July 16, 2003

CEOs Celebrate Their Successes

“Celebration of CEOs Walk the Walk”, a gala reception and silent auction honoring the March of Dimes, will take place on Thursday, September 4th, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the C.R. Smith Museum (www.crsmithmuseum.org). 
 
The event, sponsored by Optimance and Southwest Securities, member SWS Group, will bring together CEOs of small businesses around the D/FW area who participated in the 2nd annual “CEOs Walk the Walk”, a grassroots movement enabling small and medium size businesses to collectively make a big difference saving babies, together, through the March of Dimes.  Any participating CEO employees, donors and other CEOs considering participating next year are invited to attend.  Admission is complimentary.  Gala contributors include the C. R. Smith Museum, American Airlines Training & Conference Center, Caféallday.com, Petals & Parchment, and David W. James Photography
 
In addition to raising money to save babies, CEOs Walk the Walk is a great networking and connectivity opportunity to reach other CEOs of small and mid-size organizations.  Participants include CEOs of companies with five to more than 1,000 employees.  The group was established in 2002 when Cynthia Driskill, CEO of CDG and member of the Dallas Division Board of the March of Dimes, recognized an untapped opportunity.  Her vision was to provide a way for small and medium size businesses to collectively make a much bigger impact than any one of the companies could by itself.  The team raised nearly $24,000 in 2002, and $80,000 so far this year.  The year-end goal is to sign up 250 CEOs and raise $250,000.  “We still have nearly have a year left, and we are gaining momentum,” said Driskill.  “We need to quickly find more CEOs willing to help, but our goal is still within reach.”
 
The Top money raisers so far in 2003 are:
* Cathy Sweeney, CRESA Partners Capital Markets, $10,055
* Don Hultgren, Southwest Securities, Member of SWS Group, $8,000
* Cynthia Driskill, CDG, $6,800
* Don Hanratty, Optimance, $5,000
* Rollie O. Waters, The Waters Consulting Group, Inc., $3,255
* Linda Crawford, Delta Dallas Companies, $3,000
 
Other top contributors include: Robert Alexander, Geezer Geeks; Larry Burgess, Helmsman Financial Partners; Greg Bustin, Bustin & Co.; Greg Carr, CARR Law Firm; Bill Cawley, Cawley International & Cawley Wilcox; Paige Dawson, MPD Ventures Company; Pauline Graivier, Verbal Communications, Inc.; Roxane Guerrero, Guerrero Law Offices; Ed Harrison, OPEN4 by BMH, Inc.; Gia Hooper, Cendera Technologies; Joanne M. Ingle, DFW Movers & Erectors, Inc.; Vincent Jackson, Marketing Moves, Inc.; L. Kimberly Karl, on behalf of Girl Scouts Cross Timbers Council; Larry King, KBA Group LLP; Nina Knight, Denitech Fort Worth, Inc.; Rudy Rodriguez, Castro Roofing; Bob Spurgin, Ben Spurgin Insurance; Michele Swayzer, Swayzer Engineering; Dallas Taylor, TGS Architects; David Turner, NetSolstice; Mick & Patricia Twomey, Pendiant, LP; Kay Gerlich Weeks, Neighborhood Diaper Delivery.
 
For more information visit http://www.ceoswalkthewalk.com.
 
About CDG
CDG is a national consulting firm specializing in the selection, implementation, and maintenance of HCM systems.  CDG supports all major HCM systems, including PeopleSoft and SAP.  CDG and Cynthia Driskill, CEO, have received many awards, including the Ernst & Young Southwest Entrepreneur of the Year, Working Woman magazine’s National General Excellence Award, and The Greater Dallas Business Ethics Award.  For more information, visit www.cdg-inc.com.
 
About March of Dimes
The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies. For more information, visit the March of Dimes Web site at www.marchofdimes.com, its Spanish web site at www.nacersano.org or call 1-888-MODIMES. For more information on the annual March of Dimes WalkAmerica, visit the Web site at www.walkamerica.org.