Massachusetts Ranks Poorly for Women Balancing Work and Family
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Monday, May 25, 2015
GoLocalWorcester News Team
Massachusetts ranks poorly for women balancing work and family, according to a new study “The Status of Women in the States, 2015."
“Women make up almost half of the workforce. Few families have someone who can stay at home to take care of health emergencies, pick children up from school and supervise homework, or take an elderly parent to a doctor’s appointment. In half of all families with children, women are the primary or co-breadwinner,” according to the report.
The study examined a sweeping array of issues for women and overall women in the Commonwealth ranked well, coming in tied for second with Connecticut and Vermont. But, for women in Massachusetts there were trouble areas - especially relating to their families
Elder Care
Most disappointing for women in the Commonwealth is that women in Massachusetts rank poorly elder and dependent care. In fact, the impact on Massachusetts women is near the bottom in the United States -ranking 37th according to the study. Colorado and Minnesota tied ranked number 1 in the United States for Elder and Dependent Care. Michigan is ranked last in the US.
Child Care Also a Disappointment for MA Women
Massachusetts also scored poorly in the studies child care index. Women and their children ranked 38th in the United States. Oklahoma ranked #1 in the United States and Hawaii ranked #50.
The one area in the family sector did MA women scored well was paid leave - the Commonwealth’s policies were ranked the 5th best in the country.
“Women in the United States have made remarkable social, economic, and political progress, but further improvements are needed. Over the last several decades, the gender wage gap has narrowed, women have graduated from college and moved into higher-paying jobs in increasing numbers, and women’s representation in political office has increased.
The study was conducted by the Institute for Women's Policy Institute. The full report can be read HERE.
Related Slideshow: Women Leading in Central Massachusetts
Who are some of Central MA's high-level female bosses? GoLocal takes a look at some of the leading women in the region in their respective industries, in the private and nonprofit sectors.
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Lisa Piehler
Piehler has been the Regional CEO of the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts since 1993, overseeing a regional area of 1.7 million people in over 200 cities and towns in Central and Western Massachusetts, and a staff of 30 and 400 volunteers.
Prior to working at the American Red Cross, Piehler was the Director of Parks and Recreation for the city or Worcester. Piehler received her bachelor’s degree in park administration from the University of Massachusetts and a master’s degree from Clark University with a concentration in non-profit management.
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Victoria Waterman
Waterman is currently the CEO of Girls, Inc, the non-profit organization meant to help girls navigate through the challenges of growing up female and to gain the skills and confidence to achieve their dreams. Waterman had previously been President of Leading Women Massachusetts, an organization that provides leadership development solutions for women in organizations.
Waterman, who has 20 years of experience in the mortgage banking industry in the marketing sector, received her bachelors of science in marketing from Bryant in 1985. Waterman's awards include the Stevie Awards Honoree for Women in Business in 2010 and the excellence in Board Leadership in 2012.
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Deborah Penta
Penta is the Founder and CEO of Penta Communications, the regional integrated marketing, advertising, web, interactive media, and public relations firm.
Penta has helped senior level management teams develop shape strategic and effective marketing, advertising and public relations programs, and has served on the Board of Directors at Worcester County Food Bank, the Board of Directors at Worcester Regional Research Bureau, and the Board of Directors at Worcester Community Action Counsel. She received her bachelor’s degree from Stonehill College and her executive education from Harvard University.
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Laura Sen
Sen has been the President and CEO of BJ’s Wholesale Club for over 4 years, having previously over 20 years of experience with BJ’s, including having roles as Chief Operating Officer, Executive Vice President of Merchandising and logistics,Vice President of Logistics, and Senior Vice President of General Merchandise.
Prior to working at BJ’s, Sen has nearly 30 years of experience in mass retail, working with Zayre Corporation and Jordan Marsh Company. Sen has served on the board of Saint Coletta and Cardinal Cushing Schools of Massachusetts and has provided support to non-profit organizations including the Women's Inn at Pine Street, the Neely House and the Cardinal Cushing Centers Springtime Event.
Sen received her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College.
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Liora Stone
Stone founded Precision Engineering with her husband Peter in 1988. Located in Uxbridge, Precision Engineering focuses on custom metal sheet fabrication.
The company has grown to include 40,000 square feet of manufacturing, assembly and warehousing space, encompassing two physical plants within Quaker Industrial Park.
Stone is a graduate of Syracuse University.
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Susan Engelkemeyer
Engelkemeyer was appointed the 7th President of Nichols College on August 1, 2011 and was officially installed on October 21, 2011, where she now oversees a student body of 1,500 students.
Prior to working at Nichols College, Engelkemeyer worked for Babson College, Ithica College, and the Charlton College of Business at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Engelkemeyer received her Bachelors degree from Stephens college, her Ph.D in Industrial Management from Clemson University, and her M.B.A from East Carolina University. She serves as a peer review team leader for the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business and served on the board of directors for GOAL/QPC for 20 years.
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Paula Rooney
Rooney, the 13th President of Dean College, as according to the school's website has overseen enrollment that has "more than doubled and overall retention has increased substantially, while new baccalaureate partnerships and programs have been launched to complement the college’s established associate degree programs.
In addition, campus improvements such as new building construction and renovation and Dean’s wireless technology environment have dramatically transformed the campus" -- and under Dr. Rooney’s helm, "Dean College’s financial status has been solidified as endowment has quadrupled from $7.9 million to $32 million."
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Gail Carberry
President of Quinsigamond Community College, Dr. Carberry holds Certificate in Small Business Management from Springfield Technical Community College, a B.S. from Worcester State University and Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, specializing in organizational development, strategic planning and staff development.
She currently serves on numerous local, State and national Boards including the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Latino Education Institute, Bay Path Regional/Vocational High School Foundation, National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship, Worcester Educational Collaborative, Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, Central Mass Workforce Investment Board, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Worcester Business Development Corporation and the Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives. She co-chairs the Mayor’s Commission for Hispanic Education Excellence and chairs the Early Education Matters Task Force.
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Kristin Carvalho
Milford National Bank President and CEO Carvalho is both a prominent corporate and community figure, who with the bank has supported causes such as the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund, the WMRC radiothon, and while at the bank. and received an “Outstanding” rating from the Massachusetts State Division of Banks for its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) compliance.
“Very few banks achieve the ‘Outstanding’ rating so we are particularly pleased to have achieved this,” said Carvalho at the time. “As a community bank, our primary focus is to help people in this area buy homes and finance small businesses. Earning the ‘Outstanding’ rating is an indication that our efforts are successful.”
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Tina Sbrega
President and CEO of GFA credit union, Sbrega has been Director of the Massachusetts Share Insurance Corporation, Trustee for Mount Wachusett Community College, and Trustee of Heywood Hospital Credit Union and Freedom Credit Union, and acquired a credit union technology service in Rochester, New York.
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