Gil Medina, executive vice president at real estate services firm CBRE, has been elected chair of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. His two-year term was voted on by the full board at its June 4 meeting in Florham Park.
Medina, who previously served as the board’s first vice chair, has been a member of the board for over 25 years.
“It’s an honor to be chosen to lead this organization’s Board at such a pivotal time for our country and our state,” Medina said. “New Jersey has all the ingredients to thrive – talent, infrastructure, and innovation. The Chamber will continue to push for policies that unlock that potential: a business-friendly environment, employment opportunities for our citizens, lower taxes, and less red tape.”
Medina succeeds Gary Dahms, president, CEO and chairman of T&M Associates, who led the board through the post-pandemic recovery and economic uncertainty.
Medina is well-known in New Jersey as an economic development leader due to his in-depth private sector experience and his government service.
At CBRE, he provides strategic real estate advisory services to clients in the corporate, government, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. He is also a licensed attorney, certified public accountant, and a recognized expert in economic development.
As former New Jersey commerce secretary from 1994-2000 during Gov. Whitman’s term, Medina was the point-person in the creation of incentive, finance and regulatory programs that constituted the state’s core economic growth policies.
Medina has served on the boards and advisory boards of leading organizations, including St. Joseph’s Health; the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University; the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust; Solix Corp.; Thomas Edison State University; and Rutgers University School of Business.
In addition to Medina’s election, the board approved the following officers for the 2025 to 2027 term:
- First Vice Chair: Lisa Chowansky, president, HC Constructors Inc.
- Second Vice Chair: Sam Donelson, senior vice president, AECOM
- Treasurer: Diane Wasser, partner-in-charge, New Jersey, EisnerAmper
- Secretary: Ted Zangari, chair, redevelopment law and public policy practice, Sills Cummis & Gross
- Immediate Past Chair: Gary Dahms, president, T&M Associates
Board Executive Committee Members
The Chamber Board also confirmed the members of its 2025 to 2027 Board Executive Committee:
- Walter Brasch, chief success officer, Prager Metis CPAs
- Bill Hagaman, CEO emeritus, Withum
- Kim Hanemann, president & COO, PSE&G
- Dr. Ali Houshmand, president, Rowan University
- Steve Klein, chairman & CEO, Northfield Bank
- Chris Lepre, EVP, commercial business, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
- Doug Mokoid, pPresident, Jersey Central Power & Light
- Braxton Plummer, director of state and local government affairs – NJ, Verizon
- Dennis Toft, member of the firm, CSG Law
Dr. Houshmand becomes chairman of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation, succeeding Steve Rose, President, Passaic County Community College, who served as Foundation chairman for six years.
New Board Members
New members elected to the Board at the June 4 meeting include:
- Nick Dinallo, senior vice president, New Jersey brokerage team, JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle)
- Sean Kennedy, New Jersey director – consulting services, CGI
- Jeffrey M. Knight, office managing partner – Short Hills, KPMG LLP
- Jason A. Pucci, Esq., chief executive officer, Kislak
- Eduardo Villa, New Jersey office managing partner, tax partner, Ernst & Young
- Wesley Wilcox, partner, G.S. Wilcox & Co.
