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NJBIZ is honoring more than 50 executives who are shaping New Jersey’s business landscape by presenting them with the inaugural Executive Excellence Awards. 

“Amazing leaders don’t just lead their teams, they shape industries, drive change, and elevate their communities,” said AnnMarie Karczmit, NJBIZ associate publisher and general manager, when the program was announced earlier this year. 

“The NJBIZ Executive Excellence Awards are our way of shining a spotlight on the executives who truly go above and beyond,” Karczmit added. 

The new program recognizes c-suites, directors, vice presidents, owners and other senior-level executives. These individuals have consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership skills, integrity, values, vision, commitment to excellence, company performance and community service. 

After an open nomination process, a panel of independent judges selected this year’s honorees using a points system to evaluate submissions.

NJBIZ will honor the inaugural Executive Excellence recipients Oct. 14 at The Palace at Somerset Park. Honorees also will feature in a special supplement to NJBIZ. 

Tickets are now available on the event page. Early-bird rates end Sept. 21. 

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Karczmit at 732-246-5717 or [email protected]. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Executive Excellence honorees!

Rosalie Acevedo, chief financial and operations officer
Genova Burns LLC 

Douglas Benalan, chief information officer
CURE Auto Insurance 

Gillian Bleimann-Boucard, CEO
Berje Inc. 

Joseph Brennan, vice president, Communications and Marketing
Montclair State University 

Michael Caplan, chief operating officer
Lowenstein Sandler LLP 

Kevin Chittenden, executive vice president; president, Consumer Lending
Valley Bank 

Jim Christy, chief risk officer
Provident Bank 

Joey Cioffi, founder and CEO
Salad House 

Pam Cohen, chief operating officer
Affinity Federal Credit Union 

Jennifer D’Angelo, chief operating officer and executive vice president of healthcare
New Jersey Innovation Institute 

Carmine Deo, CEO
Community Hope 

Veronica Diaz, director, Consumer Markets and Sales Support
AmeriHealth 

Lisa Drumbore, chief patient experience officer; vice president, Marketing and Communications
Saint Peter’s Healthcare System 

Melissa Fox, chief operating officer
Acenda Integrated Health 

John Gallucci Jr., president and CEO
JAG Physical Therapy 

Naveen Gattu, founder and chief operating officer
Gramener – A Straive Company

AnnaMaria Goldinak, president and CEO
First Atlantic Federal Credit Union 

Liz Graham, CEO
180 Turning Lives Around 

Richard Helldobler, president
William Paterson University 

Brant Herman, founder and CEO
MouthWatch and Dentistry.One

Patrick Jeffery, chief operating officer, executive vice president
T&M Associates 

Steve Jobin, president and CEO
Raritan Bay Area YMCA 

James Johnstone, chief information security officer
Yorktel 

Kevin Luing, chairman
Berkeley College 

Michael Maron, president and CEO
Holy Name 

Charles Martello, executive vice president, principal office director
H2M architects + engineers 

Michael McCauley, senior vice president, chief of staff
Hackensack Meridian Health 

Gary McGeddy, president, Accident & Health Division
Crum & Forster 

Dr. Thomas Molinaro, chief medical officer
IVI RMA North America 

Nicholas Papanier Jr., owner, president and CEO
PrimoHoagies 

Haralampos (Harry) Prassakos, senior vice president, deputy chief credit officer
Bank of Hope 

James Puleo, executive vice president
Arc Building Partners LLC 

Keith Roberts, chair, Litigation
Brach Eichler 

Michael Rose, president and CEO
My Limousine Service Inc. 

Dave Roth, CEO
RRBB Advisors LLC

Mary Beth Russell, senior vice president, executive dean
RWJBarnabas Health, The Institute for Nursing Excellence & School of Nursing

Sowmyanarayan Sampath, CEO, Verizon Consumer Group
Verizon 

Janine Savarese, CEO
NextTech Communications 

Nick Scaccio, chief development officer
Paris Baguette North America 

Bala Shan, president and CEO
Lorven Technologies Inc. 

Vivek Singh, senior vice president of IT and strategic planning
PALNAR 

Paul Stahlin, director
Miami International Holdings Inc.

Michael Stivala, president and CEO
Suburban Propane

Cory Storch, president and CEO
Bridgeway Behavioral Health Services

Suzanne Strassburger, president
Strassburger Steaks

Richard Uniacke, president
Bridges Outreach Inc.

Aneesha Varma, director of client strategy and solutions
Diverse Lynx LLC

Deborah Visconi, president and CEO
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center

Joshua Weiss, founder and CEO
TeliApp Corp.

Carolyn Welsh, president and CEO
NJ Sharing Network

Thomas Wighard, president
LAN Associates

Catherine Wilson, president and CEO
United Way of Greater Newark

Rayna Wolfman, chief operating officer
Alliance Health Systems

David Wolfskehl, partner
Whitman Transition Advisors

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 10:46 a.m. Sept. 8, 2025, to reflect the most recent list of honorees.