Officers
Michael J. Niemiec, Chairperson
Mike Niemiec is a lifelong New Jersey resident who currently resides in Whitehouse Station. He is a graduate of Muhlenberg College (BA, Psychology, 1973) and Fairleigh Dickinson University (MBA, Finance, 1976). Prior to joining Unity Bank as a Vice President and Relationship Manager in their Clinton office, Mr. Niemiec had a long career in commercial banking and on Wall Street as an institutional bond trader, portfolio manager, and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Mr. Niemiec has served on a number of charitable and community service boards during his career. He and his wife Margaret (Ed.D, Rutgers University) have three grown daughters.
Edward Kim, MD, MBA, Chairperson Elect
Associate Director, Neuroscience Medical Strategy, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Dr. Kim is currently Director of Health Outcomes at Eisai, Inc., a pharmaceutical company in Woodcliff Lake, where he conducts health services research and economic modeling for neuroscience and oncology medicines. He received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his MD from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, completing his psychiatric residency at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. He earned an MBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Dr. Kim has conducted research and published on neuropsychiatric complications of traumatic brain injury and has presented at the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey’s Annual Seminar on several occasions.
John K. Tiene, Past Chairperson
As Director, Sales Marketing & Corporate Relations for OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd, John focuses on strategic planning, developing brand awareness and special projects. He also manages agency, corporate and government relations activities. A graduate of Montclair State College with a B.A. in political science, John is active in insurance industry affairs. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Insurance Council of New Jersey (ICNJ) and as Chairman of the Automobile Insurance Territorial Rating Plan Advisory Commission. John also is a member of the Governing Committee of the New Jersey Personal Automobile Insurance Plan (PAIP), as well as the Advisory Committee of CASA of New Jersey (Court Appointed Special Advocates).
David Grubb, Vice Chairperson
David N. Grubb is Executive Director, Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund. A graduate of Susquehanna University, he started his career as Safety Manager for Lipton Tea before joining A&P Supermarkets as Director of Insurance and Pension Investments. As Mayor of Park Ridge, in 1985 Grubb established the first municipal self-insurance fund in New Jersey and later served as a the state’s Deputy Insurance Commissioner. In 1990, he acquired PERMA, the risk management services firm that currently manages twenty governmental insurance funds in the state.
John W. Indyk, Vice Chairperson
John Indyk is director of governmental affairs for the Health Care Association of New Jersey, a non-profit trade association representing long-term care providers. A former director of intergovernmental affairs in the administration of former Governor Tom Kean, John has 25 years of experience in public policy, political campaigns and advertising, crisis management and media relations. He served previously as the lead government affairs agent for a full service public relations firm, representing a broad range of client companies and trade organizations before the NJ Legislature and executive branch. John received a BA in political science from Rutgers University, where he was also an undergraduate associate at the Eagleton Institute of Politics. He is married and has two children. He has been active with BIANJ for more than ten years.
Irene E. Parisi, PhD, Vice Chairperson
Psychologist, Private Practice
Michael H. Greenwald, EdM, Secretary
Metuchen Board of Education, Ret.
Richard Sackin, Treasurer
Officer, Public Healthcare Services Group, Amper, Politziner & Mattia
Trustees
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. 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. Since his full recovery, 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. 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.
Anthony Cuzzola
Anthony G. Cuzzola, Vice President of Rehabilitation and Long Term Care, is responsible for the overall operations, planning, and direction of the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, including the Center for Head Injuries. He is also administratively responsible for JFK Hartwyck at Oak Tree, and for Home Health Services throughout Solaris Health System, Edison. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Health Administration, and a Masters of Business Administration from Farleigh Dickinson University-Graduate School of Management.
Patricia DeHart, R.N.
With more than 30 years experience, Patricia DeHart has made several significant achievements in the healthcare field. She has been employed at Bristol Myers Squibb since 1988, and currently serves as Regional Director of Managed Pharmacy. She was awarded the 2009 Entrepreneurial Culture Award for helping to develop a Preventative Health Services piece for physician offices to improve CV/Diabetes screening for Medicare patients. Patricia has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, and a Diploma of Nursing from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
Connie D. Domingo,
MD, FAAP, FAAPMR
Medical Director, Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital
Bonnie Evans
Bonnie Evans received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University, and a Masters in Health Administration from Seton Hall University. She currently functions as the Senior Vice President and Hospital Administrator for Kessler Institute’s West Orange, New Jersey campus. Her career at Kessler began 34 years ago as a physical therapist. In addition to her role as SR. VP at Kessler, she also participates on several community boards which add to her perspective on balancing unique individual needs with sound financial practices. Another passion is her mentoring of young professional women which is driven by her strong belief in “giving back.”
Harrison J. Gordon, Esq.
Senior Partner, Gordon & Gordon, PC
Brian D. Greenwald, MD
Dr. Brian Greenwald is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Currently he is an Assistant Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He is the Medical Director of Brain Injury Rehabilitation at the Mount Sinai Rehabilitation Center in New York City. He is the co-project director for the New York Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. He is the Medical Director for Rehabilitation Specialists, a day and residential program for persons with brain injury, in Fair Lawn, NJ. He is a consultant for brain injury program at Park Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Corona, Queens. He has published in the areas of brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Currently he is involved in multiple research studies to improve the care of brain injury survivors.
Wallace Kyle
Wallace Kyle is a Vice President – Wealth Management, Financial Advisor for the Pierce/Kyle Group at Smith Barney in New Brunswick starting in 1999. His education includes a BA degree from Hartwick College. In addition Mr. Kyle serves on the Board of Directors for the Pennington School in Pennington, N.J. Mr. Kyle, his wife, Lori Kyle, and their three children reside in West Windsor, New Jersey. Mr. Kyle is the father of a child with a brain injury.
David Mariconda
David Mariconda graduated from Seton Hall University in 1979 with a B.S. degree in Accounting. In 2006 he sustained a hemorrhagic stroke and is now right side affected, and has difficulty with walking and using his right arm. He is currently involved with three support groups and has been a member of the Council for the Head Injured Community (CHIC) for two years. He is married and has two sons.
Kevin Murnane
Albert R. Pressler, PE
J.A.R. Engineering Inc., Ret.
Edwin Rivas
Chair, Council for the Head Injured Community (CHIC)
Barbara Scheffel, RN, CCM
Barbara Scheffel, RN, BS, CRRN, CCM, is the Founder and President of Scheffel Associates Inc., which provides health care and disability management consulting services to funding sources, corporations, hospitals, attorneys, and individuals in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. She is a Professional Nurse (RN), Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN), and a Certified Case Manager (CCM). She obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Liberal Studies from The University of the State of New York and her Associates Degree in Nursing from the Northern Virginia Community College.
Bruce H. Stern, Esq.
Shareholder, Stark & Stark
Barbara Geiger-Parker
President & CEO, Brain Injury Association of New Jersey
Trustees Emeritus
Milton S. Hall, Since 2000
Eugene P. Murnane, Since 1999
Louise S. Murnane, Since 1995
Morton Perkoff, MD, Since 1997
Doris Sullivan , Since 1995