Assist-2-Sell Real Estate franchise in Jackson was recently recognized as one of the Top 10 Percent Assist-2-Sell offices in the nation for 2003. Owners Kimberly Kelly and Raymond Ciamarra were presented with the award at the company’s annual convention held in Reno, Nev. Assist-2-Sell currently encompasses over 350 offices throughout North America.

Richard Hader, R.N., Ph.D., who was recently appointed senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Meridian Health, has been honored with the 2004 Governor’s Nursing Merit Award in the category of Nurse Administrator.

The awards recognize exceptional commitment to the nursing field. In particular, Hader was honored for his efforts in creating an environment that fosters exemplary practice, supporting nursing research, using health care resources effectively, demonstrating exceptional leadership and contributing to health policy.

A Jackson resident, Hader has had a broad and distinguished career with Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a member of Meridian Health. He attended the medical center’s Ann May School of Nursing and started his nursing career in 1981 as a nurse’s aid at Jersey Shore.

After serving as a staff nurse, he pursued opportunities in administration and later became vice president and chief nurse executive of Jersey Shore University Medical Center. In his new position, he manages nursing initiatives for the three-hospital, 900-bed system, overseeing Meridian’s 2,000 registered nurses.

A certified health care executive and nurse administrator, Hader led the effort for Jersey Shore University Medical Center to be the eighth hospital in the country to receive the Magnet Award, the highest level of national achievement a nursing organization can receive from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

In 2003, he was appointed the editor-in-chief of Nursing Management, the most widely circulated international professional journal for nurse managers. He also serves the Nursing Advisory Boards of Seton Hall University and Monmouth University.

Hader received a bachelor of science in nursing from Monmouth University, West Long Branch; a master of science in nursing administration from Seton Hall University, South Orange; and a doctoral degree in nursing from Adelphi University in New York.

He is also a graduate of the Johnson & Johnson Wharton Fellowship Program.