Lakeland Bank Announces New Hires
Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, is pleased to announce the following appointment.

Cheryle Hale has been hired as Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager for the Commercial Loans Team based in Iselin, N.J. She has 29 years of lending experience and was most recently a Vice President, Credit Officer for Santander Bank in Howell, N.J. Hale earned a bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in business administration from Georgian Court University.

Freedom Bank Hires New Ridgewood Branch Manager
 
Freedom Bank, headquartered in Maywood, recently announced that it has hired Monang Shah as its new Ridgewood Branch Manager. With more than 13 years of banking experience, Shah will be managing the Ridgewood branch team. His focus will be to help the bank grow and assist the community by serving Freedom Bank’s values.
 
Shah graduated from Montclair State University majoring in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. He began his career in retail banking with PNC Bank as a Financial Consultant and was then promoted to an In-Store Branch Manager. Two years later he went to work for Valley National Bank as an Assistant Branch Manager.
 

Regal Bank Announces Promotions 
Regal Bank announced the promotion of Albert G. Salas to assistant vice president and branch manager at their location in Florham Park, NJ. 
 
Salas has been with Regal Bank since April of 2013. During that time, he has served as customer service representative, bank assistant manager, and branch manager. Prior to joining Regal Bank, he worked as a sales and service specialist for Bank of America. 






Also, Regal Bank promoted Zoraida Duran to assistant treasurer and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) administrator at their bank headquarters in Livingston, NJ. BSA administrators work with operations and financial managers to ensure compliance with internal and government regulations.
 
Duran has been with Regal Bank for more than six years, working in both the loan administration and compliance departments. Prior to joining Regal Bank, she served as assistant branch manager at Banco Popular as well as Northern State Bank. 



Christine Gormley Promoted to Vice President/Manager of Lending Services at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Christine Gormley from Assistant Vice President/Manager of their Commercial Lending Administration Division to Vice President/Manager of Lending Services. 

Gormley joined ASB in March of 2012 as their Loan Workout Specialist in the Bank’s Loan Workout Department.  Gormley has close to 30 years of financial services experience having held positions in credit and collections as well as in foreclosure and loss mitigation. Additionally, She previously worked for Superior Bank in New York where she was the REO Asset Manager. 

In her new role, Gormley will be responsible for managing ASB’s Lending Services.  Gormley will also oversee departmental work processes and ensure timely work flows with loan closings to provide the optimal customer experience. 




Riker Danzig Welcomes Three Summer Associates
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP welcomed three 2018 Summer Associates to the Firm on June 4.  The eight-week program is designed with professional development as the primary goal, providing each Summer Associate with exposure to numerous Riker Danzig attorneys and practice areas.  The work assignments allow each Summer Associate to become a part of the team of attorneys working on a case or transaction.  They also receive additional training by taking observation assignments, where they observe trials, depositions, client conferences, court hearings and transaction closings.  The Summer Associates each have a partner mentor and an associate mentor, who serve as valuable resources, offering assistance and advice and facilitating feedback.  In addition, the Firm provides a number of social activities to provide opportunities for casual interaction between the Summer Associates and attorneys.  
Riker Danzig’s 2018 Summer Associates:

Goldie Bryant is currently attending Seton Hall University School of Law and is expected to receive her J.D. in May 2019. She received her B.A., cum laude, in 1995 from New York University College of Arts and Sciences.  Bryant was a Doctoral Student in Community Psychology from New York University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences from 1995 to 1999.  After her first year of law school, she interned at Bryant Rabbino LLP in New York City. 
Anthony K. Lombardo is scheduled to receive his J.D. degree in May 2019 from Fordham University School of Law. He received his B.A. from the University of Scranton in 2015.  Lombardo was a judicial extern to the Hon. Gerald Lebovitz in the New York State Supreme Court in the fall of 2017.  In the summer of 2017, he was a judicial intern to the Hon. John K. Sherwood, United States Bankruptcy Judge in the District of New Jersey.  Lombardo interned at Myers, Brier & Kelly, LLP in Pennsylvania in the spring of 2015. 
Jennifer Winkler is currently attending Seton Hall University School of Law and is expected to receive her J.D. degree in May 2019. She graduated the College of New Jersey with a B.A., magna cum laude, in May 2016. In the summer of 2017, Winkler was a judicial intern for Supreme Court of New Jersey Justice Jaynee LaVecchia in Morristown.  Prior to that, she was an intern at the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General in Trenton. 


Magyar Bank Announces New Hire

Magyar Bank has announced that John O’Reilly, of Springfield, New Jersey, recently joined the Bank as Branch Manager of the Bridgewater office located at 475 North Bridge Street. Mr. O’Reilly was previously Vice President, Small Business Banker at Bank of America and has over 35 years of banking experience. A graduate of Kean University, Mr. O’Reilly is an active member in the community, and is a current member of the Springfield Knights of Columbus. 









Lakeland Bank Announces New Hires

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, announced the following appointments.

Gerard Savarese has been hired as Vice President, Network Operations Center Manager based at the Milton Operations Center in Oak Ridge. He was most recently a Network Operations Center Manager for KPMG in Montvale. Prior to that, he was Manager of Network Operations and Infrastructure Support for Delta Dental Plan of New Jersey. Savarese earned a bachelor of science in computer science and a bachelor of arts in psychology from Queens College of the City University of New York. He is ITIL certified.

Jeffrey Li has been hired as Assistant Vice President, Small Business Junior Underwriter/Portfolio Manager based in Oak Ridge. He was most recently a Relationship Manager-Originations and Underwriting with China Merchant Bank in New York. Prior to that, he was an Underwriting Associate with Full Circle Capital. Li earned a bachelor of science in finance and information systems from New York University, Stem School of Business.







Justin Colgan has been hired as Vice President, Project Manager based at the Milton Operations Center in Oak Ridge. He was most recently a Senior IT Project Manager with WebMD in New York and prior to that, a Senior IT Infrastructure Project Manager with Realogy in Madison, N.J. Colgan earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Virginia Tech University and later received a graduate certificate in Project Management from Stevens Institute of Technology. He is an active member of St. Dunstan’s Church vestry. 






Michael Niro has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor based in Bernardsville. He was most recently a Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor and a Portfolio Investment Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Florham Park. Niro earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Albright College. He has previously volunteered as a travel baseball coach, umpire-in-chief and board member for 13 years with the Mt. Olive Junior Baseball Association and has served as vice president for the Mt. Olive Diamond Club. He has also donated his time to Habitat for Humanity and is an active member of the Albright Alumni Association








Norman E. Burroughs, Jr. Appointed to Vice President/Commercial Lender at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Norman Burroughs to Vice President/Commercial Lender of ASB’s Morristown Office located at 43 S. Park Place, Morristown NJ, 07960. 
Burroughs has over twenty-three years of commercial lending, credit and portfolio management experience. Prior to joining ASB, Burroughs was a Commercial Portfolio Manager at Greater Hudson Bank. Additionally, Mr. Burroughs is a Credit Committee Board Member for the New Jersey Community Capital, a Member of the American Institute of Banking and Diversity Committee Member for Citi Capital. Moreover, Burroughs is a Board Member for the Calvary Baptist Church Community Development Corporation and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Upsala College.







Local Financial Services Professional Earns National Certification
Sylvia Rapoport, Vice President & Marketing Manager, Amboy Bank, was recently awarded the Certified Financial Marketing Professional (CFMP) certification from the American Bankers Association. The CFMP certification is awarded to individuals who demonstrate excellence in the field of financial services marketing. To qualify for the CFMP certification, individuals must have certain levels of experience and education in the financial services marketing profession, pass an exam and agree to abide by a code of ethics. The CFMP exam covers many areas including financial principles, laws and regulations, market research, characteristics of marketing plans, and marketing components. Rapoport, who joined Amboy Bank in 2007, has over 15 years of business marketing experience. In her role as Vice President, Marketing Manager, she manages the bank’s in-house agency and is responsible for advertising, public relations, communications and the bank’s marketing research programs. Rapoport earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Rutgers University.  She serves as the Chairwoman of The New Jersey Bank Marketing Association and is a member of The NJ Ad Club. She was honored as a Best Marketing and Communications Professional under 40 by the NJ Ad Club and the Jersey Shore Public Relations & Advertising Association.  Financial services professionals, working through ABA, initiated the CFMP certification and seven others in order to establish meaningful standards of knowledge in specialty areas of the financial services industry. ABA Professional Certifications formally recognize those who meet these standards and meet professional continuing education and development requirements.  


Riker Danzig Welcomes Associate Alyssa DeFuria
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP was pleased to welcome Alyssa A. DeFuria as an associate, joining the Firm’s Family Law Group.  She practices in all areas of family law.  DeFuria received her law degree from New York Law School in 2015.  She graduated in 2012 with a B.A., cum laude, in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.  While in law school, DeFuria interned for Judge Catherine Enright, Morristown Superior Court.  After law school, she was a law clerk to the Honorable Michael E. Hubner, Superior Court of New Jersey, from 2015-2016.  She is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York. Prior to joining Riker Danzig, DeFuria was an associate at Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Dukas, LLP in New Brunswick.  
 







Lakeland Bank Appoints Doug Cosgrove
Douglas W. Cosgrove has returned to Lakeland Bank as Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager for the Waldwick Lending Team. Cosgrove was most recently a Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager for M&T Bank in Paramus. Previously, he was a Vice President, Commercial Loans for Lakeland’s Teaneck Lending Team, and prior to that, was with TD Bank in Union City. He holds an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University and a BA from Susquehanna University. Cosgrove completed the FBI Citizens Academy with the Class of 2012, is on the Board of Directors for the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce and Paterson Alliance.







Metuchen Savings Bank President & CEO Katherine J. Liseno Recognized for 55 Years of Service
On Friday May 18th at the New Jersey Bankers Annual Conference at Marco Island Florida, our President & CEO, Katherine J. Liseno was honored with special acknowledgment and appreciation of her unselfish devotion for 55 years of service to the banking industry. Liseno has been President and CEO of Metuchen Savings Bank since 1979, beginning her career with the bank in 1962. She has served since 2014 on the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC) of the NY Federal Reserve Bank. Liseno served on numerous committees of NJBankers predecessor organizations, including the New Jersey Savings League and later New Jersey's Community & Savings Bankers Association where she served as Chairman of the Board of Governors from 2001 to 2002. She also served on the Executive Committee; the Committee on Examination & Supervision; the BCG, Inc. Board of Directors; TICIC, Inc. Board of Directors; Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee; State Legislative Committee; Nominating Committee; Public Relations & Marketing Committee; the County League Committee; and as President of the Central Jersey Savings League.  Additionally, Liseno served a term as President of Garden State Chapter #67 of the Institute of Financial Education in 1978; served on the Board from 1969-1979; was an instructor from 1973-1977; and studied there from 1963-1969.  She served on the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York for ten years from 2002 to 2013 where she was the Chair of the Affordable Housing Committee. Liseno was the recipient of the 2012 NJBankers Forrey-Gallman Award in recognition of her long-term outstanding service to the NJ banking industry.

An active community volunteer, she was active for many years in the Rotary Club of Metuchen and was recognized with a Triple Sapphire Paul Harris Award in 2013 for her generous contributions to the humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation. Liseno, the first woman inducted to the Rotary Club of Metuchen, is a past President and served for many years as a member of the Board of Directors. Liseno was the President of the Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce in 1980, a Board member from 1969-1979 and Treasurer of the Metuchen Country Fair Committee from 1968 through 2011.


Mark Markarian Appointed to Assistant Vice President/Information Technology Manager at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Mark Markarian to Assistant Vice President/Information Technology Manager of ASB’s IT Department. 

Markarian has over twenty years of technology experience with skilled expertise in managing, architecting, designing and implementing a myriad of banking and finance functions and platforms. Prior to joining ASB, Markarian was a Technical Project Manager/Consultant for such companies as Price Waterhouse Coopers, KPMG and JP Morgan.

Additionally, Markarian has a BS Degree in Finance/Computer Science from Boston College and an MBA in Finance from NYU Stern School of Business.
Fulton Bank of New Jersey names financial center manager
Thomas A. Marino was named financial center manager for Fulton Bank of New Jersey’s Cherry Hill Financial Center. In this position, he will be responsible for the business development, community involvement and overseeing the daily operations of the Financial Center. Marino comes to Fulton Bank of New Jersey from Santander Bank where he held the position of senior vice president and senior retail district executive. Marino holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Ashford University in San Diego, California.



Lakeland Bank Appoints Kathy Coffee-Biancamano
Kathy Coffey-Biancamano has accepted a position with Lakeland Bank as Vice President, Area Manager for the Boonton and Montville branches. Coffey-Biancamano was most recently a District Executive with Santander Bank in Randolph and previously held the same position at Interchange Bank in Saddle Brook. Prior to that, she was a Sector Service Manager at PNC Bank. Coffey-Biancamano earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. Peter’s College. She is a member of the Women’s Network Group and a volunteer for Bergen County Habitat for Humanity. Coffey-Biancamano is a resident of Washington Township. 







Lakeland Bank Announces 2018 Promotions

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, is pleased to announce the following officer promotions.

Rita Myers promoted to First Senior Vice President – Comptroller. Myers joined Lakeland Bank with the merger of National Bank of Sussex County (NBSC) in 1999. She began her banking career at NBSC in 1980 and advanced her position to Comptroller in 1989. In 2007, she was promoted to Senior Vice President, Comptroller. 

Laurie Veith promoted to First Senior Vice President – Director of Operations.  Veith joined Lakeland Bank in 1987 and advanced her career with positions in Finance, Purchasing and Facilities, and Deposit Operations. In 2011, she was named Senior Vice President, Deposit Operations and Physical Security, and in 2012, her position changed to Senior Vice President, Deposit Operations.

Tina George promoted to Senior Vice President – Facilities and Purchasing. George joined Lakeland Bank through the Newton Trust acquisition in 2004.  She started with Newton Trust in 1992 advancing her position in the Facilities and Purchasing department to Assistant Vice President in 2005 and was promoted to Vice President in 2007.

Konstantine Zoganas promoted to Senior Vice President – IT Director. Zoganas joined Lakeland Bank in 2015 as Vice President, IT Director.  Prior to that, he was a Program Manager at Engineering Solutions and Products in Eatontown, N.J. Zoganas earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint Joseph’s College and is pursuing a master’s degree at Seton Hall University. He is a Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.

Jane Kasten promoted to Vice President – Branch Manager. Kasten joined Lakeland Bank in 2015 as an Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager of the Little Falls Branch.  Prior to that, she was with Spencer Savings Bank in Wayne and with Valley National Bank as a Vice President, Branch Manager and Business Development Officer in Totowa and Lincoln Park. Kasten is a member of the North Jersey Chamber of Commerce and the Tri-County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Carianne Reeber promoted to Vice President-Branch Manager. Reeber joined Lakeland Bank with the merger of National Bank of Sussex County (NBSC) where she began her banking career in 1997.  She was promoted in 2010 to Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager of the Hewitt Branch and transferred to the Bloomingdale Branch in 2012. 
 
Drew TerWaarbeek promoted to Vice President – Regional Administrator. TerWaarbeek joined Lakeland Bank in 2000 and was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager of the Montville Branch in 2002. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager in 2010, to Vice President in 2013 and to Vice President, Area Manager of the Montville and Boonton Branches in 2014. In this new role, he will oversee all of the southern region branches.

Debra Burke promoted to Assistant Vice President – Collections Supervisor.  Burke joined Lakeland Bank in 2002 as a Collector in Credit Administration. She was promoted to Assistant Treasurer, Consumer Collection Officer in May 2009 and in 2016 advanced to Assistant Treasurer, Collections Supervisor.

Tracy Conklin promoted to Assistant Vice President – Marketing Communications Specialist. Conklin joined Lakeland Bank in 2010 as a Marketing Coordinator. She was promoted to Marketing Communication Specialist in 2011 and to Assistant Treasurer, Marketing Communications Specialist in 2014. 

Robert Keyes promoted to Assistant Vice President – Portfolio Manager. Keyes joined Lakeland Bank in 2013 as a Senior Credit Analyst with the Bernardsville Lending Team. Prior to that, he was a Credit Analyst II with TD Bank. Keyes was promoted to Assistant Treasurer, Portfolio Manager in 2014.

Amy Lane promoted to Assistant Vice President – Portfolio Manager. Lane joined Lakeland Bank in 2004 as a Teller for the Caldwell Branch and was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager in 2008. She transferred to the Montville Commercial Lending team as an Administrative Assistant in 2013, was promoted to Junior Credit Analyst in 2015 and to Assistant Treasurer, Portfolio Manager in 2016. 

Chelsea Natiello promoted to Assistant Vice President – BSA/Fraud Project Manager. Natiello joined Lakeland Bank in 2009 as a Call Center Financial Service Provider. She transferred to the BSA-Fraud Department in 2011 and was promoted to Junior BSA Analyst in 2012. Natiello was promoted to Senior BSA-Fraud Analyst in 2014 and to Assistant Treasurer, Senior BSA-Fraud Analyst in 2016.

Ronald Novak promoted to Assistant Vice President – Portfolio Manager. Novak joined Lakeland Bank in 2013 as a Junior Credit Analyst in Credit Administration.  He was promoted in 2014 to Credit Analyst with the Wyckoff Lending Team and to Senior Credit Analyst in 2016. Novak was promoted in 2016 to Assistant Treasurer, Portfolio Manager for the Waldwick Lending Team. 

Theresa Pereira promoted to Assistant Vice President – Loan Post Closing Supervisor. Pereira joined Lakeland Bank in 2017 as an Assistant Treasurer, Loan Post Closing Supervisor. Prior to that, she was with ReadyCap Lending in New Providence.

Kyle Schwesig promoted to Assistant Vice President – Portfolio Manager/Analyst. Schwesig joined Lakeland Bank as a Senior Credit Analyst through the acquisition of Harmony Bank in 2013. Prior to that, he worked as both an Analyst and Portfolio Manager for several other banks.

Christine Jackubowski promoted to Assistant Treasurer – Team Leader. Jackubowski joined Lakeland Bank in 1998 as a Teller for the Milton Branch and was promoted to Customer Service Representative in 1999. She joined Deposit Operations in 2001 and was promoted to Assistant Administrator in 2016.

Diane Popolo promoted to Assistant Treasurer – Branch Operations Manager.  Popolo joined Lakeland Bank in 2015 as a Personal Banking Consultant at the Wanaque Branch.  She was promoted to Assistant Branch Manager of the Ringwood office in 2016. 

Lena Ray promoted to Assistant Treasurer – Branch Operations Manager. Ray joined Lakeland Bank in 2016 as Assistant Branch Manager of the North Haledon Branch.  Prior to that, she was with Santander Bank US in Palisades Park.



Fulton Financial Corporation promotes commercial real estate team leader
Meredith E. Roark has been promoted to commercial real estate team leader in Fulton Financial Corporation’s Commercial Real Estate Lending Group.  In this position, she will be responsible for managing and expanding commercial real estate relationships in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, which includes South and Central New Jersey and Northern Delaware. Roark joined Fulton Financial Corporation in 2016 and most recently held the position of commercial real estate relationship manager. Roark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and English from Bucknell University.







Riker Danzig Welcomes Associate Christine Restrepo
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP is pleased to welcome Christine N. Restrepo as an associate, joining the Firm’s Corporate and Transportation & Logistics Groups.  Restrepo is experienced in the drafting of commercial agreements and transaction documents, including service agreements, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, asset and stock purchase agreements, logistics agreements, operating agreements, and formation documents. She regularly counsels clients regarding entity formation and corporate governance matters.   

Restrepo received her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law in 2013, where she was the Alumni Relations Associate of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion.  She received the Charles H. Revson Law Student Public Interest Summer 2012 Fellowship and was a 2010-2011 Plumbum Nos In Posterus Scholarship recipient. She received the Dean’s Pro Bono Award for Significant Service upon graduation from Rutgers.  Restrepo received a B.A. in Sociology and Criminal Justice from the University of Delaware in 2010, where she was a merit scholar and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society.   

Following law school, Restrepo served as the Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard M. Freid, Superior Court of New Jersey from 2013-2014.


Capital Bank Announces Promotion, New Hire, New Director and First Quarter Results
Capital Bank of New Jersey, the South Jersey community bank owned by hundreds of local stockholders, made several announcements at its April 30 Annual Stockholders Meeting. The bank announced the promotion of Brad Cusick to Senior Vice President. Cusick has been a Capital Bank employee since 2012 and is its Camden and Burlington County Market Manager. The bank also announced that is has hired Michael Feeley as Vice President / Commercial Loan Officer. Feeley will work with Cusick in Capital Bank’s Marlton Loan Production Office (LPO).

