The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey recently welcomed 11 new directors to its board. The new additions bring the CCSNJ’s board of directors to a group of approximately 60 individuals, who represent many of the major employers from across the South Jersey region.
CCSNJ CEO & President Christina Renna said that, in 2023, the CCSNJ grew its membership base to over 1,200 members for the first time in over two decades.
This growth is due in large part to the organization’s commitment to community, pursuing nontraditional chamber members, such as nonprofit organizations, and the intentional and strategic recruitment of veteran-, women- and ethnically diverse businesses.
Deborah Hays, partner and chair of the board at Archer & Greiner P.C. in Voorhees, is currently serving her second year as chair of the CCSNJ board of directors.
She explained: “The CCSNJ is the premiere business organization in the region, so it’s no surprise that we continue to attract key executives from major employers across South Jersey to serve on our board. This newly elected group of directors adds to the many high-level voices already in the board room and ensures that the CCSNJ stays focused on helping its members prosper, growing the South Jersey economy and advocating for the diverse communities it serves. As chair, I look forward to working with all of our directors to continue to move the CCSNJ, and the region, forward.”
Newly elected directors are as follows:
- Gregory Carlise, commercial market president for South Jersey/Coastal New Jersey, TD Bank;
- Aaron Chang, New Jersey president & chief operating officer, Jefferson Health – East;
- Kristin McEvoy, director of external affairs, Atlantic City Electric;
- William Gruccio, founder and president, Renati Solutions;
- Pamela Hisler, senior vice president and retail market manager for New Jersey, Republic Bank;
- Jesse Levine, senior director of operations, Ravitz Family Markets;
- Matthew Levinson, assistant vice president, construction & real estate, and government relations officer, AtlantiCare;
- Anthony Lowman, provost, Rowan University;
- Karen Primak, CEO, IPAK;
- BethAnne Tarum, technical manager, Paulsboro Refinery/PBF Energy;
- John Zimmerman, region bank president, Wells Fargo.
Renna touted the organization’s commitment to advancing its diversity goals.
“The board composition in 2023 is unlike any other business organization in the state, with 48% of directors being female and/or ethnically diverse. Additionally, the CCSNJ’s executive committee did not change this year and remains the most diverse in CCSNJ history, with 69% of committee members female and/or ethnically diverse,” Renna explained.
This includes the CCSNJ’s first African American vice chair, Robin Walton, chief philanthropy officer and senior vice president of external affairs for Inspira Health, who will assume the role of chair in 2025.
Meredith Lorrilliere, the CCSNJ’s executive vice president, added: “We are always striving to assure the board reflects the different types of organizations in our membership, including small business and nonprofits, but that also includes geography. South Jersey is a large area consisting of seven counties and our new slate of directors helps us assure we are well-represented across the region, and with businesses of all sizes and industries.”
View the entire list of CCSNJ directors here.