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Local author also a 'Full-Time Woman'

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"Full-Time Woman" Karen Steede-Terry is a wife, mother, business owner, consultant, software instructor and author. Originally from Dallas, she has lived in Cedar Park for more than eight years. Steede-Terry teaches classes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) for the state of Texas and other clients.

She says that GPS is a versatile tool commonly used by state agencies, municipalities and county governments to track and record locations, which are then fed into a computer map (GIS).

"GPS can be used to store the location of anything that needs to be recorded and possibly navigated back to some day. The city of Cedar Park uses GPS to inventory its assets - fire hydrants, signs, light poles, manhole covers," Steede-Terry said.

Steede-Terry, who was asked to assist with the space shuttle Columbia recovery effort in 2003, says that GPS is also used for emergency management and disaster assessment. "I am sure GPS is being used in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. I know it was used after Hurricane Andrew struck Southern Florida in 1992 to record addresses of claimants, since everything was demolished. A latitude/longitude location is permanent, unlike manmade structures."

She moved to the Austin area in 1996, and, not having a full-time job, decided to see what she could do out on her own for a "little while." Nine years later, she is still going strong. Her first book, "Integrating GIS and the Global Positioning System" was published in 2000 by the ESRI Press.

Since going out on her own, many professional women have approached her, wanting to copy her business model, in order to work part time while raising children.

"I had a number of women approach me, asking for advice, wanting to 'do what I do' (work independently and/or teach classes a few times a month)," she said. "I did some research and discovered there were not any resources out there for career-oriented women who wanted to start a home-based business using their existing professional or technical skills. It was then that I realized I needed to write a second book."

The result is "Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career," due out Sept. 15. In addition to writing, Steede-Terry has devoted her time to community service and to helping others. She served as a Cedar Park Planning and Zoning Commissioner from 2001 to 2004.

"You may have seen some of my columns in the Hill Country News when I was on the P&Z Board," she said laughing. "I tend to stir things up a bit."

When asked what is a "full-time woman," Steede-Terry smiles in response.

"Women today lead busy active lives," she said. "In today's high-tech world, an increasing number of women are computer literate and/or hold college degrees. Women who have spent time and money achieving a college education don't want to risk losing their skills or knowledge if they quit work to be a stay-at-home mom. "Full-Time Woman, Part-Time Career" shows them how to maintain a part-time professional career (consulting, coaching, freelance writing or computer training) while still having enough time to spend with their family, or stay home with their kids. I am fortunate because my business model is flexible enough so that I am able to do that now."

You are invited to attend a free presentation given by Karen Steede-Terry at the Cedar Park Public Library at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Call the library at 259-5353 to register.

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Published 9/9/05

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