Four Local Women Leaders to be Honored at Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey’s Annual Women of Achievement Gala

Riverdale, N.J. – March 7, 2024 – Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey (GSNNJ), the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, announces it will be recognizing four of New Jersey’s most influential women leaders as this year’s Women of Achievement honorees.

For over 40 years, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey has recognized extraordinary women from the local community for their personal and professional accomplishments, paying a special tribute to their successes at GSNNJ’s annual Women of Achievement gala. This year’s Women of Achievement honorees include women leaders across northern New Jersey from various industries and backgrounds, each of whom is being recognized for breaking barriers and making a significant change in their communities while serving as a strong role model for girls. This year’s honorees include:

Catherine P. O’Hern, Litigation Associate, Schenck Price Smith and King, recipient of Women of Achievement Award – A resident of Morristown, Catherine O'Hern, a litigation associate at Schenck Price Smith & King in Florham Park, specializes in medical malpractice defense, civil litigation, insurance defense, third-party liability, and Appellate matters. She previously clerked for Judge William J. McGovern, III, and served as a judicial intern and mediator in the Morris County Superior Court.

Before practicing law, O’Hern had a career as a marketing representative for a mainframe and supercomputer firm, designing and supervising the installation of proprietary software solutions for Fortune 500 companies. After she took time off to raise her four daughters she took “the road less traveled” and started a new chapter in the law at an uncommon age. O’Hern holds a J.D. from Rutgers Law School and a B.A. in Art History from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Veronica Ross, Senior Vice President (SVP), Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Kearny Bank, recipient of Women of Achievement Award – Veronica Ross of Westwood has 35 years of experience in the financial industry. In her role at Kearny Bank, she works closely with all departments on the bank’s DE&I initiatives to drive awareness and develop a diverse environment for all team members. Ross also leads the women in business program, Kearny Bank ChangeMakers, which provides educational resources, support, and networking opportunities to ensure the growth and success of women-owned businesses.

Before working at Kearny Bank, Ross served as SVP for PNC Bank and served in various regional management positions with Wachovia Bank where she launched its Hispanic initiative for the tristate area and served as spokesperson for radio commercials and television spots promoting products and services to the largely underserved Hispanic community.

She actively supports and volunteers at Table to Table, Junior Achievement, and St. John the Baptist Church in Hillsdale, and is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of New Jersey, and the Executive Women of New Jersey. She also served as the Second Vice Chair, Chair of the Finance Committee, and as a member of the Audit Committee for GSNNJ.

Kristina Tiralosi, Senior Software Engineer, Creston Electronics, recipient of the Elinor J. Ferdon Young Woman of Promise Award – A resident of Hillsdale, Kristina Tiralosi is a Senior DevOps Software Engineer at Crestron Electronics. A graduate of Ramapo College in Mahwah, she has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and is a Gold Award Girl Scout.

While at Ramapo College, Tiralosi led the college’s Computers & Technology Club. In 2023, when Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey visited Crestron Electronics for its International Day of Women and Girls in Science celebration, she was a keynote speaker and guide to the attending Girl Scouts.

Tiralosi earned her Girl Scout Gold Award for her successful chartering of the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) organization at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan when she was a student there, contributing to a large-scale anti-smoking and anti-drug movement at the school. She continues her work in this area by returning to the school each year to mentor students and present an award to a graduating senior who has participated in the club.

LaKreisha “Kree” Jean, Community Curator for the Office of the Bergen County Executive, GSNNJ Service Unit Treasurer and Troop Leader, recipient of the Mitzi Golbek Spirit of Girl Scouting Award – A resident of River Vale, LaKreisha Jean serves as the Community Curator for the Office of the Bergen County Executive and is a Lifetime Member, Service Unit Treasurer, and Troop Leader with GSNNJ.

With over 25 years of experience in management and advisement, she organizes community events, locally and regionally, that aim to educate attendees on critical cultural and health matters. Jean has performed in many roles including National Chair of Curriculum for Jack & Jill of America, Inc., Treasurer of Mocha Moms Inc. Bergen County chapter and visionary leader of the newly chartered Alpha Beta Rho Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Also an entrepreneur, Jean is the Curator and Co-Founder of “A Melanin Life Presents,” a concierge service for the arts, literacy, wellness, and education and LMJ Solutions & Co., an educational resource and management company assisting underprivileged and underrepresented individuals.

Jean earned a degree in History/Political Science with a minor in French from Virginia Union University. She also earned an M.L.S. from Northeastern University and M.B.A. from Long Island University and is currently pursuing a Doctorate from the American College of Education while on sabbatical as an adjunct professor at Bergen Community College.

“The goal of our Women of Achievement gala is to honor women who serve as role models for the 18,500 girls in the GSNNJ Council, who are influential leaders in their industry and community, and exemplify the leadership ideals inherent in Girl Scouting,” said Sandra A. Kenoff, President/CEO, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey. “Catherine, Veronica, Kristina and Kree could not be more deserving of these awards and we look forward to recognizing their leadership and achievements this April and are eager to see what they do next.”

This year’s annual gala will take place on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at The Venetian, Garfield, N.J. from 6:30-10:00 p.m. General tickets are $200 per person and VIP tickets are available at $275 per person, which include exclusive access to a VIP Reception from 6:00-6:30 p.m. along with special recognition in the gala Tribute Journal. Guests from area corporations and the community at large are welcome to join in honoring this year’s Women of Achievement by attending the event, becoming a sponsor, taking out an ad in the gala tribute journal, or making a donation.

Proceeds from Women of Achievement provide opportunities for girls to participate in girl-led programming such as STEM, outdoors, financial literacy, civic advocacy, and healthy living; recruit volunteers and provide them with training and the tools needed to engage and mentor girls; give access to age-appropriate materials, activities, and resources to inspire girls; and reach more girls by providing scholarships and financial assistance to those in need.

For more information about the event, sponsorship opportunities, or purchasing tickets, visit www.gsnnj.org/woa or contact the Fund Development team at development@gsnnj.org or 973-248-8200. Donations may be made online or mailed by check to the attention of Fund Development Department at Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, 95 Newark Pompton Turnpike Riverdale, NJ, 07457.

For more information about the gala and this year’s honorees, visit www.gsnnj.org/woa.

About Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey

Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them.

Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey serves girls ages 5-18 in Bergen, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and northern Warren counties, bringing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to more than 18,500 girls and 10,200 adult members. Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey is committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for every girl and her family.

To learn more about Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey or to volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.gsnnj.org and stay connected by following GSNNJ on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.