The Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce this afternoon presented Michele Delisfort of Union Twp. with its mayor of the year award.

“This made my day,” Delisfort said. “I’m so happy. I definitely want to congratulate my fellow nominees. The chamber committee nominated all women this year and that’s just great.”

In presenting the award, the Chamber cited the mayor’s conscientious relationship building with Kean University, over $350 million in development into twp. and 15 brand new businesses moving into Union.

A Haitian-American daughter of the Township of Union, Delisfort received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Rutgers University and later went on to pursue a Masters Degree in City and Regional Planning from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, also at Rutgers.

A small business owner of an urban planning consultancy firm and has over 20 years of professional experience in land use planning, redevelopment planning, and community development, Delisfort is a licensed professional planner and nationally certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners. She also serves as Chairperson of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association’s Redevelopment Planning Committee.

Prior to being elected as Committeewoman, the married mother of two teenage children served on the Township of Union Planning Board, not only as an active member but as Vice Chairperson.

As the winner noted, the chamber’s award this year bore the distinction of being the first consisting of all women mayors.

Here was the field of finalists:

Sarah Todisco of Garwood

Dahlia Vertreese of Hillside

Linda Karlovitch of Kenilworth

Michele Delisfort of Union Twp.

The chamber also gave a best speaker of the year award and Linda Karlovitch of Kenilworth emerged victorious.

The finalists in that competition were as follows:

Shelley Brindle of Westfield

Sarah Todisco of Garwood

Linda Karlovitch of Kenilworth

Michele Delisfort of Union