Executive Committee
IAABO BOARD 33 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
President
Vice President
Executive Secretary/Treasurer
Interpreter
Membership Secretary
Recording Secretary
Immediate Past President
Counsel
Executive Committee (At Large Members)
Non-Voting Presidential Appointees
OFFICERS
President - Richard DePena (North Plainfield)
Richard has been a member of IAABO Board 33 since 2003. He currently serves as Chairman of Welfare, has been a member of the Cadet and Mechanics Committees, Public Relations and has actively volunteered and refereed The Dan Finn Classic for the last five years. Rich also officiates Women’s College basketball in various Division 2 amd 3 conferences across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He has served on the Village of Ridgefield Park Board of Recreation and is a 17 year active member of the Ridgefield Park Fire Department. Rich is happily married with three children, Jenisse, Karissa, and Justin and presently owns his own catering business.
Vice President - Dick Hecker (Hackensack)
Dick has been a member of IAABO since 1991. He has served on several committees including Public Relations, Interpretation, and the Mechanics and Techniques Committee. Dick currently serves as the Interpreter and is chairman of the Education & Development Committee which is responsible for overseeing the Cadet program. He currently officiates at both the college and high school levels. Dick is employed with NAI James E. Hanson Commercial Real Estate serving as a Vice President. Dick currently resides in Bergen County.
Executive Secretary / Treasurer – Walter Rusak (Bridgewater)
Walter has been a member of IAABO since 1973. He started on the executive board in 1992 as Attendance Chairperson, and has served as Chairperson of the Cadet Examination committee for seven years. Other committees he has served on include the Awards, Constitution, and Audit and Budget committees. He was honored to receive the Dominic Cuccinello Award for Distinguished Service in 2001 and the Frank C Corrigan Award in 2015. Walter was the President of Board #33 in 2006 and 2007. In 2009, he was elected to serve as the Executive Secretary & Treasurer of the board. In addition to his work with the board, he officiates high school volleyball and serves as the assignor for volleyball officials for the Skylands conference. He retired from school administration after 38 years of service. He also served as a director of the Pulaski Savings Bank.
Walter currently resides in Somerset, NJ with his wife Christine, and is the proud father of 3 grown children and 5 grandchildren.
Official Interpreter - Dick Hecker - (Hackensack)
Dick has been a member of IAABO since 1991. He has served on several committees including Public Relations, Interpretation, and the Mechanics and Techniques Committee. Dick currently serves as the Interpreter and is chairman of the Education & Development Committee which is responsible for overseeing the Cadet program. He currently officiates at both the college and high school levels. Dick is employed with NAI James E. Hanson Commercial Real Estate serving as a Vice President. Dick currently resides in Bergen County.
Membership Secretary – James Llewellyn (Bridgewater)
James has been a member of IAABO Board 33 since 1990 and has been a board member since 2014. He served as the Somerset County mentor representative from 2006 to 2013, providing dedicated mentors and game opportunities for our membership. Other committees he has served include the Mechanics and Membership committees. He officiated previously high school and collegiate basketball and was affiliated with CBOA, CBOO, NJAC, ECAC, and NJCAA organizations. He is currently an observer of officials for CBOO. He is a principal/hydrogeologist for Appalachia Hydrogeologic & Environmental Consulting, LLC and resides in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
Recording Secretary – Laura Tencza (Passaic)
Laura has been a member of IAABO since 2014. She has served on the Welfare Committee and was one of Board 33's 2016 Farricker scholarship winners. Laura is an attorney and was an assistant prosecutor for the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office for 25 years retiring in December 2013. She also is actively involved in volunteering at the Wayne PAL as well as coaching girls 5th grade travel basketball there for over 20 years.
Immediate Past President - Gil Bragg (North Plainfield)
Gilbert has been a member of IAABO since 1981. He has served on the attendance and awards committee. He has officiated in a number of states games and the tournament of champions. He’s retired from the Irvington Board of Education after 35 years. He is also active on the executive committees for NJFOA and NJSBUA. He lives in North Plainfield with his wife Lisa and daughters LaTaisha (Deceased) TY-Lisa, and Catherine.
