We need more part-time jobs

Friday, May 17th, 2013

One of my biggest struggles as a parent looking for work has been finding a part-time job. There are plenty out there, of course. Cashier, cook, babysitter…

“It’s time that we put the clock at the heart of this debate,” says Jody Greenstone Miller in this article, and I agree.

I may be exaggerating, but the truth of it is that the corporate world is built on the 60 to 80 hour a week model. This makes it hard for people who would like to build their careers while they build their families. Even 40 hours a week, the standard full-time schedule, is too much for many.

Some have leadership ambitions, but don’t care for the fast-paced environment. Some want to earn some money, but can’t find a part-time job paying much more than the cost of child care. Or maybe they want to find intellectual stimulation outside their homes, but the only available part-time jobs are low-skill ones.

I do know some exceptions, of course. Most people I’ve met with part-time positions have negotiated a schedule with fewer hours after working for their companies for several years. It’s much easier to get flexibility of any kind when you’ve already proven your dependability and trustworthiness.

But what about the rest of us? The ones who have been out of the workforce for a few years or the ones who want to change careers? Or those whose bosses can’t conceptualize a less-than-full-time position?

Miller presents her tips for re-configuring work as a solution for “making… firms magnets for the huge swath of American talent now sitting on the sidelines”.

She’s right. This study of Harvard MBAs suggests that many women are opting out of the workforce to take care of their children. I’m not saying that SAHM(Stay At Home Mom)-hood is a bad thing, but many careers in the business world require such long hours that they are often incompatible with parenthood, so that many parents end up at home when they might have chosen otherwise if they had more options.

There are plenty of parents who would work and who could make valuable contributions to their workplaces if they didn’t have to sacrifice so much family time in order to do so. Miller says we need to think of work in terms of quality, rather than quantity.

I agree. I would love to see more jobs advertised as a “possible job share” or “hours negotiable” or even “20-30 hour position” instead of the standard full-time offerings. I would love to see job descriptions get detailed enough so they could easily be split. I would love to see employers reevaluate their numbers of part-time workers and see what they could do to boost those numbers. I don’t think it would be too hard to compare wages of full-time vs. part-time workers to see if part-time workers are getting shortchanged. Benefits can be prorated and part-time workers can be given equal consideration in the promotion pool.

It’s not that hard to be inclusive of people who have families. Parenthood doesn’t have to make people less committed to their jobs, even if it does mean they have less time to give to work. If more employers sought out part-time workers, I think they’d find lots of smart men and women lining up to apply.

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New resources on Utah Women and Education

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013

Aside from being an economic driver, education is crucial in personal and professional development.

The gap between men graduating college (~31 percent) and women graduating college (~24 percent) in Utah is one of the largest in the country. And only one in four Utah women who attend college actually graduate.

To reach our economic potential, Utah must close that gap by increasing the number of women who earn postsecondary degrees.

Influencing girls to make a college education a priority begins at a young age–they don’t have to be in high school for parents, family and friends to set an example or encourage them to pursue higher education. Start when they are little. Help them when they need it on homework (or find someone who can help them), so they feel like it’s not impossible. It’s not just about a degree or getting a job–it’s for personal growth, to figure out who you are and what you want to do with your life, and gaining skills that you can use to benefit yourself, your family, and your community.

The Utah Women and Education Initiative have recently added new resources to their website. Included is this video (below) titled, “Realms of Possibility,” produced by Spy Hop Productions in partnership with KUED.

UWEI also partnered with Utah Education Network (UEN) to create an innovative, engaging set of eleven 30-second public service announcement clips on various benefits of education for women. They have also produced a five minute video for presentations in all settings—titled “The Overarching Benefits for Women and Higher Education.”

All of these new resources can be used in classrooms, family and community meetings, one-on-one mentoring and advising. You can find all of these videos here.

So what do you want to be when you grow up? Encourage a young girl or woman to get an education today.

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Wrap up of Women’s History Month features

Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013

The Chamber blog was a hot spot during March thanks to our Women’s History Month series featuring Utah’s businesswomen. It was such an honor to host such admirable, hard-working and amazing women and hearing their thoughts on the challenges women face today.

