Speakers

This is a partial list of some of our speakers; more to come!

Meghan McCartan | Founder, Detours&OnRamps

Meghan is the founder and managing partner of Detours&OnRamps; she started the forum as a result of her own experiences in seeking out jobs that would allow her to balance work and family. Having worked full-time, flex-time, as a consultant, and “not at all” Meghan had tried out a number of options and found that the “perfect job” that allowed a working mother to make a significant contribution and use education and skills—while still being able to spend time with children—was elusive. More importantly, the search process for such a job is exhausting in and of itself. Meghan started the forum to bring together the companies who are trying to continue to involve strong women, the recruiters and support groups out there, and those mothers themselves in an atmosphere of practical learning and positive networking. Prior to Detours&OnRamps, Meghan held senior marketing positions for several major financial institution sand holds an MBA in Marketing from Tulane, as well as a BA in Government/History from William and Mary. She lives in NJ with her husband and three daughters—a 6-year-old and 4 1/2-year-old twins.

Randi Bussin | Aspire For Success | www.aspireforsuccess.com

Randi is a career reinvention visionary; her story is one of enterprising reinvention and renewal. With a graduate degree in Romance Languages, Randi ventured into high technology marketing. She then set off to Paris, earning an MBA from one of the world’s top business schools, INSEAD in France. After 15 years in the technology industry, Randi launched her first company—an international strategy consulting firm, Trilogie Consultants. Ten years into this pursuit, Randi embarked on a journey of self-discovery, learning that she was gifted in inspiring others to change their lives. After spending four years as an MBA career counselor in higher education, she launched her coaching practice. Randi now is a highly trained career coach with an expertise in career assessments and personal branding. Randi has one daughter, Jacqui, and they enjoy numerous outdoor activities, especially hiking the mountains of New England, gardening, cooking, and educational pursuits.

Karen McCall | The Financial Recovery Institute | www.financialrecovery.com

Founder and owner of the Financial Recovery Institute, Karen runs a highly successful national training program, which prepares trainees to pursue personally-gratifying careers as certified money coaches, with the potential to earn six figure incomes each year. Trainees not only gain all of the skills and tools they need to help individuals, couples and business owners resolve the emotional issues that are at the root of their money troubles and go on to create positive, sustainable financial futures for themselves, but they also receive the business development information and support necessary to establish and grow their own successful full-time or part-time Financial Recovery Counseling practices. All training is provided via teleseminars and one-on-one mentoring. In addition to running her training program, Karen is a nationally-recognized consultant and speaker on effective money management and its role in overall financial and emotional stability as well as an author. Her newest book, Financial Recovery: Developing a Healthy Relationship With Money, will be published by New World Library this Fall.

Marie Schwarz | TeenLife Media LLC | www.teenlife.com

Marie is the Founder and President of TeenLife Media, LLC, a multi-media company launched in January 2007 that helps families and schools to connect middle and high school students to meaningful “opportunities beyond school” such as summer programs, community service, gap year programs, after school activities, jobs and internships. TeenLife maintains a website, hosts live conferences and events, and publishes printed and online guides.  Marie’s career includes over seven years of experience as a direct marketer at American Express and ten years as a senior marketing and business development executive in the financial services and publishing industry. She has held volunteer leadership positions in at several non-profits, including two years as President Elect and President of the Junior League of Central Westchester. She is currently on the Board of the Boston Ballet and Strong Women Strong Girls, and recently served on the advisory board of Peer Health Exchange. She lives in Brookline with her husband and two teenage sons.

Cary McMillan Keller | Ziptivity.com

Cary is the Founder of Ziptivity.com, a company that offers an online community for parents and caregivers to find and share local activities. The search tool allows families to find local classes and events that match their schedule, budget, and children’s ages with features such as customized alerts, invite-a-friend, and favorites. Ziptivity also provides local family-friendly businesses a more targeted advertising outlet to reach parents in their communities.

