Are you ready to tap into the goldmine of knowledge that lies within you? Introducing the transformative workshop, “Know it, Share it, Pivot Into Profit,” where we’ll take you on an exhilarating journey to unlock your hidden potential and turn it into a lucrative venture.
Guiding you in organizing your newfound expertise into a brilliant blueprint. Learn how to structure your knowledge in a way that captivates audiences and makes them hungry for more. We’ll show you how to craft a powerful formula that transforms your insights into a valuable resource.
Join us as we unveil the secrets of how to share your knowledge with the world and turn it into profit. We’ll equip you with the strategies, tools, and insider tips needed to build your personal brand and reach the right audience Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to know it, share it, and pivot into profits!
Keynote Speaker – Esther Pak
Esther Pak is a New Jersey native in-house counsel, currently handling various legal matters for the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia 76ers, and Prudential Center at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
Esther graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology before earning her law degree at Rutgers Law School. While at Rutgers Law School, she served as co-chair of the Women’s Law Forum and a teaching assistant for Legal Research and Writing. She also served as an article editor for Rutgers Law Review, for which her note, The Impact of State ex rel. V.A. on the Road Back to Juvenile Rehabilitation and the Need for Further Legislative Changes in New Jersey’s Waiver Law, was selected for publication.
Upon graduating from Rutgers Law School, she clerked for former Justice Barry T. Albin at the Supreme Court of New Jersey, where she assisted the Justice in the preparation of oral arguments and drafting of opinions for the State’s highest court. She then went on to practice litigation for Proskauer Rose LLP, where her practice area focused on labor and employment law, before serving as assistant district attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
Esther is committed to staying connected to the faculty members and students at Rutgers Law School and frequently returns to her alma mater to participate in various advisory panels and mock interviews. She currently serves as a board member for the College Woman’s Club of Westfield, which promotes educational opportunities for young women by raising scholarship funds.
Session One – 9:40 am – 10:40 am (Choice of One)
Know it, Share it,
Pivot into Profits
Ballroom A
Are you ready to tap into the goldmine of knowledge that lies within you? Introducing the transformative workshop, “Know it, Share it, Pivot Into Profit,” where we’ll take you on an exhilarating journey to unlock your hidden potential and turn it into a lucrative venture
We will guide you in organizing your newfound expertise into a brilliant blueprint. Learn how to structure your knowledge in a way that captivates audiences and makes them hungry for more. We’ll show you how to craft a powerful formula that transforms your insights into a valuable resource.
We will unveil the secrets of how to share your knowledge with the world and turn it into profit. We’ll equip you with the strategies, tools, and insider tips needed to build your personal brand and reach the right audience Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to know it, share it, and pivot into profits!
Unlocking the Power
of Mentorship
The Tavern
This interactive session is designed to inspire and equip women to become exceptional mentors and attract meaningful mentorship opportunities.
By providing the necessary tools to help extend their reach, increase their influence and elevate their decision-making and life skills. Designed to help women unlock new perspectives, shape ideas into impactful actions and take charge of navigating their journey to success. Learn from these mentor/mentee’s experiences and discover how you too can unlock the power of mentorship.
Session Two: 10:50 am – 11:50 am (Choice of One)
Fight? or FIGHT!?
Unleashing Your Caveman Brain
Ballroom A
Negotiating can be challenging.
Whether you need to do it for yourself, your company or something else in your life, we all are faced with the need to negotiate from time to time.
In this session we will discuss strategies for successful negotiation to achieve the best outcomes.
Note this is a guided interactive session that is driven by participation
Improv(e) Your Pitch:
Master Persuasive Communication
The Tavern
Calling all ambitious women leaders! Elevate your pitching skills and make a lasting impact. In today’s competitive business landscape, effective communication and the ability to deliver a compelling pitch are essential for success. Harness the power of improvisation: tap into the principles of improvisation to boost your spontaneity, adaptability, and quick thinking. Develop the ability to respond confidently to unexpected situations and objections during your pitches.
Get ready to step into the spotlight with confidence and conviction!
About our Speakers
Debbie-Ann Anderson
Unlocking The Power of Mentorship
Debbie-Ann Anderson was appointed Director of the County of Union Department of Human Services in 2017. The Department of Human Services’ mission is to empower all Union County individuals, families, and communities to achieve their highest level of self-sufficiency and quality of life using accessible, inclusive, and comprehensive approaches to service delivery and care.
The Department of Human Services has over 700 full and part-time employees and an annual budget of over 70 million dollars. The Department of Human Services is the County’s largest department and contains the following units: the Division of Aging and Disability Resource Connection; the Division of Planning; the Division of Social Services (in Plainfield and Elizabeth); the Division of Youth Services; the Division of Outreach and Advocacy; Paratransit (and Route 22 Shuttle); Workforce Development Operations (American Job Center aka One-Stop Career Centers, Elizabeth, and Plainfield offices) and Cornerstone Behavioral Health Hospital of Union County.
