EMPOWERING EXECUTIVES & PROFESSIONALS

Biltmore Who's Who News and Events

Dr. Sriramasundararajan Rajagopalan

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Dr. Sriramasundararajan Rajagopalan as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Sriramasundararajan Rajagopalan, Senior Program Manager for Physicians Interactive, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Sriramasundararajan Rajagopalan’s commitment to excellence in information technology and project management.

Dr. Rajagopalan, who began his career in India in 1990, became certified in information technology as part of the course in biomedical engineering through the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, and later became certified in computer engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.

Beginning his full-time career as a software engineer in General Electric Medical Systems in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dr. Rajagopalan moved to eFunds, Legg Mason, West Notification Group, and Physicians Interactive, holding various positions from Senior Programmer Analyst, Business Analyst, Project Manager, to Senior Program Manager. Founded in 2005, he has also been running a sole proprietorship providing information technology and management consultancy through which he engaged in a contractual work for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois through CFS/Harbor Ventures. Besides, Dr. Rajagopalan has focused substantial time researching about a management consultancy model around a leadership framework that he has been developing that evolved from his doctoral research.

As a senior program manager, Dr. Rajagopalan manages the project within cost, schedule, and scope, or what is called triple constraints, to deliver a quality product. Managing both projects and the programs, he has worked in the financial services industry, such as delivering billing automation projects and financial reconciliation projects, infrastructure, professional services like developing websites and delivering outbound and inbound voice and email notification projects including the delivery of notifications in many languages. Currently, he manages pharmaceutical marketing projects that involve messaging and communication, bringing pharmaceutical information to physicians and managing the recruitment efforts around the goals. In addition, Dr. Rajagopalan has been teaching at the university level for the past ten years in information technology and management subjects.

Attributing his entrepreneurial and leadership mindset, being proactive to drive value, and to connect with people as being a huge contribution to his success, Dr. Rajagopalan continues to seek knowledge through many different avenues. “I believe that education is a journey, not a destination,” he said. “I find that the more I learn the more I recognize how little I know. As a result, I have always perspired to educate myself more by investing in scholar-practitioner oriented education.” He added that by seeking current trends in the economy and technology, along with his own personal interests that evolve over experience and education, he has found that project and people skills are indispensable in bringing value to his role. As a result, he has sought out to invest himself in observing management practices of key leaders in the organization and the industry, reads scholarly and practitioner literature, maximizes on-the-job training, opens himself up to feedback through self-initiated feedback loops, completes formal degree program and professional certifications, attends seminars, workshops, and professional conferences, promotes job rotation, and engages in teaching assignments so that he can share and acquire knowledge.

Currently working on an interview based qualitative leadership study, Dr. Rajagopalan plans to explore this model more through research and establish a small business organization where he can engage in training, research, and management consultancy. He also plans to invest time in furthering his project and program management skills and to contribute as a scholar practitioner in the fields of emotional intelligence, leadership, project management, and virtual teams.

Dr. Rajagopalan holds a BE in Electronics and Communication from the University of Madras, an MS in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University, an MBA from Concordia University, and most recently a PhD in Organization Leadership from Capella University. He is a certified SCRUM master, project management professional, and is also certified in IT Project+ and Sarbanes Oxley. He’s a member of the Project Management Institute, and a life member of the Center of Creative Leadership. He has presented two papers in the Symposium on Global Mindset and Development at the University of Riverside in 2009 and 2010, and has been invited to serve as the blind peer reviewer in scholarly journals. He was named Faculty of the Quarter from the University of Phoenix in 2004. He was also named Employee of the Month in October of 2008 and won the Triple Hats Off Award in 2009 from West Notifications Group. He’s the recipient of a graduate research assistantship from Wayne State University for three semesters and the ODASSS scholarship from the Association of Commonwealth Universities. In his free time, Sriramasundararajan enjoys playing the violin, theater acting, and traveling.

For more information, visit http://www17.brinkster.com/shreesundar.

