Tribute Journal
Presenting Sponsor
Our Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
* Members may substitute for the word God in accordance with their own spiritual beliefs.
Dessert and Networking
Welcome
Nikki Sumpter
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, Atlantic Health
2020 Women of Achievement Honoree
Pledge of Allegiance and Girl Scout Promise
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
Opening Remarks
Sandra A. Kenoff
President/Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
Honoree Introduction
Shanna Jafri
Board Chair, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
2025 Honoree Award Presentation
Tiffany Bohlin
Meghan Hunscher
Nancy Konnerth
Jenn Cable, Elinor J. Ferdon Young Woman of Promise
Dr. Mikele Simkins, Mitzi Golbek Spirit of Girl Scouting Award
Presentations by Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
Mission Moment
Thank You
Jane Kurek and Krista Korinis
Women of Achievement Committee Co-Chairs
A Message from the Board Chair and President/CEO
Welcome, dear friends and supporters of Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, to our 45th Annual Women of Achievement gala. We are grateful that you have joined us tonight to honor and recognize these phenomenal women for their outstanding contributions and leadership in our community.
Today we are privileged to recognize:
Tiffany Bohlin Owner/Chief Executive Officer, FE Rail Transportation and Logistics, LLC
Nancy Konnerth Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Advertising and Promotion, Karuna/BMS (Retired)
Meghan Hunscher President & CEO, Morris County Chamber of Commerce
Jenn Cable President, Thorlabs 2025 Elinor J. Ferdon Young Woman of Promise
Dr. Mikele Simkins Senior Director of Comparative Medicine and Attending Veterinarian, Pfizer Inc., GSNNJ Volunteer 2025 Mitzi Golbek Spirit of Girl Scouting Award
Thank you again for joining us as we celebrate these incredible women, and for your support of Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey. On behalf of the Board of Directors and Staff, we congratulate our honorees, and applaud them for their leadership.
We are grateful to our sponsors and guests for supporting our annual Women of Achievement gala. Your donations enable us to expand the impact and reach of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience across northern New Jersey.
Together with your support, we will continue in our mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Invest in Girls. Change the World.
Shanna Jafri Board Chair
Scouts of
Northern New
Jersey
Sandra A. Kenoff President/CEO
Scouts of Northern New Jersey
Girl
Girl
A Message from Bonnie Barczykowski,
CEO
of Girl Scouts of the USA
Dear Friends,
Every year, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey’s Women of Achievement event celebrates honorees who embody the spirit of mentorship that is embedded in the Girl Scout mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. This mission is more important than ever for today’s girls.
One reason Girl Scouts has had such a powerful impact across generations—in northern New Jersey and around the country—is thanks to the adult role models and mentors who bring the Girl Scout experience to life. They open them up to new experiences, offer valuable guidance on how to navigate the world with confidence, and give them insights into the possibilities and opportunities that are out there to be seized.
On behalf of the entire Girl Scout Movement, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to this year’s Women of Achievement honorees: Tiffany Bohlin, Nancy Konnerth, Mikele Simkins, Megan Hunscher, and Jennifer Cable.
All exceptional leaders within their fields and amazing role models, these women reflect the vision and values of the Girl Scout mission and are making an incredible impact in their communities across northern New Jersey. I am so grateful for their leadership.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Bonnie Barczykowski Chief Executive Officer Girl Scouts of the USA
Risk Taker Level Sponsors
Leader Level Sponsors
Tiffany Bohlin
Owner/Chief Executive Officer,
FE Rail Transportation and Logistics, LLC
Tiffany Bohlin is the owner and Chief Executive Officer of FE Rail Transportation and Logistics, LLC, which manages a successful switching operation in Somerville, New Jersey, moving commodities such as petroleum and plastics. In her role, she is helping her client achieve best practices and an industry-leading performance across revenue generation, productivity, and customer experience, and she has secured commitments to manage additional switching facilities in the near future.
FE Rail Transportation and Logistics, LLC, is the result of the merger of privately owned entities, The Bohlin Group and FE Rail, which collectively comprise a highly technical and specialized Transportation, Logistics, and Infrastructure (TLI) consulting practice with specific expertise in railroading and goods movement. Bohlin primarily serves railroads, logistics providers, environmental services companies, and industrial developers, implementing strategies and transformations at low costs of capital.
She has worked extensively with leading multinational companies, has secured over $1B in funding, and has extensive experience serving both public and private sector clients in TLI. As a trained engineer with experience funding and operating rail assets, Bohlin is uniquely qualified to identify key TLI projects, assess their macroeconomic impact, and gauge private, federal, and state interest to fund those projects.
