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CCM Alumni
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2003 Alumni Awards |
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Alumnus
of the Year Award
Stephen L. Gurba, Ph.D. was graduated from CCM in 1976 with an A.S. degree
in Science and Mathematics/Biology. With B.A. degree from William Paterson,
an M.B.A. and Ph.D. from Century University, Steve has risen to great heights.
He worked his way up the corporate ladder from a junior engineer to senior
corporate positions, and currently serves as Chairman, President, and CEO
of Bulova Technologies L.L.C. This shining star is also owner and President
of Scandia Technologies and A. Fader & Sons. Steve holds memberships
in a number of prestigious organizations associated with Picatinny Arsenal.
In addition, he has received many awards for his accomplishments. Along
with running his three businesses, Steve is Chairman of the ADPA Mine/Countermine
and Demolition Section of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA)
and is involved in a variety of other organizations. He is also active in
community associations in the Lancaster area and travels between homes in
three states. He recently joined the CCM Foundation Board of Directors and
has shown his commitment to CCM through a generous and precedent setting
contribution to the Foundation. As a result, he recently established the
Gurba Scholarship for Science and Technology to allow CCM students to complete
their dreams of a good education. Our Science department will benefit greatly
from his generosity, through scholarship opportunities and particularly
through the purchase of cutting edge DNA analysis equipment.
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Achievement Awards |
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Thomas
Craney, Ed.D. was convinced by his parents to attend "that new
county college" and therein experienced the foundation for his journey
of life-long learning. He was graduated from CCM in 1974 with an A.A. degree
in Humanities/Social Science. He subsequently earned a B.A. in Psychology
from Keene State College, an M.A. in School Psychology from The Catholic
University of America, and then an Ed.D. from Nova University. Dealing with
his own dyslexia and ADHD propelled him to seek a career as a school psychologist.
For the past 20 years in the Frederick County, Maryland, Public Schools,
he has helped students with a wide variety of learning differences become
more actualized learners. He has also taught at the university, four-year
college and community college levels. Tom has received numerous honors and
awards during his career. Over the last twelve years, he has made more than
60 presentations on a variety of psychology/education related topics. |
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Janet
Johannessen is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at County College
of Morris in the Division of Health and Natural Sciences; Department of
Biology/ Chemistry. She is also the Coordinator of the Biotechnology Program
where she is responsible for curriculum and course development, student
advisement, and maintaining close communications with industry. Janet was
graduated from CCM in 1973 with an A.A. degree in Biology. She went on to
receive a B.S. in 1977 and an M.S. in 1981 in Chemistry from Fairleigh Dickinson
University. She has participated in a variety of workshops and lectures
and plays an integral role in a number of college committees. She is also
a member of the CCM Alumni Advisory Board. In addition, Janet trains our
potential CCM stars teaching a hands-on "Chemical Magic" course
to 12- to 14-year-olds in our College for Kids Program. |
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Ronald
Paret received an A.S. degree in Criminal Justice from CCM in 1979.
He went on to American University and obtained his Bachelor of Science in
Justice in May 1981. Ron is currently employed as a Narcotics Officer with
the Pennsylvania Bureau of Narcotics Investigations and Drug Control. In
this role, he conducts investigations, search, seizure and arrest proceedings
for illegal drug trafficking. In addition, Ron is an Adjunct Instructor
at St. Petersburg Junior College. He has received numerous professional
awards during his career, including one for his role in the largest seizure
of crack cocaine ever made by law enforcement officers in the United States. |
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Terry
Ryan is another CCM shining star. He is currently Senior Vice President of
Field Sales of Pepsi-Cola Company. Terry started working for
Pepsi-Cola during summer break while attending CCM and has been employed
with Pepsi for more than 25 years. He has risen through the ranks from production,
sales, district management, and regional management. While a student at
CCM, Terry brightened up the basketball courts under Coach Jack Martin.
He received his A.A. degree in Humanities/Social Science from CCM in 1975,
and went on to Kean College where he was awarded a B.A. in Psychology in
1977. The annual Alumni Phonathon, which raises money for the CCM Foundation,
wouldn't be the same without the generous Pepsi product donations provided
by Terry each year. |
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Peter
Skurla was graduated in 1972 with an A.A.S. in Mechanical Engineering
Technology. He then earned a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering
technology and became an international consultant in industrial planning.
Peter's wife and brother are also alumni, and his sister attended CCM. In
addition to serving as the charter alumnus member of the Board of Directors
of the CCM Foundation, Peter demonstrated his commitment to the future stars
of CCM by establishing the Robert Goebel Memorial Scholarship, awarded annually
to a veteran or a child of a veteran. Peter also served on the inaugural
Alumni Advisory Board and was part of the 1991 Alumni Campaign Steering
Committee. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Alumni Scholarship
Program, which focuses on children and grandchildren of alumni. |
| Alumni Humanitarian
Awards |
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John
Bonanni was graduated in 1976 with an A.A. degree in Business Administration.
After completing his bachelor's from Seton Hall University, John was granted
an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. John is the Director of the
Department of Human Services for the County of Morris in New Jersey. He
oversees the Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans, the Division
of Employment and Temporary Assistance Services, the Division of Behavioral
Health and Youth Services, the Juvenile Detention Center and the Youth Shelter.
Even when he is away from work, John is involved in helping the community.
