Westfield Man Joins St. Benedict's Board of Trustees

WESTFIELD, NJ - Eduardo Lara and Kevin Cummings have joined the St. Benedict's Board of Trustees according to Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy and Board Chairman William H. Connolly Jr.

Cummings is Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Investors Bancorp and Investors Bank and Lara is Vice President of Marketing and Product Development at Horizon Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Jersey.

“We are delighted to have Ed Lara’s marketing expertise and commitment to the Newark Community extend to St. Benedict’s Prep,” Connolly said. “Kevin, one of the most prominent bankers in the metropolitan area, brings invaluable leadership, banking skills and community involvement to us. We are grateful to both of them.”

Lara joined Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey at the end of 2011 as Director, Marketing Strategy. He is responsible for marketing, consumer experience, customer digital strategy and product development.

Prior to joining Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Lara worked at Procter & Gamble and GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, where he had P&L and marketing responsibilities on major U.S. and global brands.

A graduate of De La Salle University in the Philippines, Lara earned MBA from Columbia’s Business School.

A member of the Board of Trustees of the Scholarship Fund for Inner City Children, a Newark based not- for-profit, Lara is also a member of the Marketing Advisory Board of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
Lara is pleased to be representing the Newark-based Horizon BCBSNJ on the St. Benedict’s Board of Trustees.

“Horizon BCBSNJ has been a long-time supporter of St. Benedict’s Prep and its mission of helping young men and women in Newark achieve their full potential,” he said.” I am privileged to represent our company, and I look forward to not only helping out the faculty, staff and students in their mission, but to also learning from the St. Benedict’s community.”

St. Benedict’s Chief Advancement Officer Michael Fazio noted the wealth of experience and networks both men bring to the Board.

"It has been a priority for St. Benedict's Prep to recruit trustees – both alumni and friends – who believe deeply in our mission, are thought shapers in our state and region, and who exemplify the type of leaders our students are capable of becoming. We are so very fortunate that Kevin and Ed have agreed to serve The Hive.”

(Photo courtesy of St. Benedict's)

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