marti taylor

Woman of the Week: Marti Taylor

marti taylorHere at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Marti Taylor (Martha Ann Croll)

My Current Job/Company:
Executive Director, Ross Heart Hospital and COO, Heart and Vascular Center at The OSU Wexner Medical Center

My Birthdate:
July 10, 1964

My Work:
Helping to make sense of health care reform, which I believe in the end will be better for all of us, even though getting there will be a challenge! I oversee all aspects of the Ross Heart Hospital and the OSU Heart and Vascular Center and I work with amazingly talented doctors, nurses, researchers, technicians and other great staff.

My Passion:
My family, my work and my faith. I find that a balance of all three is what keeps me going!

My Family:
My husband, my sons Zachary, 10 and Andrew, 8 and 4 older siblings.

My Heroes:
My parents, my siblings, and a dear friend—all for different reasons. My mother taught me that women have great strength and endurance….she worked full time and raised 5 children. She was my greatest coach, teaching me to be thankful for all the blessings of life, reminding me that integrity is so important, encouraging me to try my best and to always reach for the stars! My father, who didn’t finish high school, taught me that in the end, a hard day of work was well worth it. My siblings are my heroes, too, because they are all successful in their own unique ways. And lastly, Wanda Bride, who is someone who took a chance on me for my first “real job,” pushed me beyond my comfort zone during my early career and continues to give me wise advice.

My Escape:
Most recently, working with a personal trainer. I find it to be tough work, but at the end of a session, I am “ready to go!” I also love Bikram Yoga. It’s 90 minutes of heat and hard work that ultimately results in relaxation.

My Pet Peeve:
Excuses and negativity. The world would be a better place without both.

My Indulgence:
Fine red wine and chocolate

My Roots:

The youngest of 5 children, I grew up on a farm in Oak Harbor, Ohio. I spent a lot of time in the Lutheran Church, played in the band and was always surrounded by friends and family.

My Future:
Probably a little crazy and busy but full of excitement!

My Love:

Beaches, sunshine and time with family! I also love a challenging professional role…status quo just won’t do!

My Movie:
“The Sound of Music.” I have early family memories of watching it together.

My Quote:
“They may forget your name but they will always remember how you made them feel”—Maya Angelou

My Advice to Young Women:
As a nurse by training, one of favorite pieces of advice comes from Florence Nightingale: “Never give up and never accept excuses.” I also like a couple of quotes by Wayne Gretzky: “You will always miss 100 percent of the shots you never take” and “Don’t aim for where the puck is, aim for where the puck is going!” So for young ladies-: don’t give up, take risks and look to the future!

How I Balance it All:
I tend not to get too caught up in the details and try to keep the big picture in front of me. I keep a positive attitude and am thankful that I have amazing friends and family that will help out in a bind. If I am not busy and facing a challenge, life seems dull!

Woman of the Week: Sylvia Brown

Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Sylvia Brown

My Current Job/Company:
Associate/Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP

My Birthdate:
03.26.1981

My Work:
I assist clients by helping them make decisions in the area of health care law and policy. I also help clients resolve adverse legal issues in the courts and the legislature.

My Passion:
Is to bring my faith to life; to love my family; and to help others.

My Family:
Marcus (My Little Lion – 6)

My Heroes:
My grandmother; she is practical and full of love and faith. My father and mother; they taught me to forgive.

My Escape:
A book; music; any good concert; and any vacation where I can fly in, swim and lounge, and fly out.

My Pet Peeve:
Gridlock (but even that has or can be used for a purpose).

My Indulgence:
Jeni’s ice cream. Blackberries.

My Roots:
I grew up poor but confident in this wisdom: Good things are planted in the pathway of a tenaciously hopeful person. Just move forward, and it will come.

My Future:
Purposed.

My Love:
People and resolving problems. Lullabies, throwing rocks in the Friendship Park creek and bike riding with my son. Big laughs with friends.

My Movie:
I cannot choose… A top couple are “Emperor of the Sun,” “The Color Purple,” “Citizen Kane” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”

My Quote on Life:
“ALL things work together for my good.” -Rom. 8:28

My Accessory:
It is weird. I cannot say that I have one. Perhaps the iPhone is the new “accessory.”

