George Ververides Outstanding Community Leadership Award
In honor of its 35th Anniversary, KMM established the George Ververides Community Leadership Award. The award honors the legacy of George Ververides, Middlesex County Director of Planning from 1968-2020 and KMM founding member. As director of planning for 52 years, Ververides, recently retired, laid the foundation and oversaw the development of transportation, bicycle, and pedestrian safety infrastructure projects that impact the people of Middlesex County today.
This award is given to an individual or organization in recognition of their commitment to the community and inspired leadership in transportation. This recipient embodies KMM’s mission and George’s lifelong dedication to improving transportation through acts that enhance safety, provide education, and improve mobility. The award is presented at KMM’s Annual Meeting which is held in May.
Brij Chawla, 2025 Honoree
Brij Chawla started his professional journey much like most people, with college and a selection of an industry of interest. After completing his BS from Long Island University and then an MBA from Pace University, he continued his professional career. He sought out new higher position opportunities at a series of large commercial firms in the paper converting and printing industry over a total of 37 years.
However, in 2015 he had an opportunity to change the trajectory of his professional life, with a position at a large nonprofit agency in North Jersey. After spending five years with that nonprofit, a new opportunity became available closer to home at a smaller firm, Edison Sheltered Workshop (ESW).
Brij joined ESW in June 2021, after having served on its Board of Trustees for two years prior. Shortly after joining, he launched Project Leo – the ESW Transformational Project, to remake the agency. The goal of the program was to go beyond surface changes and rethink the agency operations toward a bold long term ambitious set of strategic objectives. The project has been a collaborative effort across all teams with the ultimate goal of to ensure that the agency thrives, not just survives. Brij has been a leading force for change at the organization that has allowed it to serve its consumers effectively.
Diana Starace, 2024 Honoree
Diana Starace is the recipient of the 2024 George Ververides Outstanding Community Leadership Award. As the Safe Kids Middlesex County and Injury Prevention Coordinator for Robert Wood Johnson Hospital, Diana Starace has cultivated a network of over 120 partners, offering safety education to Middlesex County residents, focusing on high-risk, underserved, and vulnerable groups. She has played a vital role in KMM’s programs, supporting bike rodeos, active adult safety, Walk and Bike to School events, Safety Town, and advocating for safer streets in her community through her involvement with the Dunellen Mayor’s Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Task Force.
Diana was presented with the award during the July Healthier Middlesex membership meeting, where representatives from Saint Peters Healthcare Center, Wellspring, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Aetna, Mobile Family Success Center, and numerous other Middlesex County partners were in attendance.
Jason Delia, 2023 Honoree
Metuchen Borough Council President Jason Delia is the first recipient of the George Ververides Outstanding Community Leadership Award. Since his election in 2019, Delia has focused on improving mobility and safety in his community. Working with Middlesex County, Delia reduced the speed limits on County roadways frequently used by pedestrians. He championed the NJ Safe Passing Law in 2021 and recently established a bike lane along Grove & Eggert Ave in Metuchen which is expected to be implemented in the Fall 2023.
“Given the incredible impact Mr. Ververides has had on Middlesex County, I am truly humbled to receive this award. Now, I feel an even greater responsibility to uphold the values and principles of community service that Mr. Ververides embodied. I extend my sincere gratitude to Keep Middlesex Moving for this honor. On behalf of Metuchen, I am grateful for KMM’s support and partnership,” said Delia.