Bohlin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University and a Masters of Transportation Engineering degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Meghan Hunscher
President and CEO,
Morris County Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Corporation, Morris County Tourism Bureau
Meghan Hunscher serves as the President and CEO of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. She oversees the Chamber’s strategic operations, its public-private economic development partnership with the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, and its tourism bureau, the county’s official Destination Marketing Organization.
Through the Chamber’s economic development division, Hunscher directs a business outreach program that connects businesses with critical resources to support retention and expansion. She spearheads strategic initiatives with the Morris County Economic Development Corporation’s Advisory Board and subcommittees, including marketing the county’s assets and managing grant programs.
Through the Morris County Tourism Bureau, Hunscher promotes the region’s historic, cultural, and recreational attractions, driving economic growth and serving residents, business travelers, and tourists alike.
Before joining the Chamber, Hunscher was the Principal Planner for Montville Township, where she managed the Planning and Zoning Department, and has worked as a project manager, land use consultant, and expert witness for municipal and private clients across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
Hunscher serves as President of the New Jersey Association of Planning and Zoning Administrators, is a member of several nonprofit boards, including the Morristown Medical Center (Atlantic Health System) Community Advisory Board, the United Way of Northern New Jersey, and the Corporate Leadership Council for the Cornerstone Family Programs & Morristown Neighborhood House, and is a member of Impact100 Garden State.
A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Hunscher earned her master’s degree in City and Regional Planning with a concentration in Economic Development.
Nancy Konnerth Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Advertising and Promotion, Karuna/BMS (Retired)
Nancy Konnerth most recently held the position of Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Advertising, and Promotion at Karuna/BMS before retiring in June 2024. Her 40+ year career included working for pharmaceutical companies such as Berlex, Bayer, Forest Laboratories, Allergan, and ADC Therapeutics.
Konnerth began her career as a bench chemist at Albert Einstein at the beginning of the AIDS crisis. She subsequently joined a small J&J company, where she helped bring the first overthe-counter pregnancy test to market. Konnerth is proud to have launched many firsts during her career including the first MRI contrast agent, first drug for MS, first oral contraceptive with a PMDD indication, and she is especially proud of her work developing mental health drugs.
Throughout her career, Konnerth developed an acumen for leading an organization through thoughtful risk mitigation and value protection. She has been recognized for building many solid, enduring partnerships within an organization, but what has fulfilled her the most is being able to lead and mentor her teams, and in 2012, she was named a Rising Star by the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association (HBA).
Now in her retirement, Konnerth is focusing her energy on volunteering. She and her husband work with Church World Service to help resettle refugees through the organization North Jersey Interfaith Cares,
which helps with home relocation, employment, transportation, health and social services, and cultural acclimation.
In addition, the couple participates in their church’s Hearts and Hands Mission to collect and provide clothing and other necessities for the homeless and working poor of northeastern New Jersey and to raise awareness of their plight in this area and beyond.
Growing up, Konnerth began her Girl Scout journey as a Girl Scout Brownie and moved through the levels until achieving an Explorer post. She earned an associate’s degree in animal science, and a B.S. in Biology from St. John’s University.
Jenn Cable
President, Thorlabs
Elinor J. Ferdon
Young Woman of Promise
Since assuming her role as President of Thorlabs in 2020, Jennifer Cable has prioritized fostering employee engagement and building an inclusive culture, investing in technology and manufacturing, and expanding into new markets and application areas.
Thorlabs has had historic growth, from a single-person start-up in a garage to a 3000-employee global corporation, and has always been driven by re-investment into the development of its products, technology, operations, and people.
Cable is a second-generation family business owner and leader, and in her role, she continues to uphold the company’s 35-year legacy of investing back into its business through expansion of its footprint, in manufacturing infrastructure and equipment, and in workforce development and on-the job training for thousands of employees.
Cable earned her B.A. from Vassar College and M.S. from Columbia University. She was raised in Newton, New Jersey— the location where Thorlabs has its headquarters—and still lives there today.
The Elinor J. Ferdon Young Woman of Promise Award was founded in 2014 to pay tribute to the former Girl Scouts of the USA National President (1996-1999) and former Girl Scout Council of Bergen County Board Chair (1974-1980). Celebrated for her outstanding leadership of Girl Scouts, Ellie is dedicated to the mission that all girls may reach their full potential. Through this award, we honor Ellie Ferdon’s vision by highlighting an exceptional young woman with a very promising career ahead of her.
