Brain Injury Association of New Jersey – Board of Trustees

Bruce H. Stern on November 4, 2008

I was honored on October 23, 2008 to be reelected to serve a second three-year term on the Board of Trustees of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey.

On Thursday, BIANJ held their annual meeting.  Besides the election of new officers, BIANJ presented three awards.  The first award was the Founders award for volunteer service which was given to Michael Barnes, for his hard work in volunteering to assist campers with acquired traumatic brain injury at BIANJ’s summer camp. 

The Silvio O. Conte award for public awareness and education was given to the entire children and adolescents committee of BIANJ for their work not over the past year but for their hard work over the many past years.  Members of the children and adolescents committee who were awarded were:

  • Stephanie Bar Am             
  • Malia Corde                  
  • Connie Domingo, M.D.         
  • Lori Kyle                    
  • Lenore Laracuente, Esq.      
  • Joseph Marcantuono, Ph.D.    
  • Thomas McBride, Ph.D.        
  • Lois Mishkin, MA.CCC/LDTC    
  • Crystal Ramirez, MSW, LSW    
  • Sue Stephens, LCSW
  • Donna Bogart, Ph.D.  
  • Barbara Couvadelli, M.D., Ph.D.       
  • Wallace Kyle
  • Paula Henry
  • Linda Levine
  • Janet Margusity
  • Keri Meberg
  • Susan Paradise, M.Ed.
  • Brad Ross, Ph.D.
  • Judith Woop, M.Ed., RN

Finally, the James and Sarah Brady award for Public Service was given to Debbie McWilliams and the Timothy C. McWilliams, Jr. Foundation (The Timbo Fund).  Three years ago, Debbie and her family lost their son after a long battle as a result of a severe traumatic brain injury.  Following her son’s death, Debbie began the Timothy C. McWilliams, Jr. Foundation which presents small grants to needy individuals with acquired traumatic brain injury.  In the past year, the Timbo Fund has provided grants in excess of $100,000.  Those who are interested in contributing can find the Timbo Fund at www.timbofund.org.

Not to be forgotten were the numerous service awards given to staff for fifteen, ten and five years of service.  As we all know, an organization is only as good as its staff and BIANJ is blessed with outstanding staff members.  This year receiving awards were Barbara Podgorski (fifteen years), René Carfi and Joanna Boyd (ten years) and Stacy Lyons (five years).

Kudos once again go out to Barbara Geiger-Parker, President and CEO of BIANJ as well as to John Tiene, Chairperson of the Board.