Merrimack Valley Magazine

Wendy Estrella

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A Rising Star Gives Back to the Lawrence Community

When Wendy Estrella began school in Lawrence after emigrating from the Dominican Republic at age 13, kids in her class would laugh because she didn’t understand when the teacher asked what her name was in English.

Now, Estrella is the attorney who founded Estrella Law Offices in Lawrence, a real estate and landlord tenant law practice. She also owns a real estate holding company — Estrella Enterprises LLC — with her husband Jose, where they’ve invested in almost 300 units. She is also a trustee of the Massachusetts School of Law in Andover and conducts seminars for first-time homebuyers and on landlord/tenant law, and is the mother of three sons. 

In her youth, Estrella thought about becoming a lawyer one day, but with a lack of guidance in the field it felt like an impossible dream. After high school, she attended UMass Amherst, but was forced to withdraw due to her struggles with English. She eventually enrolled in basic English reading and writing courses at Northern Essex Community College, where she received an associate degree in business administration before obtaining a bachelor’s degree from Merrimack College and becoming a full-time accountant.

 

“It really didn’t hit me until I graduated from Merrimack College,” Estrella says. “I can do whatever I want. The sky’s the limit.”

Socrates De La Cruz, who is an attorney in Lawrence and vice chair of the Lawrence Partnership, became a mentor to Estrella. With his guidance, she found the confidence to attend the Massachusetts School of Law and receive her law degree in 2004 while pregnant with her third child. 

Photo courtesy Wendy Estrella.

“I think lots of our immigrants — they become so comfortable because we have a community where everywhere we go they speak Spanish,” says Estrella, who believes the world is hungry
for immigrants who want to do well. “You stand on your two feet, you do your thing, and you could be at that table like everybody else is.”

Lawrence Partnership Deputy Director Alexandra Nova, who has worked closely with Estrella, believes individuals build levels of awareness and resilience when they move to a new country, and that Estrella is no exception.

As the chair of the Lawrence Partnership since January, Estrella is in an even greater position to use her own experiences to impact the local community, whether she is inspiring other Latinos to attend law school, youngsters to learn English, or busy mothers to pursue their desired degree.

“We all have dreams, and sometimes you’re married, you have children, and you think this is the end,” says Estrella, who married Jose at 18 and had her first child at 19. “It doesn’t have to be
like that.”

After years of building her character as a strong businesswoman, Estrella is most proud of having a family that can live the American dream, and for being able to support the residents of Lawrence, who live in a community that’s like one big family, according to Nova.

“She feels the responsibility of giving back, of lifting as she rises, and I think that’s really special,” Nova says. 

Owning Greatness, Part 5 – Tram Nguyen

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Women Leaders of the Merrimack Valley Seek to Innovate and Transform

There are many leaders throughout the Merrimack Valley, including five exceptional women we’ll highlight during the coming weeks. They are leaders in their industries, respected by colleagues and the public, and at the forefront of changing the landscape for women in their fields.

TRAM NGUYEN
State Representative, 18th Essex District

Tram Nguyen’s dream job, she thought, was to be a legal services attorney and help low-income clients and people who couldn’t advocate for themselves.

Nguyen was born in Vietnam and moved to America when she was 5. She and her family lived in Lawrence and Methuen, and she graduated from Methuen High School before becoming a first-generation college student at Tufts University. She earned a degree in sociology and American studies, and later obtained her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law. 

 

As an attorney, she worked with victims of domestic violence and practiced immigration law, focusing heavily on Vietnamese immigrants. She helped spearhead the Nail Salon Initiative to help lower income workers fight wage theft.

Nguyen says she often struggled to get in touch with lawmakers on Beacon Hill as she campaigned for the passage of policy changes. She ultimately decided to run for a seat in the state House of Representatives. 

“Our district can’t be represented by someone who doesn’t listen to constituents,” she says.

Nguyen, who lives in Andover with her husband and dogs, campaigned on a platform that included more funding for public education, preserving the environment, prioritizing equality and inclusion for gender identity, preventing gun violence, addressing the opioid epidemic, and fighting for women’s health.

Nguyen’s constituents in Andover, Boxford, North Andover and Tewksbury can always expect to get a response from her, she says, whether she agrees with their point of view or not. 

“You will know where I stand, and you’ll know why,” Nguyen says.

