FLORHAM PARK — The 2019 Boy Scout of America Tribute to Women and Mary A. Mullholland Service awards luncheon was held on Friday, November 15 at the beautifully newly renovated Morris Golf Club in Florham Park, honoring outstanding women who have contributed to the local community.

Nicole Barone
Peak Performance Strategist; Certified Health Coach; Strategic Agility Group

Nicole Barone, partner and founder of Strategic Agility Group, is a Peak Performance Strategist and Certified Health Coach. Nicole has over 20 years of health and wellness experience. After enjoying a successful career at Johnson and Johnson, she saw the need and lack of individual support in the health and wellness industry. She followed her passion, leaving her corporate job behind, after more than a decade on the fast track. She developed a unique, customized, high engagement approach, that ensures individuals surpass nutrition and fitness goals. Teaming up with a network of the best doctors and nutritionists around the country, Nicole designs solutions that meet the needs on an individual basis, one client at a time. Individuals ranging from 18-months to 82 years of age have benefited from her nutritional support and guidance.

Nicole’s success has been fueled by Isagenix, the world’s best nutritional product line, proven cutting edge, high-quality nutrition, and supplementation. She has improved the quality of life and confidence of hundreds of individuals, helped athletes achieve their personal best and received numerous awards for her efforts in the community. Over her health-journey, Nicole learned that the benefits of better nutrition can start with small steps, that lead to big gains. In addition, leveraging good nutrition can start at any age and the second half of
your life can be the best half of your life!”

Over the past 10 years, Nicole has coached hundreds of clients and speaks her passion at corporate offices, such as M&T Bank, AIG, KPMG and ADP to name a few partnering along with the American Heart Association. She is passionate about giving back and the true importance of volunteering to build better communities. As an active member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, Nicole has led 5k run teams as well as supported a children’s fitness program for the Morris School District. As past president of Toastmasters International, she leads and mentors individuals to become better business leaders. Nicole is also a spin instructor, leading classes at local gyms. Her free time is filled with group fitness classes, hiking, skiing and world travel with family and friends. Nicole has been a member of Assumption Church, spreading her faith as a youth educator for over a decade. Nicole calls Morristown her home for the last twenty years, where she is married and has raised two teenage boys, both active Boy Scouts in Troop 39 of Morris Plains.
2019 Tribute to Women Award Recipient

Karolina Dehnhard, Esq.
Chair, New Jersey Matrimonial & Family Law Group at Norris McLaughlin
Founder, Divorce Dynasty

Karolina A. Dehnhard, Chair of the firm’s New Jersey Matrimonial & Family Law Practice Group, devotes her practice to matrimonial law including divorce, prenuptial agreements, child custody, parenting time, alimony, child support, and domestic violence issues.

Karolina assists with complex financial issues, including valuation of businesses both domestically and abroad; international custody rights; the impact of immigration status on divorcing spouses and their children; enforcement of foreign divorce decrees; and the complexities associated with alimony rights and post-judgment cohabitation.

Karolina has appeared on various TV shows and news programs, as well as published articles on family law topics in numerous print publications including North Jersey Woman Magazine, Industry Magazine, VUENJ, and numerous Polish publications. In addition, she co-authored a chapter in “Understanding the Legal Issues Surrounding Same-Sex Marriage.” She is the co-host of two radio shows, “The Law Matters,” on WMTR Radio, and “There’s Always a Way Out,” hosted in Polish, on Radio RAMPA.

Karolina has been a featured presenter at numerous women in business events on topics including women protecting their assets, becoming the CEO of your home, planning for the future, and promoting financial awareness before and during divorce.

She has also taken part in U.S. delegations to Ireland, Cuba, and Spain, to develop international business relations among women in business. She was recognized by the Trade and Investment Section of the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland for her influence and leadership in integrating women-owned businesses in both Poland and the United States. In 2018, Karolina launched the Polish-American Chamber of Commerce, North East (covering Maine to Florida) as well as Poland, with a focus on creating business opportunities for both American and Polish businesses.

