chrismelka, Author at Business RadioX ® Page

Transformational Women Highlights Pat Falotico, Georgia Executive for IBM

February 2, 2012 by chrismelka

We sat down this afternoon to talk with Pat Falotico, VP at IBM. Hear her talk about what she has learned about being successful in her career and the importance of asking for what you want.

Pat Falotico is Vice President, Global Sales Center Transformation for IBM. She has spent 26 years with IBM, leading on a broad range of projects, including technical sales, sales management, service business development, software distribution, marketing and development of business partner relationships on the local, regional, national and international level. She also serves as IBM’s Senior State Executive for Georgia and Senior Location Executive for Atlanta, providing leadership for IBM in the community and across the state, linking our Corporate Citizenship and Spirit activities with strategic IBM initiatives, and leveraging the resources of IBM to achieve strategic business goals

In her current role as Vice President of Sales Center Transformation, Pat is leading a number of optimization projects to improve deployment and productivity of IBM’s 3500 person inside salesforce worldwide. Prior to her current position, Pat has led large field and inside sales organizations focused on the Small & Medium Business (SMB) Marketplace at regional and national levels. Pat is the Board Chair for Communities in Schools (CIS) of Georgia; the local affiliate of a leading national organization focused on increasing student graduation rates. As a graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2007, Pat is now an active member of the alumni and board member and served as the Program Chair for the Class of 2010. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of Metro Atlanta.

Pat holds a B.S. in math and computer science from Manhattan College. Originally from New York, Pat now lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband and two children.

Transformational Women Highlights Shan Cooper, VP Lockheed Martin

January 30, 2012 by chrismelka

How do you engage a workforce of 8,000 employees? How do you keep your own career going while at the same time groom leaders across your organization? What do C-suite leaders look for when they decide who to sponsor? Listen to Shan Cooper, Vice President and General Manager at Lockheed Martin share her insights.

Shan Cooper is Vice President of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and General Manager of the company’s Marietta, Ga., facility. She is also in charge of the company’s subassembly sites in Meridian, Miss., and Clarksburg, W.Va. She was named to her current position in January 2011. As General Manager, she is responsible for the more than 8,000-employee Marietta operation, which designs, produces, modifies and maintains military aircraft for the United States and air arms of nations around the world. Marietta programs include the C-130J Super Hercules, F-22 Raptor, P-3 Orion, C-5M Super Galaxy and F-35 Lightning II.

Mrs. Cooper previously served as Vice President of Human Resources for Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS), based in Gaithersburg, Md. An experienced operational leader, she was responsible for all aspects of the Human Resources function for 36,000 employees based in 48 U.S. states and 64 countries. Before moving to IS&GS, Mrs. Cooper was Vice President and Deputy of Human Resources for Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company with responsibility for Human Resources operations and site security for more than 27,000 employees across the country. At the same time, she served as Human Resources Site Lead for the Marietta, Meridian and Clarksburg sites.

She joined Lockheed Martin in 2002 as Senior Manager, Diversity Workforce Management. While at corporate headquarters, she progressed through positions of increasing responsibility before being named Vice President, Diversity and Equal Opportunity Programs in 2004. Before joining Lockheed Martin, Mrs. Cooper held leadership positions with Lucent Technologies and consulted with various other Fortune 500 companies. She has received several national honors, including the Women of Color in Technology Corporate Responsibility Award and the YWCA Tribute to Women of Achievement. She was named to Diversity MBA Magazine’s 2009 Top 100 Under 50 Executives and one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Most Influential Georgians in 2012.

Mrs. Cooper is on the board of Boy Scouts of America Atlanta Area Council, the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Military Affairs Coordinating Committee. She also is a member of The Executive Leadership Council and the Marietta Kiwanis Club. She sits on the Board of Trustees for the Woodruff Arts Center and the WellStar Foundation, both in Atlanta.

She holds an MBA from the Roberto C. Goizueta Business School at Emory University and is a graduate of the Rutgers Global Executive Masters in Human Resource Leadership Program.

Transformational Women Highlights Stephanie Nelson, Founder CouponMom.Com

January 17, 2012 by chrismelka

How do you get from teaching 20 women in your living room about saving money with coupons to teaching 5.8million moms? Hear the fascinating story of grass roots entrepreneurship, pursuing purpose, and getting on Oprah from Stephanie Nelson, Founder CouponMom.Com. Learn from her about the hard-earned and learned principles of what it takes to pursue your dream. Her story is a live example of what entrepreneurship really is: “the pursuit of opportunity regardless of resources”.

