Women in Businessbartlett-express.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/WIB-2017.pdf · impressive...

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“The perfectscore isalways something tostrive for. Iwant to winand I want tosucceed nomatter what.”

- Andrea Jungformer CEO of Avon

INSIDE:

Tips on being successful fromShelby County’shardest working

womenSpecial Supplement of

Journal West 10 Media, LLC

age advice has guided ChrisMartin up the ranks of FirstCitizen National Bank.

In her 21 years in the bankingindustry, Martin has compiled an

impressive rèsumè. The girl who wanted tobe a fashion designer growing up in theMidwest, blossomed into a banking leader inthe Volunteer State.

“I was with Munford Union Bank andFirst Citizens National Bank boughtMunford Union,” Martin recalled. “I haveworked at three of the seven branches in theSouthwest Region but settled in Arlingtonabout 14 years ago.

“I have been a teller, CSR, and nowBranch Manger, Loan Officer and LoanAssistant,” she added.

Outside of First Citizen Banks, Martinspends time raising her 9-year-old son,

working out, bakingand enjoying qualitytime with friends andfamily.

“I pray first thing inthe morning whiledrinking my cup of cof-fee,” Martin said. “If Idon’t the day won’t beright. I also workout and love to exercise.”

Part of her routine won't include pick-upbasketball. Standing 5-foot 11-inches, Martinhas never played basketball. But she staysactive and dedicated to serving the cus-tomers of First Citizens.

“I have worked hard and I have tried tolearn every aspect of banking,” Martinnoted. “I will say two people helped mealong the way, my dad and my oldest sister.My dad always told me to be kind to people

and be honest. My oldest sister is a strong,smart and confident woman whom I look upto.”

Her father's wisdom has guided Martinalong her two-decade journey with FirstCitizens. She was never intimidated whilemoving up the ranks because of her upbring-ing in Indiana and Illinois.

“It depends on if the woman is comfort-able in what she knows and her level of con-fidence,” Martin said. “My dad use to tellme ‘There is no need to get nervous or letsomeone intimidate you because we are allhumans and we all put our pants on the sameway.’”

Now Martin is giving advice and showingthe way for colleagues, customers and thoselearning about finances.

“You have to lead by example, treat oth-ers as you want to be treated — simple,” shesaid.

So Martin's philosophy to any womanpreparing to take on the business world is beaccountable.

“Be honest and look at people in the eye,lead by example,” she concluded, “and don’tbe afraid to shake hands and mean it.”

Chris MartinFirst Citizens

22 Journal West 10 • Women in Business • November 2017

Arlington, Atoka, Bartlett, Collierville,Millington, Munford, Oakland

www.FirstCNB.com

Good never goes out of style.And that’s good news because at

First Citizens National Bank we’re really goodat putting our passion to action, providingyou with a unique and fantastic experience.

It’s why we’re consistently ranked among the topcommunity banks in the country. Come see for

yourself, in person or online.

Member FDIC

SS

November 2017 • Women in Business • Journal West 10 33

ournal West 10 was compelled to comprise this edition ofWomen in Business due to the distinct group of womeninvolved in business in our communities. These womenwere created with the vision to build, support and pro-mote our community with innovation and competitive

drive. Any community that welcomes these wonderful women is acommunity that is preparing and shaping this county for thefuture.

We are proud to feature these dedicated and successfulwomen, and share with you, our readers, their stories. It is ourhope that the women featured in this magazine inspire others topursue their dreams and become successful Women in Business.

Journal West 10 Media’s Women In Business are committed toproviding local news and information in all of the communities,which we operate. We focus on community-specific coverage ofevents, people, places and civic activities. It’s local content from a

local perspective read cover to cover.The following publications are brought to you weekly: The

Bartlett Express, The Collierville Independent, The Shelby SunTimes (Germantown), The Millington Star and the Blue Jacket.

The ladies of Journal West Newspapers have more than 110years of cumulative newspaper experience.

Pictured from left:FFeelliicciiaa WWaattkkiinnss, Office Manager

LLyynn WWhhiittssoonn, Advertising ExecutiveCCaarroollyynn BBaahhmm, Editor

LLeeee AAnnnn KKrruueeggeerr, General ManagerWWhhiittnneeyy FFiisshheerr, Advertising Executive

VViicckkii CCllaarrkk, Advertising ManagerNot Pictured: VVeerrnneerr JJoonneess, Classified Sales

Journal West 10 Newspapers“To build a Community and Improve the Quality of Life in theMarkets We Serve”

JJWomen in Business


omen hadanother suc-cessful year in2015.According to

the Fortune 500 list, 2015 tiedthe record set for the highestnumber of female CEOs inAmerica's largest companiesby revenue. Twenty-fourwomen, including Mary Barraof General Motors, MegWhitman of Hewlett-Packardand Ginny Rometty of IBM,made the list.

