Women of Achievement Tribute Journal 2025

Page 1


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.

Northern New

Girl
Girl

A Message from Bonnie Barczykowski,

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,

Risk Taker Level Sponsors

Leader Level Sponsors

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 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

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

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