At the bank’s Annual Meeting, all nine of its nominated Directors were elected by its stockholders, including Kathie Renner, who is new to the Board. Renner is an attorney who is Of Counsel to Brown and Connery, with principal offices in Woodbury and Westmont.
The bank also reported at its Annual Meeting that it had earnings of $1,436,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $150,000 (11.5%) compared to the first quarter of 2017. It reported total assets of $478 million at March 31, 2018.
In addition to Romano and Renner, Capital Bank’s directors include John J. DiDonato, James R. Haefele, David J. Hanrahan, Harry E. Hearing, Daniel R. Kuhar, Salvatore A. Pipitone, and George H. Stanger, Jr.



Magyar Bank Announces New Hire
Magyar Bank has announced that Magdalena Morales, of Carteret, recently joined the Bank as Vice President, Branch Manager.  Morales will be based in the Bank’s South Brunswick office and has over 31 years of banking experience.  Most recently, she was Vice President, Relationship Manager with Unity Bank.  Morales is a graduate of Drake College of Business and an active member of numerous community organizations including the North Plainfield/Plainfield Club and the Rotary Club. 








Lakeland Bank Announces New Hires

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, is pleased to announce the following appointments.

Joseph Cranwell has been hired as Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager for the Middlesex/Monmouth Commercial Lending Team based in Iselin. He was most recently a Relationship Manager with Santander Bank, NA and Citibank, NA.

Neal Gordon has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor based in Hackensack. He was most recently a Financial Planner with Metlife/Mass Mutual and, prior to that, a Vice President, Financial Advisor with JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch. Gordon holds professional designations of Chartered Financial Consultant, Certified Long Term Care and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor. He is registered and licensed with Series 7 and 66 securities as well as Life, Health, Property and Casualty insurances. Gordon presents financial literacy awareness programs to non-profit groups, as well as Continuing Professional Education credit presentations for CPAs.

Perry Lighty has been hired as Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager, Carlstadt. He was most recently a Vice President, Branch Manager at Chase Bank. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Branch Manager at Hudson United Bank and City National Bank. Lighty attended William Paterson University. He is a Board Member of the Paterson Great Falls Rotary Club as well as a member of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce. He is on the District XI Ethics Committee of New Jersey and is an active volunteer with the Great Falls Food Pantry.

Cynthia Murphy has been hired as Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager for the Middlesex/Monmouth Commercial Lending Team based in Iselin. She was most recently a Relationship Manager with Investors, Wachovia and Santander banks. Murphy is the president of the Board of Trustees for All Access Mental Health in Princeton, N.J., a Councilwoman in Bristol Township, P.A.; serves on the Board of the Lower Bucks County, P.A., Joint Municipal Authority and the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America for the Washington Crossing Council.

Stephen Roldan has been hired as Vice President, Branch Manager, Toms River. He was most recently a Vice President, Business Relationship Manager and Branch Manager at Santander.  Prior to that, he was Vice President, Branch Manager with Bank of America. Roldan attended Cabrini University. He does community service with NJ Sharing Network and is a coach for Howell Township recreation.

David Rothberg has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor based in Toms River.  He has twenty years of financial advising experience both in New Jersey and New York for several banks, including M&T Securities, PNC, Wells Fargo, and HSBC. Rothberg earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and holds a juris doctorate.

Sheryl Simon has been hired as Vice President, Commercial Relationship Manager for the Commercial Lending Team based in Teaneck. Her most recent position was Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager at TD Bank and prior to that, she was with Wachovia Bank. Simon earned her bachelor’s degree in finance and political science from Warrington School of Business with a minor in economics. She is a member of the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

Ottilia Stura has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor based in Hackensack. She was most recently a Financial Planner with Metlife/Mass Mutual and, prior to that a Vice President, Financial Advisor with JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch. Stura is registered and licensed with Series 7 and 66 securities as well as Life, Health, Property and Casualty insurances. She is a volunteer for the Mahwah Marine Moms and Semper-Fi Funds, and Wyckoff Tri Club.

Matthew Treglia has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor based in Hackensack.  He was most recently a Financial Advisor for M&T Securities and prior to that an Assistant Manager.  Treglia earned a bachelor’s of science in business marketing from the State University of New York College at Brockport.
Boiling Springs Savings Bank Promotes Sandra Ruiz to Assistant Treasurer/Senior Retail Banking Specialist
Boiling Springs Savings Bank, one of northern New Jersey’s largest savings banks and provider of financial services to individuals and businesses for nearly 80 years, announced the promotion of Sandra Ruiz to Assistant Treasurer/Senior Retail Banking Specialist at its recent Board of Directors meeting. In this position, Ruiz will provide retail banking training to all levels of branch staff, maintaining an advanced knowledge of teller and CSR operation systems. She will assist branch administration with tracking, reporting and documentation review for accuracy and auditing standards, and help with annual branch reviews and drafting policies and procedures. Additionally, she will assist branch personnel with operational and technical issues, as well as scheduling branch staff. 
Newfield National Bank Hires New Analyst
Newfield National Bank welcomed Joseph Mendolera, Assistant Vice President/Senior Credit Analyst, to the Loan Servicing Department. Mendolera comes to the bank with 20 years of credit underwriting experience from two other local banks. Mendolera is a volunteer for “Remembering Jamie Foundation,” an organization that raises funds for scholarships.




Newfield National Bank Announces Promotions
Newfield National Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of the following employees from the Loan Operations department. 

(left to right, front row) Natalie Szwed, promoted to Assistant Cashier/Consumer Loan Officer; Rae Eidam, promoted to Assistant Cashier/Senior Credit Analyst; (back row): the department Supervisor, Dainis Basens, Senior Vice President/Chief Credit Officer; Michelle Sterchele, promoted to Assistant Cashier/Collections Manager; Lisa Chew, promoted to Assistant Vice President/Loan Operations; and Carol Long promoted to Vice President/Credit Manager 

Long-time Newfield National Bank employees were recently promoted as the back office reorganizes. Pamela Warren was promoted to Assistant Cashier/Electronic Funds Manager and Elsie Cline was promoted to Deposit Operations Manager.

Warren has over 36 years of service to Newfield National Bank working in various departments throughout her career. Cline has been with the bank for 30 years and has also worked her way through the bank beginning as a Teller.

(left to right): Kathleen A. Valla, Executive Vice President/Operations, congratulates Pamela Warren, promoted to Assistant Cashier/Electronic Funds Manager; and Elsie Cline, promoted to Deposit Operations Manager, along with John Borelli, Jr., President/CEO of Newfield National Bank 

Local business woman, Lauren Allonardo was recently promoted to Assistant Cashier/Human Resources for Newfield National Bank. Allonardo has been with Newfield National Bank for 20 years starting as a Teller and working her way through the ranks as a Compliance Clerk, then to Branch Administration and now serving in the company’s Human Resources Department.

Lauren Allonardo (center), Assistant Cashier/Human Resources, along with her supervisor, Kathleen A. Valla (left), Executive Vice President/Operations; and John Borelli, Jr., President/CEO of Newfield National Bank


Newfield National Bank Hires Local Banker
Newfield National Bank  announcde the hiring of John O’Connor as Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer. O’Connor joins us from BB&T Bank where he led a lending team throughout the southern New Jersey market. He previously worked for Minotola National Bank and via acquisition, Susquehanna Bank. With 38 years in banking, O’Connor brings extensive community banking experience, along with large banking practices.  He is looking forward to returning to the familiar community banking atmosphere.








Somerset Savings Bank Announces Officer Appointment

Somerset Savings Bank announced the promotion of Neil Viotto to Vice President and Loan Originations Manager.  He also serves as Compliance Officer for the Bank’s Loan Division. 

Viotto joined Somerset Savings in 2011 and previously was Assistant Vice President of Loan Originations. He has over 25 years of experience in the mortgage industry, working on both the retail and wholesale sides of the business.  He resides in Clinton, NJ where he is also a member of the town’s Land Use Board.






Gus Vintimilla Appointed to Vice President/Branch Manager at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Gus Vintimilla to Vice President/Branch Manager of ASB’s Westwood office, located at 200 Kinderkamack Road, Westwood, NJ. 
Vintimilla has over fifteen years of experience in the banking industry with skilled expertise in business development and staff development as well as sales, marketing and coaching. Prior to joining ASB Vintimilla held manager positions at Alma Bank, Valley National Bank and Investors Bank.





Adel Mikhael Joins Provident Bank as Vice President, Market Manager
Adel Mikhael has joined Provident Bank as Vice President, Market Manager. He is responsible for developing new business in the Lehigh Valley/Western New Jersey market, and will work closely with businesses to meet their financial needs.  Mikhael will also be responsible for building a referral network of accounting firms, law firms, and trade associations to source new business.  In addition, he will oversee Provident’s Bethlehem, Pa. and Phillipsburg, N.J. branches and will be responsible for sales management, operational proficiency, coaching and staff development.
 






Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP announced that it has elected five new partners and appointed two new counsel, effective January 2018.

Riker Danzig’s newly-elected partners are:

Stephanie D. Edelson is a partner in the firm's Commercial Litigation Group. She concentrates her practice in complex commercial litigation with an emphasis on disputes arising in construction, corporate acquisitions, noncompetition issues, professional malpractice, and complex contractual claims.   Edelson graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, and earned her A.B. in Economics magna cum laude from Brown University, where she was Phi Beta Kappa.  She is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia.  







Joshua M. Greenfield is a partner in Riker Danzig's Real Estate Group. Greenfield has experience in complex commercial real estate matters, including acquisition and sale, land use, financing and drafting construction contracts.  While pursuing his J.D., Greenfield was Managing Editor of the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science and Technology.  He earned his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2007, magna cum laude and Order of the Coif.  He graduated from Rutgers College with High Honors in 2004, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy with high honors and a B.A. in Economics. Greenfield is licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York.  






Alexa Richman-La Londe is a partner in the Environmental Law Group of Riker Danzig.  She represents clients in all aspects of environmental law, including litigation involving claims under CERCLA and the New Jersey Spill Act as well as regarding environmental aspects of real estate and commercial transactions. She also counsels clients on regulatory issues, including site remediation, ISRA and environmental permitting.  Richman-La Londe is a frequent speaker on environmental topics.  She earned both her J.D., cum laude, and her M.S.L., magna cum laude, from Vermont Law School and a B.A. from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.  Richman-La Londe is licensed to practice in New Jersey, Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.  






Maura C. Smith is a partner in the Firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Group, with a particular focus on insurance coverage and reinsurance matters.  She regularly advises clients on complex coverage issues under general liability, property, and professional liability policies, including insurance allocation, additional insured coverage, and cyber liability risks.  She also has considerable experience drafting policy language and providing guidance to insurer clients regarding a variety of regulatory and compliance issues.   Smith earned her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 2003, and her J.D., magna cum laude and Order of the Coif, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2006.  Smith has also served as in-house coverage counsel for Mitsui Sumitomo Marine Management, and was formerly a commercial litigation associate with Cravath, Swaine & Moore.  She is licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York.  





Allen J. Scazafabo, Jr. is a partner in the Firm’s Family Law Group.  Scazafabo is Board Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney and is a certified R. 1:40 Post Early Settlement Panel Economic Mediator, serving as a Blue Ribbon Early Settlement Panelist in Morris County and an Early Settlement Panelist in Essex County.  He is experienced in complex family and civil matters, including disputes over the distribution and valuation of assets, business, pension and stock valuations and custody disputes.  Scazafabo serves on the New Jersey State Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee.  He received his J.D. degree from the Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of Scranton.  Scazafabo is licensed to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.





Elected to Counsel are:

Jaan M. Haus, Counsel in Riker Danzig's environmental group, is experienced in environmental litigation, regulatory compliance and transactional matters.  He represents clients in all aspects of site remediation projects and has particular knowledge of the Licensed Site Remediation Professional program.  In addition, he assists clients with brownfields development projects and land use permitting as well as the environmental aspects of corporate and real estate matters, including drafting contract provisions and advising clients with regard to due diligence.  Haus earned his law degree cum laude from Pace University School of Law in 2008, where he also received a Certificate in Environmental Law.  He earned his B.A. from the University of Richmond in 2005.  He is licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York.  





Rudy S. Randazzo is Counsel in Riker Danzig's Governmental Affairs and Litigation Groups. Randazzo has developed strong experience in complex appeals, constitutional law, eminent domain, construction litigation, and real estate based litigation.  He earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law in 2008, where he was a member of the Fordham Environmental Law Review. Randazzo graduated from Rutgers University in 2005 with a B.A. in Archaeology.  He is licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York.








Riker Danzig Welcomes Associate Ryan Magee
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP welcomed Ryan M. Magee as an associate, joining the Firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations Group.  Magee has substantial trial experience handling a wide variety of criminal matters, including embezzlement, mortgage fraud, identity fraud, racketeering, narcotics, and other cases.  
 
Prior to joining Riker Danzig, Magee served as an Assistant Prosecutor in the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, where he oversaw the Financial Crimes Unit, Cyber Crimes Unit, and Special Investigations Squad.  While at the Prosecutor’s Office, he attended the National Computer Forensics Institute, Computer Forensics in Court, administered by the United States Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security.  He also served as liaison to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Anti-Money Laundering Task Force.  
 
Prior to joining the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Magee served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Eugene H. Austin, Superior Court of New Jersey, Criminal Division. 
 
Magee received his J.D. degree, from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2010, where he was a member of the Seton Hall Circuit Review.  He received a B.A. in Public Relations from Hofstra University Honors College in 2007.  




Roselle Savings Bank has announced the appointment of two executive staff members: 

Zenja Quarles has been named Assistant Vice President (AVP), Marketing Manager. Within her new role, Quarles will be responsible for implementing effective marketing programs, strengthening brand recognition, and enabling new marketing strategies and services across Roselle Savings Bank branches, including retail, business development, lending, operations, and community development organization.

With a proven track record of developing and implementing innovative sales and marketing campaigns, Quarles brings over 17 years of marketing experience to Roselle Savings. Most recently, she served as the AVP, Marketing Manager for Carver Federal Savings Bank in New York City where she established an effective marketing structure that directly broadened customer base, increased competitive advantage, and enhanced bottom-line revenue. She is also credited with expanding Carver Federal Savings Bank’s footprint across Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan. 



Dianne Durland joins Roselle Savings Bank as AVP, Training Manager. Within this role, Durland will be responsible for training aspects of sales and operations in a fast-paced environment. She will assist with coaching and counseling, performance evaluations, as well as developmental plans and performance expectations. 

Durland, who started her career as a bank teller has nearly 40 years of banking industry experience specializing in branch/office management. Prior to joining Roselle Savings, Durland was the Relationship Manager for Unity Bank in Flemington, N.J., where she was responsible for branch sales and operations along with supervising and assisting the branch staff to ensure that all needs were met.




Lakeland Bank Appoints Penta and Tostanoski 

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, is pleased to announce the following appointments.

Anthony Penta has been hired as Senior Vice President, Team Leader based in Iselin, N.J. Joining Lakeland with more than 28 years of industry experience, he was previously with Santander Bank N.A. (formerly Sovereign Bank) since 1994 where he advanced his career and was most recently a Senior Vice President, Market Manager based in Howell, N.J. Penta earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Springfield College. 







Patricia Tostanoski has been hired as Vice President, Relationship Manager for the Hudson Valley Lending Team based in Highland Mills, N.Y. Joining Lakeland with 30 years of industry experience, Tostanoski was most recently a Bookkeeper with a small private accounting firm in Spring Valley, N.Y.  Previously, she was a Vice President, Business Banking Branch Manager at M&T Bank in New City, N.Y., and prior to that, a Vice President, Relationship Manager with JPMorgan Chase in Newburgh and Nanuet, N.Y. and Paramus, N.J. Tostanoski is a graduate of Georgetown University with a major in international management and minor in accounting. 






Margaret Laquidara Appointed to Financial Consultant at Sussex Bank
Sussex Investment Services located at Sussex Bank announces the addition of Margaret Laquidara as an Investment Professionals Inc. (IPI) Financial Consultant at Sussex Bank in Oradell, NJ.


Fulton Bank of New Jersey names branch manager
Pamela Fink was named branch manager at Fulton Bank of New Jersey’s Mountain Avenue Branch. In this position, she will be responsible for the business development, community involvement and the daily operations of the branch. Fink comes to Fulton Bank of New Jersey from TD Bank, where she held the position of branch manager







Magyar Bank has announced the following personnel changes:
Peter Brown has been named Head of Commercial Lending and will oversee Magyar Bank’s Commercial Lending team. Brown has been with Magyar Bank for five years, and was most recently Vice President, Commercial Lender.  He has over 30 years of banking experience and is a graduate of Widener University.
 






Jocelyn Valenzuela has been promoted to Vice President.  Valenzuela joined Magyar in 2017 as Retail Manager of the Bank’s Tano Mall office which opened in June 2017, and will continue in this role.  Prior to joining Magyar, he was Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager at Hammi Bank.  She has over 25 years’ experience in the banking industry, and is a graduate of NYU. 
 







Carmen Estevez has been promoted to Vice President.  Estevez  will continue in her role as SBA Administrator where she handles SBA loan closings as well as continue to provide customer support.  She has over 20 years’ experience in the banking industry and has been with Magyar for 4 years.

Magyar Bank Announces New Hire

Magyar Bank announced that Daniel Chin, of South Plainfield, joined the Bank as Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager.  Mr. Chin will be based in the Bank’s Bridgewater office and has over 9 years of banking experience.  Most recently, Mr. Chin was Business Banking Relationship Manager with Santander Bank.  Mr. Chin is a graduate of Seton Hall University and an active member of the Somerset County Business Partnership. 

Alexander Balnicki Joined Northfield Bank as Vice President of Commercial Lending
Northfield Bank announced that Alexander Balnicki has joined Northfield as a Vice President of Commercial Lending in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Balnicki brings over 17 years of commercial lending experience to Northfield.  Alexander began his career as a Loan Processing Agent with Champion Mortgage and most recently was the Vice President of Multi-Family Lending at Peapack-Gladstone Bank. He will be based out of Northfield Bank’s Avenel office located at 1410 St. Georges Ave. Avenel, NJ.   

Liberty Bell Bank Promotes Iannitti  to Branch Manager
Liberty Bell Bank President and CEO, Ben Watts  announced that Vince Iannitti has been promoted  to Branch Manager/Assistant Vice-President of the Cherry Hill Office.  Iannitti  will be responsible for increasing and maintaining the deposit base as well as community relations.  Iannitti resides in Deptford, NJ.  Liberty Bell Bank, one South Jersey’s only remaining community banks,  provides commercial banking products and services to customers primarily in Camden and Burlington counties, as well as surrounding counties in New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Two River Community Bank Welcomes Charlie S. Suh as Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer

Two River Community Bank has announced the addition of Charlie S. Suh as vice president and commercial loan officer serving the Middlesex County and Union County area. Suh brings more than 25 years of financial services experience to Two River Community Bank. 

Most recently, he served as vice president and commercial lending officer for Middle Market C&I and CRE at Investors Bank. Prior to that, he served as chief financial officer and senior vice president at Global Business Network Group LLC, where he oversaw asset management for middle-market sized clients from China, Korea and Japan. Suh’s professional experience also includes leadership roles at Flushing Bank, Fleet Bank (Bank of America), HSBC Bank, Dime, and Chemical Bank (JPMorgan Chase). 

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado and a Master of Business Administration degree from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. He is a licensed real estate broker in New Jersey and New York. Mr. Suh is fluent in English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese. 

Litchult Joins Provident Bank as Vice President, Relationship Manager
Kenneth Litchult of Waldwick, NJ, has joined Provident Bank as a Vice President, Relationship Manager with the bank’s Healthcare Financial Services Group.  He is based in Morristown, NJ and is responsible for working with healthcare businesses, practice groups, and care centers throughout New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania to meet their financial services needs.  Litchult will focus on originating commercial loans with amounts ranging from $250,000 to $10 million, and will be responsible for managing a portfolio of existing client relationships.  In addition, he will work closely with accounting firms, law firms, intermediaries, and trade associations to source new business.
 
Prior to joining Provident Bank, Litchult was a Vice President in the Healthcare Financial Services Group at Valley National Bank in Wayne, NJ, where he focused on healthcare commercial loans ranging from $250,000 to $15 million and managed an $80 million loan portfolio.  In addition, Litchult has held similar positions with Provident Bank NY (now Sterling National Bank) in Lodi, NJ, and Fleet Bank (now Bank of America) in Morristown, NJ.  Litchult holds a B.A. from Ramapo College.





Deborah Woods Appointed to Vice President/Branch Manager of Atlantic Stewardship Bank’s Ridgewood Branch
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Deborah Woods to Vice President/Branch Manager of their Ridgewood Branch located at 190 Franklin Avenue,
Ridgewood, NJ. Prior to joining ASB, Ms. Woods was a Cluster Manager for two ConnectOne banking offices.  Woods, who attended Berkeley College, has over twenty-two years of skilled knowledge in the banking industry including business development, sales and service as well as coaching and leadership. At Atlantic Stewardship Bank, Woods will be responsible for the administrative and operational functions, identifying opportunities for growth and ensuring all procedures and security measures are followed. Additionally, she and her team will be involved and participate in community events to strengthen partnerships and to make a positive impact in Ridgewood.







