The Joys of the Season

Women in Profile

The Joys of the Season

Back row: L to R: Terri Stevens, Ship Inn ; Lesley Fetzer, French Creek Golf Club. Front row: L to R: Cynthia Goch, GochYa Cooking ; Alex Friedmann, Charms for Charity ; Melanie Melle, St Peter’s Bakery

Alexandra Morgan Friedmann

Alexandra (also known as Alex) is nine years of age, and this is her first time being featured in The Women’s Journal. Alex was born at Chester County Hospital and was raised in West Chester, and currently attends fourth grade at Exton Elementary. Her parents own Blue Dog Printing & Design, and her mother, Debi Friedmann, designs The Women’s Journal.
At only nine years old, Alex has achieved 1st place in her school’s Invention Convention with “The Laundry Bridge.” At age seven Alex has won the West Chester poetry contest, 1st place again with her poem, “Friends.” Alexandra plays many sports including karate (since she was three years old), field hockey, and softball. Alex has a red belt in karate, which is two belts away from junior black belt.
Alex Friedmann enjoys reading and writing and her favorite food is her daddy’s homemade lemon chicken and asparagus. Alex lives with her mom, her dad, and her wonderful three-year old black lab, Chloe. Alex’s e-mail address is lauranelement@gmail.com.

Cynthia Goch

Learning to cook as a small child in the kitchens of her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and her aunts, Cynthia believes that food is more than nourishment to the body, but also nourishes the soul. Food is a connection to family, friends, and the celebration of life! Savor old world Italian favorites and learn how to bring warmth, togetherness and celebration to your table.
Teaching experience includes demonstrations at Celebrity Kitchens in Wilmington Delaware, The Dilworthtown Inn, Faunbrook Bed & Breakfast, Downingtown Area Recreation Consortium, “A Passport to Wellness”- Downingtown Area School District, and coming this Fall to LaCucina at the Market – Reading Terminal, Philadelphia, and Franklin Commons in Phoenixville. Cynthia will also bring a cooking demonstration to your home. Look for a new book in 2011.
Cynthia and her family live in Chester County. She serves on The Ambassador Council for the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce, is a member of Chester County’s WIM-Women In Motion Networking group, and recently invited as a contributor to Christina Pirello, of The Emmy Award Winning PBS Television Series, “Christina Cooks”. She holds a BA degree from Immaculata University, a certificate from Temple University in Meeting Planning, and is certified in food safety and handling.
“Celebrate Life ~ Bring your friends and family to the table…!” GochYa Cooking! 484-459-3685
www.tastesandtime.com www.gochyacooking.com GochYaCooking@gmail.com

Lesley Fetzer

Lesley Fetzer grew up in Chadds Ford, PA and attended Unionville High School. Her college education began at Harcum Jr. College and is currently continuing her education at Immaculata University.
Lesley is the Director of Sales and Catering at French Creek Golf Club. Lesley has many years in the hospitality industry of which she was introduced into by her family. She is a current member of Women in Motion, networking association, Exton Chamber of Commerce, Tri County Area Chamber, Morgantown Area Business Association, Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry, and Western Chester County Area Chamber. She believes networking and contacts are very crucial for today’s sales market. She is an advocate of doing what you love to do, pursue it with passion and conviction and success will be sure to follow.
Lesley Resides in Malvern, PA with her three children, Joe, Jessica and Justin. She enjoys spending time with family, going to Cape May, New Jersey and visiting her sister in Denver, Colorado.
French Creek Golf Club 4500 Conestoga Road Elverson, PA 19520 Phone. 610.913.6330 x 101 Email: lfetzer@frenchcreekgolf.com website: www.frenchcreekgolf.com

Melanie Melle

Melanie Melle is a veteran in the food industry. Her career was launched in the fine dining renaissance of Philadelphia in the early eighties. Her passion and commitment to learn and excel promoted her to executive level quickly. Her career is unique in that she excelled in both culinary and pastry. The art and discipline of pastry proved to be the most rewarding and challenging. The focus of her career has been perfecting the craft of baking.
Melanie took a hiatus from fine dining establishments while her children were in high school and worked in the hospitality industry managing corporate dining accounts. While this new venue offered a five day work week, with weekends and holidays off, after eight years it did not satisfy her need for creativity and passion for pastry. An opportunity presented itself to manage a bakery/café in the heart of Chester County and Melanie new the time was right to make a change. The challenges were great. The first and foremost was to take a business that was incurring big losses, and make it profitable. Little did she know that the economy was going to crash, the promises made at the time of her hire to help her grow the business would never come to fruition. Melanie was steadfast in her goals and within the year turned the business around and made it profitable. At the same time the partners who owned the bakery decided to take the business in a different direction and Melanie was laid off. Melanie had a vision for the bakery and could not give up on it. Five months later the managing partner agreed to lease the business to Melanie and her husband Peter. Melanie has now been back with the bakery one year. Melanie embraced the community and the community embraced the bakery. She and her husband have opened a second business in Saint Peter’s village an ice cream shop appropriately named The Village Scoop.
Melanie and her husband Peter have been married for 29 years and reside in Collegeville. They have four children, Julia, Emily, Peter and Geoffrey. Together they share their love of family, food, entertaining and traveling.
Saint Peters Bakery 3441 Saint Peters Road Saint Peters, PA 19470 610-469-7501 melanie@saintpetersbakery.com www.saintpetersbakery.com

Terri Stevens

Originally from College Park MD, Terri moved to Chester County a mere 6 years ago, from Virginia Beach VA, and has been making an impact since the moment she arrived. Terri has spent most of her career efforts working in the field of higher education. Her position as the Associate Regional Director for Business, Finance and HR for Troy University, Terri moved to Exton and was instrumental in establishing a new campus for Troy University as Director for the Exton Campus. Spending time amongst the rolling hills of Chester County, she fell in love with the area and its history. When Terri exited that segment of her career she made the choice to stay in Chester County and pursue a completely different career path, one that has led her to The Ship Inn.
Terri is the Marketing and Internet Presence Director for the Ship Inn. The Ship Inn, located in Exton PA, was built in 1796 by John Bowen. While George Washington never slept there, he did host an event at the Ship Inn during one of his visits to Chester County. The Ship Inn is on the National Historic Register and currently serves the public as a Steak and Seafood Restaurant. Known for its “Award Winning Crab Cakes” and as being an affordable and personable restaurant, the Ship Inn still offers historic charm in quaint private rooms, casual dining offered in the grill room, with live music on Fridays. Terri’s love of history translates well to her efforts in marketing this charming, independently owned gem of Chester County.
Terri’s personal life is just as rich as her business world. Terri has three young adult children, and four grandsons. She spends her time immersing herself in Chester County life spending time as a volunteer at Longwood Gardens. Her love of things horticultural has her seeking certification in Floral Design. After living on a vineyard for 6 months, she has found a love of wine and enjoys wine tastings. Her desire to reach out to others has led her to become a member of WIM (Women in Motion). Terri is a member of the Exton Chamber of Commerce and still holds her seat on the Board of Directors for GPACU- Greater Philadelphia Alliance of Colleges and Universities.
Terri still finds a way to offer her time to anyone that seems to need it, that’s the Southern way.
Ship Inn 693 E. Lincoln Hwy Exton, PA 19341 610- 363-7200 shipinnseafood@aol.com www.shipinn.net