John R. Fugazzie Biography 2026

John R. Fugazzie – Professional Biography
John R. Fugazzie is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development, leadership education, and community-based economic advancement. With more than four decades of private-sector and nonprofit experience, he is known for building innovative, people-centered solutions that address unemployment, underemployment, and career mobility—particularly for individuals facing barriers to employment.

He is the Founder and President of Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA (NhNUSA), established in 2011 as a volunteer-led, cost-free job search and career networking organization. Under his leadership, NhNUSA has helped more than 1,500 individuals secure employment, making it one of the most impactful grassroots job search support models in the United States. The model has expanded into targeted initiatives serving women, veterans, Latino communities, professionals age 50+, and the long-term unemployed through the broader helping-Brands platform.

John’s work has also extended internationally. In partnership with Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid, Spain, he helped launch an NhNUSA program that successfully supported dozens of participants in securing employment—demonstrating the scalability of his community-based workforce model.

Workforce Development & Leadership
John currently serves as a Corporate Manager of Workforce Development at RWJBarnabas Health, where he designs and implements workforce pipeline strategies that align healthcare career pathways with organizational and community needs.

His prior leadership roles include:

• Executive Director, Hudson County/Jersey City Workforce Development Board
• Vice Chairman, North Jersey Partners Regional Workforce Board
• Leadership roles with the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program
• Board member, Bergen County Workforce Development Board
• Contributor to the New Jersey Community College Consortium (Ready to Work Federal Grant)

Across these roles, he has helped shape workforce policy and training strategies at the regional, state, and national levels.

Education & Teaching
John is an Adjunct Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in the Hispanic Center, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in:

• Leadership
• Social Change
• Marketing
• Human Resources
• Nonprofit Management

His courses are highly experiential, often serving as incubators for real-world social impact initiatives. Several student-led projects have evolved into ongoing nonprofit efforts, reflecting his commitment to applied learning and mentorship.

He is also the founder of the Institute for Career Education and Career Development, a multi-platform initiative focused on career advancement strategies for a rapidly evolving, technology-driven global economy.

Advocacy & Media Recognition
John is a tireless advocate for job seekers and workforce innovation, recognized for his human-centered approach to economic development—“helping one person at a time, while influencing systems at scale.”

His work and insights have been featured in leading national and international media outlets, including:

• The New York Times
• The Wall Street Journal
• USA Today
• The Washington Post
• CNN, MSNBC, NPR
• U.S. News & World Report, Business Insider, The Guardian
• CBS News, Fox Business, and others

As a subject matter expert, he is frequently consulted by media, policymakers, and workforce leaders on employment trends, job search strategies, and labor market challenges.

Food Industry & Business Leadership
Earlier in his career, John built extensive expertise in the food, retail, and media industries, holding senior leadership roles including:

• Senior Merchandising Manager, Wakefern Food Corporation
• Director of National Purchasing, A&P
• Executive Vice President, Globe Communications
• Director of Retail Marketing, Ziff Davis Publishing

He also served in senior sales, marketing, and general management roles across multiple national organizations and founded consulting firms including helping-Brands and Food Marketing Partners.

Community Impact & MentorshipJohn has mentored thousands of professionals through his volunteer and professional work, providing:

• Career coaching and job search strategy
• Leadership development and training
• Nonprofit consulting and community engagement support

His initiatives include:

• Neighbors-helping-Neighbors USA
• Women-helping-Women USA
• Veterans-helping-Veterans USA
• Latinos-helping-Latinos USA
• BergenDOG (community dog initiative)
• Community Leadership Incubator

Philosophy
John’s work is grounded in a simple but powerful belief:
Strong communities are built by empowering individuals with the tools, networks, and confidence to succeed.

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22,682 connections & followers

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​Mr. Fugazzie was recognized for his volunteer work by: ​
2016 NJCCC Spirit Award.pdf
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​Russ Berrie “Making a Difference Award” 
honorary mention 2023, 2022, 2019. 2017, 2016 2014
​
Governor and the Lt. Governor of NJ, 

Nominated for NJ Heroes, 

Bergen County Freeholders

NJ Department of Labor as an Ambassador for the jobs4jersey program 
National recognition by The White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships initiative of the White House and US Department of Labor. 

White House Brainstorming on Long Term Unemployed
​
MIT Conference Long Term Unemployed

Long term unemployed meeting with Secretary of Labor Perez in January 2014, which resulted in a line in Presidents 2016 budget for relief of 401k penalties for LTU.  
​$250 million a year was budgeted

I wanted to share this with you b/c it came directly from the LTU roundtable we did with Secretary Perez last January. In the President's fiscal year 2016 budget that he just sent to Congress last week there is a provision to remove the tax penalties for long-term unemployed individuals who make early withdrawals from 401k plans. See page 120 of the budget document, second item from the top:
          
"Expand penalty-free withdrawals for long-term unemployed"  Of course, this only becomes law if Congress passes it, but this is a big win for job   clubs, NhN, and "ordinary" citizens being part of the federal policy making process. - Ben Siegel

​ENFJ

​An individual with an ENFJ personality type, according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), is often described as:

• Extraverted (E): They are outgoing, energetic, and enjoy being around people. They often draw energy from social interactions.
• Intuitive (N): They focus on the big picture and future possibilities rather than immediate realities. They are imaginative and open to new ideas.
• Feeling (F): They make decisions based on personal values and how their choices will affect others. They are empathetic and compassionate.
• Judging (J): They prefer structure, organization, and planning. They like to have things settled and are often decisive.