Lakeland Bank Hires Mortgage Loan Originators
Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, announced the following appointments. India Delgado has been hired as a Mortgage Loan Originator based in Hackensack, N.J. She was most recently a Vice President, Store Manager for TD Bank in Bronx, N.Y. and prior to that was Store Manager at TD’s branch in Haledon, N.J. Delgado is a member of the Paterson Rotary Club, volunteers with New Hope Community Ministries and is a founding member of Business Community United, a business networking group that supports local small businesses and community engagement in Haledon and Prospect, N.J. She has conducted Financial Literacy and First-Time Homebuyer seminars in both English and Spanish over the last five years in Paterson, Prospect Park and Haledon.

Gerald Jacob has been hired as a Mortgage Loan Originator, Family Law Lending Specialist based in Wanaque, N.J. Joining Lakeland with more than 25 years of residential mortgage lending experience with a concentration in divorce and matrimonial resolution mortgage lending, Jacob was most recently an Area Manager, Family Law Lending Specialist with Investors Bank in Millburn, N.J. Prior to that, he was an Area Manager for Ocean First Bank in Toms River. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business and technology from Montclair State University.



Daniel Post Promoted to Assistant Secretary/Branch Operations Manager of Atlantic Stewardship Bank’s Hawthorne Branch
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Daniel Post from a Customer Relationship Manager to Assistant Secretary/Branch Operations Manager of ASB’s Hawthorne Branch, which is located at 386 Lafayette Ave., Hawthorne. Post has over 15 years of banking experience and progressively worked his way to his current position. With an extensive background in sales and customer service, Mr. Post will have the added responsibilities of branch operations and staffing, with the customer’s experience as a top priority. He joined ASB in 2002 as a Part-time Teller, graduated from Manchester Regional High School and lives in North Haledon, New Jersey. 






Christine Wenslau Selected Investors Bank Summit Branch Manager
Investors has selected Christine Wenslau to manage its Summit branch. Wenslau has a long career serving banking clients. Also, she has volunteered her time to assist many worthwhile nonprofits in N.J. 


Francesca A. De Alto Promoted to Assistant Secretary/Branch Manager of Atlantic Stewardship Bank’s Waldwick Branch
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Francesca De Alto from Branch Operations Manager of ASB’s Midland Park Branch to Assistant Secretary/Branch Manager of ASB’s Waldwick Branch, which is located at 64 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, New Jersey. De Alto has over 9 years of banking experience and progressively worked her way to her current position after joining ASB in 2008 as a Part-time Teller. With an extensive background in sales and customer service, she will be responsible for the overall administration of ASB’s Waldwick Branch, where customers will experience personalized service and solutions as well as localized decision-making. De Alto resides in Ringwood, New Jersey with her husband Richard and has participated in a variety of community events as well as ASB’s Volunteer Days for organizations including Habitat for Humanity and CUMAC. Additionally, De Alto successfully completed ASB’s Leadership Development and Supervisory Development Programs.

Joseph Kim Appointed to Assistant Vice President/SBA Credit Analyst at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Joseph Kim to Assistant Vice President/Small Business Administration (SBA) Credit Analyst. Kim has an extensive background in the financial industry with a focus on SBA credit analysis including loan processing, loan audits and portfolio management. In his new role as SBA Credit Analyst of ASB’s newly formed SBA Department, Mr. Kim will be responsible for the underwriting and analyzing of small business loan applications to determine eligibility for financing. Mr. Kim was a Credit Analyst for Kearny Bank before joining ASB. He holds a degree in Finance from the University of South Florida.

Timothy Shaffer Promoted to Assistant Vice President/Cash Management Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, recently announced the promotion of Timothy Shaffer from Assistant Secretary/Business Development Officer to Assistant Vice President/Cash Management Officer. Shaffer joined the ASB Team over 10 years ago and, prior to that, held a position in the Sales Department at American Express. He progressively worked his way to his current position where he will be responsible for continued new business sales efforts along with implementing the bank’s Cash Management Services and monitoring the customer’s experience while using these services. ASB’s Cash Management Services include, but are not limited to: Remote Deposit Capture, Merchant Services, Business Checking and Loans and Business Online and Mobile Banking.
Shaffer holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Muhlenberg College and is the past President for the Township of Mahwah Youth Sports Boosters. Additionally, Mr. Shaffer is the past President and current Vice President of the Bergen Highlands Ramsey Rotary Club and is a two-time receiver of the Paul Harris Fellow and Walter Head Recipient.  


Highlands State Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of James Cook as Vice President and Branch Manager of the Sparta Office.
Jim Cook began his banking career as a part time teller and worked his way up the ranks to his current position of Vice President/Branch Manager. In addition to his work with the Wilson Foundation, Cook currently serves on the board of the Boonton Historical Society.  From 2010 through September of 2017 he also served on the board for Boonton Main Street.  






Amboy Bank announces promotions in leadership roles
George E. Scharpf, Amboy Bank Chairman and CEO, recently announced the promotions of three officers. Those promoted include Robert Beni, Senior Vice President, Commercial Lending; Tammara Feldman, Vice President and Service Operations Manager; and James Meicke, Vice President, Commercial Lending.

Bob Beni joined Amboy Bank in 2009, and with over 25 years lending experience, is responsible for commercial real estate lending for permanent and construction project financing. Beni graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Finance & Real Estate.

Tammara Feldman, who came to Amboy in 2005, is responsible for Amboy’s deposit and loan operations department. Feldman also serves as the Loan Servicing/Retail Lending Committee Chair of NJBankers. She is also the President and Treasurer of the Traveling Knights of Old Bridge, as well as a trustee of the Alumni Path Foundation.

James Meicke came to Amboy Bank in 2010 with over 20 years of banking experience. He graduated from St. Bonaventure University with a BBA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance. He serves as a member of both their Athletic Fund Committee and Athletic Hall of Fame. He has served as a member of the Monmouth University Real Estate Institute Advisory Board since 2010.


Lynn Beim Appointed to Vice President/SBA Lending Coordinator  at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Lynn Beim to Vice President/Small Business Administration (SBA) Lending Coordinator. Beim has over twenty-four years of banking experience including accounting, cash operations and lending, with a focus on SBA loan closings. In her new role as SBA Lending Coordinator of ASB’s newly formed SBA Department, she will be responsible for scheduling SBA loan closings, generating loan closing documentation and managing the disbursement of loan proceeds. Additionally, Beim will also manage the SBA portfolio review process and assist borrowers with documents necessary for funding and loan advances. Prior to joining ASB, Beim held managerial positions at Kearny Bank and BCB Community Bank in the SBA Department.  She has worked with the Gift of Life Program and hosted a recipient of the program as part of her participation.

Berkshire Bank Hires a New MyBanker™ for Mid-Atlantic Market
Christina Spinelli will serve as Vice President, Relationship Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Region covering both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Spinelli, who has 18 years of banking and financial industry experience, will work to develop new and grow existing relationships with Berkshire Bank's customers.  As VP, Relationship Manager, Spinelli will also work collaboratively with Retail, Commercial and Wealth Management Banking to ensure alignment and proper prioritization to achieve short and long-term business strategies and objectives. 




NVE Bank Appoints Lena Sung as Leonia Branch Manager 
Robert Rey, President and Chief Executive Officer of NVE Bank, has announced that Lena Sung has been appointed as Branch Manager for NVE’s Leonia location, located at 310 Broad Avenue, Leonia New Jersey.  Sung has 6 years of banking experience, having worked at HSBC USA Bank in Flushing, NY; Chase Bank in Elmhurst, NY and most recently serving as a Personal Banker for Citibank at their world headquarters in New York City. Sung earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Savannah College of Arts & Design, graduating Cum Laude.   





Peapack-Gladstone Bank Announces New Employees
 
Karen Alvarado has joined Peapack-Gladstone Bank as Vice President, Senior Wealth Compliance Officer.  She is responsible for implementing and monitoring the compliance program for private wealth management, PGB Trust & Investments of Delaware and the Bank’s Registered Investment Advisor business. Karen brings to the Bank 17 years of compliance and financial services experience previously serving as director, Global Investment Management Compliance Manager at U.S. Trust in New York, New York, spearheading the bank’s implementation of a Compliance program for the sales and supervision function for U.S. Trust along with their annual compliance risk assessment, test programs, test scripts and monitoring activities.  Previously, she held key positions as chief compliance officer, UBS Trust Company, N.A., in Delaware and also director, Group Internal Audit, WM Americas, UBS AG, in Weehawken, New Jersey.  Prior to that Ms. Alvarado was employed as assistant vice president in the Audit Divisions of Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd, Jersey City, New Jersey with a concentration on lease and trade finance and as staff auditor at J.P.Morgan Chase & Co. in New York, New York, where she focused on their credit card and mortgage business.  Alvarado is fluent in Spanish and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from St. John’s University.  
 
Sam Naseem joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank as assistant cashier, assistant branch manager at the Bank’s Pluckemin location, bringing to the Bank 13 years of experience in the financial services industry.  Naseem is responsible for the supervision and management of bank team members while also insuring compliance with audit and operational regulations and guidelines.  Prior to Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Naseem was employed at Sun National Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, Citibank Egypt, and Commercial Bank of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Banha University, Egypt and is fluent in Arabic.
 
Anna Calles joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank as vice president, retail private banker at the Bank’s Bridgewater location. She is responsible for overall branch sales development including growth and management of consumer business account relationships.  Calles brings to the Bank over 11 years of experience in the financial services arena previously serving as assistant branch manager at Affinity Federal Credit Union in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  Prior to that she served in client support capacities at Valley National Bank and Somerset Savings Bank.  Anna is fluent in Spanish and holds an Associate Degree in Business Liberal Arts from Raritan Valley Community College.  She is presently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Penn State University. Calles is involved in local volunteer community activities to protect the environment and in the rescue of dogs from high-kill shelters.
 
Thomas W. Myers, Managing Director, Wealth Advisor, has joined the team of private bankers at Murphy Capital Management, Inc., a subsidiary of Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  He is responsible for business development and provision of the Bank’s personalized money management services and advice to high-net-worth families, individuals and not-for-profit entities.  Thomas brings to the Bank more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry previously serving as regional vice president at Fisher Investments in Morristown, New Jersey.  Prior to that he served as a wealth advisor at USAA; vice president, senior account executive at Fidelity Investments; manager, training delivery at TD Ameritrade; vice president, branch manager at Charles Schwab; and as a financial consultant at Merrill Lynch in Washington, D.C. Myers is a U.S. Army veteran and holds Certified Financial Planner™ designation. A graduate of the College of William & Mary with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government, Thomas is an active volunteer in youth sports and Scouting. 



Lakeland Bank Announces New Hires

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, announced the following appointments.



Alethea Batts has been hired as Vice President, Learning and Development based at the Milton Operations Center. She was most recently a Senior Vice President, Area Director with Citibank in Fort Lee. Prior to that, she was Senior Vice President, Consumer Market Executive with Bank of America in Cranford. Batts earned a bachelor’s degree in history and Afro-American studies from Princeton University and is a graduate of the Consumer Bankers Association Graduate School of Retail Management.







Andrew Dowd has been hired as Vice President, Project Manager based at the Milton Operations Center. He was most recently a Vice President, Retirement Change the Bank, Senior Consultant at Morgan Stanley, BINEC in New York City. Prior to that, Dowd was Vice President, PMO at Prudential Financial in Iselin, N.J. He earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Seton Hall University and has maintained the Project Management Professional designation since 2006. .






Sandra Gelato has been hired as Vice President, Deposit Operations Supervisor based at the Milton Operations Center. She was most recently a Consumer Banking Operations Manager with Synchrony Bank (formally GE Capital Retail Bank) in Bridgewater. Prior to that, she was a Branch Sales Manager with Valley National Bank in Wayne. Gelato earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Centenary University, graduating magna cum laude.






Judy Gropper has been hired as Vice President, Talent Acquisition Manager based in Oak Ridge. Gropper joins the Bank with over 25 years of retail management and talent acquisition experience. She was most recently a Director, Talent Acquisition and Recruitment Initiatives Nationwide with Bloomingdale’s in New York, N.Y. Gropper earned a bachelor’s degree in retail management from Syracuse University.






Timothy John Mol has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor based in Westwood. He will be serving the Hillsdale, North Haledon, Park Ridge, Waldwick and Wyckoff Offices. Mol was most recently a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch in Paramus. Prior to that, he was a Regional Bank Private Banker, Assistant Vice President with Wachovia Bank in Rockland County, N.Y. Mol earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with concentrations in finance and marketing from Montclair State University, graduating magna cum laude.





Michael Pucci has been hired as Assistant Vice President, HRIS Manager based in Oak Ridge.
He was most recently a Project Manager for Enterprise eTime with Automatic Data Processing (ADP) in Parsippany. Pucci earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Rutgers University and holds a Certified Payroll Professional Certification from the American Payroll Institute.





Peter Siino has been hired as Assistant Vice President, Compensation Manager based in Oak Ridge. He was most recently a Senior Human Resources Generalist with Honeywell International in Morris Plains and prior to that was a Compensation and Benefits Analyst with Wakefern Food Corp. in Edison. Siino earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Centenary College and a master’s degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce. 

Investors Bank Welcomes New Branch Manager
Patricia Grazioso, who has just joined Investors Bank’s team and will manage the Piscataway branch.  Grazioso, who resides with her family in Somerset, grew up in Piscataway, and she has returned home to manage the local branch that serves the community. She is focused on growing her branch and volunteering to assist local groups and nonprofits. Thank you, in advance, for sharing the news about Patricia, a salt-of-the-earth banker.


Freedom Bank Hires New Residential Loan Officer

Freedom Bank, headquartered in Maywood, announced the hire of new Residential Loan Officer Francisco Mayol. Bringing 13 years of experience to his position, Francisco began his career with a goal of educating potential buyers on how to purchase their homes.
In his new role as Residential Loan Officer, Francisco will be responsible for marketing loan products based on customer credit, income and regulatory guidelines to realtors, attorneys, CPAs, business owners and home buyers. In addition, he will perform credit analysis, determine loan options, and gather documentation for processing and closing. Prior to joining Freedom Bank, Francisco was employed as a Residential Loan Officer at AnnieMac Home Mortgage. Before that, he was a Residential Loan Officer at Clifton Savings Bank. He has worked as a Loan Officer for the past 13 years and currently resides in Maywood, NJ.

Boiling Springs Savings Bank Promotes Three Retail Banking Officers
Boiling Springs Savings Bank, which has provided sound financial services to individuals and businesses for nearly 80 years, and has grown to become one of northern New Jersey’s largest savings banks, has promoted three retail banking officers. The advancements affect branches in Lyndhurst and Rutherford, as well as the bank’s headquarters, also in Rutherford.  

Greta K. Lee, Assistant Branch Coordinator, has been promoted from Assistant Vice President to Vice President. She will have a heightened responsibility for communicating policy and procedure changes while seeking new ways to improve branch efficiencies in day-to-day operations. Lee has more than 25 years of banking experience, including positions with Valley National Bank, Chase, and Bank of New York before managing Boiling Spring’s branch in Upper Montclair. She was recently recognized by NJ Bankers for her impressive tenure providing financial services to state residents and businesses, is an active member of the Montclair Historic Center and League of Women Voters, and is a member of the Bergen LEADS Class of 2018.   

Lisa N. Omar, Branch Manager of Boiling Springs’ location on Union Avenue in Rutherford, has been promoted from Assistant Treasurer to Assistant Vice President. In addition to greater responsibilities at the corporate level, Omar will continue to manage all aspects of the Rutherford branch’s operations, including helping set and meet sales objectives while leading a team of tellers and product specialists. Omar has 27 years of banking experience, is a member of Bergen LEADS, and recently attained a certificate in Leadership and Management Skills Development from Rutgers University’s School of Continuing Professional Education.

Mary Dennehy, whose tenure of more than 30 years with Boiling Springs has included managing the bank’s Lyndhurst branch since 2012, has been promoted from Assistant Treasurer to Assistant Vice President. Dennehy will have an expanded role at the corporate level while maintaining her branch oversight duties, which entail everything from achieving sales goals to training and managing a synergistic financial services team. Dennehy was recently recognized by NJ Bankers for her impressive tenure providing financial services to state residents and businesses. A resident of Lyndhurst, shevolunteers with Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey and is a chairperson of Rutherford’s Rotary Club.  She is also a member of the Bergen LEADS Class of 2018.


Lakeland Bank Announces New Hires
Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, is pleased to announce the following appointments.

Roxanne Camejo has been hired as Vice President, Community Development Officer based in Hackensack. She joins Lakeland with 18 years of banking industry experience most recently with TD Bank in Ramsey as a Community Development Manager and CRA Loan Officer. Camejo earned a bachelor’s degree in community health education from William Paterson University and a master’s degree in public administration from Rutgers University. She is a board member of Unified Vailsburg Services Organization and Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County as well as a member of the Housing Partnership for Morris County serving on the housing and marketing committee.

Marcella Gencarelli has been hired as Vice President, Customer Outreach and Events Manager based in Montville. Gencarelli joins Lakeland with 19 years of banking industry experience most recently with Peapack Gladstone Bank in Summit as a Vice President, Community Private Banker and, prior to that, with Hilltop Community Bank in Berkeley Heights as a Vice President, Branch Manager. She attended Essex County College and has various American Bankers Association certifications. Gencarelli is the founder of Warren Ladies Lunch a women’s networking group, a board officer for Suburban Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Women’s Center of Entrepreneurship’s Women of Influence.



Riker Danzig Welcomes Four Associates
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP welcomed four 2017 Fall Associates: Dylan C. Goetsch, Angelica Halat, Alfonse R. Muglia and Michael Trentin.

Dylan C. Goetsch joins the Firm’s Litigation Group.  Goetsch was a Riker Danzig Summer Associate in 2016. He received his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2017.  During law school, Goetsch worked as an extern in FINRA’s Enforcement Department.  Goetsch also interned for the Honorable Gerald J. Pappert of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  He graduated in 2014 with a B.A., cum laude, in History and Political Science from Villanova University. 

Angelica Halat joins the Firm’s Products Liability Group.  Following law school, Halat served as the Law Clerk to the Honorable Justice Jaynee LaVecchia, Supreme Court of New Jersey.  Halat received her law degree, summa cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2016.  She graduated in 2013 with a B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Lehigh University.

Alfonse R. Muglia joins the Firm’s Insurance Litigation Group.  Muglia was a Riker Danzig Summer Associate in 2016.  During the summer of 2015, Muglia interned at the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety in the Division of Pensions and Financial Transactions.  Muglia received a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2017, where he was a member of the Georgetown Journal of Law & Public Policy.  He received a B.S., with honors, in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University in 2014.  

Michael Trentin joins the Firm’s Bankruptcy Department.  Following law school, Trentin served as the Law Clerk to the Honorable Garry J. Furnari, Superior Court of New Jersey, and the Honorable Rosemary Gambardella, U.S.B.J., United States Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey. He received his law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2015, where he served as Digital Executive Editor of the Seton Hall Circuit Review.  At Seton Hall, Trentin was the recipient of the Hon. Raymond T. Lyons Bankruptcy Award and Heyman Fellowship Award.  He received a B.A. in English and Communications from Rutgers University in 2012.

Riker Danzig Welcomes Counsel Jeffrey S. Davis
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP welcomed Jeffrey S. Davis, who joins the Firm’s Corporate Group as Counsel.  Davis represents public and private companies, private equity firms and individuals in a wide variety of transactions including mergers and acquisitions, financings, and joint ventures.  He has extensive experience drafting and negotiating business agreements and counseling clients on day-to-day matters including corporate governance, regulatory issues and securities law compliance.  Davis received his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan.  Davis started his career at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP (formerly Kaye Scholer LLP) and, prior to joining Riker Danzig, Davis practiced at Sclar Adler LLP in Manhattan.

Promotions and New Hires at Peapack-Gladstone Bank

Molly Hernandez Avellan has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Private Banking Sales Support Officer II, Corporate Development at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  She provides high touch, white-glove service interfacing with the Bank’s Private Bankers in providing for Private Banking Clients’ personal and customized financial needs.  Previously, she served as Universal Banker at the Bank’s Gladstone location; Marketing and Sustainability Coordinator and Program Outreach at Donnelly Industries in Wayne, New Jersey; and prior to that as Archiving Operations Coordinator at Crum & Forester in Morristown, New Jersey.  Her background and expertise in servicing corporations and clients has proved invaluable in providing hands-on client support and the ultimate Peapack-Gladstone Experience.

Audrey E. Gunter has been promoted to Vice President, Senior Loan Administrator with Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  In her new role, Gunter will assist bankers in preparation for closing Commercial Real Estate Loans, Revolving Lines of Credit, Letters of Credit and Term Loans, including participated and syndicated credit.  With more than 32-years of experience in banking, including substantial financial and customer service experience with Bank of America, she will collaborate with bankers, customers and legal counsel to establish and obtain the documentation and information needed to administer loans. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree and an Associate of Arts Degree from Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, and a School of Banking Certificate from American Institute of Banking New York, NY.

