MARION - Kathy Lively doesn't see pie charts, she sees people.

Helping others has motivated Lively, a 53-year-old Herrin resident, to pursue various jobs throughout her tenured career. From her 20 years in adult education at John A. Logan College to her current roles as CEO of Man-Tra-Con in Marion and director of Connect SI, Lively has never lost her focus on people and their needs.

"When you talk about setting project goals, Kathy takes what can be cold, mechanical goals, and she humanizes them," said Rex Duncan, director of community development and outreach for Connect SI. "Where most people see numbers and figures, Kathy sees people."

The theme of people resonates through Lively's reflections on her life and career.

Watching adults go back to school and receive a GED and become a role model for future generations of their families marks a "priceless" memory and Lively's self-viewed greatest accomplishment.

When the Maytag plant closed in December 2006, Lively played a key role in helping many of its displaced workers recover, earning her the 2007 title of Herrin Citizen of the Year.

"When you keep the focus on the people you're trying to help, it really drives what you do," Lively said.

While she's always had a solid foundation and desire to help others, Lively said there was no roadmap of her life that included ending up in her current position.

She had been working at Logan College when the CEO position at Man-Tra-Con opened, and she found herself faced with a life-changing choice and a limited time frame.

"I had to make a life decision in basically 48 hours," she said. "I left an environment I loved and respected for an environment I wasn't really clear on."

In the end, the Man-Tra-Con position fit her well, allowing her the challenge of multi-tasking and still allowing her to help others in the region. She leads projects working with job seekers, employers and workforce boards, and fights to make improvements to life in Southern Illinois.

"She absolutely has a passion for the people of Southern Illinois that consumes her," Duncan said. "If this region needs a cheerleader, Kathy Lively is that person."

Lively also has the ability to bring people together from different sides of issues and convince them to compromise and work together, said Southern Illinois University President Glenn Poshard.

"She can see how to bring a lot of disparate parts together to form a whole," Poshard said. "She has an uncanny ability to bring people together. I've always admired that about Kathy."

Outside of all her professional success, Lively has yet another group of people who she continues to fight for, seeking improvements to their lives, as well.

With a "very supportive" husband, two children and two grandchildren, she said seeing her family always brings back visions of what truly matters in life.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 351-5031

Details

Anyone can attend the Inspiring Women Gala, which is Oct. 18 in the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Student Center Ballrooms and International Lounge.

Reservations must be made by Oct. 3. Tickets are $65 per person.

For more information, call Jean Paratore at 453-1339 or e-mail paratore@siu.edu. Reservation and donor information is also available at www.siuc.edu/inspiringwomen.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third in a series of profiles of women selected

for honors at SIUC's Inspiring Women Gala. The event salutes women who

have made significant, unique and lasting contributions in the community

or workplace and also raises money for scholarships at the university.