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 Working Mothers of the Year - Meet the Moms |
| We chose 30 remarkable moms-role models all-in celebration of 30 years of Working Mother. |
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By: Ilisa Cohen & Jennifer Owens,
Photo: Maura McEvoy
We honor 30 Working Mothers of the Year to mark Working Mother’s 30th birthday. We begin with First Lady Michelle Obama but there is no ranking. All 30 are role models for other working mothers of all ages. Our list includes day-care teachers, high-powered executives, ...
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| Featured Articles |
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Michelle Obama  |
| First Lady of the United States , Washington, DC
Children: Malia, 10; Sasha, 7 • Husband: President Barack Obama
Why We Love ... |
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| Kim Deschamps |
| Social Worker, Cooperative Academy for Responsive Education (Care); Crestwood, IL
Child: Jack, 2
Why We Love Her
When you’re a single mom ...
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| Shannon Kirkpatrick |
| Tax Managing Director , KPMG; Baton Rouge, LA
Children: Madison, 11; Connor and Cole, 8 ♦ Husband: Sean Kirkpatrick
Why We Love ... |
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| Working Mothers of the Year Roundtables | |
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We report back from the 30th birthday event
Working mothers have lots on our minds. So at Working Mother we gathered our 30 Working Mothers of the Year for roundtable discussions, sponsored by Sam’s Club. Our three major topics included technology, health and wellness, and finances and the economy. Our moms threw out ideas, the big picture items ...
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| Family Heath Manager--You! | |
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Health & wellness rank high on the list of working mom's concerns
Moms are the healthcare managers of the family – just one of the tasks on their busy to-do lists. As one mother quipped, “I could be on the space shuttle to Mars while my husband’s right outside the school front door. But if my kid falls on the playground, it’s ...
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| Finances and the Economy | |
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Working Moms Feel Recession Squeeze
A mother's work is never easy, and even for those with careers, things are especially tough this year. A group of working mothers gathered for a panel discussion on the economy, sponsored by Sam’s Club, agreed that the main worries keeping them awake at night are job security, dwindling savings ...
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| Alexis Franzese | |
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Saw a need for parental leave policy for graduate students and drafted a program to help others.
Teaching and Research Assistant for Psychology, Duke University; Durham, NC
Child: Brennan, 2 ♦ Husband: Thomas Higgins
Why We Love Her
Searching for work/life balance when you’re working, going to graduate school and raising a family is difficult enough for yourself, never mind anyone else. But that ...
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| Lisa Gurry | |
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Strength and grace drives a mother through a family medical challenge.
Senior Director, MSN Division of Microsoft; Seattle, WA
Children: Lauren, 6; Jacob, 4; Taylor, 1 ♦ Husband: David Gurry
Why We Love Her
Lisa thought she’d broken the code for managing a demanding schedule. She’d juggled 11 years of working at Microsoft with mothering three children. ...
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| Cheryl Keegan | |
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Leaves the kitchen floor dirty but is actively involved in her community.
Process Scientist , Abbott; Abbott Park, IL
Children: Michael, 6; Finnegan, 2 ♦ Husband: Ryan Keegan
Why We Love Her
Cheryl has never missed a t-ball game. Then there’s the fact that she’s working on her second master’s degree and has been on the women’s leadership ...
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| Kimberley Euston | |
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At her best when juggling a bunch of activities - work, family, and community.
Director and Client Relationship Executive , PricewaterhouseCoopers; Marietta, GA
Children: Alex and Christopher, 8; Katherine, 5 ♦ Husband: Greg Euston
Why We Love Her
If the economy has you thinking about switching careers, you might want to give Kimberley a call. at the age of 39, she’s ...
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| Denise O'Brien | |
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After surviving a serious car accident she changed her life around to make more time for her family.
E-business Consultant, AT&T; Hamburg, NJ
Child: Connor, 6 ♦ Husband: Matthew O’Brien
Why We Love Her
Denise has more letters after her name than in her name. With a BS in finance, a BA in philosophy, an MBA, a CPA, a PMP (project management professional) and ...
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| Maruiel Perkins-Chavis | |
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A mentor for young women and an advocate for diversity issues, when the going gets tough, you want her.
VP, Workforce Effectiveness and Diversity , Marriott; Upper Marlboro, MD
Children: Devin, 14; Marcus, 10 ♦ Husband: James Chavis
Why We Love Her
There’s an adage that says, “You don’t realize how strong a person really is until you see her at her weakest moment.” Maruiel found the ...
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| Mary Ranee Leder | |
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Nationally known for her work with children of abuse and neglect.
Attending Physician, Child Advocacy Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Columbus, OH
Children: Matthew, 9; Zachary, 8; Maxwell and Hannah, 1 ♦ Husband: Marc Leder
Why We Love Her
As an attending physician at the Child advocacy Center, Ranee does medical assessments for child victims of suspected physical ...
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| Rose Kirk | |
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?Seize the day, cherish the night, and live your life holy, healthy, and happy.?
VP, Distribution, Verizon Wireless; Basking Ridge, NJ
Children: Robert Jr., 32; Connor, 9 ♦ Husband: Robert Kirk
Why We Love Her
Rose works and cares for her 9-year old son, her husband, who is recovering from a stroke, and her mother, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease. She ...
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| Vivian Fresco | |
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Balances charity work, home life, and a full-time job.
Senior Life Cycle Manager, Astrazeneca; Wilmington, DE
Children: Ryan, 4; Kyle, 2 ♦ Husband: David Fresco
Why We Love Her
Some moms have a gentle way of reminding us just how important it is to give back to our communities. It might involve a few late nights ...
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| Harriet Mendl | |
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This day-care teacher, Girl Scout leader, mother and grandmother does it all!
Teacher and Assistant Director, The Children’s Center at Purchase College; Purchase, NY
Children: Dina and Bret, 30; Becca, 27 ♦ Husband: William Mendl
Why We Love Her
Lots of moms with grown children go through empty-nest syndrome, but Harriet’s nest keeps getting bigger. Her home includes two ...
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| Janet Liang | |
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"Ohana" means "family" in Hawaii, a courtesy she extends to her employees.
President, Kaiser Permanente, Hawaii Region; Honolulu, HI
Children: Mara, 7; Macy, 5 ♦ Husband: Zack Jones
Why We Love Her
As president of the second-largest health organization in the state, Janet travels frequently and has an always-on-the-go schedule, so when she gets time with her kids, ...
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| Larissa Sellers | |
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Works full time, attends school full time, and is President of her class.
Nurse, Roanoke Pediatrics; Bedford, VA
Child: Jaylynn, 6 ♦ Husband: Jason Sellers
Why We Love Her
Larissa works full-time at a pediatric clinic, goes to school fulltime and is the president of her class and the room mother for her daughter’s class, which means she organizes ...
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| Nicole Dawn Vetter | |
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Took a job closer to home to spend more time with her family
Teacher, Damiansville Elementary School; Damiansville, IL
Children: Hunter, 6; Gavin and Paige, 1 ♦ Husband: James Vetter
Why We Love Her
Nicole is one of those teachers you pray your child will get. Devoted to each child in her class, she made a two-hour trek to an ...
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| Jenny Barrett | |
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This soccer mom, nominated by her sons for her dedication as a mom and a VP.
VP and Senior Branch Manager, M&T Bank; Upper Marlboro, MD
Children: Rusty, 18; Scotty, 14 ♦ Husband: Billy Barrett
Why We Love Her
Working as a VP and bank branch manager and raising two teenage boys seems like enough to keep any woman busy, but Jenny also ...
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| Theresa Heaney | |
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With a special needs child helped fulfill the needs of a community.
Personnel Manager , Wal-Mart; Tampa, FL
Child: Matthew, 6
Why We Love Her
Where others at her son’s school saw a patch of dirt, Theresa saw a playground for kids with special needs. So she raised almost $9,000 for its construction. The single mother to a 6-year-old ...
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| Yolanda Conyers | |
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Passionate about her job, integrating cultures around the world.
VP, Global Integration and Diversity, Lenovo; Austin, TX
Children: stepson Christopher, 22; Cameron, 9; Colton, 3 ♦ Husband: Chris Conyers
Why We Love Her
Taking a risk doesn’t always involve stepping forward—sometimes it’s about stepping back. After a difficult pregnancy, Yolanda returned to work while coping with ...
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| Laurelle Johnson | |
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Sense of humor and strict rules equal a successful working mother.
