blue water woman--summer 2013

amy clickner, left,
president of the lake
superior community
partnership of
marquette county,
a recipient of the
evergreen award
(marquette’s version
of woman of the
year), a cheerleader
for me professionally,
and a great personal
friend. amy serves as
one of three judges
-- all from the Upper
Peninsula -- for the
Blue Water Woman
of the Year Awards.
from the editor
Can’t we all just get along?
I have been fascinated with the hub-bub surrounding the recent publication of Sheryl
Sandberg’s new book, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. Sandberg, of course, is the
current chief operating officer at Facebook. For years she has survived and thrived working in
the world of high-tech, which is also famously highly male.
No matter your politics, nor your views on feminism, nor whether or not you believe women
should stay at home with small children or instead believe they should work or be assertive at
work or take time off to have children or whatever, I think the fact that this book generates
mean-spirited controversy makes me sad because that overshadows Sandberg’s positive message
and instead rather pits women and their differing life philosophies against one another instead
of pulling them together.
And if I’ve learned anything in my almost 50 years of walking the planet, it is this: women
are the glue that hold the world together.
I admire Sandberg’s desire to open the discussion regarding women and their place in
the working world and how our personal lives and choices affect career and professional
aspirations. The only way to invoke change is by opening the discussion.
But some of the criticism of Sandberg’s discussion has become vitriolic and mean-spirited.
There is no need for that.
Something I’ve learned in the past couple of years as I’ve interviewed and written about
women in the Blue Water Area is that all have struggled and overcome obstacles. The women
in our community have become successful by learning about themselves and what makes them
tick; moving forward using their strengths; and by learning to compensate for their personal or
professional weaknesses.
Thus is the case with the women whose stories are told in this issue of the magazine. They
are the recipients of the second annual Blue Water Woman of the Year awards. I am so
very honored to share their stories with you. All are more than exceptionally deserving of
recognition.
All have been motivated and inspired by others in their lives: family members, friends,
mentors.
I think it is particularly important that all of us – and I mean each and every one of us
– finds a way to mentor, encourage, motivate and inspire other women around us. We are
the glue that holds so very, very much in this life together. And by reaching out and offering
assistance, a pat on the back, a “Way to go!” email or a thoughtful conversation we can and we
will make a positive influence on the lives of other women in our community.
Women are stereotyped as being catty. But let’s just stop that right now. Let’s check our
egos at the door and welcome other women into business meetings, into our circle of friends
and into our hearts and our homes with open arms and open minds. Everyone must find their
own way in the world and it is not up to us to judge others, but instead, it is up to us to be
there, offering an ear or a hand, supporting the decisions made by our mothers, our sisters, our
daughters, our friends and our colleagues.
Be the glue and be supportive of other women. There is no other reward quite like it.
content
people
Bonnie Bracken 5
professions
Erin Potts 6
Jackie Hanton 10
passions
Tracy Willard 8
places
Veronica Heitz 12
volume 3, number 2 summer 2013
Blue Water Woman is published quarterly by The Write Company,
3155 Armour Street, Port Huron, MI 48060. Circulation 7,500.
Editor & Publisher: Patti Samar, owner, The Write Company
Advertising: Patti Samar at 810-987-1256 or pjsamar@aol.com
Subscriptions: To receive Blue Water Woman at home, mail $25 to:
Blue Water Woman, 3155 Armour Street, Port Huron, MI 48060
News releases can be emailed to pjsamar@aol.com
Questions or comments?
Call Blue Water Woman at 810-987-1256
Mission: Blue Water Woman is the premiere publication
for women living, working and playing
in the Blue Water Area of Michigan.
Its stories and features are written and designed
to be inspriational, motivational and encouraging.
www.BlueWaterWoman.com
© Blue Water Woman is the property
of Patti Samar of The Write Company
The Write Company is a writing, graphic design and marketing
consultation firm. View our online portfolio at:
www.TheWriteCompany.net
Patti Samar
Editor & Publisher
Blue Water Woman
2 summer 2013 BlueWaterWoman.com