WESTBOROUGH, MA. _ Five years ago Barbara Clifford arrived in Westborough as the new director of the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber hasn’t been the same since. Under her leadership and management, this dynamic business organization continues to grow and expand. It is regarded as one of the top chambers in the state of Massachusetts, and currently has over 800 members from 64 different cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Clifford is among several of the recent distinguished appointments to the Advisory Board of the newly formed Female Leadership Interest Council, Inc. (FLIC).
“Barbara Clifford is a great role model for women. She is dynamic, progressive and has the attitude that anything is possible,” said Deborah Penta, FLIC’s founder. “She has accomplished leading Corridor Nine from a local affiliated chamber to an independent chamber that has become a benchmark for regional chambers. Her experience in membership development and in growing a membership driven organization will be very helpful to FLIC.”
FLIC is a non-profit organization founded on the principles of female leadership, mentoring and the belief that when you can help someone else succeed, you personally grow and prosper. The Council’s mission is to provide educational instruction to women to assist in developing their capabilities in the business world, which will increase the likelihood that their successes will benefit the community.
“It is very exciting to be part of a meaningful new organization for women that will serve as a mentoring program designed to assist women of all ages in business, family and life-balance issues. I respect Deborah Penta’s business acumen and was honored when she asked me to be on the Board,” Clifford said.
Clifford said she began her professional life in the garment industry in Manhattan.
“I ran a 50 million dollar division of a major national women’s fashion catalog company. Our goal was to provide exciting, affordable clothing to everyday women,” she said. “We went to fashion shows in New York and Europe, researched new fabrics and designs, and then traveled to the Far East to have our styles manufactured. Upon our return twice a year, we set up photo shoots for our catalog, and managed an organization of professionals to accomplish our objectives.”
Clifford said there were no real issues with women in the upper management.
“As far as gender- there was really no problem at all, as there were plenty of women in this industry,’’ she added. “Professionals were judged on bottom line results and there were always outstanding opportunities to achieve, grow and thus climb the corporate ladder.”
For 25 years, Clifford worked in that field, always with the attitude that, “in life there are no obstacles, only challenges.”
When Clifford’s company downsized, she decided it was time for an overall lifestyle change. Having vacationed in the Lakes region of Maine for many years, Clifford decided that living on a lake in a region that had 12,000 acres of lakes would be an idyllic existence. She moved to Bridgton Maine and took the position of directing the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce.
“They were looking for someone to bring the Chamber to the next level, someone experienced in business. It was the perfect fit for me,” she said.
Clifford found she loved working with businesses and helping them access programs that would help them develop and grow.
“I loved it, but the ‘pool’ was too small, so I put my antennae out for a bigger chamber,” she said.
That chamber was the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce and in 2003, she made the move to the Central Mass. area, leading the Corridor Nine Chamber to expand its horizons.
According to Clifford, her personal experience in the upper management level has been a positive one, not at all mired by stereotyping. However, Clifford does see an area that is still sorely lacking, that of mentoring.
“It seems, for the most part, any mentoring that is done, is on an individual basis,” she said. “FLIC can fill this void of organized female mentorship.”
“FLIC will be an innovative, creative and much-needed group whose focus will be entirely geared to and for women and how they can help each other succeed,” Clifford continued. “Deborah Penta’s high energy, talent and proven expertise in the marketing arena are a perfect match to lead the new group to strong leadership counseling programs and events.”
“Barbara and I have had the opportunity to work very closely together for the past four years and we have great synergy,” Penta said. “I am delighted that she accepted her appointment on the FLIC Advisory Board and look forward to working with her in this capacity as well.”
Clifford said she is looking forward to helping women through FLIC.
“I am also delighted to see that the planned programs offered through FLIC will reach out to connect women to resources that they might not have had access to in the past. FLIC will also offer successful businesswomen a platform to “give back” to women just joining the workforce for the betterment of both sides. I’m very interested in encouraging and elevating women who may have the desire to move up into positions of more responsibility- this is a very important component for me,” she said. “It is a way of meaningfully giving back.”
“There is no doubt in my mind that FLIC will create a legacy and will eventually help women all over the world,” Penta said. “We are an organization dedicated to female leadership and will provide extraordinary mentoring opportunities for women. Most of all, FLIC creates meaning and offers our Advisory board and its membership the opportunity to give back to the community in a meaningful way. By improving the lives of others, we are improving our own lives.”
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