21 Oct ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO HOSTS ESSEX COUNTY ITALIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION Public Service Enterprise Group President & CEO Ralph A. LaRossa and CDM New York President Kristen Gengaro to be Honored as ‘Stellas della Contea di Essex’
Published on October 21, 2022
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. hosted the 2022 Essex County Italian American Heritage Month celebration on Friday, October 21st in the Essex County Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building. During the cultural event, DiVincenzo recognized Ralph A. LaRossa, President and Chief Executive Officer of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., and Kristen Gengaro, President of CDM New York, as “Stellas della Contea di Essex” (Stars of Essex County). The honor recognizes them for their commitment to improving the lives of all residents and their community involvement.
“Our celebration is an opportunity to recognize the contributions that Italian-Americans have made to the history and culture of Essex County. Today, we are honoring two proud Italian Americans who have positively impacted our world and our County,” DiVincenzo said. “Ralph LaRossa and Kristen Gengaro each have made an impact on their communities and have continuously improved the quality of life for our residents,” he added.
Ralph A. LaRossa is president and chief executive officer of Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. and a member of the PSEG board of directors and chair of the PSE&G board. He will become chair of the PSEG board on January 1, 2023. Previously LaRossa was chief operating officer of PSEG from January 2020 until September 2022, and president and COO of PSEG Power from June 2017 until September 2022. In his role as PSEG COO, he was responsible for overseeing all of the operating businesses of PSEG, including Public Service Electric & Gas Company, PSEG Long Island, PSEG Power and PSEG Services Corp. functions, information technology and cyber and physical security. In addition, LaRossa was chair of the board of PSEG Long Island from December 2020 until September 2022 and from October 2013 until 2017. From 2006 until 2017, LaRossa served as president and COO of PSE&G. He joined PSE&G in 1985 as an associate engineer and advanced through a variety of management positions in the utility’s gas and electric operations.
LaRossa is chair of Choose New Jersey and serves on its board. He is a member of the board for Montclair State University and the Electric Sector Coordinating Council, an honorary trustee of the Liberty Science Center, the past chair of the American Gas Association and past member of the board for the New Jersey Utilities Association and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. LaRossa is the recipient of the Rutgers Heldrich Center for Workforce Development Distinguished Leadership Award.
“There are a few times in life when things really come together and today is one of those days,” LaRossa said. “Joe, what you have done throughout this county is amazing. The things you have accomplished and this building that you opened, you can’t put into words. PSE&G is proud to have our company based in Essex County,” LaRossa said.
Kristen Gengaro is president of CDM New York, where she has responsibility for providing overall leadership for internal teams, clients, and the external marketplace. She has a BA in Biology and a BS in History of Science in Medicine from Yale University.
During her 18-year career, Kristen has worked in three functional disciplines, namely professional promotion, digital strategy, and medical education. This well-rounded background has allowed her to serve clients in a global brand stewardship role, building strong relationships with partner agencies and putting the brand first in all engagements. In 2016, she was in the inaugural class of the MM&M Hall of Femme, which honored the most senior female leaders throughout the healthcare industry who have made an impact in marketing and communications in the past year.
Her brand leadership experience ranges from launching first-in-class products and marketing in specialty categories to positioning late-entrant products and exploring differentiation for parity agents. Her launch experience includes Sovaldi and Harvoni for HCV, both of which shattered records for pharmaceutical launch performance. Prior to her tenure in pharmaceutical marketing, she worked as a research scientist with a focus on endocrinology.
Gengaro is personally and professionally committed to organizations that sustain the promise of improved health for individuals, families, and the larger community. She is involved in numerous alumni committees and charitable organizations and is especially proud of her work in Rwanda with Komera, a nonprofit dedicated to building self-confident women through education, community, and sport.
“It is an incredible honor to be here. My softball career ended a long time ago, but there are important lessons I learned from all those wins and losses, I remember the generosity of my coaches and the friendships that were formed,” Gengaro said. “I remember being this scrappy kid from Bloomfield and thank everyone for helping me achieve my dreams,” she added.
Father Edwin D. Leahy, St. Benedict’s Preparatory School Headmaster gave the invocation. Stella Crispo performed during the musical interlude.
The Essex County Italian Heritage Celebration is part of a yearlong series of programs initiated by County Executive DiVincenzo to raise awareness about and celebrate the diversity of Essex County.