Profiles of the Powerful: Advertising Exec Mary Austen

When you spend time with Mary Stengel Austen, you come away with one feeling. "That woman is affable." After thinking it over, you might find other words which describe her: smart, realistic, enthusiastic, tough minded, determined, articulate, strategic, focused. But you'll always include affable in your memory of her because that's what she is.

Perhaps she has to be that way because of the two most significant challenges in her life: managing five small children and managing one of the largest ad agencies in this part of the country, Tierney Communications. Affable is good, perhaps necessary.

Having grown up in this area, she then graduated from Lafayette College and was directed to a job in sales for age copier company. Quickly convinced that she was not made for a direct sales role, she found her way into the former Spiro agency and found the career that challenged her, enthused her and excited her. Obviously, she loved what she did and, after a few other steps forward, she still loves what she does as president and CEO of Tierney and its 135 employees.

Mary sees great opportunity for the advertising business but she insists that success will come to those who understand that it's a "time for new reality." That's her way to acknowledge and respect change which is happening faster and faster. She believes that
agencies must adapt more quickly to market changes, technology changes and even to the changing expectations of employees. More than ever before, she hopes that Tierney is understanding and respecting clients' perceptions of their own needs which often change with the speed of light.

Her concerns for the overall health of the agency business are partially based on the pressures clients feel in these changing times. It's not a new thought that solid relationships with clients are vital for ad agencies. However, those relationships are harder and harder to develop because of the pressures of time and the pressures of the bottom line. However, she says the key to a superb client relationship is no different today than it was ten years ago. Just remember that "It's not about you, it's about your client." Good advice.

When pressed, she has some advice for clients, too. Directed to clients in just a few words, the "wisdom" of Mary Stengel Austen is simple to state. She would ask them to be careful about articulating the business plan and the marketing objectives to the agency. She would urge them to have realistic expectations about their marketing/advertising efforts. She would hope for an open, honest working relationship with the agency and a consistent viewpoint about image, brand and sales. She also fully understands that clients have their own pressures and sometimes are forced to abandon well thought out plans.

A consistent lesson has guided her in her home life, in college and in her career. She has learned the importance of being able to multi-task. She says that learning to "juggle" has helped her in her career and in her role as a Mother. According to her, "Kids and clients have helped me to learn how to prioritize and have forced me to remain focused." She further explains, "Both clients and children need to feel as if they are the most important thing in your world." In these two separate situations, they are, so it's working out quite well for Mary, for Tierney and for her family.

Predictably, her hopes for her own career cover a broad spectrum of topics. When she thinks about her life in ten years, she first mentions her family and its importance. Then she talks about continuing to enjoy her work, about continuing to learn and grow and continuing to do the things she does best. She is quite comfortable and enjoys managing good people and hopes to continue that function. She also wants as much strategic involvement as possible, both in her own operation and in the operations of clients.

She gives an interesting example. When a client crisis occurs, she hopes to contribute to the strategy/solution and to "Slow things down when others are compelled to speed things up." She seems calm and, apparently, is convinced that calm and smart is better than frenzied and active without a good plan.

Mary Stengel Austen is even more than a busy, successful executive at Tierney and a busy, effective family woman. She is also a committed supporter of the community, serving on many boards including the Please Touch Museum, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Maternity Care Coalition, Philadelphia Ad Club, Lafayette College Advisory Council and as Chairperson of the Pennsylvania Economy League.

She lives in Radnor with her husband, Peter, who is an Insurance Broker and her five children: Thomas(8), Andrew (7), Christopher (6), John (4) and Sally (2).

Affable? Yes. Successful? Yes. A nice combination!

Disability Insurance - How it Works

If you work in a sedentary occupation and are young and healthy, insurance and especially disability insurance is probably not at the top of your list of things to investigate. Would you be able to pay your bills should you be out of work for 90 days? Most people look at the odds of something happening to them and discount themselves as part of the statistics but at least 30% of people 35-65 suffer a disability lasting 90 days. It could be broken bones from any number of accidents or a problem pregnancy or any of many possibilities.

Disability Insurance was created with the intention of replacing approximately 45-60% of your gross income tax free should you become sick or ill enough that it prevents you from working and earning a living in your occupation. Most Disability insurance is geared toward white collar occupations. Blue/Gray collar disability insurance is available through some insurance carriers. If you are a fireman, policeman or a roofer or any the other occupations considered blue collar you will need to do more research for basic information beyond this site.

