Rider’s Board of Trustees elects new chair, member

John M. Guarino ’82 is the new chair of Rider University's Board of Trustees. The former Coca-Cola Company executive brings more than 30 years of international business experience to the position, which began on July 1. Guarino succeeds former chair Robert Schimek ’87, who will step down from the top position that he has held since July 1, 2017.

"I’m very proud to continue giving back to the institution that gave so much to me and lead the Board’s efforts to ensure Rider University thrives during a historically challenging period for higher education," says Guarino. “I'm fortunate to be building upon the tremendous amount of energy, insight and commitment Rob brought to the role. I know I speak for many when I say that I am grateful for his leadership these past four years.”

Guarino received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in industrial relations from Rider and a Master of Business Administration from Northeastern University. He has remained engaged as an alumnus, serving as an adjunct professor in Rider’s Norm Brodsky College of Business and, since 2016, as the executive in residence in the international seminar and study tour of the executive master of business administration program. The John Guarino '82 Endowed Scholarship was established in 2018 with a gift of $250,000.

Guarino retired as president of Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada in 2016. Over 18 years with the company, he amassed a broad record of international experience across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His positions at Coca-Cola followed more than 15 years of experience with Philip Morris International. He also currently serves as a member of Innovative DisplayWorks board. 

Along with Guarino’s new position, Mark Nurse was recently elected to the Board of Trustees. His term began on July 1.

Nurse is a managing director and portfolio manager in the Princeton office of investment and wealth management firm The Glenmede Trust Company. He also serves as a trustee of the Watershed Institute in Pennington, N.J., and was previously a trustee of NJ SEEDS, a nonprofit organization that prepares high achieving, low-income students for admission to private schools and colleges across the country. Nurse received a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Fordham University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, cum laude, from St. Francis College.

In addition to these changes, Stacy Shapiro and Chris Carothers ’91, ’94, who served previously as Trustee from 2001 to 2010, retired from Board service on June 30 following completion of the maximum three consecutive three-year terms each. Both served important leadership positions during their tenure on the Board. 

James P. Bush '80 will succeed Carothers as one of the Board's two vice chairs. Bush retired as president of global network and international consumer services at American Express where he also served for 10 years as executive vice president of world service. He received a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with a major in accounting from Rider and completed graduate studies at DePaul University. He is an inaugural member of Norm Brodsky College of Business Hall of Fame. The James P. Bush International Immersion Endowment was established in 2018 with a gift of $250,000.

Joan Mazzotti ' 72, retired executive director of Philadelphia Futures, will continue in her role as vice chair, having just completed the first year of a two-year term. Mazzotti received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Rider and a Juris Doctor from Villanova University. She is also the recipient of the Harold L. Conover Award for Distinguished Leadership as well as an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Rider. In 2018, a $1 million gift established The Joan C. Mazzotti '72 and Michael C. Kelly Endowed Scholarship.