Newsmaker: Kim Tillotson Fleming

Noteworthy: Fleming was named a 2016 Women of Distinction Award recipient by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. The award celebrates achievements of leading women in Southwest Pennsylvania and raises funding and awareness about Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Chatham University President Esther Barazzone and Doris Carson Williams, president and CEO of African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, also received the award.

Age: 57

Residence: Mars

Family: husband, Curt; sons, Grant and Todd

Education: Bachelor's degree in economics from Northwestern University, charted financial analyst and a graduate from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania's Securities Institute.

Occupation: Chairwoman and CEO at Hefren-Tillotson, Inc., a Downtown-based financial planning firm.

Background: Fleming had planned to become a physical therapist but decided to pursue a career in economics while studying as an undergraduate. She moved back to Pittsburgh in 1987 and started working at the family business. Her mother's father started a firm in 1948 that eventually became Hefren-Tillotson. She became Hefren-Tillotson's president in 1996 and in 2010 was elected CEO and chairwoman.

Quote: “You feel very honored to be selected. I find myself always thinking, ‘Why am I being selected when I know so many people who are active in the community?'”

NOTE: This story has been updated from the original to correct the name of one of her sons.