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Meet the WRN
The Women's Referral Network Board of Directors is a group of dedicated volunteers. These women represent a wide range of professions,
and bring a wealth of experience to the Board. They, along with staff, are responsible for the general operation of the organization
including all meetings, special events and activities that benefit you, our members. All board positions are voluntary and carry terms of two years.
Lorie Marrella - FruitFlowers
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President Elect
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Lorie isn't above putting out the trash, washing dishes or prepping fruit. As the president of FruitFlowers of Delaware and FruitFlowers of Chester County, Lorie and her franchise partners – cousin Pam Moyer and aunt Susan Talluto – embody the phrase "chief cook and bottle washer."
Six months before Lorie and her family opened the Delaware location of FruitFlowers in 1998, she was working in a high-paying job that wasn't yielding that "warm and fuzzy" feeling. So she took charge, changed her career path and created an opportunity for herself.
Now, Lorie not only has that "warm and fuzzy" feeling about coming to work everyday, she enjoys it even more because she gets to deal with family and friends. In addition to her two current locations, Lorie is partnering with current general manager, Crystal Potter, to take over operations of a location in South Jersey in 2011.
The biggest lesson of all for Lorie is that money isn't everything: it helps, but it isn't worth much if you are unhappy.
Currently, Lorie is focused on projects that will grow the business, such as having FruitFlowers arrangements in Kenny-owned ShopRites of Delaware and local hospital gift shops. She's also very involved with the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and helps to raise awareness and money through "Treasure the Chest" events held throughout the year.
Lorie lives in Newark, Del., with her husband of 21 years, Greg. They have two grown sons, Greg Jr. and Jason. Greg and Lorie are also the proud grandparents of Andrew & Cole
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Lori Adair - Maillie, Falconiero & Company, LLP
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Treasurer
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Lori has been an accountant for nine years with West Chester's Maillie, Falconiero & Company, LLP. She graduated from West Chester University in 2000 and became a CPA in 2002. She also received a Master’s of Science in Taxation in 2007 from Widener University. Lori currently is part of the firm’s tax department after having worked in the accounting and auditing division. She is an active member of several professional and business organizations. Lori has been married for nine years and has a one year old son. In her spare time she enjoys reading mystery novels, playing golf and being involved in her church.
Maillie, Falconiero & Company provides a full range of accounting and business consulting services to help clients achieve their goals. They specialize in providing audit, accounting and tax services, along with extensive business consulting, to privately owned businesses. Their affiliate, Oak Financial Services Group, LTD, offers financial planning services.
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Nina Malone, Arbonne International
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Secretary
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Nina Malone has a rich background in assisting others achieve their professional and personal goals. As an independent consultant and area manager for Arbonne International, Nina mentors a growing team while she helps her clients find solutions to improve their skin care and overall wellness. Working off her lifelong interest in health and fitness, Nina enjoys offering natural, Swiss-formulated, made in the USA products to women, men and kids of all ages.
Nina also has deep experience managing business and volunteer organizations. She is a past-president of the New Jersey Communications, Advertising and Marketing Association and the Rider University Alumni Association Board of Directors, and a past national officer for the Zeta Tau Alpha woman’s fraternity. She's also held leadership posts in healthcare, communications, marketing and education associations. Locally, Nina was an active officer and member of the Bishop Shanahan Parents' Association, various Coatesville Area School District PTAs and sporting clubs, and the Downingtown Young Whippets Booster Club.
Nina holds a M.A. in human services administration from Rider University and a B.A. in journalism from Rider College. An avid volunteer, Nina has been a WRN member and helper since 1999. During that time, she has served the WRN as public relations chairperson and member spotlight writer.
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Valerie Clemens - Valerie's Dance Studio
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Valerie Clemens, owner of Valerie's Dance Studio in West Chester, specializes in wedding, ballroom, and social dancing for adults. Valerie discovered her talent and love for teaching dancing over three decades ago, originally training and teaching with the Arthur Murray dance studios. She continued ballroom training and teaching throughout those years, making it her part-time career while working full-time in the corporate business world. In January 2002, Valerie decided to make her passion for dance her full-time business by opening her own private studio. She is also an instructor for the Chester County Night School Program and has started her 16th year with that organization.
Prior to her dance business, Valerie worked full-time in various administrative and executive management positions. Before opening her own business, her most recent position was working as the business manager for Technologue, Inc., an automotive research firm.
Valerie graduated with an associate business degree from Keystone Business College in Swarthmore, where she also received her certification as a court reporter. For several years after graduating from Keystone, Valerie was a court reporting instructor for its evening division program.
In addition to the WRN, Valerie is a member of the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce and the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, as well as numerous professional dance associations.
She was born and raised in West Chester and has been a lifelong resident of East Goshen Township. In her free time, she enjoys being an independent consultant for Mary Kay, Inc.
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Tammy Cummings – Lamb McErlane, PC
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Tammy is an associate attorney in Lamb McErlane's litigation department. Tammy represents corporations and individuals involved in complex commercial and civil litigation matters. She is among a group of several attorneys who handle cases involving contract disputes for Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining Lamb McErlane, Tammy acquired a wide range of experience practicing in security class action litigation. Tammy is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New York.
Tammy attended Vanderbilt University and graduated magna cum laude with a dual degree in economics and psychology. In 2006, she earned her juris doctorate from the Emory University School of Law.
