Mentoring Monday 2021

Sara Ganim

Sara Ganim is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist, and the current Hearst Journalism Fellow at the University of Florida’s Brechner Center, where she hosts the podcast Why Don’t We Know.

Ganim started her career as a newspaper reporter and won a Pulitzer Prize at age 24 while at PennLive/The Patriot-News for breaking and covering the investigation into former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse of young boys.
Ganim then spent seven years at CNN, covering a wide range of issues impacting Americans, including federal agencies, the rise of the anti-fascist movement in the U.S., the NCAA’s mishandling of concussions, and American drinking water issues.

In 2015, she won a Sigma Delta Chi award from the Society of Professional Journalists for her Investigative report exposing the low reading levels of some college athletes.

In 2020, she made her first independent film, No Defense, which garnered film festival recognition, and she has consulted or reported for several other films, including the Emmy-nominated films, Deadly Haze and Paterno.

Kim Alvarez

Kim Alvarez is an award-winning multimedia advertising expert. She was named a Top 25 Leading Women Brand Builder and an NJ AdClub 40 under 40 MARCOM professional. She leads highly successful sales teams, with an operationally based hands-on management style, to provide optimal solutions for advertisers. As publisher of Jersey’s Best Magazine and Jerseysbest.com, Kim uses her dynamic management style to bring a multifaceted content environment to life. She is an innovative leader with expertise in conceptualizing, developing and launching new revenue initiatives. Kim’s passion and drive extends beyond the marketing arena. She also is a champion of girl power … encouraging women’s professional growth, career development and owning their place in the world.

Karen Apwah

KA Creative is a Woman-Owned, digital marketing agency expanding the possibilities of business growth with modern and forward-thinking ideas. Established in 2015, KA Creative worked with over 50 clients across a spectrum of industries on projects such as website design, social media management, online advertising, lead generation, graphic design, email marketing, SEO, branding, and marketing strategy.

Danielle Arno

It was with great enthusiasm, excitement, and much experience that she formed ArtWorx Events in 2013! As one of the first mobile paint and sip businesses in Monmouth County, NJ, Arno was excited to bring the Paint and Sip concept of creativity and art to the area. Arno is proud to note that she is an independent business owner and not a franchise. She formed her business from the ground up, has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. She is thrilled to have created a business that combines her skills, knowledge, and passion. Best of all, she has FUN while working! Her career experiences thus far have given her the pieces to form ArtWorx Events.

Kerry Barrett

Kerry Barrett is an Emmy award-winning TV news anchor, reporter and producer. She is also the founder and owner of Kerry Barrett Consulting, a media training and public speaking boutique. Kerry helps clients from every walk of life bring out their inner rock star when it comes to speaking in front of an audience.. or in front of a camera… across all media platforms and in creating today’s best messaging tool – video. She polishes your message, tunes up body language and tailors your presentation. KBC has developed proven strategies to build confidence, overcome fear, and deliver on-point, on cue.

Ruth Bash

Ruth has over 25 years of management experience in healthcare and the non-profit sector. Since joining Children’s Specialized Hospital in December 2014 she has led key operational and strategic initiatives for the hospital. In her current role as Vice President & Chief Culture Officer, Ruth has oversight responsibility for all Human Resource functions, Marketing & Communications, Patient and Family-Centered Care, and Volunteers.

Prior to joining Children’s Specialized, Ruth held the position of Assistant Vice President and Chief of Staff at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. Ruth is the current chair of RWJBarnabas Health’s Women’s Leadership Alliance and serves on the Board of Trustees of Ronald McDonald House of Central & Northern New Jersey and the Advisory Board of the Rutgers Institute for Women in Leadership. She is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and serves as Regent for the NJ-Northern Region.
Ruth received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and economics from Brown University and her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in health policy and management from New York University.

Anna Burian

Anna Burian is VP, Ambulatory & Community Health at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ – an affiliate of RWJBarnabas Health. Anna has responsibilities for multiple outpatient clinical services and provides executive leadership for the hospital’s information technology, community health, and diversity/inclusion programs. Anna has a B.S. in Physical Therapy, a Master of Healthcare Administration, and is an American College of Healthcare Executives Fellow. Anna is on the boards of Family & Children’s Service and Ronald McDonald House of Central and Northern New Jersey.

Julianne Cantarella

Julianne Cantarella is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified Relationship Coach who has spent her entire career helping those in need. After years of working with some of the most vulnerable populations when she was presented with the unique opportunity to help people find love and create the relationship of their dreams through matchmaking and date coaching.

After 15 years in the Matchmaking industry, it became clear to Julianne that her true purpose is to EMPOWER women to take control of their love lives so they can create the relationship they desire and deserve. A renowned relationship expert and dating coach, Julianne is the creator of a comprehensive one-of-a-kind, transformational- date coaching program, From First Date to Soulmate™, that has helped hundreds of women find love.

