Photo by Anthea McGibbon Catherine Massey
She's quiet, gentle, elegant, and easy-going, but Catherine Massey is no pushover. On any given day, just about any of her 400 member-staff express their pride and appreciation for Massey, who by all measures has been remarkable in 'a man's world'.
Ms. Massey, the only female hotel manager ever hired at the Beaches Resort, Negril, which opened in 1997, is known for her professionalism. She exudes a warmth that makes her very approachable and easy to talk to.
"She is the kind of woman who would run into the sea with her spike heels, just to save a life," Karen Pargon-Singh, a former schoolmate, said.
Those who know Massey are familiar with the source of her success: her parents and her church family. The 36-year-old is a graduate of The Manning's High School, Savanna-la-Mar, and Lynn University, Florida, where she gained her degree in hotel management.
Described as the 'heart and soul' of Beaches by her peers, her drive to uphold perfection is admired not only by general manager, Rafael Fonseca, but by other staff members. Craig May describes her as "sympathetic beyond business"; steward Norman Backett says "she treats staff good", and Leona Barton says "she is very straightforward."
Catherine Massey embodies what it means to be hospitable. She is regarded as a counsellor, friend and mentor.
Andrew Smith/ Photography Editor
Heather Little-White
Though a gunman's bullet left this phenomenal woman paralysed from the chest downwards since 1999, her spirit and love for life were never fazed.
The physical limitations posed by this traumatic experience made her even more determined to live life to the fullest. She is a nutritionist, sex expert, lifestyle consultant, motivational speaker, advocate and more, but certainly not a quitter. This is Dr. Heather Little-White.
A recognised nutritionist, Dr. Little-White is managing director of her own food and nutrition consultancy, Heather Little-White & Associates.
She launched one of Jamaica's first morning television cooking programmes, 'Creative Cooking', while employed at Grace Kennedy and Company.
After many years as manager of Grace Kitchens and Consumer Centre, she was awarded the prestigious Hubert Humphrey fellowship to Cornel University, U.S.A., where she received her doctorate in human service studies. Her work in the area of nutrition has been recognised by the Jamaican Government which awarded her with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) in August 2001.
She is also a qualified journalist and a specialist in human sexuality. She authors a weekly column on human sexuality for the Outlook magazine The Sunday Gleaner. She offers counselling in that area as well.
Add Lecturer to her list of titles, as she also teaches at the University of Technology in executive development at the School of Hospitality.
Since becoming a paraplegic, Dr. Little-White has directed more of her efforts to championing the rights of Jamaica's disabled community, and has been made an honorary member of the Combined Disabilities Association.
She is a motivational speaker and an advocate for support for persons with disabilities in Jamaica.
Yvonne Haynes
Safeguarding your beer and soft drinks against bacteria is just one of the responsibilities this woman shoulders at Red Stripe.
With 33 years of experience in the beverage industry, Yvonne Haynes, brand technical and innovations manager, has done it all since she started in 1973 as a microbiologist. Holding 12 positions in the company during her tenure, she has spearheaded the development of a new-shaped Red Stripe beer bottle to broaden sales in the U.S.A. as well as develop packaging to launch the beer in Puerto Rico.
She led the Red Stripe technical team in achieving international standards throughout their plant. As research and development analyst, she helped develop four new products for the local market. While she was assistant plant operations manager, she encouraged the company to diversify the production staff and include women as a part of the temporary staff.
And to ensure that your beer is even safer, she developed the Beer Handbook - a bartenders' guide for handling beer. Blessed with a wealth of experience and information, she finds time to mentor youth in the University of the West Indies Mentorship Programme and Youth Opportunities Unlimited Mentorship Programme.
Ms. Haynes has a bachelor's in business administration (honours), a diploma in strategic management and another in laboratory technology.
Andrew Smith/ Photography Editor
Joy Spence
A 13-year-old fell in love with Chemistry and wanted to become a scientist. And where did that lead her? To blending rum.Not a bad job after all.
Joy Spence, became the first female Master Blender in the world spirits industry in 1997 and works her magic for one of Jamaica's oldest rum producers, Appleton Jamaica Rum. Appleton Jamaica Rum products are sold in 64 countries around the world.
Graduating from the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry, she went on to pursue a Master of Science in analytical chemistry at the University of Loughborough in the United Kingdom. Her final exam scores were the highest the school had seen and the scores are still unprecedented. She taught chemistry at the high school and college levels before her present job.
Ms. Spence will be featured in the March Issue of the American Magazine, Ebony, in an article entitled 'Women in Culinary Arts', where her rise to the position is detailed. She has created the Appleton Estate Extra Jamaica Rum and Appleton Estate Reserve Jamaica Rum.
In 2005 Spence was given the Order of Distinction by the Jamaican Government for her contribution.
Apart from making new rums, the mother of two enjoys gardening and doing technical research.
Janet Conie
This woman is at the forefront of the cambio and lottery industries in Jamaica.
In 1999 Janet Conie was instrumental in the establishment of Cambio Express and was the financial controller for the Jamaica Lottery Company.
Ms. Conie is a certified public accountant, has a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in accounting and a master's degree in business administration.
She is currently one of the assistant vice-presidents of Supreme Ventures Limited and general manager of Supreme Ventures Financial Services Limited.
Sandra Shirley
A president of a financial institution which offers customers a direct line to her? That couldn't be true, but it is.
Sandra Shirley, president of First Global Financial Services, displays a unique dedication to her customers, so much so that she hands out her direct line to them.
With a first degree in management studies and a master's with a focus in finance and banking, Ms. Shirley garnered experience from working at Pannel Fitzpatrick and Company and the Jamaica Bauxite Mining Limited. When she moved to the United States and worked for more than nine years with Bankers Trust Company as assistant vice-president, her experience was further deepened.
She returned to Jamaica and joined Sigma Unit Trust Managers Limited as general manager and Sigma Investment Management Systems Limited as managing director. Under her leadership, the company received the Best Company award for 1996 and 1997. Sigma Unit Trust was the top performer for three consecutive years.
She also introduced the popular annual Sigma Corporate Run for charity.
In 2003 she joined the Mona School of Business as an Alister McIntyre fellow. She received recognition for her success in the financial world when she was inducted in the International Association of Business Leaders in 2002.
Ms. Shirley is also involved in a number of charity organisations, both personally and through First Global.
