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.
Emma Aer, Reima
Emma Aer, former CEO of Finlandia Cheese, has a new job as head of region, USA, at Reima, a 75-year-old global children’s clothing company.
“I will be working in New Jersey,” Aer told ROI-NJ. “Reima is a 75-year-old company, a strong player in Europe, Russia and China, and also available in Canada, and now we are establishing operations in the U.S. My job is to ramp up the operations here.”
Reima is a leading premium performance wear brand for active children. It provides a good quality, year-round, tip-to-toe wardrobe for children, ages birth to 12. The company wants them to discover the joy of movement, which will stick with them for the rest of life.
Peter DeMaria, PNC Bank N.A.
PNC Bank N.A. announced that Peter DeMaria has joined the New Jersey corporate banking team as group manager and senior managing director.
In his role at PNC, DeMaria will be responsible for client relationship management and new business development for the corporate finance and middle-market segments within the region. He will devote his time equally between the Woodland Park and East Brunswick offices to ensure full coverage of the region.
DeMaria brings extensive experience and leadership in banking and financial services to PNC. He spent more than 30 years at JPMorgan Chase where he held a number of leadership positions throughout his tenure. He most recently served as a market manager for the New Jersey middle market banking group. Prior to that role, DeMaria held regional leadership positions within the bank’s asset based lending, real estate financing and syndicated and leveraged finance groups.
Dae W. Lee, Holy Name Medical Center
Holy Name Medical Center has appointed Dae W. Lee of Oradell to the newly created position of assistant vice president of Asian Health Services.
Lee is a health care executive, consultant and strategic adviser with more than 20 years of experience in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. He has held senior leadership positions with several of the most prestigious health care systems in the world, including Mount Sinai and the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, the Mayo Clinic, GE Healthcare, and Cardinal Health. He was also a national partnership executive with the Advisory Board Co. in Washington, D.C.
“As the metropolitan area’s leading provider of patient care, outreach, and health care education for 350,000 Asian-Americans living in New Jersey and New York, Holy Name welcomes Dae W. Lee,” said Michael Maron, CEO and president of Teaneck-based Holy Name. “We look forward to building upon our culturally competent health care services, expanding our partnerships within the Asian community, and strengthening patient care experiences and engagement.”
Dr. Keith Libou, Mental Health Assn./Somerset County Business Partnership
Delta Dental of New Jersey is pleased to announce that Dr. Keith Libou, chief clinical officer, has joined the board of directors for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey and Somerset County Business Partnership.
“The impact dental health has on mental health is an important topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. We look forward to having Dr. Libou be a part of the board and provide a crucial level of insight that will set the stage for how these two topics are discussed in New Jersey,” said Carolyn Beauchamp, CEO of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey.
For the Somerset County Business Partnership, Libou will bring to the board his ability to connect the business community with the need for good oral health for employees. “Employee health, including oral health and insurance coverage, is of paramount importance to the small business community who requires an active, healthy and engaged workforce,” says president and CEO, Michael Kerwin.
QuickChek
Amy DaSilva, QuickChek Corp.’s communications & systems specialist, and Kim Scully, Whitehouse Station-based QuickChek’s leader of operations, recruiting & staffing, have been named to the inaugural class of Convenience Store News’ Future Leaders in Convenience.
The awards recognize retail leaders aged 35 and under who are already showing they possess the traits of great leaders and are poised to be at the forefront of the $550 billion c-store industry’s future.
DaSilva and Scully are among the eight up-and-coming young professionals chosen by the magazine, the convenience retailing industry’s leading publication. They were selected based on nominations from their peers that highlighted their accomplishments and achievements over the past 12 months.
John Taylor, Archer Public Affairs
Archer & Greiner is pleased to announce John J. Taylor has been appointed to director of the Pennsylvania Practice of Archer Public Affairs, a governmental and external relations affiliate of Archer. In this position, Taylor will help enable companies and organizations in Pennsylvania to achieve their business and policy objectives and advocate for their issues at all levels of government. Taylor will also continue his of counsel role at Archer.
“Today, businesses are affected by a myriad of complex issues, and it is essential that they have strong advocates on their side who understand and can navigate them through the uncharted waters of public affairs, policy and government,” said Christopher R. Gibson, president of Haddonfield-based Archer. “John is well-suited to be that advocate. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the public sector, he is an ideal leader for APA, and I’m eager to work in close collaboration with him on this new front.”
Taylor previously served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for 17 consecutive terms. He was chairman of the House Urban Affairs Committee, the House Liquor Control Committee, and most recently served as the chairman of the House Transportation Committee. He regularly interacted with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the Port of Philadelphia and the Delaware River Port Authority. He has been a member of several House panels and committees charged with a variety of local, state and national issues.