Julianne is recognized nationally as a Relationship Expert has been featured on CBS, Live From the Couch where she was identified as New Jersey’s Top Relationship Expert. She has also appeared on the Dr. Joy Show, Power Your Life, Hip New Jersey and IHeart Radio and was a part of the “This Emotional Life Project” for PBS as well as numerous podcasts.

Juliana Carone

Juliana has been in the education field for over 10 years. She is currently a teacher in the Cherry Hill Public Schools. Juliana received her BA in Early Childhood Education and Sociology with a certification in Teacher of Students with Disabilities. She recently completed her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy with a certification in Play Therapy. Juliana is in her last few classes to obtain her Educational Supervisor Certification. Over the last 5 years, Juliana has developed/owned/managed the educational services/tutoring company, Elevated Thinking LLC. The business flourished into six tutors and over 30 students. In addition, Juliana has grown a client base of children and families, providing support in behavior/anger management, relationship building, and healthy communication.

Dr. Julianne Childs

Dr. Julianne W. Childs specializes in hematology and medical oncology and is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology and hematology. For more than 25 years she has been treating patients in the Cape May and Atlantic County communities. Her clinical interests are in breast, gynecological, lung and colon cancer. She attended Med School at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, did her medical residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-SOM, Stratford, NJ and fellowship in hematology oncology. She is proud to be an osteopathic physician as their philosophy is: “treat the whole patient”.

She started her practice In 1995; ”Hope Community Cancer Center”. Ten years ago she became a founding member of Regional Cancer Care Associates joining with over 90 physicians across New Jersey, Delaware and Connecticut. Dr. Childs is on staff at Cape Regional Medical Center, Shore Medical Center, and is a member on their Cancer Committees.

Katy Corrado

Katy Corrado joined the Cedar Crest team in June 2018 as the Director of Human Resources, with 20 years of progressive human resources experience. In her current role, Katy is responsible for the employee experience, including recruitment, employee relations, engagement, compensation planning, performance management and talent development. During 2020, Katy managed daily absence activity related to COVID-19 and led the community’s contact tracing team. Previously, Katy was Sr HR Manager at Verizon, where she was the human resources business partner for employees in business sales, finance, marketing, communications and operations.

Donnalee Corrieri

Donnalee Corrieri Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Donnalee Corrieri has more than 25 years of experience in the advertising, public relations and marketing field. She is currently the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at New Jersey’s largest hospital, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center where her job responsibilities include employee relations, public/media relations (hospital spokesperson), marketing, advertising, crisis communications, and most recently, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She was selected to give the 2019 Bergen County Pride Ceremony Keynote Speech and is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She is a board member for New Jersey Friendship House and the YWCA Northern New Jersey and sits on the Paramus Stigma Free Initiative committee.

Laura Crothers Osborn

Laura Crothers Osborn is a highly regarded speaker, author and expert in HR and Leadership. She is the Owner, Principal and President of Crothers Consulting, a boutique consulting firm she started 10 years ago. With a team of 20, they service small and middle market organizations with high quality, strategic HR projects, soft skills training and both executive and life coaching.
Laura has been working with leaders for over 25 years. Her candid, down-to-earth approach allows her to connect quickly and deeply with people.

After a long career in corporate America, Laura opened Crothers Consulting in 2010 to help leaders achieve organization and strategic clarity while allowing her to achieve more flexibility in her own life. Her firm has grown 30+% a year and what started as a lifestyle business has turned into a real company helping leaders match their people practices to their culture and business plan.
In addition to being an entrepreneur, Laura is the chapter chair of both the Monmouth and Morris chapters of Women President’s Organization (WPO) for female CEOs who run multi-million dollar businesses. She is also an active member of ACG-NJ and Impact-100 Garden State.

Beanne DeGuzman

Beanne DeGuzman is currently the Director of Development at iLearn Schools. iLearn Schools is a public charter management organization based in Fair Lawn, New Jersey with 14 charter schools located in northern New Jersey and the Bronx, New York. Prior to moving to New Jersey, she has lived in the Philippines and worked in Saudi Arabia as a flight attendant for Saudi Arabian Airlines. She is also a former project manager working on different tradeshow and conference projects when she found her passion in the nonprofit sector. Prior to iLearn Schools, she was the Director of Civic and Corporate Engagement at the Bergen Volunteer Center. On her personal time, she is involved in different nonprofit organizations either as a board member or community organizer.

Beanne earned her bachelor’s in education in the Philippines, her Masters in administrative science at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey and she’s currently working on getting her graduate certificate in nonprofit management at Harvard University. She lives in Maywood, NJ with her scientist husband and two children.

