| WGANJ Leadership Team |
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Ceil Karafky (Executive Council) is a founding member of WGANJ and has held a variety of
leadership positions in several golf organizations for the past fifteen years, including but not limited
to President, Treasurer, League Chair, and League Captain. Ceil works for BMW of North America
for over thirteen years as a manager in the motorcycle department and has over 25 years prior
experience in banking holding a variety of management positions both in the branches and at the
district level. She finds volunteering a very rewarding experience where she has met lifelong friends
who share her passion for the game of golf. Her favorite quote is "may the ball lie in green pastures &
not in still waters". |
ceil.karafky@gmail.com
Chairperson |
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Rita Williams-Bogar, (Executive Council) is President & CEO of Personal Development Solutions,
LLC where she helps clients design strategies to fulfill their personal and professional goals. She has
extensive leadership expertise in non-profit organizations. Rita has a lot of enthusiasm and brings a
wealth of communications expertise to WGANJ from her background as a corporate director of public
affairs. As WGANJ's Communications Leader, she and her team are responsible for producing the
newsletter, Web site, press releases and general communications to the members. |
rwbogar@comcast.net
Communications |
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Ellen Parish (Governance Council) is the Vice President for Quality and Compliance Officer at
Isabella Geriatric Center in Northern Manhattan. Ellen moved to Bergen County from Manhattan in
2003 and joined WGANJ the following year after noticing an advertisement in the local town news.
This is the first golf organization Ellen has been associated with. Becoming involved in WGANJ
has been extremely rewarding and she is now beginning her fourth year as editor of the Fairway
Observer. Being a volunteer in the organization has created more opportunities to meet people and
develop new friendships that lead to more fun on the course. |
eparish@isabella.org
Newsletter Editor and Surveys |
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Patty Steele, (Director) is a Graphic Design Supervisor for Pfizer in Madison. Between American
Cyanamid and Pfizer, she has been designing for over 30 years, so helping create the Fairway
Observer and the Website comes naturally and is always enjoyable. Living in Bergen County, she
was invited to join WGANJ through a founding member. Playing golf with WGANJ has been a great
experience and has offered many opportunities. Volunteering is rewarding personally and has
introduced her to some wonderful people and forged many new friendships. She hopes to continue
with WGANJ for many years to come. |
blazezgold@yahoo.com
Website and Newsletter |
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Pat Burns, (Director) is a business analyst for Prudential Financial, providing tech support for one of
Prudential's Asset Management Groups. In addition to golf, Pat enjoys kayaking in the summer and
skiing in the winter. After 20+ years as a member of the National Ski Patrol, Pat has expanded her
medical interests to volunteering as an EMT with her local First Aid Squad. Pat is also furthering her
education and planning for a second career by attending Nursing School, where she has one more
semester before graduating. |
burns985@optonline.net
E-Mail Blasts |
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Barb Karafky, (Executive Council) has held many leadership positions for women's golfing
organizations including President, and Education and League Chairs. She has been instrumental in
developing league play for women in New Jersey as well as establishing beginner/advanced beginner
pre-league clinics. A teacher of physical education for over 30 years at Bayonne High School, for 4
years she has been coaching the varsity golf team. Her work as a golf professional/teacher for 15
years at Paramus Golf Club includes bringing Junior Golf and Special Olympics Programs to the club. |
barbarakarafky@mac.com
Education |
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Linda Rosano, (Director) is Director of Information Technology at the William T. Grant Foundation.
In this role, she is responsible for researching, developing, and managing all aspects of the
Foundation's IT and telecommunications operations. Linda recently joined the WGANJ Board, and
she plans to continue to develop the educational programs offered to our members. |
lindaro4@gmail.com
Education |
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Cheryl Williams, (Director) a hair salon owner for more than 20 years, is now a professional
hairdresser at Guy Anthony`s Hair Salon in Clifton. For Cheryl, golf has been a passion forever. For
over 15 years, she has held executive positions at the Preakness Valley Women`s Golf Club and the
Meadows Golf Club and has conducted golf clinics for Clifton`s Recreation Department. She has also
been involved in state golf tournaments. Cheryl's current interest is to educate WGANJ members
about the USGA Handicap system and looks forward to improving her game while enjoying herself on
the golf course. |
cwvixon@optonline.net
USGA Handicap |
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Valerie M. Oakes-Locascio (Executive Council) formerly a commercial banker specializing in trade
finance, her interest in golf started at the urging of her husband, John, who was an avid golfer. Rather
than become a golf widow, she sought an organization where she could find golfing buddies and at
the same time improve her game. WGANJ fit the bill. Advice: Take lessons, learn the rules (keeps
everyone playing with you happy) and remember to relax and enjoy yourself. |
vol128@optonline.net
Finance |
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BethAnn Iapicco (Executive Council) was born and raised in Bergen County, NJ and has
been developing her game over the past several years. As a member of WGANJ, BethAnn has
participated in a number of outings and leagues to make the most of each golf season. With the
encouraging and challenging atmosphere of the organization, she has improved her game season
after season and hopes this is the year to achieve a new personal best. Her advice: Enjoy the day,
enjoy the people, and enjoy the game, that's what it's all about. |
bIapicco@hbe-inc.com
Leagues |
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Toni La Forgia (Director) has been a WGANJ member since its inception. She is a Hall of Fame
member and currently looks forward to an exciting year as a Director and League Captain Leader.
