The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs recently awarded 10 women entrepreneurs from around the state funds from a $50,000 S.E.E.D. grant to help grow the women’s businesses. Winners were announced at a “Public Policy Day” sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) and held in Trenton. In attendance were NJAWBO president Sue Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Printing Solutions, Colts Neck; Sharon Smith of Smith Management Services; Marzella Carter of C.H.O.I.C.E.S. for Personal Development; Jonette Kraft of Plant Ahead Landscape Design & Consultation; Mary Chow of Skybalt Inc.; Aviva Giannotti of College Bound & Beyond; Susan Bass Levin, commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs; Robin Berg Tabakin, chair of the Women’s Business Center Board; Penni Nafus, director of NJAWBO’s women’s business center; Jessica Mine, Deltavee Technologies; Jovita Aniag, Divine Medical Services; Gayle Kebede, Fit Family Personal Training; and Jeanette Sugay, ABC Child Discovery & Learning Center. Absent was the fifth-place winner, Donna Carpenter of Preferred Editorial Group.
Gary Gellman, of Gellman Images, Freehold, was the guest speaker at the New York City Professional Videographers Association monthly meeting held recently at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City. Gellman has been featured nationally in newspapers and magazines and on radio and television. His images recently appeared in The New York Times, and he hosted an hour-long radio program on technology. His production “A Presidential Visit to Our Hometown” was included in the U.S. Senate Gallery in Washington, D.C.
Brookdale Community College, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown, will host the 15th “Jersey Shore Home Show” Jan. 14 from 1-9 p.m., Jan. 15 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Jan. 16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The show is sponsored by MacEvents, Spring Lake, and will feature approximately 125 displays, and a marketplace of decorating trends and products. Cost is $7, $5 for children age 12-17 and seniors (Jan. 14 only) and free for children under 12. For details, call 1-800-332-3976 or visit www.MacEvents.com.
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ), Red Bank, has announced Asbury Park resident Tomika Burrus has been named its Home Health Aide of the Year. She was honored at the statewide salute to home health aides held at the Woodbridge Sheraton, where the announcement was made, as well as at a breakfast in Tinton Falls, attended by Assemblyman Steve Corodemus (11th District), a trustee of VNACJ, who presented Burrus with a certificate of recognition. She provides personal care for patients in Monmouth County and has been at VNACJ more than 12 years. Burrus is certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing and supervised by a registered nurse.
Peter Bruckmann, Red Bank, was recently awarded the Volunteer of the Year award by Monmouth University, West Long Branch. Bruckmann is a member of Monmouth University’s class of 1970 and has been active in the affairs of the alumni board of directors since the mid-90s. He is the current treasurer of the alumni association and chair of the Alumni Awareness Committee. Bruckmann is a personal financial representative at Allstate Financial Services LLC, Colts Neck.