He has been a member of the Boonton Volunteer Fire Department since 1974,
and is involved with many community advisory and director boards, including
the United Way and the Red Cross. He shares his life with his wife Debra,
also a graduate of CCM, and their three daughters. |
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Robert
S. DiPaola received his A.A. in Humanities/Social Science from CCM in
1981. He continued his education at the University of Utah where he graduated
summa cum laude in 1984 with a B.S. degree and in 1988 with an M.D. degree.
After completing his internship and residency at Duke University Medical
Center, Robert undertook his fellowship as a hematology-oncologist at the
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. In 1991, Robert was the recipient
of the New Jersey Council of Community Colleges Excellence Award as an outstanding
CCM Alumnus. Dr. DiPaola's career has continued to shine brightly as he
is currently an Associate Professor at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey,
UMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He also is the Executive Director
of the Dean and Betty Gallo Prostate Cancer Center. CCM provided the right
start to Robert's academic and professional success, as well as the introduction
to Robert's wife, Marcie. |
| Alumni Service
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Carol
Fitzpatrick was graduated with high honors from CCM in 1986 with a degree
in Humanities/Social Science. She continued on to earn her bachelor's degree
in 1989 in Psychology with honors at Montclair State University. Carol has
worked at United Parcel Service for the past 14 years, where she now holds
the title of Recruiting Coordinator. Carol is responsible for filling many
positions at UPS with hard-working CCM students. She is a familiar face
on the CCM campus and is responsible for an excellent relationship that
has developed between UPS and CCM. Carol has played an integral role in
arranging UPS funding for a variety of special programs at CCM. In 1990,
as an outstanding alumna of CCM, Carol was the recipient of a Community
College Excellence Award sponsored by the New Jersey Council of Community
Colleges. For a number of years, Carol participated in the CCM Ambassador
Club. Her enthusiasm and commitment to CCM are reflected in her dedicated
service as a multi-year member of the Alumni Advisory Board. She also is
a member of the CCM Foundation Board of Directors, and currently serves
as its President. Carol also is the former Assistant Editor of the CCM Alumni
Advocate Newsletter and continues to assist as a contributing writer. At
the May 2001 Commencement ceremony, Carol was chosen to present the "Message
to Graduates" from the Alumni Association. She is one of CCM's brightest
stars and is a shining example for our students and alumni. |
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2004 Alumni Awards |
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CCM Alumni Awards 2004
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Alumna of the Year Award
Diane Picciuto was launched from CCM in 1974 and has risen as a star in
business and industry ever since. After she received her A.A.S. degree in
Biological Laboratory Technology, she continued her education part-time, at
night at Fairleigh Dickinson University, and was granted a B.S. degree in
Biochemistry in 1979. Diane began her career as a Scientist with Sandoz
Pharmaceuticals. She moved on to Nabisco, Inc. where, during her fifteen
years employed there, she held the title of Government Relations
Representative and then progressed to become the Manager of State & Civic
Affairs. She completed her M.A. degree in Corporate & Organizational
Communications at FDU on a part-time basis during her tenure at Nabisco.
Diane was chosen to “star” in the CCM “Do It” Marketing campaign and
appeared in a variety of print ads in area magazines as well as radio spots
on popular stations. In 2001, her rising success was marked by her
appointment as Executive Director of Morris 2000, a private, non-profit,
planning organization in Morris County, which identifies regional issues and
builds consensus to effectively improve the quality of life in Morris
County.
Throughout her personal and work life, Diane has been heavily involved in
volunteerism, and has served on a variety of local, county, state and
national organizations. Her commitment to County College of Morris shines
through with her involvement as a recent appointee to the CCM Board of
Trustees. Previously, she was involved with the New Jersey/U.S. Olympic
Steering Committee, and served on the Boards of First Night Morris and Hope
House, as well as on the steering committee of the Morris County of United
Way Women’s Leadership Initiative. Diane also serves as a trustee on the
Board of TransOptions, a non-profit transportation agency.
Diane has one daughter, Jennifer, a graduate of Penn State, and lives in
Morristown with her husband, Richard.^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
Thomas Caltabiano graduated with high honors from CCM with a Business degree
in 1983, where he recalled being a rather shy student, but always enjoyed
joking around with friends. He then attended New York University where he
earned a B.S. degree in both Finance and Management. He began his career as
the Treasurer of a local R & D firm but decided to try stand-up comedy at
night. He enrolled in acting classes and started out doing a short comic
piece for a church benefit and fell in love with stand-up comedy. Doing
comedy full time, he graduated from “open mike” nights, to comedy gigs up
and down the East Coast, to being named “New Jersey’s Funniest Man” in 1991.
However, it was meeting and befriending fellow comic, Ray Romano, that led
to Tom’s position for the last eight years as a writer and Co-executive
Producer for the hit CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” The show’s team
of writers achieved the ultimate reward for being funny at the 2003 Emmy
Awards when they won the Emmy for “Best Comedy Series” after four previous
nominations.^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
James Johnson is Howmet Castings’ Vice President of Specialty Businesses and
North American Aluminum Sector. Howmet, located in Dover, New Jersey, is one
of the locations of Alcoa Inc. Worldwide, where Jim’s responsibilities
include corporate purchasing, as well as Howmet’s machining, coating,
specialty products, ceramic core and alloy businesses. Jim joined Howmet’s
Dover facility in 1978 and has held numerous management positions including
Quality Assurance Manager, Operations Manager, Business Center Manager and
General Manager. Jim graduated from CCM in 1976 with an A.A. degree in
Business Administration. He continued his education at Montclair State
University and received a B.S. in Business followed by a M.B.A. from
Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has also completed the University of
Tennessee Executive Development Program.
Jim became one of CCM’s billboard celebrities in the 1997 “We Stand Behind
Our Success” marketing campaign when he posed with Professor Jim Duffy, who
he credits with helping him through his early college years at CCM.
Jim is currently a member of the YMCA Board of Directors and the New Jersey
Business and Industry Association. He lives in New Jersey with his wife,
Daria, a former employee in the CCM Campus Life department, and his two
children, who are alumni of the CCM Child Care Center.^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
Dennis Mack graduated from CCM’s second year of commencements in 1971 with
an A.A. degree in Humanities/Social Science. He went on to earn his B.A.
degree from Fairleigh Dickinson in 1973 and a M.S. degree from Marywood
College in 1986. Dennis has been involved in education throughout his
impressive and progressive career. He began as an English teacher in
Randolph, New Jersey. In 1986, he became a Guidance Counselor for the
Roxbury Township Board of Education, where he moved into the position of
Director of Student Personnel Services/Assistant Principal in 1989. Ten
years later, in 1999, he progressed to his current position in Roxbury as
Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Dennis provides leadership for the
district, coordinates and supervises administration and staff activities,
develops and coordinates personnel policies, and administers a multi-million
dollar budget. Dennis holds multiple education certifications and maintains
memberships in numerous associations related to school supervisors and
administrators. In 1991, Dennis was one of CCM’s stars chosen to join the
family of “I Started Right” graduates to appear on billboards. He has always
held a great fondness for CCM, which was the logical choice for him after
high school, and helped set him in the right direction for his future.^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
Francis Huston Taylor III is the owner of The Chocolate Factory and three
Miesse Candies stores in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Since 1990 when he took
over the former Miesse family business, Frank has maintained the outstanding
quality, ingredients and recipes of the chocolate. Surprisingly, he started
out with landscaping dreams, and was awarded his A.A.S. degree in Landscape
Management and Design from CCM in 1986. He remembers his days as a student
at CCM fondly and values the education he received, which enabled him to go
on to a four-year institution. In order to gain knowledge about the business
side of owning a company, he then transferred his credits to Rutgers
University and was awarded a B.S. degree in Finance. Little did he know that
he would be applying this education to a candy business! Although he worked
for a while in the landscaping business, when he was offered a unique
opportunity to get in the candy business, he accepted this new challenge and
hasn’t looked back since. While he still loves the outdoors, his star is
shining brightly in owning and running a sweet, successful business!
With family still in Parsippany, Frank manages to travel back to New Jersey
from Pennsylvania regularly and continues to be committed to County College
of Morris by supporting the CCM Foundation in a variety of ways.^Back to
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Alumni Humanitarian Award
Donald McNamara attended CCM twice and, in between, served in Vietnam. While
he wasn’t very focused on school in 1970, his stint in the Army redirected
him and he returned to CCM dedicated to achieving a good education. He
helped reactivate the Veterans Club on campus, was presented the
Distinguished Senior Award, and graduated in 1975 with an A.A. degree in
Humanities/Social Science. He continued his education at William Paterson
College, served as Vice President of its Veterans Association and, in 1977,
he received a B.A. degree with honors in Elementary Education and a minor in
History. He spent the next several years in various teaching positions in
New Jersey and spent two years at the state’s Department of Transportation.
Changing direction in 1988 and continuing today, Don found his calling as a
Veteran Services Officer for the New Jersey Department of Military and
Veteran Affairs, counseling military veterans and widows with information of
entitlements and helping with services available to them. For many years he
hosted The Veteran Sentinel Cable TV show and has spent countless hours on
outreach efforts to make veterans aware of the services available to them.
Don spent two years as Commander of the VFW Post 1333, acted as Treasurer of
the Vietnam Veterans of America from 1985 – 1992, and then served as its
President from 1993-1994. He is also the author of the nationally published
1993 V.V.A. brochure “Veterans with AIDS.”
He values the difference CCM made in his life and says it is the basis for
his emphasis on trying to make a difference in other’s lives. His enthusiasm
and commitment to CCM were apparent when he served on the Alumni Advisory
Board for many years. Don has successfully combined his teaching attributes,
his experience as a Vietnam veteran, and his lifelong concern for others, to
reach out and make a difference. He is currently spearheading a project with
the state to develop a badly needed shelter for homeless veterans in
Monmouth and Ocean County.^Back to
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Alumni Humanitarian Award
Carol Novrit is the Director of Morris County’s Division of Employment and
Temporary Assistance. She is responsible for management, policy development,
design, implementation and evaluation of Morris County’s Welfare Agency and
employment initiatives in Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties. She is
responsible for numerous programs such as: the Morris, Sussex, Warren
Workforce Investment Board, Public Assistance, Medicaid, Emergency
Assistance, Homeless Prevention Services, Social Services, Child Support
Services, One Stop Career Center, federal job training, welfare-to-work, as
well as summer youth employment and training. Carol has worked in this field
for the past 25 years, serving as the Director of the Offices of Workforce
Development (formerly known as the Private Industry Council). She is the
recipient of numerous awards and was the first woman elected President of
the Garden State Employment and Training Association. Carol is a member of
several state and local boards and committees dedicated to improving the
quality of life for our homeless, low income, unemployed and under-employed
residents.
