How are your finances?

The Southern - 6/16/2010

CARTERVILLE - Women were given a free opportunity to raise their financial literacy during an event Tuesday at John A. Logan College.

The event was part of a "Smart Women Smart Money" series of job fairs hosted by state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' office. The fairs, in their 10th year, all feature financial literacy conferences and are designed to help women find jobs and better manage their money.

Robin Kelly, Giannoulias' chief of staff and the Democratic nominee for treasurer, was the event's keynote speaker, and said it was important for women to get all the financial education they can.

"If you look at statistics, women make less than men, they're out of the workforce longer because of families, and they live longer," she said. "So it's very important that women are financially healthy, because 85 percent of women will be handling their own finances at one point or another."

About 100 women were at the event Tuesday morning, and Kelly said the support level for these conferences has been strong statewide.

Seminars were given on how to improve financial standing in today’s tough economy, employment opportunities, and the benefits and dangers of credit cards. There was also an exhibit area that focused largely on female-owned businesses.

Kelly said the program is important to her, and having it was a condition of her joining Giannoulias’ staff. If elected treasurer in November, she said she will make sure such a program lives on.

“Definitely, it will continue on and improve,” Kelly said. “It will go into more places than it’s been taken.”

As part of the conference, Kelly presented awards to two women with local ties. Teresa Katubig, founder of Extra Help Inc., was given the Woman on the Rise award.

Extra Help is a temporary employment company with branches in Marion, St. Louis and Edwardsville.

Ethel Holladay, a longtime local teacher, received the Woman of Excellence award. Holladay taught at Trico and