Prairie Business Magazine wrote a article entitled “Women at the top: Breaking through the glass ceiling on the Northern Plains” which has a feature of pullUin software President Mary Derby.

The following is her feature:

Mary Derby — President/Owner (8 years in present position; also director of a program at USD’s Beacom School of Business); pullUin Software, Vermillion, SD (6 employees); BS in Medical Technology, Creighton University; Master’s degree, University of South Dakota; Doctoral work ongoing at USD.

How would you describe your career path to this point?
In one word, my career path has been diverse. I’ve been a medical technologist in a hospital laboratory, a hospital laboratory manager, an instructional designer, a grant writer, a project manager, a president of a company and a college instructor and program director. I would also like to add that my career path has been a wonderful journey. I’m so fortunate. I’ve loved every job. I’ve had some great supervisors and mentors. I’ve learned from my peers, my colleagues and my employees.

Did you experience obstacles you felt were unique to women?
I can honestly say that obstacles would be too strong of a word. I’ve experienced a few bumps in the road and even some humorous situations. When we initially released our bird watching software, National Geographic Handheld Birds, I was demonstrating and selling the product at a birding festival in Tucson, AZ. The days were long but it was a great experience to watch the customers’ reactions to our innovative product. One afternoon, I was approached by an elderly gentleman who said, “Honey, you sure are working hard. I hope you’re getting something out of this.” I responded by telling him that indeed I was since I owned the company. He looked surprised and said “Well, I sure hope your husband is helping you.” I said, “Why yes he is, he is at the pool with the kids.”

Have your personal sacrifices been difficult for friends and family?
Personal sacrifices are always difficult–that’s why they are sacrifices! For me, the more important question is whether a sacrifice is worth the outcome experienced as a result of the sacrifice. I am now divorced and a single parent. Was that as a result of my passion for my work? It was more a result of being in a relationship with someone who had very different goals. Yet I don’t criticize people who spend a lot of time golfing or shopping. Some people like to golf or shop, I like to write grants or work on projects. That may sound flippant but I do recognize the need for balance in my life and work hard at it. I love to cook and I have dinner most evenings with my three sons.

Are there any particular sources of inspiration that have seen you through tough times?
I am a team player. My team, their loyalty to and belief in the work that we are doing is a major source of inspiration through tough times. I could not continue without it.

What advice would you offer to younger women in their career paths?
My advice to everyone is to define yourself by your passion, your joy, your curiosity, your talent, and your skills. Your job title and job description are guides but they do not define you. Also, stop blaming external forces–your employer, your boss–if you are unhappy in your work. Take the time to define your goals and if they do not align with your employer, you may need a change.

Read the first article here.

Read the second article here.

President, Mary Derby will be attending the Games for Health Conference at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference is scheduled for May 7-9. The following is a bit about what Ms. Derby will be presenting.

For several years Pulluin Software has been working on a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training game - various iterations of which have been shown at the 2004 and 2005 Games for Health Conferences.

New Dawn Estates was developed with grant support from the United States Department of Agriculture. The training program addresses the requirements to certify Nursing Assistants via a computer role-playing game. The trainee makes decisions as a virtual caregiver on how to care for the virtual resident. Situations occur which foster learning of the content traditionally presented in self-study and lecture-based class work. The focus of this training is on quality of life issues-relationship building, empathy, and compassion. The program is structured into 30 minute increments and accessible online 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Now after several years of development the game is done. In this case study Pulluin will show various versions of the game including its final version providing insight along the way about the fusion of games, training, and healthcare. Attendees will get a sense of how games like New Dawn Estates go through various design iterations and other trials on their way to being finished projects that can be used for certified healthcare training.

Last Saturday Tabitha Lurz and Nick Willan attended the Krueger-Casey Focus Group Workshop held at the University of South Dakota.

Dick Krueger and Mary-Anne Casey are professors at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul.

This enticing new gear is definitely for the birds.

A flash of feathers may be all you glimpsed, but you still may have a chance to identify that sighting. The growing legions of bird watchers worldwide have some exciting technology to take into the field.

Read more…

“Five or six months ago I bought the 5th edition of National Geographic’s Field Guide to the Birds of North America. I very much like the layout and the clarity of drawings, as compared to photographs…” Read the rest of the review.

SHOP EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS!!!

Beginning September 1, 2007, FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY purchase National Geographic’s Handheld Birds for only $99.95!

Purchase National Geographic’s Handheld Birds here!

(CBS) Right off the bat, you should know that this story is for the birds — actually, for bird watchers and especially would-be bird watchers!

Check out the rest of the article at CBS.com

The staff at pullUin software want to congratulate Mary Derby on a job well done. Mary received the 2007 Small Business Person of the Year award from the SBA of South Dakota!

Congratulations Mary, we knew you could do it!!!

Jeremiah Dibley, Director for pullUin software, has a published article in the April/May issue of Science Scope magazine. Science Scope is published by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) a journal for middle school science teachers. The topic is teaching the concept of homeostasis and how it is maintained in humans and other organisms. pullUin software developed a middle school science program called Creature Control: The Quest for Homeostasis which is the feature of the article.

Visit Creature Control Science.com to play The Quest for Homeostasis

Visit NSTA Middleschool Science Classroom

Press release article about pullUin software and Mary Derby becoming SBA Person of the year.

Read the article here.