Are Female CEOs on the Rise - or Decline - in Central MA?

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

GoLocalProv News Team

A number of women are leading Central Massachusetts businesses as owners and CEOs, in fields ranging from healthcare to construction and engineering.

See Women Leading in Central MA HERE

Recent data however indicates that nationally, numbers at the top for women CEOs are still significantly low compared to men, and a poll conducted this week by Gallup showed that Americans, if given the preference, would prefer a male boss to a female.

Locally, are female leadership roles on the rise, or do they still face significant challenges in ascending the ranks? GoLocal looked at the data, as well as local leaders for their input as to the state of female leadership currently in Central MA.

"I was bringing home the bacon -- and frying it up in the pan," said Liora Stone, Owner and President at Precision Engineering. "I started out as a nurse, and when I got married, my husband and I started a company. He's the tech guy -- I was going all of the administrative work -- and working full time."

Stone went on to tell GoLocal of how she rose to the top -- and what is means to be a business leader in the region -- below.

National Data -- Local Perspective

According to the latest Fortune 1000 list for 2013, women currently hold only 4.2 percent of Fortune 500 CEO positions with 21, and 4.5 percent of Fortune 1000 companies at 24.

The recent Gallup poll showed that if Americans were taking a new job and had their choice of a boss, they would prefer a male boss over a female boss by 35% to 23%, although the majority -- four in 10 would -- have no preference.

"I have 3 or 4 people who report to me," said Stone, of the sheet-metal fabricator that employees just under 50 people. "Women tend to have a different governing style -- men are more direct, I'm more round-about, consensus building.

I'm more apt to explaining why I've made a decision that my husband is. For certain instances that might work for people, other times someone might want the answer, not the explanation," said Store. feel my employee value that I explaining myself -- but then there are times the more stricter approach is needed.

Stone noted that women faced different constraints -- and choices -- as they addressed their professional development.

"I think we have, for the most part, "come a long way, baby," said Stone, "but we're still juggling a lot. Women at different stages of their lives have different duties, and for most, it means being the primary parent.

Stone noted that her husband, with whom she works, has been incredibly supportive -- and that she as found additional support as well, in the way of an informal women's CEO group that meets fairly regularly.

"We talk business -- employer, customer, budget issues," said Stone, noting the group had recently discussed marketing initiatives. "When you're in our position, you might not have a lot of friends in a situation like yours, they might be in different places themselves, and not necessarily understand your constraints -- like being up at midnight working."

Changing Attitudes -- or Common Themes?

While the responses haven't changed much in recent years, when Gallup first asked the question in sixty hears ago, 66% of Americans said they preferred a male boss -- and 5% said they would prefer working for a woman.

GoLocal spoke with Roberta Schaefer, who thought "while there's not as much discrimination as there used to be," -- that family issues would "never go away."

"I think that we see around the country lots of women leaders," said Schaefer. "And if there are fewer, it could well be because women choose to take time off to raise a family."

"And if they go back to work full-time, they'll feel guilty one way or another," said Schaefer. "I think women will always feel pulled."

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 7^th 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.