Our Story
Our Mission
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for anyone impacted by brain injury by providing support, advocacy, and information, while promoting brain injury prevention.
Our Vision
Our vision is a world where all individuals with brain injury and their caregivers maximize their quality of life, the consequences of all unavoidable brain injuries are minimized and all preventable brain injuries are prevented.
Since being founded in 1981 by a small group of concerned parents of children who had sustained brain injury, we’ve grown to become the primary source of information, education, advocacy, support, and hope for people with brain injury and their families in New Jersey. Today, our dedicated staff, board, volunteers, donors, and community partners provide service to 10,000 New Jersey residents each year.
Make a difference for people impacted by brain injury today.
Helpline: 1-800-669-4323
Email: info@bianj.org
Main Office: 732- 745-0200
Wendy Berk, MSW, LCSW
Chief Executive Officer
Rita Steindlberger
Chief Strategy Officer
Administrative
Lamyra Clarke-White
Director of Development
Jen Suresh
Director of Operations
Kasey McNulty
Program Assistant
Kris Hopwood
Technology Coordinator
Sakina Ladha, MD, MPH
Project Director
Finance
Naomi Torres-Fernandez
Director of Finance
Susan Gerringer
Senior Finance/Contract Associate
Shilpa Verma
Accounts Payable/Receivable Specialist
Gisela Rutch
Finance Consultant
Communications
Sara Britton
Communications Manager
Education
and Outreach
Barbara Chabner, PsyD
Director of Education and Outreach
Kate O’Connor, MPH, CHES
Director of Public Health and Safety
Debbie Aidelman, MS
Community Outreach Specialist
Kim Straniero
Director of TREK, Community Outreach Specialist
Rachel Ishak
Assistant Director of TREK
Susan Quick, CBIS
Public Education Coordinator
Noelle Santos
Public Education Coordinator
Delmy Cruz
Public Education Coordinator
Katie Law
Public Education Coordinator
Advocacy
Tom Grady, MPA, DTM
Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs
Support Coordination
Nicole DeLorenzo, MS
Co-Director of Support Coordination
Kara Francis
Co-Director of Support Coordination
Susanna Agyare
Support Coordinator
Heather Klouser
Support Coordinator
Ken Leeder
Support Coordinator
Rebecca Martin
Support Coordinator
Amber Navara, MSW
Support Coordinator
Shannon O’Donnell
Support Coordinator
Anna Slinsky
Support Coordinator
Allison Waller
Support Coordinator
Yamilec Pardo
Support Coordinator
Kim Pedersen
Support Coordination Supervisor
CARES/Helpline/
Support Services
Elizabeth Van Roten, MSW, LCSW
Director of Support Services
Stacy Lyons, CBIS
Manager of Support Services
Katie Colandrea
Community Resource Specialist
Valerie Farrow
Community Resource Specialist
Lorraine Ferreira
Community Resource Specialist
Bianca Rodriguez
Community Resource Specialist
Nikki Darling
Community Outreach Specialist