Top EchElon TimEs · Top EchElon TimEs Monday Founded on March 8, 1857, Women’s History Month began as a staged protest in New York factories over working conditions

Top EchElon TimEsMondayFounded on March 8, 1857, Women’s History Month began as a staged protest in New York factories over working conditions.

TuesdayUntil the early 1960s, newspapers published separate job listings for men and women. Jobs were categorized according to sex,under “Help Wanted-Male.” In some cases the ads ran identical jobs under male and female listings-but with separate pay scales.

WednesdayBefore 1970, women’s history was rarely the subject of serious study. Today almost every college offers women’s history courses and most major graduate programs offer doctoral degrees in the field.

ThursdayIIn 1870 Ada H. Kepley, of Illinois, graduates from the Union College of Law in Chicago, becoming the first woman laywer.

FridayHistory looks different when the contributions of women are included.” -- the National Women’s History Project.

Women’s History Month

March is the month set aside to recog-nize and celebrate Women’s History. By remembering and acknowledging what those before us have done to make a difference in our world, we can be em-powered. Our discussions this week will focus on some inspiring women within the firm who are currently mak-ing history in our com-munities and our world. Ashley Hufft, NYC Fi-nancial Services & Prod-ucts Partner, is one such inspiring woman.

Ashley has always been intrigued by the conti-nent of Africa, but she took her interest and passion for the African peoples to a new level when she left the comfort of the United States to make a difference in the lives of the people there. Ashley took a 15-month sabbatical and traveled to Africa where she spent the first several months vol-unteering at the Baphumelele Chil-dren’s Home just outside Cape Town, South Africa. Then in 2007, Ashley served as Project Manager for the Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI) in Kisumu, Kenya. As Project Manager, Ashley worked in partnership with all levels of the Kenyan government and focused on attracting more foreign di-rect investment to seven sub-Saharan cities and their surrounding regions.

During her time with MCI in Kenya, Ashley helped prepare and publish an investment guide for Kisumu - the first ever such guide for an African city. She also established a Kisumu investment promotion office, in a joint

venture with the Kenya Investment Authority, to focus on investment in western Kenya.

Ashley was featured in a recent article in Accred-ited Investor magazine on investment trends in Africa and in the New York Law Journal for her work in Kenya. She serves on the board of

directors of Project People Founda-tion, a nonprofit organization focused on women and youth empowerment in the townships of South Africa, and Fight for the Children, a nonprofit orga-nization that provides medical services and care to children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Monday, March 24, 2008

T TOP ECHELON Value – Leadership We are all Leaders.Act as strong performers who are visionary, inspiring, enabling and motivating. Contribute both inside the firm and in our communities through pro bono and volunteer efforts.

Group DiscussionLeadership can occur on a grand scale as well as in everyday life within and outside the firm. Share examples of leaders who inspire you.

Prioritize Today’s ActivitiesShare information on what’s happening

today in your department.

Quote of the Day“A ship in port is safe, but

that is not what ships are for. Sail out to sea and do new

things.”

Rear Admiral Dr. Grace Hopper







It’s 4:00 p.m. on a Thursday afternoon and Rosalie Chamberlain, Alston & Bird’s Diversity Coordinator, is not showing any signs of slowing down for the day. After several meetings and follow-up telephone calls, she’s now moved on to the next item on her agenda. Rosalie’s long-term ob-jective: to continue to find ways to enhance A&B’s diversity efforts and to raise aware-ness of A&B’s resourc-es and programs both within the firm and in the business commu-nity. The driving force behind her efforts: her commitment to creating an environ-ment that helps everyone reach their full potential and experience success.

Since being hired in 1995 as a Le-gal Secretary in the Tax Department, Rosalie has worn many different A&B hats. However, she discovered her true calling when she became involved in A&B’s diversity initiative. As her re-sponsibilities grew, so did her commit-ment to the principles and values of diversity. So when the Diversity Co-ordinator’s position was created, Ro-salie was ready for the challenge. A self- proclaimed perfectionist, Rosalie says she’s successful because her job

allows her to utilize her skills, interests and talents, and most importantly her passion for diversity. Rosalie is now responsible for coor-dinating events, assisting in the de-

velopment of diversity training programs, con-ducting training ses-sions, handling award nominations, and man-aging the diversity bud-get. In addition, she coordinates local pro-gramming and other initiatives, as well as helps individuals take advantage of the avail-able resources and

tools they need to succeed. Rosalie is very proud of A&B’s diversity initiative, and although she doesn’t admit it, her dedication and efforts have helped this initiative truly take off, making A&B an industry leader in the diversity arena.

S ignature Service Pledge We are responsive.Serve from the heart with care and intelligence.



Group DiscussionShare with your group how an organization’s strong diversity initiative can contribute both to the success of its employees and the success of the organization.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Quote of the Day

“A woman who is convinced that she deserves to accept

only the best challenges herself to give the best. Then she is living phenomenally.”

Maya Angelou American Author







Wednesday, March 26, 2008

We are fortunate to have the opportu-nity to enjoy the wisdom and experi-ence of Denice Whalen-White, Appli-cations Support Analyst & Trainer in our Washington DC office. Denice’s life motto, “I’m here to serve, not to be served” truly sums up what she is all about. Her passion is helping families and assisting individuals in under-standing the serious-ness of breast cancer and how it is a disease that does not always mean loss of life.

