Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center Nurse Recognized As National Nurse of  The Year

Mary Vecchio, RN, MSN, APN-C, OCN, Cancer Outreach Nurse Practitioner for the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center was awarded Nursing Spectrum’s National Nurse of the Year for Community Service. Ms. Vecchio won the Nursing Spectrum’s Regional Award in June which put her in the running to be selected from a national pool in which six Excellence Award winners were chosen from the following categories: Advancing and Leading the Profession, Clinical Care, Community Service, Management, Mentoring, and Teaching.

According to Nursing Spectrum, the winner of this award epitomizes all that is best within the profession of nursing. “Each winner has created a legacy of inspiration and accomplishment,” says Judith Mitiguy, RN, MS, executive vice president, Nursing Communications and Initiatives, Gannett Healthcare Group. “Nursing Spectrum considers it a privilege to honor nurses from across the country through regional and
national excellence awards. As in years past, the six national winners represent all that is right and good and true within nursing. They set an example for professionals within and outside healthcare through their leadership, wisdom, expertise, and compassion.”

Part of Ms. Vecchio’s role at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center is to educate the community on cancer awareness. Ms. Vecchio recognizes that the best information is useless if you do not get the attention of the people you want to teach. She has worked to develop tools and teaching methods that actively catch people’s attention and is resilient enough to keep going back until she affects the change she wants.

“My mom and dad always led by example. At a young age I understood how important it was to understand the needs of others and reach out to make a difference. This award recognizes the values that both my parents instilled in me and I am grateful for this acknowledgement,” explained Ms. Vecchio. Ms Vecchio added, “I feel privileged to go to work each day and work with the people at Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. The science of medicine is the same no matter where you go, it is the people that make the difference.”

Ms. Vecchio works with the Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) patients, providing free education and screening as needed. Funding through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Central & South Jersey Affiliate has allowed Ms. Vecchio to create the “VIP Program of Hunterdon County,” which educates women who are 65 years and older to assure that they are receiving their annual screening mammogram. Statistics have shown that 46% of women covered by Medicare in Hunterdon County do not get their  annual mammogram. The goal of the VIP program is to identify barriers that are preventing women from receiving this valuable exam and educate the women on the importance of obtaining their annual mammogram.

Congratulations to Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex), the new Democratic Assembly Speaker. She is the first African-American woman to serve as Assembly Speaker and to lead a legislative house in New Jersey. Oliver is also just the second African-American woman in American history to lead a state legislative house.

Jean Quinn of Parlin, NJ, and Maria Romano of Marlboro, NJ, both vice presidents at The Provident Bank, recently received certificates from the American Bankers Association upon completing the Senior Leadership Institute’s Banking Leadership Program, a two-year executive development program.

Quinn and Romano participated in an extensive series of discussions, readings and casework on effective leadership with other top-level financial services executives from around the country. The highly-selective program admits only a small group of senior banking executives each year.

The senior leadership program gives participants in-depth ideas on how to better manage a team, set goals and oversee activity with a vision that goes beyond day-to-day operations. The first part of the program was given last year in Ohio and focused on personal leadership skills.

“It gave me an opportunity to evaluate myself and my management skills. It’s important for us to continue to set goals to carry the bank’s vision forward,” said Romano, a regional manager who oversees 12 branches.

“We received input from peers and subordinates that helped us identify our strengths. Banking is all about relationships, and successful leaders practice building those relationships,” said Quinn, who heads up the bank’s corporate communications department. “The program gave me insight into my own abilities and suggested ways to tap into the strengths of other team members as well.”

ADP ®, a leading provider of HR, payroll and benefits administration services, announced today that Rita Mitjans, Senior Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Product Management, has been appointed to the Catalyst Board of Advisors. Founded in 1962, Catalyst is the leading non-profit organization working globally with business and the professions to build inclusive workplaces and advance women and business. 

“Rita’s addition to the Catalyst Board of Advisors affirms her longstanding commitment to increasing opportunities for women in business,” said Gary Butler, ADP President and CEO. “Women’s contributions at every level are critical in moving our global economy forward. By partnering with Catalyst, we want to underscore ADP’s commitment to diversity and inclusion on a broader scale.” 

Diversity is a core organizational philosophy for ADP. The company believes that a myriad of perspectives from different genders, ethnic backgrounds and/or lifestyles is what helps the company deliver world-class service to its clients. ADP is determined to have a workforce that is reflective of the global market it serves. To ensure this happens, the company will continue to drive an open, inclusive environment that recognizes and rewards excellence. ADP believes that this philosophy of inclusion has and will continue to support the long-term growth objectives of the organization. 

For further information on ADP’s diversity initiatives visit Diversity Mission | ADP. 

About Catalyst  

Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network announced the recipients of its first ever "20 Under 40" program at the 2009 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace conference, which took place September 30th-October 3rd in Boston. The ceremony took place during the CREW Network 20th Anniversary Celebration Dinner.

The nation's top 20 Under 40 women in commercial real estate were chosen based on their established success in the field, commitment to the industry and demonstrated leadership. Two ICREW NJ members, Monica Ceres and Michele Cottrell, were selected from 120 nominees from across North America.

