Pillar College hosted an invitation-only Business Leaders Breakfast in Paterson on Wednesday, May 25th. The College’s executive team provided information to the community about its commitment to providing post-secondary education in Paterson. Fifteen prominent business and community leaders along with Pillar College’s President, Dr. Rupert A. Hayles, Jr., and other College staff attended the event.
Keynote speaker Brian Jacks, Chief Executive Officer of WiConnect LLC and 25-year executive in the telecommunication industry, spoke on the topic of “Achieving Marketplace Leadership.” Throughout his talk he shared the importance of individuals becoming excellent in their area of expertise, stating “that’s what matters the most.” He also emphasized remembering the importance of giving back to the local community in meaningful ways. WiConnect LLC, is a Monetization as a Service (MaaS) provider that enables venue owners and operators to realize revenue from free, high-quality public Wi-Fi networks.
Dr. Wayne Dyer, Pillar College Vice President of Strategic Alliances, also in attendance underscored that PCTW (Pillar Center for Transformative Work) champions the cause of human flourishing for people in under-resourced communities and enables residents to satisfy their fundamental spiritual and economic needs. He stressed the need for city-wide collaboration and initiatives to meet the challenges of those who are poverty-stricken. “We were delighted to host a cohort of business and clergy from the City of Paterson as part of a relaunch, following Covid, of our Paterson site. Information regarding the College and the PCTW was shared with those in attendance,” said Dr. Dyer.
Pillar College President Dr. Rupert A. Hayles Jr., concluded the program by reiterating Mr. Jacks’ poignant points for leaders to remember to strive towards excellence while giving back to the community. He also shared statistics pertaining to the City of Paterson, including housing issues, unemployment, and challenges within education, noting that there is considerable work to be done to provide post-secondary educational opportunities within the community.
“Our job is to come into a community, with leaders in the education, family, religious, political, and business sectors, to learn from them and better understand how to be of assistance in whatever way we can,” said Dr. Hayles. “Paterson is no different, and Pillar loves the Paterson community and endeavors to lend value to members of this great city.”
About Pillar College
Pillar College is a comprehensive institution of higher learning, providing a Christ-centered education. Pillar College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and licensed by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and a member of Pillar College is a comprehensive institution of higher learning, providing a Christ-centered education. Pillar College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and licensed by the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education and a member of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). Pillar College offers Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and Master’s Degree programs. Pillar College educates, inspires, and equips students for excellent scholarship, service, and leadership. Rooted in and committed to Christian faith and love, Pillar College fosters intellectual, spiritual, and social development among its diverse student population. Pillar College has locations in Newark, Somerset, Paterson, Plainfield, Jersey City, and Ocean County, New Jersey. Founded in 1908. For more information about Pillar College, visit https://pillar.edu
