Executive Moves is an occasional feature on ROI-NJ.com describing some of the important personnel changes in the New Jersey business community. Reports are based on news releases, edited for content, clarity and style.
Thomas Didio, CBRE
Thomas Didio, a veteran of the commercial real estate industry, has joined CBRE’s industry-leading Capital Markets Debt & Structured Finance Group. An expert in structuring and financing commercial real estate transactions, Didio will serve as vice president.
Prior to joining CBRE, Didio spent four years in an underwriting/origination role with Freddie Mac Multifamily in New York and four years with Black Bear Asset Management, a Manhattan-based private equity firm. At Black Bear Asset Management, he specialized in sourcing, underwriting, structuring and financing commercial real estate transactions nationally.
“Tom adds a new dimension to our highly successful Debt and Structured Finance team,” said Jeff Hipschman, senior managing director, CBRE. “We look forward to his contributions as we continue to expand our service offering in the New Jersey market.”
Kate Gillespie, N.J. State Nurses Association
The New Jersey State Nurses Association welcomed Kate Gillespie as its 47th president on New Year’s Day.
“I am honored to lead New Jersey’s nurses at this critical time in our health care system,” Gillespie said. “In spending time with nurses throughout the Garden State, I know there are many nursing practice and patient care issues to be addressed. I look forward to working on key legislative matters, including combatting the opioid crisis and working through the impact of potential legalization of recreational marijuana in New Jersey.”
Gillespie is the assistant vice president, Orthopedic/Spine Service Line, at the Virtua Joint Replacement Institute in Marlton, where she has a significant impact on the operations, strategic growth and physician alignment strategies. She has been with Virtua for 35 years.
Mary Ellen Levine was sworn in as NJSNA’s new president-elect. As president-elect, she will oversee the Institute for Nursing, NJSNA’s foundation that provides educational programming, scholarships and research grants.
With more 30 years of nursing experience, Levine is a hospice nurse with the Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey and adjunct faculty at Caldwell University. Her passion is in medical/surgical nursing, hospice and end-of-life care.
Mark Kossow, Clark Hill PLC
Clark Hill PLC recently announced the addition of Mark Kossow to the firm as a member in its Princeton office, in the Banking & Financial Services Group. He joins the firm from Archer, where he had been a partner in the Employee Benefit/Executive Compensation/ERISA and Tax practices.
“We are delighted that Mark has joined Clark Hill,” said Jeffrey Conn, Leader of Clark Hill’s Banking & Financial Services Group. “He brings a significant depth of experience regarding Employee Stock Ownership Plans, which will complement the growth of Clark Hill’s national ESOP practice.”
A nationally recognized authority on ESOP, Kossow counsels companies, shareholders, directors, banks and trustees on both transactional and non-transactional ESOP-related issues. Kossow’s transactional experience includes representing clients in leveraged and non-leveraged ESOP transactions, such as stock purchases, leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions and corporate reorganizations. His non-transactional ESOP experience includes advising companies with regard to corporate governance issues, succession planning, ESOP plan design and compliance, and ERISA fiduciary issues.
NAI Mertz
NAI Mertz, a leading full-service commercial real estate firm conducting business throughout the United States, and globally, from its regional offices in New Jersey, greater Philadelphia and northeastern Pennsylvania, announced that it has appointed two new, experienced commercial agents to its Mount Laurel headquarters. Joseph Riggs, a 35-plus-year industry professional will serve as senior vice president – office division. Josh Johnson, sales associate, will work with Riggs, rounding out the strengths and capabilities of the NAI Mertz southern New Jersey office team.
“At NAI Mertz, our employees are our most valuable assets. As a company, we strive to cultivate a committed team of knowledgeable and results-driven brokers that can offer the best services to our clients,” stated Barry Mertz, CEO, NAI Mertz. “Joe and Josh join Becky Ting and Julie Kronfeld, both SIORs, to double the firm’s resources dedicated to southern NJ office services. The collective volume of business represented by this team is beyond impressive and serves as evidence of the competence and experience delivered to the benefit of clients.”
Sax LLP
Accounting, tax and business advisory leader Sax LLP is proud to announce its next generation of firm leaders with the promotion of four senior managers and one director to the position of partner.
The following advisers will join an impressive management team at Sax, which is now comprised of 32 partners, effective Jan. 1: Megan Sartor, Stephen J. Ehrenberg, William R. Happe, Melissa L. O’Shea and Jason Borofsky.
