Published Tuesday, September 24, 2002
women's group
to lead ABWA
Herald Staff Writer
The Shenango Valley Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association has elected its new president.
There's nothing unusual in that, of course.
Except the new president of the local chapter is a man.
Richard Zakrzewski of Hermitage is the general manager and marketing and sales director of Tiffany's in Brookfield. He was elected to lead the chapter for 2002-03.
Zakrzewski joined the ABWA chapter in 1997. The organization had been holding its monthly meetings at Tiffany's, and he said he liked to listen to speakers at the organization's meetings. ABWA attracted him, he said, because of the services members provided to the community.
"I thought, 'This is a worthy club,' " he said. "They raise money for scholarships for high school students to go to college, both guys and girls. Scholarships are badly needed."
Zakrzewski asked if men were allowed to join. Yes, ABWA members said, but there weren't any just then.
He joined and quickly rose through the ranks, chairing the fund-raising, mother/daughter/son night and educational committees, and serving as vice president for 2001-02 year.
"I just wanted to help the community and the valley," he said. "My boss, Mr. (James) Winner, has always said we should give back to the community."
According to Cheryl Zuchowski, member sales for the national ABWA, Zakrzewski is the only male president of an ABWA chapter in the nation.
"There are many members who are male in the ABWA," she said, adding that men serve as officers in many chapters across the country, but none as president.
Zakrzewski said he felt "beyond welcome" by the members and said he loved to host meetings at his Buhl Woods home.
"The ABWA is a good fit for him," said Carol Giroski, treasurer of the Shenango Valley Chapter. "With his vast knowledge of catering and his experience with dealing with women, it's really a second nature for him to be surrounded by women."
Mrs. Giroski said having Zakrzewski in ABWA has been positive in many ways. "He has a lot of energy and can put a different spin on things, give us the male perspective," she said. She added that Zakrzewski is in a minority in the organization, being one of two men in the 80-person membership.
Zakrzewski's election to president has drawn attention to him and to the local chapter. He said he's received "hundreds" of congratulatory phone calls from well-wishers. Mrs. Giroski said his election also drew attention from the national organization; national officers were interested in attending one of the local meetings.
"I would think that he's definitely piqued others' curiosities," Mrs. Giroski said. "He moves with ease. But other men may not have as much of a comfort level. Has it opened a door? Yes, but no other men have made an attempt to join yet."
Zakrzewski graduated from Hickory High School in Hermitage and earned bachelor's degrees in marketing and psychology from Thiel College in Greenville in 1980. Sharon Regional Health System certified him as a massage therapist in 1993. He also graduated from the culinary arts program at the Winner Institiute of Arts and Sciences in Transfer and from the Winner Hotel Group's catering excellence.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Amanda Smith-Teutsch at ateutsch@sharonherald.com