Barbara A. Klein.

Kidded by her husband that "she can't hold a job," Barbara Klein says it's just the opposite. Life, she says, has provided her with a great series of opportunities--with a common thread being each job has been with a company going through change. She initially moved to Chicago after college to be in a "bigger" city, and feels fortunate that there have always been enough challenges to keep her there.

Goes By: Barb

Title: Senior Vice President and CFO

Company: CDW Corp., a provider of technology products and services

Born: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Spouse: Michael, married 28 years

Education Summary: Marquette University, BS in Accounting and Finance; Loyola University, MBA

Career: A career that has provided insight into several industries, beginning as Senior Auditor, Ernst & Young, 1977-81, Chicago; G.D. Searle & Co., various positions, including Policy Analyst, Supervisor of Compliance Reporting, Systems Analyst, Manager of External Reporting, and Director of Planning, 1981-86, Chicago; The NutraSweet Co., Controller of NutraSweet Consumer Products and then Director of International Finance, 1986-88, Chicago; Sears, Roebuck & Co., Controller of Sears Specialty Merchandising, then Controller, Sears Direct Marketing, 1988-93, Chicago; The Pillsbury Co., Vice President of Finance, Pillsbury Bakeries & Foodservice, then Vice President and Controller for Pillsbury, 1993-96, Minneapolis; Ameritech, Vice President and Corporate Controller, 1996-99, Chicago; Dean Foods Co., Vice President and CFO, 2000-02, Chicago; CDW Corp., Senior Vice President and CFO, 2002-Present, Chicago

FEI Chapter: Chicago

Board of Directors: Serves on the board of Corn Products International Inc. (audit committee) and the Tax Assistance Program, an organization that provides free tax-return preparation for low-income families.

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Leisure: Travel (U.S. and internationally--to places such as Italy, France, Hawaii and California's Napa Valley area); college basketball (especially Marquette); playing piano (from classical to Beatles); baking (anything chocolate) and reading (mostly mysteries and fiction).

Time Management: We all have very busy lives, but I have a great team of coworkers at CDW and a great assistant who supports me and takes care of a multitude of details.

Balancing work demands and personal time is challenging, but it is important to prioritize, delegate and find time for yourself and your family.

Stress Management: I try to go to the health club several times a week, have a nice dinner at home on Friday night (my husband is a great cook!), an occasional long weekend in warmer weather in the winter and dinners with friends.

Book I recently read: I just finished Lonely Planet Road Trip: California Highway 1 (between Los Angeles and San Francisco). It is a trip that my husband and I would like to take some day, so I'm trying to do some planning.

Who is your hero? My parents--for all of the sacrifices they made to give me and my sister advantages they never had, and my husband, who has always been there for me and supported me, and has also been a great coach!

Favorite Job: Every job I've had has taught me so much that I can't really pick just one. I have had the opportunity to work with some terrific people at each of the companies.

What's the best advice you ever received? In looking at a new professional opportunity, keep the "1/3, 1/3, 1/3" rule in mind. You should be able to do 1/3 of the new job easily, 1/3 of the new job should be a challenge and 1/3 should be entirely new. This stretches you with new challenges, but allows you to have successes with things that are already familiar to you.

Favorite Deal: The sale of G.D. Searle to Monsanto, early in my career. It was the first transaction I was involved in, and it gave me an opportunity to learn about the due diligence and integration processes.

If I could I'd change: I would have waited to obtain my MBA until I had worked for a few years.

As a child, what did you expect you'd grow up to be? Many different things, but not an accountant or a CFO!

Quotable: "Accidents and inspiration lead you to your destination," from a Mary Chapin Carpenter song.

edited by Ellen M. Heffes