Counsel – Alan Goldberger (Montclair)
Al has served as counsel to Board 33’s Executive Committee since 1977; and as President of the Board in 2000-2001. He also serves as Parliamentarian and legal counsel to Board 33’s parent organization, the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials, Inc. Al officiated college basketball in the Northeast Conference, as well as college baseball and high school football. He is the author of Sports Officiating: A Legal Guide, the recognized legal authority for officials. Each year, at the IAABO Spring Meeting and, again at the IAABO Fall World Basketball seminar, Al presents programs to IAABO members, officers and interpreters in attendance. He is a frequent speaker to officials and other sports industry groups including the National Association of Sports Officials, Atlantic 10 Conference/Patriot League Developmental Camp, the California Basketball Officials Association, US Lacrosse, the New Jersey Council of Administrators of Health & Physical Education, the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey, Inc., the National Intramural Recreational Sports Association, the National Police Athletic League, the Professional Association of Volleyball Officials; and many state and local high school athletic associations, colleges, universities, and school districts. In 2004, Al was the recipient of Board 33’s Dominic Cuccinello Distinguished Service Award; and in 2006, the Frank C. Corrigan Memorial Award. Al is the 2011 recipient of the National Association of Sports Officials Mel Narol Medallion Award.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (AT-LARGE)
Attendance – Jim Llewellyn - Walt Rusak
Audit and Budget – Wade Woody Woodson (Edison)
Wade has been a member of IAABO since 1991. He is the current Audit and Budget Committee Chairman. He is the Principal Owner of The Maya Group, a consulting and personal development company and AVP Client Services at Guy Carpenter & Company. Wade has officiated High School and State games in NJ with the NJSIAA. And College, High School and State games as member of IHSA (Chicagoland Basketball Officials and Northern Officials Assoc.) Wade is Board Vice President of Habitat for Humanity, Greater Newark and has served on Alumni Boards of St Benedict’s Prep and Rutgers. In addition to being a mentor with Big Brother Big Sister Essex & Hudson County. Wade lives in Edison, has 2 daughters and a son.
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Awards – Philip Hamilton (Teaneck)
Philip Hamilton has been a dedicated member of Board 33 since 1982, bringing decades of experience and passion to the field. He has had the privilege of officiating various sports including Soccer, Swimming, and Volleyball, fostering a deep appreciation for teamwork and sportsmanship.
As a retired educator from the vibrant city of Newark and graduate of Newark State College (now known as Kean University), Philip positively impacted the lives of countless students as a Special Education Teacher and Vice Principal within the Newark Public School system.
Philip also dedicated 35 years to active duty and reserve status. This experience instilled the values of discipline, integrity, and unwavering commitment.
As a proud “Brick City soldier”, Philip’s deep ties to Newark have been instrumental in shaping his perspective on community and leadership. He is a happily married family man who is blessed with one lovely daughter who continues to inspire him every day.
Philip currently contributes his skills as a 4-hour personal paraprofessional in Tenafly, continuing to make a positive impact in the lives of others. He is enthusiastic about collaborating with his fellow board members and is grateful to Gil Bragg for his confidence and support.
Banquet – Bill Meyer (Westfield)
Bill has been a member of IAABO Board 33 since 1997. He also was a dual member of Central North ( CNBOA) from 1992. He has been the Banquet Chairman for the past three years and also served on the Awards and Attendance Committees. He has officiated H.S. games in Hudson and Union Counties. Bill was a member of Westfield HS Boosters. Also, he served on the Westfield Baseball League Board for 10 years and eventually elected President. Bill has been retired and worked as a Sales Executive for a number of international steamship lines and Import Manager for Adidas USA. His wife, Debbie, was a RN at Overlook Hospital in the Mother-Baby Unit. They have two sons, Bob and Steve, and a daughter Kelly. They are proud grandparents of six, three boys and three girls.
Constitution – Laura Tencza (Passaic)
County Relations – Bill Lord (Clark)
Bill has been a member of IAABO since 1982 and has served on the mechanics and techniques, ethics, and mentor committees. He officiated on the college level for seventeen years making three appearances in the Division III, NCAA tournament. As a member of CBOA he received the prestigious Tom Lopes award in 2010. During Bill’s high school career there were numerous appearances in state finals and TOC contests. Bill is also a member of the Central Jersey Track and Field as well as the School and College Officials Association, (SCOA) and was awarded this soccer organizations “man of the year” award in 2010. He is a retired law enforcement officer and currently resides in Clark, NJ with his wife Joann. They have three children and four grandsons.
Education & Development Chairman – Dick Hecker (Hackensack)
Dick has been a member of IAABO since 1991. He has served on several committees including Public Relations, Interpretation, and the Mechanics and Techniques Committee. Dick currently serves as the Interpreter and is chairman of the Education & Development Committee which is responsible for overseeing the Cadet program. He currently officiates at both the college and high school levels. Dick is employed with NAI James E. Hanson Commercial Real Estate serving as a Vice President. Dick currently resides in Bergen County.
