EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
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Sean HebbonPresident
Captain, Franklin Township Police Department (Ret.) Sean Hebbon is a retired member of the Franklin Township Police Department, having concluded a distinguished 29-year career in public service in 2024. He retired at the rank of Captain and Officer-in-Charge, where he was recognized for his leadership, integrity, and commitment to community-centered policing. Throughout his career, Sean actively served on numerous programs and committees within Franklin Township and Somerset County, including the Youth Services Commission, Human Relations Committee, Franklin Youth Initiative, Somerset County Juvenile Officers Association, and Somerset County JDAI. He has also been a dedicated member of the Martin Luther King Scholarship Breakfast Committee since 2001, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to youth development and educational equity. Sean earned a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Africana Studies from Rutgers University and holds a Master’s degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Prior to entering law enforcement, he was a certified elementary school teacher with the New Brunswick Public School District, further reflecting his lifelong dedication to education, mentorship, and public service. |
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Gary Rosenthal1st Vice-President
Chair, Human Relations Commission Gary retired as a Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at the Brunswick Bank & Trust Company, New Brunswick, New Jersey, having been in the banking profession since 1956. He has resided in Somerset, New Jersey since 1969. He serves on the Zoning Board and is Chairman of the Human Relations Commission. He has three children, ten grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren. |
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Dr. Sheila Tabanli
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Sonja AsanteSecretary
First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens Sonja Asante was born and raised in Bermuda and later earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Seton Hall University. She retired in 2022 after 33 years of distinguished service with the New Jersey Judiciary, where she held multiple leadership roles within the probation and criminal divisions, culminating as Chief Probation Officer. Throughout her career, she was known for her leadership, compassion, and commitment to strengthening communities. Even in retirement, Sonja’s passion for service remains unwavering. She currently chairs the Middlesex County Local Advisory Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and serves on the Middlesex Campaign to End Stigma Committee. She also contributes her expertise as a board member for the Franklin Food Bank and the Apex Solutions Foundation, and is a proud Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. A faithful member of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens since 1993, Sonja has served in multiple ministries, co-chaired milestone celebrations, and supported countless outreach efforts. In 2025 She was ordained as a member of the Diaconate Ministry. She believes that every experience in her life has prepared her to serve others more fully, a calling she is honored to embrace through these organizations, and as a member of the Franklin Township Dr. Martin Luther King Community Foundation Board of Trustees. Sonja is joyfully married, with one son. In this new season of life, Sonja and her husband find joy in traveling and giving back to their communities in New Jersey, Bermuda, and Ghana. |
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Alice OsipowitzTreasurer
Retired, Director of Parks & Recreation Alice was the Director of the Franklin Township Department of Parks & Recreation from 1977 to 2020. As a graduate of Franklin High School and Montclair University, she was dedicated to improving the quality of life through leisure services for Franklin for 43 years. Alice has also served as the Chairperson for the Municipal Alliance for the Prevention of Substance Abuse and the Youth Service Commission, and she worked with a broad base of community representatives to enhance services targeted at reducing juvenile delinquency and illegal substance abuse. Alice has proudly served on the FTMLK Breakfast Committee and Foundation for 25 years and is committed to promoting diversity and keeping Martin Luther Kings dream alive through the efforts of the Foundation in support of the youth of Franklin Township. |
TRUSTEES
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Meher Pervaaz-RafiqTrustee
Banker Franklin Township Planning Board Franklin Township Board of Education Meher Pervaaz-Rafiq has been a Franklin Township resident since 1986 and has been involved with the Franklin Township Martin Luther King Foundation since its early years. She was invited to join the newly formed organization in 1999 by Eva Nagy, one of the founders of the Foundation and then President of the Franklin Township Board of Education. Meher has served as a Trustee since that time and held the role of Treasurer. Meher is guided by values of respect, inclusiveness, civic stewardship and leadership, and a belief in building strong, connected communities. She serves on several local boards, volunteers as an ESL teacher, mentors small businesses, promotes financial literacy, and is active in women-based initiatives. Meher serves on the Franklin Township Planning Board and was elected to the Franklin Township Board of Education. She is a graduate of the City University of New York, serving professionally as a formally credit-trained Sr. Vice President in Commercial & Community Lending. Meher is a proud parent of three accomplished children and the devoted human of two rescue kitties - both roles calling for patience, perspective, and a good sense of humor. She enjoys traveling and gardening, especially growing green chillies and mint for homemade chutney. |
