories

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October 23, 2012

Young foundation CEO boomeranged back to area she met her husband, David Danic. The couple dated and married when she was 23.

She attended graduate school at Indiana University where she earned master’s degrees in public administration. One is in philanthropic studies and the other in nonprofit management. While in graduate school, Danic worked two jobs at the same time: one at a charter school and the other as a ghostwriter.

After graduate school, the Danics married and lived in Indianapolis. Then they had a long-distance marriage. “Dave relocated up here first. That was my trigger.

BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcnews.net

ANGOLA — Jennifer Myers Danic grew up an Angola girl, moved away and came back in the part of her life she referred to as being like a “boomerang.”

“I’m like a boomerang. I grew up and left as fast as I could. It’s a big world out there,” said the president and CEO of the Steuben County Community Foundation.

She attended Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Mich., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in French and international business. While a freshman there,

Welcome The women of northeast Indiana wear a number of hats: homemaker, mother, pastor, bread winner, business owner, volunteer, college student and more.

They are an important part of the rich tapestry of this area, and this section has been created to salute them.

Inside, you will find inspirational stories of many women in our area, along with tips about health issues that affect women — staying healthy, preventing diseases and more.

This section can also be found on kpcnews.com.

I’m a very well-planned out individual and applied here and the rest is history,” she said.

That was 15 months ago.

Danic said she never saw herself as a businesswoman heading a foundation. As head of the foundation, she manages $16 million in endowments and oversees the granting of $450,000-$500,000 a year to causes in Steuben County. Those funding decisions are made by the foundation’s 14member board.

“I always wanted to start a camp for kids with disabilities because I thought it’d be fun and impactful or work in social services,” she said. “I still don’t know how I ended up here. I can say I have the best job in the world.”

She said she loves to see people smile.

“My favorite part of my job is seeing the ‘ah ha’ moment in someone’s face when they understand giving to and through endowments,” she said. “I feel fortunate that many women before me See BOOMERANGED page 3

JENNIFER DECKER

Jennifer Myers Danic grew up in Angola, moved away and came back to accept a position as president and CEO of the Steuben County Community Foundation.

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BOOMERANGED From page 2

worked hard to break traditional gender roles of leadership. I rarely, if never, feel unwelcome or inferior for being a female or I’m just delusional.�

Danic attributed her eclectic background to her grandparents. She said one grandmother practically grew up in a horse and buggy as an Amish woman and her other grandmother was a “vivacious Macedonian immigrant.� One grandfather was a quiet chemical engineer and her other grandfather was a strong-willed doctor.

In her spare time, Danic likes to help her husband train for marathons. She also enjoys volunteering with the Challengers’ League in basketball at the Steuben County YMCA. The couple also have two cats, Richard and Diddy. “I’m taking oil-painting lessons. I love it so much I’m in the process of converting a small space at home to be dedicated to painting,â€? she said. “It was fun coming back to Steuben County ‌ I’m thankful the community has (accepted) me.â€?

EmpowHer

3

Organization, support helps woman juggle busy life

BY OCTAVIA LEHMAN

olehman@kpcnews.net SHIPSHEWANA — Every morning Joanna King checks her planner and reads the same verse to begin the day: Psalm 37:38.

It says, “Trust in the Lord and do good ‌ do not fret — it only leads to evil.â€?

It reminds her not to worry.

For King, not worrying is a good reminder as she juggles multiple jobs and roles. She is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, friend, businessperson and volunteer.

Her schedule is full: work, committee meeting, work, nonprofit seminar; run errands, school board meeting, family dinner.

To juggle all of her priorities, King uses a planner and tracks out her daily schedule.

The organization is something she learned from her husband, Levi.

King considers herself the dreamer, and her husband the one who keeps her grounded.

The two work as a team. For every 1,000 ideas she has, he finds the one that will work.

The Kings own four businesses: JoJo’s Pretzels, Sarah Davis Ltd., and the Kitchen Cupboard in Shipshewana and The Cinnamon Stick in Middlebury.

The two met in Sarasota, Fla.; however, both came from different regions. Joanna grew up in Shipshewana, while her husband was from Pennsylvania. After they were married, they decided to move back to northeast Indiana to open a business.

The Kings decided to open a pretzel shop.

Levi grew up near Litiz, Pa., where the first commercial pretzel bakery opened in the United States, and they saw an opportunity in northeast Indiana. “They didn’t have anything like that here,� Joanna said.

The pretzel store opened 22 years ago, and is named for Joanna’s nickname: JoJo. They started the company on a shoestring See BUSY LIFE page 4

OCTAVIA LEHMAN

Levi and Joanna King started JoJo’s Pretzels 22 years ago on $5,000 budget in Shipshewana. The company name comes from Joanna’s nickname, JoJo. The pretzel/sandwhich shop is located in the Davis Mercantile in Shipshewana. &DOO 'DQHWWH 7RGD\

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BUSY LIFE From page 3

budget of $5,000.