Since 2004 Stephanie has appeared frequently on television and radio teaching savings tips, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS Early Show, NBC Nightly News, Fox Business, The Doctors, The View, Dr. Oz, The 700 Club, The Mike and Juliet Show, and CNN.

Over 5.8 million members belong to her free grocery deals website www.couponmom.com. Stephanie holds a degree in finance and has ten years of experience in sales and marketing with both Procter & Gamble and Marriott Hotels. In 1995 she retired from the corporate world to stay home with her sons. In 2001 she founded her free website www.couponmom.com committed to helping consumers save money and feed the hungry by increasing food donations to hunger organizations with the Cut Out Hunger program.

The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bill in Half, released in January 2010, became a New York Times Best Seller in its first month of publication. Websites, newspapers, and magazines across the country have featured Stephanie’s savings advice including USA Today, MSN.com, AARP, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, Guideposts, Parenting, Woman’s World, Quick & Simple, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Chicago Tribune, the Orange County-Register, the Seattle Times and the Denver Post.

Cut Out Hunger shoppers nationally have donated tons of food to hunger organizations in their communities. In 2004 the Coca Cola company honored the Cut Out Hunger program by selecting Stephanie to be a torch runner in their Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. Coca Cola selected participants for their “ability to inspire others and make a positive difference in people’s lives.” In 2003 the Dannon Company recognized the Cut Out Hunger program in their Families Feeding America contest. In 2002 North Fulton Community Charities named Stephanie one of their “Volunteers of the Year” for the food donations generated by the Cut Out Hunger

program.

Stephanie lives with her husband and two sons in Atlanta, Georgia.

Transformational Women Highlights Carol Godfrey, VP Marketing Southwire

January 9, 2012 by chrismelka

We sat down to talk with Carol Godfrey, VP Marketing and Product Development for Southwire, a privately held company who is a leader in the electrical wiring industry. In this interview, hear her talk about her personal brand of “Care Intensely”, and get her advice about what it takes to be an authentic leader in a technical and male-dominated industry.

Carol Godfrey is Vice President of Marketing and Product Development for Southwire’s Energy Division. In her current role, Carol is responsible for developing new product and service offerings including strategic partnerships, new product manufacturing, and acquisitions. Carol oversees a product management team, works closely with operations management during new manufacturing, develops strategies for merchandising, and engages with the internal and external sales agent through who bring all products to market. Carol is heavily involved with maintaining a presence for Southwire in the Power and Renewable Energy Industry and working to expand Southwire’s market share and mind share in North America.

Over the last 25 years she has held marketing, sales and manufacturing leadership positions including managing national and regional teams of direct sales and manufacturers sales representatives. Her marketing leadership includes oversight from full lines of commercial, construction and utility solutions to new product R&D and industry-leading innovation initiatives.

Carol has unique qualifications in that she has an extensive sales and marketing background coupled with a broad baseline of manufacturing experience and a degree in industrial engineering with an emphasis in statistics from Auburn University (BSIE ’86). She approaches complex challenges and engineering puzzles with common sense and pragmatism. She has worked for leading national organizations including Southwire Company, Hubbell Incorporated, Alcan Aluminum Corporation, Ralston Purina Company and Tampa Electric Company.

From her involvement in community through Southwire’s many outreach programs, to her other civic and non-profit endeavors, you’ll often find her demonstrating her personal sentiment of “Care Intensely”. A native of Louisville, KY, Carol and her husband, Gary Godfrey (Auburn BSIE ’86), live in Atlanta.

Transformational Women Highlights Linda Matzigkeit, SVP at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

December 20, 2011 by chrismelka

We sat down to talk with Linda Matzigkeit, Senior Vice President at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA), one of the largest pediatric healthcare systems in the US and also a recipient of Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work. Linda has been the architect of CHOA’s people and engagement strategies, so listen in on how she has helped to build and transform the culture and hear her own leadership lessons and tips.

Linda serves as Executive Leader for Human Resources, Strategy and Business Development, and Child Wellness. She is a frequent speaker on the topic of becoming an employer of choice and Wellness. She has completed two marathons, twenty half-marathons, multiple 10ks (including ten Peachtree Road Races), triathlons (including three Iron Girl events and the Chicago Triathlon), and trail runs. She balances work and life successfully by carefully prioritizing work, family, and self.

Her 3 tips for being a transformational leader (and she does each of these herself):

1) Set bold goals

2) Do what you’re passionate about

3) Never give up!

Transformational Women Highlights Ann Cramer, Director IBM Corporate Affairs for the Americas

November 30, 2011 by chrismelka

We sat down to talk with Ann Cramer, Director IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs for the Americas. Listen in to the interview to hear about how a transformational leader truly aligns the work they do with their core passion and purpose and get her tips on how to influence powerfully without direct authority.

Ann Wilson Cramer, a native of Jacksonville, Florida, graduated from Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with a degree in mathematics and serves on its board. She is with IBM Corporation as its Director for IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs for the Americas. Ann and her husband, Jeff, their two children, Megan and Wil, are all active at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, where Ann has served as Senior Warden of the Vestry. Ann started with IBM as a Systems Engineer in Jacksonville. After being “retired” from IBM for ten years, Ann returned to IBM in External Programs, now Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs.

Ann’s commitment to and involvement with children and youth has been a lifelong journey. Her current job with IBM allows her to continue her work with the improvement of conditions for families, because of IBM’s historic involvement with and investment in local communities.

IBM is committed to K-12 education, job training and employment, community and family services, literacy programs and support for the disabled and disadvantaged through its people and technology. IBM employees are considered its strongest philanthropic asset in its approach to improve the communities in which they live and work. IBM’s primary emphasis is focused on education reform, especially related to the powerful use of solutions including services, software and technology as tools for learning.

In support of IBM’s primary focus areas, Ann currently serves as chair of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education (GPEE), the Carter Center Board of Councilors, Atlanta Partners for Education and the Council on Foundations Public Policy Committee and is on the Council’s board and past chair of Communities in Schools-Georgia, and the Georgia Chamber’s Education Committee, Voices for Georgia’s Children, and is on the Executive Committee for the US Chamber’s Institute for Competitive Workforce and BCLC, the Conference Board’s Business and Education Council, Metro Atlanta Chamber Education Committee and Project GRAD Board. She serves on several non-profit organization boards including the Woodruff Arts Center, the Alliance Theatre Company, Georgia Shakespeare Festival, the Georgia Center for NonProfits, Public Broadcasting Atlanta (PBA), the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Georgia Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, UGA Board of Visitors, the Hands-on-Atlanta Advisory Board and the Atlanta Cities of Service board. And currently chairs the Advisory Councils for the Alliance Theatre and Imagine-It the Children’s Museum of Atlanta.

In 2009, Ann was the first to receive the “Essence of Atlanta” Award at the 41^st Anniversary of Outstanding Atlanta. She was recently honored with the Georgia Center for Non-Profits 2011 Revolution Legendary Philanthropist Award and named by Atlanta Woman Magazine as the Power Woman of the Year,”25 Atlantans to Watch,” inducted into the Business Hall of Fame and awarded Georgia’s 1^st Visionary Leadership Award, Leadership Atlanta’s Legacy of Leadership Award, the Lexus Leader of the Arts, the Shining Star recognition from the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, the first Narrowing the Digital Divide Award, the Andrew Young Public Policy and Faith award, Leading Ladies and Women Making the Mark distinctions, the Georgia Council for Economic Education’s prestigious VanLandingham Award, the Urban League’s 2000 Distinguished Community Service Award, the LifeTime Achievement in the Arts, Outstanding Achievement in Child Advocacy and she has received the 1988 11-Alive Community Service Award, the 1983 Georgia Volunteer of the Year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Public Service Award; 1991 Alumnae Leadership Award for Salem College, and the 1990 DECA Award, one of ten outstanding business women in Atlanta.

Ann is past chair of the United Way of Metro-Atlanta, Research Atlanta, the Arts and Business Council; the WorldClass Schools Foundation; past president of the Junior League of Atlanta, Inc. and was selected by the YWCA for its first Outstanding Women of Achievement Recognition in 1984. She has participated in Leadership Atlanta, Leadership Georgia and the Regional Leadership Institute, is a member of Outstanding Atlanta, and chaired Leadership Atlanta’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. Also, she chaired the Volunteer Task Force for the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG), was appointed the public member and has served as the Chairman of the Board of Registration for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors.

Transformational Women Highlights Executives in Media & Cable TV

November 23, 2011 by chrismelka

We sat down today to talk with Veronica Sheehan, SVP Turner Broadcasting, Ann Hart VP Sales Digitalsmiths, and Kathy Hatala, President of WICT (Women In Cable & Telecommunications) and VP Business Development for Speakeasy. Hear us talk about what it takes to be an authentic leader, to articulate our personal brands, and to keep pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zones.

Veronica Sheehan is Senior Vice President of Global Network Operations and International Information Technology (IT) for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), with executive oversight of U.S. Network Operations and International Operations and Technology in the Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East Africa (EMEA) regions. She is based in Atlanta and reports to Dan Darling, chief information officer for TBS, Inc.

Most recently Sheehan served as Senior Vice President of U.S. Network Operations for TBS, Inc., responsible for leading the broadcast operations, engineering, traffic and media management functions for Network Operations, the division that provides 24-hour technical and operational support for Turner Broadcasting’s entertainment networks, including TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Turner Classic Movies, truTV, NBA-TV and NBA-TV International, as well as content offerings and products on numerous other platforms such as portable handsets, tablets, and the Web.

Sheehan joined Turner Broadcasting in 1999 as Director of broadcast operations and later that year moved to TBS, Inc.’s in-house production/post-production division, Turner Studios, where she served as vice president of operations and original productions. Previously, she was director of operations/division services for National Video Center/Recording Studios, Inc. in New York City.

Sheehan earned a bachelors degree in communications and journalism at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY and currently serves on the President’s Council, advising the college on the evolution of the cable and broadcast industry. She is the founding chair of TBS, Inc.’s business resource group, Turner Women Today, whose mission is to inspire, encourage and empower women to achieve their full potential. Currently, Turner Women Today has chapters in Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles and plans to expand internationally. She is a member of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS), the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE), Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE). In 2002, WICT inducted her into the prestigious Betsy Magness Leadership Institute and in 2010, she was awarded the national honor of WICT “Woman to Watch.” For several years, Sheehan has served as the National Chapter Advisor for the WICT Atlanta Chapter and was named 2008 WICT “Chapter Advisor of the Year.” Since 2006, she has been named one of the most powerful women in technology by CableWorld magazine. In 2007, she was named to Atlanta Woman magazine’s “25 Power Women Awards” list and that same year also received WICT Atlanta’s Red Letter Catalyst Award for Women in Technology. Most recently, she was named one of the 2011 Working Mothers of the Year by Working Mother Magazine and was also awarded the 2011 Champion for Success by Dress for Success Atlanta.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

Ann Hart is Vice President of Sales for Digitalsmiths, a technology leader in Video Search and Recommendations. Ann is responsible for surfacing sales opportunities within the Telecommunication’s Industry with high caliber content owners and distributors. Ann’s leadership within the Telecommunication’s industry has been spent building a diverse, multi-platform career. The majority of her professional life was spent within the Weather Channel Companies in various Vice President roles in Distribution, Affiliate Sales, Strategic Marketing and Promotions.

She transitioned a 14-year career within the Distribution group and moved over into The Weather Channel Interactive Digital Media Group. This transformation allowed Ann to maximize her skill set and exposed her to Fortune 500 brands where she developed strategies to drive revenue for digital platforms including weather.com and Mobile. After leaving weather.com, Ann was hired by Digitalsmiths to “open doors” within the Cable industry. Throughout her career, she has been recognized for securing strategic partnerships, strengthening value proposition and sales solutions across multiple industries to achieve revenue and marketing goals. Digitalsmiths has opened new doors within the technology side of the business and empowered Ann to grow and transition her skills into a new industry.

Ann has been recognized for her personal and professional philanthropic volunteer work including Women in Cable & Telecommunications and Cable Positive (HIV/AIDS Education). She is a fellow in the prestigious WICT Betsy Magness Leadership Institute and currently serves on the Board of the National Parkinson’s Unity Walk, playing key roles in fundraising on both the local and national level. Ann received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Radio, TV, Film from Oklahoma State University and currently resides in Marietta, GA. Ann is married and has a 16 year-old son. About Digitalsmiths Digitalsmiths is the technology leader in the rapidly growing segment of video search and recommendations. Digitalsmiths Seamless Discovery™, revolutionized the accuracy and ease with which end-users find relevant, personalized entertainment across multiple channels and devices. Digitalsmiths has become a competitive edge and trusted resource for customers such as Warner Bros, Paramount, Technicolor, Turner, the NBA and NASCAR.

Kathy Hatala is VP Business Development for Speakeasy. She has been in the cable television industry for 25 years. Most recently, she was Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Turner Network Sales (TNS), the domestic distribution arm of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. As Vice President, Kathy was responsible for staff management and distribution activities of Turner’s 10 networks, focusing on top cable affiliates: Time Warner, Cox, Cablevision and Mediacom. In addition, she oversaw the execution of strategic marketing promotions designed to maximize exposure for Turner networks through affiliate partnerships. Prior to Turner, Kathy worked for Nickelodeon (MTVN) as VP Affiliate Marketing, MTV Networks as Director of National Accounts, and The Weather Channel as Manager, Local Ad Sales. Kathy has been an active member of Women in Cable and Telecommunications (WICT) serving on the SE Chapter Board as Director of Mentoring for 2 years, Vice President of the chapter in 2010 and now President of the WICT Southeast Chapter for 2011. In 2009, she was a recipient of the WICT Southeast Red Letter Award for Mentoring.