Although women make up45 percent of the labor forceand only 5 percent headFortune 500 companies,women are making greaterstrides than ever before. Forexample, in 1998, just onewoman led a Fortune 500company, according to PewResearch Center.

Certain traits could helppropel successful women tothe top. Here's a look at someof the ways female profes-sionals can overcome profes-sional hurdles and make theirmark.

• Be passionate about whatyou do. Women who maintainpassion about their careers aremore likely to overcome anychallenges and stand out in theworkplace. If your professionis not stoking any passion,explore alternate career oppor-tunities.

• Recognize yourstrengths. Today's profession-als are less likely than theirpredecessors to stick with onecompany or line of work fortheir entire working lives. But

just because you change jobsor career paths does not meanyour past experience is use-less. Successful women knowwhat they do best, whether it'spublic speaking, writing ormaking sales pitches. Applythose strengths when lookingfor a new job or career.

• Know when to ask forhelp. Even the most accom-plished women have limita-tions. Asking for help whenyou need it can help you over-come those limitations. To begood at what you do, you firsthave to learn from others.Sometimes the smartest wayto overcome an obstacle ishaving several hands on deckto provide a boost. Thinkingthat the work is better left toyou alone could be a mistake.Enlist help when you need itand never hesitate to ask foranother perspective.

• Make time for exercise.A sluggish body can make fora sluggish mind. Successfulpeople need to be sharp, andexercise can help them main-tain their mental focus.According to John J. Ratey,Ph.D., a clinical associate pro-fessor of psychiatry atHarvard Medical School,muscles send hormones rush-ing to the brain where theymix with a substance calledbrain-derived neurotrophicfactor, or BDNF. BDNF playsa role in brain cell growth andlearning. Without it, brainscan't absorb new informationor grow and learn. Exercisealso helps relieve stress, whichcan make resolutions easier tosee and make tasks less over-whelming.

• Go easy on yourself.While many successful peoplestrive for perfection, achieving

perfection is unlikely, if notimpossible. Successful peopleoften admit to being their ownworst critics, but don't beatyourself up if you enduresome trial and error. Mistakescan be a great teacher, so useany you make to your advan-tage.

• Don't be afraid to takerisks. Successful women arenot afraid to take risks. Manymay have decided they don'tfit a specific mold and want toaffect change. However, cal-culated risks are different fromreckless decisions, and it isimportant to recognize the dif-ference. A calculated risk mayinvolve starting your ownbusiness after learning theropes in a specific field andtesting the waters. Recklessbehavior would be openingthat business with no relevantexperience.

Take a cue from successful womenSPECIAL TOJournal West 10

WW

arents with respon-sibilities at workand at home com-monly struggle tofind balance

between these two often con-flicting sets of obligations.Surveys have indicated thatworking professionals whowork less are more likely tobe happy with their work-lifebalance than those who burnthe midnight oil at work, butfor many adults, working lessis not always an option.

A 2012 report from NewZealand’s Ministry of SocialDevelopment found that thepercentage of working pro-fessionals who were very sat-isfied or satisfied with theirwork-life balance declined astheir hours worked increased.

Canada’s General SocialSurvey discovered similarresults, noting that, while themajority of working parentswere satisfied with theirwork-life balance, those whowere not most frequentlycited their dissatisfaction atnot having enough time forfamily life as the main culpritbehind their discontent.

Creating a better work-lifebalance is an ongoing com-mitment, and even workingparents who employ the fol-lowing strategies may findthey need to periodicallytweak their routines so theycan fulfill their obligations athome and at the office.

• Schedule family time.Since working professionals

unhappy with their work-lifebalance often cite lack offamily time as the reason forthat dissatisfaction, findingtime for family may be thekey to changing that outlook.Schedule time for family justas you schedule the rest ofyour daily commitments.

Listing family dinners oractivities in your daily sched-ule will ensure you don’t mis-takenly schedule other activi-ties during family time.

