| WGANJ Leadership Team |
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Alexandra Chirinos (Executive Council) started playing golf at the age of 8 while growing up in Brazil and Venezuela. She has lived in Jackson Hole, WY; Palm Beach, FL; Beverly Farms, MA and now resides in New Jersey. Alexandra works for a hi-tech company out of California as a Global Account Manager for a large international financial bank. She has been a member of WGANJ since its founding days. |
a.chirinos1@comcast.net
Sponsorship |
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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 15 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
Membership |
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Joan Fragala (Executive Council) is the principal of Lodi High School, Lodi, NJ and also a volunteer for the Juvenile Conference Committee (JCC) in Fair Lawn for over 10 years. The JCC hears first offenders so they do not have to go to see a Judge in Hackensack. She is also the secretary for the 501 (c) (3) committee for the Arts and Recreation Building in Fair Lawn. The old building was knocked down and reconstructed into a new facility with a theater, gym, art room walking track, etc. Traveling to play golf is a passion and the next challenge will be Pebble Beach in May. Joan encourages all women to try golf as a leisure sport. "Don't get discouraged just play and enjoy the day and camaraderie and girls just having fun". |
jcfvp01@aol.com
Leagues |
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Jane Mercante, Executive Council member responsible for golf outings and social events, is a founding member of WGANJ. Jane is a retired educator and currently is a reading tutor. She has extensive experience in leadership roles in golf associations including having been a league coordinator, trustee, mentor to beginner golfers, and Director of Social Events. She has been golfing for 9 years and her advice to women is: “Play a ROUND every chance you get!” |
jmmercante@aol.com
Outings &
Co-Chair of Council |
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Valerie M. Oakes-Locascio, (Executive Council), formerly a commercial banker specializing in trade finance, Valerie has recently decided to try her hand at starting her own business. Hopefully it will allow plenty of time to play golf. 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 (only Tiger Woods is perfect), learn the rules (keeps everyone playing with you happy) and remember to relax and enjoy yourself. |
vol128@optonline.net
Finance |
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Juliet Sisti,
(Executive Council) has been a member of WGANJ since its inception. She served on the Instruction and Education Committee last year as its director. Juliet also serves as a member of the National Education Committee for the Association of Insurance Women. |
jsisti17@optonline.net
Golf Instruction &
Co-Chair of Council |
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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 release and general communiqués’ to the members. |
rwbogar@comcast.net
Communications |
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Barb Karafky, (Governance Council) has held many leadership positions for women's golfing organizations including President, and Education and League Chairs. Barb has been instrumental in developing league play for women in New Jersey as well as establishing beginner/advanced beginner pre-league clinics. She has been a teacher of physical education for 30 years and has been working as a golf professional/teacher at Paramus Golf Course for eleven years. She has brought Junior Golf and Special Olympics Programs to Paramus. |
bkarafky@optonline.net |
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Miriam López,
(Governance Council) a Certified Planner (CFP) and a Chartered
Life Underwriter (CLU) has 30 years of domestic and international
banking & finance experience. 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. Additionally, Miriam is a founding member of WGANJ and served as the WGANJ Chairperson for years 2006 and 2007. |
Mirlopez@aol.com
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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 third 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. Her advice: In order to make progress in this game, you must practice. A LOT! So look for every opportunity to play a round or hit balls to improve a particular shot to develop the confidence you need on the course. |
eparish@isabella.org
Newsletter |
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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
WGANJ Store |
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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
Outings |
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Pat Burns (Director) |
burns985@optonline.net
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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 looks forward to retiring (after 32 years teaching) so she can become a full-time golfer. 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
Leagues |
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Carol Leins (Director) is a veteran police officer with the Emerson Police Department. In addition to her normal patrol duties, Carol supervises a Community Policing Unit which offers free programs to the community which are paid for through various fund raisers, including a large annual golf outing, and donations provided by local businesses. She has been a member of women's golf leagues for every ten years and recently served on the Travel Committee. |
redwinegolf@aol.com
Sponsorship |
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Jane Litwinka, (Director) has worked for Honeywell in Teterboro, NJ for the last 30 years and currently holds the position of Information Technology Project Manager. Jane has been a member of WGANJ since its inception and has recently been appointed to the Board of Directors 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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Patty Steele, (Director) is a Graphic Design Supervisor for Wyeth in Madison. Between American Cyanamid and Wyeth, she has been designing for 30 years, so helping create the Fairway Observer 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
Newsletter |
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Kathy Wolff (Director) is a founding member of WGANJ and currently responsible for league registration. She has volunteered her services for many years to the Junior League of Morristown and Jersey Battered Women Services in the membership and statistical areas. In addition, Kathy has managed the membership database for two women's golf organizations over a five-year period.
Now retired from AT&T, Kathy's main occupation is planning where to play golf next. Spanning her 27 years at AT&T, she had a variety of positions in data processing, programming, system management, customer service, marketing, and human relations. |
kathywolff@mac.com
Leagues |
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Cheryl Williams (USGA Handicap Administrator), 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 been involved in state golf tournaments, and through the years has provided her expertise in rating golf courses. 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 |
