MAY 15, 2024 | 8:3010:30 AM ET
PRESENTED BY
New Jersey
WELCOME
Welcome to Women at the Wheel New Jersey 2024. Our panel of four extraordinary women leaders will share candid and introspective stories and the unique challenges within their respective industries.
MODERATOR
LAURA CROWLEY
itrin Cooperman
Laura Crowley is a partner in the firm’s Florham Park, New Jersey office, focusing on serving the needs of middle market business leaders by learning about their business aspirations and translating them into prudent, actionable recommendations.
Laura excels at understanding and unraveling complex financial accounting and reporting matters and the business needs that impact them. She brings her extensive network of professionals to solve her clients’ biggest challenges with impactful results.
Laura mentors, coaches, and develops the next generation of accounting professionals within the firm, as well as for outside organizations and clients. Laura leads the Manufacturing and Distribution Industry Practice in New Jersey, and serves clients in the financial services, staffing, franchise, and restaurant and hospitality industries. Laura also oversees attest services for New Jersey and has extensive experience working with defined contribution retirement plans.
Laura is passionate about ensuring that the future of the firm and the profession provides equal opportunity and fairness in the workplace. She demonstrates this through her co-leadership of CC EDGE, the culture change program to empower gender equality and diversity within the firm.
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Women at the Wheel New Jersey Panelists
VERONICA MAOLI
Dealer Principal
Celebrity Ford of
Veronica Maoli
Principal at Celebrity Ford of Toms River and a Vice President of Celebrity Motor Car Company. After many years of shadowing her father, in May of 2023 she purchased her first automotive dealership, Celebrity Ford of Toms River. This acquisition made history as the first woman to woman Ford Motor Company dealership acquisition.
Veronica has had a passion for exploring business ventures while breaking glass ceilings since a very young age. She followed this dream of hers and graduated Summa Cum Laude from High Point University with a B.S.B.A. in Entrepreneurship. She is a member of Delta Mu Delta, the International Honor Society in Business Administration and was Alpha Mu Chapter President. She is also a certified graduate of the National Automotive Dealer Association Academy and a certified yoga instructor.
In addition, Veronica is the owner, president, and lead designer of The Maoli Group, a luxury real estate design and development firm. She works on acquiring, designing, conceptualizing, and executing major residential and commercial development projects. Veronica hones her innovative skills through her company V- Fee Products, where she has worked on several product concepts.
Her community involvement reflects her commitment to making a positive impact and is what she feels is the most important aspect of her career. Veronica resides on the board of NJCar and Deirdre’s House in Morris County, a safehaven for children who are victims of sexual and physical abuse. She is also strongly involved in the Interfaith Food Pantry as well as a valued donor and volunteer at the Morristown Medical Center. Veronica also serves as a member of the RWJBarnabas Emerging Leaders Council.
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Women at the Wheel New Jersey Panelists
President and CEO
Christopher and
Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Maggie leads the only national paralysis-focused organization centered around a dual mission – Today’s Care. Tomorrow’s Cure®. Maggie has served with the Foundation for more than 20 years, helping drive its mission to cure spinal cord injury by advancing innovative research and improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by paralysis.
The Foundation’s mission is extremely personal for Maggie, who experienced a C2 injury at 16 years old. Thankfully, she fully recovered,
Southern Eatery
Tonza was born in Guyana, South America, and was raised in Brooklyn, NY and Teaneck, NJ. She is the mother of two beautiful children — her son, Rashaad, and her daughter, Tatyana. Co-owner
but it set her on a mission-driven career path to work on behalf of the paralysis community.
A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Maggie joined the Reeve Foundation in 2000 and has held numerous leadership roles during her tenure. She recently served as chief operating officer, providing the leadership, management, and vision to grow the organization. Before that, Maggie served as vice president of policy and programs, which included overseeing the Foundation’s National Paralysis Resource Center. She has also served as senior vice president of marketing and communications. Maggie started her career in Washington D.C., working for Witeck Combs Communications, Feld Entertainment, and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter.
of Sweet T’s Southern Eatery and director of product development, Tonza's entrepreneurial mindset and love for decorating and design has allowed her to create her dream careers. Tonza develops bedding and bath for a U.S. importer and she owns a restaurant. She hopes her journey inspires young women to follow their passions. She followed her passion and opened a successful, black owned, woman owned restaurant during COVID.