Ethics – Robert LaSalle (North Haledon)
Bob has been a member of Board 33 since 2005. He has served on the Ethics and Welfare Committees. He officiates basketball at the college and high school level and also officiates high school softball. He is a practicing attorney and statewide arbitrator for 40 years. He is a former Municipal Prosecutor, PBA attorney, Athletic Director and an honorary silver life member of New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association. He resides in North Haledon with his wife Carol. His children attended Penn State University and the University of Delaware.
Mechanics and Techniques – Brian Gogerty (Fair Lawn)
Brian has been an IAABO Board 33 Member since 2012. He has assisted the mechanics committee with Mechanics training of cadets for the past 7 years. Brian spends much of his off season working on improving his referee ability at camps and clinics. He enjoys working with younger officials to pass on his knowledge to newer officials. He is currently a Middle School Health and PE teacher in Fair Lawn and the Head Boys Golf Coach at Ramapo HS. Brian currently resides in Fair Lawn, NJ with his Wife Katie and two daughters Peyton, and Brinley.
Policy – Gary Patterson (Bloomfield)
Gary has been a member of IAABO Board #33 since 1998. He has previously served on the Audit & Budget, Ethics, and the Mechanics & Techniques Committees. Additionally he has served as a mentor for cadets and newer officials. Gary has officiated several county and State Group finals, and in 2013 officiated the TOC final. Since 2006 he has been a member of the Met-NJ Collegiate Basketball Officials Association. He is a current Mens NCAA Basketball referee having officiated 4 Conference Championship games. Gary currently resides in Bloomfield, NJ.
Public Relations – William Rudowitz (Monroe)
Bill has been a member of IAABO Board 33 since 2008.. He currently officiates high school basketball, as well as high school volleyball and high school boys lacrosse. He has worked several boys Volleyball State Championship finals. He has coached a variety of youth sports in his community. Bill is currently VP – Client Services at Traliant Holdings, LLC. He lives in Monroe Township, NJ with his wife Marlene and they have three grown children, A.J., Brian and Kelsey, all former student athletes in NJ.
Special Olympics – Al Taliaferro (Hawthorne)
Al has been a dedicated member of Board 33 since 1984 and was honored with the Dominic Cuccinello Award in 2017 for his contributions to Special Olympics New Jersey. Alongside Matt Schoenfeld, Al leads the Special Projects Committee, where he coordinates volunteers for the SONJ basketball tournament, held annually across two sites within Board 33’s jurisdiction. Al was also proud to be selected for his second quadrennial USA Games with Special Olympics.
A passionate educator, Al taught Physics for 36 years at Pascack Hills High School before retiring in 2010. His involvement in high school sports officiating spans decades, beginning with football in 1974 and extending to soccer, basketball, baseball, and softball starting in the 1980s. He also coached softball and soccer for many years.
For over 50 years, Al has spent his summers managing pools in Bergen and Passaic counties, as well as teaching lifeguarding and water safety as a Red Cross Instructor and Instructor Trainer.
In addition to his professional and community involvement, Al served on the Hawthorne School Board, where he held the position of president for one year. He is currently a member of the BCWCA Board, having served as president for eight years, and the NJ Pool Managers Board, where he was president for seven years.
Al and his wife, Patricia, are lifelong residents of Hawthorne. They are proud parents of Andrea, a college professor specializing in Adapted Physical Education, and their son, an industrial engineer. They also enjoy spending time with their two grandchildren, Mia and Kai.
Special Projects – Casey Thomas (Jersey City)
Welfare – Justin DePena - (Wayne)
Women's Coordinator – Deidra Chatman (Newark)
Deidra has been a member of IAABO Board 33 since 2012. She currently serves as the Women’ Coordinator. In addition to being an IAABO Board official, Deidra officiates Women’s College basketball (Juco-DII). Prior to officiating, Deidra coached Freshman Girls Basketball at East Orange Campus High School for 5 seasons. She is on the Board of Trustees at the East Orange Public Library and is in her 10th year working as a library/media specialist in the East Orange School District.
Web Site Coordinator – MiAngelo Moore (Hawthorne)
MiAngelo has been an official with Board 33 since 2002, and recently took over the reigns from Robert Riker beginning with the 2022-23 season.
While working as an IT Professional for 20+ years in the Book Industry along with being a Board 33 official, he actively officiates three other varsity high school sports (Football, Volleyball and Baseball) and also works as an umpire for Division II, Division III and Region XIX NCAA College Baseball.
On top of his duties for IAABO, he has served both as the Technology/Public Relations chairperson and an executive board member for the New Jersey Football Officials Association - North Chapter.
NON-VOTING PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTEES
Rebound Editor – Dr. Edward C. Meier (Palisades Park)