Odyssey International Productions Announces Its Business Excellence Award Winners
Odyssey International Productions, a 501(c)(3) organization that recognizes the efforts and accomplishments small-business owners, individuals, and organizations who have contributed significantly to the development of their communities, has announced the winners of its 19th annual Awards of Excellence.
The award ceremony will take place November 16, 2018, at 6:00 p.m., in the Robert Treat Hotel, 50 Park Place, Newark, N.J. Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver is expected to be among the hundreds of people who will be attending the awards ceremony.
Terrence Clark, President and CEO, New York and New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Outstanding Achievement Award will be presented to Linda Wellbrock, CEO and Founder, Leading Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners; Special Recognition Award to Casilda Del Valle, Vice President, Finance and Administration, National Minority Supplier Development Council; and the Green Diamond Special Recognition to Gregory Murphy, Managing Director, Skanska.
Tiffany Clare, Supplier Diversity Coordinator, Plaza Construction; Gale Bartholomew, Diversity Manager/Project Manager, Crescent Consulting Associates, Inc.; Herlema Owens, Association of Women Construction Workers of America, Inc.; and Victoria L. Hosendorf, Director, Philadelphia Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center each will receive the Business Award of Excellence. Linda Estrada Page, Branch Manager, BCB Community Bank, will receive the Community Service Award.
Entrepreneur of the Year Award of Excellence will be presented to Mona D. Terrell, President and CEO, Mona Terrell & Associates LLC; Renee Marshall-McKinley, Founder, Keep Yourself Smelling Sweet; Theresa Semple, President, Semple Solutions LLC; Elisabete Miranda, President, CQ Fluency; Cesar Teixeira, CEO, CATB Liquor Import; Maria and Diego De La Rosa, Owners of Little Spain Paella Party LLC; and Clarisa Romero, Founder, Mindful Consultants.
Melissa Persia Oliver, founder of Odyssey International Productions, said, “This event is designed to bring influential business leaders, entrepreneurs, and politicians together in an effort to create opportunities for business growth. Odyssey recognizes companies and individuals who have made substantial, outstanding contributions to their community that would not ordinarily receive recognition.”
The honorees are selected by “Pass the Torch,” a program in which the past honorees nominate an honoree; or organizations and individuals nominate an individual. Board members of Odyssey review and make the final selection of the honorees.
For more information, tickets, sponsorships, or ads, visit www.odysseyip.com or contact M. Persia Oliver, 732-381-3003. Visit http://www.odysseyip.com/events for sponsorships and to view past winners.
About Odyssey International Productions: Odyssey International Productions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Melissa Persia Oliver, has been recognizing the efforts and accomplishments of phenomenal individuals and organizations for their outstanding business and community service contributions for 19 years. Among other ideals, the mission of Odyssey is to provide recipients with a sense of appreciation and provide a platform for small businesses to network with corporations to gain additional exposure. Oliver was named one of the Top 25 Leading Woman Entrepreneurs of New Jersey by the organization Leading Women Entrepreneurs and Business Owners and was identified as one of the Top 25 Women in Power Impacting Diversity by Diversity Plus Magazine.
Odyssey International Productions focuses on communities, neighborhoods and economies through informative and empowering events, seminars and fundraisers. Odyssey has also hosted several events to raise community awareness, such as a Season of Giving holiday party for underprivileged families that includes a home-cooked meal, books, toys, bikes, clothing and photos with Santa; a Tie-A-Tie Drive to not only teach young men how to tie a tie, but to teach them about professionalism; and a Back-to-School Backpack drive. For more information, visit www.odysseyip.com. Odyssey International Productions, 103 West Main Street, Rahway, NJ 07065. Phone: (732) 381-3003; Fax: (732) 388-7078; www.OdysseyIP.com
Jan Mahlmann Named Marketing Coordinator of NetCetra
Jan Mahlmann, Toms River, has been named marketing coordinator of NetCetra, an internet multimedia marketing company. Mahlmann will create and maintain a social media presence for clients; research and write articles and blogs for clients’ websites, and enhance the visibility of their websites through search engine optimization (SEO) and social media.
Prior to joining NetCetra, Mahlmann, managed medical practices in Ocean and Monmouth counties. She studied international relations and Russian area studies at American University, Washington, D.C. Mahlmann earned her Associates degree (A.A.) in business administration from County College of Morris, Randolph, N.J.
Mahlmann is a member of NJBIA and MODC (Monmouth Ocean Development Council) where she serves on the marketing committee and the Education Foundation Board of Trustees.
For more information, email Jan Mahlmann at janmahlmann@netcetra.com or call 732-262-7888.