Karolina was named in the “Top Women in Law” in 2018 by the New Jersey Law Journal and one of the “Top 25 Leading Intrapreneurs in New Jersey” in 2016. She has also been selected as a “Rising Star” by New Jersey Super Lawyers® and received the 2018 Leadership Award presented by the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America, a
charity she has supported for more than a decade.

Recognizing that her clients often require the services of various professionals during, and after, their divorce, Karolina created Divorce Dynasty, a self-standing concierge service platform, to provide them and others with access to a network of professionals who have specific roles in the divorce process, including realtors, bankers, accountants, financial advisers and mortgage brokers, doctors, private investigators, and even a
matchmaker. Keeping her footprint in Short Hills and the geographic area, Karolina was recently named as the Ambassador of the Leading Women Entrepreneurs Short Hills Leadership Lounge, a platform dedicated to the advancement of women globally.

Before entering into private practice, Karolina clerked for The Honorable Rosemary E. Ramsay, J.S.C., Morris County Superior Court, Family Part and Civil Part. While in law school, she interned for the Honorable Michael Ambrecht, J.S.C., in the Supreme Court, Criminal Part, Manhattan, and the Honorable Raymond T. Lyons, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey.

Casey Gocel
Partner, Mandelbaum Salsburg P.C.

Casey Gocel is a Shareholder at Mandelbaum Salsburg, a full-service law firm, where she specializes in corporate transactions and estate planning. She focuses on business mergers and acquisitions, start-ups, corporate governance, asset protection planning and sophisticated estate and family wealth transfer planning. Casey often serves as outside general counsel to her clients and advices them on issues concerning contract negotiation and drafting, mergers and acquisitions, strategic tax planning, choice of entity, general commercial relationships, complex buy-sell arrangements, succession planning and other legal matters. Casey’s clients include small and middle-market companies and executive employees, often in the areas of retail, manufacturing, industrial, consumer services, healthcare and dentistry.

In 2019, Casey was named to NJBIZ’s Best 50 Women in Business List and named by Leading Women Entrepreneurs & Business Owners as a Top 25 Leading Intrapreneur. In 2017, Casey was named as one of NJBIZ’s “Forty under 40” for her commitment to business growth, professional excellence and community service. In 2016, Casey was selected as a “New Leader of the Bar” by New Jersey Law Journal. She was also included by Super Lawyers, New Jersey among one of its “Rising Stars” from 2015 to 2019. Casey co-authored the book “Buy Sell Merge: How to Navigate Successful Dental Practice Transitions for the Entrepreneurial Dentist.” She earned her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law in 2008 and her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2007 from Whittier Law School.

Marisa Spagnoletti
Founder The Maurice J. Spagnoletti Foundation
Owner, Lucy’s Gift

In 2011 Marisa Spagnoletti’s life as a loving wife, mother, and banking executive was shattered in a hail of bullets when her husband – Maurice J. Spagnoletti, a prominent N.J. banker – was tragically killed. Maurice was an honest man with a sincere desire to help others. Marisa ensured his legacy lives on by founding the non-profit Maurice J. Spagnoletti Foundation (mauricejspagnoletti.com) in 2014. MJSF helps children in need, crime victims, strives to end violence, and honors those who serve and protect us. Marisa opened Lucy’s Gift boutique in 2015 and an online e-commerce site – lucysgift.org – in 2017, with all net profits donated to charity.

