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CCM Alumni Awards 2008 | ||
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The CCM Foundation is grateful to the many
individuals and corporate neighbors who give so generously throughout the
year and support special events like tonight’s gala. Alumni Achievement Award |
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Alumna of the Year Award Dr. Betsy Greenleaf ’92 received a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Medicine and Dentistry in 1998. She completed an internship, general surgery training, three years of obstetrics and gynecology residency, and a fellowship in urogynecology and advanced gynecology. She is one of only a few doctors nationwide who specialize in Female Pelvic Medicine and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery and is in the forefront of the field. Her earlier education included an Associates Degree in Biology from CCM and a Bachelors Degree in 1994 from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Out of all of the schools she attended, County College of Morris stands out to her as the place where she received the best education and had the most fulfilling experience. She feels strongly that she “started right” and wouldn’t be where she is today without CCM. She credits her mother, also a former CCM student, with encouraging and motivating her to attend CCM. Dr. Greenleaf promises to continue to make CCM proud in the years ahead. In 2007, Dr. Greenleaf performed New Jersey’s first minimally invasive procedure using ground-breaking technology known as “The MiniArc Single Incision Sling System.” She is the first doctor in New Jersey, and one of only 70 worldwide, trained to conduct this procedure. Dr. Greenleaf is a member of the Monmouth Medical Group in Lakewood, New Jersey, a division of Monmouth Medical Center and Saint Barnabas Health Care System. In addition, she has staff privileges at Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Virtua Health System, and Underwood Memorial Hospital. She is a member of multiple professional associations, including the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She is also involved in various research projects and is a Reviewer for the American Urogynecology Society and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition, Dr. Greenleaf is a regular presenter at professional events and community lectures. Dr. Greenleaf resides in Marlton, New Jersey,
with her husband Patrick, a Major and pilot in the US Air Force, and their
new baby girl, Layla Rose, born March 21, 2008. |
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Alumni Achievement Award Laura Bartus ’98 excelled in academics at CCM while also taking part in campus activities. She earned an Associates degree in Humanities/Social Science in 1998 with honors. She was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, served as the Secretary of Student Government, and was Vice President of the Student Activities Council. Laura commends CCM for providing her with the skill set and confidence that continues to carry her forward in her career. In 1999, she received a Bachelors degree from Manhattan College and is currently pursuing a Masters of Social Work from Rutgers University. “Involvement in activities” appears to be a theme in Laura’s life. In her position as Sales Office Manager/Employee Relations Coordinator for The Economist Group in New York, Laura worked trade shows, executed workshops, planned parties, organized events and chaired the Morale Committee. She then served as the Special Events Manager for RideWise of the Somerset County Business Partnership where she was involved in Bike to Work Day, International Walk to School Day, and the RideShare Rally. Since 2005, Laura has been the President of the International Trade Center Alliance in Mt. Olive, which is a membership organization for the businesses and retailers in the International Trade Center and ITC Crossing. The ITCA designs activities and programs that meet the needs and interests of the ITC workforce and range from health and fitness to educational, networking, and sports leagues. Annual non-profit programs, including the March of Dimes WalkAmerica, the American Heart Association Heart Walk, Noah’s Ark Hike N ‘Howl, etc. are hosted and managed by the ITCA. In addition, Laura is involved with special fund raising programs, manages the major gifts program, writes and edits the ITCA magazine and newsletter, and created their interactive website www.ITCAevents.org. Laura has a great passion for non-profit and
volunteer work. She was active for many years with the Catholic Big Sisters,
ARIA, Streetwise and the Girl Scouts. In the Fall of 2007, she became a
Client Advocate with Roots & Wings LLC, a member of the Board of Trustees of
the Mount Olive Chamber of Commerce, and recently joined the Mount Olive
Mayor’s Wellness Coalition Committee. She is also a Board of Trustees member
of the Mount Olive Economic Development Committee. |
