Kearny Bank ChangeMakers Fireside Chat Recap

Thank you to all that participated in our Fireside Chat with Real Business Change Makers on Wednesday, October 11. We had the pleasure of having Marjorie Perry, of MZM Construction, as our keynote speaker, as well as, an inspiring panel made up of Elisa Charters from Latina Surge, Catherine O’Hern from Schenck, Price, Smith & King, and Laurie Jones of Jersey Girl Caterers.

Marjorie shared her thoughts around adversity and disruption and the importance of being an agent of change now more than ever, reverberating that “change is the only constant.” Her advice to plan, prepare and circumvent subsequent events by anticipating the disruption to that plan, enlightened us all. Our ability, as women, to assess and empathize with the world around us would be key to our ability to act and influence positive change in our community BUT we must be prepared to take the leap and address the fear that lives within us.

The ladies on our panel represented true models of change agents, each story echoing Marjorie’s sentiments. Laurie speaking about her ability to reinvent herself after COVID while learning how to take advantage of resources, potentially resulting in a new career helping others. Elisa shared her journey of coming out of corporate America, post 911, and finding her passion for entrepreneurship repeatedly to creating a national non-profit supporting diverse communities. While Catherine spoke to her choice of leaving a career to raise her family, to later pursue her lifelong passion of becoming and attorney, deciding to go to law school with her daughter. These are true changemakers, whose bravery to share their story will inspire others to do the same.

^{Veronica Ross, SVP/Director of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, (far right)
pictured with members of the NJSBDC}