My Advice to Young Women:
Embrace being you, a woman, and all that that brings with it. Do not be discouraged by what seems to be the “fuzziness” of life or even being totally blind to what the future will hold. Sometimes, when you search out the answers, things will be fuzzy at first. Instead, be bold! Tell yourself what you see; announce to those you trust that things are not clear. Then wait, listen, and keep believing and doing the things that show you believe. Watch: the changes you experience, through good and bad circumstances, will start bringing things into focus. And one day you will see with excellent vision yourself in this world.

Cheers to the journey! Cheers to the adjustment process! Cheers to you!

How I Balance it All:
I don’t (smile)! I adopted a weird maxim a while ago: life is life. I work hard to create the best moments for my myself, family, career, and friends. I relinquish the idea that I have total control over the outcome of what I did. This allows me to feel, move and adjust to what life brings my way. This way my life recalibrates itself.

Rachel Friedman

Woman of the Week: Rachel Friedman

Rachel FriedmanHere at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Rachel Friedman

My Current Job/Company:
EVP Marketing, Continental Office Environments
EVP, 3d Branding (division of Continental Office)

My Birthdate:
04.06.70

My Work:
I lead a division of Continental Office Environments called 3d Branding. We help clients ‘tell their story’ within their space through environmental graphics. We create an authentic brand experience for visitors and employees by communicating themes and imagery that celebrate company vision, values, history, mission, associate recognition and more!

My Passion:
My children, family, friends and my creative work…both personal and professional.

My Family:
Davis (13), Lena (10), Miles (9)

My Heroes:
My mother and grandmother (of blessed memory). Two women who have taught me everything about strength, grace, dignity, and selflessness.

My Escape:
Any time I can wander without a schedule…the beach, shopping, gardening, cooking.

My Pet Peeve:
Office politics

My Indulgence:
Whit’s frozen vanilla custard with peanut butter mixed in. Try it! It’s amazing.

My Roots:
Strong, adventurous, bright and resourceful, Jewish immigrants who came to this country to build a better life for future generations.

My Future:
Exciting and fast paced!

My Love:
Entertaining….making memories for myself, my family and friends, in my home on special occasions or just any regular day.

My Movie:
“Shawshank Redemption”…I love the story of friendship in this movie.

My Quote on Life:
Quotes are like tattoos…I find it very difficult to commit to one. (Which is why I will never have a tattoo!) I recently saw this one from Dr. Seuss…” Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

My Accessory:
Bracelets and a scarf around my neck during the cold winter months…or for cold air conditioning.

My Advice to Young Women:
Experience as many things as you can and take as many risks as possible….never stop exploring who you are. And travel! Find your passion and follow it.

How I Balance it All:
I try to be mindful and have a sense of awareness when the balance is out of whack. When it is, I readjust course which could mean saying ‘no’ or taking a break…or just plain giving myself a break.

Woman of the Week – Kate/Katy Trombitas

Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Kate/Katy Trombitas

My Name:
Kate/Katy Trombitas

My Current Job/Company:
Vice President Financial Education, Inceptia (a division of National Student Loan Program), a national nonprofit organization

My Birthdate:
September 29, 1981

My Work:
My work focuses on creating a college-going culture at the k-12 level and promoting financial literacy as a key component of student success in college and beyond.

My Passion:

My family and my community

My Family:
Matt (my hubby) and Will (my 8-month old son)

My Hero:
My friend Tally, who has been an incredible mentor to me. She has taught me so much about how to keep life in perspective and what it means to be a compassionate and effective leader without compromising who I am and what I believe in.

My Escape:

A great book!

My Pet Peeve:
Round-a-bouts! Although I admit this is mainly due to user-error.

My Indulgence:
A long phone call with a friend

My Roots:
My parents always put an emphasis on the importance of education throughout my childhood, which has transformed into a life-long passion for me.

My Future:

Happy, healthy, fun and full of learning

My Love:
Spending time with my family and friends and watching my son grow.Nothing is more exciting than watching Will learn a new skill or reach a new milestone!

My Movie:
“The American President”- Aaron Sorkin + Annette Benning? Yes, please!

My Quote on Life:
“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin in serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” (Emerson)

My Accessory:

My dogs! We have two sweet, faithful pups that round out our family and are always by my side.