James Lucarelli has been promoted to Vice President, Community Banking Officer at Peapack-Gladstone Bank operating out of the Bank’s Teaneck location.  James has 14 years of financial services, previously serving as Commercial Underwriter Data Quality Control Officer at Capital One in New York City and as Credit Analyst at Fleet Bank/Bank of America.  Lucarelli is a graduate of Boston College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics.  He participates as a volunteer with the Special Olympics.

Brian P. Murphy has been promoted to Assistant Vice President at Peapack-Gladstone Bank, responsible for analyzing client and prospective client banking activity, and preparing competitive pricing.  Brian is responsible for managing the implementation and on-boarding of new clients into the Bank’s treasury management solutions, as well as managing new product implementation and beta testing.  Prior to joining Peapack-Gladstone Bank, he worked in retail banking at TD Bank in Mercer County.  he holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance from Rider University, and is a regular volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics of NJ.  

Heather Rae Stafford has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Private Banking Sales Support Officer II, Corporate Development at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  She provides high touch, white-glove service interfacing with the Bank’s Private Bankers in providing for private banking clients’ personal and customized financial needs.  Stafford holds a B.A. in Communication cum laude from Monmouth University with a Major in Public Relations/Journalism and minor in Health Studies.  While at Monmouth University she served as vice president of the Public Relations Student Society of America Chapter and their public relations firm, Shadow PR and raised over $5,000 as campaign coordinator for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Andrew Thoelen has been promoted to Assistant Cashier and Know Your Customer (KYC) Analyst at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  Thoelen has been with the Bank since 2008, working in the retail branch network.  He is now responsible for reviewing all new Commercial & Industrial, Commercial Real Estate, Community Banking and Private Banking relationships to ensure that compliance standards have been met prior to onboarding new clients.  He is a graduate of Mt. Olive High School and attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he studied business management.

Derek Waldner has been promoted to Assistant Cashier, Credit Analyst at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  He is responsible for analyzing business financial statements, performing annual and quarterly reviews of existing commercial clients and performing credit due diligence on existing and prospective clients. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Seton Hall University, a certificate of completion from the RMA Commercial School of Lending and a certificate in Management Information Systems.  

Linda M. Walz joins the Bank as Managing Director, Treasury Management Senior Analyst.  Partnering with the Bank’s Private Bankers, she works with a team of Treasury Management specialists to understand the client and analyze the relationship to offer the very best in treasury management solutions. Walz has over 30 years of financial services experience, with a focus on treasury management sales, previously serving as Vice President, Treasury Sales at Capital One Bank where she was a trusted advisor responsible for the sale of treasury solutions to middle-market, real estate and government clients in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Boston.   She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from William Paterson University with a Major in Business and Economics.  She also holds the CTP designation from the Association of Financial Professionals and is a supporter and volunteer at St. Paul’s Church in Ramsey, New Jersey.


The Honorable Travis L. Francis Joins Riker Danzig
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP announced that the Honorable Travis L. Francis has joined the Firm after serving for 25 years as a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey, most recently as Assignment Judge of Middlesex County.
 
Francis served as a Superior Court Judge in Middlesex County from 1992 to 2017.  He was appointed Assignment Judge in 2007, and presided over several notable and high profile cases in the course of his career on the bench.  He also served on numerous Supreme Court committees, and was recognized in 2009 by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation with its Outstanding Volunteer Service Award.
 
Francis received a B.S. from Bradley University in 1971, a Master’s in Education from North Carolina State University in 1976, and a J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law in 1981.  He is also an adjunct professor at Rutgers University School of Law, where he teaches Civil Liberties and Personal Injury Litigation Skills.

Riker Danzig Partner Stuart M. Lederman Reappointed As Statewide Chair for the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Character
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP  announced that the Supreme Court of New Jersey has reappointed partner Stuart Lederman as the Statewide Chair for the Committee on Character.  

The New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Character determines the fitness to practice law of each candidate for admission to the bar of the State of New Jersey on the basis of personal record and reputation of each candidate and, following such review, to certify as to such fitness to the Supreme Court or withhold such certification. 
Lederman's practice encompasses a broad range of legal matters in Riker Danzig's Litigation and Governmental Affairs departments. He regularly represents clients in construction, real estate, eminent domain, and civil litigation matters. He has a significant professional liability practice, defending architects and engineers and advising lawyers on ethics matters.  Lederman also represents government agencies and advises the agencies in day-to-day operations.


Regal Bank Announces Branch Manager Changes
Regal Bank is making some changes to branch manager locations due to a recent opening at the Springfield branch. Anna Pedreiras, assistant vice president and branch manager, will be moving from the Millburn branch to the Springfield branch. Ronald F. Field, assistant vice president and branch manager, will be moving from the Somerset branch to the Millburn branch. 
        
Both Pedreiras and Field reside near the local communities in which they work.  Prior to  Pedreiras's six years at Regal Bank, she spent three years as assistant vice president and branch manager of Provident Bank.  Field served as vice president/branch manager of Peapack-Gladstone Bank for 12 years before joining Regal Bank. 


Riker Danzig White Collar Criminal Defense Attorney Ryan O’Neill Selected for NJSBA Leadership Academy
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP announced that attorney Ryan O’Neill has been selected by the New Jersey State Bar Association as a Fellow of the Leadership Academy Class for 2017.  Inclusion in the NJSBA’s Leadership Academy is a great honor, evidencing the Bar’s identification of leadership qualities in its Fellows.  The Academy will provide training and opportunities throughout the year to build leadership skills and raise awareness in concerns facing the legal profession, as well as promote the building of relationships as future leaders of the bar of New Jersey.  

O’Neill practices in the Firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense Group and has experience handling a broad range of civil and criminal matters on behalf of both individuals and corporations, including fraud, civil rights, grand jury investigations, forfeiture, computer crimes, and white collar defense.


Liberty Bell Bank Announces Promotions 

Kimberly Sank has been promoted to  Vice-President serving as the company’s Operations Administrator. Jill Spangler to Assistant Vice President/ Moorestown Office Manager, Joyce Stewart to  Assistant Vice President/ Marlton Office Manager, and Kristy Barcia to Assistant Cashier/ Operations Specialist. 

Oritani Bank Announces New Business Development Officer
Oritani Bank, headquartered in the Township of Washington announced that it has promoted Aiman El-Kordy to a Business Development Officer.  Aiman has held multiple retail branch positions at the Bank since 2002, including Manager of the Emerson branch and later the Cliffside Park branch where he excelled in providing exceptional service and business development.  In his new position, Aiman will continue to work closely with his colleagues to help develop new relationships and deepen existing ones. He will be responsible for serving the banking needs and expanding Oritani’s market share of small business owners, consumers and municipalities in its footprint. Aiman holds his Associates degree in International Business and Trade from Bergen Community College. 


7/2017

Lakeland Bank Announces Appointments to Operations Teams

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, is pleased to announce the following appointments to the Bank’s operations teams.

Paul Ho-Sing-Loy has been hired as Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer based in Oak Ridge and will be responsible for further developing and leading the information technology strategy for the Bank. Joining Lakeland with more than 30 years of industry experience, Ho-Sing-Loy was most recently Senior Vice President, Business Solutions at Associated Bank, a regional bank with $29 billion in assets headquartered in Wisconsin. Prior to that, he served as divisional Chief Technology Officer for Bank of America in San Francisco and Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Cornell University. 






Mary Kaye Nardone has been promoted to Chief Information Security Officer. She has over 35 years of banking industry experience managing technology, infrastructure and IT operations, information security and cybersecurity governance. Nardone joined Lakeland in 1999 as a result of the National Bank of Sussex County merger and was promoted in 2001 to Vice President, Director Network Services and to Senior Vice President in 2008. In May 2011, she was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer/ISO and in 2014 was promoted to First Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer/ISO. Nardone has attained the Executive Leadership Certificate from The Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania and graduated from ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and a minor in business from Seton Hall University. 






Elaine Petit has been promoted to Director of Enterprise Solutions. Petit joined Lakeland Bank as Vice President, Computer Services in 1999 as a result of the National Bank of Sussex County merger. She advanced her career in the operations department and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Computer Services in 2007. In 2012, Petit advanced to Senior Vice President, Business Application Support and was promoted in 2014 to First Senior Vice President, Business Application Support. Petit is a recent graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a member of several industry Client Advisory Boards and has provided volunteer services to several nonprofit organizations in the community. 





Brendan Eccleston has been hired as Senior Vice President, Assistant General Counsel. Eccleston joins Lakeland with 29 years of industry experience, and was most recently General Counsel at ReadyCap Commercial in New Providence, N.J. Prior to that he was Chief Counsel at CIT Group in Livingston, N.J. Eccleston earned a bachelor’s degree from City University of New York and has a Juris Doctor from New York Law School. He is an active participant with Pro Bono Partnership, a pro bono placement group for N.J. attorneys and is a volunteer with numerous Monmouth County charitable organizations. 






David Ver Hage has been hired as Senior Vice President, Loan Operations Manager based in Milton. Joining Lakeland with more than 30 years of residential and commercial lending and servicing experience, he was most recently Vice President, Loan Servicing Manager at Investor’s Bank in Iselin, N.J. Prior to that, he was First Vice President, Acquisitions and Metrics Analyst at Valley National Bank in Wayne, N.J. Ver Hage is a graduate of the Electronic Computer Programming Institute and attended William Paterson University. He has provided volunteer services to the Morristown Food Pantry and Habitat for Humanity. 






Lakeland Bank Announces new hires

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank,  announced the following appointments.

Michelle Jones has been hired as Vice President, SBA Portfolio Manager for the Ocean County Commercial Lending Team based in Jackson, N.J. Joining Lakeland with more than 15 years of industry experience, she was most recently an Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer for First Commerce Bank in Lakewood and prior to that was a Vice President, Community Bank Executive with The Bank of Princeton. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from Rider University. She has been a member of the Lakewood UEZ Finance Committee since 2013 and is a former member of the Mercer County Regional Chamber of Commerce serving on the Young Business Leaders Council, Project Committee and Communications Committee. 





John Sherow has been hired as a Mortgage Loan Originator based in Lafayette, N.J. Joining Lakeland with 10 years of industry experience, he was most recently a Loan Officer for Union Center Bank (now ConnectOne) in Union, N.J. Sherow earned a bachelor’s degree from Dominican College in Blauevelt, N.Y. He is a member of St. Stephen’s Home Ministry and a member of the Harley Owners Group. 







Fulton Bank of New Jersey names VP and commercial relationship manager

Dean R. Hedelt was named vice president and commercial relationship manager in Fulton Bank of New Jersey’s Commercial Banking Group. In this position, he will be responsible for developing and managing commercial relationships. Hedelt comes to Fulton Bank of New Jersey from TD Bank where he held the position of vice president and commercial relationship manager. Hedelt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from The University of Delaware.






Valley National Bank Appoints Nancy Fox to First Senior Vice President, E-Commerce Director, Digital Partnerships and Strategy

Valley National Bank announced the appointment of Nancy Fox to First Senior Vice President, E-Commerce Director, Digital Partnerships and Strategy. Fox brings more than 20 years of global, digital and strategic marketing experience to her new role at Valley.  As E-Commerce Director, Digital Partnerships and Strategy, she is responsible for collaborating with cross-functional partners to manage all aspects of the marketing strategy including, business planning, content strategy and development, promotional campaigns and other online marketing, website design, customer service, web analytics and web technologies.  She will develop and execute strategic and tactical marketing business plans to support the core E-Commerce strategy which will focus on developing an innovative, customer-centric experience across all touchpoints.  Fox holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Rhode Island School of Design.  She is a member of the CMO Council and the Advertising Age Advisory Board.  



First Bank Adds Commercial Deposit Division
First Bank announced today that it has added a new commercial deposit division that will focus on deposits and cash management for commercial clients. Darren Kay, director of commercial deposits, will lead the new division of the 10-branch community bank, which was recently named Distinguished Corporation of the Year by the MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce, targeting mid- to large-size companies with more sophisticated deposit and cash management needs. In addition to being a true community bank, First Bank’s leadership team wants to build its reputation as a full-service commercial bank that can partner with businesses to help them grow and improve the surrounding communities.
Kay is looking forward to helping First Bank with its continued growth. He works out of the company’s Hamilton location and can be reached at 609-643-0797 or via email at [email protected]. 

Magyar Bank Announces New Hires

Pamela Jordan recently joined Magyar Bank as Vice President, Branch Manager.  Ms. Jordan will be based in the Bank’s North Brunswick office, and has over 39 years of banking experience.  Most recently, Ms. Jordan was Vice President, Branch Manager with New Millennium Bank.







Jocelyn Valenauela recently joined the Bank as Branch Manager of the Bank’s new Edison office located in the Tano Mall at 1199 Amboy Avenue.  Valenauela was previously Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager at Hammi Bank.  She has over 25 years experience in the banking industry, and is a graduate of NYU.  








6/2017
Lakeland Bank Hires Mortgage Loan Originators

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, announced the following appointments.

Peter Byrne has been hired as a Mortgage Loan Originator based in Montville and Summit, N.J. Joining Lakeland with more than 30 years of industry experience, he was most recently an Assistant Vice President for the Private Client Group with PNC Bank in Madison, N.J. Byrne earned a bachelor’s degree from Saint Bonaventure University, performed graduate work at Seton Hall University and holds Series 7, 63, Life and Health licenses.







Steve Kotarsky has been hired as a Mortgage Loan Originator based in Hackensack, N.J. Joining Lakeland with more than 28 years of mortgage industry experience, Kotarsky was most recently a Mortgage Loan Originator with Community Federal Savings Bank in Morristown, N.J. Prior to that, he was a Senior Loan Officer at Emery Federal Credit Union in Cincinnati, Ohio. 








Elaine Madsen has been hired as a Mortgage Loan Originator based in Sparta, N.J. Madsen joins Lakeland with more than 18 years of real estate and mortgage industry experience. Since 1999, she has been a Loan Officer with several organizations including Weichert Financial Services, Washington Mutual Home Loans and GMAC. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business at Caldwell University and is an active volunteer with Pass It Along and Equine Tranquility Wellness Center. 

NVE Bank Appoints Jeffrey M. Dulle to Vice President, Retail Sales and Service Manager 
Robert Rey, President and Chief Executive Officer of NVE Bank announced the appointment of Jeffrey M. Dulle to Vice President, Retail Sales and Service Manager.

Dulle has 14 years of experience in the banking industry, with an extensive background in sales, management, and consumer and business financial services.  He most recently served as Assistant Vice President/Alternative Delivery Relationship Manager at Carver Federal Savings Bank in New York City where he was in responsible for managing a portfolio of top business banking customers  as well as branch management training, and directing the analysis and execution of cash management products and services to key customers and prospects.  

Dulle  received his Bachelors degree in Organizational Communications from McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois and began his career at Wells Fargo Financial in St. Louis, MO where he served as Branch Sales Manager.


5/2017

CSBK Promotes Jason Pavon to Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Loan Officer
Paul M. Aguggia, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of CSBK, announced the promotion of Jason Pavon from Commercial Real Estate Lender to Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Loan Officer in the Commercial Lending Department.

Pavon has more than 10 years of commercial lending experience with institutions in New Jersey and New York. Early on in his career, he served as a Senior Credit Analyst, and from there moved on to hold such positions as Credit Risk Analyst, CRE Loan Underwriter and, most recently, Commercial Real Estate Lender.

Pavon received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in finance, from Ramapo College of New Jersey, and is a graduate of the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking.


Riker Danzig Welcomes Associate Megan Treseder
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP welcomed Megan B. Treseder, who has joined the Firm’s Insurance Litigation Group.  Her practice focuses on insurance coverage disputes in the areas of products liability, employment, construction defect and environmental law. 
 
Treseder received a J.D. degree from Duke University School of Law, where she was the Managing Editor of the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum and Executive Editor of the Duke Forum for Law and Social Change. She received B.A. degrees, magna cum laude, in History and English, from the University of Utah.  Treseder is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.
 
Prior to joining Riker Danzig, Ms. Treseder was an associate at Lowenstein Sandler, LLP in Roseland.

Riker Danzig Welcomes Associate Shaun Tooker
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP is pleased to welcome Shaun P. Tooker, who has joined the Firm’s Products Liability and Mass Torts Group. His practice focuses on pharmaceutical products liability and mass torts, and complex commercial litigation. He also has experience in privacy protection matters and has successfully defended corporate clients against allegations of violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
 
Tooker received his law degree, cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law in 2014, where he was a member of the Fordham Urban Law Journal.   He received his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, in 2011 from State University of New York College at Geneseo. Prior to joining Riker Danzig, Tooker was an associate at Coughlin Duffy LLP.
 

Riker Danzig Partner Elected to 1st Vice Chair of the Taxation Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association
Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP announced that Jason Navarino, a partner in Riker Danzig's Corporate and Tax Groups, has been elected 1st Vice Chair of the Taxation Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. The announcement was made at the Annual NJSBA Convention in Atlantic City. Navarino previously served as 2nd Vice Chair and Secretary of the Taxation Section, and is the current Chair of the Section’s International Tax Committee. In addition to his involvement in the NJSBA, he is also a member of the New York State Bar Association and its Tax Section, and he serves on several nonprofit boards.

Navarino has considerable experience advising both large and small business clients with respect to structuring and documenting domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures in a tax-efficient and tax-compliant manner, forming operating and investment partnerships and limited liability companies, and managing other related tax and corporate matters.  Navarino also counsels nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations with respect to tax, corporate, employment and intellectual property matters.


Peapack-Gladstone Bank Hires Team for Newest Subsidiary Peapack Capital Corporation


 
Peapack Capital Team – (seated left) Robert Cobleigh, Denny Smith (not pictured), (standing left to right) Frank Striplin, Christopher McManus, Mark Robinson and (seated right) Dennis Magarro
 
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank are proud to introduce a new team of private bankers and the opening of Peapack Capital Corporation, the newest subsidiary of the Bank, which will focus on equipment finance and leasing.  
 
Robert R. Cobleigh leads the team as an executive vice president of the Bank, and as the President of Peapack Capital.  Cobleigh is responsible for launching the equipment leasing program and introducing the Bank’s brand to this vertical.  Robert has over 30 years of leasing and structured finance expertise in a broad range of industries and assets including manufacturing, trucking, business aviation, rail, marine and energy.  A founding member, he most recently served as Regional Vice President and Credit Officer for Santander Corporate Equipment Finance, Inc. where he was instrumental in supporting the growth of a $1 billion portfolio for the Santander Bank, N.A. subsidiary.  Prior to this, Robert was the Vice President of Credit for structured and specialty finance (leasing, mutual fund and trade finance) for MUFG-Union Bank/The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi in New York. He has also held senior positions at RBS/Citizens Asset Finance, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, where he served as Vice President of Credit – Business Aviation, Buy Desk and Structured Finance; Siemens Financial Services, Inc., Iselin, NJ, where he was the Director of Credit of Capital Markets; Volvo Finance North America, Inc., Montvale, NJ, where he was the Senior Financial Analyst – Pricing; and International Proteins Corporation, West Caldwell, NJ, where he served as the Director of Treasury and Finance.  Robert earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree – Finance and MBA – Investment Management from Pace University, New York.
 
Joining Robert is Denny Smith who will serve as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Peapack Capital.  With 25 years of bank leasing experience, Denny most recently managed front and mid-office operational functions including pricing, structuring, buy/sell syndication, proposal creation, profitability analysis, incentive compensation, closing functions, change management, and Infolease system upgrade projects for Sovereign Bank/Santander Bank, N.A., as Senior Vice President and Managing Director.  Previously, he served as Director of the group during in-footprint product launch in 2012 managing the B/S and l/S. He originally joined Sovereign Bank in August 2004 to launch tax and non-tax equipment lease products for all asset classes. He spent 15 years at Fleet Capital Corporation where he was Vice President, National Finance Manager, responsible for developing and communicating pricing philosophy and methodology to the Bank relationship managers, the leasing sales force and senior management, and for providing pricing and structuring support for all leasing products. He was also very involved in providing lease product education to relationship managers and their clients.  Prior to Fleet, Denny was at a non-bank equipment lessor, Signal Capital Corporation. A graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Denny will help introduce Peapack Capital to the equipment finance market, responsible for operations, procedures and the efficiency of the division.
 
Frank Striplin and Christopher McManus also join Peapack Capital as Senior Vice Presidents and Sales Directors.  Striplin and McManus will partner with Smith and Cobleigh to initiate and develop the Bank’s equipment leasing program and deliver the Peapack-Gladstone Bank brand of client service.
 
