> Board of Directors |
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| Chair:
Directors:
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| An internationally experienced high-tech executive, Donna
Van Fleet now shares her experience and insights to help
develop others, especially females, through her roles as mentor,
advisor, speaker and director on several boards.
Vice president of development at the time of her retirement, during
her 30-year career with IBM Donna managed the development of mission-critical
computer systems ranging from mainframes to UNIX servers. In 1996,
she was selected by the editors of the McGraw-Hill companies as
one of the Top 100 Women in Computing.
In addition to chairing the Board of GENaustin, Donna also chair's
GEN's web site committee and is a member of the Strategic Planning
and Governance committees. Donna is also a director on the boards
of the Girl Scouts Lone Star Council, Ballet Austin, The Long Center
for the Performing Arts, St. Edward's University, Jane's Due Process
and the United Way Capital Area.
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| Beth Bellanti is the first female employee
and original director of marketing for Tito's Handmade Vodka (Fifth
Generation, Inc).... the world class award winning vodka from the
first legal distillery in Texas and fastest growing microdistilled
spirit in America. She manages relationships with establishments
who carry the product in 40 states and Canada as well as managing
media relationships, events and Tito's online marketing/merchandising.
She has also managed marketing campaigns and traveled extensively
around the country for companies such as Visa, Pepsi, Exxon, and
Futurebrands since graduation. She received a B.A. degree in both
Communication and Fine Art from Avila University in Kansas City,
MO. Mr. Tito Beveridge, the geophysicist behind the vodka, allows
her to contribute to numerous charities and non profits with product/event
planning around Texas and beyond, however, personally, Beth has
volunteered in the past for nonprofit organizations that save historical
buildings, groups that provide safe havens for women/children and
with various animal rescue groups. Her goal is to help young women
realize every woman has the right to an extraordinary life despite
any odds. During Beth's time as a volunteer for GENaustin, she served
on the Resource commitee, contributed to the Benefit CD "OriGENal
Voice" and helped coordinate various PR and fundraising events.
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| Personal Coach Jane Chambers spent 18 years
as part of the management team of a Fortune 500 Company. This experience
gave her expertise in the areas of people management, team development,
coaching, project management, mentoring, leadership and organizational
development. She is the author of a monthly electronic newsletter,
"Food For Thought" which features principles of coaching and encourages
the reader to implement the suggested path to goal attainment and
overcoming the obstacles that we create. Uniquely, each newsletter
concludes with a favorite recipe and the encouragement to try something
new, even in the kitchen!
Jane received her coaching training at Coach University, America's
foremost leader in personal coach training, and at Corporate Coach
University Inc. She is a member of the International Coach Federation
and works with a mentor coach. Additionally, Ms. Chambers earned
a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Sociology at Washington and Jefferson
College in Pennsylvania and a Bachelors of Science Degree in Computer
Science at the University of Texas at Austin. She has been a volunteer
for many non-profit associations throughout her career. She and
her husband reside in Austin.
One client described the benefits of professional coaching as
"Jane Chambers gave me strength, courage and the ability to open
up my eyes to see that I am capable of doing so many things.". Another
client remarked, "Both at work and at home, my stress level is down,
my skills for dealing with life have improved. Jane Chamber's wisdom
taught me a great deal. I really appreciate having been able to
learn from her." Yet another client said, As a Personal Coach, Jane
has the gift of knowing what it takes to help someone understand
their true potential and the tools and techniques that one can use
to reach that potential"
According to Jane, professional coaching services can help a client
discover inner values, strengths, interests, and beliefs that contribute
to an authentic, happy life. She adds, "I believe that our possibilities
are limited only by our vision of ourselves and our fears. I support
my clients by providing them with the tools, structure, focus, support
and accountability that helps them to accomplish more in many areas
of their lives." |
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| Robyn Frohlin Ditter is a Senior Associate in the
Litigation section of Jackson Walker. Her practice areas are diverse
and include representing Plaintiffs and Defendants in class action
litigation, appellate litigation and general commercial litigation.
Robyn�s civil commercial litigation practice includes prosecuting
or defending lawsuits; asserting various civil causes of action
including breach of contract, common law fraud, and D.T.P.A. violations.
Her practice also includes representing clients at trial. She also
has experience in securities, tax and derivative shareholder litigation.
Other groups that Robyn is involved with include the State Bar
of Texas and Habitat for Humanity.
