Bernel Hall

President and CEO
New Jersey Community Capital

What is your proudest professional achievement?

[S]tructuring capital that turns long-standing community visions into reality. In Jersey City, NJCC provided an $8.6 million preferred equity investment in the Bayfront redevelopment, transforming a 100-acre former brownfield into a mixed-use waterfront community with up to 8,000 homes, including significant affordable housing. In Newark, our $2.3 million loan to Newark Community Health Centers is expanding access to care for 55,000 patients.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

The most disruptive change will be the acceleration of blended capital models that combine private investment, philanthropy, and public resources at scale. NJCC’s $70 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation and equity investments in markets such as Atlanta, Baltimore and Los Angeles, alongside continued work in New Jersey, reflect this shift.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

The most meaningful opportunities often require patience, persistence, and a willingness to think differently.

Aiysha (AJ) Johnson

Executive director and CEO
New Jersey Society of CPAs

What is your proudest professional achievement?

It’s my role to support specific issues relating to finance and accounting professionals but also the broader business community. CPAs improve the financial solvency of their organizations and clients every day. Ensuring the continuity of accounting and that it remains accessible to the next generation has been a key focus of mine, particularly helping the NJCPA work with the New Jersey Legislature on creating an additional pathway to CPA licensure and preserving interstate practice privileges.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

Artificial intelligence continues to break down barriers for finance professionals in all facets of the workday — from faster invoicing and accounts payable processing to predictive analytics. … With newer versions of AI tools continuing to evolve, it will make the user more efficient. But only by being critical of its results and remaining vigilant will finance professionals be able to use the tool successfully.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

[U]nderstand how important it is to actually be present at events.

Al-Nesha Jones

Firm founder
ASE Group

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Building a firm that proves success and burnout don’t have to go hand in hand. Over the past 10 years, we’ve built a remote, year-round, four-day workweek firm while still growing revenue, deepening client relationships, and creating meaningful career opportunities for women in accounting. I’m especially proud that my children got to grow up watching that happen in real time.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

AI will absolutely continue to disrupt the finance industry, but I think the bigger shift will be around expectations. Clients no longer just want compliance work after the fact. They want proactive guidance, faster communication, and advisors who can help them make decisions in real time. Firms that embrace technology while still prioritizing relationships and human connection will have the advantage.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

Don’t build a career that looks successful from the outside but feels unsustainable behind the scenes. … Over time, I learned that systems, boundaries, flexibility, and proactive planning are just as important as expertise.

Brian Jones

President and CEO
The First National Bank of Elmer

What is your proudest professional achievement?

When I applied for my first job in the banking industry, I was so excited to be hired I didn’t even ask what the job was. It turned out it was to be the summer replacement for the bank janitor. Well, with hard work, good fortune, and a measure of luck, I am now the CEO/president of The First National Bank of Elmer. As I look back on my 52 years of banking, getting that first job was the steppingstone that began my journey.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

The community bank arena is in a state of flux. Evolving regulations ranging from proposed modifications of the Dodd-Frank to the introduction of stablecoins and their effects on the competitive landscape, the increasing competition by Fintechs, especially on the deposit side of the balance sheet. AI continues to present both opportunities and risk to banks as they move forward with implementation. This requires both an investment of capital in conjunction with a forward and practical approach.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

[P]ersist without exception, set your goals and objectives, and always hold on tightly to a positive mindset.

Michael Keevey

Senior vice president, state and federal programs
RWJBarnabas Health

As senior vice president of state and federal programs at RWJBarnabas Health, Keevey oversees corporate reimbursement, financial management and Medicaid initiatives across the 44,000-person health system. His two decades in health care finance include senior leadership roles directing the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Medicaid division and implementing transformative payment models. This year, Keevey spearheaded a $300 million Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiative, coordinating the Medicaid County Option Hospital Fee Program across six counties with expansion into Union County pending final approval.

“I strive daily to model transparent decision-making, accountability and ethical standards, which builds trust across teams and reinforces a culture where doing the right thing is non-negotiable,” he said.

Keevey said his greatest contribution combined leadership with multi-dimensional problem-solving. He led the design and implementation of a diagnosis-related group reimbursement methodology for New Jersey Medicaid, balancing financial stability, state budget requirements, and operational feasibility through communication and data-driven analysis. At Rutgers Health, he enhanced annual revenues by $15 million through the Medicaid Access to Physician Services Program.

Thomas Kemly

President and CEO
Columbia Bank

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Leading the successful commencement of our second step conversion and acquisition of Northfield Bank, which will create an approximately $18 billion regional bank. It’s a transformational milestone for our organization and one that positions us to better serve customers, support our communities, and create opportunities for our constituents for years to come.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

Technology continues to transform how people bank. Customers want greater convenience and more integrated experiences, and innovations like AI, embedded finance, and the emergence of stable coins are accelerating that shift. The institutions that succeed will be those that embrace innovation while maintaining the trust, security, and personal relationships customers expect.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

Take care of yourself so you can take care of your work. Early in my career, I learned that success isn’t just about working harder, it’s about having the energy, health, and resilience to consistently perform at a high level.

