Honoree Profile
Susette Tibus
Susette Tibus opened her own business, Majestic Jewelers in the Olde Mistick Village 30 plus years ago, against all odds. At the time, it was unusual to have a female owned business and it was even more unique, as she was the daughter of a Philippine immigrant family. Susette overcame the challenges for women in business during times when a women could not even get a loan without a man's signature. As the business evolved by expanding, relocating to downtown and being renamed to Simply Majestic, one thing never changed - Susette's consistent commitment to helping other women. Along the way, she has created many jobs and advancement opportunities for women. She encourages her staff to develop their skills and become jewelry designers. She encourages them to get involved with local YP groups and with area non-profit organizations. Susette has invested, recruited, mentored, and advocated for her all-female staff at Simply Majestic. She always supports each of her employee's families. She is known as the person who gets regular "pop in" visitors at her office in the jewelry store which sometimes doubles as a strategic planning room, coaches office or therapy studio. She is happy to dole out sage advice on business, political, and personal matters and extremely willing to give her time to guide young executives.
Mentoring Women in the Region
Susette Tibus demonstrates an investment in the welfare of professional women. She is one of the founding members of the "Women leaders making a difference" program at UConn. She and Joyce Resnikoff wanted to create a platform for female empowerment while helping to develop and inspire the next generation of women leaders to excel. These annual panel discussions provide forums comprised of 6-7 diverse female leaders from a broad cross section of industries in southeastern CT and southern RI. Women then network with one another after the program and often become mentors to people in attendance.
Susette has supported and mentored Eva Franchi for the Annual Sergio Franchi Scholarship Gala held for 25 years in Stonington. Susette propelled and guided founder Laura Manfre of the nonprofit Sofia Sees Hope with her fundraisers in support of research for degenerative eye research. She aligned and supported Betty Smith of Always Home, formerly known as MASH, and also Tricia Cunningham who is the new Executive Director there. She mentored and motivated at least 5 individuals who have served in the role of Executive Director at the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce.
Susette has mentored, or is mentoring, numerous female political leaders in the region from both political parties. In particular, Susette has supported, nurtured, aligned, and coached Heather Somers, local Senator for CT.
History Of Community Service:
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Mystic Aquarium
Co-Chair, Ocean Commotion, Mystic Aquarium
Co-Chair of Golf Tournament, Mystic Aquarium
Board of Directors, Westerly Hospital Foundation
Board of Directors, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center
President, Olde Mistick Village Merchants Association
Board Member, Southeastern CT Enterprise Region
Leadership Advisory Council, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
President, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
Chair, ATHENA Committee, Mystic Chamber of Commerce
Chair, Mystic Outdoor Art Festival
Committee Member, Taste of Mystic
Committee Member, Chocolate Affair
Committee Member, Winter Festival
Committee Member, Doolittle Raider Reunion in Mystic
Co-Host of "Mystic Matters" Public Service Access Program
Committee Member, CT Law Enforcement Memorial for those who Served
Chair, Board of Police Commissioners, Town of Stonington
Chair, St. Edmunds Medal of Honor
Constable, Town of Stonington
Board Member, 100 Club State of CT
Board Member, Police Commissioners Association of CT
Board of Directors, Camp Horizons
Board Member, New England Filopino American, Inc.
Founding Member and Advisor, Sophia Sees Hope
2019 Donated portion of sales to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation
Judge for the CT Regional History Day
Other Awards
Hercules Award, Mystic Aquarium - 2021
Community Service Award, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce-2006
PNC Good Neighbor Award- Pawcatuck Neighbor Award
Lions Humanitarian Award - 2010
Always Home recognition for "Let's Dance" - 2019
Lifetime Service Award, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce - 2017
Rotary Paul Harris Fellow - 2019
CT General Assembly Citations - 2002, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2018
Susette Tibus opened her own business, Majestic Jewelers in the Olde Mistick Village 30 plus years ago, against all odds. At the time, it was unusual to have a female owned business and it was even more unique, as she was the daughter of a Philippine immigrant family. Susette overcame the challenges for women in business during times when a women could not even get a loan without a man's signature. As the business evolved by expanding, relocating to downtown and being renamed to Simply Majestic, one thing never changed - Susette's consistent commitment to helping other women. Along the way, she has created many jobs and advancement opportunities for women. She encourages her staff to develop their skills and become jewelry designers. She encourages them to get involved with local YP groups and with area non-profit organizations. Susette has invested, recruited, mentored, and advocated for her all-female staff at Simply Majestic. She always supports each of her employee's families. She is known as the person who gets regular "pop in" visitors at her office in the jewelry store which sometimes doubles as a strategic planning room, coaches office or therapy studio. She is happy to dole out sage advice on business, political, and personal matters and extremely willing to give her time to guide young executives.
Mentoring Women in the Region
Susette Tibus demonstrates an investment in the welfare of professional women. She is one of the founding members of the "Women leaders making a difference" program at UConn. She and Joyce Resnikoff wanted to create a platform for female empowerment while helping to develop and inspire the next generation of women leaders to excel. These annual panel discussions provide forums comprised of 6-7 diverse female leaders from a broad cross section of industries in southeastern CT and southern RI. Women then network with one another after the program and often become mentors to people in attendance.
Susette has supported and mentored Eva Franchi for the Annual Sergio Franchi Scholarship Gala held for 25 years in Stonington. Susette propelled and guided founder Laura Manfre of the nonprofit Sofia Sees Hope with her fundraisers in support of research for degenerative eye research. She aligned and supported Betty Smith of Always Home, formerly known as MASH, and also Tricia Cunningham who is the new Executive Director there. She mentored and motivated at least 5 individuals who have served in the role of Executive Director at the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce.
Susette has mentored, or is mentoring, numerous female political leaders in the region from both political parties. In particular, Susette has supported, nurtured, aligned, and coached Heather Somers, local Senator for CT.
History Of Community Service:
Vice Chair, Board of Trustees, Mystic Aquarium
Co-Chair, Ocean Commotion, Mystic Aquarium
Co-Chair of Golf Tournament, Mystic Aquarium
Board of Directors, Westerly Hospital Foundation
Board of Directors, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center
President, Olde Mistick Village Merchants Association
Board Member, Southeastern CT Enterprise Region
Leadership Advisory Council, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
President, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce
Chair, ATHENA Committee, Mystic Chamber of Commerce
Chair, Mystic Outdoor Art Festival
Committee Member, Taste of Mystic
Committee Member, Chocolate Affair
Committee Member, Winter Festival
Committee Member, Doolittle Raider Reunion in Mystic
Co-Host of "Mystic Matters" Public Service Access Program
Committee Member, CT Law Enforcement Memorial for those who Served
Chair, Board of Police Commissioners, Town of Stonington
Chair, St. Edmunds Medal of Honor
Constable, Town of Stonington
Board Member, 100 Club State of CT
Board Member, Police Commissioners Association of CT
Board of Directors, Camp Horizons
Board Member, New England Filopino American, Inc.
Founding Member and Advisor, Sophia Sees Hope
2019 Donated portion of sales to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation
Judge for the CT Regional History Day
Other Awards
Hercules Award, Mystic Aquarium - 2021
Community Service Award, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce-2006
PNC Good Neighbor Award- Pawcatuck Neighbor Award
Lions Humanitarian Award - 2010
Always Home recognition for "Let's Dance" - 2019
Lifetime Service Award, Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce - 2017
Rotary Paul Harris Fellow - 2019
CT General Assembly Citations - 2002, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2017, 2018
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