While the road hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always been easy, Joanna ensures that passion is a large part of what has made their business grow. She remembers the days when they would only make $10 in sales. However, their business has grown from a small pretzel stand into a lunchtime cafe with plenty of pretzel options.

After the birth of her second child, Heather, she started on a new concept, Sarah Davis Ltd., a womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s retail store.

The Kings have four children, Josh, 21; Heather, 18; Mariah, 14; and Jaimeson, 13.

Joanna raised her kids, staying at home. As the companies grew, her husband began working full time in Shipshewana every day, and now that their children are older, she joins him daily.

She encourages people to continue to learn every day. Innovating the way they do business is important for King. She recognizes the need to incorporate social media into the retail stores, as well as always looking for what the customer needs and wants.

And as she and her husband work together each day, they both bring something important to make it work as a team. His strength is in the details. She is the dreamer â&#x20AC;&#x201C; artistic and creative. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I work with Levi every day. It has had more benefits that anything thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been negative. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been wonderful together,â&#x20AC;? King said.

Though King did not go to college, she values education, and considers the â&#x20AC;&#x153;desire to learnâ&#x20AC;? vital. She serves as board president of Middlebury Community Schools in Elkhart County, where their children attend.

The Kings live in Middlebury, but work in Shipshewana. While their businesses are geared toward the tourism industry, they also work to bring events and festivals to the local community. One such event is the Shipshewana Ice Festival in the winter. She and her husband both serve on the committee.

While King loves being self-employed, she encourages anyone to follow his or her passion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With passion you can be successful,â&#x20AC;? says King. She urges others to find what they are passionate about and keep the course.

OCTAVIA LEHMAN

Joanna King sits at a booth at JoJoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pretzels, which she and husband, Levi, own.

Besides JoJoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, the Kings own two retail stores and a coffee shop. Joanna also serves as president of the Middlebury Community School Board.

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October 23, 2012

EmpowHer

5

Kendallville businesswoman keeps busy

BY DENNIS NARTKER

dennisn@kpcnews.net KENDALLVILLE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kathy Molargik has owned and operated her own business for 32 years. She has traveled around the country and overseas as a national and international educator with Zotos International and Conair Inc. She started flying a plane at age 14, and obtained her pilotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license at 17, the second female at the time to earn a pilotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s license from Kendallville Flying Service.

Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s president of the Kendallville Aviation Board of Commissioners, a member of the ACD Festival committee and 99â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pilot Association and helped plan and organize the Duesenberg and Cord events at the Kendallville Airport. She is currently planning the 2015 Duesenberg exhibition of speed at the airport.

Molargik is the mother of two grown daughters and grandmother to three granddaughters. She lost her husband Rick four years ago.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I like to keep busy,â&#x20AC;? she said recently while talking about her schedule.

Molargik owns and operates the New Image hair salon in Kendallville. The salon has been located at 108 W. Mitchell St. since 1985. Prior to that the salon was in a building on her in-lawsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Dowling Street property. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Business picked up, and I needed more space,â&#x20AC;? she said.

How has she maintained a successful business for so long in a highly competitive trade like styling hair? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I love what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m doing, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m always eager to learn something new.â&#x20AC;?

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the key to operating a successful business, she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to like what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing, and offer a service people want.â&#x20AC;?

The Kendallville native and East Noble graduate learned early in her life she liked to style hair. She acquired a license, became a cosmetologist and worked for nine years in Fort Wayne building up a clientele before returning to Kendallville to open her own hair salon. She didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t

stop with a high school diploma and a cosmetologist license. Molargik kept pursuing ways to learn more about her profession.

She joined a national hair design team and taught and judged national and international competitions in every major city in the U.S. She taught classes in hair design in Milan, Paris, London, Tokyo, Hawaii and the Bahamas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are more than 114,000 cosmetologists in Indiana.

There are only two of us national and international board certified,â&#x20AC;? she said.

She knows a lot of famous people in the business through her travels and contacts. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In this business, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to keep up with stuff. Styles change often, and you have to keep up with the trends,â&#x20AC;? she said, referring to education as another key to business success. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to be willing to travel, go where you can learn more. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just be content to doing hair behind the chair. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got to get out to build your clientele.â&#x20AC;?

DENNIS NARTKER

Kathy Molargik has owned and operated a successful hair salon in Kendallville for 32 years.

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October 23, 2012

Health screenings help find medical issues

BY MATT GETTS

You grow businesses, increase revenues and enrich communities.

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mattg@kpcnews.net Cervical cancer. Breast cancer. Diabetes.

When it comes to the right age for the right disease screening, the most important factor may be regular checkups, according to one area physician.

With experts in different medical fields having differing, and sometimes changing, rules of thought on when women should receive certain tests, the only rule of thumb may be there are no rules. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It really is a patient-by-patient decision depending on risk factors,â&#x20AC;? said Dr. Lilly Bontrager, a physician with Parkview Physicians Group in Kendallville. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no hard, fast rule.â&#x20AC;?

