Rutgers Group Honors Bridgewater's Kenneth Hitchner

Kenneth Hitchner, of Bridgewater, received a Rutgers Excellence in Alumni Leadership Award for his work at the Central Jersey nonprofit that puts unemployed, college-educated professionals back into the workplace faster than the rest of America. Hitchner is the executive director of the Professional Service Group of Central New Jersey.

The Rutgers University Alumni Association honored Hitchner with the Edward J. Bloustein Award at a ceremony at the school’s Livingston campus in Piscataway Friday. The award recognizes community service outside of the university by a Rutgers alumnus or group of alumni. The award was established in 1992 in memory of the 17th president of Rutgers University.  

“I will humbly accept this great honor on behalf of all the PSGCNJ volunteer members who have created the nation’s first employment community,” Hitchner, who graduated from Rutgers Business School with an M.B.A. in 2007, said. “This award underscores our core belief that we can do more together.”  

“The work that PSGCNJ has done truly has made a difference for Rutgers alumni and for the state of New Jersey,” Maurice Griffin, NLAW’94, chair of the Rutgers University Alumni Association Board of Directors, said. “We are so pleased to be able to honor Ken with one of our most prestigious leadership awards, and we hope that his work will inspire others.”  

During 16 months operating as an independent organization, PSGCNJ has helped 166 unemployed professionals return to work. Nearly one-quarter of those success stories—23.5 percent—involved someone who has graduated with at least one Rutgers degree and/or certificate.

Dating back to its beginnings as a state program, PSGCNJ has helped more than 820 unemployed professionals return to work since June 2008.  The majority of PSGCNJ members—54 percent—have returned to the workforce in fewer than 26 weeks from June 2008 through April 2013, which is about twice as fast as in the rest of America.

In addition, 65 percent returned to work in fewer than 39 weeks, about 30 percent faster than the rest of professionals in their mid-50s.