[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E230]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING PHYLLIS SHAPIRO SEWELL AS A GREAT LIVING CINCINNATIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 12, 2003

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Phyllis Shapiro 
Sewell, who will be formally honored on February 26, 2003 by the 
Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce as a Great Living Cincinnatian. 
The recipients of this prestigious award are selected on the basis of 
special professional achievement; an awareness of the needs of others; 
leadership; and distinctive accomplishments.
  Bright and well educated, Phyllis graduated from Wellesley College 
with honors in economics in 1952. She often says she found her first 
job by perusing the newspaper classified advertisements under ``Help 
Wanted--Female.'' She could not have imagined then her impact as a 
pioneer in women's rights in the workplace. As a junior analyst with 
Federated Department Stores, Phyllis' hard work and dedication set her 
apart as she began her ascent up the corporate ladder. By the time she 
was 28, she had been promoted to research director. She spent her 
entire career at Federated, an $11 billion corporation operating 
department stores, discount stores and supermarkets. Phyllis' 
responsibilities centered on corporate and divisional strategic plans; 
studies of consumer attitudes and buying habits; and development of 
effective and information systems.
  After retiring from Federated as a senior vice president, Phyllis had 
a second career serving on several major corporate boards, including 
Pitney Bowes Inc.; U.S. Shoe Corporation; Lee Enterprises, Inc.; Sysco 
Corporation; and Huffy Corporation.
  Phyllis was named to Business Week's list of top 100 corporate women 
and to Industry Week's list of top 85 executives. She received 
Wellesley College's Alumnae Achievement Award in 1979 and was inducted 
into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame in 1982.
  Devoted to her family, Phyllis is married to Martin Sewell, and they 
have a son, Charles. Phyllis has also given her talents to the boards 
of the Cincinnati Jewish Federation; Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati; 
and United Way.
  All of us in Cincinnati thank Phyllis for her service to our 
commnunity, and congratulate her for being named a Great Living 
Cincinnatian.

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