The Mrs. New Jersey United States 
Woman of Achievement Award 2005

The Mrs. New Jersey United States Woman of Achievement Award is a specially designed award honoring those outstanding women that call New Jersey their home.  The Organization believes that married women should be recognized for their ability to integrate confidence... intelligence... success... and beauty, all at the same time!  We recognize our contestants through our pageant, but we also feel it is important to recognize those women outside of the pageant who have made significant contributions.

We were proud to present the following 2005 Woman of Achievement Awards:

Senator Allen earned a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy from Bucknell University, and upon graduation, began her broadcasting career doing public service programming on WJJZ Radio in Mount Holly, NJ.  In 1976, she joined KYW-TV, the local NBC affiliate, to host a weekly women's program, and eventually joined a local CBS-owned station, WCAU-TV.  Throughout her broadcasting career, she has earned six Emmy Awards and a national Clarion Award.  In 1994, after standing up to CBS for discriminatory practices, and having the government find in her favor, she left the station to work full time in her own media production company, and today she is President of VIDComm, in Burlington, NJ.

In November, 1995, she was elected to the New Jersey State Assembly and took office in January, 1996. She has served on the Assembly Law and Public Safety and Assembly Labor Committees. In June 1996, she was appointed chairperson of the Assembly Advisory Council on Women. Building on her success in the assembly, she was elected to the New Jersey State Senate in November of 1997 to a four-year term, and reelected in 2001 to a two-year term. In March '98 the senator was appointed to New Jersey's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission.

During the 2000-2001 session she sponsored over 400 bills and had more bills signed into law than any other legislator. As a state senator, she has sponsored legislation vital to the welfare of women and families such as “Keep Kids Safe” which increases penalties for crimes against children, funding for the NJ Saver Rebate and other property tax relief programs, $100,000 in additional funding for the New Jersey Safe Haven Infant Protection Act, an appropriation of $75,000 from the Cancer Screening - Early Detection and Education Program for lung cancer in women, and increased medical coverage for the New Jersey FamilyCare Program.  She is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens, and the Senate Committee on Transportation.

Ms. Manahan has been covering New Jersey for two decades, reporting on the events and issues that affect residents of our state. Every weekday evening, she provides in-depth news on New Jersey issues as part of NJN News.  In addition to her broadcast responsibilities at NJN, she has hosted features such as Powerful Women Powerful Voices, an NJN special on women in leadership, and has reported on challenging new opportunities for young girls in the fields of math and science. She has also interviewed and profiled a number of leading newsmakers including former President George Bush, Vice President Dan Quayle and one of New Jersey’s former US Senators, Bill Bradley.

Her nationally broadcast documentary entitled Battered Wives, Shattered Lives told a compelling story of the damage caused by domestic abuse, and earned her an award from the International Film and TV Festival of New York. After working on this special, she became actively involved with the New Jersey Battered Women's Shelter.  She is also a dedicated wife and mother of six, but still finds the time to serve on the Board of Regents of Seton Hall University and the Board of the Tri-county Scholarship Fund for Disadvantaged Youngsters. She was named spokesperson for the Literacy Volunteers of America in New Jersey, has served as the moderator for the prestigious Lincoln-Douglas High School Debate since 1992, and was also the host of the Easter Seal Telethon for nearly 10 years.  With more than 5,000 broadcasts under her belt, she has received many awards during her tenure with NJN, including five Emmys, and two honorary doctorates of law from Kean College in 1993 and Richard Stockton College in 1988.  

Mrs. Brettman graduated from Rush University with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, and received her Master of Arts from Rowan University.  A registered nurse, Cathie is certified in NJ as a school nurse, teacher of health occupations, and counselor in student personnel services.  For the past six years, she has been the school nurse at Thomas Richard Elementary School in Waterford Township, NJ. During the 2003-2004 school year, school social workers approached her to conduct classes on nutrition in order to address obesity within the student body.  Mrs. Brettman developed and implemented a program designed to improve the physical health of its students, called the "Team Nutrition" Program.  This program, as an initiative championed by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, provides training and technical assistance for food service, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.  Cathie worked diligently with her cafeteria staff to improve the quality of school lunches, and held weekly Team Nutrition lessons. 

She is also piloting the Fuel Up With Five program in her school, which is a program developed by Rutgers University and the NJDA as a "Race to Good Nutrition" school lunch program that is designed to teach children the basics of "fueling" their bodies with foods that will nourish their performance, growth and development.  As a result of her work, all 2nd and 3rd grade students are receiving instruction regarding proper nutrition.  Her innovative approach to teaching health related topics has gained the support, enthusiasm, and involvement of the schools at all levels, and everyone from student to principal recognize her spirit and commitment to the health of New Jersey’s children.