Author: Joyce Guccione
Bio: Joyce Guccione has been lifting people up for over 50 years.  Born with spina bifida and scoliosis, she was an inspiration to her parents and doctors right from the start.  Despite early fears of paralysis and retardation, she proved them wrong and went on, not only to walk but to graduate Summa Cum Laude with the degree of Master of Science in Finance.  “And,” says her mother, “she just keeps on going, lifting up others as she goes.” 

Throughout her life, Joyce has been an inspiration and a mentor to thousands of people.  On a professional level as an investment executive, Joyce has been known for empowering people.  Guccione is personally credited for the development of a strategy known as Modern Portfolio Protection© (a method of investing which allows individuals as well as institutional investors to pursue growth while utilizing certain guarantees).  Joyce has been recognized by Congress for her contributions in adapting a college savings program known as ICAN to serve as a model for the 529 College Savings plans.  She has also been the recipient of many awards throughout her career including one for assisting workers affected by corporate downsizing by helping them to rebuild their lives after being laid off.  Joyce currently brings over twenty years of experience in investments to RBC Wealth Management as First Vice President - Financial Consultant.  She has been the subject of many articles on her endeavors and strategies including articles in Woman’s Day Magazine, Registered Rep, The Business Journal, The Sun Times and The Daily Herald.  

As a longtime volunteer teacher and program co-coordinator for Religious Education, she has enjoyed teaching and mentoring young people for many years and “long ago” helped to develop and implement a Preschool Religious Education Program called PREP.  She also enjoys visiting the sick and elderly as she considers them the “sages” of our times.  As the Charter President for a Veterans Auxiliary, Joyce frequently visits many Senior Centers, Veteran’s Hospitals and Long Term Care facilities where, she says she “is constantly reminded that we are not alone in our life endeavors.”

In her spare time, Joyce reads and writes motivational material “to keep her grounded.”  She recently agreed to publish The Greater Adventures of Humpty Dumpty, her first book originally authored in 1995, along with its “mother book,” The Power of Choice, as a part of a philanthropic movement to restore the libraries devastated by the many recent hurricanes.  A generous portion of the royalties from her books have been pledged to support the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund with the American Library Association in an campaign known as CPR (Choices Providing Relief) 4 Libraries.

Joyce believes that “libraries serve a tremendous need in our society” and that “in order for resurgence and renewal to flourish after devastation, we must encourage enlightenment.”  Her motto, "Let there be Light,” emulates the motto of Andrew Carnegie who was known for funding over 2,500 libraries from 1883 to 1929 and is often fondly called the Patron Saint of Libraries.  She further hopes to emulate Carnegie’s generosity by her pledge to continue to help rebuild libraries in the Gulf Region. Born and raised in the Chicago area, Joyce is a longtime resident of the Northwest suburbs where she lives with her husband, four children and two grandchildren.  
For more information see www.CPR4libraries.com