Gov. Rendell Names 'Best 50 Women in Business'

Release Date: Mar 16, 2009  |  Author: Michael Smith (GOV) 717-783-1116; Janel Miller (DCED) 717-783-1132

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HARRISBURG – Fifty Pennsylvania women who own the companies they created, direct their companies’ communications and marketing strategies, guide their firms through challenging legal issues, and significantly impact their communities can now add a new accomplishment to their resume: they are now one of the state’s best in business.

Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced Pennsylvania’s “Best 50 Women in Business,” calling them terrific examples of Pennsylvania’s brightest business minds and role models for anyone who aspires to succeed.

“Some of the winners this year volunteer their time to show a new generation of lawyers and entrepreneurs the ins-and-outs of the business world, or to work on worthy causes in their communities,” the Governor said. “Others, as part of their job, help protect the environment, ensure people’s health and safety, or otherwise help their friends and neighbors in a variety of ways. 

“Pennsylvania and the communities in which these award winners work are better because of them, and I encourage Pennsylvania’s young people to follow their lead.”

An independent panel of judges selected this year’s award winners based on their dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement, and advocacy for women in business. “Best 50” entries are open to women who live and work in Pennsylvania as an owner, partner or other senior executive management-level position with significant decision-making authority.

This year’s honorees will be invited to several events on May 11, including an evening reception at the Harrisburg Hilton, and they will be featured in business journals throughout the state. 

The contest, in its 14th year, is coordinated by the Department of Community and Economic Development in cooperation with five regional Pennsylvania business journals. 

The Governor said Pennsylvania is committed to providing new opportunities for the state’s entrepreneurs and community leaders. 

“Our economic situation is better than that of other states because of the investments we’ve made over the past six years in our businesses and communities,” Governor Rendell said. “The budget I proposed and the federal stimulus plan will build on this, as they will also help Pennsylvania achieve energy independence, lower the cost of health care, improve public schools, and make the state better prepared for the economic recovery.”  

For additional information on the Best 50 Women in Business and DCED, visit www.newPA.com or call 1-866-466-3972.  More details of the Governor’s proposed budget are available at www.pa.gov; more information about the impact of federal economic recovery funds, including how the money will be used to help Pennsylvania residents and businesses, is at www.recovery.pa.gov. 

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 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: This year’s Best 50 Women in Business winners follow: 

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, esquire, 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. Blaszcyk, 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 Doktor, executive vice president of sales, Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors, Devon

Mariah 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 Company 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-Fronczek, 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. Janiszewki, 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 Corporation, 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 Elsner Bell, founder/president, Elsner 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