Township of Union’s 3rd Annual Women’s History Month Celebration

Posted on May 27, 2018 by

By Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta

Trailblazing ‘She-Roes’ were recently honored at the Township of Union’s 3^rd Annual Women’s History Month Celebration. The event was held at Galloping Hill Caterers in Union, with over 120 attendees.
Local women recognized were:

Sharon Patel, She-Roe in Business
Kim Conti, She-Roe in Education
Ernestine Frye, Community She-Roe
Adrienne Miller-Kubicz, Environmental She-Roe
Dasia Edmond, She-Roe in Training

Honoree Sharon Patel co-owns Patel Printing Plus Corp, a creative business printing, graphic design, and mailing company with her husband J.C., in Union. She is past president of the Union Township Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the Executive Committee as VP of Programs and Special Events and chairs the annual gala. She was President of the Rotary Club of Union, currently on the board as Membership Chairman. She is a trustee on the executive board of the Gateway Family YMCA currently serving as Secretary. She is a member of the Township of Union Cultural Arts Council and a former trustee of Union County Economic Development Corp., Union Hospital Foundation, the Union Township Education Foundation, Marylawn of the Oranges, a Sisters of Charity girls school. She served on the advisory councils of Small Business Development Center and SBA.
Honoree Kim Conti has lived in the Township of Union about 25 years and is an active participant in the community. She has been the Director of Special Services for the Township of Union Public Schools since 2010, and in 2014 was the recipient of the Rotary Club of Union Excellence in Education Award.
Honoree Frye is an executive director with UTCAO (Union Township Community Action Organization, Inc.).
Honoree Adrienne Miller-Kubicz has been a resident of Union for 23 years, with her husband Richard, and children, Lindsay and Tyler. She was a florist in Union until she developed an allergy to flowers. The setback didn’t end her passion for flowers, agriculture, and gardening. As a committed member of The Township of Union Garden Club since 2009, she became its president shortly thereafter. She recruited a few members of the Garden Club and together they founded the Township of Union County Garden in 2014.
Honoree Dasia Edmond is a 12-year-old seventh grader with a vision to capture her life’s events in books and allowing her peers to journey with her through those tough teenage years. She has donated her books to the Vauxhall Public Library, Jehovah Jireh Worship, Zion Hill Baptist Church, and Sweet Reads.
Union Mayor Suzette Caradas opened the event, followed by guest speakers, Denise Wilkerson, Founder of Abounding Women Community Outreach, Inc.; Janet Davis, CEO of Jade Consulting and Jade Jamaican Grill; and Tara Marcus, Dillon Marcus Executive Retreats. Marcus created the highly acclaimed Unleashing Women! curriculum which encourages women to become more intentional about their career goals, their leadership style and their lives.
“I love celebrating Women’s History Month,” Marcus said.
Her workshop was called “Why Not Me?” She talked about beliefs that stop women from taking the next big step in life.
Attendee Claudia Yaborough said, “We’re trying to bring women together and build their businesses.”
“March is Women’s History Month and we have to empower our young girls,” added attendee Valerie Hall. “I’m here to support all women from Union being honored tonight.”
The event featured refreshments and desserts. In lieu of an admission charge, the Township collected donations for the YWCA Family Justice Center of Union County.
Photos by Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta