Past Hall of Fame Inductees

William H. Kurtz '79 is a Senior Financial and Operations Executive with 20 years' experience operating as CFO or COO at several private and public high growth tech companies in the Silicon Valley. Total career experience also includes 15 years at AT&T and 4 years in public accounting. For the past several years, Bill has supported the Norm Brodsky College of Business Living and Learning Community through sponsorship and mentorship. Bill is one of this year’s Executive in Residence for the Norm Brodsky College of Business and is actively engaged with the college. He has great passion for Rider and his accomplishments are significant. He gives back both with his time and energy as well as financial support. Bill truly exemplifies the Rider mission of putting students first. Bill received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rider University in 1979.

Barry M. Pelletteri '77, '83 has led an exemplary career path, reaching CIO positions in major corporations spanning multiple industries, and along the way has demonstrated outstanding abilities in building strong teams, delivering measurable business results, and growing careers for many of colleagues. As Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for Kyra Solutions based in Lakeland, Florida, Barry is currently helping to lead a spin-off from Kyra Solutions untitled “RoadScholar” towards a Series A funding round. RoadScholar provides the transportation industry with access to a variety of solutions that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning to ensure both open roads and safer journeys. Barry has received numerous accolades including the “2015 CIO 100 Award” from CIO Magazine. Barry earned both a bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in computer science and a master’s degree in business administration (M.B.A.) from Rider University. He is a former member of the Executive Advisory Council at Rider University and is also a member of the Rider Information Systems Advisory Council and the American Association of University Professors. He is also an adjunct professor in the Norm Brodsky College of Business, Executive MBA Program.

Lisa VanPatten '87 is the Executive Director for MorganFranklin, a management and technology consulting firm that works with leading businesses to address critical finance, technology, and business objectives. In her role, she leads and develops teams to help struggling companies tackle complex problems using technology and financial resources to put various systems in place, help redesign processes, and develop change management plans in order to scale and meet the companies’ growth plans. With more than 25 years of professional finance, accounting, and management experience in a diverse range of industries, Lisa previously held National Practice lead roles at NetSuite and a leading audit, tax and consulting firm. She is currently a member of the Executive Advisory Council of the Norm Brodsky College of Business and the former president of Rider's Gail Bierenbaum Leadership Council Mentoring Program. VanPatten has a B.S. in Management from Rider University.

H. Edward Wilkin III '74 co-founded the accounting firm WilkinGuttenplan in 1983. For more than 40 years he has helped family-owned and closely-held businesses manage the challenges of growth, cash flow and organizational restructuring. His clients cover a variety of industries including wholesalers, real estate and construction. Prior to co-founding WilkinGuttenplan, Ed was a partner with a regional CPA firm. WilkinGuttenplan has been named one of the best places to work in New Jersey by NJBiz 15 times including #1 ranking twice. Rider has been instrumental in WilkinGuttenplan’s internship program with over 20 people employed from Rider including 5 partners with Rider degrees. Wilkin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Rider University. He continues his education through regular continuing professional education (CPE) and educational seminars.

James P. Bush ’80 is the president of Global Network and International Consumer Services (GNICS) at American Express, which includes the consumer business outside the U.S. and all global bank partnerships in 130 countries and territories. Under his leadership, GNICS has become one of the fastest growing divisions of American Express, a company he joined in 1986. Bush is a sought-after expert on customer service and engagement; under his leadership, American Express earned eight consecutive J.D. Power & Associates awards for highest customer satisfaction among U.S. card companies. He has also been featured in several notable books on customer experience strategies. Bush earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Rider, where he graduated cum laude. In addition to being an active alumnus, he is a senior advisor to Table to Table, a community-based food rescue program in northern New Jersey.

Howard Cohen ’71 has more than 40 years of experience in the fields of public accounting and consulting. He is currently an executive advisor to Wells Fargo's New Jersey Middle Market Banking Group and was previously the chairman of EisnerAmper LLP and the managing partner and CEO of Amper, Politziner & Mattia, LLP. He earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Rider and a master’s in taxation from Pace University. In addition to serving on many boards and committees, Cohen is actively involved with Rider. He is the immediate past chairman of the University’s Accounting Advisory Council and a member of the Executive Advisory Council for the Norm Brodsky College of Business. Previously, Rider has honored him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award and inducted him into Beta Alpha Psi, a national honors fraternity for financial information professionals.

Patricia A. Hartpence ’78, ’86 is a corporate giving officer at NJM Insurance Group, where she has worked since she began her career upon graduating from Rider College in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in commerce. She is responsible for the oversight of NJM’s corporate giving, matching program, volunteer program and community outreach. Active in her community, Hartpence has served on the boards of several organizations, including HomeFront and Kidsbridge. She returned to Rider to earn a Master of Business Administration in 1986 and continues to be involved with the University in several capacities, including as a member of the Rider Women’s Leadership Council.

Vincent J. Milano ’85 is the chief executive officer of Idera and the former chairman, president and chief executive officer of ViroPharma, which was acquired by Shire Pharmaceuticals in January 2014. Under his stewardship, ViroPharma became a leading developer of innovative therapies for rare diseases, with the approval and commercialization of its lead product, Cinryze, for the treatment of hereditary angioedema in the United States and Europe. Milano received a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Rider. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Spark Therapeutics, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, VenatoRx and Life Sciences Pennsylvania.

We also honored Johnson & Johnson for their long tenure as Corporate Partner of the Norm Brodsky College of Business.