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By SUSAN M. COVER
Staff Writer 09/15/2007

enlarge Staff photo by Joe Phelan

Staff photo by Joe Phelan GETTING TO KNOW YOU: Julie Peacock, left, and Carol M. Gilbert-Tondreau chat at the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce Women's Network Luncheon on Thursday at the Augusta Civic Center.

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But she skis.

And look out if she's headed to your chairlift.

As founder of Nancy Marshall Communications in Augusta, Marshall makes things happen whether at work or at play.

While many male executives -- and some women -- hit the golf course to seal deals, Marshall and other women at the top of their games suggested different arenas for accomplishing the same thing.

For Marshall, the ski slopes at Sugarloaf/USA are where it's at.

"I've made, I can't tell you, how many connections over the years," she said. "I spend a lot of time talking with people on the chairlift."

Marshall's public relations and marketing company works with clients that range from state agencies to nonprofits and for-profit firms. Marshall also travels a lot and does speaking engagements, which helps her become recognized as an expert in her field.

And when it comes to golf?

"I'm still not good enough to feel confident playing in most situations," she said.

DIANE WAGNER, PRESIDENT MOODY & CO.

In the office and furniture supply business, most of the relationship building happens after the work is done, said Wagner, who's been in business for 30 years.

With locations in Augusta and Portland, Wagner said she and her sales associates like to take clients out to lunch at the end of a project as a reward. Her company sells office supplies, filing systems and office furniture.

"We do what we can to thank them for their business," she said.

Many of their clients are south of Brunswick, but when she does business locally, she likes to take customers to Slates or The Senator.

"There's nothing nicer than to put on the finishing touches and then take them out to lunch," she said. "That's why we have repeat business."

SENATE PRESIDENT BETH EDMONDS

Edmonds, a Freeport Democrat, said she does business anywhere she can -- in the halls of the Statehouse, the grocery store, a coffee shop or while driving and talking on her cell phone.

"A lot of it gets done on the fly," she said.

Edmonds does not golf or meet in smoky back rooms to put together agreements on bills or other legislative business, she said. Her Statehouse office does have a fireplace, but unlike some of her predecessors, she doesn't light it.

She sometimes wonders whether she is missing anything on the golf course.

"I actually sometimes do feel like there's conversations I'm not privy to because I don't hang out in certain places," she said. "There probably are relationships built around a golf course."

Her golf course equivalent?

She sings in a band that plays folk music at political events. And people don't hesitate to approach her at her regular job as director of the Freeport Community Library.

LOBBYIST/LAWYER PATRICIA AHO

When she's looking for a way to network outside the office, Aho goes to cultural events, such as operas, symphonies or art or architecture events.She took up golf 10 years ago and does some business on the links, but said that wasn't her primary reason for learning the sport. At the Statehouse, much of her work gets done over food, said Aho, who works for Pierce Atwood Consulting in August

When she started as a lobbyist 24 years ago, she was one of only a handful of women, she said. That's not the case anymore.

"Twenty years ago, I didn't have a lot of sporting capability," she said. "It was very difficult to find opportunities to do business in a more casual, relaxed setting."

KRISTIN MAJESKA, PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER, COMMON GOOD VENTURES

For Majeska, whose Brunswick nonprofit helps other nonprofits team up with businesses, deals and networking are done at college alumni breakfasts, receptions, a lobster bake or over a cup of coffee.

"It could be a soccer game or children's school function," she said. "Business happens there, too."

Majeska, a Waterville resident, said the trend lately is to allow people who attend social functions to multitask by combining an afterwork get-together with a nonprofit purpose.

For example, her company recently organized a cocktail hour with a brainstorming session where high-level business executives gave advice to nonprofits looking to solve a problem with their organization.

"Increasingly, professionals who are busy, I include dads who are active parents, want to give back to the community and be with other professionals," she said. "We're not just having a drink. We're contributing in some way."

LAURA FORTMAN, COMMISSIONER, MAINE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Fortman does most of her work, at least the deal-making part, in the office.

That's because as a public official, she must be mindful of making decisions in public.

"It's a very structured environment I operate in here and that's appropriate," she said. "Everything should be public."

When it comes to networking or seeking advice, she connects with other women while doing volunteer work, talking to co-workers or at banquets.

For example, Fortman said half of the governor's cabinet is female, and they ask each other for support or encouragement. She said she networks at an annual charity fundraiser, where 700 women gather.

And while some business leaders encourage women to take up golf so they can get promoted, Fortman said there's got to be another way.

"I think women have to figure out how to do it differently," she said.

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com

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