N.J. chamber honors 12 women for creating economic opportunities

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced June 25 that it is honoring 12 women who have used talent and hard work to create economic opportunities and help make New Jersey a better place to live and work. The women will be recognized at the 2025 Women of Inspiration Awards Reception, on Sept. 18, at The National Conference Center in East Windsor.

The chamber’s Women of Inspiration Awards recognize those who are inspiring leaders or advocates in the state’s business community.

“We are proud to honor these extraordinary women who have made significant contributions to New Jersey’s employer community,” said Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “Their dedication and leadership are truly inspiring, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at this year’s reception.”

These are the honorees:

Alice H. Parker Outstanding Woman of Inspiration Award

Marlene Asselta

President, Southern New Jersey Development Council

A South Jersey native, Marlene has spent decades championing the region’s growth and prosperity. Since 1985, she has led the Southern New Jersey Development Council, transforming it into one of the state’s most respected business advocacy and lobbying organizations. Marlene has played a key role in shaping public policy in South Jersey across sectors including economic development, education, energy, health care, tourism, and transportation. 

Private Sector Advocate Award 

Patrizia A. Zita

CEO & Co-Founder, The Zita Group

Zita co-founded The Zita Group, the largest public affairs firm founded and owned by a woman. She ensures the placement of women in state government positions through her work with the N.J. Bipartisan Coalition for Women. She was named No. 2 on the ROI Influencers: Women in Business 2025 list. In fact, she has been named to top 100 lists by ROI-NJ’s Champions of the C-Suite, NJBIZ, Forbes Magazine, New Jersey Globe and InsiderNJ. 

Small Business Advocate Award 

Kelly Brozyna

CEO & State Director, New Jersey Small Business Development Centers 

Since taking the helm of the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers in 2020, Brozyna has created and implemented initiatives that assist the needs of small business entrepreneurs. She has championed programs for veterans, women entrepreneurs, and leaders in emerging industries. Her advocacy for veterans earned her the 2022 N.J. Veteran Advocate of the Year award from the American Legion. 

Industry Advocate Award

Chrissy Buteas

President & CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey

Buteas leads the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey, the trade association representing New Jersey’s research-based biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies. She previously worked for Optimum, NJBIA, the Home Care & Hospice Association of NJ, and Capital Impact Group. She has advised policymakers at the state and federal levels, including serving on the Murphy-Oliver Transition Healthcare team. 

Business Communications Award

Briana Vannozzi

Anchor, NJ Spotlight News

Vannozzi is the face of NJTV News with Briana Vannozzi, delivering in-depth coverage of state and community issues. A multiple Emmy-nominated journalist, she joined the network in 2012 as a general assignment correspondent – shooting, writing, and editing stories from the field. She was promoted to senior correspondent in 2020 and, later that year, to anchor. 

Employer Advocate Award

Kristi Howell

President & CEO, Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce

In her 20 years leading the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Howell has significantly expanded its membership, budget, staff, and programming – growing from 20 annual events to more than 60. Under her leadership, the chamber forged a strong support relationship with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Burlington County’s largest employer and New Jersey’s second largest. Kristi serves as vice president on the board of the Military Support Alliance of New Jersey.

Association Advocate Award

Linda Doherty

President & CEO, New Jersey Food Council

Doherty is the longest-serving president & CEO in the New Jersey Food Council’s history, leading the organization since 2003 and advocating for the state’s $136 billion food distribution sector. She championed New Jersey’s reusable bag law, helping to keep parks and waterways free of plastic waste. Linda has spearheaded the effort for a new law to combat organized retail theft and has worked to address food inflation. 

Woman of Inspiration Award

Deborah Visconi

President & CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Visconi, a chamber board member, has more than 30 years of experience in providing strategic direction, vision, leadership, and oversight of operations in hospitals and healthcare systems. With her organizational and strategic planning expertise, Bergen New Bridge has expanded programs and services, and enhanced provider relations yielding improvement in quality, safety, and the patient/resident experience.  

Outstanding Corporate Leader Award

Kim C. Hanemann

President & COO, Public Service Electric & Gas 

Hanemann is president & COO of New Jersey’s largest utility and the state’s oldest and largest publicly owned utility. She is the first woman to serve in this role in the company’s over 120-year history. Prior to being named COO in January 2020, she held numerous leadership positions in both electric and gas field operations and in utility support operations. Her leadership has been recognized with numerous honors, including ROI-NJ’s Women of Influence.

Issues Advocate Award

Monica Slater Stokes

Managing Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, United Airlines

Stokes oversees state and local government affairs for United in the Northeast region where she develops and drives external affairs programs in support of the airline’s in-market public policy, community affairs, and business development objectives. A Newark native, Monica began her career in local and federal public sectors. Stokes sits on several boards, including the Regional Plan Association and Choose New Jersey.

Blenda Pinto

Director, Corporate and Government Affairs, United Airlines 

Pinto, with more than 20 years of federal, state, and local public policy experience, manages political and business relationships to advance United Airlines’ policy goals across the northeast region, with recently expanded territory to Virginia, including United’s Dulles hub. Before joining United, she worked at the AARP New Jersey state office. Pinto has been named alongside New Jersey’s best in class by ROI Influencers for several categories over the years, including Power List: Government and Public Affairs, Women In Business & People of Color.  

Diane Wasser

Partner-in-Charge, New Jersey, EisnerAmper

Wasser is the partner-in-charge of New Jersey and managing partner of regions at Eisner Advisory Group. She leads New Jersey operations while overseeing partners-in-charge across the country. Wasser serves as treasurer and officer on the chamber board’s executive committee. Wasser has been recognized on ROI-NJ’s Top 40 Women in Business list.