Biographies - Girl Scouts of Central and Southern New Jersey

Candidate Biographies
Board of Directors
Lauren Beetle
Lauren A. Beetle, is a partner with Hyland Levin LLP,
concentrating her practice in the areas of real estate,
liquor license regulation and business law. Lauren is a
member of the Philadelphia Chapter of Commercial
Real Estate Women (CREW), the Real Property Section of the American Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association. She is a member of Business Resources Advisory Group, a women's networking group focused on small and medium sized businesses in
the South Jersey region. This year, Lauren was distinguished as a "New
Leader of the Bar" by the New Jersey Law Journal. She was also selected
as a "Rising Star" in the field of real estate law by New Jersey Super Lawyers. Lauren is an alumnus of Moorestown Friends School (1996), graduated valedictorian of her class from Douglass College, Rutgers University
(B.A., summa cum laude, 2000), and is a graduate of Rutgers University
School of Law-Camden (J.D., with high honors, 2003), where she was a
case notes editor for the Rutgers Law Journal. Lauren is admitted to practice in New Jersey (2003) and Pennsylvania (2003). Lauren lives with her
family in Riverton, New Jersey, and outside of her work enjoys gardening
and visiting America's National Parks.
Jennifer Brock
Jennifer Brock received her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Drexel University. The start of her career was space planning for a furniture distributor and
eventually she became Director of Design. Jennifer’s
next endeavor was working for a major furniture manufacturer. She joined Valinote Foster Associates in September of 2009
with 20 years of experience in design, project management, and sales,
and in 2013, Jennifer was announced Partner of Valinote Foster Associates.
Leslie Fehrenbach
Leslie Fehrenbach recently retired after a 35 year career in
higher education. Her most recent experience was at Rut
gers, The State University of NJ, first as the Associate Vice
President for Administration and Public Safety overseeing
Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, as well as several administrative departments, and second, as the Secretary of the University and Secretary of the Board of Governors and the Board of Trustees
where she managed three governing boards with 100+ volunteer board
members.
Joseph A. Tammaro, Jr.
Joseph Tammaro has more than 25 years of successful
banking experience. He is Sector President of Middle Market
for TD Bank’s Metro Pennsylvania, South, and Central New
Jersey Markets. He began his banking career with First Valley
Bank / Summit Bank in 1990 as a Commercial Credit Analyst
and Associate Relationship Manager. From 1997 to 1999, he
was a Senior Associate with American International Group’s (“AIG”) Mergers
and Acquisitions Group in New York, where he focused on originating and
negotiating structured finance, leveraged buyouts, private placements,
credit enhancements and funded loss portfolio transfer transactions for
the middle market and non profit sectors throughout the United States and
abroad. He joined Commerce Bank in 1999 as a Relationship Manager in the
bank’s Healthcare Lending Group. In 2004 he became the Regional Vice
President for the bank’s Philadelphia Regional Banking Marketplace, responsible for leading a team of commercial lenders and retail store managers.
Tammaro is a member of the Cardinal’s Cabinet of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and the Union
League of Philadelphia. He serves as a Board Member for the Arden Theatre
and the Children’s Alliance of Philadelphia. Tammaro holds a B.S. degree in
Business Management from Widener University. He is a proud father of a 14
year old Girl Scout.
Beth Davies
Beth Davies is a Certified Pension Consultant who works
directly with business owners and executive staff to develop
highly effective retirement programs for their organizations. She has earned the trust and confidence of her clients with her depth of knowledge and perspective. Drawing
on 30+ years of experience in a highly regulated, continually
evolving industry, Beth offers resourceful solutions to each client’s unique
needs. She has lectured on retirement plan topics to business owners,
human resource professionals, accountants and financial advisors. Beth
is an active member of First United Methodist Church of Moorestown. She
currently resides in Westampton, NJ.
