Generation Dayton Featured Professional

Name:

Andrea Ashcraf

Title:

Independent Beauty Consultant

Organization:

Mary Kay Cosmetics

Community Involvement (groups, clubs, boards, etc.):

Generation Dayton Professional Development Committee, Board Member for Ronald McDonald House, Volunteer at Avalon by Otterbein (Nursing Home/Retirement Community), Volunteer at YWCA.

Hobbies and Interests:

Since I receive a lot of energy from being around others, many of my hobbies/interests have to do with other people. I especially love seeing women empowered so that they can in turn empower others, so I lead a weekly self-esteem/emotional management course for homeless and battered women at the Dayton YWCA. I also meet with local job seekers to polish their resume, cover letter, and interviewing skills. To relax, I love bowling with friends, going to movies, festivals, out to dinner, reading and taking my dog for a run.

Favorite Area Eatery:

Coco’s Bistro.

Favorite Weekend Activity:

I love to watch the show Sunday Morning, eat a big waffle breakfast, and then hang out in comfy clothes and catch up on all of the pop culture news on E!

What do you love about Dayton?

There is a LOT that I love about Dayton, but the top three are:

How friendly everyone is. People will smile back at you and engage in conversation while waiting in line at the grocery store, and I love that!
The free concerts, free festivals, Riverscape and all of the awesome MetroParks.
How easy it is to navigate through downtown Dayton. I’m originally from Pittsburgh, so I love the small town feel of Dayton and how easy it is to get around.

How has Generation Dayton aided your professional, personal and/or social development?

Generation Dayton has been extremely beneficial in aiding my professional, personal, and social development over the past five years because it was the very first organization I joined in Dayton after graduating from UD. I went from a house of roommates at UD to all of a sudden living on my own with a new job and few friends since many of my friends from UD moved away. Because of Generation Dayton, I’ve met a lot of amazing people who have become close friends and great mentors. The business contacts I made and friendships I formed when I first joined Generation Dayton five years ago continue to positively impact me today.

Also, the sense of community and belonging I feel when I attend Generation Dayton events was a key factor in my decision to keep Dayton as my home. Generation Dayton has definitely impacted my professional development as well. I was a member of Generation Dayton before I began my Mary Kay business, and I’m truly grateful for all of the support I’ve received from the group. Many Generation Dayton members are Mary Kay clients and have graciously introduced me to powerful community leaders who have become clients as well.

Tell us a little more about your profession and company...

I am an Independent Beauty Consultant with Mary Kay Cosmetics. I work with men and women and help them find the Mary Kay skincare and/or make-up products that will work best for them based on their individual needs. Mary Kay Ash founded the Company in 1963 in Dallas, Texas because she realized that women needed an opportunity to achieve financial success while balancing their lives with their values and priorities. Mary Kay founded the company based on the Golden Rule and emphasized the importance of giving back to others. Mary Kay Cosmetics continues to give back to the community in two important ways. First, the Company gives back through the progressive corporate recycling program which looks for ways to “be green.” Secondly, the Company gives back through the Mary Kay Foundation which donates millions of dollars each year to research for cancers that affect women and to ending the fight against domestic violence worldwide. Also, Mary Kay Cosmetics does not support animal testing of any kind.

What do you enjoy about your career/profession? Employer?

I love that the Mary Kay products and business opportunity truly enrich women’s lives. When women feel confident in their appearance, they tend to walk with an extra pep in their step, smile more, and positively impact everyone around them simply by radiating a confident, positive spirit. There’s no feeling like getting a hug from a customer who says, “I haven’t felt this pretty since my wedding day.” I also enjoy the unlimited leadership training and lifelong mentorship that Mary Kay provides. The leaders I surround myself with in Mary Kay are some of the most motivated, driven, professional women I’ve ever met; they dream big and have taught me to do the same.

Favorite quote or inspiratonal saying:

“Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from their neck saying, ‘Make me feel important.’ Never forget this message when working with people." - Mary Kay Ash

Click here to view past featured professionals.