West Orange Chamber Announces 2018 Awards Dinner Speaker and Honorees
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange Chamber of Commerce (WOCC) will honor outstanding community servants and business leaders for their work at the chamber’s most prestigious event of the year, the annual awards dinner, on Wednesday, May 9 at the Wilshire Grand Hotel at 6 p.m.
The event’s keynote speaker is Philip Alagia, the Chief of Staff for the County of Essex under County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo. During his time in this position, Essex County has seen unprecedented improvement and progress, from the restoration of fiscal stability to award- winning renovations of the Historic Courthouse and Park System. In addition to his overall responsibilities as Chief of Staff, Alagia oversees both the Essex County Department of Corrections and the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center.
The New Jersey native was born and raised in Newark’s North Ward, where he attended Our Lady of Good Counsel and Ridge Street elementary schools. He attended Montclair Immaculate High School, where he played football, wrestled and threw for the track and field team. Alagia earned a degree in accounting from Rutgers University, where he continued his wrestling career.
Alagia is also a philanthropist and a champion for academic enrichment programs, recreational activities and college scholarships for the children of Newark. He is married to Anmarie Daunarummo, a teacher in Newark, they share three children: Philip, 10, Giuliana, 9, and Carmela, 8.
The WOCC also recently announced that its 2018 honorees will be recognized as follows:
Business of the Year: Wilshire Grand Hotel
The hotel is a constant steward of goodwill for the community through in-kind donations. The Wilshire has offered free meeting space for local officials and free rooms to support local law enforcement and others during storms. The Wilshire is known for supporting the neighborhood and its neighbors, and often contributes to local charities raffles and other events. A portion of the hotel’s parking lot is also designated for jitney-user parking.
Educator of the Year: Gerard Franck
Gerard “Gary” Franck, a fifth-grade math teacher at St. Cloud Elementary School, has been an educator at the West Orange school for more than 20 years. A creative, charismatic teacher, Franck works to meet the needs of his students. With a mix of self-deprecating humor and academic rigor, he inspires students to give 100 percent effort. In addition, he is beloved by his colleagues, who say that Franck can always be counted on to support any initiative in benefit of his students.
At St. Cloud, Franck created a 4-Square club, a fun after-school club to get to get the kids out in the fresh air to exercise and build a sense of community. He also oversees the moving-up celebration as a culminating celebration for St. Cloud graduates. He is described as being one of the rare teachers who is so dedicated to making sure each of his students succeeds academically, grows emotionally and thrives in social interactions with peers.
Police Officers of the Year: Officer Jeffrey James and Detective Sebastian deLeon
These two officers volunteered for two weeks in Puerto Rico to aid in the rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Maria in late 2017.
Firefighters of the Year: Captain George Hesse, Firefighter Patrick McGovern, Firefighter Craig Vanderhoof, Acting Captain Matthew Keenan and Firefighter Nicholas Manzella.
This team of firefighters provided life-saving support to a teenager who shocked himself while using a potentially dangerous art technique called “fractal wood burning.” The 17-year-old boy had no pulse and was not breathing when the crew arrived. The team stabilized the patient by utilizing an AED (automated external defibrillator), and the teen was breathing and had a pulse when he arrived at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. The boy has since recovered.
Tickets are available in advance to members and the public for $90. Tickets at the door will be $125. Tickets may be purchased HERE.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, contact WOCC Executive Director Jessica Marrone Parkes at mail@westorangechamber.com.
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