Creative President, Innerwealth Communications; Los Angeles, CA
Children: Emily, 16; Gabby, 13 ♦ Husband: Ross Johnson
Why We Love Her
Being a successful working mother leaves no room for a damsel-in-distress complex, says Laurelle. This leadership mentality led her to launch her own business as a public-speaking coach. ...
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| Cheila Fernandez | |
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Persevered with professional goals while raising a young family.
Enterprise Risk Services Senior Consultant, Deloitte; Philadelphia, PA
Children: Samantha, 12; Leslie, 10; Alex, 7 ♦ Husband: Jose Fernandez
Why We Love Her
Becoming a mother at age 17 could sidetrack even the most determined person from reaching professional goals. But Cheila knew what she wanted: to go ...
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| Blair Christie | |
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Lives by her motto: ?Focus just as much on your family as on your career.?
SVP, Corporate Communications, Cisco; San Jose, CA
Children: Julia, 6; Cameron, 3 ♦ Husband: Joe Christie
Why We Love Her
Ask Blair how it is that she’s the youngest woman at Cisco to earn the SVP title and she’ll tell you it’s because designing the costumes for ...
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| Belinda Caballero Sloat | |
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Her flexible work schedule enables her to coach soccer and T-ball and run a Girl Scout troop.
SVP, Bank of America; Rockville, MD
Children: Hannah, 9; Micayla, 7; Carson, 6 ♦ Husband: James Sloat
Why We Love Her
Belinda epitomizes the 21st-century working mom, who illustrates that what you do is more important than where or when you do it. she enjoys a flexible ...
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| Colleen Fahey Rush | |
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?Be where you need to be.? And keep a healthy balance between work and family.
EVP, Strategic Insights and Research, MTV Networks; New York, NY
Children: Delia, 10; Gillian, 8 ♦ Husband: Patrick Rush
Why We Love Her
At work, Colleen is charged with tracking the ever-changing tastes, interests and passions of MTV’s young audience. Then she goes home to, well, ...
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| Linda Mona | |
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Being wheelchair bound has never stopped this mother from chasing her dreams.
Clinical Psychologist, Veterans Affairs Long Beach Healthcare System; Long Beach, CA
Children: Kyle, 5; Ryan, 3 ♦ Husband: Harold Hunter
Why We Love Her
Living with a disability has never stopped Linda from getting what she wants. In fact, it’s only inspired her to chase a goal ...
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| Susan Sobbott | |
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She is dedicated to achieving success and committed to helping others realize their full potential.
President, American Express Open; New York, NY
Children: Jeremiah, 6; Leah, 4 ♦ Partner: Keith
Why We Love Her
Susan is dedicated to achieving success at home and at work—but what sets her apart is that she’s usually advocating on someone else’s behalf. Committed to helping ...
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| Tujuanna Williams | |
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Diversity at work and breast cancer awareness are her causes and she leads the way in both.
Senior Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Freddie Mac; McLean, VA
Children: Chloe, 19; Charity, 16 ♦ Husband: Charlie Williams, Jr.
Why We Love Her
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who enjoys her work more than Tujuanna. She travels the country speaking at diversity and inclusion ...
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| Shantelle Thomas | |
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A special needs child, a new baby, volunteer work, an MBA course and?oh, my!
Director and Senior Actuary, Allstate; Northbrook, IL
Children: Campbell, 3; Andrew, 9 months ♦ Husband: Andrew Thomas
Why We Love Her
Shantelle has a dizzying amount of responsibility. As mom to a child with special needs, she balances work with weekly physical, occupational and speech therapy for ...
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| Jennifer Roxburgh | |
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Her flex schedule allows her to be home for the kids and actively volunteer in her community.
Manager, Commercial Application Services, IBM; Atlanta, GA
Children: Alyssa, 18; Ashley, 16 ♦ Husband: Andrew Roxburgh
Why We Love Her
Jennifer is one of those rare people whom others can always count on. She’s there when her younger daughter gets off the school bus, thanks to her ...
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| PJ Scelfo | |
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Part of the civilian workforce at the National Guard, she rallies support for causes near and far.
Recruit Sustainment Program Specialist, NJ Army National Guard; Sea Girt, NJ
Children: Douglas and Deven, 16; Sydney, 13 ♦ Husband: Michael Scelfo
Why We Love Her
More than once, PJ has heard her children brag that their mom is doing her part to serve the country as ...
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