Keynote

John Gillen

John J. Gillen is an experienced HR professional, a Human Capital management consultant and a work futurist.  Currently, John is the Work Strategist & Chief People Officer of PeopleProductive, a cloud-based Human Capital Management software platform that enables companies and teams to methodically improve the productivity of their workforce by linking cultural improvements to key business metrics.  Prior to that, John worked as a HR management consultant including for Deloitte Consulting’s Human Capital Management practice where he worked on Future of Work concepts and projects related to Contingent Workforce Management.  John has deep and broad corporate HR experience as a Senior Director of Workforce Initiative for Standard & Poor’s, a Director of Employee Services for AT&T Capital and Manager of Management Development for Young & Rubicam.   John is a frequent presenter to corporations, HR professional organizations and community-based non-profits where he focuses on the future of work to help workers and organization adapt to the new world of work.

The Future of Work:  How Project Management Professionals Can Succeed in the New Projectized “Gig Economy.”

Hilary Andreini

Hilary is a Human Resources/Recruiting Professional in the advertising industry. She is currently recruiting and developing a career coaching offering at Elysian Staffing, a creative and marketing staffing agency. 

In her work as an HR Manager and Recruiter, Hilary has always loved connecting with her talent about their career goals. Because of her love of connection over career goals, Hilary is pursuing her dream of becoming a Coach focusing on Careers.  She is in the process of getting her Certified Professional Coach Credential by the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) as well as her Energy Leadership Assessment certification.  Both cetifications are expected in the first quarter of 2018. 

Hilary is focused on working with folks in transition, whether it is going back to work from a long absence, transitioning to a new career or falling back in love with your current career.  Using her HR and recruiting background, she will help you figure out how to leverage your current skill set and/or if you need to add skills to best meet the demands of todays employers.  By looking at what environments you thrive in, tasks that inspire you and what you need from your employment, she will help you discover your dream job.  She offers individual and group coaching. 

Hilary and her husband are raising their family in Maplewood, NJ.  You can reach her at 917-543-8810 or For more information on her staffing agency, please go to https://elysianstaffing.com

Tony Calabrese, CPC, ELI-MP

Certified Life and Job Search Coach

Tony Calabrese is a certified Life and Career Coach.  A lifelong New Jersey resident, he has thrived through a series of life changing events.   Coaching, consulting, facilitating support groups, and writing blogs and newsletters provide the opportunity for him to share what he has learned with others.  Additionally, the last several years have afforded him the opportunity to be a “student of life”, and he knows that will continue by partnering with others as they continue forward on their life’s journey.

After a long and successful career in Project Management and Systems assignments, a series of life events led Tony to shift directions and pursue a new career in coaching.  In 2009, Tony earned his certifications from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (IPEC) in both their intensive coach training program and their Energy Leadership assessment and debrief process.  He enjoys working with the ever growing population of individuals who are facing many different life challenges as they transition from one new experience to another.

Tony continued to expand his coaching knowledge and services that he is able to offer his clients.  In August of 2011, he became a Certified Career Coach.  He believes in guiding his clients through a strategic job search process that allows them to target what position it is they next want for their career.  He is well versed in all steps of the job search process from assessment, to research and targeting, to preparing how to present oneself to interview, and how to follow-up on those opportunities which present themselves.

Tony is a member of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and was President of its New Jersey chapter in 2012.  He has also held to office of Secretary for the New Jersey chapter of ICF.

Tony and his wife, Carolina, reside in Maplewood, NJ.

Telephone: (973) 762-1350 Cell: (201) 306-9811

Paul Cecala

Paul Cecala, a Five O’Clock Club Certified Career Coach, has been coaching since 1999 and assisted over 3000 people in either changing careers or starting their professional lives.  He has worked for several post-secondary career schools as Director of Career Services specializing in Biotech/pharmaceutical careers, Green Economy jobs, aviation, allied health, IT and general administrative professions.  Currently, he the Director of Program Development for Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies where his responsibilities include identifying developing and managing many of the school’s adult, non-credit programming.  Additionally, he helped develop the job search training process for several NJ Department of Labor sponsored job search groups.

As a student of the job search process he finds particular interest in project planning a job search, networking, and securing offers from the interview.  Paul has presented over 600 seminars on topics ranging from career pathing to interview follow-up for organizations including schools like Lincoln Technical Schools, Centenary College, Florida Institute of Technology, University of Connecticut and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; networking and job search groups like the Professional Services Group and Princeton Job Seekers; and social clubs like Montclair Divorce Support Group and Out Professionals of NYC.

Paul has a BS in Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology.  Prior to career coaching, he had a long career in corporate aviation sales.  His final position in this arena was Vice President of Aircraft Charter Sales for a nation-wide industry leader.

Ruth Kunstadter

Ruth Kunstadter’s mission in life is to connect people with their full potential. As a Board Certified Coach, Ruth specializes in working with individuals in career and personal transitions to leverage and expand their signature strengths and skills, identify and clarify their ideal “what’s next,” and create the relationships, resources and action plans they need to get there. She draws on her extensive career in education and nonprofits in order to create a welcoming and supportive environment that inspires positive change, growth and success.

In addition to her work with private clients, Ruth also coaches both individuals and groups of long-term unemployed jobseekers in New Jersey through the New Start Career Network (NSCN) at Rutgers University. She has presented webinars and led in-person workshops on professional and personal development topics such as “Transitioning to a Nonprofit Career,” “Taking the ‘Pain’ Out of “Pain Letters,” and “Creating Positive Change.”  Ruth is certified in the PeopleMap™ Personality Assessment, a strengths-based assessment tool that provides insight and concrete action steps to enhance self-awareness, improve communication and conflict-resolution skills, and help people work better both individually and with others toward their desired goals.

Ruth holds a Masters in Education, has taught and served an advisor at Montclair State University, and is a certified professional development specialist for the state of New Jersey; in addition, she has created and managed professional training and development programs for nonprofit and educational organizations in New York, New Jersey and Washington, DC. She speaks Spanish and Italian, and has lived in Spain, Italy and India. Connect with Ruth on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthkunstadter , and visit her website and blog at www.newpathwayscoaching.com.