Despite her terrible tragedy, Marisa’s message is not one of despair. She has enormous respect for those who serve and protect us and is confident that the FBI will provide her with justice. She’s been honored to share her mission as: 2019 Keynote Speaker, NJ Association of School Administrators, 2017 Italian American Woman of the Year, 2015 Award of Hope, 2014 National Professional Woman of the Year, 2014 Proclamation from the State of NJ, and SAFE in Hunterdon Advisory Board member. Marisa extends her sincere thanks to the Boys Scouts of America (BSA) for being honored at the 2019 Tribute to
Women and Mary A. Mulholland Service Awards Luncheon. With the help of organizations like the BSA, The Maurice J. Spagnoletti Foundation lives on as testament to the fact that love, support and hope makes a real difference, one life at a time.

Shari Verrone
Boss Lady! President; Stackable Sensations

Stackable Sensations is an award-winning, women-owned, WBENC-certified promotional product expert. Since 2003, company founder, Shari Verrone and her elite team of dedicated marketing specialists (who collectively have more than 110 years of combined industry experience) have built the company into a multi-million dollar, global go-to source for unique, logo-branded giveaways of all kinds.

Shari believes in giving back to the community. She encourages her staff to volunteer at an organization that has meaning to them by offering them a paid day to spend volunteering once a month in the summer months. Shari and her team have helped with Habitat for Humanity projects and she even went to Guatemala with her daughter to help build houses for a week. She is an active mentor and leader to other businesses in the promotional product industry.

Shari was recently honored with a Best Boss Award from the nation’s largest promotional product association, PPAI. She also won the most done deals for 2019 with women owned businesses, making it the fourth year in a row to receive the honor. Shari co-authored a book focusing on entrepreneurialism for women. She has won numerous other awards such as a National Pyramid Award for successful solution-based selling combined with creative inspiration for a Microsoft project and selected as a 2018 Enterprising Women of the Year Champion, to name a few. Stackable Sensations was also named “One of The Best Places to Work” by two different publications within the promotional industry.

2019 Mary A. Mulholland Service Award Recipient

Shari B. Veisblatt, Esq.
Partner, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel, LLP

Shari is a highly regarded matrimonial attorney, representing clients in all aspects and stages of matrimonial litigation. As part of her practice she offers mediation services to her clients. As a trusted and concerned divorce attorney she also assists with domestic abuse, adoption, child support, alimony, custody, and paternity matters.

Shari has practiced exclusively in the area of family law throughout her entire career. She is a skilled divorce attorney and handles complex matrimonial matters involving the engagement of variety of experts, including forensic accountants, vocational experts, real estate and personalty appraisers, and custody and alcohol evaluators. In addition, Shari helps clients with the valuation and distribution of complex business and professional assets and executive benefits, such as stock options and restricted stock.

Shari loves to travel, when she has the time, and to explore the latest restaurants. She also enjoys reading and playing board games with her friends and family.

MORRIS COUNTY — Impact 100 Garden State has awarded County College of Morris (CCM) an $110,000 grant to launch the Dover College Promise (DCP), which will prepare students for college, along with providing them with scholarships to cover tuition at CCM.

Working with The Educational Center in Dover, DCP will provide low-income middle and high school students in the community with college readiness training and support, along with guaranteed scholarships to attend CCM provided they graduate from high school in good standing. Scholarship funding will be provided by the CCM Foundation.

DCP builds upon CCM’s mission to provide exceptional programs and services to the larger community. It also stems from the college’s Dover Initiative that CCM launched earlier last year to learn how it can better serve that community.

“Through the Dover College Promise, we can help uplift a community for generations by providing students with support and access to a quality higher education so they can pursue rewarding careers,” said Dr. Anthony J. Iacono, CCM president.

“Now, we can officially begin a path of college readiness – which is wrapped with support systems for not only the student, but also their families – to prepare students in the Dover community to attend CCM,” said Dr. Pam Marcenaro, dean of Learning Support and Opportunity Services at CCM, who will be serving as project director.

DCP will provide students with tutoring, college preparation classes, mentoring and community based service learning programs. Once enrolled at CCM, they will continue to receive support services. They also will be able to apply to take part in the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program, which provides comprehensive resources to foster academic success.

