(mellow music) - She helped to grow and nurture Broadway Grand Rapids as marketing director, and now assumes the role of president and CEO.

Meghan Distel began her business study at MSU's Broad College and has crafted her niche in sales and marketing to her present-day success.

She's balanced with the support of family and a love for the outdoors.

Yet, as an athlete, she did break her nose during the high jump.

So welcome, Meghan, to this edition of Powerful Women: (Meghan laughs) Let's Talk.

- Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes, that is a funny story.

And yes, I did break my nose.

My only bone that I've broken, and did it in the high jump.

Got cracked right in the nose with the standard and took a trip right to the hospital.

So, yeah, that was interesting.

- My follow up was, did you make the jump?

- I didn't make the jump.

- Okay.

- Because in hitting the crossbar and kicking the standard, it came right back and hit me in the face.

So, nope, didn't make the jump on that one.

- Okay.

Alright.

Well, more fun facts to follow.

The Meghan dream show, Broadway Grand Rapids.

Goodness gracious.

I'll say congratulations on your success.

- [Meghan] Thank you, yes.

It's been incredible.

I mean, since I've been on board the last 11 years, I've seen some incredible growth.

We've quadrupled season ticket sales, community partnerships and sponsorships, and seen the very best of Broadway come to our community.

I feel so fortunate and so rewarded to be a part of the organization during this last decade.

It truly has been an amazing experience.

And as I said, very, very rewarding.

- Okay.

Let's take you back to the young Meghan, did you grow up in a business family, a sales family?

Where'd you get this drive?

- Well, my dad actually was in sales.

My dad was a bit of a jack of all trades.

He played college football and then he went into the insurance business.

He actually got a Master's in engineering.

He had a lot of different passions and he was a "glass half full" kind of guy, a very positive and a role model for me in terms of just building relationships and how impactful that can be in your life.

So that probably is where I first developed an interest in just working with people.

But like most people, the path is not always straight.

As I arrived at Michigan State for college, I had a lot of different ideas about what I might wanna do, the first being, I originally thought I wanted to go into French studies and become a French teacher.

I had a really inspirational teacher in high school who instilled the love of French culture and language in me.

So when I got to Michigan State, I thought that's sort of the direction that I wanted to go.

And my parents, you know, thought that was great, but you know, what else, maybe, could you do with that French degree?

And so I started looking into maybe some communications areas, psychology, ended up deciding to get into the business school.

Michigan State's known for their hotel restaurant management program.

I was in that for a short bit and ultimately ended with a marketing degree.

And that was a really good way to kind of bring together a lot of my interests, in studying people and what makes them, you know, wanna buy, and businesses, how they can market their products to people.

But all along the way, I continued with those French studies, 'cause that was something that was really important and I felt really passionate about.

So I ended up with a minor in French, and my first job out of college, which is interesting, my dad had this idea that I create my resume in English on one side and French on the other.

- [Shelley] Wow.

- Which was, I always laughed that I did that, but at the time, in 1992, we really weren't even using the internet to apply for jobs, sending in your resume.

I wanted to make a difference and stand out with my application.

So my first job was actually working for GM of Canada.

Well, really, the Cadillac headquarters in downtown Detroit, but they had an area where they focused on GM of Canada customer service.

So they wanted me to be able to use my French skills, to be able to talk to dealers and customers in French-speaking Canada.

So I did end up using that French just a little bit in my career.

- Nice.

Well, I know you've also spent time in Paris.

We'll talk about that - [Meghan] Yes.

- as well.

I guess we'll stay on the topic of sales.

When did you land the job at Broadway Grand Rapids?

- Well, I do have, again, an unconventional path.

- [Shelley] You got some stuff in between there?

- Yeah.

Very unconventional path.

And this is actually something I'm really excited to talk about, because as a woman who has balancing a family and a career, it's sometimes difficult to manage both.

I was in sales, working for a medical supply company here in Grand Rapids.

I made my way over to the west side of the state when I got married, and was working in sales here when I had my first child.

My company didn't allow for part-time work.

So it was, you know, balancing the full-time job with the new baby.

Then shortly thereafter, I got pregnant with twins and my twin pregnancy was a high-risk pregnancy.

I was on bedrest for four months.

Once I had the twins and I had three kids under three, it just felt impossible to be able to juggle both at that time.

So I took a bit of a hiatus, and I was so fortunate to be able to do that.

I know I'm lucky that I have a supportive spouse, that we were able to make that happen.

I really feel fortunate.

But I knew my career wasn't quite done.

