Local business woman Mary Rodgers, CEO of Stateside Solutions — a Galway City-based recruitment company received the prestigious Most Influential Women 2010 Award in New York on Monday (July 12 ) by Taoiseach Brian Cowen at the Irish Consulate on Park Avenue.
Ms Rodgers was nominated earlier this year for the inaugural 50 Most Influential Women, the listing of the top Irish American women by the leading Irish newspaper in America, The Irish Voice, of the women who have made an influence in the corporate sphere, the local business world and the community.
Past recipients of this award include such luminaries as New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who filled the seat held by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and actress Roma Downey.
A native of Galway, Ms Rodgers attended the National University of Ireland at Galway and the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and a diploma in marketing.
“I graduated in 1993 when there were little or no work opportunities in Ireland. I was lucky enough to have a U.S. passport and headed to New York,” Ms Rodgers says “After some early jobs I was fortunate to establish my career with the guidance and support of another Irish Americans. Nearly 20 years on, it is interesting to see the cycle is repeating itself and how America and the Irish diaspora are once again supporting each other and the new Irish emigrants.”
Stateside Solutions, a full service recruitment firm specializing in market entry set up and recruitment for foreign companies expanding into the US marketplace.
With the company’s knowledge and expertise of the U.S. market, Stateside has created the “Stateside Starter Program” which is a suite of services tailored to companies expanding into the US market, providing guidance on all aspects of setting up operations from company registration to processing payroll.
Stateside has offices in New York and Galway, so Ms Rodgers travels back and forth frequently. She and her husband Charlie have two daughters Lauren and Grace and live in Corofin.
“I am extremely proud to be Irish, and it is something I am even more appreciative of having travelled and worked abroad. Our long-standing reputation as honest and hard working people has opened many doors for me in business. There is a great willingness to help and see each other succeed among the Irish Diaspora and the countless Irish organizations.
“Personally and professionally I feel fortunate to be part of the large global Irish network. I am extremely honoured to receive this award and be considered amongst these talented women. This is a great accolade for not only me but for all the staff at Stateside Solutions” said Ms Rodgers.
