Biographical Information
Toastmasters Member since: 2022
Education:
- BS – Business: Organizational Management
- MSM – MS in Management
- Dale Carnegie Leadership
- DEI Certification from eCornell University
Toastmasters offices held and terms of service:
- VP Membership (2023-24 and 2024-25)
- Area Director (Areas C1- 2024-25 & C4 – 2025-26)
Toastmasters honors and recognition:
- 2022 and 2023 Club Speech contest Winner
Relevant work experience and how it relates to Toastmasters and your role as a District leader:
I have spent the last 2 years serving as Area Director for two different areas. With every challenge, I have been able to navigate them and the leadership opportunities successfully. I have enjoyed collaborating with clubs to navigate toward their own improvement. This position provided me with practical experience that lends toward my being successful in the Division Director role.
What experience do you have in strategic planning?
As a Project/Program Manager and Manager as my primary occupation in Strategic Planning and Analysis, I have over 30 years of pertinent and relevant experience managing large strategic initiatives that may arise as Division Director. It was my responsibility to create, streamline, and improve processes, procedures, and policy. Additionally, my roles in Credit & Collections and Financial & Electronic Services, where I was again responsible for processes and implementations of International Initiatives and integrations of other companies world-wide further enhanced my strategic skills.
What experience do you have in the area of finance?
My experience as Manager of Finance and Credit and Collections has provided me with the opportunity and experience to successfully oversee budgets well over $1.5M annually. I also built financial models, conducted audits, and created processes, policies, and procedures to enhance the companies’ bottom lines.
What experience do you have in developing procedures?
As mentioned previously, as Project and Program Manager, I consistently utilized various Quality Tools to enhance, streamline, and create processes and procedures that were relevant, up to date and worked.
What lessons did you learn from previous leadership positions?
I learned that my most valuable assets are my communications and relationship building skills. Building a strong rapport with others enables trust and the ability to create and foster a positive culture and strong relationships. Leadership is about bringing out the best and strongest skills of each individual in addition to enabling growth and development of new skills.
Listening is the best tool in my toolshed as I have realized, one must be intentional to hear better to communicate well.
Why do you want to serve as a District leader?
I strongly believe in Toastmasters, its values, and the overall program. With that, I want to share it in the most positive manner with others. I recently retired and want to continue to provide guidance and development to others personally and professionally.
In your opinion, what are the District mission’s major objectives and how would you work to achieve them?
While it is important to create new clubs I believe it is more important to help existing clubs maintain and improve. This will enhance their ability to grow, thus creating stronger clubs. Each club should strive to be their best. Proper guidance is necessary for that to happen; and that is where I come in.
Additional information about yourself:
As mentioned above, I recently retired and now teach Pilates. I also have the bandwidth necessary to provide the time and energy to be successful in this role.
My new mantra, “I want to speak in a manner that makes others love to listen to me, and I want to listen in a manner that makes others love to speak to me.” Author unknown.
Video message will be available Thursday, April 24th
