Workplace flexibility key to women-dominated Chamber staff
Last Updated on Friday, 11 June 2010 11:02 Written by spence Monday, 17 May 2010 07:51
(Top Row) Victoria Brees, Liz Glockhoff, Don Laird, Michelle Earhart; (Bottom Row) Emily Poore, Sherry Wohlgemuth, Kristi Ray, Lexi Klaus. Photography by Arianna Parsons.
By Bondi Wood, Voices Contributing Writer
Columbia Chamber of Commerce President Don Laird, who carries the responsibility of overseeing Chamber staff, said that providing a family-friendly and flexible work place has been crucial to the success of the Chamber.
“Not only do we try to accommodate the needs of our employees, who are all really good, but they all cover for each other as well.”
Laird added that keeping the work fresh is another aspect of providing a flexible workplace. “We try to keep it interesting. We move them around to head up other projects, giving them new opportunities.”
In her 11 years with the Chamber, Victoria Brees, Director of Program Development, has headed up the Business Showcase, annual Golf Tournament, Leadership Columbia, and the Annual Meeting, giving her a broad range of professional duties.
Similarly, Sherry Wohlgemuth has worked in more than one position in her 12 years at the Chamber. Wohlgemuth has been Director of Special Projects for the past two years, but prior to that, she was the Director of Communication Services. Wohlgemuth said, “The Chamber staff has worked hard together to make the environment here something that we all enjoy. We are a team and we enjoy being here.”
Relatively new to the Chamber team, Liz Glockhoff, Director of Women’s Network, has been with the Chamber for only a year and a half. Still, in that time she has had varied responsibilities, including all aspects of the Women’s Network Division, maintaining the Chamber membership database, working with the Small Business Committee, and coordinating Executive Connections, Small Business Week and Awards, and the Micro Business Fair.
“I think my work environment is unique compared to others my own age. I’m given room to experiment, try new things, and think outside the box. I don’t think everyone is awarded the opportunity to take charge and make things your own,” Glockhoff said.
While the women employees of the Chamber appreciate the flexibility at work, Laird also said he specifically seeks out employees who are multi-talented. “At the Chamber, you are going to work with a variety of individuals from a variety of backgrounds. Being able to be flexible is important,” Laird said.
Kristi Ray, the Chamber’s Executive Vice President, has a 20-year career working with Chambers of Commerce; the last six have been in Columbia. Responsible for economic development, community development, and government affairs, Ray said, “The Chamber industry as a whole is a very rewarding industry for women. From entry level to executive level, women are treated as equals in all aspects of the business.”
Further, according to Ray, when employment opportunities at the Chamber arise, the response is overwhelming. “We usually have 50-60 candidates for openings,” Ray said. Laird confirmed Ray’s estimates on the number of candidates for job openings, and also said that there have been many cases of Chamber employees being attracted to other positions in companies owned by Chamber members. “Our members see how well our employees work and sometimes ask them to come to work for them,” Laird said.
National statistics show that despite the increase in men contributing more at home than was once the case, women still handle the majority of responsibilities of raising children and keeping the home running. Consequently, many women choose a profession or workplace that is family friendly.
Emily Poore, Director of Communication Services is among the newest Chamber employees, and although she doesn’t yet have children, the flexibility and family-friendly atmosphere are still important to her and her husband.
“We have a lot of before hour and after hour events where we are working overtime so having that flexibility to put family first is a great incentive for working those extra hours,” Poore said.
Married for 13 years and with three children under the age of nine, Wohlgemuth said, “As a working mother, one of the best aspects of my job is the flexibility. I never feel pressured to have to choose my job over my family and it allows me to have a relatively well-balanced career and family life.”
Brees, the mother of a pre-schooler and an infant, agrees. “As a working mom, the Chamber provides a good balance for a professional career and spending time with the family when needed.”
The Columbia Chamber of Commerce may be ahead of the national curve on providing a family-friendly, flexible workplace that also provides a variety of opportunities to hone leadership skills and professional development.
According to Laird, other chambers often ask the Columbia Chamber for advice on procedures and programs. “They realize we do a lot of things right,” Laird said.
For example, most chambers do not have a Women’s Network. In fact, Columbia is the only chamber in Missouri with a separate women’s division. With a membership 500 strong, the local Women’s Network, like the women employees of the Chamber, are provided multiple opportunities to hold leadership roles.
As Glockhoff said, “We help support women by practicing our mission in everything we do: To connect, empower, and engage members through leadership development, educational opportunities, and innovative outreach.”
[...] [...]