New Chairman and Board of Trustees Members Installed at MHANJ's Fall Annual Meeting

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey (MHANJ) Board of Trustees installed William Waldman as Chairperson and three new members at its Fall 2012 Annual meeting: Richard Hlavecek, Andrea Lubin and Calvin Souder. Thanks were extended to John Woods, who has served as Board Chairperson for the last three years and will continue on as Past-Chairman.

William Waldman, MSW, CSWM, of Piscataway, New Jersey, served as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Human Services and a member of the cabinet for three Governors of New Jersey. He has been a Visiting Professor and Lecturer and Executive in Residence for the Rutgers University School of Social Work in New Brunswick, New Jersey at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, since 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Waldman was the Executive Director of the American Public Human Services Association in Washington, D.C. for two years.

Richard Hlavacek, of Leonia, is the Executive Director of Families and Community Together (FACT), a care management program for children and teens with behavioral and mental health problems in Union County. He has held senior executive positions in mental health and social service organizations in New York and New Jersey. Before coming to FACT, Mr. Hlavacek was CEO of the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health in Manhattan where he developed vocational and residential programs for adults with serious mental illness. He was also President of the Coalition of Voluntary Agencies in New York City, the association of non-profit mental health agencies, and was Co-Chair of the Manhattan Mental Health Council, the planning body for behavioral health services in the borough.

Andrea Lubin, of Hoboken, is a Senior Research Specialist at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Her areas of expertise include community transportation options for persons with disabilities, the elderly and working poor and program evaluation and institutional analysis. She has co-authored several research articles about transportation issues for adults with disabilities. Ms. Lubin is active in community affairs and serves on the Senior Executive Council of the New Jersey Foundation for Aging, the Board of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Middlesex County Chapter and the Tufts University Alumni of NJ Steering Committee.

Calvin W. Souder, Esq., of Newark, is an Associate at Patton Boggs, LLP, in Newark, New Jersey, where his Federal and State court practice includes toxic torts, environmental and energy as well as white collar issues. Previously, Mr. Souder was a Law Clerk for Susan D. Wigenton, U.S.D.J. in the United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Mr. Souder also serves as Treasure of the Essex County College Board of Trustees and Vice Chair of the Board for Newark Now. He is a Young Professionals Board member for NJLEEP, a 2011 Leadership New Jersey Fellow and a Trustee Ambassador for NJ Council of Community Colleges. He is also an American Heart Association Northern NJ Luncheon Committee member.

The Mental Health Association in New Jersey strives for good mental health for children and adults through advocacy, education, training, and services. Its main office is located in Verona, New Jersey; branch offices are located in Bridgewater, Galloway, Jersey City, Kenilworth, Toms River and Union. For more information visit www.mhanj.org or call 973-571-4100.