The freshman lawmaker serves on the Joint Committee on Housing, Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, and the House Committee on Personnel and Administration.

A strong part of her base has been younger voters and Nguyen spent much time before the pandemic visiting local schools in an effort to explain state government and promote civic engagement.

She also encourages women to pursue government work. Government needs all perspectives from all residents, she says, and it should be affordable for all to run for a position.

Like all of us over the last six months, Nguyen has adjusted to a virtual workday. She has adapted to an off-site lifestyle, working remotely and participating in a virtual legislative session by voting from home. The State House remains closed to the public, and legislators are encouraged to work remotely if possible. Nguyen says she sometimes remains in a virtual session from 10 a.m. to 10 or 11 p.m., or even midnight as lawmakers tackle a range of bills.

She’s also turning to social media more often as a way to engage constituents — holding virtual town halls, and also sending out newsletters and Facebook updates on the coronavirus crisis and legislative matters. With so much uncertainty, the number of calls to her office for help is rising, she adds.

When the most recent legislative session ended in July, Nguyen turned her attention to her campaign for reelection. With social distancing in mind, she began the process of obtaining signatures to get her name on the primary ballot for September. Additionally, Nguyen is turning to phone banks, texting banks, mailers and social media to reach voters.

With widespread mail-in voting this year, Nguyen says the focus isn’t only on getting people to the polls on Election Day, but also on making sure voters meet all the early deadlines for mail-in ballots.

“We’re gearing up to go full speed,” she says.

When she’s not on Beacon Hill, you’re likely to find Nguyen attending public events, meetings, or social gatherings in her district. She also finds creative ways to keep her constituents informed, often posting updates on state happenings on Facebook, mixed in with snippets and peeks into her personal life. An avid cook, she’s known for posting photos of her nightly meals.

“I’m very open with my life,” she says.

Sunday dinner with her family is also an important tradition for Nguyen, and she makes sure to keep that time open on her calendar, noting, “Nothing is more important than family.”

 

Nguyen is one of five exceptional women featured in the Sept/Oct 2020 issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine. Click here for more info. >>>

Style Editor: Lysa Pelletier, Anchor Artists

Hair / Makeup Artist: Morgan Maguire – Spa Nijoli Methuen, Mass.

Shot on Location:60 Vibe in Lawrence’s mill district offers the amenities that you deserve in a professional working space, but also provides the environment and resources to take your business where you want to go. Whether you are looking to boost your efficiency by separating work and home life, or train yourself to start a venture, 60 Vibe has affordable and professional options. At 60 Vibe, you’ll find traditional workplace comforts such as private conference rooms and printing services, as well as the tools to launch a career in web design, videography, photography, music and sound engineering and other fields. Members also have access to computers, microphones and cameras for professional webinars and podcasts. 60 Vibe even offers mentoring and training to entrepreneurs. At 60 Vibe, you have everything you need to prosper. For more information, visit 60Vibe.com.

Women Speaking Out About Ageism

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[Editor’s note: The women interviewed for this article all preferred to remain anonymous. The author uses only first name pseudonyms for them, by request.]

“Ageism and sexism come together in an ugly place,” says Lee, a 62-year-old Nashua real estate agent. There is a fine line between ageism and sexism in the workplace and even though the #MeToo movement has helped to define that line, not much has improved for the treatment of older workers. Lee talks about age discrimination as if it was a usual part of her day. 

For more than 25 years, Lee worked in banking, what she calls a “traditionally male-dominated business.” After years of working her way up, Lee noticed changes in how she was treated by her superiors. “Banking is one of the last Brahman strongholds,” she said. “They were always looking for young people coming out of school; the MBAs that are willing to work for less money, and by MBAs they meant younger men.” Lee’s skills and experience far surpassed those of her younger, male coworkers, who were quickly promoted while Lee struggled to be recognized. 

 

“When they felt it was time for me to go, I was walked into a meeting with an HR rep. [My boss] had invented problems with my performance, but HR caught on.” Lee successfully challenged every concern and continued working in what became a hostile environment. She took on difficult assignments — extra hours, extensive travel, or working with little or no assistance. “It was three days after I’d completed an extensive training assignment, and my mother had recently passed away. It involved a lot of travel and it was a very difficult time for me, but I did it. They let me go anyway.” After her dismissal, Lee had to hire an attorney to get her promised severance package. 

