Soledad O’Brien
TV Journalist and CNN Co-Anchor
Soledad O’Brien co-anchors “American Morning” with Miles O’Brien. Based in New York, O’Brien began anchoring CNN’s flagship morning program when she joined the network in July 2003. Since that time, O’Brien has attracted new viewers to the show and secured many exclusive interviews.
In December 2004, O’Brien was among a handful of CNN anchors sent to Puhket, Thailand, to cover the disaster and aftermath of the tsunami that took more than 155,000 lives in that region. In the fall of 2003, she was the only broadcast journalist permitted to travel with First Lady Laura Bush on her trip to Moscow.
O’Brien came to CNN from “NBC News,” where she had anchored the network’s “Weekend Today” since July 1999. During that time, she contributed reports for the weekday “Today Show” and weekend editions of “NBC Nightly News,” and covered such notable stories as John F. Kennedy Jr.’s plane crash and the school shootings in Colorado and Oregon. In 2003, she covered the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster and later anchored NBC’s weekend coverage of the war in Iraq. Additionally, in 1998, she traveled to Cuba to cover Pope John Paul II’s historic visit.
Before Weekend Today, O’Brien anchored MSNBC’s award-winning technology program “The Site,” and the cable network’s weekend morning show. O’Brien joined “NBC News” in 1991, and was based in New York as a field producer for the “Nightly News” and “Today.”
Before her time at NBC, she served three years as a local reporter and bureau chief for the NBC affiliate KRON in San Francisco. She began her career as an associate producer and news writer at the then-NBC affiliate, WBZ-TV in Boston.
O’Brien’s work has been honored several times, including a local Emmy for her work as a co-host on Discovery Channel’s “The Know Zone.” She has been named to People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2001 and People en Espanol’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2004. O’Brien was also included in Crain’s Business Reports’ “40 Under 40” and Essence magazine’s “40 Under 40,” both in 2004. O’Brien has also been named to Irish American Magazine’s “Top 100 Irish Americans” on two occasions.
She is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. She also writes a bi-monthly column for USA Weekend magazine on parenting. O’Brien is a graduate of Harvard University.
Jon S. Corzine
Governor, State of New Jersey
Governor Jon Corzine was born on January 1, 1947, and grew up on a small family farm in the central Illinois community of Willey’s Station. His interest in politics was forged in his farming community. It was there that he learned the meaning of hard work and the opportunities afforded by a strong education system.
Governor Corzine graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1969 and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He remained in the reserves until 1975, rising to the rank of sergeant in his infantry unit. After his active duty in the Marine Corps, he began his career in finance, working as a portfolio analyst at the Continental Illinois National Bank in Chicago. He enrolled in the graduate business school of the University of Chicago in 1970, first attending classes at night. He received his MBA in 1973, and went to work at Bank Ohio.
In 1975, Governor Corzine was recruited by Goldman Sachs, the New York investment firm, and he and his family moved to New Jersey. He was named a partner at Goldman Sachs in 1980, and became chairman and chief executive officer in 1994. As the chief executive officer at Goldman Sachs, Governor Corzine expanded the company’s community outreach and philanthropic programs, establishing a company-wide service program in which employees volunteer on a regular basis in their communities.
Jon Corzine was elected to the United States Senate in November 2000. During his time in the Senate, he focused on serving the state of New Jersey, applying his financial expertise to major economic and regulatory issues, and pushing a forward-looking, progressive agenda. In 2005, Jon Corzine announced his candidacy for the governorship of New Jersey, promising to bring the same business practices and integrity that helped him run Goldman Sachs to state government. He built his campaign around his comprehensive ethics proposal, revamping the state’s property tax system, building a stronger economy, and improving education and healthcare. Jon S. Corzine was sworn in as New Jersey’s 54th Governor on January 17, 2006.
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2006 Woman of Excellence
C. Vivian Stringer
Rutgers Women’s Basketball Head Coach
The master builder of basketball programs, Rutgers head coach and Women’s Basketball Hall-of-Fame inductee C. Vivian Stringer has catapulted three different programs from obscurity to national prominence in her three decades as a head coach.
The first coach in men’s or women’s basketball to take three different schools to the Final Four (Cheyney University in 1982,
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| The University of Iowa in 1993 and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in 2000), she has been a pioneer, visionary and innovator during her three decades on the sideline. |
The University of Iowa in 1993 and Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, in 2000), she has been a pioneer, visionary and innovator during her three decades on the sideline.
Stringer, who finished her 35th season (2005-2006) with a 750-251 (.749) overall record and a 230-116 (.665) mark in her 11 seasons at Rutgers, became the third women’s coach to notch 750 career Division I victories when her Scarlet Knights defeated TCU 82-48 in the second round of the 2006 NCAA Tournament March 21. She moved into sole possession of third place on the Division I women’s victories list (709) with a 71-60 triumph at No. 14/13 Boston College Jan. 26, 2005.
Named one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports” by Sports Illustrated in 2003, Stringer continues to be one of the most recognized coaches in the game. A recipient of the Black Coaches Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, she helped lead Team USA to a gold medal as an assistant coach for the 2004 U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team in Athens, Greece. The 2005 BIG EAST Coach of the Year, Stringer was inducted into the New Jersey Sports Hall of Fame in October of 2005.
She has led her teams to 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, including eight of the last nine years, and has coached in seven regional finals. Last season (2005-2006), RU posted a 27-5 overall record and a perfect 16-0 slate in BIG EAST Conference play, winning its second straight league regular-season title. The Scarlet Knights advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, and finished ninth in the final top-25 polls.
In recognition of her many accomplishments and service to the game, Stringer was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame June 9, 2001, in Knoxville, TN.
She has been named the National Coach of the Year three times (Wade Trophy -1982, Converse - 1988 and Naismith - 1993). She also was named the 1993 Coach of the Year by Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Converse, the Los Angeles Times and the Black Coaches Association; the 2000 Female Coach of the Year by the Rainbow/PUSH Organization, a group founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson; the District V Coach of the Year in 1985, 1988 and 1993; the District I Coach of the Year in 1998; the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1993; the BIG EAST Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2005; and the 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2005 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year. One of her most personally-gratifying accolades is the 1993 Carol Eckman Award, which acknowledges the coach demonstrating spirit, courage, integrity, commitment, leadership and service to the game of women’s basketball.
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Mary Jo Codey
Former First Lady of the State of New Jersey
Educator and Advocate
Mary Jo Codey, First Lady of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006, is a gifted educator and a staunch advocate for individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness or breast cancer. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, she has been married to the state’s 53rd governor, Richard J. Codey - who continues to serve as president of the New Jersey Senate - for 25 years.
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As New Jersey’s First Lady, she was a leading advocate on behalf of the Governor’s Task Force on Mental Health. Having suffered from postpartum depression, Mrs. Codey helped launch a ground-breaking statewide campaign that raised awareness of PPD and offered education and resources to women, their families, and healthcare professionals. The campaign - “Recognizing Postpartum Depression: Speak Up When You’re Down” - featured the First Lady in radio and TV spots. She has been tireless in sharing her story through public appearances and interviews to continue raising public awareness of PPD and encouraging women to seek treatment.
A second focus of Mrs. Codey’s efforts as First Lady was breast cancer. A breast-cancer survivor who lost her mother to the disease, she helped launch a statewide fundraising campaign in support of breast-cancer awareness and was active in stressing the importance of early detection.
As a volunteer, Mrs. Codey has contributed to a wide variety of causes. She is currently a member of the New Jersey Education Association. A former member of the board of directors of the Mental Health Association of Essex County, she also pioneered a PPD support group that began at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in 1994 and continues to help women and their families today. Mrs. Codey received a master’s degree in elementary education - with certification as a learning disabilities teacher-consultant - from Seton Hall University. She currently teaches at an elementary school in West Orange.
