HILLSBOROUGH: County commission taps four local women for honor

By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
   Although they were all surprised to learn of their nominations, for the four township women receiving county awards next month, they have said it is just an honor to be recognized for the work they do.
   Helen Haines, of Stonewyck Drive, is being honored for education; Kilmer Drive resident Lisa Kent is being recognized for her work as an entrepreneur; Barbara Tofani, of Murray Drive, is being recognized for her work in the health care community; and Hillsborough resident Tina Rear is being honored for her volunteerism.
   Somerset County Freeholder, and liaison to the Commission on the Status of Women, Jack Ciattarelli said the commission identifies a number of different areas for which women should be recognized, than asks members of the community to submit nominations for people living in the county who they believe are worthy.
   ”The members of the commission screen the nominations and make the final decisions,” he said.
   According to Irene von Dohlen, chairwoman of the commission, a selection committee read through this year’s 60 nominations to narrow down the winners among the 17 categories.
   ”It’s not an easy process,” she said. “The people who won go above and beyond in the community and in their work.”
Helen Haines
   Ms. Haines said she has always loved being with children, and now is pleased to be honored by the county for her work in the education field.
   ”This is a wonderful award and recognition,” she said. “The county is a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.”
   As a teacher and principal for 38 years in Bound Brook, and a Hillsborough resident for 40 years, Ms. Haines said she did a great deal of work with early childhood intervention and worked as an affirmative action officer, before her retirement in June.
   ”It was a very quick 38 years,” she said. Over the years, she has taught third through eighth grades, and served as principal in a kindergarten through sixth grade school. “All the teachers and families I worked with were so supportive.”
   Ms. Haines – who has also been on the Hillsborough Township Committee, serves on the Board of Adjustment and has been involved in several other community endeavors – said she was nominated for the award by Mr. Ciattarelli.
   ”He called to ask if he could nominate me,” she said.
   As a former member of the Somerset County Commission on the Status of Women, Ms. Haines said she has seen this program grow over the years, and is proud of how great it has become.
   ”I was on the commission 20 years ago, and we had this small affair,” she said. “Now, we have outgrown the restaurant in Bridgewater where it was first held.”
   For those women looking to pursue a career in education, Ms. Haines said, it is about loving to work with children.
   ”You go into it hopefully because you love children and care about them,” she said. “It’s an awful lot of paperwork, but you have to have patience with the children and with the system.”
Lisa Kent
   For Ms. Kent – who is receiving the award for being an entrepreneur for her consulting firm, the Luminations Group – being nominated by her colleagues and staff was the greatest honor. The nomination, she said, came from Michelle Keller, a consultant on her team.
   ”I knew my team was nominating me and was both flattered and honored,” she said. “It feels great to be acknowledged by the county and an esteemed organization. It is even more wonderful to be recognized and appreciated by the women who work for you and with you.”
   The Luminations Group, which Ms. Kent founded in 2003, delivers marketing services to small and large corporations, with the initial focus having been on helping small and start-up organizations.
   Prior to founding The Luminations Group, Ms. Kent served as CEO of netgrocer.com, an online supermarket providing services to retailers and manufacturers.
   For those wishing to move forward in their own careers, Ms. Kent said people must believe in themselves and do something they love.
   ”Don’t be afraid to take risks, challenge yourself to learn and try new things,” she said. “Surround yourself with people you trust and respect. Make sure you maintain your relationships and network with other professionals, especially women.”
Barbara Tofani
   In receiving this honor for health services, Ms. Tofani said the award not only shines a light on her work, but also on the entire health care community.
   ”I am very appreciative of the commission for recognizing that what we do makes a difference in people’s lives,” said Ms. Tofani, who has served as the director of the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center, in Flemington, for more than three years. “I am being honored, but this shines a light on what it is we do.”
   At the center, Ms. Tofani said, they treat about 150 patients each day, who are dealing with radiation and chemotherapy to fight the disease. Also part of the center, she said, is a research component for different treatments and other ways of dealing with cancer.