• Employ technologywhere possible. Some work-ing parents may feel asthough technology has made

it harder than ever to leavework at the office. But whilesmartphones, tablets andother devices may meanyou’re never too far awayfrom work, technology alsocan be used to create moretime with loved ones.Employ an app such asFaceTime to eat lunch withyour spouse or chat with yourchildren each day.

Such interactions may notbe as enjoyable as face-to-face interactions, but buildingthem into your day can helpyou stay in touch with familyand provide a welcomerespite from busy workdays.

• Use your vacation days.A recent study from Project:Time Off, a national move-ment aimed at highlightingthe important role that timeoff from work can play in thelives of professionals, 55 per-cent of Americans did not usetheir full allotment of vaca-tion days in 2015.

That translated to 658 mil-lion unused vacation days,222 million of which couldnot be carried over into 2016.Professionals who want tocreate a better work-life bal-ance can examine their vaca-tion day usage and resolve touse them all if they are notalready.

Parents can use vacationdays on national holidayswhen schools are closed sothey can squeeze in familytime even when they are notgoing on trips.


Strategies to create a better work-life balance

PP

n Parents who put their minds to it can create a more fulfilling work-life balance.

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nique Boutique and Bridal at2726 Bartlett Blvd. in Bartlettspecializes in bridal and formalwear.

Unique Boutique is family-owned business that has been serving theBartlett community for over 25 years.Specializes in Wedding gowns, promdresses, quinceanera dress, or a classy out-fit, sutiable for any occasion.

We carry a large, diverse selection ofdesigners.

Motto: Making smiles and makingmemories

The atmosphere: Friendly, fun andfabulous.

What makes your job unique? In my

business, I have the privledge to help peo-ple look beautiful for some of the mostspecial and memorable events of theirlives.

First Job: McDonald’sWhat is the most satisfying thing

about your career? Being featured on theshow Ambush Makeover.

Career Advice: Hard work and dedica-tion make dreams come true.

Person most admired: My motherHobbies: Cooking and trying new

recipes.Favorite vacation spot: Houston to

visit family.Community involvement: I have been

serving in the Bartlett Community for over

25 years and helping people. Active mem-ber of the Bartlett Chamber of Commercesince 1992. Accredited member of theBetter Business Bureau with an A-PlusRating. Voted the No. 1 boutique inBartlett 2011-16.

UUDonna Lewis

Unique Boutique


ince 2005, it hasbeen a pleasure toserve the residents ofTennessee.

I love to help oth-ers, and as an Allstate agent, Inot only have the opportunityto serve the wonderful com-

munity of Collierville, but Iam also able to help meet thespecific needs, based on indi-vidual circumstances for thosein Tennessee, Mississippi andArkansas.

I graduated from theUniversity of Memphis in2002 with my bachelor’sdegree in business administra-tion. I also married my highschool sweetheart in 2002, andwe have two wonderful chil-dren together.

Raising our family in agreat community was impor-tant to us.

We have lived inCollierville since 2005, andour kids attend the local ele-mentary school where I alsoserve as a PTA member.

I am a member and ambas-sador of the ColliervilleChamber of Commerce and aboard member for LeadershipCollierville.

My family and I like to go

on bike rides, play tennis andvisit all that our communityhas to offer, including rootingfor our beloved MemphisGrizzlies.

I’m committed to servingthe people of the Mid-Southwith superior customer serv-ice. I believe that peopledeserve an insurance agent thatcares about them and not justtheir policy number. I look for-ward to being able to assistyou.

Carrie MooreAllstate Insurance

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hen I havecompleted acase and thepatient isabsolutely

thrilled about the results, I amhappy. When a patient comes to seeme, and he or she is fearful,but leaves satisfied andempowered, I am humbled.And when a patient thinksenough of my team and me torefer family and friends to ourpractice, it is the greatesthonor.

Being a dentist means Ispend my days providing carethat improves the lives of peo-ple I’ve built relationshipswith.

I enjoy each person’suniqueness and how people letme become part of their livesas I contribute to improving

their oral health and overallwellness.

The conversations we have,and what I learn from mypatients, are always fascinat-ing. Every person has a storyand when patients share theirswith with me I am giveninsight into who they are and Iappreciate being allowed thatintimacy and trust.

My Doctorate of DentalSurgery was awarded by theUniversity of MarylandSchool of Dentistry. I’m afirm believer that dentistryrequires a practitioner toremain current on all develop-ing techniques, materials,technologies, and information.

