PRESIDENT ’ S VIEW
New Jersey Women are Rising , Excelling in Leadership Roles
March is National Women ’ s History Month and a celebration of women ’ s success .
By Anthony Russo President , CIANJ
The national celebration of Women ’ s History Month gives the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey an opportunity to salute the extraordinary women within our ranks who have distinguished themselves by their achievements , intelligence and commitment .
We are proud to salute many “ firsts ,” as our members propel themselves and the women in their businesses to new heights . The keynote speaker at our Women in Commerce Networking event this month embodies our celebration of pioneers . She is Patricia Costello , a retired Superior Court judge who became the first woman selected by the one of our state ’ s most prominent law firms , Chiesa , Shahinian & Giantomasi , to be its managing member .
Only a handful of women currently hold this powerful position at law firms , but industry experts say firms are increasingly entrusting their leadership to women attorneys . In fact , another member joined the trend this year . Cole Schotz P . C . tapped Randi Kochman to become a co-managing shareholder .
But the legal community is not the only industry showcasing the leadership of women executives .
� Paige Dworak , a member of the executive committee of the CIANJ Board of Directors , took on a new role that makes her the first woman in New Jersey to be a CEO and owner of a hospital . Dworak runs CareWell Health Medical Center , which had formerly been East Orange General Hospital . Dworak and her partners at EOH Acquisition Group bought the 201-bed facility and plan to make improvements with a focus on behavioral health .
Dworak has been at the helm of the East Orange hospital since 2017 . Born and raised in Edison , she is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives . At the height of the pandemic , Dworak worked with the New Jersey Department of Health to convert a medical arts building within her complex into an emergency hospital facility to treat COVID‐19 patients .
Dworak has always described the hospital as a vital community asset . She said the new ownership team will allow the facility to be an independent community hospital again .
Dworak and her partners intend to expand the outpatient mental health services at the hospital , while also offering new state-of-theart therapies . Her co-owners are Ben Klein , an Englewood resident and owner of more than a dozen behavioral health and substance abuse treatment centers across the country and Troy Schell , an attorney . CIANJ wishes them well with their plans and offers all its support to Dworak in her new role .
� For the first time in its history , the largest electric and gas utility in the state , Public Service Electric & Gas , named a woman as president . Kim Hanemann , a former senior vice president and chief operating officer , succeeded David M . Daly to become president of the 118-year-old company . She started at the utility 16 years ago as an associate engineer and rose through the corporate ranks into leadership positions in transmission , electric and gas field operations . She was responsible for PSE & G ’ s transmission , electric and gas and customer operations , as well as the company ’ s asset management and centralized service organizations . Her duties also included overseeing the execution of all large construction projects .
Ralph Izzo , PSEG chairman , president and CEO , described Hanemann as a “ dedicated and respected leader in the energy industry who has been a champion for PSE & G ’ s customers and its workforce .” In a statement released when her promotion was announced last spring , Izzo noted that she “ built our Delivery Projects & Construction organization from the ground up and has been responsible for ensuring the
CareWell Health Medical Center CEO and Owner Paige Dworak
Public Service Electric & Gas President Kim Hanemann
on-time , on-scope and on-budget implementation of the utility ’ s multi-billion-dollar transmissions investments .”
� The only Latinx hospital executive in New Jersey , CIANJ Board Member Deborah Visconi , president and CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center was awarded an Honorary Degree by Felician University at the School of Nursing in 2021 . Felician University President James W . Crawford , III credited Visconi with creating an environment of diversity and inclusion in the largest public health hospital and long-term care facility in New Jersey .”
In conferring the Doctorate of Humane Letters on Visconi , President Crawford commended her for her efforts , “ to lead the state in providing efficient and effective access to testing and vaccinations .” The hospital administrator was also commended for transforming Bergen New Bridge Medical Center into a beacon of hope as the largest public hospital in New Jersey providing care for anyone who needs it , regardless of their ability to pay .
Under the leadership of Visconi , New Bridge became a Veterans Community Care Provider ensuring care for 40,000 veterans . Partnering with other agencies , she has increased access to behavioral health , addiction treatment , intervention , and counseling services , changing , and saving many lives .
National Women ’ s History Month is a celebration of women ’ s contribution to culture , history and society , and at CIANJ we are pleased to pay tribute to women executives and entrepreneurs within our organization .
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center President and CEO Deborah Visconi
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