Rider’s Norm Brodsky College of Business to honor second class of hall of fame inductees

Rider University’s Norm Brodsky College of Business will induct four distinguished alumni into its Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony on May 5 at The Marigold in Somerset, N.J.

The original induction date, in 2020, for the honorees — William H. Kurtz '79, Barry M. Pelletteri '77, '83, Lisa VanPatten '87 and H. Edward Wilkin III '74 — was postponed because of the pandemic.

“This Hall of Fame cohort represents the best of the Norm Brodsky College of Business and Rider University, and each of them serves as a remarkable role model for our current and future students," says Dr. Eugene Kutcher, dean of the Norm Brodsky College of Business. "The Hall of Fame banquet will be a celebration of the traditions of excellence in our College, as personified in these four accomplished alumni.”

Following a successful career in public accounting and as a corporate officer, William H. Kurtz '79 now operates as a strategic adviser and board member. He spent 20 years serving as chief financial officer, chief compliance officer or chief operations officer for fast-growth, high-tech companies. Four private companies he led or was involved with became successful public companies after their IPOs, including Bloom Energy. Kurtz is actively involved with Rider as a member of the Executive Advisory Committee for the Norm Brodsky College of Business and a sponsor of the Business in Action class. He received a bachelor’s in commerce with a major in accounting from Rider and a master’s in management sciences from Stanford University.

Barry M. Pelletteri '77, '83 is the founder of Quantum Consulting Corporation, a business strategy and technology consulting firm, and the chief strategy officer of Kyra Solutions, which provides solutions to help governments connect with citizens and community partners. Pelletteri is a current member of the Norm Brodsky College of Business's Information Systems Advisory Council and has served an instructor and guest lecturer at Rider. He received a bachelor's in commerce with a major in decision sciences and a master's in business administration from Rider.

Lisa VanPatten '87 has more than 25 years of professional accounting, finance, sales and operational management experience. She's currently a practice director of MorganFranklin, a privately held management consulting firm. She is also currently a member of the advisory council of the Norm Brodsky College of Business and the former president of Rider's Gail Bierenbaum Leadership Council. VanPatten received a bachelor's in management from Rider.

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. Wilkin received a bachelor's in business administration from Rider.

Inductees were selected on the basis of their contributions toward shaping their profession and community and hail from top companies locally, nationally and globally. 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/brodskyhalloffame.