So, we made it through the "month of Mondays" and now we're back at it!  Not sure about you, but things have been crazy for me. I'm sitting here on a plane, and it is literally my sixth flight in five days!  I swear I have aged five years this week!  I'm very excited to introduce you to my new friends, Kimberly, Sharon and Susan!  These women were all introduced to me by a fan of this series, Eric Silverman!  Eric is a great advocate for our industry and for women in our industry, so I love the extra support he has been providing to this column by making great recommendations for some incredible women in our industry!  I really think you'll be wowed by these women. I know I was.

Kimberly Eckelbarger, Tropical Benefits

"I am grateful that the past year has been action-packed!  I was able to be a part of a team that collaborated and published a book called, "Breaking Through the Status Quo."  This was a fun project that not only highlighted me and my journey in this industry, but many of my peers as well.  Professionally, I have worked hard this year at implementing unbundled, transparent solutions to my partially self-funded client base, which has been successful in increasing revenue for my firm companywide.  I am a believer in education and investing in yourself in order to always give my clients the best version of myself.  This year, I did this through attending a CFO Training class taught by Craig Lack.  This class helped me "learn the language" to become a more effective communicator when I speak to the C-Suite population.  I reinforced this education by spending time with Mick Rodger and honing these skills further for the times when I speak to CFOs on funding options.  Lastly, I believe the best mentors we can surround ourselves with are peer-to-peer mentors.  For the past 12 months I have participated in a Mastermind Group with such individuals, and it has been my best career move ever!"