For a people-centric executive, a nonprofit is where the heart is

After graduating from college with a degree in chemistry, most of the jobs I qualified for involved working in laboratories. But I like people much more. So I went to business school to broaden my skills so that I could prepare to work in management for a large organization. I found that studying chemistry for four years had given me the technical training and analytical skills that proved invaluable as I entered the business world.

I went to work for North Carolina National Bank, which is now Bank of America. It was a bank that was growing rapidly. I was hired to help expand their marketing and commercial services and eventually became the first woman to go through their credit and managing school.

I moved on to head the cash-management department. That position involved a combination of sales and technical analysis. I was good at both.

I then took on an opportunity to work at the Coca-Cola Co. During the summer of 1985, the company came out with a new formula the public didn't like, causing sales to decline . I worked with a team that sought to compensate for the declining revenue by selling additional stock. We ended up raising significant funds that were critical in recovering from the loss.

One Sunday morning, I was sitting at the breakfast table reading the paper and saw an ad for a job at the National Association of Manufacturers that was exactly what I enjoyed doing. I got the job, transitioning from for-profit to nonprofit entities.

I went on to become vice president of operations at Goodwill Industries International. There I spearheaded an effort that raised millions of dollars for the organization.

Though I was in the nonprofit world, I was still doing a lot of the same work I had done in the past, such as accounting, human resources, technology and administration. But I knew the nonprofit world was where I wanted to stay. I really appreciate the way it serves the needs of society.

I've always had a passion to help the disabled. In college, I volunteered at a hospital working with youths who had disabilities. It's rewarding to work with people who have challenges that you don't have but who are full of attributes that you admire.

That's what attracted me to SOC Enterprises. It's an organization that provides community support. I want to contribute to the quality and quantity of services that we provide for people with disabilities.

-- Interview by Vanessa Mizell

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