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Don’t Miss Out!

The New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum, Powered by Citizens, remains the largest professional women’s conference in New Jersey!

We’ll make the most of our in-person event with awards, an incredible evening networking reception, 60+ speakers, 15 breakout sessions, Ted-Style Talks, and so much more!

This event brings large corporations, entrepreneurs, not-for-profits, and students together to inspire and empower them, form an agenda that will increase diversity in corporate leadership, and build successful businesses.

Join the event that over 5,000 attendees have enjoyed in the past, and take some time for yourself to learn, grow, and succeed on your professional path.

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Agenda & Sponsorship Opportunities


Book your discounted room rate by September 3 to take advantage of exclusive savings and secure your stay!

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WBLF Agenda

8:00 AM
Networking, Registration & Breakfast
9:00 AM
NEW: Workshops - Five to Choose From

Optimize Your Career Toolkit for AI Success
Mastering the Art of Networking
Empowering Your Future: Financial Wisdom & Wellness Tools
How to Be a Mentor, Presented by Stockton University
ALICE at Work: Advancing Workforce Stability and Innovation, Presented by the United Way of Northern New Jersey

10:00 AM
Welcome & Champagne Toast
10:30 AM
Awards Ceremony
11:15 AM
Ted-Style Talks
12:00 PM
C-Suite Panel
12:50 PM
Open Networking and Buffet Lunch
2:00 PM
Breakout Sessions - Five to Choose From

Navigating Career Transitions: Embrace Change with Confidence
Inter-Generational Communication
Navigating Challenging Workplace Dynamics
Mastering Confidence that Elevates Success
Boards: Taking the Leap to Leadership

2:45 PM
Networking with Snack
3:05 PM
Breakout Sessions - Breaking Barriers Collection - Five to Choose From

Rising in Restaurant & Hospitality, Presented by the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association
She Leads Science: Visionary Leadership in Pharma, Biotech & MedTech, Presented by HealthCare Institute of NJ
Leadership in Manufacturing
Rising in Professional Services
The Female Entrepreneur

3:55 PM
Networking
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Cocktail Reception