Kathleen Larkin
Kathleen Larkin has wealth of experience working with
non-profits professionally and as a volunteer. Her experience ranges from serving as Chief Human Resource Officer & Deputy Director for the Pew Charitable Trusts to
building the Philadelphia Not-for-Profit Human Resources Group, which provided leadership, training and capacity building
for a peer group of 75 non-profit HR professionals. Kathleen served on the
board of Girls Inc. for Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey and
has also volunteered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Elizabeth
Haddon Elementary School and the Pennsylvania Association of Student
Councils. Professionally, Kathleen has a wealth of experience in strategic
planning, finance, accounting and human resources management. She
holds a BS from LaSalle University, MBA from the University of Notre
Dame, and CPA certification. Kathleen is currently employed as the US HR
Director for Hay Group | Korn Ferry. Having attended an all-girls high
school, Kathleen says that the leadership experiences she gained at such
a young age has made her a true believer in the power of the Girl Scouts
Movement. “The idea of delivering the world’s best leadership experience
for girls is one about which I am extremely passionate,” said Kathleen.
Since her appointment to the Board in May, 2010, Kathleen has served our
council as Board Member, Fund Development Committee Member, Strategic Refresh Committee Member and Chair of the CEO Search Committee. In 2013 Kathleen was honored with the Thanks Badge Award, for her
significant contribution to not only GSCSNJ but the Girl Scout Movement.
Kathleen resides in Haddonfield, NJ with her family.
Smita Varia
Smita Varia, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neuroscience & Cell Biology at Rutgers Robert
Wood Johnson Medical School. Her research focuses on
understanding cellular and molecular mechanisms in traumatic brain injury and mental disorders. She was appointed
an Assistant Dean for Graduate Academic and Student Affairs at the Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New Brunswick/Piscataway in March 2015. She is a director of Master of Biomedical
Science program at Rutgers GSBS. She holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology from
the University of Bombay, and a PhD in Biochemistry from The University of
Kansas. Smita currently serves as board Vice President, is a member of the
scholarship committee and has previously served as President for the Association for Women in Science-Central Jersey Chapter. Smita is passionate about mentoring young women and promoting science education.This
desire is underscored by her multiple volunteer positions that include: supervisor with the A2Z Mentoring Program, science judge for Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory academic competitions and advisor to high school
seniors pursuing independent work in Neuroscience or related fields.She
became involved with Girl Scouting after her daughter, Vrinda, joined a
troop as a Brownie. She has been an active Girl Scout member for about 20
years. Smita has also served as a troop co-leader, cookie mom, and Gold
Award advisor. When Vrinda was a senior in high school, Smita answered the
call of a first year Brownie Girl Scout troop who desperately needed leaders
and became their co-leader. She has served as a Member-At-Large of the
Board of Directors since 2010. Smita resides in Princeton Junction, NJ.
Candidate Biographies
Board Development Committee
Marianne Aleardi
Marianne Aleardi is publisher and editor-in-chief of “SJ
Magazine” and the host of “This is South Jersey with Marianne Aleardi,” a new, half-hour lifestyle program highlighting South Jersey, airing on WHYY and NJTV. She serves on
several boards and has received numerous awards for her leadership and
talent, and has used those abilities to become a great advocate for empowering women.
Varissa McMickens Blair
Varissa McMickens Blair is a seasoned nonprofit and arts
education professional. Varissa has lead successful programming and volunteer efforts in Roebling, NJ, Cleveland,
OH, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Annapolis, MD, Northern
VA, and Philadelphia, PA. Varissa currently serves as Executive Director of the Roebling Museum, a small, up-andcoming, history/heritage/STEAM museum in New Jersey. Previously, Varissa
had worked as an independent arts education consultant; served as founding Director of Greater Philadelphia’s ArtsRising initiative; worked as Executive Director of the DC Collaborative in Washington, DC; and developed
regional replication program sites across the nation as Assistant Director of
the Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts. In addition to her
professional life, Varissa and her husband, Yarrie, are the proud parents of
their two children together, Ella-Grace and Geordan; and one stepdaughter,
Danelle. They currently reside in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Beth Davies
See bio on page 3.
