p.o.w. newsletter 2q12

EmPOWer
Official Newsletter of the Professional Organization of Women, Inc.
Empowering African American women to Learn, Lead and Succeed
2012 Spring Edition
Strengthening Our Brand: Personally & Organizationally
Spring has arrived and I send you greetings from the Professional Organization of Women. I would like to
take this opportunity to introduce myself and the 2012 leadership team. I am honored to be this year’s
president. P.O.W. has some exciting initiatives planned for the year.
The Professional Organization of Women, Inc. (P.O.W.) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
empower African American women to Learn, Lead, and Succeed. Our vision is to be the leading promoter
of career advancement for African American women in the St. Louis region. To accomplish this, POW
conducts a comprehensive professional development program that is customized to help its members achieve
their highest professional aspirations. We provide leadership support and tools that enables our members to
become agenda-setters in their professional and civic lives. We also partner with business, civic, and
community organizations to expand members’ access to professional networks, resources, and opportunities.
As we strive to remain competitive in today’s job market, it’s crucial that we understand what our profes-
Lisa Muex-Sisson
P.O.W. President
sional brand represents. In 2012, our theme focuses on “Strengthening our Brand: Personally and
Organizationally”. We’ll offer Professional Development opportunities focusing on the importance of
branding during our Advancing Success Series at our General Body meetings in March, April, July,
September, October and November.
Below are additional highlights for the year.
Community Involvement: Each year P.O.W selects a community service organization to work with
during the year. This year our community partner is Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club: SMART
GIRLS CLUB. Members volunteer our time and expertise to help fulfill the mission of the
organization.
Frankie Muse Freeman Scholarship: I am pleased to announce Alyce Herndon, assistant director at
Webster University and Chastity Perry, director of Career Services at Brown Mackie College as the
Inside this issue:
co-chairs for the scholarship event. We invite you to join us on Saturday, October 13, 2012 for an
Words from Our President
1
Executive Team
2
evening of celebration with the recipients at the Frankie Muse Freeman Scholarship Event. The
scholarship was established in 2005 to generate funds for nontraditional students to pursue their
educational endeavors.
Leadership Team
3
Board Of Directors
4
P.O.W. News
5
Save the Date
5
Sponsors
5
P.O.W. On the Move
5
Trivia Night: This fundraising event on August 4, 2012 will support our Frankie Muse Freeman
Scholarship event.
P.O.W. is an organization that strives to foster an environment that nurtures and provides opportunities for
African-American women to display, practice, and enhance their natural leadership abilities.
I look forward to an exciting year, and if you are interested in supporting and learning more about the
Professional Organization of Women, Inc., please visit our website at www.powincstl.org.
Lisa Muex-Sisson
P.O.W. President
Page 1 - Professional Organization of Women, Inc.
www.powincstl.org
Meet the 2012 Executive Team
Candace Ellison
Stefanie Davis
Erica Gilkey
Mitzi Lowery
Immediate Past President
Vice President
Secretary
Parliamentarian
Candace Ellison is a Financial
Advisor at Wells Fargo
Advisors where she assists
individuals & small businesses
with their retirement planning
and other financial goals. She
prepares highly customized
solutions including investment
management, banking and life
insurance to meet all clients’
needs. Prior to this role, she
worked for the firm in various
risk management, project
management and regulatory
reporting roles.
The Saint Louis University
graduate received a B.S. in
Finance and later received an
M.S. in Finance from Webster
University along with her
Series 7, 66 and Variable Life
and Health financial securities
licenses.
My name is Stefanie Davis, in
2012 , I will be serving the
Professional Organization of
Women, Inc. in the Vice
President role. I'm not
originally from the St Louis
area, I was raised as a military
child - I moved many times in
my childhood. Constant change
has afforded me the ability to
adapt to change, the strong
desire to make a positive
impact, and the innate drive to
stay connected with those that
I've met. I am honored to serve
P.O.W. in the Vice President
capacity and I'm looking
forward to learning, leading,
and succeeding with P.O.W.
and the St Louis community in
2012!
Candace is a proud parent of
two children, Olivia and Oliver.
She is the Secretary for the
Urban Financial Services Coalition - Saint Louis Chapter and
the Immediate Past President of
the Professional Organization
of Women, Inc (P.O.W.).
Candace is a member of the St.
Louis Business Journal 2010
Class of “30 Under 30” and the
2010 “International Orator of
the Year” for the Urban Financial Services Coalition. She is a
proud member of Friendly
Temple Missionary Baptist
Church and a Big Sister in the
Big Brother Big Sister program.
Page 2 - Professional Organization of Women, Inc.
Erica Gilkey, a native from St.
Louis, MO. She currently
works for Enterprise Fleet
Management as a Systems
Support Analyst. Erica
obtained her Bachelor’s degree
in Computer Management and
Information Systems from
Southern Illinois UniversityEdwardsville. While attending
SIUE, Erica became a member
of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc. She is currently working
on her Master’s in Information
Technology-Assurance and
Security from Capella
University. Erica joined
P.O.W. in January 2011. This is
the second year she will serve
as P.O.W. Secretary.
Mitzi Lowery is a Lead
Network Project Manager at
Magellan Health Services
working in the division of
Network Implementations,
Report & Analysis.
Mrs. Lowery is a member of the
Professional Organization of
Women, Inc (P.O.W.) where
she serves as their
Parliamentarian and most
recently has joined forces as an
ambassador for Neighborhood
Houses. She serves as
Vice-President of her Home
Owners Association (HOA)
which she is responsible for
managing and facilitating the
covenants, conditions and
restrictions to safeguard her
neighborhood community.
A native of St. Louis, Mitzi
received a bachelor’s degree
from the University of
Missouri-St. Louis with an
emphasis in healthcare services
and business management.
With 2 small children at the
time, she went on to receive her
Master of Business
Administration from
Lindenwood University.
www.powincstl.org
Meet the 2012 Leadership Team
Tiffany Days & Anne Murray
Marsha Hodges & Christina Furr
Faith Lane & LaTrice Turner
Community Outreach
Communications
Membership
Tiffany Days is a native of Saint Louis,
MO. Tiffany earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Computer Science with a minor
in Mathematics from the University of
Missouri-Columbia and a Masters in
Business Administration from Lindenwood
University. She is currently an IT
Consultant with NetEffects on assignment
at MasterCard Worldwide. Tiffany enjoys
working within the community and is a Big
Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Eastern Missouri. She also acts as a mentor, tutor, and assistant basketball coach in
her spare time. Tiffany joined the
Professional Organization of Women , Inc.
(P.O.W.) in June 2010 and will serve as the
Community Outreach co-chair for 2012.
Marsha Hodges, is a native of St. Louis,
MO and is a Manager of a Quality
Assurance & Testing team for Enterprise
Holdings, Inc. Marsha has obtained a
Bachelors of Science in Computer
Information Systems and a Bachelors of
Science in Business Administration both
from Columbia College and a Master’s
of Business Administration from Baker
College. Marsha enjoys spending time with
her family, traveling and crafts. Marsha
joined the Professional Organization of
Women, Inc. in 2011 and will serve as the
Communications Co-Chair in 2012.
Faith Lane, is a native to St. Louis, MO by
the way of Chicago, IL and works for
Edward Jones Company. Faith attended
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
where she completed her Bachelors of
Science in Business Administration
specialized in Marketing and Graduate
degree in Public Administration. In 2006,
Faith became a member of Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority Incorporated belonging to
the Epsilon Iota chapter. Faith joined the
Professional Organization of Women
(P.O.W.) in 2010, as the Membership
Chair.
Christina Furr, is a native of St. Louis,
MO, she currently works as an Advertising
Specialist for Lumiere Place Casino Hotels
Anne Murray lives in St. Louis, MO and is
and River City Casino. Christina obtained
the Customer Service Manager with Scrubs
a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the
& Beyond, a medical apparel company.
University of Memphis and recently
She attends Florissant Valley College
received her Master’s of Business
full-time to pursue her Criminal Justice
Administration from Webster University;
degree. She is the mother of four children
she joined P.O.W. in January 2011 and
and enjoys spending time with her family,
will preside as the Communications
traveling, cooking, and motorcycling ridCo-chair in 2012.
ing. Anne is a member of the Phi Theta
Kappa Honor Society and received an
honors award from Who’s Who in America. She was elected by Dress for Success
Worldwide as the 2012 delegate of the
Midwest and was given the challenge to
put on a Community Action Project that
will impact lives. Anne joined the
Professional Organization of Women, Inc.
(P.O.W.) in February 2011 and has served
on the Membership and Professional
Development Committees.
LaTrice Turner is from St. Louis, MO and
works for the McDonnell Center for
Systems Neuroscience at Washington
University, School of Medicine. LaTrice
has earned her Bachelor of Science in
Business Administration at Lindenwood
University and is currently pursuing her
Masters in Business Entertainment at Full
Sail University. She is the wife to Patrick
Turner, and they have five children together. LaTrice joined the Professional
Organization of Women, Inc. (P.O.W.) in
2008 and is serving as Co-Chair on the
Membership Committee.
Page 3 - Professional Organization of Women, Inc.
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Meet Our 2012 Leadership Team—Cont.
