DIGEST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Easing back
An Ivey program helps professional women meet the challenge of returning to the workforce
LIKE MILLIONS OF WOMEN before her, Laurie Lockington- Wong spent her thirties balancing her role as parent and wife with her role as a professional. For a few years, the balance shift ed toward her family, but when the last of her three children started attending school all-day, she wanted to shift the balance back toward her career. It's true you never forget how to ride a bike, but that doesn't mean the fi rst few rides around the block aren't wobbly and uncertain. Looking for some updating of her skills and workplace awareness, Lockington-Wong enrolled in the ReConnect program at the Richard Ivey School of Business. Th at was in 2008, the inaugural year of the program, run by Ivey and sponsored by CIBC, which anted up $1 million over fi ve years to establish the program. Lockington-Wong was one of 18 women in the program that fi rst year. A chemical engineer by training, she had worked in London and Calgary, moving with husband Arnold who was transferred out west and back with 3M Canada. Th e couple has three children, ages 12, nine and six. "I had been thinking for a couple of years about getting back into the workforce," she says. "I had been volunteering at school and church, but I wanted to reestablish my professional role." Th e ReConnect program runs each fall and begins with fi ve days in October at the Ivey School. "It's pretty intense. You stay overnight at Spencer Hall and you're really immersed in what you're doing."Shiftwork
APPOINTED Jodi Simpson, director, marketing & community relations, Harrison Pensa LLP. ANNOUNCED By Chris Leavens (Leavens VW/Orillia VW) and Christopher Pfaff (Pfaff Automotive Partners), opening of Porsche of London dealership, 600 Oxford Street West (September 2010). PROMOTED Kadie Ward, to director, marketing and communications, the London Economic Development Corporation. OPENED Shoeless Joe's restaurant, 805 Wonderland Road. APPOINTED Lesley Cornelius, director, member services, Medbuy. 12 | businesslondon.ca | SEPTEMBER 2010 APPOINTED Bonnie Adamson, president and CEO, London Health Sciences Centre (effective October 25, 2010). MOVED The Achievement Centre International Inc., to 496 Adelaide Street North. APPOINTED Matt Quin, manager, communications and marketing, TechAlliance. ANNOUNCED By Citi Plaza, opening of Fairweather and Stockhomme retail stores (December 2010). PROMOTED Dan Caban, director of cybercrime investigations, Digital Evidence International Inc. Laurie Lockington-Wong and Ivey faculty director Mary Heisz. Lockington-Wong took part in Ivey's ReConnect program aimed at professional women looking to re-enter the workforce Th e fi nal two days of the program take place a month later in Toronto, and during the intervening month participants have a lot of homework to complete. Like much of the work at Ivey, the classes are case-based and feature a variety of experts and speakers. "We covered all sorts of topics, from financial management to leadership to communication skills," Lockington-Wong, 40, says. "Th ere CABAN CORNELIUS AWARDED Jeffrey Reed, Golf Journalists Association of Canada writing award for best web feature. OPENED Asian food franchise Wok Box, Hylands Centre, 1735 Richmond Street. APPOINTED Dr. Gillian Kernaghan, president and CEO, St. Joseph's Health Care, London (effective October 4, 2010). QUIN SIMPSON APPOINTED Janet Stewart, chairperson, The Greater London International Airport Authority. ANNOUNCED By Moffatt & Powell, agreement to become part of the RONA Inc. national network. NAMED As fi nalists for Ontario Home Builders' Association's 2010 Awards of Distinction: Fusion Homes; Sifton Properties Limited; and Rawlings Homes.
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