Meet Our Speakers

Michele N.     Siekerka, Esq.
Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. President & CEO, NJBIA
Dr. Jennifer Aarons
Dr. Jennifer Aarons Asst. Professor-Hospitality, Tourism & Event Mgt and Esports Mgt - Chair, Stockton Women’s Leadership Council, Stockton Univ.
Anthony Abrantes
Anthony Abrantes Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters
Dr. Donna Albano
Dr. Donna Albano Professor- Hospitality, Tourism & Event Mgt, Stockton Univ.
Herb Ames
Herb Ames President & CEO, Devin Group Inc
Helen Archontou
Helen Archontou Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Northern New Jersey
Shikha Bajaj
Shikha Bajaj Founder, Own Your Color Academy
Carey Balogh
Carey Balogh Founder & CEO, Brand Groupies
Laura Bishop
Laura Bishop CEO, Laura Bishop Communications
Shell Bobev
Shell Bobev Founder, Disrupt The Gap
Jessica Breslow
Jessica Breslow CEO, PJW Restaurant Group
Sarah Switlik Brooks
Sarah Switlik Brooks President, Switlik Parachute Company
Dr. Noel Criscione-Naylor
Dr. Noel Criscione-Naylor Program Chair/Professor- Hospitality, Tourism & Event Mgt, Stockton Univ.
Cary Esperanza Dawson
Cary Esperanza Dawson Director of Strategic Partnerships, United For ALICE@Work
Dr. June DePonte-Sernak
Dr. June DePonte-Sernak Statewide Diversity Leadership Officer, Center for Family Services
Nagela Duperval
Nagela Duperval Owner, OU LA Restaurant & Bar
Mary Jane (MJ) Durkin
Mary Jane (MJ) Durkin Director, Venture Studio , NJII
Paula Ferreira
Paula Ferreira Assistant Managing Partner, Forvis Mazars
Kiran Handa Gaudioso
Kiran Handa Gaudioso Inaugural Women for Change Achievement Award
Lauren Genest
Lauren Genest Partner & President, Brand Groupies
Michelle Hagan
Michelle Hagan CEO and Business Partner, C3Workplace
Brittany S. Hale
Brittany S. Hale Founder and CEO, BND Consulting Group
Susan S. Hodges, Esq.
Susan S. Hodges, Esq. Shareholder & Co-Chair, Labor and Employment and School Law, Parker McCay
James W. Horne, Jr.
James W. Horne, Jr. President and CEO, Junior Achievement of New Jersey
Jodi Hope Grinwald
Jodi Hope Grinwald Certified Professional Coach & Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner
Melissa Isman
Melissa Isman Senior Partnerships Development Manager, Plymouth Rock Assurance Corporation
Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM
Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM CEO and Executive Director, New Jersey Society of CPAs
Johanna R. Johnson, Ed.D.
Johanna R. Johnson, Ed.D. Founding Member, Stockton Women’s Leadership Council
Jaci Kator
Jaci Kator Regional Vice President External Affairs, AT&T
Sandra A. Kenoff
Sandra A. Kenoff President/CEO, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
Emily Lampkin
Emily Lampkin Founder of the Women Leaders Series
Dr. Taneice Lewis
Dr. Taneice Lewis Motivational Speaker, Author, Business Coach, Pray for Rain LLC
Mary Ann Lindholm
Mary Ann Lindholm Vice President, Human Resources, Falstrom Company
Kelly Louro
Kelly Louro Marketing Director & Senior Account Manager, C3Workplace
Susan Masciarelli
Susan Masciarelli President & CEO, Web-Cote Industries
Laura Myers
Laura Myers Director of Consulting, IT & Telecommunications Expert, State & Local Government Specialist - CGI
Kristina Nicoles
Kristina Nicoles President & Chief Administrative Officer, Holman
James O'Donoghue
James O'Donoghue Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist, BCG Securities
Sue Ozunal
Sue Ozunal Business Strategy & Growth Expert
David Pearlmutter
David Pearlmutter Vice President and Chief Product Officer of the Direct Group at Plymouth Rock Assurance
Larisa Perlovsky
Larisa Perlovsky Area Marketing Director for the Tri-State Region, Optimum Market Structure
Krishna Powell
Krishna Powell Founder & CEO, HR 4 Your Small Biz, LLC
Melissa Prashad
Melissa Prashad Community Manager, JPMorgan Chase
Jackie Lue Raia
Jackie Lue Raia President, ALEXENA Consulting, LLC
Stefanie Riehl
Stefanie Riehl
Bertha Garcia Robinson
Bertha Garcia Robinson Founder, Star One Professional Services
Michelle Roers
Michelle Roers Senior Vice President of Strategies for ALICE, United For ALICE@Work
Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich
Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich CEO & Co-Founder, ZaGO Manufacturing Co. Inc
Judy Sailer, SHRM CP, PHR
Judy Sailer, SHRM CP, PHR Director of Learning & Development, Primepoint HRMS & Payroll
Randi Schillinger
Randi Schillinger Attorney, Saiber
Caitlin Smith, CPA
Caitlin Smith, CPA Partner at SKC & Co. CPAs, LLC
Lorraine Smith
Lorraine Smith Director of Human Resources, Ritchie & Page Distribution Co., Inc.
Catherine Frugé Starghill, Esq.
Catherine Frugé Starghill, Esq. VP, New Jersey Council of County Colleges and Executive Director, New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce & Economic Development
Monica Slater Stokes
Monica Slater Stokes The Caren Franzini Award
Melissa Toll
Melissa Toll Vice President of Human Resources, Delta Dental
Michelle Szmajda Villatoro
Michelle Szmajda Villatoro Founder & CEO, Just Think Hospitality, Inc.
Jessica Viotto
Jessica Viotto Senior Vice President - Treasury Management Corporate and Institutional Banking, The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
Veronica Antillano Vivas
Veronica Antillano Vivas General Manager, Amazon
Aarin Michele Williams, Esq.
Aarin Michele Williams, Esq. CEO & Principal Consultant, A.M.W. Impact Strategy Solutions LLC
Cyndie Williams
Cyndie Williams Executive Director, Carpenter Contractor Trust
Michele Wispelwey, MBA
Michele Wispelwey, MBA Co-founder & President, FemGevity
Elissa Zylbershlag, M.Ed.
Elissa Zylbershlag, M.Ed. Founder, Work Wise Labs

Meet Our Award Winners

James W. Horne, Jr.
James W. Horne, Jr. Community Impact Award
Mike Renna
Mike Renna Good Guy Award
Monica Slater Stokes
Monica Slater Stokes The Caren Franzini Award
Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter
Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter Leadership in Public Service Award

Meet Our Rising Star Winners - More To Be Announced!

Melissa De Cunto
Melissa De Cunto New Jersey Institute of Technology
Zeynep Nalan Kus
Zeynep Nalan Kus New Jersey Institute of Technology

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Refund Policy: If you cancel 7 days or more prior to the scheduled event date, you will be eligible for a full 100% refund. Unfortunately, cancellations made within 1 week (7 days) of the event will not be eligible for any refunds.