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Alumni Achievement Award Denise Gassner Kuhn ’82 received an Associates Degree in Humanities/Media Studies and soon after was hired for an administrative position at The Marcus Group. Over the next twenty-five years, Denise’s top-notch business and managerial skills have led her to grow with the company and continuously move up the ranks of responsibility. Recognizing her abilities, company founder Alan Marcus promoted her to Office Manager, then Assistant Vice President, then Vice President, and to her current role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Over the years, the firm has grown to become one of the region’s largest full-service advertising, crisis management and public relations agencies, with a national reputation for excellence. Denise keeps the firm running smoothly in overall business operations, including account planning and budgeting. She is also responsible for attracting, developing, and retaining a world class staff that requires keeping up with ever-changing technology to help the firm serve clients more efficiently. Denise enjoyed her time as a student at
CCM, especially her journalism classes. Her math classes also come in handy
at unexpected times in her work environment. She credits CCM for giving her
more confidence in her skills and in her ability to lead. Denise and her
husband reside in Succasunna. |
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Alumni Achievement Award Harold Jolicoeur ’95 most recently had the distinction of working for a worldwide leader in the flavor and fragrance industry. Firmenich discovers and creates perfumes, flavors and ingredients that manufacturers incorporate into many famous brands of perfume, cosmetics, household products, foods and beverages. Firmenich’s clients include P&G, Unilever, Reckitt Benkiser, L’Oreal, Coty Inc., Estee Lauder, Nestle, DANONE, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Burger King and Campbell Soup. From 2005 to 2008, as Global Strategic Purchasing Manager for Indirect Services, Packaging Materials & MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations Supplies), Harold directed the activities of nine employees in the U.S. and globally, managed a $90 million annual budget, as well as $100 million of services and MRO. He possesses a special talent for creating purchasing leverage and has a keen understanding of the global market and the chemical industry’s dynamics. Since 1998, Harold has worked for a number of leading businesses. At Panalpina North America he was a Manager in Accounting, then at Chicco USA he was a Traffic Specialist for Import & Export. In 2001 he joined Croda USA as Product Materials Manager, then, at DSM Nutritional Products, he was a Purchasing Manager. Just before his current move to Firmenich, Harold was employed at Fisher Scientific Chemicals as the Strategic Purchasing Manager Supply Chain. Harold received an Associate’s degree in Business from CCM and was involved in many campus organizations, including SGA, EOF, the minority mentorship program, and was a student counselor. He then obtained a Bachelor’s degree in History from Montclair State University in 1998, and a Certificate in Global Logistics Management from Pace University in 2001. He is also Hazmat- and NAFTA-trained. In 1980, when Harold was 10 years old, his family moved to the United States from Haiti. He is the youngest of ten children. Harold’s siblings, Guilin ’91, Roselyn ’93, and Nadege ’94 are CCM graduates as well. After relocating to Switzerland in 2006 for
six months, Harold and his wife, Viola, moved to Burlington, N.J. with their
two-year old daughter, Miranda Adaya, and in 2008 opened their own business,
www.JDLFragrances.com. |
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Alumni Achievement Award Edward Nelson ’72 is a familiar face around the Athletic Department at CCM. He enrolled in September 1970, and with several other interested students, started the Ice Hockey Club and served as club president. On the varsity level since 1973, the team has been recognized at the conference, regional and national levels as one of the premier community college ice hockey programs in the NJCAA. Ed received an Associates Degree in Humanities/Social Science from CCM and continued his education at Glassboro State College where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences in 1974 majoring in History and English, with certification to teach. Ed returned to CCM as the head coach of the Ice Hockey team from 1974 – 1979, taking the team to three conference finals and producing two NJCAA All American players. He also served as coach from 1990 – 2000. He left with a career record of 177-154-23 and was instrumental in bringing the CCM Ice Hockey program to prominence in the Metropolitan Collegiate Hockey Conference. He is most proud, however, of the legacy of former Titan skaters who are now actively coaching at the youth and high school levels throughout New Jersey. Coaching players to become contributors to the world at large has been the driving force behind Ed’s involvement in CCM for almost forty years. Ed eventually obtained a Master’s degree with Distinction in Student Personnel Administration from Columbia University in 1980. This led to leadership positions with the Metropolitan Center of the New York Institute of Technology in Manhattan where he served as Assistant Dean of Students and later Dean of Students. Later, he became Administrative Vice President at IFEX, Inc., a publicly traded medical-technology firm. For one exciting year, 1988–1989, Ed was a
