SAGE Announces New Executive Committee and Board Members for 2019

SUMMIT, NJ – The 2019 SAGE Eldercare Board of Trustees will be led by Executive Committee members Christopher J. Cotter, President, Christine Gottesman, Esq., Vice President, Kathy Clingan, Secretary, John C. Hoffman, Treasurer and Immediate Past President. In addition, three new members of the Board of Trustees will include Aleksandar Francki, Ph.D., Leslie Hardin and Robert P. Lecky, Jr..

“We are pleased to announce SAGE’s new Executive Committee who will be governing the leadership of our Board of Trustees for 2019 as we begin our 65^th year,” said Angela Sullivan, Executive Director of SAGE Eldercare. “Additionally, we would like to extend our gratitude to Kitty Hartman of New Providence, who served on the Board of Trustees from 2008 - 2018 and as President from 2015 - 2016. We also thank Ann Kale of Millburn, and Nykia Wharton of Montclair, for their service on the SAGE Board.”

Incoming Board President, Christopher Cotter, of Summit, joined the SAGE Board of Trustees in 2017. He has been Principal of Cotter Strategies in Summit since 2014. He held the position of City Administrator of Summit from 2005 – 2015 and Emergency Management Coordinator from 2006 - 2015. He also served as Director of the Summit Department of Community Services from 2003 - 2005. Mr. Cotter joined the Summit Fire Department as a firefighter in 1975 and served in successive positions advancing to Director and Fire Chief from 1994 - 2003. He graduated from Kean University in 1986 and received his MS from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1999.

Christine Gottesman, Esq., of Summit, will serve as Vice President. She joined the Board of Trustees in 2013 and has been a volunteer with Meals on Wheels for seven years. An attorney with Nukk-Freeman & Cerra in Short Hills, she specializes in employee benefits and executive compensation. Ms. Gottesman has also served on the Overlook Foundation Board and was a volunteer with the Summit Junior Fortnightly Club. She graduated from The College of William & Mary in 1990 and Harvard Law School in 1995.

Kathy Clingan, of Chatham, will remain on the Executive Committee and serve as Board Secretary. She has been a member of the Board since 2010. Ms. Clingan is the owner of Take A Bough, LLC, which retails women’s clothing at boutique shopping events to raise money for nonprofit educational, arts, and health organizations. She is a graduate of Denison University.

Additionally, John C. Hoffman, of Chatham, is remaining on the Executive Committee as Treasurer and recent Past President. He has been a SAGE Board Member since 2011. He retired from Prudential as a Managing Director in 2010 and received a BS from St. Peter’s University and an MBA from Pace University.

SAGE’s new Board Members for 2019 include Aleksandar Francki, Ph.D., Leslie Hardin and Robert P. Lecky, Jr..

Dr. Francki, of Annandale, is Senior Director of Operational Efficiency & Community Engagement with Celgene Corporate Affairs. Since 2018, he has served as Senior Director of Community Engagement for Celgene developing partnerships with community groups, charitable organizations and external stakeholders. Dr. Francki studied biology at the University of Hanover in Germany and earned an MS there in Immunology and Cellular Biology and a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Washington from 1996 - 1999.

Leslie Hardin, of Summit, is Founder and Managing Partner of Prospect Capital Advisors in Summit. She works with private equity firms to advise on industry best practices as it pertains to management strategy, operations, human capital and investor matters. She is a frequent industry conference moderator. Ms. Hardin earned a BS in Business Administration and a JD from University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Yale University.

Robert P. Lecky Jr., of Morristown, has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer for two years as well as a youth soccer coach for nine years. He has 34 years of experience in capital markets, finance and investment management and nine years of experience in business and risk consulting. Mr. Lecky received his BA from Hampden-Sydney College and performed graduate course work at New York University and University of Virginia.