Companies sometimes rely on a “mixed motives” defense when faced with age discrimination work termination cases. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that if a company can prove their decision for termination has non-discriminatory motives, such as cutbacks, older workers with a long company history are likely the first to go since they’re usually earning more. The burden rests on the employee to prove that age was the motivation for dismissal. 

Lee believes that sexism continues under another name as women age. “Sexism fades and you become just an old person. It becomes age discrimination.” She eventually changed careers, shifting to real estate, a more independent type of employment. 

Sexism fades and you become just an old person. It becomes age discrimination. – Lee, real estate agent

The Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the department responsible for enforcing federal laws that prevent age discrimination, states that it is illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or employee because of the person’s race, color, religions, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Workers are also protected against retaliation for complaints to the agency. The Age Discrimination and Employment Act (ADEA) passed in 1967, showing that ageism in the workplace has been a long-standing and pervasive issue.

Ageism has long been considered inappropriate, but tolerated behavior persists in a changing world. Demeaning comments about older people are often disguised as humor. 

“Part of the problem,” says Barbara, a 65-year-old massage therapist from Lawrence, “… is that people feel allowed to say things and joke because everyone knows that growing old is inevitable. With luck, we’ll all grow old. It may seem far off, but it’s just around the corner and it’s scary. They feel like they have a right to laugh at their future rather than face it.” 

Many blame the media for normalizing the humor behind aging, and advertising offers a barrage of mixed messages, saying the signs of aging are beautiful, but here’s a face cream to make you look younger. 

Outside the workplace, ageism can take subtle forms. Janet, a 63-year-old freelance marketing manager from North Andover, explained her recent experience as both hurtful and perplexing. 

“I was on the phone with a younger male rep from my telecom company. I gave my name and account number and the conversation was cordial and professional. When he asked for my date of birth as identification, he immediately started speaking more slowly and increased his volume.” Janet said that the shift is his demeanor was likely the result of age bias. “He asked if I knew how to use a computer. Suddenly, it was as if he was talking to a child.” 

Age discrimination isn’t just about mature workers. Younger workers entering the workforce experience discrimination. Coworkers may look down on new hires because many people equate inexperience with a lack of intelligence. Seasoned workers see young people as training burdens or even a danger to their own status. 

When asked if she felt things would ever change, Lee added, “The funny thing is that as you get older you’re less and less willing to tolerate it.” If enough people feel the same way, things will change.   

Owning Greatness, Part 2 – Jane Ciccone

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Women Leaders of the Merrimack Valley Seek to Innovate and Transform

There are many leaders throughout the Merrimack Valley, including five exceptional women we’ll highlight during the coming weeks. They are leaders in their industries, respected by colleagues and the public, and at the forefront of changing the landscape for women in their fields.

JANE CICCONE
Co-Founder, Onesto Foods

Some kids hate being dragged to the grocery store, but Jane Ciccone’s children love to go food shopping. 

They can’t wait to get a glimpse of their family’s creations on the shelves of Whole Foods.

Ciccone is co-founder and owner of Onesto Foods, a fast-growing company that was founded in 2014 and has since built a strong following for its tasty gluten-free crackers and cookies.

 “[When] they see someone buying a package at the market, they get so excited,” Ciccone says of her kids, Zachary, 13, and Josie, 11. “They want to take pictures of the crackers at Whole Foods. They’re very, very supportive.”

 

Leading a cracker and cookie company wasn’t a career path Ciccone envisioned for herself, but life had other plans. When her daughter was a preschooler, she began exhibiting symptoms of celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that’s triggered by the consumption of gluten. So the West Newbury mom began searching for healthy snacks Josie could eat. Ciccone and her husband, Onesto co-founder Jesse, are Italian Americans, and both grew up in households where family time was often spent around an antipasto platter. Rather than seeing her children miss out on this family tradition, Ciccone looked for a tasty gluten-free cracker.

When she couldn’t find one, Ciccone decided to bake it herself. She gave her friends and family samples. And, since she was teaching cooking classes at the time, her students became taste testers, too.

When the recipe was perfected, she began making the rounds at local farmers markets and visiting area shops to see if they would sell her crackers. A few agreed.

“It’s just been growing from there,” Ciccone says.

Early in 2020, Onesto (which means “honest” in Italian) launched its soft-baked, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO cookie line. The first customer to sign on was Whole Foods, which already had been selling the company’s gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO crackers. When the bakery buyer tasted the cookies, they became a quick sell.

Onesto crackers were named in Yankee Magazine’s 2015 Editors’ Choice Food Awards, and were a Martha Stewart American Made finalist the same year. In 2019, the cheese magazine Culture named Onesto Artisan Crackers a “Best Savory Accompaniment.”

When the company was founded, Ciccone says “gluten-free” was kept off the crackers’ packaging so the product wouldn’t be pigeonholed. Soon, Ciccone realized they were missing an entire market of consumers who wanted delicious gluten-free food.

Today, Ciccone loves the reactions of first-time customers.

“My favorite [response] is, ‘I’m not even gluten-free and these are my favorite crackers,’” she says. 

Customers can entertain with confidence, knowing the crackers are safe for all guests to consume, Ciccone says.

It’s also important to Ciccone and her husband that Onesto Foods’ packaging is as environmentally friendly as possible.

“We’re very proud of that,” she says. “We’re very mindful of our impact.”

The bakery in Vermont that makes all of the crackers and cookies for Onesto is solar-powered, and vegetable dye is used in the printing on the crackers’ packages. According to Ciccone, the packaging is made from recycled materials and is 100% recyclable. The boxes are produced using 100% wind-powered energy.

The coronavirus pandemic has altered Ciccone’s plans to launch a new product this year, but she says the company has seen an increase in sales over the last several months.

“Our online sales have increased dramatically since COVID-19 hit. Because people aren’t feeling comfortable shopping in stores, they’re ordering our products online, and we’re beyond thankful for that,” Ciccone says. 

Ciccone has temporarily halted plans to begin marketing caponata, a Sicilian appetizer consisting of eggplant, olives, celery and onions, and seasoned with herbs, capers and a sweet-and-sour sauce. It’s a dish that brings Ciccone back to her childhood in Andover and remains near and dear to her heart.

“We’ve decided to hold off until the spring of 2021 at the earliest,” she says. “Because of the pandemic and the possibility of more quarantines, stores are hesitant to bring in new product lines. Understandably, customers just want to get in and get out when shopping these days. And offering samples of new food products is always important when launching, and we definitely can’t do that during this crazy time. So we’ll be patient and try to find a time that’s right.” 

 Ciccone would tell younger women hoping to start their own company to avoid getting “too high with the highs and too low with the lows.” It’s easy to get caught up in accolades and negative feedback, and both can push you off track, she says. 

At the end of the day, ask, “Did I have fun today?” Ciccone says. There’s no sense in working so hard to start a business, she says, if you aren’t going to feel good about it.

“Be a good person and work with good people,” she says. “It’s OK to say no. Feel good about yourself. You need to have a good sense of who you are. Stay true to yourself and your values.”

 

Ciccone is one of five exceptional women featured in the Sept/Oct 2020 issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine. Click here for more info. >>>

Style Editor: Lysa Pelletier, Anchor Artists

Hair / Makeup Artist: Morgan Maguire – Spa Nijoli Methuen, Mass.

Shot on Location:60 Vibe in Lawrence’s mill district offers the amenities that you deserve in a professional working space, but also provides the environment and resources to take your business where you want to go. Whether you are looking to boost your efficiency by separating work and home life, or train yourself to start a venture, 60 Vibe has affordable and professional options. At 60 Vibe, you’ll find traditional workplace comforts such as private conference rooms and printing services, as well as the tools to launch a career in web design, videography, photography, music and sound engineering and other fields. Members also have access to computers, microphones and cameras for professional webinars and podcasts. 60 Vibe even offers mentoring and training to entrepreneurs. At 60 Vibe, you have everything you need to prosper. For more information, visit 60Vibe.com.

Owning Greatness, Part 4 – Susan Sullivan

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Women Leaders of the Merrimack Valley Seek to Innovate and Transform

There are many leaders throughout the Merrimack Valley, including five exceptional women we’ll highlight during the coming weeks. They are leaders in their industries, respected by colleagues and the public, and at the forefront of changing the landscape for women in their fields.

