Celebrating Verona’s Women of Impact
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Verona Public Library and Verona Multicultural Inclusion & Accessibility Advisory Committee are hosting the 4th Annual “Women of Impact Panel” on Sunday, March 29th, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. at the Verona Community Center. This inspiring event will spotlight women who serve as role models and catalysts for change in Verona and the greater region.
We are pleased to announce this year’s panelists: Virginia Citrano, Kate Kelly, Lisa Loudon, Maryellen McHugh & Stephanie Rogers.
To watch live via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/93390849957
Panelists
Virginia Citrano’s roots in Verona go back to 1928, when her paternal grandfather moved to Otsego Road. Virginia attended Laning, HBW and VHS. She moved away from Verona after college for a 23-year career in journalism with The Wall Street Journal, Crain’s New York Business and Forbes.
Since returning to Verona, Virginia has carried on her family’s tradition of service to the town. Her mother was a member of many school SCAs, as well as church and charity boards, while her father, a leading local realtor for four decades, was involved in service groups as well as the growth of Our Lady of the Lake and the original plan for the Verona Pool. Virginia has served on Holy Spirit’s vestry and the Verona Environmental Commission.
In 2009, Virginia founded MyVeronaNJ.com, a news website that draws on her decades of experience in journalism. Through its website and social media pages, MyVeronaNJ.com has become the leading source of news about Verona, reaching readers who live in Verona now, readers who want to live in Verona and readers who still consider Verona home even though they now live across the country and across the world.
Kate Kelly is a nonprofit leader and policy advocate with extensive experience advancing affordable and supportive housing initiatives across multiple states. As Executive Director of the Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey (SHA) , she works with SHA’s members to promote and maintain a strong supportive housing industry in New Jersey serving people with special needs. She has taught undergraduate and graduate social work courses at the University of Connecticut, Yeshiva University, and Montclair State University. She regularly presents at statewide and regional conferences and enjoys being involved on boards and civic life in her local community.
Lisa Loudon is an accomplished and community-focused leader with 15+ years of municipal and recreational experience in Verona. Her community and volunteer efforts have been largely based in and around education and athletics. She has done everything from acting as an active member and President of the Forest Elementary School SCA (for 13 years!), to volunteering as a lunch aide (also at Forest) and assisting the music department, to helping with VFEE and VMAC, to overseeing the Forest library renovation. Which is a perfect segue to the other organization that has allowed her to impact so many. The Verona Baseball and Softball League (VBSL) – and ultimately the renovation of Everett Field.
For the last ten years, eight as President of the VBSL, Lisa has put in countless efforts in order to get hundreds of kids on the baseball and softball fields year after year. Besides providing direction for the overall program, she handles schedules, budgets, equipment, sponsorships, ensures compliance with local, state and national guidelines, organizes clinics and tournaments – and most importantly – acts as the liaison between parents, coaches, players and town officials to maintain a positive experience.
Maryellen McHugh spent nine years working for the Verona Recreation department, both in the Recreation department office, as well as as the Office Manager of the Verona Community Pool, developing relationships with patrons and taking the opportunity to teach her staff, for many of whom this was their first job. Her staff still remember her very fondly, both because of her high expectations of them, her constant support she provided, and her fierce protection of her staff.
Personally, Maryellen has spent her incredibly minimal free time for the last 20 years donating it to organizations that her children were involved in. She holds or has held leadership roles in the Verona United Soccer Club, the Verona Music Parents Association, the Verona Spotlight Players Parents Association, and the Verona High School Swim Parents Association. She has also given her time to other organizations, including the Verona Waves and Verona High School Soccer Boosters Club.
Maryellen has spent her entire career in the healthcare nonprofit sector, primarily working in hospital and physician practice administration. In 2017, she founded Healthcare Reimbursement Specialists, a small business focused on reimbursement and medical billing services. In addition to running her business, she currently serves full-time as the Financial and Billing Analyst for the Mental Health Association in Montclair.
Stephanie Rogers is a fitness professional, entrepreneur, and community builder who believes movement has the power to change lives. She is the co-founder of Rebel Core, a modern Pilates studio focused on strength, confidence, and creating a welcoming space where people can challenge themselves and grow together.
Stephanie began her career in fitness with Hardbodyz Fitness, where she built a community centered around accountability, resilience, and empowering people to feel their strongest – both inside and outside the gym.
Beyond the studio, Stephanie is passionate about giving back and supporting her local community through philanthropic efforts and outreach initiatives that support animal rescue foundations and children’s foundations such as St Jude children’s hospital. She believes that when women support each other, incredible things happen.
Stephanie loves sharing the lessons she’s learned as a business owner, leader, and woman in the fitness industry, and hopes to inspire others to pursue their goals with confidence and authenticity.
Moderators
Joanna Gagis is an award-winning Senior Correspondent and regular Guest Anchor for NJ Spotlight News, the nightly news broadcast of NJ PBS. She covers New Jersey politics, education, healthcare, the economy and so much more.
Joanna is the host of the in-depth interview series “HerStory with Joanna Gagis”, that brings into focus many of the critical issues facing women today. Before joining the news team at NJ PBS, Joanna helped develop and launch the lifestyle show “Life & Living with Joanna Gagis,” a series that highlighted the lifestyle and culture of New Jersey – dining, fashion, the arts, local destinations, and New Jersey personalities.
Joanna has received numerous awards for her reporting, including NJ Society of Professional Journalists awards for her coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on New Jersey students, and for highlighting the impact of the war in Ukraine on residents here in the state. She’s received the NJ Public Health Association’s Lloyd M. Felmly Award for her reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on public health in New Jersey.
Joanna is a mom of 2 beautiful children, which is by far her most important job!
Manya Brachear Pashman is an award-winning religion writer and former president of the Religion News Association. In addition to writing, she has hosted several podcasts and is now working to revive a NJ PBS television series about religion in podcast form. As a member of the Junior Women’s Club of Verona for the past several years, Manya has organized Verona Fights Hunger Week, the annual Verona Spelling Bee for 4th and 5th graders, and helped both the Juniors and Friends of the Verona Public Library hand out scholarships to graduating seniors. But the titles that make her most proud are “Max’s mom” and “Rose’s mom.”