News Back Women of the Year 2006 Meg Carlson: 'I've just begun to make a difference' © 2006 Idaho Business Review. All rights reserved. Life has a purpose and should never be taken for granted. That’s a lesson Boise businesswoman Meg Carlson had reinforced two years ago while her 11-year-old son was recovering from a life-threatening accident. His resiliency and tenacity further inspired Carlson to make every second count. “I’m optimistic that I’ve just begun the second halfofan even more productive life,”said Carlson, 50,“having only just begun to make a difference in our community. ”Few could argue that Carlson has been anything less than productive and generous in the first half-century ofher life. She worked her way up the corporate ladder of Ore-Ida Foods for 16 years. While there,she negotiated the successful purchase or sale of five businesses ranging in size from $10 million to $100 million. During her last five years, she led a new business unit, directing its expansion from $100 million to $240 million in sales revenues. In 2002,she and partner Korri Hall formed the C&H Group, providing transaction advisory services to individuals and business owners ofprivately held companies in the Intermountain West. “At any time,I am variously technical advisor,executive coach,strategic planner, mentor, negotiator, friend, team leader, market researcher, empathic listener, problem-solver and closer, ”Carlson said. “A typical day includes a mix of strategic thinking and analysis regarding a client project and extensive personal contacts with a variety of stakeholders and prospective parties via telephone, email and in-person as well as collaborative sessions with my partner and other C&H advisors and analysts. ”Along the way,Carlson has sat on a number of professional and civic boards, including the Intermountain Business Forum, Western Electronics, Kickstand, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Ballet Idaho and Boise Rotary Club. Through the Rotary Club, Carlson helped launch the first community Rotaract Club in the Treasure Valley, which provides young working people (ages 18-30) a means of giving to their local community, as well as the international community through events like Rake Up Boise and Paint the Town, while achieving personal and professional development. “From my childhood to becoming a young adult, I was most influenced by my father who guided me spiritually, my mother who encourged me to exploit all ofmy talents, and by several extraordinary teachers who pushed me to excel and become a lifelong learner, ”Carlson said. She singled out former Ore-Ida CEO Gerald Herrick for coaxing her to extend herself beyond her comfort zone through rapidly increasing responsibilities; and Highway 12 Ventures’ Phil Reed for “challenging me to discover my legacy and how to deliver through my life’s experiences. ”All those mentors also helped Carlson form an opinion about how best to improve life on Earth. “I would eradicate illiteracy, ”she said, “so that all people might be empowered to pursue self-determination and freedom.” February 27, 2006 Back |