Subscribe to the Release Date: December 13, 2012
Montclair State University has appointed Dennis M.
Bone, former president and CEO of Verizon New Jersey, as the inaugural director
of its Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at the School of Business. Funded
by a $1 million gift from Mimi and Edwin Feliciano, the innovative new center
supports the University’s commitment to preparing students for success in an
increasingly competitive global economy.
A high-profile New Jersey business and telecommunications
technology leader, Bone was the president and CEO of Verizon New Jersey from
2000 to 2012. During his tenure, he successfully helped transform Verizon New
Jersey from a voice-driven telecommunications company into a robust voice, data
and video company.
While Bone began his 33-year career at Verizon as an outside
plant engineer for New Jersey Bell, he also worked in operations, competitive
assessment, regulatory matters and external affairs before serving as president
and CEO of Bell Atlantic-West Virginia from 1995 until 2000.
Bone, who holds an MBA from Rutgers University and an MS
from Johns Hopkins University, is an active volunteer whose current service
commitments include chairing the New Jersey State Employment and Training
Commission and serving on the Boards of the New Jersey Institute of Technology,
the New Jersey Center for Teaching and Learning, and the New Jersey State
Chamber of Commerce. Bone is the founding chairman of Choose New Jersey and
previously chaired the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce. He also served on
the boards of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Liberty Science
Center, the Aviation Research and Technology Park; and was co-chair of New
Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s Economic Development Transition Team.
The University’s innovative new Feliciano Center for
Entrepreneurship and its entrepreneurial development program will familiarize
students with the concepts and realities of new venture formation by combining
traditional classroom-based coursework with experiential learning
opportunities.
“Whether a student is interested in working with a Fortune
100 corporation or starting his or her own enterprise, the principles of
entrepreneurship will define the academic experience at Montclair State’s
Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at the School of Business,” said the
school’s dean, E. LaBrent Chrite.
“The new Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship will play a
pivotal role in furnishing Montclair State students with the tools and skills
they need to succeed as entrepreneurs in today’s rapidly evolving world
market,” said Bone, who was the University’s School of Business convocation
speaker in May 2012. “I look forward to developing and working with a dynamic
team of faculty members, area entrepreneurs and business leaders, and other
external stakeholders to position the University as a leader in market-centered
entrepreneurial education and new venture creation.”
“We are proud to announce the appointment of Dennis Bone as
the inaugural director of the School of Business’ Feliciano Center for
Entrepreneurship,” said Montclair State University President Susan A. Cole. “In
the many opportunities I have had to work with Dennis on various initiatives in
the state, I have always found him to be wise, knowledgeable, and creative.
Under his able leadership, entrepreneurship will become an integral component
of the educational experience for the University’s students, and I expect the
Feliciano Center will become an invaluable resource not just for the University
community, but also for the state and the region.”
Bone will assume his responsibilities as the inaugural
director of the University’s Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship on January
7, 2013.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Suzanne Bronski
Director of Media Relations
(973) 655-4334
(917) 292-9554 (cell)
bronskis@mail.montclair.edu
Meaghan Morin
Communications Assistant
(973) 655-4333
morinm@mail.montclair.edu