Jackie Cassagnol Named One of Rockland's Forty under 40 by the Rockland Economic Development Corporation

One of the “rising stars” of Rockland being honoredby the Rockland Economic Development Corporation at tonight’s 13th annual Forty under 40 Reception is Jackie Cassagnol, RN, MSN, PMC, a nursing professor at Dominican College.

The Spring Valley resident is also the founder and President of Nanuet-based Worldwide Community First Responder, Inc.

She is also a founding member and immediate past vice president of the Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce.

Through Worldwide Community First Responder, Inc., she provides health education, first aid, and disaster preparedness training. She has organized numerous health-related activities in Rockland over the past three years, seeking to empower individuals in their own communities and save lives.

It was the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that got her fired up. A professional with family and friends there, she longed to go and help—but realized that without the proper disaster training she wouldn’t be of use. So she set out to change that not only for herself, but to make it possible for others as well.

Last month, WCFR celebrated its third anniversary by co-hosting an event titled “Be Prepared for the Next Disaster” in collaboration with Volunteer New York.

In her capacity as an Executive Member of the Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce, she has helped shape the direction of some key economic development activities in the county through meetings, discussions, and conversations with elected officials, business leaders, and community residents.

And she’s a frequent contributor to Patch, where you can find her at http://patch.com/users/jackie-cassagnol

The REDC called her ”relentless” about bettering Rockland residents’ quality of life.

“It is truly heart warming to find that the community appreciates the work that we, the honorees, have done to advance the progress of humanity,” Cassagnol said. “As the Founder and President of Worldwide Community First Responder (WCFR), I work hard everyday with my team to achieve our goals, so it is nice to take a moment to actually reflect on everything we have accomplished thus far. It is humbling to realize that with the simple introduction to disaster preparedness that the whole community can be on the front line. My work through WCFR is only the beginning. I believe that the whole Rockland Community can be on the front line.”

A fundraiser for WCFR will be held Oct. 28 in Nanuet.