Viewing page 36 of 45
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
[[advertisement]] logo of Bert Pulitzer Quite Simply, Taste. [[Image: man wearing a blazer; man wearing a business suit. Superimposed on business suit, clothing label for Botany '500' [[/advertisement]] [[double line]] WORKING TOGETHER continued [[image: black & white photograph of a smiling woman and man in business clothes hold a commemorative plaque between them – captioned: Helene and Alan fortunoff]] family founded, so it seemed logical for Helene to join him in working for Fortunoff. It was her first job and she chose the jewelry area. "We met at NYU, and I was married at 20, so I didn't have a lot of time to work elsewhere," said Helene. She continues to design and merchandise jewelry, now greatly expanded from the silver collections that were the mainstay when she started. Her husband has become president and CEO, while daughter, Esther, 29, is president of the direct sales division. Each works out of separate offices in the Westbury store. Esther commutes from Manhattan, while Helene and Alan lived on Long Island, where they are noted for their devotion to a number of charitable and cultural organizations. The best part of working with one's husband, as Helene sees it, is being with someone for whom you have the greatest respect. The worst part is coping with tensions that arise when opinions differ. The Fortunoffs make a concerted effort to avoid business talk at home, and although each travels extensively on business, they rarely go together. Helene's travels often take her to Italy, where some of the Fortunoff jewelry is made. An added plus of being in an established family business, according to Helene, is that when you are putting in long hours, you have the satisfaction of knowing everyone else is doing the same. [[End page]] [[start page]] [[double line]] Belle and Murray Nathan CALDERON BELTS AND BAGS, INC. Those who lament the decline and fall of business ethics and the high divorce rate can take comfort in the presence of Belle Calderon Nathan and her husband Murray Nathan. Originally trained as economists, the couple founded Calderon Belts around 1946, with Belle's brother, who soon moved on to other projects. They do everything together, although he manages the business, and she is the designer. "We even play tennis and bridge without fighting," said Belle. "We play golf, but after 15 years, we switched to tennis." [[image: black & white photograph of a man and a woman in their office discussing something]] They view being constantly together as a great plus, both professionally and personally. "You can discuss ideas at 3 in the morning, if you have trouble sleeping," reported Belle. The many business trips they took as a pair have been cut to one a year, as the number of fashion seasons in accessories has increased from two to four. Recently they've been having trouble finding time to visit their island home in the West Indies. Home is an apartment on Manhattan's West Side. Although they have no children in the traditional sense, the Nathans claim all 550 employees as their own. Many have been with them over 25 years, and one or two have been part of Calderon for 35 years. The accessories are made in the company plant in lower Manhattan and in- [[advertisement]] [[image: black & white photograph of a woman in a mink coat wearing a scarf]] Saga Scan Brown® Mink Bill Blass Mohl Furs. 345 Seventh Avenue, New York. [[/advertisement]]