Carol graduated from CCM with honors in 1978 with an A.A. degree in Business
Administration. She has fond memories of CCM, which she credits for
introducing her to a love of history and helping to shape her career
development. Her commitment to CCM was highlighted in 1999 when Carol became
an “I Started Right” celebrity on billboards across Morris County. She also
earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the College of St. Elizabeth
in 1988, where she was President of its National Alumnae Association and is
a part-time faculty member. In 1996, she received an M.B.A., with a
concentration in Management, from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She has
served on the New Jersey State Employment and Training Commission, and the
WorkFirst New Jersey Task Force and Steering Committee. She is one of only
three local representatives to be a member of the state’s multi-agency
committee, working on developing and writing the Statewide Plan for Federal
Welfare-to-Work formula grants, and she assists in this program’s
consolidation into the state’s Labor Department. Carol remains devoted to
helping our challenged, underprivileged citizens to better the circumstances
of their lives.^Back to
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Alumni Service Award
Vivian Lenyk received highest honors when she graduated from County College
of Morris in 1997 with an A.A. degree in Humanities/Social Science. She
continued her education at Montclair State University, where she graduated
summa cum laude, obtaining a B.A. degree in Linguistics, in 2000; she is
currently pursuing her M.A. degree in Applied Linguistics. From 1971 to
1994, Vivian held various sales positions in the toy and gift industry in
New York and New Jersey. Currently, she is the Coordinator of Children’s
Programs in the Community and Professional Programs Department at CCM, and
she has been instrumental in the major expansion of courses offered, and
participants, particularly in the popular “College for Kids” Summer Program.
In addition, her role at CCM includes Instructor for English as a Second
Language and Certified Instructor of Command Spanish®. In 1998, she served
as an instructor for CCM’s Pathways to Success Program and was a member of
M.E.N.D (Meeting Educational Needs through Diversity). Her commitment to CCM
is further exemplified by her participation as a member of the Alumni
Advisory Board. Since 1997, she has volunteered for various activities
including the Alumni Phonathon, Commencement, Alumni Diploma Frame Sale, and
she has served on the Alumni Scholarship Committee. She is also on the staff
of the Alumni Advocate Newsletter as a contributing writer. Her talents are
also utilized by Montclair State University, where she is an Instructor in
the Gifted and Talented Program, a Spanish Instructor, a Linguistics
Instructor, and President of the Montclair Linguistic Association. Vivian is
fluent in written and spoken Spanish, and keeps active in a variety of
professional associations.^Back to
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2005 Alumni Awards |
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Alumna of the Year Award
Bonnie Murphy is a stellar example of starting right and rising to success.
Among the second class of graduates at CCM, Bonnie received her Associate
Degree in Applied Science in Office Systems Technology in 1971. In the same
year, she was appointed to the position of Laboratory Coordinator of the CCM
Secretarial Science Department. Bonnie continued her education at Montclair
State University, earning her Bachelor of Arts in 1975 and her Master of
Arts in 1983. She has also completed a variety of multimedia programs
through institutions such as The Citadel, San Francisco State, and William
Paterson University.Over her 30-year
tenure with CCM, Bonnie’s career has progressed from Adjunct Instructor,
Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor to Professor. She has
been the chairperson of three academic departments: Office Systems, Media,
and currently, Information Technologies. She also spent two years as the
Director of CCM’s Center for Teaching Excellence, the focus of which is to
provide leadership for effective teaching and to serve as a resource for the
continued enrichment and development of the college community.
Bonnie’s involvement at CCM expands beyond
her department and the classroom into various on-campus committees and
off-campus associations. While it would be impossible to name all 40 of
them, she has played a significant role on the Curriculum Committee, the
E-Commerce Program Task Force, as well as the Information Technology
Standing Committee. Bonnie has also served as a member of the Alumni
Advisory Board. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the
National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NSIOD) Award
for Teaching Excellence. Bonnie was also featured in the well-known CCM “I
Started Right” billboard campaign.
Bonnie’s CCM connection extends to her
family, as her husband, William, and her son, Patrick, are also CCM
graduates.
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Alumni Achievement Award
Diane Belle has had a distinguished career at Delta Dental Plan of
New Jersey, Inc. since 1989, starting out as Manager, Corporate
Communications. In 2003, her third promotion resulted in her appointment to
her current position as Vice-President of Corporate Communications for Delta
Dental. She also serves as the Vice-President and Assistant Secretary of the
company’s Foundation, which, since its inception, has awarded more than $5
million to a variety of programs. Some of her responsibilities include
overseeing the company’s public and employee websites, producing seven
newsletters, managing the company’s advertising and public relations
efforts, planning the annual Delta Dental Golf Classic, and serving as media
spokesperson.Diane’s education began
at CCM and she received her Associate of Arts Degree in Humanities/Social
Science in 1984. She then earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from
Montclair State University, followed by a Masters Degree in English from
Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Diane is proud to participate on many
community boards, including the Board of Directors for the Special Olympics
New Jersey (four years) and Vice-Chairperson of Volunteers for the Morris
Area Academic Decathlon (ten years). She is also a member of the
International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Diane credits
CCM for providing her with a foundation and deep understanding about the
importance and value of community involvement. She has fond memories of her
time at CCM, and she values the courses she studied here in English, Mass
Media, American Government, and History with CCM’s great professors.
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Alumni Achievement Award
Jason Esposito loves CCM! He truly believes he would not be where he
is today without CCM’s excellent professors who made him believe in himself
and guided him along his path to success. A quiet underachiever in high
school, Jason became an inspired college student. He graduated with honors
from CCM in 1998, earning an Associate Degree in Humanities/Social Science
while developing a new motivation to make a difference in the world. That
inspiration has directed his life ever since. Receiving degrees with honors
from East Stroudsburg University (B.A. Psychology) and George Washington
University School of Medicine (M.S. Health Science), Jason’s star was
continuing to rise.Jason began living
out his dream of helping others in his position as a Fitness Analyst with
Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation where he worked with patients with
disabilities such as paralysis, traumatic brain injury, and stroke. He was
promoted to Clinical Research Associate and was inducted into Sigma Xi, the
Scientific Research Society. He continued his quest when, in 2001, he was
hired by Quintiles, Inc. to study the clinical trial process of
investigational drugs for rheumatoid arthritis and gastroenterology.
The next year, his impressive research was
rewarded when Schering Plough offered him a Clinical Research Associate
position. The very next fall, his ascent to success took him to his current
position as a Clinical Research Scientist with pharmaceutical giant,
Novartis. He is responsible for managing, organizing, and overseeing
clinical trials in the Clinical Development/Medical Affairs division.
CCM has harnessed Jason’s enthusiasm for his
alma mater by appointing him to the Alumni Advisory Board in 2004 and, most
recently, featuring him as a billboard celebrity in the “I Started Right”
marketing campaign. He is extremely proud of this honor and says its proof
that you can achieve what you want to in life. His wife, Elizabeth, also a
CCM graduate, is amazed at what her husband has achieved in the last six
years and how he is truly making a difference.
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Alumni Achievement Award
Carl Halvorsen enrolled in CCM in 1970 after serving four years in
the military, including one year in Vietnam. He received an Associate Degree
in Business Administration in 1972. Carl continued his education, first at
Montclair State College, where he received his Bachelor Degree, and then at
Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he earned his M.B.A. While at CCM,
Carl was active as a Student Senator and involved in the veteran’s
fraternity, Alpha Sigma Mu, along with friend and frat brother Bob Goebel.
After returning to active duty, Bob was killed in a helicopter accident at
Fort Drum, NY, and the Goebel Scholarship was established at CCM in his
memory, and Carl quickly became an enthusiastic benefactor.
Currently, Carl is the Controller of the Drew
Water Technologies Group, the North America regional headquarters of
international conglomerate Ashland Specialty Chemical Company, where he has
worked for the last 28 years. His group is comprised of two major
businesses: Drew Industrial, a leading supplier of specialty products and
services for industrial and institutional water treatment, and Drew Marine,
a leading provider of shipboard services and supplies for the merchant
marine industry. Carl has traveled throughout the United States as well as
Canada, Singapore, and Trinidad for his job. In 2003, he received the
company’s President’s Award for making an exceptional contribution to
building a high-performance culture at Ashland Chemical.
Carl also made another friend at CCM, Cathy
Marra, who graduated the same year as he did. This June, they will celebrate
their 30th wedding anniversary. In his spare time, Carl enjoys baseball,
especially the Yankees, and riding his Harley.
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Alumni Achievement Award
George Paffendorf has served his country for over two decades in the
United States Army. From Vietnam to Desert Storm, George’s assignments
covered stints in Aviation, Armor, and Infantry. The retired Major received
over forty medals, citations, and certificates of accomplishment, including
the Meritorious Service Medal and the New Jersey Medal of Honor (twice).
George received his Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration from
CCM in 1975. He then earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration and
in American and British Literature from Ramapo College, followed by a
Masters in Social Science from Adam Smith University.
As the Director of the Program for Increased
Education of the New Jersey Military Academy from 1985 to 1994, George
oversaw civilian education and funding programs for New Jersey service
members and their dependents. He also served as Chairman of the New Jersey
Military Education Council.
Currently, George serves as the Deputy Director for the New Jersey Youth
Corps, an education and training program for at-risk 16 to 25-years-olds,
who have left high school prior to graduation. He oversees the funding and
operations for the 12 New Jersey Youth Corps sites, and was instrumental in
developing many of their signature projects, such as “History Along the
Delaware,” a 280-mile river journey from High Point to Cape May designed to
commemorate New Jersey’s rich history, diverse cultures, and American Indian
heritage. George received a certificate for leadership and dedication from
the New Jersey Secretary of State for this program. He has also received
many other awards and plaques for his work with the N.J. Youth Corps.
Working closely with Rutgers and NJIT, George has developed several special
training programs, including Green Industry Vocational Training, Brownfields
Job Training, and most recently, the New Jersey Urban and Community Forestry
Academy, an environmental and conservation work prep program, of which he is
Deputy Director.
George is a member of the National Canoe
Safety Patrol and enjoys canoeing. His other interests include horseback
riding and restoring and collecting antique and classic automobiles. ^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
Elizabeth (Bassano) Snyder was one of the first students in line to
receive a degree at CCM, graduating with the charter class of 1970. After
receiving her Associate in Liberal Arts/Music, she continued her education
at Montclair State College with a Bachelor Degree in 1972 and a Masters
Degree in 1979. For more than 30 years, Elizabeth has been a teacher for the
Roxbury Board of Education, and currently teaches eighth grade Social
Studies (American History) at the Eisenhower Middle School. Elizabeth serves
as an advisor to the eighth grade Academic Team, which came in first place
out of 62 schools in the recent New Jersey Thinking Cap competition.