About NetCetra: NetCetra, a Google Partner, is a technology company with 24-hour, seven-days-a-week support, that offers website design, hosting, programming, social media advertising and consulting, E-commerce, internet marketing (SEO), pay per click advertising, and videos, among other services. NetCetra is at 1027 Hooper Avenue, Bldg. 1, Suite 2, Toms River. Call 732-262-7888 for more information.
Staff from Harbor School Selected to Present at 41st Annual ASAH Conference
Three special education staff members from the Harbor School, Eatontown, have been selected to present “Behavior Management: A Collaborative Approach” at the 41st annual ASAH (Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped) Conference, Friday, November 16, 2018, at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center, Atlantic City, N.J.
Mary Beth Ward, occupational therapist; Kelly Zweig, a board certified behavior analyst; and Darlene Davis, teacher of the handicapped and trainer for the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) will present a workshop that explores how a team collaboration of related services can support challenging behaviors.
The Harbor School is one of three RKS Association private special education schools, approved by the N.J. Department of Education, for students with special needs and disabilities. Each school offers a twelve-month program with a wide range of services, including speech, occupational and physical therapy, counseling; music, computers, physical education, and vocational training.
The theme of the ASAH conference is “Working Together to Build a Special Future for All.” ASAH, an organization for the private education community since 1974, is a not-for-profit N.J. organization of private schools and agencies that provides highly specialized services to more than 11,000 infants, children, and young adults with disabilities.
RKS Associates, made up of The Harbor School, Eatontown; Alpha School, Jackson; and the Gateway School, Carteret, provides a twelve-month program of education, and therapeutic and behavioral support for children from many New Jersey counties and more than 70 school districts who have challenges, such as multiple disabilities, cognitive impairments, autistic spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, behavioral disorders, or other health impairments.
The ASAH Conference fee is $160 per person for member schools; $200 per person for non-member schools; and $80 per person for parents of specials needs children. For more information, contact Erika Casablanca at 732-541-4400 or email ErikaC@thegatewayschool.com.
About ASAH: ASAH serves more than 145 schools and agencies throughout the state and works closely with its members and the N. J. Department of Education to develop policy, promote effective educational practices, and foster productive collaborations between private schools, public school districts, and communities. ASAH also advocates for legislative and regulatory changes that improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.
RKS Associates Schools: Gateway School: 60 High Street Carteret, NJ 07008 (732.541.4400) https://thegatewayschool.com/; Alpha School: 2210 West County Line Road, Suite #1, Jackson, NJ 08527 (732.370.1150) https://alphaschool.com/ ; Harbor School: 240 Broad Street, Eatontown, NJ 07724 (732.544.9394) https://harborschool.com/
Preferred Home Health Care Aides Receive Awards at 2018 Home Health Aide Recognition Day
Home health aides from Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), Eatontown, a company that provides home care for individuals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, received many awards this October at the 2018 Home Health Aide Recognition Day, sponsored by the Home Care & Hospice Association of N.J., at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel, 6 Industrial Way East, Eatontown.
The Home Health Aide of the Year is awarded to certified home health aides (CHHAs) who have demonstrated excellence, leadership, and compassion throughout their careers at their individual office locations. The CHHAs of the Year from Preferred are Julia Lavdas, Colts Neck, from Preferred’s Eatontown office; Joyce Amoah-Boateng, Hamilton, Robbinsville office; Michael Boateng, Ventnor, Galloway office; Rafaela Gonzalez, Riverside, Mount Laurel office; Donna Taylor, Woodbridge, North Brunswick office; Joyce Marsh, Lakewood, Toms River office; Ana Ramirez, Lodi, Elmwood Park office; and Eunisa Jones Amadi, Newark, from the South Orange office of Preferred.
Rookie of the Year awards are given to individuals who have been certified home health aides for less than two years but have already exhibited excellence and growth in their role. PHHC’s Rookie of the Year award went to Daja Owens, Neptune, from the Eatontown office of Preferred and Nataliia Lukas, Jackson, Toms River office.
Jonathan Herman, chief operating officer of PHHC, said, “Our hard-working and caring home health aides provide quality care to many clients and families in need. They represent Preferred so well in the community and we are very proud of them.”
Each honoree received an award and a keepsake book with tributes about the contributions home health aides make to the care and safety of their clients.
Home health aides provide support and personal services, such as helping clients with bathing, dressing, and eating. They adhere to professional standards and maintain a safe, secure, and healthy client environment by following federal, state, and local requirements.
