Meet a Member: Cecilia Green

Some members make a conference more fun and one of those people is Cecilia Green of Illinois. She is a dedicated professional who is always ready to help others succeed. She is a dependable member and an injured foot didn’t even slow her down for the pre-tour and conference in Alaska. She is a unique and unbelievably talented member I am honored to call a friend.

Cecilia Green

Name: Cecilia Green

City and State: Bartlett, Illinois

Affiliate and any leadership positions: Illinois Woman’s Press Association, past president of IWPA. When I lived in Wichita, I served as president of Wichita Press Women, now Wichita Professional Communicators. I was privileged to serve on the NFPW board as public relations chair during Vivian Sadowski’s term as president.

Years a member of NFPW: 31 years

Tell us a little about you

I “rewired” in 2009 from 25 years of doing PR and marketing for nonprofit associations in Chicago to being director of an Arts Center in Bartlett with a gallery and studios for teaching artists and musicians. It is a volunteer position that keeps me very busy at least 4 days a week. I’m also on the Economic Development Commission for the Village of Bartlett and do PR for Bartlett Heritage Days. When I’m not working, my rescue toy fox terrier Tanner and I hang out or I travel to see my  kids.

My husband Darrell’s work at the Art Institute of Chicago takes him around the world and I’ve been fortunate to tag along in the past few year to Scotland, Ireland, India, Norway and Russia.  Jill Miller, my daughter, is an NFPW member, has her own consulting business and the Finishing School for Modern Women in Wichita. Jennifer Miller lives in Treasure Island, Florida and is a professional French horn player. Michael Miller and his wife Carla live in Lakewood, Colorado with my two grandchildren Sophia, 5 and Desmond, 7.

 

NFPW members Cecilia Green, right and daughter, Jill Miller.

Any career advice you would give?

If you are a good writer, the world is open to you; so many opportunities in so just about any field if you know how to communicate. I always told students to  look at associations for professionals and trade associations if they want to be in the nonprofit world. It’s good pay for a fascinating career meeting business people from all over the world.

Which talent would you most like to have? 

I wish I was a better public speaker.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Closer to my family; we’re considering going back to Wichita when my husband retires in 5 years.

What book are you reading?

Just finished “The Girl on the Train” and am starting on Virginia Professional Communicators member Nancy Beasley’s “Little Lion.”

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

That some people think I’m standoffish but I’m really very shy and don’t easily approach people I don’t know well.

Why is your affiliate and NFPW important to you?

IWPA and its mothership are steadfast in holding to its values and mission. It’s one of the most supportive organizations I belong to. I look forward to its conferences every year.

Way to follow you on a website, twitter, Facebook, etc.

Personal Facebook account and Arts in Bartlett Facebook

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Wagner proves there is success in running with stilettos

Mary Wagner with a few of her writing awards

Changing paths in the middle of a career provided even more challenges to conquer and books to write for another unique, unusual and accomplished NFPW member. Some of you will remember Mary T. Wagner from her presentation at the NFPW conference in Chicago.

 

Name: Mary T. Wagner

City and State:  West Bend, Wisconsin

Affiliate and any leadership positions:  Illinois affiliate (I grew up in Chicago). No leadership positions, but I won the affiliate’s “Silver Feather Award” in 2008 and 2011 and spoke about self-publishing at the NFPW’s national convention in Chicago in 2011.

Years a member of NFPW: Since 2008.

In a paragraph, tell us a little about you.

After all these years, I am STILL a work-in-progress. I grew up in Chicago, but my family moved to an abandoned farm in northern Wisconsin when I was about sixteen. I suspect that’s where all the grist for the writing mill really started. My essay Cookie Therapy actually reaches back to that crucible.  I actually sort of backed into print journalism when I was a sophomore in college, and discovered a thirst for writing I didn’t know I possessed. Newspaper work and marriage and motherhood (my four extremely awesome kids are now grown) followed, and I kept writing all along. Then I had a very serious accident in 1994–I broke my back in a longfall from a tall horse–and after I recovered I decided to go back to an early fork in the road and take the other one. So I switched career directions, went to law school and became a prosecuting attorney. At the urging of friends, I started blogging a few years ago at the same time my marriage ended, and most of those slice-of-life essays have ended up in my three books: “Running with Stilettos,” “Heck on Heels” and “Fabulous in Flats.” I’ve also developed passions over the past few years for digital photography and gardening, and have a lot of fun with both. I’m fond of saying that it’s never too late to make mid-course corrections!

Any career advice you would give?

Don’t let a fear of embarrassment or a lack of total control and familiarity hold you back from spreading your wings. My biggest regret in college (and there are several) was that I backed out of an introductory broadcasting course because I couldn’t handle the idea of not being perfectly at ease and comfortable with the assignments from the start. And remember that you can do more than just one thing!!

Which talent would you most like to have?

I don’t know if this would be considered “talent,” but I am completely lacking in organizational skills and self-discipline. I’d love to have some of those.  In the meantime, I’m proud to having received a shout-out from the website “Imperfect Women” earlier this year.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be? 

Either the western coast of Ireland or St. Simons Island, Georgia. But, I’d have to get my new grandson to move there too!

What book are you reading?

“The Book Thief.”

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

Many, many people who have met me after I went to law school and became a prosecutor would be surprised to know that I struggled with a crippling fear of public speaking for most of my life. I can still feel the hyperventilation reflex hover at the edges if I’m arguing in front of the state supreme court.

Why is your affiliate and NFPW important to you?

Oh my gosh. I have gotten so much encouragement and support and friendship and opportunity in this group it’s hard to even quantify. I joined when I was still fairly new at blogging and before I had even published my first book. To be so warmly accepted and encouraged from the start by this group of fabulously talented and experienced professional women journalists and writers absolutely meant worlds to me.  And, it also helped me to rekindle a connection to my home town of Chicago, for which I’m very grateful.

Way to follow you on a website, twitter, etc.

Website is “Running with Stilettos”   http://runningwithstilettos.blogspot.com/

Twitter is https://twitter.com/runswstilettos

Facebook author page (please like me!!) is https://www.facebook.com/runningwithstilettos

Link to book club discussion guide for NFPW first place winner “Running with Stilettos”   http://www.litlovers.com/reading-guides/14-non-fiction/9389-running-with-stilettos-wagner