Robyn received her B.A. degree, cum laude, from Villanova University
and her J.D. degree, cum laude, at Southern Methodist University.
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| Margaret Garcia has been involved with the
Girls Empowerment Network (GEN) since 2001. She has served on the
Resource Development committee, as Speaker Series Committee Chair
and now co-leads GEN’s Strategic Planning activities and serves
as the Board Vice President.
Margaret has a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the University
of Arizona and has career experience in the Semiconductor industry
and the Industrial Manufacturing Sector both in the U.S. and Europe.
Currently she is employed at Praxair Inc., where she has worked
since 1985. Margaret has held many positions in her career including
Work Process Consultant, E-Business Business Development Director,
Marketing, Sales and Engineering.
In her spare time Margaret enjoys travel, cooking, bicycling and
most water sports. She also gives her time to the Ronald McDonald
House in various volunteer roles. Margaret also enjoys spending
time with her husband, Robert, and her step-son Jacob.
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| Amy Henry Deane has spent the past 10 years
consulting for leading technology companies across the United States.
She is the author of the highly praised book, What It Takes:
Speak Up, Step Up, Move Up, where she shares with you her secrets
and in-your-face advice for success in the modern workplace. Amy�s
book has now been translated in six languages and is making an impact
on young professionals across the world. An estimated 27 million
viewers watched Amy in action as the �last woman standing� on NBC�s
hit business reality show, The Apprentice. Since then, Amy has appeared
on The Today Show, The Tonight Show, Larry King Live, The View,
Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC and numerous other television and radio outlets
across the United States and Canada speaking about strategies on
how to move up in today�s workplace. Amy is a sought-after public
speaker, workshop leader and business consultant. Amy joined the
board already having volunteered for GENaustin's Resource Development
Committee and is now co-chair of the Speaker Series development
committee. |
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| Christie Horne has a diverse background in
consulting, editing and fashion retail. After earning her B.S. and
M.S.in Tax Accounting from Brigham Young University, Christie worked
as a tax consultant for Pricewaterhouse Coopers, where she got the
opportunity to live and work in Milan, Italy for six months. Upon
returning to the states, Christie pursued a career in fashion, working
at Neiman Marcus in Boston. She was then accepted into the Executive
Development Program in Dallas, where she worked as an assistant
buyer in Neiman's contemporary buying office.
Christie moved to Austin with her husband last year and has since
dedicated herself to volunteering for numerous non-profits citywide.
Christie is interested in the advancement of social causes, specifically
those involving women and children. She is currently a Girl Scout
troop leader and mentors youth in golf at the First Tee of Greater
Austin after-school program. Christie served on the Resource Development
Committee before joining the board at GENaustin and has been instrumental
in the development of oriGENal voices, GENaustin's Benefit CD featuring
Sheryl Crow, Blues Traveler and local artists Trish Murphy, Bob
Schneider and Matt the Electrician. |
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| Celia Israel is the founder and owner of Mission
Resources, a consulting firm based in Austin, Texas. Mission Resources
is a legislative and government affairs consulting firm representing
a wide array of clients including the Association of Electric Companies
of Texas and Unisys Corporation.
Celia was raised in El Paso, Texas whereupon she had the foresight
to attend the University of Texas at Austin. It was there that she
fed and nurtured her political brain, which was put to good use
working as a field coordinator and volunteer coordinator for the
Ann Richards Campaign in 1989-90. She worked in the Appointments
Division for Governor Ann Richards and later was Legislative Director
for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Other groups that Celia has been involved with include: Austin
Women�s Political Caucus; City of Austin, Police Department Citizen
Review Panel, Capital Area Food Bank and University YWCA. |
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| As Public Strategies' director of recruiting, Amy McMichael Paddock
is responsible for sourcing and hiring diverse world class talent
for the firm, as well as understanding, identifying and anticipating
its future hiring needs.
Amy began her work with Public Strategies working alongside Governor
Ann Richards in the firm's New York office, developing and implementing
strategy for a diverse group of clients. She also served as interim
chief of staff for the firm's chairman and oversaw the firm's marketing
and new business initiatives. Prior to joining Public Strategies,
Amy was an associate in the Equities Division of Goldman, Sach's
& Co.'s New York office, where she provided investment advice and
analysis to U.S.-based institutional investors. Previously, she
co-managed the University of Texas's MBA Investment Fund, with assets
totaling more than $14 million, and was a financial analyst at Credit
Suisse First Boston's Investment Banking Group in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, then in New York. She has a BA from Northwestern University
in Hispanic Studies and History of the Americas and an MBA from
the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Amy is a native Austinite and proud graduate of O. Henry Junior
High School and Stephen F. Austin High School. She co-chaired the
2004 Annual Luncheon for the Austin Children's Museum, helping to
raise over $300,000 and will co-chair the 2006 Kappa Settings events.