Jeanette Hoffman
Jeanette Hoffman is an experienced public affairs
professional and statewide media spokesperson.
Widely recognized as one of New Jersey’s most effective public affairs professionals, Jeanette has been
named to NJBIZ’s prestigious 2015 “Forty Under 40” list and Chasing
NJ’s 2014 Power List. In June 2015, Jeanette has served as a Faculty-inResidence for the Center of American Women in Politics (CAWP) New
Leadership program. She also serves as a guest speaker at CAWP’s annual Ready to Run forum for New Jersey women seeking to run for political office. Jeanette regularly lectures and speaks to classes and student
groups at schools and colleges throughout the state – including Rutgers
University, the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rider University and The
College of New Jersey. A proud TCNJ graduate, Jeanette is a member of
the College of New Jersey’s Alumni Association Executive Board. At
home in Flemington, where she raises her two children, Jeanette serves
as a Hunterdon County Republican committeewoman and sits on the
Committee’s Executive Board. She regularly volunteers at her children’s
elementary schools and Girls on the Run program. She is a former Girl
Scout troop leader and fitness instructor for the YMCA.
Rick Horner
Rick Horner is a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual. He specializes in the financial planning for those approaching, entering and living in retirement. Additionally
Rick is a member of the Board of Education in Voorhees,
New Jersey as well as a board member of the Voorhees
Theatre Company. He is married to Lisa and they have a daughter, Rachel, who is a Junior at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.
Suehail M. Perez
Suehail M. Perez, Esq. currently serves in the Office of the Public Defender as an Assistant Deputy Public Defender. She is a member of both the
New Jersey Bar and the US District Court of New Jersey Bar. Mrs. Perez is
a graduate of the Rutgers University School of Law, and the College of
Saint Elizabeth (Morristown). A resident of Cherry Hill, she has served
with other community organizations such as ALIANZA (President, 20082009), and the Hispanic National Bar Association, Law Student Division. Mrs. Perez grew up in Trenton, NJ.
Amy Webb
Amy Webb is the president and owner of Saratoga Benefit
Services, LLC, which she established in 1998. Webb holds
a B.A. in Economics and Business from Lafayette College
in Easton, Pennsylvania. Prior to founding Saratoga Benefit
Services, she served as a brokerage manager for a major
insurance firm in Philadelphia. Amy is a USTA-rated (United States Tennis
Association) tennis player. She has represented local tennis clubs such as
the Moorestown Field Club and Cherry Hill Racquet Club in competitive
matches. She resides in Moorestown, NJ, with her family.
Octavia Meléndez
Judge Meléndez was raised in Puerto Rico where she received her undergraduate degree from the University of
Puerto Rico in 1971. Upon completion of her Bachelor of
Arts she obtained a Masters in Education from Temple
University in 1973 and subsequently her Juris Doctor from Rutgers State
University in Camden, New Jersey in 1979. Judge Meléndez served as a
Deputy Attorney General representing the Division of Child Protection and
Permanency (DCPP), formerly the Division of Youth and Family Services
(DYFS) for 21 years. Judge Meléndez was appointed to the bench in July
2002, where she sat in the Family Division of the Superior Court in Camden County for 10 years. From 2014-2015, she was recalled by the Supreme Court of New Jersey where she sat in Atlantic County handling family matters. During her Judicial tenure, Judge Meléndez was named to the
Supreme Court Committee on Minority Concerns where she served as
Vice-Chair. She has been widely honored and recognized for her dedication and service to New Jersey’s children. She has remained active with
Rutgers Law School, Girl Scouts of Southern and Central New Jersey, New
Jersey State Bar Association, Camden County Bar Association and the
Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey.