2026 Annual Awards Gala Honorees

The Bloomfield Educational Foundation 2026 Awards Gala proudly honors Mark Gatto ’90 as Alumnus of the Year.

Mark Gatto is co-Founder and co-CEO of CION Investments (“CION”), a $10 billion alternative investment solutions provider to the US private wealth market. He is a seasoned investment professional who has shaped CION’s strategic vision, product innovation, and long-term growth. Since co-founding the firm in 2008, he has built CION into a market leader in delivering differentiated and accessible alternative investments for financial advisors and their clients.

Under his leadership, CION has earned a reputation for being an investor-first platform that is at the forefront of product manufacturing, distribution and education. As a result of his foresight, CION has consistently led the industry in investor-focused solutions designed to meet the needs of today’s investor. CION’s NYSE listed CION Investments Corp., CION Ares Diversified Credit Fund and CION Grosvenor Infrastructure Fund, provide investors of all types with access to institutional-quality investments for modern portfolio construction.

Mr. Gatto’s drive and vision has been the force behind CION’s successful efforts to innovate beyond investments solutions. He regularly hosts CION’s award-nominated podcast, The Advisor Lab by CION, which is consistently ranked as a top-5 podcast for financial advisors. His extensive knowledge of the industry and work with the advisor community led him to create Advisor I/O, CION’s award-nominated martech platform.

Mr. Gatto is also an active participant in industry events and an in-demand speaker on private market assets and the democratization of alternatives. He has been featured on Bloomberg Business Week, Animal Spirits podcast, The Wall Street Journal, and is a regular contributor to FundFire and WealthManagement.com

Before co-founding CION, Mr. Gatto was an attorney in private practice, an executive for The Topps Company, and co-founder of ForSport Enterprises, a specialty sports and entertainment firm.

Mr. Gatto received an M.B.A from the W. Paul Stillman School of Business at Seton Hall University, a J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law, and a B.S. from Montclair State University.

Reservations for the 2026 Awards Gala are available online here. To purchase an ad or congratulatory message in the Gala digital ad book, click here.

The Bloomfield Educational Foundation 2026 Awards Gala proudly honors Nancy Burke ’73 as Alumna of the Year.

Ask Nancy Burke what is her most important role in life, and she’ll answer, “Mother.”  But ask what she does, and she’ll say, “Write!” adding “And of course, teach.” The circuitous route to becoming a writer mirrors the journey many women take through education, work, marriage, motherhood and empty nest, and her work reflects these chapters of reinvention since her days as a student at BHS (’73).

Nancy began writing in 1995, the year her father died. His passing compelled her to get started on her dream to write and to publish. She took writing workshops, most notably, with Alice Elliott Dark and Sheila Kohler and went back to college (Rutgers’ Newark MFA in Creative Writing, 2011) at age 55. The results are Only the Women are Burning, a feminist sci-fi mystery about women who meet the expectations of others but often neglect their own inner fire, her short story collection Death Cleaning and Other Units of Measures, and a work of non-fiction, If I Could Paint the Moon Black (2014).  The journey from manuscripts to books spanned twenty years during which her primary focus was her family. And she’s now adapting her first novel, From the Abuelas’ Window (published in 2006) into a musical for the stage. Those twenty years saw publication of her short stories in lit journals, finalist recognition of her adaptation to a screenplay of Only the Women, and honorable mention from the JF Powers Short Fiction award.

While raising, as she would put it, “her three amazing and accomplished daughters” she formed a support group for mothers that helping women navigate the switch from work to home and back again. It endured in the Montclair/Bloomfield area for eighteen years (Formerly Employed Mothers at the Leading Edge or F.E.M.A.L.E).  She chaired PTA volunteer projects in the Montclair Public Schools, led school groups through the Newark Museum of Art and simulated missions to space at the Buehler Challenger Center. At St. Theresa of Calcutta parish, she chaired fundraising efforts for a Refugee Resettlement program from 2016 to 2020.

As manager of The Industry-Business Institute at Union County College, from 2011 to 2021 she used the business communications expertise she gained at AT&T and The Ultimate Corp in her early career and built an organization that brought together businesses, government and education, serving the employers and job seekers of Union County.

She has taught at Montclair State University, Kean University, Bloomfield College and New Jersey Institute of Technology. Her courses include academic, research, literature and creative writing. She freelances as a journalist, leads writing critique groups, hikes, kayaks and travels extensively.

Reservations for the 2026 Awards Gala are available online here. To purchase an ad or congratulatory message in the Gala digital ad book, click here.

The Bloomfield Educational Foundation 2026 Awards Gala proudly honors John Baltz ’81 as Educator of the Year.

John Baltz has devoted his professional life to education, leadership, and service to young people and their families. With more than three decades of experience in public education, he has built a career grounded in supporting students, strengthening school communities, and fostering environments where both staff and students can thrive.

Since July 2008, Mr. Baltz has served as Principal of Carteret Elementary School in the Bloomfield Public Schools. In this role, he oversees all aspects of school operations, including the supervision and evaluation of certified and non-certified staff, student discipline, staff development, and school-wide planning. He prepares annual budgets and schedules, conducts staff and parent meetings, and ensures accurate reporting on student discipline and transportation incidents. Known for his collaborative leadership style, Mr. Baltz works closely with teachers, parents, and district leaders to maintain a safe, supportive, and academically focused learning environment.

Prior to becoming principal, Mr. Baltz served as Assistant Principal at Bloomfield Middle School from 2003 to 2008. There he played a key role in student management and school programming, supervising staff, coordinating standardized testing, and administering the Academic Edge Program. He also implemented improvements to the In-School Suspension program, integrating academics, counseling, character education, and community service components. His responsibilities extended to supervising transportation procedures, security staff, cafeteria operations, and emergency drills, ensuring that the school operated efficiently and safely.

Mr. Baltz began his career in education as a Special Education Teacher with the Plainfield Board of Education, serving at Cedarbrook Elementary School from 1992 to 2003.  Here his leadership roles included School Testing Coordinator, Title I Math Teacher, Special Education Home Instructor, Teacher-in-Charge, and Summer School Lead Teacher.

Beyond the classroom and school administration, Mr. Baltz has demonstrated a strong commitment to community service. Since 1998, he has served as Director of Special Needs Programs for the Bloomfield Recreation Department. His dedication to youth development is also reflected in his extensive coaching experience, including varsity softball, girls’ varsity basketball, football, and elementary athletics.

Mr. Baltz holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Bloomfield College and a Master of Arts in Education Administration from St. Peter’s College. He has also shared his expertise as an adjunct professor at William Paterson University and Bloomfield College. Through his leadership, teaching, and service, Mr. Baltz continues to make a lasting impact on Bloomfield students and the communities he serves.

Reservations for the 2026 Awards Gala are available online here. To purchase an ad or congratulatory message in the Gala digital ad book, click here.

The Bloomfield School District is proud to share that Ms. Jessica Barton, an exceptional sixth-grade teacher at Demarest Elementary School, has been named the Bloomfield Teacher of the Year for 2025-26!

Ms. Barton was born and raised in Bloomfield and is an alumnus of Demarest Elementary as well as Bloomfield Middle and High Schools.  She holds advanced degrees from Fordham University and Montclair State in elementary education, special education, and middle school mathematics.   Ms. Barton has spent the last 22 years serving her home community with dedication and love.  She has served in her current position, teaching sixth-grade mathematics and science, for the last seven years.

Ms. Barton’s coworkers hold her in high regard and appreciate her leadership qualities in numerous initiatives like the Tech Committee, Halloween Chair, Forensics, the Gifted and Talented Program, and after-school tutoring programs.  She is an inspiration to her students for her ambitious after-school undertakings, which include running marathons and being exceptionally well-rounded in many other areas.

The Demarest Community is continuously impressed by her knack for connecting with students on a professional and personal level. Her talent for making learning enjoyable each day is something every educator should aim for. Students are excited to be in her class because of her integration of humor, engaging lessons, and creative teaching methods. She inspires students to be a part of the class at all times and has a way of making them feel comfortable and welcome. They are always able to be themselves in Ms. Barton’s class.

Ms. Barton is an inspiring educator who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to meeting the diverse needs of every student she encounters: from English language learners to students with disabilities, and those across all grade levels. Whether she is nurturing the curiosity of kindergarteners or guiding the growth of sixth graders preparing for middle school, Ms. Barton approaches each child with patience, compassion, and respect.

The Bloomfield School District is truly grateful that Ms. Barton is a part of our Community as an alumnus, colleague, mentor, friend, and Bloomfield School District Teacher of the Year!

Congratulations to Ms. Barton and all of the 2026 Teachers and Educational Service Professionals!

Reservations for the 2026 Awards Gala are available online here. To purchase an ad or congratulatory message in the Gala digital ad book, click here.

The Bloomfield Educational Foundation 2026 Awards Gala proudly honors the Bloomfield P.B.A./S.O.A. as BEF Community Organization of the Year.

The Bloomfield Policemen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) Local #32 is a labor organization that represents the sworn officers of the Bloomfield Police Department. While it primarily serves as a collective bargaining unit, the organization is deeply integrated into the local community through charitable work and advocacy.

Formed in 1932 the Bloomfield PBA is the 32nd Police Department to join the New Jersey State PBA.

  • The organization has a long-standing history as the primary representative for Bloomfield’s rank-and-file officers.
  • The organization serves as a support system for officers and their families, particularly during times of hardship or loss.

The organization actively raises funds for various community-related charities. Programs include:

  • Cancer Awareness: The organization actively participates in No-Shave November, partnering with local businesses like High Definition Barber Shop to raise thousands of dollars for the American Cancer Society.
  • Youth Scholarships: Providing financial aid to Bloomfield youth for educational advancement.
  • Contributions to organizations that support first responders and public safety initiatives.
  • Charitable Fundraising: Local #32 is known for its annual PBA #32 Golf Outing, which has run for over 24 years to raise funds for officer support and community causes.
  • Special Olympics NJ: Members participate in the Snow Bowl and Polar Plunge raising money for the Special Olympics.

Community Policing: PBA members are the front-line participants in programs like “Coffee with a Cop,” the “Youth Police Academy,” and “Hooked on Fishing,” which have helped reduce crime and build trust between officers and resident.

The organization focuses on a dual mission of advocating for officer welfare and fostering community trust through philanthropic initiatives.

  • Through collaboration with the department’s administration, Local #32 supports initiatives like the Citizen Police Academyand Youth Police Academy, contributing to significant long-term reductions in crime and improved resident engagement.
  • Bloomfield Township sponsorships include Neighbor to Neighbor Network, Back Pack Giveaway, and Bloomfield Little League team “PBA”. Bloomfield High School Athletics, and Bloomfield Recreation Department Summer of Fun.

Reservations for the 2026 Awards Gala are available online here. To purchase an ad or congratulatory message in the Gala digital ad book, click here.