News - 2005
Palatucci Joins CEC
Washington, May 4, 2005 - Community Education Centers Names Palatucci Senior Vice President and General Counsel Roseland, N.J. (April 28, 2005) -Community Education Centers, Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of William J. Palatucci to spearhead the Company's expansion effort of its treatment and educational services for correctional populations across the country. Mr. Palatucci will serve as senior vice president for business development and general counsel.
"Bill's arrival at CEC is timed to accelerate our expansion plans across the country," said John J. Clancy, President/CEO of CEC. "He has the experience, the proven leadership skills, and the practical understanding of how government works, which will be instrumental in growing our business from the eight states we presently serve to our goal of more than 20 over the next five years."
Mr. Palatucci will now become "Of Counsel" at Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci where he established the government affairs department and developed it into one of the largest lobbying and consulting practices in New Jersey, consistently rated in the top ten by the New Jersey Law Journal.
He has also served for three years as New Jersey Republican State Committee finance and co-finance chairman and in 2000 served in the position of senior advisor to President George W. Bush's election effort in New Jersey.
"This a great opportunity with a great company. I have known John Clancy for more than 15 years and during that time I've seen the company improve the lives of thousands of men and women," said Palatucci.
CEC is the leading provider of treatment and education services for adults and juvenile and social services populations throughout the United States. CEC operates a wide array of programs at residential and outpatient facilities at more than 20 locations in eight states. While the company has a major presence in its headquarters state of New Jersey, 88% of CEC's contracts are with government entities in other states or the federal government. This spring, CEC opened a 500-bed facility in Casper, Wyoming and in May will open its sixth Colorado facility, an 800-bed center in Colorado Springs.
"Treatment is the heart and soul of CEC and has proven itself as the leader in attacking both the financial and societal costs of incarceration," Palatucci said. "Today, government at all levels is working hard to react to growing prison populations and public officials are looking to CEC for its innovative programs to cut costs as well as reduce recidivism rates."
According to Palatucci, a recent study implemented in conjunction with Drexel University and the New Jersey Department of Corrections found that participants in the CEC treatment programs had recidivism rates 30% lower than a random group drawn from the department. The study found that reduction was especially noteworthy since the CEC group comprised individuals with high risk factors.
Prior to joining the law firm, Palatucci was active in leading Republican campaigns, serving as executive director of Governor Tom Kean's successful 1985 re-election effort and President George W. H. Bush's campaigns in 1988 and 1992. He was an early New Jersey Republican organizer supporting Texas Governor George W. Bush in 1999 and 2000 and served as a "Pioneer" for President Bush's 2000 and 2004 campaigns.
A 1980 graduate of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N.J., Palatucci also holds a degree from Seton Hall University Law School. He lives in Westfield with his wife, Laura, and three daughters.
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