Lessons from a leading CEO Lessons from a leading CEO

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women & business Two women, two sisters, thousands of gifts REGALO co-founders make gift-giving a total experience Ellie Kittle-Ingalsbe and Kathy Lanni are more than just two women in business. They’re also sisters, and they’ve built REGALO A Gift Experience into a successful business specializing in corporate gifts, crystal awards and promotional items, working with clients in the Capital Region, throughout the Northeast and around the world. It all began in 1990, when New Woman magazine issued a call for entries for business ideas. Kittle-Ingalsbe and Lanni jumped at the chance to submit theirs. “We always had small businesses as kids,” Lanni said. “It was a dream of ours to have a business together as adults, so we submitted our idea for a company that would offer gift consultations and assist businesses with gift buying.” Their idea was selected, and after receiving seed money to start their business, REGALO –– the word means “gift” in Italian –– was born. “In September of 1990, we went to City Hall, we each kicked in $15, received our doing business certificate, and that was it,” Lanni said. “We had sheer determination and excitement to make things go.” Decision time At the time, both women were working in other full-time positions –– Kittle-Ingalsbe in marketing, Lanni in nursing –– but their immediate success with REGALO made them realize that their new venture would require more than just a part-time commitment. “It became pretty apparent after our first holiday season that if we were going to make this grow, one of us would have to work at it full time,” Lanni said. Kittle-Ingalsbe did just that, leaving her marketing job in the spring of 1991 to devote her working hours to REGALO. Lanni continued to work as a nurse and spent two days a week at REGALO before joining the new business full time in the fall of 1992. REGALO’s ever-expanding range of project work includes: meeting and conference gifts, corporate holidays, years of service and employee longevity programs, incentive and recognition programs, donor and volunteer recognition, various VIP and client gifts and promotions/marketing/trade shows. In addition, each REGALO gift is delivered gift packaged, gift wrapped, with hand-tied ribbons and a gift enclosure card. The company not only has a presence in Albany but in New York City and Boston, as well. “We definitely plan to keep growing,” Kittle-Ingalsbe said. Perfect timing Lanni noted that REGALO seemed to emerge at an ideal time, when businesses were starting to think outside the box in terms of designing, planning and implementing corporate gift programs. “When we got into the business, a corporate gift line was really unheard of,” she said. “It was a great time to start this type of business because so many corporations were just starting to jump on the bandwagon. We knew we could get clients, and those clients were very generous to us and referred us to new clients <strong>from</strong> the very beginning.” REGALO has helped raise the bar in terms of the quality of gifts that corporations give to their employees, especially when it comes to its custom designed and crafted crystal awards, for which REGALO is perhaps best known. As its Web site states, “crystal is a cherished art form. No other medium enjoys world-wide respect for its symbolism, grace and beauty. Crystal sends a message like no other.” Secrets of their success Being sisters, Lanni and Kittle-Ingalsbe agreed not to let business get in the way of their relationship as siblings, or as friends. After 18 years as business partners, they’re pleased with the results, <strong>from</strong> both a personal and a professional standpoint. Their advice for women in business is simple, yet profound. “Owning your own business is hard work,” Lanni said. “What we thought it would be and it’s turned out to be are totally different. It requires a lot of thinking, planning and strategizing. Follow your gut instincts, your woman’s intuition.” “Surround yourself with trusted advisors, people who are smarter than you,” Kittle-Ingalsbe added. “And learn how to read your financial statements.” Ellie Kittle-Ingalsbe and Kathy Lanni Full color caricatures in just at your next COMPANY EVENT WWW.BENASART.COM JEANNE@BENASART.COM WINNER OF THE CHAMBER’S SBC MICROENTERPRISE AWARD 8 VISIONS acchamber.org :: techvalley.org
Congratulations Eileen Bagnoli! Pioneer Bank congratulates Eileen Bagnoli on being chosen a "Woman of Excellence" for her Distinguished Career. Eileen began her career at Pioneer in 1972 as a Teller. From there she embarked on a series of progressively advanced management positions. Today she assumes the responsibility for the day to day operation of the entire organization as the Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer. Her dedication and commitment are a true asset to Pioneer!
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Lessons from a leading CEO Lessons from a leading CEO

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