Different insurance companies offer disability insurance policies but they are not the same. Do not assume they are and go for the lowest cost. Do not buy the cheapest disability insurance policy you find. Doing this would lower your odds of getting paid a monthly benefit and the benefits could be significantly lower than what you would receive from a better contract. If you are in the initial stages of investigation of such policies know that they are not easy to shop and just compare prices, you need to compare the following to truly get what you need.

Disability insurance policies have a definition of total disability written in the policy. You should understand this before you buy. There are three basic types of policies.

* Own Occupation - "Unable to perform duties of your regular occupation." If you are not severely disabled and you can do work in some other occupation you will still be considered totally disabled in your own occupation but you will not be penalized while on claim for working in another occupation.

* Modified own occupation (Income Replacement Insurance) - This is the most common definition in the industry today. "Unable to perform duties of your regular occupation, and are NOT engaged in any other occupation." In other words if you go back to work in some other capacity you will be penalized during a claim. The insurance company MAY offset your monthly benefit check.

* Gainful Occupation - This is the common definition for a policy written for an employer sponsored group.

"Unable to perform duties of your regular occupation, or any occupation for which you are deemed qualified." This definition leaves the determination of your disability up to the insurance company. It is not clear what would happen should you become disabled. Avoid this type of policy if you are buying disability insurance on your own. If you receive it through your employer look into supplementing it with a better policy.

Renewability is another aspect that you should understand when buying a disability policy. Review the following three types available.

* Non-Cancellable and Guaranteed Renewable - Guarantees that after purchasing this policy they will not change your premium schedule, your monthly benefits or your policy benefits to age 65 or whatever age you agreed to. Even if your income goes down later in life and you become totally disabled the insurance company will pay you the total disability benefit you originally placed in force. Even if you changed jobs from a white collar to a more risky occupation later on. As long as you kept your policy in force they can not change anything. This is the best and really only way to go. Make sure the exact words "Non-Cancellable and Guaranteed Renewable" are written into the policy.

* Guaranteed Renewable - This guarantees that they will probably not change anything about the policy, but they can. They can change the policy year, occupation class and the premium with approval from the state. Be very careful of this type of policy.

* Conditionally Renewable - You get no guarantees with this type of policy. Different companies may offer you different conditions for you to renew each year and these conditions may be very hard to meet. Avoid this completely.

Many disability claims involve a residual claim. This means a person can still perform the duties of their occupation but they have a loss of income of at least 20% or they have suffered what is called a loss of time and duties. On a loss of time and duties claim they normally stop paying a residual claim once you are back at work full time. But, your income may not be back to what it was before you were disabled. A residual provision based on loss of income would appear to protect you for an unlimited amount of recovery time. The loss of time and duties portion of a policy may have a recovery benefit portion but may only pay out for a limited time. A person may be residually disabled longer than totally disabled.

Presumptive disability protects against drastic disabilities that occur. Presumptive disability varies. This covers for loss of sight, hearing, speech, and limbs. This coverage is built into most contracts but not all. The wording maybe different and they use words like, Total, Irrecoverable and Permanent. An irrecoverable loss or disability is permanent and that is what they will pay on. Total loss means if you have a total loss and it is permanent it covers you. Total loss also covers broken bones and temporary loses of sight, hearing, and speech etc. Make sure you understand their meaning.

Recurrent disability is where you recover from one disability and then another one pops up. There is what the insurance industry calls an "elimination period". The time you wait between the onset of a disability and when you are eligible to collect benefits. Most policies are for 90 days. Recurrent disabilities should have no elimination period. Look for a policy that has at least a 12 month recurrent clause in case some new problem shows up. Make sure your elimination period can be satisfied with either a total disability or a residual. Policies that have an elimination period just for total disability or with just consecutive days of disability are not good.

Be sure to find out how long disability benefits will be paid. This benefit period is from the time you are eligible to collect benefits while on a claim and when you go back to work or if you are permanently disabled it would pay the claim until the "To Age 65" or whatever the age or time frame stated on your insurance policy. To age 65 is the most popular and most disabilities last a little over 3 years.

There are optional riders you can add to a base policy for additional protection. They may include a Cost of Living Adjustment, Automatic increase rider and other options. There are also exclusions that your insurance agent should discuss with you.

For more information and tips please visit www.WatchYourWealth.com

Pregnant and Driving For the First Time? Tips For Driving While Pregnant and Maximizing Your Safety

The precious time of pregnancy in a woman's life brings along tremendous excitement but some first time concerns. Suddenly, navigating daily life and common tasks that were once taken for granted can become a challenge. Especially while pregnant there are additional safety considerations that are crucial for the well-being of you and your unborn baby while on the road.

