On Monday, April 23, 2018, the Women’s Employment & Resource Center (WERC) announced the 2018 Pearls of WERC Award Winners at a breakfast hosted by CAP COM at the CAP COM Financial Center, 4 Winners Circle, Colonie. This year marks the 30th Pearl Anniversary of WERC, formerly known as the Albany Displaced Homemaker Center.
The symbol for a 30th Anniversary is a pearl which signifies transformation and potential. Beginning as a grain of sand, a pearl over time is cultivated into something of great worth and beauty. In many ways, the women who graduate from the WERC program experience a similar transformation as they re-enter the workforce and regain their economic independence.
A Pearl also symbolizes wisdom acquired through experience as well as generosity, integrity, and loyalty, so at this year’s 30th Anniversary Awards Celebration on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at the Hilton Garden Inn Troy, WERC will recognize 30 Pearls of WERC Awardees along with two Pearls of Distinction for their contributions that have ensured WERC’s ongoing success.
WERC will recognize 20 “Pearls of Friendship” Awardees who are individual and corporate friends that have continued to support WERC through in-kind donations, sponsorships, volunteering, hiring WERC Graduates, and true examples of friendship. The Awardees in this category are: Alliance Worldwide Investigative Group, Inc. ; Austin & Co., Inc.; BBL Hospitality; Angela S. Beddoe, HerLife; Paul Conti, The College of St. Rose; Andrea Crisafulli, Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing & Heating Contractors, Inc.; CSEA Local 1000 AFSCME, AFL-CIO; Susan Law Dake, Stewart's Shops; Deily & Glastetter, LLC; Joan Heffler, Joan Heffler Photography; Katherine Horan; M&T Bank; Maximus; Mirror Lake Inn; Vikki Moran, Capital Region Living; Ann Reis, Capital District HR Professionals, LTD; Harriet Rifkin, Rifkin & Associates, LLC; Dona Snyder-Reardon, Snyder Printers; TD Bank; and Benita Zahn, News Channel 13 WNYT.
In the next category, for their many years of support, guidance and empowerment of women, WERC will recognize 10 “Pearls of Wisdom & Empowerment”. They are amazing role models for WERC Graduates, and their generosity and loyalty are an integral part of WERC’s ongoing success. These Awardees include: Senator Neil D. Breslin, 44th Senate District; Jane N. Golub, Price Chopper/Golub Foundation; Denise Horan, Integrated Management & Sales Consulting; Kathy Lanni, SEFCU; Willie Miranda, Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc., Lauren Payne, Spiral Design; Kathleen Pingelski, MicroKowledge Inc./ProKnowledge, Alissa M. Quinn, UBS Financial Services; Ellen Sax, MVP Health Care; and Paula A. Stopera, CAP COM.
Lastly, for their many years of dedication and their extraordinary contributions to WERC’s mission and success, WERC will recognize two “Pearls of Distinction”: Marjorie A. Adams, WERC’s Employment & Training Coordinator, who has trained and helped place thousands of women in employment opportunities since 2001, and KeyBank, whose sponsorships at the highest level and support has been a vital asset and an inspiration for many years.
For more information, about this event and about WERC, contact Elizabeth Miller Guthier by phone at (518) 225-3131 or via email at bmiller@cdwerc.org.
Shown in photo: (Seated – left to right) Francine Yanulavich, TD Bank; Ann Reis, Capital District HR Professionals, LTD; Harriet Rifkin, Rifkin & Associates, LLC; Allyson Cimino, MAXIMUS, Inc.; Alissa M. Quinn, UBS Financial Services; Kathy Lanni, SEFCU; Ellen Sax, MVP Health Care; Connie D'Amato Boni, M&T Bank; Paula A. Stopera, CAP COM; Katherine Horan, Denise Horan, Integrated Management & Sales Consulting; Joan Heffler, Joan Heffler Photography, (Standing – left to right) Willie Miranda, Miranda Real Estate Group; Mario Pecoraro, Alliance Worldwide Investigative Group, Inc.; Marjorie A.Adams, WERC; Kathleen Pingelski, MicroKnowledge, Inc./ProKnowledge, Leslie Perrin, CSEA; James Sidford, Austin & Co., Inc.; Andrea Crisafulli, Crisafulli Bros. Plumbing & Heating Contractors, Inc.; Joann Sternheimer, Deily & Glastetter, LLP; Jeanie Guity, Spiral Design; and Susan H. Bailey, KeyBank.