ENFJs are known for being warm, empathetic, and supportive leaders who are good at understanding and motivating others. They are often seen as charismatic and inspiring, with a strong desire to help others grow and succeed. They thrive in environments where they can make a positive impact on people's lives.
Does this description resonate with anyone you know?

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​                ENFJ

• Introduction
• Strengths & Weaknesses
• Romantic Relationships
• Friendships
• Parenthood
• Career Paths
• Workplace Habits
• Conclusion

​The ENFJ, also known as the "Protagonist" or "The Teacher," is one of the 16 personality types in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) system. These individuals are empathetic, charismatic, and people-focused, driven by a deep desire to help others grow and make a positive impact on the world. The acronym ENFJ stands for Extraverted, iNtuitive, Feeling, and Judging. 


Core characteristics

• Extraverted (E): ENFJs gain energy from social interaction and thrive in the outer world. They are highly attuned to social dynamics and often initiate conversations.
• Intuitive (N): They focus on the big picture, abstract ideas, and future possibilities rather than just concrete facts. This allows them to see potential in others and anticipate outcomes.
• Feeling (F): When making decisions, ENFJs prioritize their personal values and consider the impact on other people's feelings. They are driven by empathy and a quest for shared meaning.
• Judging (J): They prefer structure, organization, and closure. ENFJs are decisive planners who like to have things settled and aligned with their broader goals. 

Strengths

• Charismatic and inspiring: ENFJs are natural leaders who can rally people together for a cause they believe in. Their passion and conviction are highly persuasive.
• Empathetic and compassionate: They have a profound capacity to feel what others are feeling and use this insight to make people feel seen and understood.
• Altruistic and values-driven: They are motivated by a sincere wish to do the right thing and advocate for fairness and justice. They feel personally responsible for helping make the world a better place.
• Reliable and loyal: Few things bother an ENFJ more than letting down someone they care about. They can be counted on to follow through on their commitments. 

Weaknesses

• Overly idealistic: Their strong beliefs about what is right can make it shocking or difficult for them to accept when others don't share their core principles.
• Prone to burnout: Their desire to help others can lead to overcommitment, causing them to neglect their own needs until their energy is completely depleted.
• Intense and condescending: When pushing for self-improvement, their energy can sometimes come across as too intense. Their attempts to "enlighten" others may occasionally be perceived as patronizing.
• Conflict-averse: While courageous when needed, ENFJs prefer to avoid conflict and may ignore serious issues to maintain harmony, which can lead to unresolved problems. 

In relationships
In romantic relationships, ENFJs are passionate, intense, and committed. They seek a deep, meaningful connection and often focus on long-term potential, making them reliable and loyal partners. 
Compatibility:

• They are often attracted to individuals who are more analytical and reserved, with INTPs often cited as a complementary pairing.
• An ideal partner will help them pay attention to their own needs and provide psychological support and appreciation. 

Challenges:

• ENFJs can become overly involved in their partner's problems and pressure them to change, sometimes neglecting their own needs in the process.
• Their sensitivity to criticism can be a challenge. A partner must be gentle when providing feedback to avoid hurting their feelings. 

Career paths
ENFJs are best suited for careers that align with their values and allow them to help and inspire others. Ideal work environments are collaborative and people-focused, with a clear mission for positive change. 
Common career fields:

• Education: Teacher, school principal, instructional coordinator, college professor.
• Counseling and social services: Counselor, psychologist, social worker, therapist.
• Management and sales: Human resources manager, training and development specialist, sales manager.
• Communication: Public relations specialist, reporter, broadcast announcer.
• Arts: Actor, art director, producer, director. 

Notable ENFJs

• Barack Obama
• Oprah Winfrey
• Martin Luther King, Jr.
• Nelson Mandela
• Maya Angelou 

Chaperoned a group of teenagers from St Luke's Ho-Ho-Kus to Rome for World Youth Day 2000

49 years and counting
​of Professional Experience
​

John R. Fugazzie MBA
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​6 years Human Resources
RWJBarnabas Health 

​
​25 years Publishing
​EVP Globe Communications
Ziff-Davis Inc.
helping-Brands web portal
Executive Produce Skel Club
Skel Club Children's Books

​25 years Food Industry ​
Shop Rite Supermarkets
​Garden State Farms
Wakefern Food Corporation
Schratter Imports
Universal Foods
EPPA Association
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.
Anco Fine Cheese
C&S Wholesalers Grocers

​17 years Retailing - Food​​
Shop Rite Supermarkets
Garden State Farms
Wakefern Food Corporation
Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.
C&S Wholesalers Grocers

​15 years Economic/Workforce​
RWJBarnabas Health
Neighbors-helping-Neighbors
NJMEP 
Hudson/Jersey City WDB
NJCCC Ready To Work Federal Grant
helping-Veterans
helping-Women
helping-Latinos

​15 years in Non Profits
Neighbors-helping-Neighbors
Bergen Dog.com
​The Dog Park at Van Saun
​www.bergendog.org
​helping-Brands.com | helping-brands.org

​12 years Education
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Becton College Arts & Sciences
Hispanic Center - Puerta al Futuro
NJCCC Grant Leadership
Master level leadership, non-profit and Management and Organizations, Human Resource classes

​8 years Manufacturing​
NJMEP Manufacturing Extension 
NJCCC Manufacturing Training
Universal Foods
​Garden State Farms

MBA 1981

BS Marketing and Management 1977

Class of 1973

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​Current Employers

Past Employers