Women Entrepreneurs Rock Event October 19th at The Stone Pony - NJ Small Business Development Center at Brookdale Community College

On October 19, 2015, America’s Small Business Development Center New Jersey at Brookdale Community College will present the second annual “Women Entrepreneurs Rock” female founders event at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ from 6-9pm (and networking until 10pm). This free event is for business owners (and aspiring entrepreneurs) throughout New Jersey. Capacity is limited and this event is now FILLED (registration is closed). If you missed registering on time for this event, please visit MOSBDC.com and sign-up for our newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming events!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kellie LeDet
Region II Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

Kellie LeDet was appointed Regional Administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) by President Barack Obama and SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet in July 2014. In this capacity, LeDet directs the SBA’s operations in Region II that encompasses New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Region II is headquartered in New York City. LeDet’s appointment to this Region represents the first time in SBA history that a woman and African-American has ever held that post. In her role, LeDet has direct oversight and responsibility for the administration of SBA’s financial, international export, disaster relief, government contracting, and entrepreneurial programs that assist nearly 3 million small businesses employing over 6 million workers in Region II.

2015 PANELISTS

Holly Migliaccio
Co-Founder/Owner Rook Coffee

Holly was born in Monmouth County and raised in Oceanport. After spending several years experiencing the city life between New York and San Francisco, she returned to her Jersey roots and settled back in Monmouth County in 2008.

Holly spent the first part of her career working in the fast-paced world of the Internet for top companies such as Yahoo! and The Ladders.com. Holding various management positions over seven years in sales, marketing, operations and training, she built a well-rounded set of business skills that would eventually prepare her for her own entrepreneurial venture.

In 2008, Holly took a leap of faith and resigned from her corporate career to spend three months traveling throughout Southeast Asia with only a backpack. Upon returning to the states, Holly and longtime childhood friend, Shawn Kingsley, decided to open a business based on a shared passion…coffee.

Holly is the Co-founder and Owner of Rook Coffee, a specialty coffee company complete with multiple coffee bars, a roastery and distribution center, a bottled cold brew business and an online store. Rook’s coffee bar experience involves exceptional product and over-the-top customer service. Using the finest quality coffees from all over the world, every cup of coffee is custom made to order. Rook Coffee

Marilyn Schlossbach
Executive Chef and Owner Langosta Lounge, Pop’s Garage, AP Yatch Club, Labrador Lounge and Marilyn Schlossbach Catering and Events

Marilyn Schlossbach was thrust into the culinary world by chance. The self-taught chef and entrepreneur went from marketing student, to waitress, to the chef du cuisine of Oshin, one of New Jersey’s first Asian Fusion restaurants to open in the 1980s, in what many would consider a blink of an eye.

She has not looked back since first stepping “behind the line” in 1982 to cover for her brother and head chef at Oshin, spending the last 30 years developing her culinary style through travel, self-instruction and an unwavering passion for gastronomy. During the last three decades, Marilyn has developed her own brand of vacation cuisine that takes foodies on a round-the-world journey to some of the globe’s most sought-after culinary destinations.

More than the ever-present global cuisine or fusion that populates the culinary landscape, the ambiance of her venues and diversity of her menus aims to replicate the vacation vibes that so many of us covet long after a holiday has ended. This is, in part, due to the effortless cool that permeates her dining rooms, complemented by pitch-perfect cocktails, and an unwavering desire for patrons to experience food in new and inspiring ways.

After years spent honing her craft, Marilyn is now the proprietor of six food and beverage establishments along the New Jersey coast and is an avid community advocate, endeavoring to promote the culinary arts among the next generation of service industry professionals. Her community work includes a collaboration with Interfaith Neighbors on Asbury Park’s Kula Café, community gardening and surf lessons with the Boys and Girls Club of Asbury Park, and unwavering support of environmental organizations like Clean Ocean Action that work to protect coastlines and marine environments. Marilyn Schlossbach

Dr. Julie Goldman
Founder & CEO The Original Runner Co.

DR. JULIE GOLDMAN earned a B.A. in Political Science and a M.A. in Education from the George Washington University. In addition, she received a Masters of Education and a Doctorate of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Working in the Welfare-to-Work field for many years, Dr. Goldman yearned for entrepreneurship. In 1999 she launched Remedi Consulting, a very successful technology consulting company with financial services clients worldwide. After her own wedding, she was inspired to launch The Original Runner Company, to provide the world with the first non-slip fabric aisle runners for weddings and special events. After more than a decade in the industry, The Original Runner Company has sold millions of dollars of her unique aisle runners in more than twenty countries. Her celebrated creations have graced the weddings of Kim Kardashian, Kevin Jonas, Nicole Ritchie, Fergie & Josh Duhamel, Michael Jordan and Neil Diamond to name a few. The overwhelming success of The Original Runner Company has resulted in Dr. Goldman appearing on the TV show “Shark Tank” and receiving the “Make Mine a Million” business award. Her business has also been featured in over 200 magazines as well as Crain’s NY Business, NY Daily News, NBC news, Lifetime Television, Oxygen, and Fox Business. Dr. Goldman celebrates this success with her wonderfully supportive husband David and adorable 9 year old daughter Jagger. The Original Runner Co

