
STILL MENTORING: LaVelle & Co. is alive and well, despite the founder’s move to Atlanta this year. “We just seem to keep going and going,” said LaVelle Olexa, discussing the mentoring group for young professional women she started up five years ago. LaVelle & Co.’s holiday party, held at the marble encrusted Cassini building off Madison Avenue last week, drew 100 guests including Liz Rodbell, Kay Unger, Ruth Finlay, Margaret Hayes, Marylou Luther, U.N. Ambassador from Romania Simona Miculescu; Lisa Williams, Loreen Arbus, Jill Iscol, Yeohlee, Meerha Ghandi, R.J.Graziano, Fern Mallis and Lauren Anderson. Many have been speakers at the monthly LaVelle & Co. meetings, which may occur every other month now. “It’s an opportunity for these people to meet with extraordinarily powerful women and make connections,” Olexa said, noting that the group will also continue to support charitable causes. “This isn’t just a social club.”