Only by knowing a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health history and risk factors can a physician determine what kind of testing is needed, and when it should be done.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health recommends these screenings: â&#x20AC;˘ blood pressure. For women 18 and older, get tested at least every two years if your blood pressure is lower than 120/80. If your blood pressure is higher, consult your physician.

We can help you make informed decisions about your ďŹ nancial goals.

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â&#x20AC;˘ bone marrow density test. For women 50-64, check with your doctor or nurse to determine if you are at risk for osteoporosis.

For women 65 and older, get this test at least once, then talk to your doctor or nurse about repeat testing. â&#x20AC;˘ breast cancer screening (mammogram).

For women 40-49, check with your doctor or nurse to determine if you need a mammogram. For women 50-74, get screened every two years. For women 75 and older, ask your doctor or nurse if you need to be screened. â&#x20AC;˘ cervical cancer screening. For women 21-64, get a Pap test every three years. For women 65 and older, discuss the need for the test with your doctor or nurse. â&#x20AC;˘ cholesterol test. Starting at age 20, all women should get their cholesterol tested regularly if they are at increased risk for heart disease.

SCREENING TESTS

FOR

â&#x20AC;˘ colorectal cancer screening. For women 50-74, talk with your doctor or nurse to determine what testing is needed and how often it is needed. For women 75 and older, consult with your health care provider to determine need and frequency. â&#x20AC;˘ diabetes screening. For women 18 and older, get screened if your blood pressure is higher than 135/80 or if you take medicine for high blood pressure.

According to the website womenshealth.gov, the screening guidelines listed here are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The task force is a group of nonfederal experts in prevention that bases its recommendations on evidence. The task force is made up of primary care providers (such as internists, pediatricians, family physicians, gynecologists/obstetricians, nurses and health behavior specialists).

WOMEN

Check the guidelines listed here to find out about important screening tests for women. These guidelines are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Your doctor or nurse will personalize the timing of the screening tests you need based on many factors. Ask your doctor or nurse if you don't understand why a certain test is recommended for you. Check with your insurance plan to find out which tests are covered.

Screening tests

18-39

40-49

50-64

65 and older

Blood pressure test

Get tested at least every 2 years if you have normal blood pressure (lower than 120/80).

Get tested at least every 2 years if you have normal blood pressure (lower than 120/80).

Get tested at least every 2 years if you have normal blood pressure (lower than 120/80).

Get tested at least every 2 years if you have normal blood pressure (lower than 120/80).

Get tested once a year if you have blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89.

Get tested once a year if you have blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89.

Get tested once a year if you have blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89.

Get tested once a year if you have blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89.

Discuss treatment with your doctor or nurse if you have blood pressure 140/90 or higher.

Discuss treatment with your doctor or nurse if you have blood pressure 140/90 or higher.

Discuss treatment with your doctor or nurse if you have blood pressure 140/90 or higher.

Discuss treatment with your doctor or nurse if you have blood pressure 140/90 or higher.

Discuss with your doctor or nurse if you are at risk of osteoporosis.

Get this test at least once at age 65 or older.

Starting at age 50, get screened every 2 years.

Get screened every 2 years through age 74.

Bone mineral density test (osteoporosis screening)

Breast cancer screening (mammogram)

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Age 75 and older, ask your doctor or nurse if you need to be screened.

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Cervical cancer screening (Pap test)*

Get a Pap test every 3 years if you are 21 or older, have had vaginal sex, and have a cervix.

Get a Pap test every 3 years if you have had vaginal sex, and have a cervix.

Get a Pap test every 3 years if you have had vaginal sex, and have a cervix.

Ask your doctor or nurse if you need to get a Pap test.

Chlamydia test

Get tested for chlamydia yearly through age 24 if you are sexually active or pregnant.

Get tested for chlamydia if you are sexually active and at increased risk, pregnant or not pregnant.

Get tested for chlamydia if you are sexually active and at increased risk.

Get tested for chlamydia if you are sexually active and at increased risk.

Starting at age 20, get a cholesterol test regularly if you are at increased risk for heart disease.

Get a cholesterol test regularly if you are at increased risk for heart disease.

Get a cholesterol test regularly if you are at increased risk for heart disease.

Get a cholesterol test regularly if you are at increased risk for heart disease.

Ask your doctor or nurse how often you need your cholesterol tested.

Ask your doctor or nurse how often you need your cholesterol tested.

Ask your doctor or nurse how often you need your cholesterol tested.

Ask your doctor or nurse how often you need your cholesterol tested.

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Age 25 and older, get tested for chlamydia if you are at increased risk, pregnant or not pregnant.

Cholesterol test

* Final U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines on cervical cancer screening can be found at www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/ uspstf/uspscerv.htm

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October 23, 2012

Auburn woman spends time helping others

BY AARON ORGAN

aorgan@kpcnews.net AUBURN â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Ana Boman juggles so many humanitarian hats, her free time is actually spent, well, volunteering.