Dr. Sriramasundararajan Rajagopalan
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, August 27, 2010

Vanessa L. Montri

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Vanessa L. Montri as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Vanessa L. Montri, Director, Colorist, and Platform Artist of Montri Art Form, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Vanessa L. Montri’s commitment to excellence in the field of beauty, wellness, and skincare.

Montri, a certified instructor and manager in the states of Michigan and Ohio, and licensed cosmetologist since 1990, has been working, traveling, and training people at hair shows all over the country for the past twenty years.

After taking up the art of cosmetology to earn extra money and put herself through college, Montri quickly discovered not only how much she enjoyed the field, but that she could really earn a good living with added education. After attending a hair show in an effort to help out a national distributer, she became hooked and was excited to learn more about the industry. “I could not believe all of the avenues the beauty industry had to offer,” she explained. Since then, she’s been training staff in motivational skills, professionalism, technical haircutting, technical hair color, the latest trends and up-style techniques, upcoming collections and trends, how to care for and understand the needs of guests through a proper and thorough consultations, and traveling to other salons and shows providing other professionals with advanced training workshops. She also travels to Miami, Florida twice a year and to Birmingham, Alabama, Dallas, Texas, and Toronto, Canada conducting stage work for audiences of 1,000 or more guests at a time.

Montri has been trained by some of the finest colorists and designers in her industry from Miami, Florida all the way to Milano, Italy, and she’s attended some of the greatest styling classes, including those of Greg Hazelton, Vidal Sassoon, and Martin Parson. She has been receiving ongoing education every year for the past twenty years.

Hoping to continue showing and teaching how the beauty industry is changing and how beauty starts from within, Montri will continue to work hard at educating people on how to take care of their skin, body, hair, and their health. “My prayer is that people can see how beautiful they really are without thinking they need to buy into what the world tells them,” she said.

In addition to receiving an honorable mention from BehindTheChair.com, Montri was also a guest at a shoot with the actor/comedian Chris Rock and Kevin Kirk, and was also featured as a guest artist for a number of salons throughout the United States teaching techniques and motivational and professionals skills. Vanessa is a member of Night Light and the Cosmetology Association, and enjoys being with her family, tennis, playing chess, and roller skating, during her free time.

For more information, visit http://montriartform.com.

Vanessa L. Montri
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, August 20, 2010

Dr. Ciro Martinez, II

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Dr. Ciro Martinez, II as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Dr. Ciro Martinez, II, Chairman and CEO of VoiParty, Inc., has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Dr. Ciro Martinez, II’s commitment to excellence in the Telecommunications industry.

Martinez, who earned a BA in Finance and International Business from Florida International University, followed by a BS in Law and JD from Northwestern University, an MBA in Accounting and PhD from Washington University, and an LLM from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, has been working in telecommunications since 2005, after a long career in banking.

After beginning his career as a bookkeeper for Southeast Bank NA at the early age of eighteen, Martinez soon became A VP Controller and MIS Director for Credit Bank, a small, commercial bank. After being purchased by Regions Bank years later, he achieved the title of VP Cash Management Director, handling preferred domestic accounts and international correspondent banking. After creating an innovative electronic cash management system, Chemical Bank in New York simultaneously hired him. It was then that Martinez started speaking at cash management conferences throughout the nation, and eventually began working for VoiParty, Inc.

As Chairman and CEO of his company, Martinez oversees the entire organization, concentrating on the legal, accounting and financial aspects of the business. He also travels throughout the country giving seminars and providing personal development. “I have dedicated my life through my work ethic and education to find innovative ways to improve people’s lives,” he explained. He added that his extensive education and work experience is the root of his professional success thus far.

Martinez is a former vice-president of the Allapattah Chapter of Kiwanis. He is a member of several real estate boards and condominium associations, the Knights of Columbus, the National Military Family Association, and is an active participant at Saint Andrew Catholic Church. He has also authored several publications over the years in his field. In his spare time, Ciro enjoys boating, skiing, and humanitarian efforts.

For more information, visit http://www.voiparty.com.

Dr. Ciro Martinez, II
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, July 30, 2010

Gary D. Lewis

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Gary D. Lewis as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Gary D. Lewis, Quality Control Inspector of Sunrise Avionics, Inc., has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Gary D. Lewis’s commitment to excellence in the field of Avionics.

Lewis, who attended Arizona State University and is a certified FAA repairman, learned at an early age, after both his father’s influence and the help of the military, that avionics was the career path he wanted to follow.

After studying electronics during college and prior to joining the military and his duties working on fighter jets, Lewis made his move into the field of metrology and calibration. “During my military career I was always gaining further knowledge in electronics, but at the same time learning management and quality assurance techniques. While in Saudi Arabia, I learned how to interact with individuals from different countries and lead a team with a high degree of efficiency, while providing insight to improvements that were adopted for the future,” Lewis explained.

As quality control inspector for the company, Lewis is directly assigned to the quality assurance department. His primary duties include the inspection of all aviation components overhauled, modified or repaired by the technician staff to ensure they meet specifications and issues FAA return to service documents, along with providing reliability analysis on repeat return components. He also performs audits to ensure that the company is in compliance with various internal and FAA regulations. He has also recently been given the responsibility of training new employees to the company on proper documentation techniques and familiarization of policies that are a portion of the company certification as an FAA 145 Repair Station.

Inspired at a young age to have a positive attitude and to never give up on life, Lewis aspires to retire at an age where he can still enjoy life, but has no regrets about how he spent professional career. In the meantime, he plans to stay put and assist those companies that he’s associated with to be the leader in the global market so that there is fairness in business practices and profitable ventures. “Each of us can continue to gain knowledge in many areas that relate to career performance and enhance our skills, like learning how to better communicate,” he said. “Keeping focused on the most important asset in any business is primary, and also focusing on those individuals that work with you.”

Lewis has earned numerous military awards during his time with the Marine Corps along with various awards from past employers. He has also received several letters of appreciation from the Royal Saudi Air Force while working overseas as a civilian.

Gary D. Lewis
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, July 23, 2010

July 2010 Newsletter: Issue Number 3

What’s New with Who’s Who?
Marketing and Public Relations in 2010
Member Profile of the Month
Member Testimonials
Biltmore Who’s Who Offers MORE!
New Diamond VIP Membership
Ask The Experts
Contact Biltmore Who’s Who

Marketing and Public Relations in 2010
If you’re providing a great product or service, the belief is that your customers and clients will continue to come back for more. Their satisfaction, or even delight, with your ability to meet their needs can result in more business through word-of-mouth recommendations. That’s a type of “free” marketing that can help a business grow and increase the bottom line. Depending on the industry and nature of your work, as well as the geographical market that you are targeting, personal referrals aren’t always enough to be enough to meet your goals.

Marketing and public relations are time-tested ways to garner new business, but they can be expensive. Furthermore, the traditional methods such as direct mailers and press releases are not producing the same results as in the past. Today, direct mail pieces are often deemed “junk mail” and aren’t given a glance before they hit the trash can. As for press releases, journalists have been let go from news rooms across the country in order to combat the economic struggles that have severely impacted the media industry. A press release announcing a significant, newsworthy event may generate coverage, but it also might be overlooked because there is no one looking at it. Do-it-yourself press releases won’t generate the same results that someone with experience in the industry can provide.

Signing a contract with an outside marketing or public relations agency is a good option but it typically involves a significant monthly investment and it doesn’t guarantee returns. An alternative is to hire a full-time employee who has a proven track record in the areas in which you are pursuing new business. The decision of how you pursue marketing and PR should be carefully considered and weighed in regards to the cost and expected results. Whether the decision is to outsource or make an internal hire, the expectations must be clearly defined and reviewed on a regular basis.

Strategies for Getting New Business in Today’s Economy
A recent article in the Atlanta Journal Constitution featured Kathy Rizzo, the Vice President of Sales at TeleNet Marketing Solutions. TeleNet is a telemarketing company, but not the kind that calls you at home during dinner hours. Her company focuses on business-to-business lead generation. The concept is to define potential and target clients, to determine the appropriate decision maker within an organization and to have a caller ask the relevant questions to establish whether or not it is a lead worth pursuing. It’s a common-sense approach, but many organizations don’t have the time or the financial resources to pursue customers or clients in such a diligent manner.

When you’re busy handling the work at hand, there isn’t a lot of time left for making hundreds of calls that might result in new business. What are the alternatives?

Consider using an industry consultant, or even an intern, who can be coached on the qualifying questions to ask a prospect on a phone call. They can be engaged on a short-term basis so that the expense is limited. Based upon results, their work can be extended or terminated.

Freelance writers and publicists can also be engaged on a one-time or project basis. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has local chapters around the country and websites that enable potential employers to advertise their needs.

New Media – FaceBook, LinkedIn, Twitter and more – is an opportunity to gain attention, recognition and potential business. If you aren’t comfortable or familiar with these social networking tools, hire a consultant or a college student who can bring you up to speed. Brainstorm about the ways in which these tools can help your business.

Assess your level of commitment to everything you do that is in the public sphere. If you have a tab on your website that is equivalent to “recent news”, it should be updated on a regular basis. When the latest news is two years old, you need to start posting or call IT and eliminate that tab.

Blogs and newsletters are a great way to share information with current and potential clients. The benefit is that you share thoughts, ideas or wisdom that they will hopefully find interesting. Be sure to have a second pair of eyes edit your writing because even the best writer can make a mistake and that will be detrimental to your efforts.

Relevancy is critical when approaching new business opportunities. When you send an email, leave a voice message or write a letter, make sure that you are addressing a specific need that the recipient may have and a solution that you can provide.

These tips apply equally to companies that can afford an internal team for marketing and PR or choose to outsource those responsibilities, as well as the ones that choose to handle it themselves. The most important questions:
 Who is my target?
 How can I best reach my audience?
 What do I want to achieve?
 What is my message?
 How will this impact my bottom line?

Biltmore Who’s Who Offers MORE!
Membership in Biltmore Who’s Who is an opportunity for recognition amongst your peers and potential clients. Membership also offers benefits that can help you to market your business at a significantly lower cost than the going rate.

Press releases are effective, but must be professionally crafted and sent to the proper contacts within the media. With the assistance of Biltmore Who’s Who, you can take a professional approach to pursuing media coverage without the cost of a PR agency.

Option A is a free press release, which is free for the life of your membership. Simply contact our customer service and ask to speak to someone in our PR department. The first step involves filling out a questionnaire that will help the PR team develop your release. Once written and approved by you, it will be released to the world wide web and will viewable via any major search engine (such as Google, etc.). Your release can also be forwarded to your local newspapers and/or publications in your area for more coverage opportunity.
Option B is to garner exposure on a much larger scale. Your press release would be exposed to five major audiences:
1. Your geographic area (daily and weekly newspapers, radio and television stations within your state),
2. Disclosure destinations (domestic circuits such as the Associated Press, Dow Jones, Reuters),
3. Investors (buy and sell analysts and investors in your area),
4. Trade and industry media (print and online trade media), and
5. eSearch engines, websites, syndicates and databases (all major databases).

Contact our customer service department to get connected!

Member Profile of the Month
Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Lisa Chase, of Back to Normal Physical Therapy, Inc. as this quarter’s Honored Member

Biltmore Who’s Who is spotlighting Lisa Chase, the founder of the physical therapy clinic Back to Normal in St. Petersburg, Florida. Chase was educated in Physical Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh and fell in love with providing hands on, one-on-one care. After working for many years as an X-Ray technician, she was drawn to sports medicine. The result was a nine-year stint overseeing the athlete care programs for the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

After so many years on the road, Chase decided to put down roots in 1998 and started a physical therapy clinic at St. Vincent’s in Jacksonville, Florida. She is launching the Back to Normal clinic this month with a new approach towards health advocacy coordination. The concept is a team approach that uncovers and provides a full spectrum of a patient’s needs, which may range from physical rehabilitation to medical, nutritional, and recovery care.

I have a wheel that I give to my patients so that I can assess the cause of their injuries in addition to other components of their overall health such as dietary issues, Chase said. Then I can make recommendations for a complete plan of care that will assist their recovery.

With over twenty years experience in spine, sports and orthopedic injuries, Chase is uniquely qualified to provide her expertise to clients from around the country. Furthermore, each therapist at the facility utilizes advance assessment and therapeutic strategies including integrating manual therapy, cutting edge modalities, taping intervention, education and individual corrective exercise prescription.

Chase received her post-graduate certification in advanced orthopedic manual therapy in 1995. An internationally recognized physical therapist, she is also an adjunct professor at Michigan State University for the College of Osteopathic Medicine since 1998. She has conducted numerous interviews and appeared on the TV show Prescription for Health. She also speaks at international conferences and is also a published author in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. She’s written several books on aquatic therapy and rehabilitation.

For more information, visit www.back2normalpt.com or email back2normal@me.com.

Member Testimonials

“Thank you so much Biltmore Who’s Who for having me as a Lifetime Honored Member for 2009 and helping promote the publishing of my first book. Your press releases and support give me a broader opportunity towards my success for my present and future endeavors.”
Betty Darby-Jackson
Journalist/Author
Moncks Corner, South Carolina

“I just received my Executive of the Year plaque. I must say how impressed I am. It is so beautiful! I have it sitting on my desk at work so everyone can see it as they walk by. Thank you for the opportunity for allowing me to be a member of Biltmore Who’s Who and to be an Executive of the Year.”
Carolyn Bradley
Director, Dietary Department
Peterson, West Virginia

New Diamond VIP Membership
Biltmore Who’s Who would like to take this opportunity to introduce our newest members to our Diamond VIP Membership:
• Rita LaCaze
• Hope Walker
• Suzanne Y. Ammann
• Joyce Ralston
• Carin Meyer
• Deborah J. Beckworth
• Bruce A. Skolnic, MD
• Julie Ann Butterfield
• Robert H. Williams
• Margaret M. Taylor

Ask the Experts

Q: I left my former position as a public relations executive because my husbands job required us to relocate. At the same time, the economy tanked and I was fortunate enough to find some clients and become self-employed. This was not my preferred career path and I have been sending out my resume every day in response to job postings for which I am qualified. Despite having nearly 15 years of experience in my profession, I rarely get a call or email to request an interview.

Recently I had an interview with a fabulous company…at the end of the interview, the CEO said he had not determined if he wanted to hire someone with my experience, and the salary that would go with it, or if he would hire one or two people with very little experience and thus, lower salaries. He added that they had received more than 500 applications for the position and had scheduled interviews with 40 people! I understand that the unemployment rate means that there are a lot of people looking for work, but as a seasoned professional, how can I compete with someone who is going to get the job simply because he or she is less experienced and less expensive?

A: It’s true, a lot of companies that have begun adding to their staff recently are opting for interns and recent college graduates. The mindset is to keep costs down but to (hopefully) replace former staff members that they let go during the worst of the economic crunch.

In your case, the “fabulous” company might not be quite as fabulous as you thought. For a CEO to be so uncertain of what hes looking for in a candidate that he has to interview 40 people suggests that he might not be a strong and decisive leader. Furthermore, he seems to have a lot of time on his hands, and have no reluctance to waste the time of at least 39 people who are eager to be employed. In fairness to the CEO in question, he was evidently making an effort to determine what level of experience would best suit the company; however, it would make more sense to pare the initial interviewees to a reasonable number.
Aside from recognizing that this company might not be for you, the biggest hurdle is how to cope with stiff competition in a job market that is favoring the less experienced and less expensive employees.

Tips:
1. Make a list of your strengths and the skills you offer that a less experienced person could not bring to the position. Use this information to make specific points in your cover letter and interviews.
In your case, you found your own clients and built a business. Your entrepreneurial spirit and ability to obtain clients would be very attractive to any potential employer.
2. Include a cover letter with every job application and craft it according to the specific job description.
For example, if the company is looking for a person with business to consumer marketing experience, describe your activities and success in that regard. Also make sure to mention the name of the company for which you are applying so that your interest seems genuine.
3. Follow the application instructions to a T and use spell check.
HR managers and recruiters cite spelling errors and lack of following their instructions as their biggest turn-offs when looking at job applications.
4. Some employment experts are suggesting that people who are out of work should take jobs that are beneath their prior positions or income.
If you are willing and financially able to take a pay cut, you have to make it clear to the potential employer. Use your cover letter to explain your reasons for interest in the company and position as well as your desire to take a lower pay in order to be a part of their team.

In the meantime, continue to court new clients for your own business, as one of those clients could be a potential full-time employer for you in the future.

Contact Biltmore Who’s Who
Send your questions to: newsletter@biltmorewhoswho.com. In every newsletter we will feature a question and expert answer that we believe is a common concern that is addressed with practical yet innovative advice.

We look forward to hearing from you!

July 2010 Newsletter: Issue Number 3
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Guy A. Catalino

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Guy A. Catalino as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Guy A. Catalino, Senior Business Consultant of PPL Corporation, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Guy A. Catalino’s commitment to excellence in the Electricity and Utility industry.

Catalino is a 1976 graduate of LaSalle University where he majored in Business Administration and Accounting. He has spent the last 34 years working in various staff, support, and operational positions, beginning in internal auditing and working his way up to his current position, where he has spent the last ten years.

As senior business consultant, Catalino is responsible for overall business improvement, consulting, and change management. He also focuses on management coaching. “I am always trying to be cognizant of the importance of customer and client satisfaction, the importance of effective listening and communication, and to be fiscally responsible and respectful of others,” he explained.

Hoping to open his own private management consulting business in the future, Catalino would like to also mentor and coach individuals, particularly young adults and professionals, and volunteer more. “I have always wanted to mentor and help other professionals, enhance my career by exposing myself to, and learning about, more and various aspects of the industry,” he said.

Catalino is a certified management consultant. He speaks regularly to middle and high school students and has received various exceptional contribution awards throughout his career. He’s also a strong supporter for United Way, local food banks and volunteer organizations. In his spare time, Guy enjoys reading, exercising, and physical fitness activities.

Guy A. Catalino
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Monday, July 12, 2010

Cathleen J. Blair

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Cathleen J. Blair as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Cathleen J. Blair, Executive Director of Children’s Services for Okeechobee County, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Cathleen Blair’s commitment to excellence in Children’s Services.

Blair, who holds a BS in Special Education from Florida State University, followed by an MEd in Specific Learning Disabilities from the University of Georgia, and is certified in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University, has spent the last thirty-six years working in the local community of Okeechobee.

As executive director of children’s services, Blair is responsible for the day to day operations of the agency, which include mental health counseling, summer camps, foster care, healthcare, and other needed programs. She develops an annual budget by working with the county commissioners and also partakes in public hearings to discuss the budgets and programs, since they are a taxing authority. She also approves purchases of agencies, develops grant packets and arranges for the council members to understand how the programs are helping the children within the county. “Having had my entire professional life in the community of Okeechobee, many people know what I do and why I do it. They respect my belief that all children can learn and all children should achieve excellence,” Blair explained. “I am extremely organized and passionate about working for the betterment of children.”

Blair’s entire career history has been in education and program development for children. Starting out as a teacher of mentally disabled elementary children, she then moved to a mid-management position and worked with parents of children with disabilities. She then became the director of exceptional student education in 1982 where she continues today. Since 1990, she served as governor appointee for nine years and was appointed by the council to her current position in 2001.

