National Association of Professional Women Announces Elizabeth Rakis, President of J&L Services, Inc. and Fine Line Innovative Products, a VIP Woman of the Year
Garden City, NY (PRWEB) May 20, 2014 -- NAPW honors Elizabeth Rakis, President of J&L Services, Inc. and Fine Line Innovative Products, as a 2014 Professional Woman of the Year for leadership in business with this prestigious distinction. As the largest, most-recognized organization of women in the country, spanning virtually every industry and profession, the National Association of Professional Women is a powerfully vibrant networking community with over 600,000 members and nearly 400 Local Chapters.
After a failed marriage, three children to support, and an 80-hour work week in an unfulfilling job, Elizabeth Rakis was driven to find another way to achieve the American dream. The drive to spend quality time with her children was so strong that at the age of 28, she purchased her first home. Soon after, she traded a paid receipt of a past due child support payment of $7,000 for an old truck and started J&L Services Inc. “Back then, I was scared to death, but the thought of being able to be home to watch my children grow was worth any risk I had to take,” says Ms. Rakis. Today, J&L Services Inc. has a fleet of seven trucks and the McDonald Supply Chain Network as its largest account. In 2009, J&L Services Inc. was the winner of the "Carrier of the Year" award.
Now partnered with her brother, inventor of The Brake Releaser, a tool designed to release frozen brakes on semi-trailers in frigid temperatures, Ms. Rakis and her brother are pursuing their goal of getting The Brake Releaser mandated by the Department of Transportation. “We believe The Brake Releaser is as valuable to safety as the fire extinguisher that every semi-tractor is required to carry. It was invented by a 'DRIVER for the DRIVER,'” says Ms. Rakis, whose mission is to make all truck drivers safer from the dangers of frozen trailer brakes on US highways.
Life has brought Ms. Rakis many challenges both personally and professionally. She continues to be thankful to the Lord for that day more than 20 years ago when she acquired her first truck, which led to the financial security she and her family have today.
NAPW provides an exclusive, highly advanced networking forum to successful women executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs where they can aspire, connect, learn, and achieve.
Lisa Mancuso, NAPW, http://www.napw.com, +1 516-4536111, [email protected]
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