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| Austin-based recording artist Trish Murphy
officially launched her music career after receiving a B.A. in philosophy
from the University of Dallas and quitting her college job at The
Wall Street Journal. Critically esteemed as a gender-defying songwriter
who "stands toe to toe with the boys and rocks just as hard as they
do," her discography includes four solo albums, three of which she
released on her own label. She tours the U.S. and Europe, and the
annual all-female Lilith Fair tour was a career highlight in the
late 1990s. Her songs have also been recorded by fellow Texan Pat
Green and CMT favorites Cross Canadian Ragweed. Her latest CD, titled
"Girls Get In Free," was written during her term as a board member.
Trish celebrated its local release by throwing a skating-rink bash
with the Texas Roller Girls, to benefit GENaustin. Girls under 18
got in free!
Trish has been involved with many Texas-area charities addressing
the needs of young people, including Transplants for Children, the
Texas Music Project, and the Sims Foundation. She has performed
as a guest artist with high-school orchestras in Houston, her home
town, to raise awareness for music education. She also enjoys participating
as a guest speaker with GENaustin's Speaker Series and contributing
her writing skills to the ClubGEN Curriculum Guide. She has lived
in Austin since 1996. |
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| MariBen Ramsey is what some might
call a super-volunteer. She has been a valuable asset to so many
local and international non-profits that it's hard to list them
all. Throughout the years, MariBen has used her time and talents
to serve on the board of a diverse array of organizations including
the Junior League of Austin, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, SafePlace
and the Austin History Center Association just to name a few.
MariBen is a lawyer by trade, with a law degree and an undergraduate
accounting degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She is
currently associate director and legal counsel at the Austin Community
Foundation.
The Austin community has taken notice of MariBen awarding her numerous
accolades for her extensive volunteerism. She received the "Silent
Samaritan" award and the Girl Scout's Lone Star Council's prestigious
"Women of Distinction" award and was even named the city's "Best
Volunteer" by the Austin Chronicle in 1998.
MariBen joins GENaustin with a desire to focus her energy on empowering
girls. |
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| The oldest of four girls, Kim Soechting
has always had a passion to empower young women! Developing GENaustin,
along with Teresa Kelly in 1996, helped enrich her desire to provide
positive resources for young women. At one time, she served as Board
of Directors for GEN and is now a returning board member as of 2001.
She is co-chair for clubGEN.
Kim is an avid athlete, she plays volleyball, tennis, and golf.
She has coached girls� volleyball since 1993. She is also an investor,
and manages the family portfolio.
Driven with an entrepreneurial spirit, Kim has taken on many ventures.
Her latest involves owning a local wine store with her husband Greg
- The Austin Wine Merchant. |
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| Elsa Zambrano is a Senior Manager of Talent
Acquisition for Dell, Inc. in Round Rock Texas. Elsa has recently
joined the organization to lend her talent to the staffing organization
as Dell grows as a global competitor with global hiring needs in
all arenas. She has 18 years in Human Resources with varying roles
in Compensation, Benefits, University Relations, Training and Development
and Staffing. Previous to her role at Dell, she was employed by
Applied Materials where she headed up the Global Staffing organization.
Elsa has been involved with the Girls Empowerment Network (GEN)
since 2004 and serves on the Governance Committee which addresses
policy, structure and HR effectiveness for the organization.
Elsa is the proud mother of Matthew and Katie and has been married
to Mike for 16 years. The family resides in Round Rock where they
own a local home decor and gift shop in historic downtown Round
Rock, Main Street 101. The family also volunteers in local community
efforts and with the Round Rock Caregivers supporting senior citizens
in the local area.
Elsa obtained her M.S. in Organizational Development from the University
of San Francisco and her Bachelor's degree in Business Management
and Economics from San Jose State University. She is also a Certified
Compensation Professional from World at Work organization. She also
serves on Seton Hospital's Compensation Committee and is a member
of 'Sonrisas Network of Round Rock' - a networking group for Hispanic
women in Round Rock.
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