My Advice to Young Women
-Find a partner who will help you follow your dreams and do the same for him/her.
-When others underestimate you, don’t be discouraged; use it as motivation.

How I Balance it All:
I don’t! But every day I try to be the person who deserves the wonderful life I have.

Woman of the Week – Kathy Gatterdam

Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Kathy Gatterdam


My Name:

Katherine (Kathy) Gatterdam

My Current Job/Company:
CEO, The Columbus Coal & Lime Co.

My Birthdate:
03.21.65….with my brother Erik

My Work:
I run a 125 year old family masonry supply business. We are all family here.

My Passion:
My family, my faith, Rotary Youth Exchange, the Builders Exchange, my community.

My Family:
Rich (Supportive Husband), Kate-18, Emily-17 (2 Amazing Daughters)

My Heroes:

My parents. (Diane and Larry Niermeyer) They are and were simply the BEST.

My Escape:
Chippawa Lodge, Canada……no TV, no cell service…just family.

My Pet Peeve:
Negative people and those who choose to scream instead of speak

My Indulgence:
Old family recipe….blueberry torte.

My Roots:
Started as a swimming instructor. I loved it, then had odd jobs through college. I worked at law firms in Law School and ended up in the family business after five years in the legal field.

My Future:
More time to truly use my talents.

My Love:

Seeing all those I love happy. It brings me great joy.

My Movie:
Too many to list! I love old black and whites….everything from Sargent York and To Catch a Thief…to Christmas in Connecticut

My Motto to Live:
Is it the Truth, Is it Fair, Will it build goodwill and better friendships…will it be beneficial to all concerned….

My Accessory:

Black hairband on my wrist. My hair goes up and down and sideways all day!

My Advice to Young Women:

Live your values and don’t let others define you. Have great faith you are always loved no matter how you feel about yourself or your accomplishments.

How I Balance it All:
Often you need to make choices and say NO or not yet. Balance for me is understanding my commitments and trying very hard not to overload them. I am surrounded by a very strong family at home and work, however, a wrench is always thrown into the mix so I am learning to leave more space for the unexpected.

Woman of the Week – Elisabeth Tavierne

Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Elisabeth Tavierne

My Current Job/Company:
President and Founder of CHAARG LLC (Changing Health, Attitudes, and Actions to Recreate Girls)

My Birthdate:
8.31.90

My Work:
I create opportunities for college aged women to find their passion in health and fitness, ultimately building a community of women who motivate and support each other not only in the gym, but in life.

My Passion:
I want to inspire people. I am passionate about helping others live a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. Life is BEAUTIFUL. I want everyone to truly enjoy it.

My Family:
My parents, Peg and Randy, and my three awesome younger siblings Michael (19), Maria (15), and Anne (12) + our crazy black lab Stella

My Heroes:
My parents, both for different reasons. My dad for his work ethic, kindness, and optimism. My mom for her dedication to her children and young spirit.

My Escape:
In or by any body of water while the the sun is shining down its summer heat.

My Pet Peeve:
Negativity, cattiness, and unnecessary drama.

My Indulgence:
Wine. Cheese. Vodka and grapefruit with a salted rim. Spicy food.

My Roots:
I come from a big, loving Catholic family with strong morals and Midwestern friendliness. My parent’s wanderlust and passion for food developed my extremely diverse palate and love for traveling. I was born and raised an athlete, learning at an early age the power of drive, determination, and goal setting.

My Future:
Happy, filled with love and adventures around the world.

My Love:
My boyfriend, Peter, who never fails to make me laugh, creatively challenge me, and support me in all that I do.

My Movie:
I don’t watch many movies, but I love documentaries. My current favorite is “Happy” by Roko Belic.

My Quote on Life:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

My Accessory:
My facial expressions, pullovers from the men’s department, and running tights.

My Advice to Young Women:
Love yourself – you are worth it, you are enough. In this day and age, so many young women are plagued with confidence issues, whether it has to do with their body, in their work, or among their peers. Although everyone is bound to have insecurities from time to time, it is important that self love trumps all. Think about it this way: There is absolutely no one in the whole wide world who is YOU. That in and of itself is pretty awesome. Get to know who you are, and own it.

