Vogel earns Woman of Excellence award

November 29, 2005

Sandra Vogel, visiting faculty in communication, was one of eight women honored this month by the West Chester Chamber Alliance for leadership, resourcefulness and spirit of perseverance during the Women of Excellence program sponsored by Key Bank.

According to West Chester Chamber Alliance Vice President Kathy Rambo, “This event allows the community to identify and honor these women who oftentimes are not out in the spotlight but are quietly making positive things happen behind the scenes.”

For Vogel, that means networking. Vogel knows networking is critical to anyone’s success. “The opposite of networking is not working,” she said.

As managing director for eWomen Network in the Cincinnati and Dayton areas, Vogel encourages the more than 200 women members to expand their spheres of influence and learn how to cooperate with others to grow their businesses and organizations.

“I get to be an influencer and a motivator, but it’s a group of women, not just me,” she said. “They are an incredible, dynamic spread of women in all different fields.”

Vogel also served as drama director for the Runaway Slave program for three years. The program is a re-enactment of the Underground Railroad experience using homes in the area that actually participated in the network.

“It touches your heart more than your head,” she said.

Education has always been Vogel’s passion. It is why she joined eWomen Network, why she directed Runaway Slave, why she is pursuing a doctorate in organizational development, why she works as a corporate trainer and why she teaches three courses at Miami University’s regional campuses.

“Education is the one thing nobody can ever take from you,” she said.

Looking to the future, Vogel would like highly successful women to be mentors to the up-and-coming women in the group.

“There’s a time when people need to give back.”