Women’s Leadership Summit

This year’s Women’s Leadership Summit focuses on the Theme of “Rebound with Resilience: Ready to GO!”

Success is different for every person and is especially relevant when one considers the diversity of New Jersey, particularly Middlesex County, and the events of the past year plus. Therefore, it was important to select a wide variety of topics that affects individuals on a professional, personal and wellness level. This allows the event to be a “one-stop-shop” which takes a holistic approach to an individual’s development regardless of their background, age or occupation.

The Chamber’s Women in Business Committee has been focused on meeting the needs of our workforce today and the future for nearly two decades with our Women’s Leadership Summit, which provides women with the opportunity to develop, learn and connect with other female professionals each year.

This year’s Women’s Leadership Summit is scheduled for October 22nd, 2021, and runs from 9 AM to 1 PM. It features two networking sessions, a philanthropic speaker, panel discussion, wellness expo, brunch and a keynote address. Sarah Chaplin, President & CEO of State Theatre New Jersey is our Keynote Speaker. Our Philanthropic Speaker will deliver her address directly after our AM registration/networking program. The Panel will feature a diverse set of professionals who will bring their expertise and personal experience into an insightful and empowering session.

The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce is requiring all attendees of its in-person events to provide proof of vaccination or applicable proof of a negative COVID-19 test.

Individuals attending Middlesex County Regional Chamber events must either show proof of vaccination or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of an event’s start time or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 72 hours of the start time or a COVID-19 rapid test within 6 hours.

Detailed Timeline & Overview of the Women’s Leadership Summit

9:00 AM – Registration & Networking

9:30 AM – Opening Welcome

9:35 AM – Panel Discussion

10:45 AM – Break / Networking & Health & Wellness Expo

11:00 AM – Brunch / Networking & Health & Wellness Expo

12:00 PM – Philanthropic Speaker

12:15 PM – Keynote Speaker

1:00 PM – Closing Comments

Meet Our Keynote Speaker

Sarah K. Chaplin, President and Chief Executive Officer, State Theatre New Jersey

Sarah K. Chaplin is a 24-year veteran of arts administration and leadership, and has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of State Theatre New Jersey since 2018. The State Theatre renovation is Chaplin’s third historic venue renovation (following Peery’s Egyptian Theatre in Ogden, UT, and The National Theatre in Washington D.C.) and her fifth theater renovation in total (including Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts also in Ogden, UT and Times Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, FL).

Before joining the State Theatre, Chaplin was the Executive Director of The National Theatre Corporation in Washington, D.C. In her role at The National Theatre, Chaplin worked on the revitalization of the historic venue through strategic planning, brand identity, and capital improvements. Chaplin led capital improvement projects which included a $1.5M replacement of the theater’s rope-and-sandbag rigging system during the summer of 2017 (the replacement of the rope-and-sandbag rigging system is also a major part of STNJ’s renovation).  

Prior to her time at The National Theatre Corporation, Chaplin worked for SMG, a national venue management company. At SMG, she served as General Manager for The National Theatre in Washington, D.C.; Facility Director for the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts in Jacksonville, FL; and Theater Director for Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden, UT.

Meet Our Philanthropic Speaker

Jennifer Apostol, Director, REPLENISH

Jennifer is the Director of REPLENISH, (formerly MCFOODS, the Middlesex County Food Bank).  She has been overseeing the program for over 25 years.  She works with a network of more than 150 food pantries, soup kitchens and social service organizations to achieve REPLENISH’S mission of ensuring that all residents in the county have immediate access to nutritious foods and necessities at all times.  Jennifer is dedicated to “Nourishing our Neighbors” and improving the overall well-being of our residents and achieving food security for all with the support of countless colleagues, volunteers and partners from community organizations, businesses, schools, and civic groups.   

Meet Our Panel

Kathleen Cashman-Walter, President, Cashman Consulting

As a Leadership and Performance and Career Coach, Kathleen provides individual, executive and team leadership coaching to senior leaders, coaches and their organizations and teams. Empowering leaders and those they lead to find answers, coaching them through challenges and inspiring them to be confident, accountable, and courageous.

Kathleen is President of Cashman Consulting LLC, a Leadership Development and Coaching Organization and is her branded Coaching is known as “Conversations with Kathleen”.  She has been with the organization for over 30 years.  Through this role she interacts with organizations across industry spectrums and at all levels beginning at the top.  She has served her clients as Executive Coach, Leadership Coach, Leadership Development Presenter, Developer and Project Manager as well as taken on interim senior positions while supporting the recruiting function.  Keeping her relevant to her clients resulting in a true trusted advisor.

Kathleen Cashman is currently the Professor of Communication & Leadership – the program has been created and executed by Professor Kathleen and is considered a premier part of the overall program, MBS Internship Course and Advisor, Professional Career Advisor, Industrial Advisory Board Leader and, Executive Coach for the Rutgers Professional Science Master’s Program for the past 10 years.

Linda Carroll, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System

Linda Carroll, RN-BC, MSN, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer (CNO) at  Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, joined Saint Peter’s in 1984 and is currently responsible for overseeing all inpatient nursing division operations within a 478-bed acute care teaching hospital, in addition to six adult communities in Monroe, two wound care and hyperbaric oxygen services centers, community health services, pharmacy, laboratory services, infection prevention, respiratory therapy, cardiac catheterization, adult and pediatric emergency departments, clinical education and nursing research, including Saint Peter’s Simulation Center for Interprofessional Learning which houses the medical library and a simulation center.

Under her leadership, Saint Peter’s achieved its sixth consecutive Magnet® designation for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, becoming only the fifth hospital in the world to do so. Saint Peter’s Intensive Care Unit also received its sixth consecutive Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, while the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit received its third consecutive Beacon Award. 

Mariel Miller, CEO & Founder, The Franchise Advisor

Mariel has 30+ years’ experience in the franchise sector. She uses her rich background to provide complimentary franchise-related advice and coaching to potential entrepreneurs and educates them on thoroughly vetting franchise opportunities through her firm The Franchise Advisor, Est 2004. 

The Franchise Advisor has developed complimentary programs and services that are popular with professionals curious about career/income replacement opportunities and/or semi-passive, quality of life opportunities, as well as small business owners interested in exploring the potential of franchising. 

In 2019, Mariel was recognized in the Top 1% of franchise consultant/advisors nationally and was  welcomed onto the Forbes Business Council as an official contributor in 2020. She has decades of  experience keynoting and in organizational development with dozens of top-performing franchise  brands and at industry events. 

Thank You to Our Sponsors: