In recognition of the essential role employer partners play in maintaining strong career and technical education programs across the state, each of New Jersey’s 21 county vocational-technical school districts annually recognizes a Business Partner of the Year.
Learn more about recent honorees and their contributions:
Business Partner of the Year honorees:
Atlantic County Institute of Technology
2018 – Dr. Edwin Lopez-Bernard, Galloway
2017 – Jeff Walker, owner of Walker’s Automotive Service, Pleasantville
2016 – Barry Bruner, Mutual Aid Emergency Services, Absecon
2015 – Peter Avangliano, Galloway
2014 – Kelsey and Kim’s, Atlantic City and Pleasantville
2013 – Reliance Medical Group, LLC, Pleasantville
Bergen County Technical School District
2018 – The Hospital for Special Surgery Outpatient Center, Paramus
2017 – Snap-On Incorporated, Newton
2016 – John Bryndza, project engineer at Stryker Orthopaedics, Mahwah
2015 – Sterling Medical Devices, Rochelle Park
2014 – PepsiCo, Valhalla, NY
2013 – Lou Lento, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, US Department of Labor, Hasbrouck Heights
Burlington County Institute of Technology
2018 – Quality Concepts, Inc., Moorestown
2017 – Virtua Health System, South Jersey
2016 – Rowan College, Burlington County (RCBC)
2015 – Morgan’s Automotive Service, Burlington
2014 – Inductotherm Corp., Rancocas
2013 – Pemberton Fabricators, Rancocas
Camden County Technical School
2018 – Sean L. Reed, senior global engineer at the Campbell Soup Company, Camden
2017 – Mark Leonetti, owner of B&M Custom Cabinetry, Bellmawr
2016 – Jeffrey S. Swartz, director and CEO of the Camden County Workforce Development Board, Camden
2015 – Lexus of Cherry Hill Mount Laurel and Frank Hiller, Mount Laurel
2014 – Dave Scott, Laurel Oak Garden Center and Landscaping, Medford
2013 – Sanders Home Services, Voorhees
Cape May County Technical School
2018 – Atlantic City Electric, Mays Landing
2017 – Douglas Gomersall, chef, sculpter, and owner/operator of Living Ice, Cape May
2016 – New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife, Trenton
2015 – Cape May County Beach Plum Association, Cape May
2014 – Cheryl Elias, Supercuts, PA/NJ
2013 – Dr. Eric V. Thomas, Sunshine Dentistry, Rio Grande
Cumberland County Technical Education Center
2018 – Horizon AVL Systems Integration, Blackwood
2017 – Sysco Philadelphia, LLC, Philadelphia
2016 – Team Nissan, Vineland
2015 – Inspira Health Network, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester, and Camden counties
2014 – Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Bridgeton
2013 – Keen Compressed Gas, Wilmington, DE
Essex County Schools of Technology
2018 – The Donald M. Payne, Sr. Global Foundation, Newark
2017 – The Donald M. Payne, Sr. Global Foundation, Newark
2016 – Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc., Newark
2015 – Christopher DiMeo, director of programs for the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council (NJBCTC), Clark
2014 – Panasonic System Communications Company of North America, Newark
2013 – Gary Bloore, founder and team captain of IRONBOUND USA, Newark
Gloucester County Institute of Technology
2018 – Chef John Pilarz, owner of Anthony’s Creative Italian Cuisine, Haddon Heights
2017 – DCI Group, Glassboro
2016 – Depasquale Salon Systems, Fair Lawn
2015 – Lowe’s Home Improvement Center, Manuta
2014 – Garrison Architects, Bellmawr
2013 – Ryan McMullen, territory manager with US Foods, Bridgeport
Hudson County Schools of Technology
2018 – Andrew Campbell, president of Eastern Millwork, Inc. (EMI), Jersey City
2017 – Daniel Gans, co-founder of Hoboken Brownstone and president of the HCST Foundation, Hoboken
2016 – Antonio Quinlan, owner/operator of Hudson River Honey and executive director of the Hudson River Apiary Society, North Bergen
2015 – Robert Sutton, managing partner of Cosi Restaurants, Teaneck
2014 – Force 21, Andrew Campbell, CEO of Eastern Millwork, Jersey City
2013 – Laurent Lisimachio, Gensler, New York, NY
Hunterdon County Vocational School District
2018 – Anne Thornton, owner of MSI Plumbing & Remodeling, Lebanon
2017 – Dr. Christina Wilson, owner of Equiheart Veterinary Service, Califon
