New Jersey Business and Industry Association Honors Berkeley College Students among 'Rising Stars' in Business
Thursday, October 5, 2023
Senior Director, Communications and External Relations
973-200-1099
KME@BerkeleyCollege.edu
‘RISING STARS’ IN BUSINESS
in First Public Policy Speech as Lieutenant Governor
Photo Caption: The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) honors its 2023 Rising Star Award recipients at the New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum in Newark, NJ, on September 27, 2023. L to R are: Rising Star Award recipients Andrew Clark and Liangy Gomerez; Clifford F. Lindholm, III, President and CEO, Falstrom Company and Chairperson, NJBIA Board of Trustees; Rising Star Award recipients Arianna Gehan, Tania Mottos and Chavonne Brown, both of Berkeley College; New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way; Caren Franzini Leadership Award recipient Celest S. Quintana, Owner/Operator, McDonald’s restaurants and Member, NJBIA Board of Trustees; Legacy in Leadership Award recipient Sally Glick, Business Development Advisory team, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP); and Michele N. Siekerka, President and CEO, NJBIA.
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Two Berkeley College students are among the recipients of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) Rising Star Award, which honors college students who exhibit future business leadership potential. Chavonne Brown of Irvington and Tania Mottos of Wanaque were among five students to receive the recognition during the 9th Annual NJBIA Women Business Leaders Forum, held in Newark, NJ, on September 27 and 28, 2023.
“NJBIA’s Rising Star Awards honor students who have demonstrated a passion for their career path, academic success, and a commitment to their communities during their undergraduate careers,” said Michele Siekerka, President & CEO, NJBIA. “This year, we are proud to recognize the accomplishments of five students who are destined for great professional success.”
The NJBIA Women Business Leaders Forum also welcomed Tahesha L. Way, New Jersey’s new Lieutenant Governor, who delivered her first public policy speech on “The Next New Jersey.”
“New Jersey has established herself as the most welcoming state in the nation for women, for families, for all,” Way said. “Looking out into this great audience today I can see that you know the secret is already out, because you are the boardroom titans, you are the thought leaders, the entrepreneurs, the innovators. … My earnest hope is that the connections forged today will bolster your love for the Garden State and your continued desire to be part of the renaissance that we call ‘The Next New Jersey.”
About the Berkeley College Rising Stars
Chavonne Brown of Irvington, NJ, is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management at Berkeley College. Brown has worked for 31 years as a Licensed Practical Nurse, specifically in the area of drug treatment. “Drug abuse is on the rise, and I know that I can do more,” she said. “My reason for pursuing a degree is rooted in my relentless ambition to make a difference in the lives of others and in my community.”
By obtaining a degree in Health Services Administration, Brown is determined to shape the policies that can improve patient care and outcomes. She wants to be an advocate for those who struggle with mental illness and substance abuse disorders.
Brown returned to college as a promise to her three adult children, grandchildren, and husband. She is an Honors student, and regularly makes the President’s List for academic achievement. “I think it is important to show my grandchildren an example of what a person can do and achieve – even later in life,” she said.
Tania Mottos of Wanaque, NJ, is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Management at Berkeley College, after completing an Associate’s degree in Surgical Technology earlier this year. As a Labor and Delivery-certified Surgical Technologist at Chilton Medical Center, she “feels the joy every day of getting to bring babies into the world.” With her Bachelor’s degree, Mottos hopes to expand her expertise on the administrative side of healthcare. “Something that excites me about my field is all of the possibilities that will allow me to do more for these babies and their families,” she said.
Mottos was selected as Student Speaker for Berkeley College’s annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Week, and was recently honored as part of the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, recognizing students who advance nonpartisan student voter engagement. As an Ambassador to both the Student Government Association and the Berkeley College Board of Trustees, she is a strong advocate for her fellow students, ensuring that student concerns are at the forefront of discussions with administration and government leaders.
About Berkeley College
Berkeley College, founded in 1931, is a career-focused institution accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education that offers students Master’s, Bachelor’s, and Associate’s degree and Certificate programs in more than 20 career fields. The College also offers Continuing Education programs to enhance career credentials.
Berkeley College has campuses in New York City and in Newark, Woodbridge, and Woodland Park, NJ, with more than 3,600 students enrolled. In addition, Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. U.S. News & World Report has named Berkeley College among the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Programs and among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Veterans, for 10 consecutive years. Berkeley College was also ranked among the Best Regional Colleges/Universities in the North in the 2023-2024 edition of the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges survey. The website address is https://BerkeleyCollege.edu.
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