PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL   CEO FILE
September 16-22, 2005

Ronalyn K. Sisson
Oxford Legal Associates® Ltd.


PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Ronalyn K. Sisson

Title: President / Founder

Company: Oxford Legal Associates® Ltd. of Fort Washington

Business: Legal Staffing and Executive Search

Recent Project Success: Saving corporate legal department over $3 million in outside counsel fees through staffing with contract attorneys. Placing senior vice president–legal with major financial service corporation.

Education:
Stanford University, A.B., International Relations
University of Notre Dame, J.D.

First Job: Scooping Ice Cream at Baskin Robbins

Little known fact about you: I can quilt.

Home: Chestnut Hill


BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

Essential Business Philosophy: Hire smart people who think.

Best way to keep a competitive edge: Read everything, listen and embrace change.

Yardstick of success: Cost savings for clients and number of people we find jobs for.

Goal yet to be achieved: Helping to start the apprenticeship program at the Philadelphia Wooden Boat Factory.


JUDGEMENT CALLS

Best decision: Hiring a Managing Director

Worst decision: Opening a Pittsburgh office when I was pregnant.

Toughest decision: Firing someone

Mentor: My son and daughter


TRUE CONFESSIONS

Word that best describes you: Determined

Like best about your job: The people

Like least about your job: Operations

The most important lesson you've learned: By giving up some control you may grow both personally and professionally.

Life Motto: Work hard/play hard.

Greatest fear: Not getting asked to do a CEO profile after 10 years in business.

Person most interested in meeting: Dalai Lama

Company you respect most: Microsoft

First choice for a new career: Foreign service

Greatest extravagance: pedicures


ET CETERA

Award / honor most proud of: All star crew award, collegiate sailing

Most influential book: Too many to name

Favorite movie: Casablanca

Favorite restaurant: Osaka in Chestnut Hill

Favorite vacation spot: Michigan in summer

Favorite way to spend free time: with my family or racing sailboats

Automobile you drive: Silver BMW X3