Douglas Kennedy

President and CEO
Peapack Private Bank & Trust

What is your proudest professional achievement?

My proudest professional achievement has been leading the transformation of Peapack-Gladstone Bank, a 100-plus year-old institution, into Peapack Private Bank & Trust. We evolved from a traditional community bank into a premier private banking, wealth management, and trust company, while preserving our heritage and client-first culture.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

The most disruptive change in finance will be the rapid adoption of AI. It is enabling us to rethink virtually every process — from client service and risk management to compliance and operations. The challenge isn’t the technology; it’s adaptation. Those who embrace continuous learning and innovation will thrive, while those who resist change risk falling behind. The competitive advantage will come from how effectively AI is integrated into everyday decision-making and client experiences.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

[E]mbrace technology but double down on being human. AI will transform every industry, and adaptability is essential. But the skills that create lasting value – building relationships, communicating effectively, earning trust, showing empathy, exercising sound judgment – cannot be automated.

Jeffrey Knight

Office managing partner
KPMG

As the office managing partner at KPMG LLP, Knight is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the firm’s practice in Short Hills. Knight took on the role in March 2025 as Jennifer Shimek transitioned to a new leadership role in advisory at KPMG after five years leading the office.

A company veteran, Knight has almost 25 years of experience at KPMG providing financial statement audit and audit of internal control services to public and private companies in the industrial and consumer markets, retail, pharmaceutical, life science and biotechnology sectors.

As an audit partner, he has held numerous leadership and accredited roles within the office and business unit. Those include lead partner on public integrated audits, resource management, local office leader supporting the Northeast Commercial audit practice, DPP alumnus and SEC reviewing partner. Knight is also a recent member of the Lead Partner Academy and F500 Audit Lead Partner Summit.

He also completed a three-year rotation in KPMG’s Department of Professional Practice in New York. There, Knight was a firm resource on various auditing and technical accounting topics including consolidations, leasing, revenue recognition, inventory, income taxes and SEC matters.

Anthony Labozzetta

President and CEO
Provident Bank

Appointed in 2022 as director, president and CEO of Iselin-based Provident Bank and Provident Financial Services Inc., Labozzetta’s role encompasses defining the strategic goals and objectives of the company, overseeing organizational structure and management via the executive leadership team, managing operating results, fostering connections with stakeholders, and engaging with the board.

Founded in Jersey City in 1839, Provident Bank is New Jersey’s oldest community-focused financial institution and was recently included in the 2026 NJBIZ In the Lead: Legacy Businesses feature.

Following its $1.3 billion merger with Lakeland Bank in May 2024, Provident now operates more than 140 branches across New Jersey and parts of New York and Pennsylvania. Provident reported assets of $24.22 billion as of March 31.

Labozzetta joined Provident in 2020, as part of the organization’s merger with SB One Bank, where he was president and CEO and led it through two mergers that expanded its foot-print throughout New Jersey and New York. Before becoming president and CEO at Provident, Labozzetta was director, president and chief operating officer.

His three-decade plus career also includes leadership posts at TD Bank and Interchange Bank.

Shannon Lazare

NJ regional president, business banking market manager
M&T Bank

What is your proudest professional achievement?

A year and half ago I took on the role of regional president for New Jersey. This has given me the opportunity to work closely with community partners doing incredible work on everything from affordable housing to combatting hunger, while getting more involved with driving employee engagement and growth across all the business lines in N.J.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

The shift to AI-enabled finance, particularly tools that act, not just advise, will be most disruptive. At M&T, we view AI as a practical tool to enhance client experience, strengthen risk management, and improve efficiency, always with human oversight. As digital payments evolve alongside this, trust, governance, and responsible implementation will define which institutions lead.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

First — what you do when no one is looking. That’s where your discipline, your integrity, and your work ethic show up. Second — how you respond when things don’t go your way. Because they won’t. And in those moments, you have a choice — step up, take accountability, and grow … or not. The people who separate themselves are the ones who do both consistently.

Elizabeth Magennis

President
ConnectOne Bank

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Being named the youngest vice president at my bank at age 25 is my proudest milestone. Leading a New York City branch during an aggressive market cycle was a formidable challenge. I had to push my boundaries to turn that location into a top performer.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

The rapid integration of AI is reshaping how we operate and how clients engage with us. It challenges us to rethink our digital infrastructure and how we deploy talent. This disruption is overwhelmingly positive — paving new career roadmaps and creating new sectors of innovative businesses for us to finance. The institutions that view AI as a growth engine rather than just an efficiency tool will be the ones that define the next era of banking.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

Early on, I was encouraged to volunteer for projects outside my day-to-day scope. Stepping out of my lane was the greatest catalyst for my growth, providing exposure to new business lines and diverse leadership styles. Taking on extra work built my multidimensional skill set. It’s the advice I give emerging leaders today: raise your hand for hard, unfamiliar projects.

