BRANCHBURG TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — The Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Forum will host its 15th Annual Women’s Leadership Summit on March 27 at the Conference Center at Raritan Valley Community College.
The event, scheduled from 8 to 11 a.m., will center on the theme, “The Power to Pivot: Leading with Courage in Times of Change,” highlighting how women leaders adapt and guide organizations through evolving professional landscapes.
Joyce Heckman, founder of Joyce Heckman & Associates LLC, will moderate the summit. An executive coach and former human resources executive, Heckman has experience in talent acquisition, talent management and organizational effectiveness in the global financial services and public utility industries. She is an associate certified coach through the International Coaching Federation and serves as vice president of credentialing for the organization’s New Jersey chapter.
Featured panelists include Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renee M. Robeson; Karen H. Bearce, provost and vice president of academic affairs at Raritan Valley Community College; and Kristy Alfano, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hunterdon Health.
Robeson, a Hunterdon County native, was appointed prosecutor in 2021 after more than 17 years as an assistant prosecutor in Mercer County. She previously received the Mercer County Victim Witness Advocacy Award for outstanding service on behalf of crime victims.
Bearce brings more than 20 years of higher education leadership experience. In a previous role as interim vice president for academic affairs at Northampton Community College in Pennsylvania, she oversaw four academic schools and helped create the college’s Guided Pathways program aimed at improving student outcomes and career alignment.
Alfano, who stepped into her current role in 2023, oversees operations at Hunterdon Medical Center. A registered nurse with more than a decade of experience at Hunterdon Health, she previously served in leadership roles including director of patient care and experience and director of the emergency department and inpatient behavioral health.
For 15 years, the Women’s Leadership Summit has served as a cornerstone of the Chamber’s professional development programming, offering opportunities for leadership growth, education and networking.
“The Women’s Leadership Summit is a powerful example of how investing in professional development strengthens not only individuals, but our entire business community,” said Chris Phelan, president and CEO of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce. “This event brings that mission to life by providing leaders with the insights and relationships they need to adapt, grow and succeed in an ever-changing economy.”
The Chamber will offer a limited number of scholarships to support emerging leaders, nonprofit professionals and small business representatives.
Tickets are $65 for Chamber members and $105 for nonmembers. Registration is required. More information is available at www.hunterdon-chamber.org or by contacting the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce.
Event sponsors include Gentlestone Wealth; Prevention Resources Inc.; Raritan Valley Community College; MSI Plumbing & Remodeling; NightingaleNJ LLC; BKC Certified Public Accountants PC; BrightStar Care of Hunterdon; Hunterdon Care Center; Northridge at Woolverton Inn; Rolling Hills Care Center; ShopRite of Hunterdon County; Unity Bank; Woolverton Inn; Health Village Retirement Community; Joyce Heckman Associates LLC; and Loew and Patel Orthodontics.
