South Jersey BIZ - Issue #2 (February 2024)

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SJBiz_WomenToWatch_0224_V2FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 2 / 12 / 24 4 : 55 PM Page 4 ERICKA NAKLICKI ROBIN A . WALTON Chief Philanthropy Officer and Senior Vice President Professional Wetland Scientist ( PWS ) , of External Affairs , Inspira Health Group Manager , T & M Associates Born and raised in South As a certified PWS with 22 Jersey , Walton has demon - years of environmental con - strated exceptional leader - sulting experience , ship skills throughout her Naklicki’s areas of expertise career spanning over two include wetland and stream decades in government and delineations and environ - community relations , specifi - mental impact statements . cally in higher education and She works with state and health care . Her forward - federal regulatory agencies thinking and strategic ap - to receive approvals for proach consistently yields public and private develop - positive results . Walton ment , and the data she col - spearheads Inspira’s donor lects in the field minimizes relations and fundraising ini - impacts on natural re - tiatives while managing the sources and design projects health system’s external to comply with land - use affairs portfolio . A proud alumna of Rutgers University , she holds regulations . Naklicki is a mentor in T & M’s mentorship program prominent positions such as the vice chair of the Chamber of supporting female scientists ’ advancement , sits on the NextGen Commerce of Southern New Jersey’s board of directors and chair Executive Board chairing the D & I committee , and volunteers for of the chamber’s State Affairs Council . Operation Outreach , Project Lead the Way and T & M Cares . What advice do you have for women developing their What are the benefits of women mentoring women ? leadership styles ? It is mutually beneficial and provides a sense of belonging and Advice like find a mentor , foster relationships and be visible are all the ability to learn through great examples of women successfully important . Still , some of the most excellent advice I can give is to jugglingwork / life balance . Being a mother to a disabled child has hold on to the attributes that should be at the core of who you are givenme clarity to how I treat others . I work with organizations no matter what : a woman with integrity who is self - aware , coura - thatadvocate for children with Down syndrome , as well as with geous , empathetic and resilient . It helps lead you to where you youngergenerations learning to be more inclusive and mentor need to be . newmoms who received unexpected birth diagnoses . RENEE LIBERONI ZALLIE , MEGAN KURTZ MAHER Ph.D . , MPH Surety Family of Companies , Founder and President , Zallie Community Foundation Vice President of Business Development Zallie founded the nonprofit Kurtz Maher has been in the charity focusing on food insecu - title insurance industry for 28 - rity , nutrition insecurity and nutri - plus years and with Surety tion education after beginning Title for two decades . Known her career educating community for her dynamic personality members on a healthy diet’s and collaborative skills , she overall impact on one’s health . In excels in business develop - 2022 , she incorporated nutrition ment by working with attor - services to expand the non - neys , realtors , builders and profit’s reach and breadth of nu - lenders , and brings far more trition education and food inse - to the table : Having experi - curity . Being in the unique posi - ence in title processing and tion of owning ShopRite stores closings , Kurtz Maher has a with her husband , Zallie has thorough understanding of hired registered dietitians to real estate transactions — a provide free nutrition services to unique perspective giving her customers — starting the process of good health right at the grocery an edge . Active in both professional and community organiza - store . tions , she is a member of the NEXUS Association of REALTORS – Ocean County and holds a passion for volunteering . In her free What advice do you have for women developing their time , she can be found with her husband Jim and pup Nellie . leadership styles ? Strive to be a leader who is both courageous and compassionate . Being What are the benefits of women mentoring women ? courageousgives you a voice , it allows you to be a learner and to know Thevalue of sharing experiences that often only women understand that if something fails , it is just another stepping stone to your success . cannotbe understated . I’ve been fortunate to be a mentor and When you choose courage , despite uncertainty , you lean in . Having mentee — beingguided in a manner more conducive to developing compassionprovides you with an empathetic ear : Be sure to step back trustedprofessional relationships and having the honor to provide a andactively listen to your employees . Being a courageous and compas - sense of accomplishment to others . Shared accountability , motiva - sionateleader will help you foster connections and inspire your team ! tion and encouragement foster the drive to do more and perform better . SouthJerseyBiz.net | VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | 23

