By Mary Brienza, Staff Writer
More than 360 women used the 14th annual Women’s Conference at the high school Saturday morning to learn about careers, success and network with other female professionals in a variety of fields.
Attendees were provided both breakfast and lunch and attended two sets of workshops on various careers and women’s issues as well as a keynote address by a successful female professional.
There were workshops on law enforcement, date rape and sexual harassment, early education, owning a business, visual arts and design, pharmacy, high school and beyond, finance and accounting, culinary arts, allied health professions, communications and journalism, legal professions, physical sciences and engineering and health and wellness.
Jessica Ortiz, the director of grants and acting operational vice president of development for the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, gave the keynote address and spoke about her rise to the top of her field. In her speech, Ms. Ortiz said she emigrated from the Dominican Republic to the United States when she was just 5 years old.
Ms. Ortiz told the attendees about how important mentors, internships and education were to her life and encouraged participants to explore volunteer opportunities and internships.
She said she had an interest in math and science in high school and told the attendees to look for “plentiful” internships and volunteer opportunities, which are good on resumes.
She also told attendees to build mentor relationships work on skill development and work to make their goals.
Mayor Frank Gambatese also addressed the participants and provided a brief overview of the program’s history.
”Ladies, the world is ahead of you,” Mr. Gambatese said. “Behind every strong man is a stronger woman.”
Mr. Gambatese said the Women’s Conference has been in South Brunswick for 14 years, and the program is “really something that is important.”
As in past conferences, scholarship awards were given to SBHS seniors. This year, awards of $1,000 each were given to Sophie Hyde and Meriam Khan.
SBHS junior Neha Dutta, 16, said she volunteered at the event by helping to pack gift bags and serving lunch. Her favorite part of the event were the workshops because she felt they were “informative and interesting.”
”People can really benefit from (the) conference because they can experience real speakers and their stories,” Ms. Dutta said.
Beatrice Alexander said she has been on the township Commission on Women for 13 years and is the longest serving member of the organization.
She said the first conference had 80 girls. This year’s conference had 365 people.
Former mayor Debra Johnson founded the Women’s Conference as a result of her “desire to give back to organizations that helped me.”
She said the conference is sustainable, and it continues to flourish.
”(I) couldn’t be more thrilled,” Ms. Johnson said.
The conference is a joint project between the government and school services, Ms. Johnson said.
Senior Kritika Dubey, 17, from Kendall Park, who is president of both the Key Club and the Asian Cultural Club, said she been attending since freshman year. She said the keynote speaker was “inspiring” and involved in “the same area I want to pursue.”
Ms. Dubey said she also “understood what (Ms. Ortiz) was talking about.”
Aditi Bhogal, a 17-year-old senior from Kendall Park, said she “got to meet a lot of people.”
Ms. Bhogal said she went to the pharmacy panel, and she stayed after to talk to them.
They were very helpful, gave information and did not mind she stayed and asked them a lot of questions, she said.

