By Allison Gogarty
The Morristown Women in Business had a lot to celebrate at their first anniversary event on Tuesday night.
In addition to sharing news of how membership has helped drive referrals and sales for new businesses, the evening honored the memory of its co-founder, Chef Melody McGinley Whitelaw, who passed away in February.
“There are people you know all your life, yet never really know at all. And then there are people you meet along the way, who you can’t ever imagine not knowing. Mel was one of those people,” said MorristownGreen.com Editor Kevin Coughlin, who received the first annual Melody Whitelaw Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit.
He remembered Chef Melody, “Caterer to the Stars,” as a big-hearted, gregarious woman who found joy in helping others, and in appreciating the eccentric characters who flocked to “The Yellow House” — her headquarters on Washington Street–like moths to a flame.
“Good, good, good, good, good!” Coughlin said, fondly repeating a favorite Chef Melody expression.
Some 75 people attended Tuesday’s celebration, the first event of 2015 for the Women in Business, at the Starlight Room of the Mayo Performing Arts Center.
Chef Melody and Morristown First Lady Mary Dougherty founded the group to nurture and promote local services and businesses. Gatherings are held frequently throughout the year.
The initial board of Marisa Sweeney (chair), Michele Reinhart (vice chair), Maria Rivera-Jones (membership chair) and webmaster Rosary Lescohier has expanded to include Irene Leavy, Debra King and Stacey Schlosser, who made the evening’s awards at her Glassworks studio.
Following remarks by board members, the audience heard from the event’s sponsors, Debra King of Discovery Map Morristown, and Dr. Tanya Maximoff of MaxLife Chiropractic and enjoyed a networking activity that had the crowd on its feet and talking. Food was provided by The Godfather of Morristown.
Photos by Bill Lescohier. Please click icon below for captions.
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BITTERSWEET HONOR
Keynote speaker Ivy Charmatz, News 12 New Jersey executive producer, gave an insightful talk about searching for the stories below the surface that each person has to tell.
Charmatz said organizations like the Women in Business offer an important opportunity to get beyond superficialities and really understand people, which she aims to do in her work every day.
Also recognized were the mother-daughter team of Connie and Christyn Hagelin, who received the Growth and Expansion Award for developing their apparel shop Top This into the new Boutique 161.
The award for Carrying Traditions Forward went to Alma James, current owner of Elliott’s Flowers, which has been in business since 1895.
Photos by Berit Ollestad. Please click icon for captions.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation in honor of Chef Melody.
Coughlin was the WIB’s unanimous choice for the inaugural award because he is a business owner who shares Chef Melody’s “great love for our community… goes out of his way to help others, and has the all-around great passion that Melody had,” said Michele Reinhart.
His acceptance speech focused on his love and appreciation for the award’s namesake, describing a friend always willing to lend a hand – providing free treats for charity events, brainstorming ways to boost ad sales, and helping organize events like the first MG Film Festival.
“It is bittersweet to accept this award,” Coughlin said. “I’m honored, of course, to have been chosen, but it is so sad that she is gone.”
Many times, he said, Melody told him: “We all have to help each other.”
Coughlin closed with that thought.
“The best way to honor Chef Melody, and keep her memory alive,” he said, “is to help each other.”
A memorial service for Melody Whitelaw is scheduled for May 9, 2015, at 11 am at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 121 South St. Her remains will be interred there in the Memorial Garden along with those of her husband, Robert Whitelaw. Friends are invited to remember her after the service, in the Parish Hall.
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