tf c/e As a single mother, deSnoo says occasionally she does have to sit down to catch her breath and credits the support of her family for her success. "We really depend on each other and without the support of my mother and father and kids there's no ' Bruce Bell Maribeth deSnoo way this could work," she said. "It's a give-and-take relationship for all. of us so right now, my focus is on family and work. The other things will come in time." While deSnoo is employed by the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, she is respon- sible to the board of directors of the Learning Foundation which operates independent of the board. She is the lead agent for the School Nutrition Program in an area stretching from Brockville to Trenton which includes 471 programs and oversees the activities of four coordinators. She also super- vises five standing committees as well as a number of ad hoc committees while working with the 12- person board of directors. The Learning Foundation also operates four revenue-generating businesses for students with special needs. If deSnoo hasn't been busy enough, she found time to serve as the first female president of the Quinte Sunrise Rotary Club from 2001-2002 and is a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honour the Rotary Club bestows on its members. In addition to sharing chores on the family farm, she also spends much of her winters in arenas with son Bob and has been a board member with the Quinte Regional AAA Minor Hockey Association. The nomination of deSnoo came easily for Frank Gielen, chair of the Learning Foundation. "Maribeth operates in a very competitive environ- ment, yet always deals with people with respect, compassion and understanding," he said. "If it is true that women are better multi-taskers than men, then Maribeth is the ultimate example. She always has many different pTO>ects on the go, involving dif- ferent people, abiding by different rules and operat- ing in different corporate climates. * "She has the tact of a politician, she is as compet- itive as any athlete and she combines this with the people skills of an effective manager." , „ , ^ %