Currently a math teacher at Secaucus Middle School, Toni is looking forward to retiring in June.
Enjoying her membership in WGANJ, Toni believes it is a perfect meeting place for women golfers —
from beginners on up. "Not only can we get together and learn the game — we can have fun doing
it — with wonderful friends'. |
toni107a@aol.com
League Captains |
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K. Donnelly Bio and photo not available |
kdonnelly0514@aol.com
Leagues and Sub List |
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Juliet Sisti,
(Executive Council) has been a member of WGANJ since its inception. She has served
on the Executive Council as both Director and Chairperson of Education and Instruction. Juliet was
responsible for restructuring our "Club 18' Beginners program along with our Pro, Barbara Karafky.
She most recently served as Co-Chairperson of the Executive Council. Her current position is the
Membership Chairperson. |
jsisti17@optonline.net
Membership |
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Jane Litwinka, (Director) has worked for Honeywell first in Teterboro and now Morristown, NJ for
the last 32 years. She currently holds the position of Information Technology Project Manager. Jane
has been a member of WGANJ since its inception and was appointed to the Board of Directors in
late 2006 responsible for membership. WGANJ is more than an organization dedicated to providing
the best golfing opportunities in New Jersey to women at all levels of play, it is a place to meet new
friends and have fun! |
jane.litwinka@honeywell.com
Membership |
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Julie Chita (Executive Council) is the Physical Therapy Manager at Englewood Orthopedic
Associates, a private practice in Englewood, NJ. With over 18 years experience, Julie now has
her doctorate in physical therapy along with her Board Certification as an Orthopedic Clinical
Specialist. Julie is a founding member of WGANJ and has held various leadership positions in golf
organizations including leagues, outings and education. |
jchita@gmail.com
Outings |
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Marieanne Branco (Director) is a Sales Representative for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. In her
previous career she was both a buyer for the Macys department stores, as well as store manager for
The GAP clothing company in NYC. Mare has been playing golf for over 10 years, and still trying to
break into the 80's. |
mbranco20@yahoo.com
Outings |
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Gina Bucci, (Director) is a founding member of WGANJ. She has been involved in coordinating
events and outings for WGANJ and other golf groups for the last 7 years. Coming from a fitness
background, Gina provides WGANJ tips & exercises on how being physically fit is an important
part of your golf game. Gina is the Director of Human Resources for El Rancho Foods which owns
90 Taco Bells in six states. Golf is a game that can be played by all ages...Gina's Dad Tony is still
playing with her at 92 years old! |
littlegg@optonline.net
Social Events |
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Brenda Lynly (Director) is a founding member of WGANJ and has been golfing for over twelve
years. She is an optometrist at Suburban Eye Institute Optometrists in Berkeley Heights, NJ and is
a member of the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians. Brenda has long been involved with
women's golf associations and has served as chairperson of social events in the past. While she
and her husband golf as much as possible, she appreciates WGANJ for the opportunities to meet
and golf with other women and the lifetime friendships it has provided. |
bklynly@optonline.net
WGANJ Store |
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Alexandra Chirinos (Executive Council) started playing golf at the age of 8 while growing up in
Brazil and Venezuela. Today she works for a hi-tech company out of California as a Global Account
Manager managing a large international financial bank. She has been a member of WGANJ since its
founding days and has been serving as a board member for 3 years. |
a.chirinos1@comcast.net
Sponsorship |
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Jane Mercante (Governance Council) is a retired educator. She has extensive experience in
leadership roles in golf associations including having been a league captain, trustee, mentor to
beginner golfers, and Director of Social Events/Outings, and former Chairperson for WGANJ. |
jmmercante@gmail.com
Volunteers |
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Miriam López,
(Governance Council) a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), a Chartered Life
Underwriter (CLU®) and a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) brings 35 years of domestic and
international banking & finance experience to her wealth management and estate planning practice
at US Financial Services LLC in Fairfield, NJ. She was President of the Bergen County Hispanic-
American Chamber of Commerce from 1999 through 2002 and is currently a trustee, treasurer and
scholarship chairperson of the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation of NJ. Additionally,
Miriam is a founding member of WGANJ and served as the WGANJ Chairperson for years 2006 and
2007. |
MirLopezLeon@gmail.com
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