The third time proved the charm for Black Diamond Associates co-owners Lisa Huetteman and Mary Owens. ...more

November 5, 2008

The year was 1972, and an ad in Chicago Today ("Wanted: Writers. Flexible hours.") led me to an upper floor of a building on LaSalle Street. I was 21, desperate for a job and wearing the Montgomery Ward suit I'd gotten for graduation. Before long, I was shaking hands with the president of Termpapers Inc., who hired me without bothering to look at the portfolio I brought along. ...more

September 21, 2008

Sheryl Chelena never sat down. For three hours the tiny blond whirlwind sold her purses, talked with each of her guests and walked away with future business contacts. ...more

February 11, 2008

Sheryl Chelena was giving a party at her Trinity-area home to promote Purse Party, a home-based, direct-sales business selling purses and jewelry. Women arrived throughout the event, chatting about families and other aspects of their lives while examining Chelena's purses. Purse Party is one of more than 200 companies that are members of the Direct Selling Association. The DSA is a national trade association of direct-sales firms that are committed to ethical business practices. ...more

January 30, 2008

'Best-workplace' lists are sprouting everywhere this fall. From Working Mother magazine's '100 Best Companies' to Business Week's 'Best Places to Launch a Career,' judges are sizing up employers' flexible scheduling and other perks as criteria for coveted top-employer rankings. ...more

October 20, 2007

all 77 million of them - will come into their retirement years. In doing so, they will transform every aspect of American society. ...more

October 15, 2007