For more information about Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services, contact Lisa Gallicchio, director of community relations, at 732-840-5566.
About Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services: Since 1993, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), 45 Main Street, Eatontown, N.J., has provided a wide range of medical and non-medical home health care services from pediatric to geriatric care throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PHHC is accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Partner), an accrediting organization for the home health care industry.
Preferred works collaboratively with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and facilities to ensure a smooth transition to one’s home. In-house services include skilled nursing care for infants, children, adults, and seniors; personal care services, including bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, etc.; private duty nursing services; and at-home physical therapy, among others. All of the care can be provided in-house and is coordinated by registered nurses, with clinical supervision available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
New Jersey locations include corporate headquarters, Main Street, Eatontown; South Orange; Robbinsville; Toms River; Galloway; Elmwood Park; North Brunswick; Wyckoff Road, Eatontown; and Mt. Laurel. Pennsylvania locations include Bala Cynwyd, Allentown, and Bensalem. Visit Preferred at PreferredCares.com. for more information.
2018 Hot Issues in Employment Law – Half-day JSAHR Legal Seminar
What are the significant employment and legislative issues that impact business organizations, their employees, and human resource professionals? The Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources (JSAHR) is hosting a half-day legal interactive seminar to examine those issues presented by the national workplace law firm Jackson Lewis P.C., attorneys Richard Cino, David Islinger, Katie DiCicco, and Luke Breslin on Thursday, November 8, 2018, 9:00 a.m. to noon at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, N.J.
This presentation will include such topics Governor Murphy’s First Year and Impact on New Jersey Employers; Paid Leave, Parental Leave, and Equal Pay; When a Wedding Cake Is More Than a Wedding Cake – the Janus Decision; Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace; Employment Arbitration? Good for New Jersey Employers?; and The Potential Impact on Legalized Gambling and Other Smart Phone Distractions. A question and answer session is included.
The registration fee, which includes breakfast and networking from 7:45 to 9:00 a.m., is $60 for JSAHR members; $90 for non-members; $50 for those in-transition and JSAHR guests; and $10 for students with valid ID. A $10 fee will be added for walk-ins.
Register online at jsahr.shrm.org/events or email Christine Higgins at admin@jsahr.org or call JSAHR at 732-701-7155. This program is pending 3 HRCI (Human Resource Certification Institute) and SHRM recertification credits. JSAHR is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits.
About Jackson Lewis, P.C. Jackson Lewis P.C. is among the largest firms in the country dedicated to representing management in labor, employment and benefits law and related litigation. With 53 offices across the country, the firm has both a national perspective and keen understanding of the nuances of regional business environments. Jackson Lewis represents employers before state and federal courts on a wide range of issues including discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, whistleblower, health, safety, wage,/hour, pension and benefits. The firm’s attorneys negotiate collective bargaining before the NLRB, OSHA, and other federal and state agencies.
Aetna Better Health Donates a Patrol Vehicle to the LCSW
Every person would feel better if he or she knew that 24-hour additional protection and additional resources are available to them 365 days a year if they needed it. That is the role of LCSW (the Lakewood Civilian Safety Watch), a volunteer organization founded to complement local emergency agencies; to provide that extra layer of security on Lakewood streets, day or night; deliver disaster response; and help with search and rescue missions, among many other safety issues.
Recently, Aetna Better Health*, one of the five Medicaid HMOs in New Jersey, donated a safety patrol vehicle for LCSW’s fleet. At the vehicle dedication ceremony, Glenn A. MacFarlane, CEO of Aetna, said, “I’m very familiar with the community and hopefully this is the start of something special between Aetna Better Health and the Lakewood community.”
Senator Robert Singer praised LCSW for its hard work and dedication. He said, “All government bodies and law enforcement support and respect the work of LCSW 100 percent. They do great things every day.
“During Superstorm Sandy, our police department was taxed to the max. Our Sheriff’s department was taxed to the max. LCSW manned Route 9 for us. They took good care of homes that needed emergency service. They provided generators to people that didn’t have them. They did all the things that needed to be done – the grunt work, the real work that needed to be done. They are a great organization. We appreciate them. I am very proud to be involved with them as much as I can.”
Other officials at the vehicle dedication ceremony were Freeholder Virginia Haines; Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy; Lakewood Committeeman Isaac Akerman; Rob Lawson, Director of the Office of Emergency; Lakewood police officers, including Lakewood Police Captain Steven Allaire; Justin Flancbaum, executive director of the Lakewood MUA; Robert Kirschner, chairman of the Lakewood Industrial Commission (LIC), and Mike McNeil who was LCSW’s first “Shabbos Patrol” member.