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SJBiz_WomenToWatch_0224_V2FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 2 / 12 / 24 4 : 55 PM Page 5 4 SARAH RIVERA NI GAO , Ph.D . CHIARA LATIMER , TIFFANY WINTERS - 2 MFT WALKER Chief Talent Promoter , Director , Integrated 0Em - Co - Director of the Center First Impression Resumes ployment Institute , 2Depart - Community Leader for Neurodiversity and ment of Psychiatric Rehabili - and Business Owner A professional résumé writer , Coordinator of the HAutism tation and Counseling Pro - career counselor and enthusiastic PATH Career Program , fessions , Rutgers CUniversity A passionate leader , owner of wordsmith , Rivera is driven by Rowan University Number 9 Tattoo Shop , Tconsultant , helping others find their passion Gao’s teaching and research focus facilitator and educator , Winters - A Latimer supports neurodiverse stu - and place in the world so they on developing and implementing Walker’s varied background has W dents through can make a evidence - shaped her both the living based prac - approach to O Center for doing what tices for in - helping T Autism and they love . dividuals others . She is Rowan’s With a phi - with serious actively in - N Center for losophy mental ill - volved in the E Neurodiver - that she nesses , es - Gloucester sity . The Msucceeds pecially in County center focuses when her the areas of O NAACP , CGS on situating clients do , returning to Family Part - W neurodiversity within DEI initiatives , Rivera is thankful to be a trusted education and employment while nership , Chamber of Commerce while PATH supports neurodiverse part of their career journey . managing their conditions . She is South Jersey , Gloucester County students ’ transition from higher edu - also president of the Asian Amer - African American Leadership Com - cation to meaningful employment . " Confidence in leadership is a trait ican Alliance in South Jersey , pro - mittee , Rowan University Women She is currently completing her doc - that is not always innate ; it must moting cultural exchange and un - in Business and serves as an elec - torate degree . beboth taught and cultivated . derstanding among community tion outreach officer . Learnfrom watching and listening ; groups . “ It is imperative to highlight the emulate senior leaders who are “ Womensucceed when other need for increased awareness related authentic , consistent , impactful “ It’s encouraging to see more womensupport them . Women who to the experiences of intersectional andrespected . Be willing to take womentaking on leadership roles decide to embrace mentorship have identities of women . DEI efforts need onleadership roles with small … but the gender gap still exists . anopportunity to both give and topromote the celebration of neuro - projects.Your leadership style will Womenmentors can serve as role learn . … Knowing we have the divergentwomen . . . . Women hold so becomeobvious with experience models , help build confidence , support of other women helps many identities , and we need to and practice . " skills and networks , break down create a safe space for us to learn , capturethese varied experiences barriers , and share tears and growand thrive . ” throughDEI initiatives . ” laughter . ” THERESA CANDICE M . ROHLFING ALFONSO , Esq . Executive Director , Center Chief Diversity Officer / for Independent Living Director of the Office of of South Jersey , Inc . ( CILSJ ) Diversity and Inclusion , N.J . Dept . of the Treasury While teaching , Rohlfing realized that helping people with disabili - Alfonso monitors the public con - ties was her true calling . An op - tracting process for participation portunity to work as a transition by busi - specialist at nesses with CILSJ and minority , help stu - women , dents with veteran , special disabled needs veteran , and prepare for LGBTQIA + life beyond owners , fo - high school cusing on facilitated strategies for their greater utiliza - her transition from education to tion and conducting outreach . her current role . She managed the final phase of the statewide disparity study , re - “ Inassuming this role , I learned viewing the final report and col - thatconfidence , strategic thinking laborating with stakeholders on and authenticity play a large part a plan to increase contracting in achieving success in any leader - opportunities . ship role . Women in leadership positions can inspire and “ Oftentimes , we dare to dream all empowerother women to find the thatwe can be or achieve because confidence to speak their minds , it’s hard to visualize ourselves in pursue their dreams and achieve spaceswe haven’t seen ourselves their goals . ” before.But as the saying goes , if w yousee it , you can be it . ” 24 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 14 ISSUE 2 | SouthJerseyBiz.net

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