News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2015
New Executive Committee to Represent Women Business Owners in the State of New Jersey
Cedar Grove, NJ—The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) announces the appointment of the 2015–2016 Board of Trustees Executive Committee, as follows: Rosanna Imbriano, of Cedar Grove, president; Holly Kaplansky, of Bloomfield, first vice president; Donna R. Thompson, of Bayville, second vice president; Brenda Hendrickson, of Rockaway, as treasurer; and Maria-Elena Grant, of Hewitt, as secretary.
This team exemplifies one of the important aspects of what NJAWBO has to offer its members—providing women business owners the opportunity to develop as leaders while serving on committees and boards, interacting with business owners at local, regional, and state levels, and ultimately putting their well-honed leadership skills to use in their businesses as well as in the top leadership positions within the organization. Imbriano, Kaplansky, Thompson, Hendrickson, and Grant hail from the Essex Chapter and Metro East Region, most of them serving in leadership roles on their boards for more than six consecutive years, and several of them also thereby serving on the state board of trustees as well. They currently represent four counties. From Essex County, Imbriano is the owner of RI Consulting and founder/executive director of Sempre Avanti, Inc., in Cedar Grove, and Kaplansky owns Minuteman Press of Newark. Thompson owns Woodpecker Press of Bayville, in Ocean County. Grant owns Awesome Rooms of Hewitt, in Passaic County, and Hendrickson runs her business, Brenda Hendrickson, CSA, out of Rockaway, in Morris County.
As Imbriano, the new state president, puts it, “We are all very excited to serve NJAWBO again, this time as the Executive Committee of the State Board of Trustees. We look forward to provide worthwhile opportunities for members, collaborating with our long-time and new sponsors, and fully expect to grow NJAWBO to include more than 1000 members from across the great state of New Jersey.”
The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) is the longest-standing, statewide organization of women business owners in New Jersey. Its primary objective is to encourage and support business ownership by women, provide a legislative voice for the interests of women-owned businesses, and offer leadership, professional development, and networking opportunities for business owners. Since 1978, NJAWBO has helped women achieve their business visions by providing them with the tools to develop and grow their enterprises. NJAWBO members are a diverse, dynamic, and powerful group of women business owners. For further information about NJAWBO, visit www.njawbo.org or email njawbo@njawbo.org.
Rosanna Imbriano Named the 2014 Christopher Columbus Woman of the Year
Sep 15, 2014
Rosanna Imbriano, founder and executive director of Sempre Avanti, Inc., has been named the 2014 Christopher Columbus Woman of the Year by The Italian Tribune Columbus Day Committee. This prestigious award is being presented to Imbriano for her success in both her work and personal life. Through hard work and determination, she demonstrates an unyielding belief in her Italian heritage and continuously contributes her time to the cause of helping others.
Imbriano will be recognized at the 44th Annual Christopher Columbus Gala Awards Dinner on October 10, at the Birchwood Manor, in Whippany, NJ. The event begins with a cocktail hour at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. For tickets, call 973-860-0101.
Born in Italy, Imbriano's passion for her culture, heritage, and empowering future generations is what drove her to establish Sempre Avanti (www.SempreAvanti.org). The nonprofit organization is a resource center for everything Italian and a place where Italians or Italian-Americans can come for information, resources, translations, products, and services, to name just a few. Under Imbriano's direction, those in need will find people willing to help who are like-minded and who speak the same language.
Imbriano also owns R.I. Consulting, LLC, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, that she launched in 2001. As a marketing strategist, she helps business owners and nonprofits market themselves in nontraditional ways to attain optimum growth. RI Consulting guides its clients on formulating business goals, developing cost-effective strategic marketing plans, and managing the plan's implementation.
Imbriano is also a founding partner in the Contessa Club, Inc., a prestigious club for women of wealth and power. The Contessa Club is organized and centered around the splendor, luxury, elegance, and sophistication of Italy. It provides exclusive member-only access to luxurious shopping and travel experiences worldwide.
As a frequent speaker at events, Imbriano presents on marketing concepts, including marketing on a shoestring budget, how to develop win/win strategic marketing campaigns, how to foster in-kind sponsorships to grow a business or organization, and her specialty—developing strategic alliances.
Among her prestigious awards, Imbriano received the Teal Heart Award from the Essex Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) in 2005. She served as the chapter president of NJAWBO Essex from 2006 to 2008. She was recognized as one of the NJBiz Best 50 Women in Business in 2009, and was honored as Business Champion of the Year 2014 by Sisters United Enterprise.
Imbriano earned a B.A. in economics in 1981 from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York. She began her entrepreneurial career in 1982 with the opening of Rosanna's Health Spa in Bloomfield, New Jersey. She owned and managed the health spa for eight years.
Sempre Avanti is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves as a resource center for the Italian and Italian-American community. Its mission is to provide support to all Italians: individuals, businesses, organizations, and associations, both in the United States and Italy. As a resource center, the organization provides a multitude of services and encourages strategic alliances that not only benefit both parties, but also strengthen a shared heritage to move Italians forward. Its executive director and founder is Rosanna Imbriano. For more information, please contact 973-444-2317 or visit www.SempreAvanti.org.