Panelists _______________________________________________
Diane Allen
Senator Diane Allen was elected to the State Senate in November 1997, after serving as an Assemblywoman. In 2003, she was reelected to the State Senate for another four year term. Currently Deputy Minority Leader, she chairs the Technology Committee of the Commission on Business Efficiency in the Public Schools and is a member of the Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee, and the Senate Wagering Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee. Senator Allen was appointed to the New Jersey Council of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs, the Human Relations Council and the DYFS Staffing and Review Panel in 2004, and has served on New Jersey’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission since 1998.
Sylvia Allen
Sylvia Allen is the Founder and President of Allen Consulting, Inc., a Holmdel-based marketing and public relations firm that last year produced more than 100 events and raised more than $1 million worth of sponsorships for clients. An internationally recognized author, educator, motivational speaker and sponsorship sales expert, Allen is co-author of “How to Be Successful in Sponsorship Sales” and author of “A Women’s Guide to Sales Success,” as well as numerous articles on sponsorship sales and marketing. In 2004, she founded Sylvia’s Children, Inc. a nonprofit organization that helps children in Africa whose parents have died of AIDS.
Carmen Twillie Ambar
Carmen Twillie Ambar is the ninth woman to lead Douglass College and the youngest Dean appointed in its history.Dean Ambar was appointed by Governor Corzine to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority Board of Directors. She holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from the Edmund A. Walsh School at Georgetown University, a master’s degree in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University and a law degree from Columbia School of Law. Dean Ambar also chairs the Public Leadership Education Network Board and is vice-chair of the New Jersey Commission on the Status of Women.
Aldonna R. Ambler
Aldonna Ambler is President and CEO of Ambler Growth Strategy Consultants, Inc. She has helped more than 800 organizations achieve accelerated growth with sustained profitability. A powerful speaker, she was the 10th person in the world to earn dual professional certifications in both management consulting and professional speaking. With more than 30 years of experience, Ambler helps businesses grow and succeed.
Leslie A. Anderson
Leslie Anderson was appointed Executive Director of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority in June 2004. Prior to her appointment, she served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Authority. In addition, Anderson spent nine years working for the City of Plainfield in the area of economic development and served as the Executive Director of the Office of Economic Development. She is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University.
Marnie Aznar
Marnie Aznar, CFP, is the Principal and Founder of Aznar Financial Advisors, LLC and and a registered investment advisor in the State of New Jersey. She is a Certified Financial Planner and an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has a master’s of business administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an undergraduate degree in hotel administration from Cornell University.
Susan M. Baer
Susan Baer – the first woman to manage an airport for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – was appointed General Manager of New Jersey Airports in June 1998, following four years of service as General Manager of LaGuardia Airport. Baer is a 30-year veteran of the Port Authority. She is active in the communities surrounding the airports and serves on the Boards of Vaughn College of Aeronautics, Trinitas Hospital, the United Way of Essex and West Hudson, the Newark Museum and the Aviation Hall of Fame. Baer holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and anthropology from Barnard College and a master’s degree in business administration from New York University.
Martha Bark
Senator Martha Bark has served on the New Jersey Senate since 1997. She serves on the Budget and Appropriations, Economic Growth Committees, and on the Joint Committee on the Public Schools. A graduate of DePauw University, she is a former business owner, a former executive with Curtis-Young Corporation and a former parole counselor.
Virginia S. Bauer
Virginia S. Bauer was reappointed CEO and Secretary of the New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth & Tourism Commission by Governor Jon S. Corzine on January 16, 2006. In her role as Commerce Secretary, Bauer is the state’s lead advocate for business - from strengthening New Jersey’s business attraction and retention programs to managing the Urban Enterprise Zone Program and maintaining the Garden State’s standing in the global marketplace to promoting the state as a premier vacation destination.
Jennifer Beck
Jennifer Beck serves in the New Jersey General Assembly, where she represents the 12th legislative district serving portions of Monmouth and Mercer Counties. She took office on January 10, 2006. Assemblywoman Beck served for six years on the Red Bank Borough Council. She has a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a master’s from the University of Pennsylvania.
Patricia A. Bell
Patricia Bell is a Senior Vice President-Investments with Merrill Lynch in its Short Hills office. She graduated from of the University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and economics. She joined Merrill Lynch as a Financial Consultant after graduating in 1980 and recently celebrated 25 years with the firm. Bell was featured on Barron’s list of the Top 100 Financial Advisors in the country in 2004, 2005 and 2006, along with the Barron’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors list in June 2006. She is a trustee on the Boards of the Montclair Art Museum, the Garden State Arts Center Foundation, the Women’s Fund of New Jersey and Aljira’s Center for Contemporary Art in Newark.
Charlotte Bunch
Charlotte Bunch, Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership, has been an activist, author and organizer for women’s human rights for over three decades. She is on the Advisory Committee for the Human Rights Watch Women’s Rights Division, the Board of the International Council on Human Rights Policy and the Advisory Council for the Ethical Globalization Initiative. Bunch is a Distinguished Professor in the Women’s and Gender Studies Department and also received the “Board of Trustees Awards for Excellence in Research” in 2006 at Rutgers.
Danzey Burnham
Danzey Burnham is the Executive Director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, a non-partisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government and influences public policy thorough education and advocacy. She has been active as a volunteer in her Hunterdon County community of Clinton Township and serves on the Board of Directors of Children First Academy preschool in Trenton. Burnham holds a bachelor’s of science from Birmingham-Southern College and a J.D. from Yale Law School.
Stephanie Bush-Baskette
Stephanie Bush-Baskette received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University, law degree from American University and doctorate from Rutgers University’s School of Criminal Justice. She is currently the director of the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies at Rutgers University in Newark. Bush-Baskette is presently writing two books; one is about the impact of the war on drugs on the incarceration of black women in the federal prison system and the second is about self-empowerment.
Ruthi Zinn Byrne
Ruthi Zinn Byrne is a founder and sole owner of Zinn Graves & Field Inc., a public relations and marketing firm in Florham Park. For more than 28 years, she has guided and consulted for large corporations and small businesses both in New Jersey and nationally. Byrne’s expertise is her ability to effectively connect people to people and to communicate ideas for business success.
Elsa Candelario
Elsa Candelario is the Executive Director of the Hispanic Family Center of Southern New Jersey in Camden, a 28-year-old multi-service nonprofit that offers programs to thousands of individuals annually. She also serves on a wide variety of local and state committees, commissions and working groups.
Pamela Smith Chambers
Pamela Smith Chambers is the Training Director of the Beyond Diversity Resource Center. Prior to joining the Center, Chambers was the Supervising Program Development Specialist in the New Jersey Office of Bias Crime and Community Relations, and also served as Director of Counseling and Education Services at the YWCA of Trenton. She attended Trenton State College, where she received a bachelor’s in english and a master’s of science in counseling.
Judy Chapman
Judy Chapman is Founder and Editor of the Garden State Woman, a woman-owned magazine established to provide striving and successful New Jersey women with access to information and resources. Chapman is on the board of the Northwest New Jersey Women’s Resource Center and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Committee and the American Heart Association Morris County Heart Walk.
Shereen C. Chen
Shereen C. Chen is of counsel in the Litigation Department of Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll, LLP, where she is also a member of the Labor, Employment & Immigration Group, and Franchise and Distribution Groups. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the Immigration & Naturalization Committee for the Camden County Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association, the Advancement Council for the Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts and the Coalition for Multi-Cultural Understanding. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Rutgers University School of Law.