I mean, there were, I always had a bit of a competitive spirit and a drive to do more, and knew that, eventually, I would get back.

That's challenging for women, though.

When you have this gap, how do you get back?

I really tried to stay involved in the community.

I tried to get involved volunteering with things that were important to me while I was raising my young family, volunteering for the women's committee at the symphony, working on the board at CARE Ballet, doing things with the PTA.

PTA president and treasurer, and all those things to try to keep me close and involved with what my kids were also doing.

All the while, I kept just talking to people and trying to build my network and relationships in the community because I knew I did wanna go back, about nine years later.

So, again, this unconventional path to a role like I'm in now, in that I have this time that I wasn't working.

I hope that that inspires people, because I want, women particularly, I think, struggle with that balance.

Knowing that it's not too late, it's not too late to go after a career and what you want in a fulfilling manner.

So by talking to people, I ended up getting in contact with Mike Lloyd, who had just taken over as the executive director at Broadway Grand Rapids.

He was looking to launch a group sales program.

We had no group sales program at Broadway at the time.

That's an opportunity to really grow ticket sales, of course.

I really met Mike through his wife, Kathy.

Again, just being open-minded to talking to people, building the network.

He gave me an opportunity to come in and work in sales at Broadway.

My path quickly changed, because six months into that, our marketing director took another role and the marketing director position was open.

So Mike, I went into his office after about 30 seconds, and you know Mike, he is somebody who has strong convictions, and I knew I needed to be very convicted in my desire to move into the marketing role.

Even though I didn't have all the skill sets, maybe, that were required at the time, I knew that I had the passion for the arts that I could do it.

I just said, "I want this job."

He said to me, "Do you want my job?"

He answered my question with, "Do you want my job?"

- [Shelley] What did you say?

- "Absolutely."

I said, "Absolutely."

You know, that kind of started off our relationship, where it was a mentorship.

He coached me and gave me that opportunity.

I'm forever grateful for that opportunity, because I knew I could do it; I just needed a chance.

I dug in to the marketing role, learning everything that I could working alongside Mike.

Again, was so rewarded with the progress and development of Broadway Grand Rapids in what it is today.

- Yes.

Wow.

Congratulations.

- [Meghan] Thank you.

- Because, I guess, as we look at recommending for the younger Meghan, ask for what you may want.

- Right.

Right.

And don't be afraid to, I mean, I think there's self-doubt after you haven't been, when you haven't been working for a while, you feel like technology has surpassed you or that maybe you're not gonna be given that opportunity, but just going out and, there's nothing that takes the place of hard work and of passion.

If you believe in what you're doing and you can find that, then it's really not even work, right?

I mean, that's ultimately, I do have such a strong passion for the arts.

I always have.

And this job feels like a dream come true because of that.

- Nice.

Obviously, you have a new season, long way away, but do you have a dream show that as the president and CEO of Broadway Grand Rapids, you could bring in for us?

- Well, I think that's changing all the time because creatives are working all the time in developing new shows.

Before we had "Wicked", it was, "We are going to have "Wicked" here."

And before we had "Hamilton", "We're gonna bring "Hamilton"."

I think we've really built this program.

And when you build it, they will come, I like to say, just like the "Field of Dreams".

It's been amazing to see that we are now having the ability to fill DeVos Performance Hall for three weeks with these shows.

There's always gonna be another show that we wanna bring here, a new one that's out, that's coming out.

I hope that we can have some plays.

I'd love to see "To Kill a Mockingbird".

I'd love to see, you know, just critically acclaimed shows.

I'm always gonna be looking for a mix, because I know Grand Rapids is... Our community, not one show is going to appeal to everybody.

So when we look at our seasons, we wanna always have something that's for families and something that's critically acclaimed and something that's brand new from Broadway, that's Tony award-winning and that's funny.

We open with "Tootsie", and "Tootsie" is a comedy.

It is absolutely just a really fun and funny show.

It's done really well on stage.

So just having a mix, to entertain and to inspire.

- Great.

Why support the arts here in West Michigan?

- You know, the arts...

Without art, I think our lives would be so boring in some ways.

I mean, the arts teach us about humanity.

They inspire, they teach, they educate, and I think they change lives.

Supporting the arts, it enriches our community.

It's an economic impact, also.

It brings people here, and really, to me, just supporting the arts improves quality of life.

- We should go out in song, but we won't.

Broadway Grand Rapids President and CEO Meghan Distel.

Thank you.

You are a Powerful Woman: - Thank you.

- Let's Talk.

- Thank you so much.

I appreciate you having me.

