The 1973 hit song, which this column’s title references, walks listeners through a man’s internal debate about approaching a woman. He describes the lady as untouchable and cold-hearted yet beautiful. It is as if he is spellbound, confused even. 

Listening to the song, I am reminded of the obscurity surrounding the issue of women in the workforce today. Glass ceilings have been cracked, and, in some cases, shattered. Yet, when she walks into the board room, steps up to the microphone, signs the memorandum, or pops up on the teleconference screen, there is still pause for the question, “Who’s that lady?”

The 2016 Industry Leading Ladies Spotlight, on page 30, aims to answer this question of “whom.” But before you turn the page, I want you to meet the Leading Ladies of PHC News.

Boss Lady

This year marks Cate Brown’s 20th anniversary with TMB Publishing. She is a principal and publisher with the company; currently the only woman to be in this senior of a role in publishing for the plumbing market. Overseeing general management of TMB’s three magazines — PHC News, Plumbing Engineer and The Wholesaler — she enjoys interacting with devoted advertisers and readers. Also heavily involved in matters of business development and marketing, she has been integral to TMB’s ability to stay ahead of the curve. 

Sales Shero

It was 25 years ago that Diane Spangler became the first woman to sell advertising space in The Wholesaler. Today, she is TMB’s sales manager for the Western Region, in addition to Texas and Canada. She has built a rapport of professionalism and loyalty with her clients, and remains the only woman in sales at TMB.   

Bubbly Businesswoman

This plumber’s wife turned business coach, has been educating PHC News readers for decades. As a monthly columnist, she provides in-the-trenches insight to business owners. In 1995, Ellen started Bare Bones Biz, her venture capital and consulting company. Since then, she has served as president of Benjamin Franklin, The Punctual Plumber and Zoom Drain and Sewer, LLC. Every day she works to make business un-complicated.

Female Faulkner

Acclaimed author William Faulkner, that is. Sarah Cimarusti joined TMB in 2014 as the assistant editor for The Wholesaler. Today, she serves as assistant editor and layout associate for PHC News and Plumbing Engineer. A social work and English scholar by discipline and fiction writer by practice, Sarah uses her human interest storytelling to spotlight the passion of this industry.

Filmmaking Fashionista  

If you need an analysis of each Emmy News & Documentary nominee’s work and breakdown of their red carpet looks, Danielle Galian is your girl. Danielle studied broadcast journalism and communications at Loyola University Chicago. In 2014, Danielle joined TMB as assistant editor of The Wholesaler, a position she still holds in addition to supporting production. Through multimedia reporting, she is shedding light on the industry’s next generation.

(Wo)Man In The Mirror

Then, there’s me. Over the past decade, I have created content for business-to-business, philanthropic, minority and academic audiences. I received my B.A. in English from Spelman College and M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University. In 2013, I joined TMB in the newly created role of assistant editor and social media coordinator. Two years later, I was promoted to editorial director of PHC News and Plumbing Engineer; the first African-American woman in this role. My goal is to grow the magazines through sound editorial, diverse narratives, and digital tie-ins.