Ashley Donecker

Ashley Donecker is the VP of Development & Communications for Junior Achievement of New Jersey. Junior Achievement is a 100⁺-year-old mission that is dedicated to inspiring and preparing youth for success through its recognized career readiness and financial literacy programs. Ashley oversees a $2.2MM annual budget with her small but mighty team of two and is fortunate to collaborate with 125+ board champions and many of New Jersey’s companies to reach more than 80,000 K-12 students statewide annually.

Lisa Fahoury

The former creative services manager for the New York Daily News, Lisa Fahoury knows all about the mind-numbing pressure that comes with having to create a steady stream of great content. Since 1998, her NJ-based content marketing agency Fahoury Ink has helped countless entrepreneurs and organizations develop compelling content strategies and assets that drive results. When she’s not creating content for Fahoury Ink’s clients, you’ll find Lisa shooting free throws or plotting to win the Pillsbury Bakeoff and convincing her husband that three cats really did seem like a good idea at the time.

Melissa Fox

Melissa Fox oversees the operations and systems for over 100 programs throughout 13 counties in New Jersey. Acenda is a family services agency that provides evidence-based programming in child welfare, prevention, juvenile justice, outpatient mental health, crisis services, addiction services, and supportive housing. Under Melissa’s leadership, the Acenda team has received funding to launch innovative programming including a residential program for pregnant women in recovery, an initiative that provides housing and support services for families at risk of homelessness, and a regional partnership grant to provide supports to children who may be at risk due to a caregiver or parent’s substance use disorder.

Fox is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Health Services Executives, the Medical Group Management Association and is a board-certified Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Erin Friedlander

Erin Friedlander is a seasoned public relations and communications professional with extensive not for profit, healthcare and education experience. As Client Services Director for Evergreen Partners, Inc. she has successfully developed and executed communication strategies for a broad range of clients. In addition to helping clients generate greater public awareness and visibility for their brand, Erin often works with high profile individuals and organizations who seek to avoid or minimize reputational risk and negative impact when faced with media or public scrutiny.

Prior to joining Evergreen, Erin served as communications director and media spokesperson for the Diocese of Metuchen, a religious non-profit organization. In that role, assisted with the planning and execution of major strategic communications initiatives undertaken by the Diocese, directly supporting its leadership, parishes, schools, social service agency, and diocesan-sponsored hospital.

An alumna of Rider University in Lawrenceville, she holds a B.A in Communications with a concentration on Journalism and Public Relations.

Rachel Gary

An accomplished communications strategist, marketer, and creative event planner, Rachel Gary has more than 25 years of experience transforming lives through her work in sports, entertainment, and healthcare. Whether it was leading all of the communications efforts at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games, serving as an advocate for the Women’s Sports Foundation to help level the playing field for female athletes, or acting as the corporate communications crisis leader for Clear Channel Entertainment, Gary developed and executed effective strategies that achieved desired results.

Kayla George

Known for her strategic approach to branding and advertising, Kayla George is a tenured marketing and public relations executive with a proven track record of success within the healthcare industry. As Chief Marketing Officer at JAG-ONE Physical Therapy, Kayla has developed a strategic marketing approach that has successfully positioned JAG-ONE as an industry leader within a highly competitive marketplace. She has over a decade of experience in marketing management, leading her team to achieve desired growth goals through a multichannel strategy.

Dr. Juail Goode

Dr. Goode began her career in education as a teacher with Newark Public Schools (NPS) due to a desire to serve within the community where she was born and raised. During her tenure with NPS, Dr. Goode provided instruction as an elementary and middle school teacher and collaborated with administrators as an instructional coach.

In 2015, Dr. Goode established Goode Education Group, LLC (GEG) to serve as a resource to school districts in the areas of compliance monitoring and professional development of teachers. To date, Dr. Goode’s persistent leadership has resulted in a massive expansion of GEG’s scope of work. In addition to supporting school districts, GEG now adds value to local and federal government agencies, as well as private and non-profit sectors, in the areas of recruitment and workforce development.

Dr. Goode earned a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Rutgers University-New Brunswick. In addition to her Doctorate degree, she holds a Masters in Educational Administration and Supervision from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, and a Masters in Public Administration from Rutgers University-Newark, which she earned following obtaining a Bachelor of Psychology degree from Virginia Union University.

Joanne Green

Joanne Green has a Master’s Degree of Social Work from Hunter College School of Social Work and is a licensed social worker. She has held several leadership positions in social services. She was program director of an early intervention training program for individuals with developmental disabilities operated through Brooklyn Catholic Charities. For several years she served as Executive Director of Westchester Disabled on the Move, a resource and advocacy center for people with disabilities located in Yonkers, New York. She also served as a Program Development Specialist for the Bergen County Department of Human Services.

