PASCACK VALLEY AREA—The Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce 2021 Citizen of the Year Awards Dinner, held Oct. 14 at Seasons Catering in the Township of Washington, honored stellar recipients for their selfless contributions to the Pascack Valley.
Bill McLaughlin and Scott Laughton nabbed the honors. Laughton served in the U.S. Army, spent 25 years as a police officer, and more recently earned his nursing degree and assisted as a frontline worker during the pandemic.
McLaughlin is a chair and committee member for several non-profit organizations and cofounded The Jillian Fund to assist families struggling after their children were diagnosed with life-threatening diseases.
The Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce (GPVCOC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization of business organizations and professionals working together to enhance our community.
President Robin Effron Malley, manager and broker associate with Friedberg Properties & Associates, told Pascack Press on Nov. 3, “It was a great night, great recipients and an exciting evening. We love doing it.”
Citizen of the Year awards have been given by the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce every year since Harold Effron was first honored in 1974.
The GPVCOC wasn’t able to convene for its 2020 gala over Covid restrictions, which interrupted so many Pascack Valley traditions and sent shock waves through the business community.
“We were absolutely excited to be back at Seasons to hold such a great event for two really great people,” Malley said.
She said a portion of the dinner profits was donated to the recipients’ choice of charities (including The Jillian Fund and the Park Ridge Elks) and a portion will be used to fund the annual scholarships for deserving seniors at all Pascack Valley public high schools.
Online, the organization says, “Together, we can foster an environment that leads to increased growth in our businesses and neighborhoods. As concerned individuals working together at the GPVCOC, we can foster a vital and responsive chamber of commerce, which results in a better return for business, professional and industrial development.”
There are 10 towns in the greater Pascack Valley. From north to south: Montvale, Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake, River Vale, Old Tappan, Hillsdale, Washington Township, Westwood, Emerson, and Oradell.
All businesses that donated items for the raffles or for the silent auctions were advertised proudly with the donations.
GPVCOC listed donors as Aurora, Bill McLaughlin, Books and Greetings, BuonGiorno Good Day Spa, Caffe Anello, Conrad’s Confectionery, The Fresh Grocer, Fresh Market, Howard Haber, the Iron Horse Restaurant, Jenna Malley, Johl & Co., Let’s Meat Steak House, Love & Lenses Photography, Muah Makeup & Lash Bar, Nino’s Pizza & Restaurant, Pompilio’s Pizza & Restaurant, Ridgemont Pizza, River Vale Country Club, Robin Malley, Runners’ House, ShopRite, and Westwood Gallery.
Scott Laughton
Laughton was born in California; his parents, Mary and David, moved the family to Park Ridge when he was very young. Scott grew up in Park Ridge with his brother, Bruce, and sister, Kimberly, who also still live in the Pascack Valley area.
He attended the Park Ridge schools and graduated from Park Ridge High School in 1987 and attained the rank of Eagle Scout from BSA Troop 80 of Park Ridge.
After a year in college, Laughton decided that he needed direction, so he joined the U.S. Army. He is a two-tour veteran of the Persian Gulf War. After the Army, Laughton worked as a police officer for 25 years. During his final years with the police department, Laughton decided to return to college and in 2016, earned a degree in nursing from Bergen Community College.
Upon retirement from the Park Ridge Police Department in 2019, he embarked on a new career path, as a registered nurse, joining Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck in December 2019.
Then, Covid-19 became a global pandemic and Laughton continued his frontline work, this time in that fight. Due to his background and training in dealing with crises, he was made the charge nurse of the Covid unit day shift.
Laughton resides in Ramsey and is the father of two teen boys: Andrew, 16, is a wrestler at Ramsey High School. Finlay, 13, is a middle school lacrosse player.
Bill McLaughlin
McLaughlin is very active in supporting several area nonprofit organizations. A Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation Board Trustee, he is a founder and the chairman of the board for The Jillian Fund.
He has served as chair or committee member, responsible for raising funds and awareness, for Christian Health Care Center, Tackle Kids Cancer, Westchester Hospice, Girl Scout Heart of the Hudson and United Hospice of Rockland County.
He resides in Montvale with his wife, Kristina, and two daughters: Sofia and Isabella.
McLaughlin is senior vice president of Major Account and Strategic Sales at The Kaseya Companies, a global leader in technology automation and security software solutions.
Prior to Kaseya, he was executive vice president and chief technology officer at Atlantic, Tomorrow’s Office, a provider of office automation solutions and one of the largest privately held technology companies in the United States.
He also held leadership roles at several top-tier office technology companies, including NER Data Corp, Parts Now, and Allied Office Products.
The Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce (GPVCOC) said in its announcement, “One of the things that makes the Pascack Valley such a wonderful place to live and work are those who actually reside here. One of many activities the Greater Pascack Valley Chamber of Commerce has the pleasure of sponsoring is the annual Citizen of the Year Awards. Each year, the GPVCOC honors a person (or persons) who the Chamber feels exemplifies good citizenship and shows an admirable commitment to the community.”
In excellent company
McLaughlin and Laughton join a prestigious roster of recipients:
Peggy Andrews (2012)
James R. Beattie
Lynne Bennett
John Birkner (2012)
Donna Bott (2008)
The Rev. Norman Brinkmann*
Lupe Budelman*
Andre DiMino
Libby and Keith Durie (2016)
Harold Effron* (1974)
Bernard J. Finnegan
Joseph Fisher
Mike Fitzsimmons (2018)
George Haskew, Jr.
Timothy Hampton
The Hodges Family (2015)
John Johl
Skip & Nina Kelley (2013)
Lois Kohan
William Kroepke* (2010)
Thomas Lehmann*
Jeanne Martin (2015)
Det. Rachel Morgan (2011)
George Mulhauser (2007)
Charles Naden*
Bea Napier (2010)
James Napolitano
Father Thomas J. Norton (1996)
Debra Oberg-Kmiecik
Julia Ogden (2018)
Florine Ponton*
Harry Randall* & Family (2009)
Kathy P. Randall
John Redden* (2004)
Yash Risbud (2019)
Donald J. Ruschman
Jay & Elin Stolz
Lee Tremble
Susan C. Vaccaro (2019)
Sophie Werner*
Fred Winkler* (2008)
Louis R. Ycre, Jr.
Bergen Medical Volunteer Initiative (2016)
*deceased