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How Baker Tilly Creates an Inclusive Workforce in the Accounting Industry

We’re honored to highlight Baker Tilly as this month’s sponsor spotlight! With more than 2,800 talented and passionate individuals strong, Baker Tilly is a top 15 full-service accounting and advisory firm with specialized professionals who connect with you and your business through refreshing candor and clear industry insight.

What drew you to sponsoring TeamWomen?

TeamWomen’s focus on providing career development and leadership opportunities for women aligns with Baker Tilly’s values. We were drawn to TeamWomen because it not only gives women a place to meet and network, but also provides training and professional development events that teach women the skills they need for the professional world. TeamWomen truly lives out their mission, supporting women to rise up together. It is a positive and welcoming organization with down-to-earth members who genuinely care about each other’s development.

How do you create a culture of prosperity and inclusion in your company?

Baker Tilly is passionate about our employees’ personal and professional development and is committed to creating an environment where every person can succeed. Achieving our vision relies on the cultivation of a diverse, engaging and inclusive environment in which exceptional people thrive. We have a group called GROW (Growth and Retention Of Women) that is made up of women leaders and acts as an advocate for the women of the firm. GROW is specifically designed to enhance the recruitment, retention, development and advancement of women by providing internal and external opportunities to network, share information, acquire skills and form rewarding professional relationships. The SOAR (Supporting Opportunity, Advancement and Recognition for all) program is another way we focus on our people. SOAR encourages and supports the evolution of a diverse, inclusive workforce with opportunity for all members to maximize their potential, create value and deliver our promise of exceptional client service with focuses on race, ethnicity and LGBT groups.

What are three things (serious or fun) that separate you from other companies within your industry?

Our company culture sets us apart. Starting at upper-level management and the partners, there is an open and welcoming environment in our offices. Everyone wants each other to succeed and is willing to go the extra mile to help a coworker. We strive to provide exceptional service and insights to our clients each and every day to assist their business. It isn’t competitive or cut-throat, but a fun place where people enjoy their coworkers and work together as a team.

As part of our culture, we want to make sure our employees have the chance to meet people outside their teams and create non-work related friendships. We have socials, potlucks, games and other activities throughout the year that give our employees an opportunity to meet and socialize and also relieve some stress.

As part of Baker Tilly’s commitment to community, each year the firm hosts Stewardship Day. Stewardship Day is an entire workday dedicated to community service, giving and education. Firm offices from across the country volunteer at a variety of organizations that represent causes close to Baker Tilly team members and their communities. Since Stewardship Day’s inception in 2016, Baker Tilly team members across 32 cities have collectively given more than 21,000 hours of services, volunteering at more than 80 not-for-profit organizations.

What are some of the big things happening for your company in 2019?

At the beginning of December, Baker Tilly went through a complete rebrand. This included everything from the logo to the colors and everything in between. We are very excited to share our new look!

Following the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA), Baker Tilly has been in full swing educating and informing our clients of new tax laws and changes. This affects all industries and individuals and has a wide impact. Another big change we are working hard educating and informing our clients on is ASC 606, a new revenue recognition standard. This new accounting standard may impact their top line revenue reported.

Baker Tilly has had recent growth with two mergers at the end of 2018 — RGL Forensics (a multidisciplinary forensic accounting and consulting practice) headquartered in Denver, and the MRZ accounting firm, headquartered in Houston. We are excited to welcome them to our firm! Baker Tilly puts a large focus on growth, not only for our firm, but also for our people.

What is the favorite food leftover in your office?

Everyone loves pizza! Any time someone brings leftover pizza to the Baker Tilly Cafe, it normally only lasts a couple of minutes before word gets out and a crowd has formed in the cafe. Birthday cake is another big contender. Every month, to celebrate our employees’ birthdays, we serve cake in the office.

How do you connect with your alumni?

We believe staying connected to our alumni is really important. Every year we host an alumni networking social for past and present Baker Tilly employees. We update our alumni on big events and changes that happened that year for Baker Tilly and reconnect with past colleagues. It is one of the most anticipated events of the year!

What is the favorite busy season activity in your office?

Busy season (the period between January and April when accountants are super busy) can be a stressful time for our employees so we try to incorporate fun activities during this time. One of the most popular is bingo — every hour a new number gets emailed out to the office until someone wins bingo. It is a great way to add a little fun and excitement throughout a long day.

To learn more about Baker Tilly and their services, click here.

