plan | NJ :: Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of New Jersey

As the executive director of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of NJ (PLAN/NJ), Ellen Nalven, M Ed. educates families on the importance of future life planning to promote independent living and quality of life for individuals with disabilities. In this role she serves as legal Guardian and Trustee for Special Needs Trusts and oversees the delivery of case management and family support services. Previously, she served on the faculty of the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, as director of employment services for Our House, Inc., and as a program consultant for the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities. Ellen earned a master's degree in education and a post master's certificate in psychiatric rehabilitation. She holds dual teaching degrees and is certified to teach individuals with disabilities and people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Ellen has received national recognition for her work in employment for people with a variety of disabilities. In 2003 she received the Rebecca S. Mc Donald Award for courageous, tenacious, visionary leadership and the 2009 Co-Founder Award from NJAPSE: The NJ Association for Persons in Supported Employment.

Annette Backs, MSW, LCSW, CPRP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where she teaches undergraduate and graduate programs. Ms. Backs has extensive experience in curriculum development, and as an interactive staff trainer and consultant in state hospitals, community mental health centers, and residential facilities in Illinois and New Jersey. An educator since 1983, Ms. Backs has taught in secondary, undergraduate and graduate programs, and developed and conducted training nationwide. She has also consulted nationally to assist social service and mental health programs in their development of program evaluation plans and outcome-based program planning.

Linda Buch earned a BS in Nursing from Trenton State College in 1974. She was in the nursing field for a number of years serving as a visiting nurse with Overlook Hospital's Hospice division and rising to the ranks of Head Nurse at St. Peter's Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Linda now spends a great deal of her time aiding in the care of her father-in-law who is severely disabled as a result of progressive Alzheimer's disease. Setting an excellent example, Linda has also encouraged her sons to be aware of the needs of others and they are often in attendance with her at their grandfather's side. Linda is married to Ray Buch who is a physician. They have been married for 31 years and reside with their sons Chris and Tom in Pittstown, New Jersey.

Bruce is currently Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Compliance for Medidata Solutions, Inc., a technology company which helps pharmaceutical companies optimize their development efforts. Bruce also serves on the Board of Directors for Orchid Cellmark, a DNA testing company. He previously served as CFO for two other public companies: DoubleClick, an internet advertising company; and BISYS, a provider of back office services to financial institutions. Bruce started his career with Prudential where he held a variety of roles over a 14-year period. Bruce graduated with honors from Ursinus College where he received a BA in English Literature; Georgia Tech where he received a BS degree in Industrial Engineering, and Columbia University where he earned his MBA. Bruce lives in Warren with his wife Mary, who is a yoga instructor. His daughter Suzanne attends Drew University. His son Matt lives in a home managed by Life Skills Resource Center, and attends a day program in the same building as PLAN/NJ. In addition to serving on PLAN/NJ's Board of Directors, Bruce has volunteered his expertise for several organizations including Our House Inc., a group home and supported employment provider, and Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art. He has served as Board Chairman for both organizations. He also served on the President's Council on Employment of People with Disabilities.

Goldie earned a B.S. in Special Education from CCNY and the Master's Degree in Public Administration from Rider College. With over forty years in the developmental disability field, her specialty is in program development and administration. Goldie served as Assistant Director, NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities, providing oversight for residential and activity programs, family support, case management and budgets. She is now a Program Development Consultant assisting schools, agencies and individuals. She knows DD laws and policies and has testified before NJ legislative committees. Goldie served on the Boards of the Center for Humanistic Change and Jewish Services for DD. Goldie and her husband, David, are familiar with the needs of a family member with a developmental disability.

Elizabeth earned her M.A. with a major in nursing from New York University. She received her B.S. from Wagner College on Staten Island. For nearly thirty years she has been involved in the medical field in the direct delivery of services as an RN and in a number of management and advisory positions. She has been employed with the John F. Kennedy Medical Center as Assistant Director of Personnel, Garden State Medical Group as a Nurse Educator, MasterCare Companies, Inc. as Manager of Human Resources, Our House, Inc. as Wellness Coordinator, and most recently with Clark Nursing and Rehabilitation Center as an External Case Manager. In her current position Elizabeth evaluates patients for sub-acute rehabilitation and long term care. With a family member who has special needs, Elizabeth is keenly aware of the challenges families sometimes face when endeavoring to plan for the future of their loved one with a disability. Elizabeth resides in Westfield, NJ with her husband and daughter.

Susan, Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Attorney and by the National Elder Law Foundation, an approved ABA organization, as an Elder Law Attorney, is a Member of the firm of Goldring & Edwards, L.L.C. with offices in Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Her practice focuses on matrimonial law, elder and disability law, estate planning and probate. An active member on the New Jersey State Bar Association, Ms Goldring is a past Trustee of the NJSBA, a past Chair of the NJSBA Legislative Committee, a member of the NJSBA Family Law Section Executive Committee, a member of the NJSBA Elder Law Section and a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. She is a recipient of the 1998 Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law and the 1996 Distinguished Legislative Service Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association. Ms. Goldring received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin. She received her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law-Newark.

