Rider’s 2025 business Hall of Fame inductees announced

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Rider University’s Norm Brodsky College of Business is proud to induct four distinguished alumni into its Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony on May 7 at The Marigold in Somerset, New Jersey.

This year’s honorees are Jim Drake '93, Robert Decker '93, Joseph Hudicka '93, '00 and Karen West '82, ’89. 

“I am incredibly proud to welcome this year’s class of inductees into the Hall of Fame,” says Dr. Eugene Kutcher, dean of the Norm Brodsky College of Business. “Their successful careers, inspiring accomplishments and service to their alma mater and its students make us all proud to be Broncs.”

Jim Drake '93 built his career at one of the world’s leading financial institutions, Barclays Investment Bank, for more than two decades. He most recently served as global co-head of banking risk and controls and chief administrative officer. Drake has remained deeply connected to his alma mater, where he majored in finance. Through his service as the longtime chair of the Norm Brodsky College of Business’ Executive Advisory Council, Drake has been instrumental in supporting the College’s elite AACSB accreditation, driving continuous improvement across academic programs and experiential learning initiatives for students, and creating a scholarship for business students. Drake also holds an MBA from Seton Hall University.

Robert Decker '93 is widely recognized as a thought leader in corporate accounting and a strong advocate for ethical and innovative financial reporting practices. As the vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer for Johnson & Johnson, Decker leads global accounting and financial reporting functions, SEC reporting, tax accounting and enterprise risk management. He is an active member of the Rider University Accounting Advisory Council, connecting students to the corporate accounting profession through internships and co-op placements and serving as a mentor. He has also been a critical supporter of Rider’s participation in the prestigious Johnson & Johnson Case Competition, which is limited to only 10 top-tier accounting programs nationwide. Decker earned his bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting from Rider. 

Joseph Hudicka '93 '00 is the embodiment of the Norm Brodsky College of Business’ dedication to entrepreneurial thinking. Hudicka’s multifaceted career includes co-founding The Clarity Team, LLC, a consulting firm that provides custom software solutions for businesses; serving as CEO for Fizzee Labs, LLC, an educational nonprofit to help people unlock their creative potential through innovative games, live events and curricula; and authoring the book, The AI Ecosystems Revolution, published by Forbes Books. At Rider, Hudicka is an adjunct professor to undergraduate and graduate business students, a member of the Business Analytics Advisory Council and a board member of the University’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. His nonprofit, Fizzee Labs, has also sponsored new equipment for the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Maker Space and an entrepreneurial competition for Rider students called the Norm Brodsky College of Business Collegiate Concept Competition. Hudicka earned his bachelor’s degree with a major in computer information systems and an MBA from Rider. 

Karen West '82, ’89 has extensive expertise in accounting, finance, operations and strategic leadership, with a career spanning more than three decades. She has held a number of senior roles, including chief of staff for Herspiegel Consulting and chief operating officer for The Mercadien Group, where she also served on its board of directors and on the Mercadien Foundation Board of Trustees. As an independent consultant, West helps organizations optimize strategy, operations and performance, and has continuously lent her expertise to her alma mater. She served as executive in residence for the Norm Brodsky College of Business from 2019-20 and as a member of the dean’s strategic planning task force from 2021-22, shaping the College’s five-year strategic plan. West is a founding member of Rider’s Gail Bierenbaum Leadership Council, a member of the Rider Human Resources Advisory Board  and is an adjunct professor, teaching upper-level human resources and organizational development courses. She earned her bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting and her MBA from Rider.

Inductees were selected for their exemplary contributions that shape and strengthen the University, their communities and their profession. In addition to receiving awards at the ceremony, honorees will also be recognized through a permanent display in Anne Brossman Sweigart Hall on Rider’s campus.

Sponsorships for the induction ceremony are still available, with proceeds for both table sponsors as well as individual ticket purchases supporting the accounting program, scholarships and the Norm Brodsky College of Business Engaged Learning Fund. For more information, please visit rider.edu/businesshof.