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TONZA HOUSTON
President and CEO
Bridge Medical
Deborah Visconi is the President and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, the largest hospital in New Jersey and the fourth largest publicly owned hospital in the country. In her more than three decades in healthcare, she has excelled in providing strategic direction, vision, and leadership.
Recognized for her servant leadership style and unparalleled commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and strategic collaborations, Deborah has helmed the medical center’s transformation leading to a financial turnaround and 5% positive operating margin. She drove negotiations with major insurers, which led to the hospital now accepting 99% of commercial insurance plans. She has championed Bergen New Bridge’s foundation and has been instrumental in securing millions of dollars in grant funding to renovate and innovate both infrastructure and services at the medical center.
Deborah is known for her passionate commitment to healthcare access for traditionally underserved communities. This dedication has led the medical center to create satellite offices in nearby communities as well as establishing CareRite Now primary care centers at Bergen County supermarkets.
Deborah’s efforts have resulted in Bergen New Bridge being selected as a Veterans Community Care Provider, receiving the Joint Commission’s Advanced Health Equity certification, and maintaining leadership in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index. She is steadfast in the fight against the opioid epidemic, recently overseeing the establishment of the Comprehensive Center for Addiction Treatment which provides an innovative holistic model of care. Under her tenure, Bergen New Bridge received its first Leapfrog “A Grade” as well as being named a “Top Hospital” and a “Top Teaching Hospital.”
Visconi has been recognized as a healthcare innovator, mentor, and thought leader by numerous organizations and publications. In 2024, she was #8 in the NJBIZ “Power 100” list of the most influential people in New Jersey. In 2023, she was named one of the “Top 25 People of Color,” a “Champion of the C-Suite,” and a “Top Woman in Business” by ROI-NJ NJBIZ honored her with an “Icon Award” and the “Healthcare Professional of the Year Award.” She was listed in the top ten of NJBIZ’s “Power 100” and was selected for their “Healthcare Power 50” list. She was also named a 2023 Becker’s “Women CEOs You Need to Know” and a 2023 Crain’s “Notable Leader in Healthcare.”
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ABOUT CITRIN COOPERMAN:
Citrin Cooperman is one of the nation’s largest professional services firms. Since 1979, the firm has steadily built their business by helping companies and high net worth individuals find practical, actionable solutions to help them meet their short-term needs and long-term objectives. Citrin Cooperman’s clients span an array of industry and business sectors and leverage a complete menu of service offerings. Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services and Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC, which provides business advisory and non-attest services, operate as an alternative practice structure in accordance with the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and applicable law, regulations, and professional standards. The entities include more than 450 partners and 2,800 total professionals. Learn more about Citrin Cooperman here: www.citrincooperman.com
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
VALLEY BANK
We understand the value in connecting with other hardworking women, which is why we’ve created a program that fosters collaboration and connection. Valley’s Women in Business Program is an essential resource for women looking to expand their network, connect with others in or out of their industry, and take advantage of unique program perks. It is complimentary to all members and there are no costs involved.
CIANJ
The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey 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.
IN SUPPORT OF:
Safe+Sound Somerset helps survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence with compassionate, trained professional help. Assistance is offered 24 hours a day – 7 days a week –365 days a year at 866-685-1122. Our Helpline is the gateway to survivor-centered services that provide safety, hope, and healing from the trauma of abuse and violence.
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NOTES
New Jersey
CITRINCOOPERMAN.COM
"Citrin Cooperman" is the brand under which Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP, a licensed independent CPA firm, and Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC serve clients’ business needs. The two firms operate as separate legal entities in an alternative practice structure. The entities of Citrin Cooperman & Company, LLP and Citrin Cooperman Advisors LLC are independent member firms of the Moore North America, Inc. (MNA) Association, which is itself a regional member of Moore Global Network Limited (MGNL). All the firms associated with MNA are independently owned and managed entities. Their membership in, or association with, MNA should not be construed as constituting or implying any partnership between them.