Herbert D. Hinkle has represented people with disabilities and the elderly continuously since 1974. He served as Director of the New Jersey Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled for 10 years. Mr. Hinkle has served on the Board of Directors for a variety of non-profit organizations, including United Cerebral Palsy Associations, the Arc of New Jersey, COSAC, Easter Seals, the Alzheimer's Association and NAMI NJ. He has argued precedent-setting disability rights cases in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including five cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court. Mr. Hinkle has been a consultant to Rutgers University's Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and the New Jersey Commission on Bioethics and is a widely published author and lecturer. His work has been cited in the Wall Street Journal. He holds a JD from Rutgers University and a Masters in Taxation from Temple University. He is a member of the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bar, the Association of American Trial Lawyers, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

Beth was admitted to the New Jersey Bar and the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey in 1995. She earned a B.A., cum laude, in Politics with a minor in Spanish, from Brandeis University in 1992. At Brandeis, Beth was honored with the David Alexander '79 Memorial Award for Social Consciousness and Activism and the Richard Kaufman '58 Memorial Prize for Leadership and Academic Excellence. She was also inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science National Honor Society. Beth earned a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 1994. While at Michigan, she was on the Environmental Moot Court Team, won the award of Best Oralist in 1993, and was the Coordinating Editor of Production of the Michigan Journal of Gender and Law. Beth was named one of the Metro West Jewish News' "Forty Under Forty" for 2003. Beth's practice concentrates in Estate Planning, Elder and Disability Law and Consumer Rights; she is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Elder and Disability Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Consumer Protection Committee, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the National Association of Consumer Advocates. She is also a member of the Women's Political Caucus, Women Advocating Good Government and the Women's Fund of New Jersey, which is an organization that raises money for charities benefiting women and girls in New Jersey. Beth was recently elected to the Township Committee in Springfield, New Jersey.

Michael earned a Bachelor's degree from Rutgers University. Prior to entering the field of development, he worked for twenty-three years as a mortgage banker. Michael brings a wealth of fundraising expertise to the table with more than fifteen years of facilitating gifts to support higher education. His most recent appointment was Director of Gift Planning at Stevens Institute of Technology. Formerly of Plainfield, Michael lives in Colonia and is the parent of two sons, one of which has developmental disabilities.

Sarah graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She is the former Chief Executive Officer of New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc. (NJP&A), a private nonprofit agency providing legal representation and advocacy services charged with protecting the legal, civil and human rights of people with disabilities. During her tenure there she led the transition of New Jersey's protection and advocacy (P&A) system for people with disabilities from the public sector to the private sector and the growth and expansion of her agency from five programs implemented by a staff of seven, to nine programs with a staff of 50. Sarah established extensive staff development and training programs while setting quality assurance standards for her agency and consumer advisories. Sarah also ensured racial, ethnic, gender and disability diversity of her agency's Board of Directors.

Sarah has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the fields of law, healthcare and social work. Among her numerous accomplishments, Sarah had the distinction of being appointed by President Bill Clinton as the first Chair of the TWWIIA Advisory Panel to assist and advise the Commissioner of Social Security and the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding the federal work incentives program. In that capacity she testified before Congress and reported annually to the Commissioner of SSA, Congress and the President. She has served as an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University School of Social Work, President of the National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems, and Assistant Dean at Rutgers University School of Law.

Peter received his BS degree in Accounting from St. Peter's College and is a certified public accountant in New Jersey. Having started his career with Ernst & Ernst (now Ernst and Young) and joined the hospital division of CR Bard, Inc. as a financial analyst. He held several positions at CR Bard, Inc. including Controller, and Vice President of Acquisitions. In 1988 he left Bard to establish Byram Healthcare Centers, Inc. where he worked until 2002. He is now a self employed consultant and legal expert in the field of home medical supply distribution. Peter has also developed a consulting business focused on non-profit organizations and donates a great deal of his time to help disabled adults. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Allies Inc., a company dedicated to providing housing, jobs and recreation to disabled adults in the community and a member of the Midland School Board. He is also a member of and past chairman of Regional Family Support Planning Council #3. Peter resides with his wife Judy in Far Hills and they are the parents of two disabled young adults.

Regina earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany and an Master's in Library Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Regina has served on many New Jersey councils to support individuals with disabilities. She worked on the New Jersey Family Support Council #3 for seven years and was Chair of the council for three of those years. Regina is past president of the Midland School Parents’ Association and a member of the Midland Alumni Association. She previously served on the board of directors of Our House, Inc. Regina worked on the New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities Real Life Choices committee and is currently a member of the Division's Independent Supports Conference Spring 2011 committee. Through her many years of involvement with both federally-funded and state-sponsored councils, Regina brings a wealth of knowledge about the current state of services that are available for individuals with disabilities in New Jersey. Regina's current charge is to change legislation pertaining to Medicaid reimbursement to the state Division of Developmental Disabilities.

Regina and husband John, a scientist and global research manager for a pharmaceutical company, have two children. Their daughter teaches English as a second language in Chengdu, China. Their son lives at home and attends the Midland Adult Program. He enjoys going out with many supports through the Real Life Choices budget. With the help and support of family, Regina strives to promote advocacy and assistance for people with disabilities living in the community.

Michele earned a B.S. from the University of Maryland where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She later earned a Master's Degree in Social Work from Rutgers. Michele began her career with ARC of Montgomery County where she served as Program Coordinator for their Apartment Program and as a Co-residential Counselor. Furthering her experience serving those with special needs, Michele held positions with the Easter Seals Society of Raritan Valley, the Division of Developmental Disabilities in Trenton, NJ, and ARC of Union County.

Michele is currently the Executive Director of Our House, Inc. in Murray Hill, NJ. In this position Michele has responsibility for an agency which provides a variety of residential, employment and recreational services to a population which is impacted by the special needs of those with disabilities and/or mental illness. She provides direct supervision to program directors and oversees 100 staff persons. Michele is also directly responsible for all aspects of fiscal planning and operations, as well as directing the fundraising efforts of the Our House Foundation. Michele resides in Bridgewater, NJ with her husband Don and their family of seven children.