South Jersey BIZ - Issue #2 (February 2025)

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SJBiz_Women to Watch_0225FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 2 / 10 / 25 1 : 01 PM Page 1 Edited by Carly Murray and Chelsea Valcourt 2025 Women to Some local leading Watch ladies share their stories of t’s our distinct honor every year to highlight some of career success , lessons the incredible women working and living in South Jer - Isey , and this year is no exception . We’re pleased to learned and mutual highlight 17 incredible women whose undeniable talent empowerment . and training as educators , advocates , legal professionals , financial experts , forward - thinking visionaries , caregivers and so much more all contribute to the rich tapestry of our local landscape . Stephanie Fendrick , FACHE , MBA SusanHodges FIRM SHAREHOLDER AND CO - CHAIR LABOR AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF STRATEGY EMPLOYMENT AND SCHOOL LAW PRACTICE AREA , OFFICER , VIRTUA HEALTH PARKER MCCAY Fendrickleads the formula - In her distinguished ca - tion , development and ad - reer , including almost vancementof Virtua’s growth eight years with Parker andtransformation and en - McCay , Hodges has gagesrelationships with oth - workedwith both public erorganizations that support and private sector clients , Virtua’s strategic imperatives , providingcounsel on em - including clinical collabora - ployment matters involv - tions with other local hospital ing employee discipline , systems.She also oversees hiring and firing , work - Virtua’s digital transformation placeharassment and in - andcommunity - based pro - vestigations , policy and grams , including the award - compliance.Hodges acts winningEat Well food - access as both counsel and out - initiative . Under Fendrick’s leadership , Virtua’s organ transplanta - sourcedhuman resources tion division has doubled its yearly volume . Fendrick is on the to ensure her clients make the best possible decisions . She JewishFamily and Children’s Services of Southern New Jersey has many years of experience working with all types of em - boardand previously served on the American Heart Association’s ployment law in state and federal court . Hodges’s breadth of GoRed for Women executive leadership committee . experience and fair and measured perspective have earned her the trust of all her clients . On her female mentors … I’ve been fortunate to have remarkable women mentor me What she wishes she knew earlier . . . throughout my career , especially in its early stages . Their guid - I wish I had truly understood how important it was to advo - ance shaped my path , and I’m grateful to now pay it forward by cate for myself and to never be afraid to ask for what I de - helping others find their voice and recognize their potential . To - served . I also wish I had known that it is OK to make a change day , I lean on a trusted network of colleagues and friends for ad - ifwhat you are doing doesn’t make you happy . We spend so vice and inspiration . Beyond work , I deeply cherish the lifelong much time at work that you have to enjoy it ! supportof my girlfriend group and the strong women in my fam - ily , who make me feel seen , understood and loved . 16 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2 | SouthJerseyBiz.net

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SJBiz_Women to Watch_0225FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 2 / 10 / 25 1 : 01 PM Page 2 Fawn D . Martin Merilee Rutolo PRESIDENT AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER , CENTER CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER , FIRST HARVEST FOR FAMILY SERVICES CREDIT UNION Under Rutolo’s leadership , the A trailblazer in the financial Center for Family Services has services industry , Martin becomea well - known and possessesboth an MBA and trustedhuman services PMP certification , and her agency . Her expertise contin - 13 - year professional journey uesto create growth and op - has led her to recognition as portunities in all areas of spe - the first Black female leader cialized services , including a innumerous spaces . In both significant increase in partner - her current and prior role — ships that bring both the fund - the latter as vice president ing and services that address ofproject management with keyneeds in New Jersey com - AmericanHeritage Credit munities . Rutolo serves on the Union — shewas hired as the boardof the Camden Coali - first woman of color . Martin tion of Healthcare Providers courageously uses her expertise to advocate for , influence and andCamden Health & Athletic impact change , in a leadership journey emphasizing the impor - Association , on the National Alliance for Children and Fami - tance of collaboration , emotional intelligence and empathy . She lies — a tri - county prevention coalition to end sexual violence — currentlyserves as board member and co - chair of the program - and numerous other coalitions . ming committee for the organization Power of Professional Women and a member of The National Coalition of 100 Black On finding the right career path . . . WomenInc . , Southern New Jersey Chapter , leading the eco - I think I always knew that this was the right path for me : Helping nomicempowerment committee . others and building a strong foundation so that everyone can be successful has always been my calling . I have been with Cen - What she wishes she knew earlier . . . ter for Family Services for over 20 years and it never gets boring . Theimportance of providing nourishment to my career in the Our work to meet people where they are and find current solu - formof being intentional [ with the ] organizations in which I partici - tions for today’s problems is dynamic and creative . People and pate ; it is OK to say ‘ no ; ’ the impact of mentor / mentee relation - communitieschange , so we do as well . ships ; and actively practicing self - care and continuous learning . Gwen Houldsworth EmesheArzón COUNTY COUNSEL , CAMDEN COUNTY SENIOR VP OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES , ACENDA INTEGRATED HEALTH In her role serving the coun - Before joining Acenda in tyof Camden , Arzón leads a 2019 , Houldsworth began team of law professionals her career providing family whoprovide legal advice preservation services in andcounsel to the Camden SalemCounty , which offered CountyBoard of Commis - invaluable insights that sioners and all county de - shapedher subsequent partments , ensuring that roles in maternal and child the county’s operations are health with both the North - in legal compliance . She east Florida Healthy Start previously served as the so - Coalition and the March of licitor for Cherry Hill Town - Dimes , Georgia Chapter . ship and as director of hu - Houldsworthachieved a his - manresources for Camden toric milestone by leading a County.And while having NewJersey emergency shel - more than 20 years ’ experience in the public sector has offered terfor unhoused pregnant and parenting women through its diverse experiences and opportunities , she credits her most sig - first - ever accreditation . She then transitioned to directing a $ 10 nificant role as being a mother to her daughters , Nadya and million Head Start program in Camden focused on early child - Amaya . hoodeducation . The woman who inspired her . . . . On finding the right career path . . . The women in my family are all inspirational in their own right ; Inspired by my mother’s lifelong dedication to volunteering , I however , my mother has always been the most inspiring . She in - knew early on that I wanted a career in the nonprofit sector . spired me both personally and professionally . Despite the chal - Throughout high school , college and graduate school , I volun - lenges life presented , she was resilient and a pillar of strength . teered with various organizations , making service a way of life . She instilled in me the importance of education and self - suffi - My passion led me to pursue only nonprofit roles , where I’ve ciency.When I expressed my desire to become an attorney , she had the privilege of contributing to meaningful causes along wasmy biggest supporter and has never wavered in her encour - the East Coast . I look forward to continuing my journey , driving agement . positive change and making a lasting impact . SouthJerseyBiz.net | VOLUME 15 ISSUE 2 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | 17

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