A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION CHAMPIONING OUR LOCAL WOMEN IN BUSINESS. PHOTOGRAPY BY JESSICA WHITLEY.

Kathleen Medlin, Head of Advancement
Lori Palmer, Head of Admissions

6010 Peake Road, Macon
478-477-8073
kathleen.medlin@stratford.org
lori.palmer@stratford.org
Stratford.org

WHAT IS STRATFORD’S MISSION?
Through the relentless pursuit of excellence, Stratford Academy strives to develop and grow a student’s mind, body and spirit in a nurturing environment.

HOW HAS THAT MISSION SHIFTED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC?
Initially, Stratford implemented our Distance Learning Plan in order to complete the 2019-2020 school year. Over the summer, all avenues were explored for virtual versus on-campus learning. In August, the school opened with our COVID-19 mitigation efforts and protocols in place. Families were able to opt-in to virtual learning if they chose, but the majority of families selected in-person learning. Our school community has been committed to doing everything we can to remain on campus, so we have been fortunate to be able to provide our students with as many normal experiences as possible.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
Success does not always look the same in every situation. Know what your measures are before you start so that you can track, identify and celebrate all aspects of finding success.

YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED THAT:We actually were classmates together at Stratford (along with Stratford Chief Financial Officer Mollye Treadway and Head of Preschool/Lower School Kelly Causey).

Your advice for women wanting to start their own business in Macon?
Do your homework – how’s that for a school reference!Look for resources (financial, marketing, planning, etc.) available to help you create a solid and sound plan.

What are you most excited about right now in our community?
The individuals and groups who are passionate about this town. In almost every aspect of our community – from arts and education to business and lifestyle – there is someone who is working tirelessly to enrich that part of our lives and town.

What is the most gratifying part of your job?
The most gratifying part of our roles at Stratford involve introducing new families to this school community. Whether it is Lori giving prospective families tours or information on enrollment, or Kathleen working on marketing efforts, it is endlessly rewarding for us to share all that Stratford has to offer and all the ways that students succeed.

What has been the most challenging part of being a woman in business?
Fortunately for us, education is historically an area that has been easy for women to succeed, so there have not been too many barriers for us. Like all women in business, the age-old challenge is balancing work and family.

I admire women who:
I admire women who show compassion for others and have great integrity, while also being strong enough to stand up for their own beliefs and feelings. — Lori Palmer
I admire women who understand and have a gift for bringing people together and utilizing their individual gifts and talentsto create something successful. — Kathleen Medlin

What was the best business advice you ever received?
When I took this position at Stratford and gift development became a major part of my responsibilities, I had never been paid to fundraise for an organization – I only had been a volunteer fundraiser. I shared my personal anxiety with Dr. Bill Shirley, and he told me that fundraising was all about people connecting with other people about something they have in common. — Kathleen Medlin
The best advice I received was to focus on people and forming relationships. It’s much easier to work with people with whom you have taken the time to get to know. This is true with my colleagues, but also with all prospective Stratford families.— Lori Palmer

We hope more women will:We have both been fortunate that Stratford has provided us a workplace that is both morally and professionally supportive. We leave our homes every day to come to work with our second families. We wish that all women have the opportunity to find the same support system.

How can women better support each other?
Our experience has been that when you come to work and build relationships with those around you, they become an extension of your own family and you support each other accordingly. This applies to women and men.

Looking back:We both had careers outside of the education field prior to coming to Stratford. Those experiences taught us to really appreciate our current roles. When we both took our positions at Stratford, we were working mothers with school-age children. We were able to find work that challenged us professionally, utilized our different backgrounds and personally worked well with our family lives.