From 1995 to 2020 she served as the Executive Director of the Mental Health Association in Passaic County. The mission of the Mental Health Association in Passaic (MHAPC) is to serve children, adults and families affected by mental illness through support services, education, and advocacy. Green is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor for Adults and for Youth. Ms. Green also served as the Co-Chairperson of the Professional Advisory Committee in Passaic County for several years. She has been involved with various community organizations such as the Clifton Rotary, Valley Toastmasters, City Green and currently serves on the Leonia Board of Health.

Susan Greif

Susan Greif is an ancestral trauma and relationship expert. She helps her clients release old, stuck energies that keep them feeling powerless, panicked, paralyzed and in pain. Susan then offers them her unique multidisciplinary approach to help her clients take action to make shifts in their lives. Once they learn how to have a better relationship with themselves, then they can learn to have better relationships with others…doing this can have an impact on our world.

Donna Griffin

Donna Griffin held a variety of senior positions at Chubb in underwriting, marketing and branch administration before being named Director of Worldwide Operations in 1994. As leader of a diverse staff of 3,000, she was responsible for setting the strategic direction and she significantly enhanced the professionalism and cohesiveness of Chubb’s global Operations Services staff. In March 2009, she assumed the role of Chief Diversity Officer providing leadership of Chubb’s strategies to integrate diversity initiatives and promote a culture of inclusion.

Sabrina Griffin

Sabrina A. Griffin is a Senior Consultant with Jennifer Brown Consulting, LLC, a global diversity and inclusion firm, where she develops the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion for clients, creates long-term DEI strategy plans, conducts focus groups to assess corporate culture, and guides clients on establishing and/or rebranding employee resource groups to align with business objectives. Prior to joining Jennifer Brown Consulting, LLC, Sabrina served at Chubb & Son, Inc. as Assistant Vice President & Diversity Manager. She successfully managed and implemented leadership development programs geared towards women, people of color and LGBTQIA+ employees.

Griffin currently serves on New York University’s Stern Women in Business Alumnae Committee and Pace University’s President’s Council. She earned her B.S. degree in Marketing and Management from New York University and an MBA in Finance from Pace University.

Jodi Grinwald

Jodi has over 16 years in executive leadership experience in the non-profit sector. While serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of the Zzak G, Applaud Our Kids Foundation, Jodi continues to provide consulting services to not-for-profit organizations and professionals.

Grinwald’s clients range from fortune 100 companies, large businesses, not-for-profits, to individuals looking for executive and transformational coaching. Jodi just launched the Today is the Day Changemakers podcast and YouTube channel, where she interviews the changemakers, inspirers, and those who are making a difference in the world. She created a women empowerment group, has taught classes on multiple topics, and has been fortunate to be a keynote speaker and serve as a panelist at multiple events.

Heather Hays

Heather Hays, MHA, OTR is currently Vice President of Development at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway, an affiliate hospital of RWJBarnabas Health System in New Jersey. Previously, Heather was the Executive Director of New Jersey at Autism Speaks, a position that honed her development skills following a twenty-year career as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist specializing in acute rehab following trauma, and as a Director of Rehabilitation in Geriatric Subacute Rehab. Heather is an experienced development professional with a strong clinical background and a passion to address the root causes of inequity and social determinants of health in our communities.

Hays earned a BS in Occupational Therapy in 1992 from the University of Minnesota, and an MHA in 2020 from the George Washington University. In this world of uncertainty and change, the loss of so many in our world, the touchstone for Heather to stay grounded in gratitude has been her four adult children, all making their own paths through this journey.

Ginny Hill

Ginny Hill has been CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey since July 2013, and over the past five years, has led transformational change in the council to better serve its 30,000-plus adult and girl members. Prior to joining Girl Scouts, Marino had a 12-year tenure with YWCA Delaware, Inc., including 10 years as its CEO, leading the organization to growth and expansion. Before pivoting to the nonprofit sector, HIll held senior level positions in the banking and IT industries. She successfully developed, implemented and managed national marketing communications programs for Forte Systems, LLC (West Chester, Pa.). Hill also served as vice president, Retail Services at Delaware First Bank, overseeing the bank’s approximately $97 million consumer banking business and, as such, was part of the executive committee overseeing all bank operations.

Donna Johns

As a Marketing Strategist and President at promarkdirect Marketing & Advertising, Donna Johns’ passion is to help her clients achieve business success by maximizing their marketing efforts to help reach their goals. She’s a strong believer that a marketing strategy is as individual as each company and works with each client personally to establish goals, crystalize their brand, understand and capitalize on their position in the marketplace and develop a unique strategy to effectively market their products or services and produce results.

Johns began her marketing career in the corporate hospitality industry at Entertainment Cruises. In addition to her role as Director of Sales and Marketing, she worked very closely with the inhouse marketing agency to produce effective marketing pieces that reflected the company’s brand and unique position in the marketplace as well as the International Marketing Committee that focused on new product development. Donna also has experience in Operations, Human Resources and Event Planning, all of which has helped her approach her clients’ needs from a marketing perspective that understands the whole company, not just the sales funnel.