One of the most mentioned challenges that women face is life balance and time management between work, family and personal life. KUTV’s Kristen Henderson pointed out that, “women are expected to do so much, and we want so badly to be the very best we can at everything that often times I find that we are afraid to ask for help.”

Another big challenge that comes with that is women either lack the confidence or simply won’t speak up for themselves and what they believe.

“We need to speak up, express our views or ideas and realize not everyone is going to agree or even like those ideas, or us, for that matter. And we need to be fine with that,” said Debra Hoyt of Questar.  ”Women are educated and smart but all too often it’s not seen by others because women won’t speak up. We need to change that mindset because an idea or thought not expressed could be an opportunity lost.”

“Women need to be very pro-active in managing their career. Opportunity will knock, but if we don’t take advantage when it does, we can miss out on learning and progressing,” said Cecilia Mitchell of Zions Bank.

Cory Schaeffer of Listen Technologies Corp. said, “Women wait for more to be offered or given. We need to ask for more and we need to know that we deserve more. We deserve to have a seat at the boardroom table, we deserve to run companies and we deserve to make more. It will never be offered until we believe we deserve more.”

“Don’t expect anyone to give you an extra break because you are a woman,” said Janet Hugie Smith of Ray Quinney & Nebeker, “but do expect that being a woman gives you an advantage.”

Though more and more women are emerging as leaders in the community and in business, Deborah Bayle of the United Way Salt Lake is concerned by other factors facing women in the corporate world that could hinder progress.  ”Pay equity is a huge issue,” Bayle said. “Women in Utah are paid only 69 cents for every dollar that a man makes. Women still have a difficult time being taken seriously and are marginalized by many men. I don’t think that women are given to same opportunities for advancement, either. There are too few women on corporate boards. Women are often not given their just due in the corporate world.”

When it comes to challenges in female leadership, Workers Compensation Fund’s Peggy Larsen noted that women face the struggle of being recognized as capable leaders.  Patricia A. Richards of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera also said, “It is also hard for women to find their authentic voice in leadership, as cultural expectations still tend to differentiate between men and women, interpreting women as ‘strident’ or ‘soft,’ while men in the same circumstances might be seen as ‘powerful’ or ‘empathetic’.”

“We are in an era when the competitive landscape and economic impact is affecting business rapidly,” Sysco Intermountain’s Lisa Gough said. “Our need to lead our companies through change effectively is a critical component to our success.”

One of those critical keys to success? Education.

“For young women, I encourage them to create their own opportunity through education, hard work and tenacity,” said Maxine Turner of Cuisine Unlimited. “I wish I had the formal education as a chef and had that culinary education that would have made the path a little easier.”

As far as advice goes, the ladies featured touted getting an education, having more confidence, speaking out, dreaming big, respecting others, starting a 401(K) early, trusting your intuition, stopping to smell the roses from time to time, and staying true to yourself will help you not only be more successful, but also live a better, more fullfilled life. Also, it’s never a bad thing to take a risk.

“Always take the high road, always look forward, always listen to your inner voice and always believe in yourself!” said Dr. Cynthia Bioteau of Salt Lake Community College.

Among conquering all of this, Hoyt said women should “plan and take time to have fun and enjoy those most precious to you as it will make you a better woman, wife, mother, friend and employee.”

For if girls can’t have fun, who can?

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

Click here to see the complete list of blog posts featuring Utah businesswomen, or click their individual names below. 

Dr. Cynthia Bioteau
Debbie Jacketta
Andy Wolcott
Sylvia Norman
Patricia A. Richards
Melinda Workman
Maxine Turner
Lisa Gough
Debra Hoyt
Sen. Pat Jones
Deedee Corradini
Lynne Ward
Lavanya Mahate
Cory Schaeffer
Kristen Henderson
Michelle Flynn
Lauryn Wingate
Janet Hugie Smith
Cecilia Mitchell
Peggy Larsen
Deborah Bayle
Becky Potts
Patricia R. Richards
Gail Miller

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Women’s History Month Double Feature: Patricia R. Richards & Gail Miller

Friday, March 29th, 2013

This post is part of a series of blogs that feature prominent businesswomen in Utah to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also join in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #whm13.

