TOMS RIVER – The Clarion Hotel ballroom shimmered with pride as Soroptimist International of Toms River, and Ocean County College, hosted the 20th Annual Ocean County Women’s Hall of Fame Dinner and Recognition Ceremony.
This year’s inductees, the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore, Barbara “Bobbi Jo” Crea, and Dr. Tara Chalakani, represented unique paths of service and achievement. Yet beneath their differing titles and missions ran a shared theme of humility, gratitude, and a steadfast commitment to uplifting others.
Their plaques will soon join the many displayed at the Ocean County College Grunin Center for the Arts, where the Women’s Hall of Fame was first established in 1988.
A Legacy Of Empowerment
“Soroptimist is a global organization that provides women and girls with the education and training they need to achieve success,” said event co-chair Sue Sedivac explained. “When women and girls are educated, they have opportunity, choice, and the power to make healthy decisions for themselves and their futures.”
Now in its 74th year, the Soroptimist International of Toms River continues to empower women through scholarships and mentoring programs. Sedivec noted the group distributed more than $10,000 in scholarships last year and sponsors several programs, including the “Live Your Dream” award for women who provide primary financial support for their families; “Dream It, Be It,” a career support program for high school girls; and monetary awards for post-secondary education.
Dr. Pamela Monaco, president of Ocean County College, spoke about the shared mission between the Soroptimists and the college. “I have the distinct honor of serving and learning from these inspiring women and organizations in our community,” said Monaco. “I know firsthand, not only of their tireless commitment to making life better for others and to protecting the vulnerable, but I also witness what dedication and commitment looks like. They model for all of us how commitment to others makes life better for individuals and our community.”
Girl Scouts Of The Jersey Shore
The Making a Difference for Women Award was presented to the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore (GSJS) by Soroptimist member Mary Cronwell, who described the organization’s lasting influence on generations of young women.
“From outdoor adventures and community service to leadership training, the dedicated professionals and volunteers of the Girl Scouts continue to inspire girls from kindergarten through adulthood,” she said. “It’s certainly more than cookies. The lessons learned through scouting build confidence, character, and lifelong friendships, shaping the leaders of tomorrow.”
Accepting the award, Brie Montella, Chief Operating Officer of GSJS, asked everyone in the room who had ever been a Girl Scout, whether as a troop leader, volunteer, or member, to stand. Nearly half the audience rose, laughing and clapping as memories of cookie sales, camping trips, and friendship badges came rushing back.
“We are so excited and grateful to be recognized,” Montella said. “Our missions are aligned, developing leaders and serving the community. Hearing about everyone’s Girl Scout experiences tonight builds us up as women supporting women. Let’s keep serving girls.”
The moment served as a full-circle reminder that the values learned in childhood of integrity, service, and empathy, can blossom into lifelong commitments to leadership and community building.
Barbara “Bobbi Jo” Crea
Few figures in Ocean County’s public life have embodied service and compassion quite like Barbara “Bobbi Jo” Crea, this year’s recipient of the Advancing the Status of Women Award.
The honor was presented by Soroptimist member Ann Okrusinski, who described Crea as “a trailblazer and an advocate for women at every level of government.”
When Crea stepped to the podium, her voice carried both strength and humility. She spoke candidly about her mother’s influence, describing her as the moral compass who instilled character, integrity, and compassion. After her mother’s passing, Crea worked multiple jobs to keep a roof over her head. That perseverance became the foundation of her life’s work.
“I started in data entry for the State of New Jersey,” she recalled, “And ultimately became a bureau chief for the Division of Taxation. It wasn’t always easy, and many times it was just the opposite.”
Crea’s rise from those early years marks her as one of only three women ever elected as an Ocean County Commissioner. She named the creation of the county’s Homeless Trust Fund as her proudest achievement and spoke of her ongoing dedication to helping seniors.
“It is important for each of us to continue to give back,” she told the audience. “Whether you are a business owner, a public servant, a doctor, a lawyer, an educator – each one of us has an opportunity to make a difference. Each one of us can be a mentor….Let doing good always be your legacy.”
Dr. Tara Chalakani
The final award of the evening went to Dr. Tara Chalakani, CEO of Preferred Behavioral Health Group in Lakewood, who was recognized for her leadership in the field of mental health.
Soroptimist member Clyde Crofoot, Esq., who presented the award, shared her admiration for Chalakani’s lifelong mission to uplift others. “We honor her for her achievements and her vision in being who and where she is today,” Crofoot said. “Dr. Tara has focused not only on achieving her own dreams but on helping others reach theirs.”
In her acceptance speech, Chalakani reflected on her journey and the women who helped her along the way. “I never imagined that a girl who started out with so little would one day stand here among such powerful women,” she said. “My story isn’t one of privilege; but of perseverance and believing that where you begin never determines where you will go.”
She dedicated her award to every woman who has reached out to lift another, adding that true leadership “isn’t about titles or positions; it’s about impact. It’s about making people feel seen, heard, and safe, and capable of being more than they ever imagined.
“That’s the mission that drives me every day,” Chalakani said. “To help women heal, to rise up, and claim their power, no matter what they’ve been through.”
Honoring The Past, Inspiring The Future
Among the many officials attending was Ocean County Commissioner Virginia “Ginny” Haines, a 2013 Hall of Fame honoree herself. She praised the evening’s recipients, quoting Serena Williams: “Every woman’s success should be an inspiration to another. We are the strongest when we cheer each other on.”
