Board of Trustees

Career Profile: Kathleen M. Barabas is currently Principal, Head of Client Services for Quantitative Management Associates LLC based in Newark, NJ. Kathleen has had a successful career servicing a premier global institutional client base in the financial services industry. Prior to her current position at QMA, Kathleen was Executive Director, Head of Institutional Client Service, North America for J.P. Morgan Asset Management, based in New York City. Before joining J.P. Morgan, she was Vice President, Master Trust and Custody, and an Assistant Vice President within the Employee Benefit Services Division of Citibank, N.A.

 Community Involvement: In addition to serving on the Caldwell University Board of Trustees, Kathleen is an active parishioner and volunteer at Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City. She also donates her time and talents to mentoring young executives and volunteering at Visions, a social service agency for the blind and visually impaired in New York City.

Education: Kathleen graduated from Caldwell University with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Career Profile: A founding partner of Kent, Beatty & Gordon, Harry Beatty has been practicing law for nearly forty years. He began his career at a major New York-based firm and then spent eight years at Joseph E. (starsoffline.com) Seagram & Sons, Inc., ultimately as Corporate Counsel and assistant secretary.

At Seagram, Harry’s responsibilities included legal matters affecting the consolidated Seagram group throughout the world, including structuring transactions and ventures, and handling SEC and treasury issues, employee relations and benefits, and real estate issues related to the landmarked Seagram Building and other Seagram properties.

Harry’s practice today includes the structure, negotiation and closing of sophisticated transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures and ventures both international and national in scope. He has represented clients on diverse transactional matters in Central and South America, Europe and the Far East.

Harry has represented and continues to represent a number of enterprises in the beverage industry, including Royal Crown Cola, Virgin Cola (USA), TyKu LLC, d/b/a Davos Brands, an importer and distributor of alcohol beverage products, and Premium Beverages (Seagram Mixers). He has extensive experience with wine and spirits companies, and for over twenty years has served as principal US counsel for Destileria Serrallés, Inc., the oldest rum producer in Puerto Rico. Harry also has extensive experience with banking and financial institutions, importers and exporters, and manufacturers and distributors, particularly in the packaging industry.

Harry was named a New York Area Super Lawyer in 2015. Kent, Beatty & Gordon has been named the M&A Law Firm of the Year in New York since 2013 and the Contracts Law Firm of the Year in New York since 2014 by Corporate International Magazine, and the Best for Business Counseling New York for 2015 by AL Legal Awards.

Community Involvement: Harry is an ordained Elder of the Presbyterian Church (USA), a former member of the permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Newark, and the former President, and a former Chairman of the Finance and the Stewardship Committees, of the First Presbyterian Church of Caldwell, in New Jersey. At Harvard Law School, he was a member of the Board of Student Advisors, an honorary society that ran moot court and other competitions and mentored one-L students. He is an elected member of the Essex County, New Jersey, Republican Committee and Chairman of the municipal committee in his hometown.

Education: Harry received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University and his JD from Harvard Law School.  He is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and the American Bar Association, and is admitted to the New York Bar, and in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Career Profile: Olga E. Bradford is a Deputy Attorney General in the Consumer Affairs-Counseling Section for the Office of the Attorney General of New Jersey. In this role, she has served as legal advisor to state licensure boards and regulatory agencies, provided oral and written legal opinions, conducted legal research, and assured compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act and the Open Public Records Act. She has served as a legal advisor to the Victims of Crime Compensation Review Board and has extensive Appellate Division experience.

Her previous experience includes working as a staff attorney for Camden Regional Legal Services and as a law clerk for The Honorable Martin L. Haines, former Assignment Judge of Burlington County.

Olga is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Education: Olga holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Psychology from Rutgers University and a J.D. from Rutgers Camden School of Law.

Career Profile – Tanya L. Freeman, Esq. leads a team of attorneys and support staff at Offit Kurman, P.C. in East Hanover, New Jersey. Her group represents clients in family law, and litigates and mediates economic and custody issues.  She is chair of the Board of Directors of University Hospital and board member of the Chair, Governance, Ethics and Legal Committee for the hospital. Her previous experiences include work as a managing partner and attorney for Freeman Hughes Freeman, LLC, and as a senior audit manager of operations for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

Education – Tanya  holds a Juris Doctor from Touro Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Caldwell University.  

