Daniel Averbeck, Ph.D.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Dr. Averbeck is a licensed psychologist and specializes in the application of psychological measurement to human resource issues in business and industry. Dr. Averbeck began his career with Applied Assessments, Inc. in 1984 and has served as owner and president of the firm since 1992. Prior to his position there, he served as an independent contractor and researcher with Nationwide Insurance Company, Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission, and a consultant with Organizational Research and Development in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Averbeck will bring expertise in implementing principles of applied psychology and organizational behavior to advance cultural change and individual development.
Mr. Sam Battaglia,
Trustee Emeritus, Alumni Parent
Mr. Battaglia has thirty nine years in the Energy business and retired from Dominion Virginia Power in 2007. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland. He has served twelve years on the Nutley Board of Education, four years as President and four years as the Commissioner of Public Affairs. He was winner of the Jaycee Award for Health and Education contributions. He has been a Trustee of 1st Cerebral Palsy of New Jersey since 1974 and Beacon College since 1997.
Dr. John Carroll
Dr. John Carroll "J.C." Weiss, III is presently appointed at the University of Baltimore, Merrick School of Business in Maryland. Dr. Weiss possesses more than 30 years of service in Maryland's higher education community including positions of Board Chair, University Designee to corporate boards and Chair of Foundation Audit and Investment committees; Lecturer; Executive in Residence; and Assistant Professor. He also holds 40 years of experience in venture capital, executive management, economic development activities and commercial banking in the greater Baltimore area. Besides founding and co-founding several organizations and businesses, he has served in their leadership positions, successfully leading one through a public stock offering and listing on the NASDAQ National Market. Dr. Weiss has raised and managed in excess of $125 million for several venture capital funds, growth businesses and non-profit associations and also serves as an active board member with civic, academic and professional organizations for 35 years. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from Loyola University, both located in Maryland. He's received numerous service and teaching awards through his career.
Mr. Jonathan Cherry
Board Secretary/Treasurer
Mr. Cherry is President and CEO of LifeStream Behavioral Center in Leesburg Florida. He is a highly experienced behavioral healthcare executive with a leadership background in several large community mental health centers in the state of Florida. Mr. Cherry has been successful in building, strengthening, and financing innovative programs with a critical eye toward strict budget management.
John E. Dittmer, Ph.D., Biology
Dr. Dittmer has spent 40 years in academia, teaching and doing research in transplantation immunology. At Boston University Medical Center, Dr. Dittmer also served as University Faculty Senate President, on the Medical School Admissions Committee, and received Teaching and advising Honors from first year students and minority students. Appointed to Henan Medical School, Zhengzhou China, in 1985, he demonstrated research techniques and lectured to faculty and students. As Chair of Arts and Sciences at Brenau University, a private women’s college, he participated in an NIH Extern Fellowship, and obtained Federal funding for the graduate nursing program.
Mr. David Knowles
Mr. David Knowles is a "23 years and running" Allstate Insurance Agent. He was born and raised in Leesburg and is a graduate of the University of Florida. Mr. Knowles has worked on numerous boards and organizations in the Leesburg area. He was also elected to the Leesburg City Commission in 2000 and has served as Mayor in 2004 and again in 2010.
Thomas H. Langevin, Ph.D.
Dr. Langevin has served on various boards and commissions throughout his career, including service as member of the Hillsborough County/Tampa Historic Preservation Board on appointment of the governor of Florida. He was the first president of Teikyo Loretto Heights University, Denver, during its formation in 1989-1990 and subsequently served as senior advisor/executive assistant to the president of Chapman University, 1990-1991. In 1992, with Allen E. Koenig, Senior Associate of Thomas H. Langevin & Associates, he co-founded the Registry for College and University Presidents, a successful venture now in its fifteenth year. The Registry, in which Dr. Langevin remains Chair, is now a subsidiary of Collegiate Enterprise Solutions of Peabody, MA. The Registry is the premier agency for the placement of retired presidents and senior administrators to serve as interim presidents and vice presidents in colleges and universities.