Anita Chopra
Dr. Anita Chopra is Professor of Medicine and the Director of Education and Clinical Programs for the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging, and serves as the Project Director of the statewide NJ Geriatric Education Center which has provided special training in Geriatrics to over 15,000 health care professionals of multiple disciplines to better prepare them in caring for the elderly. She was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Geriatrics Society, and was named a ‘Top Doc’ by Philadelphia Magazine and South Jersey Magazine. Dr. Chopra has published and lectured widely, especially in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders, osteoporosis and pain management.
Gin Cohen
Gin Cohen has been a Vice President with Michaels Development for six years. In that capacity, she has been involved in the development and financing of affordable housing in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, Mississippi, and closer to home in Jersey City, Atlantic City and Camden. Cohen has been an affordable housing practitioner for more than 16 years. Prior to her tenure with Michaels, she worked extensively in the public and nonprofit sectors developing and financing multi-family housing.
Bonnie Watson Coleman
A five-term member of the New Jersey State General Assembly, Bonnie Watson Coleman has been a tireless advocate for civil rights, children and disadvantaged Americans throughout her entire professional career. For nearly three decades, she has championed the issues of fairness and equity for all Americans, from access to education, jobs, health care, open space, and housing. Most recently, she made history by becoming the first African American female Majority Leader of the NJ General Assembly. Assemblywoman Watson Coleman is a Certified Public Manager and a graduate of Thomas Edison State College.
Letitia G. Colombi
Tish Colombi has served as a Commissioner in Haddonfield for 21 years, the only woman ever elected to that position, and is in her second term as Mayor. She won election to the Board of Commissioners in 1985 on her first try, the first woman elected to municipal office in Haddonfield's history. As the top vote-getter in the 2001 election, she became Mayor, and is now serving her second term. Colombi has received numerous honors and awards, but as a two-time heart attack and quadruple bypass survivor, the honor she treasures most is the opportunity to serve as a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association.
Antoinette Cooper
Antoinette Cooper is Wealth Management Director of Wachovia’s Wealth Management Atlantic Region. Cooper began her career with Chase Bank in New York and has spent her entire career in the financial services industry. Her duties include overall responsibility for managing the delivery of private banking services, financial planning, trust and investment management, estate planning, charitable services and insurance throughout the Northeast Region. She is listed as one of the 25 Influential Black Women in business by “The Network Journal.”
Mildred C. Crump
Mildred C. Crump was elected to her first term as Newark Council Member-at-Large in June 1994 and became the first African-American woman to hold elected office in Newark’s then 336-year history. She was re-elected to that same office in June 2006 and again framed a new page in history becoming the first female president of the Newark Municipal Council. Crump is the immediate past President and member of the Board of Trustees for Integrity House, Inc., Vice-Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Bridge to Recovery, member of the Board of Trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, and a graduate of Wayne State University.
Shamita Das Dasgupta
Shamita Das Dasgupta is a cofounder of Manavi ( New Jersey), the first organization in the U.S. to focus on violence against South Asian immigrant women. She is currently teaching as an adjunct professor at NYU Law School. In addition to several articles, Shamita is the author of two books, “The Demon Slayers and Other Stories: Bengali Folktales” and “A Patchwork Shawl: Chronicles of South Asian Women in America.” Her next book, “Body Evidence: Intimate Violence Against South Asian Women in America,” will be published in 2007.
Marilyn D. Davis
Marilyn Davis was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development on March 1, 2006. As Deputy Commissioner, she directly oversees disability services, income security; labor planning and analysis, and Workforce New Jersey. Prior to her appointment, she held a number of positions in the federal and State legislative branches of government. Davis has a bachelor’s degree in government and international studies from the University of South Carolina.
Michellene Davis
Michellene Davis is a 1994 graduate of Seton Hall University and 1997 graduate of Seton Hall Law School. In her dual roles as Chief of Staff of the New Jersey Department of Treasury and Executive Director of the New Jersey State Lottery, she assists the State Treasurer in overseeing all Treasury operations. Davis is a member of the New Jersey State Bar, is active in the Association of Black Women Lawyers and Garden State Bar Association, and received the 2006 Professional Lawyer of the Year.
Lucille Davy
On October 16, 2006, Lucille Davy was sworn in as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education. With her background in education policy and as a lawyer, a teacher and a former member of the Westfield Schools Parent-Teacher Council, she brings a unique perspective to her role as Commissioner. Prior to her appointment, Commissioner Davy served as Special Counsel to the Governor for Education. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University and the University of Notre Dame School of Law.
Marge Della Vecchia
Marge Della Vecchia was confirmed as Executive Director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency in April 2004. She previously was the Chief of Staff of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, named by Commissioner Susan Bass Levin, following 13 years of local government management experience in Cherry Hill Township. Della Vecchia is a Licensed Professional Planner, a graduate of Fairleigh Dickenson University, and holds a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Rutgers University.
Deb Di Gregorio
Deb Di Gregorio is President and Founder of Camarès Communications, New Jersey’s oldest advertising and PR firm serving the high tech sector. She was inducted into the NJ Advertising Hall of Fame in 2003 and this year is being honored by the Women’s Fund of NJ as a Woman of Influence in Communications. Di Gregorio serves on the Advisory Board of the Rothman Entrepreneurial Institute at Fairleigh Dickinson University and is an active member of the NJ Technology Council. Prior to founding Camarès, she served on the start-up of American Health Magazine and worked as a freelance journalist. She attended the Université De Nice in 1974 and graduated from Ramapo College in 1978.
Paulette Eberle
Paulette Eberle is a facilitator for Monday Morning Project, a grass roots advocacy organization and co-chair of the Board of Directors of NJ CitizenAction, New Jersey’s largest consumer advocacy group. She is a member of the Transend Advisory Board and the Heightened Independence and Progress Advisory Board, is co-chair of the Women with Disabilities Health Care Task Force, and serves on the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired Advisory Council. Eberle is the recipient of the Colleen Fraser Award for Excellence in Advocacy for 2002, The New Jersey CitizenAction Award for Civil Rights Advocacy for 2002, and the NAACP Victory 2003 Award for her work on voter registration.
Lisa B. Eisenbud
Lisa B. Eisenbud, M.S.W., currently serves as Chief of Staff for the Department of Children and Families. She served previously as Chief of Staff for the Department of Human Services, Director of Child Welfare Monitoring for the New Jersey Office of the Child Advocate, and Chief of Staff for the Department of Health and Senior Services. Prior to joining government, Eisenbud served as Executive Director of the Garden State Coalition for Youth and Family Concerns, Inc.
Kathleen Ellis
Kathleen Ellis joined New Jersey Resources in December 2004 and is responsible for corporate communications, government relations, regulatory, environmental affairs, and customer and community relations. Before joining NJR, she was Director of Communications for Governor James E. McGreevey, and served as Director of Communications for Newark-based Public Service Electric and Gas, one of the largest combined electric and gas companies in the United States. Ellis, who has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the State University of New York at Binghamton, serves as a member of the New Jersey State Board of Social Work Examiners and is on the Board of Directors for Friends of the Belmar Harbor.
Sarah Elshazly
Sarah Elshazly is the Chief of the Bureau of Prevention and Community Relations in the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, Office of the Attorney General. Prior to that, she served as Chief of the Community and Law Enforcement Cooperative Educational Unit. Elshazly has for years been active in community relations, representing Islamic groups in a variety of public forms to enhance cultural understanding of the Arab/Muslim traditions and conflicts to the American communities.
