NAWBO of South Jersey Releases Glass Ceiling Awards Highlight Video

VOORHEES, N.J. - April 9, 2014 - PRLog -- NAWBO of South Jersey is thrilled to release the 2014 Beyond the Glass Ceiling Highlight Video courtesy of Lee Vetter Video Production and Editing, Webcasting and Photography.  The Beyond the Glass Ceiling Awards & Gala is an annual dinner program hosted and presented by NAWBO of South Jersey that honors extraordinary individuals for their contributions to women and women business owners, as well as their commitment to excellence in the community.

The highlight video can be viewed on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYWhdW75BCE&feature=youtu.be.



This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Robin Smith, national television personality, best-selling author and licensed psychologist.  The message of her speech echoed the theme of her most recent book, Hungry: The Truth About Being Full, in which she candidly chronicles her own experiences with being emotionally and spiritually hungry in order to provide insight into the reader’s own hunger.  The book helps readers to recognize, survive, embrace, and conquer their emotional hungers so they can live a truly full life.  Dr. Robin’s keynote address at the Glass Ceiling was about authenticity, acceptance, and loving yourself enough to know your worth and live your truth:

“I’m telling you what I say to myself every day.  Starve the lie and feed the truth. STARVE the LIE and FEED the TRUTH.  So whatever it is that’s telling you – the lie that’s telling you that you can’t do it – you want to starve that lie and you want to begin to feed the truth that you are capable and that you are able.  So if we are talking about growing and actually busting through that glass ceiling that has kept you from being YOU – this is your night and it’s your opportunity! Absolutely, this is your night!”  Dr. Robyn Smith at 2014 Beyond the Glass Ceiling Awards

Dr. Robin Smith graciously made herself available to meet some of the attendees before the program began.  “It was wonderful to have the opportunity to meet Dr. Robin,” said attendee and NAWBO member, Helena Duzenski, co-owner of Evolution Fitness.  “She was compassionate and warm and just really nice.  I was very inspired by her speech that night.”

“Dr. Robin Smith gave a very heartfelt message and the attendees were excellent,” said fellow NAWBO member, Crystal Pizarro of Advanced Wellness Solutions.  “I made a lot of great contacts and I’m very excited about everything that NAWBO has to offer.”

The honorees also offered words of wisdom and inspiration during their acceptance speeches.  “I had the privilege to sit down with each of the honorees before the event,” said Angela Venti, President of NAWBO and Business Development Manager for Investors Bank.  “I learned so much from all of them and wanted the attendees to experience the wisdom they had to offer as well.  I am so grateful to the honorees for what they gave to all of us that night with their inspirational and thought provoking acceptance speeches.”

The honorees of the 2014 Glass Ceiling Awards were:

Trailblazer of the Year:  CJ DiRoma, The Asterism Group
Company of the Year:  Eileen Unger, Emergency Preparedness Partnerships
Women’s Advocate of the Year:  Lucienne Beard, Alice Paul Institute
Legislator of the Year:  Congressman Jon Runyan, NJ 3^rd Congressional District
Heroine of the Year:  Betty Long, RN, Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
Media Advocate of the Year:  Marilyn Russell, WBEN-FM
Community Advocate of the Year:  Lori Godorov, The Work Group
Environmental Advocate of the Year:  Lori Braunstein, Sustainable Cherry Hill
NAWBO SJ Chapter Champion:  Judy Sailer, Habitat for Humanity and Tracy Shields, ResQ
NOVA Award:  Roseann Vanella, Advanced Mediation Solutions, FamilyAffaires.com

Overall, the 2014 Beyond the Glass Ceiling Awards was a great success.  "It was truly a wonderful and inspirational evening,” said Fran Davis, owner of Flavorful Fork, LLC, and Director of Marketing for NAWBO.  “We are so grateful for the support of our sponsors, silent auction donors, and all those that continue to support the National Association of Women Business Owners.  It makes this annual event possible but also allows us to provide the support and education our community business owners need to make their visions a reality."  NAWBO of South Jersey would like to thank their sponsors for the night: Investors Bank, Virtua, SJ Magazine, South Jersey Biz, SNJ Business People, Go Jane News, Southern Jersey ShutterBooth.com, EventFX Transforming Ideas, Baked and Sconed, LLC, Saucy Little Redhead Cakes & Creations, Annemarie Young Photography, and Lee Vetter Video Production & Editing.  NAWBO would also like to thank all the volunteers whose hard work and commitment contributed greatly to the success of the event.

About NAWBO of South Jersey

Chartered in 2003, The National Association of Women Business Owners-South Jersey is a vibrant, professional group of women and men who come together to connect, learn and grow through networking and educational events.  NAWBO of South Jersey strives to help others grow in business by offering education and resource to women business owners in our region, and by providing exposure and promotion avenues for increasing member visibility.  They offer events and membership opportunities in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem, Atlantic, Cape May and portions of Mercer counties.   Website: http://nawbosouthjersey.org/

About NAWBO National

The National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), headquartered in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, is the only dues-based national organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs in all types of businesses.  The organization currently has over 80 chapters.  It is affiliated with Les Femmes Chefs d’Entreprises Mondiales (World Association of Women Entrepreneurs) in 33 countries.   NAWBO traces its origins to a small group of Washington, DC business women who began meeting informally in the spring of 1974 to talk about mutual experiences, exchange information and develop business skills.  Recognizing the value of the group, they incorporated as the National Association of Women Business Owners on July 5, 1974.  Two years later they began recruiting members from across the country, and in 1978 the first chapters were formed.