What’s the good news, ladies? Feel the love

So, we made it through the “month of Mondays” and now we’re back at it!  Not sure about you, but things have been crazy for me. I’m sitting here on a plane, and it is literally my sixth flight in five days!  I swear I have aged five years this week!  I’m very excited to introduce you to my new friends, Kimberly, Sharon and Susan!  These women were all introduced to me by a fan of this series, Eric Silverman!  Eric is a great advocate for our industry and for women in our industry, so I love the extra support he has been providing to this column by making great recommendations for some incredible women in our industry!  I really think you’ll be wowed by these women. I know I was.

Kimberly Eckelbarger, Tropical Benefits

“I am grateful that the past year has been action-packed!  I was able to be a part of a team that collaborated and published a book called, “Breaking Through the Status Quo.”  This was a fun project that not only highlighted me and my journey in this industry, but many of my peers as well.  Professionally, I have worked hard this year at implementing unbundled, transparent solutions to my partially self-funded client base, which has been successful in increasing revenue for my firm companywide.  I am a believer in education and investing in yourself in order to always give my clients the best version of myself.  This year, I did this through attending a CFO Training class taught by Craig Lack.  This class helped me “learn the language” to become a more effective communicator when I speak to the C-Suite population.  I reinforced this education by spending time with Mick Rodger and honing these skills further for the times when I speak to CFOs on funding options.  Lastly, I believe the best mentors we can surround ourselves with are peer-to-peer mentors.  For the past 12 months I have participated in a Mastermind Group with such individuals, and it has been my best career move ever!”