Blair plans to retire soon, but will remain active in numerous programs, including acting as president of the United Way of Okeechobee County. She also plans to continue volunteering within her local community. Currently, she’s a member of the Council of American Special Educators, the Council for Exceptional Students, the National Professional Women’s Association and is the chairperson for the Finance and Building Fund Committee. In her spare time, Cathleen enjoys travelling and reading.

Cathleen J. Blair
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, June 25, 2010

Karen Deadwyler

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Karen Deadwyler as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Karen Deadwyler, Author and CEO of Godly Pleasures, Inc., has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Karen Deadwyler’s commitment to excellence in the field of religious studies.

The self-published author, CEO of her online Christian store, and ministry founder, began her successful career in 2002, after facing a near death experience. Upon being healed and restored, she was inspired by God to start her ministry and pay it forward. “This ministry was started because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of people who had faced similar situations or unfortunate circumstances just as I had,” Deadwyler explained. From there, a women’s ministry (Willing Women of Worship Fellowship), a prayer group (Word in Action Intercessory Prayer Group), her business (Godly Pleasures, Inc.), and a church (Glory Temple Ministry), were all formed. She credits her husband, Apostle Ronnie Deadwyler of twenty-three years, “He gave me all the love, support and strength to accomplish these God given goals. As visionary, co-pastor and prophetess of Glory Temple Ministries, Deadwyler’s main goal is to spread the gospel by mentoring, teaching and preaching. As a previous a nurse of twenty-eight years, she has also been inspired to write two books, by combining her two worlds of work and religion into one, comparing natural healing versus the supernatural.

Deadwyler is hosting a book signing at Barnes & Noble’s Bookstores at 240 Route 22 West in Springfield on Saturday, July 17, 2010 at 12:00pm for her second book. Five Rights Medication for the Soul, was released in January and published through Godly Pleasures, Inc.. The self-published book is an informative reference that speaks of human rights. “I call them the five rights. And when done according to God’s will and his ways, it will and shall become medication to your soul,” Deadwyler explained. “As a nurse, when we talk about medication and learning how to administer it correctly, we are taught these five rights.”

Deadwyler earned her bachelor’s degree from the International Theological Seminary of California in 2009 and is a licensed practical nurse since 1982. She’s acted as a weekly columnist for The Community Journal, a weekly newspaper in Long Island, New York. She also spent some time as an associate editor for The Gospel News Journal. She’s a citation recipient winner from Nassau County Legislature. Mrs. Deadwyler hopes to open an abused shelter for women and children and a clinic for teenage mothers and women just out of prison in the near future, and currently volunteers and donates to Pastor Yolanda.

For more information on Karen or her two books, His Miraculous Way and Five Rights Medication for Your Soul, visit http://www.godlypleasures.org.

Karen Deadwyler
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Monday, June 21, 2010

Quinn B. Dodds, Sr.

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Quinn B. Dodds, Sr. as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Quinn B. Dodds, Sr., founder and president of Operation Helping Other People Especially-Yourself (HOPE-Y), has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Quinn B. Dodds, Sr.’s commitment to excellence in the Non-Profit industry.

Dodds, who holds an associate’s degree from Savannah Technical College in criminal justice, opened his not-for-profit organization and became incorporated in December, 2009. They are a leading provider for economic tools and services for all humanity that become displaced or homeless.

The charity, which works to implement programs in an effort to help all walks of life become more mainstream in society, advocates on individual’s behalves and promotes their self-esteem, optimism and opportunity.

As founder and president, Dodds is in charge of day to day operations, procurement of grants, employment operations, employment of personnel, fiscal matters, and representing the organization at meetings and events that are beneficial for the success of the organization.

Dodds, a retired federal corrections lieutenant of Gilmer, West Virginia, and US Army disabled war veteran, credits his time served as an infantry soldier in Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm to his current success. “The trials and tribulations I encountered since February of 2004,” he said, led to the path he took in founding the non-profit organization.

