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ENTREPRENEURS - July 2004 'Pushing the Envelope' In mid-May, one of 2004’s most significant conferences for Kentucky’s business women took place at the Radisson Hotel in Lexington. Sponsored by Women Leading Kentucky, “Pushing the Envelope: Taking Risks & Finding Balance” was the Fifth Annual Women’s Business and Leadership Conference. The event recognizes the accomplishment of women as chief executives and entrepreneurs. The founder of Women Leading Kentucky, Janet Steele Holloway, emphasized that Kentucky’s business climate today is more female-friendly than ever. “More women are starting businesses every year than men,” she said. “And that’s been true for the last 10 years.” “We’re saying to Kentucky companies, ‘Don’t forget the 51 percent of people in this state that are qualified workers. They may not be part of the old boys club, but they’re qualified,’” Holloway said. Holloway hopes Women Leading Kentucky can combat such obstacles by providing networking opportunities – with both men and women – to encourage women to step forward and take chances. It pushes organizations and businesses in Kentucky to implement more women-friendly employment policies, organizes seminars and funds scholarships. At the conference, Kentucky Employer’s Mutual Insurance (KEMI) received the group’s Top Business for Women Award. The award recognized the state’s most noteworthy businesses giving economic and professional opportunities to women. Roger Fries, KEMI’s CEO, accepted the award on his company’s behalf. “KEMI’s proud record of hiring and promoting women combines well with its solid relationship with women insurance agents from across the Commonwealth,” said Ed Lane, publisher of The Lane Report, which co-sponsored the award. In accepting the award on behalf of KEMI, Fries noted that his company involved women in senior level leadership. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the hard-working and talented women that work with us,” he said. Holloway praised KEMI, and openly expressed her wish that other companies would follow the insurer’s example. Lillian Press was one of a handful of pioneers of the community mental health movement in the mid-1960s, a movement that created models for the entire state and the nation. Press’s organization of comprehensive surveys of mental health services throughout Kentucky led to the establishment of Kentucky’s first Regional Mental Health Board. Most of this was accomplished while working as an unpaid volunteer. Some time later, Press became executive assistant to the commissioner of mental health, and was also the founding director of the Kentucky’s Governor’s Scholars Program, which resulted from her concern over the state’s long history of “brain drain.” Most recently, Press founded The Women’s Network: Advocates for Democratic Principles, a group that encourages women in Kentucky to vote. Press began her career at age 18, when she left Boston University during her freshman year to work as a reporter at a local newspaper. Eventually she returned to college, meeting her husband, Leonard, a former head of KET. The newlywed couple both completed graduate studies at Boston University, where they often sat together in class. But what may seem like a young bride’s dream was not without bumps for Press. She recalls one instance when her professor told her she could help her husband with a paper of his, instead of writing one herself. She refused. “I paid my tuition just like my husband did, and I expect to get my own assignments,” Press told the professor. Press was honored to receive the Martha Layne Collins Award—and somewhat taken aback. She had not expected to win when she read the short list of candidates. “When I saw the women, I told my husband, ‘I’m so relieved I don’t have to worry about preparing my acceptance speech.’” Press praised former Gov. Martha Layne Collins for her accomplishments in improving education in Kentucky and for what she, as a woman, did for the state’s economy. Holloway expressed satisfaction at the conference’s spirit of unity and enthusiasm. “There’s such a spirit of openness and excitement and creativity among the women here in Kentucky,” Holloway said. “They are ready to take that next step.” |
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Copyright 1996-2004, by Kentucky Business Online. All rights reserved. Editorial content
is copyright 2004, Lane Communications Group The Lane Report is a trademark of Lane Communications Group. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. |
Holloway lauds the environment for women in Kentucky business and politics as one that’s improving. But in the next breath she said the state still suffers from a male-dominated insider mentality and a long history of poor employment practices toward women.
Winning the top individual award given by Women Leading Kentucky, the Martha Layne Collins Leadership Award, was Lillian Press, a long-time advocate for education, rehabilitation and democracy.