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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, 100+ 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 and Sponsorships

WBLF Agenda

8:00 AM
Breakfast, Registration, & Networking
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

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

4:05 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.
Katie Abouzahr, MD
Katie Abouzahr, MD Global Head, Late Development, Immunology R&D, Johnson & Johnson
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
Francis Ahmed
Francis Ahmed Vice President and Banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Carole Augustine
Carole Augustine Senior Vice President, R&D Shared Sciences
Shikha Bajaj
Shikha Bajaj Founder, Own Your Color Academy
Carey Balogh
Carey Balogh Founder & CEO, Brand Groupies
Rosemary Becchi
Rosemary Becchi Shareholder, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck
Laura Bishop
Laura Bishop CEO, Laura Bishop Communications
Natalie Brathwaite
Natalie Brathwaite Vice President, Government Relations & Public Affairs, Fidelity Investments
Dana Brereton
Dana Brereton Head of Human Resources, Playa Bowls
Jessica Breslow
Jessica Breslow CEO, PJW Restaurant Group
Sarah Switlik Brooks
Sarah Switlik Brooks President, Switlik Parachute Company
Tasha Youngblood Brown
Tasha Youngblood Brown CEO and Founder of The Brown Bag Collective, LLC, and EvolvED Technology Ventures Corporation
Chrissy Buteas
Chrissy Buteas President & CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey
Denise Campbell
Denise Campbell VP of Marketing, US Oncology at Novartis
Elisa Charters
Elisa Charters Founder, Juego AI Labs
Elvira Chaush, FSCP®
Elvira Chaush, FSCP® Financial Advisor, NYLIFE Securities LLC
Lisa Criscuolo
Lisa Criscuolo Publisher & Senior Director of Sales,  New Jersey Business Magazine
Dr. Noel Criscione-Naylor
Dr. Noel Criscione-Naylor Program Chair/Professor- Hospitality, Tourism & Event Mgt, Stockton Univ.
Moushmi Culver
Moushmi Culver Senior Vice President, Head of Manufacturing Strategy, Business Development, and Alliances - Merck
Kristi D’Angeli
Kristi D’Angeli CEO & Founder, WorkDynamX
Cary Esperanza Dawson
Cary Esperanza Dawson Director of Strategic Partnerships, United For ALICE@Work
Amy Densmore
Amy Densmore Chief Strategy Officer, NJBIA
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
Francine Esrig, Ph.D.
Francine Esrig, Ph.D. Talent Management Advisor, Executive Coach, and Industrial & Organizational Psychologist, Crothers Consulting
Paula Ferreira
Paula Ferreira Assistant Managing Partner, Forvis Mazars
Nuno Francisco
Nuno Francisco Business Banking Market Executive, Citizens
Kiran Handa Gaudioso
Kiran Handa Gaudioso Inaugural Women for Change Achievement Award
Yajaira Hafley
Yajaira Hafley Retail Market Executive, Citizens
Michelle Hagan
Michelle Hagan CEO & Business Partner, C3Worx
Natasha L. Hemmings
Natasha L. Hemmings Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
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
Robyn Horvath, CPA
Robyn Horvath, CPA Corporate Controller, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages
Jodi Hope Grinwald
Jodi Hope Grinwald Certified Professional Coach, Energy Leadership Index–Master Practitioner, Consultant, and Chief Change Agent
Melissa Isman
Melissa Isman National Vice President of Business Development, AMVAL Insurance Solutions, LLC
Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM
Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, MA, IOM CEO and Executive Director, New Jersey Society of CPAs
Dr. Johanna R. Johnson, Ed.D.
Dr. Johanna R. Johnson, Ed.D. Founding Member, Stockton Women’s Leadership Council
Bianca Jordan
Bianca Jordan Branch Manager, Balanced Life Homecare Services – Brightstar Care
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
Tracy Kneble
Tracy Kneble Chief Financial Officer, LaScala Restaurant Group
Meg LaManna
Meg LaManna Chef
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
Clifford F. Lindholm, III
Clifford F. Lindholm, III President & CEO at Falstrom Company
Meredith Lipnick
Meredith Lipnick Director of Private Sector Strategy, Moms First
Lorraine Livolsi-Smith
Lorraine Livolsi-Smith Director of Human Resources, Ritchie & Page Distribution Co., Inc.
Kelly Louro
Kelly Louro Marketing Director & Senior Account Manager, C3Worx
Ronna Marchello
Ronna Marchello Vice President and Business Development Officer, Spencer Savings Bank
Dee C. Marshall
Dee C. Marshall CEO & Managing Partner, Ai Training Plus 
JoAnn Martinho
JoAnn Martinho Director, Business Development, Partner Support and Enablement, Plymouth Rock Assurance
Susan Masciarelli
Susan Masciarelli President & CEO, Web-Cote Industries
Jennifer Mazawey
Jennifer Mazawey Partner, K&L Gates
Monica Martinez Milan
Monica Martinez Milan Chair, Somerset County Business Partnership
Beth Molinaro
Beth Molinaro Vice President, People and Talent, Financial Resources Federal Credit Union
Laura Myers
Laura Myers Director of Consulting, IT & Telecommunications Expert, State & Local Government Specialist - CGI
Emily Najjar
Emily Najjar Director of Membership & Industry Relations, NJ Restaurant & Hospitality Association
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
Sara Peña
Sara Peña External Affairs North, PSEG
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
Matthew Rickert
Matthew Rickert Market Executive, Citizens
Stefanie Riehl
Stefanie Riehl Executive Director, The Larc Norcross School
Laurie Rebholz
Laurie Rebholz Head of Talent, Citizens
Petal Robertson
Petal Robertson Vice President, New Jersey Education Association
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
Brenda Ross-Dulan
Brenda Ross-Dulan Founder & Managing Principal, The Ross-Dulan Group
Lori Roth
Lori Roth Global Managing Partner, Prager Metis
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
Monica Slater Stokes
Monica Slater Stokes The Caren Franzini Award
Lauren Sleeman
Lauren Sleeman Partner & President, Brand Groupies
Caitlin Smith, CPA
Caitlin Smith, CPA Partner at SKC & Co. CPAs, LLC
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
Rick T. Thigpen
Rick T. Thigpen Senior Vice President – Corporate Citizenship, Public Service Enterprise Group
Melissa Toll
Melissa Toll Vice President of Human Resources, Delta Dental
Brianna Turano
Brianna Turano Client Advisor, Acrisure
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
Deb Wijnberg
Deb Wijnberg Lead Consultant and Executive Coach, Crothers Consulting
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
Janique Williams
Janique Williams Manager of Regulatory Strategy and Compliance, WGL Energy
Michele Wispelwey, MBA
Michele Wispelwey, MBA Co-founder & President, FemGevity
Keli Zinn
Keli Zinn Director, Intercollegiate Athletics for Rutgers
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

Alicia Brownstein
Alicia Brownstein Bergen Community College
Melissa De Cunto
Melissa De Cunto New Jersey Institute of Technology
Laasya Kandakurti
Laasya Kandakurti Rutgers University
Zeynep Nalan Kus
Zeynep Nalan Kus New Jersey Institute of Technology
Alusha Olivier
Alusha Olivier Berkeley College