In ongoing efforts to further its mission of providing an array of services to those in need around the four-county Diocese, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, has announced the new appointments of personnel to its organization.

Jennifer Sullivan, Esq., has joined Catholic Charities as a social policy consultant; Robert Tanzola has been elected to chair the agency’s board of trustees, and Nancy Tompkins is director of the newly merged development and marketing department. Marlene Lao-Collins, executive director of Catholic Charities, had welcoming remarks on each of the new candidates.

“Jennifer Sullivan has an impressive background in public policy and advocacy on behalf of non-profits. Plus, as a result of actively participating on our Social Policy Board Committee, she is very familiar with the issues of utmost importance to our consumers and our agency.”

Lao-Collins noted that Sullivan was part of a delegation of 15 staff and consumers from Catholic Charities to travel to Washington, D.C., in July, where they attended a congressional reception to advocate for more affordable housing and funding in New Jersey.

Of Tanzola, Lao-Collins noted how he “has served with great distinction by sharing his expertise as a member of the finance committee and as vice chair,” she said, then commented on how Tanzola’s “commitment to our mission” was reflected in his effort to support our programs through his many visits to sites and volunteering at El Centro, which provides outreach to the Latino community in the Trenton area, Lao-Collins said.

Of Tompkins, Lao-Collins stated how “thrilled” Catholic Charities is that she agreed to lead development.

“She had been with Catholic Charities for six years as the development director, and has done an excellent job of managing all aspects of the agency’s fundraising and development efforts, including the design and implementation of a comprehensive resource development strategy.”

“Since joining the agency, Nancy has been instrumental in diversifying the fundraising mix to include an integrated direct mail program, the addition of an Annual Giving Program as well as initiating planned giving strategies and initiatives. During her time with Catholic Charities, she has built excellent relationships with many of our donors, and has established strong relationships with members of the community,” Lao-Collins said.

Jennifer Sullivan

Reflecting on her role as a social policy consultant, Sullivan will assume responsibility over the public policy advocacy and government relations aspect formerly held by Joyce Campbell, now the executive director of Trenton Area Soup Kitchen.

Sullivan sees the job as an opportunity to represent Catholic Charities on policy issues throughout New Jersey. In addition she will also work with Catholic Charities’ stakeholders, the consumers who need the services, to help them tell their stories and advocate for the services in their communities.

“Catholic Charities does wonderful work, serving the neediest among us. I have had the pleasure of working with Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton as a volunteer for many years, serving on the Social Policy Committee. Now I am so pleased to have the opportunity to work as a consultant on social policy issue(s). It is an honor to work with an organization so vital to the communities in which it operates,” she said.

Sullivan resides in Yardley, Pa., with her husband, Jim, and three daughters, Caroline, 15, Katie, 13, and Faith, 10. The family worships in St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, Yardley. A licensed attorney in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Sullivan earned her undergraduate degree from University of  Notre Dame and her law degree from Rutgers University.

She currently maintains her own consulting practice, where she offers advocacy services to non-profit organizations, including policy development, coalition management, training and lobbying. She is also a member of the Social Policy Committee at Catholic Charities. Prior to starting her consulting practice, she served for more than 12 years as the N.J. State Advocacy director for the American Cancer Society, where she led the state government relations team for the ACS in New Jersey.

Robert Tanzola

As the new chair of the Catholic Charities board of trustees, Tanzola succeeds outgoing chair Sen. Peter Inverso.

Tanzola’s affiliation with Catholic Charities began with volunteering time in 2006 as a member of the board’s finance committee, later serving as its chair. He recently completed a term as vice chair of the board of trustees. Both Tanzola and his wife Karen dedicate considerable time as tutors and English as a Second Language instructors with El Centro.

Tanzola said he considers it an “honor and privilege to have been elected as chair of the board of trustees of this wonderful organization.”

“Catholic Charities is entering an exciting period of time where the external environment is becoming more competitive. This will require a continued focus on maintaining a sound financial footing and growing the support base. It will also require maintaining an organization that can meet the diverse market challenges as it has in the past. This will position Catholic Charities to alleviate human suffering and improve the quality of life for people of the Trenton Diocese well into the future.”

Tanzola and his wife are the parents of three sons: Robert III, William and Jeffrey and six grandchildren. The couple has been members of St. Catharine Parish, Spring Lake, for more than 30 years and he currently serves the parish as a sacristan and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

He shared that before retiring, his business career involved his family living in nine countries, including South Korea, England, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil.

In addition to volunteering with El Centro, Tanzola also assists Dominican Sister Elizabeth Gnam, chaplain at the New Jersey State Prison in Trenton.

Nancy Tompkins

Before joining Catholic Charities, Tompkins worked at Rutgers University for more than two years providing leadership to the Stewardship and Gift Acknowledgement staff. Prior to Rutgers, she worked at the Hunterdon County YMCA for 12 years, initially as director of public relations; as senior director of public relations and marketing and then as director of development and marketing. She also has five years of corporate marketing experience both at ADP Corporate Headquarters and A.M. Best Company.

Tompkins holds a bachelor of science degree in social services from the University of Maine and a MBA in marketing from Seton Hall University, South Orange. She is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals; serves in the development and communication group of Catholic Charities USA and is a member of the MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Mercer Employer Legislative Committee.

“During my six years at Catholic Charities, I have seen so many people who have come to us – feeling so broken, completely hopeless, having experienced severe trauma and adversity,” she said. “To see them become ‘alive’ and well through their treatment with Catholic Charities and get back on their feet, is a true testament to the compassionate, professional and caring staff who are deeply committed to their work. I often refer to my colleagues in the field as ‘miracle workers.’ We truly do renew lives and restore hope and at times, save lives,” she said.

Tompkins and her husband of 16 years, Ron, have a “blended family,” she said; their children are Tyler, 26, Caitlyn Logan, 25, and Chelsea, 25. The couple worships in Immaculate Conception Parish, Annandale.