Under Johns’ expertise as owner of promarkdirect, the company’s portfolio of services has expanded from a data and mail agency to one that offers customized strategic marketing plans along with a full suite of digital and traditional channel components. In addition to delivering audiences, their data solutions focus on measurement and analytics critical to effective marketing decisions.

Donna is proud to say that promarkdirect is a woman owned diversified marketing agency. Recognized throughout her career with various awards, she feels it’s the collaboration, relationships and opportunities to give back that has been the most awarding. Donna has over twenty-five years of marketing experience and holds an MBA in marketing and IT from the University of Connecticut.

Jennifer Jones

Jennifer Jones has served the Salem County business community since 1999 as executive director and COO of the Salem County Chamber of Commerce. As part of her dedication to community outreach, Jennifer serves on numerous community and state volunteer committees including (but not limited to) the Salem County Economic Development Committee, ReOpen Salem County Task Force, the Salem County Adult Education Committee, the NJ State Chamber Alliance and the NJ Business & Industry Association Alliance. Prior to her role at the chamber, Jennifer worked 10 years for MBNA American in Wilmington, DE in business development. Jennifer has a distinguished business background that has been recognized locally and nationally including the NJ Biz 100 Top Chamber of Commerce Award, Salem Community College Distinguished Alumni Award, and the National Chamber of Commerce Executive Top Chamber Award.

RoseMary Klie

RoseMary Klie is a successful communications and development professional who was named as the first Executive Director for the fundraising arm of New Jersey’s largest hospital, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. An experienced digital marketing, events, and communications professional, RoseMary pivoted her focus to fundraising and lead the foundation through several successful COVID-19 campaigns and grant procurements, and virtual events. Her expertise is in donor/relationship cultivation.

RoseMary holds a BA in communications from Southern New Hampshire University and is certified in digital marketing by Columbia Business School, non for profit management by SUNY Purchase and fundraising by Boston University. She is a graduate of the Bergen LEADS program and a member of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy and the New Jersey Association of Philanthropy.

Imani Laners

Meet Imani Laners, Zeta Global’s new Vice President of Multicultural Sales. Imani has spent 13+ years on the front lines championing multicultural consumers and digital media solutions to the world’s leading brands like BMW, Emirates Airlines, Amtrak, British Petroleum, FIAT, IKEA, US Department of State, Moet Hennessy, Ford, and Chrysler to name a few. Prior to joining Zeta Global, Imani was a Sr. Business Development Manager at an Advantage Solutions data company and has worked for amazing companies like Black Enterprise Magazine, WPIX11, and The Star-Ledger. Imani is married and lives in NJ with her husband and 12-year-old daughter.

Jackie Lue Raia

Jackie Lue Raia is the president of ALEXENA Consulting, LLC, a firm specializing in workforce engagement and development, with a particular focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). At Bergen Community College she was the project director of a U.S. Department of Labor grant overseeing the MOSAIC Center for Disability Employment and the Employment Pathways Initiative. Most recently, she served as the Director of Corporate Outreach and Training at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

As the CEO of the Partnership for Community Health, Inc., Jackie founded the Cultural Competency Task Force, an important initiative for New Jersey, one of the most diverse states in the country. From 2012 to 2016, Jackie served on the national Board of Directors of the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT). Currently, she creates customized DEI workshops for numerous business and non-profit clients. Through highly interactive sessions, these workshops promote an environment that is engaging, inclusive, and transparent.

Colleen Maguire

Colleen Maguire is the first woman to lead the NJ State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) in its 102-year history. Previously, Maguire was NJSIAA director of finance since 2014. Prior to joining NJSIAA, Maguire was director of financial reporting for Commerce Bank/TD Bank. A graduate of George Washington University, Colleen is a GW Hall of Fame inductee in 2008 and 2019 for women’s basketball.

Melissa Maszczak

Melissa A. Maszczak serves as Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Leadership and Governance at Thomas Edison State University. Preceding her current role, she served for over 12 years in various positions in the president’s office at Thomas Edison, most recently, as executive assistant to the president and secretary to the board of trustees. Prior to joining Thomas Edison State University, she worked as a manager and corporate trainer in the private sector.

Maszczak currently serves as a member of the board of the National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) and former member of the board and program committee chair of the University’s chapter of the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Professional Network.

Maszczak earned her bachelor’s degree at Monmouth University in English and psychology and master’s degree in liberal studies and industrial organizational psychology at Thomas Edison State University. She is currently a PhD candidate in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in ethical and creative leadership at The Union Institute & University. She resides in Bordentown, New Jersey with her husband and two children.

