Bergen LEADS Fifth Friday to Focus on the Future of Higher Education in America

The first Bergen LEADS Fifth Friday luncheon of 2014 will be held on January 31, 2014 from 11:30 am to 2 pm at the Stony Hill Inn, 231 Polifly Road in Hackensack.  Additional luncheons are scheduled for May 30 and October 31.  Tickets are $40.00 and must be purchased in advance by registering online at www.bergenleads.org or by calling 201-489-9454 Ext. 112.

Often referred to as the best networking event in Bergen County, Fifth Friday is hosted by Bergen LEADS, a civic leadership program for adults offered by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. 

Dr. Peter Mercer, president of Ramapo College, will speak on January 31 about “The Future of Higher Education in America.”  The US has almost 4,500 degree-granting institutions and 20.3 million students enrolled.  We spend more on higher education than almost any other nation, but when you measure how many people actually end up graduating, we’re more inefficient than almost every other developed country.  Dr. Mercer will compare our current situation with that of other countries and examine whether traditional expectations of higher education in America continue to be valid.

PNC Wealth Management has returned as the presenting sponsor for the 2014 Fifth Friday series. “PNC Wealth Management is proud to once again sponsor the Bergen Leads Fifth Friday series that has become such a popular staple in Bergen County,” said Theresa de Leon, Senior Vice President and Director, Wealth Management.  “Nowhere else can you find the combination of terrific speakers, great networking opportunities and continued commitment to the development of local leadership that comes with this series.  It is a pleasure for PNC Wealth Management to demonstrate its commitment to the community and the values we share, by supporting the continuation of this wonderful program.”Bergen LEADS Fifth Friday is also sponsored by TD Bank, Archer & Greiner,  Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, Synetek Solutions, (201) Magazine and The Record.

Bergen LEADS is currently accepting applications for its next class, which begins in September 2014. The online application form for the Class of 2015 can be accessed at www.bergenleads.org  and is due by April 11.  Each candidate must complete a simple individual profile form and provide essay answers to specific questions. Tuition for Bergen LEADS is $2,000 per person; scholarship assistance is available for those with financial need.

Sponsorships for the January 31 event are available. For more information about the Fifth Friday events, or about Bergen LEADS, call 201-489-9454 Ext. 119.