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State representative organizes Women’s Expo in Peters Township

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 2 min read
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Jessica Cumba of Peters Township, owner of Three Rivers Salsa, has a new verde offering to go along with the brand's longtime favorite.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Stephanie Zarecky, with daughter Eliana, attends the event to raise awareness about the Scarlett Lillian Paul Foundation, started in memory of another daughter. Visit www.scarlettsfoundation.org.

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Kara Evans presents information about Arbonne skin-care products during the Women's Expo at Valley Brook Country Club in Peters Township.

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Ashley Jamison has a virtual assistant business that specializes in project management, social media management and administrative tasks.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Tammy Stockton’s Peters Township business is Jackhammer Fit LLC.

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Harry Funk/The Almanac

Board members of Always B Smiling, a nonprofit dedicated to providing happy experiences for children with life challenges, are, from left, Stephanie Walker, Kerrin Hetland, secretary Sloane Astorino and executive director Kristin Huibregtse.

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Attending the Women's Expo are Laural Ziemba, left, director of public affairs for Range Resources' Greater Pittsburgh Region, and Genevieve Peters, Dress for Success Washington branch manager

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Representing Steel City Spine and Orthopedic Center are, from left, Henai and Bre Strothers.

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Representing Monat, a natural-based hair care line, are Kelly Rothrock and her mother, Patty.

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Mandi Pryor, left, executive director of the South West Communities Chamber of Commerce, is pictured with Shelley McClellan, owner of Vintage Real Estate LLC, and team members Madison White and Julie Manion, right.

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Represening Seniors BlueBook are Anna Marie Kijanka, left, and Apryl Garrett.

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Representing Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania are Renana Mendicinio, left, outreach coordinator, and Cherish Diviney, director of community outreach.

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Representing Mulberry Public Affairs, a woman-owned business that focuses on generating local support for our clients' issue advocacy campaigns and organizational goals, are Amy Kaminski, left, and Ashley Henry Shook.

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Washington County Commissioner tries the be-a-trooper cutout brought to the event by Melinda Bondarenka, a trooper with the State Police Office of Community Engagement.

Even though it was morning, what Jessica Cumba was offering had to be hard to resist.

She was among the female business owners, leaders of nonprofits and community members who gathered for the first Women’s Expo organized by state Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Peters Township, and members of her staff.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Rita Abbio displays the catchy slogan for Cookie Wishes, a small business specializing in designer, high quality custom cookies for all events.

And Cumba, who also lives in Peters, was excited to tell everyone that her brand, Three Rivers Salsa, has introduced a new flavor: verde, a delicious combination of roasted tomatillo, onion, and poblano and jalapeño peppers.

Some 40 vendors set up displays for the event, held at Valley Brook Country Club in Peters, varying from tasty treats to clothes and jewelry to health-related products. Also attending were representatives of many of the services that are available for women regionally.

“Small businesses and nonprofits really had a rough year in 2020 with the pandemic, the shutdowns, with all of it. And we really wanted to do what we could to help them out,” Mihalek said. “Especially for women who are trying to juggle it all both at home and in the business world, we wanted to lift them up and give them a venue to promote their businesses.”

The Women’s Expo also gave them an opportunity to network, learn more about one another and, optimally, make some new friends and customers along the way.

Also during the event, collections were made on behalf of organization such as Dress for Success, which provides professional attire and other forms of support for women on the road to economic independence; Zachary’s Mission, helping families of medically fragile children by supplying basic necessities and financial assistance; and Shop With a Cop, a Pennsylvania State Police program organized in conjunction with Macy’s to give children opportunities for back-to-school purchases.

Harry Funk/The Almanac

State Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Peters Township, who organzed the Women’s Expo, greets Pennsylvania State Police troopers, from left, Robert Broadwater, Melinda Bondarenka and Kalee Wietrzykowski.

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