Women in Leadership

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting seven local female leaders in Licking County. These women sat down with GROW Licking County to share their stories and professional experiences in hopes to inspire the next generation of women entering the workforce. They also provided advice for any young professionals, male or female, looking to excel in their careers.

Joyce Malainy

Joyce Malainy, Superintendent at C-TEC of Licking County, knew from an early age that she wanted to be an educator. Her mother was one of her biggest female role models. An educator herself, she taught Joyce that you can do anything you can put your mind to. Her other role models included both female and male superintendents she has worked with throughout her career. Joyce encourages young professionals to learn from everyone they can, and importantly “learn what not to do.”

When asked about challenges as a woman in her profession, Joyce said she has faced the same challenges as any leader. She said leaders must be willing to make decisions based on what’s best for the organization. 

Joyce encourages young professionals to “know your profession inside and out” and to view themselves as the right person for the job. She also advises those in leadership positions to make smart hiring choices and to support those roles to help them succeed.

Bina Patel Botts

Bina Patel Botts, Director at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s Hebron Development Center, recently celebrated 34 years with the company. Throughout that time, she has held 16 different positions within the company. When asked about her female role models, she said she has had the privilege of working with several female managers and admired how these women remained calm in stressful situations and were well respected by their colleagues.

When asked about challenges she has faced as a woman in her profession, Bina said there were very few women in research and development when she started her career. She thanked the women who came before her, and said “the best way to pay it forward is to set a great example.”

Bina’s advice to young women is to “always work to be the best at what you do.” She also encourages women in the workplace to share their ideas with their colleagues and to have the confidence to go out there and let others know their goals. “Opportunities aren’t always convenient,” says Bina. She encourages women to be prepared and ready to react to their next opportunity.

Luconda Dager

Luconda Dager, President, and Joanne Dager, Vice President, are the fourth generation of the Velvet Ice Cream family. Both Luconda and Joanne credited their mother as their biggest female role model. She taught them to have patience, listen to people, and treat their employees like their extended family.

When asked about her professional background, Luconda said she was exposed to the family business early on through food shows, conventions, and conferences. She wanted to learn the business from the bottom up and even wrote her own training program. In 2009, Luconda took over as President of Velvet Ice Cream and Joanne was named Vice President.

Joanne Dager

Joanne has followed the example set by their mother when faced with workplace challenges. She said her mother taught her how to master being both a mother and a professional. “She taught us to have grace in leadership,” said Joanne. Her advice to young professionals is to “surround yourself with the right people.”

When asked about the same challenges, Luconda said “mom taught us how to be tenacious.” As a leader, her focus is to put their consumers first, be transparent, and be resilient. She also wants to uphold her responsibility to her staff, consumers, and community. “Don’t focus on the challenge, focus on the solution,” said Luconda. Her advice to young professionals is “don’t miss out on the journey, the journey is what makes you successful.”

Sally Heckman

Sally Heckman first joined First Federal Savings as Vice President of HR in 2012. In June 2022, she was promoted to her current role as President and CEO. When asked about her female role models, Sally said that she has been lucky enough to surround herself with several women who have helped make her a better version of herself. “I find myself looking to each of them in various situations where I know their strengths help fill in my weaknesses,” said Sally.

“Imposter syndrome” is one of the challenges that Sally and many other people have faced in their professional careers. Holding a leadership position at a younger age, she said how it is easy to feel like you don’t have as much credibility, especially when working with very experienced professionals. She has seen the positive side of imposter syndrome, stating, “it keeps you humble and engaged.”

Sally advises anyone wanting to advance their career to adopt their own leadership style and be genuine. “Lean into your strengths and be curious about your weaknesses”, says Sally. She also emphasizes the importance of working hard and being present.

Bryn Bird

Bryn Bird, Granville Township Trustee, credits her group of friends for teaching her how to be a cheerleader for other women. Her friends have taught her to “champion other women” and to lead in a way that helps others succeed.

As a working mom, Bryn has learned to balance her work and family life. She said she has been questioned many times about traveling for work without her kids. When these questions are asked, Bryn said she explains that she has a strong partner who supports their family when she is traveling. Bryn has also been known to take her kids with her to meetings when necessary. There have been times when she felt excluded from meetings or other events when people assumed she was needed at home. “Women shouldn’t be excluded from the room because they have kids,” said Bryn.

Bryn’s advice to young professionals is to think of your career more like a jungle gym than a ladder. There will be different opportunities and challenges which will move people in different directions throughout their careers. She also advises young professionals to be careful not to burn themselves out.

Jeryne Peterson, Village of Buckeye Lake Mayor, said her mother was her biggest role model and the person who encouraged her to continue her education. Her mother dropped out of high school, then later went on to further her education and became a legal secretary. Jeryne said she admired her mother’s stamina and poise.

Jeryne spent most of her career in finance, which is historically a male-dominated field. When asked about overcoming challenges, she said she had to “learn not to be intimidated when you walk into a room with a bunch of suits and ties.” She also expressed the importance of knowing what you're talking about and earning respect.

Jeryne reminds young professionals that “failure is not a bad thing – those who try and fail succeed.” She also stresses the importance of correcting your mistakes and learning from them. Networking and volunteering are also great ways she has made connections and friendships throughout her career.