GSU Library Research Guides: Feminist Action Alliance History Project: R

Rechtman, Janet

Interviewee: Janet Rechtman
Interviewer: Tiffany Gray
Date of interview: October 11, 2023

Rogers, Joy

Interviewee: Joy Rogers
Interviewer: Janet Paulk
Date of interview: October 27, 2006

Interviewee: Joy Rogers
Interviewer: Tiffany Gray
Date of Interview: December 13, 2024

Biography:
Joy Rogers is the Business Development Executive for IBM services in the State of Georgia, responsible for the sales and marketing of both information technology and management consulting services to businesses. In her 30 year career with IBM, she has held a variety of marketing, business development, sales, and customer support positions. She managed IBM services for Wall Street brokerage firms in Manhattan, was the Director for Customer Support for midrange systems in Rochester, MN, Director of Service Support in Kansas City, MO, and Client Solution Executive for strategic outsourcing engagements. Prior to joining IBM, she was a member of the economic staff of the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta, GA and Director of the Atlanta Head Start Program serving 1000 children.

Rogers graduated from University of Alabama with a BA degree in Economics and minors in History and French. She completed her MBA with a concentration in International Business at Georgia State University and was active in AIESEC, International Association of Students in Economics and Commerce, at both universities. She served as the President of the Chapter at GSU as well as National Conference Chair. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors for AIESEC-Georgia Tech.

Her overseas work experience include assignments with Charterhouse Japhet, a merchant bank in London, England, Leminkainen Oy, a manufacturing company in Helsinki, Finland and INet, a computer services firm in Skopje, Macedonia.

Abstract, October 7, 2006:
The interview conducted on October 7, 2006, focuses on Rogers' business career and her feminist activism in Atlanta. She discusses her childhood as the daughter of a military officer, family life in the southeastern states, and her college years at the University of Alabama, where she majored in economics. She speaks about her business career beginning with the Federal Reserve in Atlanta, graduate school at Georgia State University, followed by a job with Economic Opportunity Atlanta. Rogers' activism in Atlanta centered around the Feminist Action Alliance and she talks about her colleagues including Anne Deeley, Fred Fetter, Beth Schapiro, and Heather Fenton, as well as the many conferences they organized to address political and social issues. Rogers' decision to accept a job with IBM let to her relocation to New York, and she discusses her thirty-year career with the company and the barriers she broke as a female manager.