There's no reason not to drive as usual, but sensibility and simply taking it easy are essential. Here are a few considerations and precautions from Women-drivers.com to assist those driving during their first pregnancy:

• Wear your seatbelt lap belt across your hip bones or upper thighs; not across your belly. Adapt your sitting position so the belt crosses your shoulder without cutting into your neck and position the shoulder harness between your breasts.


• Ensure the car you drive has airbags, and it's recommended that expectant mothers keep at least 12 inches of clearance between the front airbag and their belly. Pillows or cushions should be not used to shorten this clearing distance.


• Adjust the steering wheel, or consider installing an adjustable one to extend the steering wheel out or push it further in as needed.


• For higher vehicles that are difficult to get in and out of, keep a wide step stool handy.


• When possible, drive at quieter times of day with less traffic on the roads. Because of the need for more bathroom breaks and the possible sudden onset of nausea, if you have the luxury of choice try to avoid higher congested times such as rush hour.


• Plan your route ahead of time. Avoid getting caught in construction zones with significant delays, or storm fronts sweeping in. Keep updated with local weather and traffic construction sites or satellite stations before venturing off on unfamiliar or longer routes.


• Avoid dehydration and low blood sugar while on the road. Take water or juice and keep high protein snacks or fruit in the car.


• Invest in a GPS navigation system. You'll be glad you did!


• It's a smart idea, pregnant or not, to keep a 'Survival Kit' and blankets in the car. Flares, a flashlight and a HELP sign are recommended.


• Always take your cell phone and battery charger, especially when driving alone.


• Take frequent breaks to stretch your legs and back during longer trips.


• Avoid driving through places where medical care is not available, or where altitude could cause a problem.


• Play relaxing music to keep your nerves soothed and anxiety levels lower. There are even CD's made for expectant mothers with music by Mozart and Beethoven.


• Consult your physician if you do plan to travel during your third trimester, especially if you have a high risk pregnancy.

Driving should never be taken for granted, and while pregnant some simple precautions are recommended to be safe behind the wheel!

Lima, Peru's Best Hospitals

Lima is the capital of the South American country called Peru (which lies in the northwestern region of the continent). The city is located in a valley that had been created by several rivers on a desert coast, meanwhile overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean. Peru attracts a large amount of tourists with its tropical forests in the Amazon Basin, its arid plains, and tall mountains peaks in the Andes range. Lima has a number of private clinics that offer high quality services and treatment.

The Clinic Javier Prado has been serving the people of the city since February of 1965. The hospital is situated at Ave. Javier Prade Este 499, San Isidro and the phone number for the hospital is 211-4141. It has an ISO 9001 accreditation, so you can expect good and reliable services at the hospital. In addition to this, it has professionals from 45 medical specialties as well as it also has other facilities (such as emergency care, intensive care units, inpatient care, and operating rooms). Also, the infrastructure at the hospital is quite modern.

Hospital Nacional General Arzobispo Loayza was founded by the very first archbishop of Peru in the 16th Century. The hospital was set up to provide medical care to the underprivileged; in the case that one has limited resources, this hospital is a good option for recieving medical aid. The hospital was modernized in the early 1900s and is now the biggest hospital in the country. It receives patients from all over Peru for treatment and diagnoses. The hospital has nice surroundings, modern infrastructure and continues to carry out research in various medical fields.

The Stella Maris Clinic is run by a congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It started operations in the year 1938. The clinic provides facilities for child and maternal care as well as surgical procedures - like advanced surgery for the heart and brain, kidney transplants, and others. The hospital's medical and paramedical staffs are highly qualified, the infrastructure is contemporary and the hospital also has a 24-hour/day emergency room.

Clinica El Golf is a private-run hospital; this group runs a number of clinics across the country. You can find qualified doctors and nurses at this hospital, many of whom have conducted their training in the United States and the United Kingdom. The clinic is outfitted with diagnostic facilities, maternity care, the newest medical equipment, and it offers outpatient care in nearly 130 specialties. Additional amenities at the hospital are round-the-clock emergency services, an intensive care unit, and advanced cardiac care. The address for this clinic is Ave. Aurelio Miro Quesada 1030, San Isidro.

