South Jersey BIZ - Issue #2 (February 2022)

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SJBiz_WomenToWatch_0222FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 2 / 11 / 22 2 : 56 PM Page 3 atch Bethany Brown Dana Duffield VicePresident , Wolf Business Development W Commercial Real Estate ( WCRE ) Representative , National o Brown , a graduate of Shippensburg Integrity Title tAgency University , has played many roles Born and raised in South Jersey , n during her 15 - plus years in the busi - Duffield got her start at National In - e ness , including senior associate at tegrity as a receptionist while pur - Colliers International and general suing her degree at Rutgers - m manager for a hospitality brand while Newark University , where she was a o building her own real estate invest - captain of the track team and a W ment portfolio in Philadelphia . She member of the School of Business joined WCRE in 2020 and specializes mentor program . Since her gradua - in developing and implementing cre - tion last May , she has assumed her ative strategies for clients in the South current role and quickly established Jersey and Philadelphia markets . herself as an integral part of the firm’s growth . Which female role models have made an impact in your life ? Which female role models have made an impact in your life ? I read Madeleine Albright’s autobiography , Madam Secretary , in the Although I have had so many amazing women role models in early [ 2000s ] right after graduating from college . … Reading her my life , if I had to pick one in particular it would be my grand - memoir and finding out that she didn’t hold a government job until mother . She is a motherly figure to me , and I am so proud of she was 39 and already a mother of three really resonated with me . her after years of hearing her stories about raising two sons She achieved remarkable things in her career , which didn’t even get as a single mother in Philadelphia . She is a tough woman , but started until middle age . Her story helped me focus more on finding a motivational one . my passion and less on the pressure of self - imposed timelines . How do you approach work / life balance ? If you could meet any woman in the world , My approach to creating a work / life balance dates back to past or present , who would it be and why ? college when for six days a week I had track practice from 6 - I just finished the series The Crown and am now obsessed with 11 a.m . , went to class from 12 - 6 : 30 p.m . and worked at the all things British royalty . So , I think I would choose Queen Eliza - school gym from 7 - 11 p.m . This experience instilled the im - beth . She has been queen for over 70 years and has been in - portance of time management , and it has treated me well in volved in practically all of modern history’s most notable events , adjusting to my work / life balance today . not to mention all the scandals . Minerva Alvarado Kathy Brancifort Business and Marketing President , First Class Travel Development Coordinator , After graduating from Widener Uni - SERVPRO versity with a degree in travel and After filling a variety of roles at nu - tourism management , Brancifort merous area law firms , Alvarado endeavored to combine her love switched gears in 2015 when she for helping people with her passion joined SERVPRO , an industry for the vacation industry and leader in cleanup and restoration opened First Class Travel in 1988 . after water or fire damage , storms For more than 30 years she has and disasters , construction and created lasting relationships with more . She oversees business and grateful clients , and today she is marketing development for the proud to run the business with her largest franchise operation in the daughter , Selena Bohinski . tri - state region , which includes locations across South Jersey . A dedicated volunteer since the age of 9 , Alvarado was Which female role models have made an impact in your life ? named the Cumberland County Distinguished Citizen and My role model would be my mother . She displays such bril - Woman of Achievement in 2021 . liance , grace and strength . Although having four children , being an accomplished opera singer and music teacher , How do you approach work / life balance ? these qualities did not amount to her beauty and grace that As women , we take on a lot of responsibility in work and in was obvious every time she entered a room . She is the life . Taking the time I need for work and life is important , and strongest woman I know and I continue to strive to be a role being true to myself as well . Getting organized , delegating model like her for my family . and learning to say no are key . Equally as important is to work when you’re working and enjoy life / family when you’re How do you approach work / life balance ? not working . I have realized over the years how important family is , but un - derstanding that you need to provide is also important . I re - If you could meet any woman in the world , member times where I would pick up my children from past or present , who would it be and why ? daycare or school only to bring them back to the office where Two women immediately come to mind . I would want to ask they had pizza night and played secretary in the back office . both women the very same question you have asked me or I My children are the world to me and always will be . I am for - would say , “ Tell me about yourself , ” and listen to every word . tunate to have a wonderful career in the travel business that [ The two women are ] my paternal grandmother , Rosín Her - has allowed me to travel with my family . nandez , who passed before I was born , and Mother Teresa . 24 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 | SouthJerseyBiz.net