How I Balance it All:
Starting a business in college takes time away from typical college activities, friends, and even family. It’s definitely hard at times, and balance is still something I am working on. What I have found out is that there is always more work that can be done in a day, but the work will be there in the morning. In the beginning I was working from 7 AM to 11 PM, completely running myself down. Now I make sure to end by 7 PM, and let myself unwind the rest of the night. I’ve learned that it is so important to take time for myself, especially to exercise, focus on 3-5 tasks to tackle in a day, and most importantly, to make time for friends and family.

Woman of the Week – Jill Webb

Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Jill Webb

My Current Job/Company:
Head of Lower School, The Wellington School/Director of Professional Development, Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)

My Work:
I am the Head of a Lower School for children from age 3 through 4th grade, and also serve as the Director of Professional Development for 230+ independent schools in the Midwest.

My Passion:
Family, my spiritual life, friends, art, learning

My Family:
Tom (my endlessly supportive and patient husband), Ty (my kind first born) Katie (his kind and beautiful new wife), Alex (my creative and funny son)

My Heroes:
Anyone who takes the chance to do the right thing

My Escape:
Anywhere with water, family and everyone cooking

My Pet Peeve:

Excuses

My Indulgence:
French fries

My Roots:
Lakes, trees, barefoot, boats

My Future:
Happily busy, busily learning!

My Love:
Any time my family is all together – complete!

My Movie:
Any movie with Diane Keaton

My Quote on Life:
Almost anything Oprah has said

My Accessory:
Boots! I wish I could find a way to wear them in the summer…

My Advice to Young Women:
Find as many mentors as your life will allow – most women are honored to be asked

How I Balance it All:
To be honest, I’m not sure I balance it well. I find it is often like spinning plates on sticks – and I am constantly moving from one initiative to the next to keep them all spinning!

Cathy Elwood

Woman of the Week – Cathy Elwood

Cathy ElwoodHere at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Catherine Elwood

My Current Job/Company:
State Auto Insurance Companies

My Birthdate:
11/07/64

My Work:
I am responsible for all hiring at State Auto Insurance Companies, as well as the on-boarding, goal setting and development that helps new hires become successful, long-term associates. It’s a great opportunity that I enjoy every day!

My Passion:
My family, work, exercise, and giving back.

My Family:
Doug (loving, supportive Husband), Sammie (Daughter – 23), Chad (Son – 20)

My Heroes:
My husband, Mother and Father, and awesome boss!

My Escape:
Any beach with my husband. The sun and sand rejuvenate my spirit and my soul; and exercise!

My Pet Peeve:
Negative people, “can’t do” attitudes and procrastination

My Indulgence:
Wine

My Roots:
Midwestern, hard-working family who helped me develop a strong work ethic, and who are truly loving and supportive.

My Future:
The world is my oyster – I will work hard to achieve my goals and pay it forward so others can succeed as well.

My Movie:
“Must Love Dogs” and “The King and I” – great love stories.

My Quote about Life:
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” (Eleanor Roosevelt)

My Accessory:

Everything sparkly and lots of color

My Advice to Young Women:
Listen, learn, be patient and find a great mentor. Don’t think of your career as a ladder, think of it as a jungle gym (you can swing to the next opportunity and broaden your experience base).

How I Balance it All:
I factor in free time and fun to keep me sane and calm. I surround myself with great family and co-workers who I consider my second family. AND, I try to remember that I can’t be all things to all people. I need to be realistic about what’s possible.

Shelley Bird

Woman of the Week – Shelley Bird

Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Shelley Bird

My Name:
Shelley Bird, most people call me Shell.

My Current Job/Company:
Executive Vice President, Public Affairs, Cardinal Health

My Birthdate:
Can I get away with saying you’re only as old as you feel?!

My Work:
Intense and varied. I lead multiple disciplines under the Public Affairs umbrella from corporate marketing and public relations to brand management and community relations.

My Passion:
Leveraging the transformative power of philanthropy.

My Family:
Jerry (my spouse and biggest fan) and Matthew (my son and grounding force)

My Heroes:
My mom – her quiet strength, bountiful kindness and unwavering dignity in spite of hard times have truly inspired me. And Professor Claire Woods – I would not have completed my doctorate journey without her pushing me to go farther and to enjoy the ride.

My Escape:
My art studio and walks in nature.

My Pet Peeve:
Arrogance and “baggage” – just let it go.

My Indulgence:
Champagne and any spicy Asian food; Greek food in Toronto and pepper crab in Singapore.

My Roots:
Hardscrabble, but I always try to bloom where I’m planted.

My Future:
Creative. Full of joy and new adventures.

My Love:
Besides my “boys” (husband and son), making assemblages out of found objects and exploring faraway places and cultures.

My Movie:
Art films and anything with Christopher Walken.

My Quote on Life:
“Adversity doesn’t build character; it reveals it.” (Told to me by my mother; not sure who the original author is.)

My Accessory:
“Host behavior” with a smile. And I love pins!

My Advice to Young Women:
Be courageous. Be honest. Be adaptable. Be curious. And help each other!

How I Balance it All….
Work/life balance suggests that I have two lives. It is work/life integration and feeling “whole” that is important. Some days I’m better at it than others.

Woman of the Week – Jackie Kirby

Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Jackie Kirby

My Current Job/Company:
Senior Manager, Cisco Inc.

My Birthdate:
03-17-66 (St Patricks Day!)

My Work:
I manage a group of Program Managers at Cisco, globally. I work with many cross functional teams in Supply Chain Management and have held various leadership roles at Motorola, Applied Materials, STM Wireless, and Cisco in the past 20+ years.

My Passion:
My family, my friends, my faith, and philanthropy efforts (such as Board member of Make-A-Wish). I also enjoy being actively involved in activities and leadership forums at Cisco, such as one of my favorite groups, iWISE (Inspiring Women through Information Sharing and Experience)

My Family:
My husband Tom, 3 daughters (Karley-16, Kacey-10 and Katey-9) and 2 dogs (Sadie and Duke).

My Heroes:
I actually have heroes in different aspects of my life- such as my Dad (work ethic, values), my husband Tom (his ability to help me not worry about things I discuss with him & his strength and character), my sister Char (role model as mom & friend), amazing girl friends from all aspects of life (high school, college, Florida, Atlanta, and now Austin), Pastor Tim (inspirational, and dedicates his life to helping others), and role models at work (Sandy Hoffman, Chief Diversity Officer at Cisco – dedicates her life to leading philanthropy efforts and inspiring and helping women).

My Escape:
My parents’ cottage in Indiana, with my husband and kids, sisters and brothers and their families, and my parents.

My Pet Peeve:
Negative people or people that lack empathy. Closed-minded people.

My Indulgence:
Wine, Friday movie nights with my usband, and Karaoke

My Roots:
Family oriented, fun, laughs, “goofiness,” and sports. Love…strong friendships that last from grade school through every stage of my life.

My Future:
Family fun, travel, love, career changes, grandkids, girlfriend “trips,” optimistic!

My Love:
My kids, funny conversations and outlook on life; my dogs; my husband’s jokes (most of the time); My girlfriends’ support and encouragement; my worldwide friends at Cisco

My Movie:
“Forest Gump” (because I love a story where the underdog wins!) and movies that are inspiring and based on a true story, such as “The Blind Side.”

My Quote on Life:
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

My Accessory:
My 20 year wedding anniversary ring from my husband

My Advice to Young Women:
Always have a good mentor you can rely on to help you in your career and “pay it forward” by helping to mentor others. If you get married, make sure you continue “date nights.” Never stop spending quality time with your close girlfriends – plan some fun trips and getaways! Never stay in a bad situation for too long at work. Never let a job or a boss change who you are; stay true to yourself. At work and during personal time, prioritize spending more time with those that bring you up and give you energy (vs “energy drainers”).

How I Balance it All:
Some things that seem to help me try my best to balance Family/Friends/Work/Philanthropy:
While maintaining health (1)Block 1 hour every day for exercise or “me time.” If I do not block it out, it will not happen and exercise helps me feel better and perform my best (2) Reduce the daily “long list of to do’s” to a “short priority list” daily. If the list gets too long, move some items to the next day or end of week. This helps me feel a sense of accomplishment vs. failure and reduces my stress (3) Remember the positives at work and outside the home, so that I do not feel “out of balance.” The mind can determine whether we feel balanced.