Meet The Team

Steven Gerding was appointed Director of the Employee Assistance Program Unit (EAPU) in October 2022. His personal qualifications span over 40 years of professional experience in private security, law enforcement, military service, and higher education working at every level of government in different capacities up to and including the Pentagon. Graduate of the New Jersey State Police Academy, 175th Municipal Class, Sea Girt, NJ. Retired from 30-year dual law enforcement and military careers as a Lieutenant with the Toms River Police Department as well as a Special Agent and Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Air Force Reserve. He also served in higher education as an adjunct college professor for both Ocean County College and The College of New Jersey, and full-time tenure track faculty member and assistant dean at Ocean County College. Nationally Certified Instructor by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training. New Jersey Police Training Commission certified Instructor, currently teaching the Methods of Instruction course at the Ocean County Police Academy for over 30 years. Earned a Ph.D. from Seton Hall University with dissertation examining An Analysis of the Relationship between Higher Education and Police Misconduct in the New Jersey State Police. Employee assistance has been an on-going professional responsibility, proactively helping employees get appropriate care and treatment, developing policies and procedures, and designing and implementing innovative training programs. As the Director, future focused to lead the dedicated professionals of the unit, to be a catalyst for collaborative change, and to facilitate resources and support to best reach the members and families of all the law enforcement agencies in the Department of Law & Public Safety who need and depend on the professional services the Employee Assistance Program Unit provides.

Jackie Pestana has been working for the EAP since 1998.  She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  Jackie enjoys helping people as they navigate through challenging times in their lives.  She believes it is a sign of internal strength and fortitude to seek help for one’s personal issues.  Jackie has a warm, engaging, informal, and at times, humorous style which can put people at ease.  She is skilled at assessing organizational needs, providing coaching to managers, and developing plans of action to address employee and organizational needs with the goal of improving work performance and workplace morale.

Sherry is a graduate of Georgian Court University with a Master of Arts Degree in Psychology. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, as well as, a certified School Counselor.  Sherry is a Clinical Supervisor holding both the Approved Clinical Supervisor and Certified Clinical Supervisor accreditations.  She has been in the substance abuse and mental health treatment fields for over 20 years.  Her experience includes working in direct care treatment, individual and group therapy, intensive outpatient and outpatient care, case management, care coordination, clinical supervision, and program management in a variety of settings with a range of age groups.  She is married to a police officer, and knows personally the challenges they and their families face.  Sherry is very happy to be a part of the EAP team and feels she can best support our mission by applying her knowledge and understanding of the challenges faced by law enforcement officers and their families with her years of education, clinical experience, and expertise.

Mike joined the EAP team in 2015.  He has a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology and an MBA with a concentration in Management.  Mike is a Licensed Professional Counselor as well as a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor.  He also is a Certified Employee Assistance Professional and is certified in Critical Incident Stress Management. Mike has 11 years of experience in the EAP field working for the US Postal Service Employee Assistance Program.  Mike is passionate about working with individuals and organizations to improve productivity and the workplace environment.

Eileen is a graduate of Monmouth University with a Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling and a specialty in Addiction Studies. She graduated at the top of her class and was awarded Highest Ranking Master’s Degree Recipient and Outstanding Academic Achievement in Psychological Counseling. Eileen is a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, NJ Disaster Relief Crisis Counselor, and Certified Mental Health Screener.  She has worked in the field for over a decade with a variety of populations, from young children to geriatric-aged individuals, and in a multitude of settings, including outpatient treatment centers, hospitals, schools, nursing homes, and community centers. She is proficient in a range of counseling, as well as prevention education, domestic violence education, and mental health screening. Eileen has personal and professional ties with law enforcement; and has experience working with law enforcement both in collaboration to help others and to help officers and their families. She is passionate about helping others and excited for the opportunity to help a population she admires.

Michael Parmenter was a member of the New Jersey State Police for over 26 years retiring in 2008.  He served in Troop A,  was a Detective in the Auto Theft and  Major Crime Units, and a Lieutenant in the Employee Relations Unit.  In this position, he developed initiatives providing support and assistance to employees who were experiencing difficulties in their professional or personal lives.  He graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University and is certified as an Instructor by the Police Training Commission, an Employee Assistance Professional, a Disaster Response Crisis Counselor, and a Mental Health First Aid Instructor.  He is also trained in Critical Incident Stress Management.   After retirement, Michael was employed at the Livengrin Foundation’s First Responder Addiction Treatment Program and by the State of New Jersey, Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Disaster and Terrorism Branch where he served as a First Responder Coordinator.

Jenny Lanna has been employed with the New Jersey State Police since 2001 and joined the EAP in 2012. She is an integral part of the office acting as a liaison between the staff and employees seeking assistance. Jenny is a certified Strength Conditioning and Weight Training Instructor and serves both the Office of Health and Wellness and the EAP in providing personal training sessions to employees seeking to achieve a mind, body, spirit, and emotions connection. She is pursuing her degree in Health and Exercise Science at Mercer County Community College.