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Rabbi Eli GarfinkelTrustee
Temple Beth El Rabbi Eli L. Garfinkel was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1999. After receiving rabbinic ordination, he served as an assistant rabbi in Toronto and Cincinnati. In 2005, he became the spiritual leader of Temple Beth El in Somerset, New Jersey, where he has started an annual Jewish film festival, organized communal Passover seders, and taught popular adult education courses. He is a past president of the New Jersey Rabbinical Assembly. He is the author the JPS Jewish Heritage Torah Commentary, as well as commentaries designed for younger people that are used throughout the Ramah network of Jewish summer camps. Rabbi Garfinkel and his wife, Naomi Lasky, are the proud parents of their twins, Sari and Josh. |
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Dr. Ron PoustchiTrustee
Baha'i Community of Franklin Township Dr. Enayat Ron Poustchi has a doctorate in chemical engineering with over 30 years of experience in environmental compliance. He is a member of the Baha’i Faith and has supported and participated in the Franklin Township Dr. Martin Luther King Programs from the very beginning. He is a resident of Franklin Township for over 30 years and with his wife Rana Poustchi have raised their daughters Dr. Yasmin Poustchi and Dr. Shirin Poustchi through Franklin Township Schools to serve humanity. He has been supportive of Dr. King’s vision of unity among races, which is very much in line with Baha’i Faith’s teachings of oneness of humanity and elimination of all kinds of prejudices. He is also one of the founding members of the Franklin Township Interfaith Council.
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Dr. Jade Gittens-HebbonTrustee
Podiatrist, Premier Foot & Ankle Center Dr. Jade Gittens-Hebbon completed her undergraduate degree in the honors program from Montclair State University in New Jersey. She majored in biology and minored in chemistry. Dr. Gittens was then accepted into the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, where she earned her doctor of podiatric medicine degree.
Dr. Gittens is board certified through the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, as well as the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. She is also a diplomate of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. Dr. Gittens has been in private practice over 10 years. She is the owner of her own private practice, Premier Foot and Ankle Center, in Somerset, NJ, |
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Bill GrippoTrustee
Retired Principal of Franklin Public Schools Franklin Township Board of Education Bill Grippo has been a resident of Franklin Township since 1977 when he was hired by the Franklin Board of Education in October of 1977 as Director of Adult/Community Education and Principal of the first Adult High School.
Since then, he has held a number of administrative positions in the school district and spent his entire administrative career in Franklin Township. After several years in Central Office, he held Principal positions in Conerly Road School, SGS School and most recently retired from MacAfee Road School after 42 years of service in the school district. Besides his educational career Bill has served on numerous township committees, held political positions as a Councilman and Deputy Mayor and most recently (currently 2022-) as a member of the Franklin Township Board of Education. Bill is widely recognized by the community having received many awards for his public and volunteer service. Bill was the charter president of the Franklin Township Rotary Club and was named Man of the Year by the Chamber of Commerce in 1986. Accomplishments spanned from developing campaigns to fund the township’s July 4th Fireworks, raising funds for MDA and for the needy, spearheading the building and funding for the Villagers Theater, the Franklin Food Bank donor campaign and most recently during 2019 conceiving and initiating a campaign to construct Franklin’s first performance Gazebo on DeMott Lane, Somerset. Bill’s interest and passion for bringing a YMCA into Franklin Township recently (April, 2022) was awarded the YMCA Spirit Award at their Annual Campaign Ceremony for his commitment as Task Force Chairman. Bill is a proud Board of Trustee Member of the Franklin Township Martin Luther King Foundation and the values for which it represents. |
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Sami ShabanTrustee
Attorney / Business Community Sami is a practicing attorney with over ten years of experience counseling businesses and nonprofit institutions on corporate, commercial, franchise law, and business immigration. Prior to law, Sami worked for the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, on their core management team as the chief of staff to the CEO/CIO. Prior to this position, Sami provided management consulting to a variety of institutions including Bank of America, Credit Suisse, Ernst & Young, and AT&T. Sami also serves in a number of leadership positions in various local and national non-profit institutions.
