Young Women of Vision

Leadership Breakfast & Panel Discussion

Thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Ericcson, for helping support G.I.R.L.s (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world through STEM.

Thank you to our additional sponsors including: MedExpress, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Atlas, Celgene, Consider It Dunn, Creative Workforce Solutions, DIGroup Architecture, Hackensack Meridian Health Palisades Medical Center, Hunterdon Healthcare, IEEE Photonics Society, Merrill Lynch, NJSACC, Saker Shoprites, SignUPros, Sobel & Co., Summit Medical Group, Two River Community Bank, Unicom, USI, Nancy Faulks, Pat Steingall, and Lydia Whitefield.

Interested in supporting STEM programming for girls? Donate here.

Marion Johnson | Keynote Speaker
Mathematician & Scientist; Followed in the trailblazing footsteps of the three women portrayed in the film "Hidden Figures"

Lauren Love-Wright | Moderator
Vice President of Network Engineering at Verizon

Marion Johnson | Read More: Marion Johnson attended Talladega College majoring in mathematics. Upon graduating Talladega, she began her career as an Associate Engineer at The Boeing Company in 1967. Marion was assigned to the Launch Systems Branch at Boeing, and worked on the NASA project for the Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA) under the direction of the legendary Wernher von Braun and Arthur Randolph.

While working on the Boeing/NASA team in 1967, Marion was responsible for preparing data inputs for simulation of vehicle piece impact trajectories. She received significant commendations in March of 1969 for an incredible perfect score of 20 successful missions in 20 attempts. Boeing also recognized Marion for her dedication, technical competence, and high standards of achievements in contributing to America's successful First Manned Lunar Landing Mission on July 20, 1969, where Neil Armstrong said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Lauren Love-Wright | Read More: Ms. Love-Wright is Vice President of Network Engineering at Verizon. In her role, Ms. Love-Wright is responsible for the strategy and governance of the program which includes oversight of the build plan, process and system changes, and product offerings. In addition, she is responsible for the development and management of relationships with City leadership in an effort to improve the time to market as well as maximize strategic value.

Her career with the company spans more than 14 years and includes positions of increasing responsibility in marketing, sales, consumer electronics, business and retail services. Prior to her current role, Lauren was Chief Marketing Officer of Partner Solutions where she led the development and execution of programs to drive $5B in annual revenue. Love-Wright has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Spelman College and Georgia Institute of Technology; her Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology; and her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Hayley Katz | Panelist: Hayley Katz | Materials Engineer for the United States Army

Her area of specialty is Additive Manufacturing where she focuses on printed electronics. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Material Science and Engineering with a minor in Chemistry from Alfred University in Alfred, New York. She is a lifetime member of GSUSA and completed her Gold Award in 2013. The purpose of her Gold Award was to have middle school age girls learn more about STEM by building a robot. Hayley was the Mechanical Captain of the Bridgewater High School robotics team. She currently is a mentor for the Gill St. Bernard’s robotics team.

Her past activities include soccer, swimming, golf and lacrosse. In high school she was the captain of the girls’ varsity golf team. In college she was the captain of the girls’ lacrosse team. While in college she was a teaching assistant and a supplemental instructor. She was awarded a Lead Scholar Award for her efforts as a student athlete.
Erica Martinez | Panelist: Erica Martinez | Technical Operations Manager

Erica received her Associate of Science degree from Brookdale Community College, and her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees (both in electrical engineering) from NJIT. She is currently halfway through her studies for a Master of Business Administration degree from Rutgers University.

In 2002, while in school, she joined the Co-op Program at NJIT, and began working at Panasonic. She was awarded “Co-op of the Year.” Erica was hired as a full-time Product Engineer by Panasonic prior to finishing her bachelor’s degree. From there, she was promoted to Product Manager for consumer communication devices for the entire United States. In 2010 Erica joined Verizon. During her tenure, she has held positions as a Product Manager, Senior Engineer, and Manager of Product Development in the Internet of Things (IoT). She is currently the Technical Operations Manager for B2B Sales for the IoT and new business initiatives. Erica has earned numerous excellence awards both at Panasonic and Verizon. She has also filed and been granted two patents.
Dr. Joni Jefferson | Panelist: Dr. Joni Jefferson | Primary Care Provider

Since 1996, Dr. Jefferson has been a champion for youth and young adults needing assistance and seeking mentorship and guidance. She currently works as a Primary Care Provider, serving as the site lead physician.

With advanced knowledge in managing complex diseases as well as women and adolescent health management, Dr. Jefferson has participated in various projects centered around health advocacy, youth development, and leadership. Her primary mission is to promote Health and Mental Awareness, as well as educating her patients on the importance of Preventative Medicine. Dr. Jefferson has spoken at several Health Fairs sponsored by Hunterdon Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson-UMDNJ, Zufall Health Center, and at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark, NJ. In addition, she actively teaches and mentors medical students, residents, clinical staff, and colleagues as well as facilitate health awareness programming through her professional affiliations and Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She currently resides in NJ with her husband, David Jefferson Jr. and three children, Naiya, David III, and Ryann-Simone.
Rachel Thompson | Panelist: Rachel Thompson | Industrial Design Student

Rachel's journey began at Temple University's Tyler School of Art where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus in Metals, Jewelry, and CADCAM. It was with this major that she was able to express her love and passion for biology and science through design. Right after graduating from Temple University in Philadelphia, Rachel moved to New Jersey where she started as an intern at West Pharmaceutical Innovation Center (WPIC).

Being with WPIC for the last two years as a full time temp, fostered her interest in Industrial Design and she made the decision to go back to school at Kean University to receive her second bachelor's degree in Industrial Design. Being at Kean has offered her so many great successes and experiences, including bringing Girl Scouts back into her life after being in the Girl Scout family 16 years ago.
Jazmine Tooles, PT, DPT | Panelist: Jazmine Tooles, PT, DPT | Physical Therapy

Jazmine Tooles, PT, DPT is a Physical Therapist, at Moss Rehab’s Drucker Brain Injury Center located in Woodbury, New Jersey. A lifetime member who joined in 1997, Dr. Tooles was a 2007 Girl Scout of Distinction who has earned her Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. In 2012, she developed three badges and a day program for Girl Scouts called Explore the Magic of Motion.

Hosted annually by the University of Delaware’s Physical Therapy program, the event teaches 6th-12th grade girls about healthy living through exercise and introduces them to the physical therapy profession. She was able to host the program for her home service unit in 2014. Dr. Tooles is currently working with other councils and facilities throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania to share the program with various communities. Passionately involved in diversity initiatives, Jazmine is the Chair for the American Physical Therapy Association of New Jersey’s Cultural Diversity Committee, Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association’s Minority Affairs Work Group and started the Cultural Diversity Special Interest Group at Moss Rehab. In her pursuit to truly, "help people at all times," Dr. Tooles aims to increase the diversity and inclusion of the physical therapy profession as well as improve cultural competence to advance the quality of patient care. Dr. Tooles earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Temple University in 2011, followed by her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Delaware in 2013.