Governor Rendell Congratulates PA's Best 50 Women in Business

Release Date: May 12, 2009  |  Author: Theresa Elliott (DCED) 717-783-1132; Michael Smith (GOV) 717-783-1116

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HARRISBURG – 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. 

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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: 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-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 MiddlesexMontgomery 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 Buchholz, 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 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