ABWA Oceanside Charter Chapter
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The mission of the American Business Women's Association is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.
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ERICA RODRIGUES HONORED WITH ABWA OCEANSIDE'S PRESTIGIOUS PROTÉGÉ AWARD!
Congratulations to Erica Rodrigues for receiving the prestigious Protégé Award. Since joining ABWA on March 28th, 2023, Erica has proven to be a valuable and dedicated member of our organization. As Secretary of the Oceanside Board, Erica has demonstrated exceptional organizational and leadership skills. Her attention to detail and commitment to the responsibilities associated with the position have significantly contributed to the smooth operation of our board. Erica's ability to manage tasks efficiently and communicate effectively with other board members has played a pivotal role in the success of our initiatives.
What sets Erica apart is her enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. She has consistently shown a proactive approach to expanding her knowledge and skills within the organization. Her dedication to personal and professional development aligns perfectly with the objectives of the Protégé program.
The Protégé Award, a prestigious ABWA Oceanside Charter Chapter accolade, recognizes emerging leaders who have displayed exceptional dedication and promise within our ABWA community. To be eligible for this esteemed honor, individuals must maintain active membership with ABWA National and our chapter for at least one year, demonstrating unwavering commitment and participation. Additionally, recipients must exhibit exemplary leadership qualities through their service as committee and/or board members, actively contributing to the chapter's initiatives and fostering its growth. The Protégé Award celebrates the ongoing development and empowerment of future leaders within our organization.
Woman of the Year
The winner of the 2024 Woman of the Year is Kristen Snyder.
Kristen first joined ABWA in 2013. Many things happen behind the scenes that members are not aware of. Kristen, as Treasurer, works tirelessly to ensure checks and balances in all the chapter’s cash handling and banking. It’s not as easy as she makes it look.
Kristen is the director of Genesis House, Inc., a nonprofit aiding people experiencing homelessness. She manages three shelters for pregnant women, senior women, and women with children. Her role encompasses overseeing ten employees, coordinating volunteers, managing accounting tasks like payroll and grant administration, spearheading program development, publicity, marketing, and fundraising efforts, and supervising the Genesis Boutique.
Kristen's leadership style, characterized by servant leadership and a compassionate and straightforward approach, fosters positive changes that resonate within the chapter and throughout the community, creating a ripple effect of empowerment and inspiration.
Top Ten Nominee
The winner of the 2024 Top Ten Nominee is Cindy Grossman.
The chapter can nominate one member each year to compete for the prestigious Top Ten National recognition. Our chapter has been fortunate to have three women selected as Top Ten National winners: Anita Carbone, Sue Tyson Parker, and Dr. Cindy Schmitt. Cindy Grossman joined the chapter in April of 2021, quickly began serving on several committees, and is currently serving as the chapter president.
One of the criteria for the Top Ten award is career advancement and achievements over the past five years. Embracing a life-changing moment of marriage and relocation that coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cindy seized the opportunity to work for herself by taking an entrepreneurial path. She saw a chance to reinvent herself and used this time to pivot and direct her focus toward her passion: advocating for and helping women feel confident and comfortable in their skin. Recognizing that self-care often takes a back seat as we care for those around us, her first step was becoming a Mary Kay consultant. She received Mary Kay’s Rookie of the Year Award within the first year.
Cindy partnered with ABWA member Kristen Heath, another female entrepreneur, to move from a home-based business to opening their first brick-and-mortar location. Skinergy is a full-service salon offering complimentary makeup and skincare tutorials, facials, sugaring (all-natural hair removal), eyelash and eyebrow enhancement, and more. After the first six months of operating in a small studio, the business moved to Melbourne to open a larger facility, doubling clientele and sales revenue.
At ABWA Tri-County, the next step in the entrepreneurial journey was born. The idea is to embark on the journey to establish a nationwide franchise that will be rebranded as KC Beauty Lounge. The focus is on the niche market of advocating for healthy self-care practices at the college level, nurturing and promoting personal development at the onset of one's career. As part of this mission, a second location is scheduled to open on September 1, 2024, on the University of Central Florida campus, home to 70,000 students. Prioritizing the ethos of paying it forward, Cindy is committed to coaching and mentoring women to assume leadership roles within the franchise, ABWA, and the community, passing on the valuable skills she has acquired over 30 years of retail experience.