Transformational Women Highlights Social Media Experts Judi Knight, Diane Kaufman, Cynthia Rogers

November 22, 2011 by chrismelka

What are the top 2-3 social media tools that actually drive business revenue? Hear from our 3 entrepreneur CEO’s their story and their tips on how they have grown their business with social media.

Judi Knight is a successful entrepreneur. She has a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, was the CEO of a Medical Records Software Company, and designed and built award winning real estate projects in Atlanta’s historic districts. Over the last few years, Judi parlayed her valuable business, coaching, technology and design skills into the creation of New Tricks where she and her team work with small businesses and entrepreneurs to create an on online presence that reflects their business brand and converts visitors into sales. Not only does New Tricks set up creative, useable WordPress websites, they train their clients to use new technologies and social media tools to reach their business goals.

Judi is the co- coordinator of the WordPress Users Meetup Group with over 800 members, Co-organizer of WordCamp Atlanta 2012 and speaks and consults with organizations on topics such as web design and social media marketing. You can visit her website at http://newtricks.com, or find her on Twitter @judiknight.

Diane Willard Kaufman is Head Mermaid and founder of Mermaid Cottages Vacation Rentals on Historic Tybee Island, GA. Her collection of cozy cottages and historic home are mostly pet friendly , all include WiFi and were created and designed to offer her guests the best vacation experience ever! She has been in business for 6 1/2 years starting with one home and now managing 45 properties. She retired from her previous career with Marriott International after 26 years working in all phases of the hotel business. Her last 10 years included handling some of Marriott’s largest National Accounts as well training in destination sales and marketing with Marriott’s hotels around the world. She has literally traveled the globe with Marriott but her favorite place to be in Tybee Island! She is very active in her community including the Tybee Tourism Council, Historic Savannah Foundation’s Preservation Fest Month, SUGA (Savannah Urban Garden Alliance) and Sea Turtle Conservation thru the Tybee Island Marine Science Center. She graduated from the University of Maryland with BS in Business Administration and major in Marketing. She is a certified Business Coach , coached during her Marriott career and now working with vacation rental clients as a coach and consultant thru her new business, Island Dog Consulting. She has grown her brand to include Beach Bum Dog Biscuits with proceeds going to sponsoring service and guide dogs and Mermaid Morning Bliss Coffee which proceeds going toward sea turtle preservation. She has bought, restored and sold 12 houses on Tybee Island and just purchased her first historic cottage built in 1889 in downtown Savannah. Diane is the proud mother to daughter Katie who lives and works in Brevard, NC, two labs, Danny a retired guide dog and Sophie a rescue lab.

Cynthia Rogers is CEO of Strategy+Innovation. Cynthia is a digital business and ecommerce strategist focused on growth and innovation. She’s applied her transformational skills to startups and turnarounds as both an executive and entrepreneur for Fortune 100 and venture-backed companies. Besides helping companies do business online, she’s expert at building collaborative partnership ecosystems and high energy, high functioning teams.

Cynthia’s leadership roles and projects in consumer and business categories range from healthcare, retail and media to hospitality, telecom and financial services. She’s worked with such brands as Verizon, Humana, JCPenney, Zagat, HP, Avon, P&G, General Mills, Turner Entertainment, NBC-TV, and the European Union.

Transformational Women Highlights Kelly Regal, EVP Turner Broadcasting System

November 8, 2011 by chrismelka

We sat down with Kelly Regal, EVP of Turner Broadcasting System to discuss what it takes to succeed in corporate careers as well as hear her personal story. Listen in on what it takes to climb the corporate ladder, to make a great career transition, and to be both successful and fulfilled in the work you do. Here’s more background on Kelly Regal.

Kelly Regal is Executive Vice President of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.). Her leadership portfolio includes the company’s programming and sales research; public relations, corporate communications and philanthropy; human resources; and media strategy and buying functions. In addition, she directs wide-ranging strategic and operating initiatives bridging Turner’s global news; entertainment; animation, young adult & kids; and sports networks and businesses. Regal is based in Atlanta and reports to Phil Kent, chairman and CEO of TBS, Inc.

Regal joined the company in 1996 as employment counsel, overseeing employment litigation and related matters including contracts, policy development and consistent enforcement of day-to-day employment policies. She was promoted to senior counsel in January 1998, with subsequent promotions leading to her being named executive vice president in March 2003.

Prior to joining TBS, Inc., Regal was an attorney with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Boston College and a juris doctor degree from Boston College Law School. Regal is a member of the national board of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) and the Georgia Bar Association.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news; entertainment; animation and young adult; and sports media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.