CIANJ AND COMMERCE MAGAZINE TEAM UP TO RECOGNIZE ENTERPRISING WOMEN IN COMMERCE

Clifton, NJ (August 17, 2022) – The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) and COMMERCE magazine hosted their second annual Enterprising Women in Commerce Awards Reception – paying tribute to the achievements, determination and dedication of a select group of women.

Forty-three women were recognized as Enterprising Women in Commerce in their respective industries. Five women received the One to Watch Award, including Aiyana A. Goldberg, Associate, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG); Kate E. Janukowicz, Director, Commercial & Criminal Litigation Group, Director of Professional, Development, Retention, and Associate Recruitment, Gibbons PC; Teri Capparelli, Executive Director and ReStore Director, Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County; Olga Vargas, Marketing Project Manager, NJMEP; and Amanda Sexton, Founder and Principal, FocusWorks Marketing.

Platnum Awards were presented to eight women, including: Robyn Casabona, Sr. Director of Finance, NJMEP; Patricia K. Costello, Managing Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG); June M. Inderwies, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Gibbons P.C.; Deborah Visconi, President and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center; Jackie Luciano, Vice President, ZAGO Manufacturing Co.; Linda Ziemba, Founder and CEO, AeroDefense; Mindy Sayres, PG, LSRP, Principal and Senior Vice President, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.; and Karen Garrera, Executive Vice President, Chief Retail Officer, Lakeland Bank.                                                   

The reception, held at the Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, was attended by over 160 people. The highlight of the morning included inspirational keynote addresses from New Jersey Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver and Adi Adair, CFO of Triple 5 Group/ American Dream.

“These Enterprising Women in Commerce inspire and encourage others daily and are leaving their mark in their chosen professions,” said Anthony Russo, President of CIANJ. “CIANJ and COMMERCE magazine are thrilled to be able to come together to honor these women who truly deserve to be in the spotlight for their accomplishments.”

CIANJ is a statewide business advocacy organization, representing more than 900 corporate members from every industry sector. The organization asked the business community to nominate women they thought should be recognized. These nominations became a special section of the August issue of COMMERCE magazine.

“This award program grew out of CIANJ’s Women in Commerce Forum that creates networking, educational and philanthropic opportunities to female members of the association,” said William Hanson, President, NAI Hanson, and Chair of CIANJ’s Board of Directors. “I congratulate these women who are achieving extraordinary heights in their careers and are inspiring the next generation of leaders.”

The women honored as Enterprising Women in Commerce included:

Accounting

Elizabeth (Liz) Harper, CPA, Member of the Firm, Director of the Employee Benefits Plan Audit Practice, and Director of Quality Control, SobelCo

Engineering & Architecture

Lynn Spence, Senior VP and Chief People Officer, T&M Associates

Jayne Warne, President, Matrix New World Engineering

Environmental

Tracy Straka, Executive Vice President, Creamer Environmental

Kristin Hatton, Partner/Business Administrator, Clean Vapor LLC

Michele Zolezi, General Manager – Pure Soil, A Division of Earle & Environmental Affairs Executive – Earle Companies

Financial Industries

Kathleen Regan, Senior Vice President, Investors Bank

Carrie LaSpina, Vice President | Client Connections Center Director, ConnectOne Bank

Healthcare

Veronica Diaz, Director, Consumer Market and Sales Support, AmeriHealth New Jersey

Carin Hep, Small Group and Individual Programs Sales Director, Delta Dental of New Jersey

Higher Education

Jodi Bailey, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Affairs, New Jersey City University

Human Resources

Meredith Gatzke, VP of HR and Organizational Develop

Laura Crothers Osborn, CEO and Founder, Crothers Consultingment, Bergen Community College

Corinne Collina, Human Resources Manager, Earle Companies

Infrastructure

Karen Mantzouranis, President, Main Street Movers

Marilyn Grabowski, President, Atlantic InfraRed, Inc.

Legal

Christine A. Amalfe, Chair, Employment & Labor Law Group, Gibbons P.C.

Agnes Antonian, Chair, Environmental Practice, Connell Foley

Snehal Batra, Esq., Managing Attorney & Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C.

Ludka Zimovcak, Esq., Managing Attorney & Nachman, Phulwani, Zimovcak (NPZ) Law Group, P.C.

Manufacturing

Julie Basello-Holt, Marketing Multimedia Specialist, Radwell International (also One to Watch)

Alexandra Groezinger, President, Groezinger Provisions (also Platinum)

Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich, CEO & Co-Founder, ZAGO Manufacturing Co.

Marketing

Ilene Greene, President, Marketshare Communications

Lori Murray, Director of Communications and Marketing, YWCA Northern New Jersey

Non-Profit

Teresa (Terry) Connolly, CEO, nourish.NJ

Real Estate & Development

Christina Jordan, Director of Marketing & Leasing, Denholtz Properties

Anne Remley, Vice President of Marketing, NAI James E. Hanson

Melissa Nascimento, Creative/Marketing Director, Larken Associates

Pharmaceuticals/Life Sciences

Ann Lee-Jeffs, Senior Director of Corporate Sustainability, Modern Meadow (also Tech)

One to Watch Award

Aiyana A. Goldberg, Associate, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG)

Kate E. Janukowicz, Director, Commercial & Criminal Litigation Group, Director of Professional, Development, Retention, and Associate Recruitment, Gibbons PC

Teri Capparelli, Executive Director and ReStore Director, Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County

Olga Vargas, Marketing Project Manager, NJMEP (also manufacturing)

Amanda Sexton, Founder and Principal, FocusWorks Marketing

Platinum Award

Robyn Casabona, Sr. Director of Finance, NJMEP (also manufacturing)

Patricia K. Costello, Managing Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG)

June M. Inderwies, Executive Director & Chief Operating Officer, Gibbons P.C.

Deborah Visconi, President and CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Jackie Luciano, Vice President, ZAGO Manufacturing Co.

Linda Ziemba, Founder and CEO, AeroDefense

Mindy Sayres, PG, LSRP, Principal and Senior Vice President, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

Karen Garrera, Executive Vice President, Chief Retail Officer, Lakeland Bank

About CIANJ

CIANJ is a unique network of businesses committed to improving and advancing the cause of free enterprise in the Garden State. Our focus sets us apart from other organizations and provides the basis upon which we work to make our state a better place to live, work and conduct business.