WORKING WOMEN OF WESTCHESTER: MARGE SCHNEIDER

Westchester County Business Journal, Mar 31, 2008

MARGE SCHNEIDER

Executive vice president

Cappelli Enterprises

Works in: White Plains

Lives in: Pleasantville

What were your childhood ambitions?

"I was a product of the 60s and as such really didn't have strong childhood ambitions - particularly when you consider that there were not too many opportunities for women in the workplace apart from non-traditional roles such as teachers, nurses and the like."

Who inspired you to get into your profession?

"Two individuals were primarily the inspiration for my entering the real estate development and construction field, Marty Berger and Bob Weinberg, president and chairman of Robert Martin Co. I had been living in Mexico (which is a story for another time) and when I got back, my plans to be a bum and take the summer off were thwarted by my parents who basically decided it was time for me to grow up and have some responsibility. I answered an ad for executive assistant to the president and chairman of a real estate development company in Elmsford which was, of course, Robert Martin company. This was the early 1970s and they were on the verge of an incredible growth explosion. I was fortunate in that they were not the type to have someone just "work" for them, but rather encouraged their staff to get involved in the various aspects of the business. I found it fascinating and very soon was learning all about processing for municipal approvals, preparing offering plans, marketing & sales, residential design and layout and even hotels.