(mellow music) - Hello, everyone.

It is time for Powerful Women: Let's Talk.

Thanks so much for joining us today.

I'm Jennifer Moss, and I am excited to bring you today's powerful woman, United Farm Workers Foundation Executive Director Diana Tellefson Torres.

She is on a multi-day tour of Michigan, meeting with state officials, nonprofit leaders, and farm workers, to help focus UFW Foundation efforts to improve workplace rights in the state.

We are so happy that this powerful woman has taken the time to stop by our WGVU studios today.

Diana, thank you so much for joining us.

- Thank you.

- Yeah, I'm happy to have you here.

So a bit more about Diana before we launch into our discussion.

She's the founding executive director of the UFW Foundation.

This foundation mobilizes farm workers across the US to advocate for equitable policies.

These range from immigration reform to worker protections.

The foundation is the nonprofit arm of the United Farm Workers of America, the nation's largest labor union for farm workers.

Diana Tellefson Torres, again, welcome.

We are so happy that you are here today.

- It's wonderful to be here with you, Jennifer.

- Well, let's start our conversation with your work with the UFW, United Farm Workers Foundation, and what you are doing here in Michigan.

What have you been up to?

- Well, it's been a wild ride in the last few days.

During the week, visiting farm workers in different parts of the state, and mainly in Southwest Michigan.

I had the opportunity to meet with farm workers in a park, where we were able to just talk about the issues that are concerning them at this point.

I spoke with workers like Yselda and Claudia, who've been working in farm work for over 17 years in all kinds of different crops, be it Christmas trees and blueberries, and you name it, they've done it.

I really wanted to learn about what farm workers were experiencing here in Michigan.

During the pandemic, we hired two organizers who were able to work with farm workers in Southwest Michigan to let them know about their rights, to provide them with pandemic relief resources, and then, in addition, to lift up their voices so that policy-makers could hear directly from them here in Michigan, and nationwide as well.

It's my first time here in Michigan.

- [Jennifer] Oh, wonderful.

- And it's been very exciting.

It's a place where we've been wanting to do work for quite a long time.

It just so happened that the United Farm Workers President Emeritus Arturo Rodriguez came to Michigan for his Master's degree.

He was doing a lot of organizing work with the union back in the day when he was here.

Always mentioned, "Michigan is definitely a place where the UFW Foundation should go."

It just so happened that the pandemic really allowed us the opportunity to reach out to farm workers outside of the West Coast, and really begin those conversations about what types of changes they want to see, and also had the opportunity to meet with a number of state officials about farm worker housing and different issues that impact them, and nonprofits that are working with Latino communities here throughout Michigan, to really hear about what the gaps that they saw were and how they felt we could be added value in rural areas.

- Because you've been leading a movement for immigrant and farm worker rights.

How long have you been involved in this sort of work?

- Oh, Jennifer, it's been 18 years now.

- Oh, wow.

- So, whole adult life pretty much.

Sixteen years ago is when I started the UFW Foundation.

I've had the opportunity to talk to farm workers from different parts of the nation throughout my tenure in the farm worker movement.

In fact, last weekend, I was speaking with farm workers in Georgia, and three women who were speaking to me outside of their trailer, where they were living in quite poor living conditions, I must say.

They were telling me that they didn't even have restrooms that were made available to them when they were working.

So we're talking about different issues, from the very basics, where there are farm workers who don't have the type of necessities, like where to go to the restroom.

Then also housing conditions that are sometimes quite poor, and just different issues, like not having shade or enough water when they are working in sweltering, hot conditions.

So it runs the gamut throughout the country, what are the different needs and often abuses that we see in different states.

So we are really emphasizing that farm workers need to speak up and that we are reaching out to them in different modes, be it in person on the ground where we can, but also really developing the type of technology for farm workers to be able to communicate with us in different forms.

So that's been exciting during the pandemic.

- And to create a more equitable base.

I mean, just basic rights in employment is what you're looking at?

- Exactly.

And Jennifer, most people don't know that farm workers were excluded in the 1930s from the Fair Labor Standards Act from the New Deal that was getting negotiated, because back then in the 1930s, most of the farm workers, and domestic workers were excluded as well, were African-American in the South.

So that's how it got negotiated, where farm workers just didn't have the right to overtime.

That's still the case today.

- There was a bill, though, granting overtime for workers, that was at least introduced in the Senate, recently, right?

- It was just introduced recently.

In the past, we also have had an introduction and we have not been able to get it passed just yet.

However, we want to highlight the fact that farm workers are working to feed this nation.

They are not just essential workers.

They're the workers who provide us the food that sustains every single one of us in this country, and often other parts of the world.

So the fact is that, I mean, I was speaking to workers who are in the H-2A guest worker program, which is the agricultural guest worker program that allows farm workers to come from other countries to provide services in agriculture for a temporary time span.

Those workers were letting us know that they were working very long hours.

In my last two weeks, speaking with farm workers in different parts of the country, it was the range of between 10 hours and 16-hour days.

So you're talking about 105 degrees in Georgia, or you're talking about summer weather, wherever it is that they are, and you're working six days a week, sometimes even seven days a week.

Those are very, very strenuous conditions, where workers are exposing themselves to potential heat stress, and heat death, at that.

So overtime is just such a basic, basic labor right that we believe farm workers should have, like any other worker, to be able to have an eight-hour day, given the conditions that they work in and how strenuous that work is.

In California, we were able to win overtime pay after eight hours.

It's the only state in the United States that has overtime after eight hours for farm workers.

That took us up to 2016 to be able to win.

- I was gonna ask, my next question was, how close are you, do you think, to getting some of these basic rights for farm workers?

Are you feeling like you're narrowing the gap and perhaps, I mean, obviously in California, you have done that, but you've got various bills and other things that you're seeing across the states, across the US.

How close do you think you're getting to resolving some of these issues?

- Well, this is a movement that has been around for six decades now.

So we know that we're in it for the long haul, that we need to continue to push, and ensure that lawmakers understand that it's their responsibility to protect every single worker in this nation.

We really have come, not just with overtime pay, some basic needs that farm workers always express as a priority, for example, immigration reform.

So we've been making a lot of strides, and it's been 20 years since we started to sit down and negotiate with grower associations around the country to come up with a bill that would allow farm workers to earn the right to be able to get immigration status here in this country.

Because, the fact is, that at least half, the majority of farm workers, are undocumented.

Those are the people who are picking our fruits and our vegetables in this country.

That's just the stark reality.

We recently, in fact, last year, were able to get, for the second time, a vote in the House, where we had 30 Republicans join the most progressive of congressional members in passing this bill.

Now we're really trying to move that through the Senate.

So we're making progress there.

That's an important bill as well.

And like I said, during the pandemic, we really wanted to highlight to consumers, to policy-makers, the fact that farm workers have always been vulnerable and this pandemic only exacerbated that vulnerability.

So we really feel that it's important for media, communication folks like yourself, to really lift up these stories, because many consumers don't realize that when they're in the grocery stores, these fruits and vegetables and food that they're picking up are really handled by individuals who go through so much just to be able to make it through the day.

So we wanna make sure that we continue to put that pressure on congressional members.

In the Senate, we're so close to getting our Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which is our bill, that provides immigration reform for farm workers.

We're hoping that that's this year.

So our senators here in Michigan, hopefully they're listening.

This is incredibly important.

Over time, we really need to continue to push both senators and House members to right the wrongs that are now way overdue, right?

- As you speak of that, what is it, as we look at powerful women and sharing stories and the conversations that have, what inspired you to get involved in immigrant and farm worker rights?

- Well, my mom and my stepfather are both Mexican immigrants.

So I grew up right by the border in San Diego County and just saw the types of struggles that my parents had as I was growing up, and often was an intermediary to support with different conversations they needed to have, both at the school level and in other things that they needed.

Right after college and after teaching for a stint, I just was trying to figure out what I wanted to do.

I knew I wanted to do something social justice-y oriented.

I did this fellowship called Coro in San Francisco.

One of the focus weeks was specifically around agriculture.

One of those days, we were able to go out onto a farm.

It was a huge farm, where there were farm workers working on this huge machine.

It was mainly women who were sitting, and hunched over as they were working.

That's when I learned that farm workers didn't have overtime pay at that time in California, not until after 10 hours, and that farm workers had been excluded at the national level.

I just got to really understand, these workers were working for minimum wage, 10-hour days, six days a week.

I had not had the opportunity to speak to a single farm worker during the entire time we were on this focus week excursion, and just something in my gut.

You know, you get this weird feeling where like, "This is something I need to learn more about."

- Yeah.

- And I think I was meant to see this.

- Very good work.

Diana Tellefson Torres, Thank you so much for joining us.

I really enjoyed this conversation.

We wanna thank you for taking time to stop by the WGVU studios today.

We so appreciate you, and thank you for joining us as well.

For another edition of Powerful Women: Let's Talk, I'm Jennifer Moss.

Enjoy the day.

(mellow music)