| Kathy Liebler
Director of Public Information
|
C O M M I S S
I O N N
E W S R
E L E A S E
Contact: Lowman S. Henry (717) 939-9551 Ext. # 2934 November 19, 1996
ALEXANDER TO HEAD TURNPIKE'S NEW CUSTOMER
SERVICE DEPARTMENT
Harrisburg -- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission today
selected James Alexander Jr., who currently serves as Director of
Administration for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs,
to head the Turnpike's new Customer Service Department. In his new
role, Alexander will be responsible for administering most of the
Turnpike operations which directly affect the motoring public
including fare collection, marketing, communications and Troop T of
the Pennsylvania State Police.
Alexander, 55, will begin his new duties with the Pennsylvania
Turnpike on January 6, 1997 bringing to a close a 26-year career in
New Jersey state government. As Director of Administration for the
New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, he performed a number
of management functions including budgeting, fiscal affairs, grant
management, personnel and logistical services. He also oversaw
several administrative and divisional reorganizations at that
department.
"Next to safety, customer service is our top priority at the
Pennsylvania Turnpike," said James F. Malone, III, Chairman of the
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. "This post calls for a top notch
administrator. Mr. Alexander's record of accomplishment at the New
Jersey Department of Community Affairs and his published works on
management and budgeting make him uniquely qualified to manage
development of our new Customer Service Department."
Creation of a new Customer Service Department was recommended
in a management study of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
conducted by the nationally-known management consulting firm
Deloitte & Touche. The study also recommended creation of a new
Information Technology Department. Robert Brown, a former
worldwide manager for strategic planning and system development
with Black & Decker was hired earlier this year to manage that
department.
Alexander brings a number of professional and academic credits
to his new position as Deputy Executive Director for Customer
Service. He has taught courses in municipal finance administration
and municipal budgetmaking for Rutgers University. He has also
served as an instructor for various training programs for local
officials on budgeting and management topics.
Author of The Municipal Budget Process, a textbook used in a
course of the same name at Rutgers University, Alexander has
written chapters in municipal finance and public policy for several
other books. A number of his articles have appeared in the
publication New Jersey Municipalities. He has also written
numerous articles on the history of Pennsylvania railroads.
A 1963 cum laude graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont,
Alexander went on to the University of Pennsylvania where he
received his Master of Governmental Administration in 1964 from the
Fels Institute of Local and State Government, Wharton Graduate
Division.
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P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 Phone: (717) 939-9551 Fax: (717) 986-9649