“Dover Promise offers the students of our community a unique opportunity to progress their skills, build increased credentials and gain preparation that will position them for competitive careers that will benefit both their own lives and the greater community to which they will contribute,” said Dr. James McLaughlin, Dover schools superintendent. “We are immensely grateful to County College of Morris for their interest and investment in our students.”

CCM will work with The Educational Center to identify students most likely to benefit from the DCP program and to offer its support services at that location. The center has been involved with assisting students and families in Dover for over 20 years.

“We’re so excited that we can now do more for the Dover community,” said Ed Lopez, founder of The Educational Center and an EOF counselor at CCM, who will serve as DCP project coordinator. “The best impact you can have in a community is through education. We’ll now have even more Dover students earning college degrees and lifting up their families. That’s transformational for the community.”

In the first year, slated to begin fall 2020, DCP will enroll thirty 10th grade students. At full capacity, the program is expected to serve 146 students annually.

Impact 100 Garden State is a women-led, all-volunteer, philanthropic organization where each member contributes $1,000 a year to award grants to nonprofits that assist underserved populations in Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties.

PARSIPPANY — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Chairwoman of the House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, applauded the committee passage of her Election Technology Research Act of 2019 (H.R. 4990). This bipartisan bill co-sponsored by Representatives Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), and Frank Lucas (R-OK), will give the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) new resources to conduct research to promote the security and modernization of U.S. voting systems.

“Election security is a bipartisan concern, and our committee is working together to address vulnerabilities with our voting systems,” said Representative Sherrill. “Our democracy only works if all eligible citizens can participate in elections and be confident that their ballots have been accurately cast and counted. The Election Technology Research Act of 2019 will help to ensure that the technical underpinnings of our election architecture are solid.”

 The Election Technology Research Act of 2019 will authorize new research and standards activities to strengthen the technology supporting elections systems. Specifically, this bill will:

• Authorize research activities at NIST on cybersecurity, privacy, auditing, and other important areas of research related to the security and integrity of elections;
• Establish an Elections Systems Center of Excellence at NIST to foster collaborations between NIST, universities, state and local governments, and private stakeholders;
• Authorize new research grants for elections systems research and education at NSF;
• Direct NIST to carry out specific tasks supporting secure elections, including providing technical assistance to state and local election officials on implementation of cybersecurity and privacy standards;
• Require a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to assess the impact of NIST’s activities; and
• Amend the Help America Vote Act definition of “voting systems” to include not just the voting machines but also electronic poll books and voter registration systems.

On June 26, 2019, House Science Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairwoman Mikie Sherrill held a hearing with voting technology and election administration experts to discuss U.S. election system technologies and research recommendations made in the 2018 National Academies report Securing the Vote: Protecting American Democracy. The report and the expert testimony from that hearing helped informed the development of the Election Technology Research Act of 2019.

Representative Mikie Sherrill is a former federal prosecutor and a U.S. Navy veteran. On her last tour, she served as a Russia policy officer, and handled interactions between the United States Navy and the Russian Federation Navy. In June, Representative Sherrill announced her endorsement of a series of bipartisan bills in the House and Senate to address foreign interference and election security.

Statement following first day of public impeachment testimony.

After hearing testimony based on second and third party hearsay it is vital that the Congressional Committee hear directly from the Whistleblower. Complicating his ability to testify is that The Chairman of the that Committee, Adam Schiff, claims he has no knowledge of who the Whistleblower is??? Seriously??? That the American public is suppose believe that Schiff does not know who the Whistleblower is but a direct Statement from the Ukrainian President that our President did not pressure him in anyway is discounted by the very same Adam Schiff. Schiff feels a need to keep the supposed Whistleblower shielded for protection, yet the same supposed Whistleblower has no problem going public to create a GoFundMe Page with over a quarter of a million dollars in that account. Americans are paying attention and they don’t like what they see.

Senator Joseph Pennacchio
New Jersey’s 26th Legislative District