Chamber of Commerce’s “Salute to Working Women” Set for Thursday

The Ocean City Chamber of Commerce announced that Kristie Fenton and Jackie Adams, of the city’s Division of Recreation, will receive the Community Service Award at the “Salute to Working Women” luncheon Thursday at the Ocean City Yacht Club.

The award recognizes women in business for their outstanding professional and personal achievements, the Chamber said in a news release.

Rebecca “Becky” Juzwiak, of Johnson’s Popcorn, will receive the “Salute to Working Women” award. Kristin Gallagher, a local business owner, will be the guest speaker.

Kristie Fenton was born and raised in Ocean City and is in the Ocean City High School Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. She has worked as the supervisor of the City’s Recreation Division of the Community Services Department since 1994 and oversees many sports programs.

From 1991 to 2006, she coached freshman/JV field hockey at Ocean City High School. She also coached girls' lacrosse with the Warriors Program.

Fenton is the longtime executive director of the Little Miss Ocean City Pageant. She currently serves on the Ocean City High School Parent Advisory Committee and is a past member of the Municipal Alliance Committee.

Fenton lives in Upper Township with her husband, Joe, and daughters Nicholl and Abbey. She graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Exercise Science and Sports Studies while playing field hockey on an athletic scholarship.

Jackie Adams was born and raised in Ocean City. She graduated from Ocean City High School in 2010.

When Adams turned 16, she began working for the City’s Recreation Division as a seasonal employee. She currently is the assistant supervisor of Recreation, managing various sports and programs from pickleball and tennis to youth camps/playgroups and Special Olympics events.

Adams began volunteering in 2009 with the Challenger Sports, a nonprofit organization that helps children and adults with intellectual or physical disabilities participate in sports and social outings.

In 2012, she was the recipient of Stockton University’s Unsung Hero Award voted on by the Student Athletic-Academic Committee.

Throughout the years, Adams has been an advocate for Unified Sports programs, which allow people of all abilities to play together.

She serves on the Special Olympics Area 8 committee for Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties. Within the community, Adams has organized unified pickleball clinics and oversees Special Olympics Area 8 events, such as an annual swim meet, track and field meet and fundraiser walk.

Adams loves being a part of the community. Injuries that sidelined her athletic career fuel her passion to coach and help others so that no one has to watch from the sidelines because of a disability, according to the release.

    Kristin Gallagher, a senior executive with BioXcel Therapeutics, will serve as the luncheon's speaker. (Courtesy of Ocean City Chamber of Commerce)
 

Kristin Gallagher, an Ocean City resident and business owner, will be the guest speaker for the luncheon program.

She is the executive director of commercial strategy at BioXcel Therapeutics, a startup biotech company based in New Haven, Connecticut.

Prior to her position at BioXcel Therapeutics, Gallagher led business development and contracting in North America for Fagron Pharmaceuticals, where she worked exclusively with large integrated health care systems.

She has also logged 20 years in capital, surgical, and pharmaceutical sales with several Fortune 50 companies.

Gallagher is a graduate of Ursinus College and received her MBA from Penn State University. She is the owner of SaltWorks Studio in Ocean City.

She lives in Ocean City with her husband, Chad, daughters Mia and Brynn, and their dog, Rusty.

Becky Juzwiak of Johnson’s Popcorn will receive the 2025 “Salute to Working Women” award. Juzwiak has been the manager of the iconic popcorn business since 2002.

Under her tenure, Johnson’s Popcorn has been featured on the Food Network, Good Morning America, The Drew Barrymore Show, Rachel Ray, and many other shows. Johnson’s Popcorn has been distributed to over 500 retail stores.

In addition to her work life, Juzwiak is deeply committed to the community. She is the past president of the Board of Directors for The Branches Outreach Center in Rio Grande and a former board member of Habitat for Humanity Atlantic County.

She is currently in charge of the meals for the Family Faith Formations for St. Damien’s Parish Religious Education for Sister Joelle. She also sponsors community events for southern Cape May County under the leadership of SOAR church, is a board member for Manna from Heaven in Bridgeton, N.J., and is active with various schools and organizations in South Jersey.

Juzwiak facilitates Johnson’s philanthropic contributions across the nation. Her passion is feeding people everywhere, according to the Chamber’s release.

The Salute to working Women luncheon will honor all working women at home or in the workforce and is open to the public. The cost is $45 per person. For more information or to make a reservation, contact the Chamber of Commerce office at 609-399-1412 or by email at info@oceancitychamber.com.

    Becky Juzwiak, manager of Johnson's Popcorn, will receive the "Salute to Working Women" award. (Courtesy of Ocean City Chamber of Commerce)