Salute To Women In Business
Wendy Symer, WLS Consulting, Lebanon
Wendy Symer comes from entrepreneurial stock. From Lebanon, Ill., her family owned a gift shop, foundry, photography business and raised, showed and sold World Champion Morgan Horses. She claims fondly that she’s been “selling something since birth.” With a master’s degree from SIUE, Symer started briefly in nonprofit PR, developing award-winning campaigns, lobbying…
Read MoreMichelle McKinney, president and co-owner, Legacy Place, Highland, Breese and Waterloo
Just 44 years old, Michelle McKinney has been involved in the management of senior housing for nearly 24 years. Now president and co-owner of Legacy Place, a network of four senior communities in Southwestern Illinois, McKinney got her start with Capital Senior Living, based in Dallas, Texas. Over the years, she has worked with…
Read MoreLisa Vaninger-Gaffney, furniture representative, Henricksen & Co.
By ROBERTA CODEMO Lisa Vaninger-Gaffney has worked in the contract furniture business for more than 18 years. “I fell in love with it,” she said. She spent 10 years as a manufacturer’s representative and eight years as a furniture dealer representative. “This gets me closer to my clients so that I can truly understand their…
Read MoreDenanne Heil, financial advisor, the Heil Group at Morgan Stanley, Shiloh
Denanne Heil, a financial advisor with the Heil Group at Morgan Stanley, grew up in Southwestern Illinois and, except for her college years at Illinois State University, has never strayed. She said she knew from an early age that she wanted to go into sales so she got her degree in marketing in 1989…
Read MoreRoxann Bohstedt, Broker Owner of Your Home Team Real Estate, O’Fallon, Ill.
A daughter of an Air Force family, Roxann Bohstedt grew up around the world. When she married an Air Force member, her life of travel continued. But, she said, when he was assigned to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, she knew this was going to be home. The broker owner of Your Home…
Read MoreMary Dix, Bonnie Coleman, First National Bank, Staunton
Mary Dix and Bonnie Coleman make for a strong lending team at First National Bank in Staunton. Dix focuses on commercial loans; Coleman on residential. Dix has a 41-year history in banking, starting as a teller with a small community bank in Belleville in 1975. She moved up the ranks as mergers changed the…
Read MoreDiana Voegele, co-owner Express Employment Professionals, Edwardsville and Fairview Heights
By RITA DUCKWORTH When Diana Voegele’s husband Marc decided to buy a franchise, she knew she’d be involved in the decision-making process, but didn’t expect to build a career. When they learned about Express Employment Professionals, she wanted a larger role. The couple just celebrated 10 years as co-owners of their Edwardsville franchise location.…
Read More