Ms. Pamela M. Lawrence
Trustee Emeritus
Ms. Lawrence is the Managing Principal and co-founder of Restoration Capital Management LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor with the SEC. She has spent approximately 25 years in the investment business, the last 23 concentrating on investing in financially troubled companies. Ms. Lawrence has served as a member of the Board of Directors of American Buildings Corp., BDK Holdings, Inc., and Gardenway Inc. She is a member of the Financial Women's Association of New York and the New York Society of Security Analysts. She has also been a member on the Board of Directors of Catholic Big Sisters Big Brothers for fifteen years.
Ms. Eileen V. Marinakis, R.N., M.A., C.N.S.,
Board Chair, Alumni Parent
Eileen Marinakis is a R.N., St. Francis School of Nursing, and has a B.A. and M.A. in Nursing Education from Teacher's College, Columbia University. Ms. Marinakis also has certifications from the New Jersey State Department of Education as a Substance Abuse Coordinator and Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction. She has a background in health services for special needs students, stress management, and substance abuse counseling. She is also a member of the Advisory Board and participating Counselor of the Traumatic Loss Coalition of Cape Counseling, Mental Health Services. Ms. Marinakis has received the New Jersey Governor's Teacher Recognition Award, New Jersey Governor's Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse; Partner in Prevention Award, Cape Counseling Award for Professional Contributions to the Cape May County Traumatic Loss Coalition, and the New Jersey Governor's Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse: Volunteer of the Year.
William J. Somerset, D.O.
Board Vice-Chair
Dr. Somerset is a Board Certified physician specializing in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and Pain Medicine. Currently, he is the Medical Director of PhysIOM (an intra-operative monitoring company) in Fort Collins, Colorado. Formerly he was a tenured Associate Professor at Michigan State University where he was the co-founder of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. He has held similar positions at the University of Pittsburgh and Temple Medical Schools. His distinguished medical career also includes administrative positions as an Executive V.P. of Medical Affairs at D.T. Watson Rehabilitation Hospital (now the Watson Institute) in Sewickley, Pa. Additionally, he has served as a Corporate Medical Director of a nationwide Occupational Medicine company.
Mr. Bruce Vincent
Mr. Vincent leads the New West Institute LLC (NWI), an organizational consulting firm which specializes in organizational and personal professional performance development. As an executive, coach, and teacher, Mr. Vincent has successfully influenced the careers of hundreds of executives, managers, sales, and service staff. Because of his varied background, he has an appreciation for the dynamics of a not-for-profit educational institution with a specialized mission such as Beacon College.
Richard O. Williams, Ph.D., M.S. Finance
Dr. Williams has spent 20 years in academia, teaching and doing research in European universities and with the World Health Organization in Africa. He has more than 15 years as a recognized investor in, and manager of, pre-public biotechnology companies, most notably Amgen, Bioveris and Supergen, all quoted on the NASDAQ. He is a manager of a private and public equities fund. Dr. Williams was the managing partner of Mara Venture Partners, LLC, an early-stage venture capital fund with offices in Brussels and Virginia, as well as the managing partner of an equities option trading firm with three seats on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange. Currently, Dr. Williams is a member of the American Society of Microbiology Investment Committee, as well as being on the Board of Directors of several private companies.
Vincent Ziccolella, Ph.D.
Dr. Ziccolella has over 30 years experience as an educational administrator. He was a school superintendent of the Greenburg-Graham School District for twenty-three years, a K-12 school district for residential students with learning disabilities and emotional handicaps. After retirement from the Greenburg-Graham S. District, he served as Interim Superintendent in Public School Districts throughout Westchester County, NY. From 1994-1998, he served on the New York State Governor's Commission on Education and has been recognized for his contributions in the field of education.