Management Consultant to the New York Yankees, working on a number of high
level projects for their business management team. In 2003, Ed obtained his current position as CFO/COO at McGivney & Kluger, PC, a multi-state insurance defense law firm with nine offices in seven states, and headquarters in Florham Park. The firm is one of the industry leaders in environmental and toxic torts litigation. Among his many responsibilities for the firm’s management functions, Ed designed a human resources program and multi-state manuals and directed total structural reorganization of the firm’s multiple expansion plans. Ed lives in Sparta with his wife, Maureen,
and two boys, J. Scott Mathesius (CCM ’02 – Landscape Design) and
Christopher John, who will begin high school this year. His coaching
experience has extended into his home town where he has served as a founding
board member, Vice President and President of the Sparta Youth Ice Hockey
program. He is active in fundraising activities for several non-profits,
including, County College of Morris, Morris Catholic High School, Pope John
XXIII High School, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. |
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Alumni Achievement Award Maria Rispoli ‘03 was highly recommended by a faculty member who commented “there was no finer student than Maria. She is everything we could want from an alumna.” Maria was surprised and speechless when she heard she was chosen to receive an alumni award. Her first reply was, “Wow, that’s some honor for a high-school dropout!” She is a wonderful example of the role CCM can play in the life of a member of our community. Maria is forever grateful that CCM allowed her the opportunity to be successful in life. She credits the inspiring professors at CCM who shared their passion for literature with her, and the professor who helped her seek out successful teaching strategies to unlock the power of the mind. Maria received an Associate’s degree in Humanities/Social Science and graduated from CCM summa cum laude. She continued her education at Montclair State University and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in English/Secondary Education in 2004, also summa cum laude. She is currently studying for a Master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Marygrove College. Over the years, Maria has held a number of positions, from an accounting clerk to an Office Manager. She has found her most gratifying experiences, however, in teaching. She began as a substitute teacher at Dover High School, then as an English teacher at Newmark High School in Carteret. She obtained her current position in 2005 as an English teacher for Roxbury High School. In her third year there, her students are primarily 9th graders, both traditional and special-education, with two inclusion courses. She also teaches SAT Prep and creative writing to upperclassmen, and is the advisor for the school’s Literary Magazine. Maria loves working with students and feels her own experiences give her a greater insight into the minds of many of them. She takes pride in creating classroom communities and personal relationships with students that allow them to achieve success for themselves and their future. Maria resides in Mine Hill with her husband, Doug, and
their four children, Anthony, Kaitlin, Talia, and Patrick, and is the proud
grandmother of Julissa. |
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Alumni Humanitarian Award James Relyea ‘94 struggled to get through CCM and the competitive nursing program. He had an accident the summer before college began and spent two years in rehabilitation learning how to walk again. He always knew he wanted to work as a rehabilitation nurse, and with that goal in mind, he overcame great obstacles and completed the courses at CCM to receive an Associate’s degree in Nursing. That led to a job as a staff nurse at Kessler Institute - a thrilling accomplishment for him. Working with the Spinal Cord injury unit, James felt he had found his niche. He was taking care of patients his own age and was able to share experiences that he had undergone. Within two years he became a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse and shortly after was chosen to be the primary care nurse for Christopher Reeve during his stay at Kessler and, later, at Reeve’s home. In 2005, James was promoted to Clinical