Inside Warren’s founder Dan Hirshberg among the 2025 Inductees!

The Warren County Community College Foundation will recognize six outstanding individuals whose leadership, service, and commitment have left a lasting impact on the region. The honorees will be inducted into the Warren County Hall of Fame, an award that for 15 years has celebrated the achievements of local citizens who make Warren County a better place to live and work.

This year’s five inductees, along with one posthumous honoree, represent excellence across education, public service, business, community engagement, and global innovation.

Ronald G. Garriques is an accomplished technology executive whose influence spans industries and continents. A seventh-generation Warren County native, Mr. Garriques began his career at AT&T and Lucent Technologies before joining Motorola, where he led the 30-billion-dollar Mobile Devices division and oversaw the launch of the globally successful RAZR phone. He later served in executive roles at Dell Inc., leading global business units through innovation and growth. He holds engineering degrees from Boston University and Stanford University, along with an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Despite his global reach, Mr. Garriques remains committed to local education and service. He serves on the Centenary University Board of Trustees and was the 2025 keynote speaker at Warren County Community College’s Commencement Ceremony.

Dan Hirshberg is a media professional and community builder whose work has shaped how Warren County tells its story. Founder of Inside Warren, an online good-news outlet, Dan has helped bring positive attention to countless local events, businesses, and nonprofits. A former sportswriter and author, Dan has also been instrumental in expanding the county’s music and cultural scene by organizing Blues Fests at Centenary University and helping create the Festival in the Borough. His behind-the-scenes work as a publicist and advocate continues to uplift local voices and foster pride across the region.

Jim Swick has spent his life serving Warren County through a distinguished legal and public service career. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and Villanova Law School, Jim joined his father’s Phillipsburg-based law firm and practiced for over 40 years. He served twice as Phillipsburg Municipal Court Judge and mentored law students through Villanova’s moot court program. A former Warren County Freeholder, Jim also chaired the Phillipsburg Chamber of Commerce and was a long-serving trustee and board chair of Warren Hospital, helping lead its transition into the St. Luke’s University Health Network. His civic work includes decades of Rotary Club membership, United Way leadership, and board service with the Warren County Community College Foundation and Legal Services.

Patti Sue Rossi is the heart and driving force behind the Rossi Festival of Trees, a signature holiday event that has raised nearly 500,000 dollars for area nonprofits. Under her leadership and with support from Rossi Auto Group, the festival has grown into a beloved tradition benefiting organizations like Abilities of Northwest Jersey and Warren County Habitat for Humanity. Patti Sue holds a degree in elementary education from Villanova University and now plays an active role in the family business, Rossi Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. Her ability to bring people together for a cause and her quiet generosity have made her one of Warren County’s most inspiring civic leaders.

Andy Mark spent nearly 40 years shaping education in the Belvidere School District, where he served as gym teacher, coach, driver’s ed instructor, and eventually Assistant Principal, Principal, and Superintendent. A U.S. Army veteran and East Stroudsburg University graduate, Andy and his late wife, Sara, an English teacher, dedicated their lives to students and to the community. In recognition of his decades of service, Belvidere High School named its gymnasium in his honor in 2016. A lifelong resident of Belvidere, Andy is also a 70-year member of the Belvidere Lions Club and served as treasurer for 56 years. He recently celebrated his 97th birthday and continues to reside in the Victorian home he and Sara moved into in 1954.

Matthew Wallace “Sonny” Pinkman III (1932–2023), the posthumous inductee for 2025, was a groundbreaking educator and community leader. Born in Morristown and raised in Hackettstown, Mr. Pinkman earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Montclair State University. He served Hackettstown Middle School for 36 years, becoming its principal and the first African American administrator in Warren County and its surrounding areas. He was a fierce advocate for his students and colleagues and helped pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive school environment. In his personal life, Mr. Pinkman and his family opened their home to foster children and remained active in their church and community. He passed away in 2023, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, equity, and care.

“We are proud to honor these exceptional individuals whose lives and work reflect the best of Warren County,” said Samir Elbassiouny, executive director of the Warren County Community College Foundation. “Each one of them has contributed in powerful and meaningful ways, and their recognition is long overdue.”

With this new class of inductees, the Warren County Hall of Fame grows to include more than 80 members. Their names and photos are displayed on the Warren County Community College campus in a dedicated Hall of Fame gallery.

The 15th Annual Warren County Hall of Fame Reception and Dinner will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, at Panther Valley Golf Club in Allamuchy.

To learn more about the Foundation or to support its work, please visit https://www.warren.edu/wccc-foundation.

For media inquiries or information about the Hall of Fame dinner, please contact:
Samir Elbassiouny
Email: wchalloffame@warren.edu or Samir@warren.edu
Phone: 908-835-2547