From the Mentors:
Danielle Adams, Affinity Federal Credit Union –
“Excellent experience … far exceeded my expectations … an empowering learning experience.”
Alicia De Sena, Comcast Business Class –
“Wish I could have been involved from the beginning.”
Sheri Shafir – Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation –
“Our relationships are not just with the direct mentee, but with the entire group … building family … This is an on-going relationship … I leave them with one last point – ‘Know what your potential customer wants to buy.’”
Kathleen Castore – sanofi-aventis –
“This was a great experience for everybody … You get out of it what you put into it … My last tip – ‘Spray and pray’ – hand your business cards out the everybody.”
Emmett Lewis – NJ Transit –
“I think of NJAWBO first when it comes to opportunities with New Jersey Transit.”
Sue Hogan – PSE&G –
“I loved every bit of it … There is great value in the small conversations that lead to networking … Being a good listener is a big part of being a good mentor.”
From the Mentees:
Sandra Bauman, Bauman Research & Consulting –
“This has afforded me the opportunity to stop, look up and think, ‘What do I need to do for my business?’… And now my dreams are bigger, I have bigger goals, and I know they’re achievable, thanks to this program.”
Rita Williams-Bogar, Personal Development Solutions –
“I hit a ceiling and this helped me break through it. This gave me relationships, support, opportunities and access…. One lesson I learned from my mentor was to focus my message.”
Martha Van Cleve, Meridian Property Service –
“This has been a valuable experience for me. It has helped me understand how a big corporation works and how my company can try to get their business.”
Cheryl Pliskin – Jest Notes & Baskets –
“The Turnpike is the only part of the program I won’t miss! … Feedback from my first PowerPoint presentation helped me figure out how to give my business credibility … My mentor made me set concrete goals … I got a lot out of it, business-wise, and it was a great personal experience.”
Diane Lombardi – MindBulge –
“I have a comfort level with the participants and feel I could recommend everyone to partner with me.”
Peggy McHale – Consultants 2 Go –
“I trust the input I got from this group, and I feel comfortable implementing the feedback I received … Everybody has been phenomenal and professional … I think, for NJAWBO, this is a true benefit.”
Sandy Drysdale – D.M. Radio Service Corp. –
“I have just gained so much from this … I needed this to help me figure out how to grow my business, and now I have a group of sisters I can go to for help.”
From the Facilitator:
Linda Schmidt – LC Schmidt Associates
“This changed my perspective of NJAWBO, as I had thought the members were ‘micro-businesses’ which couldn’t have been further from the truth … Confidence radiates off the participants … most inspiring.”