On top of her full-time gig as an English as a second language professor at Trine University, Boman serves as a leader of the regional PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Rotary Club, the president of the Boman Auburn Business and Professional Club Scholarship Club and a founder of the local HOPE mentors group.

The seconds she has to take a breath are spent inside the DeKalb County court system, serving as an interpreter as needed.

Boman, 49, chuckles at the idea of spare time, and even if it existed, sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d find a way to help others to fill it.

The problem is, Boman canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn down requests for help. And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a problem at all. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My husband jokes that if somebody offers me an opportunity to help or assist people, I usually wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t turn it down, I go for it,â&#x20AC;? said Boman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m usually very busy and sometimes I get overwhelmed, but I try to do my best.â&#x20AC;?

And those in need benefit.

Born in Mexico City, Boman was raised an only child by a single mother, and it was in that upbringing and at a young age that Boman says the selfless drive to help others was instilled in her. She said growing up

surrounded by poverty, Bomanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother would take her around the neighborhood looking for those in need to help, and that humanitarian attitude bled into Boman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She was always trying to help people,â&#x20AC;?

Boman said of her mother, who passed away 11 years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had poverty around us, and she was always willing to work and get her friends to work for poor people. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been involved in helping people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not in the formal way that I do now with organizations or service clubs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all my life, though it was more like a one-on-one with families or try to help people that we thought were in need back then in Mexico.â&#x20AC;?

It was in Mexico where Boman met her husband, Auburn native Tadd, who had been studying at a university in Mexico City. The pair bounced from Washington, D.C., to New York City before Tadd urged Boman to move to Auburn 17 years ago.

With roots set, Boman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and certainly Tadd, for Boman said without his support she would never be able to help on such a scale â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has been serving ever since. The pair will be married 25 years this year, and have been a tag-team as they work to aid the world.

And their projects are just that largescale.

Within her Rotary Club, Boman instituted a fundraising effort several years ago to see a portable water tank installed in a rural Mexican city, where drinkable water is highly scarce. The Auburn and Fort Wayne clubs together worked to realize that goal.

But it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t finished.

In the years that followed, Boman has recruited 16 other Rotary Clubs in the

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Ana Boman works at a Rotary Water Tank humanitarian project in a rural community in Central Mexico.

regional, which collectively have provided 48 portable water tanks to 48 different communities in rural Mexico. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It started as a very small, very humble project with one water tank and now we were able to get 18 clubs motivated to participate,â&#x20AC;? Boman explained.

Now, the clubs are working on instilling mission trips to the regions to continue assistance. Boman, naturally, will serve as an interpreter.

Boman has a passion for her work that is overtly inspiring. She said the work that she does pumps her adrenaline, and listening to

her talk about the projects she has done and is doing leaves a lasting impression.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how she sells the organizations sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s involved with to potential recruits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I talk about about the projects we do, I get very excited when I talk about the important things,â&#x20AC;? said Boman. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is my sales pitch. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very passionate about what I do and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think I would be doing any of what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m doing if I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a passion.

Passion is my drive.â&#x20AC;?

See HELPING OTHERS page 9

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October 23, 2012

EmpowHer

9

Many ways for women to stay healthy

BY PATRICK REDMOND

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Ana Boman assists in a Rotary Dental Mission project in central Mexico with Heidi Ramer from the Kendallville Rotary Club.

HELPING OTHERS From page 8

The chronic helper said passion should be a guiding light for any young person who may be searching for a place to help.

Working to learn where that passion lies can be done by simply looking around the community for those in need, whether it be helping a neighbor with their trash or donating a canned good at a school drive.

Every little bit matters, Boman said.

“Try to go out of your realm and try to find somebody you could help,” Boman said. “It could be in any sort of way. Of course it doesn’t have to be monetary. I don’t have the money to give to these organizations. It would be nice. If I had the money I could donate the money. What I do is I donate my time, and that is sometimes more valuable than all the money in the world. Just, any kind of help, helps.”

predmond@kpcnews.net LAGRANGE — It’s not always easy for a woman trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle to stay on track, but several local health and fitness expects say it’s not impossible.

Almost all experts agree the first place to start on a path to good health is a visit to a doctor for a wellness check-up.

“It’s the best way to start,” said Ann Baker, clinical director for Women’s Health Advantage, Auburn.

Baker’s organization provides a wide range of health services for women. She said some of the biggest issues facing women include breast cancer, controlling cholesterol levels, stopping smoking and maintaining good cardio and bone health.

“As we age, our bone density decreases, so we also focus on maintaining bone health,” Baker said.

Maintaining bone density can be positively impacted by exercise like lifting weights, and Ryan Ferguson, lead health and wellness coordinator for the Cole Center Family YMCA, said it’s a good reason to start exercising.

“Exercise shouldn’t be so much about weight control as much as it is about your overall health,” he said. “Talk to a trainer when you start. You won’t be getting the most out of exercise if you’re not doing it the right way.”

A healthy lifestyle requires more than just regular medical visits and jogging.

Angola’s Cameron Hospital rehabilitation

director Joell Stuckey believes if you’re going to maintain a healthy lifestyle, you have to find reasons other than just looking good.

“You have to find something to motivate you with a deeper meaning than just your appearance,” said Stuckey.

She said maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires a lot of focus, and the ability to incorporate positive, realistic steps each day.

“It’s not just about diet and exercise,” Stuckey explained.

She said part of being healthy includes making sure you reduce as many negative influences in your life as possible.

“Instead of just plopping down in front of the television, plan healthy activities like fun exercises, and focus on making that a priority,” Stuckey said.

She added a good way to stay on track is to find people to support you when struggling to maintain your healthy lifestyle. That includes surrounding yourself with a network of friends and coworkers who understand good health and can help you stay on track.

A big part of being healthy includes focusing on eating healthy.

“It’s not that hard to make healthy choices if that is your focus,” Stuckey said. “Eat an apple instead of drinking apple juice. The apple has fiber and more nutrients.”

Parkview Hospital’s community outreach dietician Kathy Wehrle said changing the way you eat can also lower

your risk of getting certain diseases, including high blood pressure and diabetes. A big part of being healthy is eating healthy, she explained. Wehrle suggests a diet that includes whole foods, fruits and vegetables, making smart decisions about proteins and limiting sweets.

“Our taste buds have been conditioned to love sweet foods and drinks,” Wehrle explained.

She said a lot of good resources about healthy eating are available online from Parkview. She added that a healthy lifestyle can be as simple as making good choices.

“Sit down and talk to your family about making healthy choices,” Wehrle said.

“Slow down, turn off the video games.

Just make a few solid changes in your life to be healthy and don’t give up. Eat out less, pack your lunch, plan a physical act that’s fun. Take a bike ride, take a walk in the woods … just do something together as family that’s healthy.”

But Wehrle said the demands of life and family can make those kinds of changes harder to achieve for some women.

“Women tend to run on empty, because they tend to be the caregivers for everyone else in the family,” Wehrle explained.

“Sometimes, making a healthy meal might be on the bottom of the list. Just remember sticking with your plan is a big thing. You’ll always have highs and lows.

Just keep your eyes on the prize.”

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October 23, 2012

Payton passionate about helping RISE

BY AMY OBERLIN

amyo@kpcnews.net ANGOLA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Denise Payton is passionate about serving the disabled workers of Steuben and DeKalb counties. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My career has given me the opportunity to be passionate for the work I do and to fight hard for the people we serve,â&#x20AC;? said Payton.

The executive director of RISE Inc., Paytonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to attract customers for items made in the RISE workshop and services to help disabled residents of the two counties better themselves.

RISE currently serves around 250 people.

Payton said 36 new clients have joined since the beginning of 2012, sparking an increase in services. There are plans to add onto the facility at 1600 Wohlert St. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are adding more programs and services that focus on the personal and professional growth of all individuals with disabilities,â&#x20AC;? said Payton. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are attracting new consumers every day who are seeking out RISE to be their provider.â&#x20AC;?

The facility provides packaging and parts assembly for around 25 local businesses,

comprising around 200 individual duties. This year, RISE was able to purchase a box truck so it can offer pickup and delivery. It has also added 10 new employees over the past year, taking staffing to a high point.

Community support is key to RISEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success, said Payton, who serves on the board of directors for the Angola Area Chamber of Commerce and DeKalb County United Way. She also participates on Day of Caring committees for Steuben and DeKalb counties.

A Toledo, Ohio, native, Payton vacationed at a cottage on Jimmerson Lake in Steuben County. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was the youngest of 10 children, and my parents were semi-retired from their business,â&#x20AC;? said Payton. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We spent all of our summers at the lake and anytime that I was not in school. When my children were born, I moved back to the lake area and have been here for 29 years.â&#x20AC;?

She remembers being a young mother, financially struggling. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After my divorce, I knew that it was up to me to make sure my children were taken care of,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I vowed that I would be

successful, so my kids would never go hungry or without a roof over their heads. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have experienced the loss of two children but instead of giving up, I fought harder to succeed for my other kids,â&#x20AC;? said Payton, the mother of two daughters, 29 and 15, and a son, 25, and grandmother to three.

Within 10 years, she earned an associate degree in business from Tri-State University, got a job in management and built a home. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am a firm believer that anything is possible with hard work, determination and the great power of prayer.â&#x20AC;?

She admitted that sometimes it takes more perseverance to be a woman in the workplace.

Her focus has been on team building and hard work. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My greatest tip for any person looking to succeed is to work harder than what you expect from others,â&#x20AC;? she said.

When she became executive director 10 years ago, she replaced one of the founders of RISE, the late Joyce Hevel, who served as executive director for 42 years. They were big shoes to fill, and Payton said she is proud to help RISE continue to grow.

AMY OBERLIN

Executive director Denise Payton sits at her desk in the RISE Inc. offices in Angola. RISE serves disabled workers in Steuben and DeKalb counties.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have learned a great deal working at RISE. They are always at work, never call in sick, and greet you with a smile and a good morning every day,â&#x20AC;? Payton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The clients here have taught me that no matter what struggle you feel you might be facing, there is always a silver lining.â&#x20AC;?

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EmpowHer

11

Women can reduce their cancer risk FROM STAFF REPORTS There are many ways for women to reduce their risk of getting cancer, as well as detect cancer early, according to the American Cancer Society.

Its website, cancer.org, has some good tips and tools, although nothing is a substitute for seeing a medical professional to discuss your cancer risk.

The American Cancer Society suggests that people concentrate on nutrition and physical activity. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity exercise every week. People should also limit sedentary behavior such as sitting, lying down and watching TV. Eat a healthy diet with an emphasis on plant foods. Limit processed meat and red meat, eat at least 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and fruits each day and choose whole grains.

If you drink alcohol, limit your intake to no more than one drink per day.

People should also stay away from tobacco to reduce cancer risk. Lung cancer,

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often caused by smoking, is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women. There will be an estimated 72,590 women who will die from lung cancer in 2012, with an estimated 109,690 new diagnoses of lung cancer for women. Smokeless tobacco, meanwhile, causes cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus and pancreas. It is not a safe alternative to smoking.

Protecting yourself from the sun is also important to reduce cancer risk. To protect yourself from UV rays, which can cause skin cancer, the American Cancer Society suggests putting on more clothing, wearing sunscreen and a hat, seeking shade and avoiding tanning beds and sunlamps.

Finding cancer early is also important for womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health. Here are some cancers that commonly affect women and ways to detect them.

Breast cancer Signs and symptoms: a new lump or mass, especially one that is painless, hard

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and has irregular edges; swelling of all or part of a breast; skin irritation or dimpling; breast or nipple pain; nipple retraction (turning inward); redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin; a nipple discharge other than breast milk.

Early detection: A mammogram, or X-ray of the breast; magnetic resonance imaging; clinical breast exam by a doctor, nurse practitioner, nurse or physicianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s assistant; breast self-exam.

Cervical cancer Signs and symptoms: There are usually no symptoms until the cancer has become invasive and grown into nearby tissue. When this happens, the symptoms include abnormal vaginal bleeding, an unusual discharge from the vagina and pain during sex.

Early detection: Pap test, which women should begin having by age 21; HPV testing.

Colorectal cancer Signs and symptoms: a change in bowel

habits, such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool; the feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so; rectal bleeding, dark stools or blood in the stool; cramping or abdominal pain; weakness and fatigue; unintended weight loss.

Early detection: flexible sigmoidoscopy, where a lighted tube that is used to examine the rectum and colon; colonoscopy, where a scope is used to examine the entire length of the colon; double contrast barium enema, which is an X-ray type test; CT colonography, when a computer scan is used to produce images of the colon; and other additional stool tests.

Skin cancer Signs and symptoms: abnormal areas in the skin, including growths, spots, bumps, patches or sores that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t heal after several weeks.

Early detection: Check your skin at least once a month for irregular spots, and your doctor should do the same.

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October 23, 2012

Pastor balances work, marriage, motherhood

BY JENNY KOBIELA-MONDOR

jennyk@kpcnews.net AUBURN — The Rev. Allison Yankey is a busy woman.

The 28-year-old Pastor of Administration at First United Methodist Church in Auburn not only preaches, leads small groups and organizes ministries at the church, but she’s a wife and mother, too.

She’s married to Josh, a math teacher at DeKalb’s New Tech High School, and they have two children — Calleigh, who will turn 3 in November, and Mackenna, who is 11 months old.

Yankey decided she wanted to be a pastor in 2000, during a worship service.

“God called me,” she said. “I just felt God saying to me through myself that I wanted to spend the rest of my life telling others about Christ.”

She graduated from Northrop High School in 2002 and attended Indiana Weslyan University in Marion, where she met her husband. She graduated in 2006 — the same year she and Josh were married — and was hired by Auburn First United Methodist Church in 2008. Calleigh arrived in 2009, and she received her degree from Ashland Theological Seminary in 2010.

The family welcomed Mackenna in 2011.

Yankey has had to be intentional about balancing her busy work schedule with her home life. She said that she and Josh always try to reserve one night of the week as family time at home — usually Thursday. It’s about creating a space and time that is just for them.

“We’re not always successful, but we do try very hard to keep that Thursday night,” she said.

The family also spends a lot of time at

Gender has caused challenges for female pastor

BY JENNY KOBIELA-MONDOR

jennyk@kpcnews.net AUBURN — The Rev. Allison Yankey of Auburn First United Methodist Church has experienced a few challenges due to her gender.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The Rev. Allison Yankey of Auburn poses with her husband, Josh, and children, 2year-old Calleigh, right, and 11-month-old Mackenna.

the church together.

“Outside of my 8-to-5 hours, if I’m at church, my family is with me,” she said.

The Yankeys also strive to be a good example of a Christian family, Yankey explained.

“It’s the idea that my family is more important than my job, and that I cannot neglect my family so that I can have a better reputation or a better status,” she said. “I’m always aware of how I’m spending my time.”

Open communication between herself and her husband is also a key to keeping a good balance.

“Whatever needs to be done, one of us will do,” she said, adding that the philosophy was something they decided on during premarital counseling. “Josh is a

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supportive husband and father. He loves me and his kids, so he’s willing to do whatever’s necessary.”

The couple don’t worry much about gender roles in their family, she added.

“If I’m tired, he’ll put them to bed, and vice versa,” she said. “Neither of us holds a really traditional role. It’s just never been a question of ‘that’s a woman’s job, that’s a man’s job.’”

Despite the challenges, Yankey is happy with her life.

“I love my job, and I love the people that I work with and the people that I serve in our congregation and community. I wouldn’t trade it for anybody,” she said. “I admire moms who stay home, but it isn’t for me. I’m able to be a better mom because of my job.”

Although the United Methodist Church has allowed ordination of women since its creation in 1968 — and some of the groups that became part of the United Methodist Church started ordaining women decades before — there are still some people who are uncomfortable with the notion of female clergy.

“I’ve served in churches that wrestled with having female pastors,” she said.

Yankey said she didn’t have a lot of examples of women as pastors growing up, but she never personally doubted that she was meant for ministry.

“I’ve always had a really supportive family that’s always supported me and never held me back,” she said.

Yankey doesn’t spend time defending herself to people who might not like having a female pastor, she added.

“God’s going to use me as He desires,” she said. “My job is to respond to God’s calling in my life, and God is responsible for the results.”

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October 23, 2012

EmpowHer

13

Going back to college tough, but worth it

BY KATHRYN BASSETT

kathrynb@kpcnews.net For Marita Dwight-Smith, the hardest part of returning to school was walking into Trine University and asking for information on going back into the classroom.

Dwight-Smith is the director of quality and director of Breast Diagnostic Center at FWRadiology. She also is a wife, mother and student at Trine University’s School of Professional Studies where she is pursuing a degree in applied management.

“They just scoop you right up and take care of you,” Dwight-Smith said of Trine.

Dwight-Smith originally is from the Oliver Lake area and now resides in Fort Wayne with her husband, Todd Smith, and 7-year-old daughter, Karsten.

“We’re a very busy family,” she said.

Before her marriage, Dwight-Smith spent 11 years in Texas, where she received her degree in radiologic technology.

“I worked for a hospital and got very active with mammography,” she said. “I was very drawn and compassionate toward breast cancer and ended up specializing.”

Dwight-Smith moved back to Indiana to be closer to her family. After marrying and having a child, Dwight-Smith worked parttime. She joined FWRadiology as director of quality when her daughter entered preschool.

In a director’s position, Dwight-Smith said, she found herself sitting in board room meetings with highly qualified individuals.

“I was starting to feel inadequate,“ she admitted. “I had years of experience under my belt, but in this day and age, you feel it’s almost a necessity to have a management degree.”

Dwight-Smith said she had been consid-

KATHRYN BASSETT

Marita Dwight-Smith sits at her desk at FWRadiology. She is a Trine University student.

ering going back to school for a number of years, but did not want to be in a situation that would disrupt her family life.

She talked to two friends — one who had graduated from Trine and another who was a student at the university. They both emphasized how the university was flexible with classes and schedules and spoke highly of Trine’s Fort Wayne campus director Cherie Ditto.

“The hardest part was making that drive down there and knowing that if I got out of the car, this could be real,” Dwight-Smith said. “They (Trine) put me a such ease. I had the feeling that Trine sincerely cared about the success of its students.

Dwight-Smith’s decision to return to school was meet with the full support of her

husband and her employer, she said.

Dwight-Smith was able to take advantage of FWRadiology’s generous tuition reimbursement benefit. She acknowledged that not everyone is going to be in such a fortunate position to receive tuition reimbursement, but noted that Trine is dedicated to helping students receive financial aid.

“Financial aid was very, very, very easy to obtain. If someone’s concern is ‘Can I afford this?’ There is financial assistance and loans,” Dwight-Smith added.

Trine also accepted Dwight-Smith’s college credits she already had earned, allowing her to enter the program as a junior.

She started at Trine in February, taking

two classes a week that ran from 6-10 p.m.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “Everything was going exactly as planned. The eight weeks of that term flew by.”

It was just two weeks into the second term when Dwight-Smith’s plans were sidelined.

Her brother suffered a major stroke and Dwight-Smith felt the need to be there for him, her mother and sister-in-law.

“My world was turned upside down,” she said. “I was so torn. It got really rough for a while.”

Continuing with classes still was important to Dwight-Smith so she approached campus director Ditto and told her she did not want to drop out, but was struggling.

With Trine’s approval, Dwight-Smith dropped one class, easing the burden.

