Businesswomen honored at annual dinner event

PAOLI » The Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry recently hosted the annual Women Influencing Business Dinner at Waynesborough Country Club to highlight and celebrate the achievements of businesswomen of Chester County.

2018 marked the first year of the Emerging Leader of the Year Award. This honor was presented to Andrea Jones, Marketing Manager at CTDI. Her role at CTDI includes executing strategic global marketing plans, overseeing a team responsible for communication across all levels of the busi-

ness as well as implementing marketing communication strategies. In addition to her leadership role at CTDI, Jones is a leader in the community. She currently serves as the vice president of West Chester University’s Alumni Association of Chester County and is a member of CCCBI’s Women Influencing Business Committee.

“I’m incredibly grateful to be standing here this evening,” Jones said. “And I am grateful to be born and raised in a county like Chester County.”

This year, Shari Kruzinski was named 2018 Female Business Leader of the Year. Kruzinski currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Director of Retail Business Initiatives of WSFS Bank. Beginning her 30-year professional career as a floating bank teller,

Kruzinski now leads overall market strategy, client development and sales management for WSFS. Kruzinski shared her story of the challenges she faced being a young mother starting a professional career. She left the members and guests of the CCCBI with words of inspiration.

“There will always be barriers, glass ceilings waiting to be broken. Let this be your inspiration,” Kruzinski said. “Let these be your reasons for never giving up on yourself, even when others have.”

The evening concluded with a speech from keynote speaker Audrey Brady, vice president, Sikorsky Commercial Systems and Services, a division of Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems business. Brady most recently held the position of General Manager of Sikorsky’s Coatesville Operations, where she was responsible for final assembly and flight operations for the S-92 and

the S-76, as well as final completions and delivery for all Sikorsky commercial aircraft.

Brady offered her philosophy on leadership, describing key strengths that have been instrumental throughout her career: taking the hard jobs, relationships matter, and giving back though mentorship and community outreach. Brady’s storytelling ability and personal experiences intrigued the audience and left them empowered, inspired, and hopeful for the future of women in business.

“It is empowering to be in this room with all of you and to know that we finally have a voice. A voice that resonates and pushes all of us forward in this time of change,” Brady said. “I’m proud to be a woman at this moment in history, we’re honoring the legacy of those who worked so hard to break barriers and continue to break the boundary of what is possible.”