Striplin joins Peapack Capital from the Corporate Equipment Finance group of Santander Bank, N.A. where he booked more than $190 million in new business in less than two years and consistently maintained a backlog greater than $75 million.  Consistently a top performer in sales volume and profit, Striplin was the six-time winner of the Chrysler Capital President’s Award for Excellence.   During six years at Citicorp, he was the leading producer in the southeast for five years and the leading profit and volume producer for the entire company one year.  His performance earned him the Citicorp Chairman’s Award five times and the Teamwork Award four times.  While at Credit Lyonnais he built a team that produced a portfolio of approximately $900 million, generating a return on equity of more than 20%.  He has held various sales positions as well as senior business development and leadership roles with several major banks and commercial finance companies, and has built and led several high-performance sales teams.  During his career, he has produced or assisted in generating over $1.9 billion in new business.
 
Christopher McManus, a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree is a highly accomplished equipment leasing and finance professional with over 25 years of direct lending experience.  Chris has been a top performer at all levels of his career in equipment finance.  He began his banking career at First Fidelity Bancorporation in 1991 in their equipment leasing group.  In 1993 he was selected for the First Fidelity Professional Banker Program, a credit training program, where he spent one year developing his skills.  After moving on to GE Capital as an underwriter, in 1995 Chris accepted a position on the direct equipment lending team.  He spent much of his career as a top performer and a highly successful direct equipment lender at institutions like Mellon Bank US Leasing, US Bancorp, RBS/Citizens Asset Finance, Inc. and Santander Bank, N.A. He was a three-time recipient of the RBS/Citizens World Class Performers Award.  He has proven successful at all levels of the marketplace, working with middle market size companies up to large corporate entities.  His knowledge of the marketplace and asset classes gives Peapack Capital a tremendous advantage.
 
Rounding out the division, Mark L. Robinson and Dennis R. Magarro, join the Peapack Capital team as Senior Vice President, Senior Underwriter and Vice President and Senior Underwriter, respectively.
 
Robinson a graduate of Lehigh University with an MBA and BA in Finance, has over 30 years of proficiency in financial services with extensive and diverse experience in underwriting, relationship and portfolio management, originations, credit analysis, leveraged loan structuring, risk rating systems, document negotiation and compliance. Throughout his career he has held positions at Santander Bank, N.A., JA Mitsui Leasing Capital Corporation, CIT Group, Merrill Lynch Business Financial Services and Wells Fargo.
  
Dennis Magarro is a results driven credit professional with 17 years of finance experience with diverse commercial lending organizations in credit analysis, underwriting, risk and portfolio management, finance and accounting.   Educated at Sacred Heart University, graduating with a MBA in Finance, and Quinnipiac University, with a BS in Accounting, Magarro has held positions at Arthur Andersen LLP, General Electric Company – GE Capital, RBS/Citizens Asset Finance, Inc., MUFG – BTMU Capital Leasing and Finance and Santander Bank, N.A. 


4/2017

Riker Danzig Welcomes Of Counsel Maria Dantas

Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP was pleased to welcome Maria A. Dantas, who has joined the Firm’s Corporate Group as Of Counsel.

Dantas concentrates her practice on the representation of corporate trust institutions in capital market transactions.  Her extensive experience allows her to work closely with note holders, trustees and collateral agents in all aspects of corporate high-yield and investment grade debt issues, as well as secured, unsecured and convertible debt securities issued under indentures or note purchase agreements.  Her experience includes the representation of several corporate trustees in major defaults resulting from the bankruptcy of issuers.

Both lenders and borrowers rely on Dantas in secured and unsecured commercial finance transactions, with a particular focus on lenders prior to and during defaults.

Prior to joining Riker Danzig, Dantas was Of Counsel at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and Partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP.  


Amboy Bank names Sylvia Rapoport Vice President 
Sylvia Rapoport was named Vice President, Marketing Manager for Amboy Bank, according to an announcement by George E. Scharpf, Bank President and CEO.

Rapoport who joined Amboy Bank in 2007 has over 15 years of business marketing experience. In her role as Vice President, Marketing Manager, she manages the banks in-house agency and is responsible for advertising, public relations, communications and the bank’s marketing research programs. 

Justin Herman Promoted to Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank

Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank announced the promotion of Justin Herman from Assistant Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer to Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer. 
Herman, a graduate of East Stroudsburg University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Bachelor of Arts in Economics, was an Assistant Vice President/Business Relationship Manager with JPMorgan Chase before joining ASB. He has over 10 years of commercial lending experience with extensive knowledge in financing commercial real estate of all asset classes, specifically, industrial, retail, office, multifamily and mixed-use. Additionally, Herman is the dedicated representative for ASB’s Express Loan Service for businesses with short-term credit needs for lines of credit or term loans with balances of $250,000 or less, with competitive pricing. 


Lakeland Bank Announces Promotions


Saily Avelenda to SVP – Assistant General Counsel. Avelenda joined Lakeland in December 2010 as vice president, associate counsel and was promoted to senior vice president, associate counsel in 2015. Prior to joining the Bank, Avelenda was vice president and bank counsel for Hudson United Bank in Mahwah, and general counsel and compliance officer for Hann Financial Service Corporation in Jamesburg. Avelenda holds a BA from New York University and JD from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. 






Lisa Mills to SVP – Compliance Officer. Mills joined Lakeland in May 2012 as vice president, compliance officer. Previously, she was vice president and compliance officer with Sussex Bank in Franklin. Prior to that, she was compliance officer with First Morris Bank & Trust (now Provident Bank) in Morristown. Mills is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Compliance Risk Management School and has earned a Certificate of Regulatory Compliance Manager accreditation. 





Jason Fischer to VP Commercial Loan Officer. Fischer joined Lakeland in October 2015 as an assistant vice president, commercial loan officer based in Montville. Prior to joining the Bank, Fischer worked for Valley National Bank in Totowa as a commercial loan officer and for Affinity Federal Credit Union in Basking Ridge as a business lending relationship officer in 2013.  Fischer holds a BA and MBA from Rutgers University. 

Dije Alliu to AVP – Online Banking Sales and Support. Alliu joined Lakeland in December 2001 as a teller in Branchville and was promoted to teller manager in Augusta. She transferred to online banking support in the computer services department in 2008, and was promoted to assistant treasurer– online banking sales and support in 2014. Alliu holds an associate degree in business management, and is working toward a BS in operations and project management. She has a professional certification for Electronic Banking Officer.




Katherine Blake to AVP – ACH Debit Card Coordinator. Blake joined National Bank of Sussex County (NBSC) as an accounting clerk in July 1987. Lakeland acquired NBSC in 1999 and Blake remained with the Lakeland Bank Team. In 2014, she was promoted to assistant treasurer, ACH debit card coordinator and has earned a professional certification for Accredited ACH Professional and a CFT Accounting certificate. 







Brian Davis to AT – Network Engineer I. Davis joined Lakeland in August 2006 as an information systems network administrator analyst. He quickly moved onto SharePoint Administrator, and in 2011 was promoted to Network Administrator I. Prior to the Bank, Davis worked at Novartis Consumer Health in Parsippany. He holds a BA in computer information science from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania. 


3/2017

Kaestner joins Berkshire Bank Commercial Lending Team in Mid-Atlantic Region
Berkshire Bank announced a new addition to its Commercial Banking team. Kenneth Kaestner will serve as Senior Vice President, Asset Based Lending (ABL) Regional Leader of the mid-Atlantic.
 
Kaestner brings over 20 years of ABL experience to the Bank.  Prior to Berkshire Bank, Kaestner held the title of SVP, Team Leader and Relationship Manager at PNC Business Credit, a division of PNC bank.  In this role, he was responsible for managing a team, enhancing business development and contributing to overall growth for the company.
 
As SVP, ABL Regional Leader for Berkshire Bank, Kaestner will supervise a team of ABL relationship managers, portfolio managers and administrative support personnel to develop new ABL business relationships in the mid-Atlantic region. He will also utilize his regional and community knowledge to maintain and grow an existing customer base.
 
Kaestner holds a BS in Finance from the College of New Jersey and is a current board member of the Commercial Finance Association, Philadelphia Chapter.


Lewis Joins Berkshire Bank Commercial Lending Team in Mid-Atlantic Region
Berkshire Bank announced a new addition to its Commercial Leadership Team. Maryann Lewis will serve as Senior Vice President, Commercial Regional Leader for the mid-Atlantic Region covering both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
 
Lewis brings nearly 20 years of industry experience. Her business focus has been in leading and developing commercial and industrial loan teams as well as executing strategic initiatives designed to drive continued revenue growth.  
 
As SVP, Commercial Regional Leader, Lewis will supervise team leaders, relationship managers, portfolio managers and administrative support personnel in the mid-Atlantic region to achieve desired sales and profitability goals through the generation of new business, in addition to the retention and growth of an existing portfolio. This will extend to the development of a strong regional sales process, including calling programs focused on existing and prospective customers as well as well-established centers of influence.
 
 Lewis holds a BBA in International Trade from Hofstra University and an MBA from St. Mary’s College.


Nicole Linardos is Promoted to Assistant Vice President
Boiling Springs Savings Bank announced the promotion of Nicole Linardos to Assistant Vice President. Linardos joined Boiling Springs in 2006 as a Teller and shortly thereafter became an Assistant Branch Manager in the Florham Park office. She joined the Bank’s Marketing Department in 2009 as a Marketing Coordinator and currently holds the position of Marketing Supervisor. She is responsible for coordinating all marketing, advertising, website and social media initiatives to ensure a consistent brand message.

Linardos graduated from Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. She was inducted into Seton Hall University’s Marketing Honor Society. Linardos is a committee member of the NJBankers Public Relations and Marketing Committee and the New Jersey Bank Marketing Association. Linardos was named a 2016 Jersey’s Best Marketing and Communications Professional Under 40, an award that shines a spotlight on individuals who represent the “Best-of-the-Best” in the marketing and communications fields through their outstanding work, Member FDIC creativity, leadership, and giving back to their industry as well as their communities. She is also a member of the prestigious Bergen LEADS program, a forum that affords aspiring leaders an opportunity to engage in local government and public policy. Linardos is an avid volunteer in her community and in Bergen County.


Magyar Bank Announces Promotions
Magyar Bank has announced the following personnel changes:

Donna L. Fleming, Colonia, New Jersey, was named vice president, accounting manager.  Fleming has been with Magyar Bank for 13 years, and was most recently the Bank’s assistant vice president, accounting manager.  She is a graduate of Middlesex County College and has over 20 years’ experience in the banking industry.  

Emilia Frontirre, Manalapan, New Jersey, was named vice president, branch manager.  Frontirre has been with Magyar Bank for 6 years, and has worked in the banking industry for over 40 years.  Most recently, she was assistant vice president, branch manager.     

Rachel S. Lima, Piscataway, New Jersey, has been promoted to vice president, deposit operations.  A graduate of Rutgers University, Lima has been with Magyar Bank for 18 years and was most recently assistant vice president, deposit operations manager. 


Peapack-Gladstone Bank Announces New Hires and Promotions

Steven W. Andersen joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank as Vice President, Private Mortgage Banker.  Headquartered in both the Bank’s Bedminster and Teaneck locations, Steven is responsible for originating residential mortgages for high-net-worth clients and prospects while striving to further develop and maintain private wealth relationships.  Mr. Andersen brings to the Bank 28 years’ of experience in the financial services industry with 22 years in mortgage lending.  Previously, he held positions as Mortgage Consultant at PNC Mortgage, Hudson City Savings Bank, Citibank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.  Mr. Andersen holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Ramapo College and is active within his community as a baseball and softball coach for Ramsey Recreation.

Eric Brommer has been promoted to Assistant Vice President, Senior Accountant at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  Joining the Bank in 2010, Eric is responsible for financial reporting, budgeting and incentive plan analysis. A resident of Hillsborough, New Jersey, Mr. Brommer holds a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in Accounting and Finance from Rider University. 

Cheryl D. Gaskins joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank as Vice President, Commercial Closing Officer. Ms. Gaskins has 25 years of financial services experience and is part of an experienced team responsible for closing and funding commercial loans in accordance with approvals, regulatory requirements and company policies and procedures.  A resident of Jersey City, Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Florida A&M University and Masters of Arts in History from Ohio State University.

Arlene Goczalk has been promoted to Assistant Cashier, Senior Loan Specialist at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  She has 17 years of financial services experience previously serving at Unity Bank.  Ms. Goczalk is responsible for the automation of existing loans and servicing of Small Business Administration and Syndicated Loan portfolios.  A resident of Annandale, New Jersey, Arlene holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Kean College.

Lindsey Ann Groves has been promoted to Assistant Cashier, Portfolio Manager at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  A resident of Ringoes, New Jersey, she is responsible for the maintenance and management of the Community Banking loan portfolio.  Previously, she was employed in the Small Business Administration Division of CIT’s Post-Closing group and as Loan Officer at Union Building Trades Federal Credit Union.  Ms. Groves holds a degree in Business Administration from The College of New Jersey.

Ann Henning has been promoted to Assistant Cashier, Human Resources Specialist at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  Ms. Henning joined the Bank in 2012 and is a resident of Hillsborough, New Jersey.

Dory A. Housel has been promoted to the position of Assistant Vice President, Senior Staff Auditor at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  Dory has 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry previously holding positions at Hunterdon County National/First Fidelity, Town & Country Bank, Somerset Trust/Summit Bank, and Liebenzell Mission, USA.  Ms. Housel joined Peapack-Gladstone Bank in 2000 performing in various capacities throughout the branch and internal network.  She is a resident of Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania and attended Raritan Valley Community College.

M. Deenah Lopinto has been promoted to Vice President, Credit and Underwriting, Risk Management at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  She is responsible for credit underwriting and analysis of middle market and real estate transactions, loan review, and the training and supervision of junior credit analysts and summer interns.  Deenah joined the Bank in 2013 previously serving as Credit Analyst at Commerce Bank/TD Bank, Vice President, Middle Market Banking at JPMorgan Chase, and Senior Audit Manager at Chemical Bank.  She gained a solid foundation in commercial lending and credit through Chemical Bank’s formal Credit Training and Advanced Credit Skills programs. A resident of Morris Township, New Jersey, Ms. Lopinto holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance and International Business from New York University.

Jill Petroro, joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank as Managing Director, Trust Officer, Private Wealth Management.  Headquartered in the Bank’s Morristown location, Jill provides the Bank’s white glove experience and is responsible for trust and estate management which encompasses the preservation and transference of wealth.  Prior to joining Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Jill served as Executive Director at Family First HomeCare, LLC in Morris Plains, New Jersey; Trust Officer/Managing Director at Beacon Trust Company in Morristown, New Jersey; and Senior Associate at the former Pitney Hardin, LLP in Florham Park, New Jersey.  Ms. Petroro holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Columbia University and Juris Doctor Degree from the Georgetown University Law Center.  A resident of Randolph, New Jersey, she holds admissions to the State Bars of both New Jersey and New York.

Amanda Pullizzi has joined Peapack-Gladstone Bank as Assistant Vice President, Senior Personal Custody Officer, Private Wealth Management.  Based at the Bank’s Headquarters, Amanda provides the Bank’s white glove experience in servicing Peapack-Gladstone Bank’s high net-worth Wealth Management clients and supporting the business.  Mr. Pullizzi previously held a position at Bank of New York Mellon in New York, New York as a Private Wealth Management Administrator, specializing in personal custody for over 100 accounts while also providing direct support for client service.  She holds an Associate of Science Degree in Finance from William Paterson University.  Additionally, Amanda is pursuing an MBA in Business Finance from William Paterson University.

Caitlin Smyth has joined Peapack-Gladstone Bank as Assistant Vice President, Assistant Brand and Marketing Director.  She is responsible for providing support in the development and implementation of comprehensive marketing programs that focus on and are in alignment with the Peapack-Gladstone Bank’s missions, objectives and core principles. Caitlin brings to the Bank 10 years of advertising and branding experience.  Previously, she held positions in New York, New York as Associate Director, Project Management at VSA Partners; Senior Program Manager at Interbrand; and Account Supervisor at mcgarrybowen.  She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Economics from the University of Richmond.  A resident of Jersey City, New Jersey, Ms. Smyth is a Certified Project Manager and Scrum Master. 

Linda E. Taquinto has been promoted to Assistant Cashier, Trust Operations Manager, Private Wealth Management.  Linda oversees and assists with the daily management of trust operations tasks.  She joined Peapack-Gladstone Bank in 2003 and previously held positions in Branch Administration and as Branch Manager and Tax Assistant.

Stephen Mattina is Promoted to Vice Persident at Boiling Springs Savings Bank
At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of Boiling Springs Savings Bank, Stephen Mattina was promoted to Vice President. Mattina joined the bank in May 2016 as the Internal Loan Review Manager. Prior to working at Boiling Springs Stephen was a Credit Risk Analyst-AVP at Investors Bank. Mr. Mattina graduated from Seton Hall with a degree in Economics and did his graduate studies at ABA Stonier School of Banking. 




Matthew E. McGoey Promoted to Vice President at Boiling Springs Savings Bank
Boiling Springs Savings Bank announced the promotion of Matthew E McGoey  to Vice President.McGoey joined Boiling Springs in June 2015 as Staff Counsel. Prior to entering the banking industry he worked at the Law Offices of Charles A Gruen, and Durkin & Durkin, LLP. Matthew graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and went on to receive his Juris Doctor Degree from Brooklyn Law School. He is a member of the New Jersey Bar Association where he sits on the In-House Counsel Committee. 





NVE Bank Appoints Frank Chadwick as Hillsdale Branch Manager 
NVE Bank announced that Frank Chadwick has been appointed as Assistant Secretary/Branch Manager for NVE’s Hillsdale location,located at 159 Broadway in Hillsdale, New Jersey.  Chadwick has 16 years of experience as a Branch Manager, serving most recently as Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager for M&T Bank in Mahwah, New Jersey.   Chadwick earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Scranton where he majored in English. 




Michael Serao Appointed to  Vice President/Business Development Manager at Sussex Bank
Sussex Bank announced the recent appointment of Michael Serao to Vice President/Business Development Manager of their Astoria Banking Center. Mr. Serao has over 15 years of banking experience which includes positions at Quontic, Chase and TD Bank in Astoria. Serao has an extensive background in the banking industry including business development, sales, branch management and building community relationships. He severs on over ten different boards in the Astoria market and is a very active community member. Serao's philanthropy work includes working with children with autism, senior citizens with disabilities and has worked actively in the LGBT community. Some of his honors include HX Magazine Businessman of the Year, Business Leadership award from the Powhattan Democratic Club, Man of the Year from the Long Island City KOC, Business Leadership from the Borough President and numerous City Council, and state recognitions. He has a degree in Business Management and Marketing from Queensborough Community College and resides in Hewlett Harbor with his partner, Dr. Fidel Abreu of Fidel Abreu DDS, PLLC. 


2/2017
Robert Bishopp Appointed to Financial Advisor at Sussex Bank
Investment Professionals, Inc. (IPI) and Vito Giannola, Executive Vice President of Sussex Bank, announced the appointment of Robert Bishopp as a new Financial Advisor for Sussex Bank’s Sussex Investment Services. Bishopp comes to Sussex Investment Services with over 10 years of experience as a Financial Advisor.  His practice focuses on long-term financial planning and education for investors. Bishopp holds a FINRA Series 7 (General Securities Representative), NY State Life, Accident & Health Insurance and New Jersey Insurance Producer Licenses.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Masters of Business Administration from Iona College in New Rochelle, NY. Bishopp will be working out of Sussex Bank's Oradell Banking Center.  



Oritani Bank Promotes Ivonne Reimundo to BSA Officer
Oritani Bank announced that it has promoted Bergen County resident Ivonne Reimundo to BSA Officer. In her new role as BSA Officer, Reimundo will be responsible for executing and enhancing BSA/AML/OFAC compliance policy, procedures and annual risk assessments. Additionally, Reimundo will review customer AML risk rating assessments, conduct AML and OFAC related transaction monitoring, offer account recommendations to business/internal units and assist the Chief Compliance Officer in updating and conducting BSA training for the Board of Directors, corporate and branch staff. Prior to joining Oritani Bank, Reimundo spent 11 years at Spencer Savings Bank. During her tenure, she held several supervisory and management positions before obtaining a position in the Compliance department as an AML Investigator. Reimundo attended Berkeley College and currently resides in Bergen County with her two daughters.


Highlands State Bank Announces Promotions
Julianne DePue has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Loan Operations.  Currently with over 30 years’ in banking and finance, Ms. DePue joined Highlands State Bank in May 2010 as the Assistant Vice President of Loan Operations and in 2012, was promoted to Vice President of Loan Operations.  With expertise in consumer and commercial compliance regulations, DePue’s responsibilities include residential, consumer, and commercial loan servicing, consumer loan processing oversight, and management of a rapidly growing Loan Operations department.






Jason Rivera has been promoted to Assistant Vice President.  He is currently working as the Branch Manager of Vernon. Rivera has been in banking for the past 13 years. He began his career with Valley National Bank and moved over to Highlands State Bank in 2010 as an Assistant Manager. He currently resides in Wantage NJ with his wife Rimma and their 2 children.Rivera is also a soccer trainer in the local community and has trained children in all age groups for different schools and organizations/clubs.