Devon Vialva, Centenary University
Centenary University recently appointed Devon Vialva of Mount Olive as its assistant dean of diversity. The newly-created position illustrates the Hackettstown-based university’s commitment to support an increasingly diverse student population, with an ultimate goal of enhancing the success of all students.
“This new position advances goals outlined in Centenary’s strategic plan to foster a campus culture that is characterized by mutual respect and inclusive dialogue through a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Kerry Mullins, vice president for student life and dean of students. “When students feel welcomed and valued, it enhances their connection with the University community.”
In his new role, Vialva will advance co-curricular programming that supports diversity on campus and promotes acceptance and understanding of different cultural backgrounds. He will also partner with faculty members to incorporate cultural competency into Centenary’s curriculum, enhancing the ability of graduates to navigate within today’s global marketplace.
Eric Boquist, Arch Insurance North America
Arch Insurance North America announced that Eric Boquist has joined the company as executive vice president, retail energy, based in Houston, Texas.
In this role, Boquist will lead Jersey City-based Arch’s newly created business unit focused on providing comprehensive admitted middle market insurance solutions to energy companies in North America. The team will also bring together additional Arch specialty products to seamlessly meet the needs of energy clients and brokers. This unit will complement Arch’s current energy offerings underwritten in the U.S., Bermuda and London and demonstrates the company’s commitment to the energy sector. Boquist will report to Rich Stock, chief underwriting officer of Large Account Casualty and Surety.
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Jeffrey L. Garon, Bantek
Bantek Inc., a service provider and reseller of drones, insulation jackets and distributor of products to the U.S. government, announced that it has selected Jeffrey L. Garon to be its new chief financial officer and to join its board of directors.
Michael Bannon, Pine Brook-based Bantek’s CEO, commented: “We are delighted to have Jeff join our team. Jeff brings a wealth of entrepreneurial and managerial experience with him. He is a proven leader and will prove to be a tremendous asset as we move towards our phase-up listing.”
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Michael J. Hall, Michael Baker International
Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced that Michael J. Hall has joined the firm as vice president and office executive in the Newark office. In this role, Hall will develop, oversee and manage the growth of the Newark office’s business portfolio. He also will be responsible for financial management, office administration, production/project oversight and business development.
“We are excited to welcome Mike to our team. He has a proven track record leading projects and teams, winning new work, developing staff and balancing resource requirements across projects and groups,” said Michael Brescia senior vice president and Northeast regional director at Michael Baker. “Mike’s vast experience in the marketplace will complement our continued growth.”
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New Jersey Chapter, Counselors of Real Estate
The Counselors of Real Estate is pleased to announce the 2019 officers for the New Jersey Chapter.
- Chair: Anthony F. DellaPelle;
- Vice Chair: Arthur A. Linfante III;
- Secretary: Maurice J. Stack II;
- Treasurer: George T. Vallone.
The Counselors of Real Estate, established in 1953, is an international group of high-profile professionals including members of prominent real estate, financial, legal and accounting firms as well as leaders of government and academia who provide expert, objective advice on complex real property situations and land-related matters.
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Erik Sandstedt, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi P.C.
Erik Sandstedt has joined Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi P.C. as a member in its Litigation Group. Sandstedt, who will primarily practice in New Jersey and New York, will be based in the firm’s West Orange office.
Sandstedt joins the firm from McKesson Corp., currently ranked sixth on the Fortune 500, where he oversaw the regulatory compliance function and helped guide the Company’s efforts with respect to government enforcement actions, qui tam and other high-profile litigation, merger and acquisition due diligence, and enterprise risk management. Prior to that, he held senior positions with Pfizer, including serving as the head of global investigations, and with the Department of Justice, where he served as the chief of the Securities & Health Care Fraud Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the deputy chief of staff of the DOJ’s Criminal Division in Washington, D.C. He also spent nearly a decade in private practice.
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Madeline Urbish, River Crossing Strategy Group
River Crossing Strategy Group is pleased to kick off 2019 by announcing that it is growing with the addition of Madeline Urbish to the River Crossing team. Urbish, an alumna of Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration, is substantive and strategic with a broad range of experience and results in New Jersey and Washington, D.C.
She has spent the past year as a policy adviser to Murphy with a focus on energy and environmental issues. She has previously held leadership positions at New Jersey Audubon Society as the director of the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed, where she helped oversee advocacy, policy and stakeholder activities. She previously worked in Washington, D.C., in the House of Representatives and as a legislative research aide for New Jersey’s U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman when she was a member of the General Assembly.
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