Donna Marie Serritella
Donna Marie Serritella, an Italian, is a single 62 year old woman living in Las Vegas NV. Her passion is her business and she is making a difference in the world. After many years of reflection, she says she loves herself and is proud of her life today.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I was raised in Chicago, IL by my father, a criminal attorney, my mother, and my nanny, Jenny. Dad was always at work. Mom out and about at the club. Jenny was my parent. She was my consistent center in my life from birth – 11 years old. My Mom divorced my Dad and moved my two siblings and I, to Florida. Growing up in FL without Jenny was rough. She was more of a Mom than my own Mom. I missed her madly.
Once in Florida, my family became somewhat shattered. I was 12 when a neighbor, a professional man began to abuse me sexually. It went on until I was 16 and ran away from home. Survival was more important than going to college and becoming an attorney like my Dad so I ran.
Thankfully, a wonderful family, Ron, Pat and Laura took me in when I ran away. I thought I would only live with them for a short while. I wound up staying five or six years with them. It was an amazing lesson for me. This family took me in and loved me unconditionally. Ron, the Dad, never tried anything funny or made a move on me – ever. After the abuse I thought everyone wanted to use me. Not Ron. He was safe.
Living safely away from my Mom and the neighbor who abused me, I actually finished high school and eventually was educated to be a registered medical assistant. I thought I might want to work for a doctor. I had to take a CPR class and I found the American Red Cross. I was so proud of working as a volunteer teaching CPR and first aid.
The Red Cross invited me to join their staff. I worked for 7 years as the youngest Administrator of Health Services on staff for the American Red Cross in FL. I was a diligent worker, always committed to making a difference somehow. I taught CPR, First Aid and Disaster Services. I oversaw the Nursing division of that Chapter. It was a real job and I did it well.
I enjoyed the power of the position at the Red Cross. I was in charge and learned the ropes of the corporate world quickly. My name was on the back of thousands of American Red Cross certification cards for classes participants completed. It was an amazing learning lesson. I learned how to speak, write and teach.
During my time at the Red Cross, I oversaw hundreds of classes. It was an exciting time to get educated on the nonprofit world and the United Way. I remember being part of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Committee, it was very rewarding.
During my time at the Red Cross, I was one of many Founders of the Suncoast Drowning Prevention Coalition. Drowning prevention became my life for 7 years. I was on TV, radio and newspaper teaching about putting layers of protection between children and the water.
I wrote a grant that funded the Suncoast Drowning Prevention Coalition and we were officially established. The other Founders and I appeared on 20/20 teaching of the perils of water, swimming pools and even buckets of water around children.
I’m happy to report their are many places in the country that picked up our initiative and ran with it to prevent drowning in their communities. Working to establish the Suncoast Drowning Prevention Coalition was one of the most fulfilling volunteer jobs I have ever had.
After the Red Cross, I went to work for an Oral Surgeon and managed 24 women in three surgical offices. It was very different from the Red Cross. Everything at this job became about generating a profit. It was where I learned about balance sheets and charts of accounts. It was my first corporate position if you didn’t count the Red Cross.
Every industry that is now a large-scale, top-notch business once started as a small idea in the minds of entrepreneurs. What was that idea or motivation that made you start your business /initiative? What motivated you within to say YES, go for it!”
After 7 years at the Red Cross and 7 years at the Oral Surgeons, I was feeling let down. I did not want to work for someone else’s dream or profit. I wanted to own my own business. I didn’t know what or how but I knew I couldn’t work for anyone else again. I cherished my FREEDOM!
I was bitten by the Multi-Level-Marketing (MLM) bug at age 18. I joined Amway three times by the time I was 20. I was a woman that wanted to draw little circles. The MEN of Amway would not allow it, this was back in 1978. At that time, only the men drew the circles. The women made coffee. I was not going to be held back by any man telling me to make coffee so I quit Amway.
I found other MLM opportunities and began making money within the structure of the MLM world. I was very intuitive, I wanted to know if this form of business was legal. I asked a ton of questions in every program about the legal side of things and the compliance factors had fascinating. I was hooked on MLM Compliance in 1991. Ever since it is the primary way I have generated my income was from the MLM industry.
At first, I was making money being an independent distributor. That wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to know the ins and outs. I wanted to know what made these companies legal or not.
I met Burke Hedges, the author of “Who Stole the American Dream” a book specifically designed to bring people into the MLM world.
Burke and I started to work together on an MLM project of his. He had me help him write a training manual. WOW, I was so excited to have written a manual with Burke. He brought me into the legal side of the equation. He asked me to work with the attorney for the company. The attorney needs someone to assist with paperwork and training distributors.
The company Burke introduced me to was one of my first MLM consulting positions. It was not as an independent distributor but as a consultant to the MLM Industry. I learned as much as possible from some incredible lawyers in the industry, I officially began my, what is now a 31 year career in the MLM industry as an MLM Expert Compliance Consultant.
Tell us something about your initiative or current role. What is it about, and what impact are you trying to make?
My current role is as an MLM Expert Compliance Consultant. I’ve been doing it since 1991 when I left the Oral Surgeon’s office. I learned so much from the Red Cross about duplication. Every course had to be consistent with the national criteria and it all had to be duplicatable. My time at the oral surgeon taught me a similar lesson about duplication. Every oral surgical procedure had to be consistent, the trays had to be set up the same, the room had to be prepared for surgery and the staff had to know the procedures being done.