For the last four years, Elizabeth has also been
an Adjunct Associate Professor of American History at CCM. Her philosophy is
to create a classroom environment where students not only learn about the
history of this nation, but also become enthusiastic participants in a
democratic society. Elizabeth was named to the Who’s Who Among American’s
Teachers in 2000. In 2003, she was a participant in the Gilder Lerhmann
Institute of American History seminar on the Civil War, which was held at
Princeton University. Among her many awards, she was the recipient of the
2004 District level National Citizenship Education Teacher Award and, in
1997 and 2005, she received the State of New Jersey Best Practice in
Teaching Award.
Teaching American History has been
Elizabeth’s lifelong passion and pursuit, which has come full circle from
the place she “started right” to now imparting her knowledge and enthusiasm
to current college students who sit where she once did.
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Alumni Service Award
Debra Coffman graduated with honors from CCM in 1983 with an
Associates Degree in Applied Science in Computer Technology. She went on to
earn a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Montclair State University,
magna cum laude, in 1985. Debra started her career at Picatinny Arsenal in
1981 as part of the Junior Fellowship Federal Employee program. She began
working full time there in 1983 as a Computer Scientist and has progressed
from specializing in Unix systems to her current role as a Windows Server
administrator. She has served as Legislative Chair and Vice President for
the Picatinny Chapter of Federally Employed Women.
In 1993, Debra volunteered as a mentor in the
innovative CCM Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering Department’s
Mentoring Program in conjunction with Picatinny employees. Debra was
assigned a CCM student and became her educational and career advisor.
Continuing her dedication to County College of Morris, Debra joined the
Alumni Advisory Board in 1994.
In the past 10 years as a board member, Debra
has volunteered for numerous projects, including the Alumni Phonathon. She
has served as a member of the Alumni Scholarship Committee and is an active
participant on many alumni sponsored bus trips. When the Alumni Corporate
Clubs were being formed, Debra was instrumental in organizing a chapter at
Picatinny. She has been the coordinator of this club for many years,
arranging meetings and keeping the CCM alumni employees at Picatinny
informed of Alumni Association and campus activities.
In her spare time, Debra has served as an
assistant Girl Scout leader and financial secretary for her church. Also,
her beautiful soprano voice can be heard with the praise group “Voices in
the Wilderness,” or as the lead singer of The SoundBytes performing at a
variety of local venues.
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Alumni Humanitarian Award
Nancy Paradis is a Global Training and Technical Assistance
Coordinator at the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center at the University of
Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). Her primary role is the
development and testing of a “Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of
HIV” curriculum for countries under the Global Aids Program. In this
capacity, she works as a liaison with the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
and the World Health Organization (WHO). Her experience in dealing with
issues has spanned the globe in countries such as Guyana, Ethiopia, and
Cambodia. Her profession is aided by her ability to speak English, Spanish,
and French.
Nancy received her Associate Degree in
Nursing from CCM in 1992 and delivered the class address at the Nursing
Pinning Ceremony. She also holds a Bachelor Degree in music therapy from
Michigan State University and a M.S.N. from the University of Pennsylvania.
From 1992 to 1998, she worked at the Hospital Center of Orange as an
oncology nurse and used music therapy to promote holistic and comprehensive
care to her patients. In 1994, she received the Governor’s Nursing Merit
Award. Nancy has also been involved with program development for Project
Health Link II, a program designed to meet the primary health care needs of
severe mentally ill populations. She recently served as Clinical Services
Coordinator and clinician in the AIDS Health Services program at Jersey City
Medical Center.
In the 1998 CCM marketing campaign, “We Stand
Behind Our Success,” Nancy proudly appeared on a billboard with CCM Nursing
Professor, Margaret Warshaw, whom she had always admired. Nancy says that
many doors have been opened to her since CCM and that each one has been a
blessing!
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Alumni Humanitarian Award
Brendon Smith has given the ultimate gift to society. Only a few short
months ago, Brendon donated one of his kidneys to his long-time friend,
Cedric Hill. They met at CCM in a theater class in the early 90’s, continued
their education together at Rowan University, and remained close friends
over the years. When Cedric began experiencing kidney failure four years
ago, Brendon commented that if his friend did not receive a new kidney in
three years, he would provide one. Late last year, true to his word, he
informed his sick friend that he would help him get better. The kidney
transplant was performed in February 2005 at St. Barnabas Medical Center.
Brendon is doing well, and his CCM buddy, Cedric, has made a remarkable
recovery.Brendon has come a long way
to get to this point. After obtaining his Associate Degree in Criminal
Justice from CCM in 1993, he earned a Bachelor Degree in Theatre from Rowan
University. He then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and spent
four years traversing the world, experiencing war-torn Bosnia. In 1999, he
joined the reserves and was called to active duty to support Operation
Enduring Freedom. Promoted to the rank of Sergeant, he participated in
anti-smuggling operations in Kosovo. In 2003, Brendon’s reserve status was
re-activated to join the War in Iraq. He left the Marine Corps in 2004 to
focus more on his family – wife Karen, baby daughter Angelina, and step-son
Anthony.
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2006 Alumni Awards |
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Alumna of the Year Award
For Cottie Benson
’75, giving to others is one of the most rewarding aspects of her life.
She discovered early on that she had an amazing aptitude in financial
planning. Her expertise resulted in the creation of the Benson Kresge
Foundation, which she oversees as President. The foundation’s charitable
interests include education, and social and human services issues. Benson
manages the investing for the foundation and for her family. Through her
generosity and commitment to County College of Morris, and her dedication to
the health profession, she has established and endowed the Benson Kresge
Nursing Scholarship, which will assist CCM Nursing students in perpetuity.Benson
has always been involved in the business arena. She opened a women’s retail
shop in Parsippany, The House of Gemini, which she operated for five years
until she sold it in 1981. She was also a partner, with her son, in
Powdermill Towing. She studied business at CCM and received her Associate
Degree in 1975.