Dr. Mikele Simkins is Senior Director of Comparative Medicine and Attending Veterinarian at Pfizer Inc. in Pearl River, New York. She is Board Certified by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and has more than 20 years of experience in Laboratory Animal Medicine in academia, biotech, and pharmaceutical. She is also an active member of both the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners and Association of Primate Veterinarians.
Dr. Simkins earned a B.S. in Laboratory Animal Science from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, and a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, N.C. Subsequently, she completed her residency in Laboratory Animal Medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Bowman Grey Center for Medical Education.
Dr. Mikele Simkins
Senior Director of Comparative Medicine and Attending Veterinarian, Pfizer Inc., GSNNJ Volunteer
Mitzi Golbek Spirit of Girl Scouting Award
There she specialized in medicine and the care of various animals, including mice, dogs, cats, and reptiles. This is where she found her passion and love for caring for non-human primates, especially her favorite, the African Green Monkey.
Dr. Simkins is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts of the USA. As a volunteer, she has led multiple Girl Scout troops for Girl Scout Brownies through Ambassadors. She spends her free time walking, backpacking, and reading.
The Mitzi Golbek Spirit of Girl Scouting Award was founded in 2007 to memorialize the former Girl Scouts: Lenni-Lenape Council executive director, who led the council from 1989-2002. Celebrated for her innovation in programming and council growth, Mitzi was an advocate of good food shared with friends and family. Through this award, we honor Mitzi Golbek’s vision and her 39 years as a Girl Scout.
Jane Kurek
Women of Achievement Committee Co-Chair, 2009 Women of Achievement Honoree
Krista Korinis
Women of Achievement Committee Co-Chair, GSNNJ Board Development Committee Member
W e want to thank Jane Kurek and Krista Korinis, our Women of Achievement Committee Co-Chairs and outstanding Girl Scout volunteers, for their continued support of Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey.
Girl Scouting has been a family affair for Jane Kurek—her mom was a Girl Scout leader during World War II. In 1993, Jane followed in her mom’s footsteps as Troop Leader for her daughter’s troop. Now in 2025, her granddaughters are Girl Scouts with their mom as their leader.
For the last 10 years Krista Korinis has served our council in various roles including as Secretary of the Board of Directors, the Fund Development Committee Chair, and currently as a member of the Board Development Committee. Krista was a Girl Scout in her youth and is now a Lifetime Member.
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Media Team
These Girl Scouts represent our council at events and in interviews and provide communications support in sharing our stories with the media throughout the year.
Pascale Brice
Madeleine Brice
Callista Chan
Damaris Delgado
Monserrate Haney
Abby Jafri
Jane Krattiger
Yasmine Lalani
Madelyn Larionoff
Ella Larionoff
Daphne Leahey
QiQi Ma
Sofia Pelish
Ariana Russo
Melani Russo
Kiana Eloise San Pedro
Anhad Singh
Christina "Emi" Southgate
Victoria "Mari" Southgate
Natalie Torres
We thank them for being a part of Women of Achievement and for bringing the spirit of Girl Scouting to our gala.
www.gsnnj.org/MediaGirls
Congratulations, Tiffany!
Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is proud to sponsor the
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
And supports their mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. We extend congratulations and gratitude to all the honorees at this year’s Women of Achievement Gala who are breaking barriers and making changes in Northern NJ
To learn more please contact Morgan Stanley Northern NJ Market at 1-800-488-0181.
Morgan Stanley Northern New Jersey Office 61 S. Paramus Road Paramus, NJ 07652 1-800-488-0181
© 2025 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. SUP001 CRC C4361107 04/25 CS 1434352-5142000 11/24
L:7"
Congratulations to all the 2025 Women of Achievement Honorees!
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Congratulations to the 2025 Women of Achievement Honorees!
Congratulations to the 2025 Women of Achievement Honorees!
- Colleen Fay, CPA, MST 2023 Women of Achievement Honoree
Silent Auction Conditions of Sale
All sales are final. No refunds or exchanges on any items. Goods and services have been donated to GSNNJ and are sold by GSNNJ – not the donor. Please do not ask the donor for refunds, exchanges, or adjustments.
Everything is sold “as is.” GSNNJ assumes no responsibility for the validity of the description, authenticity, or condition of any item offered for sale. Values indicated are those given by the donor and are not warrantied by GSNNJ for any purpose.
The highest bid at the close of the auction on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. will win the item. In the event of a dispute, the CEO’s decision will be final.