Community Involvement: Tanya serves as co-chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Family Law Executive Committee for the New Jersey State Bar Association.

She is president of the Montclair Drifters Inc., a women-led philanthropic organization that promotes minority rights and focuses on health, education and wellness in Essex County. She is founder of the EOF Emergency Fund at Caldwell University which provides rapid financial relief for educationally and economically disadvantaged students for expenses not covered by financial aid. For Hudson County Superior Court, she has served on the Advisory Committee, Minority Concerns and has chaired the Juvenile Justice/Family Law Subcommittee. Freeman serves on the District VB Fee Arbitration Committee for the Office of Attorney Ethics of the Supreme Court of New Jersey and is a fellow for the American Bar Association. She has received a number of awards including Family Lawyer of the Year from the Essex and Hudson County Bar Associations and the Caldwell University Veritas Award for Excellence in Service to the Community.

Career Profile: Patrick J. Osinski is Vice President, Business Development and Government Affairs & General Counsel for Organon USA Inc. and Assistant General Counsel at Akzo Nobel Inc. Before coming to Organon, Patrick held positions in retail, hospital pharmacy and hospital administration.

Career Profile – Carlos M.  Pomares is vice president of the Essex County Board of Commissioners and commissioner of District 5 for the County. He is executive director of the Cuban Arts Fund, a non-profit that supports artists of Cuban ancestry and provides public programming aimed at creating a broader appreciation for Cuban arts and their global impact, historically and in today’s society. Carlos served as Councilman-at-Large for the Township of Bloomfield, New Jersey from 2014 to 2017.  He has extensive experience in non-profit operations, leadership and marketing having worked in leadership at a number of organizations including the Montclair Historical Society, the Waterloo Foundation for the Arts, the New York City Police Museum, King Manor Museum and  President Grover Cleveland’s Birthplace.  He is an adjunct professor at William Paterson University in political science and at Hudson County Community College in history and political science. 

Education: Carlos holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, a minor in political science, and a certificate in communications from Caldwell University and a Master of Arts in Museum Administration from Seton Hall University. 

Community Involvement: Carlos is founder of the vintage automobile club, the Bloomfield Cruisers which organizes fundraisers for charities including toy drives and a scholarship initiative. He serves as chair of the Bloomfield Morris Canal Greenway and is a  member of the Caldwell University President’s Advisory Board.   He  has served other organizations including the Cub Scouts in Bloomfield,  the Bloomfield Parking Authority and the Bloomfield Historic District review project. Among his many awards, he received the Hispanic Heritage Man of the Year Award, the Public Servant of the Year Award from the Essex County Latino-American Chamber of Commerce in 2019 and the Caldwell University Veritas Award for Cultural Excellence in 2017.

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Sister Pat is a member of the Sisters of St. Dominic of Caldwell, New Jersey, and serves on the Leadership Team.

Career Profile: Sister Pat spent 38 years in education as a teacher and principal on the elementary level during which time she was also lecturer and field supervisor in education at Caldwell University. She served as director of sponsored ministries for the Congregation. She serves on the board of trustees of its sponsored ministries: Caldwell University, Saint Dominic Academy, Mount Saint Dominic Academy, Lacordaire Academy, Genesis Farm and St. Catherine of Siena Health Care Center. Sister Pat serves on the executive board of the Dominican Association of Secondary Schools.

Education:  Sister Pat earned a B.A. in education and a B.A. in religious studies from Caldwell University. She received her M.A. in administration and supervision and doctorate in education leadership, management and policy from Seton Hall University. She also holds teacher certification and certification as supervisor and principal in the state of New Jersey.

Career Profile
Ivonne Valdes is a transformative global business leader and champion for inclusion, diversity and education. She is currently the Chief Product Officer and Executive VP of Business Development for Sorenson Communications. She serves as a chair of the HITEC Foundation, Conectado board and the sales advisory board for CATO.

Ivonne is the recipient of the infrastructure Masons 2019 Global Diversity and Inclusion Champion award, 2020 Silicon Valley Women of Influence Award, 2020 HITEC Hall of Fame, 2016, CRN power 100 most powerful Women of the Channel, 2015 Top Latina Executives of the Year, 2015/2014 CRN Women of the Channel, and the 2014 HPE customer satisfaction award.

Education
Ivonne graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Caldwell University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She holds a CERT certification in Cybersecurity Oversight from Carnegie Mellon University and a KPMG Board Fit Program certification.

