Mehtap S. Donuk

Mehtap DonukTitle: Assistant Dean of Campus Life
Company: New York Institute of Technology
Location: Forest Hills, NY United States

The first in her family to graduate college, Mehtap Donuk believes that education has the power to open doors. She was inspired to give back to other first-generation college students by her mentors, and after seeing the positive effects a college administrator could have, she decided to pursue it as a career. Ms. Donuk joined New York Institute of Technology in 2008 as the assistant director of student activities, and naturally progressed to her current role as the assistant dean of campus life. She is the first person to hold this title, which encompasses creating an organizational staffing structure, center policies, procedures, and philosophical approaches to co-curricular advising and leadership development initiatives. Ms. Donuk was also responsible for creating and establishing a marketing plan to increase graduate and undergraduate student participation in campus-wide leadership programs and activities. She is proud of the success of her social media campaign, ‘This Is My Thursday Shirt,’ which worked to improve school pride and spirit.

Continue reading

Posted in Higher Education | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kelly Woods Vaughn

KWVTitle: Executive Director
Company: Catalyst Partners
Location: Reston, VA United States

Before she began working with the Washington, D.C.-based government relations and public affairs firm, Catalyst Partners, Ms. Kelly Woods Vaughn worked in various management and leadership positions for numerous companies. With these roles, she was responsible for a variety of tasks, including establishing and maintaining client relationships, building and overseeing management account teams and developing strategic plans and activities to drive company revenue. Her current company, Catalyst Partners, is focused on helping small businesses, trade associations, non-profits and Fortune 500 companies achieve results and growth both in D.C. and beyond. She has been the executive director there for four years now.

Continue reading

Posted in Government Relations, Public Relations | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Elizabeth Spaeth

Title: Chief Financial Officer
Company: The Markerboard People
Location: Charlotte, MI United States

Elizabeth Spaeth is the chief financial officer of The Markerboard People, a consumer goods provider of dry erase boards, markers and accessories. They also manufacture silk-screened boards for schools and businesses designed by renowned Michigan artist Richard Geer. The company was created, patented and copyrighted by her husband. She prepared to be the CFO through the accounting degree she received in college.

Ms. Spaeth attributes her success to her determination to never quit, a value she learned from a good friend. No matter what the problem, she will not stop until she finds a solution. She also prides herself in her ability to rise against adversarial situations and come back even stronger.

Continue reading

Posted in Consumer Goods Provider | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Karla K. Kauhola

Title: Community Service Officer
Company: Pasadena Police Department
Location: Pasadena, CA United States

Karla Kauhola always dreamed of doing detective work for a police unit. She prepared for a career in law enforcement by volunteering at the police department and studying physiology, psychology, criminology, sociology and behaviors in social work.

During the course of her career as a community service officer, Ms. Kauhola faced many challenges, perhaps the most significant of which was not being taken seriously because she is a woman in a field that is predominantly male. In order to overcome this obstacle, she had to work even harder to gain the respect that she knew she deserved.

Continue reading

Posted in Law Enforcement | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Catherine M. James

Title: President
Company: Dixie Cullen Interests Inc.
Location: Houston, TX United States

After moving from the machinery industry into the warehousing industry, Ms. Catherine James is now running the family business, Dixie Cullen Interests Inc. She has been the president and owner for 21 years now. Dixie Cullen Interests is an industrial storage company that focuses mainly on storing machinery, steel and other heavy industrial product.

Ms. James says that the hardest obstacle she’s had to overcome in her many years in the industry was being taken seriously when she was getting the business started. Because Dixie Cullen is a family business, she feels a sense of responsibility to personally make sure it does well so that it reflects well on the family. She is most proud of being able to maintain the growth of the company during challenging economic times

Continue reading

Posted in Warehouse Management | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment