Distinguished Women

Mary Jane Zak

Mary Jane has served on the state level as status of women chair, individual development chair and resolutions chair. She is also Active on Legislative issues that effect both family and women. She has held and served on all levels of the Business and Professional Women of Buffalo organization since 1980.

Mary Jane's experiences include being mentored and mentoring, as well as networking, which influenced her business, and of course the friendships and alliances throughout the state and now through the country. "I still have a special affection for the Consolata Missionary Center Priesthood as they are challenged to make a difference here in the United States and in Mission lands throughout the world. I started with them in 1970 and have been blessed in so many ways!"

Mary Jane's professional career started in that same year, as a Fashion Coordinator of Town and Country Fashions. She moved to Property Manager of multifamily housing units in Williamsville, N.Y. Later instructing programs for the National Association of Home Builders Multifamily Housing Division Washington D.C. at local colleges and for the Greater Buffalo Board of Realtors. Currently Mary Jane is President of M.J. Zak Ventures, a NYS Real Estate Broker and an Independent Distributor of Alpine Ecoquest International Air & Water purification systems. She is also the founder of Career Advancement Training (CAT & RESOURCE CENTER).

Mary Jane's roots are imbedded in the WNY region with deep appreciation to her grandparents, decedents who had the courage to leave their parents in Italy and Poland to come to American belief and search of the BETTER LIFE!

I can remember my loving parents who went without to give to me: so I would be properly dressed for school and school activities. My Mom sent me off to face the day with praise of how nice I looked and what a great day I was going to have states Mary Jane.

Remembering when living in family neighborhoods was what you just did: looking for adventure or better opportunity was not usually done especially if you were a young woman. It was expected to be morally correct and educational studies would lead you through high school with college and degrees being something one would seek if the consideration of being a homemaker was not desired.

Love and marriage would find its way into Mary Jane's life in 1964 with the anticipation of starting a family shortly thereafter. And so Mary is blessed with a daughter, Laura and her son, Anthony. The millionaire family of the sixties was now complete!

Happy, but restless, because Window Shopping was not what she wanted in and for her life, at a time when it was still a social violation for the woman to be a provider for the family, Mary Jane secretly pursued what was out there what could I do to earn this additional income and yet not disturb my responsibilities to my husband or children.

Working for a bank, Mary Jane remembers an incident when inquiring to her supervisor about management training programs and was told that those positions were for men only. I went into the ladies room and cried that afternoon Mary Jane has never forgotten those painful words, and has taken many steps to encourage women of all ages to move forward in their lives with courage. ìI live my life with my husband at my side, always encouraging me, to do what I think is right. What will help me and others to be the very best with who we are and how we can share that with others.

Mary Jane has taught us all a lesson on the importance of networking our skills as woman, whether alone or together with each other regardless of gender. These words sound so simple: perhaps in fact/shallow, but I can tell each of you the tears were few: for there was NO Time To Cry: but the joy of success and the morning surge to awake and continue. One must experience first hand! Join me as we continue our search of excellence in ones self.

THIS IS THE TRUE JOY OF LIVING WHEN WE ARE GIVING!

MJZ

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