Who's News

Bernie Crowley has been named a senior member of The Gelber Organization's tax consulting team in Edison. Crowley is a former acting commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, where he spent 37 years of his career. His new responsibilities include client advisory and field reviews, tax planning and building relationships with staff and vendors.

Maria C. Plucinsky has been promoted to senior manager of nonprofit services for Hunter Group CPA in Fair Lawn. Formerly a manager with the firm, she currently oversees the accounting and auditing services for the firm's nonprofit clients, in addition to many of the firm's commercial audit and accounting services clients. Plucinsky has been an employee of Hunter since 1987, and has more than 25 years of public accounting experience, including more than 15 in nonprofits. She is a graduate ofWilliam Paterson College.

Jeffrey Ward has been named senior marketing manager for Amper, Politziner & Mania's Bridgewater office. He will focus on supporting the marketing efforts of the Bridgewater office, along with firm-wide initiatives in litigation support, tax- exempt organizations and several prospect groups targeting large public companies. Before joining Amper, Ward was president and CEO for a medium-sized printing company. He earned his M.BA. from Temple University and holds a bachelor's degree in biology/ chemistry from Taylor University.

Engineering

Andrew W. Schueller has joined Matrix New World Engineering Inc. in East Hanover as director of civil engineering. He has more than 20 years of technical and management experience on a wide variety of civil and environmental engineering projects. Before joining Matrix, Schueller served as manager of site development for Louis Berger Group Inc. He holds both a master's and bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Hospitality

Paul Reed Bogardus has been named executive chef for North Maple Inn, a Benchmark Hospitality International property in Basking Ridge. This appointment marks his return to the North Maple Inn, having opened the inn's kitchen as sous chef 12 years ago. Bogardus most recently served as executive chef for The Grand Cafe, a fine-dining French-style restaurant in Morristown. Earlier, he worked as executive sous chef at The Bernard's Inn of Bernardsville. Bogardus graduated from Johnson & Wales University.

Pharmaceutical

Deni M. Zodda has b een appointed senior vice president and chief business officer at NovaDel Pharma Inc. in Flemington. Before joining NovaDel, Zodda served as senior vice president, business development at Discovery Laboratories Inc., where he led the development and implementation of corporate strategy. Earlier, he was managing director of the life sciences practice at KPMG, where he directed strategic planning, alliance management and M&A activities for several biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Zodda has also held senior management positions at Cephalon, Wyeth, Baxter and SmithKline. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the University of Santa Clara.

Public Relations

Shannon Gotthelf Cortina has joined Springboard Public Relations in Marlboro as a senior account executive. Gotthelf Cortina, who has nearly five years of industry experience, has directed an array of strategic public relations and marketing campaigns for a variety of accounts, ranging from consumer, technology, fashion and business-to-business companies. Before joining Springboard, she was a senior account executive at MRB Public Relations Inc. Gotthelf Cortina holds a bachelor's degree in political science with a minor in philosophy from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Technology

Tom Abat ï has been appointed national software and services sales manager at Innovativ in Edison. He will be responsible for developing key strategies to increase the company's 2007 revenue from software license sales and related services. Abato has more than 20 years of experience in the IT industry. Before joining Innovativ, he provided consulting services toVerifichi Inc. He holds a bachelor's degree in computer science and finance from Wilkes University.

Jamie Davis has been named vice president, business development at HCR Software Solutions in Rochelle Park. Davis brings more than eight years of industry experience to his new position. Before joining HRC, he held various senior management roles atVurv-formerly Recruitmax Software-including vice president, corporate/business development. Davis has broad experience in managing business units to profitability, building revenue-generating strategic partnerships and turning around troubled business units. He earned degrees from the University of North Florida and Logos Christian College in Jacksonville, FIa.

Scott Johnson has been named vice president, sales and marketing at Rochelle Park-based HCR Software Solutions. Johnson, who will be based in the Piano, Texas, office, has more than eight years of industry experience. Before joining HCR, he worked as an independent consultant serving clients that included Sprint, ConocoPhillips and Northwestern Mutual. Johnson holds a master's degree in economics from Western Illinois University and a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Northern Colorado.