Sisters women take on tough economy

When the going gets tough, you don't have to look very far to find women who get going.

They live in town; they live in Tollgate. They shuttle kids to school and sport; they stand beside you at the deli counter.

But the one place you won't find these savvy women is sitting on their hands, bemoaning the state of the economy; they're much too busy for that.

Across the Sisters Country, women are gracefully rising to meet the demands of a shifting job market by retraining - or even completely reinventing themselves.

Take Emily Head and Jan Trueblood, for example.

For years Emily's degree in interior design opened doors to work in some of the best design firms in Portland. In 2005 she and husband Nyle moved their family to Sisters, teaming up as the design-and-build firm Craftsman Homes by Design.

At first, times were good. The couple hammered out a number of custom and spec homes: she sketched out the architectural details and selected materials, while he oversaw construction. Also, Emily had no trouble plying her trade through referrals.

But as the region's construction industry flailed, the need for her skillset dissipated. Poof.

Emily, 35, wasn't one to let the grass grow under her feet.

Unearthing an old dream, she weighed the idea of becoming a hairstylist.

"I've kind of always wanted to do hair. I love design but I also wanted to do other things," she says.

"Nyle said 'Go do it. This is the best time.' He was always super supportive ... even though it was hard on him."

She committed to a year of full-time training at Phagan's Beauty College in Bend; every family member felt the sacrifice. Accustomed to being her own boss, Emily endured the rigid hours and the altered family dynamics.

"It was hard to be away from my kids," she remembers. Also forfeited: regular weekly volunteering in each of her children's classrooms. Twin sons Tyler and Tanner are 12; daughter Sydney is 10.

But the payoff leaves no room for regrets.

Six months since Emily opened her station at Metamorphosis Spa and Salon, she feels right in her element.

"I loved it right away. I love doing color and cuts."

The tools of her trade are new: instead of mechanical pencils and fabric swatches she's armed with sharp scissors and hair dye. Yet Emily sees this career move as an extension of her creative bent.

"It's been a really fun transition. It's been about reinventing myself and finding different avenues for my creativity."

She still takes on the occasional interior design project that falls her way. But the energy of the salon atmosphere is everything she hoped for. "All day I'm working with friends, chatting with people."

Like Emily, Jan Trueblood wields a can-do attitude.

At 48 years old, Jan has enjoyed a long career in the travel industry, beginning as a travel agent in 1987.

Her interest leaned to the technological side of things, so she veered off on a career path working with the major developers of travel reservation software. She strategically relocated from the Northwest to Colorado and Miami and back again to advance her career. Over the years, she's been head-hunted; she's been

laid off.

Jan also weathered the fallout from 9-11, when the hijacking of four airplanes ushered in tragedy and terror.

"Everyone was losing revenue; suddenly no one wanted to travel anymore," she recalls.

Despite her tenure in one of the largest industries in the world, Jan knows this: if she were to face a layoff today, she would not qualify to be rehired into a similar position. Why?

"Almost anywhere you go now the first thing they look at is 'Do you have a degree?'" she explains.

Knowing that her AS degree in Horticulture wouldn't cut it, Jan hit the books, seeking her BS in Business Management. On top of her full-time job she's been steadily carrying 12-16 units online, with a year and a half still to go.

She says that people assume she has it easier because she works from home. But as a remote employee for a global company with offices in London, Sydney and Atlanta, she says, "They actually get more out of you. It's amazing. They can call on you at any

time."

She also cares for her 90-year-old diabetic mother and was just elected to her church council.

"Being laid off once put the motivation in me." But that was not Jan's only reason for going back to school.

"I wanted to do it for me. I've always been sorry I'd never done it. I was just very lucky to advance everywhere I went. But if it will also advance me in my career ...."

In fact, it already has.

Jan recently received a promotion, which she credits directly to her continued education.

And she's in good academic company. Joining Jan in her educational pursuits is husband Don Trueblood - a former police officer, now a surveillance manager for a casino in Washington.

"We've both always talked about getting our bachelors' degrees," says Jan. Don majors in Public Safety with an emphasis on Homeland Security.

"He hopes to increase the value of his skills and open up more job possibilities - hopefully to work in Oregon."

Placidly, Jan considers the cost versus the reward.

"I don't see it as a challenge. It's just where I am in life. It's a stepping stone.

"Having quality time with family is my biggest priority. Balance is the biggest struggle.

"It's going to be worth it. It'll be nice when I can finally say 'I did it.'"