Executive Moves is an occasional feature on ROI-NJ.com describing some of the important personnel changes in the New Jersey business community. Reports are based on news releases, edited for content, clarity and style.
Donald A. Kessler, Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP
Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP is pleased to announce that Donald A. Kessler, former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, has joined the firm as of counsel in the Litigation and Family Law departments. His practice will focus on the resolution of commercial and family law disputes through mediation and arbitration as an alternative to traditional litigation. Kessler will also provide discovery master services and consultation on case management, development of discovery, trial strategy and review of briefs.
Kessler recently retired from the New Jersey Judiciary, following 10 years of service as a Superior Court judge in Essex County, serving in both the Chancery and Family divisions. His time on the bench was preceded by 35 years in private practice. His experience with business disputes encompasses a broad range of matters, including those related to contracts, real property, employment, unfair competition, intellectual property, corporate and LLC issues, and consumer fraud. In the area of family law, Kessler’s experience includes issues related to alimony, child support, custody, equitable distribution, relocation, domestic violence and reimbursement of counsel fees.
Kessler is based in the firm’s Roseland office.
Erica Nagel, New Jersey Theatre Alliance
Erica Nagel of Oakland has joined the New Jersey Theatre Alliance in its newly established position of deputy director. Nagel comes to the Alliance from McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, where she worked for the past eight years, first as director of education and engagement and, more recently, as director of creative development and strategy. Prior to her time at McCarter, she served as producing associate and resident dramaturg at Premiere Stages in Union.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Theatre Alliance at this moment in time,” said Nagel. “I’ve experienced the impact of their work from the member theater perspective, and I’ve long appreciated the integrity and passion with which the organization helps theaters build capacity and supports theater professionals throughout the state. The Theatre Alliance is always looking at how they can be most effective and successful in helping the theater ecology in the state flourish, and I’m excited to work with the board, the staff and the member theaters to help expand and increase that impact.”
The position of deputy director will work closely with the Alliance’s executive director, John McEwen, on strategic planning, operations, fundraising, and program development.
Andrew J. Purcell, Noven
Noven Pharmaceuticals Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan-based Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical Co. Inc., announced the appointment of Andrew J. Purcell as Noven’s head of marketing and sales.
In this new role, Purcell will develop and lead Noven’s marketing and sales team as Noven prepares for the potential launch and commercialization of HP-3070 (asenapine) transdermal drug delivery system, a new investigational patch product for the treatment of schizophrenia. A New Drug Application is currently under review by FDA for HP-3070, which was developed by Hisamitsu and, if approved, will be commercialized by Noven in the United States.
Purcell joins Noven with over 25 years of commercial experience in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.
Richard M. Risoldi, Middlesex Water Co.
Middlesex Water Co. announced that Richard M. Risoldi, senior vice president – operations and chief operating officer, retired effective July 1. The company reported several executive leadership changes in October 2018 in connection with its succession plans. The following executives, G. Christian Andreasen, Georgia M. Simpson and Robert K. Fullagar, have been named vice presidents of the company, effective July 1, and will join the company’s Executive Committee.
“As chief operating officer of Middlesex Water, Rick’s numerous responsibilities included oversight of water and wastewater treatment, engineering/construction, capital projects, disaster recovery, large technology implementation, regulatory compliance and safety,” said Dennis W. Doll, Middlesex Water CEO and president. “We are grateful for his expert leadership and for the smooth transition of oversight of key responsibilities to the team now assuming familiar but larger leadership roles. We wish Rick good health and happiness in his retirement and congratulate the new members of our executive team.”
Andreasen has been named vice president – enterprise engineering, Simpson has been named vice president – information technology and Fullagar has been named vice president – operations.
Dilworth Paxson LLP
Dilworth Paxson LLP announced the addition of associate Silvio A. Trentalange to the firm’s Litigation Department and associate Sarah Gremminger to the firm’s Trusts & Estates Department.
Trentalange represents both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial and complex civil litigations. Gremminger focuses her practice on special needs trusts, post-litigation planning, and Orphans’ Court matters.
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Dale Foster, Wayside Technology Group Inc.
Wayside Technology Group Inc. announced that Dale Foster has been promoted to the role of president of its Lifeboat business.
Foster previously served as the company’s executive vice president, having joined Wayside Technology Group in January 2018 with over 20 years of industry and channel experience. Prior to joining the company, Foster was with Promark Technology since 1988 and served as CEO and president since 1997.
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Rupert A. Hayles Jr., Pillar College
Pillar College is proud to announce that Rupert A. Hayles Jr. has been appointed as the chief operating officer at Pillar College. A high-level corporate leader with insight, knowledge and strategic vision, Hayles is an expert in strategic management, strategic technology management and operational and general management execution. He has over 20 years in leadership and management capacity at organizations such as Cytec Industries, Prudential Financial and Merck. He has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Regent University, with a specialization in leadership traits and emotional intelligence.
“I’m excited to be taking the reins at Pillar College, an evangelical Christian college with so much to offer, yet still remains one of New Jersey’s best kept secrets,” he said. “As its new chief operating officer, I am accountable for the integration of processes across the organization in addition to direct accountability for six key areas: operations and strategy, business & finance, human resources, marketing, information technology and facilities management. I look forward to knowing that by streamlining our operations and internal communications, we can better serve our constituents and focus on our true mission: providing a Christian-based education of higher learning that prepares students to serve in the real world.”
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Edward T. Kole, Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey
Wilentz shareholder Edward T. Kole has been installed as the president of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey, at its 43rd Annual William J. Brennan Jr. Award Reception, held earlier this year at Mayfair Farms in West Orange. Previously, Kole served as the association’s president elect.
The association is the preeminent bar association for the federal court of New Jersey, which among other things, links members of the private bar with federal judges to share views on topics of mutual interest affecting federal practice.
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Jillian E. Madison, Goldberg Segalla
Goldberg Segalla added associate Jillian E. Madison to the firm’s Toxic Tort practice group in Newark. Madison was previously with Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas LLP, in New Brunswick.
Madison represents a wide range of companies in toxic tort and environmental litigation, including asbestos matters. Her practice spans discovery, cross-examination of witnesses at depositions, preparation of dispositive motions, trial preparation, case management and settlement conferences, and timely client communications. She also draws on significant experience in transactional law, including matters involving residential real estate, estate planning and administration, probate and guardianships.
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Evan Weiss, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
Evan Weiss, an expert in public finance and economic development, has been hired by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority as senior adviser for public finance. Weiss is on mobility from the EDA to the Governor’s Office, where he will report to Deputy Chief of Staff for Economic Growth Joe Kelley and Chief Policy Adviser Kathleen Frangione.
“Hiring Evan from the private sector is a major step in achieving the kind of economic prosperity and job growth we envision,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Evan’s experience creating effective and lucrative partnerships between public and private entities, as well as his expertise in tax incentives and Opportunity Zones, will serve New Jersey well as we move into the next phase of economic development.”
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