It’s Our Time
I attended today the Business Women’s Luncheon at Lake-Sumter Community College, sponsored by our very own advertiser, HeartBeat Radio for Women. The luncheon was to feature speeches by Claire Evans, President of amaZulu, Inc., from Clermont and Orlando Chief of Police Val Demings.
What it brought was an appreciation for what women can do when they have enough motivation, drive and people second-guessing them (because of their femininity) to succeed beyond their wildest dreams.
As the 40 or so women from around the Lake County community noshed on delicious salad and chips from Chili’s, we listen to Jan Zacharchuk (Executive Director of the Leesburg Chamber if you didn’t know) and Heartbeat Radio’s “Best Life Barb” talk about the luncheon and the guests.
First to take the podium was Claire Evans, President of amaZulu Inc., in Clermont, a natural architectural company using recycled materials to create a tropical, tiki setting in for resorts, homes and outdoor settings.
Claire is originally from Zimbabwe and even mentioned that people commented all the time on her South African accent, trying to guess where exactly she was from.
Accompanied by an informative powerpoint presentation, Claire talked about how she formed her company from the ground up and now currently has well-known clients such as SeaWorld, Walt Disney World and Outback Steakhouse (along with $2 million in annual sales). She even recalls the famous David Copperfield coming to use her services to redecorate some of his private islands and has even created shady spots for wildlife at Disney’s Animal Lodge.
What her slides showed were simple yet elegant re-creations of the island life using bamboo, palm leaves and other colorful decor that didn’t look like they had just come from a party store. Claire even showed in the presentation pictures of the factory where she gets her recycled materials, as she had to go through a few unsanitary companies before getting to the supply company she works with now in Jakata (one company had used diapers as recycled materials for her to use!).
Yet the point she drove down most in her presentation was that plenty of people tried to talk her out of attempting her own company, but she knew in her heart that was what she wanted to do and continued on with her dream of owning her own SUCCESSFUL company. She also became a United States citizen as well!
To follow Claire’s impressive presentation was Chief Val Demings, the Chief of Police for the City of Orlando. Before she opened her mouth, you could already feel the confidence of this woman as she is the first woman police chief in history. She is also the second African-American to lead the department and was appointed in 2007 after working her way up from police officer.
Talking about her first days as a new recruit, she recalls that fellow officers and police elders looked down upon her more for being a woman than for being a different race. They felt, she stated, that they would have to watch their own back as well as her’s due to her femininity.
She has since proven that she is quite capable of taking care of police business, even being part of airport patrol for Orlando during the 9/11 attacks and having commanded every department in Orlando’s police department over her 20-year career.
It also was a moving message for Mother’s Day as well, for both women talked about how their mothers impacted them in life and their current careers. Chief Demings’ mother was a high school dropout who raised seven children with her husband while both worked; he as a gardener and maintenance man, she as a maid.
Her mother’s demonstration of perseverance and beating the odds showed Chief Demings that she could achieve anything she wanted, regardless of her race or sex.
Claire is constantly reminded of her late mother’s love and support when she looks at her company’s name that used parts of her mother’s name in the title.
It was a very moving presentation of feminine tenacity and believing in yourself even when naysayers outnumber those that encourage your dreams.
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