ing child care concerns — compro-
mises both a company’s knowledge
base and its pipeline to upper man-
agement. But what if more companies
helped shoulder the burden that these
new parents face, especially in the
first five years of a child’s life? Not
unlike offering health, vision or dental
insurance, a company’s investment
into an employee’s family can ensure
they remain committed to their ca-
reers, while offering a soft landing in
case of emergency circumstances in
their family.
Working over hurdles
Candelaria works as a communica-
tions manager for VSP, a vision care
insurance company with about 3,000
employees in the Sacramento region.
“The company I work at is great,”
she says. “They are ver y f lexible and
family-friendly, which is part of why
I stay where I am. They give me the
f lexibility I need to make it to my
child’s doctor’s appointments. But
if they didn’t, I don’t know what I
would do.”
Candelaria also has another hurdle
in her home life: Her youngest has a
medical condition that requires multi-
ple weekly doctor’s appointments and
round-the-clock care. “While we’re
able to manage it, it is not easy,” she
says. “It requires going into work early
and staying late so that I can leave
midday to make appointments. I often
make up work on weekends during
naptime and am very conscious while
at work of how (coworkers’) percep-
tions of me are impacted by appoint-
ments, rushing my child to the ER
and taking phone calls from medical
professionals while I’m in the office.”
Candelaria says while her em-
ployment at VSP has mostly suited
the daily needs of her family, and
her manager is understanding and
f lexible, the biggest reason she stays at
her job is the fear of losing her health
care benefits. “My career has changed
because we wanted to have children,”
she says. “And even now, if I wanted
to change it, I have to look at things
like is the health insurance going to
overlap? Am I going to have a health
insurance waiting period?”
One major way an employer can
help solve the child care challenge
of employees is by providing
employer-sponsored child care cen-
ters on-site or nearby. These day care
centers have had a proven and last-
ing effect on employees, by eliminat-
ing stress and distraction. According
to a 2013 study prepared by Horizons
Workforce Consulting, 95 percent of
more than 100,000 respondents said
their employer-sponsored child care
enabled them to concentrate on the
job, and 93 percent said it enabled
them to meet their job expectations.
More than one in seven said they had
turned down or not pursued a potential
job change in order to maintain access
to employer-sponsored child care.
Women in Leadership Profile
[PICTURED L-R]: KIM HOOD, REGIONAL DIRECTOR MANAGEMENT SERVICES | SUE LOUIE, GENERAL MANAGER
MARCI EMBREE, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Newmark Knight Frank
Promoting opportunity for all
W
ith roots dating back to 1929, Newmark
Knight Frank is a world leader in
commercial
real
estate.
The
firm’s
commitment to inclusion and diversity is well-
represented by three Sacramento-based women
holding significant positions: Kim Hood, regional
director of management services; Marci Embree,
associate director; and Sue Louie, general manager.
“There are many opportunities for women in real
estate, and NKF is focused on bringing women
forward,” says Hood, who earned the Commercial
Real Estate Women Sacramento’s 2017 Women of
“There are many
opportunities for
women in real
estate, and NKF
is focused on
bringing women
forward.”
— KIM HOOD
Regional Director
Management Services
Influence award.
NKF’s Network of Women represents the firm’s
dedication to the recruitment, development and
retention of women across the organization. It
provides NKF’s female demographic opportunities
and tools to make new professional contacts, find
mentors, and develop their careers at NKF and beyond.
With women in key roles throughout the firm, NKF
is not only a world leader in commercial real estate,
980 9th St., Ste. 2500
Sacramento, CA 95814
916.920.4400
ngkf.com
but in equality and opportunity too.
SPONSORED PROFILE
March 2020 | comstocksmag.com
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