Board of Trustees

Richard J. Codey

Richard J. Codey is a former Governor and a 40 year veteran of the New Jersey legislature. Governor Codey has made the fight against mental illness a focus of his entire career. As Governor, Mr. Codey’s first official act was to establish a Task Force to reform the New Jersey’s mental health system. He also signed into law legislation allocating $200 million for housing units for individuals with mental illness. Additionally, he established a Governor’s Council on Mental Health Stigma. Earlier in his career, while serving a chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Mr. Codey went undercover to expose deplorable conditions at Marlboro Pychiatric Hospital. Among other reforms, his undercover operation led to stricter hiring practices and criminal background checks for psychiatric hospital employees.

Mary Jo Codey

As the former Lady of New Jersey, Mary Jo Codey spearheaded a campaign to raise public awareness with regard to post-partum depression. She spoke extensively of her own experience and the effects of depression on her life and family. Through media reports and speaking engagements, Mary Jo has shared her personal struggles with debilitating bouts of clinical depression. After successfully managing her condition with effective treatment, Mrs. Codey’s advocacy efforts led to the passage of New Jersey law requiring screening of new mothers for post-partum depression.

Barry Mandelbaum, Esq.

As president and founding member of the law firm, Mandelbaum, Salsburg in West Orange, New Jersey, Barry has more than four decades of legal experience.  Barry graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Colgate University and from Columbia University School of Law.  He is a member of the Governor’s Corporate and Business Law Commission, and the Board of Directors of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield.  He has been recognized and included in the Best Lawyers in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and as a New Jersey Super Lawyer.

Robert Davison

Bob Davison is the Executive Director of the Montclair-based Mental Health Association of Essex County.  Davison is a longtime advocate for the compassionate and ethical treatment of individuals who suffer from mental illness. Under Davison’s leadership, MHAEC has grown into one of New Jersey’s premier service providers, assisting thousands of individuals and their families confronted with mental illness or emotional disturbances. In 2004, Davison was appointed chairman of New Jersey Gov. Richard J. Codey’s Task Force on Mental Health. The task force was charged with reviewing New Jersey’s $1 billion dollar Public Mental Health System and making recommendations for improvement.

Trina Parks

Trina Parks, MHA, FACHE has been appointed Chief Diversity Officer of Corporate Diversity and Inclusion for RWJBarnabas Health. Ms. Parks is responsible for corporate diversity and inclusion for the healthcare system including leadership accountability and communication; employee development and training; supplier inclusion; diverse community engagement; patient inclusion; health equity and population health

For the past four years, Ms. Parks served as Vice President of Behavioral Health and Forensics Services at East Orange General Hospital including Psychiatric Emergency Services, Behavioral Health Adult Inpatient, Behavioral Health Adult and Children Outpatient Services, Behavioral Health Adult Partial Hospitalization, Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, Supportive Housing and Forensic Adult Inpatient and Outpatient Treatment. During her tenure there, Ms. Parks also assumed responsibility for Radiology Diagnostic Services, Interventional Radiology, Cardiology and Respiratory Services. She also led the charge to build a brand new state of the art psychiatric inpatient unit which opened October 2014. Prior, Ms. Parks was the Associate Executive Director for the Mental Health Association of Essex County, Montclair, New Jersey. She successfully secured a re-integration and jail diversion grant to establish a formal partnership between Essex County Correctional Facility and the community health care providers to integrate and divert individuals from incarceration.

Ms. Parks received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Montclair State University and a Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from Seton Hall University. She is a Fellow and graduate of Leadership New Jersey and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Ms. Parks was appointed to the City of Newark Federal Qualified Health Center, Board of Commission. She was also a panelist for the City of Newark Town Hall forums led by Mayor Ras Baraka with the Department of Health and Community Wellness to identify health disparities with the goal of creating a healthcare system that does not discriminate against socially disadvantaged populations.

Ms. Parks is passionate about providing equitable, safe, effective and patient centered healthcare
while maintaining the ultimate accountability of removing health disparities in the communities
we live and serve.

Eric Witmondt

Eric Witmondt serves as CEO of Woodmont Properties, a privately owned real estate development and investment business founded by his father in 1963. Eric is responsible for the rapid expansion of Woodmont Properties; redevelopment, infill, multi-family, commercial and industrial development portfolio. Under his leadership, the company has grown to one of the region’s most active developers with commercial developments and acquisitions in excess of 2 million sq. ft. completed in the past two years, and more than 3,000 residential apartments completed and under construction and owned/managed by Woodmont Properties.

As CEO, Eric directs the company’s short- and long-range planning and strategic direction. He began his career with Cushman and Wakefield, where he was a top-producing broker, after which he established Associated Realty, Inc., a leading New Jersey commercial real estate brokerage firm. Mr. Witmondt is a graduate of the University of Maryland. Eric serves on the board of JVS of MetroWest NJ, Dwight-Englewood School, and also serves as co-chair for NAIOP of New Jersey. He has been recognized by NJBIZ

Real Estate Report Power 50 ranking each year since 2010.

West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta, Jr.

Mayor Joseph Tempesta, Jr. is currently serving his 6th term as Mayor of the Township of West Caldwell. Prior to serving as Mayor, he also served 3 terms as a Councilman in West Caldwell. Mayor Tempesta began his public service in 1982 serving as a volunteer member and later as Chairman of the West Caldwell Environmental Commission. He also served as a volunteer member of the West Caldwell Planning Board and for the last 35 years has volunteered for various community, athletic and recreation activities, civic organizations, and charitable events.

Mayor Tempesta also serves or has served on numerous Boards and Community Affiliations. He is currently an executive board member and former President of the NJ State League of Municipalities. He is a member of the Essex County Conference of Mayors, the West Essex Conference of Mayors, West Essex UNICO, Nj Conference of Mayors and past members of the Essex County Open Space Advisory Board and ARC of Essex County Executive Advisory Board.

Mayor Tempesta has a B.A. Degree in Economics and has attended Fairleigh Dickinson University in the Graduate MBA program.  In addition to serving as the part-time Mayor of West Caldwell, he currently serves as the full-time Township Business Administrator for the Township.

Julie Bannon – Executive Director

Julie Bannon started her fundraising career with The American Cancer Society in 1997.  Julie has been responsible for spearheading The Essex Chapter by creating and implementing special events, managing logistics, agendas and budgets.

Most recently Bannon was a Marketing Manager for Kings Food Markets, translating business objectives into profitable promotions.