For our last day of the series, this feature is on two powerhouse women running their companies Patricia R. Richards and Gail Miller. 

*   *   *

Patricia R. Richards

1. What is your role in your organization?

President and CEO of SelectHealth.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

SelectHealth collaborates with clinical partners to offer coverage and access to high quality health care services at the lowest appropriate cost, to improve the health of our members and to provide superior service to our customers.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Focus on serving others; making a positive difference in people’s lives; and working with others to build strong communities and support the next generation.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

There are too many to select just one. I try to learn from everyone with whom I interact.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Maintaining balance. And also establishing and maintaining credibility.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Make sure your “head” and your “heart” are aligned whenever you have to make “big decisions”. Do everything you can to complete your post-secondary education in a timely way. I was on the “10 year plan” to earn a college degree – trying to take care of small children, taking one or two courses a semester, while also working full time. It all worked out OK, but I would advise other women to carefully consider timing of education, family, career and other life plans.

*   *   *

Gail Miller

1. What is your role in your organization?

Owner and Chairman of Larry H. Miller Companies.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

To provide quality jobs for as many as possible, to provide exceptional goods and service to our customers and to make the markets where we do business better because we are there.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

We have built our business on a foundation of timeless values, been consistent in our execution of those values and tried to always be the leader in our market places by providing quality goods and services.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

My late husband, Larry Miller, would have to be the number one influence in my life as far as my knowledge of business goes.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

I believe the business world is opening up to women who have a strong drive and desire to get into business, but if I had to name one thing that can be a roadblock, it would be securing the resources to start a business.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

I would encourage myself to get a college education. To take the time to find out who I really am before entering into marriage, and look at all the options available to me.

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

This year’s 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination,” honors generations of women who have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields throughout American history.

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Women’s History Month Double Feature: Becky Potts & Deborah Bayle

Wednesday, March 27th, 2013

This post is part of a series of blogs that feature prominent businesswomen in Utah to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also join in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #whm13.

Today, our feature is on former ATHENA award recipients, Becky Potts & Deborah Bayle. 

*   *   *

Becky Potts

1. What is your role in your organization?

SVP, Residential Call Center for Frontier Communications.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

Our mission is to provide telecommunication services to our customers.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Knowing you are the best person for the job–not based on gender or religion.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

Deborah Bayle, the CEO United Way.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Balancing family, career, friends and also having enough time for themselves.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Be true to yourself.

*   *   *

And speaking of Deborah Bayle…

1. What is your role in your organization?

President and CEO of the United Way of Salt Lake.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

Our mission is to improve lives and build strong communities by uniting individuals and organizations with the will, passion, expertise and resources needed to solve problems.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

I believe the key to the success I have achieved is that I have integrity, accountability, confidence, courage, the ability to motivate and lead people, a sense of humor and excellent management skills. I surround myself with great people, who have talents and skills that I don’t, and I give them the authority as well as the responsibility.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

There are many, although I think my greatest influence came from Nick Rose, who is the former President and CEO of Questar. I met him when I was with the Salt Lake Chamber. He was on our Board and served as Board Chair. He was also the Chair of Utah Business Week, which I staffed. He became a great friend and mentor to me.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Pay equity is a huge issue. Women in Utah are paid only 69 cents for every dollar that a man makes. Women still have a difficult time being taken seriously and are marginalized by many men. I don’t think that women are given to same opportunities for advancement, either. There are too few women on corporate boards. Women are often not given their just due in the corporate world.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Have more confidence. Get over your shyness more quickly, because it’s holding you back. Don’t be quite so serious or such a perfectionist. Don’t put your career above everything else. Make sure you have balance in your life.

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

This year’s 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination,” honors generations of women who have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields throughout American history.

 

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Women’s History Month Double Feature: Peggy Larsen & Cecilia Mitchell

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013

This post is part of a series of blogs that feature prominent businesswomen in Utah to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also join in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #whm13.

Today, our double feature is on Peggy Larsen and Cecilia Mitchell.