Cheryl McCants

Cheryl McCants, president and CEO of Impact Consulting Enterprises, is a uniquely creative, bilingual (fluent in Spanish), award-winning communication professional with more than 30 years of public relations, marketing, media, website design & development, and strategic branding experience. Cheryl tells the stories that inspire smiles, trust and confidence. In 1989, she founded Impact Consulting Enterprises, a strategic communication, marketing and public relations firm.

McCants’ awards include the International Stevie Award for Woman of the Year in Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations, PR News Top Woman in Public Relations, Leading Women Entrepreneurs Top 25 Woman Entrepreneur and Positive Community’s Public Relations Guru.

McCants’ expertise spans both the private and public sectors while crossing multiple industries and countries.

Jennifer Meyer-Mahoney

Jennifer Meyer-Mahoney is a labor and employment attorney admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. After spending 20 years in state government first as a litigator in the NJ Office of the Attorney General then in-house for the Department of Corrections then the State Parole Board she started her own practice in 2011. Her clients are small to medium-sized businesses that need some help figuring out all the laws that govern their relationships with their employees.

She writes employment-related documents like handbooks, employment contracts, independent contractor agreements, non-compete agreements and severance agreements, answers questions about how to deal with difficult employees or situations, assists in figuring out how to classify employees and pay them correctly, and represents employers before administrative agencies, like the DOL and EEOC, and in state and federal court. Her clients span multiple industries including medical, pharma, skilled trades, staffing agencies, and retail.

Audrey Meyers

Audrey Meyers began her career at Valley in 1980, first named President/CEO of the Valley Hospital in 1999 and then the Valley Health System in 2003. Ms. Meyers is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the 431-bed regional hospital and oversees a busy home care agency and large, multi-specialty medical group. Valley is recognized as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades, one of the World’s Best Hospitals by Newsweek and a Forbes “Best in State Employer in New Jersey.” Under her leadership, a state-of-the-art replacement hospital is currently being built in Paramus.

Ms. Meyers holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives and served as Chair of the New Jersey Hospital Association in 2012.

Meyers was named one of the Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ Magazine and was featured by The Record as one of the “18 To Watch in 2018.” That same year, Senator Menendez presented her with the Evangelina Menendez Trailblazer Award. In 2019 and 2020, she was named to the NJBIZ Power 100 list and Power 50 in Healthcare list.

Phyllis Mirabella

Before joining Union County College in 2017 as the Director of Purchasing and then becoming the Director of the College’s first Communications Center in 2018, Phyllis worked in Corporate America for 30 years. Phyllis’s community involvement includes having served as a Roselle Park Councilperson, past president and member of the Education Enrichment Foundation of Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Program Director and Senior Counselor at several student leadership training programs and conferences.

She is a current member of the Union County Commission on the Status of Women. In 2011, Phyllis was awarded the Women of Excellence Award by Union County Commission on the Status of Women for excellence in civic and community leadership. Phyllis sits on the Union County Vocational-Technical Schools Board of Education and is member of United Way of Greater Union County Board of Trustees. She continues her community advocacy in support of human rights and the LGBTQ+ Community as a Member of the Union County LGBTQ Democratic Caucus and the Union County LGBTQ Ad Hoc Committee. Phyllis has been involved in countless municipal and county elections from her early teenage years into adulthood.

Phyllis holds Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a minor in Economics from Rutgers University.

Jenny Mundell

Jenny Mundell is an Assistant Vice President of Development & Strategic Initiatives with RWJBarnabas Health. She has more than 15 years of experience working in fundraising and relationship building both in healthcare and higher education. She also serves as an elected town council representative in Bloomfield, New Jersey, where she is raising her family. Jenny has a BA in English from Pennsylvania State University and a MA in English from Montclair State University.

Lisa Munjack

Lisa Munjack, President of Munjack Marketing, has decades of experience in Promotion and Marketing, working for top corporations including Penguin Group Publishing, Knight-Ridder and the New York Post. At The Post she helped attract millions of dollars in new and incremental advertising revenue through customized print and digital promotions and corporate partnerships. She also negotiated major sponsorship packages and business development opportunities in a very competitive market.

Munjack Marketing helps startups and established businesses solve their business challenges, plus uncover and strategically communicate competitive advantages. Services include branding, marketing strategy and execution, copywriting, website content creation and design, social media strategy and publicity. The agency has helped clients in accounting, finance, music, fashion, film and other professional services.

Lara Nikola

Lara Nikola is the founder and president of Smart Sips Coffee, an exciting brand of unique flavored coffees, decafs, lattes, cappuccinos, and hot chocolates. Lara created a niche in the coffee industry, building a company based on creativity, innovation, and products that insert excitement into the daily coffee drinking routine. Her diverse marketing expertise helped her level the digital playing field and compete in the highly competitive coffee space. Smart Sips Coffee is an e-commerce company she started out of her home seven years ago and has since grown it into a successful national brand.

