Woman of the Week – Aneca Lasley

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Each week, we feature a fantastic new woman 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.

Aneca Lasley

My Current Job/Company:
Litigation Partner/Squire Sanders (US) LLP

My Birthday:
02.02.75

My Work:
I help clients resolve complicated issues and commercial disputes whether they involve healthcare issues, product liability claims, trade secrets, trademarks, or contracts. I do this through a variety of means including mediation, arbitration and trial, and I pride myself on having both a national and local practice in which I actually try cases.

My Passion:
Helping others whether it be at home, at work, or in the community.

My Family:
Shawn (Husband and incredible father), Ayva (Strong-willed and funny daughter – 7)

My Heroes:
My parents who have always believed in and supported me.

My Escape:
My most readily available and easy escape is running. It helps me clear my head, relieve stress and renew my spirit.

My Pet Peeve:
People who are negative, inconsiderate, or incapable of having fun.

My Indulgence:
Wine & Chocolate

My Roots:
I come from a family of humble means that instilled in me the importance of hard work and perseverance and that sacrificed to allow me to pursue opportunities that they never had.

My Future:
Rewarding and fun and hopefully full of endless opportunities to grow and succeed.

My Love:
My daughter Ayva who amazes, inspires and challenges me on a daily basis.

My Movie:
There are two movies that I cannot resist watching when they are replayed on television: Mama Mia and Dirty Dancing. I love the music and dancing and the line “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” is one of my all-time favorite movie quotes.

My Quote on Life:
“One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.” (Maya Angelou)

My Accessory:
Shoes!

My Advice to Young Women:
Mentors perform a very important role, but when it comes to career advancement you really need a sponsor or champion. Sponsors or champions are defined by their clout within your organization, their ability to open doors and their willingness to advocate on your behalf. Take control of your professional development by seeking out and developing a relationship with someone who will be your champion.

How I Balance it All:
I don’t. “Balance” is a misnomer. I’m a juggler and my success derives from my ability to be flexible and capable of reordering my priorities when necessary to enable me to be responsive to the needs of my family, my clients, my firm and my friends without losing myself in the process.

Woman of the Week – Toni M. Cunningham

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Each week, we feature a fantastic new woman 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.

Toni M. Cunningham


My Current Job/Company: Principal Consultant/Image Anu, LLC

My Birthdate: 07.02.66

My Work: I provide consultation to my clients in the area of personal and professional development for their customers and/or workforce. I assist them with achieving their goals related to aligning skills and talents with passion and purpose to ensure that the “value add” of the individual or team is maximized. I believe that people perform best when their role matches their soul.

My Passion: Helping people get to “next” in their lives (whatever that next is for them).

My Family: Helen (Amazing Mother), Bryan and Martin (Half Brothers), BJ/Cory/April/Jaylen/Jarrod (Nieces and Nephews), The BG’s & My Besties (Girlfriends)

My Hero: My Mom (Helen Cunningham). She has an amazing ability to show unconditional love.

My Escape: Any destination that includes the sun, sand, and water. Water relaxes me.

My Pet Peeve: Poor customer service & people who expect something for nothing.

My Indulgence: Donatos Pizza. Chicken wings. Drinks with girlfriends.

My Roots: My faith sustains me. As well as the support of my family and friends.

My Future: Exciting! Fueled by the pursuit of my passion and purpose.

My Love: Hanging with my girlfriends. Listening to old school R&B and gospel music. Dogs (they make me smile).

My Movie: Coming to America (I know all of the lines). I love comedies and love stories!

My Quote on Life: “Not every conversation will change your life, but every conversation could.”-Jan Allen

My Accessory: Anything that blings!! I love BLING!

My Advice to Young Women: Identify your purpose and find your passion early and pursue them. The world needs what you were born to give us. Purpose + Passion = POWER!

How I Balance it All: It’s hard. I consistently struggle with this issue. Being a consultant and working with multiple clients, it is important to be able to manage multiple priorities. Time management and self discipline are things that I constantly work to improve. In the meantime, I try to focus on “being in the moment” and focused on the task at hand to ensure that I am providing quality outcomes. On the flip side, it is important to have down time. I make time for hanging out with friends or pampering myself to stay rejuvenated.

Woman of the Week – Tammy H. Wharton

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Each week, we feature a fantastic new woman 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.

Tammy H. Wharton

My Current Job/Company: Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Council, Inc. – CEO

My Birthdate: 10-06-68

My Work: Helping girls reach their leadership potential through programs, activities, and community service that give them the courage, confidence and character to succeed.

My Passion: My work, my family, and giving back to the community.

My Family: Dave (The rock behind me), Ally (often called Gator for Ally-gator – 12 soon to be 13 in May), Austin (My son who has never met a stranger – 10 going to be 11 in March)

My Heroes: My parents. Frank and Susan Hunt who have been the wind beneath my wings ever since I was a young girl. They have always told me the truth, regardless of whether I wanted to hear it or not but that I why I trust them to this day.

My Escape: The Spa. I’m still learning the importance of taking time to escape and take care of myself.

My Pet Peeve: Nay Sayers and status quo.

My Indulgence: Wine.

My Roots: Central Pennsylvania, country girl. Extremely supportive family who taught me wonderful values.

My Future: Blessed and full of opportunity. Who would have ever thought I would be working my dream job at such a young age! (Yes, I still consider myself young. Besides, you are only as old as you feel!)

My Love: My work and my children. I can see in my children the difference it makes to be involved in Scouting and sports activities. Nothing is better than to see them achieve a goal they have worked so hard to accomplish!

My Movie: “The Cutting Edge.” (I love movies where people defy the odds to achieve a goal!)

My Quote on Life: “To do the most good requires saying “no” to pressures to stray, and the discipline to stop doing what does not fit.” -Jim Collins

My Accessory: Diamonds (They are a girls best friend, right?)

My Advice to Young Women: Never let anyone tell you that you can’t accomplish something. If you believe, you can achieve!

How I Balance it All: Balance doesn’t mean everything all the time. There are days when work takes more of my time and others when family is a priority. Knowing which day is which is truly the key!

Woman of the Week – Renee Shumate

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Each week, we feature a fantastic new woman 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.

Renee Shumate

Job: Resource & Budget Analyst at American Electric Power

Birthday: 10-06-1964

My Work: Analyze changing operational and capacity demands and make recommendations to management for their evaluation and consideration regarding future business decisions for Transmission Engineering

.

My Passion: My church women’s leadership group:”Woman Be Blessed Ministries.” Community service, mentoring young women

.

My Family: Alex (Wonderful and supportive husband; Henry & Jacqueline Sherrod (Best parents a girl could wish for); Kendal (My nephew who is like a son); 
John & Aaron (step sons who are fine young men)
; Aaron Jr., Jackson and Chase (Adorable grandsons)

My Heroes: My parents who have been married for 48 years and are a true example of what marriage is all about. They have been wonderful role models.

My Escape: Palm Beach, FL with my husband and reading a good book while soaking up the sun.

My Pet Peeve: Tardiness, especially people who are consistently late.

Indulgence: Desserts, shopping, Charles Penzone massage & facial spa days and vacations

My Roots: My faith, my family and my friends



My Future: Exciting, promising, retired soon and healthy

My Love: Philanthropy and being a blessing to others and of course my husband

My Movie: “The Color Purple

”

My Quote on Life: But by the grace of God I am what I am. (
I Corinthians 15:10

)

My Accessory: Jewelry and purses

My Advice to Young Women: Have confidence in yourself and strive for balance in your life. Always remember it’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. Constantly grow and develop.

How I Balance it All: Not taking myself too seriously. Striving for inner peace.