INFORMATION FOR
William Paterson Women Pioneers is a new initiative focused on providing events and programs geared towards powerhouse alumnae. Empowered women, empower women!
If you are interested in learning more about WP2, please contact alumni@wpunj.edu.
UPCOMING EVENT
Thursday, November 19 | WP2 "Built by Her" Entrepreneurship Panel on Women's Entrepreneurship Day | Time: 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Student Center Multipurpose RoomRegister Here!
Panelist Bios
Casey DeStefano '94 — Director/Producer/WriterCasey is an accomplished International Producer, DGA Director and Writer. She has over 25 years of experience in television and film. Among her early directing efforts, Casey worked in children’s television, where she directed award-winning shows for Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel. She has directed multiple episodes of the BAFTA and Emmy-winning Even Stevens, the Emmy-nominated That’s So Raven, and Whoopi Goldberg’s Just for Kicks.
Her most exciting adventure was when she produced for the 15-time Emmy Award-winning travel competition reality show The Amazing Race. Here, she learned how to engage effectively with a broad range of culturally diverse groups and gained vast experience in establishing contacts and setting up productions all over the world.
Her producing/directing/writing/crew credits include: What Not to Wear, Ghost Whisperer, Transformers, Speed 2, and The X-Files. Casey has worked with notable companies, such as NBC, FOX, HBO, DreamWorks, Universal Studios, Columbia Pictures, and Touchstone Pictures.
Casey currently resides in Holmdel, New Jersey, with her husband and five kids, Martin, Anna, Spaghetti, Meatball, and Petey Parmesan.
Maha Elashri '14Founder, Ephicacy Health AI & The Wellness Bureau
Maha Elashri is a four-time founder, published author and healthcare executive with more than 20 years in pharmaceutical and biotech commercialization. She grew up as a military kid, moving between New Jersey, Ohio and Georgia, and learned early how to adapt, read a room and build something from wherever she landed. After earning her BA in Interpersonal Communications from William Paterson University, she rose through leading health agencies including Havas, IPG and Omnicom Health Group. Most notably, she launched a company supporting the first FDA-approved cancer immunotherapy and grew it to $45 million in revenue in 18 months, helping change the way cancer is treated today.
After years of building businesses inside large marketing agencies, Maha left to build her own. She is Founder and CEO of Ephicacy Health AI, an AI-native marketing agency built for pharma and biotech. It runs on its own proprietary platform and is built on the belief that the future of healthcare marketing is "Expertise x AI."
She also founded The Wellness Bureau, a consultancy that helps organizations measure and improve employee wellbeing. Her book, The Coherent Life: A Human Guide to Longevity in the Age of Intelligent Health, introduces her Coherence Protocol™ framework and reached #3 on Amazon's Best Seller lists in Business, Health and Stress.
Maha received the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association Luminary Award, is an ICF-certified coach and is a former member of CHIEF. She serves on the advisory boards of XpertPatient.com and the Advertising Alliance for Mental Health. She is passionate about showing young women that they can be strategic and human, ambitious and grounded, all at once.
Aleksandra Miloseska '09Founder of Quick Fit Bites Relationship-driven business leader with 15+ years of experience spanning corporate finance, entrepreneurship, business development, and strategic partnerships. She grew Quick Fit Bites from an idea into a nationally distributed brand, building partnerships across 260+ cafés, hotels, wellness spaces, and retailers. Aleksandra is passionate about entrepreneurship, building meaningful relationships, and supporting women and emerging founders as they turn ideas into opportunities and sustainable businesses.
Lilia RiosFounder & CEO, Crowdy Holdings, Inc. | Co-Founder & CEO, Nuuku® | Co-Founder, Grupo La Providencia | Chief Binational Government Affairs Advisor, AMRCCLilia Rios is a Mexican-American entrepreneur, business leader, and binational strategic advisor with more than 21 years of experience building businesses and creating economic opportunities in the United States and Mexico. She is the Founder & CEO of Crowdy Holdings, Inc., a Latino-focused local discovery and promotional platform, Co-Founder & CEO of Nuuku®, and Co-Founder of Grupo La Providencia. Throughout her career, Lilia has worked at the intersection of entrepreneurship, community engagement, economic development, and binational affairs. She currently serves as Chief Binational Government Affairs Advisor for the American Mexican Regional Chamber of Commerce. Her leadership has included collaboration with Mexican government institutions and participation in New Jersey business and civic initiatives. She is also a recipient of recognition from the President of Mexico and has been recognized for her contributions to business and the Latino community.
Dorothy Schoening '00President | Core Resource GroupDorothy Schoening is President of Core Resource Group, a women-owned recruitment and talent advisory firm established in 2021, dedicated to connecting exceptional talent with organizations seeking to grow, innovate, and succeed. Dorothy brings more than 15 years of recruiting experience and a diverse professional background spanning sales, marketing, advertising, staffing, and business development. Her well-rounded, business-focused perspective shapes her approach to talent acquisition, client partnerships, and long-term relationship building.
Prior to founding Core Resource Group, Dorothy spent more than nine years with Management Recruiters International (MRI) of Union County as Recruitment Manager, where she developed deep expertise in full-cycle recruitment, business development, client partnerships, and candidate relationship management. Supporting organizations ranging from boutique agencies to Fortune-level companies. She built a strong understanding of the talent market and the importance of aligning recruiting strategies with business objectives. Building on this experience and her success within the organization, Dorothy acquired MRI Union County and established Core Resource Group, carrying forward a strong recruiting foundation while creating a firm reflective of her vision and values.
Dorothy's professional journey began with a foundation in management, sales, marketing, and customer relationship development. She started her career with Enterprise Rent-A-Car as a Management Assistant before moving into account executive roles with NJN Publishing and Gannett's The Desert Sun Publishing. She subsequently held marketing and business development positions with Emergency Services Restoration, Inc., Angleton Auto Center, and Southern Newspapers' The Facts. Across these roles, she developed expertise in new business development, account management, contract negotiation, sales strategy, and integrated marketing initiatives, consistently focusing on strengthening client relationships and identifying opportunities for growth.Dorothy earned her degree from William Paterson University of New Jersey, where she Majored in Marketing and was also a member of the university's field hockey team, 1996-2000.Through her leadership at Core Resource Group, Dorothy partners with organizations across a range of industries, including public relations, communications, marketing, consumer products, financial and professional services, manufacturing, technology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare. She is committed to building trusted partnerships with clients and candidates alike, combining market knowledge, personalized service, and a thoughtful approach to connecting exceptional professionals with opportunities where they can make a lasting impact.At the heart of Dorothy's leadership is the belief that recruiting is about more than filling positions; it is about understanding people, recognizing potential, and building relationships that create lasting value. Through Core Resource Group, she continues to help organizations strengthen their teams, navigate evolving talent needs, and achieve their business objectives by bringing the right people and opportunities together.
PAST EVENTS
WP2 "Her Voice, Her Power: Advancing Women in Business" (virtual)William Paterson Women PioneersWednesday, March 11, 20266:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Zoom Recording Here!
This was a virtual event with riveting topics including finding and using your voice; career pathways/negotiation/compensation; mentorship/networking; entrepreneurship/risk-taking; and work-life balance. Thank you to Jane Alzate '06, Carly Costanza '22, MBA '24, and Olivia Johnson '02 for offering your expertise on these topics.
WP2 Professional Speed Networking Event (SOLD OUT)William Paterson Women PioneersMonday, July 21, 20256:00 - 8:30 p.m.William Paterson University Ballrooms
Professional LinkedIn Photos: 6:00 p.m.Presentations: 6:30 p.m.Networking Reception: 8:00 p.m.Event Fee: $10.00 per personAdvance registration is required. Seats are limited!Empowered Women, Empower Women.
This was an energizing evening of WP2 Professional Speed Networking designed by women, for women, where ambition met opportunity. This SOLD OUT event was a chance to connect with driven professionals and industry leaders ready to share insights on:
Table moderators included Dorothy Kahlau, Valley Bank; Marcella Gencarelli, Valley Bank; Tiffany Natale '15, Account Director in IT Solutions; Caitlyn O'Loughlin, William Paterson University; and Daniela Reiner, Ironbound Coaching.
Check out the photos here!
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WP2 Wellness for Women (SOLD OUT!)Wednesday, February 5, 20256:30 - 8:30 p.m.William Paterson University Ballrooms
The WP2 Wellness for Women event was an evening with WP powerhouses! The SOLD OUT event was designed to empower, inspire, and promote holistic health from a physical, financial, and emotional perspective. Nearly 70 attendees joined us for informative presentations, community building, and networking while destressing and unwinding. Alumnae speakers included, Jhiree Davis-Jones ’06 MEd ’13, Stefanie Shore MSN ’23, Stephanie Spies '17, and Rebecca Stegmann MA ’20.
Check out the photos here, and stay tuned for more events!
