Caren Bauer never set out to become the face of a major technology cooperative, but she’s exactly that. As a key point of contact at Edge, a member-owned nonprofit providing advanced technology solutions to institutions like Brookdale Community College, Bauer supports everything from finance and membership to event coordination. And through it all, she remains grounded in the values that took root at Brookdale when she needed them most.
“I was a single mom with a toddler when I enrolled,” Bauer recalled. “Brookdale gave me the flexibility, the resources, and the confidence to succeed. My professors knew my son. There was on-campus daycare. And more than anything, it was a community that never made me feel like I didn’t belong.”
Now, nearly three decades later, Bauer is the one offering support, working behind the scenes to keep Edge’s network of colleges and universities connected and thriving. Whether its helping schools procure affordable tech solutions through EdgeMarket, coordinating onboarding for new members, or troubleshooting last-minute logistics at national conferences, Bauer is the ultimate team player. “I like being a problem-solver. The one people can count on,” she said.
It’s a role she plays across multiple departments. Officially a customer service associate, Bauer also liaises with Edge’s finance, marketing, and cooperative procurement teams. Her work often puts her in direct communication with leadership at institutions like Brookdale, including recent correspondence with President David Stout regarding shared initiatives such as NJTransfer.
“I wear a lot of hats, and I love that about my job,” Bauer said. “Every day is different. One moment I’m processing an invoice, the next I’m planning an EdgeCon conference or helping a college find the right vendor for cybersecurity support.”
Edge, formerly known as NJEdge, is a nonprofit consortium that provides internet connectivity, cloud computing, cybersecurity services, instructional design, and other mission-critical technologies to educational institutions nationwide. Brookdale is a connected member and actively participates in Edge’s collaborative purchasing network and affiliate services such as NJTransfer and VALE (the Virtual Academic Library Environment).
Though Bauer is not directly responsible for Brookdale’s specific contracts, she often serves as the first point of contact when institutions reach out for support. “When our members have a need—whether it’s finding a vendor, registering for an event, or troubleshooting a question—I’m often the person who picks up the phone or answers the email. That’s what I love: helping people and making their jobs easier.”
Her path to Edge wasn’t a straight line. After earning her associate degree in Business Administration from Brookdale, Bauer transferred to Monmouth University, following in her father’s footsteps. She worked in advertising at the Asbury Park Press, stepped away to raise a family, and later rejoined the workforce in customer-facing roles.
It was a fellow Girl Scout troop leader who connected her to Edge. “We had volunteered together for years. One day she called and said, ‘We need someone like you.’ I started part-time, worked my way up, and now I’ve been here six years.”
Bauer credits Brookdale for instilling in her the habit of always aiming high. “I remember being told I could choose credit, honors, or high honors. That was the first time I really internalized the fact that I got to choose the level at which I performed. I chose high honors then—and I still try to live that way today.”
Her time at Brookdale was rich with meaningful connections and standout faculty. She fondly remembers Dr. Carl Callender for literature and Ana Teodorescu for math. “She made math click for me for the first time,” Bauer said. “Because of her, I ended up tutoring others. She was a great teacher.”
For current students eyeing a career in tech or client services, Bauer offers clear advice: network relentlessly and take advantage of free certification programs. “Companies like Google, AWS, and Salesforce offer online training at no cost,” she said. “It’s a great way to build your skill set and stay current with the latest trends.”
But more than anything, she encourages students to lean into their strengths and stay open to new paths. “You never know when an opportunity is going to appear—sometimes it’s a friend, a professor, or a chance encounter that leads to your next big move.”
For Caren Bauer, Brookdale was more than a college. It was a launchpad. Today, she pays it forward—every time she picks up the phone, answers a question, solves a problem, or makes someone’s day easier.