Joanne Gerena

A recent transplant to Weehawken, NJ after living her entire life in Brooklyn, NY; Jo Gerena is a former film school graduate who then forsook the creative for a steady paycheck and health benefits. She began her career in retail from 1990 through 1997 and then temped for 2 years while she traveled and tried to decide what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She wound up working at the American Museum of Natural History, where she would make lasting friendships that would also introduce her to her future husband. After 9-11, she was laid off and again temped before landing a nice role in the Financial sector. For over ten years she worked in Finance at private equity firms and global banks. She became a casualty of the economic downturn and was laid off in late 2011, after having her second child. This was a blessing in disguise because although she was sad to lose her job, she gained a new job that is 24/7 – motherhood. She never expected something that could be so difficult and time consuming and sometimes thankless could be so rewarding. She never knew that hard work could be so gratifying, or that something so gratifying could be so difficult. She is humbled and in awe of the experience and is concerned with all aspects of the parenting experience. She moved to Weehawken in January of 2012 and besides her 2 wonderful girls, she resides on Shippen Street (allegedly 4 doors down from the Mayor!) with her fantastic husband and their cats.