The N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development selected Rowan College at Burlington County’s (RCBC) Workforce Development Institute to oversee the state’s Transportation, Logistics & Distribution Talent Development Center.

RCBC will receive $1.2 million to serve as a center of excellence in the Transportation, Logistics & Distribution industry sector. The center will create new career pathways and provide for training for people to advance in this growing field.

“Our Workforce Development Institute has developed partnerships with some of the region’s leading employers that have led to new training programs and high-paying careers for residents in Burlington County,” said RCBC Acting President Michael Cioce. “This grant provides the opportunity to build upon our success and develop a statewide training program to fill the demand for skilled workers in transportation, logistics and distribution.”

To read more stories about RCBC, scroll down:

RCBC Board of Trustees Welcomes Workforce Development Professional
Rowan College at Burlington County Dental Hygiene Faculty Member Proves a Career that Isn’t Set in Stone Can Give you a Reason to Smile

Talent Development Centers are charged with expanding high-quality, employer-driven partnerships that involve businesses, high schools, universities, labor unions and workforce development boards. The centers focus on providing credential-focused education and training that leads to industry-recognized credentials and articulation to college credit.

“We are proud to partner with our state’s higher education institutions and trust that their knowledge and infrastructure will be able to expand career pathways and apprenticeships that integrate classroom and work-based learning leading to an industry-valued credential,” said N.J. Labor Commissioner Aaron R. Fichtner.

RCBC’s Workforce Development Institute launched a new Transportation, Logistics and Distribution training program in 2016 that led to new jobs for over 75% of program graduates.

“Transportation, logistics and distribution is a growth industry in our region, and there are not enough skilled workers to meet the market’s demand,” said Anna Payanzo Cotton, RCBC vice president of Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning. “We are excited to meet this challenge of increasing the number of workers who are certified for careers in this industry and keep Burlington County at the forefront of this growing field.”

RCBC Board of Trustees Welcomes Workforce Development Professional

The Rowan College at Burlington County Board of Trustees welcomed a new member, Gino A. Pasqualone, who brings a wealth of experience in the building trades and workforce development.

Pasqualone, of Columbus, has served as an electrician with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for 30 years. He completed the rigorous Joint Apprentice Training Committee program achieving the level of journeyman. He has experienced all levels of construction including foreman and shop steward and currently serves on the Executive Board of IBEW.

“As a member of the IBEW, Trustee Pasqualone has dedicated himself to workforce development both within the brotherhood and throughout Burlington County,” Freeholder Director Bruce Garganio said. “Gino’s expertise and experience will benefit both students and employers as we continue our focus on bringing more high-paying jobs to Burlington County.”

Throughout his career, Pasqualone has pursued lifelong learning, earning credentials in welding, commercial driving and high-voltage splicing. He has served as a member of the county’s Workforce Development Board.

“Rowan College at Burlington County provides many paths for students to get a high-quality education and continue earning professional certifications throughout their career,” Pasqualone said. “I’m honored to serve students, residents and employers in Burlington County and look forward to making a positive impact on the future of education and technology. I thank the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders for this wonderful opportunity.”

Pasqualone recently joined the board at its annual reorganization meeting. The board selected Trustee George Nyikita as chair and Trustee Christopher Brown as vice chair.

“Rowan College at Burlington County is the fastest-growing college in the region and the number one community college in New Jersey,” said Board Chair George Nyikita. “Our board is filled with talented community leaders and is well-positioned to keep the college moving forward. We’re thrilled to welcome Trustee Pasqualone who will be a strong addition to the Board of Trustees.”

Rowan College at Burlington County dental hygiene faculty member Faith Zimnes, the 2017 Mary Jane Kellogg Dutton Faculty Mentorship Award recipient, works with senior RCBC dental hygiene student Jessica Scanlon in RCBC’s new dental hygiene clinic at the Mount Laurel Campus. RCBC’s dental hygiene program continues to provide low-cost preventative oral health services to the community.

Rowan College at Burlington County Dental Hygiene Faculty Member Proves a Career that Isn’t Set in Stone Can Give you a Reason to Smile

Faith Zimnes, a Rowan College at Burlington County alumna and dental hygiene faculty member, goes from geologist to dental hygienist and receives a statewide award for student mentorship.

Faith Zimnes recently received the 2017 Mary Jane Kellogg Dutton Faculty Mentorship Award from the New Jersey Dental Hygienists’ Association at their annual conference. The award is given to a faculty person in New Jersey who demonstrates a commitment to the future of the dental hygiene profession and provides outstanding service to students.

“As an alumna, Faith Zimnes is an example of the transformative power of Rowan College at Burlington County, and as an instructor she is representative of the excellent faculty we have,” Acting President Michael Cioce said. “She has earned the respect and admiration of her students. We are proud to have faculty like Faith preparing our students for the future of healthcare.”

Recipients of the Mary Jane Kellogg Dutton Faculty Mentorship Award must be nominated by students. A panel of judges then selects the recipient based on the students’ nominating letter and director recommendations.

Recent RCBC dental hygiene graduate, Joanna Maul said, “I feel that Faith was the best candidate for this award because she is real. She was so easy to talk to, very easy to communicate with, and real in the aspect of truly caring about her students and our education.

“I knew I could always go to her with an issue or a personal struggle with school and talk with her, she would always know the right thing to say. She was always so willing to help because she cared and it showed,” explained Maul.

Maul has been working as a dental assistant for the past 20 years, and once her dental hygiene license arrives in the mail, her employer will hire her as a hygienist.

Zimnes, of Bordentown, NJ, decided to change her career after working as geologist for more than a decade, which included extensive travel.

“I wanted a career where I could be home more often, but serve the public and still be in science,” explained Zimnes. “I love working with our students, and I continue to work clinically as a dental hygienist. It is an especially exciting year at RCBC as we begin teaching in the new Health Sciences Center and dental hygiene clinic.”

In addition to having her dental hygiene associate degree from RCBC, she also has an associate degree in biology from Mercer County Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Geoscience from The College of New Jersey, a Dental Assistant Certificate of Proficiency from Lake Washington Technical College in Kirkland, WA, and a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration and Leadership from Capella University. From 2013 to 2016, she served as an adjunct instructor at RCBC. She was hired full-time in August 2016.

RCBC recently held an unveiling for its new state-of-the-art Health Sciences Center. As part of the campus transformation and transition from the Pemberton Campus, RCBC moved all of the Health Sciences programs to the center, including nursing, dental hygiene, imaging, and health information management courses, as well as the Virtua Paramedic Science at RCBC program.