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The following profile of Paula Cope is reprinted from Dwight Today - Spring 2006, a publication of The Dwight School, 291 Central Park West,
New York, NY.

Name: Cope & Associates, Inc. (www.consultcope.com)

Description: We are a full service management consulting and training firm specializing in organization development, strategic planning, and human resource consulting. We have seven employees and have been based in Vermont since we started in 1991. Over the past 15 years, we have served over 450 clients nationwide including: the Department of Homeland Security, Turner Broadcasting, IBM, the United States Botanic Garden, the State of Vermont, Wellesley College.

How we started: We began by accident in 1991 after I spent seven months on bed rest with a complicated twin pregnancy. I had been Director of Training & Staff Development for Banknorth Group, overseeing training and internal consulting for this multi-state bank. Bed rest forced me to lose the job, but opened a door when people heard I was a free agent.

Biggest challenge: Surviving the recession. During a recession, training is often seen as a luxury and it is the first line item to be cut. We had to make some very tough decisions as we saw virtually all of our competitors go out of business.

Biggest Thrill: Being named the Small Business Woman of the Year in 2005 by the Small Business Administration. I’ve never taken a business course.

Advice: A) Visualize yourself as a success and in the words of Churchill, “Never, never, never give up.” B) Find something to be happy about every day. C) Balancing family, work, and spirit is essential. You define what balance is for you. D) In the words of Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right. “

Favorite memories of Dwight: There are so many: Russian history class; Mr. Engle’s American History; walking to school with Randy Solomon on the last day of every year; dinner parties at Steven Haskell’s apartment; every day with Andy Roth and Marc Lobel; watching Mr. Fairclough blow things up in lab; our first school dance on the night Jimmy Hendrix died; making lifelong friends.

Favorite book: So many books, so little time! I love anything by Ruth Reichel, especially Tender at the Bone. She always makes me laugh. Max Dupree’s book, Leadership is an Art gave me perspective on leading in a business
environment.

Role models: I believe everyone needs a mentor, and mine is Emile Carrier. He encouraged me to be a consultant, taught me everything about what quality and service mean in client relationships, and gave me the confidence to grow my business. My husband, Tim, is my closest advisor in business and in life.

Funny stories from my entrepreneurial experience: Minutes before giving a presentation to the Board of Trustees of a new client in New York City, I stopped to use the Board president’s marble bathroom. While on the far side of the room, I could hear the chatter as the board members
arrived. Without warning a bathroom pipe exploded, creating a large and uncrossable moat between the only exit and me. In order to get out alive and save my shoes and suit, I had to delicately and carefully leap onto the marble counters and walk across to the other side of the bathroom.
One slip would have made me look like I was a Survivor outcast. I made it out and gave an outstanding presentation, but only after notifying my host that the New York sewer system had arrived, too.