Led by Dr. Jos矇 ?lvarez Blas, a group of doctors set up the St. Paul Clinic in August of 1991. The hospital was initially set up with the objective to provide specialized cardiac care; however, the hospital also has facilities for other medical treatments. The hospital is reputed to be one of the best private hospitals in the country, with six centers across Lima. This hospital provides high-quality services at reasonable prices. The hospital may be contacted at this number: 610-3222.?

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) - What Exhibits Low Thyroid Function to Causes PMS

As we mentioned in previous article, premenstrual syndrome effects over 70% to 90% of women before menopause in US and less for women in Southeast Asia because of their diet. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) occurrence have more than double over past 50 years due to the acceptance of its as medical condition and caused by unhealthy diet with high in saturated food. Premenstrual syndrome is defined as faulty function of ovaries related to women menstrual cycle, it effects the women physical and emotional state and sometimes interference with daily activities as resulting of hormone fluctuation. The syndrome happens in one or two weeks before menstruation and then declining when the period starts. It is said the symptoms can be so severe that between 10-15% of women have to take time off work, costing businesses millions of dollars a year. In this article, we will discuss what exhibits hypothyroidism to causes PMS.

I. Definition
Hypothyroidism is either caused by Hashimoto's thyroiditis as hypothyroidism or by a lack of the thyroid gland or a deficiency of hormones from either the hypothalamus or the pituitary.

II. What exhibit hypothyroidism to cause Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
1. Diet
Hypothyroidism can be caused by low levels of Iodine in the diet causing high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone resulting in swelling or hyperplasia of the thyroid gland.

2. Sporadic inheritance
Hypothyroidism can pass through from generation to generation caused by genetic defects including recessive, dominant and sporadic inheritance patterns.

3. Postpartum thyroiditis
Postpartum thyroids is a resulted of inflammation of thyroid gland as resulting of fluctuating thyroid function after childbirth for some women. This inflammation may significant damage to the thyroid and hence the hyperthyroid phase will be followed by the development of hypothyroidism.

4. Wolf-Chaikoff effects
Hyperthyroidism also can be caused temporarily intake of high amount of Iodine in treating hyperthyroidism.

6. Chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis
Also known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, it is caused by malfunction of immune system resulting in the body own T cells attack the thyroid cells or a lack of the thyroid gland or hormones deficiency from either the hypothalamus or the pituitary gland.

How to Care For a Pregnant Guinea Pig

The average guinea pig pregnancy lasts from sixty to seventy days. Many experts suggest that the length of pregnancy is actually tied to litter size. Longer pregnancies frequently indicate smaller litters whereas shorter pregnancies commonly yield large litters. The average litter size is four puppies but the number can range from one to eight babies.

What a Pregnant Guinea Pig Needs

More Vitamin C! The average guinea pig needs about five milligrams of vitamin C per pound body weight. A pregnant piggy will need twice this amount. Great fresh food sources of vitamin C include red bell peppers, parsley, spinach, mustard greens, kale, and broccoli.

More Food and Veggies! This is a time when a mother needs more food and fresh vegetables in order to develop healthy babies. The extra calories, especially from just a little bit more sugar than usual (think fruits) will work wonders for preventing serious complications such as pregnancy toxemia. Consider adding alfalfa (both in pellet form and fresh) as this is higher in calories and calcium than timothy hay.

Extra Room! Mothers will grow tremendously in size as their litters develop. Many pregnant guinea pigs have been known to strongly resemble eggplants in fact! Overcrowding and jostling in a cage with other guinea pigs can frequently increase the stress of the expectant mother, which can lead to health complications. The mother does not need to be moved right away but once she begins to show signs of discomfort this is a good idea.

No stress! Pregnant mothers are very sensitive to stress during pregnancy. Unnecessary transport, illnesses, crowding, and unexpected change can all lead to miscarriages, premature births, and stillborn babies. Keep an eye on the pregnant mother and if illness of any kind is suspect seek veterinary assistance right away.

Don't Forget Playtime! Just because your piggy is pregnant doesn't mean she should get out and about, so don't forget daily playtime. Also, find sneaky ways to trick your guinea pig into moving more within her own cage. Keep the hut at one end, food at another, and water somewhere else. This will naturally maintain activity.

What She Doesn't Need

Excessive weight gain. Bigger is not better and obesity increases the chance of pregnancy complications like toxemia.