Hoping to establish a transitional shelter service to assist individuals and families move from crisis into independent living is Dodds’s next mission. He hopes to be able to address social, economic, cognitive and physical needs of those that participate and address their barriers to independent living through group and one-on-one counseling services, case management and legal advocacy services to help them become self-sufficient. “I’d like to provide workshops related to basic life skills building, consumer education, instruction on budgeting and finance, effective decision making, goal setting, and relationship building for the purpose of assisting them in increasing life skills development,” he explained. He also would like to provide referral services for educational information, vocational and post-secondary preparation and opportunities.

Dodds has written a book based on a true story, titled Against All Odds with Jesus Christ. All proceeds are donated directly to Operation HOPE-Y for the development of the shelter. He is the recipient of numerous accommodation awards and achievement metals from the US Army. He is a member of the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge #132 in several houses, including the Knights Templar, 32nd Degree, Eastern Star and a shrine while stationed in Kirch-goens, Germany. He is also an active member at St. Mark Baptist Church where he participates in the Men’s Ministry, Feast of Hope, and Raven by the Brook programs. He volunteered at the Warming Center, which was a temporary shelter for the homeless during the extreme cold weather and also sponsors a child from Uganda.

For more information, visit http://www.operationhope-y.org.

Quinn B. Dodds, Sr.
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, June 4, 2010

Owen H. Watstein

Biltmore Who’s Who Selects Owen H. Watstein as this week’s Honored Member of the Executive and Professional Registry for 2009.

Owen H. Watstein, senior vice-president of wealth management for Citi Personal Wealth Management, has been selected as an Honored Member of the Biltmore Who’s Who Executive and Professional Registry. The selection recognizes Owen H. Watstein’s commitment to excellence in the Financial Services industry.

Watstein, who holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Psychology from Hofstra University, has been working in the financial service industry for over eighteen years, since 1992.

Starting out as a financial consultant with Shearson Lehman Brothers in Garden City, he advanced by taking a position with Paine Webber as an investment consultant. From there, Watstein landed a job with his current company, working as a senior vice-president and senior financial advisor. He has been working out of the Madison Avenue and 91st Street location in NYC for the past twelve years.

Watstein’s main priority is to clearly communicate the ever changing financial markets with his clients, by following a four-phase process that allows him to reach his goals. The first step, he explains, is through discovery, by asking questions that will capture the most important aspect of a client’s wealth. The second step involves analysis and recommendation, which is based on feedback. Thirdly, implementation plays an important role by working through a detailed plan. Finally, monitoring communication between himself and his clients is also crucial to ensure that they are on the same page. “I like to be kept abreast of my clients changing financial needs,” he explained. “My knowledge has helped me both internally and externally to facilitate productive and profitable relationships for my clients.” In addition, Watstein acts as senior team leader for The Watstein Group, consisting of eight other advisors and two assistants.

After watching the movie Wall Street in 1987, Watstein became inspired to get involved in the financial services world as a stepping stone for future success both professionally and personally. “I have always gotten great joy by being able to help others in need,” he recalls. “I looked at this industry as a way to accomplish both of my passions in one.” Watstein’s main goal in the future includes helping his clients understand the importance of diversification and asset allocation as it pertains to investing with a long-term perspective. He also hopes for the team to be managing $1 billion in client assets by the start of 2015.

Watstein has won numerous awards, including a 2006 Citi Global Chairman’s Council for Consumer Investments Award, a 2007 and 2008 Chairman’s Club Award through Citi Smith Barney, and was named a CitiStar Top Performer nine times.

For more information, visit http://advisor.citi.com/thewatsteingroup.

Owen H. Watstein
Posted by Biltmore Who's Who on Friday, May 28, 2010

Biltmore Who's Who Blog

Recent Posts
Archives

EMPOWERING EXECUTIVES & PROFESSIONALS

Biltmore Who's Who News and Events

Biltmore Who's Who Blog

Recent Posts

Archives