Career Profile: Elizabeth Chalas Berman is the President of Continental Food and Beverage, Inc. (CF&B), exclusive bottler of brand Inca Kola for Coca Cola Company. Prior to joining CF&B, Elizabeth dedicated 15 years to teaching English as a Second Language in the Passaic City school system. During this time, she served on the Executive Board of the Passaic Education Association and was the committee representative of the New Jersey Education Association Convention.

Community Involvement: At CF&B, Elizabeth spearheaded the company’s Community Outreach Department which supports local, national and international organizations. She has volunteered in the Dominican Republic for Friends of Lead Free Children, where the company cleaned up one of the worst lead contamination sites in the world. Her family has also participated in humanitarian aid missions there.

In addition to the Caldwell University Board of Trustees, Elizabeth serves on the Board of Directors of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Corporate Board of Advisers of the New York State Federation of Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, and the Executive Board of the Centro Civico Cultural Dominicano, Inc. She also volunteers on various fundraising committees for the Montclair Public Schools, including the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence.

Education: Elizabeth graduated with a B.A. in Education from Caldwell University and completed her post-graduate work at City University of New York, Hunter College.

Career Profile – James W. Bernaiche of Essex Fells, New Jersey is a Retired Partner at Lord Abbett & Co LLC, a global asset manager with approximately $250 Billion AUM. He retired from his role as the Chief Compliance Officer of the firm in 2013, a position that he held for 13 years. Prior to joining Lord Abbett, James held leadership roles and served as the chief compliance officer at various companies in the asset management and private equity industries including Credit Suisse, Warburg Pincus and Paine Webber.  

Education – James earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maine and has held several securities licenses.

Career Profile:  Stanley Borowiec has over 30 years of extensive knowledge and experience working as an industry specialist in industrial technology. Currently with SPB Group, LLC, he provides sales and marketing consulting services to global companies. Stanley serves on the Advisory Council for Graham Partners portfolio company, Acme.

Previously, Stanley held various management positions over a 30-year career at Linde Group, a $20 billion global industrial gas and international engineering company. These positions included: Planning Manager; Director of Finance; Director of Marketing Services; Director, Helium; Vice President, Compressed Gases; and most recently, Vice President, Strategic Product Management.

Prior to joining the Linde Group,Stanley was 
employed with Exxon Chemical in Florham Park 
where he served as a process engineer for six years, including 18 months at the chemical plant in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.  

Community Involvement:  In addition to serving on the Caldwell University Board of Trustees, Stanley also serves on the board of directors for the United Way of Greater Union County and previously served on the School of Engineering & Applied Science’s Board of Visitors at Columbia University.

Education:  Stanley received his BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from Columbia University’s School of Engineering. He also received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School with distinction.

Career Profile: Lisa M. Bromberg is a principal of Porzio, Bromberg and Newman and is a member of the firm’s Real Estate & Environmental Practice Group. Lisa is a published author and frequent speaker on environmental law topics. She has served on the Board of Directors for the Environmental Law Section of the Bar Association of New Jersey and is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the Environmental Law Section of the Bar Association of New York.

Community Involvement: Lisa has served as an officer of the Board of Directors of Gilda’s Club of Northern New Jersey. Presently, she is a member of the Board of Directors of CASA.

Education: Lisa received her B.A. from Caldwell University and her J.D. from Seton Hall University.

Other: Lisa is a member of the Environmental Law Institute and of the New Jersey Society of Women Environmental Professionals. She has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” by New Jersey Monthly Magazine and as one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” by Chambers USA.

Career Profile:  Edward Collins is a founding partner and wealth advisor at Collins Lambert, LLC, located in Lebanon, New Jersey. He helps attorneys, doctors and other entreprofessionals find clarity and transparency in their financial lives. He uses his decades of financial services experience to help professional service providers build and preserve wealth.

Collins Lambert is a privately owned, completely independent financial-planning- services-based, integrated wealth management practice serving clients across the country. Edward began his professional career at the United States Department of Justice before transitioning to private wealth management planning in 1998.

Community Involvement:  With a strong commitment to giving back, Edward serves his community in many ways. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Hunterdon County YMCA. He is a member of the North Hunterdon-Clinton Kiwanis Club. He also serves as trustee and treasurer of the Brian C. Kull Memorial Foundation, Inc., which provides college scholarships to students who demonstrate excellence in service, leadership and fellowship in their communities.

