NJ Woman Owned Business(WBE)NJ Business Women-NJ Prof Women

In 1994, we could have retired as successful advertising executives, but we had a vision. We were among the 1½ million women in New Jersey over 40 who are a generation unlike any before us. Not ready to move over, this generation of “women of a certain age” have ambition, life experience, and are passionate about both their own well being and giving back to their communities.

We both worked at the same advertising agency for many years and became good friends, finding we had a lot in common…so much so that on more than one occasion we appeared at the office wearing the same suit. After leaving the corporate environment, we began talking about what direction we each wanted our lives to take. Silk Purse was born as a way for us to reach out to other women sharing similar journeys to share our professional and life experiences, enriching one another along the way. We proceeded to:

Our vision is to be a powerful voice for all women 40+ as we face challenges unique to our generation. We are the sandwich generation, caring for aging parents and growing children while maintaining a professional career. And yes, salary equity is still an issue. Our professional career successes have been hard won, without the benefit of the ‘boys club’. We are living longer and healthier lives, which creates a host of issues including living alone, financial concerns, and new relationships. We certainly don’t want to look our age, so fitness, beauty and staying fashionable are important to us. For many of us, successful careers have now provided philanthropic and mentoring opportunities.

In the years since we founded Silk Purse Women, we have been inspired by the spirit of philanthropy and giving back of so many women. As a result, we have gotten increasingly active with charitable organizations that ‘speak to us’. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s northern New Jersey chapter, the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition northern New Jersey chapter, Girls Going Places, the Women’s Fund of New Jersey, and the Women’s Leadership Committee of the United Way are examples, each with dynamic, devoted volunteers and causes that resonate with us and we can enthusiastically support.

The mission of Silk Purse Women is to provide answers and raise awareness of all these issues and causes, so that our generation of women will be stronger from knowledge gained, and the generation of women who follow in our path will find it less rocky.

Retirement? We discovered that women don’t retire in the traditional sense. Instead, we look for new challenges and then reinvent ourselves to meet them. As long as we are able, we will continue to seek new ways to turn a sow’s ear (getting older) into a silk purse (getting better) for our Silk Purse Women.

Lorraine LaShell

Life begins at 55! That has been Lorraine LaShell’s motto ever since co-founding Silk Purse eight years ago with her business partner, Christine Spear. Now in her 60s, LaShell is charging full-steam ahead to grow a dynamic business. A background in marketing and advertising laid the groundwork for her role as Vice President and Publisher at Silk Purse. LaShell thrives on meeting new and inspiring women over 40 and building partnerships with readers and advertisers. She has a keen aptitude for thinking ‘outside the box’, forging relationships in the business community that are mutually rewarding.

In her personal life, Lorraine and her wonderful husband of 43 years, Bill, are actively involved with their multi-generational family of three grown children, four grandchildren, and Lorraine’s parents. The demands are numerous and often challenging, but the rewards are worth every minute. Holidays can be major events at the LaShell home, with meals (of course) at the center of the activity!

Lorraine also enjoys spending time with friends, seeking out the latest restaurant find, gallery, or museum exhibition. She and Bill love to travel, and have visited many countries.
Next stop…India.

Christine Spear

Christine Spear is a 60+ woman who is wearing many hats on her life’s journey. Her twenty-plus years of professional experience as a vice president of account service in advertising and communications has served her well in her position as President and Editor in Chief of Silk Purse. She understands deadlines and the importance of concise, clear communication and embraces a philosophy that believes the client (reader) comes first.

Happily married to husband Rick for 28 years, Chris is also the proud mother of two, stepmother of three, foster mother to two, and grandmother of seven, who range from three to seventeen. She endeavors every day to be an inspiring role model to them, particularly the five girls, through her professional work as well as the time she dedicates to her church family, where she has served as a Deacon for the past five years. One of her greatest joys is to sit on her comfy sofa and read to as many of her grandkids as can fit around her…as long as there is a spot for her two dogs also.

Chris is thrilled when she can bring a piece of new and useful information to the readers of Silk Purse Women, or make them smile when they read a personal story from one of their sisters.