Caroline LaRocco, COO of Our Women's Accessories

I graduated with honors at age 17, and three days afterward was hired at Eastman Kodak Company. There, I trained for several years in various divisions while savoring the learning experience and the corporate world. I became like a "sponge", soaking up every morsel of knowledge made available to me; the more knowledge I acquired, the more powerful and confident I felt. After several years, I was given the title of "Substitute Secretary", and was regularly sent to fill in for many of the higher management's secretaries and administrative assistants. Talk about the absolute most valuable training tool; this is where I learned different business techniques from each of these highly talented women. I spent 21 years at Kodak, and believe now that destiny was giving me the tools needed for when I would become involved in my own business.

During all these years, I was also juggling the responsibility of a husband and two children, Deborah Ann and Michael. History repeated itself, and both of my children turned out to be a good mix between their father's sound judgment and my flair for business. It seems my mother's adamant stand on education drove me to enable my daughter and son to also do well in the business world. I took on a second job during my son's college years at Penn State University, where he went on to earn a Master's Degree. While still at school, he started a company and made me an offer to go into business with him. That was 23 years ago, and now the company, American Made, LLC, is a $25 million corporation known worldwide. My current position there is COO of their industrial liner division, American Made Liner Systems. When I began in 1983, I was dead broke but reached "millionaire" status several years ago. I guess it's never too late to gain success and wealth.

My daughter, Deborah Ann, and I also started another business. She showed a flair for design and creative works of art, as well as the ability to organize and manage large projects of an industrial nature. We formed Classic & Chic Gift Boutique to bring new, enticing, and innovative products to the consumer industry. She does most of the designing of the ideas we both have for new products; my part is mostly providing the financial requirements. Deborah also can boast of her two handsome and talented sons, and a little grandson that adores her.

Some of what keeps me motivated and helps me handle all three businesses is finding the humor in many situations, shopping, traveling to exotic places, sharing the many special events with my family, attending the performing arts, and visiting museums. My most rewarding experiences are my philanthropic ventures.