Anita Slavkoff:  

Life I worked as a Teller at Marina City Bank to accumulate funds for college. The next year, at EIU, taught me about juggling school and work ... I babysat for a 2-year-old from 2 pm to 2 am daily ... whew! Back in Chicago, I was employed by Creative Establishment, an a/v production company which created million $ industrial shows for Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, G.D. Searle, etc. The Boss, also the President of the National Association of Woman Business Owners, was my greatest business mentor. She provided endless opportunities to be challenged and to grow in confidence and abilities. I worked my way through the ranks from Receptionist to Office Manager, learning the business and life skills which would open many doors in the future. After a few years of living in the heart of Rush Street and disco days, I met my husband Julian in 1981 and left Chicago the day after we were married in 1983, to pursue a business venture in Houston. Julian bought into an auto parts chain which grew from 8 to 19 stores within the year. Meanwhile, I was the Office Manager of the same chain – the liaison between the Owners and Store Managers and responsible for all banking/finances. Next, I began at the City of Houston as the Assistant to the Director of the Public Service Department which encompassed the Telecommunications, Transportation, Franchise Administration, Regulatory Affairs, and the newly created Cable Access and 9-1-1 Divisions. The diversity of the tasks which needed to be addressed and accomplished kept me on my toes and dramatically increased the range of my experiences. I was lured to Dean Witter Reynolds by the Branch Manager whom I had met on a personal basis. I studied long and hard, tested well, and ultimately trained at The World Trade Center in NYC before going into production as a Stockbroker. I ultimately left DWR to begin a family. It was of the utmost importance to me to be a stay-at-home Mom for my kids, and be present for all of their firsts. In the interim, Julian and I opened a trendy Mom & Pop “boutique auto parts store where he was Purchasing/Sales...Expand for more