Duplication was a key factor in my career. Now, I use duplication in my business as well.
My career now is consulting to MLM and Network Marketing companies in the Direct Selling Industry. I exclusively focus on field compliance efforts. I make a difference protecting companies and distributors from making huge compliance errors in the practice of their businesses.
Duplication plays a role with every client I have had and will have in the future. I use similar marketing to get the client, the same Service Agreement is amended for each client. The services I provide are tailored to each company but basically are duplicated for each company.
My company Direct Selling Solutions, provides Compliance consulting for Direct Selling companies and has since 1991. I assist Direct Selling companies set up their compliance efforts. My company provides the management of the company’s Compliance Department.
I provide training on the do’s and don’t for distributors. I provide clear cut handouts on what the Distributors can and cannot do when marketing their company products. My company provides monitoring and enforcement efforts for Direct Selling companies.
I have written one book, Compliance Solutions, what the FTC won’t tell you we will. A compliance book about setting up a proper compliance department in this industry. I am presently working on another book specific to the industry coming out in March 2023.
There is an organization called the MLMIA, Multi Level Marketing International Association. The MLMIA was founded by this incredible woman, Doris Wood. She is a dear friend, mentor and advisor. She has made a difference teaching people about the Direct Selling industry for 40 years. She is now retiring and has asked me to take on the leadership role at the MLMIA.
At this time, the board and I are evaluating the viability of reopening the MLMIA. The organizational goals are exactly my goals, it is to make a difference in this industry. It feels right, I am not sure what the future holds.
The impact I am making is about changing the way America and for that matter the world looks at the Direct Selling Industry. I teach, write and speak about it every chance I get. I love speaking to new people, who don’t understand MLM. I enjoy and can hold my own, talking about the foundation of MLM companies and how they operate legally and some illegally.
The impact I am making is to educate companies about how to handle their compliance efforts within the regulatory guidelines.
The impact I make is about teaching people how to own their own businesses in the MLM industry and do it in a compliant manner.
I make a difference! Amen!
Your journey and your vision are very inspiring, but are there any achievements or accomplishments you would like to mention?
One of my most exciting achievements is the drowning prevention effort. I found after doing a speech in Orlando a spiritual confirmation of my life work, of making a difference. I had just presented an hour on how, why and what our Coalition did to prevent drowning in our region. It was a magical presentation. At the end I had a fish bowl and said, ‘if you would like to start a drowning prevention effort in your area, please come forward and put your business card in the fish bowl” This was 600 county water safety staff members from all over the US. At the end of my talk, the entire room came forward to put their card in my fish bowl. I was overwhelmed with confirmation, from what I say, is God that I was on the right path in my life.
Then, when I picked up my career in the MLM industry, I had similar experiences of being in the right place at the right time. It is magical when it happens and unforgettable for a lifetime.
Now I find myself considering becoming a voice of the MLMIA and I realize that would be another accomplishment. Or it could be a failure. I don’t know which way it will go. I see it being another one of those incredible opportunities and that God placed me in this position to continue my work and make a difference. Being in the right place at the right time again!
My accomplishments include my book, my career, my home (that I own), my new car and my freedom!
One of the things I am most proud of is my little Lady Bug, my dog. See pic attached.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
That is easy. I would want to see people loving one another more. People helping one another more. Making a difference for others. Giving love and getting love in return.
I would like to see the world coming together to share experiences of success! I would make a difference teaching people about independence, freedom and self love.
The power you gain by loving yourself is something that will lead you and guide you on your life’s journey. Do whatever is necessary to achieve self love, forgiveness, and acceptance. It is powerful!
I lost 125 pounds seven years ago and I have kept most of it off since then. I realize how much the weight held me back for so many years. I would say to young women out there, to not let their weight get the best of them. It held me back for years and when I lost it, I felt so powerful nothing could stop me. If you want to, lose the weight for yourself, no one else!
You can do it!
Women are a growing force in the workplaces worldwide, standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts. There are cracks in glass ceilings everywhere, with many women breaking through to carve out a space right at the top of the pyramid. What are your thoughts about women leadership today?
There are some great women leading today. I studied Mary Kay, the Founder of Mary Kay, the cosmetics Direct Selling company. I would say to find women in your profession that you can look up to and duplicate their successes. Follow their path while making your own.
Women leadership today has got to come out of the closet. Women have to take their power and lead. We need to come out strong, and with a positive voice for women’s rights. We must protect our rights, our power and our abilities to make a difference.
We need to stand up to male counterparts who don’t believe in equality of pay for women. We need to stand tall about the difference women make in this world in both the leadership roles we play and/or the supportive roles we play. We must stand proud and tall.
What would you want to say to our young women leaders/audience reading this?
Go out and make a difference in your own way, in your industry, in your family and in your life. Don’t be afraid of looking silly, we all look silly at one point or another. IT’s part of the fun.
I had to come up with a fun thing for my career that would make people smile. Since I am in the Compliance world, I dubbed myself and many others did too – the Queen of Compliance. I wear a crown and I have a scepter that I use when I make my presentations. At the end, I put on my crown and say, please be aware – the Queen of Compliance is always watching.” They laugh and they remember me especially when they are going to market their products and services online or offline.
And, get a pet. I have an 8 pound mini Scherzer mini poodle named Lady Bug and I love her beyond words. It is so rich to have unconditional love in your life everyday. If you don’t have one, get a pet!
Last, I would say to be your own best friend. Take care of yourself and love yourself.