From PBJ of October 8-10, 2002
EDUCATION
Frances Markunas, a specialist in adult education and corporate training, has been appointed associate dean for continuing studies and director of strategic alliances at Rider University.
Ms. Markunas comes to Rider from Montclair State University where she served as director of the Center for Professional and Continuing Education. She succeeds Dr. John Carpenter, long-time dean of Rider’s College of Continuing Studies, who retired in June.
Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City has announced Joseph T. Claffey as the college’s vice president for advancement.
Mr. Claffey will be responsible for the coordination and direction of the advancement of the college and will serve as an advocate of the school’s mission and programs. He joins Saint Peter’s after five years as the director of advancement for The Hun School of Princeton, where he was responsible for the school’s capital building campaigns and substantially increased alumni and parent support.
Mr. Claffey is a Trenton native, a Hun School alumnus and holds a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University.
Dr. Barbara A. Marroccoli has been promoted to clinical associate professor in the department of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Marroccoli is also an attending physician in the department of medicine at The Medical Center at Princeton.
LAW
Linda J. Schwimmer, a founding partner of Markowitz, Gravelle & Schwimmer in Lawrenceville, was recently installed as chair of the Lawyers Advisory Committee for the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey. The LAC are appointed attorneys who provide counsel to the judges regarding the practice of law. Ms. Schwimmer is a graduate of the University of California, BerkeLey, and Georgetown University Law Center. Her practice concentrates in the areas of bankruptcy, commercial and real estate law.
Frank P. Reiche, of the Princeton firm of Archer & Greiner, was recently elected to serve on the board of directors of the Center for Responsive Politics. The nonprofit, nonpartisan group conducts research based on contribution data and contribution profiles of candidates, political interest groups and party committees, and makes it available to the public.
Mr. Reiche’s practice is concentrated in estate planning, tax law, charitable giving and campaign finance law. In 1979 he was appointed chairman of the Federal Election Commission by Jimmy Carter, and has served on both federal and state election commissions.
BUSINESS COUNSELING
A new slate of officers will direct the activities of Greater Princeton Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) Chapter No. 631. The new officers are: Ivan Becker, chairman, formerly CEO of a plastic manufacturing company; Ben Koenig, vice chairman, formerly a marketing executive with United Parcel Service; Stephen Chanpi, vice chairman, attorney; Maria Diefendorf, secretary, formerly a management consultant in Hong Kong; Seymour A. Buchine, treasurer, formerly an executive with a vinyl wallpaper manufacturing company.
SCORE is a volunteer arm of the Small Business Administration, and provides private and confidential counseling sessions at no charge for individuals seeking business start-up advice. SCORE also provides help to small business owners.
Anyone interested in receiving help from SCORE should call (609) 520-1776 for an appointment.
MARKETING
Arlene Schragger, owner of ads Public Relations & Marketing, announced the launch of the firm’s new Web site as part of the celebration of its 15 years in business. The site, www.adspublicrelations.com, describes the services of the company as well as comments and contact information. Also available is a page of PR tips for small businesses.
HEALTH CARE
Patricia Ann Keller has been named director of resident relations at The Residence at Forsgate assisted living community in Monroe Township.
Ms. Keller’s 15-year career working with the elderly began while in high school and includes training nursing staff, administration and supervision of medications, and other administrative duties of nursing home and health care facilities.
In her capacity as director, she will be responsible for transitioning senior citizens in relocating to the community and as liaison to their families while in transition.
Ms. Keller, a mother of three, resides in Roosevelt.
LANDSCAPE
The New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) recently named William K. Doerler, founder of Doerler Landscapes Inc., the 2002 Nurseryman of the Year.
Doerler Landscapes was founded in 1962 on a half-acre site on Kuser Road in Hamilton Township, later moving to Lawrence Township. In 1987, Mr. Doerler re-established his ties to Hamilton Township, starting the Crosswicks Tree Farm in Yardville.
The NJNLA, serving members of the nursery, landscape and garden center industry throughout the state, is an organization whose membership has specific standards that must be met prior to being admitted. Mr. Doerler has served in several positions on both the state and national level, as well as on the association’s board of directors.
CONSTRUCTION
V.J. Scozzari & Sons Inc. announced that Michael Ehret recently joined the company as project manager and is currently running several projects. Mr. Ehret has over 20 years of experience in institutional, commercial and industrial construction with an emphasis on the more complex issues associated with renovation and reconstruction of existing and some historic structures.
The operations of the Lawrenceville-based firm include construction management, general construction and design/build services.
National home builder Beazer Homes Corp. announces the appointment of Paul R. Schneier as president of its New Jersey/Pennsylvania division.
Mr. Schneier brings 15 years of operational and managerial experience in real estate to his new position at Beazer. He is the former head of operations for Pinnacle Communities in Millburn and has served as a vice president of operations, legal counsel and community builder for K. Hovnanian Companies.
Mr. Schneier taught real estate law, mortgages and ethics at Fairleigh Dickinson University for five years, and currently resides in Springfield.
TECHNOLOGY
Princeton Softech announced the appointment of Paul Blondin, CEO and chairman of Pactolus Communications Software Inc. of Boston, to its board of directors.
Mr. Blondin has more than 25 years of senior management and operations experience, as well as experience in IPOs, mergers and acquisitions. He has served on the board of directors for several software and high tech companies.
Princeton Softech, a leader in active archiving, is a software products and services provider that helps companies manage data more efficiently by identifying and moving infrequently used data to an active archive. Earlier this year a multi-million dollar investment in Princeton Softech allowed it to spin off from its corporate parent, enabling the company to accelerate its marketing and business development plans.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
The firm of J.H. Cohn announced that Gregg A. Tully has been promoted to senior accountant in the Lawrenceville office.
A resident of Neshanic Station, Mr. Tully specializes in providing audit and tax services to clients in the manufacturing, real estate/construction, non-profit and professional services industries. He earned his degree in accounting from Rutgers University, and is currently attending graduate school at Rider University.
Sovereign Bank has announced the promotion of Douglas V. Conover to senior vice president for the commercial banking group. Mr. Conover, whose office is located in Princeton, will continue to coordinate a team of commercial lenders in central New Jersey for new business, as well as service existing customer relationships.
Mr. Conover earned a bachelor’s degree from The College of New Jersey. He sits on the board of directors of the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Middlesex County and Somerset County chambers of commerce. In addition he is involved with the Boy Scouts and coaches girls’ basketball.
Robert Chappelear has assumed executive responsibilities for Fleet’s investment management activities in New Jersey, in addition to Pennsylvania. Fleet’s asset management arm, Columbia Management Group, manages $45 billion for high net worth clients in Fleet’s Private Clients Group and $14 billion for mid-market institutional clients. In connection with the expansion of his investment responsibilities, Mr. Chappelear has also been named to the New Jersey/ Pennsylvania Senior Management Leadership Council of Fleet New Jersey.
Rachel Zhang has been named an investment advisor of the PNC Advisors Office in Princeton. Ms. Zhang will be working with the PNC Advisors team handling investment management accounts for high net worth individuals.
A resident of West Windsor, Ms. Zhang has broad experience in the financial services industry working with leading financial institutions. Most recently with Goldman Sachs, she assessed, selected and evaluated hedge fund managers. She also worked at Merrill Lynch and Nomura Securities International.
A native of China, she holds degrees in computer science and business administration.
WithumSmith+Brown, Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, announces the promotion of Eileen P. McFarlane from senior accountant to manager.
Ms. McFarlane is based in the firm’s Princeton office and is experienced in audits, reviews, compilations and tax services. She received her degree in accounting from Rutgers University and resides in Robbinsville.