Celebrating Leadership, Community, and the Class of 2026
The Go-Go’s had it right. “See the people walking down the street, fall in line just watching all their feet…”
If you grew up with that song playing on the radio, you know exactly the feeling I’m talking about. It is the feeling of summer arriving. It is the feeling of school letting out. It is the feeling of possibility, excitement, and a little bit of pride mixed together. It is the feeling of knowing you’ve worked hard for something and finally reached the finish line.
Want to sing along? Check out the video recap here!
For most of us, graduation is something we associate with childhood. We think about kindergarten caps made from construction paper, high school commencement ceremonies held on football fields, and college graduations where families cheer from crowded bleachers. Somewhere along the way, we stop expecting graduation celebrations for adults. But perhaps we shouldn’t.
And why shouldn’t we? Because on a beautiful Tuesday evening in June, a remarkable group of Hunterdon County professionals reminded us that learning never stops, leadership never stops growing, and adults deserve a graduation celebration every bit as much as students do.
On June 16, 2026, under a sky so perfectly blue it looked painted, the Leadership Hunterdon Class of 2026 gathered at Stanton Ridge Golf & Country Club for the Fourteenth Commencement Exercises of Leadership Hunterdon. The afternoon felt like it had been custom ordered for the occasion. Bright sunshine washed across the rolling hills of the golf course. White clouds drifted lazily overhead like giant cotton balls floating across the horizon. The trees were fully green and the air was warm. It was one of those rare Hunterdon County evenings that reminds you exactly why so many people choose to call this place home.
Inside the clubhouse, friends, family members, colleagues, Chamber leaders, community supporters, and fellow graduates gathered with a shared sense of anticipation. Before the formal program began, conversations filled the room as graduates greeted one another like old friends. In many ways, they were. After nearly ten months together, they had spent countless hours learning, traveling throughout the county, exploring community issues, meeting local leaders, and gaining a deeper understanding of the place they serve.
At Family Promise of Hunterdon County, we often talk about the importance of community connections. We know that homelessness does not happen in a vacuum. Housing instability touches healthcare, education, employment, transportation, food security, mental health, childcare, and economic opportunity. Every challenge a family faces is connected to a larger network of systems and services. Likewise, every solution requires collaboration. That is precisely why Leadership Hunterdon matters.
Programs like Leadership Hunterdon create something that is increasingly rare and incredibly valuable: relationships between people who may work in completely different sectors but share a common commitment to strengthening Hunterdon County. Over the course of the program, participants learn not only about local government, healthcare, education, business, public safety, and human services, but about one another. Those relationships become bridges between organizations. Those bridges become partnerships. And those partnerships ultimately help residents throughout the county.
Looking around the room that evening, it was impossible not to notice how many of Hunterdon County’s most mission-driven organizations were represented among the graduates.
Check out some photos from the event here!
There was Prevention Resources, working tirelessly to prevent substance misuse and promote healthy communities through education and prevention initiatives. There was Raritan Valley Community College, opening doors to education and opportunity for students throughout our region. There was Hunterdon Health, caring for the physical and emotional well-being of thousands of residents every day. There was the Hunterdon County Clerk’s Office, providing essential public services that keep local government functioning effectively. There was Flemington Area Food Pantry, helping ensure that no neighbor goes hungry. There was Fisherman’s Mark, supporting families and individuals through some of life’s most challenging circumstances. And there was Family Promise of Hunterdon County, continuing our mission to prevent and end homelessness by helping families regain stability and build brighter futures.
Different missions… different offices… different expertise… but one county. One community. And one shared commitment to making Hunterdon County stronger.
The evening’s program was expertly guided by Christopher J. Phelan, President and CEO of the Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce. Anyone who has spent time around Chris knows that he possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of Hunterdon County and an obvious passion for its success. Throughout the Leadership Hunterdon program, he serves as something of a professor, historian, mentor, guide, and chief cheerleader all rolled into one. His enthusiasm for the county is contagious, and his commitment to cultivating future leaders was evident throughout the evening.
Opening remarks were delivered by Chamber leadership, including Chair Nicholas F. Pellitta a New Jersey attorney with Norris McLaughlin and Daniel J. Wright of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Together, they reflected on the importance of leadership, civic engagement, and the responsibility each graduate carries as they move forward in their careers and community service.
Karen Widico then welcomed the graduates and guests. She is the Chief Executive Officer of Prevention Resources and a longtime nonprofit leader in Hunterdon County who specializes in prevention and early intervention services, while also serving in key civic roles including co-facilitator of the Hunterdon Leadership program and Vice Chair of the Chamber Foundation. Karen has long been recognized throughout Hunterdon County for her dedication to community service and leadership development. Throughout the program, she helped guide participants through months of learning experiences, discussions, site visits, and relationship building. Her warmth and encouragement were evident throughout the evening and reflected the supportive environment that has become a hallmark of Leadership Hunterdon.
One of the most memorable moments of the evening came during the keynote address delivered by Hunterdon County Clerk Mary H. Melfi. While her remarks touched on leadership, public service, and personal growth, what resonated most deeply with many in attendance was her heartfelt recognition of one of her own team members and fellow graduate, Janice Slaby. Rather than simply celebrating Janice’s completion of the program, Mary spoke about her with genuine admiration and respect. She shared her confidence in Janice’s abilities, her appreciation for Janice’s dedication, and her belief in Janice’s future leadership potential. It was a beautiful moment of mentorship and professional affirmation. In a world where people are often quick to criticize and slow to praise, Mary’s public acknowledgment of Janice’s contributions felt especially meaningful. The warmth of her words filled the room and served as a reminder that one of the most powerful things a leader can do is help others recognize their own potential.
The Class Address was delivered by Tamara Jones of Raritan Valley Community College, selected by her classmates to represent the graduating class. Her remarks reflected the shared experiences of the group and the friendships that had developed over the previous ten months. She spoke about lessons learned, perspectives gained, and the deeper appreciation participants had developed for the organizations and people working every day to strengthen Hunterdon County. Her words captured something that everyone in the room seemed to understand… that while the program may have officially ended, the relationships forged through Leadership Hunterdon would continue long after graduation day.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. One by one, the graduates were presented.
- Jose Figueroa
- Dawn Hartfelder
- Moya Gallen
- Tamara Jones
- Navin Philips
- Lisa Vogt
- Janice Slaby
- Jenny Slotterback
- Ricardo Zapata
As each name was called, applause filled the room. Each graduate represented not only personal achievement but also an organization deeply invested in the future of Hunterdon County. Collectively, they represented healthcare, education, food security, prevention services, homelessness prevention, government, and community support. Together, they represented the very best of what collaborative leadership can look like.
For Family Promise of Hunterdon County, the evening carried an additional layer of meaning. Executive Director Julie Hanley joined in celebrating the occasion. Board members Brenda Jaffe, Marc Andrews, and Kyle Cuperwich were also there, demonstrating the kind of support and encouragement that makes Family Promise such a special organization. Seeing colleagues, friends, and board leadership gathered together to celebrate not just one graduate but the value of leadership itself was incredibly meaningful.
As the evening drew to a close, conversations continued long after the formal ceremony ended. People lingered. Photos were taken. Hugs were exchanged. New plans were discussed. Future collaborations were imagined. And perhaps that is the true purpose of Leadership Hunterdon.
While the certificates matter and the graduation matters… and certainly the celebration matters. But what matters the most? The connections! Because when organizations know one another, trust one another, and understand one another, the entire community benefits. Families facing homelessness benefit and the individuals struggling with food insecurity benefit. And we – collectively – be it a student, a patient, a senior, a business… we all, collectively as Hunterdon County benefit.
As the sun slowly began to set over Stanton Ridge and graduates headed home with certificates in hand, it was hard not to think again about that old Go-Go’s song. The beat wasn’t coming from a radio. It was coming from the people. The people who choose to serve and choose to lead. The people who choose to invest their time, talent, and energy into making this county better for everyone.
Hunterdon County has the beat.
And on June 16, 2026, the Leadership Hunterdon Class of 2026 reminded all of us exactly what that sounds like.
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- We posted The Beat video on our Facebook page, you can check that out here: Facebook/FamilyPromiseHunterdon
- “The Beat” video was posted by our very own: graduate and Communications Director, Dawn Hartfelder here: Instagram Reel “The Beat”
- Sign up for our newsletter: tinyurl.com/HunterdonNews
And remember, Hunterdon Promises… Together, we can help families overcome crisis and move forward with dignity, hope, and the support they deserve.
