ABOUT US
Executive Committee Coordinator Profiles
• Convener
Myra Terry has been one of New Jersey's most prominent activists for women's issues for over 30 years. In 1995, she was the founding
president of Women's Fund of New Jersey and she continues to serve as the current CEO. The Women's Fund of New Jersey is an organization that
embraces and funds issues that impact women and their families, educates women about philanthropy and encourages investment in women and girls.
To date, WFNJ has distributed over one million dollars to organizations serving 220,000 women and families across the state.
During her tenure as NOW-NJ President from 1992-1995, Ms. Terry led the way on issues impacting women's lives, including the forty-eight hour
legislation allowing women and their babies to remain in the hospital two days after delivery, the Glen Ridge Rape Trial and Rape Shield laws,
JC Penney work equity (dress codes), complete medical coverage for people with breast cancer, welfare rights, and New Jersey sexual harassment
guidelines. Ms. Terry was also President of the National Organization for Women from 1992 to 1995 and served as the Director of the NJ Religious
Coalition for Reproductive Rights from 1982-1992. Her work has spurred political, legal, economic, and social transformation, and she continues
to be an inspirational and compelling advocate on behalf of women.
• Strategy Co-Chairs
Rose Marie Heck Partner, and Executive Vice President of The Watson Consulting Group, Inc., Public Policy, Government Relations, Advocacy;
consultant in a variety of areas including transportation, environment and community outreach.
Former positions include: Conference Leader, Member, NJ Assembly 1991-2003; Chair Bi-Partisan Light Rail Panel, Chair Advisory Council on Women,
Chair Social Services and Senior Citizens Committee, Chair Domestic Violence Panel, Chair Policy, Regulatory Oversight and Telecommunications
Committee; 1984 first woman elected to Hasbrouck Heights Council, 1987 first woman elected Mayor, re-elected in 1991; Commissioner Bergen County
Utilities Authority; Countywide and Southwest Community Development Grants Committee Chair; retired Editor and Publisher of two Weekly Newspapers;
Past President of two Federated Women's Clubs and Past President of the Hasbrouck Heights Chamber of Commerce.
Serves as Chair of the Hasbrouck Heights Environmental and Transportation Commission; Member of Care on the Corner Board of Directors; Honorary
Trustee, the New Jersey Law Center; Hasbrouck Heights Liaison Teterboro Airport, Chairs Legislative Committee; Chair of Children's Summits.
• Education and Marketing Co-Chairs
Deborah Hurley Senior Partner of Hurley Jones, Ltd. to such diverse clients as elected officials, government entities, not for profit
organizations, and engineering firms. Prior to forming Hurley Jones, Ltd. Ms. Hurley was President of DMH Associates, Inc., established in 1999.
The firm was a New Jersey based fundraising, public/government relations, event management business. The business established a successful track
record in its arena and secured clients ranging from special interest groups, not-for-profits, elected officials to theatre's and corporations.
Prior experiences include: Deputy Finance Director to Hillary Clinton for Senate, Executive Director of The Garden State Cancer Center Foundation,
Finance Director to McGreevey for Governor, and Legislative Assistant to Robert C. Scott in Washington, D.C.
• Joan Wright President of The Wright Perspective, Inc., consultant to the non-profit sector in the areas of health, community action,
and the arts. Former positions include: member, NJ General Assembly; Director, NJ Division on Women, Kean Administration; Assistant Commissioner,
NJ Department of Human Services; Director, Bergen County Department of Human Services; Chief Operating Officer, Bergen Pines County Hospital;
Administrative Director, Women's Health Center, Hackensack University Medical Center. Former president of the Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey.
Currently a member of the Board, Institute for Business and Public Policy, Ramapo College of New Jersey; president, the Palisades Virtuosi; and
co-president, Altrusa International Bergen County.
• Finance Co-Chairs
Kelly Rosso Leight founded the Congenital Adrenal hyperplasia Research, Education and Support (CARES) Foundation, Inc., in 2001 after she and
her husband, Adam, learned that one of their children had the non-classical form of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH). Ms. Leight now serves as
Executive Director, CARES Foundation, Inc. a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting individuals and families affected by CAH.
Ms. Leight has also been a tireless advocate for women and children in New Jersey. She was instrumental in organizing the Million Mom March in 2000.
During the DiFrancesco Administration, she served as a Commissioner on the New Jersey Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission.
She was also appointed in 2002 by Governor James McGreevey to the New Jersey Advisory Commission on the Status of Women and in 2004 was appointed Chair.
Ms. Leight is a member of the Steering Committee of the New Jersey Health Partnership, a coalition of voluntary health organizations; the steering
committee for New Jersey Citizens for Cures, a coalition of organizations advocating for state funding of biomedical research including stem cell
research; a co-chair of Women Advocating for Good Government, an organization working to elect more progressive women in New Jersey, and on the Board
of Directors of the American Jewish Congress-New Jersey.
Judith Lutzy has been a Certified Financial Planner since 1987. In 1992 and 1996 she worked on the State Finance Committee for the Clinton/Gore
Campaigns. As a longstanding advocate of women issues, Ms. Lutzy was the founding member of PAMS list; has been a member of Emily's List since 1992
and is currently serving on the Board of the Women's Fund of New Jersey. Judy has also served on the Essex County Democratic Committee from 1993-1996;
the Unitarian Church of Montclair, and the YMCA of Montclair. And has worked on the State Finance Committee for Clinton/Gore Campaigns in 1992 and 1996.
• Media & Marketing Chair
Amy B. Simon is the President of A Simon Says, LLC a Public and Community Relations and Public Information firm based in West Orange,
New Jersey specializing in proactive and reactive information services and media and presentation training for business, government, education, entertainment
and the arts.
Amy B. Simon has a Bachelors of Arts Degree from the State University of New York and an advanced education degree from the National Shakespeare Company
Conservatory. Amy has earned certificates in crisis and emergency information management, including Incident Command for Executives, ICS 17, Incident
Response to Terrorist Bombings, Community Emergency Response Team and the State of NJ Department of Law and Safety Public Information Officers Course.
Her affiliations include Public Relations Association of America, the National Information Officers Association, Women in Communications, 3CMA - city-county
communications and marketing association, New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, the NJ Chamber of Commerce, the West Orange Chamber of Commerce
and the Screen Actor's Guild. Amy is a published author and editorial writer and began her career as an actor and writer in NYC appearing in theater,
television, commercials and film and writing for theater, radio and comedy troupes.
www.asimonsays.com
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