Sami is also a multi-unit franchisee of The Halal Guys, a fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant famous for pioneering American halal food. Sami is the founder and CEO of Bare Naked Bowl, a make-your-own superfood and smoothie bar. Sami earned his B.A. from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, and his M.A. from the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Harvard University. He is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey. |
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Telia BennettTrustee
Assistant Principal- Columbia High School Telia is a mother of two. She holds an Ed.S. in Education Leadership, Management & Policy from Seton Hall University and a Marketing MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In addition, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Seton Hall University’s English MA program. She also holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in English Literature and Psychology from Rutgers University. She is currently an Assistant Principal in the South Orange Maplewood school district, and she teaches writing courses at Raritan Valley Community College. In the past, she has taught English at the middle school, high school, Advanced Placement, and undergraduate levels. Telia is a long standing Franklin Township resident and formerly served as an educator in the township. She serves the community in various capacities through her role as an educator, tutor, advocate, and member of American MENSA.
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Regina ClarkTrustee
Associate Professor Franklin Township School Parent Regina Cash-Clark is a writer and associate professor based in Somerset, New Jersey. She previously served on the editorial staff of ESSENCE magazine and has worked as a copywriter and freelance editor. Now in academia, she has taught various elements of the craft of writing at Ramapo College for over 20 years. Also a wife and mother of four, she holds a B.A., a dual degree, from Syracuse University, and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. |
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Sonia IsmailTrustee
Cedar Hill Prep School Sonia has been an educator for the last 30 years. She holds a double Bachelor's degree in Education and History, along with a Master's in Modern History. She is presently teaching at Cedar Hill Prep. Her hobbies include passion for traveling and meeting people of different cultures. |
TRUSTEES EMERITI
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Eva NagyTrustee Emeritus
Foundation Founder Former President, Franklin Township Board of Education Eva M. Nagy has lived in Franklin for more than 40 years with her 2 children graduation from the Franklin public schools. While serving on the Board of Education for 22 years, she was active on the local, county, state and national levels in various leadership positions championing and advocating for public education for all children in NJ and the Franklin community. Eva was Board President for 15 years, along with positions of NJ School Boards Association Vice President for Legislation/Resolutions, Somerset County School Board President and Chair of NJ Schools Insurance Group Trustees. She earned her B.A. from the College of NJ in secondary education. Having served on several state and local boards, she also earned NJSBA’s Certified, Master and Certified Board Leader Certifications. Eva was one of the co-founders of the annual Franklin Township Dr. Martin Luther King Breakfast Committee which became the FTMLKC Foundation. |
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FTPD Chief Daniel Livak (ret.)Trustee Emeritus
Foundation Founder Chief Daniel J. Livak Retired Deputy Director Business Administrator Somerset County Park Commission Dan Livak, born and raised in Franklin Township, received his education through the Franklin Township School system and was a 43 year resident and co-founder of the annual Franklin Township Dr. Martin Luther King Community Breakfast/Committee. He received his BS in Criminal Justice from the College of NJ graduating cum laude, his MA from Seton Hall University, attended a fellowship at the JFK School of Government at Harvard University and is a Certified Public Manager. Dan served in every rank in the Franklin Township Police Department retiring as Chief of Police after 25 years of service. |
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Barbara J. NicolTrustee Emeritus
Somerset Presbyterian Church Barbara J. Nicol has been a resident of Franklin Township for over 36 years. Her two children are graduates of the Franklin Township school system. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University and a Masters Certificate in Project Management from Stevens Institute of Technology. Barbara owned her own business, worked for AT&T and is a 34-year breast cancer survivor. She has supported the Annual Martin Luther King Community Breakfast since 1998. Barbara has held several positions including President of the AT&T Pioneers Central Region Club, President of a 4,200-member Pioneer Life Member Club, and Secretary of the Week of the People Organization in Franklin Township. As a member of Somerset Presbyterian Church for over 37 years, Barbara has served as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and youth leader. Volunteering is a part of who she is and what she loves. |
Jimmy LeeTrustee Emeritus
Business Community - Joy Systems Orvyl WilsonTrustee Emeritus
Director, School Management Dr. Shirin PoustchiTrustee Emeritus
Baha’i Community of Franklin Township |
