Jersey City, N.J. – June 28, 2018 – Saint Peter’s University today announced that Frank L. Fekete, CPA ’75, managing partner of Mandel, Fekete & Bloom, CPAs, has been elected chair of the Board of Trustees for the University. Fekete will replace Thomas P. Mac Mahon ’68 as chair of the Board and will serve for a three-year term. Susan P. Mitchell-Abbate ’72 will serve as vice chair.
“Saint Peter’s University is in the midst of a renaissance and has made tremendous strides since my time as a student,” Fekete said. “I am eager to lead the Board of Trustees as we strive to continue the University’s impressive transformation.”
Fekete has been with Mandel, Fekete and Bloom, CPAs, a certified public accounting firm located in Jersey City, for more than 35 years and has served as its managing partner since 1984. Prior to joining Mandel, Fekete & Bloom, CPAs, he was an audit manager with Price Waterhouse & Co., servicing multi-national public companies.
Fekete has been a member of the board since 2011, and is involved in other organizations and serves on many boards, including the Board of Directors for Provident Financial Services, Inc. where he also serves as chairman of the Audit Committee. He is a member of the Hackensack University Health Network Board of Trustees, where he serves as treasurer as well as chairman of various committees. In addition, Fekete is a member of the Board of Trustees for John Cabot University, an American University located in Rome, Italy.
Saint Peter’s University honored Fekete with a Professional Achievement Award at its annual Hearts & Minds celebration in 2016. During his acceptance speech, Fekete thanked his family for prompting him to pursue an education at Saint Peter’s, which helped him build a future for himself and his family. “Saint Peter’s has given me more than I could ever give back,” he said.
Continuing the success realized under his predecessor Mac Mahon, retired chairman and chief executive officer of LabCorp, who oversaw a capital campaign that raised more than $64 million for the University, is a high priority for Fekete. His $7.5 million gift to Students at the Center: The Campaign for Saint Peter’s University was the largest of the campaign and helped fund the state-of-the-art Mac Mahon Student Center.
“Saint Peter’s University wouldn’t be where it is today without the hard work, generosity and dedication of Tom and others,” Fekete stated. “I look forward to building upon the success of those who led before me.”
Mitchell-Abbate retired as the executive vice president of human resources of the CIT Group, where she was responsible for global human resource strategy, compensation, benefits and organization development. Following this role she was engaged as a human resource consultant. She has been involved in a variety of organizations including The Phoenix Center, a school for children with developmental disabilities; Women United in Philanthropy and INROADS. She served as a member of the Saint Peter’s board since 2011 and holds a M.B.A. in finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
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