ABOVE & BEYOND FOUNDER TALKS AT BERGEN TECH WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM

Above & Beyond, Inc.
26 Park Street, Suite 2000
Montclair, New Jersey 07042

Media Contact: Evelyn Weiss Francisco / [email protected] / (201) 796-7788

ABOVE & BEYOND FOUNDER TALKS AT BERGEN TECH WOMEN’S SYMPOSIUM
Donna Miller Speaks With Students About Being a Successful Entrepreneur

TETERBORO, N.J., March 16, 2010 – Donna Miller, president and founder of Above & Beyond Inc. served as the featured guest at the Third Annual Women’s Symposium at Bergen County Technical School in Teterboro in March. The event, held each year in recognition National Women’s History Month, showcases diverse occupations and personal experiences of female professionals.

Miller spoke with Bergen Tech students about the evolution of her career, which began when she went to work for a chemical company at age 17. During her 10-year tenure there, she worked her way up from secretary to office manager, and then transitioned to sales and marketing. In 1988, Miller joined a newly opened shared office facility as general manager, changing her career path, and building the skills set and experience that enabled her to start her own company seven years later.

She launched Above & Beyond in Montclair, N.J., with 2.5 employees in a 3,000-square-foot space that included five offices for rent. Today, the company has 10 full- and part-time employees, occupies 7,000 square feet and has 16 offices for rent. Above & Beyond provides outsourced administrative support and virtual assistant services, and turnkey office rentals at its headquarters.

Miller shared with the students her observations about the trials and benefits of being an entrepreneur. “Some 80 to 90 percent of new businesses fail,” she said. “I have had my business for more than 15 years, but I have worked hard to make Above & Beyond a success. I am proud of the growth the company has achieved, but I am even more proud of the culture of mutual respect that I have established.

“My goal is to empower the people around me,” she added. “Because it is my owne business, I have the ability to do that. It also gives me the flexibility to balance being a mom and a professional.”

Miller stressed to her audience that no career is easy. “Every day when I go to work I am faced with a new challenge,” she said. “I work with small companies and entrepreneurs, and help them get where they want to go. I love my job. I encourage all of you to be passionate about what you do – and have fun. At the same time, you have to work hard to be successful. Remain true to your principals.”

Miller, who currently serves as a board trustee for the Salvation Army in Montclair, also talked about the importance of giving back. “We all have to be good citizens in the world,” she said. “We have a responsibility to our community, and helping others is a highly gratifying thing to do.”

“Donna’s presentation was insightful, honest and inspiring,” said Jon Chevalier, supervisor of instruction at Bergen Tech. “It was a great experience all around.”

Miller is active in the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners. She is a former board member of that organization and is a past recipient of its Teal Heart service award. She also belongs to the North Essex Chamber of Commerce, for which she has been treasurer and membership chairperson and by which she has been named an outstanding member. She also holds membership in Meeting Planners International.

National Women’s History Month, established in March 1987, is an annual opportunity to uncover women’s forgotten heritage as well as focus on women who are making history today. This year’s theme, “Writing Women Back into History” explores the idea that even when recognized in their own times, women are frequently left out of the history books. The National Women’s History Project, the organization behind National Women’s History Month, for 2010 is highlighting themes from previous years – each recognizing a different aspect of women’s achievements, from ecology to art, and from sports to politics.
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