[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 56 (Tuesday, May 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATING KAREN KUREK OF HINSDALE, ILLINOIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JUDY BIGGERT

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 3, 2005

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Karen Kurek, 
a resident of the 13th Congressional District of Illinois, on receiving 
the U.S. Small Business Administration's 2005 Illinois District Office 
and Midwest Regional Small Business Administration Champion Award for 
``Women in Business Champion of the Year.''
  Karen Kurek began her career in Arthur Andersen's Audit practice in 
1981 where she became a manager in 1985 and a partner in 1994. Soon 
after her elevation to partner she gave birth to twins, which made it 
difficult for Karen to continue with the 60-hour workweeks that are 
customary for partners. Facing a dilemma common to many women--how to 
manage a career and family--she paved a pioneering path at Arthur 
Andersen by proposing and negotiating a reduced work schedule on what 
was to be a one-year trial basis. Karen faced her fair share of 
skeptics, but she proved them wrong. She not only excelled at Arthur 
Andersen, but she committed herself to making these same benefits 
available for other women working for the firm.
  Karen's success led to her appointment as head of Arthur Andersen's 
innovative Growth and Retention of Women (GROW) Initiative. Established 
in 1998, GROW's purpose was to significantly enhance the recruitment, 
retention, advancement and leadership paths of women within the firm., 
Under Karen's leadership, the GROW initiative led to reduced turnover 
among women, an increased number of women in leadership positions, 
greater implementation of flexible work schedules, and Arthur 
Andersen's repeated citation in Working Mother Magazine's annual list 
of ``100 Best Companies for Working Mothers.''
  Today, Karen continues to help women excel in the workforce. As a 
partner at RSM McGladrey, she heads the firm's Women's Initiative--an 
ongoing, multi-faceted program of networking, mentoring and career-
building activities designed to create a culture that encourages 
diversity and allows women professionals to excel.
  Throughout Karen's career, she has paved the way for the women who 
followed her. Working tirelessly to establish a supportive environment 
for women in the workforce, she helped to create an atmosphere in which 
women looking to balance a career and family can thrive professionally. 
I commend her for improving the lives of women and their families and I 
once again congratulate her on receiving this much deserved award.

                          ____________________