SUSAN SULLIVAN
Director of Cardiovascular and Laboratory Services, Holy Family Hospital

Like many people, Susan Sullivan credits a teacher with igniting her passion and pointing her in the direction of what has become a highly rewarding and successful career.

During her sophomore year at Haverhill High School, Sullivan had a health scare and doctors believed she had appendicitis. It was later determined that she actually was dealing with a chronic condition. Her biology teacher at the time was a former medical technologist, and she explained the role the laboratory had in diagnosing Sullivan’s ailment. 

The seeds for a career in laboratory medicine had been planted, and there was no turning back.

“I owe it all to her,” Sullivan says.

 

After high school, Sullivan enrolled in UMass Lowell’s clinical lab science program. As a college student, she got a job as a phlebotomist at Lowell General Hospital. The work was fascinating, she says.

After graduation, Sullivan began working as a technologist in the blood bank at Lahey Clinic. “That fed the passion I have for transfusion medicine that I still have today,” she says. 

In 1996, Sullivan was pregnant with her second child and wanted to work closer to home. She took a position at Holy Family Hospital, and as manager of the blood bank  oversaw the start of the tissue service program and blood donor services.

In 2015, the director of clinical services left, and the hospital created the position of laboratory administrative director. Sullivan pursued the opportunity, seeing it as a chance to grow her career beyond transfusion services. She also enrolled in an MBA program at Southern New Hampshire University, earning her degree in 2018.

In November 2019, Sullivan became director of cardiovascular and laboratory services. She also serves as the administrative director of laboratory and cardiac catheterization services.

“It’s been an amazing journey,” she says. “I’ve absolutely loved it. Every day I learn something new.”

Sullivan is also active in the global patient/donor safety organization AABB, and has traveled around the world overseeing blood banks.

“I have a really strong interest in regulatory affairs,” she says.

Though many women work in labs, fewer typically serve in director roles, Sullivan says. But the scales are starting to tip.

COVID-19 has also spurred a new appreciation for health care workers and laboratory work, she says.

“It took a pandemic to make people appreciate what the lab does,” Sullivan says. 

As the coronavirus hit in full force in early March, Holy Family Hospital was the first facility in the Merrimack Valley to open a drive-up testing service for patients sent by a doctor. The testing site — a blue tent in the parking lot — was set up in just a few days. 

“It was a whirlwind,” Sullivan says, adding that the hospital staff and administration pulled together to get the equipment and supplies to make it happen. Members of the staff who were interested in volunteering were outfitted with personal protective equipment, trained and sent to work.

“I was running on adrenaline and coffee,” Sullivan says. “The 12-hour day became the norm for most of March and April. I cannot be more proud of the team at Holy Family and the lab who really jumped into action and got it done.”

Sullivan counts herself lucky to have worked for leaders who believe in the upward growth of their staff and to have learned from mentors who saw her potential at every stage of her career, Sullivan says.

“I’ve been blessed through my whole career to have mentors helping, teaching me,” she says. “I try to give that back to all I work with.”

She urges other women who want to pursue a career in the laboratory to say yes to every opportunity that comes their way. 

“Not everyone will end up with a perfect opportunity, but if you don’t say yes, you could miss the best opportunity,” she says. “Saying yes to opportunity is key.”

It’s also OK to fail, she says. “Have faith in yourself and your abilities. It’s OK to fail, but you have to say yes [to trying].”

 

Sullivan is one of five exceptional women featured in the Sept/Oct 2020 issue of Merrimack Valley Magazine. Click here for more info. >>>

Style Editor: Lysa Pelletier, Anchor Artists

Hair / Makeup Artist: Morgan Maguire – Spa Nijoli Methuen, Mass.

Shot on Location:60 Vibe in Lawrence’s mill district offers the amenities that you deserve in a professional working space, but also provides the environment and resources to take your business where you want to go. Whether you are looking to boost your efficiency by separating work and home life, or train yourself to start a venture, 60 Vibe has affordable and professional options. At 60 Vibe, you’ll find traditional workplace comforts such as private conference rooms and printing services, as well as the tools to launch a career in web design, videography, photography, music and sound engineering and other fields. Members also have access to computers, microphones and cameras for professional webinars and podcasts. 60 Vibe even offers mentoring and training to entrepreneurs. At 60 Vibe, you have everything you need to prosper. For more information, visit 60Vibe.com.

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