Brenda Swatek has seen a major shift in how people think about wellness in recent years – and she’s leaning into that momentum.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team of the 2024 Hudson Valley Go Red for Women Luncheon, Swatek saw firsthand how the American Heart Association, a global force for a world of longer, healthier lives, empowers local communities to live healthier lives.
This year, she’s chairing the 2025 event, set for Thursday, Dec. 4, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Poughkeepsie, 40 Civic Center Plaza, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“One stat that really hit me was that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, and it claims more lives than the top eight cancers combined,” Swatek said. “That’s something we need to talk about more.”
For Swatek, heart health is personal.
“My dad had heart disease,” she said. “It doesn’t just affect the individual; it affects the whole family.”
What also stuck with her from last year’s Luncheon? The energy. The support. The celebration.
“I loved how uplifting it was,” she said. “It was about celebrating life and lifting each other up. This year, I want to bring in younger voices who may not know about the Go Red for Women movement yet. I’d love to see more women-owned businesses at the Festival of Red before the luncheon, and, of course, hit our fundraising goal.”
In her role as vice president of human resources at IBM, Swatek supports global teams across the employee lifecycle and champions leadership development, innovation and skill growth.
“We’re focused on building talent strategies that work at the business unit level,” she explained. “That means attracting great people, keeping them engaged, and creating a culture where innovation and risk-taking are safe. We want leaders who inspire, and employees who are ‘learn-it-alls,’ not ‘know-it-alls.’”
A Green Bay native and first-generation college graduate, Swatek earned both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Wisconsin. After stints in Raleigh, N.C. and Rochester, Minn., she now lives in LaGrange with her husband of 30 years, Brian, and their two children, Alex, 21, and Isabella, 17.
IBM’s support of the Go Red movement is no coincidence.
“It’s about education and health – two things IBM cares deeply about,” Swatek said. “The fact that we’re a sponsor shows how much we value the Association’s mission.”
So, why should you attend the Luncheon?
“Why wouldn’t you?” Swatek said. “It’s a celebration of a powerful cause. You’ll learn, connect, and walk away reminded of the incredible support system we have in this community.”
Swatek has put together an Executive Leadership Team to work with her on making the Luncheon a success. They include:
- Sheila Appel, IBM
- Susan Browning, Nuvance Health: Legacy Chair
- Sola Ogunsola, IBM
- Christine Pellegrino, Pellegrino Healing Center
- Steph Raymond, Central Hudson Gas & Electric
- Melissa Rodriguez, Ellenville Regional Hospital
- Connie Santoiemmo, Innovative Ink Tattoo & SMP
- Cara Sclafani, Pfizer
- Dora Visbeck, Ulster Savings Bank
To be part of the Hudson Valley Go Red for Women Luncheon, visit www.heart.org/GoRedHV.