Maria Teresa Feliciano
Dr. Maria Teresa Feliciano is currently the President of the Conference on Dominican Affairs. She is founder of the Institute for Latino Studies, Research and Development in Paterson, New Jersey. Dr. Feliciano recently published her book “Latina y Evangelica,” an analysis of how the church and the Latino culture form an “effective alliance” from oppression against women. She received a bachelors’ degree from Thomas Edison College and her doctorate from the New Convenant International University.
Nidia E. Fernández
An ordained Presbyterian minister graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Nidia E. Fernández is currently serving as the Interim Pastor at Hammonton Presbyterian Church-Hispanic Ministries in Hammonton. Rev. Fernández is also a Bilingual/Bicultural Family Therapist, and works as the Bilingual Chaplain and Chairperson of the Multicultural Service Advisory Committee at Ancora Psychiatric Hospital and Co-Chair of the Multicultural Committee for the Division of Mental Health.
Jeanne M. Fox
Jeanne M. Fox is President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Previously, Fox served as Regional Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, and Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Energy. She has a bachelor's degree from Douglass College and a J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law.
Cathyann M. Frank
Cathyann Frank, Senior Vice President and Sales Manager for TD Banknorth, has over 22 years of experience in Budgeting, Operations/ Transaction, Quality of Service and Motivational Management, Sales and Employee Training/Development. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Cherry Hill Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Business Development Center of Eastern Pennsylvania, and the Women’s Business Development Center of New Jersey. Frank has bachelor’s degrees in political science from George Mason University and civil engineering from Virginia Tech.
Caren S. Franzini
Caren S. Franzini has served as Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority since January 1994. In 2005, under her direction, EDA arranged more than $620 million in financings that are supporting public-private investments of $1.1 billion in New Jersey resulting in the creation of an estimated 3,300 new, full-time jobs. Franzini serves on the Board of Directors and is the past president of the National Council of Development Finance Agencies. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, the New Jersey Technology Council, and the New Jersey Development Authority for Small Businesses, Minorities’ and Women’s Enterprises.
Wendy Galloway
Major Wendy Galloway is a 24-year veteran of the New Jersey State Police, where she is currently the Commanding Officer for Community Affairs. Major Galloway has held various positions within the State Police, including being the first woman to hold the post of spokesperson for the public information office and the first African-American woman to be promoted to the rank of Major. She is a graduate of Monmouth University with a bachelor’s in education and a master’s in administration.
Alana J. Goebel
Alana J. Goebel, MSW, LSW, has worked in the anti-violence field for over 10 years. She is currently the Assistant Director for the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault where she oversees the Policy Education Department. Goebel is a NJ Licensed Social Worker and also works part-time at Womanspace, Inc. of Mercer County providing individual and group counseling to survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
Barbara Sussman Goldberg
Barbara Sussman Goldberg, Ph.D. is President of the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey. A partner in RPDesign, a web services company, she has over two decades of corporate marketing and international experience in the data and telecommunications industries, and has co-authored a series on data communications for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Goldberg has also co-edited and contributed to an international linguistics anthology. She holds a Ph.D. in linguistics from Columbia University and specializes in cross-cultural communication.
Jayne R. Gordon
Jayne R. Gordon is an alumna of Lincoln University, where she received a master’s degree in human services. She currently works at the Department of Community Affairs’ Division on Women on issues relating to women’s services. Gordon co-chairs the Mercer County Foster/Adoptive Services Association, and has fostered over 30 children and adopted three during her 18 years of service.
Sherryl Gordon
Sherryl A. Gordon was elected to International Vice President of the Eastern Region of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO on June 29, 2000. She was elected Executive Director of New Jersey Administrative and Legislative Council One of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in May 1992. Prior to becoming Executive Director, Gordon served as the Associate Director for nine years. She is a graduate of the Harvard University Trade Union Program and Thomas Edison State College.
Amy Gottlieb
Amy Gottlieb is the Program Director of the American Friends Service Committee Immigrant Rights Program in Newark, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the rights of immigrants and refugees. She graduated from Rutgers Law School-Newark in 1996 and has represented intending immigrants in family-based petitions and applicants for asylum before the INS asylum office, the Immigration Court, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and in federal court. Gottlieb is a board member of the New Jersey Immigration Policy Network, La Fuente, and also serves on the Immigration and Nationality Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, as well as the Minority Concerns Committee of the Hudson County Court System.
Generosa Grana
Dr. Generosa Grana is Director of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Cooper and an internationally recognized expert in the field of breast cancer. For over a decade, Dr. Grana has been Director of the Comprehensive Breast Care Program at Cooper, where she has emphasized genetic testing to identify those women at high risk and stressed the importance of expert counseling and detection services. A respected educator in the field of hematology and oncology, she is Associate Professor of Medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Cooper University Hospital and is also an adjunct Assistant Professor at the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden.
Linda Greenstein
Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein has been serving in the General Assembly since January 2000. She was educated at Vassar, Johns Hopkins University and the Georgetown University Law Center, and is a specialist in disability law. Prior to her current position, she was a Senior Staff Attorney at the Community Health Law Project, and has served as a Deputy Attorney General in Trenton and as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia. Assemblywoman Greenstein was appointed Deputy Speaker of the General Assembly in 2006, following a four-year period serving as Assistant Majority Leader. She also Chairs the Assembly Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.
Lori Grifa
Lori Grifa has been practicing law for 18 years. Now a partner at the 100+ lawyer firm of Wolff & Samson, she started her career as an assistant district attorney in New York City, where she tried scores of criminal cases and achieved a 90 percent conviction rate. Four years ago, she was asked by Attorney General David Samson to serve as his Chief of Staff, and was charged with overseeing the department’s 800 lawyers and 9,500 person staff.
Sharon Harrington
Sharon Anne Harrington is Chief Administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. First appointed in March 2004 and reappointed by Governor Jon S. Corzine in January 2006, Harrington is the fourth woman to lead the organization in its 100-year existence. She serves on the Region 1 Board of Directors of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the State Ethics Commission, and is also a council member and past chairperson of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Christine Heer
Christine Heer, Esq., LCSW, DVS, is a partner with the law firm of Heer & Lyons LLP, in Somerville. She also maintains a clinical social work practice with Bunker Hill Consultation Center in Princeton. Christine has been specializing in the field of same sex families for nearly 20 years, and has provided numerous continuing education and media programs on the therapeutic and legal issues related to the concerns of gay and lesbian families.
Sharon Henry
Dr. Sharon Henry is aninternist and is currently Vice President of Global Medical Affairs, Cardiovasculars & Metabolics at Bristol Myers Squibb, where she researches and develops innovative, cost-effective medicines that treat cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Heart Association, Heritage Affiliate and Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center, and is a member of the American Stroke Association Executive Advisory Board. She is also an official NJ spokesperson for the AHA Go Red for Women campaign and a Founding Chair of the annual NJ Go Red for Women luncheon.
Heather Howard
Heather Howard is currently Policy Counsel to Governor Jon S. Corzine. She worked for Senator Corzine for five years, most recently as his Chief of Staff, managing a staff of 50 and a budget of almost $3 million. She previously served as his Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Planning, and Legislative Counsel. Heather received her bachelor’s from Duke University and her J.D. from New York University School of Law.
Valerie Vainieri Huttle
Valerie Vainieri Huttle was sworn into her first term as State Assemblywoman from the 37th legislative district on January 10, 2006. She is completing her second full term in office as a Bergen County Freeholder, first elected in 2000, and has served as Chairwoman of the Freeholder Board in 2003 and 2004. Assemblywoman Huttle is also a licensed funeral director and has served as President and Director of the Vainieri Funeral Home in North Bergen since 1981. She graduated cum laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a bachelor’s in english and received a state certification for teaching.
