Power Women

Tara Pascotto Paluck
Lee County Court Judge

They plead for mercy, another chance to get their lives straight. If they lose their drivers’ licenses, they will lose their jobs, miss child support payments and fall into financial ruin. As some defendants explain their string of bad luck, it’s easy to feel sorry for them. Then Judge Tara Pascotto Paluck turns her eyes to the computer screen on her bench and reads aloud a long line of repeat offenses. It seems these defendants are less at the mercy of fate than of lead feet.

In addition to serious speeding cases (at least 30 mph over the limit), municipal ordinance violations and small claims, Paluck rules on cases of misdemeanor crimes with possible year-long jail sentences, domestic violence and traffic fatalities. She treats everyone who comes before her bench with respect, calling defendants of all ages "sir" or "ma’am"—even those she chides for wearing shorts to court.

"Everyone deserves to be treated with respect," says Paluck, who began her six-year term in January 2007. She speaks calmly but doesn’t hesitate to remind the occasional argumentative defendant, with her tone more so than words, who is in charge. Sometimes, the severity of the case changes the atmosphere. "When fatality cases are called, you can sense the intensity of the situation in the courtroom, and rightly so. In some cases, the person just violated a right-of-way and somebody ended up dying."

Paluck said there have been no brawls in her courtroom, and she’d like to keep it that way. She said there are occasional moments of levity, but she tries to stick to business.

"We have large dockets," she says. "There’s not a lot of time for chitchat."

Paluck contemplated running for judge in June 2006 while on a cruise with her husband, Ron. They considered the impact on their family, which includes sons Jack, now 5, and Vinny, 3. By the time they got off the ship, they were ready to launch her political campaign, just three months before the primary; five before the general election.

"I felt it was my responsibility to give back to the community because I grew up here," she says.

Born in New York, Paluck was raised in Fort Myers. During her career as a prosecutor with the state attorney’s office, she tried cases of domestic violence, felony narcotics and firearms. She later defended Allstate and its clients in civil trials, opened her own firm and became a certified civil court mediator—that last job’s neutrality good practice for the black robe.

Paluck doesn’t wield her power with a heavy gavel. In fact, her gavel remains on a bookshelf in her office in Lee County’s courthouse. Lee County Deputy Jim Collins, assigned for her security, says Paluck is easy to work with. "It would be very easy to be arrogant," he says. "We have some judges like that. She’s not one of them."

He even has to remind her to put on her robe before heading into the courtroom. But, he says, she’s very serious when she gets on the bench. "She’ll do a lot of things that a lot of judges, especially ones on the bench a long time, gloss over and move on," Collins says.

Paluck says she hasn’t faced gender obstacles in her career, but she knows her appearance may surprise some. When she visits elementary schools, she asks students what a judge looks like. "They say a man with gray hair, glasses, mean and old," she says. "I encourage people who don’t fit the stereotypical mold that if they desire it in their heart, they can follow their dreams and be successful."

She says her husband is often asked how her new position has changed her. "I always kid him to say, ‘She’s the same person, but now she always makes me stand when she walks in the room.’ "

Donna Noce
Brand President of White House/Black Market

She’s battling a cold she caught during a whirlwind trip through the trade shows of Europe, but you’d never know it from her boundless energy. Donna Noce Colaco—who goes by Donna Noce professionally—was hired last August to direct the future of White House/Black Market, whose corporate offices are part of Chico’s World Headquarters in Fort Myers.

"This is our first time doing anything other than black and white in a very long time," she says, pointing to a few brown and jade green items hanging for inspection in a room called "the cage." It’s where Noce personally approves all items—from clothing to shopping bags—before they roll out into more than 300 stores across the country.

"We’re re-energizing the brand," she says. "It had gotten a bit stale for a while."

In addition to sprinkling colors amongst the signature black and white, Noce is upgrading the quality of fabrics and styles. During an hour-long accessories meeting, a team presents her with necklaces, bracelets and earrings for consideration. It’s obvious when she likes something. She gasps and whisper-yells: "Oh—my—God! It’s fabulous!"

Other designs elicit a less-than-enthusiastic reaction. "It doesn’t feel like it’s going to the same party," Noce says, furrowing her brow about how a bracelet fits with its collection. About a necklace that’s not quite delicate but not chunky, either: "This is stuck in purgatory for me."

Fashion is obviously a passion for Noce, but that wasn’t always the case. She grew up a tomboy in New Jersey who loved competitive skating and track and field—and who hated to go shopping.

She left college at 20 and landed a job as manager of a local New Jersey clothing store. "I’ll never forget when the first product I bought came into the store—and sold," she says. "That was it for me. It became my obsession."

Her ambition led her to climb the fashion ladder at Petrie and then Lerner New York. From there, she joined Ann Taylor as vice president of merchandising. Nearly 27 years ago, Noce married Frank Colaco. Their daughter, Nicole, 22, is a senior at Boston University.

Noce says she never felt constrained by her age or gender. "You can become your own victim," she says. "I never felt there was something I couldn’t tackle, couldn’t have. I appreciated that I have to work hard for it. You get back what you put out."

After 10-and-a-half years with Ann Taylor, Noce resigned in January 2007 as president of the Loft division to take a break for the first time in her career. It didn’t last long. "I would get up every morning and pace," she says. "I didn’t know what I was supposed to be doing."

A few months later, White House/Black Market came calling. Noce never thought she’d leave New Jersey, but by August 2007, she moved to Fort Myers. "The business opportunity was tremendous," she says. "I’m more entrepreneurial by nature. I love creating and growing a business. I’m not much for maintenance."

Noce learned the importance of a positive work environment after experiencing the opposite early on. "It was an abusive environment, a lot of screaming," she says. "Up until 15 years ago, it was a much rougher business."

Some of that gruff treatment rubbed off on Noce, who developed her own reputation as a tough boss. Then about eight years ago, after being passed up for a promotion, Noce asked for help. "[My coach] asked me a very direct question: ‘What do you want to be remembered for?’ I got tears in my eyes and said, ‘I want to be remembered as a great leader.’ She said, ‘Well, we’ve got some work to do.’ "

Noce learned that being a successful leader isn’t just about being nice. It’s about being consistent. "When I was a boss and wasn’t a leader, my behavior wasn’t consistent," she says. "Now, my team would tell you that they know what to expect from me. If I get angry, I tell them, but not in a way that’s degrading, humiliating or disrespectful."

George Reider, senior vice president of stores and operations, first worked for Noce when she recruited him to Ann Taylor five years ago. He just relocated his family from New Jersey to join her again. Reider says Noce makes people want to work hard for her, and she cares about their opinions. "It’s rare to see a high-level leader say, ‘Hey, I need your advice on this.’ She has the capacity to understand all functions of the business, but she lets you do your job," he says.

Noce took time to listen to her new employees and learn about White House/Black Market before shaking things up. "It wasn’t about me coming in and changing things just to change things," she says.

Whatever changes Noce does make are for the benefit of a composite customer she affectionately calls "Sydney," and to accomplish the mission: Make Women Feel Beautiful. Noce has become an expert on Sydney, having learned her preferences not just from surveys but from hanging out in stores to chat with her.