A Rutgers University marketing student and a recent graduate of Ocean County College who is continuing nursing classes at Stockton University will be the 2018 recipients of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s Rising Star Award.
Amanda Maher, an undergraduate at Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick, and Briann Skiba, who graduated from Ocean County College in May and will soon begin studying for her accelerated Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Stockton University, will each receive the award at NJBIA’s 4th Annual Women Business Leaders Forum: “Empowering Together” at the Newark Liberty Marriott.
NJBIA’s Rising Star Award honors future business leaders currently completing their undergraduate education who have demonstrated leadership, a passion for their anticipated field, and a commitment to volunteering and community involvement.
“In a short time, both Briann and Amanda have already shown an amazing determination to be successful while having a spirited enthusiasm to improve their communities,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele N. Siekerka, Esq. “They are both very impressive young ladies with great futures ahead of them and we are very proud to honor them with our Rising Star Award.”
Amanda Maher
Amanda Maher, of Saddle Brook, is a marketing major at Rutgers University-New Brunswick who aspires to work in the cosmetics industry after she graduates in 2019. Maher took an important step toward her career goal by gaining hands-on experience working as a marketing operations intern at L’Oréal this summer. Maher has distinguished herself as a leader at Rutgers, where she is co-founder and vice president of Rutgers Care; community service director of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society; and marketing director of Women BUILD. As an employee of Rutgers Student Affairs, she has grown engagement on the Rutgers Student Food Pantry social media accounts by 311 percent and continues to spread awareness through food drives with nonprofit Foodstock NJ.
Briann Skiba
Briann Skiba, of Manahawkin, recently graduated cum laude from Ocean County Community College and on Sept. 5 will begin Stockton University’s accelerated degree program to earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Skiba’s part-time jobs as a newborn hearing screener and nurse’s aide at Community Medical Center is what inspired her to pursue a career in nursing as a labor and delivery nurse. As the first woman in her family to attend college, Skiba is extremely motivated to succeed, completing more than 100 hours of leadership training and service. She was recently selected to be a guest speaker at the Ocean County College Foundation Gala.
NJBIA’s Women Business Leaders Forum is an event that regularly draws hundreds of attendees, both women and men, who participate alongside top business leaders and experts who share advice for professional advancement.
Beauty industry titan Bobbi Brown is the keynote speaker for this year’s event on Sept. 14. Linda Bowden, a trailblazer in the banking industry, will be honored with the Caren Franzini Leadership Award.
Registration information for those interested in attending the 2018 Women Business Leaders Forum: “Empowering Together,” can be found here or by calling 1-800-499-4419 and selecting “option 2.”
