Profile

I oversee the construction, implementation and support sales of a suite of software products that include Bank Fee Analysis, Account Reconciliation and Treasury Mgmt Software. I conduct a lot of software demonstrations, in person with clients and sometimes over the phone. I oversee the enhancements and updates to all of the software and I also test software. I’m responsible for the product roadmap. I conduct routine customer service surveys to measure client satisfaction. Once customers buy our software, I do webinars to train them on how to use the software and introduce new ways of using the software. These systems range in price from $30K to $215,000. My company is a small organization and I end up wearing a lot of hats – I have to be able to talk to all levels of people, IT people, HR people, Accounting compliance, etc.

I work from home and start off by reviewing my calendar. My highest priorities are sales support which includes software demo’s. On average, from my home office I conduct three to four software demo’s per week via webinars. Outside of that, I call existing customers, conduct training sessions, respond to RFP’s (Request for proposal) for new business. I also spend time updating and testing software.

• Communication – having the ability to verbalize processes using system automation, being able to explain benefits to customers, etc.
• Analytical skills – you’re always looking to improve processes and in doing so, you need to understand how to streamline processes.
• Accounting skills – understand accounting principles because the software helps drive compliance within the application.

It’s very flexible outside of scheduled customer demonstrations. I work at home and you have to be disciplined to decide how best to use your time, how to prioritize your work, etc. With training and talking with existing customers there’s unpredictability with your schedule. Sometimes based on work demands, I have to work late (7 p.m.), other days I can take time for other obligations. I typically manage my work hours on a weekly basis, not a daily basis.

Yes – about 35% of the time. I attend a lot of conferences, give speeches, and meet with customers frequently.

I love the variability and the flexibility. I have various job processes that I do and intellectually I like to troubleshoot software. I like to use my accounting background when speaking at tradeshows. I like using my organizational skills and the variety of tasks and projects I get involved with.

I work for a small company and miss the structure of a larger corporation and knowing proper rules and proper procedures. Many times I have to make an administrative decision and implement “on the go”. I have to be the authoritative voice for accounting issues and sometimes I wish I had more experts within the company to rely on.

Improving methodology and giving the business world more streamlined, automated tools and solutions. I love to see the “aha” moments with customers.

I’m a people watcher and I have been influenced by many people. I was a beauty pageant winner in my earlier days and the pageant experience helped give me to gain inner confidence and poise to follow the interests I had in business. It helped polish my image.

Throughout life, respect people and property and you’ll never go wrong.

Worst advice was staying on only one path because eventually you’ll be successful. I now think that if you explore off the beaten path you’ll also find success.

Don’t fear education and the future. Don’t try and predict what will happen into the future. Let it happen day-to-day.

I would relax and have more fun.

My path started in high school. On a dare from my mom, because she didn’t think they could pay for college, I started in scholarship beauty pageants. I had no confidence I would succeed, because there wasn’t one aspect of my personality or physical appearance that would suggest beauty pageants would be my path. What I found was a well rounded person can succeed in many things, including beauty pageants. After winning several pageants and collecting scholarship funds for my first three years of college, I got interested in catalog modeling and loved the retail management side of it after visiting the New York Garment District. Knowing I was not going to be a successful model, I started inquiring about the business side of the retail industry which directed my college interests in the business/accounting world. Once I graduated from college, my first employment was in the Accounting department of JCPenney. I was good at system and financial analysis and progressed into mgmt with JCPenney thru the fifteen years I was with them.

I would sit in the make-up chairs and look at people ordering new fashions, the buying department, and knew I wanted to be involved in retail somehow.

I’ve often been conflicted because I’m very creative and have a natural “eye” for art and design - but I only utilize that talent as a hobby. When I was in high school, I designed my own prom dress and pageant gowns. Although my mom was skeptical because there was no pattern behind it, she helped me sew it and it turned out fabulous. I then went on to do the same with many of my beauty pageants – one time sewing on 3,800 Austrian crystals on a dress and won the evening gown portion in all of my pageants. My parents always stressed and encouraged me to go into a career that I could make a secure living in and I worried early in my career that I couldn’t make a career in artistic pursuits so I went into Business/Accounting. I find myself utilizing my creative skills in business which has what made me successful but sometimes wonder what my life may have been like if I had pursued a more creative world. My true creative outlet today is interior design and I’m often seen helping friends and family with their homes.

Try to live in the moment and enjoy life minute by minute.