County College of Morris Trustees Agree to Close Morristown Location and Elect Officers
One New Freeholder Welcomed to the Board – Posted 11/18/16
The County College of Morris (CCM) Board of Trustees voted at its November 16 meeting to close the college’s Morristown location, as it also held its annual reorganization meeting to elect its officers.
The board voted to discontinue the college’s use of its Morristown location at 30 Schuyler Place effective December 31. The space, which has been made available to the college by the county since January 2012, is now needed for governmental services. The board noted that it is confident that courses offered at the Morristown location can be adequately accommodated at CCM’s Randolph campus. College officials also stated that CCM remains committed to the Morristown community and they are exploring new locations for ESL and other courses.
Elected as officers of the Board of Trustees were Dr. Joseph L. Ricca of Morris Township for a second term as chair, Paul R. Licitra of Flanders for a second term as vice chair, Laurie Bogaard, Esq. of Chester for a second term as treasurer, and Thomas A. Pepe of Morristown as secretary.
New to the board is Jack N. Frost Jr., Esq. of Morris Township, who was appointed by the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders. An attorney with Drinker, Biddle & Reath, LLP, Frost earned his juris doctorate from Seton Hall University and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy and international relations from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, U.K.
Ricca was appointed to the board by the Freeholders in 2011. He serves as superintendent of schools in the Elmsford Union Free School District in Elmsford, NY. Prior to that, he served as superintendent for the East Hanover Township Public School District. Ricca has an extensive background in education having previously served as a principal, vice principal and social studies instructor. He is a member of numerous professional associations including the New York State Council of School Superintendents and the Business Council of Westchester County. In 2016, Ricca was named a Rising Star “40 Under 40” by the Westchester (NY) Business Council. He earned his Ed.D. in educational leadership from Walden University, his M.Ed. in administration from Harvard University, M.A. in educational leadership and administration from Caldwell College, and B.S. in history and education from Seton Hall University.
Licitra was appointed to the board by the Freeholders in 2012. He is office administrator for Senator Steven Oroho, Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose and Assemblyman Parker Space. He also possesses extensive experience in insurance spanning more than 40 years and covering all aspects of risk management for large domestic and international clients. In the public sector, he served as mayor of Mount Olive from 2000-04 after serving eight years on the Township Council. He earned his bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University, where he also taught as an adjunct professor in the College of Insurance.
An attorney, Bogaard has a law practice in Mendham and more than 25 years of legal experience. She concentrates in the field of residential real estate. Bogaard continues to be called upon by various real estate companies to lecture on current issues and legal developments, and also serves as a mentor to young real estate professionals and Drew University students. Bogaard earned her juris doctorate from The Dickinson School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Drew University. She is a strong believer in community service and has volunteered and served on various municipal boards such as the Environmental Commission, Board of Health, Planning Board and Chester Area Pool Committee.
Pepe is chief financial officer for Communications Strategies, Inc., a family-owned public relations and marketing agency. He was reappointed to the board by the Freeholders in 2015. During his previous service on the CCM Board of Trustees, he served as treasurer, chair of the Finance and Budget Committee and as a member of both the Personnel and Audit committees. He also is a member of the CCM Foundation Board of Directors. Included among his other community involvement, he is a former president of the Patriot’s Path Council, Boy Scouts of America, and serves as vice chair and trustee of NORWESCAP, the community action program of northwest New Jersey.
Continuing their service on the board are Jeffrey M. Advokat, Esq. of Denville, senior partner of Advokat & Rosenberg Esqs. in Morristown and a former Morris County assistant prosecutor; Frank Giarratano of Rockaway Township, president/COO and partner of SGW Integrated Marketing; Dr. Barbara L. Hadzima of Morris Township, a retired middle school administrator and college adjunct; Roger A. Jinks, interim executive county superintendent; Michael A. Van Allen of Montville, a retired Newark Public Schools administrator, who serves as director of the New Jersey Criminal Justice Reform Advocacy and chair of the Morris County NAACP Criminal Justice Committee; and Dr. Joseph S. Weisberg of Parsippany, professor emeritus of geoscience at New Jersey City University.
Photos: Dr. Joseph L. Ricca, chair, County College of Morris Board of Trustees; Paul R. Licitra, vice chair; Laurie Bogaard, Esq., treasurer; Thomas A. Pepe, secretary.
