Welcome to TishTrek - THE JOB BLOG!
Hello Job Seekers!
Meet a very special person who is 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 so proud to be talking about my sister Colleen Rocafort ~a 1976 alumni of Montclair State University in New Jersey. She received a BA in Chemistry and 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 count her as one of the most inspiring professional women I've ever met. She is a renowned author/co-author in her field of research and development and counts 16+ U.S. patents among her accomplishments!
Our parents 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. We are in awe of her journey and remain 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 studied at night and on weekends to receive that Master Degree from Farleigh Dickinson University. For a period of time, she transferred her enthusiasm for and 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 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 tireless 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 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).
Ten 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 35 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 across the globe got up and spoke about our beautiful chemist and leader who inspired 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 and 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 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 and excellence in our home 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 and 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. 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 that the possibilities ahead of them are endless.
Colleen 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 actually our family motto!). In our little Jersey Shore town she found teachers and mentors in high school who recognized her potential and 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. Her son graduated from Florida State University with a Master's from the Criminology Graduate Program! The cycle of success continues thanks to her incredible example.
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 great 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,
TishTrek
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