John F. Scarpa is an entrepreneur in the broadcast industry, both in radio and cable television. While in the cable television business, he helped to establish the New Jersey and the Northeast Cable TV Associations. He furthered his entrepreneurial skills in the Internet arena, as well, by playing an instrumental role in the launch of the Internet service provider, Earthlink. 

 

He is also a true pioneer in the cellular telephone communications world.  As co-founder and president and COO of American Cellular Network Corporation (NASDAQ), he was licensed to operate cellular telephone systems in the northeastern United States and was the first publicly traded cellular company in the U.S. He was credited with establishing the first interstate connection for cellular service between Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.  He went on to co-found Unitel Wireless Communication Systems where he developed and operated cellular telephone systems throughout the United States and was one of the original members of the nationwide Cellular One Network. 

 

Through the John F. Scarpa Foundation, he supports education, healthcare, and disadvantaged families. He is the principal benefactor for the Frank and Edith Scarpa Regional Cancer Center at Inspira Medical Center Vineland (New Jersey), the Edith Favretto Scarpa Arts and Sciences Building at Saint Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, New Jersey, and the John F. Scarpa Technical Education Center of Cumberland County (New Jersey).  

 

Mr. Scarpa serves on the Board of Directors of the Town of Palm Beach United Way, The Civic Association of Palm Beach and is the President of the Palm Beach Police and Fire Foundation. He is a board member of Ellis Island Honor

Society.

 

He received honorary doctorate degrees from the American University of Rome, Italy and Villanova University, where the Villanova Law School building was named “John F. Scarpa Hall” in honor of his lifetime giving. Villanova also established the John F. Scarpa Chair in Catholic Legal Studies and the John F. Scarpa Center for Entrepreneurship and Law. Mr. Scarpa also received an honorary Doctor of Public Service degree from Stockton University in recognition of his accomplishments and generosity in addition to naming the university’s “John F. Scarpa Academic Center” in Atlantic City and the “John F. Scarpa Health Sciences Center” on the main Galloway campus.

 

He received the Marine Corps-Law Enforcement Foundation’s Charles Ruch Semper Fidelis Award (2019); Community Foundation of South Jersey’s Legacy of Giving Award (2018); the Cape May County Distinguished Citizen Award from the Garden State Council Boy Scouts of America (2017); the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2010); and the National Italian American Foundation’s Special Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit (2008). He is a recipient of the Alexis de Tocqueville National Award and is a $1 million donor. In December 2016, the John F. Scarpa Technical Education Center of Cumberland County (New Jersey) was dedicated in his name. 

 

In 2018, John and his wife, Jana, accepted the Distinguished Citizen Award at the 29th Annual Tocqueville Society Dinner hosted by the town of Palm Beach United Way. The award recognizes unparalleled leadership in philanthropy.

 

Mr. Scarpa and his wife, Jana, reside in Palm Beach, Florida and Avalon, New Jersey.

Judge Salas earned her B.A. from Rutgers University and her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark. After graduating from law school, Judge Salas clerked for the Honorable Eugene J. Codey, Judge of the Superior Court, Essex County Vicinage. In October 1995, Judge Salas entered private practice with the law firm of Garces and Grabler, P.C., where she focused on criminal defense and appellate litigation. In September 1997, Judge Salas joined the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of New Jersey. As an Assistant Federal Public Defender, Judge Salas represented indigent criminal clients in front of both the New Jersey District Court and the Third Circuit.

On November 3, 2006, Judge Salas was sworn in as a Magistrate Judge for the District of New Jersey—the first attorney of Hispanic descent to hold that position. On June 14, 2011, the Senate unanimously confirmed President Obama’s nomination of Judge Salas as a United States District Judge. Judge Salas was sworn in by the Honorable Jose L. Linares, making her the first Latina District Judge in the District of New Jersey.

As a District Judge, Judge Salas has presided over complex civil and criminal cases, including a number of issues of first impression for the District of New Jersey. Additionally, Judge Salas, along with Senior District Judge Katharine S. Hayden, co-founded the District of New Jersey Pretrial Opportunity Program, which provides pre-trial judicial intervention for criminal defendants suffering from drug and alcohol addiction.

