Officers and Trustees
John Stillwaggon, BTEF Executive Director, has been a resident of Bernards Township for over twenty years. Jack is a Member of a Venture Development firm, which specializes in start-ups and also provides management consulting services specializing in assessments for boards, management teams and executive staffs. In the Industrial Automation Industry, Jack was a Director at ABB and has founded a Joint Venture and managed various sales/engineering companies. Jack has held oversight responsibilities in geographically dispersed organizations for Budgets, Forecast, Strategic Plans, M&A, Channel Partnership, Branding and Performance Review. He facilitates measurable results by utilizing current leadership development and strategic thinking techniques.
Stella Aliferis Perna, BTEF Co-Chair and Trustee, has been a resident of Bernards Township for twelve years. Stella is the managing partner for a management consulting firm, specializing in project management and business analysis. Services include program management, project management, financial analysis, and process improvement. Stella has held senior leadership positions in various industries, which include financial services, public accounting, entertainment, telecommunications, pharmaceutical, and electronic banking. Stella was recently PTO Co-President at her daughters’ elementary school. She continues to volunteer in local community efforts, including housing the homeless and providing hand-knitted blankets to those in less fortunate situations.
Lisa Winter, BTEF Co-Chair and Trustee,
Catherine Costa, BTEF Vice Chair, Secretary and Trustee, has been a resident of Basking Ridge for over 15 years. Cathy worked as a corporate attorney for Warner-Lambert Company in Morris Plains, New Jersey for 16 years. As Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Consumer Healthcare, Cathy was responsible for major transactions and general contract work for the Consumer Healthcare Sector of Warner-Lambert Company. Cathy is a graduate of Fordham Law School and has an MBA from Columbia University.
Chris O’Gwen, BTEF Trustee, has been a resident of Basking Ridge for over 20 years. He is a Senior Vice President with XL Insurance’s aerospace group. In this capacity, he is responsible for all aviation and space underwriting within the United States. Chris holds a Master of Business Administration, with a concentration in Insurance Finance and Reinsurance, from St. John’s University, New York, NY, and a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL.
Valerie Goger, Trustee, has served as the Superintendent of Bernards Township Schools since 1998. She is responsible for the management of the 5,700 student school district, which includes four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. A former School Business Administrator for 18 years, and a teacher for eight years, Dr. Goger’s background in both the instructional and support sides of education enables her to view the district operations holistically. Dr. Goger is intent upon taking the district from ‘good to great’. Included within this effort is the identification and development of many ancillary and pilot programs designed to help the district achieve this goal. Because 91% of the district’s budget is supported by local property tax, and spending is severely restricted by state legislation, these programs can only exist through the support of corporate and private foundation funding.
Kathi Paton, Trustee, has lived in Basking Ridge since 1987. She served on the board of The Children’s Corner, volunteered at all her daughter’s Bernards Township schools and extracurricular activities, and does alumni admissions interviews for her alma mater, Middlebury College. A published author and former local book group leader, Kathi works as a literary agent.
Scott Spitzer, Trustee, has been a member of the Township Committee since 2008 and became Mayor in 2010. He serves as the Township Committee liaison to the Planning Board, the Library Board and the Agricultural Advisory Committee, and as member of the Bernards Township Sewerage Authority. During 2009, he served as Deputy Mayor, the Township Committee liaison to the Planning Board, the Cable TV Task Force, the Golf Advisory Committee, and the Shade Tree Commission. Prior to being elected to the Township Committee, Scott served on the Bernards Township Planning Board for seven years, including five years as its Chairman. He is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Bowne & Co., Inc., in New York City.