Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Kate Billings – Chairperson
Kate formerly served the residents of Long Branch as a member of the City Council, Planning Board, the UEZ Board and the redevelopment agency. She retired from the Long Public Schools after a career as a teacher, supervisor and assistant principal. She is the Director of the R. Dave Billings Scholarship fund which provides educational scholarships.
Debra Bradley – Vice Chair & Head of Governance
Talent Acquisition professional She has spent her entire career advising, restructuring and strategically growing divisions for major organizations within the financial services, accounting, auditing and corporate market sectors. Her expertise has been in branding, marketing, sourcing, recruiting and contract negotiating, resulting in attracting and hiring top talent worldwide.
Eric Carney – Chair of Finance Committee
Eric is currently the CEO of Monmouth Medical Center, RWJBH. He has worked at Barnabas Health, now RWJBH, for over twenty years, serving in numerous positions of increasing responsibility including administrative director of clinical operations in different hospitals and more recently, prior to becoming CEO, he was Chief Operating Officer at MMC.
Joan Wills, RN, MPA – Treasurer
Joan recently retired from RWJ Barnabas Health Monmouth Medical Center and as the regional assistant vice president for geriatrics and community health education. Her experience included implementing performance and patient satisfaction initiatives to improve quality. She is currently Chair Emeritus for the Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch and New Brunswick.
Richard Garlipp
Rick is a behavioral health professional with experience in multiple direct care and administrative roles in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He is currently the Vice President of Operations for Arrow Consulting, where his team of consultants assists start-ups in becoming organizations in the behavioral health space. Rick has been a member of the Long Branch Board of Education, the LB City Planning Board, and the LB Environmental Commission. He is actively involved in his local chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Rick is also a lifelong resident of Long Branch and a proud husband and father.
Michael Sirianni
Michael dedicated 14 of his 26 years at Monmouth County Vocation Schools, as the administrator of the Culinary Education Center. He also served on the Board of Education, the Zoning Board and two terms as Councilman for Long Branch. He has received several awards for his service to the community and for the education of the students of Long Branch. Michael is also a graduate of the Long Branch High School, Class of 1974. Born and raised in Long Branch he now resides in Ocean Township.
Joyce Quarles
Joyce graduated from the City University of New York with a degree in Science and Community Service. She also holds a degree as a Paralegal. She retired as a New York City Municipal Administrative Employee of OTB Field Operations. She has served in the past as the President of The Arc of Monmouth, where she currently is a member of the board of directors. Joyce is also a member of the Monmouth County Fair Housing Board.
Ms. Samantha Valega-Bouchoux
Samanta has worked with children and families for over twenty-five years in various settings from schools to residential treatment facilities. She has a degree in Psychology, a minor in Education from Rutgers University, and received her master’s in social work from New York University. She has completed a NYU Silver Post-Master’s Certificate in Advanced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and is trained in Jungian sand play therapy. She has worked with the LB School district since 2007 and currently works with the LBHS’s School Based Youth Services Program as a bilingual Mental Health Clinician. She takes pride in providing local families and students with the needed tools so they can manage their emotions and live a healthier and happier life.
Carmen Vega, MSW, LCSW
Carmen is an LCSW with over 35 years of Mental Health Counseling services. Currently she is a counselor and teaches yoga at Community Affairs & Resource Center of Asbury Park. Her career includes 25 years of service to the Long Branch public schools and a member and mentor through the NJ Leaders to Leaders program. Carmen finished her career at the LBPS as a principal. To this day, she continues to provide social, mental, and emotional support services to Long Branch and surrounding communities.
Ashley N. Gwathney
Ashley N. Gwathney is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified School Social Worker with a doctorate in social work from Rutgers University, where she also earned her master’s and bachelor’s degrees. Throughout her academic career, she has collaborated with the Joseph C. Cornwall Center for Metropolitan Studies, the New Jersey State Policy Lab, the New Jersey Scholarship Transformative Education Program, and Rural Pathways.
Christian A. Perez
Christian Perez was born and raised in Long Branch and currently serves as the Associate Director of Brookdale Community College’s Long Branch campus. With over ten years of experience as an adjunct professor of Political Science, Christian has worked with students of all ages and abilities throughout his career. He is passionate about helping students realize their potential and is committed to creating an environment where education is accessible and transformative for all. Christian firmly believes that access to quality healthcare and education is essential for building stronger, more equitable communities.