Judge Salas has been recognized for her work on and off the bench. She has received numerous awards, including the Whipple Memorial Award from the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey (2008), the Women’s Initiative and Leaders in Law Platinum Award from the New Jersey Women Lawyer’s Association (2015), and Woman of Substance Award from Seton Hall University’s Women’s Law Forum (2015).

Judge Salas is a loving wife to her husband of 26 years, Mark Anderl, and the proud mother of her late son, Daniel Mark Anderl, who offered his life as an act of love when a disgruntled lawyer targeted Judge Salas because of her position as a federal judge. Since Daniel’s senseless and tragic murder, Judge Salas has made it her mission to ensure greater protections for judges. Daniel’s sacrifice, and Judge Salas’s advocacy, led to the swift passage of “Daniel’s Law” in New Jersey. To ensure that Daniel’s death would not be in vain, Judge Salas advocated for federal legislation to ensure greater protections for federal judges. As a result of such advocacy, President Biden signed the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act into law on December 23, 2022.

Thomas P. Giblin, a resident of Montclair, NJ for 45 years, has a lifetime dedication to the Labor Movement, Government, and Community Service. Tom Giblin was raised in Newark, NJ and graduated from Seton Hall Prep and Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. He later attended graduate classes at Rutgers University and Seton Hall University. Mr. Giblin has been a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers-Local 68 since he was 17. He has served as its Business Manager since 2004, after serving as President for 29 years and Treasurer for 4 years. I.U.O.E.-Local 68 represents over 6500 Stationary Engineers and Building Maintenance Mechanics statewide, including over 1,000 in the gaming industry. Under his leadership, Local 68 recently completed a new training facility with administrative offices in Atlantic City. Mr. Giblin is also President of the Essex-West Hudson Labor Council, AFL-CIO, serving since 1997; and he serves on the Advisory Boards of the Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations.

Mr. Giblin served as Essex County Freeholder for 10 years and Essex County Surrogate for 4 years. He is currently in his 18th year with the New Jersey General Assembly, where he is Chairman of the Regulated Professions Committee and Vice Chair of the Higher Education Committee. Previously, Mr. Giblin served as the Essex County Democratic Chairman for 9 years and was the New Jersey Democratic State Chairman for 4 years. In addition, he served on the New Jersey Real Estate Commission for 3 years. Tom Giblin is the father of five children: Thomas P., Esq., Noreen M. Esq., Edward M., former Deputy Mayor of Cranford Patrick F., and Anne D.P.T. He is also a grandfather of eleven.

Thomas P. Giblin is a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair. He served as Grand Marshal of Montclair’s 4th of July Parade in 2011 and is a life member of the Montclair Branch NAACP as well as a Silver-Life member of New Jersey State PBA.

 

Chairman Kevin J. O'Toole was nominated to the Board of Commissioners by Governor Chris Christie. He joined the Board on July 2, 2017. He was elected Chairman of the Board on August 3, 2017.

As the founding and managing partner of O'Toole Scrivo, Kevin O'Toole's law practice encompasses toxic tort, environmental law, risk management, class actions, complex litigation, and corporate investigations. He is routinely called upon by Fortune 500 companies to obtain cost-effective, early resolution of complex matters and sought out to provide detailed analyses of sophisticated matters, evaluate case preparation, predict outcomes and assist in the development of strategic risk management planning. Kevin has served as both National Coordinating Counsel for corporate clients and operational leader of multi-jurisdictional litigation teams that have been responsible for trying dozens of high profile multi-million dollar matters.

Mr. O'Toole earned his bachelor's degree in political science and public administration in 1986 from Seton Hall University and his juris doctorate in 1989 from Seton Hall University School of Law.

Mr. O'Toole has had a long and distinguished career in public service at the local and state level in New Jersey. He served on the Cedar Grove Town Council from 1989 to 1996 and as Mayor in 1990, 1993 and 1995. He was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1995 and served until May 2001. He then served in the State Senate from May 2001 until January 2002. Kevin was elected again to the General Assembly in 2001 and re-elected twice. He was elected to the State Senate in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 and 2013. Kevin retired as a State Senator on July 1, 2017 to begin his term as a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

During his career as both a lawyer and legislator, Kevin has been named the 2015 NJ State Chamber of Commerce Legislator of the Year, Legislator of the Year by the New Jersey Police Benevolent Association, Trailblazer Award recipient by the Asian Pacific Lawyers Association of NJ, honored for Outstanding Contributions to Women and Families presented by Displaced Homemakers Network of NJ, the CLM Professionals of the Year Award Winner for Outside Counsel, and the Lipman-Franks Award winner for State Legislative Service presented by Legal Services of NJ. Kevin is also a Life Member of the Cedar Grove Fire Department, and National Committee Member for the Council on Litigation Management (CLM) and serves on their Product Liability Committee.

Committee Assignments: Operations (Chair), Capital Planning Execution and Asset Management (Vice Chair).

 

William T. Mullen is the President of the New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council.  As President of the Building Trades Council, Mr. Mullen is spokesman and directs the activities of the statewide body, comprised of 15 international building trades unions and 13 county councils, representing some 150,000 members.

During Mr. Mullen’s tenure, the council has been an influential voice for the union construction industry in New Jersey and played a key role in winning passage of many pro-worker initiatives, including project labor agreements, prompt pay legislation, renewal of the Transportation Trust Fund and Schools Improvement Program, and the extension of prevailing wage requirements to all public works projects.

Born in New York City, Mr. Mullen joined Ironworkers Local #11 in 1968, following a two-year stint with the U.S. Army in Korea. After completing his apprenticeship, he worked as a journeyman, foreman and superintendent for various construction companies throughout New Jersey.

Mr. Mullen was elected Vice President of the more than 500-member Iron Workers Local #11 in 1981 and served in that capacity through 1990 when he was elected President. In 1993, recognizing his strong leadership skills and unswerving commitment to the principles of brotherhood, the membership elected him to the local’s highest position of Business Manager until his retirement in May 2008. During his many years as Business Manager of Local #11, he earned a reputation for aligning his union behind programs and initiatives that have improved living conditions and the economy in New Jersey.

Looking back on his career as an ironworker with a quiet satisfaction, Mr. Mullen says, “The union gave me everything I have. It gave me pride in quality workmanship and the opportunities I needed to extend and expand my skills and innate talents. It gave me a comfortable lifestyle and the ability to raise my family.”

He used his sure grasp of important issues affecting union construction to expand his role within the industry, serving first as Secretary of the Essex County Building Trades Council from 1995 through 1997, then as President from 1997 to 2001 when he was elected to his current position– President of the New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council.

Mr. Mullen’s commitment to excellence and achievement has carried over beyond his profession and into his public and private life. He serves on various government agencies and statewide coalitions that seek to improve living and working conditions for all New Jersey residents. A former member of the Essex County Workforce Investment Board and State Brownfield Redevelopment Task Force, he is currently a trustee at Montclair State University and a member of the New Jersey State Building Authority.  Most recently, Bill was appointed a member of the Casino Reinvestment Authority by Governor Chris Christie at the recommendation of Senate President Steve Sweeney.

Governor Jon Corzine had appointed Bill to serve on his Financial Restructuring and Debt Reduction Steering Committee in 2008. Mr. Mullen was also appointed to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Construction Industry Independent Contract Reform.

A longtime Committee Member and supporter, Bill has chaired the Archbishop’s Business & Labor Recognition Reception benefiting CYO/Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries through the Archdiocese of Newark since 2002.

Bill and his wife, Lorraine have three grown children, Jennifer, William and Stephanie, and four grandchildren, Ryan, Mason, Hannah and Luke. Whether as a trade union leader, administrator or dedicated public servant, Mr. Mullen has proven himself to be an involved and highly contributing member of his profession and community.

 

Emily Kramer recently graduated in May 2022 with a dual degree in Political Science and Languages and Culture Studies and 4.0 GPA. Between January and May 2022, Emily held a public policy internship with the Hughes Center. She published Changes in Racial and Ethnic Diversity in New Jersey 2000 - 2020 and received media attention from New Jersey 101.5 and the Philly Voice. She also served as an intern for the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center during the summer of 2022 where she conducted research about elections at the state-level. She also presented workshops on ranked choice voting to the public and coordinated the organization’s social media and public relations strategy. She served as President of Amnesty International on campus, where she collaborated with the community-based Amnesty chapter in Atlantic County to bring Amnesty USA’s Director to campus in 2022 for an in-person community event. Emily represented Stockton University at National Model UN (NMUN) conferences in Japan, Washington D.C., and New York where she was recognized for multiple individual Best Position Paper awards. Emily is originally from Burlington County, NJ and is seeking a career in human rights.