For more information, contact Rechy Svei, administrator of LCSW at 732-367-5279, Ext. 150. The LCSW 24-hour emergency hotline is 732-367-1212.
*Aetna Inc. is an American managed health care company that sells traditional and consumer directed health care insurance plans and related services, such as medical, pharmaceutical, dental, behavioral health, long-term care, and disability plans.
Arlene Joseph, The Mortgage Magician, to Speak at November 13 Lunch Meeting
Arlene Joseph, Pt. Pleasant, a senior loan officer at Movement Mortgage, Toms River, who is known as the Mortgage Magician, will give tips about how to “Make Mortgage and Credit Concerns Disappear” at the Lunch a Little, Learn a Lot business meeting, noon to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 13, 2018, at Charlie Brown’s Restaurant, 400 Route 70 West, Lakewood, N.J. The cost is $15 and includes Charlie Brown’s salad bar, a lunch entrée, a beverage, and an educational presentation. Walk-ins welcome.
Joseph will give business owners credit and mortgage tips that will make the lending process easier, and show how those with low to mid credit scores and minimal cash can still own a home. Joseph holds License 68360 from NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System).
She is a graduate of Ward Melville High School, New York, and earned a B.A. in elementary education and social sciences from S.U.N.Y. at Stony Brook, N.Y. Joseph, who studied special education at San Francisco State University, holds teaching certification, K – 12, from the State of New Jersey.
Before joining Movement Mortgage, Joseph was a loan officer at Maverick Funding, Toms River. Joseph is the chairwoman of the Networking Committee for the Pt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce; and is a creative writing instructor at the Ocean County College and the Ocean County Library.
For more information, contact Joseph at Arlene.joseph@movement.com or call 732-822-4467. Also visit www.movement.com/arlenejoseph.
Foundation Turns Artistic Dreams into Reality for Children in Ocean, Monmouth and Mercer Counties
What if you were a child who desperately wanted to take dance, acting, instrumental, or vocal lessons but your parent or guardian could not afford them for you? The Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, was created by Jodi and Melissa Grinwald to provide funding for children ages 7-18 in Ocean, Monmouth, and Mercer counties to take free vocal, dance, acting, and instrumental music lessons from September through June, making children’s dreams a reality.
The Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation works through local schools and community organizations to identify students with financial needs and then pairs scholarship students with local performing arts studios to take free weekly or bi-weekly lessons for an entire school year. If a student needs supplies, such as dance shoes or instruments, the foundation makes every effort to provide these items depending on available funding.
To help support the works of Applaud Our Kids Foundation, sponsors are needed for the Step into the Spotlight Soiree and Talent Competition, an inaugural gala fundraiser that will pay for current and future scholarships, on Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. at the La Bove Grande Restaurant, 800 Route 70, Lakehurst, N.J. 08733.
The Step into the Spotlight Soirée features local adult talent, ages 21 and older, vying for the Zzak G. Spotlight Award, the Audience Choice Award, and the Lip Sync Battle Champion. (See contestants below.)
Local “celebrity” judges for the Soirée are Jeremy Grunin, Toms River, president, Jay & Linda Grunin Foundation; and Colleen Finnegan Kahl, Brick, president, Actors Connection, NYC; Anna Mastroianni, Westfield, a stunt woman in such movies as Independence Day, Bourne Ultimatum, and TV shows the Sopranos and Owner of Sole Shoes, among others; and Tony Nation, who has a recurring role on CBS’ series Bull, and is partnered with Actors Connections and Reproductions both in NYC; Felicia Finley, an award-winning Broadway performer, among others.
Sponsorship opportunities are available, ranging from $5,000 to $250. All sponsors will have their names listed in the digital program, along with many other amenities according to the sponsorship level. A Cocktail sponsor is $250; Dinner and Dessert sponsors are $500 each; the Talent Competition Contestant sponsor and Gift Auction Sponsor are each $1,000; Swag Bag and Spotlight Entertainment sponsors are each $2000; and the Mezzanine sponsor is $3000. The Jay & Linda Grunin Foundation donated $5000 to be the Orchestra sponsor.
Tickets are $100 each and include dinner, open bar, dancing, and competitions. For tickets and more information, email jodi@applaudourkids.org. or call 732-773-8970. To purchase tickets online visit https://applaudourkidsstepintothespotlight.eventbrite.com.
For more information, email jodi@applaudourkids.org. visit www.applaudourkids.org. or call 848.333.2819. Donations can be mailed to Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation Inc., P.O. BOX 994, Barnegat, NJ 08005.