“They worked with me like you wouldn’t believe. They completely understood. I was so touched by that,” she said.

Now things have stabilized and DwightSmith hopes to resume two classes at the beginning of next year.

“That’s the beauty of it. I love having the flexibility,” she said.

Dwight-Smith said a few changes in her routine has made it possible for her to fulfill her role as a wife and mother, a career professional and a student.

“I’ve found a routine that works for myself. I look at going back to school as my new hobby.” Dwight-Smith said. “I just hope that women would know that doing something like this for themselves is one of the best things that they can do for their family. Karsten is seeing me studying and going back to school and learning very early that education is important at any age.”

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October 23, 2012

Peggy Daniels doing a superior job at Ligonier factory

BY BOB BUTTGEN

bbbuttgen@kpcnews.net LIGONIER â&#x20AC;&#x201D; There are dozens of factories in the Ligonier Industrial Park, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s probably only one that has a dynamic and effective woman sitting in the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office.

Peggy Daniels is president of Superior Sample, a company that produces, among other things, carpet sample books that are shipped all across the United States.

Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been on the job at Superior Sample for the past 36 years, and through hard work, dedication to the company and a savvy business sense, has earned her presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s title. Her success at the manufacturer has been so proficient that she also is now part owner of the thriving enterprise.

She started working there part time while attending high school and went full time in 1976. In 2006, Daniels and Nancy Hagen purchased Superior Sample from its

founder, Rex Hagen, who is Nancyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father.

Daniels keeps a close eye on all facets of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business and its 40 employees. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in charge of all of the firmâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s financials, and oversees and supports the work of every employee at the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facility on Gerber Street.

Daniels has helped her company expand its product lines and greatly increase its customer base over the past decades.

Superior Sample also produces swatch cards for fabrics, apparel, leather and vinyl products, as well as wall covering samples.

She also helped oversee a recent expansion of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offerings to include its Bloominâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Products line. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a line of designer aprons and other items targeted for use in the home or as a clothing accessory. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The support I have from my employees and helping them when I can is very rewarding,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am also rewarded See DANIELS page 15

BOB BUTTGEN

Peggy Daniels, left, is president of Superior Sample, a Ligonier manufacturer of carpet-sample books that are shipped all across the country. She also is a past president of the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce, and is shown receiving the chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presidents award from Suzanne Kistler, a member of the chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of directors.

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October 23, 2012

DANIELS

EmpowHer

15

Heart disease a killer for women

From page 14

by all of the people that come into my life from the connections I have through the business.â&#x20AC;?

Daniels, 57, grew up on a farm outside of Wolf Lake and graduated from West Noble High School. She attended Purdue University for two years before entering the workforce full time.

Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an active member of the Ligonier business community, as well as many outside groups and interests, ranging from the Ligonier Chamber of Commerce to Ligonier United Methodist Church.

Daniels is a past president of the local chamber and commerce and has helped that organization maintain an active and growing presence in the West Noble area.

In the past few years she has taken a leadership role in the chamberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Showcase Ligonier event.

At her church, she has served on various councils and committees, and helps oversee some of the many activities held in The CrossWalk facility on Townline Road.

Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a member of the Ligonier Rotary, along with the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, a community service organization.

Her advice to young women interested in pursuing a career in management? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Find something you love, get a mentor and support people, keep an open mind and never stop learning,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Her job is demanding, especially in a competitive field and during the recent economic recession.

The hardest part of her job, she said, is dealing with financial struggles in a hard economy and trying to keep both her employees and Superior Sampleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s many customers happy.

There are rewards, though. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seeing everyone come together and providing our customers a great product to promote their business is rewarding in itself. Plus, I get to be around a great group of people every day at work.â&#x20AC;?

Peggy and her husband, Darryl Daniels, live near Lake Wawasee.

FROM STAFF REPORTS More women die of cardiovascular disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer, according to the American Heart Association.

The two most common and deadly cardiovascular problems that women face are heart attacks and strokes. It is important to know what these are, the warning signs and what to do.

Heart attacks What is it? A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the blood flow completely, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins to die.

What are the symptoms? Heart attack victims may feel uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back; pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach; and shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort. Sometimes people suffering a heart attack also break into a cold sweat, feel nauseated or feel lightheaded. As with men, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to

experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting and back or jaw pain.

What should you do? If you have some or all of these symptoms, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait more than 5 minutes before seeking help. Call 911.

Strokes What is it? Stroke and TIA (transient ischemic attack) happen when a blood vessel feeding the brain gets clogged or bursts. The signs of a TIA are like a stroke, but usually last only a few minutes.

What are the symptoms? Symptoms are sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no known cause. Not all of these warning signs occur in every stroke.

What should you do? Take immediate action, and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait more than 5 minutes to call for help. If given within three hours of the first symptoms, a clot-busting drug can reduce long-term disability for the most common type of stroke.

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EmpowHer

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October 23, 2012

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