Deb's Bio Deb Haggerty, like all of us, is a unique human being. She's been successful in business. She's been married to Roy for almost thirty years. She's been a mom. And, like millions of other women, Deb received a breast cancer diagnosis and had to live through her breast cancer journey. Deb was born in Benson, Minnesota, population 4000, to Howard and Shirley Ogle. Her dad owned Howard's Produce and also sold feed, seed, fertilizer, Tyler spreaders, Butler buildings, and real estate. Deb's mom worked in the business and also had a real estate license. The couple bought, fixed up and sold several houses. She absorbed lessons about hard work and achievement from both parents. In school, she got straight A's, was the editor of the yearbook, and a member of the Minnesota All-State Band for two years. Deb was tall and smart and, as she says, "tall, smart girls don't date much." She was also shy. She was one of those people standing with their back against the wall at dances and parties At college, Deb started out in pre-med and wound up with a degree in English literature. After college she worked at several jobs, trying one thing and another. Then, in 1972, she joined Southern Bell and started her corporate career. Deb sold telecommunications products and services, managed the Customer Education Center, and developed multi-media sales presentations that brought in over $3.5 million in sales. Promotions and transfers followed. 1982 was a big year for Deb. She completed her MBA and was promoted to AT&T in New Jersey where she was District Manager, Marketing Operations. In 1985, Deb left AT&T to found her own company, now called Positive Connections®. Through her company she offers speaking, training, consulting and coaching services and works with companies that want to successfully communicate with their employees and with individuals who want to build better business relationships. Deb is also an author. Her articles have appeared in the CPA Journal, Credit Union Management, Entrepreneur, Home Office Computing, Investor's Business Daily, Management Today, and Working Woman as well as in other magazines and leading business Web sites. All of that faded into insignificance the day in 1999 that her doctor showed her some test results and said, "I don't know quite how else to put it - how attached are you to your breasts?" Surgery followed. And more surgery and chemotherapy. Part of Deb's response to her breast cancer was a series of emails that she used to keep her many friends up to date on her condition and challenges. You will find them on this site. Hopefully it will help you or someone you love to read them. Another part of Deb's response to her breast cancer was to learn about
it and get involved in organizations that help people with breast cancer and
the people who love them. She served as Chair of the Board of the Florida
Breast Cancer Foundation. She is also a member of the National Breast Cancer
Coalition where she was a Team Leader for their National Lobby Day (NBCC is
rated one of the top twenty-five lobbying organizations in the U.S.). Deb is a graduate of Project LEAD®. Project LEAD® is a science training course developed by the National Breast Cancer Coalition designed to help breast cancer activists influence research and public policy processes. As an extensive four-day program, Project LEAD® prepares advocates for participation in the wide range of forums where breast cancer research decisions are made. Deb has served as a consumer reviewer with the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP) for a number of years. The BDMRP breast cancer program is one of the largest of its kind in the country ( www.cdmrp.army.mil/bcrp ). Many exciting advances have come from CDRMP including the drug, Herceptin, used to treat metastatic breast cancer and now being considered in some types of primary cancer. Deb has developed this Web site to educate and encourage you who have breast cancer along with your loved ones and caregivers. She wants to help erase the mystery of the process and to empower you to take control of your own treatment. Deb lives in Plymouth, MA, with her husband, Roy;
mother, Shirley; and Coki the Dog. |