MEET THE TEAM

Our agile team relentlessly innovates our processes to maximize our Fortune 500 clients’ Return on Investment (ROI). Because of this, many of our clients have trusted our Connectors for decades.

RALPH D. WEAVER

FOUNDING PRESIDENT & CEO

Ralph has over 30 years of experience in meeting, planning, and corporate communications. He founded EWC in 1990 and has built the company into a diverse organization. Ralph formerly headed East West Consulting, which specialized in marketing communications and public relations. He was director of marketing communications for Johnson & Johnson where he managed marketing and communications programs for the pharmaceutical sector. At Bristol-Myers Squibb, Ralph was Manager of Public Affairs, Consumer and Healthcare.

DEBORAH A. DICKERSON

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

With a strong background in meeting planning, Deborah comes to EWC from American Express Meetings and Events.  Deborah is uniquely qualified to lead the meeting planning team as she has served in various leadership/operational capacities across our industry.    She is a results-driven professional with 20+ years of experience in global operations management, global leadership, strategic meetings management, and project management.   Included in her remit was the opportunity to influence the strategic direction and implementation of a large pharmaceutical company’s Global Meetings Management program.  Deborah was also afforded the opportunity to manage and support the meeting activity driven by the C-Suite of American Express and other business verticals.

ADRIENNE BRIGHT

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

Adrienne is EWC’s Executive Vice President and has been affiliated with EWC since its inception. She is one of the company’s strategic influencers. Adrienne has held various management positions in the company ranging from managing quality initiatives to ensure the highest quality standards are met to overseeing procurement and the development of incentive gift programs. Adrienne currently is responsible for maximizing East West Connection’s Financial and Administrative performance. This encompasses Finance, Human Resources, Design, Compliance, Procurement, Public Relations and Marketing, Technology and the Culinary Consortium. A graduate of Howard University, Adrienne previously was in the Marketing Department at MCI and the Procurement Department for Logicon.

CAROL PADGETT

VICE PRESIDENT, DATA SECURITY COMPLIANCE & EWC INSTITUTE

Carol has 21 years of experience in all aspects of meeting and event management as well as directing and managing teams. In her role as EWC’s Vice President, Data Security, Compliance & EWC Institute, Carol is responsible for overseeing our systems and processes to ensure that our staff is trained and actively working within data, privacy and security standards. Carol works in partnership with EWC’s teams and is propelling EWC by developing the EWC Institute – an innovative initiative that will allow EWC to develop aspiring diverse talent for strategic meetings (in-person & virtual), events, and incentive programs.  Prior to joining EWC, Carol was with USA Hosts where she was responsible for managing the team of meeting planners in the New Orleans office of this international destination management company.

CHERYL SALLEY

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Cheryl has 19 years of corporate experience in event planning and project management. Cheryl has successfully organized multiple planning projects simultaneously while working as a Meetings and Events Manager for UC The Source, Inc. Previously at Bristol-Myers Squibb, Cheryl served as a Resource Manager where she was responsible for contract negotiations for over 60 domestic and international meetings annually. In addition, Cheryl served as the lead planner for Medical Education programs planning Advisory Board Meetings, its Speakers Bureau and Investigator Meetings.

LINDA GULDNER

DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE & OFFICE MANAGER

Linda has a distinguished career specializing in Human Resources and Office Management. Prior to joining EWC, Linda served as Office Manager for Ike Brothers Transport of Long Valley, NJ. For nine years, Linda was Human Resources and Payroll Manager for Gateway Outdoor Advertising where she was responsible for managing human resources in nine national offices planning corporate functions and events, coordinating community outreach, and overseeing corporate giving.

BETH FLORES

CONTROLLER

OUR CULTURE & VALUES

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

RALPH D. WEAVER

“The time is always right, to do the right thing”

Dr. Martin Luther King

The senseless and horrendous murder of George Floyd has heightened the awareness of what has been going on for too long. This time there was a recording for the world to see a defenseless human being crying out “I Can’t Breathe” as his life faded away. What has our society become when help or compassion is not extended to a fellow citizen because of the color of his skin? Mr. Floyd was someone’s son, father, brother, uncle, and friend, yet his life did not matter to the police officer who knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.

This was not an isolated incident. The picture of Mr. Floyd will be forever engrained in my mind just as the faces of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin, and other African Americans who have died at the hands of law enforcement. The untold truth is what happened to George Floyd could happen to me, my uncle, brother, sister, nephews, niece, friends, or anyone who is black or brown.

There has always been so much to do as instances of social injustice have occurred throughout my lifetime compounding the pain and suffering of black and brown people. I witnessed the discrimination my parents experienced in the 50’s and 60’s while working hard trying to live the American Dream. I know first-hand about being profiled, treated unfairly, and disrespected because of my skin color. Over the years, I chose to remain silent and persevered, determined to rise above others’ ignorance; but remaining quiet is no longer an option.

It is my heart’s desire to do what I can to create a better world for my 15-year-old nephew Tony and all in his generation and those to come. Who is your Tony who reminds you that you can no longer be silent; that the time is right to do the right thing?

Throughout my life my faith has been my North Star and that has fueled my optimism about race relations, inclusion, and equality. Now, join in focusing our anger and agitation to solutions to heal from issues that have been a part of America’s landscape for over 400 years. Together we can be better and work to destroy systemic racism that lead to inroads to doing the right things for all people. I am committed to lending my voice, time, and resources to address racism and social injustices. Think about getting involved in an organization, speaking out against injustice when it occurs in your community and/or forming a group at your church, synagogue, or mosque to build bridges to bring people together.

I pray for peace and healing and to touch the souls and hearts of our fellow citizens to make everyone understand that our lives have value and matter. I dream of a better world where we listen to those unheard voices to find solutions that will lead to a better world for us all.

I salute and honor George Floyd and all whose lives have been sacrificed for us to see over the mountaintop.

Sincerely,

Ralph D. Weaver

HUMANITY &

OUTREACH

East West Connection is committed to providing superior services to our clients. We accomplish this by adhering to our Vision Statement’s principles of integrity, respect and ethical business standards.

LENDING A HELPING HAND

The “human element” is an integral part of everything we do. It takes a village to make a difference in people’s lives and since our inception, East West Connection has been committed to touching the lives of people everyday. EWC provides funding, in-kind donations and/or pro bono services to a variety of organizations and causes focused on cancer, education and equality. One organization EWC supports is Growing Hearts of Africa, a 501(c)(3) organization, focused on building schools in Ethiopia. For the past four years, EWC has provided pro-bono support to this effort.

DIVERSITY &

INCLUSION

Many companies have expressed a commitment to support African American-owned businesses in the wake of the murder of George Floyd and heightened awareness of systemic racism. As a 100% African American- owned business, EWC can be positioned as the company of choice for corporations looking to increase their spending with minority companies. Our commitment is focused on creating a work environment that embraces demographic, experiential and cognitive diversity. We strive to annually ensure that everyone has an opportunity to connect, interact, and engage with their individual work communities and as a collective unit.

SUSTAINABILITY &

RESPONSIBILITY

At East West Connection, we are committed to Environmental Awareness, Economic Growth and Social Equality by embracing the passion and purpose of our employees, local communities and global partnerships. With a thoughtful and strategic focus, we support Sustainability Initiatives through Ethical Sourcing, Energy Efficiency, Community Volunteerism, and Education, Awareness & Advocacy.
389 PITTSTOWN ROAD
PITTSTOWN, NJ 08867
(P) 908.713.9655