MILESTONES

Issue of Sept. 19, 2006

HEALTH & MEDICINE
   Barbara Brodsky of Princeton Junction, and a team of five other inventors working from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, have received a Thomas Alva Edison Award from The Research & Development Council of New Jersey recently for their work. The award-winning patent, "Collagen-Based Matrices Ribose Cross-Linked," dates from 1990, and marked the earlier contribution to the field of biomaterial development with collagen, a group of fibrous proteins that occur in connective tissue and bones. The aim was to provide a biodegradable matrix that could be used for wounds, implants and various surgical and medical procedures.
   East Windsor resident Zhaoning Zhu was among another group of 27 inventors from Shering-Plough Research Institute honored by RDCNJ for their work on "Novel Peptides as NS3-Serine Protease Inhibitors of Hepatitis C Virus." The work focused on a compound that should make a substantial contribution to the management of hepatitis C, which affects roughly 300 million people.

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   Christy Stephenson, who guided Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton for eight years, has announced that she will step down as president and CEO on Dec. 31. Ms. Stephenson has been with RWJ Hamilton since 1989, with the exception of a two-year hiatus between 1995 and 1997.
NONPROFIT
   Princeton resident Kurt A. Hochfeld, CPA, has been named to the board of trustees and elected treasurer of the Partnership in Philanthropy, a statewide nonprofit organization. In this position he will be responsible for financial oversight of the 15-year-old organization, and will chair the organization’s finance committee.
   Currently director of financial services in the private sector for Aviary Capital Enterprises, Inc. in Teaneck, Mr. Hochfeld has extensive experience in formulating and managing client issues relating to estate, tax, investment and philanthropic contributions.
   Founded in 1991, PIP provides assessment, consulting and training to nonprofit organizations, and since its inception has provided technical assistance, training and professional fundraising consulting services to arts, education, health and human service organizations in all 21 New Jersey counties.
LAW
   Suzanne M. Marasco, a partner of the Princeton law firm of Hill Wallack LLP, was recently appointed secretary/treasurer of the Trial Attorneys of New Jersey. The organization consists of both plaintiff and defense attorneys from the civil and criminal bar associations and is dedicated to promoting the interests of the public at large, the interests of the litigants involved in civil and criminal cases, and the interests of the bench and bar.
   A resident of Clarksburg, Ms. Marasco is a member of the New Jersey Defense Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Mercer County Bar Association and New Jersey State Bar Associations.

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   Parker McCay attorney Michael A. Rambert, a Princeton resident, was selected to serve on the New Jersey Advisory Committee on Police Standards recently established by Governor Jon S. Corzine. The committee will recommend whether New Jersey should terminate the 1999 consent decree that required federal monitoring of New Jersey state police to prevent the practice of racial profiling. The Advisory Committee will further advise on how to ensure racial profiling will not occur or be tolerated in the future if the consent decree is terminated. The Advisory Committee’s final report is due on December 31, 2006.
   Mr. Rambert concentrates his practice in all aspects of real estate development and redevelopment, representing private developers and New Jersey municipalities in the redevelopment of commercial, industrial and residential areas. He serves as president of the Garden State Bar Association, and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.

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   Adrienne C. Rogove, a partner in Saul Ewing’s litigation department, has been appointed vice chair of the Business and Commercial Litigation Committee for the New Jersey State Bar Association. This committee assists the business bar by working with the courts to ensure that the needs of business clients are being met.
   Ms. Rogove is a member of the firm’s employee defection and recruitment, construction and real estate litigation practice groups. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation involving contract, employment, restrictive covenants, antitrust, shareholder and partnership rights, foreclosures, fraud, leasing, construction and other real estate-related disputes.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
   Amper, Politziner & Mattia, Certified Public Accountants and Consultants has announced that Richard A. Cleaveland was promoted to officer in the accounting and auditing department. He provides consulting services to businesses in a variety of industries in both the public and private sectors and has more than 11 years of experience working with a wide range of companies.
   Also promoted in the accounting and auditing department was Bridget Day, to officer. She serves various SEC clients in the manufacturing, distribution and banking industries.
   Amper, Politziner & Mattia is a regional CPA and consulting firm serving the greater New Jersey/New York business community.