NAWBO Annual Meeting: Better Together

Join us to celebrate NAWBO South Jersey’s accomplishments and partnerships and learn more about our newest strategic partnership with the Small Business Administration from Supervisor of Lender Relations & Economic Development, Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills, a community and economic development professional with over two decades of experience in community and media relations, communications, marketing, new business development, partnerships, program development and administration; small business ownership and lending/microlending.

We will also induct our new board and award our extraordinary chapter members at this annual meeting.

The meeting will include a three-course lunch.

Keynote Speaker, Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills

Barbara Anne Gardenhire-Mills is a community and economic development professional with over two decades of experience in community and media relations, communications, marketing, new business development, partnerships, program development and administration; small business ownership and lending/microlending. She currently serves as Supervisor of Lender Relations and Economic Development/ Women’s Business Ownership Representative (WBOR) for the NJ District Office of the US Small Business Administration.

Before joining the SBA’s NJ District Office, Barbara Anne served as a Lender Relations Specialist/WBOR in the Philadelphia District Office. She also previously held positions in the non-profit and for-profit arenas including serving as Director of Lending & Training for the Women’s Opportunities Resource Center (WORC), Executive Director of two other non-profit organizations, and various leadership roles with two large insurance companies. Additionally, she co-owned a business with her husband for 10 years where she handled operations/financials and assisted with marketing and business development.

Barbara Anne is a member of the Association for Talent Development (ATD) the Association of Federally Employed Women (FEW) and several other professional organizations; Cambridge Who’s Who® named her a 2011 VIP of the Year. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Rowan University (Glassboro State) with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science/Honors with concentrations in Pre-Law and Women’s Studies; and she holds an Associate of Arts in General Liberal Arts as well as numerous continuing education and professional development program certifications.

A lifelong resident of NJ, Barbara Anne resides in Mt. Laurel with her husband, 12-year old son, two “fuzzy babies” (rescue puppies), and a variety of other pets. Her hobbies include singing and training in multiple forms of martial arts including Goju Ryu, Chi Kung and Iaido.

Thank you to our corporate partners and event sponsors: