Girl Scouts will honor Women of Distinction

The Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts will pay tribute to five women who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments throughout their lifetimes on March 16 at the Deal Country Club during the 19th annual Women of Distinction Dinner.

The women are being honored for exemplifying courage, confidence and competence, and for being positive role models to young girls everywhere.

The 2006 Women of Distinction are Oleta Harden, North Brunswick; Loretta Huddy, Brick; Maureen Lloyd, Oceanport; Dr. Marilyn McNeil, West Long Branch; Dana Puharic, Aberdeen.

Harden is the senior vice president and general counsel of New Jersey Resources Corp., as well as the secretary of its principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas Co. She serves as a trustee of New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group, and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Monmouth University. In addition, she is a member of various committees and associations, including the American Gas Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Huddy is the creator of themainevents.com, an online calendar and planning tool for nonprofit organizations. Formerly, she spent 27 years in the education field, working mostly as a learning disabilities specialist and as the director/coordinator of special services for child study teams in various school districts.

Lloyd works and volunteers as a certified school nurse for many school districts in Monmouth County. Formerly, she worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative and as a pediatric and labor and delivery nurse. She is a board member of the Monmouth Park Charity Fund and serves on various committees for the Meridian Health Gala. She is a former board member of the Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts and the American Cancer Society of Monmouth County.

McNeil is the director of athletics at Monmouth University, West Long Branch. She is a member of the NCAA Division I Management Council, and is active on the national level of intercollegiate athletics. She is the chair of the NCAA Committee of Women’s Athletics and the management council liaison to the National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is one of just 24 female athletic directors on the NCAA Division I level.

Puharic is the executive director and co-founder of Michael’s Feat, an organization that offers services and support networks to the parents and family members of seriously ill children. She founded the organization in memory of her son, Michael Gerard, who was born with a rare disorder and lost his life after three days. Since it was created, Michael’s Feat has provided more than $80,000 in benefits to local parents.

Puharic won the Martin Luther King Unsung Heroine Award from Monmouth University and was a finalist for Greater Media Newspapers’ Greater Woman of Central New Jersey award. In addition, Michael’s Feat was selected as the Northern Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce Volunteer Organization of the Year in 2004.

“All five 2006 Women of Distinction have gone the extra mile in helping others, giving back to their communities and setting positive examples for girls. These are five of the most amazing women I have ever come across, and their outstanding accomplishments are proof that the sky is the limit,” said Susan McClure, Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts CEO.

Tickets to the March 16 dinner are $150. To purchase tickets, contact Nancy Cummons at (732) 938-5454, ext. 37, or [email protected].

Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts, with headquarters in Howell, serves more than 12,000 girls throughout Monmouth and northern Ocean counties in conjunction with nearly 4,000 adult volunteers.