MARTHA CONNOR

Martha Connor, president and CEO of DirectLine Technologies, is particularly proud of the awards the company recently received: "#1 Women Owned Business in Jan Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties", "Top 100 Small Businesses in California", Top 500 Small Businesses in America".  DirectLine raises funds for colleges and universities nationwide and is recognized as a leader in the fundraising field.

"These awards have given us both national and local recognition, which is important because DirectLine Technologies clients are located throughout the country."  says Martha. "Whereas we are honored by the national recognition, community involvement is important to us, and we value the local support."

Martha herself plays an important role in her community-she served as the first female president of the Rotary Club of Turlock in its more than 85-year history, supports several local charities, and was named "California State University Stanislaus 2006 Alumna of the Year."

Martha was born into a family of entrepreneurs in Cleveland, Ohio, where she grew up helping in her family's interior decorating business.  "In fact, my first job was answering calls for the business," says Martha.  "Back then, we used a plug-in-style switchboard."  There's quite a difference between those old switchboard mechanics and the integrated computer and telephone systems DirectLine runs today.

Connor graduated cum laude with a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, later earning a master of non-profit administration degree from California State University Stanislaus.  Ms. Connor believes in the benefits of a liberal education.  "I am living proof that a good, well-rounded education from a fine university provides you with the skills, background and foundation to do anything," says Martha.

After graduation from Case Western Reserve, Martha moved to Los Angeles and began her administrative career at the University of Southern California (USC) where she became the associate director of enrollment services.  Her work encompassed responsibility for undergraduate admissions, and the oversight of 120,000 frequent-access records. 

While at USC, Martha met Gary Connor, a fellow university administrator.  Soon their careers in administration took them from Los Angeles to Portland Oregon, where Martha served as the director of student and enrollment services at Linfield Good Samaritan Baccalaureate School of Nursing.

In 1985 the Connors sought the warm weather of California's Central Valley, where they still reside.  The move offered Martha an opportunity to add fundraising and alumni relations administration to complete her suite of management roles.  After several years directing alumni and annual giving programs for California State University, Stanislaus, Martha decided the time was right for her to put her university and fundraising experience to work in founding her own business.

Gary had left his university career one year earlier to start a software company.  They'd already found that their individual skills complimented each other well and Martha was quoted as saying, "Gary sees the world in black and white and I see the world in shades of gray, so together we can usually see a pretty complete picture."  Gary joined Martha, and together they built a new business on the foundation of their complementary experience and two years of business plan development.  

Now, 18 years later, Martha's fundraising and marketing career has helped build a national reputation for DirectLine.  In a recent study of non-profit executives' views of tele-services providers has shown that DirectLine is known for ethics, integrity, experience, and longevity.  "The appreciation of our clients is the greatest reward of all!" says Connor.