March is Women’s History Month- a time when we pause to remember and honor those women who have made a positive contribution to our lives. For this small business column, I would like to remember and honor several women in business and others who have made a most positive contribution to my life and the lives of many here on Long Island.

Sally Slacke - Sally was unique among women business owners, running a “man’s” business- test boring. Sally came from a family of test borers and worked together with her first husband Fish to make Slacke Test Boring a prominent name in the metropolitan region. When Fish died unexpectedly, Sally not only raised three daughters (successfully) on her own, but brought Slacke Test Boring to new heights. Comfortable (in her 9 inch heels) on the payloaders or in the boardroom, Sally passed her opportunities on for the benefit of other women business owners. She co-founded groups such as NAWBO LI (National Association of Women Business Owners), WEDLI (Women Economic Development of LI), SCWBEC (Suffolk Coalition of Women Business Enterprises)- all related to empowering women and women in business. She achieved other firsts- being the first woman to serve on boards such as those of the Long Island Association, Allstate and others. She mentored other women business entrepreneurs and she led by example- class and determination.

Dorothy Tripp- Dorothy was very proud of her “Depression era” roots, of being a housewife raising 7 wonderful children and helping them become the first generation of her family to be college educated. Like many of her era, she went back to work to help put the kids through college. Dorothy’s career came later in life- she used to joke that  “she died her hair white to gain respect.” But, one could not help but respect Dot- she progressed from a clerical assistant to become an integral part of the economic development efforts of the Town of  Hempstead and then the first Town Tourism Director for a department she crafted and implemented. Whether as the first woman Chairman of the LI Convention & Visitors Bureau, or the first President (and co-founder) of WEDLI, or the first Honorary member of NAWBO,  Dorothy was an inspirational leader, always demonstrating what faith and hard work could accomplish for women business owners and others.

The first mentor for my entrepreneurial spirit was my mom- Selma Goldmacher. One might say Selma was an unlikely mentor for small business since she never owned her own business. However, mom had the most entrepreneurial spirit I have ever seen. She graduated high school early and started work as a bookkeeper for her Uncle’s theater ticket agency, where she literally “ran the shop” until stopping work to have her children (first sister Beth and then twins Shelley and me!). As most mothers will attest, juggling a household and three children under 5 –twins included- requires more work than any business- small or big!  And she started where many budding women entrepreneurs start, as a participant in the local PTA,  helping to found a local synagogue and serving as head of the womens’ auxiliary. The onset of  lifetime health challenges involving Shelley  forced mom to become even more entrepreneurial as she constantly battled to make sure that Shelley received the best, most progressive of medical care and the opportunity to live a full life. Along those lines, mom achieved many firsts, becoming active in United Cerebral Palsy and other such groups to raise money and awareness and create programs to benefit Shelley and others. When life threw another curve at mom (the untimely passing of my father), mom picked up the pieces, went back to work and helped send two of us to college. Thanks to mom’s nurturing, Shelley became an independent, productive citizen (now with two jobs!). Other challenges didn’t dim mom’s unwavering motivational spirit- a serious stroke, hip replacement , etc. Through it all she continued to smile, encourage and revel proudly in the successes of her daughters and friends. An inspiring mentor to the end- Selma Goldmacher was a role model par excellence!

Lest my readers think I have “killed off” all my business role models… let me tell you there are several live role models who continue to motivate me: Terry Townsend, founder and publisher of LI Business News, Trustee of No. Shore LIJ, Dowling , founder and leader of so many business and philanthropic organizations, continues to astound me with her energy and creativity; Marie Zere- founder and principal Zere Real Estate, one of the leading commercial women real estate brokers on LI (and still one of only a handful), often controversial, never afraid to speak her mind, but also mindful of the need to persevere through tough as well as good times and a good reminder that, in business, the best approach is a transparent one- “what you see is what you get- no surprises.”  Another shining light on Long Island is Sharon Newman, principal of Action Envelope, former President of NAWBO LI, continues to lead by example- raising her kids, taking over and running a business after her spouse’s unexpected passing, and now moving her business from small to big through creativity and a global perspective.

And lets not forget Phyllis Hill Slater. Another women successful in a traditionally man’s field, Phyllis runs the 50+ year old Hill Slater Group- architects and engineers. Her firm has worked on projects from the World Trade Center (when 9/11 hit, her firm was the crucial to recovery efforts because they kept original design blueprints that showed rescuers how to get in and out of the structure) to major courthouses.  Phyllis has engendered her entrepreneurial spirit in three independent daughters- Gina, a mechanical engineer; Lisa- a top technology guru; and Tanya- a senior person in the new Virginia Governor’s entourage. Early on, Phyllis made a conscious commitment to be a force for change in the community. To that end, she founded Black Women Enterprises, a statewide organization dedicated to leveling the playing field and providing opportunities for minority and women small businesses. Phyllis served as National President of NAWBO and still serves as Vice Chair of the International Organization of Women Business Owners. She is on the boards of the LIA, LIDC, North Shore LIJ, Channel 21, a national insurance company, AARP and others. She has served on advisory boards for numerous US Presidents.  Yet, with all this national and international fame, Phyllis still makes herself available to counsel any entrepreneur seeking her advice.

I have been privileged to learn by the example of all of these women. They personify the entrepreneurial spirit and drive of business people from all time with the added quality of being willing to mentor those who come after them. For that, I salute these and other women in business during Women’s History Month.