New jersey health care employers
District 1199J-afscme
Training and Development Fund

Stephanie Harris-Kuiper holds a PhD in Social Service and a Masters of Arts in Counseling. Additionally, she is a certified social worker, as well as a licensed professional counselor. Ms. Harris-Kuiper has over twenty-five years of experience as counselor, educator and health service provider in the Greater Newark metropolitan area. Previously, Ms. Harris-Kuiper served as Immunization Consultant to the City of Newark Department of Health and Human Services, where she was responsible for the overall development of Newark DHHS Immunization Program for some 4,000 children residing in Newark, NJ. Ms. Harris-Kuiper has over twenty years of experience as an AIDS health care professional. Her experience in AIDS service delivery includes education/training, program development, and administration and case management supervision. Ms. Harris-Kuiper is presently Executive Director of New Jersey Health Care Employers District 1199J Training and Development Fund and is responsible for its overall administration, management and supervision. She was recently appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Labor's Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships. 

Mark Kuiper is Assistant Program Director, Apprenticeships for the Training and Development Fund. He started in 2004 as a part-time ESL and Adult Basic Skills instructor and was asked in 2010 to help spearhead the YTTW Physical Therapy Aide Apprenticeship. Since then, he has assisted in writing all grant programs including both YTTW programs and the PACE grant and actively assists in managing and coordinating recruitment, employer engagement, and summer enrichment programs. He holds a bachelor’s degree in German Area Studies with a minor in Political Science from Kenyon College and is currently enrolled in a master’s program in Social Work at St. Leo University. He has worked at Dow Jones, Inc., Reuters News Group, Market News International, and McGraw Hill. 

Alexis Francis, a Newark, NJ resident, received her elementary education in the Newark Public School system and graduated from Science Park High School. She participated in the Training and Development Fund's first summer enrichment program, Newark Young Adult Pre-Apprenticeship Program in 2013.  Because of her great work ethic, hard work and dedication, she was hired in the Fund's office as a program placement assistant. She is currently the Executive Assistant to the Fund's Executive Director and is an indispensable team member, helping to manage multiple grant programs and union tuition reimbursement. 

Marcus hails from Akron, Ohio, where he received his Bachelor and Masters from The University of Akron in Sports Management and Sports Administration/ Exercise Science. Marcus was a standout in football and track in college and had the opportunity to play professional football and ran professionally. He is in his second year as the Pre-Apprenticeship Career Education (PACE) grant Coordinator for the adult CNA program and recruits regionally for the PACE program and assists in apprenticeship placements.  

AdeRonke Adeyemi became the Training Fund's YTTW Program Coordinator in 2021.

She is instrumental in assisting with the coordination & implementation of grant related programs and activities. Ms Adeyemi supports young adults who have an interest in  healthcare through apprenticeship learning and education. She shares YTTW's vision to see every young person equipped with the tools they need to navigate challenges and seize opportunities confidently. By fostering a culture of creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration, her aim is to empower these leaders to create a brighter future for themselves, their families and their communities.

Educated at Pratt Institute, she settled on receiving her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Empire State College in Manhattan, NY and in 2021 studied writing from South Africa's Black Women in Science. Ms Adeyemi received the Sister Outsider Relief Grant from The Free Black Women’s Library in 2021.

Gabrielle Louis holds a bachelor's of Science in biology. Additionally she is a trained Full Spectrum Doula pursuing her certification. Most recently, she served as an Administrative Assistant with Atria Senior Living in Crandford NJ. Atria Cranford is a Assisted Senior Living facility that also has a Long term wing for residents with advanced Dementia needs. Gabrielle also served at Lincoln Park Elementary School in Newark, N.J. where she was Special Projects Coordinator with particular emphasis on database management and technology systems. She worked directly with both students and administration staff to improve academic programming and elevate community interaction with the school. Before joining the North Star Academy Network, Gabrielle worked for Bloomfield College as the Community Service and Special Projects Coordinator. She coordinated local and state wide service activities for resident and commuter students, assisted yearly with planning new student orientation, as well as supervising and training work-study students.