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How Bank of America Is Paving the Way for Professional Women’s Development

We’re honored to highlight Bank of America as this month’s sponsor spotlight! Lindsey Farrell Stampone, Senior Vice President and Market Executive for the Minnesota market, sheds light on how the company invests in women and supports the community around them. She is responsible for leading Relationship Managers in Minnesota and the Dakotas markets to deliver the full breadth of banking solutions to companies under $50 million.

What is considered the best day of the year at your company?

It’s hard to choose one, but my favorite days are tied to the community. November 28, 2018 was a pretty spectacular day as Bank of America pledged $1 million to support the Minneapolis Parks Foundation’s RiverFirst campaign. This initiative will develop riverfront parks and trails on both sides of the Mississippi River from downtown Minneapolis to the northern city limits. My other favorite days are Habitat Global Build, a week-long initiative to build affordable housing and engage in other community projects around the world, as well as celebrating our annual Neighborhood Builders awardee. Habitat Global Build week is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers who roll up their sleeves alongside working families and community partners to create secure, affordable housing for those in need in the Twin Cities. Each Neighborhood Builder awardee receives $200,000 in flexible funding, leadership development for an executive director and an emerging leader at the organization, and the opportunity to connect to a network of peer organizations and access capital.

What experiences within Bank of America do you provide specifically for women?

LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Development) for Women is our largest employee network with more than 26,000 members. LEAD is dedicated to promoting professional women’s development to help grow, attract, and retain successful women throughout Bank of America. We provide women with leadership, development, and career broadening opportunities and tools through a variety of means including information and education, advocacy, and networking.

Power of 10 at Bank of America is a grassroots effort where groups of 10 women in any line of business, cohort, or region can get together to discuss issues, experiences, challenges, and/or books and articles that speak to them. It’s a way to find a support network and has recently been granted a gold award in the Brandon Hall Human Capital Excellence Award for “Best Advance in Women Leadership Development.” Personally, I have benefitted from finding lifelong sponsors and mentors through this group of women while encouraging courageous conversations. My Power of 10 drives me to achieve.

How does Bank of America support other women around them, professionally and personally?

Investing in women is a key focus at Bank of America. We have a strong representation of women at all levels of our organization, and our support of women is evident in the resources we have that focus on bringing female talent to our company, developing our employees, and supporting the economic empowerment of women around the world. We partner with universities and other organizations around the world to recruit diverse talent, and offer many career development programs and events including our Global Women’s Conference, Women’s Executive Development Program, and Women’s Next Level Leadership Program. Further, we advance women’s economic opportunity and empowerment through many programs such as Women and Wealth through U.S. Trust, Supplier Diversity Program, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), and many more. Personally, we have the LEAD employee network, offer 16 weeks of paid parental leave, and have programs to help with child care, adult care, adoption support, as well as other employee benefits. My division specifically had two offsite programs this year specifically dedicated to the development of women where we heard from an executive coach on presentation power and emotional intelligence, as well as from many outstanding successful women.

What does success mean to Bank of America?

It means living our values of delivering together, acting responsibly, realizing the power of our people and trusting the team, growing responsibly, and delivering our purpose to help make financial lives better through the power of every connection.

To learn more about Bank of America and their services, click here.

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TeamWomenMN Monthly Sponsor Spotlight Grand Casino

As a leader with Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casinos, Andrea Bolin, Corporate Director of Strategic Initiatives, strongly believes in seeking out opportunities to help diverse working groups develop, accomplish goals, and flourish in their element.  Learn how Andrea’s values, as well as Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casinos values, align with the work that TeamWomenMN does.

 

Andrea Bolin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-bolin-b5578141/
Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures: http://mlcorporateventures.com/
Grand Casino: https://grandcasinomn.com/

What drew you to sponsoring TeamWomenMN?

Our company values at Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casinos align with the work that TeamWomenMN does. TeamWomenMN is a wonderful organization to partner with. The resources, tools, and networking opportunities they offer support women across any industry.

What experiences within Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casinos do you provide specifically for women?

Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley have a woman networking club title ‘Women Impacting Women’ with more than 100 women in the club.  We provide networking opportunities – a lot of them coming from TeamWomenMN events, as well as sharing of information for growth and learning tools.

How does Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casinos support other women around them, professionally and personally?

Professional development is strongly supported through the different leadership benefits offered within the company.  Personal development is encouraged and supported through work/life balance, various wellness initiatives, and furthering growth through

What does success mean to Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casinos?

Success is empowering, encouraging and supporting our Associates. It’s about supporting our shareholders – the members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. It’s about ensuring a fun and entertaining experience for every Guest that enters our doors.

What are three things that you tell your staff/employees/team members to do in order to become successful?

We use a S.E.R.V.E. model here – Support, Engage, Re-Invest, Value and Empower. We are committed to continuously doing supporting our Associates through our SERVE model to help them become successful.

Any advice you would like to provide to TeamWomenMN members?

Yes! Continue to seek out opportunities to grow, never stop learning, serve others within your organization and utilize the abundance of resources TeamWomenMN has to offer.

When thinking of Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures and Grand Casinos, what do you want our members to remember and share with their friends/family/peers?

We love connecting with people and hearing their stories. We also have a wonderful networking opportunity in our National Leadership Development Conference that we hold each June. If you’re looking for a leadership development conference – this one is in your backyard! I encourage you to browse our website and join us! http://www.leadershipdevcon.com/

 

 

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TeamWomenMN Sponsorship Monthly Sponsor Spotlight Bank of America

We’re privileged to highlight TeamWomenMN Annual Sponsor, Bank of America, in this month’s Sponsor Spotlight

Larissa Nalipinski, VP and Relationship Manager of Business Banking, shares insights on choosing TeamWomenMN as an organization to support and how being a diverse and inclusive company makes Bank of America strong and is essential to our ability to meet the needs of clients, communities and employees.

What drew you to sponsoring TeamWomenMN? 

TeamWomenMN’s core value of “Women Supporting Women” is what attracted me to attend my first event. The atmosphere was inclusive and empowering; I knew I wanted to become more actively involved. TWMN is a one of a kind community that is authentically working as a TEAM to develop women to reach their full potential.
 

What experiences within Bank of America do you provide specifically for women? 

LEAD (Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development) for Women is our largest employee network with more than 26,000 members. LEAD is dedicated to promoting professional women’s development to help grow, attract and retain successful women throughout Bank of America. We provide women with leadership, development and career broadening opportunities and tools through a variety of means including information and education, advocacy, and networking.

How does Bank of America support other women around them, professionally and personally? 

Investing in women is a key focus at Bank of America.  We have a strong representation of women at all levels of our organization and our support of women is evident in the resources we have focused on bringing female talent to our company, developing our employees and supporting the economic empowerment of women around the world.  We partner with universities and other organizations around the world to recruit diverse talent, offer many career development programs and events including our Global Women’s Conference, Women’s Executive Development Program, and Women’s Next Level Leadership Program. Further, we advance women’s economic opportunity and empowerment through many programs such a Women and Wealth offering through U.S. Trust, Supplier Diversity Program, NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), and many more.  Personally, we have the LEAD employee network, offer 16 weeks of paid parental leave, and have programs to help with child care, adult care, adoption support, as well as other employee benefits.
 

What does success mean to Bank of America?

Living our values of delivering together, acting responsibly, realizing the power of our people and trusting the team, growing responsibly and delivering our purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection.

 

What are three things that you tell your employees to do in order to become successful? 

Get involved in an employee network, be open to different career moves, and take advantage of the numerous development opportunities we provide employees.
 

When thinking of Bank of America, what do you want our members to remember and share with their friends/family/peers? 

Our purpose is to make financial lives better.  We have 8 lines of business that can serve the core financial needs of people, companies and institutional investors.  And, Bank of America is a great place to work and very involved in the communities where we live and work.
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TeamWomenMN Sponsorship Monthly Sponsor Spotlight Baker Tilly

Rachel Polson is a founding Board member of TeamWomenMN and a partner at accounting and advisory firm Baker Tilly. Rachel has been with the firm for 20 years and specializes in working with software and technology companies, public companies across a variety of industries, private equity funds and broker dealers. In addition to her volunteer work with TeamWomenMN on the Board and as chair of the mentoring committee, Rachel also serves on the board of the MN High Tech Association Foundation and the MN Society of CPAs and the St. Cloud State’s Advisory Board for the Herberger School of Business.

Read more

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TeamWomenMN Sponsorship Monthly Sponsor Spotlight Rasmussen College

We’re privileged to highlight TeamWomenMN Annual Sponsor, Rasmussen College, in this month’s Sponsor Spotlight. Patty Sagert talks about what drew her to TeamWomenMN. She outlines the TeamWomenMN characteristics that are in direct alignment those at Rasmussen College which makes it easy to understand why Rasmussen College would sponsor and support TeamWomenMN.

What drew you to sponsoring TeamWomenMN?

When I first learned about TeamWomenMN four years ago, I was drawn to the organization because it was a non-profit built by women for women. It’s focus on providing resources and mentoring to empower women of all generations resonated with me. The mission of the organization aligns well with the Rasmussen College mission to empower our students, faculty, and staff to exceed expectations and enrich the community.