Lisa P. Jackson
As Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Lisa P. Jackson leads a staff of 3,400 professionals dedicated to protecting, sustaining and enhancing New Jersey’s water, air and land, and preserving its wealth of natural and historic resources. Jackson joined the DEP in March 2002 as Assistant Commissioner of Compliance and Enforcement after 16 years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, initially at its headquarters in Washington and more recently at its regional office in New York City. She has a master’s degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University and is a summa cum laude graduate of Tulane University’s School of Chemical Engineering.
Claudia M. Johnson
Claudia Johnson is currently the Chief Operating Officer for Symphony Printing in Belleville. She brings over 20 years of marketing and operations experience in both the financial and private business sectors. Johnson is currently responsible for the operational and marketing programs to establish new growth initiatives, for a long- standing printing company. She holds a bachelor’s in Psychology from Washington University, and a master’s of business administration in Marketing and Management from Columbia University in New York.
Daphne E. Jones
Daphne E. Jones is currently Worldwide Executive Director of Information Management at Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, a Johnson & Johnson Company in Raritan, where she is responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining technical or process solutions that drive OCD’s business. Jones is a 2005 Standards of Leadership Award Recipient, a 2002 J&J TWIN Award Recipient, is the past co-chair of the J&J African American Leadership Council, and served as Steering Committee Member of the J&J Women’s Leadership Initiative. She has a bachelor’s of science in business administration and a master’s of business administration, both from Illinois State University.
Maria (Charo) Juega
Maria Charo Juega graduated magna cum laude from the College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in economics. She is a founder and a trustee of the Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Inc. of Princeton, formed in 2004 in response to the ratcheting of immigration enforcement after 9/11. She also serves as Co-chair of the Princeton Regional Schools Minority Education Committee, and in the Hispanic and Immigrant Student Needs Committee of the Trenton CHANGE coalition. She is a former board member of Habitat for Humanity of Trenton, and Past-President of the Princeton Business & Professional Women chapter.
Ellen Karcher
State Senator Ellen Karcher represents the 12th District in the State Senate. She serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and the Senate Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, and as a member of the Senate Transportation Committee. A resident of Marlboro Township, Karcher was first elected to public office in 2001, when she became a member of the Marlboro Township Council.
Marcia Karrow
Assemblywoman Marcia A. Karrow served on both the Raritan Township Committee and Freeholder Board for years. She won election to the NJ General Assembly 23rd District and was sworn into office in January 2006. Assemblywoman Karrow serves on the Agriculture and Appropriations Committees, as well as the State House Commission, the Joint Commission on Mentoring, the NJ State Museum Board of Trustees, and the bipartisan Legislative Task Force on Higher Education and the Economy. She graduated from Smith College and holds a master’s from the University of Michigan and a master’s of business administration from CUNY’s Baruch College.
Lorraine Kay
Lorraine Kay is the Founder and CEO of Kay Construction, which services the Delaware Valley Region. Kay has over 30 years of commercial construction expertise and has a diverse client base including Commerce Bank, Toll Brothers, Comcast, Lockheed Martin, Brandywine Realty Trust and Liberty Property Trust. She has been an integral part of the growth of Kay Construction to a $58 million company, never losing sight of the company’s motto, “Our Goal is to Delight our Customers.”
Karen Kominsky
Karen Kominsky currently serves as Governmental Affairs Consultant for Verizon. Prior to her role there, she served as Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Environmental Protection and was later named Deputy Chief of Staff within the Governor’s Office. Kominsky has a bachelor’s degree from Douglass College and a master’s degree in city and regional planning from Rutgers.
Janice Kovach
Janice Kovach is currently the Director of the New Jersey Division on Women, part of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Prior to joining DCA, Kovach served as a Councilwoman in the Town of Clinton and as the council’s representative to the Planning Board. Previously, she owned and operated a management consulting business and also worked as a management executive at Fleet Bank and Prudential Insurance Company. Kovach is a graduate of Thomas Edison College.
Eleanor Kubacki
Eleanor Kubacki is President and Chief Executive Officer of the EFK Group, which she founded in 1997. It has since become one of the most awarded advertising, public relations and event planning firms in the state, and was ranked the 18th fastest growing, privately held firm in the region by the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and the Philadelphia Business Journal. Kubacki has a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University.
Marlene Lao-Collins
Marlene Lao-Collins is the Associate Director for Social Concerns for New Jersey Catholic Conference, the public policy organization for the Catholic Bishops of the New Jersey. Prior to joining the organization, she worked in state government for 10 years. She is a graduate of Rutgers University and is a member of a number of boards and networks including: St. Francis Hospital Medical Center, New Jersey Immigration Policy Network, the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey and Central Jersey Regional Equity Coalition.
Joann La Perla-Morales
Joann La Perla-Morales became the sixth President of Middlesex County College on January 1, 2005 - a continuation of her distinguished 35-year commitment to higher education as both a teacher and administrator. She has held various posts at New York City College of Technology, Nassau Community College and Bloomfield College. Dr. La Perla-Morales has a bachelor’s from the State University of New York - College at Oneonta, and master’s and doctorate’s from Teachers College of Columbia University.
Jeannine LaRue
Jeannine LaRue is currently Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Jon S. Corzine, where she oversees the Office of Appointments, the Office of Constituency Relations and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. She has been in that position since January 17, 2006.A former President of the Executive Women of New Jersey andmember of several nonprofit and charitable boards, she has been honored by more than 70 civic, business and community organizations throughout the country.LaRue completed both her undergraduate and graduate work at Glassboro State College.
Diahann W. Lassus
Diahann W. Lassus, CFP, CPA/PFS, is President and Co-Founder of Lassus Wherley, a wealth management firm with offices in New Providence and Naples, Florida. Diahann has been named one of Worth Magazine's Top Financial Advisors six times beginning in 1994. She currently serves on several Boards including Center for Women's Business Research, National Advisors Trust Company, FSB and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors.
Karen Leisten
Karen Leisten is a partner in the highly-regarded Morgan Lewis Technology Licensing and Global Outsourcing Group and her practice focuses primarily on technology licensing and outsourcing transactions, from emerging growth to mature public, Fortune 500 companies. Leisten represents and advises information technology and life sciences clients on a wide range of areas including complex global outsourcing transactions, the commercialization of technology assets, development and implementation transactions and technology transfers.
Mimi Letts
Mimi Letts was elected three times as Mayor of the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills, which has over 50,000 residents and is the largest suburban, commercial real estate market in New Jersey. During her tenure as Mayor, she reduced debt by over $50 million while keeping the average tax increase within the rate of inflation, and she developed several parks, a new library, a new police station, an attractive streetscape in a retail area, and implemented millions of dollars in other road and infrastructure improvements. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh.
Susan Bass Levin
Susan Bass Levin has served the state of New Jersey in many ways – from 14 years as Mayor of Cherry Hill to her role as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs from January 2002 to July 2005, and again starting in January 2006 when she was appointed by Governor Jon S. Corzine. An ovarian cancer survivor, Levin is especially proud of her work in establishing an Ovarian Cancer Research Fund at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and building a state of the art 21st century library in her community. She is also the founder of PAM’s List, a fundraising network for pro-choice Democratic women. Levin has a J.D. with Honors from George Washington Law School and bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Jennifer Lewis-Hall
Jennifer Lewis-Hall is an Emmy-nominated journalist and author of the highly acclaimed books “Life Changes – Using the Power of Change to Transform Your Life,” and “Life’s A Journey – Not A Sprint.” Lewis-Hall holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Finance from Douglass College at Rutgers University. She is a professionally trained and certified life coach whose clients include Fortune 500 companies and many successful individuals.