During
the winter months, Benson and her husband, Earle, spend time in Florida
enjoying the sun and the sand. Her heart and her enthusiasm stay in New
Jersey, however, and she continues to search out ways to show her love for
and loyalty to CCM.
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Alumni Achievement Award
Joseph Bilotti ’88
is a gem in the County College of Morris Music Department. His engaging
personality, knowledge of music, and his talent result in many students
seeking seats in his classes. Bilotti is an accomplished guitarist and piano
player, and he also serves as the accompanist for the CCM Choir.
He
received his Associate Degree in Liberal Arts/Music from CCM in 1988.
Bilotti continued his studies at Montclair State University where he
received a Master’s Degree in Music, and he is currently working towards his
PhD. He started as a Teaching Assistant in the CCM Music Department. In
time, he was named Adjunct Professor, and also took a part-time Lab
Assistant position. Bilotti then was assigned as full-time Lab Assistant,
and recently was promoted to his current position of Assistant Professor.
Aside
from his faculty position and his educational pursuits, Bilotti is
surrounded by music in all aspects of his life. He has played in a number
of bands, including Eastern Potata, The Sunshine Revolution, and the Joanie
Beau Band. One of his bands, The Soft Parade, is a Doors tribute band with
which Billotti plays a vintage guitar. This band has attained international
recognition for their performances in which they recreate the atmosphere of
a legendary Doors’ concert. Last year Bilotti arranged a group of faculty,
students, and friends to provide the musical entertainment at the CCM
Foundation Scholarship Gala. He also books private engagements, and
recently showcased his talents with a group that gave an awesome performance
at a CCM staff member’s wedding.
His dedication to
teaching and to CCM is readily apparent, and he credits CCM for starting him
on the path to an incredible musical career.^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
Kimberly Nicholais ’95
is a star who was called upon recently to encourage CCM students to reach
for their dreams in the graphic design industry. Nicholais was invited to
participate at her alma mater during Career Week last fall. She discussed
her role as an Art Supervisor at LifeBrands in New York City, which is a
division of Publicis Healthcare Communications Group, a worldwide network of
advertising agencies. LifeBrands is a full-service healthcare advertising
agency that focuses on a dynamic and expanding market segment of specialty
brands. These are brands whose prescriptions are driven by specialty
physicians in high-science areas, such as CNS, oncology, and cardiovascular
medicine.
After
receiving her Associate Degree in Graphic Design from CCM in 1995, Nicholais
continued her education at Pratt Institute and obtained a B.F.A. in
Communications Design with Honors in 1998. She previously was employed as an
Art Director at Noesis Healthcare in Morristown and for the Promotion
Development Group Inc. in New York City.
Nicholais has been the recipient of numerous awards in her field including:
The Rx Club Award of Excellence 2001, 2002, 2003 and a Certificate of
Achievement 2002 for outstanding example of graphics excellence in the 60th
annual graphic arts awards exhibition. In her spare time, Nicholais also
freelances for Macy’s by Mail and for a Battered Women’s Shelter.
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Alumni Achievement Award
Janel Pisorchik ’92
earned an Associate Degree from CCM in 1992 in Recreation/Leisure Services,
and then went on to earn a Bachelors Degree in Business from Nova
Southeastern. Pisorchik started at Walt Disney Company 15 years ago as an
intern in their college program. She was the Manager of Walt Disney World
Ticket Fulfillment and Internal Control until 2005. In this position, she
led a team of six managers and over 65 office and technical cast members.
She was then promoted to Senior Sales Manager on the Consumer Direct Sales
Team. In this role, her focus is on onsite theme park sales.
In 2005, Pisorchik spent
seven months assisting with the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. She was
responsible for implementation of the Automated Ticketing System (Sales
Stations and Turnstiles), the training of the cast and managers, leadership
training, and the overall ticketing processes. Pisorchik’s hard work
resulted in the successful opening of the gates on September 12, 2005.^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
Claudia Paladino ’03
is a shining example of success. She graduated magna cum laude twice - from
CCM in 2001 with an Associate Degree in Humanities/Social Science, and then
from Manhattan College in 2003 with a Bachelors Degree in International
Studies.
Paladino began working as an Investigator at the Civilian Complaint Review
Board in New York City in 2003. This is a city agency staffed by civilians
that investigate specific allegations of misconduct made by civilians
against members of the NYC Police Department. In this position, Paladino was
responsible for maintaining a docket of 20-30 cases. This involved
interviewing civilians, conducting interviews/canvasses in the field,
requesting and analyzing NYPD documentation, medical documentation, court
and communications records, interviewing officers, and submitting a final
report to the Board for disposition.
Paladino was privileged
to be selected for one of the few reserved spots for CCRB investigators to
attend the NYPD Internal Affairs Bureau’s training course in 2004. Her
successful completion of this two-week intensive course was followed in May
2005 by her promotion to Assistant Supervising Investigator. She is part of
a three-person team that supervises a group of approximately 15
investigators. Through her efforts, Paladino helps to ensure that New York
City is a better place for the community.^Back to
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Alumni Achievement Award
Kenneth Spilatro ’82
stays connected to the place where he “started right” in many different
ways. In 1990, he was a celebrity in one of the first “I Started Right”
billboard campaigns. Fulfilling a life-long dream of opening a ski shop in
Morris County, Spilatro has been the President/Owner of Pelican Sport Center
in Morris Plains since 1980. While his store’s location has always been
close to the college (he started in a converted two-bedroom house on Route
10 East), Pelican recently underwent a major expansion to over 70,000 square
feet and moved even closer to CCM - down the street on Route 10 West.
