The University of Rhode Island (URI) Alumni Association is awarding Jonathan Herman ‘99, the COO of Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), Eatontown, its prestigious Distinguished Achievement Award in recognition of his support, time and charitable works, Saturday, October 14, 2017 at the Newport Marriott, Newport, Rhode Island.
Jonathan said, “I was once told, ‘Only a life lived for others is a life worth living.’ I am very lucky that Preferred Home Health Care allows me to do exactly that – live a life for others.”
Among his many charitable works, Herman and PHHC recently awarded four $500 scholarships to benefit New Jersey and Pennsylvania undergraduate nursing students. In memory of his parents, he and his wife Alene established the Arthur and Helen Herman Scholarship Fund at URI to provide financial support for students who have lost one or both parents. The Hermans recently gave $4,000 each to three students from this scholarship fund.
Herman also donated $25,000 to name an advising center at the Harrington School in honor of his journalism professor Linda Lotridge Levin, and he gifted $2,500 for a bench behind Ranger Hall named in honor of his parents. To honor his grandmother Lily Markel, a Holocaust survivor, he gave $25,000 to URI Hillel.
According to the URI Foundation, Herman has also been generous with his support and time for his alma mater. “He has spoken to URI communication classes, sharing insights about his career and experience. He hired two Harrington School students to work as interns at his Massachusetts-based company, Acelleron Medical Products, a durable medical equipment company. After they graduated, they were hired as employees at the company, which focuses on respiratory, prenatal, and postnatal devices geared toward the needs of infants, children, and new and expectant mothers. As a member of the Harrington School Executive Advisory Board, Herman has volunteered his time to mentor a communication student.”
South Jersey magazine, South Jersey Biz, and NJBIZ, all business publications, have recognized Herman as one of their top young business professionals for his professionalism, accomplishments, leadership, vision, and community service.
Jonathan became inspired to help others during his traumatic childhood. When both his parents died at a young age from cancer, his maternal uncle and his wife, Joel and Stephanie Markel, welcomed Jonathan and his brother Russell into their home. The Markels also faced tragedy when their second son Ryan passed away from cancer shortly before his first birthday.
It was during these trying times that Jonathan realized the value of good support systems, ranging from family to caring organizations. To this day, Jonathan remains grateful and indebted to all those who helped him.
Since he began working at PHHC in 2005, Herman has helped its growth and development by expanding the company to locations throughout New Jersey and in Pennsylvania. He was instrumental in the acquisition of Acelleron, a durable medical equipment company, which services most of New England, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Herman, who serves on the state board for the March of Dimes, is the nonprofit’s state business spokesman. The Emmanuel Cancer Foundation (ECF), a charity that focuses on serving children with cancer and their families named Herman and Alene their 2014 Humanitarians of the Year. Herman has raised more than $34,000 for the American Melanoma Foundation by coming in first place in the stock competition Portfolios with Purpose.
Herman earned a B.A. in journalism with honors from the University of Rhode Island. Before joining Preferred in 2005, Herman worked on Wall Street for six years at Salomon Smith Barney and then at a capital management firm.
