NJAWBO ESSEX CHAPTER INDUCTS 2008–2009
BOARD OF TRUSTEES

The Essex Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) inducted its 2008-09 Board of Trustees at a dinner at the Wilshire Grand Hotel in West Orange on June 17.

Incoming President Holly Kaplansky, owner of the Minuteman Press in Newark and a Bloomfield resident, said of her new position, ”It’s an honor to be taking leadership of such a dynamic organization, at a time when more women than ever are making an impact on the economy as business owners. My friend and predecessor, Rosanna Imbriano, did an amazing job of growing the chapter to our present size of 113 members. One of my main goals this year is to double our membership; with the powerful board we have, and the programs we’re developing, it’s absolutely attainable.”

Members of the 2008-09 Board are:

NJAWBO is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide tools for women business owners to compete in any marketplace enabling them to operate a financially successful business. NJAWBO is the largest statewide women business owners' organization in the United States. Its primary objective is to support and encourage business ownership by women. Networking, partnering, leadership, education, and political advocacy are the hallmarks of the NJAWBO experience. For more information, go to www.njawbo.org.

NJAWBO’s Essex Chapter is consistently one of the state’s largest and most effective in program development. The chapter presents monthly breakfast and dinner networking opportunities for members and nonmembers throughout the year, featuring presentations on entrepreneurship, personal growth and practical skill development. Two signature events are its Fall Gala and Spring Diversity Networking Luncheon, which each bring together hundreds of women business owners, sponsoring corporations and nonprofit organizations for partnership, collaboration and marketing opportunities.

Caption: Members of the NJAWBO 2008-09 Board of Trustees, photographed at the organization’s annual Diversity Networking Luncheon, held in West Orange at the Wilshire Grand Hotel on June 12. Back row left to right: Helen Dao, VP Public Affairs; Michele Sutton, Secretary; Rita Williams-Bogar, Retention Chair; Suzanne Serio, Recycle Chair; Rosanna Imbriano, Immediate Past President; Holly Kaplansky, President; Donna R. Thomson, VP Member Services; Brenda Hendrickson, President Elect. Front Row, left to right: Susan Fetner, VP Finance; Bernadette Armiento, VP Marketing; Donna Slane, VP Hospitality; Robbi Hershon Schneider, VP Programming; Julie Serritella, Nominations Chair; Lois Pressman, VP Administration; Angelica Aguirre, Diversity Chair. Not pictured: Raquel Bonassisa, Membership Directory Chair; Judith Ennis, Sunshine Chair; Soraya Morgan, VP Corporate Relations; Barbara Zaccone, Webmaster.

 Hendrickson named 2008 Woman of the Year for NJAWBO Essex

Brenda Hendrickson, CSA, president, and owner of Hamilton-Hendrickson, LLC, of Parsippany, has been names 2008 Woman of the Year by the Essex Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO). The chapter presented her with a plaque to commemorate the occasion.

The Woman of the Year Award honors NJAWBO members who distinguish themselves in their businesses, in NJAWBO, and in their community and gives them recognition for their business skills and accomplishments. Nominees must have been a member of NJAWBO and a business owner for at least three years.

Hendrickson is an accountant, tax specialist, certified senior advisor, instructor, and speaker. She started her accounting career in the corporate world after graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1982. She has been an active member of NJAWBO since July 1999, currently serving her second term as NJAWBO Essex vice president of finance.

She is a speaker on such topics as wealth management, retirement planning, tax tips, and entrepreneurship. She has been a featured speaker for Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Business Leaders of Tomorrow and a panelist for its Horizon’s Program. She has also been featured as a tax expert on Cablevision Channel 26 and interviewed on several local radio programs.

Hendrickson earned her B.S. in Economics from Fairleigh Dickenson University in 1982 and her Certificate in Financial Planning (CFP) in 2006. Hendrickson is a member of both the North Essex Chamber of Commerce and the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.

The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, Inc. (NJAWBO) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide tools for women business owners to compete in any marketplace, enabling them to operate a financially successful business. NJAWBO is the largest statewide women business owners' organization in the United States. Its primary objective is to support and encourage business ownership by women. Networking, partnering, leadership, education, and political advocacy are the hallmarks of the NJAWBO experience.

Congratulating Brenda Hendrickson (center right), a resident of Cedar Grove, on her selection as the 2008 Woman of the Year by the Essex County Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, are fellow NJAWBO Essex officers (from left to right): Holly Kaplansky, president elect, of Bloomfield; Julie Serritella, vice president of member services, of Nutley; and Rosanna Imbriano, 2005–2008 chapter president, of Cedar Grove.

2008-2009 Policies and Procedures

The Essex Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) has formed a strategic alliance with The Prudential West Essex Agency, of East Hanover. Through this alliance, the agency has become a 2008 annual sponsor of NJAWBO Essex.

“This partnership between NJAWBO Essex and Prudential’s West Essex Agency is about teaming up with a great company in a business alliance that will be mutually beneficial to both organizations,” explains Rosanna Imbriano, chapter president.

“After an interesting and informative discussion with Imbriano and other leaders of NJAWBO Essex, we knew this was the right group for us to support in 2008. We are looking forward to interacting with the members and being involved and active in all chapter events,” said Robert Formato, managing director of The Prudential West Essex Agency.

Prudential is committed to maintaining strong ties to communities and diverse organizations that share its vision and values. The cornerstone of the company’s diversity strategy is based on identifying and building strategic relationships that support its recruiting and marketing business objectives as well as align with its commitment to diversity and community leadership. “We see a tremendous opportunity in developing strong partnerships with organizations that compliment our approach toward recruiting, education, and financial empowerment,” said Formato.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a financial services leader with approximately $648 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2007, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Leveraging its heritage of life insurance and asset management expertise, Prudential is focused on helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth. The company’s well-known Rock symbol is an icon of strength, stability, expertise, and innovation that has stood the test of time. Prudential's businesses offer a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. For more information, please visit www.prudential.com.

The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, Inc. (NJAWBO) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide tools for women business owners to compete in any marketplace enabling them to operate a financially successful business. NJAWBO is the largest statewide women business owners' organization in the United States. Its primary objective is to support and encourage business ownership by women. Networking, partnering, leadership, education, and political advocacy are the hallmarks of the NJAWBO experience. For more information, visit www.njawbo.org.

CAPTION: From left to right, Prudential Financial’s Robert Formato, West Essex Agency managing director, and Saara Marte, Prudential’s local relationship manager, celebrate the company’s decision to form a strategic alliance and become a 2008 annual sponsor of NJAWBO Essex with chapter president, Rosanna Imbriano, and president elect, Holly Kaplansky. As annual sponsor, Prudential Financial presented the chapter with a generous contribution and will be working closely with the chapter to assist in any way it can throughout the year.

The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Newark NJ, and its affiliates. IFS-A143686 Ed 02/2008

  Aguirre Appointed Diversity Chair for NJAWBO Essex

From left to right, chapter officers Brenda Hendrickson, owner of Hamilton–Hendrickson, LLC, Parsippany, and Rosanna Imbriano, owner of RI Consulting, Cedar Grove, congratulate Angelica Aguirre, owner of MonsterINK, Bloomfield, on her appointment as the new diversity chair for the Essex County Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO), with NJAWBO Essex member Marygrace Robinson, owner of the Family Training Institute, Maplewood, looking on. As diversity chair, Aguirre is responsible for the chapter’s diversity initiative. She is also in charge of planning the 3rd Annual NJAWBO Essex Diversity Networking Luncheon, scheduled for June 12, 2008, from 11:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m. at The Wilshire Grand Hotel, 350 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange. The chapter’s previous diversity luncheons attracted approximately 200 business women from around the state, featured several major sponsors, and great speakers. More details will be available soon. To become a member of the planning team or a sponsor of the event, please contact angelica@printmonsterink.com.

The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, Inc. (NJAWBO) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide tools for women business owners to compete in any marketplace, enabling them to operate a financially successful business. NJAWBO is the largest statewide women business owners' organization in the United States. Its primary objective is to support and encourage business ownership by women. Networking, partnering, leadership, education, and political advocacy are the hallmarks of the NJAWBO experience.

For sponsorship or advertising information regarding the June 12, 2008, 3rd Annual  NJAWBO Essex Diversity Networking Luncheon, click here.

  Slane Appointed Recycling Chair for NJAWBO Essex

Michele Sutton (left), owner of Personal Solutions and vice president of administration for the Essex County Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO), congratulates Donna Slane, an independent consultant with Arbonne International, on her appointment as the chapter’s new recycling chair. Slane will coordinate the printer cartridge recycling program for the chapter, which accepts empty name-brand laser and ink-jet printer cartridges for recycling. The money received from the recycled cartridges is donated to NJAWBO’s Women’s Business Center. Sutton is a resident of West Orange and Slane resides in Caldwell. Anyone who would like to donate their empty name-brand cartridges can reach Slane at DonnaSlane@myarbonne.com.

The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, Inc. (NJAWBO) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide tools for women business owners to compete in any marketplace, enabling them to operate a financially successful business. NJAWBO is the largest statewide women business owners' organization in the United States. Its primary objective is to support and encourage business ownership by women. Networking, partnering, leadership, education, and political advocacy are the hallmarks of the NJAWBO experience.

From left to right, Donna Thompson, president and cofounder of the Cedar Grove Education Foundation (CGEF), is shown welcoming Rosanna Imbriano and Brenda Hendrickson to leadership roles on the 2007–2008 CGEF Board of Trustees. All three women are fellow members of the Essex Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO Essex). Imbriano, a marketing consultant and current president of NJAWBO Essex, was elected as CGEF vice president, and Hendrickson, an accountant and NJAWBO Essex vice president of finance, is the new CGEF treasurer. Thompson, a publishing specialist, is vice president of marketing for NJAWBO Essex. All are residents of Cedar Grove. Not shown, but also a CGEF Trustee, is NJAWBO State Secretary, Dawn R. SanFilippo, Esq., a Cedar Grove attorney.

Established in 2003, the Cedar Grove Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization. The Foundation is committed to bringing exceptional educational programs to township residents, to providing an adult education program in town, and to awarding scholarships to qualified students.