Spilatro has employed students from CCM and can always be counted on to
provide a generous auction gift at the annual Scholarship Gala.
Spilatro earned an Associate Degree in Business at CCM in 1982. As a
student, he took 13 credits a semester while working 40 hours a week at his
store. It was tough, but he acknowledged that the business classes really
helped him in his career. An advertising class influenced him to be creative
in advertising and to realize its importance in promoting a business. He
continues to follow that philosophy. He went on to Fairleigh Dickinson
University where he also studied business. Spilatro’s shining business
achievement is reflected in annual sales of over $10 million.
For
any season, a walk though Pelican Sport Center is a feast for the eyes. From
skiing and snowboarding attire and equipment, to everything you need for
your pool, spa or patio, or just games for your family recreation, this
local business has it all. The success of Pelican Sport Center is a glowing
tribute to the hard work and dedication of one of CCM’s bright stars!
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Alumni Service Award
Carol Shay ’91 is a
legend among CCM students, faculty, and administration. She is a shining
example of dedication and commitment and is always ready with a smile to
lend a hand or answer a question. Her pleasant attitude and disposition
brighten up the Biology/ Chemistry department every day. As the department’s
Administrative Assistant, Shay’s energy and willingness to put in extra
effort make her a valuable resource. She has served CCM for 25 years with a
passion that is unparalleled.
Shay
received an Associate Degree in Humanities/Social Sciences from CCM in
1991. Her love for CCM extends beyond her job. She is a member of the
Alumni Advisory Board and the College Council. She serves on the Student
Team Committee and is co-chair of the Student Affairs Committee. Shay’s past
involvement includes serving on the Release 17 Implementation Team for
Datatel, as well as assisting with the conversion of CCM graduates to the
new Datatel System in 2001. She was the recipient of the Vice President’s
Second Question Excellence Award in 1996.
Shay’s service and
enthusiasm also extend to her community. She has taught CCD and performs as
a Eucharistic minister for Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. She also
belongs to the Lake Hopatcong and Mt. Arlington Historical Societies. Shay
and her husband Fred will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.^Back to
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Alumni Humanitarian Award
Catherine Skiff ’86
has been working as a staff nurse in the Level 3 NICU (Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit) at Morristown Memorial Hospital for 24 years. This special unit
is designed for the care of medically unstable or critically ill newborns
that require constant nursing, complicated surgical procedures, respiratory
support, or other specialized care. The 26-bed unit features the most
advanced equipment available today. She previously worked as a staff nurse
on the hospital’s Medical Surgical Unit.
Skiff
graduated from the Morristown School of Practical Nursing in 1976. She
received an Associate Degree in Nursing from CCM in 1986 and then became
certified in High Risk Neonatal Nursing in 1995.
She
has won numerous Outstanding Contributor awards for organizing and
developing hospital-based projects. In 2005, Skiff received Morristown
Memorial Hospital’s Ben Lobel Award for recognition in Nursing Excellence,
and was nominated for the NJ Governor’s Merit Award in the Acute Care
category. She has also been the recipient of several PACT Level 4 awards and
ACE awards. Skiff has been instrumental in developing a wide range of
projects for her unit and the hospital, such as: the Education Council
Website, High School Shadow Program, Parents’ CPR/SIDS Class, NICU Emergency
Cart Committee, and the Storyboard Photo Project of NICU graduates.
Skiff’s involvement
extends beyond the hospital. She participates in several 5K charity runs
and has been a blood donor since 1978. She is a volunteer on the NJ State
Recruitment and Retention Committee, the Pact Committee, the MMH Education
Council, and is a Unit Educator of NICU.^Back to
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Alumni Humanitarian Award
Roberta Strater ’72
is a true star in Morris County. She has held the position of Executive
Director of the Housing Authority of the County of Morris for 30 years, and
concurrently holds the title of Executive Director of the Housing Authority
of the Town of Dover and the Morris County Affordable Housing Corporation.
The Housing Authority is responsible for planning, development and
construction of housing in a safe, decent and sanitary atmosphere for the
elderly and families without sufficient income. In addition, it operates a
rental assistance program for eligible families. Strater’s varied
responsibilities include administering a development program that produced
424 units with total development cost of over $20 million, managing a 59
unit low-income housing facility, maintaining a partnership with Morris
Habitat for Humanity, and overseeing a $10 million annual budget. She has
been instrumental in developing the first Congregate Living Facility for
low-income frail elderly in Morris County, the Peer Place complex in
Denville, and the rehabilitation, construction and sale of affordable
housing units in Morris Township, Morristown and Randolph.
Strater received an Associate Degree in Computer Science from CCM in 1972,
and then a Bachelor Degree in Sociology and Education from the College of
Saint Elizabeth.
Strater is a member of the Governor’s Housing Policy Group and the National
Association of Housing & Rehabilitation Officials (NAHRO). She has been
recognized with the NJ NAHRO Excellence Award, the Morris County Fair
Housing Council Outstanding Community Service Award, and Outstanding Alumnus
EOF Award from CCM.
Strater is married with
twin daughters and three grandsons. She enjoys spending time with her
family and traveling whenever possible.^Back to
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