Last September, Den-ice formed a new or-ganization entitled All Shades of Pink, Incorporated (“ASOP”) of which she is the Founder and Executive Director www.allshadesofpink.org. The mission of ASOP is to assist women (and their families) diagnosed with breast cancer with resource referrals, non-medical advice and/or emergency financial as-sistance during their treatment period.

Denice also spearheads programs such as the Emergency Assistance Program. This program assists fami-lies of breast cancer patients facing financial difficulties by paying their util-ity bills while the patient receives life-saving treatments.

Denice Whalen-White was recognized by the Points of Light Foundation as a Daily Points of Light recipient (May 31, 2007), and in 2006 was the Alston & Bird Staff Pro Bono Award recipient in recognition of the community service

work she so willingly undertakes. Denice considers these to be her single greatest accomplishments for 2006 & 2007.

Denice is driven by her passion to help others; she remains extremely active in motivating her fellow co-workers to give their time, money

or talents to several community orga-nizations. “To whom much is given, much is required” sums up Denice’s contributions to her family, friends, co-workers, community and society.

T TOP ECHELON Value – Leadership We are all Leaders.Act as strong performers who are visionary, inspiring, enabling and motivating. Contribute both inside the firm and in our communities through pro bono and volunteer efforts.



Group DiscussionPassion and enthusiasm can be contagious. Whose passion for change and for helping others has inspired you?

Quote of the Day

“If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you

will have succeeded.”

Maya AngelouAmerican Author







Thursday, March 27, 2008

When we think of heroes we often only think of those individuals whose legend-ary achievements have earned them a permanent place in our history books. However, history is not made only by those notable few. His-tory is also written by the anonymous people whose actions may never receive the public recog-nition they deserve, but have nonetheless helped shape history, and whose efforts have affected the future of many for gen-erations to come.

One such person is Char-lotte Partner Anne M. Tompkins. Stand-ing at barely 5’2,” Anne’s petite frame and easy-going attitude belie her strong will and intense commitment to justice and fairness. Anne began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney and she continued in public service as an Assistant United States Attorney.

Her courage, tenacity, and dedication to justice culminated when she earned a spot as an assistant to the Iraqi Spe-cial Tribunal. Stationed in Baghdad for eight months, Anne helped prepare criminal cases against members of the former Iraqi regime for violations of in-ternational humanitarian law. Anne was the only woman on the tribunal, and she

worked tirelessly under dangerous and stressful conditions, constantly traveling in the line of fire to other Iraqi provinces in search of evidence against the former Iraqi leaders. Several local and national

publications have rec-ognized Anne’s contri-butions in Iraq, and she continues to be invited to speak on her experi-ence.

Upon returning to the States, Anne joined Al-ston & Bird as a Part-ner in the Litigation Practice for the Char-lotte Office. Anne has

maintained her involvement in the lo-cal community by volunteering for Teen Court, a juvenile prevention and inter-vention program designed to provide an alternative to the traditional juvenile sys-tem. Through Anne’s dedication to pub-lic service, her volunteer work, and her commitment to the pursuit of justice, she has had a positive impact on the future of the local community and abroad, al-ways doing her part to help build a safer and more just world for everyone.

S ignature Service Pledge We are good stewards.Be an ambassador of the firm and a role model for others, both at work and in the community.



Group DiscussionShare other examples of the firm’s volunteer efforts, as well its many volunteers’ contributions to the community, both make history and create a better situation for those served.

Quote of the Day

“One is not born a woman, one becomes one.”

Simone de Beauvoir Author







Friday, March 28, 2008

T TOP ECHELON Value – New Opportunity We are entrepreneurial in spirit.Continually seek opportunities to grow. Focus on professional and personal development.



As we wrap up our week highlighting Women of A&B, today we will turn our focus to the new Dallas Office Admin-istrator, Deborah Carlton, who joined the Firm at the beginning of this month. Deborah admits she is a “Diva” (the Divas are an organization for wom-en in Texas who enjoy hunting and shooting), but being a Diva is not her only claim to fame.

Deborah was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and she began her ca-reer as a Legal Secre-tary 25 years ago. Her attorneys asked her to move with them to McKenna & Cuneo where she progressed from Legal As-sistant to Office Manager. Years later when McKenna & Cuneo chose to dis-solve their Dallas presence, Deborah went with the same group of Attorneys to Jenner & Block to open their Dal-las office. After eight years, Jenner & Block closed their Dallas office, so Deborah moved to Jenner’s New York office on a temporary basis.

“My greatest career challenge and ac-complishment was running Jenner & Block’s New York office on just two days’ notice during New York’s coldest winter on record. When I arrived, mo-

rale was low among the staff, and we were able to turn things around and improve morale so staff members were happy and productive” shared Deborah. Fol-lowing a 3-month stint in New York, Jenner & Block offered Deborah the New York Office Ad-ministrator position, but Deborah preferred her hometown of Dallas,

and so she moved back to join A&B. Deborah is a member of the Associa-tion of Legal Administrators, including serving as an ALA board member for the past three years. We are fortunate to have Deborah at A&B and we are excited about the leadership she will provide the Dallas office and the contri-butions she will make as a member of the Senior Executive Staff.

Group DiscussionShare how continually seeking opportunities to grow professionally and personally can further your success and the success of the firm.

Quote of the Day

“Never limit yourself because of others’ limited imagination; never limit

others because of your own limited imagination.”

Mae Jemison Astronaut

Documents

Top EchElon TimEs · Top EchElon TimEs Monday Founded on March 8, 1857, Women’s History Month began as a staged protest in New York factories over working conditions