Problems to Watch Out For

Young Mothers - This is frequently a problem when purchasing guinea pigs from pet stores. All it takes is sexing one baby guinea pig incorrectly and placing him or her in the wrong cage. One of the biggest problems for young mothers is being simply too small to deliver safely. How small is too small? Anything under 500g. If this describes your situation be sure to contact an experienced guinea pig veterinarian to get advice. He or she can assist you in developing a nutritional plan that will keep the size of the mother and litter down without causing malnutrition. Make extra effort to add foods containing sugar.

Pregnancy Toxemia -Toxemia is caused by insufficient consumption of calories, which leads to the mother's body attempting to survive off its own stored energy and tissue. Toxemia is usually fatal. Toxemia is known to have multiple causes. The first is the inability to get enough nutrients to the mother and/or the developing babies. Sometimes this is caused by the mother's inability to eat due to the weight of the developing litter upon her stomach. Other times the weight of the litter will stop blood from flowing normally around the uterus due to compressed blood vessels - preventing nutrients and oxygen from reaching the fetuses, resulting in their death. Toxemia can also be brought on by stress or malnutrition. Signs of toxemia include listlessness, not eating, signs of fat loss, and sometimes cold extremities.

A Week Before Birth

Make sure the pregnant female is kept completely separate from all males starting a week before the expected birth. Mothers will be extremely fertile right after birth and pregnancy is almost guaranteed. This would be especially hard on the poor piggy's body so make sure this is avoided!

Make sure you have the emergency contact information for your veterinarian in the event you experience birth complications.

Have a separate shoebox put aside with warm cloths and a hot water bottle in case you have any abandoned babies or problems with terrified mothers. The extra warmth will be vital to keeping the babies alive.

Birth

Usually there are not any indications birth is eminent, it just happens. Luckily, there isn't anything that you need to do to prepare for the birth of the babies other than just being available in case of problems. A normal birth will result in each baby emerging covered in a fluid filled sack. The mother will reach down and break open the sack, and clean the baby. If the sack is not opened by the mother the baby will suffocate. If you see this happen, be prepared to break open the sack yourself and get the baby breathing. After the birth is over the mother will then eat the placenta - don't worry, this is normal.

Complications

Sometimes mothers will reject a baby and chase him or her away from the litter. In this case your only option is to raise the baby yourself or find a foster mother. In other cases you will see the mother develop an irrational fear of her own babies. Sometimes the problem can be resolved by separating the babies from the mother and reintroducing them gently one at a time. Otherwise the babies will have to be handfed or fostered.

Signs Something is Going Wrong - Call Your Vet

Birth typically takes less than thirty minutes. Anything longer is a sign that there is a problem and the life of the mother and babies could be at risk.

If birth appears to end but you can see there is still a baby or babies waiting to be born.

After Birth

Weight the mother and the babies. Continue to weight everyone daily. This will be your best early indicator if something is wrong. Sometimes certain babies don't get enough milk and they need more time alone with the mother. Other times the mother is unable to produce enough milk. If this is the case you will want to supplement the babies with additional food.

Is it Important to Obtain Maternity Health Insurance Coverage?

Do all of us agree that pregnancy is the most important stage in life for every woman? During recent years, the demand for a better lifestyle is getting higher. It has indirectly caused the cost of delivering a baby to be increased too. In general, childbirth involves certain health risks. It would be a wise step for women who are at the planning stage for pregnancy to obtain maternity health insurance coverage.

Is having this insurance coverage a MUST? Let's analyze all the costs incurred during pregnancy. Do you know how much a family needs to allocate to ensure a healthy birth of a baby? It costs at least USD 10,000. Isn't it costly? The expenses include:

o Fees for regular monthly checkups, ultrasound, prenatal care, obstetrician's consultation, etc.
o Delivery cost, surgery cost, hospital admission fee, etc
o Purchase of maternity clothes, healthcare products, baby products and so on.
o Additional costs when there are some complications during delivery, i.e. caesarean operation or premature delivery.

Especially during recession, it would definitely be a heavy burden to most of the families who don't have much savings. In order for all the mothers to maintain quality lifestyle, pregnancy health insurance is one of the best ways to take care of an unborn baby.

For "future" mothers who have plan on conceiving but haven't acquired any maternity health insurance at the moment, it is advisable for you to get a pregnancy health insurance plan. This coverage would definitely assist you to be physically, mentally and emotionally healthy before and after giving birth. You don't need to be stressful and worried about the high medical costs.

Last but not the least, you are reminded to check your health insurance policy carefully. Bear in mind that not all insurance providers cover maternity care in their health plans for women automatically. If the maternity care is not covered, you need to request the insurance provider to include this additional coverage.