Essex County employee is honored

Photo Courtesy of Glen Frieson The public service contributions of the late Samuel Okparaeke were honored by the renaming of the ‘Essex County Samuel Okparaeke Career Exploration & Technology Room’ on the second floor of the Essex County Economic Development Center/One- Stop Career Center. From left are Apryl Caldwell, manager of Essex County WIOA Services; Senate Majority Leader and Deputy Chief of Staff Teresa Ruiz; Sam’s relatives, Eunice Okparaeke, Cynthia Okparaeke, Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr., Eugene Okparaeke and Evelyn Okparaeke; Anibal Ramos, director of the Department of Economic Development and Training; and Willie Tolbert, chairman of the Workforce Development Board.