*   *   *

Peggy Larsen

1. What is your role in your organization?

Senior Vice President responsible for sales, retention, advertising, PR and community relations at Worker’s Compensation Fund.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

Be the premier workers compensation carrier in Utah – help businesses prevent workplace injuries and care for the injured worker.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Stay focused on achieving goals of the company, build strong relationships, do the right thing and surround yourself with successful people you can learn and grow from.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

I have many – Our CEO, Ray Pickup and past CEO, Lane Summerhays have been great mentors.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Women continue to face the struggle of being recognized in many industries as capable leaders.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Stay in school, surround yourself with strong leaders, learn everything you can about leadership, step outside of the box, and do what you think you can’t.

* * *

Cecilia Mitchell

1. What is your role in your organization?

I manage SBA guaranteed lending for Zions Bank. From the application through the payoff, and all regulatory and reporting requirements.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

To provide value to our clients, our communities, our employees and shareholders. To be the small business bank in our communities.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Flexibility and willingness to change course when necessary.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

I don’t have just one, but a number of individuals – Lori Chillingworth, Bill Lapsley, my mom, my dad.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Women need to be very pro-active in managing their career. Opportunity will knock, but if we don’t take advantage when it does, we can miss out on learning and progressing.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Laugh more, find pleasure in helping others, be open to new ideas, and take a few risks.

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

This year’s 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination,” honors generations of women who have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields throughout American history.

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Women’s History Month Double Feature: Janet Hugie Smith & Lauryn Wingate

Monday, March 25th, 2013

This post is part of a series of blogs that feature prominent businesswomen in Utah to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also join in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #whm13.

Today is a double feature on presidents of their respective companies: Janet Hugie Smith and Lauryn Wingate. 

*   *   *

Janet Hugie Smith

1. What is your role in your organization?

I have been with the Ray Quinney & Nebeker law firm since 1976 and was the first full-time attorney who was a woman. I am now president of the law firm.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

Ray Quinney & Nebeker P.C. strives to provide the best and highest quality legal services for its clients. My focus has been employment and labor law.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Hard work, supportive family and co-workers and the ability to maintain a good sense of humor.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

My mom. At 96, she makes the best of each day.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Recognizing that there will have to be give and take on work, family and personal issues. Don’t expect anyone to give you an extra break because you are a woman, but do expect that being a woman gives you an advantage.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Listen more and talk less. Recognize you cannot always control the river and that life constantly changes.

* * *

Lauryn Wingate

1. What is your role in your organization?

President of LW Communications.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

To problem solve. LW Communications synthesizes the consumer experience wanted with the essence of the program/project, product or service needed that will achieve high impact results for all parties involved.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Intuition. Perseverance. And the ability to respond with timing.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

There are many. The one closest to my heart is my recently passed business partner Bastezz. She was a mentor, friend, confidant, visionary and patient human being. Her breathe of knowledge on many subjects pushed me to learn at a rapid pace to keep up with her never ending curiosity and trend-setting methods. Most people have not met her, but her work has been, and will continue to be, universally felt.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

For me, it is not a person or a place, it is the never-ending push for greater knowledge to keep pace with technology and how to decipher what will work best for my clients and my company.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Listen to your intuition. Don’t do things that others want you to do simply because it makes them feel better. Do what you feel. And most importantly, move to Florida, not California. Your life will be so much easier if you just managed to heed that advice!

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

This year’s 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination,” honors generations of women who have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields throughout American history.

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Women’s History Month Double Feature: Kristen Henderson & Michelle Flynn

Saturday, March 23rd, 2013

This post is part of a series of blogs that feature prominent businesswomen in Utah to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also join in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #whm13.

For our series today, we’re featuring Kristen Henderson and Michelle Flynn.

*   *   *

Kristen Henderson

1. What is your role in your organization?

Account Executive and Political Advertising Specialist at KUTV.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

KUTV’s mission is to make an outstanding and ongoing contribution to the state of Utah and each community that we serve so that we are a leading source for news and information.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Communication has played a big part in my success – being able to understand a client’s needs and execute them efficiently, being able to communicate with different personalities, and being able to share both my personal and professional goals with others to help me achieve them.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

Milton S. Hershey, The Hershey Company Founder.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Being able to balance life at home and a professional career is an ever-growing challenge. Women are expected to do so much, and we want so badly to be the very best we can at EVERYTHING that often times I find that we are afraid to ask for help. Remember that others can help you become bigger than yourself.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

You are responsible for your own success. Learn from everyone around you.

