Dr. Abo, the long time chair of the Dept. of Surgery at St.Lukes/Warren, has been practicing for nearly 4 decades. Board-certified general surgeon, Dr. Abo specializes in treating patients who need gallbladder surgery, breast surgery, including breast cancer surgery, all types of hernia repair, appendectomies, and thyroid surgery. After thirty-five years in private practice, he joined the St. Luke’s University Health Network in July, 2014 to offer patients a team approach in the successful treatment of their surgical problems. Dr. Abo has been recognized with numerous awards over the years, including Doctor of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year. He is actively involved in his synagogue.

Marian Bredin

Marian Bredin, owner of Good Impressions in Washington for the past 41 years, has been a leader in her industry as one of the first female owners of a printing business in the United States. She has been actively been involved in various business organizations in the area, and nationally. Good Impressions has been serving the Greater Warren County area for many years, providing printing, mailing, and newsletters to thousands of people. She served on the WBID Board of Directors since its inception in 2003, until two years ago, and has been a devoted member of the Hackettstown Rotary. Marian, a long time Washington resident has additionally been very active on the non-profit front, helping many organizations in the  planning and execution of fundraising events. Some of these organizations include Hackettstown Hospital, Abilities of Northwest NJ, and ARC of Warren County. As the publisher of The Messenger of Hackettstown and Washington, she frequently runs press releases for non-profits seeking publicity.

The Rev. Dr. Frank L. Fowler, III

The Rev. Dr. Frank Fowler has been the Senior Pastor at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Hackettstown for 35 years. He is a native of Hackettstown, and Trinity was his home church as a young man. He earned a BA from West Virginia University and a Masters of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary, and earned a Ph.D. degree from New York University. He lives in Great Meadows with his wife Karen and together they have 5 daughters. Dr. Fowler is an ordained elder of the United Methodist Church and a clergy member of the Greater NJ Annual Conference of the UMC. With his leadership, his church has sponsored “mission trips” in the United States and Haiti, bringing goodwill to those in need. A leader of his church, Rev. Dr. Fowler is also considered a leader in the community at-large. Yet he will tell you that “I was born to be a minister. I am doing what I feel I was called to do.”

Dr. James Goodwin

A graduate of Lafayette  College & Temple University Medical School, Dr. Goodwin completed his residency at West Virginia Hospital in Morgantown. He is board certified in Family Practice and also certified by the American Board of Quality Assurance and Utilization Review Physicians. Dr. Goodwin worked at the Warren Hills Family Practice, recently affiliated with St. Luke’s Hospital Network, from 1984 until his retirement in June of 2016. Dr. Goodwin was instrumental in helping WCCC launch its Medical Assisting program to successfully obtain accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(CAAHEP) and simultaneous recognition from the American Association of Medical Assistants(AAMA). At that time, he was approved and graciously accepted the appointment as the volunteer medical  director for WCCC’s medical assisting program. He continues to serve in that capacity and as an active member of the program’s advisory board. Additionally, Dr. Goodwin participated as a clinical mentor to practicing medical assisting students rotating through their clinical externship practicum experience and was also instrumental in providing testimony to support the value of WCCC’s medical assisting program during the 2014 CAAHEP reaccreditation review visit.

William Staples

A nationally renowned Motivational  Speaker and Community Leader, Billy Staples is a successful teacher, sports coach, educational presenter, mentor, author and co-founder of B.E.S.T. Inc. (Building Education Support Teams), a non-profit organization that gives out scholarships to at-risk and needy young men and women.  He was twice nominated Disney National Teacher of the Year, named NAACP person of the year in 2007. He has also appeared in a CNN educational series highlighting the B.E.S.T. program along with two graduates from the program. “If I have a hobby, it is working with kids and their families struggling through circumstances, whether it’s school, tragedy, or in need of scholarship assistance,” he says. His always positive attitude, even in dire times, helps kids and families get through those rough patches.

Robert “Luke” Plenge

Robert Louis “Luke” Plenge, 89, longtime resident of Washington, passed away October 15, 2012 but his legacy lives on. “Luke” graduated from Belleville High School and attended the Air Corp College program at Winthrop College while serving in the US Army during World War II. After leaving the Army he joined the family business, Plenge Farm in Bellville, later moving to Asbury, NJ. They were vegetable farmers supplying top quality produce to city grocers. In 1959 he invested in a new bowling alley in Washington, Oakwood Lanes. He grew Oakwood Lanes from 16 to 26 lanes, then incorporated a full service restaurant, Sports Scene. Luke was passionate about basketball, gardening, golf, reading about history, and his family.

He once wrote that after buying his business he had achieved his dream: “a small business, in a small town and a family.” Luke was active in fostering youth sports in Washington. He introduced and taught countless boys and girls bowling. He was a member and former president of the Rotary Club of Washington.

The event, presented by the Warren County Community College Foundation, is open to the public.  Tables may be reserved. Proceeds from the event benefit students in need, as well as special programs at the college.