Teri Walker has been promoted to Assistant Secretary.  Having joined Highlands State Bank in October 2012 after 20+ years in the nonprofit sector, Walker’s background includes Human Resources, Payroll, Executive Support, and Program, Event, and Office Management.  In addition to her role as Assistant Secretary, Walker also currently serves as Highlands State Bank’s Audit Liaison. 






Eduardo Lopez has been promoted to Assistant Treasurer. Lopez has eleven years of banking experience and joined Highlands State Bank in 2009 when the Totowa branch opened its doors to the community.  He is the Assistant Branch Manager at this location for the past six years.







Haven Savings Bank Announces Employee Promotions
John Wessling, president & CEO, Haven Savings Bank announced the following employees have been promoted at the bank. Their new corporate titles will be:
Paul Deponte – Senior Vice President/ Chief Financial Officer
Julie Kagan – Vice President/ Human Resource Manager
Thomas Buthorn – Vice President / Controller
Klaudia Ripatrazone – Assistant Vice President/BSA Officer
Neelum Teckwani – Assistant Vice President/ Commercial Credit Analyst
Sun Yong Mellawa – Assistant Vice President/ Assistant Controller
Congratulations to all!

John Raleigh Joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market:  PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank announced the appointment of John Raleigh, Senior Managing Director, Commercial Private Banking at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.
Located in Darien, Connecticut Mr. Raleigh is responsible for the market growth in the Connecticut, New York and New England markets providing exceptional client service through the Bank’s unique private banking approach.

Raleigh has over 30 years of financial services experience holding key positions in the middle market, corporate, leverage finance and asset-based banking segments.  Prior to joining Peapack-Gladstone Bank, he worked at Citibank as the Region Manager of Upper Middle Market Banking for the Florida, New York and Connecticut markets.  Raleigh also served as a Senior Credit Officer and instructor to the Bank’s Commercial Risk Management Program.  Prior to that, he was Vice President, Northeast Region for HSBC in New York where he was named Officer of the Year multiple times for outstanding performance.   Raleigh held equally impressive roles at Sanwa Business Credit, Fleet Capital Corporation and Coast Business Credit covering the Northeast markets. He started his career at JPMorgan Chase in New York where he completed formal credit training.

A resident of Darien, Connecticut, Raleigh holds an M.B.A. in finance from Iona College and B.B.A. in accounting, finance and mathematics from Pace University.  He is a Board and Finance Committee member of the Laurel House, Stamford, Connecticut and is engaged in other charities including build-On, Habitat for Humanity and Malta House.  

Roselle Savings Bank's JIll Schafhauser to Retire, Detlef Felschow to Assume Leadership Role
     
 William E. Fredericks, Chairman of the Board of Roselle Savings Bank, announced that current Roselle Savings Bank President and CEO Jill G. Schafhauser will be retiring, effective January 27, 2017. Current Executive Vice President and COO, Detlef (“D”) Felschow will assume the position of President and CEO. 

Jill Schafhauser spent her entire 46-year banking career with Roselle Savings Bank, including 16 years as CEO and bank president. She followed in the banking footsteps of her mother, Mrs. Frances Hunter, who preceded her as an officer of the bank. During her time at the helm, the bank has grown and evolved from an institution that offered traditional banking services to one that is now firmly entrenched in the world of high-tech banking products, while still remaining true to its community roots. Roselle Savings Bank today has locations in Roselle, Cranford, Bernardsville and High Bridge. Schafhauser will remain active with the bank as a member of its board of directors. She is currently a director on the NJBankers NJBA Service Corp. Board of Directors and formerly served on the NJBankers (NJ League of Community Bankers) Board of Governors, Executive Committee and Operations & Technology Committee. She also served as trustee of the New Jersey Community Bankers Education Foundation.

In addition to her dedication to New Jersey community banking organizations, Schafhauser is well known for her support of local communities, with involvement in such groups as Inroads to Opportunities (formerly known as the Occupational Center of Union County), HomeSharing (where she was honored in 2013 with the Shuey Horowitz Humanitarian Award), EverFi, Inc.’s Financial Literacy Program at Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, in addition to annual support of local chapters of The American Cancer Society and the United Way.

Felschow has been with Roselle Savings Bank for two years. Prior to that he served as Senior Vice President / Chief Operating Officer of Hilltop Community Bank, and had previously served as Senior Vice President, Retail Banking at The Ramapo Bank. He graduated from the University of Delaware Stonier Graduate School of Banking.  In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

Berkshire Bank Names Costello President of First Choice Loan Services, Inc.
Berkshire Bank announced the appointment of Allan Costello as President of its wholly-owned subsidiary First Choice Loan Services, Inc., a best in class mortgage banking business originating loans across a national platform. 
 
As President, Costello will work with the current leadership team of First Choice Loan Services including Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Norman T. Koenigsberg and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Ralph Picarillo in developing strategic initiatives. With this new position, he will be instrumental in setting corporate policies and procedures for this subsidiary consistent with the strong compliance culture at Berkshire Bank. In addition, he will continue to serve as Executive Vice President for the Bank’s Home Lending Division leading its sales and operations functions including loan origination, underwriting, compliance, processing and servicing. 
 
Costello has been integral to developing the growth, improved operational efficiencies and strong mortgage oversight and governance of Berkshire Bank Home Lending.  In his new role, he will execute on First Choice Loan Services’ strategic vision and cultural integration as part of Berkshire Bank, and support its current leadership in driving Berkshire to new heights in performance and regulatory compliance.
 
Costello brings a strong understanding of governance and compliance requirements with over 30 years of experience in auditing, risk management, compliance, accounting, operations and banking.  He joined Berkshire Bank in 2011 and held the position of Senior Vice President, Audit before  transitioning to the Home Lending Division.  Prior to Berkshire Bank, Costello’s career was focused in the auditing and financial fields, including Director at Accume Partners, Divisional Vice President of Bank Protection at Charter One Bank and Chief Financial Officer at Rhinebeck Savings Bank.
 
Costello holds a Bachelors of Business Administration-Accounting from Siena College and graduated from the American Bankers Association- Graduate School of Banking. Costello is a Certified Internal Auditor and Certified Fraud Examiner.   

Oritani Bank Promotes Jason E. Wallace to Chief Compliance Officer, Senior Vice President 
Oritani Bank, headquartered in the Township of Washington, announced that it has promoted Saddle Brook resident Jason E. Wallace to Chief Compliance Officer, Senior Vice President. 
In his new role, Wallace will be responsible for identifying and addressing regulatory issues and changes impacting Oritani’s products, services and operations as it relates to BSA/AML, retail, CRA, fair lending, corporate security, deposit and lending compliance. He will also insure that the Bank’s policies and procedures comply with all applicable laws and regulations and oversee training of all bank directors, officers and employees.  Wallace previously served as Oritani Bank’s BSA Compliance Officer for more than a year and supervised the Bank’s BSA Compliance. Wallace led a team of analysts responsible for safe guarding the financial institution from any suspicious activity. He also acted as the subject matter expert resource for the Bank, its Board of Directors and Executive Management on BSA/AML/OFAC and related regulatory compliance issues.

Prior to joining Oritani Bank, Wallace worked in a supervisory role at McGladrey LLP where he participated in the creation, tracking, and oversight of engagement work plans, timelines, budgets, project management, and resource allocations for global financial institution engagements. Additionally, Wallace worked for global financial institutions such as Bank of New York Mellon on Wall Street and Citi in NYC, where he worked as an analyst in various AML positions. 

Wallace holds his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Albany, SUNY and obtained his NJ Bankers Certification from the BSA Committee. He is also part of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists. Wallace is on the Board of Directors as Saint Albans Montessori Academy of Learning (Queens, NY) as Treasurer. 

Lincoln 1st Bank Welcomes Anthony Petrillo to Board of Directors
Lincoln 1st Bank, which has served the personal and commercial banking needs of customers throughout northern New Jersey for nearly a century, welcomed Anthony Petrillo to its Board of Directors.

As Executive Vice President of Pearl Media, Petrillo works with brands and agencies nationwide to create unique experiential media activations.  His team works with a Fortune 500 client base, helping them communicate brand benefits through award-winning consumer engagement campaigns.  

Petrillo dedication to regional business development in his home area of Montville weighed heavily in Lincoln 1st’s decision to name him to its board.  Despite its growth, Lincoln 1st Bank takes pride in retaining a hometown appeal, both in its personal approach to customer service and refusal to sell mortgage loans in the secondary market.

He began his career in theatrical film distribution, releasing films nationwide for movie studios.  Working at IFC Films, Petrillo helped develop and implement a progressive national release of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, a film that grossed over $240M domestically – the largest independent release of all time.  He later joined Lionsgate FIlms, where he developed, negotiated and implemented over 100 movie releases including the famed Saw horror movie franchise, the Tyler Perry franchise, Fahrenheit 911 and the 2005 Academy Award Best Picture, Crash.

In 2008, he joined Pearl Media and has since developed award winning experiential advertising campaigns for clients like Chevy, Merrill Lynch, JetBlue, AT&T, TNT and Lifetime.

Berkshire Bank Appoints Key Corporate Finance Officers
Nihill named SVP, Treasurer; O’Rourke assumes additional new role as EVP, Finance Expansion of Finance Team Supports Growth
 Berkshire Bank announced the following key appointments within its Corporate Finance Department to accelerate the company's progress and to empower the next level of leadership.
 
• Kevin Nihill - Senior Vice President, Treasurer. Nihill has been serving as the lead of Berkshire's Strategic Analytics group. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry in a number of treasury, financial modeling and finance-related roles and joined the company in 2010. Nihill is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) charter holder, earned his bachelor's degree from Cornell University and received his M.B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
• Allison O'Rourke - Executive Vice President, Finance. O'Rourke will assume the role of Executive Vice President, Finance. With this new position, she will be responsible for leading Financial Planning and Analysis, including budgeting, planning and profitability, in addition to Investor Relations and Financial Institution Banking. O'Rourke joined the bank in 2013 from NYSE Euronext as Vice President, Investor Relations, and has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from Smith College.

Oritani Bank Promotes John S. Krantz to Vice President of Residential Lending
Oritani Bank, headquartered in the Township of Washington, announced the promotion of Glen Rock resident John S. Krantz to Vice President of Residential Lending. Krantz will continue to oversee the Residential Mortgage Loan Portfolio, while ensuring the efficient and effective production of new loans.  He will also make sure the department is compliant with operating policies, procedures and outside regulatory requirements.  Prior to joining Oritani Bank, Krantz worked as Assistant Vice President and Mortgage Operations Administrator at Atlantic Stewardship Bank. He also was employed through various positions at Fleet Bank.  Krantz holds his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Pace University. Additionally, Krantz is certified by the American Institute of Banking. 

1/2017
NJBankers Endorsed Service Provider Pentegra’s Colleen Zanicchi Promoted to Senior Vice President
Pentegra announced that Colleen Zanicchi has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Human Resources. As Senior Vice President, Zanicchi will oversee the development and implementation of Pentegra’s human resources policies and programs including recruitment and retention, along with compensation and benefit programs. She will also oversee the management of all of Pentegra’s facilities at its locations nationwide. She joined Pentegra in January, 1995. Since that time the organization has tripled in size and scale with more than 260 employees and $11 billion in assets under management for clients nationwide. An accomplished human resources professional with more than twenty years of expertise, she is a graduate of the State University of New York, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.  She also holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR)) designation from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRIC) and the Society for Human Resources Management – Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) designation. 





Berkshire Bank Appoints Cimino to SVP Regional Operations Leader
Berkshire Bank is excited to announce the appointment of Jeannine Cimino to Senior Vice President, Regional Operations Leader for the Mid- Atlantic Region. Cimino brings over 20 years of industry experience, the last 6 of which have been dedicated to her role of Director of Marketing and Sales for First Choice Bank. Through the recent acquisition of First Choice Bank, Berkshire Bank appointed Cimino to her new position of SVP, Regional Operations Leader. As SVP, Regional Operations Leader, Cimino will be responsible for branch leadership and guiding a team of Private Bankers and My Banker, Relationship Managers in the Mid-Atlantic Region to assist in attaining desired profitability goals through the generation of new business in the new market. Berkshire Hills Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE: BHLB) completed the merger and acquisition of First Choice Bank effective December 2, 2016. With this acquisition, the Bank added eight bank branches in the areas of Princeton, New Jersey and Greater Philadelphia and First Choice Loan Services. Berkshire Bank will continue with the tradition of First Choice Bank to be a neighborhood bank and support its communities through nonprofit giving and volunteerism. The Bank is dedicated to maintaining local leadership and flexible decision-making while providing its customers the strength and resources of a big bank. Cimino will support the smooth transition of the newly acquired branches and will provide leadership to this new market. Cimino holds a B.S. in Business Management and Finance from Brooklyn College. Dedicated to her community, Cimino serves as Chair of the Hamilton Area YMCA's Marketing Committee, Vice Chair of the Mid Jersey Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Board for Ryan's Quest.

Somerset Savings Bank Announces Officer Appointment
Somerset Savings Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Raymond Roche to Vice President and Internal Auditor. Roche has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry including internal auditing, financial control and SEC reporting.  Most recently he served as First Vice President in the Internal Audit Department at Israel Discount Bank in New York City.  Roche resides in Verona, NJ.







Valley National Bank Promotes Thomas Iadanza to Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer 
Valley National Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp announced the promotion of Thomas Iadanza to Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. 
Iadanza joined Valley National Bank in 2012 through the acquisition of State Bank of Long Island. Iadanza had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of Valley’s Commercial and Consumer Lending Divisions. As Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, Mr. Iadanza will be responsible for Commercial Lending, Commercial Real Estate Lending, Consumer Lending, and Credit Underwriting encompassing all of Valley’s markets in New Jersey, New York and Florida. Iadanza received a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting from St. John’s University. 





Regal Bank Announces New Branch and New Hires
   
A new branch of Regal Bank opened for business in Somerville, New Jersey on January 9, 2017. The new branch is located at 151 Adamsville Road, previously PNC Bank.  Along with the new branch comes a new staff to serve area residents and businesses. Emilio Ramil has been hired as the assistant vice president and branch manager, and Charles “Chip” Wirth has been hired as the assistant branch manager. 
 
Both Ramil and Wirth bring several years of experience to the new branch. Ramil worked as a territory manager with Valley National Bank for more than three years and as a branch manager with TD Bank for six years. Wirth spent 16 years as a financial sales and service representative for PNC Bank and was selected to the PNC Mentor Program to counsel new hires. 
 
Regal Bank’s services include commercial mortgages, business loans and lines of credit, home equity lines of credit, residential mortgages, and traditional commercial banking products for small- to medium-size businesses. The Bank also offers Internet banking, bill pay, remote merchant capture, and other technology-based products.
 
 
Valley National Bank Appoints Kevin Chittenden to Executive Vice President – Chief Residential Lending Officer
Valley National Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp, announced the appointment of Kevin Chittenden to Executive Vice President – Chief Residential Lending Officer. 

Chittenden has over 25 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry, including retail banking management and consumer lending development.  Most recently, he served as a Vice President,  Region Manager for a prominent financial institution.  As Valley’s new Chief Residential Lending Officer, he is responsible for shaping the strategic vision of the Bank’s residential lending business.  This includes oversight of the Bank’s residential lending operations, sales, lending practices, policies, procedures and activities in the secondary market.  

Chittenden holds a Bachelors Degree in Finance from Texas Tech University. 


Rosa Fornino Appointed to Vice President/Business Development Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Rosa Fornino to Vice President/Business Development Officer of their Wayne Valley Office, located at 311 Valley Road, Wayne, New Jersey.

Fornino has an extensive background in the finance industry including customer service, sales, community outreach and management. She will be focused on business prospecting in her new role at ASB and strengthening relationships within the community.

Fornino, who resides in Wayne, New Jersey, is a member of the Wayne Chamber of Commerce and Rotary.  Additionally, Ms. Fornino has a long-standing relationship with William Paterson University and has taught financial lessons to both students and faculty at the university. 


Amy Duffau-Leonard Appointed to Vice President/BSA Officer  at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Amy Duffau-Leonard to Vice President/Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Officer. 

Leonard has over fifteen years of banking experience with a focus in BSA including; filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) and Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) Regulations. Ms. Leonard, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a BS in Accounting, is also CAMS certified (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist). 

Additionally, she is a member of the Association of Anti-Money Laundering Specialists as well as the NJBanker’s BSA Committee.


 
12/2016
NVE Bank Appoints Michael C. Lee as Leonia Branch Manager 
Robert Rey, President and Chief Executive Officer of NVE Bank, announced that Michael C. Lee has been appointed as Branch Manager for NVE’s Leonia branch, located at 310 Broad Avenue in Leonia, New Jersey. 

His previous banking experience includes serving as a Personal Banker at J.P. Morgan Chase & Company where he was instrumental in opening the Fort Greene, Brooklyn branch location.  Most recently,  Lee served as a Real Estate Associate at Ridgeco Properties, located in Englewood Cliffs, NJ.    

Lee, who is fluent in Korean, earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University where he held a double major in Economics and Political Science.  He also holds a Certificate in Business Administration from Georgetown University.  Mr. Lee resides in Palisades Park, New Jersey.
 

Michael Milich Appointed to Vice President/Loan Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Michael Milich to Vice President/Loan Officer of their Mortgage Department. Milich will be responsible for the origination of mortgage loans based upon the established guidelines of the Bank; with the purpose of effectively increasing the Bank’s production of mortgage loans, promoting the Bank’s brand and extending their market share with quality service.

He brings over twenty nine years of residential, commercial lending sales and operations experience to his new position. Most recently Michael was a Mortgage Development Officer for Boiling Springs Bank and he holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island.

Additionally, Milich is a 2015 New Jersey Monthly Magazine “Five Star Mortgage Professional” recipient.


Raciel V. Perez Joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market:  PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank announce the appointment of Raciel V. Perez, Senior Vice President, Senior Underwriter, Credit Administration at Peapack-Gladstone Bank. Perez is responsible for structuring and underwriting loans in the wealth management and commercial and industrial (C&I) divisions of the Bank. He joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank with 30 years of financial services experience previously serving as Senior Credit Officer, Director, Credit Risk Management at Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, New York, New York where he was primarily responsible for decisioning credit requests for the North American Private Bank division. Additionally, he was a key contributor to the risk system development, outlining system requirements for ongoing collateral monitoring, and credit exposure and portfolio measurement metrics.  Prior to that he served as Senior Credit Transactor of the Global Private Banking Group at HSBC Bank USA and formerly held senior underwriting, credit, marketing and auditing roles at Royal Bank of Canada and Citigroup in New York City.



Jason Miller Joins Pentegra as Regional Director 
Pentegra Retirement Services announced that Jason Miller has joined the organization as Regional Director for qualified retirement plan sales. Reporting to Pete Swisher, Pentegra Senior Vice President of National Sales, Miller will lead the company’s business development efforts throughout Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.  Miller has more than 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, with a strong concentration of expertise in retirement plans.  An accomplished financial services professional, prior to joining Pentegra, he held similar roles at Mutual of Omaha, Great West (Empower) and Transamerica Capital, Inc. 

Valley National Bank Appoints Kevin Chittenden to Executive Vice President – Chief Residential Lending Officer
Valley National Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Valley National Bancorp announced the appointment of Kevin Chittenden to Executive Vice President – Chief Residential Lending Officer. 

Chittenden has over 25 years of extensive experience in the financial services industry, including retail banking management and consumer lending development.  Most recently, he served as a Vice President,  Region Manager for a prominent financial institution.  As Valley’s new Chief Residential Lending Officer, he is responsible for shaping the strategic vision of the Bank’s residential lending business.  This includes oversight of the Bank’s residential lending operations, sales, lending practices, policies, procedures and activities in the secondary market.  

He holds a Bachelors Degree in Finance from Texas Tech University.  


Lakeland Bank Appoints Financial Advisors

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, is pleased to announce the following appointments.

Geoffrey L. Franklin has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor for the Investment Services Division based in Hackensack. Franklin will be serving the Englewood, Hackensack, Rochelle Park, and Teaneck Offices. He joins Lakeland Bank with more than 20 years of investment management experience at JPMorgan Securities where he was most recently the Senior Financial Advisor in JPMorgan’s Chase Wealth Management group serving the Montclair market. Franklin earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s degree in finance from the University of Delaware. He has Series 7, 63 and 65 licenses as well as NJ and NY Life and Health Insurance licenses. Franklin resides in Ridgewood.





Robert Siegler has been hired as Vice President, Financial Advisor for the Investment Services Division based in Butler. Siegler will be serving the Bloomingdale, Butler, Pompton Plain, Ringwood, Wanaque, and Wayne Offices. He was most recently a Financial Advisor with JPMorgan Securities in Rockland County, N.Y. and prior to that, a Financial Advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors in New City, N.Y. Siegler earned a bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College and has earned the CRPC® from the College for Financial Planning. He has Series 7 and 66 licenses as well as NJ and NY Life and Health Insurance licenses. Siegler resides in Mahwah.