Virginia Littel
Virginia "Ginnie" Newman Littell is a partner at Brazer & Littell, LLC. Littell served as Chairman of the Republican State Committee from 1992 to 1995, only the second woman to be elected chairman of a major party in New Jersey. Littell served on the Republican State Committee representing Sussex County for eighteen years and as the State Committee’s treasurer for two years.
Marcia Liu
Dr. Marcia Liu is a General Cardiologist practicing in Monmouth County, where she is also an Attending Cardiologist at CentraState Medical Center in Freehold and at Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune. Dr. Liu has degrees from Pennsylvania State University and Jefferson Medical College, and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.
Lisa Macchi
Lisa Macchi, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Millennium Homes in Livingston, has been in the new home building industry for over 30 years. At Millennium, she is responsible for the Sales and Marketing Division which manages more than 20 new home communities, averaging well over 400 closings a year and with over $300 million dollars in sales. Macchi was the recipient of the NJBA Sales and Marketing Director of the Year award at the Atlantic Builders Year End Marketing Awards, along with the Kathy Hughes Marketing award for outstanding achievement from the Community Builders Association.
Venus D. Majeski
As Director of Development & Community Relations, Venus Majeski spearheads the advocacy, public relations and funding initiatives of the Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County. One of the largest not-for-profit agencies of its kind, CPAMC serves nearly 1,000 infants, children and adults with disabilities throughout New Jersey. Majeski is a passionate activist in the area of advocacy for persons with disabilities. She is the immediate past chair of the Metuchen Diocese Commission for Persons with Disabilities.
Sharon M. Malone
Sharon M. Malone is a Detective First Grade in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. She served in the United States Marine Corps from 1983 to 1987, and has held various positions in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office. Malone has bachelor’s degrees in law enforcement and sociology from Marquette University.
Kent Manahan
Kent Manahan, NJN News anchor, has been covering New Jersey for two decades. With more than 5,000 broadcasts under her belt, she has received many awards during her tenure with NJN. Manahan was honored with five Emmys, as well as the prestigious Caldwell College Presidential Award for her achievements in broadcast journalism and telecommunications. She is also the recipient of honorary doctorate of law degrees from Kean College in 1993 and Richard Stockton College in 1988.
Amy B. Mansue
Appointed to lead the nation’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital in September 2003, Mansue is a highly regarded social services and healthcare executive, a skillful leader and a long-time advocate for quality healthcare. A former Deputy Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, she also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor James McGreevey and as a policy advisor to Governor Jim Florio. Mansue received her bachelor’s degree in social welfare and master’s degree in social work, planning and management from the University of Alabama.
Gwynne McConkey
Gwynne McConkey is Senior Vice President of Operations, Information Systems & Technology at Lifetime, Television for Women. Prior to her current role, McConkey served as Senior Vice President of Network Operations and Engineering. McConkey has been with Lifetime since its inception in 1984, when she began as a film tape supervisor. She held this same position at Cable Health Network, the forerunner to Lifetime. McConkey attended the State University of New York at Albany, where she studied theater.
Rosemary McFadden
Rosemary McFadden recently retired as Managing Director of The Credit Suisse Group, where she was responsible for all international online retail trading operations. She became the first woman elected president of any U.S. stock or futures exchange when she served as President of the New York Mercantile Exchange, the world’s largest energy futures exchange. She has a master’s of business administration from Rutgers University and a J.D. from Seton Hall Law School.
Patti McGuire
Patti McGuire began serving as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Governor’s Office in January of 2006, where her responsibilities include handling legislative initiatives and grants as well as overseeing the Governor’s schedule and advance team. Having extensive experience in the political arena, McGuire served as the State Director for Governor Corzine’s Senate office in 2001. She was campaign coordinator for his 2000 Senate bid and oversaw the 1997 Democratic Party’s coordinated state campaign. She was co-owner and operating partner of Front Porch Strategies.
Alison L. McHose
Assemblywoman McHose is serving her second full term in the General Assembly. She is the first woman to serve the 24th District and the youngest woman in the State Legislature, where she serves on two Assembly Committees: Housing, Local Government and Budget Committees. Assemblywoman McHose attended Simmons College in Boston, and graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park with a bachelor’s degree in government and politics and a concentration in economics.
Mora McLean
Mora McLean has served since 1996 as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Africa-America Institute, where she is responsible for the oversight of AAI’s operations from its New York City headquarters, and its programs encompassing 52 African countries. McLean graduated with honors from Wesleyan University before earning a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. She sits on the Boards of Wesleyan University, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and the U.S. International University in Kenya. She is also a member of the Advisory Commission for the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, the African Studies Association and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Bernadette McPherson
Bernadette P. McPherson was elected to the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2002. She currently serves as Chairwoman of the Board and chairs the Cultural and Historical Affairs, Law and Public Safety, and Personnel Committees. McPherson has also served as Mayor of Rutherford since January 2000. She graduated magna cum laude from LaSalle University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and English, and she has a J.D. from Temple University School of Law.
Ivette Mendez
Ivette Mendez is the Communications Director for New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine. She served as press secretary for Governor Corzine’s gubernatorial campaign and his 2000 Senate race. Mendez also served as the corporate spokesperson for Verizon New Jersey and later for Verizon International and the Verizon Foundation. Prior to that, she served as Communications Director for then Congressman Robert Menendez from 1998 to 2000, and was also a reporter at the Star-Ledger and at the Paterson News. Mendez has a bachelor’s degree from Douglass College and a certificate in Puerto Rican Studies from Livingston College.
Anne Milgram
Anne Milgram began serving as First Assistant Attorney General in February 2006. As First Assistant, Milgram serves as the number two person in the Department of Law and Public Safety and oversees the day-to-day operations of the 10 divisions within the Department. Milgram graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers College in 1992 with a degree in english and political science, and received a master’s in social and political theory in 1993 from the University of Cambridge in England. She received her law degree from New York University in 1996 and clerked for U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton from 1996 to 1997.
Liz Milio
Liz Milio is President of Innovative Computer Services, LLC, winner of four Golden Web Awards. She is a Past President of the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners and 2006 recipient of the Member of the Year Award from the organization. Milio got her start in book publishing and was instrumental in the development of computerized typesetting, particularly for high level math and science text books. Her clients range from small to medium size businesses in both service and manufacturing industries.
Maggie Moran
Maggie Moran serves as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of Governor Jon S. Corzine. Prior to that, she served as Senator Jon Corzine’s State Director in January 2002; a position she held until March 2005 when she became a consultant to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee as Senator Corzine made his gubernatorial run. She is also a former adjunct professor at Rutgers in the School of Journalism and Mass Media. Moran graduated from Douglass College of Rutgers University in 1996.
Lathea V. Morris
Lathea Morris is a Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer of The Credit Alternative Group, where she is the chief strategist for the small business market. Morris consults with business owners to help them plan for success. Morris has a bachelor’s degree from Sangamon State University in Illinois, and completed the advanced engineering course “Beyond Reengineering” for business at George Washington University and earned the “ACE” designation, a certification with the Society of Certified Credit Executives of Creditors International.
Debra L. Morrison
Responsible for client relationships at Capital Financial Advisors, LLC, Debra Morrison brings 28 years of experience in the personal financial and investment planning profession. She is a member of New Jersey 300, the Financial Planning Association, the National Association of Female Executives, the National Association of Women Business Owners, as well as the prestigious Estate Planning Council of Bergen County, Inc. Morrison has a bachelor’s of science in business administration, a master’s of science in retirement planning, and holds both the Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Estate Planner designations.
Trish Morris-Yamba
Trish Morris-Yamba is the Executive Director of the Newark Day Center, the oldest social service agency in New Jersey. She has long been in the forefront of family and senior issues, and is noted for her dedication to enhance the educational achievements of today’s youth. Morris-Yamba has a bachelor’s from Rutgers University and a master’s from the university’s Graduate School of Education.
Tricia Mueller
Since 2000, Tricia Mueller has served as Political Director for the New Jersey Regional Council of Carpenters, one of the most visible and successful statewide political operation of any type. She is the only woman ever to have been a political director among New Jersey’s building trades unions, and is the first female regional political director among the 50-plus regional political directors of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. After earning her bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey, she received a Fund for Public Interest fellowship in campaign communications and later graduated from the George Meany Center for Labor Studies with a certification in union organizing.
Lynn Fontaine Newsome
Lynn Fontaine Newsome is the President Elect of the NJ State Bar Association. She is also a Partner at the Law Firm of Donahue, Hagan, Klein, Newsome and O’Donnell of Morristown & Short Hills.
Jane Oates
Jane Oates is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and Senior Policy Advisor to Governor Jon S. Corzine. Previously, Oates was the Senior Policy Advisor on higher education, national service, adult literacy, education research and workforce issues to Senator Edward M. Kennedy on the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Prior to that, she directed field services for Temple University's Center for Research in Human Development and Education and worked on teacher induction programs in Philadelphia.
Sheila Y. Oliver
Sheila Y. Oliver serves in the New Jersey General Assembly representing the 34th legislative district. She has served in the Assembly since 2004. She serves on the Assembly’s Health and Human Services, Higher Education and Labor Committees. Assemblywoman Oliver has a bachelor’s degree from Lincoln University in sociology and a master’s of science in planning and administration from Columbia University.
Lareatha Payne
Lareatha Payne is a nine year breast cancer survivor and one of the founding members of Sisters Network of Central New Jersey, an affiliate chapter of Sisters Network, Inc., a national African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization. The organization’s mission is to increase community and media attention to the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. Payne is a board member of the Cancer Advocacy Commission for the Cancer Institute of New Jersey and is the author of “Sisters Keepin’ It Real.”
Marjorie Perry
As president of MZM Construction Co., Inc., Marjorie Perry is an innovator and role model for women in non-traditional fields. Perry developed her marketing skills at 3M, United Airlines and Johnson & Johnson before forming MZM in 1992. Perry has received many awards and business citations including the Outstanding Minority/Woman Business from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and the NJ Small Business Development Centers in 2004. She has a bachelor’s degree from Kean College of New Jersey and a master’s in business administration from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Helene Pierson
Helene Pierson is the Executive Director of the Heart of Camden, Inc., a community development corporation in Camden. Pierson created a hands-on volunteering program at the Heart of Camden called Second Saturdays, where people from all over the county come to help the struggling neighborhood with tasks from tree planting, to housing demolition, to community gardening.
Nellie Pou
In 1997, Assemblywoman Nellie Pou broke barriers as the first woman and the first Hispanic to represent the 35th District in the New Jersey State Legislature. Presently, she is Chair of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, Co-chair of the Joint Committee on Pension and Benefits, and a member of the Education, Judiciary, and Budget Oversight committees. Assemblywoman Pou’s career in public service spans nearly three decades, and is highlighted by her progressive women and family initiatives.
Joyce Powell
Joyce Powell is President of the New Jersey Education Association and previously served as NJEA Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer. Powell began her teaching career in 1973 as a teacher of emotionally disturbed children at the Barse Elementary School in Vineland and spent the next seven years teaching in elementary schools throughout the district. Since 1980, Powell has taught computer math, English, vocational training, health, and inclusion U.S. History at Vineland High School South. Powell is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate Glassboro State College (now Rowan University), has a master’s degree in urban education and community affairs from William Paterson College, and has continued her graduate studies at Rutgers University, Georgian Court College, and New Jersey City University.
Barbara Morris Price
Barbara Price has been Executive Director of the NJ Coalition for Battered Women, a statewide organization of 29 domestic violence programs, since 1989. A certified Domestic Violence Specialist, Price has successfully advanced policies to benefit victims of domestic violence.
Joan Quigley
Joan Quigley is Vice President for External Affairs of the Bon Secours New Jersey Health System, which consists of St. Mary Hospital, the Family Health Center, the Community Mental Health Center, FAITH Services and a variety of other health-related programs. She is serving her seventh term as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and is Majority Conference Leader. Assemblywoman Quigley is Vice Chair of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee, and is a member of the Assembly Budget and the Assembly Judiciary Committees as well as the Legislative Services Commission.
Winifred V. Quinn
Winifred V. Quinn, Ph.D., is the Associate State Director-Health Advocacy at AARP New Jersey. She is an alumna of Union County College and Douglass College, received her master’s degree from Montclair State University, and completed her doctorate in Health Communication from Rutgers School of Communication, Information & Library Services. Winifred’s dissertation pertained to the communication processes of informal caregivers and how caregivers’ communication with socially supportive others helps them identify local service providers. Her professional and academic interests were sparked more than a decade ago when she began her role as a caregiver to each of her parents.
Lorna Rodriguez-Rodriguez
Dr. Lorna Rodriguez-Rodriguez is the Chief of Gynecologic Oncology at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, where she and her colleagues work at The Cancer Institute of New Jersey on different research areas of ovarian and gynecologic cancers. Specifically, she works in the prevention of multi-drug resistance to chemotherapeutic agents using Selenium in ovarian cancer patients. Her group also participates in clinical research regarding ovarian cancer prevention in patients at high risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Elizabeth M. Shea
As Deputy Director of the Division of Developmental Disability Advocacy at the Office of the Public Advocate, Elizabeth Shea provides advocacy on behalf of individuals with developmental disabilities statewide to ensure their adequacy of care, protection from abuse, and quality of life. Previously, she was the Director of Governmental Affairs and Education Advocacy at The Arc of New Jersey and Public Policy Coordinator at Covenant House New Jersey. Shea is a graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University, the Bloustein School of Policy & Planning at Rutgers University, and Seton Hall University School of Law.
Molly J. Slingerland
Molly J. Slingerland is a lobbyist with the Princeton Public Affairs Group, Inc. She has spearheaded field, grassroots organizing and constituent development operations for former Senator Bill Bradley’s Presidential Campaign, U.S. Senate, U.S. Congressional and gubernatorial races in addition to various judicial and municipal races in a variety of states. A graduate of Wellesley College, cum laude, and Albany Law School of Union University, Slingerland was the Editor-in-Chief of the Albany Law Review. She serves on the New Jersey Advisory Commission on the Status of Women.
Suzanne C. Smeltzer
Dr. Suzanne Smeltzer is a Professor at Villanova University College of Nursing and Director of the Health Promotion for Women with Disabilities Project, a 7-year project funded by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. She has conducted research on health issues of women with disabilities. Smeltzer is currently serving on two national task forces to educate healthcare providers about healthcare for women with disabilities and to improve the health and well-being of people with disabilities.
Carolyn L. Strimike
Carolyn Strimike is an advanced cardiac nurse practitioner at The Women’s Heart Center at St. Joseph’s, where she provides comprehensive cardiac risk assessments to help women recognize and reduce their risks for heart disease. A national speaker in women’s cardiovascular disease, Strimike has presented at more than 200 clinical conferences and community seminars, participated in 25 cardiac research studies and published papers on women’s cardiovascular health in a range of professional journals. Strimike received both her bachelor and master’s degrees in nursing from Rutgers and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the national nursing honor society.
