International Institute of New Jersey
Board of Directors
Bill Armbruster has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Institute of New Jersey (IINJ) since November 2009. He originally joined the Board in 1996 and served his first terms as Chairman from 2000 to 2002.
Bill was born and raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey, and has been living in Jersey City since 1987. He currently works as a freelance writer for The Journal of Commerce, Cargo Business News and The Network Journal. He also writes a monthly blog on shipping and trade for The Datamyne. In the past he worked for Shipping Digest, The Journal of Commerce, and the U.S. China Business Council in Washington.
Bill lived in Taiwan for three years during the 1970s. While there, he studied Chinese, taught English as a second language, and worked as a freelance journalist. He graduated from Saint Peter’s College in 1971 with a B.A. in economics. He earned a Master’s Degree in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii, concentrating in modern Chinese history and politics. Bill did his graduate studies in Hawaii thanks to a grant from the East-West Center, a federally funded institution based in Honolulu that brings together researchers and students from Asia and the United States.
Besides his involvement with IINJ, Bill is a member of the Board of Regents of Saint Peter’s College. He also served for 10 years as Chairman of the New York Chapter of the East-West Center Association.
——————–
Helen Steblecki
Citi
Helen Steblecki has been State Director of Community Development for Citi (Citibank) in New Jersey since 2006 when the bank began to expand its retail branch presence in the State. She is responsible for ensuring that Citi fulfills its commitment to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of low- to moderate-income individuals and families in the communities where the bank has operations. Areas of focus for Citi in its support of low- to moderate-income individuals and communities include: ensuring access to financial education and asset building programs, strengthening neighborhood revitalization efforts, providing college preparatory initiatives, and fostering the spirit and success of small business entrepreneurs.
As part of the Citi Community Development North Atlantic team led by Regional Director, Theresa Hasson, Helen brings to New Jersey communities a vast array of resources from Citi. These include philanthropic funding, access to banking products and services, employee volunteer support, financial expertise and technical assistance, and leadership and capacity building development opportunities for nonprofits. Most notably, she has been instrumental in helping nonprofit service providers develop and implement financial education programs where a critical need existed.
Helen joined Citi in 1997 as a Senior Public Affairs Officer in the U.S. Consumer Bank managing client and media relations for the residential mortgage and small business operations, along with the Community Relations group. After three years, she was appointed Director of Communications for Citi’s Global Community Relations dedicated solely to raising awareness for Citi’s community outreach and environmental programs both here in the U.S. and around the world. During that time, she led Citi in becoming one of the first financial institutions in the world to produce a Global Corporate Citizenship Report.
Presently, Helen is the Secretary of the Board for Communities in Schools of New Jersey, the state affiliate of the nationally renowned high school dropout prevention organization. She also serves on a variety of committees with the New Jersey Coalition for Financial Education, the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, and the Housing and Community Development Network of New Jersey.
Prior to joining Citi, Helen held relationship management and communications positions at Viacom and the McGraw-Hill Companies, while at the latter helping to administer the company’s annual scholarship program for students at Morris High School in the Bronx. She began her professional career with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Director of Public Relations based in Newark.
Those who know Helen, know that she takes great pride in her home State of New Jersey and most especially in her hometown of Jersey City – where she was born and raised and attended Public School #5, St. Dominic’s Academy and received a Bachelor of Arts degree and Teaching Certification from New Jersey City University. She and her husband, Stephen Doyle, reside in Jersey City.
——————–
Geraldine Gillio is currently the Secretary of the Board of Directors of IINJ. She has been a member of the Board for over 30 years.
Geraldine was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ. She obtained her undergraduate education from Notre Dame College (Now St. John’s University) and Seton Hall University. After graduating, she taught history at Snyder High School in Jersey City. Then she joined the Peace Crops and taught English in Iran. Upon returning she attended New York University for graduate school, and went back to teach at Snyder High School.
She has also served for 30 years as a Board member of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of NJ, and for the last 3 years has served as a volunteer at Our Lady of Consolation Church.
——————–
Albert Nguidjol is currently the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of IINJ. He has been a member of the Board since 2007, the same year in which he received IINJ’s American Dream Award for his accomplishments.
Albert is originally from Cameroon. He has a Master’s Degree in Physical Education. Before he came to the US, he was a soccer player for the Cameroon National Team. He was Head Coach of many Division One teams, and Assistant General Secretary and Chair of the National and International Committee of the Cameroon Soccer Federation. Under his tenure, in 1998 Cameroon qualified for the World Cup in France, and in 2000 they won the African Cup of Nations in Lagos and the Olympic Gold Medal in Sydney.
Albert came to the US in 2001 with three things: his faith, his determination, and $60.00. His first job was at a carwash making $3.50 an hour. In 2004, after his foreign credentials evaluation, Albert passed the New Jersey Teachers License Certification Exam and found a full-time teaching position in the Newark Public School System. He is currently the Head Coach of a Boys Varsity Soccer Team and the Assistant Coach of a Boys Varsity Volleyball Team.
In addition to being a former American Dream honoree, Albert has received several other recognitions and honors. In 2006, he was deeply honored when he was ordained as an elder at his church in Newark. In 2007, the Universal Peace Federation recognized him as “Ambassador for Peace.” In 2009, he was recognized as “Soccer Coach of the Year” by the Star Ledger of Essex County. In 2010, he became an honorary member of the National Young Scholars Program.
——————
Fadia Joseph has been a member of the Board of Directors of IINJ since January of 2010.
Fadia is currently the director of the Public Policy Program at Saint Peter’s College. The program is an adult education program leading to a BS degree in Urban Studies. She has an MBA in International Business and Management, a BA in Urban Studies and Fine Arts, a Minor in French, an Associate in Applied Sciences degree in Public Policy and a certificate in Cross Cultural Training from Saint Peter’s College.
She co-moderates the Black Action Committee and Students of Caribbean Ancestry clubs at Saint Peter’s and is the moderator of the Haitian Student Association. Fadia spent a year in Conakry, Guinea, West Africa, as a volunteer for the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help. She served as a technical advisor with the National Equity Committee, working to promote education for girls and children in rural areas. In addition, she has done volunteer work locally and internationally in Haiti, Bahamas and Honduras. She is also a member of the Haiti Solidarity Network.
Fadia was recently elected the Community Representative for Zone 1 with Bergen Community United in Jersey City and re-elected as the Precinct Committee Person for Jersey City Ward B-District 5.