*   *   *

Michelle Flynn 

1. What is your role in your organization?

Associate Executive Director – supervising our client and housing programs – for The Road Home.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

To help people step out of homelessness and back into our community.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Working with amazing people around me. Flexibility to create and grow programs. Mentoring from my supervisors and others in the community.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

My boss, Matt Minkevitch.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Managing the work-life balance is the biggest challenge for women in the workplace. We succeed and grow in organizations that offer flexibility while keeping the same expectations of high performance.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Look for a job in whatever field interests you most. If you love the work you are doing, opportunities will open for you to grow and advance. Speak up and share your ideas, even when they may not directly impact your particular job. Listen and learn.

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

This year’s 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination,” honors generations of women who have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields throughout American history.

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Women’s History Month Feature: Cory Schaeffer

Friday, March 22nd, 2013

This post is part of a series of blogs that feature prominent businesswomen in Utah to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also join in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #whm13.

Today, our feature is on Cory Schaeffer.

*   *   *

1. What is your role in your organization?

My primary role is Vice President of Sales Worldwide for Listen Technologies Corporation. I provide vertical market vision, I outline the sales structure and the operational support structure for the company worldwide. I am the key customer relationship manager. I run a large portion of operations for the company. I wear the visionary hat, I’m a thought leader for our industry and I’m on our board of directors.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

Our company’s core purpose is ”Connecting People To Positive Experiences”. I love this core purpose because it speaks to every person within our organization. From president to reception. We all can embrace this.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

I love a challenge. Tell me something cannot be done and I’ll do it. I am a connector and a networker. If I don’t know how to do something, I network with someone who does and I look for someone to teach me.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

Russ Gentner & Tim Schaeffer. Russ ran the first company that I was hired into. He challenged me, he believed in me and he always supported me. Tim mentored me, supported me, believed in me and pushed me. I also received a lot of free therapy from both of these men.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Asking for more and believing that we deserve more. Women wait for more to be offered or given. We need to ask for more and we need to know that we deserve more. We deserve to have a seat at the boardroom table, we deserve to run companies and we deserve to make more. It will never be offered until we believe we deserve more.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Stop being so hard on yourself. The world is hard enough on you; you need to treat yourself with kindness. Words matter – to others and to yourself. Choose your words carefully.

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

This year’s 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination,” honors generations of women who have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields throughout American history.

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Women’s History Month Double Feature: Lavanya Mahate & Lynne Ward

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

This post is part of a series of blogs that feature prominent businesswomen in Utah to celebrate Women’s History Month. You can also join in the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #whm13.

Today is a double feature on Lavanya Mahate and Lynne Ward.

*   *   *

Lavanya Mahate

1. What is your role in your organization?

Owner of Saffron Valley Indian Restaurant.

2. What is the mission of your organization?

To help Utahns experience India through food, culture and gifts.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Hard work, passion and perseverance.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

Dr. Dinesh C. Patel

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Having to balance work and family.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

*   *   *

Lynne Ward

1. What is your role in your organization?

Executive Director of UESP (Utah Educational Savings Plan).

2. What is the mission of your organization?

To provide a 529 college savings program for families who wish to save for higher education.

3. What is the key to the professional success you have achieved?

Working harder than anyone else.

4. Who is your greatest professional influence?

The many mentors I’ve had over the years.

5. What do you see as the biggest challenges women face in business today?

Managing multiple priorities.

6. If you could sit down and talk to yourself at age 18, what advice would you give?

Start a 401(k) as soon as possible.

*   *   *

This March marks the 102nd national Women’s History Month. The United States has celebrated this month highlighting the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society since 1911.

This year’s 2013 National Women’s History Month theme, “Women Inspiring Innovation through Imagination,” honors generations of women who have used their intelligence, imagination, sense of wonder and tenacity to make extraordinary contributions to the STEM fields throughout American history.

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