Monica Poindexter & Bolanle Ambonisye
Professional Development
Monica Poindexter is an accomplished and seasoned Human Resources professional possessing expertise, knowledge, and skills in
all generalist areas within the Human Resources function which spans over 20 years. She has been charged with the opportunity to
assist others in the workplace through her role as Human Resources Supervisor providing dedicated Human Resources services for
the plant operations within Lincoln Industrial.
Monica holds the professional certification of SPHR, Senior Professional in Human Resources, in addition to a formal educational
portfolio which consists of an Associates of Arts from Columbia College, Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a
major in Management from Columbia College, a Masters of Business Administration with a Human Resources Management
specialization from Walden University, and a Human Resources Generalist Certificate from George Washington University.
Because Bolanle Ambonisye’s life’s work centers on individual, family and community empowerment, being a member of P.O.W.
is a natural fit for her. Bolanle heads “Tapping Our Parental Power”, a parent empowerment effort whose mission is to rebuild
community stability & cohesion by helping us parents to raise responsible and productive children. With the goal of raising those
children into adults who advance the community with their talents & skills and raise their own children to do the same.
Bolanle is a mother of four, and enjoys African dance, which she also teaches.
Meet Our 2012 Board of Directors
P.O.W. would like to take this time to welcome aboard the new Board members joining this year:
Lorenzo Boyd, Stifel Nicolaus
Aleshia Jordan, Savvis Center
Wendy McSweeney, Wells Fargo Advisors
Eric Thurman, Aerotek Staffing Agency
P.O.W. would also like to acknowledge our returning Board of Directors:
Malaika Horne, Ph.D., University of Missouri – St. Louis, Board Chair
Gail Taylor, Energizer Holdings, Inc., Vice Chair
Anthony Neal, Educational Equity Consultants, Treasurer
Geoff Green, Brown Shoe Company, Secretary
LaVicki Hart, Citi, Parliamentarian
Ralonda Jasper, Express Scripts Inc., Immediate Past Chair
Kathy Conley Jones, The Conley Financial Group
Tonya Kincaid, Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Dr. Nicole LaBeach, Volition Enterprises, Inc.
Cheryl Polk, United Way of Greater St. Louis
Page 4 - Professional Organization of Women, Inc.
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P.O.W. News
Just in time for the new year, P.O.W. is excited to introduce our new website www.powincstl.org. The newly designed website will
give us the opportunity to showcase resumes to potential employers, provide vital information to members and guest alike, as well as
show case P.O.W.'s events by utilizing the photo gallery. If you have any questions regarding the website or would like to have
content added/modified please contact the Communications Committee.
Save the Date
April 18th : General Body Meeting, 6:30pm @ Edward Jones—“Take A Look In The Mirror”
July 12th: P.O.W. Sip & Savor Networking Event
July 18th: General Body Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Brown Shoe Company - “Investing In ME”
August 4th: P.O.W. Trivia Night
September 19th: General Body Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Brown Shoe Company- “Creating Your Organization’s Competitive
Advantage”
October 13th: Frankie Muse Freeman Scholarship Event
October 17th: General Body Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Brown Shoe Company - “Sustaining and Stabilizing Your Organization’s
Competitive Advantage”
November 21st : General Body Meeting, 6:30 pm @ Brown Shoe Company - “The Face of Branding: Branding Defined and
Disclosed, Part II”
Supporters
Special thanks to all of our supporters from 2009 through 2011.
♦
Brown Shoe Company
♦
Missouri History Museum
♦
Commerce Bank of
♦
Nielsen
St. Louis
♦
Emerging Wisdom
♦
The Conley Jones Group
♦
Energizer
♦
Urban Strategies
♦
Enterprise Grant
Foundation
♦
Vector Communications
♦
Express Scripts
♦
Washington University
Executive MBA Program
♦
Federal Reserve Bank of
St. Louis
♦
Habitat for Humanity
St. Louis
♦
YWCA Metro St. Louis
Page 5 - Professional Organization of Women, Inc.
P.O.W. On the Move
Mitzi Lowery, recently employed at Express Scripts and has
accepted a position at Magellan Health Services as their Lead
Network Project Manager working in the division of Network
Implementations, Report & Analysis.
Anne Murray, was honored at the First Annual Tribute to Success: A Celebration of Women on Thursday, March 1, 2012. She
also received the first ever “Dennis and Judith Jones Award”
that recognizes her amazing journey at Connections to Success.
Jacinta Witherspoon, previously served as the Manager of
Volunteer Services for Habitat for Humanity. She was recently
promoted to Director of Resources at Habitat for Humanity.
Faithea Flowers, was recently honored on the St. Louis
Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” list for 2012. The reception
was held on February 9th at the Chase Park Plaza.
Courtney Simms, previously served as Director of Resources
for Habitat for Humanity for 10 years. She has accepted a
position as Director of Development for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (LSEM), a non-profit organization that provides
high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income people in
Eastern Missouri.
www.powincstl.org