2016 – Kristyna Barbella-Saja, owner and founder of KB Multimedia, Clinton
2015 – Clover Hill Animal Hospital, Flemington
2014 – Ingersoll Rand, Annandale
2013 – Tractor Supply Company, Ringoes
Mercer County Technical Schools
2018 – New Jersey School Boards Association and John Henry, STEAM and Sustainable Schools Specialist, Pennington
2017 – The U.S. Army, Lakehurst
2016 – Stout’s Transportation, Trenton
2015 – Chez Alice Catering Company, Pennington
2014 – KNF Neuberger, Hamilton
2013 – Capital Health Medical Center, Pennington
Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools
2018 – Greg Hancox and Carolyn DeWolf of S.T.A.R. LLC, Lyndhurst
2017 – The New Jersey Carpenters Union Apprentice Training and Educational Fund
2016 – McCarter Theatre, Princeton
2015 – Shannon McGrady, president of Arm-R- Lite, Piscataway
2014 – Bill Leary Air Conditioning and Heating, Metuchen
2013 – Chrystal Skillman, playwright, Brooklyn, NY
Monmouth County Vocational School District
2018 – Festo Didactic, Inc., Eatontown
2017 – Stefanie Aber, senior vice president of Hackensack Meridian Health for Nursing & Rehabilitation, Red Bank
2016 – Dr. Scott Gygax of FEMERIS Women’s Health Research Center, Hamilton
2015 – Wegmans Food Market, Ocean Township (Monmouth County)
2014 – Rik F. van Hemmen, vice president and senior partner with Martin, Ottoway, van Hemmen and Dolan, Inc., Red Bank
2013 – CommVault Systems, Oceanport
Morris County Vocational School District
2018 – Prudential, Newark
2017 – Moretrench, Rockaway
2016 – County College, Morris (CCM)
2015 – Dialogic, Inc., Parsippany
2014 – Steven Jones, Millburn
2013 – Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, Kenilworth
Ocean County Vocational Technical School
2018 – Viking Yachts, New Gretna
2017 – Ray Soehngen, owner of Broadway Ray, Brick
2016 – Thompson Healthcare and Sports Medicine, Ocean and Monmouth counties
2015 – Hal Morris, director of the Ocean County Fire and First Aid Training Center, Waretown
2014 – Debbie Bilota and Kathy Stewart, Front Row Theatrical Originals, Toms River
2013 – Paul Barlo and Barlo & Associates Architects, Brick Township
Passaic County Technical-Vocational Schools
2018 – The Market Basket, Franklin Lakes
2017 – FedEx, Newark
2016 – Columbia Bank, Wayne
2015 – Morgan Advanced Materials, Fairfield
2014 – Regency Gardens Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Wayne
2013 – Kevin J. Mayer, productivity center manager with Sandvik Coromant, Fairlawn
Salem County Vocational Technical School District
2018 – Diamond Materials, Newport, DE
2017 – ARC Design and Consulting, LLC, Elmer
2016 – Holtec International, Woodstown
2015 – Precious Time Child Development Center, Pennsville and Penns Grove
2014 – Buzby Farms, Pilesgrove
2013 – Dan Bestwick and Dan’s Auto Service, Pennsville
Somerset County Vocational and Technical Schools
2018 – Richard and Debbie Norz, owners of Norz Hill Farm, Hillsborough
2017 – Gerald Truppelli, owner of Graphic Concepts, Inc., Bound Brook
2016 – Bridgewater Motorworks, Bridgewater
2015 – Tricorp Amusement, Inc., Somerset
2014 – Boyd Electric, North Plainfield
2013 – Pete Sansom and Sysco Metro NY LLC, Jersey City
Sussex County Technical School
2018 – Joseph Butto, the Hardyston Township Construction Official, Hamburg
2017 – Phillips Precision Medicraft, Elmwood Park
2016 – Jason Nicholas and j2n Architecture, Oak Ridge
2015 – Stephan Koch, owner of NAPA Auto Parts – Koch’s Auto Parts, Inc., Newton
2014 – AWISCO, Maspeth, NY
2013 – Fonzarelli’s Auto Body and Repair, Augusta
Union County Vocational-Technical Schools
2018 – Mark Sproul, engineer with Picatinny Arsenal, Wharton
2017 – For Solutions, Newton
2016 – TE Connectivity/Subcom, Eatontown
2015 – We Connect the Dots, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
2014 – Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office, Bloomfield
2013 – Pineda Conservatory, Scotch Plains
Warren County Technical School
2018 – N/A
2017 – Oxford Auto and Tire, Washington
2016 – Smith Motor Company, Washington
2015 – John Maxman, owner of JHM Signs, Alpha
2014 – N/A
2013 – Joe Fox and Warren County Fire Academy, Washington