■ Enterprising Women Awards
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MANUFACTURING MARKETING
Push Beverages Laurel Whitney , Co-Founder and CFO
Laurel created four different companies across several sectors before turning her attention to the manufacturing of bottled drinks . She was not satisfied with the quality of the soft drinks and teas that her company was distributing . Instead , she started over , building the company from the ground up . As a result of working with some of the most knowledgeable experts in the industry , the company redefined and reinvented its products , which now sell in 40 states as well as exporting to other countries . She has her hand in the financial and logistics areas , overseeing marketing and new product development as well . She was honored by ACG NJ and was selected as a Top 25 Leading Women Entrepreneur in 2019 , along with receiving other awards and recognition .
The DAK Group Joan McGeough , Chief Marketing Officer
Joan is driven by her dedication to educating business owners on critical issues that will impact the value of their business . She is passionate about “ getting the word out ” and has been instrumental in setting up education programs for business owners . This past winter , Joan was integral in creating the Innovation Forum , with the inaugural meeting done virtually . The goal was to provide business owners in Northern New Jersey with a different perspective on how they think about their business . In addition , she has developed CLE programs for a law firm to provide them with invaluable information on M & A .
During the pandemic she facilitated 22 published pieces and 8 virtual presentations , all focused on guiding business owners and their advisers during these difficult times .
Balady Promotions Incorporated Joanne L Balady , MS , Founder & CEO
Joanne has been a leader in the promotional products / marketing industry for more than 30 years as founder and CEO of Balady Promotions . She has long demonstrated an incredible competency for creative solutions to solve difficult marketing challenges for a very diverse client portfolio . Joanne ’ s energy and resilience are contagious and never more evident than over the past 16 months as she successfully led both her employees and her customers through this pandemic . With the right mix of positivity and creativity , the ability to tap into other ’ s strengths and her unique ability to think outside the box , Joanne was able to continue to launch successful marketing programs for her customers while keeping her team focused and aligned to deliver creative marketing programs and promotional products . It is what she does , it is who she is .
MARKETING NON-PROFIT
LAN Associates Jennifer Mannino , Assistant Vice President
Marketing Coordinator , Director of Marketing , Assistant Vice President — this is the seven-year journey of Jennifer Mannino . Jen started as the lone marketing employee at LAN Associates , a 100-employee architecture and engineering firm . She built LAN ’ s marketing department from the ground up , tackling projects one by one until all the elements of a sophisticated marketing department were in place . Under her leadership , and at her direction , LAN has completely overhauled the proposal process , implemented the use of a CRM to track and analyze data , rebuilt the company web site , rebranded company collateral , formalized public relations processes , increased business development pursuits and continually improved LAN ’ s internal corporate culture . Using traditional and digital techniques , Jen has increased LAN ’ s share of voice and share of mind , positioning LAN to increase its contract win rate .
18 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com
Marketsmith Monica C . Smith , Founder & CEO
Monica is an amazing strategist , having launched a company more than two decades ago that helps business owners , primarily in the manufacturing sector , gather the data that is most essential for them to manage effective marketing and promotional campaigns . Based on an in-depth analysis of real numbers in real time , owners and senior leaders are able to make wise decisions that differentiate them from their competitors and tell a compelling story . Founded in 1999 based on the concept of combining technology and humanity ( connecting artificial intelligence with human intelligence ), the company has become one of the largest women-owned and operated independent media and marketing agencies in the country . Her reputation and high level of success has earned her many awards .
Joetta Clark Diggs Sports Foundation Joetta Clark Diggs , Founder and President
After her career as an elite athlete setting national and international records and four trips to the Olympics , Joetta then retired to engage in public service and motivational speaking . Leveraging her success as a runner , she authored a book that would inspire others . A commissioner on the NJ Sports & Exposition Authority and recipient of the Sports Illustrated Hometown Hero , Joetta was well-positioned to motivate young people . She followed in the footsteps of her father Joe Clark , the subject of the true story / movie and song , “ Lean on Me .” Rebranded as “ Joetta ” and pursuing the motto “ Gotta Do ,” Joetta is making a path and building a case so that others can embrace and achieve their own dreams .
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