What experiences within Rasmussen College do you provide specifically for women?

Rasmussen College is run under the guidance of many strong female leaders; our current president, Dr. Trenda Boyum-Breen being one of them. At Rasmussen College, women are encouraged to be leaders in their fields. Every year we host a Women’s Leadership Networking Breakfast where students, faculty and community members engage in inspiring discussions and share useful resources. Additionally, with over half of our student population being female and many of them mothers, we know they are busy balancing their homes and careers. Our learning models, including flexible online and now competency-based education courses, are conducive to people with busy schedules that need flexible options.

How do the students at Rasmussen College support other women around them, professionally and personally?

The Rasmussen College mission is dedicated to supporting lifelong learners and working to meet the evolving needs of our diverse communities. This dedication is reflected in our culture and can be seen across our interactions. Students are encouraged to support each other and help others achieve their educational and professional goals. We offer the Rasmussen College Change a Life Scholarship where students can nominate someone in their life to encourage them to pursue their dreams and achieve a college degree. We see women encouraging other important women in their lives to pursue an education and ultimately with the help of the scholarship, achieve their dreams.

What does success mean to Rasmussen College?

At Rasmussen College, success means helping our students channel their passions into a profession they will enjoy and excel at. Success means equipping our students to be contributing members to our diverse communities.

What are three things that you tell your students to do in order to become successful?

In order to be successful, I tell my students to first and foremost be committed to their studies and have grit. Secondly, always have a good plan B and C. There are going to be a lot of great big things that happen in life, but there are also going to be unexpected roadblocks. It is important to always look ahead and prepare. Finally, your experience is what you make it. Engage with instructors and interact with your peers. With a positive growth mindset, you can be successful.

Any advice you would like to provide to TeamWomenMN members?

Similar to the advice I tell my students, the experience with TeamWomenMN is what you make of it. Maximize your membership and engage with your fellow members. Always be willing to learn from those around you and utilize the resources in front of you. Finally, be present and soak up all of your experiences with TeamWomenMN.

When thinking of Rasmussen College, what do you want our members to remember and share with their friends/family/peers?

Rasmussen College is dedicated to breaking down barriers and making a college education accessible to all. We support all students, including adult learners, by providing a student centric, flexible and supportive environment. Rasmussen College believes in the importance of preparing students to navigate and thrive in our increasingly digital economy. Our female students are encouraged to pursue traditionally male dominated fields such as data analytics, criminal justice, and business management.

Learn more about Rasmussen College here: http://www.rasmussen.edu/
Learn more about Patty Sagert, Blaine Campus Director | Operations Director | Services Director | TeamWomenMN Board of Directors | TeamWomenMN Strategic Planning Chair  by viewing her LinkedIn profile here:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattysagert/

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Why One of the World’s Most Ethical Companies Supports TeamWomen’s Mission

We’re privileged to highlight Gallagher in this month’s sponsor spotlight! Find out how this TeamWomen Annual Sponsor shares the same values as our organization as Marketplace Consultant Laura Buck sheds light on what it means to be a part of The Gallagher Way.

What drew you to sponsoring TeamWomen?

I’m excited to support TeamWomen and the community of like-minded professional women that it brings together. I see a strong alignment between the TeamWomen culture and what Gallagher refers to as The Gallagher Way – 25 tenets that describe our cultural framework. These heartfelt, shared values that were penned in 1984 by our former Chairman and CEO, Robert E. Gallagher, still hold true today. The following are my personal favorites:

  • No. 2: “We support one another. We believe in one another. We acknowledge and respect the ability of one another.”
  • No. 6: “We’re an open society.”
  • No. 21: “We adhere to the highest standards of moral and ethical behavior.”
  • No. 23: “We are a warm, close Company. This is a strength ‒ not a weakness.”

What experiences within Gallagher do you provide specifically for women?

Gallagher provides development programs for our female and male colleagues alike throughout their careers. Guided by seasoned mentors, our intern and extern program allows young professionals to learn about our business. Over the last five years, the Minneapolis team of Gallagher’s Benefits and HR Consulting division has averaged 45% female participation in our Gallagher Sales Internship Program (GSIP).

In 2016, we were also awarded a “W” from 2020 Women on Boards in recognition of Gallagher having two women board members (22%). We have received this recognition for five consecutive years, which puts us on their honor roll.

Gallagher is committed to driving an inclusive workplace for the benefit of our clients, employees and the communities in which we live and work. We strive to create a culture of respect and trust that is part of The Gallagher Way heritage and is a source of strength in the marketplace.

What does success mean to Gallagher?