This ensures I am able toprovide my patients with thehigh-quality they deserve,along with the proven careoptions that will deliver the

strongest results, painlessly. Each year I participate in

many hours of continuingeducation, in order to remainat the forefront of my field. Iattend annual, state, localmeetings and seminars.

Name of the women inyour business: Michelle,hygeinst; April, hygeinist,Jasmine, dental assistant/officecoordinator; Nicole, dentalassistant.

Education: University ofMemphis Dental School —1988

Accomplisments: I finallyvisited the Grand Canyon.

Community Involvement:Millington Area Chamber ofCommerce, Memphis DentalSociety, Mission of Mercy &Bellvue Mobile Dental Unit(volunteer)

What was your first job?

Dental Assistant to my unclein New York.

When was your businessfounded? ComprehensiveFamily Dentsitry was foundedin August 2005.

Given a month off andthe resources I would: Travelthe Mediteranean.

The person alive today Imost would like to meet is:Beth Moore- Author.

If I had money, I wouldimprove our community by:Developing old Millington asa tourist attraction/destination.

What is your best part ofthe day? Early Morning (timewith GOD).

WWJanet Black

Comprehensive Family Dentistry


Carla SextonInsurance Account Representative

Marilyn RayInsurance Account Representative

Joy PackInsurance Account Representative

Katy AshleyOffice Manager

Whitny FortenberryInsurance Account Representative

Cheryl SmithInsurance Account Representative

n At State Farm, our mission is to help peoplemanage the risks of everyday life, recover fromthe unexpected, and realize their dreams.Whether you’re shopping for a car, saving for col-lege, getting married or planning for retirement,State Farm is here to help life go right every stepof the way.

n Please visit Preston Carpenter - State Farm at2085 E. Winchester Blvd., Suite 103 inCollierville. Any of our staff will be happy to helpyou. Being a good neighbor is about more thanjust being there when things go completelywrong. It's also about being there for all of life'smoments when things go perfectly right.

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rom Oakland toMillington, FirstCitizens NationalBanks benefits fromexperienced leader-

ship.Some of the top leaders for

the bank are Jan Jackson,Sharon Hammett and BarbaraCanady. The trio of womenwork daily on the FirstCitizens mission to be a fullservice community bank withabout $1.5 billion in assetsoffering deposit, lending,wealth management, cashmanagement, trust, insuranceand investments.

Jackson, who grew up inMississippi County, Ark.,wanted to be a lawyer growingup. She used her passion forlearning, faith and timeliness toadvance with First Citizens.

“Just do what you can dayand leave it in God’s hands,”Jackson said.

Her colleagues, likeHammett, agreed that the lead-ers of First Citizens want thebest people in the best posi-tions to help customers.

“Everybody has an equalopportunity to grow and moveup,” Hammett said. “If you'rewilling to work, dedicate your-self, First Citizens is very opento people succeeding andgrowing their careers.”

Hammett is the VicePresident of the MillingtonFirst Citizens Branch. She hasmentored within the companyand community.

“It's just important to beinvolved in the community andlet them know we're there to

support them — in the growthor anything they need supportor help with,” Hammett noted.

Hammett has watchedMillington grow with the addi-tion of the Shoppes ofMillington Farms bringingnearly two dozen new busi-nesses to the area.

Up the road on Highway64, Canady has witnessedOakland's development.Canady is the Branch Managerof the Oakland First Citizens.

“I have been at the bank for13 years and in banking for 34years,” she said. “I am marriedto Clay and we have four chil-dren — Erin, Brittany, Paigeand Clayton and two grand-children Kayden and Dani.”

Canady grew up nearby hercurrent work home in FayetteCounty and in Mason. As agirl, she wanted to be a wifeand mother. She did reach thatgoal and earned a bankingcareer in the process.

“It was 13 years ago, Iheard of a new bank coming tothe area and I heard that JohnSmith was working there,”Canady recalled. “I was veryinterested and called John. Iinterviewed with him and havenever had one regret.

“My advice is work hardevery day, enjoy your co-workers, leave the drama out-side, no matter your position –give 110 percent,” she added.“There is no such thing as enti-tlement.”

Canady learned how to han-dle her business life from hermother, former boss JimBraden and Smith. Now she'sone of the leaders within FirstCitizens.

