United Way of Greater Newark recently announced it expanded its board of trustees with the appointment of two distinguished new members, Jeffrey Plaut, founding partner at Global Strategy Group, and Cynthia Aureli, former vice president of enterprise claims at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
Plaut, who established GSG in 1995, has been at the helm as the firm transitioned from a
Democratic polling stronghold into a multifaceted agency delivering expert research, public affairs and communications strategies. GSG’s impressive client roster includes Fortune 100 corporations, prominent advocacy organizations and key political figures. With a team of over 150 professionals, GSG has consistently been at the forefront of addressing significant national challenges.
Aureli, who retired in May 2023 after a remarkable career spanning over 35 years, has been a vanguard in claim operations and customer service. Her leadership was pivotal in processing millions of claims efficiently across various health plans. Her expertise in Six Sigma methodologies has significantly uplifted operational capabilities and productivity. As a recognized authority in health care operations, her career is decorated with numerous
accolades, including the prestigious AHIP Executive Leadership Program CHIE designation and the YWCA TWIN Award.
“I am honored to have Cynthia and Jeff as new trustees invested in the mission of United Way of Greater Newark,” Catherine Wilson, CEO and president, said. “They both bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and networks to support United Way’s mission of creating equity and disrupting the cycle of poverty across our footprint.”
The appointment of Aureli and Plaut complements the UWGN board of trustees,
bringing the total to 14 members. The full roster of the UWGN board is as follows:
- Chair: Mary Ann Jackson, Prudential Financial;
- Vice Chair: Tint Tint Yap, retiree;
- Secretary: Catherine Wilson, United Way of Greater Newark;
- Treasurer: Nan Jiang, Deloitte;
- Governance Committee Chair: Irene Muldowney, Public Service Enterprise Group;
- Community Impact Chair: Melissa Prashad, JPMorgan Chase;
- Members: Vincent Alonge, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield; Cynthia Aureli, retired; Tyron Brown, UBS; Sallyanne Floria, retired; Mark Hartigan, retired; Andrea Lewis-Walker, U.S. District Court; Michael Muniz, Columbia Bank; Jeffrey Plaut, Global Strategy Group.
