When the youngest of our three children was settled in kindergarten I went back to the international corporate environment, this time working for a consulting firm in their information technology department typing proposals, creating graphics, and organizing recruiting events. Three years later I decided to explore the real estate business by starting in the legal department of a midtown company which was soon bought out by a larger firm at which time I was laid of during the reorganization. It was then I became an employee of an international accounting firm as an administrative assistant in the Financial Markets department. Five years later I was laid off again due to the recession in late 2001 when the company I worked for was downsizing after 9/11. Within a month I found a job working in a legal department of a large national food and tobacco company and later transferred to their Mergers and Acquisitions Department where I am now.

During the 90’s I was active in the parents’ associations of private Manhattan schools where our children attended – organizing various fundraisers and social events. I also solicited a corporate sponsorship for the American Cancer Society awareness event.

Following 9/11 our two younger children were moved to NYC public schools where I became the secretary of two high school parents’ associations and our oldest daughter returned home from college to work to supplement the family’s income while the consulting industry was non existent.

In 2005, while the economy was starting to return, the consulting opportunities were sporadic, consequently, I became a part-time cosmetic sales representative in addition to my daytime job. During this time I conducted workshops and donated skin care products, cosmetics, and clothing to homeless women staying at the Grand Central Neighborhood to give them some attention are care and to encourage them to feel confident for job interviewing.

Currently, I am the President of the Parents’ Association of our son’s high school. It has been exciting being a part of a caring group of parents, scheduling speakers for our meetings and organizing community fundraisers.

Carolyn Sue Daley

I met Orion while I was attending West Virginia University in Morgantown, West Virginia.

After obtaining my bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology I was eager to have a job serving my community. I became employed in the public school system of Barbour County, West Virginia where I traveled from school to school in small mining communities providing speech and language therapy to children.

Following a failed young marriage with one child I relocated to NYC in 1984 to reconnect with Orion.

Once in NYC I started out as a gal girl Friday for a small printing company then worked my way up to data entry and ordering in a sports clothing office and showroom. With some office experience and a college degree behind me I was then hired to work for an international insurance company working in a systems and special projects department that reported to the chairman of the company. I was praised for my enthusiasm and efficiency and soon was studying at night at a nearby university to become a business analyst.

We were soon married and immediately decided to have children. While the children were young I chose to work at our home office supporting my husband’s consulting business, Orion Computer Systems.