Recently launched in December 2009, Ziptivity currently serves families in metrowest Boston with plans to expand. The genesis of the idea came to Cary on a jog with a fellow mother of toddlers, during which Cary lamented at how difficult it was to find age-appropriate activities close to home, and in between naptimes and mealtimes. After finding great caregivers on Sittercity.com, Cary thought “Why can’t I build something similar for finding the right activity for my family?” The timing of the idea was not ideal as Cary realized a week later that she was pregnant with her second child. Despite the busy time in her life, Cary could not get the idea out of her head and knew this was something she had to pursue. Cary’s career history includes 12 years working on Wall Street and 2 years working in venture capital, with a 3-year detour to become a mother and pursue her interest in home renovation. She received her B.S. in Accounting from Boston College and her M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. She lives in Carlisle with her husband, 3 ½-year old son and 1 ½-year old daughter.

Lisa Adams, Detours&OnRamps and Fresh Air Coaching

Lisa is a mother of two school aged boys, wife of an associate pastor, and career transition coach.  Her passion is motivating women to find the career that inspires them and fits into their lives as women and mothers.  Lisa has developed a reputation for facilitating change, relating to others, and counseling / coaching.  Her high energy has served her well in her 20 years of corporate business experience.  Her career spans from various marketing and small business ownership opportunities to corporate human resources, software sales, and strategic partner business development at Monster.com.  Lisa’s love of people drives her to use her skills as a career coach to bring joy to others lives as they find fulfilling work and life balance.  Lisa has spoken to various women's groups regarding career strategies and has taught workshops on finding your passion in your work.  She left her role at Monster.com to be home with her young sons and to launch her Fresh Air coaching practice as well as partner with Meghan at Detours.  She loves her work life balance and is currently being certified as a job search strategist.

Sheila Bauer, Senior Development Director, Cultural Care Au Pair

Sheila joined Cultural Care 12 years ago as a result of her passion for the life-changing experience of cultural exchange and worldwide travel.  She has occupied a number of positions within Cultural Care Au Pair, most recently as a Senior Development Director for New England, where she works on sales and marketing, as well as field staff hiring, training, and development.  Sheila is an expert childcare resource and helps families think through their childcare solutions. Her best role with Cultural Care, however, is that of a host parent.  Sheila has been hosting au pairs since 2003, when she returned to work after maternity leave with her first child.  Sheila works full-time from home and is mom to 2 children who are 7 and 4 years old.  Prior to joining Cultural Care, Sheila worked in the health care industry.  She taught English at Warsaw University from 1992-1993.  She has her Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Connecticut.  

Lisa Terrizzi, Esq. | Chair, Lawyers in Transition Committee, Massachusetts Bar Association

Lisa is a career management consultant and coach.  A frequent speaker on issues related to alternative careers for lawyers, professional career reentry, and attorney career development, she also chairs the Lawyers in Transition Committee of the Massachusetts Bar Association and has been professionally active in issues related to work/family balance. After a stint in traditional legal practice in two large Boston law firms, Lisa transitioned into higher education administration at Harvard University, where she supervised a large federal wage and hour statutory compliance project for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, advised academic departments and research centers in all areas of human resources management and provided employment and career counseling for Harvard’s professional and administrative staff. Lisa received a B.A. degree, with honors and with distinction, from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a J.D. from the Washington College of Law, American University, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Administrative Law Journal and received the T. Morton McDonald award for excellence in legal research and writing.  Lisa held a judicial clerkship with the New Hampshire Superior Court before beginning practice, then worked as a litigation and regulatory associate at two large law firms.  She serves on the Board of the Barnard Alumnae Club of Boston.

Elaine Varelas | Managing Partner, Keystone Partners

Jane Siebel, Employflex | www.employmoms.com and www.employflex.com
Jane is the CEO and Founder of EmployFlex, which includes EmployMoms
and the newly formed division, Flex-Friendly. Jane is a serial entrepreneur and has spent the past 9 years bringing both a product to market and creating a business that is growing quickly nationally. Jane is frequently
called upon to consult in the areas of: program and product design, small business management, and vision and brand development. Jane is a frequent speaker and consultant on the topic of Flexibility in the Workplace and Work/Life Balance. Her passion for social entrepreneurship continues to grow as she builds the EmployFlex brand.

