About

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Donelson was employed for over thirty seven years at DuPont Chemicals; the last twenty four years in management and Human Resources. Since 1995, he has been the Project Director for the Salem County School to Careers Initiative. This is the oldest continuous School-to-Careers Initiative in New Jersey. In addition, since 2000, he has been the Executive Director of the Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center.

While at DuPont, Mr. Donelson was a co-founder in 1989 of the Educators and DuPont Partners in Science. This is a partnership with DuPont and the educational community in Salem County. In 1989, Mr. Donelson received the outstanding volunteer award in the business category from the National Association of Partners in Education (NAPE), Arlington Virginia, selected from sixteen thousand business volunteer nominations submitted. Mr. Donelson was nominated for this award by the Penns Grove-Carneys Point regional school district.

Currently Mr. Donelson is the President of the Board of Directors of the ARC of Salem County; Co-Chair of Board A of the Child Placement Review Board in Salem County (Vicinage XV Judiciary). Member of the Cumberland/Salem Workforce Investment Board (WIB); Pennsville Township Planning Board; Salem County Youth Services Commission; Salem County Mental Health Board; and the Salem County Children’s Health and Welfare Advisory Council.

Mr. Donelson is a graduate of Rowan University and served in the New Jersey National Guard and was honorably discharged as an E-6 Staff Sergeant.

Senior VP Planning Development

Mr. Wood is responsible of program design, evaluation and resource development at Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center.

Mr. Wood retired from Cornell University after thirty two years of service. His service was focused in education, workforce development, and youth development. Mr. Wood has degrees from Cornell University, University of Delaware, and course work from Harvard University.

Mr. Wood was involved in developing Youth Apprenticeship, School to Careers and Workforce Investment Act legislation. He was a consultant in forming the National Center for Workforce Development in Washington, DE. During his tenure at Cornell, he was involved in developing several cutting edge programs involving curriculum and program.

Mr. Wood has been a workforce consultant to several well known businesses including Honda-North America, Ford Motor Company, Rubbermaid, Monsanto, Ralston Purina and others. Mr. Wood has also worked extensively with several major institutions in the food, hospitality, health care, and manufacturing sectors. Mr. Wood has international experience in youth apprenticeship programs in Europe and implemented one of the first youth apprentice programs in the United States as part of a Cornell University research project. Mr. Wood works closely with many universities in the Mid-Atlantic region.

M. Wood has extensive grant writing experience and has raised over twenty million dollars over his work career for various programs. Currently, he writes grants and contracts for the Mid- Atlantic States Career and Education Center and others.

Currently, Mr. Wood is working extensively with mentoring, workforce development, and youth development program development with the Mid Atlantic States Career and Education Center and his own consulting firm, Wood Associates. Mr. Wood is currently designing and implementing Green Energy Job Training Programs for youth and adults in the Mid Atlantic area.

Vice-President, Projects and Media

Mr. Jeff Truax serves as the Vice-President of Projects and Media for Mid Atlantic States Career and Education Center.  With over 25 years of hands on experience and extensive knowledge in the construction field, Jeff has been a member of the International Bricklayers and Allied Craftsman Union. In 2005, Jeff was the recipient of the Golden Trowel Award for his theme work, re-planning, and constructing the Tropicana Resort Hotel and Casino for the Quarter Expansion Project.  Throughout the years, Jeff has worked closely with the Casino ReDevelopment Association (CRDA) facilitating renovations and rebuilding casinos in Atlantic City, NJ.  In addition, Jeff has constructed both commercial facilities and residential establishments throughout Atlantic County and the surrounding counties.

Currently, Jeff is overseeing and completing renovations for enhancement use on multiple projects as well as organizing future projects for Mid Atlantic States Career and Education Center.  As a National Certified Fork Lift Trainer, Jeff will be using his experience to train others.  Jeff will be utilizing his constitution knowledge to train others.  Aside from being the Vice-President of Projects, Jeff has assumed the responsibility of all media and website projects.

Vice President, Operations

Dave Zeck serves as Director of Specialized Programs at the Oak St. Center for Mid-Atlantic States Career and Education Center. His extensive experience in management, particularly in the industrial field enables him to bring much first-hand knowledge to the clients in the program.

Dave graduated from Rowan University (formerly Glassboro State College) in 1983 with a B.S. degree in Industrial Management. He was employed by Southco, Inc., in Concordville, PA, for 24 years as a production manager before his employment at Sony, Inc., Pitman, NJ, as a printing supervisor.

Dave is also very active in his community. He was elected to serve on the Upper Pittsgrove School Board, and is a member of the Elmer United Methodist Church, currently serving as president of the Board of Trustees. He also served as a Sunday school teacher and youth leader in the church.

He was also recently elected to the township committee of Upper Pittsgrove and he is in his 17th year of service as member of the Board of Directors of the ARC of Salem County, currently the president of that board. He is on the Salem County Open Space Board.

He is also a former Cub Scout leader and girls softball coach of the Elmer Little League.

He enjoys farming his 52 acres, has applied for farmland preservation, and is a strong supporter of the Township’s efforts to protect its agricultural character.  He also enjoys camping, hunting and fishing, and the Jersey shore with his family.

A resident of Upper Pittsgrove Township since 1986, Dave has been married for 30 years to his wife, Sharon. They have three children, Laura, David Jr. and Brenda.

THE COMPANY

• Incorporated in 2009 as a New Jersey non-profit 501c3, currently staffed with forty three (43) employees
• Serving Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, Cape May, Mercer, Monmouth & Ocean Counties

PROGRAMS

Job Readiness/Job Placement

• Job skills and job placement programs since 2001 for clients on public assistance
• Salem, Gloucester and Burlington County locations, total of over 3700 job placements to date

Parolee Employment Placement Program

• Job skills and job placement program since 2011 for parolees currently under supervision
• Program expanded in 2014 to Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Ocean, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties. Eight hundred Seventy (870) job placements to date

Youth Programs

• Salem and Burlington Counties – career exploration and mentoring
• Salem City “We Grow Stars” After School Youth Program

Programs in Correctional Facilities

• Gloucester County from 2011 to May 2013
• Salem County from 2011 to present
• Camden County since January 2015
• Fairton and Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institutions since 2013
• Burlington County Probation since 2012

Specialized Training

• Nationally Recognized Certification Programs in Food Safety, Microsoft ,and Forklift Operation
• High School Equivalency Test Administrator approved by the New Jersey Department of Education

New Options Farm™

• Mannington Township, Salem County
• Sustainable hydroponic greenhouse operation staffed by the disabled
• First of six greenhouses to be functional in spring of 2016

Transportation

• Three shift coverage to Pureland, Commodore, Gateway Industrial Parks and the Clara Barton and John Fenwick Service Areas on the New Jersey Turnpi9ke

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Expungements, Fulfillment Center Operation

PARTNERSHIPS

Employers, Judiciary, School Districts, Freeholders, Workforce Development Boards Faith Based Organizations, Non-Profits

Future Focus

Veterans and the Disabled, Re-entry Program Expansion