Matthew Stanek has been hired as Assistant Vice President, Financial Advisor for the Investment Services Division based in Bernardsville. He will be serving the Bernardsville, Madison, Mendham, Morristown and Summit Offices as well as the Middlesex and Monmouth County market. Stanek was most recently a Private Client Banker with JPMorgan Chase Bank’s Wealth Management group in Upper Montclair. He earned a bachelor’s degree from West Virginia University and has Series 6 and 63 licenses as well as a NJ Life and Health Insurance license. Stanek resides in Morris Plains.






Liberty Bell Bank Names Herring Executive Vice President
Liberty Bell Bank President  and CEO,  Benjamin Watts  announced that John Herring has been  promoted to  Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer of the Bank.  Mr. Herring previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer. 

John plays an active role in numerous community organizations and is currently the President of the Rotary Club of Moorestown and the President-Elect of the South Jersey Chapter of the Risk Management Association. He also serves on the Finance Committee of Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice, Mt. Laurel, NJ.

Herring joined the bank in 2004 as Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer and was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2005. He became the Chief Lending Officer in September of 2008.  John graduated magna cum laude from Mount Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and has thirty-three years commercial banking experience in Southern New Jersey.


Richard Glicini Appointed to Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer at Sussex Bank
Anthony Labozzetta, President & Chief Executive Officer of Sussex Bank, announced the recent appointment of Richard Glicini to Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer. In this newly-created role, Rich will be a key driver in transforming the Employee Experience as Sussex Bank continues on its journey of becoming the employer of choice in the industry. More specifically, Glicini will focus his efforts on embedding the Bank’s unique company culture in all employee programs and practices including recruiting and on-boarding, employee engagement, rewards and recognition, leadership development and talent management, employee health and wellness, employee communications and other strategic workforce initiatives. In addition, he will be responsible for managing several other corporate administration functions of the Bank.

Glicini comes to Sussex Bank with more than 25 years of professional experience as a strategic business partner with a proven track record of leading complex organizational change initiatives. Prior to joining Sussex Bank, he held a series of senior executive roles with Pearson plc, the world’s largest education and testing company. As SVP, Human Resources for Pearson Education, he was responsible for managing all HR functions for the company’s 20,000 education employees and most recently as SVP, Corporate Social Responsibility for Pearson, he developed and led the company’s global social responsibility agenda.


11/2016
Lakeland Bank Announces Branch Manager Promotions, Transitions and New Hires 

Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, announced the following appointments.



Giuseppe Cascio has been promoted to Vice President, Area Branch Manager, North Haledon and Wyckoff. Cascio joined Lakeland in May 2001 as a Teller and was promoted to Assistant Treasurer, Branch Manager in April 2007. He was promoted to Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager in March 2011 and to Vice President, Branch Manager in April 2014. He is a graduate of ITT Marco Polo in Italy and is a member of the Knights of Columbus. 







Hafeza Mohammed transitioned to Vice President, Area Manager, Hackensack Main Street and Polify. Mohammed joined Lakeland in April 2011 as an Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager for the Morristown Office. In April 2014, she was promoted to Vice President, Area Manager of Butler and Carey Avenue. Prior to that, she worked for Santander Bank as a branch manager in West Orange. Mohammed earned a bachelor’s degree from University of West Indies. She is a member of the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club.






Jerry Slavik transitioned to Vice President, Area Manager, Waldwick, Westwood and Hillsdale. Slavik joined Lakeland in March 2015 as Vice President, Area Manager of the Wyckoff and Park Ridge offices. Prior to that, he was with TD Bank in Fair Lawn as Store Manager and was a Store Manager at Wachovia/Wells Fargo in Ridgewood. Slavik has a bachelor’s degree in communications from William Paterson University. He is a member of Rotary International and a former president of Fair Lawn Rotary Club.






James A. Konzel has been hired as Vice President, Area Manager for the Hampton and Newton Park Place Offices. Konzel joins Lakeland with more than 26 years of banking experience most recently as Vice President at TD Bank in Park Ridge and Ridgewood. Prior to that, he was Vice President at Chase Bank in Ridgewood. He is a former member of the Ridgewood Rotary and the recipient of the TD Wow Star Award in 2011 and 2016. He was also a Chase Bank Leadership Winner in 2007 and 2009. 








DawnMarie Montgomery-Otis has been hired as Vice President, Area Manager for the Teaneck and Englewood Offices. Montgomery-Otis joins Lakeland with more than 20 years of industry experience most recently as Vice President, Senior Manager at TD Bank responsible for the Hackensack, Newark and Hawthorne locations. Prior to that, she was with CitiGroup as Vice President, Senior Manager in Nutley. Montogmery-Otis serves as a board member for NJIT and CLSA and is a director for Hackensack Chamber of Commerce. 




Gary E. Walker, JD, LL.M, CFP® Joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market:  PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank announced the appointment of Gary Walker, Senior Managing Director, Wealth Private Banker for the wealth management division of Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  Operating out of the Bank’s Morristown location, Walker is a lead point of contact for the Bank’s new and existing individual client relationships in the development and coordination of comprehensive wealth management plans, offering the Bank’s full array of customized, private banking services.  In working with individuals and family relationships, he is responsible for implementing and monitoring comprehensive estate, tax and financial planning while providing the Bank’s one-touch client service.
 
Walker has over 32 years of experience in both the financial services and legal arenas.  Before joining Peapack-Gladstone Bank, he served as Vice President, Relationship Manager at Glenmede Trust Company, N.A.  As the senior wealth advisor for their Morristown and Princeton, New Jersey offices, he worked with clients and their outside advisors on estate, tax and financial planning solutions for their most complex family relationships.  Prior to that he served as an attorney in the private law sector, most recently as a Partner at Herold and Haines, P.A., specializing in estate and tax planning as well as trust and estate litigation and administration.  Walker’s former experience also includes service with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as a Special Agent.
 
He holds a B.S. in Accounting, Summa Cum Laude from Manhattan College, a JD, Cum Laude from Boston College Law School, a Masters of Law in Taxation (LL.M) from New York University School of Law and has earned the Certified Financial Planner® designation.  Gary has served as Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Mid-Jersey Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society; Member, Board of Trustees of the Somerset Hills YMCA; Member, Board of Trustees of the Somerset Hills Handicapped Riding Center; and President of the Greater Middlesex/Somerset Estate Planning Council.  He is currently a Member, Board of Trustees of the Estate Planning Council of Northern New Jersey and a Member, Bergen County Estate Planning Council.  


Timothy E. Doyle is Promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market:  PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank announced the promotion of Timothy E. Doyle to Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer at Peapack-Gladstone Bank.  In his current role, Doyle is responsible for the Enterprise Risk Management and Compliance programs at Peapack-Gladstone Bank as well as Operational Risk, supervision of stress testing and policy and regulatory compliance.
 
He has over 30 years of financial services experience in transaction and relationship banking including leveraged structuring, execution, marketing and management.  Prior to joining Peapack-Gladstone Bank, he served as Senior Vice President, Chief Credit Officer at Crown Bank, Indus American Bank and Millennium bcp Bank.  In years prior, he had credit and leadership responsibilities at Sovereign Bank, Summit Bank/Fleet National Bank and CIBC World Markets.
 
Doyle graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce with Honors and MBA from the University of Windsor (Canada).  He is a member of the New Jersey Bankers Association Commercial Lending and Enterprise Risk Management Committees, member of the Professional Risk Managers International Association and is certified by the Enterprise Risk Management Association.


10/2016
Karl A. Towns Joins The First National Bank of Elmer
The First National Bank of Elmer announced that South Jersey native and community banker Karl A. Towns has joined the bank as Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer / Chief Risk Officer. Towns was recently the SVP/Chief Compliance Officer for Audubon Savings Bank, a mutual savings bank in Audubon, NJ. He also served as EVP of Banking Alliance Division for EPX. He is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking and ACAMS Certified Anti-Money Laundering. Through his years of experience as an accomplished banking professional, he continues to be a valued member of the South Jersey Community. Karl also serves his community as an educational advocate for children with autism and other disabilities and is a former Board Member for Exceptional Care for Children (ECC). He resides in Erial, Gloucester County, New Jersey with his wife and son.

Vernon Banker Appointed to National Council
The American Bankers Association has selected Steven C. Ackmann, president and chief executive officer Highlands State Bank to serve on ABA's Community Bankers Council. Ackmann attended the ABA Community Bankers Council meeting in Washington on Oct. 3-5. During this meeting, bankers talked at length about the current challenges facing community banks across the country, including recent regulations, pending legislation and fintech innovations. David Wasserman, house editor for The Cook Political Report, was one of the featured speakers at the meeting.The ABA Community Bankers Council, which meets twice a year, is made up of approximately 100 bankers from institutions with generally less than $3 billion in assets. Members are appointed by the ABA chairman. Ackmann serves as CEO and president of Highlands Bancorp, Inc. and Highlands State Bank since September 2014, previously president and chief operating officer of Highlands State Bank since 2012. His 40 years of banking career includes 14 years as president, chief operating officer and director of Prornistar Financial Corporation in Johnstown, Pa. Other previous duties have included service as the CEO, President and Director of Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank in Scranton, Pa. He also served as president of Ti1e Bank of Princeton, N.J. Mr. Ackmann is active with several non-profit organizations and has served as the chairman and as board member for various non­ profit community and business organizations.

Oritani Bank Hires Vice President of Business Development and  Senior Commercial Banker
  

Oritani Bank announced that it has hired Jegan Vengada as Vice President, Business Development Officer and Kurt Breitenstein as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. .  Vengada brings 15 years of industry experience, eight of which were exclusively spent in the business banking segment. In his new role at Oritani Bank, Vengada will be responsible for new business acquisition in the Oritani marketplace located in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic and Essex Counties.  He has expertise in providing services to medical professionals, which will be his primary focus.

Prior to joining Oritani Bank, Vengada served as a Vice President at Bank of America in the Greater Washington, D.C. area. He was also an Assistant Vice President at the First National Bank in Maryland. Vengada earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Limoges, France, as well as his Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Maryland. He holds his Business Law and Business Credit certification from the Maryland Bankers Association.  He is an active volunteer at the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. Vengada recently married Surbhi Pandey, they reside in Jersey City. 

Breitenstein has 30 years of experience in banking and 26 years of experience in credit and lending. He has held senior lending positions at Sussex Bank, Valley National Bank, and Interchange Bank. In his new role of Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending, Breitenstein will be responsible for developing new client relationships and leading Oritani’s New Jersey’s team by expanding the Bank’s presence in the New Jersey and surrounding markets.
 
Breitenstein holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Government from Skidmore College, as well as an MBA in Finance from Long Island University. Breitenstein is a longtime member of the Commercial Lending Committee of the NJ Bankers Association and serves on the Executive Advisory Committee for Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County, NJ.


Investors Bank Hires New Treasurer
Investors Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISBC), the holding company for Investors Bank, has announced that Daniel F. Dougherty, CFA, has joined Investors Bancorp, Inc. and Investors Bank as Senior Vice President and Treasurer. Dougherty, who has more than 20 years of banking and treasury experience, succeeds Maria Lopes, who stepped down from her role in October.

Dougherty comes to Investors from Astoria Bank, where he was Senior Vice President and Treasurer.  Before joining Astoria, Dougherty was Senior Vice President and Assistant Treasurer at Israel Discount Bank of New York. Dougherty spent the earlier years of his banking career at FHLB of New York, North Fork Bank and GreenPoint Bank.

A chartered financial analyst, Dougherty is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts, and has an MBA in Finance from St. John’s University. He has a BA in economics with a minor in business from SUNY at Stony Brook.



Mercadien Names New Managing Director, Announces Other Promotions
                
Conrad L. Druker, CPA, CGMA, and managing director of The Mercadien Group, announced that Samuel J. Kenworthy, CPA, MST, CGMA, has been promoted from director to managing director of The Mercadien Group and principal of Mercadien, P.C., CPAs. Kenworthy, a senior member of the firm’s Tax Advisory and Family Office Groups, has been with Mercadien for 8 years and in public accounting for 19 years.   

Additionally, Eric M. Whelan, CPA, MST, CGMA, and Emily A. Hoffman, CPA, CGMA, have been promoted to the level of director, from manager positions, and Arpita Patel, CAMS, has been promoted to the level of manager, from a supervisor position. Mr. Druker added, “Other professionals throughout Mercadien were also promoted, all of which reflects their contributions to the continued positive and expanding service experiences enjoyed by our clients, and the resultant growth in our business.”

Kenworthy serves a diverse clientele of individuals and families, including high-net worth families, and multi-generational business owners in a wide variety of industries. He also works with global companies and their employees on various international tax advisory and compliance matters. He has given professional education seminars and authored articles on these topics.  He is a member of the American Institute and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Philadelphia and Bucks County Estate Planning Councils, and the Associated Builders and Contractors of NJ.  He earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from The College of New Jersey and a Masters of Taxation from Philadelphia University and resides in Yardley, PA. 
 
An integral member of the firm’s tax advisory practice with vast experience in public accounting, Whelan is involved in the quality control group for tax compliance and return preparation, and responsible for managing all types of tax engagements for businesses and individuals. He has in-depth knowledge of multi-state corporate and individual income tax planning and preparation and representation of clients before the IRS and various state taxation agencies. Additionally, Mr. Whelan works with business owners and chief financial officers to help them operate and grow their organizations more effectively, by providing planning, budgeting and forecasting services. Whelan earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from Georgian Court University and a Masters of Taxation from Philadelphia University. He is a member of the American Institute and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and resides in Forked River, NJ.

Emily Hoffman directs the Compliance Oversight Services Group, where she is responsible for planning and performing fiscal and programmatic oversight of projects, contract and statutory compliance, budget monitoring, risk management, audits and agreed-upon procedures, for commercial, healthcare, and federal, state and local government entities. She is highly regarded in the areas of internal control structures and audit and compliance program design and implementation.  Hoffman is a member of the American Institute and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Association of Government Accountants’ Trenton, NJ chapter, and the board of directors of Dress for Success of Mercer County.  She earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from American University, and resides in Bordentown, NJ.  

A member of Mercadien’s Financial Institutions Services Group, Arpita Patel oversees the Anti-Money Laundering/Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) team through the completion of internal audits, validations, risk assessments and consulting projects for community and commercial banks. She acts as a key resource for bank clients through complex regulatory examinations and audits, while consulting on enhancing and strengthening their BSA programs, primarily through assessment of their policies and procedures; training staff on high-risk relationship reviews and red flags; and suspicious activity reporting and monitoring. A Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, Patel is a graduate of Drexel University, where she earned a B.S. degree in Accounting and Entrepreneurship, serves on the board of the Accounting Advisory Council, and is a member of the Alumni Association. She resides in Philadelphia, PA.


9-2016
Francesco S. Rossi Joins Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation and Peapack-Gladstone Bank as Chief Accounting Officer 
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (“the Company”) (NASDAQ Global Select Market:  PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank (“the Bank”) announced the appointment of Francesco (Frank) S. Rossi to Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and the Bank.  Rossi brings 20 years of financial services experience, with extensive expertise in financial reporting, accounting, and tax compliance.  He is responsible for managing the Bank’s Controller’s Group and Financial Reporting and Budgeting Group.

Rossi began his career with KPMG, spending five years focused on the audit of financial institutions. He then joined Sound Federal Savings Bank of New York, spending five years as Vice President, Controller, until the Bank was merged into Hudson City Bank of New Jersey. Frank then spent 10 years with Hudson City Bank, within financial reporting and progressing to Principal Accounting Officer (i.e. Chief Accounting Officer) for his last 18 months with the Company, until its merger into M&T Bank. At Hudson City, Mr. Rossi was responsible for the development and preparation of internal, public, and regulatory reporting, financial analyses, the internal control environment, and accounting and tax functions. 

Rossi earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in accounting and finance from Siena College in Loudonville, New York and is currently a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New York State Society of CPAs.  He is an active volunteer for Jan Peek homeless shelter in Peekskill, New York providing meals for those in need. 


Diane Scriveri Joining CSBK as Chief Commercial Loan Officer
CSBK announced the appointment of Diane Scriveri to Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Loan Officer.

Scriveri is a New Jersey banking veteran whose career has spanned a number of institutions, primarily within Bergen County. During her community banking career, she has served in various senior management positions in the commercial and residential real estate areas. 

She is very active in both industry and community organizations. She currently serves as Chair of the New Jersey Bankers Association Residential Mortgage Committee, and as a member of the New Jersey Bankers Association Commercial Lending Committee and the American Bankers Association – Mortgage Technology and Commercial Lending Groups. Scriveri also serves in various positions with several Bergen County community outreach organizations.


The Honorable James S. Rothschild Jr. Returns to Riker Danzig
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP announced that the Honorable James S. Rothschild Jr. has returned to the Firm after serving for 14 years as a Judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey. The majority of his time on the bench was spent serving as a Civil Judge in Essex County.  The Supreme Court of New Jersey elected Rothschild to be the Complex Civil Litigation Judge in Essex County for the last several years of his tenure.  

Judge Rothschild also was a member of the Supreme Court’s Civil Jury Charges Committee.  He has lectured extensively on developments in civil law, both for ICLE and at the Judicial College.  In addition to commercial litigation, he has experience in numerous areas including tort cases, coverage litigation, environmental matters, medical, legal, accounting and engineering malpractice issues, zoning and land use battles, public bidding matters, contract interpretation, construction disputes, class actions and discrimination cases.

Prior to the bench, Judge Rothschild was a partner at Riker Danzig.  His practice focused on litigation and insurance coverage matters. Judge Rothschild joins Riker Danzig’s Alternative Dispute Resolution and Commercial Litigation Groups.  

Riker Danzig Welcomes Five Associates
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP is pleased to welcome five 2016 Fall Associates: Joshua M. Carmel, Clarissa Gomez, Hannah J. Greendyk, Sarah A. Heba and Ashley Higginson.
Joshua M. Carmel joins the Firm’s Insurance and Reinsurance Group.  Carmel received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 2016.  He graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in English and Classics from Gettysburg College. 

Clarissa Gomez joins the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Group.  Gomez received her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2014, where she served as the Articles Editor of the Seton Hall Legislative Journal.  She graduated in 2010 with a B.A., cum laude, in English and Women & Gender Studies from The College of New Jersey.  Following law school, Gomez was the Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward M. Coleman, P. J. S. C., New Jersey Superior Court in Somerville, and the Honorable Michael A. Hammer, U.S.M.J., United States District Court, District of New Jersey. Gomez is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.

Hannah J. Greendyk joins the Firm’s Corporate and Tax, Trusts & Estates Departments.  Greendyk received her law degree from Seton Hall University School of Law, cum laude, in 2016.  She graduated in 2013 with a B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Seton Hall University.

Sarah A. Heba joins the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Group.  Heba received her law degree from Hofstra University School of Law in 2015.  She graduated in 2011 with a B.A. in English Literature from Rutgers University.  Following law school, Heba was a Law Clerk to the Honorable Travis L. Francis, A.J.S.C., New Jersey Superior Court in New Brunswick. Heba is admitted to practice in New Jersey.

Ashley Higginson joins the Firm’s School Law and Governmental Affairs Departments.  Higginson received her law degree from Rutgers University School of Law in 2015.  She graduated from Princeton University in 2011 with a B.A. in Political Science. Higginson is admitted to practice in New Jersey. This past summer, she participated in the USA Track & Field Olympic trials.  She qualified for and competed in the final of the 3,000 meter steeplechase.  Higginson trained and competed while pursuing her law degree at Rutgers Law School.  She also competed for the USA in the steeplechase at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, and won a gold medal in the steeplechase at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.  


Lindsey Terpstra Promoted to Assistant Secretary at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Lindsey Terpstra to Assistant Secretary/Branch Operations Manager. 
Terpstra joined ASB in May of 2006 as a Teller and progressively worked her way to her current position. In 2013, She had advanced to a Customer Relationship Manager at ASB’s Ridgewood Office and she is currently serving as the interim Branch Manager of ASB’s North Haledon Office which is located at 33 Sicomac Road. Terpstra holds a Bachelor of Science in communications from Pace University.  






Kayde Shabrack Promoted to Assistant Secretary at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Kayde Shabrack to Assistant Secretary/Supervisor of their Operations Department.
Shabrack, a graduate of Montclair State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, joined Atlantic Stewardship Bank in September of 2005 as a Part Time Teller while attending college.  In 2010, she steadily progressed to the bank’s Deposit Operations Department and she is currently responsible for the oversight and handling of the bank’s Electronic Customer Service Solutions.  Shabrack is an active member of the Living Word Church and serves as the Youth Leader.





Ryan Petrie Promoted to Assistant Secretary at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Ryan Petrie to Assistant Secretary/Senior Accounting Associate of their Accounting Department. 
Petrie, a resident of North Haledon, New Jersey, has over 15 years of financial banking experience. He joined ASB in May of 2001 as a Part Time Teller and progressed to his current position, where he was also appointed as the Regulatory Reporting Specialist. Petrie holds a B.A. from Seton Hall University and an M.B.A. from Montclair State University.  