“We are thrilled to welcome these talented advisers as partners of the firm and have the utmost confidence they will accelerate our goals for the future,” said Joseph A. Damiano, managing partner for Sax LLP. “These individuals collectively and individually embody our core values and philosophies and have met the firm’s high standards for client service time and time again. We are extremely proud of their professional achievements, and we look forward to their continued contribution to our firm’s success.”
Wilkin & Guttenplan P.C.
Wilkin & Guttenplan P.C. is thrilled to announce the addition of three new principals, effective Jan. 1: Daniel T. Fiorentino, Thomas Hasard and Lauren M. Landolfi.
As principals, they will continue to provide high-quality service to their clients and strengthen WilkinGuttenplan with their dedication to the firm’s vision of the future. They offer a wide range of skills, both technically and managerially, to the team.
Fiorentino has been with the firm since 2006. He specializes in providing tax compliance, tax planning, succession planning, due diligence, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of industries. Hasard has been with the firm since 2009. He is responsible for ensuring the security, performance and availability of technology for the firm. Landolfi has been with the firm since 2007. She is a tax professional with extensive expertise providing tax consulting and compliance services to her clients.
Wolf Commercial Real Estate
Wolf Commercial Real Estate is pleased to announce the expansion and relocation of its Center City Philadelphia office, which includes the addition of three new team members serving southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. WCRE quickly outgrew its original Philadelphia office at 1601 Market St., and has moved to 3 Logan Square, at 1717 Arch St.
The new team members are Kevin Coleman, who joins as chief sales officer and executive vice president, and new sales associates Tyler Martin and Mike Scanzano. They join a team that includes several well-known business leaders with deep roots in the city.
“We’ve been serving numerous clients in and around Center City for the past few years, and we have fully committed to expanding our presence here,” said Chris Henderson, principal with the Marlton-based firm. “This move will create more opportunities for our Philly team to network and collaborate with clients and partners, and to deepen our commitment to community initiatives.”
Englewood Health
Englewood Health has appointed two new executives to its leadership ranks, expanding the team dedicated to patient-centered care, quality and safety. Vicki Hoffman has joined Englewood Health as vice president of operations and Jamie Ketas has been appointed vice president of quality.
As vice president of operations, Hoffman will have responsibility for many of Englewood Health’s ancillary and outpatient services, including The Lefcourt Family Cancer Treatment and Wellness Center, laboratory, pharmacy, rehabilitation services, and respiratory care. As vice president of quality, Ketas will provide executive oversight of all inpatient and ambulatory quality efforts, business intelligence, patient engagement, care transition teams and research operations.
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Jane Kurek, Council of N.J. Grantmakers
The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers is pleased to add Jane Kurek to its board of trustees. Executive director of The Provident Bank Foundation, Kurek leads a multifaceted giving program that supports nonprofit organizations working to help New Jersey communities thrive.
She was elected to the CNJG Board at the organization’s annual meeting in December. The Council of New Jersey Grantmakers assists grantmakers across the state so they can be more effective in their work. Among CNJG’s 130 members are independent, family, community and corporate foundations, corporate giving programs, government grantmakers and federated funds.
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Stanley C. Middleman, Liberty United Service Organizations
Freedom Mortgage and its founder and CEO, Stanley C. Middleman, were recently presented with Liberty United Service Organizations’ esteemed 2018 Chairman’s Award in honor of their service to the military community and their support of Liberty USO. The award recognizes Freedom Mortgage for making a difference in southern New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Freedom Mortgage is one of the nation’s largest full-service non-bank mortgage companies and a leader in VA and government-insured lending.
“Working with Liberty USO has been truly gratifying,” Middleman said. “I wholeheartedly support their mission of enhancing the quality of life of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families. It’s an honor to receive the Liberty USO’s 2018 Chairman’s Award. We look forward to continuing our support of this outstanding organization.”
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Brian Skurka, Cornerstone Search Group
Cornerstone Search Group, a global, premier life sciences executive search firm, recently announced that Brian Skurka, a director in retained executive search, has been named partner.
Skurka joined Cornerstone in 2006, and successfully led executive search efforts for small, medium and large global biotechnology companies, spanning roles in commercial, clinical and R&D, before promotion to director in 2015.
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