Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway will be among the honorees at the 15th annual Circle of Achievement Awards Gala by the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.
Holloway will be honored along with:
- Latrecia “Trish” Littles-Floyd: Acting chair and chief administrator of the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission
- Donata Russell Ross: CEO of Concessions International, LLC
- Cheryl Tyler, special agent with the U.S. Secret Service, will serve as the keynote speaker.
The event, to be held Feb. 12, 2025, at the Venetian in Garfield, always draws an overflow crowd. For more information, click here.
The lead supporter of the 2024 Gala was Truist with a $50,000 grant from the Truist Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund administered by The Winston-Salem Foundation, to support AACCNJ programs, including the Gala.
AACCNJ Founder and CEO John Harmon said the event always honors the best of the best.
“Each year during Black History Month, the AACCNJ recognizes a distinguished group of African Americans that have attained a significant level of accomplishment in business, politics, education, community service, sports and entertainment,” he said. “Having the opportunity to honor these amazing individuals fills us with immense pride.”
Harmon said Holloway is being honored with the Education Award for his leadership at Rutgers, including his initiatives to address social, economic and racial inequities.
Harmon noted Holloway’s commissioning of an internal university audit to identify shortfalls in the university’s pursuit of inequities.
“President Holloway’s tenure over the past five years has been both noteworthy and historic, as the first Black president of Rutgers,” Harmon said. “During his presidency, Rutgers enrolled more than 67,000 students, broke records in undergraduate admissions, and climbed significantly in the national rankings.”
Holloway, who announced that this is his final year as president, said he was humbled by the honor.
“It’s an honor to receive this award from an organization whose members contribute so much to New Jersey’s economic vitality and who are deeply committed to expanding prosperity across the state through education, opportunity, and diversity — values that are defining aspects of
Rutgers University’s mission,” he said. “I am grateful for this award and for the important advocacy the AACCNJ conducts on behalf of New Jersey’s African American business community.”
Littles-Floyd is being honored with the Public Service Award for her leadership and extensive background in law enforcement at the Motor Vehicle Commission, including her previous tenure as director of security, investigations and internal audit, where she oversaw all security issues, including investigations, internal audits and document fraud reviews.
“Trish advanced the MVC’s security initiatives and enhancements, as well as ensured the integrity of MVC documents, and the security of its facilities, and the safety of more than 2,000 employees,” Harmon said.
Littles-Floyd thanked the chamber.
“The AACCNJ is the leader in advocating, recognizing, and acknowledging the important work and contributions made by African Americans in our state,” she said. “Your acknowledgment motivates me to continue giving my best and pursuing excellence in all that I do.”
Ross is being honored with the Business Award for her efforts as the CEO of one of the country’s leading operators of food and beverage concessions throughout major airports in the United States and the Virgin Islands – as well as serving as a board member of H. J. Russell & Company.
Harmon said Russell Ross ensures that a family-oriented work environment encourages teamwork and builds character in addition to unparalleled excellence in performance.
“In her role at Concessions International (CI), Donata has provided steady leadership, which has led to significant growth for the company,” he said. “Her business acumen along with her legacy as a board member of H. J. Russell & Company, CI’s family owned and operated sister company, and one of the largest Black-owned construction and real estate development firms in the country, is worthy of great recognition.”
Russell Ross said she is thrilled to be leading a family-based company.
“During the last 45 years since my father, the late Herman J. Russell, founded the company, we have successfully navigated the ups and downs that changing economic times have on the traveling public,” she said. “But what hasn’t changed is our commitment to serving excellence, no matter the business conditions.
“I truly believe our employees are the secret ingredient to our success, so I share this recognition with them for their commitment to delivering excellence to the traveling public nearly 24 hours a day, their loyalty to our company and the protection of our brand, and their ability to work as a collective team to deliver against our overall mission.”
Tyler will bring plenty of insights to her keynote address.
With more than 25 years of experience in the security, intelligence, and risk assessment industry, Cheryl L. Tyler has developed an expertise in logistical advance, investigative skills, intelligence threat and risk assessment and analysis, and criminal investigations.
As a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service, she was a training instructor at the Secret Service Academy and the first woman of color assigned to the Presidential Protective Division, where she served on protective duty for Presidents George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
Her book, TRAILBLAZER: The Story of the First Black Female Secret Service Agent to Protect the President and Her Fight for Justice, will be available for purchase at the gala.
The annual Black History Month, black-tie, awards gala is widely known as the premier Black History Month event in the state of NJ. The Awards Gala provides the platform, on behalf of the members of the AACCNJ and the over 88,000 Black-owned businesses in the state of N.J., to continue to increase the visibility of its members.