“I learned to make every

effort to be assertive withoutbeing aggressive,” she said.“Think carefully before youspeak because you can nevertake back what you say andlead by example.”

Hammett said leading byexample is rewarded by FirstCitizens as long the customers'best interest stays the top prior-ity.

“It makes you want to workharder because you know thatyou're being recognized forthat hard work,” she said.“Women today are strong andconfident. First Citizens recog-nizes that and they are willingto promote you as long as youdo the work.”

Canady said teamworkmakes First Citizens so suc-cessful.

“If you see your male coun-terpart as a team member andnot competition, you have agreat team,” she said. “You getgreat results with input from

both.”Jackson noted First Citizens

allows employees to bringtheir own personalities to thetable to serve customers.Jackson likes to visit beachesand hit the slopes. Canady willgo to the beach and also watchforensic investigation shows,play the piano and cook.

No matter the backgroundor list of hobbies, the leadersof First Citizens National Bankcome together to give theirbest for the customers.

“Trustworthy, that's themain thing, customer thinkingof us as trustworthy,” Hammettconcluded. “You have to leadwith integrity, follow throughwith what you say you'regoing to do. That's what makethe customers come back. I’vebeen here 25 years. They walkin and they know me and theyknow they can trust me fromfinancial to personal situa-tions.”

Three on the BranchSPECIAL TOJournal West 10

FF

n From left are Sharon Hammett, Becca Ping, Lesley Williams, ChrisMartin, Barbara Canady and Jan Jackson.

orking moth-ers make up asizable por-tion of themodern work-

force. According to theUnited States Department ofLabor, as of 2015 69.9 per-cent of mothers with chil-dren under the age of 18were in the labor force.Things are similar inCanada, where StatisticsCanada reports single-earnerfamilies made up just 27percent of all couple fami-lies with children in 2014, afigure that was 59 percent in1976.

While more and moremothers are returning towork after the birth of theirchildren, that does not meantheir responsibilities at homeare falling by the wayside.Time-strapped workingmoms tasked with preparingfamily meals can embracesome time-saving strategiesto make mealtime a littleless hectic.

Save time during prepWhether it’s breakfast,

lunch or dinner, preparingmeals for a family can betime-consuming. Whenmaking dinner, keep a plas-tic shopping bag or bowl onthe counter where you candiscard scraps such as the

skin from onions, fat fromchicken and other items thatwill ultimately end up in thegarbage. Discarding all theitems into one bag ratherthan walking back and forthfrom the garbage to yourwork area can save timeduring meal prep.

Slow things downAnother way to save time

at mealtime is to use a slowcooker so meals are cookingduring the day while you areat work. Chop vegetables onweekend afternoons ornights and separate ingredi-ents into Ziploc bags or con-tainers so all of the prepwork is done ahead of time.Each morning you can sim-ply unload the bags or con-tainers into the slow cooker,turn it on before leaving forwork and then the meal willbe ready to eat by the timeyou and your family arrivehome at night.

Shop onlineMany people associate

online shopping with cloth-ing and gadgets, but work-ing moms can now buy gro-ceries for their families

online as well. Many gro-cery stores now offer onlineshopping and pickup servic-es that allow shoppers to fillup their grocery carts beforestepping foot in the store.Simply place your orderonline and arrange a pickuptime and everything will beready for you when youarrive at the store. This cansave you the effort and timespent navigating today’sincreasingly large and busygrocery stores.

Involve the whole teamWorking moms who are

tasked with family mealplanning might want to findhealthy meals for their fami-lies, but that does not meanthey can’t involve the wholefamily when it comes timeto cook. Encourage childrento help when preparingmeals, assigning age-appro-priate tasks. And let dad dosome of the work, encourag-ing him to fire up the grillwhen the weather permits.

Working mothers whoplay the role of family mealplanner can make this rolesimpler by employing vari-ous time-saving strategies.

SPECIAL TOJournal West 10

WW


How busy moms can make mealtime easier

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he average length of maternityleave varies depending ongeography, but the vast majorityof new mothers take time awayfrom work upon giving birth.

Maternity leave affords women theopportunity to connect with and providefor their babies, while hopefully givingnew mothers some time to recover fromchildbirth as well.

When maternity leave ends, the transi-tion back to work can be difficult. Newmothers often struggle when the timecomes to leave their babies at daycare,with a nanny or with a relative.

Adding to that emotional difficulty,women also face the task of diving backinto their careers and all the responsibili-ties that come with those careers. Whilereturning to work after maternity leave canbe difficult, the following tips might helpwomen make the transition go moresmoothly.

• Give yourself a grace period. Even ifyou're accustomed to going full bore at theoffice, the first days or even weeks afterreturning from maternity leave will beanything but ordinary.

Give yourself a grace period uponreturning to work, gradually easing back inrather than expecting to dive right in withboth feet on your first day back.

Not taking on too much too quickly canhelp you adjust to your new reality andgive you time to cope with any emotionsyou might be feeling about leaving yourchild with a caregiver.

• Arrange to work remotely one or twodays per week. Another way to reduce thelikelihood of being overwhelmed uponreturning from maternity leave is toattempt to work remotely one or two daysper week. Speak with your employerabout making such an arrangement perma-

nent or temporary, explaining how evenworking from home just a single day perweek might help you calm your nervesabout dropping a child off with a caregiv-er.

Thanks to the cost savings andadvancements in technology, manyemployers are now more amenable toallowing staffers to work remotely. Butnew moms won't know their employers'point of view on working from homeunless they ask.

• Take the full leave. A 2013 study pub-lished online in the Journal of HealthPolitics, Policy and Law found a directlink between the length of maternity leaveand the risk of postpartum depression.

Researchers followed more than 800women in their first year after giving birthand found that women at six weeks, 12weeks and six months of maternity leavehad lower postpartum depression scoresthan their peers who returned to work.

Postpartum depression can produce a hostof unwanted symptoms, including a lackof interest in daily tasks and too littlesleep, each of which can affect a mothers'performance at work.

By taking the leave afforded to them bytheir employers and/or local laws, womenmay reduce their risk for postpartumdepression, which can make their transi-tions back to work that much easier.

• Take breaks during the day.Frequent, short breaks during the workdaycan benefit all employees, but especiallynew mothers returning to work aftermaternity leave. Returning to work canfeel overwhelming, and routine breaksprovide mothers with chances to catchtheir breath. Studies have indicated thatsuch breaks also can reenergize workers,an especially useful benefit for new moth-ers who are likely not getting as muchsleep as they were accustomed to prior togiving birth.

How to make the post-maternity leave transition back to work go smoothlySPECIAL TOJournal West 10

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xecutives who occupy corner offices tend to get muchof the glory for a company’s success. But many profes-sionals know the progress and sustainability of a busi-ness tends to lie within thedaily services offered by its

front line of employees. A number ofthese seasoned and dedicated workersfall within the category of administra-tive professionals.

Administrative professionals haveseen their roles evolve in the changingface of office employment. Whilesome of the more conventional dutiesthat have long been a part of admins’jobs remain, many now find theirroles expanding. Admins who want tostay a step ahead and improve theircareer opportunities can hone theirskills and keep abreast of the changingtrends.

A survey sponsored by OfficeTeamand the International Association ofAdministrative Professionals zeroedin on what hiring managers said theyconsider are key motivators for hiringadmins. The survey found that organizational skills, initiativeand attention to detail are some of the most important qualitiesfor support professionals to possess. They also need to have

advanced technical skills, as proficiency in Microsoft Office isjust the tip of the iceberg. Some employers now require officeprofessionals be skilled at cloud-based apps, social media, data-base management, and even website maintenance. Long goneare the days when filing papers and keeping up on companycorrespondence filled the bulk of an admin’s day.

The following are some skillsadministrative professionals may needto advance their careers.

• Excellent written and verbal com-munication: Being bilingual is anadded feather in one’s cap.

• Industry experience: Knowledgeregarding how a specific industryand/or business works can help adminprofessionals.

• Customer service skills: A friend-ly but effective demeanor can benefitadmins.

• Filing/billing: An ability to fileand/or create financial reports coupledwith knowledge regarding how toprocess invoices can help admins.

• Flexibility: Admins who can wearmany hats are especially attractivecandidates to many businesses, asadmins may have to fill in for theduties of an office manger or book-

keeper.• Thirst for knowledge: A desire to continue one’s education,

including involving oneself in various seminars or training ses-sions particular to the industry, can help admins. Credentials aresought-after and include certification in certain industry standardcourses.

BYOD trends also are rising among administrative profes-sionals. This means workers are able to bring their own comput-ers or other digital devices to work. Admins may be tasked withestablishing protocol for security and maintenance of suchdevices.

