14th Annual Women in Achievement Awards

Description

Honorable Stacey L. Meisel, Bankruptcy Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey, will be presented with the Fourteenth Annual Honorable Cecelia H. Goetz Award.

The Honorable Stacey L. Meisel is a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey; the first African-American selected for this position in New Jersey.

Before joining the bench, Judge Meisel was a founding member of Becker Meisel LLC and co-chaired the bankruptcy, insolvency and creditors’ rights practice.

Prior to her appointment, Judge Meisel served on the New Jersey Panel of Bankruptcy Trustees and was the first African-American woman to do so. She thrice served on the committee that recommends candidates to the Third Circuit for New Jersey bankruptcy judgeship vacancies. Judge Meisel served on the New Jersey Court Registry of Mediators and the Lawyers Advisory Committee to the Board of Judges of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. She previously served as Trustee to the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, on the American Bankruptcy Institute Advisory Board for the Mid-Atlantic Bankruptcy Workshop, and as Chair of the 2011 Workshop Attendance Committee.

The Honorable Cecelia H. Goetz Award
The Honorable Cecelia H. Goetz, United States Bankruptcy Judge, E.D.N.Y. (1917-2004) was the first woman bankruptcy judge appointed in the Eastern District of New York. Judge Cecelia H. Goetz led a life that reflected a story of “firsts” and, in so doing, laid a foundation that enabled others to follow in her footsteps.  

Rachel Ehrlich Albanese, Partner, DLA Piper, will be presented with the Fourteenth Annual Executive of the Year Award.

Rachel Ehrlich Albanese is a Restructuring partner in the New York Office. Rachel has nearly 20 years' experience representing secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, equity holders, purchasers of distressed assets, and other parties in interest in a wide range of restructuring matters, including cases under chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code, out-of-court workouts and cross-border insolvency proceedings, as well as cases under title III of PROMESA, Puerto Rico’s restructuring law.

Executive of the Year Award
The NYIC Women’s Division Executive of the Year Award recognizes excellence and entrepreneurial spirit.  The award is presented to those individuals who have achieved noteworthy success in business and who have assisted other women in achieving their goals.  By acknowledging excellence in business, leadership, and a commitment to fostering the growth and success of other women in business, the NYIC Women’s Division hopes to inspire women to succeed and to help other women achieve success in business and in life.

Ramona Morel, Director, Consumer Bankruptcy Project, City Bar Justice Center, will be presented with the Fourth Annual Renaissance Award. 

Ramona Morel serves as the Project Director of the Consumer Bankruptcy Project, a pro bono program, at the City Bar Justice Center. Ramona’s experience includes assistance to low-income consumer debtors with filing for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 relief. Ramona develops and provides pro bono bankruptcy training and DEI CLE programming to law firms. She also produces short consumer bankruptcy-related publications for the general public. Previously, she served as Legal Counselor on the Legal Hotline of the New York City Bar Association. Ramona received a B.A. from New York University and J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.

Renaissance Award
The NYIC Women’s Division Renaissance Award recognizes discovery and exploration in the ever-changing business world.  The award is presented to those individuals who have served as trailblazers in the business community by dedication to continued learning, community service, mentorship and developing new business and leadership opportunities for others. 

Read Press Release Here.

To get more information on the Women who have been honored in the past, see our Industry Awards page.