Ellen Palmer | Ellen Palmer Wellness | www.ellenpalmerwellness.comEllen Palmer is a Certified Holistic Health Counselor and entrepreneur who has founded three businesses: Ellen Palmer Wellness, Spoil Me Spa and Create Your Perfect Day. Within her wellness practice, she works with individuals, groups and corporations to help clients take control of their health through nutrition and personal development coaching and programs. She also provides business coaching programs to wellness practitioners so that they can strengthen and grow their practices. Spoil Me Spa is a mobile spa which specializes in providing partner hotels, corporations and individuals with luxury services as well as working with brides and bridal venues to provide premier styling and spa services. Prior to her own companies, Ellen worked within the healthcare industry as a Sales and Marketing Consultant and prior to that as a Sales and Account Executive with CIGNA HealthCare.  With a passion for partnering with and helping other women achieve their goals, she participates in organizations such as Dress for Success and Savor the Success.   She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from St. Michael’s College as well as several wellness certifications. She is also a graduate with honors from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York City and a member of the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. Ellen and her family reside in Simsbury, Ct.

Ginger Burr | Total Image Consultants | www.totalimageconsultants.com

Ginger has built a remarkable career as an expert personal image consultant and makeup artist who gently and intuitively helps women communicate who they are through what they wear. A notable speaker and leader in the field of fashion and style, Ginger's adroit understanding of beauty trends and fashion image has been celebrated by The Boston Globe, Women's Health Magazine, cnn.com, ABCNews.com, Worth Magazine, VegNews Magazine, Elegant Wedding Magazine, Fox TV News and WHDH Television's Chronicle. In 1987, Ginger launched her own company, Total Image Consultants, with the simple credo that a dynamic personal and professional image could be created without having to relinquish personal style or comfort. Today, Ginger offers private consultations and remarkable makeovers for women, brides-to-be and transgender clients. Ginger also directs corporate seminars and community education programs for some of Boston's most prestigious organizations including Harvard Law School, Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels Law Firm, and Fidelity Investments and has been the media spokesperson and fashion expert for Rowenta, Inc.

Wendy Gelberg | Career Coach | www.gentlejobsearch.com

Wendy Gelberg has been a career coach/advisor and resume writer since 1995, working with people at all stages in their careers and in a multitude of occupations and industries, from entry level to executives. Prior to that, she held jobs as a high school history teacher, a college instructor (educational tests and measurement), a secretary at a university, and a career coach at a career center. Her passion is teaching, in classroom/workshop settings and one-on-one, and she loves facilitating those “aha” moments when people discover information that is meaningful and helpful to them. Wendy’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in history from the University of Rochester, a Master’s in Education from Boston University, and a Certificate of Advanced Study from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, with a focus on human development/tests and measurement.

A. Rima Dael | MS, Asst. Professor | www.baypath.edu

Rima is an assistant professor at Bay Path College in their Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy graduate program; she has more than 17 years of professional and voluntary experience in the nonprofit sector. She directs the Nonprofit Leadership & Service certificate program for traditional students at Bay Path and manages the Hot Topics in Philanthropy Breakfast series.  Rima is also affiliated with the Berkshire Bank Foundation as their Pioneer Valley representative managing their grants program distributing $400,000 in grants to area nonprofits. She also provides technical expertise to nonprofits on the role of philanthropy and how best to ensure organizational sustainability. Rima is passionate about cultivating culturally competent next generation leaders and ensuring nonprofits are sustainable enterprises. 

Mark McCurdy | President, Nonprofit Career Coach| www.jobsinnonprofits.com

Mark is President of the Nonprofit Career Coach, a division of Jobs In Nonprofits, which is a small boutique company helping job seekers and nonprofit professionals fulfill their missions. As an  inspiring leader, in-demand speaker, trainer, and one of America’s first nonprofit career coaches, Mark has helped over 4000 professionals accelerate their nonprofit careers into paid positions and has developed one-of-a-kind frameworks to help idealistic job-seeker find their social impact compass. Mark is author of the soon-to-be-released book Strategic Volunteering: Recipes to transform your life and career. Mark is certified as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR). He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Human Resource Management, from the University of Massachusetts.

Jennifer Fraone | Boston College Center for Work & Family

At the Boston College Center for Work & Family (CWF), Jennifer directs the New England Work & Family Association (NEWFA), an organization comprised of over 50 leading New England employers.  Jennifer manages all CWF marketing initiatives including the CWF website, social media, newsletters, research reports and other publications.  Jennifer also works with organizations to provide research and consultation on flexibility, work-life balance and other workforce management issues.  Jennifer enjoys presenting on Workplace Flexibility and Work-Life Balance; recent speaking engagements include the Massachusetts Conference for Women, Boston Human Resources Council, Metro South Chamber of Commerce, Detours& On-Ramps Forum, and Back to Business: What You Need to Succeed.  Jennifer received her BS in Clinical Psychology from Tufts University and her Master of Social Work and Master of Business Administration from Boston College.  Jennifer and her husband John are the proud parents of two children.

Denise Aronson | President, Safety Partners, Inc.| www.safetypartnersinc.com

Denise is the founder and president of Safety Partners, Inc., which provides hands-on environmental, health, and safety (EHS) services and training to New England’s expanding life sciences industry. Ms. Aronson leveraged 10 years of bench science biochemistry research experience with her lab management and lab safety experience to launch Safety Partners in 1992. Under her leadership, Safety Partners has clocked over 85,000 hours at over 120 New England life sciences companies. Safety Partners’ team of employees has grown to 20 EHS professionals who provide safety program implementation to clients for biological, chemical, and radiation safety; ergonomics; emergency preparedness; animal care and use; regulatory compliance; and more. Denise takes great pride that in 2007 Safety Partners was awarded one of the 25 Best Small Companies by Working Mother magazine. It is an important achievement because it recognizes her vision to create a company that hires career minded individuals interested in the benefits that a flexible schedule has to offer towards a successful work/life balance. The company also provides excellent opportunities to mid- and late-career scientists and safety professionals who want to remain active in the life sciences field, yet wish for an alternative career path.

Mary Murphy | President and Chief Creator| www.hoorayforbooks.com

Mary is a Boston College grad with degrees in early childhood education and child psychology.  As a former kindergarten teacher she  now considers herself converted to the business world! As President and Chief Creator of Hooray for Books, Inc. she has turned a small in-home venture into a big main street success over the past 9 years! Hooray for Books strives to teach children to read in a non-conventional way by incorporating the following into each drop-off class: new literature, cooking activities created for the theme of the day, reading based games, and a large cup of humor! When she's not in the classroom, or the office, she's either chasing after her 5 kids, out training for a marathon, or spending time with her husband, a fellow multi-tasker!

Sharon Teitelbaum | Master Certified Coach| www.stcoach.com

Sharon is an authority on work-life balance and an expert advisor to busy professionals, high achievers, working parents, and people at mid-career.  She coaches individuals by phone or in person, and always offers an initial consultation at no charge.   Her book, Getting Unstuck Without Coming Unglued: Restoring Work-Life Balance, is a strategic, tactical guide for maintaining a sane and balanced life, distilled from her experience coaching hundreds of professionals.  A sought-after speaker and trainer, Sharon has presented to such diverse audiences as Harvard Medical School Faculty, Merrill Lynch, and Pricewaterhouse Coopers.  She has been featured in The New York Times, Working Mother Magazine, and Forbes.com, and is a frequent expert resource for print and broadcast journalists.  Prior to her coaching career, which started in 1995, Sharon was a corporate trainer and systems analyst.  Married for thirty-plus years, she is the mother of two young women.