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SJBiz_WomenToWatch_0222FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 2 / 11 / 22 2 : 56 PM Page 4 Nichelle Michelle Pace Gasiorowski Partner , Bowman & Company VicePresident of the Board Gasiorowski is a CPA who has 20 of Directors , Camden Business years of experience assisting various Association businesses , particularly law firms and Pace is a seasoned media and creative funeral homes , with strategic tax plan - arts professional with more than 20 ning to help them thrive in an increas - years of experience in film / video pro - ingly difficult business environment . duction , lifestyle marketing and adver - She is also a specialist in auditing em - tising who has led award - winning cam - ployee benefit plans . Gasiorowski paignsfrom New York to Chicago . Her prides herself on working closely with entrepreneurial spirit also led her to business owners as a trusted advisor , open her own boutique creative and is often able to help them grow agency , Brand Enchanting Media , in their business and meet their goals . 2016 . But Pace’s real passions are helping her hometown of Camden and issues of diversity , equity Which female role models have made an impact in your life ? and inclusion , which inspired her to launch the Small Biz Digital Ultimately my role model will always be my mother . She’s guided Bootcamp , a series of workshops to assist local businesses with me through all the childhood challenges , celebrations and ac - resources in branding and digital marketing . complishments and is still always willing to listen when I call . As I grew in my professional life , I’ve been fortunate to cross paths Which female role models have made an impact in your life ? with many women ranging from colleagues to clients to [ others ] First , the women of my family . They have strength and resilience to I’ve met through various organizations in volunteer roles . While adversityas women of color . From my grandmom , mother , aunts , coaching for Girls on the Run , each young girl brought some - cousinsand my ancestors , I draw on this strength daily . Second , thing to the team that I could learn from and admire . twowomen have had a profound impact on me in business . Ronda Plummer , a former marketing EVP of a previous client , was a delib - If you could meet any woman in the world , erate , calm , steadfast , strategic and kind leader . Elaine Tan was past or present , who would it be and why ? my first manager / director in the advertising industry ; her drive , Kathrine Switzer , the first woman to officially run the Boston no - nonsenseapproach , sincere compassion and mastery of six Marathon in 1967 . I really admire her story of how she persisted different languages set the bar high for women leaders . through the race when race officials were chasing her off the course only because she was a woman . I thank her for paving the way for How do you approach work / life balance ? women’s fitness and health , so I can sign up for any race I want . I practice the power of “ no . ” You cannot pour into others from an empty cup . No matter if it is work / business or home / family , you must be deliberate and set boundaries , take time to recharge and celebrate yourself . Stacey Rock President and Managing Partner , Solvix Solutions , LLC Erica Franklin In 2013 , Rock took the bold step of Experiential Learning Manager , launching Solvix Solutions , a Rowan College at Burlington company that helps the federal County ( RCBC ) government and commercial clients Franklinleads a variety of community fill their technology services , hard - initiatives at RCBC , connecting the ware and software needs . It did not collegeand its students with a multi - take long for the firm to take off tude of organizations and projects . She andbecome one of the fastest - wasinstrumental in opening and con - growing companies in technology . tinuing to coordinate the college’s Before starting her own business , studentfood pantry and , most recently , Rock spent 10 - plus years providing guidingthe development of an experi - administrative support to high - level executives at Fortune ential learning office . In her new role , 500 companies . Now she assists those top decision - makers in shehelps students find high - quality op - saving money on products and services , and many have portunities to gain hands - on experience in their field of study . begun to refer to Solvix as their trusted advisor . Which female role models have made an impact in your life ? How do you approach work / life balance ? There are many women in history whose inspirational stories are I take a low - stress approach to the work / life balance . There well known , but there are even more whose names and stories isn’t “ work ” and “ personal ” life — it’s blended . As an entre - of adversity have not been told . The young women I work with preneur , there are times my kids need me during working at RCBC , for instance , inspire and teach me every day . hours and times my job needs attention during off hours . So I prioritize my schedule but also allow for flexibility . How do you approach work / life balance ? I practice patience and support both in and out of the office . This is the perfect time for me to reflect on this question as I will very soon be welcoming a baby girl into the balance ! My ap - If you could meet any woman in the world , proach to work / life responsibilities is to proceed with flexibility , past or present , who would it be and why ? recognizing that there will often be times when one requires more I would love to meet Cleopatra . She was such a brave and from me than the other . Sometimes the balance requires realign - intellectual woman . She was a powerful leader who had ment , and that’s OK . I have a wonderful , supportive husband and excellent public communication and diplomacy skills . two loving pups who keep me focused on my home life when I’m not working . At work , the students keep me focused . SouthJerseyBiz.net | VOLUME 12 ISSUE 2 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | 25

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