At our Annual Gala every March, the Association honors leaders who have contributed to advancing the quality of life for people affected by brain injury in the state of New Jersey. Here are the current and past recipients:

2009 Honorees

Paul Anzano, Esq.

Paul Anzano has been a partner at the law firm Pringle, Quinn, Anzano, P.C. since January 2000.  He served as the President of the Glen Afton Civic Association and is the immediate past President of the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey.  He is the Mayor of the Borough of Hopewell, as well as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Community Health Law Project.

Mr. Anzano also served as Counsel to the New Jersey State Senate and as a Special Deputy Commissioner in the Department of Banking and Insurance. He has an extensive practice before the Departments of Health and Senior Services and Banking and Insurance with particular focus on health insurance, managed care, property casualty insurance, hospitals and other health care providers.  Mr. Anzano has a wide ranging government affairs/regulatory practice including representation of clients before the legislative and executive branches concerning legislation and administrative regulations with regard to finance, health care, hospital, insurance, labor, land use, local government and telecommunications issues.

He graduated cum laude from Rutgers University and from Seton Hall University School of Law where he served as a member of the student Senate and as a member of the Legislative Bureau. He is married to Christine O’Brien and they reside in the Borough of Hopewell with their daughters Bridget and Maeve.

Steven Benvenisti Esq.

Steven Benvenisti, Esq., Partner at Davis, Saperstein & Salomon P.C., achieved a full recovery after sustaining a severe traumatic brain injury when he was a twenty-one (21) year old college student. In 1989, while Mr. Benvenisti was walking with his friends, he was struck by a drunk driver traveling over fifty (50) m.p.h.  He personally understands the struggles of those impacted by T.B.I. Since his full recovery, in addition to his legal representation of brain injury and D.W.I. survivors after their accidents, he has also been a motivational speaker to tens of thousands of individuals every year at schools and brain injury and rehabilitation conferences throughout the country. His program, The Most Significant Case of My Entire Career, tells his story and instills in students and others to never drink and drive and motivates all to confidently face life's challenges. His programs have prevented D.W.I. accidents and brain injuries, saved lives and helped those impacted by brain injuries in appreciating all that life has to offer. 100% of the honorariums from these programs go directly to B.I.A.N.J.

In 1990, Mr. Benvenisti graduated Magna Cum Laude from The College of New Jersey and earned his Juris Doctorate from Quinnipiac School of Law in 1993.  He is on the Board(s) of:  The Brain Injury Association of NJ, Mothers Against Drunk Driving-NJ and the NJ Police Crime Prevention Assoc. 

His awards include: Citizen of the Year, Business Man of the Year, Brain Injury Association of NJ Annual Mimi Goldman Award, US Senate Official Proclamation, US Congressional Citation, U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, Executive Proclamation by Governor Jon S. Corzine, a NJ Joint Senate-General Assembly Legislative Resolution, Volunteer Excellence Award, EMS Excellence Award, Trauma Prevention & Education Award, NJ Citizen Police Academy Award, Community Education Award, The Policing Bureau Award, END DWI Law Enforcement Recognition Award, and the NJ Traffic Officers Paul St. Mauro Award.  He has been featured in: Jury Verdict Reporter, The New York Daily News, The NJ Lawyer, NJ Record, Due Process, Meet the Leaders, Carpe Diem, and on radio and TV. 

Corinne "Cookie" Slade

Cookie Slade graduated with a B.S. degree in psychology from University of Massachusetts, and received her certificate in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University. After working in several areas of psychology and physical medicine, she began to specialize in brain injury. Since 1983, while doing home care as an Occupational Therapist, she developed a community treatment program for use by individuals with acquired brain injuries. This business has grown to include an outpatient treatment program, residential facilities, an addictive behavior program and support programs for families and survivors. The business employs approximately 50 people, as well as providing internships in speech, physical and occupational therapy, psychology & business students. Ms. Slade's commitment and interest in this field continues with her activities with the BIANJ, The Governor’s Advisory Council on Traumatic Brain Injury, to which she was appointed by Governor Christie Whitman and then reappointed by Governor James McGreevey, as a CARF surveyor for the Medical/Rehabilitation and Assisted Living Divisions, and participation in numerous committees involving with support and advocacy for people with disabilities. She is also a part of several speakers bureaus and is often called upon to lecture or give workshops in her specialty of brain injury as well as in business development.

2008 Honorees

Gary S. Carter, FACHE
President and CEO
New Jersey Hospital Association

Anthony G. Dickson
President and CEO
New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group

2007 Honorees

Richard Bagger
Senior vice President of Government Relations
Pfizer Inc.

David Grubb
Senior Partner
Public Entity Risk Management Administration, Inc. (PERMA)

Amy Mansue
President & CEO
Children’s Specialized Hospital