This professional women’s association was founded in 2018 to recognize badass women in Fairfield County, to honor them, inspire others and to teach entrepreneurship skills to young women – our next generation of talent and leaders.
mission
Empower women with the tools, support, confidence and mentoring they need to succeed
Establish a network of active and inspirational role models for women
Raise funds to support entrepreneurship & leadership programs for young women
giving circle
Our professional women's association was formed as a 'giving circle' - a group of women who have come together for common causes. Each year our board of advisors selects a non profit to support that aligns with our mission.
our 2019 goal
Raise $50,000
Sponsor 100 young girls to participate in a 6-week entrepreneurship program
designed by Harvard experts with ongoing mentoring.
2019 honorees
Alessandra Messineo Long
Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Alessandra M. Messineo Long
An attorney in estates, wills & trusts and business law is licensed in four states. She was the 1st to graduate college and professional school in her family. Prior, Alessandra was in-house counsel and worked for hi-profile NYC firms while running a non-profit of “700 Women” which prepared her to make the badass move to launch her own firm. She was recently featured on the cover of the Greenwich Times for exposing the names of teachers who were silenced for 30 years due to a gag order of a sexual abuse victim from a boarding school in CT. After successfully obtaining a felony conviction against a pedophile, Alessandra seeks to protect more victims’ rights in this area. She has been recognized as a Lawyer of Distinction, an exemplary volunteer, has served as the 1st working Junior League President; is the 1st female board member on the The Greenwich Old Timers Athletic Association and co-founded a networking group for professional women in Greenwich. She consistently mentors women and girls when she is not running marathons and raising three kids. www.amlonglaw.com
Kim Nichols, MD, FAAD
Dermatologist, NicholsMD of Greenwich
A Board-Certified, Celebrity Dermatologist who owns a Boutique Dermatology Office here in Greenwich. Dr. Nichols loves what she does and is committed to advancing cosmetic medicine world-wide - She has been featured as an expert physician on the Dr. Oz Show, Megyn Kelly Today Show and helps train physicians nationwide on the latest skincare trends. She serves on the Greater New York City American Red Cross board, participates on numerous community organizations - has been awarded a Top Doctor by Greenwich Magazine and New Beauty Magazine and honored as one of 100 Influential Women of Color by the State of Connecticut in 2018. Dr. Nichols’ mission is for all her patients to look their best and feel confident, and she proudly mentors her staff which is 100% women!
www.kimnicholsmd.com
Laurie Stefanowicz
Partner, Crestwood Advisors
A division 1 soccer player and captain at Vanderbilt University who upon graduation was the youngest player drafted to the inaugural season of the WUSA, the first women’s professional soccer league in the US. Instead of kicking balls, she is now kicking ass as a Rockstar wealth advisor and partner of a boutique advisory firm called Crestwood Advisors located in Westport. She has been recognized as a Fairfield County 40 Under 40, Top Advisor under 40, a Women’s Choice Award winner and Five Star Professional numerous years. Laurie guides and advises dozens of women to personal and professional success through her badass dedication to setting goals and achieving them. In her “down” time, she and her husband of 15 years raise two amazing girls with Laurie also coaching their soccer teams, serves as vice chair at their schoolboard where she has helped raise close to $500,000 in the last two years and has found time to be a 2x marathon finisher. www.crestwoodadvisors.com
Layla Lisiewski
Founder, The Local Moms Network
Founder of The Local Moms Network – Layla, a Division 1 LAX player who graduated Brown University, pioneered a financial advisory business at Merrill Lynch in NYC after college and soon after moved to the burbs with a new husband, baby, pregnant and launched GreenwichMoms, a business that helped build a valuable sisterhood – a community of women that would offer moms the gift of time – her vision was to support other women and to help keep them informed about local resources, kid-related activities, community events, pediatricians and to connect them all - With baby #3 less than 3 years later, Layla took the US by storm and - expanded her business from 8 platforms to a national business to become The Local Moms Network – She launched 82 more sites in 20 states and created over 100 jobs for women with flexibility for moms across the US! www.thelocalmomsnetwork.com
Maureen Clark Newlove
Co-Founder, noblesalon
Maureen received her training in New York before establishing a career in Greenwich, and then her hometown of Stamford. She was one of the first board certified Master Colorists, travelling across the country as a motivational speaker, educator, and editor for Hair Color and Design Magazine. In 2007, Maureen and her business partners opened noble salon , with an intense focus on creating a space and experience that exceeded their client’s expectations of exceptional and creative service. Since its launch, noblesalon has been awarded the “Best Salon of Fairfield County” every year along with being recognized for donating over $200,000 to women’s health and wellness initiatives in Fairfield County through their noblecause outreach program. Making a positive impact and inspiring women to tap into their own “badass” is a driving force for Maureen in business as well as her personal life. www.noblesalon.com
Rabbi Deborah Salomon
Founder, Rabbi, Hebrew Wizards School and the Wizards Congregation
Founder of Hebrew Wizards whose mission in 2005 was to create an innovative exemplary Hebrew School to change the way Jewish Education is taught in America. Her proprietary curriculum, teaching videos and Apps are now being used in over 50 schools worldwide. She founded a community service program called Better2B where 30 students participate each month working with various senior centers, homeless shelters and pet rescue centers. Deb has performed over 150 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and other life cycle events creating a special niche for unaffiliated & inter faith families. She was the recipient for the PELIE grant for Jewish Education and the Legacy Heritage Grant for community service - with two musicians she formed the Hebrew Wizards Family Band & received 2 parents’ choice awards for both their albums with 23 original songs. One of her songs just received the semifinal distinction in the children’s song category at the international song contest in Nashville. Deb is the captain of her USTA tennis teams and has gone to Nationals 3X. She played for the USA tennis team in the Israel Maccabiah Games held in Tel Aviv where she was awarded a silver medal. Lastly, Deb formed the Congregation Kehilat Shalom with 200 members to create a non-denominational spiritual community. www.hebrewizards.com
criteria
professional
Leadership: takes on leadership roles, great communicator, cultivates a healthy and positive company culture
Team Builder: always looking for ways to build upon peoples strengths and encourages teamwork to overcome weaknesses
Entrepreneurial Spirit: establishes high standards, takes risks, open minded, positive attitude, forever learner, always cultivating meaning relationships
Strategic: develops a vision, sets goals for future growth, measures progress, strives for the best and for growth
Innovative: pioneers new approaches, always exploring, leads research and development for new ideas and strategies
Socially Responsible: makes a positive impact on society/communities and/or the environment, always thinking about how to help and support others
Sustainability: strategic and mindful about people and the planet, someone who thinks long-term
Development: creates projects that have the potential for future development, growth and sustainability
Volunteerism: outstanding commitment to the community, volunteers to support non profit needs, knows the more you give, the more you get
Achievements: consistently strives to achieve more, to make an impact on the community and/or society at large
personal
Role Model: model citizen who is mindful about their actions and the impact they have upon others, has good intentions, seeks to inspire others
Character: exceptional personal qualities: authentic, honest, reliable, dependable, collaborative, open-minded, good spirited, leader
Present/Mindful: great listener, appreciates the importance and value in learning from others
Supportive/Giving: tunes in, recognizes needs in the community and acts upon them, makes connections
Curious: open minded, explores all options, a doer who seeks out new ideas and opinions, offers to share ideas
Brave: overcomes unusual challenges, understands you must try and take risks to make changes, doesn’t let anything get in their way
Bold: asks question and takes risks for good causes
Mentorship: always giving back, takes time to teach others, mentors other and younger women - future talent
Inspirational: is always thoughtful about inspiring others, works to make positive changes
Kindness: performs exceptional acts of kindness, seeks doing the right thing
do you know a badass women?
*2020 Nominees must live or work in Fairfield County, CT
*Candidates must meet a minimum of 5 professional and 5 personal criteria