Galloway, N.J. — Longtime businessman, educator and politician Edward H. Salmon will receive the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and the Civility in Politics and Government Award for his contributions to New Jersey public life at the Hughes Center Honors on Nov. 13, 2025.

Other honorees include Christina M. Renna, the president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey; Cassie Iacovelli, the former executive director of MainStreet Hammonton; Jessica Ramirez ’98, an attorney at D’Arcy Johnson Day and a New Jersey District 32 assemblywoman; and Vlad Vasvlyk, a Stockton University junior Political Science major.

The Hughes Center Honors are awarded for professional excellence and a commitment to public service, civility and bipartisanship that reflect the life and career of Ambassador William J. Hughes, who served as U.S. ambassador to Panama and as a U.S. congressman for 20 years. The awards program is sponsored by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.

The ticketed event, which is open to the public, will start at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Campus Center on Stockton’s Galloway campus.

Salmon has spent 27 years in business and industry and was the founder and president of four successful companies in New Jersey: AUS Pathways; Salmon Ventures Ltd.; New Jersey Energy Coalition; and Living Legacy. He also spent 27 years in education as a Hall of Fame educator, coach and K-12 administrator in the Millville public schools.

In addition, Salmon has spent 26 years in government as the mayor of Millville, a Cumberland County Freeholder Director, a New Jersey state assemblyman, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and a member of Gov. Jim Florio’s cabinet. His decades of work in government, energy policy and civic engagement are also evident in his 32 years of leadership in the oldest trade organization in Washington, D.C. — the National Association of Regulatory Commissioners from 1991 to 2023.

“We are thrilled to be honoring Dr. Salmon, who was integral in establishing our center and has supported our mission ever since,” Hughes Center Director Tina Zappile said. “All our honorees have demonstrated a strong commitment to civic engagement and serve as models for how to tackle challenges in their local communities with grace, wit, integrity and determination — values championed by Ambassador Hughes.”

Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include John Scarpa, the late former New Jersey Governors Brendan Byrne and Jim Florio, former Governors Thomas Kean and Christine Todd Whitman, and the late Ambassador Hughes, who was presented his award in 2017 by then-former Vice President Joe Biden.

The following 2025 Hughes Center Honors awards will also be presented Nov. 13:

Excellence in Civic Engagement Award

Christina M. Renna's prior work in New Jersey state government, and now as President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, exemplifies a standard of leadership and engagement. Through her tireless advocacy, strategic insight and collaborative spirit, she has elevated the role of the chamber as a powerful convener and catalyst for economic development, public-private partnership and regional progress. Her leadership has been particularly notable for building connections between the business sector, elected officials and civic stakeholders, ensuring that diverse voices are included in shaping policy and opportunity across South Jersey. Under her guidance, the chamber has become a vital platform for civic dialogue and regional problem-solving.

Community Leadership Award

Cassie Iacovelli served as the executive director of MainStreet Hammonton for 15 years and retired in July 2023.  During her tenure, community bonds were strengthened, significant economic vitality expanded in downtown Hammonton and Hammonton became a destination for arts, events, shopping, dining and craft beverages; leading Hammonton to be honored as one of the “Great Places in New Jersey” by the American Planning Association. Iacovelli also served on the Hammonton Arts Advisory Committee, Hammonton Health Coalition, Hammonton Covid Relief Economic Impact Committee and Hammonton Pedestrian & Bike Steering Committee. In 2022, she was proudly honored as an “Inclusion Pathfinder” by Allies in Caring, a local nonprofit, for her contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Distinctive Alumni Leadership Award

As both an accomplished attorney and a dedicated public servant in the New Jersey General Assembly, Jessica Ramirez exemplifies the highest ideals of Stockton’s mission and the enduring legacy of public engagement championed by the late Congressman Hughes. Since graduating from Stockton in 1998, Ramirez’s career has reflected a steadfast commitment to justice, equity and advocacy for the people of New Jersey. Whether serving as an attorney at D’Arcy Johnson Day — where she has represented clients with integrity and compassion — or in her current role as assemblywoman for District 32, her leadership has consistently amplified community voices and advanced policy solutions that improve lives. Ramirez is a passionate advocate for children and victims of sexual assault. She has served on the New Jersey Ethics Committee and as an eminent domain commissioner for the state, presiding over cases dealing with condemnation and eminent domain.

Distinctive Student Leadership Award

As a junior at Stockton, Vlad Vasylyk demonstrates a strong commitment to democratic values and promoting civic and political engagement. In addition to excellence in academics as a Political Science major with a concentration in International Affairs and a minor in Global Studies, Vasylyk has a strong record of leadership on campus. He has served in Student Senate since his freshman year, and his sophomore year he was vice president of the Student Senate. Vasylyk is a student assistant at the Office of Student Development and an active member of many campus organizations.

Ticket information

The Hughes Center Honors event is open to the public. Sponsorships and program book ads are available. Net proceeds will benefit the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy Endowed Fund. For information on tickets and sponsorships, contact the Hughes Center at 609-626-3542 or visit its website at www.stockton.edu/hughescenter.

The William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University serves as a catalyst for research, analysis, and innovative policy solutions on the economic, social, and cultural issues facing New Jersey, and promotes civic life through engagement, education, and research. The nonpartisan center is named for the late William J. Hughes, whose distinguished career includes service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Ambassador to Panama, and as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Stockton. The Hughes Public Policy Center can be followed on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X, with recorded events available on YouTube.