Christopher Maher

CEO
OceanFirst Financial Corp.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

The merger of OceanFirst Financial Corp. and Flushing Financial … created a $23 billion-asset regional bank operating along the NE Corridor from Boston to DC. We are now the 66th largest U.S. bank, with exciting growth potential. While OceanFirst has operated in the N.Y. market since 2019, building a $2 billion loan portfolio, this expands our footprint in metropolitan NYC and provides a platform to bring our services to more customers in the most valuable U.S. banking market

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

The application of AI technology has the potential to fundamentally improve the way financial institutions operate and serve clients. AI is already helping streamline administrative and analytical functions such as know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) monitoring, and data analysis.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

Learn how to be part of a team and seek out the perspectives of people with more experience. … Success comes from engaged teams that combine different skills, experiences, and viewpoints to solve problems together.

Chris McFadden

President and CEO
Union County Savings Bank

What is your proudest professional achievement?

I am extraordinarily proud to lead the talented team at Union County Savings Bank, a 143-year-old community bank deeply rooted in New Jersey. Together, we have strengthened the institution, enhanced our foundation, and embraced innovation to better serve our customers. Through it all, we have remained steadfast in our purpose of supporting our community, building lasting relationships, and positioning the bank for continued strength and growth.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

For community banks, the most disruptive change in the coming year is the need to adopt AI-enabled capabilities, often through third-party providers, while maintaining strong data governance, internal controls, and regulatory compliance. This shift creates both efficiency opportunities and execution risk within a constrained operating model, making control environment strength a critical driver of competitiveness.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

[F]ocus on integrity, discipline, and relationships. If you build a strong foundation and earn trust every day, success will follow over time.

Craig Montanaro

President and CEO
Kearny Financial Corp.

Montanaro, the current chair of the New Jersey Bankers Association, joined Kearny Bank in 2003 when the financial institution acquired West Essex Bank where he was senior vice president and chief operating officer. He was appointed president and CEO in 2011. He previously served as senior vice president and director of strategic planning for Kearny Bank and Kearny Financial from 2005 to March 2010 and from 2003 to 2004 served as vice president and regional branch administrator. Montanaro also serves as president and member of the KearnyBank Foundation Board of Directors.

Outside the office, he serves as chairman of the Chilton Hospital Foundation and as a trustee of the Wood-Ridge Memorial Foundation, according to the bank. Montanaro is also a director of Junior Achievement of New Jersey, New Jersey Bankers Business Services.

He is a alumnus of Syracuse University earning a Bachelor’s Degree in finance and marketing and in 2000 received his MBA from Fairfield University, Kearny bank said. He also received a graduate degree in banking from the National School of Banking at Fairfield. In addition to his management and leadership experience, Montanaro’s economic knowledge and his under-standing of the financial, economic, social and regulatory environments make him a valuable asset to the board, according to Kearny.

Sean O’Sullivan

Managing general partner
SOSV

O’Sullivan is founding and managing general partner of the Princeton-based tech investor SOSV, which launched in 1995 and has grown into international prominence. SOSV now has 10 general partners operating globally with offices in San Francisco, New York, Newark, Cork, Pune, and Singapore. The firm also has staff in more than seven states; as well as China, the U.K. and Portugal.

Last April 2024, SOSV closed its $306 million SOSV V fund – the firm’s largest to date. The fund focuses on deep tech startups in human and planetary health with an emphasis on the intertwined imperatives of decarbonization and re-industrialization, as well as a mandate to “reinvent the means of production.”

Later that month, the ribbon was cut on HAX in Newark, a startup development program targeting pre-seed hard tech companies, which SOSV operates with the State of New Jersey as a partner in the venture.

This past May, SOSV announced Princeton would serve as the base for the HAX Plasma Forge, which will focus on companies in industries include advanced computer, energy and manufacturing. The launchpad is located at noted innovation center SRI, formerly RCA Laboratories and the David Sarnoff Research Center.

Jeffrey Otteau

Chief economist
Otteau Group Inc.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Developing MarketCAST, a proprietary risk assessment platform for commercial banks evaluating commercial real estate lending risk, was a breakthrough in econometric forward guidance. Created in the aftermath of the Great Recession amid declining real estate values and rising delinquencies, it enabled lenders to better quantify risk, refine underwriting, and price loans appropriately.

What do you foresee as the most disruptive change in the finance industry in the coming year?

The most disruptive change in finance will be the rapid shift from AI as a tool to AI as a decision-maker. As advances in AI unfold, lenders will need to strike a balance between per-son-to-person relationships and automated underwriting, advisory, and decision making. The challenge will be to maintain trust in the delivery of financial management services with efficiency and the speed of delivery.

What was the best career advice you’ve ever received (or what’s your best advice for the next generation)?

Stay disciplined in both good markets and bad. Cycles will always change, but applying consistent, data-driven thinking while also listening to your inner voice are essential to long term success.

2026 NJBIZ Finance Power List Index:
Intro | A – C | D – G | H – Q | R – Z