From working on a cruise liner to launching marketing campaigns for a Texas energy firm, Ginger Phipps Guthrie, Dickson High School graduate, uses the skills she learned 10 years ago as a national officer in FCCLA. Planning, project management and making presentations are critical in Guthrie's job today. These are skills she learned while serving as a state and national officer in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). FCCLA, formerly known as FHA/HERO, is the career and technology student organization associated with the CareerTech program, family and consumer sciences education. That's why she is being recognized as one of Oklahoma's CareerTech Champions. Career Tech Champions are alumni of the system's programs or student organizations who have found success in a career and attribute much of that success to their career and technology experience. Strong work habits, started in high school continue to pay off on the job for Guthrie. "Once when I was jotting down several ideas about a new project. I realized that I had written the 'goal, plan, act and follow up'," said Guthrie, who is project manager of Product Delivery at TXU Energy in Dallas, Tx. "Those are some of the steps of the planning process, a FCCLA plan that I had used many times throughout high school. I wanted to call my advisors and tell them the planning process really does work!" Ginger Phipps (Guthrie) National Secretary 91-92 In high school, Guthrie become involved in both FCCLA and FFA, the CareerTech student organization associated with agricultural education. Following the advice of a counselor, she competed in the FCCLA District Creed Speaking and Interpretation event and eventually placed third in state level competition. Guthrie later attended the national leadership meeting that same year and set her goal to become a national officer. In 1991, she was installed as national secretary. "Since I relinquished my national officer title almost 10 years ago, I have remained involved with the organization on the local, state and national levels," she said. "Most recently I received the National Alumni Award and the Oklahoma Honorary Membership Award."After graduating from high school, Guthrie attended the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Chickasha, graduating in 1995. Her first job after college was with a national advertising agency and after that she had an exciting stint as assistant activities director with Princess Cruise Lines. "We cruised Alaska, Mexico, the Panama Canal and the Caribbean," she said. "After one contract, I decided to pursue my career on land and moved back to Dallas." In her present job at TXU Energy, Guthrie manages a variety of marketing-generated projects ranging from multi-million dollar system overhauls to statewide campaigns. "I establish and document strategies and project plans for new product development. I also lead project teams from various departments and ensure projects are completed according to the defined goals and within the established budgets," she said. Guthrie said that apart from promoting self-confidence, leadership, communication and listening skills, FCCLA also taught her important lessons on how to manage her personal and professional life. "I've realized how valuable, yet difficult, it is to balance my work schedule with that of my home. FCCLA taught me that home is the most important piece of my career; I must create a successful home in order to succeed in the office," she said. According to Guthrie, participating in career and technology education is a great way for young people to explore a career field and develop critical life skills. "By participating in CareerTech education, teenagers are truly able to obtain life skills," she said. "It's amazing how many individuals I meet that don't have these basic skills. I believe people who fully participate in some type of CareerTech training definitely have a stronger advantage over those who do not."
	posted 1/17/2003	Story:Manny Otiko Communications and Marketing Email: motik@okcareertech.org