Jennifer Mazawey, a highly regarded real estate lawyer who is a partner at K&L Gates, has been named the new chair of the Newark Regional Business Partnership.
Mazawey, who succeeds Monica Slater Stokes of United Airlines, is one of four new leaders. The others include:
- Vice chair: Mary Makfinsky, senior vice president & regional manager, Popular Bank;
- Treasurer: Kevin Collins, chief financial officer, Invest Newark;
- Secretary: Sarah Jones, director of government affairs, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.
“I was thrilled to serve as vice-chair of NRBP’s board, and I am honored to continue my service to the organization as its chair,” Mazawey said. “NRBP has significant plans for the new year, and I look forward to working with the board and NRBP staff as they bring the organization’s goals to fruition.”
Additional Executive Committee members include past chairs Calvin Ledford (president, PSEG Foundation); Darrell Terry (CEO, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center); Frank Ferruggia (partner, McCarter & English) and Stokes (managing director – corporate & government affairs, United Airlines). The at-large members are Renard Barnes (general counsel and chief risk officer, PS&S) and Mitch Cahn (owner, Unionwear).
The following NRBP members and Newark-area business leaders are new members of the board:
- Marlene Bauer, president, InGroup;
- Sam Caucci, founder & CEO, 1Huddle;
- Stephanie Park, rail operations manager, Bechtel Corp.;
- Silvia Pereira, business banking relationship manager, Citizens Bank;
- Naomi Stevens, operations coordinator, SOSV/HAX;
- Suffiyah Webb, owner, Brilliant Smiles Pediatric Dentistry.
NRBP CEO Chip Hallock welcomed the new leadership.
“NRBP’s board of directors provides valuable governance and leadership to our organization,” he said. “Our board represents the diversity of our membership, the city of Newark and the larger business community.
“We are excited to have six new board members join us this year, and we are grateful for the continued support and engagement of our executive committee and existing board members.”
Stokes, honored by NRBP at its end of year holiday celebration, said she was thrilled to serve her two-year term.
“It was my pleasure and honor to serve as NRBP’s board chair,” she said. “I am proud to have worked in collaboration with my fellow board members and NRBP’s staff to guide the organization through challenging pandemic and post-pandemic periods. As immediate past chair, I look forward to working with Ms. Mazawey and all NRBP stakeholders to build upon the good groundwork laid for continued strong progress and growth.”