In addition to her Women's Referral Network of Chester County Board position, Tammy is an active member of several professional organizations including the Pennsylvania Bar Association, New York Bar Association, American Bar Association, Chester County Bar Association and the Young Professionals Network of the Great Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
In her spare time, Tammy enjoys volunteering through the Junior League of Philadelphia, reading and traveling.
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Jennifer Hohenberger - Coldwell Banker Preferred
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Jennifer Hohenberger of Coldwell Banker Preferred Real Estate is a 1994 graduate of West Chester University and a 28-year West Chester resident. At the age of 22, Jennifer earned her real estate license and began her career with Weichert Realtors in Exton. Since then, Jennifer has worked at a few other companies, but has found a good fit at her Coldwell Banker Preferred, where she has continued to be a multi-million dollar producer.
With more than 20 years of sales experience, Jennifer is a knowledgeable and informed Realtor who ensures that she remains at the forefront of the ever-changing real estate market by participating in ongoing education courses and continually researching markets and trends.
Jennifer's top priority as a Realtor is to offer caring, compassionate and first class service to her clients, to smoothly guide them to settlement and to be her clients' first and only choice for their real estate needs. The industry is filled with Realtors who come and go, yet Jennifer has successfully built a following of loyal people who wouldn't think of using anyone else for their real estate needs.
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Linda Jassmond – Linda S. Jassmond, LLC
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Linda Jassmond is the owner of a personal training business where she helps individuals take charge of their mind and body to create lifestyle changes. She customizes her programs for each client dependent upon their age and fitness level. Linda welcomes beginners as well as those training for a triathlon. Her passion for physical fitness began in 1984 as a manager for Elaine Powers, a women’s fitness club. Linda continues to teach Pilates, Kick Boxing, Step and Body Sculpting classes on a weekly basis. She has seen people transform before her eyes.
A frequent speaker at business meetings and non-profit organizations, Linda’s presentations focus on fitness, nutrition and goal-setting. She has written two motivational fitness books and is working on two more. Linda is dedicated to her clients’ success and her passion to reach new levels is evident in her business and in her life.
Linda holds a degree in management from West Chester University. She is a member of the Women's Referral Network of Chester County (since 1992, a past president and held various other chair positions along with being on many committees), Business and Professional Women of Jennersville, Women in Business, Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce and Net Care.
Linda lives in West Grove with her husband and their cats.
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Laura Lorenz - Leading Results
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Laura's passion has always been to help organizations reach their goals. Whether working as a sales and marketing coach with small technology companies selling Great Plains Software, or as a consultant developing fundraising strategies with foundations and organizations, Laura has been in the trenches working as a team member, hand in hand, to develop and implement strategies that drive results.
Laura's affiliation with long time colleague, Dan Kraus, and the Duct Tape Marketing system gives her a platform to effectively leverage her passions and expertise. Most businesses begin and end using marketing tactics void of a planned strategy. Laura's client engagements clearly demonstrate her ability put strategy before tactics in order to drive effective results.
She also has helped the WRN achieve its goals by dedicating her time and talents. She began volunteering immediately upon joining the organization, and has served as Special Events chair, Women-in-Business Expo co-chair and Awards Celebration co-chair. She also was actively involved in the Dress for Success Fashion Show. When the WRN asks, Laura says "yes."
Laura lives in West Chester with her husband, Ken, and two wonderful daughters.
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Megan McGinn - Brandywine Valley Heating and Air Conditioning
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Megan McGinn plays an instrumental role in positioning Brandywine Valley Heating & Air Conditioning as Chester County’s number one choice in heating and air conditioning, and as a dedicated community partner.
Upon graduating from Temple University with a degree in business administration, Megan began her career in advertising and telecommunication sales. In 1997, she transferred to the Washington, DC area where she got her start in recruiting and staffing of Washington’s area law firms.
She returned to the Delaware Valley and continued in the recruiting and staffing industry until 2009 when she welcomed the opportunity to work as an executive assistant to the president of Brandywine Valley Heating & Air Conditioning. Her duties include supporting the sales team, marketing and business development.
Following in the steps of her employer and other colleagues, Megan graduated with the 2011 class of The Chester County Leadership Connection. The program’s mission is to strengthen nonprofit organizations in Chester County by utilizing a comprehensive, highly academic staffing approach to educating skilled and concerned citizens in nonprofit governance and then matching them to positions on boards of nonprofits.
Megan is active in both the West Chester Chamber of Commerce, the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry and other women’s organizations.
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Meet our Staff
| Jillian Ehren, Events and Marketing Coordinator
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Jillian Ehren comes to the WRN with more than 15 years of experience in quality assurance and software development. She is practiced at leading multiple, complex concurrent efforts with geographically diverse resources in a variety of business environments.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in economics from West Chester University, Jillian found her path to her first career almost by accident. Her exceptional attention to detail, coupled with her ability to focus on the big picture moved Jillian into progressivly responsible positions developing and implementing formal corporate software quality assurance procedures, oversight of QA activities that ensured product releases meet documented specifications, as well as defined quality and design standards. She has the proven ability to understand detailed specifications, work independently to gain expertise on project subject matter and incorporate that knowledge into quality assurance activities.
In June 2008, Jillian decided to leave her successful career in software project management and make a change. This gave her a welcomed opportunity to work for the Women’s Referral Network of Chester County as its Events and Marketing coordinator, and to expand her skill set to embrace the more public side of business, including interacting with a dynamic group of businesswomen, maintaining professional alliances and continuing professional and personal growth. This change also allows her to spend more time with her two young children, and to work with her husband to renovate their 1740s Chester County farmhouse.
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