YWCA Bergen County Announces Recipients of its Tribute to Women & INdustry (TWIN) Awards

April 13, 2012 - PRLog -- HACKENSACK, N.J, April 12, 2012 - The YWCA Bergen County, N.J., announced that 20 women business leaders from the Tri-state area have been chosen to receive its 38th Annual Tribute to Women & INdustry (TWIN) awards. The prestigious awards honor women for significant contributions to their companies. They also recognize sponsoring companies for their progressive personnel policies and for providing women with opportunities for advancement. This year's gala event will be held on Thursday, April 19 at 5:45 p.m. at the Sheraton Mahwah Hotel, 1 International Boulevard.

The 2012 list of honorees includes women leaders across a wide range of industries and professions. They are:

   Kathleen Divers, Associate Vice President of Quality/Outcomes Management, Bergen Regional Medical Center        
   Dana Ponciroli, Strategic Communications Manager, Cytec Industries
   Theresa Colarusso, Administrator Director of Nursing, Hackensack University Medical Center
   Linda Stanton, MBA, BSN, RN, Administrator Director, Hackensack University Medical Center
   Carol Ann Krupa, Senior Manager of ES Accounting Controls, ITT Exelis
   Eileen C. Miele, Senior Manager, KPMG, LLC
   Antje Williams, Brand Manager, Sprinter, Mercedes-Benz, USA, LLC
   Nancy Flood, Vice President, PNC Bank
   Jimin Liu, Manager of Treasury Services, PSEG
   Carlotta Chan, Manager of Investor Relations, PSEG
   Irma Pittman, IT Delivery Manager, PSEG
   Lisa Benincosa, VP of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Roche Pharmaceuticals
   Ellin Everson, Senior Manager of Public Relations, Sharp Electronic Corporation
   Debbie Brown, Director of HR Shared Services, Stryker Orthopaedics
   Sharon Rossi, Customer Development, Unilever
   Suzanne Bigos, IT - Geography - Americas, Unilever
   Susan Gerard, Esq., Director of Corporate Human Resources, United Water
   Mary Kirchmeier, Director of Support and Ancillary Services, Valley Home Care
   Bettyann Kempin, Vice President, Valley Hospital      
   Mary Ann Magarelli, Wellness Director, Van Dyk Health Care

"I feel honored to be among these accomplished women who are receiving this recognition," said award recipient Susan Gerard, Esq., Director of Corporate Human Resources with United Water. "The TWIN awards recognize more than our individual accomplishments. I appreciate the role United Water has played in my own career development. For United Water, empowering women is an important business goal and it's one that the YWCA Bergen County has always championed."

Brigadier General (U.S. Army, Ret.) Rebecca Halstead is the keynote speaker for this year's TWIN dinner. She was the first female Commanding General to lead troops in combat in Iraq and the first female graduate of West Point to be promoted to General Officer. Halstead now heads a leadership consultancy company, STEADFAST Leadership.

"More than 2,000 women have received TWIN awards since the program was founded in 1975," said Helen Archontou, CEO of YWCA Bergen County. "This year's recipients join an illustrious group of women who continue to make meaningful contributions in the workplace and in their communities."

Proceeds from the event help to support the YWCA Bergen County's diverse women's health programs. The organization's childcare programs and summer camps also receive support, as well as the YWCA's Rape Crisis Center, which provides comprehensive services ranging from prevention programs to 24/7 crisis intervention for victims of sexual violence.

Individual tickets for the TWIN awards dinner are $175 and can be purchased by calling (201) 881-1720, or visiting www.tributetowomen.eventbrite.com.