The Aspiring Professional program encourages young career women to further develop their communication and public speaking skills, build self-esteem, and recognize their professional, personal, and political achievements. The program is based on the candidates' career achievements and ability to project an image that reflects the role of today's young work force in society.
Candidates are evaluated on five phases of competition: written biographical information, personal interview, group interaction, sincerity in helping others to achieve, and prepared speeches.
A student at Lincoln Memorial University, Herron is pursuing a medical career as a pediatrician. She holds an associate of arts and science degree from Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College, and completed her bachelor's degree in pre-med, with a minor in chemistry in December from LMU. She plans to continue her education with a master's degree or attend medical school in the fall of 2012.
She is a member of the Middlesboro Business and Professional Women's Club, and has been employed at Wal-Mart for five years. Her community involvement includes teaching Sunday school, assisting with outdoor activities at her church, and with community dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Herron also is a member of the Wal-Mart Relay for Life team.
To compete at the state level, Herron first had to compete at the local and regional levels.
The Kentucky Federation of Business Professional Women held their annual state conference in Bowling Green. The conference includes BPW members and Aspiring Professionals from all over the state and was presided over by Janis Turner, KFBPW President.
The conference opened with health screenings and workshops, incoming officer training, a business session, and the BPW/KY Foundation Event Fundraiser. Over $7,000 was raised to provide scholarships for women in Kentucky.
After the Aspiring Professional program, the conference speaker, Pamela Shaw, a well known motivational speaker and National Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics, made a presentation entitled "Communicate with Crystal Clarity." The conference concluded with the Installation of 2011-2012 officers.
