The Chester County Fund for Women and Girls will host its third annual Champions of Change Breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at The Farmhouse Bistro at People’s Light in Malvern.

The event will honor Dr. Lorraine (Laurie) Bernotsky, Executive Vice President and Provost of West Chester University, for her efforts to support and uplift female students and professionals in the community. First Resource Bank will also be honored for its commitment to career development and work-life balance for female employees.

Dr. Bernotsky, an Exton resident, will receive CCFWG’s third annual Gladys Black Woman of Distinction Award, named in memory of CCFWG’s late friend and committed board member Gladys Black. As a business leader and supporter of women and girls in Chester County, Gladys left a lasting impact on the community.

This year, CCFWG will honor Dr. Bernotsky’s dedication to providing support, resources, and leadership opportunities to women and girls in Chester County. Dr. Bernotsky leads roughly 850 faculty who serve more than 17,000 students, including 3,000 graduate students. She also founded WCU’s Center for Social and Economic Policy Research, a center that has strong connections with local government and nonprofits, many of which serve women and children.

A true champion for women, Dr. Bernotsky coordinates WCU’s Women’s Leadership Development program, which helps female business leaders and professionals develop leadership skills and deepen leadership knowledge in their respective fields. She also encourages female students to realize their true potential.

“Especially for first-generation, working-class women, know that you are far more talented than you think you are,” she said. “Reinforcing this notion throughout these women’s lives is absolutely essential. It’s a matter of believing you are good enough to be where you are, when more often than not, everything about your prior socialization tells you that you’re not.”

And Dr. Bernotsky doesn’t just give great advice – she puts it into practice by serving as the first Provost at WCU to also hold the title of Executive Vice President. Additionally, she serves and has served as a board member of Leadership Chester County and the Chester County Economic Development Council.

As an advocate for its employees, First Resource Bank encourages female employees to pursue professional and leadership opportunities while also striking a true work-life balance for their families. More than 50 percent of the bank’s senior management team is comprised of women, with female leaders running finance, retail banking, and lending operations.

“First Resource Bank takes pride in hiring the best people and helping them to achieve their career goals,” said Glenn Marshall, the bank’s co-founder and CEO. “When our employees succeed, we succeed.”

When First Resource Bank was founded in 2005, the bank’s other co-founder, CFO and then-new mother, Lauren Ranalli, was adamant about the importance of work-life balance for all of her employees.

“I was supported at every turn as my family continued to grow and home demands weren’t always at convenient times,” she said. “By having a female leader of the company successfully manage home and work responsibilities, it sets the tone for everyone throughout the organization. I make it a priority to ensure that every woman working at First Resource Bank has the same opportunities to succeed at both work and home in the best way possible for them, just like I did.

“At First Resource, we’re committed to helping all of our employees reach their full potential. We are honored to be recognized by CCFWG with the Corporate Champions of Change Award and to have a dedicated team who supports one another unconditionally.”

“The difference each individual or place of work can make by promoting a culture of success for all is immense,” said CCFWG Executive Director Michelle Legaspi Sánchez. “CCFWG is proud to recognize the dedication of Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, as well as First Resource Bank. Because of their leadership and courage, many women in Chester County and beyond have more opportunities to move forward.”

To learn more about Champions of Change Breakfast sponsorship opportunities, please contact CCFWG Development Director Dana Wiley at dwiley@ccfwg.org or 484-356-0940, or click here.

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