Christina O’Leary Everett

Personal drive has given Christina the experience to thrive in her career and create opportunities to develop new positions within a growing company for the past 17 years. With over 15 years of experience in Branding, Integrated Marketing, Digital Media, Sales, Recruitment & Project Management, Christina believes you need a positive work-life balance and a strong support system to be successful at work and at home.

Alyssa Passeggio

Alyssa Passeggio is Director of Audience Development at NJ Advance Media, the local news organization behind NJ.com and lehighvalleylive.com. Passeggio develops strategy for audience engagement, social media and video while also keeping audience experience and insights at the top of conversations across the company.

In her four years at NJ Advance Media, she’s overseen the social, video and multimedia teams and held a producer role on the website. Before that, Alyssa worked in editing roles at The Express-Times and The Jersey Journal.

Passeggio is fiercely loyal to New Jersey, calls the Lehigh Valley home and carries a hint of a New York accent. She is passionate about local news, appreciates podcast recommendations and would love to see photos of your dog.

Danielle Ponzio

Dr. Danielle Ponzio is a board-certified Orthopaedic Surgeon with specialized training in hip and knee joint replacement and complex revision joint replacement.

Dr. Ponzio was born and raised in New Jersey. She completed her undergraduate education at Princeton University, where she was a molecular biology major and varsity lightweight women’s rower. She received her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College and went on to complete residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. She completed a fellowship in Adult Reconstruction at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City. Dr. Ponzio has authored numerous journal publications and textbook chapters and actively conducts research in the field of Orthopaedic Surgery.

As an avid athlete, enjoying cycling, running, skiing, and yoga, Dr. Ponzio is committed to getting her patients back to active lifestyles.

Aimee Rametta

Aimee Rametta serves as vice president of marketing for WorkWave, where she drives marketing strategy and operations to raise awareness and generate demand for WorkWave’s portfolio of field service management solutions. In overseeing WorkWave’s marketing department, Aimee empowers her team to execute strategic initiatives across marketing segments, whether it be demand generation, events, communications, digital marketing, social media, design, or marketing automation.

Prior to joining WorkWave, Aimee was head of marketing for Galaxy, an educational demand generation marketing agency. She also served as vice president of marketing for The New York Post where she was responsible for leading all branding initiatives, advertising services, media relations, and content marketing strategies. Her career started in product marketing for Unilever where she specialized in new product innovation.

Gianna Rojas

Gianna Rojas represents the epitome of empowerment and resilience. Gianna has reached millions across the globe and inspired them from her appearances, presentations on and off-air. She serves as an example for individuals with disabilities and challenges all over the world. Gianna is a highly celebrated and sought after international motivational and inspirational speaker, presenter, influencer, and ambassador for events like the PGA TOUR’s Fed Ex Cup Northern Trust.

Rojas is a Keynote Speaker and Presenter, Brand Ambassador, Advocate, and Adaptive Athlete. At the start of 2019, Rojas was selected by the R&A and USGA as a World-Ranked Golfer with a Disability. Her passion is contributing to re-imagine the sport to include individuals with cognitive, physical, sensory, health and age-related challenges to make the experience more compelling, engaging, relevant, and accessible for Adaptive Athletes, the Golf Industry and Brand Sponsors.

Ina Rose

Ina Rose founded Passion 4 People in 2014. Passion 4 People is a women-owned boutique staffing firm providing companies with talented finance and accounting professionals on an interim and permanent basis. In 2020, P4P was named to the top 250 Private Companies in NJ and opened an office in California. P4P is proud to be a certified WBENC company. Prior to P4P Ina was Office Managing Partner of Tatum where she had responsibility for the New Jersey and Pennsylvania markets.

Rose began her career at Deloitte where, as a CPA, she performed audits for a variety of clients in the healthcare, manufacturing, retail and financial services industries. After a few years of consulting and skiing, she joined Resources Global Professionals where for 13 years, she held positions of increasing responsibility including Managing Director. She started and led the NJ practice, developed business and grew it to $40M in revenue. She hired the NJ team, developed large Fortune 1000 companies into clients and managed the relationships. As well as consulted with clients to determine project scope and appropriate staffing. She also led the Global Training and Development for the company for a period as well as created the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

Molly Scherrman

Scherrman manages multi-faceted campaigns and works with clients to develop strategic plans using data-driven tactics and solutions. With over a decade of experience in public affairs, Molly provides expertise on running a successful campaign. Prior to joining Kivvit, Molly worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential Campaign as the Iowa deputy director for the Iowa Caucus, and then transitioned to the national director of state surrogates.