Donna Williams Sutton
Donna Sutton is the Senior Audience Development Officer at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she develops and implements the Multicultural Audience Development Initiative. Sutton has co-chaired the United Negro College Fund “Evening of Stars” for the State of New Jersey and was honored in 2003 with the Women’s History Award from the Miracle Makers, Inc., The NBA New Jersey NETS’ “Achievement Award” and the Robert Mangum Leadership Award by One Hundred Black Men of New York. Sutton holds degrees in music and education.
Eileen Swan
Prior to her appointment as Executive Director of the Office of Smart Growth, Eileen Swan served as a consultant to the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, where she collaborated with the Department of Environmental Protection on Garden State Greenways, a web-based GIS planning tool that promotes statewide-interconnected open space and farmland preservation. Swan has given presentations throughout the state promoting effective and efficient planning for preservation. She has a postgraduate education diploma and a bachelor’s degree in English literature and history from the University College of Dublin, Ireland.
Kate Sweeney
Kate Sweeney is a Senior Vice President and Certified Financial Planner with Smith Barney in New Brunswick, NJ. She entered the financial industry in 1983, joined Smith Barney in 1986 and became a Board Certified Financial Planner in 1991. Sweeney’s areas of expertise include guiding women through life transitions and counseling employees of educational institutions on retirement planning. In June of 2004, Sweeney attended the Wharton School of Finance and received the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation. She is a 1979 graduate of Cook College at Rutgers University.
Robin Berg Tabakin
Robin Berg Tabakin is State President of New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners and is also a National Founding Partner of Women Impacting Public Policy. She serves as Vice Chair on the Government Records Council. Tabakin is Founder and Managing Director of TECHNOFORCE LLC, a permanent staffing company that specializes in IT, engineering and biotech. Tabakin holds a master’s of business administration from Rutgers University, a JD from the University of Dayton School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Cincinnati. She is a member of the New Jersey Bar.
Myra Terry
Myra Terry, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Fund of New Jersey, has been a dedicated advocate for women’s issues for over 35 years. The Women’s Fund of New Jersey is a comprehensive and innovative fundraising source for organizations dedicated to improving the lives of women. She served as NOW-NJ President from 1992 to 1995, leading the way on issues impacting women’s lives including: 48-hour legislation allowing women and children to remain in the hospital two days after delivery, working for better rape shield laws, medical coverage for breast cancer screening, and creating New Jersey sexual harassment guidelines.
Angela C. Titus
Angela Titus has been an attorney with Archer & Greiner since 1998. She earned her law degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1996, where she was a member of Phi Delta Phi. She has a bachelor’s degree in law and justice summa cum laude from Trenton State College, where she was a member of the honors fraternity, Phi Kappa Phi.
Anne Travisano
Anne Travisano, RN, BSN is the Public Health Nursing Supervisor for the Westfield Regional Health Department. A graduate of Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, she holds three nursing licensures in the states of New Jersey, New York and the District of Columbia and is a candidate for a master’s in Health Care Management at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown. Travisano, a pancreatic cancer survivor, is a member of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, where she counsels newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer patients about treatment decisions and surgical dilemma.
Oadline D. Truitt
Oadline Truitt is an Assemblywoman who represents the 28th Legislative District. A veteran school librarian and community leader, Assemblywoman Truitt has served as the School Librarian/Media Specialist at University Middle School in Irvington for 20 years. She has a bachelor’s degree from Kean College.
Ann Twomey
Ann Twomey is the President of Health Professionals and Allied Employees, AFT/AFL-CIO, a union representing over 11,000 nurses and health professionals in hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities in New Jersey and Philadelphia. Twomey is a Registered Nurse and Vice President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Vice-Chairperson of the AFT/Healthcare Program and Policy Council and Vice-President of the NJ State AFL-CIO. HPAE has been recognized nationally for its successful organizing program and for its successful efforts in the passage of precedent setting legislation for nurses and health care workers including Whistleblower protection, a Safe Needle Law, a strict ban on Mandatory Overtime and Staffing Disclosure.
Joan Voss
Dr. Joan Voss was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly from District 38 in 2003 and re-elected in 2005. She presently serves as Vice Chair of the Education Committee and a member of the Telecommunication and Utilities & Regulated Professions and Independent Authorities committees, and is a member of the Joint Committee on Public Education. Assemblywoman Voss holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Montclair State University, and a doctorate of education from Fordham University.
Karol Corbin Walker
In 1995, Karol Corbin Walker became the first African American woman to attain Partner status at any major New Jersey law firm. In 2003, Walker became the first African American President in the then 105-year history of the New Jersey State Bar Association. In 2005 and 2006, New Jersey Monthly Magazine recognized her as one of New Jersey’s “Super Lawyers ®”, and she has also been recognized in the “Best Lawyers In America ®” directory in the 2007 and 2006 editions.
Debbie Walsh
Debbie Walsh is the Director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics. She joined the CAWP staff in 1981 after earning her bachelor’s in political science from SUNY Binghamton and her master’s in political science from Rutgers, where she was an Eagleton Fellow. As director, Walsh manages and oversees CAWP’s multi-faceted programs.
Tahesha Way
Tahesha Way was appointed to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders on July 6, 2006. From 2001 through 2005, she was an English professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. In addition, Way became an associate at the law firm of Steven A. Varano in Totowa where she currently practices. She was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1998.
Nina Mitchell Wells
Nina Mitchell Wells, Esq. is New Jersey’s 32nd Secretary of State, where she oversees the Department of State’s various operations. Prior to Secretary Wells joining the State of New Jersey, she was President of the Schering-Plough Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Schering-Plough Corporation, and the Vice-President of Public Affairs at Schering-Plough Corporation.
Melanie Willoughby
Melanie Willoughby joined the New Jersey Business & Industry Association in 2003 as Senior Vice president for Government Affairs. Before joining NJBIA, Willoughby served for 18 years as President and CEO of the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association. Since 1998 she has served as the Chair of the New Jersey Department of Labor Employer Council. Willoughby is actively involved in many community and civic organizations including the Girl Scout Council of Delaware & Raritan, Rutgers University Foundation and the New Jersey Women’s Political Caucus.
Helen M. Wronski
Helen Wronski has served as chair of the New Jersey Girl Scout Council statewide organization for the past three years and is CEO of Morris Area Girl Scout Council, currently ranked #2 in the USA for market share of serving girls 5 to 17. She is on the Morris Area Chamber of Commerce President’s advisory council. She is a former regional director of the national headquarters of the YWCA located in Chicago, and headed up her own consulting firm for over eight years specializing in turnaround management.
Maria Yglesias
In 1997, Maria Yglesias co-founded M&M Development, L.L.C. to build Cathedral Homes, a mixed project of affordable and market rate housing in Newark’s Central Ward. M&M Development has lived up to its promises of developing and building more than 100 units of affordable housing in declining inner city neighborhoods of North Jersey. By doing so it has contributed to the stabilization and revitalization of these neighborhoods. In 2005, Yglesias was a recipient of the Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce of Essex County’s Women of the Year Award.
Cecilia Zalkind
Cecilia Zalkind is the Executive Director of the Association for Children of New Jersey, a statewide child advocacy organization. Zalkind is the Chairperson of the Early Care and Education Coalition, which has been instrumental in advocating for high quality preschool programs in New Jersey and the state Adoption Services Advisory Committee, which advocates for children in foster care. Zalkind has undergraduate and graduate degrees from New York University and a J.D. from Rutgers Law School. She is also an adjunct professor of family and adoption law at Seton Hall Law School.
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