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.

BIANJ is a chartered state affiliate of the United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA), and together, united, we are inspiring hope and improving the lives of our citizens with brain injury.

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. View the Annual Report.

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Make a difference for people impacted by brain injury today.

Our Staff

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

Jennifer 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

Victoria Humphries
Communications Coordinator

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
Education and Development Coordinator

Rachel Ishak
Community Outreach Specialist

Kim Myers
Community Outreach Specialist

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

Amri Clowers
Support Coordinator

Heather Klouser
Support Coordinator

Rebecca Martin
Support Coordinator

Amber Navara, MSW
Support Coordinator

Shannon O’Donnell
Support Coordinator

Anna Slinsky
Support Coordinator

Sovann Stark
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

We’re here to help. Call 1-800-669-4323.