Charter Day 2022
A Night to Remember
Fairleigh Dickinson University honored David Knee, BA’88 (below) and the newest inductees into the University’s Pinnacle Society: Frank Santoloci BS’61, MBA’65; Bonnie Krentzman, BA’73; Elizabeth Catrini, BS’85, MBA’89; and Thomas Timko, BS’91 (above left to right).
Fairleigh Dickinson University honored David Knee, BA’88, vice chair at JLL, a world leader in real estate services at its annual Charter Day celebration, held on June 10, 2022, on the University’s beautiful Florham Campus.
FDU’s Charter Day celebrates the University’s history and heritage by bringing together alumni, friends and corporation and foundation partners. In addition to providing the University with the opportunity to honor its loyal and distinguished alumni, the event supports student scholarships. Over the course of more than 30 years, Charter Day has raised more than $12 million and has provided hundreds of students with assistance as they work toward their degrees. This year’s event raised more than $725,000, which will provide scholarship support for hundreds of FDU students, now and in the future.
In his introduction, former FDU President Christopher A. Capuano remarked that Knee is “tenacious, ambitious, and smart. He is, in short, an FDU alumnus extraordinaire and the personification of everything that makes FDU great.”
Knee began his career in commercial real estate as an intern at Cushman and Wakefield. He caught the eye of a broker who was looking to hire a junior broker, and from, there, Knee rose through the ranks.
He was a principal and executive vice president at Klatskin Associates when that firm was acquired by JLL in 2007. As vice chair, he is responsible for overseeing the growth of the Northeast industrial practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York.
Before presenting Knee with the award, Capuano noted that Knee’s FDU story is a version of one he has heard often. “David says that FDU helped him to recalibrate,” Capuano said. “The small classes, the excellent and engaged professors and the campus family were all ingredients that helped him to succeed.”
In addition to his position at JLL, Knee is active in the industry’s trade associations. He is a former secretary for the Industrial Real Estate Brokers Association of the New York Metropolitan Area and is a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and the National Association for Industrial and Office Parks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Additionally, he has served as a member of FDU’s Board of Trustees since 2019.
Also honored were the newest inductees into the University’s Pinnacle Society, which recognizes success or distinction in one’s chosen field of endeavor, significant contributions to society and humanity through public or humanitarian service and outstanding service to the University or reflection of the unique character of FDU in one’s life. The newest group of Pinnacle Society members are Elizabeth Catrini, BS’85, MBA’89, assistant vice president, global customer service CFO, AT&T (retired) and assistant professor of Accounting and Business at Centenary University; Bonnie Krentzman, BA’73, educator and community volunteer; Frank Santoloci BS’61, MBA’65, production director (retired), The New York Times; and Thomas Timko, BS’91, vice president and chief accounting officer and controller, GE.