Edward maintains strong ties to the Caldwell University community. Prior to joining the Board of Trustees, he served on the Business Advisory Council and the Alumni Board.

Education: Edward graduated from Caldwell University with a double major in history (B.A.) and psychology (B.A.).  He earned his Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Career Profile: Mary Sellitto-Curcio has had a successful career in education and business management. As an educator, she held several key leadership positions. Mary began her career with the Montclair Public School District as their accountant. She went on to become the school business administrator, RSBA, with the Essex Regional Educational Services Commission, remaining in this role for many years until her early retirement. Her expertise in school finance contributed to the growth and development of quality educational and administrative programs in a cost-efficient manner while ensuring the school district’s financial stability was maintained. Mary was president, legislative liaison and an executive board member for the Essex County Association of School Business Officials.

Community Involvement:  Mary has been active in the Caldwell University Alumni Board for 12 years, serving as a member, vice president and president. She was the 2016 Caldwell University Peggy Harris Alumni of the Year award recipient. She has supported Caldwell University and student scholarships, was an alumni board representative to the university’s Strategic Planning Committee, served on the Caldwell University Veritas Committee, and is a member of the President’s Society.Prior to moving to Caldwell in 2018, Mary was a lifelong resident of Verona, New Jersey.  She coordinates the Verona High School Thomas J. Sellitto Memorial Scholarship in memory of her father, and serves on the Verona High School Alumni Board and Hall of Fame committees. Mary is a wish volunteer for Make-A-Wish of New Jersey and has received several recognitions/awards. 

Community Involvement:  Mary has been active in the Caldwell University Alumni Board for 12 years, serving as a member, vice president and president. She was the 2016 Caldwell University Peggy Harris Alumni of the Year award recipient. She has supported Caldwell University and student scholarships, was an alumni board representative to the university’s Strategic Planning Committee, served on the Caldwell University Veritas Committee, and is a member of the President’s Society.Prior to moving to Caldwell in 2018, Mary was a lifelong resident of Verona, New Jersey.  She coordinates the Verona High School Thomas J. Sellitto Memorial Scholarship in memory of her father, and serves on the Verona High School Alumni Board and Hall of Fame committees. Mary is a wish volunteer for Make-A-Wish of New Jersey and has received several recognitions/awards.  She is also a member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Major Joseph Bloomfield Chapter, and the Woman’s Club of Upper Montclair.

Education:Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in English and business from Caldwell University. She received a master’s degree in educational leadership from Montclair State University and a chief school administrator certificate from the New Jersey Department of Education.  Mary holds a school business administrator certification and a registered school business administrator certification from the New Jersey Department of Education. Mary received a QPA (qualified purchasing agent) certification from the NJ State Department of Education. She is a member of the national English honor society Sigma Tau Delta and the all-discipline honor society Phi Kappa Phi.

Career Profile: Sister Mary John Kearney, OP, a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, is an educator who has served the Church and her Community in the ministry of teaching at the elementary, secondary and collegiate levels.

Sister’s professional ministry has been as a teacher and school administrator. She taught at St. Mary’s Elementary School, Rutherford, Lacordaire Lower School, Upper Montclair, and Caldwell University. Sister served as principal of Lacordaire Lower School, St. Cassian’s School – both in Upper Montclair and St. Philomena School (Aquinas Academy) in Livingston, NJ. During her years as a faculty member at Caldwell University she served as chair of the Education Department, director of Field Services, coordinator of the School Nurse Program and supervisor of student teachers. After a span of thirty years Sister Mary John retired and with the rank of associate professor and received the honor of Professor Emerita.

Education: Sister holds a B.A. in social studies and elementary education from Caldwell University, an M.A. in elementary education and guidance from the Catholic University of America and a M.A. in curriculum and instruction from Teachers College, Columbia University. She studied at Montclair State University in administration and supervision; and her educational credentials include NJ Certifications: Chief Administrator, Principal/ Supervisor, Elementary School Teacher, Early Childhood Teacher, and Teacher of Social Studies K-12.

Community Involvement:  Sister Mary John has served as a member of several boards of education at the national, state and local levels. These include: the Newark Archdiocesan Principals Association Executive Committee-serving as president; the NCEA Elementary Department Executive Board – serving as secretary, vice president, president and past president; the NCEA/NACCCB executive board; the NCEA board of directors –serving as vice chair; the NJ Association of Colleges/Universities-serving as secretary; the Paterson Diocesan Board-serving as president and past president; the Lacordaire Board of Trustees-serving as secretary and the NJ Board of Professional Standards. Currently she serves as a board member of Lacordaire Academy.

