Who's News

Suzanne J. Baumgardt has been named director of architectural services for Vollmer Associates, a national firm with offices in Rochelle Park. Baumgardt will be responsible for managing architectural projects for the firm's Eatontown, Mount Laurel, Newark, Rochelle Park and Tom's River offices. Baumgardt previously served as a project manager for Rivardo Schnitser Capazzi Architects. Baumgardt holds a BA from Syracuse University and isamemberofthe American Institute of Architects.

Banking

James A. Christy has been appointed first vice president and general auditor for Jersey City-based The Provident Bank Christy joined the bank in 2001 as vice president and general auditor. Before that he worked with Summit Bancorp in financial audit and loan review. He earned a B.A. in economics from Georgetown University and an M.BA in public accounting from Fordham University.

Communications

Robert Keating, a veteran network news producer, has been named the chief operating officer for Florham Park-based strategic communications firm Keating and Co. Keating previously worked as a producer for ABCs "World News Tonight," "20/20," "PrimeTime Live" and "Nightline." He has been published in Rolling Stone and The Village Voice.

Engineering

Joseph E. Dopico, a principal in the Master Consulting Firm, has been elected to a two-year term on the New York State American Council of Engineering Companies. Dopico has over 22 years of experience in all aspects of civil engineering and is the director of New York Engineering Services. He manages the firm's West Nyack and Newburgh, N.Y., offices. Master Consulting is based in Red Bank, and has six offices throughout New Jersey and New York.

Entertainment

Craig J. Huber has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of The Ritz Theatre Co., a year-round training theatre in Oaklyn. Huber is a shareholder in the law firm of Archer and Grenier and a member of the firm's litigation department. He received his B.A. from SUNY Buffalo and his J.D. from Rutgers University, Camden.

Michelle Davis has been appointed executive director of the New Jersey Lottery. Previously Davis served as a senior policy advisor for the Department of Health and Senior Services. A West Orange resident, Davis graduated from Seton Hall and is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association. Before working for the state, Davis served as a assistant public defender in Essex County from 1998 to 2003.

Health Care

Kim A. Kelly has been promoted to vice president of clinical services at CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold. Previously, Kelly served as assistant vice president for perioperative/maternal child health services. Kelly has been in health care for 25 years. She earned her master's degree in health science from New Jersey State College and completed post-graduate course work at Drew University.

Law

John A. Azzarello, a partner in Newark-based Kirkpatrick and Lockhart, Nicholson, Graham (K&LNG), has been appointed to the advisory board of the International Center for Enterprise Preparedness

at New York University. A former counsel for the 9/11 Commission, Azzarello will help direct the Center's efforts to prepare businesses for a terror attack or natural disaster. Currently Azzarello handles white collar criminal cases and complex litigation for K&LNG.

Stuart M. Lederman, a partner with the Morristown-based law firm of Riker, Danzig, Scheer, Hyland & Perretti, has been elected secretary of the New Brunswick-based New Jersey State Bar Association. Previously Lederman was an instructor at the Emory University School of Law. He graduated from the University of Delaware and the Emory University School of Law.

Joseph J. LaRosa, vice president for legal affairs at Schering-Plough, has been elected to serve on the State Board of Directors of Junior Achievement of New Jersey, with offices located in Princeton. LaRosa joined Schering-Plough in 1993 and provides legal council for Schering-Plough's international businesses. Prior to Joining Schering-Plough LaRosa worked in private practice in New York City. He graduated from New York University with degrees in political science and psychology and received a J.D. degree from the New York University School of Law.

Pharmaceuticals

Leslie Hudson, vice president at Dov Pharmaceuticals, will become the Hackensack drugmaker's next chief executive officer, replacing co-founder and current CEO Arnold Lippa when he steps down next month. Lippa will remain as chairman. For 15 years Hudson has worked with drugmakers including GlaxoSmithKline and Pharmacia.

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