Dorothy Stubblebine always enjoyed problem solving; her career in HR focused on helping people overcome challenges. When the time for retirement came, Dorothy faced a new problem—what to do with all this time?
For Dorothy, retirement was not the time to become idle. “I like to be involved and I wanted to continue utilizing my career skills in a different capacity.” And so, Dorothy decided to start her own executive consulting business, DJS Associates. In her new work, Dorothy reaches out to top management of organizations and offers coaching expertise for new hires and struggling managers. She performs assessments and then determines areas of strengths and opportunities for development and guides the manager to success.
Becoming Her Own Boss
Dorothy’s business traces its roots back to her career at Wyeth where she worked as the Vice President of HR for the Generic Division for 18 years. One moment in her career that stands out was the opportunity to travel the country and assess how different facilities manufactured their product. When she asked her general manager why he had chosen her, a human resource person to complete this project, he responded, “Because you’re smart and you ask good questions,” a phrase she’s taken to heart ever since.
Her work in HR also opened the door to serve in advisory roles at her alma mater, Rowan University. “I graduated in 1980 and they never really let me go!” says Dorothy. After establishing good rapport with one of her professors, she was brought back to speak to a class which snowballed into her becoming the President of the Alumni Board. Since then, Dorothy has also been involved with the Business Advisory Board as well as the Foundation Board, in addition to speaking to various classes.
Dorothy always had a dream of being her own boss. “I’m my own boss and I can do whatever I want now. I set my own schedule and I am able to spend more time with my family, especially my grandkids.” In fact, Dorothy has had the privilege of treating her grandkids to special trips. She’s taken her granddaughters to Paris and London and her grandsons and their dads white-water rafting in Idaho on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
Building Confidence and Staying Active
In addition to running her own business and serving on the Boards at Rowan, Dorothy is a member of the governing body for the Athena Power Link, which is part of NAWBO, the National Alliance of Women Business Owners, an organization that helps small, women business owners and provides them with expert assistance. She’s also a court officer for CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocate for children and helps guide them through the court system. When she’s not working, Dorothy is involved with her church as a Council member and has previously served as the head of the Council.
Dorothy’s advice for fellow retirees is to keep yourself busy and active, don’t let yourself become stale. One thing that she’s discovered is retirement opens the door to many experiences and helps you build yourself up as you try new things. “As you get surer of yourself and stretch yourself to do other things, you become confident in what you can do.”
