The annual event allows women from all segments of the office technology industry to network and share career experiences.
Following an evening of celebration at The Cannata Report’s Awards & Charities Gala, industry women gathered on Friday morning, November 11, for the 7th Annual Women Influencers Brunch. Hosted by our own Carol C. Cannata, senior vice president of client services, and Sharon Esker, story and features editor, the brunch recognized The Cannata Report’s 2022 Women Influencers: Holly DeSantis, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Konica Minolta Business Solutions U.S.A.; Moonsun Park, chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance, Sharp Electronics; and Leonie Forristal, chief financial officer, Kyocera Document Solutions America.
CJ Cannata; Sharon Esker; Moonsun Park, Sharp; Holly DeSantis, Konica Minolta; Leonie Forristal, Kyocera; Carol C. Cannata; Frank G. Cannata.
Melissa Confalone, Fraser AIS, and Samina Sabir, DocuWare.
Sally Brause and Lindsay Bohon, GreatAmerica.
Jennie Fisher, GreatAmerica.
Carol C. Cannata (center) with Jennifer Amatucci and Ramona Rodriguez of Hytec Dealer Services.
Kim Louden, GreatAmerica, and Patricia Ames, The Imaging Channel.
Jennifer Muller, ecoprintQ, and Naeran Rubio, Sharp.
Sharon Esker.
Summer Jones and Laine Harper, ACDI; Patricia Ames, The Imaging Channel; CJ Cannata.
The Cannata Report partnered with esp and GreatAmerica Financial Services Corporation to bring female industry leaders together to hear business and personal perspectives from DeSantis, Park, and Forristal as well as share stories and network over an exquisite brunch in the Conservatory at The Madison Hotel in Morristown, New Jersey.
Frank G. Cannata and Claudia Gristina, HP.
Nicole Purdy, Konica Minolta, and Lindsay Bohon, GreatAmerica.
Mary McAulay and Alisa Peano, Konica Minolta.
Sharon Esker; Kerstin Woods and Salley Thornton, Toshiba.
Cara Spencer, Jacqueline Smith, and Janene Aul, Systel Business Equipment, with CJ Cannata.
Erica Calise, Sharp, and Carol C. Cannata.
“GreatAmerica chose to partner with The Cannata Report for the Women Influencers event this year because our values align; we believe in the importance of leadership diversity as demonstrated by our strong presence of women within our own leadership team at GreatAmerica,” said Jennie Fisher, senior vice president and general manager of the office equipment group at GreatAmerica Financial Services. GreatAmerica gifted each attendee a mini-wireless Bluetooth speaker made by Chyrp. “I’ve been in this industry for three decades and used to be the only woman in the room; it’s energizing to be surrounded by so many brilliant women today. I look forward to seeing more talented young women enter and grow within this exciting technology-centric industry.”
Since its inception, the brunch has grown exponentially, with women across various positions and segments of the independent dealer channel attending. This year, 45 women joined the brunch. From The Cannata Report’s perspective, the event provides a much-needed platform for industry women to share career experiences and insights in a comfortable setting.
Jennifer Amatucci, Emily Rodriguez, and Ramona Rodriguez, Hytec Dealer Services; Kerstin Woods, Maegan Lujan, and Salley Thornton, Toshiba.
Lauren Sallata and Jennifer Healy, Ricoh USA; Alisa Peano, Holly DeSantis, Nicole Purdy, Elisa Esposito, Mary McAulay, and Vicky Ringwood, Konica Minolta.
Kimberly Young, SalesChain; Claudia Gristina, HP; Carol C. Cannata; Natalie Cumberbatch, Wylie Van Ness, and Leonie
Forristal, Kyocera.
Jennie Fisher and Sally Brause, GreatAmerica; Mary Jo Johnson, EO Johnson Business Technologies; Josie Heskje, GreatAmerica; Jennifer Muller, ecoprintQ; Sarah Custer, Distribution Management; and Tawnya Stone, GreatAmerica.
“It’s always amazing to me how much successful women have in common,” said Konica Minolta’s DeSantis. “The Friday morning Cannata Women’s Brunch proved it to me yet again.”
The Cannata Report’s Sharon Esker led an informal discussion spotlighting the Women Influencers and focused on their diverse career paths and lessons learned during their work experience. She encouraged attendees to empower themselves by staying present so they can allow themselves to respond to what is happening around them and make decisions that align with their values and goals.
“The morning was very relaxing and a great networking event with many successful ladies,” said Kyocera’s Forristal. “Sharon brought an enlightening perspective on the event, and we all got many new insights.”
Each attendee received a beautifully wrapped rainbow-colored box and gift designed by The Cannata Report’s Carol Cannata. Inside, women unwrapped a cocktail shaker and a recipe for The Cannata Report’s first-ever official Gala cocktail, The Cannata Shake, along with a small bottle of blue curacao—all while listening to a clip embedded in the box of this year’s Gala theme song, “Shake It Up” by The Cars. To create this unique box with a sound card, Cannata worked closely with Andy Griffin of Premium Color Group, who also helped her design and make gifts for attendees at previous Brunches, including a scarf and last year’s mini bottle of prosecco.
Samina Sabir, DocuWare; Naeran Rubio, Sharp; and Melissa Confalone, Frasier AIS.
Mary Jo Johnson, EO Johnson Business Technologies, and Frank G. Cannata.
Moonsun Park, Sharp; Mimi Evenson, DEX Imaging; Summer Jones and Laine Harper, ADCI; Erica Calise, Sharp; and Danielle Wolowitz, Shore Business Solutions.
Row 1: Maegan Lujan; Kerstin Woods; Samina Sabir; Jennifer Amatucci; CJ Cannata; Sharon Esker; Carol C. Cannata; Erica Calise; Mary Jo Johnson; Moonsun Park; Natalie Cumberbatch, Frank G. Cannata. Row 2: Cathy O’Brien; Salley Thornton; Mary McAulay; Vicky Ringwood; Kimberly Young; Lanie Harper; Naeran Rubio; Josie Heskje; Janene Aul; Jacqueline Smith;
Cara Spencer; Jennifer Muller; Alisa Peano; Holly DeSantis; Emily Rodriguez; Ramona Rodriguez; Melissa Confalone;
Lindsay Bohon; Summer Jones; Sally Brause; Jennie Fisher; Tawnya Stone; Kim Louden; Patricia Ames; Danielle Wolowitz; Mimi Evenson. Row 3: Nicole Purdy; Elisa Esposito; Lauren Sallata; Jennifer Healy; Wylie Van Ness; Leonie Forristal; Claudia Gristina; and Sarah Custer.
“This is my third Cannata Report Women Influencers brunch, and it was an honor to be a 2022 Influencer with the largest group of women in attendance!” said Sharp’s Park. “I love that we can be vulnerable and share our thoughts openly with women in the industry, some of whom I met for the first time that morning. Great food, coffee being topped throughout the morning, and a wonderful group of strong women with great stories. I expect the number of attendees to grow each year!”
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