Meet Colleen Rocafort: Leader in Hair Care Product Research

Welcome to TishTrek - THE JOB BLOG!

Dear Job Seekers. I posted a Blog entry the other evening, but I was tired and I failed to communicate some of the points I wanted to make about the person I was honoring. A new follower pointed this fact out yesterday, so I got up early this morning and gave this Blog Entry the time it deserved. I hope you will re-read it. Thanks. - Tish

I want you to meet a very special person who became living proof to her seven brothers and sisters that operating with a quiet confidence, staying focused on a steady path and making hard work "THE" priority every day makes a difference in your career, your life in general and in the lives of others:

I'm talking about my sister Colleen Marie (Hart) Rocafort, who is a 1976 alumni of Montclair State University in New Jersey. She received a BA in Chemistry & certification from the American Chemical Society. She went on to become the 2nd graduate of the MA- Cosmetic Science Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, NJ. We were excited for her as we all ran to look up the definition of "Polymer Science" in the dictionary! I have looked up to her my entire life and I count her as one of the most inspiring professional women I've had the privilege to know. She is a renowned author/co-author in her field of research & development and counts 16 U.S. patents among her accomplishments!

Our parents, Michael and Cecilia (Sharkey) Hart were the children of Irish and Polish immigrants who came to this country to give their children a better life. When Colleen graduated from college, she became the first member of our family to graduate from a university. So many of us have been in awe of her journey and are so proud of the accomplishments she has earned as a result of her commitment to excellence in education and hard work. Her love of science and determination prepared her to succeed in so many ways...

While working full time, she concurrently worked like heck to receive that Master Degree from Farleigh Dickinson University - the pride in our parent's eyes will never be forgotten. For a period of time, she transferred her enthusiasm for & knowledge of chemistry to aspiring college students while serving as an Assistant Professor in Chemistry at St. John's University in New York. Since 1995, she has instructed several Continuing Education Program (CEP) courses in person and via Webinars for the National Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Her courses include Conditioners, Hair Treatments, Aerosol Technology, Hair Fixatives and Styling Products, Polymers, and two Hands-On Lab courses on Formulating and Testing Hair Styling and Polymeric Fixatives, and Hair Conditioners.

For over thirty years, she served as an active member and officer of the N.J. Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. - USA where she led programs throughout the United States which encouraged women to leverage their talents to reach their goals. In our hometown, she was inducted into the Pt. Pleasant Borough High School Alumni Hall of Fame where she was honored for becoming a global leader in hair care product research and development and recognized for efforts which contributed to the success of others.

Colleen is an active member of several professional associations such as the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (SCC), the American Chemical Society (ACS), and the Textile Research Institute (TRI) Princeton Board of Trustees where she serves her field and her colleagues worldwide with a jaw-dropping commitment that would exhaust most of us to think about. She held many senior positions and recently served as president of the SCC, which is a national association which is part of the International Federation of the SCC (IFSCC).

Two years ago, she received the National SCC Merit award for her outstanding service and distinguished leadership in Society activities especially for serving as the National SCC's 57th president, as Editor of the Journal of SCC, as a member of Committee on Scientific Affairs (COSA) and as an instructor for the Continuing Education Program spanning over 25 years as a member of the Society.

At the award ceremony held in the ballroom of the New York City Hilton, one person after another from countries around the world got up and spoke about this beautiful chemist and leader who inspires them and members of their profession everywhere. They went on to state that "she takes care of everyone with a warmth and generosity that is hard to describe. She mentors others during career changes or crisis, inspires young people around the globe to consider chemistry as a profession, volunteers to manage the details of forums & trade shows to elevate events to world class status, gives speeches that leave people speechless," and the list went on...

My brothers and sisters and I roared with joy and laughter a couple of times during these speeches because they were all talking about the very same person we grew up with. She was always taking care of us. She had executed with the same level of caring & excellence in our house since she was a child. To this day, she's THAT older sister who always has your back, who will defend your interests like a pit bull and who embraces you and helps you move forward no matter what the circumstances. During this breathtaking moment in New York City it was obvious that our Colleen had transferred her respect for others and the leader behaviors she had operated with since childhood to her life's work and she had obviously made a giant difference. With tears in my eyes, I almost burst with pride that afternoon!

Colleen's thirty-plus year career included management positions in Playtex Corporation and International Specialty Products. She is currently a global executive in hair care research & development with BASF which is headquartered in Germany. Before that, she was Director of Global Hare Care Research and Development for Ciba Specialty Products, Inc., which was acquired by BASF last year. She manages research teams in five countries and she is regarded as an industry leader; because of these facts - she has been invited by companies and trade organizations in over 20 countries to share her research with others. I believe my sister, who is always quietly working to mentor others, purposely sent our family postcards from every country she traveled to as a reminder to my children - Kate & Scott - that the possibilities ahead of them are endless.

Colleen Marie (Hart) Rocafort, who is the second oldest of eight children, is an extraordinary person and human being. I have loved her and respected her my entire life. She started her journey as a shy person with a mission, but quietly she has always had the courage to take risks, stay the course and apply her talents. As a result of these facts, she took a unique journey which transformed her into a respected thought leader and voice in her field. My family and I know that her story began in our house when we were kids where she received encouragement and gained confidence("You are able, if you think you are" was our family motto!) and in our town where she found mentors in high school who armed her with the tools, knowledge, and information to succeed the world over. Oh and there were ten of us in the house, so I admit she had a lot of home-grown fans too!

Colleen is married and resides in Florida. Last week, her son was "officially accepted" into the Florida State University Criminology Graduate Program! The cycle of success continues thanks to her incredible example. You see - My nephew enjoyed having mentors (my sister and her husband) in his house his entire life! I've had Colleen to look up to for all of my 52 years and I can't thank her enough.

Okay job seekers, what risks are you willing to take to move your career to the next place? Are you a tad shy? Worried you can't get ahead or network appropriately because you're not a Type A personality? Think again! In lots of careers, this is GREAT news - thoughtful research and a humble calculated path works just as well! So go for it; find your inner confidence and run like hell! My sister Colleen did and it worked. She's respected around the world!

Best regards,
Tish