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Category:
Published: June 2007
Read how Kristen Church, recipient of the Southern Star of Saratoga for volunteerism, talks about her work and how she does her best to be a full-time mom with a full-time job.
Success Magazine: You just won a recent award. Share with us what the award was for, and what you do for the chamber.
Kristen Church: I was given the Southern Star of Saratoga, an annual volunteerism award. It is given to someone who has dedicated time to the Chamber and the region. I am the Chairwoman of the Women in Business Committee. Our first meeting was in January of 2006 and, to be honest, I wasn't really sure what direction it was going to take. All I knew was that it was something that the community needed, and the members and I kind of just ran with it. We have been around for a year and a half now, and have come a long way. Last year we had two large luncheons with over one hundred people in attendance.
The first one was great; we had a much larger turnout than we expected. When I saw all the people I almost panicked for a second, but then I thought, well, this is definitely a good problem to have. So, we just got some extra tables and had a very successful luncheon. The Women in Business Committee also does charity work in the region. One of our efforts is Baskets of Hope. We have our members make baskets for women in the area who are coming from a bad situation and have almost nothing to call their own. We provide everything, even toiletries. Last year, we put together over one hundred baskets. This year, we made over fifty baskets for Mother's Day alone. We plan on having another drive in late August for the children. The members also write personal notes to the women offering their support. It is very touching.
SM: Do you have an assistant?
KC: Yes. I am lucky to have Liz from the chamber; she's my liaison. She's wonderful, absolutely wonderful. You can't do this by yourself. You have to have some help. It's a great award, but it was definitely earned by a group of people. It wasn't just me.
SM: You have met a lot of businesspeople, both successful and otherwise. What traits set the successful ones apart from the rest?
KC: Good planning and time management are key. It is crucial to make sure you are prepared for everything ahead of time. You need to be as ready as you can for the unexpected, and for the worst case scenarios, because they tend to happen more often than you would like. You also need to have a support system, to be willing to ask for help and use the resources around you. I am very lucky that I have a support system both at home and at work. Finally, you need to have balance in your life.
SM: Give me an example of your typical balanced day.
KC: [Laughter] Well, this was my schedule today, but it wasn't necessarily balanced: I woke up this morning around 6:30am. My daughter had a migraine the night before, so neither of us had gotten much sleep. I took a shower and drove my daughter to Junior High by 7:15am. I then rushed back home and finished getting ready. I get to work between 8:00-8:15 in the morning. I make a list the night before of all the important things I have to get done before noon. Today was a special day, due to the interview, so I had to block off additional time for that. Then I go through my work day with customer meetings, and address anything else that is a priority for the bank. I try to contact as many clients as I can in between meetings. My day ends anywhere between 5-7pm, depending on what is going on. If there is a Chamber dinner it could be later. Today, I have a Women in Business Committee meeting and a Net-Fitness meeting. After that, I will head to Columbia High School to watch my daughter's softball game. I have to get her from there to the College Town Park, where she needs to be by 6:00 to umpire. Then I need to meet my other daughter at her soccer game, because I coach her team at 6:30pm. Once the game finishes, I pick my other daughter up, and go home to crash.
SM: And dinner is waiting on the table.
KC: Exactly. Somehow, I eat dinner, and pack lunches for tomorrow. That's my typical day.
SM: Do you sometimes find it maddening to try to be a full-time mom with a full-time job?
KC: You hit the nail on the head. I do feel a bit crazy sometimes, just from all of the responsibilities I have. I'm on the PTA board. I teach religion. I am the director of the Latham Circle Soccer Recreation Committee. There are a lot of things I do besides work, chamber, and home. I think that this is a busy time, due in large part to the age of my children. It is a critical time in their life, and I want to be involved. So, I coach one daughter's softball team, and the other's soccer team. To be honest, that time is also my time. I enjoy doing it, and I love being with my daughters. I love to see them grow up. I also have gotten to know a lot of their friends, because I have been coaching them since they were in kindergarten. It makes me feel like I am making a difference. That's huge. That's success right there.
SM: What advice do you give to new entrepreneurs who talk to you at a chamber dinner or at the bank?
KC: First and foremost, as a banker, you make sure their financial plans are in order and that they have the right plan in place to be successful. But, as a person, I would tell them that life is short, and if that is their dream, then they should do it. They need to know that they are being supported by their bank, and by their family. I'll be there to help every step of the way, to help them move forward.
SM: Kristen, what does success mean to you?
KC: Tough question. Personally, I think success means achieving your goals honestly and morallywhether it's to be a stay at home mom or to be bank president, whatever you want to be. Once you've reached that goal, you have found success.
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