She is currently a member of the Mission Effectiveness Team of the Sisters of Saint Dominic and a member of the Lacordaire board of trustees. Sister serves as the chair of the Commission on Global Issues, a Justice and Peace initiative of the Sisters of Saint Dominic.

Career Profile: Sister Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P. is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, NY. Currently the President of Dominican College in Orangeburg, NY, Sr. Mary Eileen has devoted over 35 years of service to education and congregational leadership. Sister Mary Eileen began her career in Catholic education as a mathematics teacher and a principal in Bronx, NY. She later held the position of President of the Sisters of St. Dominic for six years. Sr. Mary Eileen is very active in higher education circles, serving on the boards of the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

Community Involvement:  Sister Mary Eileen also contributes her time and talents to her community, where she is a member of the Rockland Business Association Board, Bon Secours Charity Board, and the Helen Hayes Hospital Board of Visitors.

Education: Sister Mary Eileen received a B.A. in Education from Dominican College, a M.S. in Mathematics from Manhattan College, and a M.A. in Adult and Higher Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. She also holds a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from Fordham University.

Career Profile: Osbert Orduña is the CEO and founder of M&C Venture Group, LLC, a firm which specializes exclusively in government contracting at the federal, state and local levels. M&C holds multiple socioeconomic certifications at state and local levels, including the Federal Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business, the Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Minority Business Enterprise and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise certifications. 

Prior to becoming an entrepreneur Osbert had a distinguished career in public service. He served in various roles in law enforcement; federal agent, task force officer and was the first Latino in the New York Field Office promoted to the rank of Group Supervisor (GS-14). Most notably, Osbert was appointed by then DHS Secretary Napolitano as a Department of Homeland Security building design subject matter expert and advisor to the Port Authority of NY/NJ and the NYC Police Department on the Freedom Tower and Ground Zero Construction Projects. Osbert’s expertise extends to Emergency Management, Continuity of Operations, Grant Management, Technical Operations, Scope Development and Government Procurement. 

Osbert, a service-disabled veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom served honorably with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force of the United States Marine Corps. Military recognitions include: Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2nd Award), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation. 

Education: He holds a bachelor’s degree in business studies, a graduate certificate in law, a graduate certificate in construction management, certification in building design for homeland security and certification as a paralegal. He is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10KSB program and the Inner-City Capital Connections Program. 

Career Profile:  Dr. Leon Smith is the Director of Maternal/Fetal Medicine of the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and is a member of the New Jersey Perinatal Associates. Dr. Smith is board-certified in both Obstetrics & Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine and has been named a Top Doctor by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine, NJ Monthly and Inside Jersey.  Dr. Smith’s research interests include prenatal diagnosis and obstetrical infections. He has extensive experience contributing to peer-reviewed journal articles and presenting lectures on a variety of topics in his field, including HIV in pregnancy, multiple gestations, and preconception and prenatal counseling. 

His professional memberships and affiliations include:

• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• American Medical Association
• Infectious Disease Society of America
• The Academy of Medicine of NJ
• Essex County Medical Society 
• Medical Society of NJ
• Perinatal Association of NJ
• New Jersey Maternal-Fetal Medicine Society

Education:  Dr. Smith received his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC, and went on to complete his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Tulane University Affiliated Hospitals in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

He then completed his fellowship training in maternal-fetal medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas in 1991. 

Career Profile: Laurita McGreevy Warner, ’70 is former vice president of global communications for Prudential Financial. She spent her entire career with Prudential. As public affairs manager for Prudential’s Property and Casualty Company in the late 1970s, she established the company’s first Consumer Relations Department. In 1996, Laurita joined Prudential Financial’s global communications area managing public relations and internal communications for Prudential’s domestic insurance and investment businesses and handling communications for merger and acquisition activities.

She retired in 2007. Laurita has been active with the Caldwell University Shore chapter and is a member of the Alumni Board.

Education: Laurita graduated from Caldwell with a degree in business administration and completed her master’s in business administration and marketing at Seton Hall University. In 2008, she received Caldwell’s Veritas Award for Excellence in Corporate Communication.