Thanks to evolving roles for administrative professionals,outdated job titles are changing and salaries are increasing.According to Salary Guide, the average starting salary across theadministrative field increased by 3.4 percent in 2015 and contin-ues to grow. Current administrative professionals can continueto grow their skill sets and keep current on the training or tech-nologies that can help them advance their careers.



Merle NormanStudio & Boutique

Your one stop shop for beauty!

11664 Hwy 51 S. (Beside Kroger)Atoka, TN 38004

901-840-3960Monday-Friday10am - 6pm

Saturday10am-4pmwww.beautyinatoka.com

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Workplace trends affecting administrative professionals


1880 Old Highway 51 S • Brighton, TN • 901-837-8981Store Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Saturday | Closed on Sunday

Brighton Pharmacy would like to give a special thanks toall of our Women in our Business!

raci Lee • Internet Manager• AAccccoommpplliisshhmmeennttss::Successfully jugglingmotherhood and a

full-time job. • CCoommmmuunniittyy iinnvvoollvveemmeenntt:: I’mproud to be a St. Jude sponsor.Also, I sponsor local elementaryand high school sports pro-grams. • HHoobbbbiieess:: Shooting ducks • WWhhaatt wwaass yyoouurr ffiirrsstt jjoobb?? Myfirst job was at Ryan’sSteakhouse in Bartlett. I was anamazing hostess. • GGiivveenn aa mmoonntthh ooffff aanndd lloottss ooff

rreessoouurrcceess,, II wwoouulldd:: I would grabmy boyfriend, his three kids andmy son and we would be off ona very long, far away adventure. • TThhee ppeerrssoonn aalliivvee ttooddaayy tthhaatt IImmoosstt wwoouulldd lliikkee ttoo mmeeeett iiss::Chris Hemsworth, duh! • IIff II hhaadd mmoonneeyy,, II wwoouullddiimmpprroovvee oouurr ccoommmmuunniittyy bbyy:: Iwould make sure every childhas the same opportunity toreceive a quality education. • WWhhaatt iiss tthhee bbeesstt ppaarrtt ooff yyoouurrddaayy?? Waking up knowing that Iam blessed with another oppor-tunity to be better than the daybefore.

TT orian Jones• Representative• EEdduuccaattiioonn:: I’m aproud University ofMemphis Tiger!

• HHoobbbbiieess:: I love to read andhang out with family. • WWhhaatt wwaass yyoouurr ffiirrsstt jjoobb??McDonald’s• GGiivveenn aa mmoonntthh ooffff aanndd lloottssooff rreessoouurrcceess,, II wwoouulldd:: Travelwith my family to St. Luciaand eat local food. • TThhee ppeerrssoonn aalliivvee ttooddaayy tthhaatt IImmoosstt wwoouulldd lliikkee ttoo mmeeeett iiss::Rihanna• IIff II hhaadd mmoonneeyy,, II wwoouulldd

iimmpprroovvee oouurr ccoommmmuunniittyy bbyy:: Iwould fix all of the potholes. • WWhhaatt iiss tthhee bbeesstt ppaarrtt ooff yyoouurrddaayy?? When I help customersbuy a car and I know they arecompletely satisfied!

DDMeet some of the women at Sunrise on the Pike

Traci Lee Dorian Jones

ecca Ping has aneye for details.

She has no issuesmaking sure theaccounts and finan-

cial situations of First CitizensNational Bank customers lookgood. Maybe it's because herpassion while growing up ofinterior design has stuck withher through the years.

“I wanted to be an interiordesigner,” she said. “I thoughtit would be a fun to designand decorate people’s homes.

This is still a passion ofmine.”

The Brighton native stillmakes her home in TiptonCounty living in Drummondswith her husband Brian. Ping's18-year union with Brian hasproduced two children,Mattison, a freshman atMississippi State, and Emma,a junior at Munford HighSchool. The couple also hastwo dogs, Nola and Rosie.

While making her residen-cy just down the road fromher family, Ping started herprofessional home downHighway 51 in Millington.

“I have been with FirstCitizens for almost 13 years,”she recalled. “I started work-ing at our Munford branch asa teller and was promoted toLead CSA shortly after. In2008, I decided I wanted to domore so I applied for the CSRposition at our Millingtonlocation. I worked there until2016. Now I am the BranchManager at our Collierville

location.”To move up the ranks of

First Citizen, Ping had a sim-ple blueprint.