Originally from Iowa, Scherrman got her start in campaigns working as a campus organizer and went on to serve as the primary fundraiser and political staffer for Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack and Lt. Governor Sally Pederson. Molly later worked on U.S. Senator Tom Harkin’s successful re-election campaign as deputy manager and finance director. Scherrman is a graduate of Iowa State University in Ames, IA and resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Faith Schick, DPM

Dr. Schick is board certified specializing in conservative treatment of foot and ankle conditions, fracture care, foot biomechanics orthotics and wound care. She is a published physician who maintains membership in the American Podiatric Medical Association, New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Martina Servos

Martina Servos has been designing homes, office spaces, retail locations and photo shoots for more than 30 years. Servos got her start in her native Germany after studying interior architecture under some of Europe’s most influential designers. While there, Servos also studied carpentry, furniture design, drawing as well as technical drafting and the basics of architecture. In 1987, Servos graduated at the top of her class with the degree of Engineer of Interior Architecture.

Arriving to the States in 2003, Servos began working in Manhattan with Laura Bohn, a member of The Interior Design Hall of Fame. A little later, in September 2006, she branched out spreading her European flair throughout the suburbs of Northern New Jersey through her firm Lemon Grass, which has been featured in the design section of The Star-Ledger as well as in New Jersey Design & NJ Monthly.

Iuliana Shapira, MD

Iuliana Shapira, MD is Chief Medical Officer at Regional Cancer Care Associates. She oversees clinical operations which includes quality of care and patient safety, coordination of clinical care, development of clinical information support systems, and physician engagement in strategic initiatives to provide value-based quality care. Her role also includes overseeing and expanding the research portfolio and implementation of innovative programs to advance quality improvement and new models of care for best practices in oncology.

Dr. Shapira comes to RCCA from State University of New York in Brooklyn, New York, where she held the position of Chief of Division of Hematology Oncology and Director of Cancer Institute at State University New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center. During her tenure at Downstate, she introduced changes that lead to major improvements in the safety and quality of care and mentored numerous physicians, residents and medical students. As a member of the Medical Executive Committee at SUNY Downstate she has contributed to the development and implementation of the corporate strategy. Earlier, she worked for nine years as Director of Cancer Genetics at Northwell Health System and Associate Professor of Medicine at Hofstra University.

Valerie Simon

As a child, Valerie often found herself in trouble for staying up past her bedtime, lost in a favorite book. Today, that lifelong appreciation for great storytelling fuels purpose-driven, data-powered communications and influences her work driving profitable business growth. Recognized as the PRSA NJ 2018 PR Professional of the Year, the Millennium Alliance 2019 Healthcare Marketing Innovator of the Year, and a 2019 Aspen Scholar, Valerie has earned a reputation as an innovative leader.

In 2020, Valerie began working as a fractional CMO for healthcare and financial services organizations as the principal of Rise Consulting LLC, bringing 25 years of experience working inside complex organizations in highly regulated, quickly changing markets, driving unprecedented results in revenue growth, brand awareness and organizational reputation.

Caryn Starr-Gates

Caryn Starr-Gates is a professional copywriter working in advertising, marketing and public relations. She writes for all media – print, broadcast, and digital – for a broad range of clients across many industries, for consumer and B2B accounts. Caryn is the owner of StarrGates Business Communications; she and her team create promotional copy for ads (print, radio, TV, online), marketing materials, newsletters, articles/blog posts, press releases, websites, email marketing, and social media content as well as new product concepts.

Deborah Thrasher

Deborah Thrasher’s educational background is in corporate finance and accounting. Thrasher spent the first half of her career in this field working for both for-profit and non-profit companies. She has been in the construction industry for 16 years now, first starting in residential and then moving to commercial. Currently, Deborah manages individual projects as well as overseeing a team of project engineers, project managers, and assistant project managers.

The construction industry is constantly changing with various economic conditions, emerging materials and techniques, and requirements by other industry sectors. No two projects are the same, and each day presents new obstacles with the opportunity to overcome and learn and test your skills. A successful project requires cooperation and knowledge sharing from every member of the team. It is extremely satisfying to see a project go from paper to the end use it was intended and delivering value to your client.

Wendy Tordilio

Wendy Tordilio, Vice President of Commercial & Engineering for System One, joined the team in March of 2011. With nearly 20 years of industry experience, Tordilio is an expert at helping companies overcome their staffing challenges by building customized workforce solutions that meet their needs. As a staffing leader Wendy strives to assist individuals with obtaining their dream job, through mentoring and networking within the staffing industry.

Tordilio currently serves as Co-President for NJSA. She holds a Master’s degree from New Jersey City University.

Michelle Vernuccio

As president of the North Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Michelle is empowered to lead North Jersey’s finest business leaders to establish connections via strategic networking solutions. Networking goes beyond the initial communication line. Michelle is fascinated by how marketing can determine the success of a business. Marketing is the umbrella of its capability from internal communication to product branding to execution determined by economic growth.