Women Entrepreneurs Rock Hits Year 12 as NJ Small Business Engine Grows

Roughly 97% of New Jersey businesses are small businesses employing fewer than 500 people — and since January 2025, the statewide NJSBDC network has assisted about 7,700 of them with more than 26,000 hours of consulting. Kelly Brozyna, CEO and state director of the NJSBDC network, shared those figures at the 12th Annual Women Entrepreneurs Rock event, hosted by the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft.

Women accounted for more than half of that client load — roughly 4,300 women entrepreneurs received assistance. For practitioners tracking where the support actually flows, these services cover access to capital, certifications, business plans, operational expansion, and government contracts.

What was the evening actually about?

The theme this year was "Bold Moves: Changing the Game." The event brought together entrepreneurs, business leaders, elected officials, and community partners at The Whitechapel Projects — itself a woman-owned business led by Marilyn Schlossbach, a longtime supporter, sponsor, and mentor of the event.

Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes, director of the NJSBDC at Brookdale and founder of Women Entrepreneurs Rock, framed the evening around one word: "revolutionary."

"Being revolutionary doesn't mean you have to change the entire world overnight," she said. "Sometimes being revolutionary means having the courage to change your own world."

Mejias-Fuertes reflected on the event's 12-year history of celebrating women, building relationships, and opening doors for founders across New Jersey.

The keynote: from Chilean immigrant to airport contractor

Keynote speaker Gladys Vonglahn, founder and CEO of Gladys' Cleaning Service LLC, delivered one of the evening's most cited stories. She arrived in the United States from Chile in 2001 as a young mother, saw an opportunity in the cleaning industry, and built a business with limited resources — pursuing certifications, attending networking events, and seeking out mentors.

The persistence paid off at Newark Liberty International Airport, where a small cleaning assignment eventually expanded to work covering 23 retail stores and restaurants. The company has since completed major commercial and healthcare projects for clients including Johnson & Johnson and University Hospital, earned recognition as an SBA-recognized legacy business, received a Rising Star Award, and continues expanding into new markets.

Who else spoke?

Four entrepreneurs from different industries shared their journeys, challenges, and lessons:

• Maria Clemente Morresi, founder and CEO of Reimagined Mind Counseling and Consultation and co-founder of the Perinatal Resource Collaborative, discussed building mission-driven organizations. Her business grew from a desire to provide continued mental health support to young people — an unmet need turned into a company.
• Vivian Pisano, founder of The Secret Garden Salon and a photographer, described starting with a salon in her grandparents' garden and expanding while embracing sustainability, creativity, and community engagement.
• Gladian Rivera, founder and CEO of Obsidian Rising LLC, explained how her state and federal government experience shaped a business focused on operations, strategy, and innovation — with a stated vision of creating employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.
• Tatiana Sunik, CFP, CDFA, founder of Hera Financial LLC, spoke about empowering women through financial planning during major life transitions, helping clients build financial independence and confidence.

What does this change for founders?

The practical takeaway is the access pipeline itself. With women making up more than half of the NJSBDC's 2025 client base — about 4,300 entrepreneurs out of 7,700 served — the network is functioning as a concrete resource channel, not just a celebration venue. For New Jersey founders weighing certifications, capital, or government contracting, the 26,000 consulting hours delivered since January signal capacity that remains available as the program heads into its 13th year.