CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – The Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation and the Cape May County Women's Commission are excited to announce the three 2026 Women of Wonder award recipients, who will be recognized at this year’s annual fundraising event on Thursday, November 12, 11:30 a.m. at The Flanders Hotel in Ocean City.
The Women of Wonder Award honors Cape May County women for their outstanding and selfless dedication to helping others reach their full potential, while making positive contributions within Cape May County and beyond.
This year’s Women of Wonder recipients include:
Katherine C. Madden, chief of police, North Wildwood Police Department. Chief Madden serves as Chief of Police for the North Wildwood Police Department and is the first woman in the department’s history to hold the position. She began her career with the department as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class II in 2006. She went on to serve as a Police Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain, along with numerous specialized assignments. Chief Madden is active in numerous organizations, including the Cape May County Chiefs of Police Association, NJ Women in Law Enforcement, the FBI National Academy Associates, and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Women in Law Enforcement, where she served as Past Conference Chairperson. She also serves as Boys Director for Cape Express Soccer Club. Through her career and community involvement, Chief Madden continues to make a lasting difference by inspiring others and strengthening the community she serves.
Stephanie A. Thomas, executive administrator/CFO, Sunshine Dentistry. Thomas has been a resident of Cape May County for more than 25 years. A summa cum laude graduate of Spelman College with degrees in Computer Science and Mathematics, she began her career as a Computer Software Engineer with IBM, working across several states and serving on the 1996 Summer Olympics Technical Support Team in Atlanta. For the past 25 years, she has served as Executive Administrator and CFO of Sunshine Dentistry, her husband’s dental practice, which has a strong history of community involvement. Through her professional career, educational leadership, and extensive community service, Stephanie Thomas has demonstrated a lasting commitment to strengthening her community and creating opportunities for others. She and her husband, Eric, are the proud parents of three children, and Stephanie enjoys teaching fitness classes, including aerobics, Spin, and yoga, in her free time.
Ronnie Town, external affairs manager, Atlantic City Electric. Town has dedicated more than 42 years to Atlantic City Electric, serving as a trusted External Affairs leader for Cape May and Cumberland counties. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with local officials, agencies, and communities, particularly during storms and emergency response, while helping address important municipal and customer needs. A University of Delaware graduate and Leadership New Jersey alumna, Ronnie has brought a strong public-service perspective to both her professional career and volunteer leadership. She has been deeply involved in community service, serving with organizations including the Cape May County Child Placement Review Board, American Red Cross Southern Shore Chapter, Cape May County and Ocean City Regional Chambers of Commerce, Rotary, and United Way of Cape May County.
Learn about these incredible Women of Wonder award honorees at atlanticcape.edu/wow.
Individual tickets to the event are available for $50 and a table of 10 may be reserved for $450. There are also a variety of sponsorship and advertising opportunities available as well. Visit atlanticcape.edu/wow to purchase tickets or donate today.
Last year's luncheon fundraiser raised $17,575, with proceeds going toward the Women of Wonder Scholarship Endowment Fund. The endowment was established in 2021, but event proceeds have been producing scholarships for Atlantic Cape students since 2011.
Learn more today by visiting the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation at atlanticcape.edu/foundation and the Cape May County Women’s Commission at capemaycountynj.gov/womens-Commission.
For more information about this year’s Women of Wonder event, contact Chris Mularz at foundation@atlanticcape.edu or (609) 463-3651.
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About Atlantic Cape Community College
Established in 1964, Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States-accredited, Hispanic-serving institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers more than 50 undergraduate degree programs and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City, and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and to its highly acclaimed Nursing program for more than 60 years. Atlantic Cape also partners with more than 30 colleges and four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to seamlessly earn a bachelor’s degree upon graduation.
