Caldwell College Appoints Three Corporate Executives, An Attorney &
A Dominican Sister To The Board

The Caldwell College Board of Trustees recently appointed three senior corporate executives, an attorney and a nun to their board, announced Anthony V. Bastardi, board chair.

Kevin T. Gillen of Vernon, senior vice president/market manager for Commerce Bank, Joseph R. Bock of Phillipsburg, former senior vice president at American Home Products in Madison, Linda Luciano of Cedar Grove, associate dean and chief operating officer at New Jersey Medical School (NJMS) at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in Newark, Francine Esposito, Esq., of West Orange an attorney with Grotta, Glassman & Hoffman, P.A., in Roseland and Sister Bettyanne Schultz, O.P., of Jersey City, an educator in American history and political science at Lacordaire Academy in Montclair, will each serve a three-year term.

“The new board members have committed themselves to help continue building on the proud tradition of Caldwell College,” said President Sister Patrice Werner, O.P., Ph.D. “Their management experience combined with their extensive spiritual and leadership skills will help the board in providing the educational, intellectual and spiritual opportunities to prepare our students to meet the challenges ahead.”

Since 1999, Gillen oversees a 51 branch, $3.5 billion bank in central and northern New Jersey where he is responsible for retail franchises, commercial and consumer lending, government banking and cash management. From 1980-99 he worked in various capacities at United Jersey Bank in Summit starting in a formal management and commercial credit training program.

Gillen has served on a number of boards. He has provided leadership as a 10-year board member for Family Intervention Services, a $10 million not-for-profit organization under the auspices of the Department of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), with its primary function to maintain the integrity of the family unit. As a trustee for the Morris Union Jointure Commission, he directed the fourth largest chamber in the state of New Jersey and also led the United Way of Morris County as one of its board of directors. Gillen has also been actively involved in a number of ministries at Saint Francis DeSales, a 25-year parish in Vernon Township within the Paterson Dioceses. He has twice been campaign chairman, selected as a delegate to the National Stewardship Convention, an active member in the Emmaus Group, Eucharistic Minister, Antioch Program, as well as religious education.

Gillen received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lycoming College.
At American Home Products, Bock was responsible for world-wide labor relations, compensation, personnel matters, affirmative action programs and security. While employed at the company, many complimentary articles and letters were written by senior union officers regarding its labor relations policies. Bock became the only management representative to be awarded a Bronze Medal from the Industrial Union Department, AFL-CIO, for his “invaluable help in settling the NYNEX strike in 1999.”

He previously served as corporate personnel manager for Hess Oil & Chemical Company, as labor relations assistant for the New Jersey Zinc Company and as labor relations consultant for C.W. Farmer Consultants. Bock is a former board member of the Caldwell College Board of Trustees in Caldwell and the Warren Hospital in Phillipsburg; he graduated from the United States Naval School of Naval Justice in Newport, Rhode Island. He served in the United States Marine Corps and was discharged with the rank of Captain.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Seton Hall University, his jurist doctorate degree from Fordham Law School and his L.L,.M., a Master of Law degree in labor law from Temple Law School. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Northhampton County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and before the United States Supreme Court. He also has been appointed to the Labor Panel of the American Arbitration Association.

Luciano began her career at New Jersey Blue Cross as an assistant manager and quickly moved to a manager position. Upon acquiring her Master’s degree in Marketing from Seton Hall University in 1981, she moved to Bankers Trust Company in New York. After several years, she opened a personnel agency, called Personnel Connection Inc., where she guided and counseled people in career choices. After seven years in the field, she persuaded the National Pediatric HIV Resource Center, a department at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in Newark, to hire her as project manager.

In her current position as Associate Dean and Chief Operating Officer for New Jersey Medical School at UMDNJ, she supervises the facilities function, which includes the research labs and classrooms, information technology, mission-based management and marketing.

Since 1998 Luciano has been actively involved in Musical Moments for MS, an annual fundraising event for multiple sclerosis research. During the past five years, several concerts showcased at NJPAC have raised more than $7 million. Proceeds have established two endowed professorships in multiple sclerosis research to further advance MS research at the New Jersey Medical School Neurological Institute of New Jersey. Luciano has also raised funds for cancer research by walking in the Susan G. Komen Walk for the Cure.

Esposito has over 15 years in human resources, labor relations and labor employment law. An accomplished speaker, she has extensive experience designing and conducting entertaining and practical training programs for employers covering all aspects of labor and employment law.

She is licensed to practice law in the State of New Jersey and to appear before the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the southern and eastern districts of New York and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.

At Grotta, Glassman & Hoffman, P.A, since 1993, Esposito designs and conducts training programs for supervisors and employees and advises clients on all employment-related issues including harassment and discrimination, affirmative action, union avoidance, reasonable accommodation, discipline and discharge, interviewing and hiring, wage and hour, drug testing, administration of collective bargaining agreements and compliance with all labor and employment laws including Title VII, IRCA, NLRA, ADA, ADEA, NJCEPA, NJLAD, ERISA, COBRA and FMLA.

From 1988-93, she served as a senior industrial representative at Public Service Electric and Gas Company in Newark. While there she advised and trained field managers regarding employee and labor relations issues. She acted as a spokesperson for a bargaining unit of over 5,000 employees in a collaborative environment. Esposito authored corporate policy, correspondence to unions and employees and contract language and prepared company position for labor arbitrations, corporate-level grievances and negotiations.

From 1987-88 as a personnel associate for Nabisco Brands Inc. in Parsippany, she coordinated and monitored field employee relations and public relations activities, reviewed compensation adjustments for corporate compliance and analyzed cost personnel implications of plant closings and relocation of division headquarters. She received her jurist doctorate degree from Rutgers Law School in Newark.

In addition to her present position as an educator at Lacordaire Academy, Sister Bettyanne previously served as principal at St. Dominic Academy in Jersey City from 1987-99. From 1980-87 she taught math, English and history and held the position of department chairperson. From 1972-80 she taught American History, political science and served as the social studies department chairperson. From 1968-72 she held various other administrative and teaching positions at schools in New Jersey and Alabama.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in social sciences with a concentration in elementary education from Caldwell College and her Master of Arts degree in American History with the related field of political science. She holds New Jersey certification in social studies and elementary education.