BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
Chris Kelly staff Greater Media Newspapers Publisher Kevin Wittman presents an award to Dr. Ann Sweany (r), a finalist in the Greater Women of Central New Jersey awards program in the field of health care. Women of outstanding achievement in three fields were honored at an awards luncheon sponsored by Greater Media Newspapers on Feb. 15.
The 15 area women, nominees in the first Greater Women of Central New Jersey awards program, consisted of five women who work in the business world, five who work in the health-care field, and five who have found a cause and who have dedicated their lives to it through nonprofit organizations.
Salzer The awards program luncheon, attended by 160 people at the Grand Marquis in Old Bridge, was the culmination of a project that began in November when nomination forms were printed in Greater Media’s 12 weekly newspapers.
According to the newspapers’ promotions coordinator, Susan Greitz, who coordinated the awards program, 186 people responded to the program nominations. Husbands, children and business associates nominated their wives, their moms, their co-workers — women they felt deserved to be recognized for the work they have done to make the world they live in a better place.
Christenson The awards program event honored and celebrated the efforts of outstanding women in Central Jersey.
The goal of Greater Media Newspapers was to honor and celebrate the efforts of outstanding women and pay tribute to the exceptional women in Monmouth, Middlesex and northern Ocean counties — those who have made a demonstrated difference in the business, health-care or nonprofit sector.
Three women took home the lead crystal trophies, but the other finalists did not go home empty-handed. Each of the finalists was given a smaller version of the trophy.
Poverman The awards were presented by Kevin Wittman, publisher of Greater Media Newspapers, and Greitz.
Greitz said that the concept of recognizing women in the community who are not necessarily household names but who do good things fits with the mission of the paper, which is to be community-oriented.
Wittman announced that the proceeds from the event would be donated to the American Cancer Society.
The publisher said he was glad to have the opportunity to recognize and draw attention to the achievements of women in the area. He added that the company’s partnership with the American Cancer Society also brings attention to the ongoing struggle women have with breast cancer, a fight Greater Media Newspapers will continue to support.
Melinda Salzer, of Marlboro, vice president and co-owner of Advanced Information Services Inc., won in the business category; Sister Janet Christenson, founder of Epiphany House in Long Branch, won for her work in the nonprofit sector; and Mary Ann Christopher, president and chief executive officer of the Visiting Nurse Association of Central New Jersey, won for her work in the health-care field.
Salzer, who specializes in providing marketing consulting services to small and medium-sized businesses, said she was both “surprised and excited” to win the award. Salzer said she felt “truly privileged” to be chosen.
Salzer conducts workshops, called “Speaking of Marketing” and seminars for several entrepreneurial training programs, including New York University’s Stern School of Business Urban Business Assistance and the N.J. Economic Development Authority.
She was the first president of the Central Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, is a past president of the N.J. Technology Council and the N.Y.C. Road Runners Club.
Salzer is also dedicated to community work. She created and implemented a successful children’s religious program called “Torah for Tots” for her synagogue when she lived in New York, and created a similar program at the Marlboro Jewish Center when she moved to Marlboro.
Salzer has raised thousands of dollars for pediatric and breast cancer research. She herself is a cancer survivor and has also participated in road race events to raise money to fight the disease.
Sister Janet Christenson, a member of the Sisters of Mercy religious order, founded Epiphany House in 1989, as a transitional housing and addiction-treatment program for women with children.
“I am thrilled to receive this award,” Christenson said. “I think it is especially wonderful that anyone would give a reward to someone who helps addicted women with children.”
Christenson said that through her program, she has met some of the greatest women she has ever known — women who are “struggling through addiction, poverty, homelessness and sexual abuse to keep their families together at great odds and at great cost to them.”
Since its beginning, more than 500 families have been helped. Christenson noted that she herself has been in recovery from addiction for 28 years. The direction and help she received during her own treatment inspired her to help others in a similar manner.
As a substance abuse counselor, she noticed a recurring need among the women she treated. Many programs placed children in foster homes or up for adoption. She envisioned a program where women and their children could learn the skills to create and maintain a drug-free, self-sufficient life together.
Her goal has always been to make a difference in the lives of addicted women and their children by working for systemic changes that will provide more resources and more opportunities for treatment, education, employment and housing that are essential for continued life stability and continued recovery.
The initial budget for Epiphany House was a $35 monthly stipend Christenson received from her order. She eventually received a $100,000 state grant and opened the Epiphany House in Long Branch. Employees have grown from three to 23, and the residents, from the six women once in either permanent or transitional housing, along with their children, now number 46.
Mary Ann Christopher joined the VNA of Central Jersey in 1983, as the director of program services and in 2001 was named president and CEO.
She is a registered nurse and gerontological nurse practitioner. Her goal is to provide care to those in need, regardless of ability to pay. She has facilitated the VNA’s growth, which serves more than 80,000 individuals a year in Monmouth and Middlesex counties. Her work also includes the vigorous pursuit of grant funding, which enables the agency to provide $6 million of charitable health services yearly.
Christopher’s belief in community health care has been realized in many ways, including outreach services to residents of boarding homes, residential hotels and homeless shelters. She has also started a maternal child health program, provided for health screenings and health promotions for senior citizens. Her passion for bringing health care to people is the impetus that keeps her directing the day-to-day operation of the VNA of Central New Jersey.
Christopher said it was a “privilege” to receive the award.
“In my journey in health care over the years, especially with the VNA, I have been blessed to be mentored by some extraordinary women. I’ve been surrounded by extraordinary women in my personal life as well,” Christopher said.
Christopher credits her mother as her most influential mentor. She said she shared the award with many women in her life.
The judging committee consisted of Raimonda Clark, president and CEO, Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel; Rollie Davis, co-owner, Davis Realtors, East Brunswick; Amy Handlin, Monmouth County freeholder; Petra Ludwig, director of public affairs, Monmouth University, West Long Branch; and Suzanne Pease, owner, Ampersand Graphics, Marlboro.
Guest speaker at the luncheon was Rosemarie D. Poverman, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., of The Guidance Group in Manasquan.
Poverman, who speaks at numerous events, seminars and workshops, told the audience “not to take life too seriously.”
Poverman focused on the order of the day — celebrating life, accomplishments and the gift of humor.
Poverman spoke of the importance of balance and stressed that humor can help balance overworked, overstressed people.
“This is especially true of women, even more than men,” Poverman said. “They take on everything and they are exhausted. They take on more than is logical to take on.
“Taking a serious approach to life restricts your creativity,” Poverman said.
She said that this starts in school with comments such as “sit down,” “be quiet,” “settle down.” Eventually, Poverman said the lessons are learned and humor seems to be left out of the equation.
“We sure get the message — to be successful and to achieve you must get serious,” Poverman said.
“Using humor as a mind-set allows you to bounce back from adversity,” Poverman said. “It energizes the spirit and the soul. Human experiences will challenge you at every turn — nothing is easy.”
She urged audience members to take time for themselves and to take time to smile and laugh.
“Babies smile 400 times a day,” Poverman said. “Mature adults smile 15 times a day.”
She described humor as one of the most important coping skills we have.
“Smiles can change your mood,” Poverman, who is a breast cancer survivor, said. “Keep it tuned and take more time to do the things that make you smile.”
“And, at the end of the day,” she cautioned, “make sure you have taken the time to have really lived that day. You have the power to create your own atmosphere.”