“Back to the Future” was the theme of the 2022 Leadership Summit hosted by the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group, where participants – including emerging and established professionals – were inspired by speakers from a variety of fields who discussed how they overcame the challenges of COVID and achieved success.
Held on March 25 at NJCU @ Fort Monmouth, the annual event is designed to provide networking opportunities, information and helpful coaching from community professionals who have worked their way up the ranks in their careers, according to a press release from the chamber.
The 2022 Leadership Summit included a panel of industry leaders who described how they dealt with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and guided their businesses and organizations to a successful future.
Two breakout sessions featured additional motivational speakers who offered their secrets to success, according to the press release.
The event was presented to in-person attendees and to virtual attendees. This year’s speakers were:
• Rob Kash, co-owner of the Great Restaurants NJ Group, including popular eateries Metropolitan Café, tre, Nonna’s and Rosalita’s, who shared how he maintained the positivity of his staff and the services at his restaurants;
• Frances Keane, chief human resources officer at CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold Township, who shared how she led her team of medical service providers through the pandemic;
• Dawn Malinowski, owner of SocialTrend Marketing Solutions, who spoke about challenges faced as a small business owner and ways to incorporate social media ideas into a business;
• Dr. Michael Edmondson, interim director of New Jersey City University (NJCU) at Fort Monmouth, dean of the College of Professional Studies, and dean of professional education and lifelong learning at NJCU, who discussed teamwork and establishing the NJCU satellite campus;
• Cliff Moore, owner of The Brand of Me v2.0, who offered information about incorporating positivity into one’s professional life and personal life.
MRCC Young Professionals Group Co-Chair Kathrine Dwyer said, “For the second year in a row, I am grateful for the opportunity to host an event that had not taken place in a few years and revise it to become an educational forum, offering the opportunity for sponsorships and collaboration between members, future members, students and the community at large. We aimed to make this a huge success, as it was one of the first hybrid events the MRCC was hosting.”
According to the press release, the success of the 2022 Leadership Summit was made possible by the support of attendees and the generosity of the event sponsors, including NJCU New Jersey City University: Dean Michael Edmondson and Michelle DelVecchio; Business Enhancement Services + Training: Sherilyn Przelomski; and Unique Parties: Jaclyn Patterson.
Additional funding came from the daily social media sponsorships that were made in the days leading up to the Leadership Summit through its March Madness campaign.
For more information about the Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce, including the Young Professionals Group’s Business and Baseball event on June 2 and the Caring with Karaoke fundraiser on Sept. 14, visit https://www.monmouthregionalchamber.com/