Monica Ceres is an Attorney / Officer / Shareholder / Co-Chair of Leasing Practice Area for Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla PC in Red Bank, NJ. Ms. Ceres' primary Practice Areas are in Real Estate, Land Use & Development, and Planned Real Estate Development. Her focus is on Registration of Planned Real state Developments and Commercial Real Estate Leasing. Monica participates in several professional organizations, has won many honors and has written articles and publications for the real estate industry.

Michelle Cottrell is President of Design Management Services, providing project management, interior design and environmental consulting services. Ms. Cottrell is also Co-Founder of Sustainable Four which is a LEED Exam Prep course source focused on providing World-Class LEED instruction and Corporate Sustainability training to industry professionals. Ms. Cottrell holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Design and is a LEEDT Accredited Professional. She has published many articles relating to Architecture and LEED initiatives. She has been honored by several organizations for her contributions to the industry.

Also at the Convention, CREW Network announced their 2010 Board of Directors. Ann Waeger of Farer Fersko has been appointed as Director. Waeger is a Vice President and equity partner at Farer Fersko, a boutique law firm in New Jersey.

Isobel Wayrick, a nature photographer and long-time contributor of travel articles and photos in Garden State Woman Magazine, has one of her photographs featured at the Smithsonian Castle, part of the Smithsonian Institute, on the National Mall in Washington DC, through January 17, 2010.

The picture was taken during a trip to Antarctica in January 2007. “I saw a small group of chinstrap penguins,” Wayrick recalls, “climbing up a beautiful and unusually sculpted iceberg, just tinged with hints of blue. The trip to Antarctica was the special birthday present I gave myself, and the image of the iceberg and penguins was the Antarctica’s very special gift to me.”

Isobel was a finalist in the Smithsonian Magazine's 6th Annual Photo Contest in the category The Natural World. Over 17,000 entries were submitted from the United States and around the world, representing the five categories of The Natural World, People, Americana, Altered Images, and Travel. Thirty of the fifty finalists were selected to have their photographs exhibited. To view the other finalists visit The Smithsonian Magazine website.

To view all of Isobel’s photography, please visit her website at www.isobelsimages.com

Natasha Ziabkina has joined Morristown-based Riker Danzig’s Corporate Practice Group as a partner, resident in the firm's New York office. Formerly a partner at Baker & McKenzie, Ms. Ziabkina brings extensive experience in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, corporate finance and public and private securities transactions, and multi-country corporate restructurings, having worked with clients in a variety of industries, including insurance, technology, clean energy and telecommunications.

With a strong international background that has given Ms. Ziabkina a deep understanding and appreciation of different approaches to legal issues, she has established a successful practice representing companies and high net worth individuals in the emerging markets, particularly in the Russian Federation, seeking investment or pursuing other business goals in the U.S. Ms. Ziabkina also represents U.S. and foreign companies that are doing business in or considering entry into Russia/Commonwealth of Independent States and other emerging markets.

Andrew J. Stamelman, Chair of Riker Danzig's Corporate Group, notes, “Natasha is a strong complement to the current international aspects of our corporate practice, with her impressive experience with multinational companies, investment banks and other clients on transactions involving many regions of the world. Combined with her broad range of corporate counseling work, this makes Natasha a very welcome addition to our team.”

Alfa Demmellash, CEO of Jersey City based Rising Tide Capital, was honored in June at the White House by President Obama after seeing her recognized as a CNN Hero for her work helping low-income entrepreneurs start or grow their own businesses. Alfa, born in Ethiopia, and her husband Alex Forrester started Rising Tide Capital shortly after both graduated from Harvard in 2004.

Rising Tide Capital helps struggling “mom-and-pop” get loans, develop their businesses and improve their financial results. Seventy percent of their clients are single moms, all relying on their businesses to support their families. Other clients include those previously incarcerated, minorities, the unemployed and immigrants and refugees, working poor and immigrants and refugees.

Rising Tide Capital operates the Community Business Academy that provides intensive training coupled with ongoing coaching and mentoring to its target underserved community population, Funding for the programs comes primarily from corporations and local government agencies.

For her work Alfa was also honored earlier in 2009 by CNN as one of their 2009 Heros. To learn more visit www.RisingTideCapital.org and click on the CNN Heroes frame.

Judith Sullivan, ESQ. was appointed August 2009-August 2010 Vice Chair of the American Bar Association International Law International Anti-Corruption Committee.

A New Jersey resident Judith is a partner with the national law firm of Michelman Robinson, LLP and practices in New York and chairs the firm’s New Jersey practice.

She graduated from Rutgers University and Seton Hall University Law School.

The American Bar Associiation Section of International Law, which has more than 20,000 members in 90 countries, is the leader in the development of policy in the international arena, the promotion of thee rule of law, and the education of international law practitioners.

The Section has numerous task forces and more than 60 regional and special interest committee within 12 divisions – Africa/Eurasia, Americas/Middle East, Business Regulation, Constituent, Corporate, Disputes, Finance, Industries, Legal Practice, Public International Law, International Treaties, and Tax, Estate and Individuals – to closely monitor and disseminate information on domestic and international policy developments with implications for law practice.