“Always do more than youare asked,” she noted. “Workhard and don’t expect any-thing to be handed to you.”

Ping said the leaders ofFirst Citizens pay attention toperformance and results. Shenever felt intimidated being awoman trying to make herway in leadership.

“ While I have a healthyrespect for authority, I do feelI am competent in my positionand empowered by our organ-ization,” Ping said. “So no, Ido not feel intimidated.”

Ping makes sure her cus-tomers entering theCollierville branch don't feel



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see PING, page 18

nternships provide greatopportunities for youngwomen to get their pro-fessional feet wet. Whileclassroom lessons pro-

vide theoretical senses of whata profession might be like, aninternship gives an actualsense, shedding light on how aparticular business or industryoperates.

In its Class of 2015 StudentSurvey, the NationalAssociation of Colleges andEmployers found that women(65.8 percent) were slightlymore likely to have had aninternship than men (64.6 per-cent). Competition for intern-ships can be steep, and youngwomen who want to set them-selves apart from the field can

employ various strategies asthey search for internships.

• Learn the recruitingschedule. Some professionsmay recruit interns year-round,while others may only look forinterns during particular timesof the year. Speak with youracademic advisor or someonein your college or university’scareer placement department todetermine when opportunitiesin your field are most likely tobe available, and make sureyour materials (i.e., rèsumè andportfolio) are ready when thatrecruiting season begins.

• Don’t limit yourself. Casta wide net when searching foran internship. If you want to bean investment banker, landingan internship that allows you towork alongside investmentbankers may be ideal.However, limiting yourself to

only those opportunities maybe prohibitive, and you mayend up with nothing. Maintainan open mind when pursuinginternships. Even if you don’tland your dream internship,another opportunity may pro-vide lots of hands-on experi-ence while also allowing youto get your foot in the door.

• Tell the truth.Embellishing your rèsumèmight help you get an inter-view, but chances are the inter-viewer will learn pretty quicklyif your purported skills areauthentic. Internship programsare designed for students withlittle or no experience whomight one day turn into valuedemployees. If a company sus-pects an internship candidate ofembellishing her skills andexperience now, that candidatemight never get her foot back

in the door. Tell the truth andexpress your excitement at anyopportunity that allows you toapply classroom lessons in realworld settings.

• Don’t accept just anyinternship. Not every intern-ship is worth the effort. Whileinterns may be asked to per-form some menial tasks duringtheir internships, the rightopportunities afford interns thechance to get professionalexperience and interact withworking professionals. If anopportunity is largely or exclu-sively clerical, you might bebetter off continuing yoursearch or volunteering with afirm.

Young women looking forinternships can take varioussteps to ensure they land themost beneficial opportunitiesavailable to them.


II


How to land the right internship


intimidated by any banking issues orquestions. Her years of work in TiptonCounty and Millington have prepared herto take on the challenge of making sureFirst Citizen patrons feel at home.

“I worked at the Millington locationfor 8 years beside Sharon Hammett,”Ping recalled. “She has been my mentorover the years and now one of my bestfriends. She has challenged me to step

out of the box and do things I neverthought I would have done. Without her, Iwould not be where I am now.“Everyday is challenging, but fun,” sheacknowledged. “I have only been aBranch Manger for a little over a year, soI am still learning.”To relax from work, Ping relies on familytime like being the best foosball player inthe house and doing her longtime pas-sion.“You have to try and not take work homewith you,” she declared. “I have a great

support system at home too. My familyhelps with the day to day routine, allow-ing for real family time. When I gethome, I am the wife, the mom, and thechef. Knowing that I have the best partof my day waiting for me when I gethome makes a good day at work evenbetter. “I still love interior design,” Ping contin-ued. “I’d redesign my home (and yours)annually if it were feasible. I’m also mygirls’ No. 1 fan. If there is a soccer or vol-leyball game scheduled — I’m there.”

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would like to thank all the women ofSunrise on the Pike for all they do!

BACK ROW: Krisha Berkheimer, Ann Trimble, Kim Hollingsworth, Traci Lee, Terry Sullivan, Tracy Still, Patrice Williams

FRONT ROW: Traci Ference, Kristen Schaffer, Ashley Kerber, Lisa Jacquez, Gayle Hubley, Jane Cartwright,Tania Hernandez, Dorian Jones, Tammy Franck

Sunrise on The Pike1800 Covington Pike | Memphis, TN

901.372.8000www.sunrisememphis.com

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