Following the conclusion of the auction, you will be prompted to check-out for all items you have won. You may use the credit card saved on file or another credit card to complete this transaction. If you would like to pay in a format other than credit card, please contact Olivia Timmons at otimmons@gsnnj.org. Unless otherwise noted, all outstanding payments will be automatically processed on the next business day. Items may not be collected until payment is received.
Pick-up and Item Distribution: Upon confirmation of payment, all winners will receive an email from GSNNJ regarding their items on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Unless specified, all services are to be fulfilled at a mutually convenient time to both the buyer and the seller. Item descriptions have detailed restrictions and/or expiration dates as indicated by the donor. Please read certificates carefully.
Please do not resell these prizes on eBay or any internet marketplace, as doing so will void some of them and is not in keeping with the spirit of this fundraising endeavor.
Thank you to our Women of Achievement Committee
Jane Kurek and Krista Korinis, Co-Chairs
Stefanie Hawkinson, JoAnne Madalena, Kathryn Marsh, Gwen Riddick, Doris Sanders-Headley, Mikele Simkins
Fund Development Committee
Tracy Schoenberg, Chair
Shanna Jafri, Dr. Janelle Hall, Julia Helliesen, Krista Korinis, Matt Lamb, Nashira Spencer, Nikki Sumpter
Fund Development Staff
Caroline Fairchild, CFRE, Chief Development Officer
Leigh Anne Sauchelli, CFRE, Director of Development
Matt Potter, Foundation Relations Manager
Olivia Timmons, Executive Associate of Fund Development
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Board of Directors
Shanna Jafri, Board Chair
Germaine Lacqua, 1st Vice Chair
Matthew Lamb, Pharm.D, R.Ph., 2nd Vice Chair
Leslie Franklin, Treasurer
Nashira Spencer, Secretary
Sandra A. Kenoff, President/Chief Executive Officer
Leslie Achter, Elisa Buckley, Danielle Furze, Julia Helliesen, Damon L. McDade, Christina Tso Metz, Christyl Lucille Murray, Catherine O’Hern, Tracy Schoenberg, Nikki Sumpter, Dr. Janelle Hall, Pia House Walker, Karen Worthy
Girl Scout Representatives to the Board
Emily Ruzicka, Julia Thompson, Ellie Wapner
Women of Achievement Honorees 1980-2024
1980
Barbara Abney Bolger, Rita Cohen
Margaret Cook, Eleanor Menditto
Sophie Werner
1981
Elinor J. Ferdon
1982
(Special 70th Anniversary Event):
“Broadway in Bergen” At John Harms Theatre
1983
Katharine Auchincloss
Myra Greenstone
Joan I. Thomas
1984
Kay Koplovitz
Ellen R. Levine
Elaine Zayak
1985
Anne Donovan
Carol Martin
1986
Ann Applewhite, Nell Bassett, Kent Manahan
Sylvia Porter, Carmel Quinn, Marge Roukema
Catherine Spears
1987
Eleanore Pettersen
Denise Richardson
Kay Ritta
1988
Leanna Brown, Violet Cherry, Felicia Jamison
Sara Lee Kessler, Norma Krajczar, Ruth Krawitz
Anne Philips, Bree Walker
1989
Toshiko d’Elia
Theresa Shank-Grentz
Cheryl Toussaint-Eason
1990
Elizabeth Christopherson, Mary Higgins Clark
Margaret Domber, Julia Kersey
Jewell Jackson McCabe, Mary Mulholland
Marge Roukema
1991
Paula L. Cantor
Arlene Howard
Peggy Noonan
1992
Barbara Abrams, Esq., Jane Francis Brady
Shirley DeLibero
Donna Marie Farrell
Martha Green, Sister Patricia Lynch, C.S.J.P.