Contestants : Danielle Bagdzinski and Mike Henrich, Toms River, Ballroom Dancers; Ricky Stevens, Margate, Vocals and Guitar; EL, originally from Toms River , now from NYC, Vocalist; Don Sweeney, Toms River, Vocals, Guitar and Harmonica; Darien “Staxx,” Howell, Vocalist; Carolyn Hester, Manchester, Vocalist; Kelly Servodio, Barnegat, Vocalist; Kayla Caffrey, Bayville, Vocalist
How Applaud Our Kids Began: Jodi and Melissa Grinwald’s dad loved to sing; but when he was a child, no one could pay for young Zzak Grinwald to take voice lessons. Finally, he took his first lesson when he was in his 30s. His teacher said he had the voice of an operatic tenor! He sang, he wrote music, and he composed songs, and was passionate about the performing arts until his death in 2015 from ALS. To honor his legacy, his daughters created the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation in 2017, which now has 15 creative performers in the program.
Grinwald’s passion in life was music, the performing arts and watching his grandchildren as they performed on stage. “We know that he is so proud of each child that comes through this Foundation,” said Jodi Grinwald. “He is yelling ‘Fantastic’ just like he did for his own grandkids at every performance. Some students receiving lessons are dealing with difficult situations, such as a loss of a parent among other problems. The only constant they have in their life is the lessons Applaud Our Kids funds.”
Jodi Grinwald said, “We are a kids-helping-kids organization. The Applaud Our Kids Performance Group performs at corporate and non-profit events to bring awareness about how important the performing arts are to kids. These talented kids help fundraise for their peers who want to take lessons just like them.”
Some facts: Students who take four years of arts and music classes average almost 100 points higher on their SAT scores than students who take only one-half year or less. Low-income students who are highly engaged in the arts are twice as likely to graduate college as their peers with no arts education. Arts students are percent more likely to attend secondary schools than those who do not participate in the arts. Low-income students who are highly engaged in the arts are twice as likely to graduate college as their peers with no arts education.
Visit www.applaudourkids.org for more information about the Foundation. Visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/applaudourkids/.
About Applaud Our Kids: The Zzak G. Applaud our Kids Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides performing arts scholarships in vocal instruction, dance, acting, and instrumental music to children age 7-18 with a financial need. Scholarship recipients take lessons at local performing arts studios from September through June. In many cases these lessons are the only constant that the children have in their lives.
Performing arts education contributes to the proactive development of an individual on many different levels. It provides children with the opportunity to find their own voice, increases self-esteem, gives them a sense of belonging, and provides an outlet for them to openly express themselves.
N.J. Health Care Network to Meet November 13
The monthly meeting of NJ Health Care Network, a free organization for anyone in the health care industry, including those who provide ancillary products and services, is Tuesday, November 13, 2018, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Somerset Woods Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 780 Old New Brunswick Road, Somerset, NJ 08873.
The NJ Health Care Network provides an opportunity to build relationships among health care professionals, market events, and promote business. Meetings take place in a different New Jersey county each month.
For more information about NJ Health Care Network, email Lisa Gallicchio, director of community relations for Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services, Eatontown, at lisa@preferredcares.com, call 732-547-9886, or visit www.njhcnet.com for the monthly location and member events.
Membership is free; however, register to take advantage of member benefits, such as posting to Health Care Network’s website all health care and marketing events, news, training information, employment listings, and access to a member directory.
Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Announces 2018 Citizen of the Year Award Honorees
The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the 2018 Citizen of the Year Awards. Lakewood’s most outstanding citizens and business honorees will be recognized at the 46th annual Citizen of the Year Awards reception, Thursday, November 8, 2018, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Eagle Ridge Golf Club, 2 Augusta Boulevard, Lakewood, N.J.
The 2018 Citizen of the Year honorees, who have made significant contributions to the growth and well-being of Lakewood and its surrounding region, are Patrick Donnelly, Lakewood Municipal Manager; Patty Ostaszewski, CEO, HealthSouth of Toms River; Violeta Peters, Lakewood Resource and Referral Center (LRRC); Stephen Reed, CPA and Partner of Cowan, Gunteski & Co, PA; and the Robert Sickel, Owner, Pine Belt Chevrolet.
Tickets cost $115.00 per person and include an hour and a half premium open bar, dinner buffet, dessert and coffee. Sponsorship opportunities range from $750 to $1,500; journal ads range from $200.00 to $400.00. For tickets or more information, contact the Chamber Office at 732-363-0012 or staff@mylakewoodchamber.com. Also visit www.ourlakewoodchamber.com.