Stephanie D. Burroughs
President of StephanieSpeaking LLC

Stephanie D. Burroughs, President of StephanieSpeaking LLC began her minority business advocacy in 1980, while working in the construction industry providing contract compliance monitoring for the MBE program on a large rail project. She later increased her competencies by providing program development, project management and diversity (M/W/S/D/L/BE) certification auditing services. The culmination of the work she performed for organizations including Gannett, Fleming, Corrdry and Carpenter (project admin.), Blue Cross Blue Shield (Human Resources), The Port Authority of NY & NJ (business development), NJ Transit (consultant- Project Director) Hudson Bergen Light Rail) and Rutgers University/NJ Small Business Development Centers (Director Procurement Programs), positioned and prepared Stephanie for the services she provides today through StephanieSpeaking LLC launched in 2009.

StephanieSpeaking LLC provides Keynote Speaker, Workshop Facilitation, and Government Procurement Business Navigation services for minority, women, veteran, and small business owners. The company helps business owners overcome fear, confusion and stagnation by providing clear instruction and simple strategies on how to successfully navigate and compete for government and public contracts. The company also provides “Thought Transformation” navigation services for women business owners and professionals. StephanieSpeaking LLC

Katherine O’Neill
Executive Director of Jumpstart New Jersey Angel Network

Katherine O’Neill is the Executive Director for JumpStart New Jersey Angel Network, a member led angel investor group that invests in early stage companies in Mid-Atlantic region. She is an investor in early stage growth companies. She has served on the Board of the Angel Capital Association and is active in ACA national committees. The ACA is the national organization representing angel investor groups in North America. Katherine represents the ACA at both national and international events. She is quoted in regional publications and the Wall Street Journal as a source for information on early stage investing. She is the Chair of the 2016 ACA Summit in Philadelphia in May 2016.

Katherine is a member of, NJ Economic Development Authority Edison Fund Advisory Board, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of SE Pennsylvania Advisory Board, NJ Technology CFO Advisory Board, Princeton University MIRTHE Investment Focus Group and Rutgers Innovation Park Advisory Board. In recent years she has spoken at and judged business plan competitions both regionally and nationally at events such as IMPACT, Astia, Microsoft BizSpark NYC competition, Tri State Donald W. Reynolds Cup, Princeton University Jumpstart Innovation Forum, Temple University BOSS bowl and Start Up Weekend Princeton. She is a mentor at regional accelerators Princeton University E-Labs and TechLaunch. In 2015, she was honored as one of NJBIZ’s 50 Best Women in NJ Business.

Katherine is a seasoned financial executive and investor in early stage enterprises with extensive experience in start up and entrepreneurial operations as well as operational experiences in a diverse range of businesses. She has particular expertise developing technology-based business as well as strategic business plans. She has extensive multi-national experience and financial operation management and expertise in healthcare, biotech, pharmaceuticals, information systems, e-commerce and social media. She is the president of O’Neill Associates and consults with growth companies. JumpStart New Jersey Angel Network

MODERATOR

DonnaLyn Giegerich
President of DLG Consulting

DonnaLyn Giegerich MBA CIC RYT is the President of DLG Consulting, an empowerment speaking and training company providing customized coaching, keynotes, and events for F500 corporate, entrepreneurial and transitioning clients requesting “skill up” solutions. Her leadership work has taken her from California to Cornell in business, medical, wellness and advocacy forums. Locally, she maintains business interests in two insurance agencies, is an economics adjunct, realtor & SBDC consultant.

Her career started with IBM then Wall St as an analyst for a leading firm. DonnaLyn sold her first insurance business at 36 to rehab houses and travel the world as a registered yoga teacher. Serendipitously, she became a midlife model through adversity and co-founded award winning KickCancerOverboard to encourage others. Today, she’s passionately combining the intersection of her leadership life with professional development programs like Power Panelist Events and corporate engagements to “skill up” people and teams worldwide. Corporate clients include Campbells, Novo Nordisk, Daiichi Sankyo and Balfour Beatty Investments. DLG Consulting

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The panelists will discuss their backgrounds, successes and challenges along the way and offer advice to fellow business owners. There will also be live Q&A exchange as well as the ability to pre-submit questions for the panel to discuss at the event. There will be door prizes and cash bar. Even though this is an excellent AND free event, pre-registration is required. It’s simple (and you can bring a guest). Capacity is limited so register TODAY!

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

Sponsoring the second annual Women Entrepreneurs Rock event helps ensures the success of the event. The following sponsors support the SBDC and the small business community and should be recognized for their contributions!