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Luisa Paiewonsky
rose to the top the old-fashioned way: with help from
a huge network of friends.
Paiewonsky
is a 16-year veteran of the Bay State's transportation
system.
She's currently
assistant secretary of transportation and a leader among
her peers, both male and female.
And so when
she was up for an appointment as Massachusetts highway
commissioner, her network helped make sure that it happened.
That network
would be the Women's Transportation Seminar, an international
group for which Paiewonsky serves as local chapter president.
Her name first
surfaced as a highway commissioner applicant in 2002
as part of the outreach from MassGAP - a partnership
of The Alliance of Women's Business and Professional
Organizations and the Massachusetts Women's Political
Caucus.
The purpose:
Provide state government leaders with qualified women
candidates to serve in high-level positions.
The Paiewonsky
appointment was finally made last week.
The old-boy network
is alive and well and clearly has a head start when
it comes to jockeying for political appointments.
MassGAP was
formed to offer an alternative.
Smart leaders
make their decisions by listening to and reaching out
for alternative opinions.
Government succeeds
best when it reflects the diversity of its electorate.
Yes, the old-boys network continues to thrive. But the
new girls network will have its voice heard.
Vicki Donlan is publisher of Women's Business Boston.
*Reprinted
with permission of The Boston Herald
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