Before Ms. Anderson was appointed to her position with the County of Union, she served as the Executive Director at Homefirst in Plainfield. Homefirst serves over 2,000 clients yearly by providing social service programs and community-building practices that strengthen families, including transitional, permanent, and supportive housing, homelessness prevention, emergency assistance, and family support services.
Before that, she worked for seven years at the United Way of Greater Union County, serving the last three years of her tenure as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.
Anderson has a Bachelor of Science in Business from Mount Saint Mary’s College.
Sherry Heidary
Unlocking The Power of Mentorship
Associate Professor of Chemistry Sherry Heidary began working at Union College in July 2007. During the last 16 years, she has held several leadership positions at the college. She has served as the Chair of Chemistry Department, Chair of many Academic Committee at the College, including the Standard I of Middle State Self Study, Faculty Advisor to the Student Government Association, Faculty Advisor to Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Faculty Advisor to American Honors Council. She is currently a commissioner to the Union County Commission on Status of Women, Union County YWCA Board member, and a Trustee on Union County College Foundation Board.
She is the first recipient of the prestigious Fiat Lux Award in 2017, and two times recipient of Dr. Richard and Barbara Neblett Prize Award for Educational Excellence in Teaching and Learning in 2013 and 2017. In 2015, she was awarded the NISOD Excellence Award – National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development – Excellence Award in Teaching, Learning, and Leadership at Community and Technical Colleges.
Professor Heidary holds a BS in Polymer Engineering, and a MS in Polymer Science from Penn State University. Her interest in STEM courses flourished by her chemistry high school teacher and the love of teaching from her mother. She finds teaching STEM students, interesting, challenging, exciting, and extremely rewarding. Her mission in life is helping her students achieve their goals and dreams. She is an avid ballroom dancer and loves to travel.
Marcella Gencarelli
Improv(e) Your Pitch: Master Persuasive Communication
Marcella is currently Vice President, Business Banker II, Valley Bank. She has over 20 years of banking experience and proficiency in business development, coaching and relationship building.
Initially a successful entrepreneur in the food industry, Marcella transitioned into the corporate world of banking by utilizing skills acquired through creating differentiated marketing and client experiences, business development strategies and maintaining strong relationships.
Marcella attended Essex County College and obtained various American Bankers Association certifications. During her time at PNC Bank, she received the Circle of Excellence and Service Excellence awards by being a top performer and exceeding in categories such as sales, client meetings, customer experience and net promoter scores. She was recognized as the Summit Area YMCA Mission Volunteer of the Year and received the Boy Scouts of America 2019 Tribute to Women Award. North Jersey YWCA 2023 Tribute to Women of Influence (TWIN) Award.
Marcella is the founder of the women’s networking group, Warren Ladies Lunch, and the founder of 50 Leaders Over Fifty. She is Co-Chairwoman of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce, an Advisory Board member of Summit YMCA and an Executive Board Member of BSA Patriots Path Council. She is a Campagna Condo Board member, Montville Township Historical Preservation Committee member and is a board member of the Montville Chamber of Commerce. She served on the Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship’s Women of Influence committee, is a former board officer of the Millburn Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Summit Lions Club and the Rotary Clubs of Caldwell, Summit/New Providence and Berkeley Heights.
Roz Miller-Choice
Know it, Share it, Pivot into Profits
Roz Miller-Choice is known as The Expert Maker®. She has an uncanny ability to help people to uncover their genius and show them how to turn their expertise into a profitable business.
Roz is also the host of the weekly television show called The Expert Maker TV series. In each episode viewers watch as a guest is transformed from being the best-kept secret into the Go-To expert in their industry, with the help of Roz and her team. The TV show is a recent winner in the 43rd annual Telly Awards, honoring excellence in television and video productions.
She has also been selected to give a TED Talk, which are considered influential talks from today’s thought-leaders.
As The Expert Maker®, Roz works with clients from every field, including fitness, mental health, academia, child development, lifestyle, beauty etc.
Entrepreneurs, authors, life coaches and small business owners have dramatically increased their revenue after Roz helps them to position themselves and showcase their expertise in the market-place.
She is the author of the soon-to-be released book, The Expert Maker: Turning Your Knowledge into Multiple Streams of Income.
Roz learned her video production, marketing, branding and creative writing skills in the broadcasting industry. She had a long career in television news and production. She was a New York News Correspondent for CNN and CBS. She has co-hosted television programs for PBS and worked as a Reporter and Producer for WNBC, FOX and New Jersey based WWOR-TV.
Dr. Jean Oursler
Fight? or FIGHT!? Unleashing Your Caveman Brain
With a Ph.D. in Business Psychology, Dr. Jean is one of the country’s top business consultants, a top-rated speaker, a world-class business performance coach and the creator of Caveman Brain®. Dr. Jean developed The Caveman Brain® Business Growth System to help individuals, teams, and companies who want to accelerate their business growth. This groundbreaking business growth system is the only one that uses skill set, mindset and tool kits to specifically align an individual, a team, and a company to achieve maximum results in the shortest time possible. Dr. Jean says “when you use this customized, done for you system, you can achieve results in as little as 30 days and what is great is that you can do it on your own or have one of our certified Growth Coaches™ to assist you. As a business psychologist, Dr. Jean employs a business growth philosophy grounded in a no-nonsense, results-focused approach, completely personalized to meet the needs of her clients. In fact, Dr. Jean’s clients call her The Results Queen® because she is all about getting unprecedented results — at an unprecedented speed — that creates and maintains unprecedented levels of performance. Dr. Jean uses her mission, “To Leave You Better, Than I Found You,” to help everyone understand what your Caveman Brain® is so you can prevent it from holding you back and use it to propel you forward to better results in your business. This engaging purpose and passion come across in all her presentations whether they be on a stage or in front of a microphone.
Cherron Rountree
Unlocking The Power of Mentorship
Cherron Rountree is a New Jersey native business executive with 20 years of diverse leadership experience. As the current President and Partner of Direct Development Design+Communications, Cherron specializes in strategic planning, project development, and public relations for both public and private organizations.
Cherron has an extensive history in public service and administration for New Jersey county and municipal entities, expertise in developing strategic partnerships and financial management, and has served as Administrator for both urban and suburban municipalities.
She has developed constituent relations, secured millions in grant funding, improved service to residents, negotiated partnerships, reduced taxes, and led redevelopment efforts that attracted new residents and businesses.
Cherron is a past recipient of the Gateway Chamber of Commerce’s Business Administrator of the Year Award, a part-time lecturer with Rutgers University’s Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, and a licensed real estate agent with White Realty in Union.
She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from NYU, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University, and is a Certified Redevelopment Agency Executive Director.
Amy Crisp Wagner
Unlocking The Power of Mentorship
Amy Crisp Wagner, a resident of Berkeley Heights, currently serves as the Deputy County Manager and Director of Economic Development for the County of Union, New Jersey’s seventh-largest county.
As the Deputy County Manager, she is second-in-command of a government totaling more than 2,300 employees, and assists with the supervision of its day-to-day operations, policies and projects of the Commissioner Board.
As the Director of Economic Development, she directly supervises a staff of 54 employees and a budget totaling more than $11million. She is responsible for the administration of more than $6 million in state and federal grants. The Department of Economic Development includes Workforce Development operations, Community Development Block Grants, Veteran’s Services, LGBTQ Affairs, Strategic Planning and a number of other important programs.
For more than a decade in County government, Wagner has worked to develop various economic development, public safety, business and educational initiatives on behalf of the former Freeholder now Commissioner Board.
In all, Wagner has more than 16 years of government experience, working for Union County and previously for the Township of Berkeley Heights. She joined the County in 2010 as Policy Coordinator in the Department of Economic Development.
She has served her community of Berkeley Heights as the President of the PTO at various levels: grammar school, middle school and township-wide. She served for ten years on the Board of Trustees for the Berkeley Heights Police Athletic League, and was a trustee for the New Providence Community Pool.Wagner has three adult children, Jamie, Christopher and Blair.
Press Release
“The Union County Women Mean Business Summit is designed to bring together women entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders from various industries to share insights, network, and inspire each other,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “This event will feature a number of panelists and a keynote speaker to discuss leadership, career development, work-life balance, diversity and inclusion, and overcoming challenges faced by women in the business world. We encourage all women in Union County to register and we look forward to seeing you there.”
This powerful forum, is a once-a-year conference with an immersive experience that will feature a series of workshops and discussions for women of all stages in their careers. This year, the UCWMB Summit will feature Keynote Speaker Esther Pak, Corporate Counsel to the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers.
Please note, tickets will not be sold at the door. Pre-registration is now open online at ucnj.org/ucwmb. A continental breakfast and lunch is included in the registration fee. Those who register before May 31st to get a special early bird rate at $50.00 and after that date, general admission will be $55.
The event includes ample time for networking along with two breakout sessions, from which attendees can choose one topic each.
The 2023 Union County Women Mean Business Summit is a program of the Union County Department of Economic Development through the Office on Women. For more information about this event, please visit ucnj.org/ucwmb or call Jennifer Erdos of the Union County Office on Women at 908-527-4216.
