Whittier Farms

Owners, Mary, Diana & Samantha

Whittier Farms is a multigenerational diversified beef, dairy, and produce farm and year-round farm store in Sutton. With a focus on keeping agriculture alive and well, the family has been growing, raising, and producing food for the community for 80 years. Today, seven family members are employed fulltime at Whittier Farms: Wayne Whittier and his wife Mary, their daughter Diana May and her husband Brett, and other daughter Samantha Staebner and her husband Hale, along with Wayne’s brother Todd. While everyone has their role, the crossover and collaboration are paramount.

Mary Whittier joined Whittier Farms in the 1990s, leaving a career in insurance to raise her family with her husband, Wayne. In between soccer practices, school events, and the never-ending laundry of three kids, Mary also saved the business from the financial failures of previous generations, to provide the next generation an opportunity to farm. The strong foundation Mary laid has allowed both daughters, Samantha and Diana, along with their husbands, to have careers at the farm and now raise their own kids. Today, Mary is the force behind The Milk Store’s kitchen, crafting delicious soups, meals, and desserts as well as managing the business office.

Whittier Family

AI Powered Women: Why Women Must Shape the Future of AI

On September 6^th and 7^th, I attended the AI Powered Women Conference, a gathering of remarkable women leaders, change-makers, and visionaries. The experience reinforced something I already believe strongly: the future of AI won’t be equitable unless women are central in building, using, and governing it—because right now, they are not fully participating.

The Gender Gap in AI Adoption: What the Numbers Tell Us

To understand how urgent this is, here are some recent data points:

• A study of over 140,000 people across 18 studies found that women are about 20% less likely than men to use generative AI tools. Tom's Guide+2Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard+2
• Deloitte’s 2024 Connected Consumer Survey in the U.S. showed that 33% of women reported using or experimenting with generative AI, compared to 44% of men. CEO North America+1
• The same survey found that even among those using gen AI for work, men are more likely to say it “substantially boosts” their productivity—61% of men vs. 41% of women. CEO North America+1
• In workplaces generally, a global survey of entry-level workers found 81.3% of men reported using AI tools at work, compared to 58.8% of women. Human Resources Online
• Another study among researchers found that female researchers used generative AI tools at work significantly less than male counterparts (after controlling for many factors), estimating about a 7% lower usage among women. arXiv

These statistics show consistent, cross-sector and international gaps. Even when access is equal, women are less likely to use AI tools, report lower trust in them, or feel less confident in their benefits.

Continue Reading Here!

Lynn Whitney-Turner

Owner, CoreXP Business Solutions

WSN MISSION

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Women’s Success Network unites women to achieve their vision of success by creating a community of support and inspiration in their personal and professional lives.

The Women's Success Network (WSN) is a committee of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce (BVCC).

Join our committee and help execute the WSN programs, projects and initiatives! Our volunteers play a crucial role in the success of the WSN by offering their time, skills and energy. We are women committed to our mission! For more information about the WSN or to become a volunteer, please email Alise Breton at www.millburycu.com.