From my perspective as a consultant for the benefits side of our business, I’d say that our holistic, consultative approach helps us optimize clients’ total return on their human capital investment. We start with a deep-dive discovery by evaluating the client’s workforce dynamics, culture and unique circumstances, and then bring together a select team of specialists in areas such as health and welfare, wellbeing, retirement, human resources and compensation, and training and development to collectively make a recommendation that supports long-term organizational success and sustainability. Ultimately, we aim to positively impact employee engagement, as well as attraction and retention results, while also helping clients to best manage their healthcare costs.

Also, I’m excited to share that our business approach and operating standards have led to our recognition as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute for six years in a row.

Is there any advice you would like to provide to TeamWomen members?

In addition to participating in the events, make the most of your TeamWomen membership by networking with other TeamWomen members. We need to band together to help each of us succeed!

When thinking of Gallagher, what do you want our members to remember and share with their friends/family/peers?

When it comes to helping employers best address key challenges such as attracting, engaging and retaining top talent, and at the same time, controlling increasing healthcare costs, both of which are central to organizational health and growth, Gallagher offers a local presence and a truly collaborative approach supported by a host of global resources.

Personally, I am passionate about making healthcare more accessible, and I strongly feel that I am making a positive impact in the lives of my clients’ employees.

To learn more about Gallagher, click here. You can also find out more about Laura Buck by viewing her LinkedIn profile.

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TeamWomenMN Annual Sponsor-The College of St. Scholastica, in our first Sponsor Spotlight!

We’re privileged to highlight TeamWomenMN Annual Sponsor, The College of St. Scholastica, in our first Sponsor Spotlight.  Melissa Goodson, PhD, Assistant Professor, Management School of Business & Technology and TeamWomenMN member shares what type of organizational characteristics are reviewed when considering sponsorship and how TeamWomenMN fit their criteria, what experiences they currently provide specifically for women and what three things they tell their students to do to achieve success.

Learn more about The College of St. Scholastica here: http://www.css.edu
Learn more about Melissa Goodson, PhD here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-goodson-phd-7390579/

 

What drew The College of St. Scholastica to sponsoring TeamWomenMN?

We were looking to partner with organizations that shared similar values and served the same audience we serve at The College of St. Scholastica.  Our values, grounded in the Catholic Benedictine heritage, are Community, Hospitality, Respect, Stewardship, and Love of Learning.  We have a strong female presence in our programs.  TeamWomenMN has positive energy around empowering female leaders and developing relationships – we wanted to be part of the excitement.

 

What experiences within The College of St. Scholastica do you provide specifically for women?

The college was founded for women even before women had the right to vote. Our college is currently 72 percent female and we continue to embrace core values that support our goal of being more equitable and pluralistic. We continue to cater to the needs of the working female with flexibility and community building opportunities.

 

How do the students at The College of St. Scholastica support other women around them, professionally and personally?

An active community of women is brought together with the expectation that Inclusive Excellence is essential in building relationships and that diversity in thought is crucial to learning.  Equity and inclusion are key to supporting personal and professional growth. The Catholic Benedictine heritage is central to supporting the vision of academic excellence and a strong community.

 

What does success mean to The College of St. Scholastica?

Success at The College of St. Scholastica means finding yourself and your place in your family, neighborhood, workplace, community and world. It’s truly helping others find a personal path forward in life. We believe a liberal arts background provides students with diverse perspectives and thoughts achieving academic excellence for everyday good.

 

What are three things that you tell your students to do in order to become successful?

  1. Get to know yourself. In order to make a difference, you have to understand and reflect on your own values and goals.  Where are you now? Who do you want to be?
  2. Find your personal and professional voice. Speak up and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Get comfortable sharing your thoughts and staying true to you.
  3. Do what you love.  Work takes passion and commitment.  If you are not happy with your career, it’s not the right career for you.

 

Any advice you would like to provide to TeamWomenMN members?

Continue to actively participate and contribute to the great community of women involved with TeamWomenMN. In order to break through barriers, we need to stand together, unified, collaborative and passionate.  Believe in yourselves and the good work you do at home and in the office.

 

When thinking of The College of St. Scholastica, what do you want our members to remember and share with their friends/family/peers?

Lifelong learning is important in all aspects of life.  We have online and on-ground innovative programs to help people meet goals. From free, massive online open courses (MOOCs), to in-person graduate degree programs, we have opportunities to help individuals achieve their goals.  We have classes in Duluth as well as St. Paul, St. Cloud and a few other sites across MN for both traditional and non-traditional students. We may be biased, but we believe the MBA in Leadership & Change is a unique, life changing experience.

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