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Professional Dimensions is a membership organization that
promotes the professional and personal growth of women through social and
business exchanges and through community participation. The most critical
aspects of PD are:
Leadership —
Providing direction and vision on issues affecting professional
women.
Diversity — Committing to
programs and membership representing a variety of professions, cultural and
ethnic backgrounds, and perspectives.
Community — Affecting
long-term change on critical issues facing our community through personal and
monetary support.
Networking — Participating
with PD members and other civic and professional groups in meetings, programs
and special interest groups.
Each year the Board of Directors addresses
these areas in the planning of activities and selection of issues of concern for
the organization.
The 23-member PD Board of Directors oversees
the organization. The president of the 2007-08 Board of Directors is
Dyann Kostello of Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation. Professional Dimensions employs a
full-time executive administrator, Lois Dee, and its office is located in the
YWCA of Greater Milwaukee building. For more information on contacting PD,
click here.
PD
volunteer leaders coordinate the activities of standing committees, which
cover the areas of Communications, Community Affairs, Membership, Programs, and
Strategic Planning, as well as the Charitable Fund Champions Team and the
Sacagawea Award Committee. There are many
subcommittees as well.
Professional Dimensions was formed in the
fall of 1978 by three Milwaukee business women: Barbara Stansberry,
Northwestern Mutual Life; Susan Scott, realtor; and Penny Scheuerman, Junior
Achievement. Their reason for starting the group was to form a network of
communication among Milwaukee area business and professional women. The goals
of this visionary group were to help each other reach their goals and to provide
an organized link with the community in which they live and work.
The founders spent the summer of 1978
testing the concept with friends and business acquaintances, who readily agreed
that the organization would be very helpful to them. Twenty-six charter members
attended the first formal meeting, held October 11, 1978. Dr. Ruth Fossedal,
director of the Women’s Development Center at Waukesha Technical College, was
the featured speaker.
Scott and Scheuerman remained active in the
organization until their careers took them out of the area. Barbara Stansberry,
from the founding group, and charter members Carolyn Bellin, Judy Drinka, and
LaDon Love are still involved in Professional Dimensions. As of September 2007,
there were 400 members (including honorary and inactive members). These members
represent different racial, generational, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds and a
variety of industries and professions, including executives, scientists, entrepreneurs,
accountants and attorneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
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