   ”It used to be that if a patient wanted to do a research trial, he would have to go to a large facility,” she said. “But here, the staff develops a relationship with the patients. We are committed to the research component.”
   Ms. Tofani said she began her career as an oncology nurse after working with two young cancer patients struggling with side affects from the medication, as well as the affects of the disease.
   ”I thought I could make a difference,” she said. “I went for my masters in oncology nursing. I wanted to help so they didn’t have to suffer any more than they already did.”
   The nomination for the award, Ms. Tofani said, came from her colleagues at the center, and she is very honored to be thought of for this.
   ”It is very humbling because I know a lot of people who do tremendous work,” she said. “My first reaction was that there are people more deserving than me. (But) I am honored that my staff thought of me and the work I do.”
   Ms. Tofani said she would recommend that women stay open to a possible career in healthcare because it is very rewarding. She said there are so many different options in the field.
   ”It is (the right place) if you want to work in a field where you make a difference every single day,” she said. “For those dealing with issues, we can make their lives a little bit easier.”
Tina Rear
   For Ms. Rear, president of Care to Share Support Network Inc., receiving a volunteerism award for work she does just to make a difference in the community is an honor.
   ”It is an honor to be recognized among the other amazing women who were nominated,” she said. “Somerset County has a strong community of committed women who devote a lot of their personal and professional time to helping ensure that their community is a better place to live in. I am proud to consider myself a small part of making more opportunities available to those within our community.”
   Care to Share, a non-profit organization which Ms. Rear began about three years ago, is a support group for families of children on the autism spectrum. It has since grown to support families of children with any special needs, as meetings are held to provide parents with respite care.
   In addition, the organization has worked on emergency data sheets for families as organized with the Hillsborough Police Department and arranged recruitment of in home respite care providers, among other services for families.
   ”I feel it is my responsibility to live my life in a generous way, caring to share for others around me,” said Ms. Rear, whose son, Kyle, was diagnosed at 18 months with an autism spectrum disorder in 2005. “I have had a vision for Care to Share for a long time and it has finally come to (fruition). I am thankful to my family and our board of trustees who encourage me to continue to live our mission.”
   Ms. Rear’s nomination, she said, was sent in by Nicolette Ash, the president of a volunteer organization of high school students in Bridgewater who are looking to make a difference in their community. She said the volunteers have worked with Care to Share in the past.
   For those looking to work as volunteers, Ms. Rear said, they should not become discouraged if their goal is to help others.
   ”If your heart guides you, then you are on the right path,” she said.
   The dinner and awards ceremony, Mr. Ciattarelli said, is the way of showing that the community is appreciative of all the work the women do in the county.
   ”There are thousands of women who live and work in the county, and contribute to the community,” he said. “By recognizing a few, we are also honoring the many thousands.”
   The awards will be presented to all recipients during a special dinner at The Imperia, in Somerset, on March 6, beginning at 6 p.m. Tickets are $45 per person and advance reservations are required by Feb. 25.
   For more information call Ms. von Dohlen at 908-604-6278.
   Also receiving awards are Ann Minzer Conley, of Franklin, for business; Karyn Malinowksi, of Manville, Carole Payne, of Boonton, and Elizabeth Stitley, of Somerville, all for education; Katy Rupert, of Bedminster, for being an entrepreneur; Edith Lit, of Manville, as a hometown hero; Alice Steinbacher, of Bernardsville, for journalism; Nandita Kamdar, of Branchburg, for management; Pamela Ely, of Bridgewater, for public service; Barbara Schlichting, of Stockton, for social services; and Nicolette Ash, of Bridgewater, for volunteerism.
   Doris Zampella, of the E.A. Boniakowski Agency Inc. in Green Brook will receive the Shirley Noble Volunteerism Award, and Raritan Mayor Jo-Ann Liptak will be a distinguished honoree.