Magazine names 8 of N.J.’s best working moms to listing

Working Mother magazine has named eight Garden State women to its “Working Mothers of the Year” list, comprised of 66 moms from around the country and several companies with strong New Jersey ties to its 100 Best Companies list. The winners will be honored tonight in Manhattan.

Working Mother magazine has named eight Garden State women to its “Working Mothers of the Year” list, comprised of 66 moms from around the country and several companies with strong New Jersey ties to its 100 Best Companies list. The winners will be honored tonight in Manhattan.

Michelle Machemer, director of systems development at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and a mother of three, said loving what she does and having strong family support helps her set an example as a working mom.

“I love what I do, I love my job,” Machemer said. “To be recognized in this light is certainly flattering … I do feel like there are several people who I work with over time say, ‘How do you do it all?'”

Machemer said Horizon allowed her to change her work schedule when her first daughter, who has special needs, was born, and is a “family-oriented” place to work. Working Mother agreed, listing Horizon in the 100 Best Companies.

“It really shows the commitment and how much we hold in high regard our employees to help them balance personal and work life, so not only are they successful personally but they can also be successful professionally,” said Alison Banks-Moore, chief diversity officer for Horizon.

Banks-Moore said programs as complex as adoption reimbursement and paid leave, to programs as simple as wellness screenings and “lunch and learn” sessions, all have shown positive results in supporting working parents.

The other New Jersey mothers being recognized tonight are Denise Pickett, of American Express; Barbara Taylor, of BDO USA; Joy Walk, of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; Sindhu Thomas, of Pearson; Alicia Vacchiano, of Prudential Financial; Diana Zaccardi Yetka, of Verizon Communications Inc.; and Mary Falvey, of Wyndham Worldwide.