FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Anthony Puglisi
March 25, 2013 973-621-2542
Lauren Shears
973-621-1590
ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO HOSTS
ANNUAL ESSEX COUNTY IRISH HERITAGE CELEBRATION
Governor’s Chief Counsel Charles McKenna
Receives Irishman of the Year Award
Clara Maass Medical Center President/CEO Dr. Mary Ellen Clyne
Receives Irishwoman of the Year Award
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. hosted the 10th Annual Essex County Irish Heritage Celebration on Monday, March 25th. During the afternoon ceremony, the County Executive presented Charles McKenna, Chief Counsel to Governor Chris Christie, with the 2013 Essex County Irishman of the Year Award and Mary Ellen Clyne, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, with the 2013 Essex County Irishwoman of the Year Award. The Irish Heritage event recognizes the impact Irish men and women have had on the cultural, civic, political, law enforcement and economic history of the County.
“As I travel throughout New Jersey, I constantly tell people that Essex County’s strength is our diversity. Highlighting the contributions that each ethnicity has made to our culture, economy and history helps create a better understanding of each other and develops a sense of community,” DiVincenzo said. “Charles McKenna and Mary Ellen Clyne are two individuals who have helped shape the quality of life in New Jersey through their legal and civic work,” he added.
“We want to thank both of today’s honorees, Charles McKenna and Mary Ellen Clyne, for their service to Essex County and our State,” said Freeholder President Blonnie R. Watson. “As our County Executive always says, our strength is our diversity and today we continue to celebrate the strong Irish heritage we have here in Essex County,” she added.
“Charlie is a background player who is committed to public service. The work that he has done over the years has drastically improved the lives of many people throughout the State,” said Kevin O’Dowd, Chief of Staff to Governor Chris Christie. “As the 2012 Irishman of the year, it is my honor to present this award to my colleague today,” he added.
Charles McKenna currently serves as Chief Counsel to Governor Chris Christie, having previously served as the Director of the New Jersey State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness since January 2010. Mr. McKenna came to this position from the United States Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, where he had served for 18 years. At the time of his appointment, he was the Chief of the Criminal Division, a position in which he directed attorneys responsible with prosecuting federal criminal violations since 2008. He also supervised investigations and interacted with heads of law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency, Internal Revenue Service and Department of Defense, and was responsible for establishing and administering policy for the Criminal Division, the largest in the US Attorney's Office.
From 2002 until 2008, Mr. McKenna served as Executive Assistant US Attorney under then US Attorney Chris Christie. Here, he had executive oversight for all Criminal and Civil Division investigations as well as administrative responsibilities to ensure efficient operations in the office. He also represented the office on many occasions to law enforcement and private industry groups, lecturing on various aspects of criminal law.
As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. McKenna successfully prosecuted many cases involving violations of federal criminal laws. He was involved in the investigation into the kidnapping and murder of Daniel Pearl, the Southeast Asia Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal, and successfully prosecuted animal rights extremists. In 2002, he was a recipient of a Director's Award for Superior Performance from the U.S. Department of Justice. From 1999 to 2002, Mr. McKenna was the U.S. Attorney's Office Liaison to the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. From 2002 until leaving the U.S. Attorney's Office, he was the Crisis Management Coordinator for the District of New Jersey.
Mr. McKenna received a J.D. in 1986 from St. John's University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude. He was awarded a Bachelor of Arts summa cum laude in 1982 from Fordham University. A New York City native, Mr. McKenna resides in Essex County.
“In my 20 years in Essex County, I have really come to embrace it. It really is a great place to live and raise your family and I want to thank the County Executive and the team for all that they do to improve the lives of residents and for this great honor,” said Mr. McKenna. “My grandmother instilled in us that, above all else, while we were Irish in heritage we were all Americans first, and that was more important. I accept this award today, as an Irish American, on behalf of my grandmother, who I know would be extremely proud,” he added.
“Mary Ellen Clyne is the consummate leader,” said Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of Barnabas Health. “There is no better selection that could have been made for this honor than Mary Ellen, and we are proud to be a part of this celebration,” he added.
Mary Ellen Clyne, Ph.D., has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center since 2010. Under her leadership, the medical center has won numerous accolades and awards, including being ranked among the 50 Best Regional Hospitals in the New York Metro Area by US News & World Report and being designated top in the state for the treatment of Congestive Heart Failure and Heart Attacks by the New Jersey Department of Health Hospital Performance Report. In addition, Clara Maass has received national recognition by hospital ratings agencies that include Becker’s Hospital Review, the Leapfrog Group and Thompson Reuters, which chose Clara Maass as one of 12 top hospitals nationwide in 2012.
Dr. Clyne had a long and distinguished career in nursing prior to becoming the President and CEO of Clara Maass. Prior to becoming the President, she served as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services at Clara Maass. She’s also held nursing supervisor and director positions at The General Hospital Center at Passaic, The Hospital Center at Orange and Overlook Hospital. Dr. Clyne is the first person to earn her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in nursing at Seton Hall University, where she also served as a clinical and adjunct professor. Dr. Clyne has been nominated twice for the Governor’s Nursing Merit Award as a Nursing Administrator.
A native of Queens, N.Y., Dr. Clyne moved to New Jersey at the age of 7 and grew up in Union and Somerset Counties, where she still lives. She is married to Gerard Butler, a Detective Lieutenant with the North Plainfield Police Department and is the mother of three children, Patrick Gregory, Jeffrey and Morgan.
“I truly would like to thank our County Executive because without him today would not be possible and I am honored to be chosen as the Irishwoman of the year. I would also like to thank all the elected officials, my Barnabas Health colleagues, my Clara Maass team and my family for their continued support,” said Dr. Mary Ellen Clyne.
The entertainment was provided by Paul Byrne and Jack McGarry of the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Essex County’s Annual Irish Heritage Celebration is one of several cultural observances hosted by the Essex County Executive and the Essex County Office of Cultural Diversity and Affirmative Action. The events are held to raise awareness about the rich ethnic diversity and backgrounds of County employees.