Mayor Jackson to Address Montclair High School's Class of 2013

Montclair Mayor Robert D. Jackson will deliver the commencement address to Montclair High School's Class of 2013, the township's school district announced Monday.

The lifelong resident of the township — an accomplished businessman and active volunteer — has a multitude of experiences to draw from as he addresses the graduates, which will include his daughter, Taylor.  

Jackson is a founder and managing member of the real estate development company, Lorterdan Properties.

Before starting Lorterdan, he was president of the Metro New York Area for K. Hovnanian Enterprises, one of the country's largest builders. His career experience also includes working as Director of Public Works for Essex County, as a management consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton and as a marketing operations manager for PepsiCo.

Jackson is currently serving his second mayoral term. He was previously mayor in the late 1980s.

He has sat on the board of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, the Montclair Community Hospital, Montclair Kimberley Academy, and St. Paul Baptist Church.  

He's a graduate of Montclair Kimberley Academy, Princeton University and the Harvard Business School.

Jackson and his wife Cheryl Stephenson, a graduate of MHS, have four children, Taylor, an MHS senior, Danielle, who graduated from MHS in 2003, and Carter and Chase, who are also students in Montclair Public Schools.

Montclair High School 2013 Commencement will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at 6 p.m., at the high school, 100 Chestnut St.