Edmund L. Houston Foundation

Frank Glien, Treasurer

Al's professional trajectory predominantly spanned Fortune 500 companies in New York and New Jersey, specializing in human resources and pharmaceutical sales.    He spend the bulk of his career with Healthfirst, Reliant Pharmaceuticals and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).  Al's involvement on the Board of Directors for the Westfield Area Y and participation as a mentor in their Black Achievers Program earned accolades in 2005 as Volunteers of the Year.

In his most recent chapter, Al settled in Sarasota, Florida, where he ventured into entrepreneurship, founding "Nisa Gifts LLC.", specializing incorporate Promotional & holiday gifts.  The online retail store also offers personalized gifts; jewelry, watches, tote bags, shirts, awards, plaques, custom name necklaces, key chains, custom journals and more. 

He has a BA in History from Rutgers University, New Brunswick and a MBA for Rutgers Business School, Newark

Past Rutgers Business School Advisory Committee

ALFRED (AL) WEST, CO-PRESIDENT

Leon Fraser is currently Principal, AchieveAbility LLC.  He spent 16 years as an award-winning Business Professor - Management & Strategy and Managing Director - Executive Education, Rutgers Business School (RBS), Newark and New Brunswick.  A Harvard educated consultant, educator and personal challenge coach, since 2005 Professor Fraser has helped RBS MBA students to develop leadership skills and strategic marketing expertise.  In addition to a BA degree in Government from Harvard, Leon Fraser also has an MBA from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania.  Prior to coming to RBS Professor Fraser worked as Director of Corporate Strategy and Associate Director of Marketing for Verizon, NY.  Additionally, he was Vice President of Marketing fo Call Science Inc, Edison, NJ.  In addition to his work at RBS, Leon Fraser continues to consult for Spenser Partners LLC, Bloomfield, CT, providing strategic advise to client companies.

Leon Fraser is a member of the Edmund L Houston Foundation RBS Advisory Committe along with the foundation's executive committee. 

Albert Turner

Frank is the sole proprietor of Frank Glien, LLC, CPA, the company he has owned for over 30 years.  It is a full service accounting firm offering accounting and auditing services.  He also provides tax preparation and small business consulting. Frank specializes in services to non-profit organizations including applications for tax exempt status, certified audits, bookkeeping and installation of accounting systems.  Frank has a BA degree from Morehouse and a MBA from Rutger Business School.

Leon Fraser

Crystal has a MBA in Finance from Rutgers Business School.  After many years in corporate America, Crystal started her own commercial cleaning business. When health problem force her to close that business, she followed her passion for baking.  Crystal bakes and sell pound cakes in all kinds of seasonal flavors as the owner of The Cake Pound, an online and indoor/outdoor farmer's bakery.

Albert Turner is the Assistant Director Rutgers Business School MBA Graduate Admissions.  Prior to his more that 10-year tenure with RBS, he was an Adjunct Instructor at Union County College and instructor in the East Orange School District.  Al has a BA degree from Rutgers, Newark.  He is dedicated to making sure that RBS has a a fair number of minority students admittanced into its program.  Al helps with the selection of the Edmund L Houston Foundation grant awardee.  Additionally, he works with the Edmund L Houston Foundation to provide tutors in problem subjects such as finance and accounting.

Denise Joyner West is a marketing veteran with more than 25 years of experience.  She spent almost five years as Marketing Director for ESSENCE Communication the parent company to ESSENCE Magazine.  She reported directly to the President and helped develop several new revenue streams for the company including a music label and travel club.  Denise spearheaded successful marketing and business development programs for the ESSENCE Awards TV show and the ESSENCE Music Festival. Denise’s brand marketing experience includes five years in brand marketing with Nabisco on products such as Fleischmann’s Margarine, Royal Desserts and Squeeze Margarine.  At Revlon, West launched Clean & Clean skin care line’s Bar and Buff  product. Additionally she was responsible for the package re-design and reformulation of Mitchum Antiperspirant and Colorsilk Hair Color.  Denise also spent five years with Loews Corporation’s Lorillard Division on the Kent and True brands.
 Since leaving Essence Denise has worked as a freelance marketing consultant working with companies such as Footsteps Group advertising agency (Omnicom Group) and Landy International, a Chinese manufacturing company. Denise retired as Vice President of Marketing at Technology Concepts Group Intl (TCGi) in Somerset, NJ. She now co-owns Nisa Gifts LLC, an online retail and corporate promotions company.
 She has a BA degree from Douglass College, Rutgers University and a MBA degree from Rutgers Business School.

Crystal E Jones, Vice President

Denise Joyner West, President

Executive Officers

The Alfreda P Robinson Award is given to the Black or Hispanic student graduating with an MBA from Rutgers Business School with the highest GPA.

Alfreda P Robinson, a retired Assistant Dean of Student Services at Rutgers Business School funded that award every year until her passing.

Alfreda P Robinson passed in January of 2016 leaving a legacy of service to Rutgers Business School.

Alfreda P Robinson Award

Edmund L. Houston

At the age of 43 without prior business training Houston opened a neighborhood tavern.  Within seven years, the tavern had grown into Scott’s Manor and then into Scott’s Caterer, Inc., a multifaceted corporation valued in more than one million dollars.  In 1971, Edmund L Houston was one of the first recipients of the Minority Enterprise Small Business Investment Company’s loans from the Rutgers Minority Investment Company.  At his death, Houston employed more than 75 full time and many more part time employees.  Houston maintained a close relationship with the University and was remembered when the students at Rutgers Graduate School of Business chose to name their foundation.

The Edmund L Houston Foundation was established in 1973 by Black students at Rutgers Graduate School of Business Administration.  The ELH Foundation posthumously honors Edmund L Houston* for his success as a black entrepreneur, his exemplary courage and spirit in the business community. Over the past 40+ years, the ELH Foundation has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in the form of fellowships and scholarships to minority students enrolled in the Rutgers Business School MBA program.  We continue in these efforts today.  For the academic year we are awarded $6,000 for the Houston Fellowship and $500 to a graduating student as part of the Alfreda P Robinson Award.