Maria Magda O’Keefe, Karla H. Risdon, Dr. Joan S. Specht
1993
Dianne Keel Atkins, Marion Barnett
Barbara C. Hauke, Jean E. Hoysradt
1994
Kathleen A. Donovan, Elinor J. Ferdon
Pearl B. Herring, Ruth J. Miller, Edna Black Teague
1995
Betty and Raymond Wells
1996
Deborah Aronson, Patricia Dunn, Toni Fay
Arlene Locicero, Sandra Ramos, Arline Simpson
Mary Ann Stanek, Charlotte VanderValk
1997
Debra Lennon
Virginia Wentz
1998
Carol Bamesberger, Emmy Bledsoe, Cesarina A. Earl
Patricia Rado, Sandra Siroky, Lynda S. Smith
1999
Rosemarie Arnold, Esq., Linda Brobst, Chrisena Coleman
Tom D’Angelo, Deirdre K. Kane, Virginia L. Laughlin
Mary Jane Owens, Linda Robinson, Susan M. Zellman
2000
Elizabeth “Libbie” Lindsay
Sandra Ann Robinson
Joan M. Wright
2001
Teri Duda, Alexis M. Eckert, Miriam Lopez
Pamela T. Miller, Esq., Patricia A. Nichols
Naomi Pagano, Ruth C. Parker, Irene Sterling, Barbara Utz
The Valley Hospital Breast Center, Ethel J. Williams
2002
Dorothy Leung Blakeslee, Donna Dieterle
Violet Merle McIntosh, MD, Barbara Saunders-Adams
JoAnn Vozech
2003
Dr. Janet Denlinger, Kathleen Laurent
Lisa Peterson, Corethia V. E. Scheurer
Westfield Shoppingtown/ Garden State Plaza
2004
Michelle Brauntuch, Jean Fox Csaposs
Susan DeGennaro, Sister Theresa Mary Martin, C.S.S.F.
Evelin Potts
2005
Kyung Hee Choi, Betty Fetzer
Tamara Schwartz, Lori Stokes
2006
Dr. Traci Burgess, Gail DellaFave
Janet Sharma, Frances I. Sundheim
2007
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Donnett Barnett
Maxine Frampton, Carol W. Greene, Elaine Walsh
2008
Dr. Afriye Amerson, Amelia Gold, Sheila James
Melissa L. Klipp., Virginia “Gina” Wilson
2009
Bonnie Hodge, Jane Kurek
Assemblywoman Nellie Pou
Assemblywoman Holly T. Schepisi
Dr. Katherine Houghton Zatz
2010
Sister Mary Elizabeth Lloyd, M.P.F.
Margaret Nordstrom, Marlene Bauer
Doris Sanders-Headley, Wendy Shen
2011
Evangeline Gomez, Esq., Julie Kampf
Wanda Maltese, Patricia Milley
Deborah Zastocki, DNP, RN
2012
Lourdes Cortez
Mrs. Frederick Frelinghuysen
Tammie A. Horsfield, Norma Tempel
Camelia M. Valdes, Toni Zimmer
2013
Kimberly Burnett, Natasha Maximoff Chandler
Linda Spradley Dunn, Odette D. Valdez
Barbara von dem Hagen
2014
Poonam Alaigh, Lynne Harwell Algrant
Jane Bainbridge, Essence Harris Collette Liantonio
2015
Dr. Alicia Abella, Angela Margolit
Jessica A. Jansyn, Lizette Parker
Gigi Regolizio, Marnita Robertson
2016
Katherine Bickerton, Linda Bowden, Gina Bruzzichesi
Malaak Compton-Rock, Lindsey Inserra-Hughes Dr. Ursula Parrish Daniels
2017
Antje Ballin, Shacara N. Delgado
MaryAnne Faschan, Shannon Lazare
Women of Mountain Development Corp.
Elizabeth Lieb, Irene Fitzgerald, Denise Gonzalez
2018
Elisa Buckley, Mary Ann Deacon, Linda Hanlon Ellen Kim, Amrit Walia-Zaidi
2019
Lisa Brady, June Bray, Martha De Young
Balpreet Grewal-Virk, Janet Henry Cash Amber Sabathia
2020
Charlotte Abella, Megan Lunde
Jean Myers, Nikki Sumpter
BD Women's Initiative Network
Monica Council-Miles, Luba DeGroat Jennifer Singelyn Dietrich
2021
Kay Du Fernandez, Nicole Licciardi Erika Liles, Donna Watridge
2022
Betty A. Garger, Pia House Walker O'Kneeka I. Roberts, Farhanna Sayegh, Carol A. Vargas
2023
Dr. Jabeen Ahmed, Colleen Fay, CPA, MST
Samantha Plotino, Danielle Nebres
2024
Catherine P. O'Hern, Veronica Ross
Kristina Tiralosi, LaKreisha Jean
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey Summer Camps
Camp is a place lled with adventure, friendship, and fun. It’s where girls thrive in the great outdoors.
Your gift helps to provide nancial assistance, free transportation, and access to the amazing amenities our camps have to offer. So that more girls may experience Girl Scout summer camp, consider making a donation today: www.gsnnj.org/donate
For more information about our summer camps, visit: www.gsnnj.org/camp