Coordinator of the Spinal Cord Unit and General Rehabilitation Unit, followed by his current position as Nurse Manager of the General Rehabilitation Unit, and Infection Control Site Coordinator. He is responsible for managing the practice of over 25 Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Rehabilitation Assistants and Unit Clerks in a direct patient care setting. He is also responsible for data collection and analysis in all areas of infection concern and has assisted with the development of Infection Control Risk Assessment for two new patient units. James has a Registered Professional Nurse license as well as certifications in Basic Life Support for Health Care Professionals, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, and Back Injury Resource Nurse. He is a lecturer on various rehabilitation topics and has attended Select Medical Corporation’s program on “Safe Patient Handling and Movement.” James feels strongly that he “started right” at County
College of Morris, which lead him to Kessler, one of the most prestigious
institutes in the world, which is ranked #2 in the nation. He has taken care
of celebrities and patients from all over the world, and has become an
expert in spinal cord injury and stroke. He owes a great deal to “that
school on the hill” which has helped to make him who is today |
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Alumni Humanitarian Award Jenifer Stevenson ’92 has progressed significantly in her education and her nursing career. She received her Associate’s degree in Nursing from CCM and her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from the University of Phoenix in 2005. She is a Licensed Registered Nurse in New Jersey and has obtained BLS, IV, FIM, ACLS, and CRRN certifications. Her continuing education includes participation in a number of workshops, symposiums, and nursing leadership institutes. Jenifer is employed at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, which was recognized in 2007 by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top two rehabilitation hospitals in the country and the best facility of its kind in the East for the third year in a row. At the West Orange facility, which serves over 2,070 patients annually, Jenifer became a Staff Registered Nurse in 1992, an Assistant Unit Coordinator in 1996, a Nurse Liaison, and since 2000 fulfills the role of Nurse Manager on the renowned Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury and Stroke units. She provides training and supervision to over 120 RNs, LPNs, and Rehabilitation Assistants. In addition, she is a member of the Kessler Stroke Committee, the Kessler West Orange Evidence Based Practice Committee, the NJHA Collaborative to Reduce the Incidence of Pressure Ulcers, and serves as chairman of the Fall Prevention Committee. In 2005, Jenifer had the distinction of being
named Nurse Manager of the Year at Kessler West Orange. She has also given a
number of presentations for the Annual Kessler CRRN Review courses. |
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Alumni Service Award Kathy Storm ‘93 received her Associate’s degree in Business Administration with honors. She was so impressed with her educational experience at CCM that she wrote a letter to Dr. Edward Yaw, President of CCM, reflecting on her positive experience and asking if there were some way she could stay involved with the college after graduation. In the fall of 1993, she was invited to join the CCM Alumni Advisory Board and has been an active and enthusiastic member ever since. Kathy has contributed her time and efforts to a number of projects and is an active participant in activities and trips. Her input was instrumental in the Alumni Association’s selection of the popular Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania for its spring 2005 bus trip. She has served as a member of the Alumni Scholarship Committee, participated in several fundraising Phonathons, and plays an integral role in our Diploma Frame Program at Commencement. Kathy has become adept at the “framing table” where we offer the service of placing graduates diplomas in their newly purchased frame. Her volunteer efforts and contributions as a long-time member of the Alumni Advisory Board are indicative to her commitment and dedication to CCM. After leaving CCM, Kathy continued her education at Centenary College in Hackettstown where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, magna cum laude, in 2002. While still attending classes and
volunteering, Kathy’s career has been spent supporting senior level
executives at various area corporations, including Jersey Central Power &
Light Company, Wyeth, Knoll Pharmaceutical and BASF. Since 2004, she has
been employed at Transistor Devices, Inc. as the Executive Assistant to the
Co-CEO/CFO. Her responsibilities include providing support to the
Controller, Accounting Supervisor, Chief Legal Counsel and Director of
Security. |
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