Stuart Vorcheimer Joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market:  PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank announced the appointment of Stuart Vorcheimer to the position of Senior Managing Director, Market President.  Operating out of the Bank’s Teaneck location, Stuart will be responsible for directing a team of private bankers helping to build the Bank’s wealth, lending and deposit business while servicing commercial businesses in the Northern New Jersey area.

Vorcheimer has worked in the financial services industry for 27 years with a focus on middle market companies ensuring long-term achievement of their financial goals.  Most recently, as Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager, Middle Market and Commercial Banking at Capital One Bank, he led a successful effort to grow business revenues through commercial banking relationship and portfolio management, cross sell strategies and new client acquisition. Additionally, he was responsible for the Contractor Lending Specialty Team which led to relationship success in the New Jersey marketplace.  Previously, as Senior Vice President, Senior Relationship Manager at Bank of America, Stuart was instrumental in the growth, profitability and cross sell of all bank products achieving the Bank’s Pinnacle Award for five consecutive years.
 
Vorcheimer holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in business administration from the University of Hartford.  He is Chairman of the Board of the Metropolitan YMCAs, the largest YMCA association in New Jersey.  Additionally, Stuart serves as co-chair of the Metropolitan YMCA’s annual Kids Care golf tournament and serves on the executive, investment, executive compensation committees and the YMCA merger task force.


8-2016

Wells Fargo Private Bank Names Jason Williams as Senior Managing Director for the Northeast region
Wells Fargo Private Bank announced that Jason Williams has been named senior managing director for The Private Bank for the Northeast region, which includes New Jersey.  In his new role, Williams is responsible for the region’s overall revenue growth, team member development, client acquisition and relationship building, and financial results. He will oversee 970 team members in 28 offices in New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. Reporting to Williams in New Jersey is Amrit Walia, the Private Bank’s regional managing director for the state. 

Williams joined The Private Bank in 2003 in the Dallas market, relocated to Los Angeles in 2004 to serve as a regional brokerage manager, and became regional director in Miami in 2009, following Wells Fargo’s merger with Wachovia Bank.  He was later promoted to regional managing director overseeing the Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and Palm Beach regions.

Williams received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Abilene Christian University. During his tenure in Florida, Williams has served on the board of the directors for The Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center, The Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science, and The I Have a Dream Foundation. 

 

Lakeland Bank Appoints Hubert Urruttia
Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, announced Hubert E. Urruttia has been appointed to Assistant Treasurer, Business Process Analyst in the Business Intelligence department based at the Milton Operations Center in Oak Ridge. Urruttia joins Lakeland Bank with 10 years of industry experience most recently with Sterling National Bank (formerly Provident Bank) in Montebello, N.Y. He began his career as a Teller and advanced his position through the Community Business Lending and Marketing departments to eventually become Business Intelligence Developer in a newly created Business Intelligence Department. Urruttia currently resides in Orange County, N.Y.





Sokol Behot Joins Cullen and Dykman
Cullen and Dykman LLP announced that all attorneys from New Jersey based Sokol Behot LLP  joined Cullen and Dykman as of August 1, 2016.

Sokol Behot LLP’s 14 attorneys joined Cullen and Dykman LLP, resulting in a combined regional law firm with over 150 attorneys. Joe Behot joined Cullen and Dykman as a partner and will serve on Cullen and Dykman’s Executive Committee, while Leon Sokol is joining Cullen and Dykman as a senior partner and will retain his extensive involvement in the management of the New Jersey practice.  Both Leon and Joe will remain based in the Hackensack office. Neil Yoskin will manage Cullen and Dykman’s Princeton office.

As of August 1, 2016, Cullen and Dykman expanded to include offices in Hackensack, Newark and Princeton, New Jersey to complement the firm’s current offices in Manhattan, Long Island, Albany, Brooklyn, and Washington, D.C.

With the addition of the Sokol Behot attorneys, Cullen and Dykman will offer clients extensive depth and expertise in a broad range of practice areas including banking, commercial real estate, corporate, litigation, bankruptcy, energy and utilities and environmental law and offer comprehensive regulatory representation before State and Federal agencies.

Timothy Carone Promoted to Assistant Secretary at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank,announced the promotion of Timothy Carone to Assistant Secretary/Portfolio Manager of their Credit Risk Department. 

Carone has over 20 years of financial experience with a focus in commercial credit analysis, account management and risk analysis. He joined ASB in August of 2011 and prior to that held a position at Valley National Bank as a Credit Analyst.  

Additionally, he is a member of ASB’s Leadership Development Training Program and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mercyhurst University.




Christine Gormley  Promoted to Assistant Vice President/Lending Administration Manager at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Christine Gormley from Assistant Secretary/Loan Workout Specialist to Assistant Vice President/Manager of their Commercial Lending Administration Division. 

Gormley joined ASB in March of 2012 as their Loan Workout Specialist in the Bank’s Loan Workout Department.  She has over 25 years of financial services experience having held positions in credit and collections as well as in foreclosure and loss mitigation.  Additionally, Gormley previously worked for Superior Bank in New York where she was the REO Asset Manager. 

In her new role, she will be responsible for managing and supervising their Commercial Lending Administration Group.  Gormley will also oversee departmental work processes and ensure timely work flows with loan closings to provide the optimal customer experience. 


Wilson Tam Joins Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Peapack-Gladstone Bank announced the appointment of Wilson Tam, Senior Vice President, Head of Multifamily Underwriting.  Operating out of the Bank’s Teaneck and Bedminster Headquarters locations, Tam will be responsible for the Bank’s multifamily credit and underwriting functions.

He is a career banker with over 22 years of financial services experience focusing on credit underwriting, portfolio management and compliance risk management.  Prior to joining Peapack-Gladstone Bank, Wilson held key positions at Capital One as Senior Director, Commercial Business Risk Office; Senior Vice President, Special Assets Officer; and Senior Vice President, Senior Underwriter/Team Leader, Middle Market Lending and Marine Finance.  

Prior to his tenure at Capital One, he held key positions as Vice President, Senior Portfolio Manager at Bank of America and Account Manager, Preferred Banking and Manager, Independent Business at TD Bank.  

Tam earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from McGill University.  He holds a Total Leadership Certificate from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Leadership Group Coaching Certificate from Magnus Group.  
He is a volunteer recreational coach for Montville Township and speaks English, French and Chinese.


Lakeland Bank Announces New Business Banking Officer Positions
Thomas J. Shara, president and chief executive officer of Lakeland Bank recently announced the expansion of its Small Business Lending division. 

Lakeland’s Small Business Lending division has experienced solid continuous growth over the last five years and to meet the increasing demand in this segment, the Bank has created three new Business Banking Officer positions. The addition of these roles will provide a refined geographic focus to allow for individualized attention and a primary resource to the Bank’s branch network.


Mark McCoy has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Market and Business Banking Manager and the Business Banking Officers will report to him. McCoy joined the Bank in 2010 as Vice President, Business Development Officer based in Montville. In 2011, he transitioned to Vice President, Small Business Loans for the Small Business Lending division based in Oak Ridge, N.J. McCoy earned an M.B.A. in finance from Seton Hall University and holds a Master of Arts in diplomacy and international relations with a specialization in Latin America and the Caribbean. He earned his B.S. in business administration from Rider University. 






Mark Bahnuk has been promoted to Vice President, Business Banking Officer, Small Business Sales. He will be based in Mendham and will be responsible for Somerset and Union counties as well as sections of Morris and Sussex counties. Bahnuk joined the Bank in 2004 and has worked in a variety of lending and credit related roles with the Sussex County Lending Team, the former Caldwell Lending Team, credit administration and most recently as a Vice President, Loan Officer for the Bernardsville Lending Team. He is a graduate of James Madison University with a degree in finance. 
 




Daniel Leary has been promoted to Vice President, Business Banking Officer, Small Business Sales based in Montville. He will be responsible for Essex County and parts of Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties. Leary joined the Bank in 2008 as Branch Manager in Wayne, was promoted to Vice President, Branch Manager in Newton in 2011, and assumed the role of Area Manager for Hampton and Andover in 2011. He attended Bergen Community College and transferred to Felician University where he is working toward a bachelor’s degree. Leary is a member of the Newton Rotary, Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce, Success by 6 and is a United Way of Northern NJ Local Operating board member. 





Karim Waheeb has been promoted to Vice President, Business Banking Officer, Small Business Sales. He will be based in Hackensack and will be primarily responsible for the Bergen County area and sections of Passaic County. He joined Lakeland in 2015 as a Vice President, Area Manager for the Teaneck and Englewood branches. Waheeb has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from University of Phoenix, and a New Jersey Life Insurance Producer License plus Series 6 and 63 Licenses for Securities and Investments. He is a member of the Teaneck Chamber of Commerce and Habitat for Humanity.






Lakeland Bank Announces Appointments 
Thomas J. Shara, President and CEO of Lakeland Bank, announced the following promotions and new hire officer appointments.

Mary Karakos was appointed to the newly created position of Commercial Loan Chief Administrative Officer based in Oak Ridge. She joined the Bank in 1992 as a Commercial Loan Workout Officer based in Branchville and in 1996 was promoted to Vice President, Commercial Loan Officer based in Sussex County. In 2004 she was promoted to Vice President, Team Leader, Sussex County Lending Team and in 2007 was promoted to Senior Vice President, Team Leader. Karakos is a former board member for the Sussex County Economic Development Partnership and the Sussex County Community College Foundation. 







Jeffrey Wichman was promoted to Senior Vice President, Credit Manager based in Oak Ridge. He joined Lakeland in 2013 as Vice President, Commercial Real Estate Loan Officer for the Bernardsville Commercial Lending Team. Before joining the Bank, Wichman was with Heritage Community Bank in Randolph as First Vice President Commercial Lending, and prior to that, was Chief Operating Officer at Saddle River Valley Bank. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Wittenberg University and holds an MBA in finance from Miami University. 






Neill Schreyer has been appointed to Senior Vice President, Asset Recovery Manager in the Credit department based in Oak Ridge. Schreyer was most recently with Sussex Bank in Rockaway, N.J. as the Executive Vice President, Chief Credit Officer. Prior to that, he was with Noble Community Bank/Highlands State Bank in Sparta as the Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Rutgers University and has a master’s degree in finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan Campus. 






Susan Smith has been appointed to Senior Vice President, Credit Administration Manager in the Credit department based in Oak Ridge. Smith was previously Vice President, Credit Advisor at HSBC Private Bank in New York City and prior to that was Vice President, Credit Administration Officer with Peapack-Gladstone Bank in Peapack, N.J. She has a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and a master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. 








Sharon Fagan has been appointed to Assistant Vice President, Commercial Portfolio Manager based at the Hudson Valley Loan Production Office in Highland Mills, N.Y. Fagan was previously with Sterling National Bank (formerly Provident Bank) for nearly 17 years. She was based in Montebello and Middletown, N.Y. and was most recently Assistant Vice President, Commercial Portfolio Manager. 







Mary Ann Popek has been appointed to Assistant Treasurer, Branch Operations Manager at the Waldwick Office. Popek was previously with Catskill Hudson Bank in Kingston, N.Y. as a Branch Administrator and prior to that she was with TD Bank (formerly Hudson United Bank) in Mahwah, N.J. as a Project Manager.








Glen Rock Savings Bank Promotes Mari DeSacia to Branch Manager of West Orange Location and Danielle Lucas as Assistant Branch Manager
    
Glen Rock Savings Bank has tapped banking veteran Mari DeSacia to become Branch Manager of its location at 474 Prospect Avenue in West Orange, NJ.   DeSacia, who was also promoted to Assistant Vice President in the bank’s corporate structure, will be responsible for all of the branch’s day-to-day operations. She spent the last decade as Checking Supervisor for Llewellyn-Edison Savings Bank, which was acquired by Glen Rock Savings Bank last year.  Throughout her 40-year career, she has held various upwardly mobile positions at the bank.  She is a resident of West Orange. 

Glen Rock Savings Bank also has named Danielle Lucas Assistant Branch Manager at the same West Orange location.  Ms. Lucas will report directly to Ms. DeSacia and help oversee all branch activities.  She was previously a  customer service representative dating back to 2001, also with Llewellyn-Edison until last year’s merger with Glen Rock Savings Bank.  


ICBA Appoints New Executives for Membership and Government Relations
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) promoted John McNair to executive vice president of member relations and named Joshua Habursky as a director of advocacy. McNair has served in senior management roles at ICBA for 12 years, most recently as senior vice president of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. As executive vice president of member relations, he will lead national initiatives to broaden member engagement with ICBA’s state-of-the-art educational programs and extensive network of products and services tailored specifically for community bankers. McNair holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Wilmington University and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Delaware.
Habursky will direct the association’s grassroots and advocacy apparatus. Habursky has managed grassroots programs at other trade associations and government and political organizations. He has published articles in leading political science journals, including Campaigns & Elections magazine and Roll Call, and serves as an adjunct professor at West Virginia University’s Reed College of Media. Habursky holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Washington & Jefferson College and a Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown University.


Kevin E. Beisswenger Appointed Senior Managing Director, Commercial Lending at Peapack-Gladstone Bank
Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market:  PGC) and Peapack-Gladstone Bank announce the appointment of Kevin E. Beisswenger, Senior Managing Director, Commercial Lending at Peapack-Gladstone Bank. Beisswenger brings to the Bank over 25 years of automotive financial industry experience with an established track record in sales and new business development.  He will pursue growth of the Bank’s commercial and industrial lending business, expanding presence and influence within the automotive market, while providing exceptional client service and a unique private banking experience.

Previously, he served as National Manager, Dealer Sales and Service, at Toyota and Lexus Financial Services where he was instrumental in managing and growing the business in the New York and New Jersey marketplace.  There he led a sales team that was responsible for Toyota Financial’s efforts for all dealership-related commercial lending, credit lines, retail and lease lending and insurance product sales. On the operations side, he was responsible for risk management, team training, customer experience and competitive pricing programs.  Prior to that at General Motors Acceptance Corporation, Beisswenger gained valuable experience in all aspects of financing, collections and client satisfaction.  

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management from Clemson University.  He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and supports the Boys & Girls Club of America, the Sparrow’s Nest, and along with his wife Christine, the American Cancer Society as a Pacesetter at their annual Making Strides event. 


Capital Bank of New Jersey Announced Two Recent Officer-Level Promotions and a New Hire 
           
Tammy Oliva has been promoted to IT Officer. A Cumberland County resident, Oliva joined Capital Bank in early 2015 as its IT Manager. A former Minotola Bank employee, she brings a friendly, helpful, community bank approach to her work.
Jamie Doroshuk has been promoted to Assistant Controller. Doroshuk, worked at Capital Bank from 2008 to 2009 as a part-time teller while in college pursuing her M.B.A. In 2011 she returned to the bank as its full-time Senior Staff Accountant.
Finally, Donna Giovinazzi was recently hired as the bank’s Assistant Vice President/Woodbury Heights Branch Manager. Giovinazzi comes to Capital Bank after spending 17 years at The Bank/Fulton Bank of New Jersey, during which time she held several different branch and training positions. Ms. Giovinazzi is a life-long Gloucester County resident.


RIKER DANZIG WELCOMES NEW ASSOCIATE ALEXANDER T. YARBROUGH
Morristown-based law firm Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP welcomed Alexander T. Yarbrough, who has joined the firm’s Corporate Group and will be working in both the Morristown and New York offices.   Yarbrough focuses his practice in the areas of securities law, corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.  Yarbrough also advises clients in connection with M&A transactions, including the negotiation and drafting of asset purchase agreements and stock purchase agreements. 

He received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2015, where he was a member of Seton Hall University School of Law’s Moot Court Board and the Seton Hall Legislative Journal.  He graduated in 2012 from Florida State University with a B.S. in Business Management and International Affairs.  


Century Savings Bank Announces New Members of Executive Management

Century Savings Bank appointed two new members to its executive management team. Bringing with them over 69 years of combined banking experience, Joseph Stella, III joins Century as Senior Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, and Joseph Dafcik as Senior Vice President/Chief Operating and Compliance Officer. The bank is equally pleased to report the addition of Hugh McCaffrey to its Board of Directors.

L. Joseph Stella III, CPA, CGMA
As the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Stella will be responsible for overseeing the bank’s accounting department as well as the overall financial operations of the bank. A seasoned, “roll-up-the-shirt sleeves” professional with effective, decisive communication skills, and leadership qualities, Joe has a proven track record of progression in banking and financial services. Stella most recently served as CFO for Colonial Bank, FSB. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from Wilmington University of Delaware, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting (BSA) from Villanova University. 

Joseph J. Dafcik
Under the general supervision of the Board of Directors and the President/CEO of Century Savings Bank, Joseph Dafcik will, as the Chief Operating and Compliance Officer (COO), oversee and provide overall direction to core operational departments. He will also be responsible for executing the bank’s regulatory compliance activities as well as serving as the bank’s CRA Officer. Dafcik is a 37-year veteran of the banking industry with multi-departmental experience. He spent nearly three decades at Minotola National Bank serving in various capacities throughout his tenure. Among them: Branch Manager, Loan Officer, and Compliance/CRA Officer. Most recently, Joe served as the COO/Compliance and Security Officer of The First National Bank of Elmer.

Hugh McCaffrey
McCaffrey’s appointment to Century’s distinguished Board of Directors is following the retirement of two prominent long-term Directors.  McCaffrey, President of Southern New Jersey Steel Company, brings over three decades of experience in strategic planning, construction and contract management, and new business development. As a prominent and active member of South Jersey’s landscape, McCaffrey has served on many boards throughout the years, most notably as President of the Mid-Atlantic Steel Fabricators Association, Director of Colonial Bank FSB and Cape Bank, Trustee for Inspira Health Network, and Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA.  McCaffrey is also a member of the CEO Group of Cumberland County, and the Vineland Rotary Club, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from La Salle University.


Tammy Oliva has been promoted to IT Officer. A Cumberland County resident, Oliva joined Capital Bank in early 2015 as its IT Manager. A former Minotola Bank employee, she brings a friendly, helpful, community bank approach to her work.


Judith Keyes Promoted to Vice President/Training Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Judith Keyes from Assistant Vice President to Vice President/Training Officer. As ASB’s Training Officer, Keyes has over 36 years of experience in the banking industry with skilled knowledge in areas including training and development, marketing, community outreach and compliance. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Ramapo College of New Jersey and holds an MBA in Strategic Human Resources Management from Grand Canyon University.  Keyes’ responsibilities cover a multitude of disciplines at the bank and she also serves as ASB’s Community Reinvestment Act Officer.

She is a member of the Wyckoff-Midland Park Rotary and the Northern NJ Chapter of American Society of Training and Development. Additionally, Keyes is the past President and current Board Member of Paterson Habitat for Humanity and past President of the Fair Lawn Sunrise Rotary.



Jeffrey J. Halverstadt Appointed to Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the appointment of Jeff Halverstadt to Vice President/Commercial Lending Officer of their Commercial Lending Division headquartered at 612 Godwin Avenue in Midland Park, New Jersey. Halverstadt has over thirty years of commercial banking experience, which includes investment management, franchise lending, private banking and middle market commercial lending. Most recently he served as a Middle Market C&I Team Leader at Investors Bank. Halverstadt is the Chairman Emeritus and current Board Member of the Morris County Economic Development Corporation, Housing Commissioner/Chairman Emeritus of the Summit Housing Authority, a Co-Founder and Trustee of the Summit Affordable Housing Corporation and a Board Member of Trans Options, Inc.

He holds a B.A. in Economics from Denison University and a MBA in Finance from New York University, Leonard Stern School of Business.




Karen A. Scafidi Promoted to First Vice President Compliance Officer at Atlantic Stewardship Bank
Paul Van Ostenbridge, President and Chief Executive Officer of Atlantic Stewardship Bank, announced the promotion of Karen A. Scafidi from Vice President to First Vice President of their Compliance Department.

Scafidi has over 35 years of professional experience in the financial industry including compliance, loan operations, retail mortgage, consumer lending, commercial lending and branch operations. Ms. Scafidi joined ASB in February of 2007, and is a graduate of the National School of Banking. 

Additionally, she volunteers her time in the fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.



Maureen Gillan Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer Highlands State Bank
Highlands State Bank is pleased to announce that Maureen Gillan has joined their team and serves as Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer in our Totowa office, located at 650 Union Boulevard in Totowa, New Jersey. She brings with her more than 20 years of hands-on banking expertise. Maureen is successful in developing banking relationships emphasizing in commercial real estate financing and business lending in the New Jersey Market.  

Throughout her distinguished 20 year career, she has developed new banking relationships with Accountants, Attorneys, Medical Professionals, and other cultural organizations. Her personal drive, passion and analytical mind provides her with the innate ability to be ideally suited for the banking profession. Her goal is to develop and foster business relationships together with her team at Highlands State Bank.