WEST CHESTER, PA (August 19, 2019) – The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls (CCFWG) will host its third annual Champions of Change Breakfast on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at The Farmhouse Bistro at People’s Light in Malvern, PA. The event will honor Dr. Lorraine (Laurie) Bernotsky, Executive Vice President and Provost of West Chester University (WCU), for her efforts to support and uplift female students and professionals in the community. First Resource Bank will also be honored for its commitment to career development and work-life balance for female employees.
Dr. Bernotsky, a resident of Exton, PA, will receive CCFWG’s third annual Gladys Black Woman of Distinction Award, named in memory of CCFWG’s late friend and committed Board member Gladys Black. As a business leader and supporter of women and girls in Chester County, Gladys left a lasting impact on our community. This year, we honor Dr. Bernotsky’s dedication to providing support, resources, and leadership opportunities to women and girls in Chester County through her role as Executive Vice President and Provost of WCU. In this position, Dr. Bernotsky leads roughly 850 faculty who serve more than 17,000 students, including 3,000 graduate students. She also founded WCU’s Center for Social and Economic Policy Research, a center that has strong connections with local government and non-profits, many of which serve women and children.
A true champion for women, Dr. Bernotsky coordinates WCU’s Women’s Leadership Development program that helps female business leaders and professionals develop leadership skills and deepen leadership knowledge in their respective fields. Dr. Bernotsky also encourages female students to realize their true potential: “Especially for first-generation, working-class women, know that you are far more talented than you think you are. Reinforcing this notion throughout these women’s lives is absolutely essential… It’s a matter of believing you are good enough to be where you are, when more often than not, everything about your prior socialization tells you that you’re not.” And Dr. Bernotsky doesn’t just give great advice – she puts it into practice by serving as the first Provost at WCU to also hold the title of Executive Vice President. Additionally, she serves and has served as a board member of Leadership Chester County and the Chester County Economic Development Council.
As an advocate for its employees, First Resource Bank, headquartered in Exton, PA, encourages female employees to pursue professional and leadership opportunities while also striking a true work-life balance for their families. Over 50% of the bank’s senior management team is comprised of women, with female leaders running finance, retail banking and lending operations: “First Resource Bank takes pride in hiring the best people and helping them to achieve their career goals,” commented Glenn Marshall, the Bank’s co-founder and Chief Executive Officer. “When our employees succeed, we succeed.”
When First Resource Bank was founded in 2005, the Bank’s other co-founder, Chief Financial Officer and then new mother, Lauren Ranalli, was adamant about the importance of work-life balance for all of her employees: “I was supported at every turn as my family continued to grow and home demands weren’t always at convenient times. By having a female leader of the company successfully manage home and work responsibilities, it set the tone for everyone throughout the organization. I make it a priority to ensure that every woman working at First Resource Bank has the same opportunities to succeed at both work and home in the best way possible for them, just like I did.”
“At First Resource, we’re committed to helping all of our employees reach their full potential,” added Ranalli. “We are honored to be recognized by CCFWG with the Corporate Champions of Change Award and to have a dedicated team who supports one another unconditionally.”
“The difference each individual or place of work can make by promoting a culture of success for all is immense,” said CCFWG Executive Director, Michelle Legaspi Sánchez. “CCFWG is proud to recognize the dedication of Dr. Laurie Bernotsky as well as First Resource Bank. Because of their leadership and courage, many women in Chester County and beyond have more opportunities to move forward.”
To learn more about Champions of Change Breakfast sponsorship opportunities, please contact CCFWG Development Director Dana Wiley at dwiley@ccfwg.org or 484-356-0940, or visit https://ccwomenandgirls.org/champions-of-change-breakfast/.
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The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls is a grantmaking and education foundation dedicated to addressing the needs of women and girls in the county. For over 20 years, CCFWG has raised awareness about the critical needs of women and girls, and awarded over $3.2 million to 75 non-profit organizations. To learn more about the Chester County Fund for Women and Girls, visit www.ccwomenandgirls.org.