Women's Enterprise Development Center's Spring Gala on May 30

Bridget Gibbons, Director, Westchester County Office of Economic Development; Paula Mandell, Senior Vice President, M&T Bank; Saskia Sorrosa, Founder, Fresh Bellies to Receive WEDC’s 2019 Enterprising Woman Award

William M. Mooney, Jr., Westchester County Association to receive WEDC’s Community Partnership Award

Lisa Salvadorini, Popular News12 Anchor, to Emcee

Three of the region’s outstanding enterprising women and a prominent Westchester County businessman and philanthropist will be honored by the Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC), which daily empowers women entrepreneurs throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley, at WEDC’s 2019 Spring Gala on Thursday, May 30, at Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown, New York.

Bridget Gibbons, Director, Westchester County Office of Economic Development; Paula Mandell, Senior Vice President & Area Executive of New Jersey, Connecticut, Westchester & Rockland Counties, M&T Bank; and Saskia Sorrosa, Founder & CEO, Fresh Bellies will receive the 2019 Enterprising Woman Award; and William M. Mooney, Jr., President & CEO, Westchester County Association will receive WEDC’s Community Partnership Award. Popular News12 anchor Lisa Salvadorini will be the evening’s emcee.

“It is always wonderful to hear how these accomplished women tackled difficult issues and assumed responsibility for driving change in their organizations,” says Anne Janiak, Executive Director, Women’s Enterprise Development Center. “It is important, therefore, that we make it possible for the next generation of women to hold positions of power and influence in the business world.”

Tickets are $275 or $500 each; sponsorship packages are from $2,500 to $25,000. For further information, please contact April Langus at 914-391-9867 or april.l@longpointgroup.com.

According to Anne Janiak, WEDC’s CEO, the purpose of the gala is to support WEDC’s programs and initiatives, which empower women entrepreneurs as they strive to build successful businesses. Also important is for women leaders to inspire and empower other women.

About the 2019 Honorees:

Bridget Gibbons was appointed Director of Westchester County’s Office of Economic Development in October 2018, by County Executive George Latimer, after having served in the capacity of Deputy Director of that agency since January, 2018. She also heads the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and Westchester County Local Development Corporation (LDC), which offer business resources, financial assistance, and a wide range of related services and incentives to help businesses and not-for-profit organizations expand through construction and permanent jobs. Formerly, she was founder and owner of Gibbons Digital Consultants, a digital marketing agency that was recognized by the Advertising Club of Westchester, winning awards for the agency’s work with Facebook and email management; and by 914inc which named her one of Westchester County’s “Best Bosses.” Fifteen years prior to founding her own agency, she was a Senior Consultant and Project Manager for Towers Watson, a global human resources and benefits consulting firm.

Paula Mandell is a senior vice president for M&T Bank Corporation and the area executive responsible for M&T’s New Jersey-Connecticut-Westchester/Rockland County, NY, regions. She oversees all of the bank’s business lines throughout this area. Paula began her banking career in 1972 in the retail banking division of Bankers Trust. After ten years, she accepted a commercial banking position with Midlantic National Bank in New Jersey. She joined M&T Bank in 1992 as a vice president and senior relationship manager within the commercial bank. When M&T Bank completed its acquisition of Paramus-based Hudson City Savings Bank in 2015, she was promoted to area executive and now manages the bank’s regional presidents in New Jersey, Connecticut and Westchester County, NY. Paula has served on many boards in Westchester and Rockland counties. She recently expanded her community role in New Jersey by agreeing to join the board of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey.

Saskia Sorrosa founded Fresh Bellies in 2015 to tackle a fundamental issue in the baby food industry that produces a disproportionate amount of fruit to vegetable ratio with bland flavors. Sorrosa, who began selling her products at local farmers’ markets in Westchester County, has expanded the company which now enjoys solid national distribution with retailers Whole Foods, Harris Teeter and Fresh Thyme. Fresh Bellies products are preservative-free, USDA organic, and Non-GMO with a “best in class” award from the Clean Label Project. Prior to Fresh Bellies, Sorrosa was the VP of Marketing for the NBA, garnering industry accolades and awards for her innovation and leadership, including AdAge’s 40 Under 40; Hispanic Lifestyle’s “Latina of Influence”; and Hispanic Executive’s “Top 10 Líderes: The Trendsetter.” She was also a senior manager at MarComm US for three years prior. A native of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Sorrosa currently resides in New York with her husband and children.

William M. Mooney, Jr., President and CEO of The Westchester County Association, has been a prominent force in the metropolitan region’s business and banking community for over 50 years. Under his 15-year leadership, the WCA has tackled some of the most pressing community and economic development issues, including healthcare reform, real estate policy, enhancing the region’s digital infrastructure. Prior to the WCA, Mooney Bill has had a long and distinguished career in the banking industry. He began his banking career with Citibank and at the age of 19, and subsequently held executive positions at Union State Bank, Independence Community Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Chemical Bank. Mooney is deeply committed to giving back to the community. He has been involved in many philanthropic efforts, and served on the boards of Mercy College United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties, St. Thomas Aquinas College, and the Red Cross Rockland County, among others. He has been honored with numerous civic and leadership awards. He resides in White Plains with his wife of 55 years.

About the Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC)

Since our founding in 1997, the overarching goal of the Women’s Enterprise Development Center has been to build a vibrant community of women business owners, comprised of start-up and established companies by empowering women entrepreneurs throughout Westchester and the Hudson Valley. This is accomplished by providing comprehensive, high quality business training programs, one-on-one business and loan counseling, networking opportunities, assistance with loan applications for microloans and crowd funding through Kiva Zip, and MWBE certification assistance in English and Spanish.