HARRISBURG, Pa., May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Governor Edward G. Rendell today saluted this year’s Best 50 Women in Business, saying their successes and accomplishments help Pennsylvania improve its business climate.
“Pennsylvania applauds the vital contributions that women entrepreneurs and leaders make to their communities and to the economic development of our state,” Governor Rendell said. “The women selected for this prestigious honor represent a wide range of business sectors and make a strong impact on business growth and job creation in every region of the state.”
During the 14th annual reception, held May 11 at the Hilton Hotel in Harrisburg, awards were presented by Department of Community and Economic Development Deputy Secretary for Business Assistance Dee Kaplan. The ceremony was attended by award recipients, their families and past award recipients.
“The achievements of the women in this room have helped pave the way for many of the young women and girls who are to follow in your footsteps,” Kaplan said during the ceremony. “Women entrepreneurs are creating opportunities for business expansion and growth, and creating job opportunities within their own communities.”
Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business winners were chosen by an independent panel of judges based on their dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for women in business. A recipient must be a female resident of Pennsylvania or be employed here in a senior executive management level position.
The 2009 award recipients represent a wide range of business sectors, including: consulting, investment firms, financial services, engineering, legal services, health care and more.
The awards program included a tribute to former Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll, a long-time advocate and Pennsylvania Best 50 Women in Business supporter who died in November.
“The late lieutenant governor was a regular attendee at Pennsylvania’s 50 Best Women in Business awards ceremony and her support of this program has made a huge difference for women entrepreneurs,” Kaplan said.
The annual program is conducted in cooperation with DCED and the Central Penn, Northeast Pennsylvania, Eastern, and Pittsburgh Business Journals, as well as Pennsylvania Business Central. Other sponsors of this year’s event included Highmark Blue Shield and D & E Communications.
The 2009 winners will be profiled on DCED’s Web site, www.newpa.com, beginning in June.
For additional information on Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business or for information on other business assistance programs available through DCED, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell’s initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.
EDITOR’S NOTE: A list of the 2009 award winners, by county, follows:
Allegheny County
Denise DeSimone, CEO, Advanticom, Pittsburgh
Shelley L. Fant Uku, president/CEO, FCG Solutions Inc., Pittsburgh
Amy Hancock, president/owner, Advantage Care Rehabilitation Services, Pittsburgh
Carol R. Hurley, CEO/owner/founder, Hurley Associates, Pittsburgh
Kimberly J. Kisner, Esq., Kisner Law Firm, Pittsburgh
Diane Mead, president/CEO/executive director, Bethany Hospice Services of Western PA LLC,
Pittsburgh
Bedford County
Marcia D. O’Rear, president, StelTek Graphics Inc., Bedford
Berks County
CJ Rhoads, CEO, ETM Associates Inc., Douglassville
Bucks County
Judith G. Archibald, director of public affairs, Waste Management of Pennsylvania, Fairless Hills
Donna M. Blaszczyk, CEO/owner, Blasz Construction LLC, Feasterville
Butler County
Kathy B. Allen, owner/president, Armstrong Farms Bed & Breakfast Inc., Saxonburg
Chester County
Morreen Rukin Bayles, president/founder, Creative Restaurant Solutions Inc., Exton
Joan Docktor, executive vice president of sales, Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors, Devon
Mariah Fenton Gladis, clinical director, Pennsylvania Gestalt Center for Psychotherapy, Malvern
Donna L. Urian, owner/vice president, Fischer Cunnane & Associates Ltd., West Chester
Cumberland County
Monica Gould, president, Strategic Consulting Partners, Mechanicsburg
Jennifer S. Schwalm, principal, Parente Randolph LLC, Mechanicsburg
Cynthia S. Washburn, owner, Oxford Hall Celtic Shop, New Cumberland
Dauphin County
Deborah Abel, president, Abel Personnel Inc., Harrisburg
Patricia M. Bosma, senior vice president, Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg
Delaware County
Beverlee L. DeLuca, executive vice president, J.J. Deluca Co. Inc., Springfield
Susan Watson McCoy, president, IMPACT Marketing & PR Inc., Chadds Ford
Erie County
Leah Humphries, president, Apple Creative Group, Erie
Beth Zimmer, director of talent acquisition, J.L. Nick & Associates Inc., Erie
Lancaster County
Jennifer K. Engle, principal/owner, jke marketing & communications, Lancaster
Bobbi Hartlove-Froncze, president/owner, Infinite Solutions with Marketing, Mount Joy
Elizabeth H. Martin, president/owner, Martin Insurance Agency, Millersville
Lawrence County
Mary Lynn Jimm, owner, Diane’s Boutique, New Castle
Lehigh County
Mimi S. Griffin, president/owner, MSG Promotions Inc., Bethlehem
Merry N. Landis, owner, Fine Art Resources, Allentown
Jane P. Long, shareholder, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba P.C., Center Valley
Maria Rodale, chairman of the board, Rodale Inc., Emmaus
McKean County
Candy Tingley, owner/manager, Graham Florist, Bradford
Mercer County
Lisa Marcucci, president, Premier HR Services LLC, West Middlesex
Montgomery County
Randee D. Janiszewski, agent/owner, Janiszewski State Farm Insurance Agency, Horsham
Robin Neifield, chief executive officer, NetPlus Marketing Inc., Conshohocken
Marcia Zaruba O’Connor, founder/president, The O’Connor Group, King of Prussia
Leza Raffel, president, The Communications Solutions Group, Jenkintown
Sandra Schultz Newman, chair, Cozen O’Connor, West Conshohocken
Philadelphia County
Karen Doughtery Bucholz, vice president of administration, Comcast Corp., Philadelphia
Jacqueline Buhn, president, Athenian Properties LLC, Philadelphia
Kate Kinslow, executive director, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia
Antoinette Leatherberry, principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Philadelphia
Debra Malinics, owner, Debra Malinics Advertising, Philadelphia
Lynn E. Rzonca, managing partner, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, Philadelphia
Union County
Pat Hess, owner, Colonial Candlecrafters, Lewisburg
York County
Leslie Eisner Bell, founder/president, Eisner Bell & Associates LLC, York
Kimberly Kennedy Graffin, president, Graffin Associates PC, York
Julie Lando, president/owner, Moxie, York
Ann K. Luciani, CEO, First Capital Engineering Inc., York
CONTACT: Theresa Elliott (DCED)
717-783-1130
Michael Smith
717-783-1116
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor