Community Corner

Local Leadership Program Completes Seminar Year

Bergen LEADS Class of 2011 to present Forum on Education

Members of the Bergen LEADS Class of 2011 will celebrate the completion of their 10-month program on Tuesday, June 14.  

The year’s culminating event will be a public forum on the future of education, followed by a graduation ceremony.  The forum, which will be moderated by Vaughn McKoy, president of the PSE&G Foundation, will be held at Bergen Community College in Paramus.  The event is free and open to the public, but pre-registration is required. 

E-mail amissey@bergenvolunteers.org or call 201-489-9454 x119 to register.

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Bergen LEADS, the county’s premier civic leadership program, is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  The program prepares local leaders to tackle the unique challenges and embrace the opportunities in Bergen County.

Led by former Bergen County Executive William “Pat” Schuber, participants are immersed in a stimulating curriculum that not only introduces them to topical issues of local importance, but also enables them to explore their leadership styles, enhance their leadership capacity and become meaningfully engaged in shaping the future of BergenCounty.

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Since September of 2010, the class has met monthly to dissect issues, debate viewpoints and get a first-hand look at Bergen County’s infrastructure, exploring government, education, health care, diversity, public safety and the environment.

A recurrent theme ran through every debate, presentation and site visit: “it’s expensive to live in Bergen County,” said Schuber.   “The current economic situation is forcing all levels of government to look for ways to cut expenses and end duplication of services.”

The 28 members of the 2011 class live or work in Bergen County, and were chosen through a competitive process in 2010.  The group represents a cross section of industries, and a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, ethnicities and ages.  For their class project they were charged with researching and presenting possible solutions to streamline the current system of 73 local school districts, maintain educational standards, and ultimately ease the ever-increasing tax burden on Bergen Countyresidents.

Following the forum, the Volunteer Center will host a reception celebrating the graduation of the Bergen LEADS Class of 2011 and introducing the Class of 2012, which will begin its seminar year in September.

Bergen LEADS also features an active alumni organization.

 “The future of Bergen County is being prepared now,” said Schuber.  ”Bergen LEADS is preparing leaders able to face the daunting challenges that the future will hold, whether they are engaged in the public or private sector.”

The members of the graduating class of Bergen LEADS 2011 are: 

  • Miriam Lopez, Fort Lee
  • Robert Abreu, Englewood
  • Laura Amerman, Rutherford
  • Susan Barbuto, Franklin Lakes
  • Kenneth Baum, Esq, Woodcliff Lake
  • Lorna Beebe, Oradell
  • Michael Blake, Park Ridge
  • Pastor Eric Brewer, Tinton Falls
  • Linnet Castro-Pereira, Union
  • Minister Brenda Du Bose, Saddle Brook
  • James Erwin, Hackensack
  • Lisa Gladwell, River Edge
  • Dave Hollenbeck, Carlstadt
  • Eileen Hughes, Wood Ridge
  • Colleen Hurley, Ridgewood
  • Trevor Jadoo, Esq., Englewood
  • Elise James, Englewood
  • Gwen Keeble, Allendale
  • Carmine Marchionda, Ogdensburg
  • Chuck Martello, Oakland
  • Jayne Press, Waldwick
  • Jennifer Reyes, Hasbrouck Heights
  • Jhovanny Rodriguez, Little Ferry
  • Sheryl Silver, Paramus
  • Carolyn Smith, Rutherford
  • Jose Vincente, Kearny
  • Karen Winick, Woodland Park
  • Reverend James Woodley, Teaneck


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