PRESIDENT ’ S VIEW
PRESIDENT ’ S VIEW
CIANJ Expands Board of Directors , Five New Trustees Installed
By Anthony Russo President , CIANJ
The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey ( CIANJ ) is lucky to have a dedicated and active board of directors . Every year the directors distinguish themselves in their willingness to share their talents and insights , along with their companies ’ strengths , to help make CIANJ one of the state ’ s leading business advocacy organizations .
This year we welcome five new board members . Several have years of experience in finance , while one is an entrepreneur and the other is an executive in a staffing firm . We would like to introduce them here :
Ron Andersen comes to CIANJ from Peapack-Gladstone Bank . As a managing director and commercial private banker , Ron is responsible for building the bank ’ s wealth , lending and deposit business while servicing commercial businesses in the Northern New Jersey and surrounding areas .
He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry with a focus on middle-market companies , both domestically and internationally , ensuring growth and achievement of their financial goals . Most recently , he served as Senior Vice President , Relationship Manager at Capital One , N . A . where he assisted in the growth of middle-market companies with revenues more than $ 20 million in the New Jersey , New York , and Eastern Pennsylvania markets . Prior to that , as Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at Santander Bank , N . A . in Short Hills . Ron serviced middle-market companies with revenues from $ 20 million to $ 500 million and was instrumental in growing existing portfolios via cross sell with new-to-bank relationships .
Ron earned his undergraduate degree in accounting at Montclair State University , and he is also active with the national networking group , Business Forums International with its Newark chapter .
Wendy Blacher is a market executive at JP Morgan Chase in Saddle Brook . She manages a team of 13 bankers supporting middle market banking in the northern area of the state . Wendy has been with JP Morgan Chase since 2019 and in her latest role she is also responsible for new business development and managing existing portfolios . She engages with product partners to provide thought leadership to the customer and prospect base including Treasury , syndications , debt capital markets , equipment finance , and investment banking and credit .
Before joining JP Morgan Chase , Wendy was a senior relationship manager at M & T Bank in Paramus . At that time , she was responsible for origination , initial underwriting , and management of middle market deal flow in the Northern New Jersey market concentrating on companies with an annual revenue of $ 20 million to $ 750 million . Wendy has a degree in business management from Bucknell University .
Christopher Kasker is the chief operating officer of HEPCO , Inc ., an engineering staffing firm headquartered in Saddle Brook . He is replacing David DuPont , who retired from the board . Chris is a retired U . S Army lieutenant colonel . He is very involved with his community , where he is a village board member , town planning board member , vice president of the volunteer fire department and a former trustee of the chamber of commerce .
Chris was a criminal justice major and ROTC cadet at West Chester University . In 2020 his exceptional military service and notable contribution to his community were acknowledged when he was honored with the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award . His graduate degrees includes a master ’ s in business and organization security management from Webster
University in 2002 and a master ’ s in communication sciences from the University of Connecticut in 2007 .
Daniel M . Lesko is a senior vice president and business banking sales manager at PNC Bank in Woodland Park . He has worked in the PNC Bank network for 16 years , starting with the office in Martinsville , where he was a vice president and branch manager . In 2009 Daniel moved to the Raritan offices , where he was a vice president and senior business banker . He joined the Woodland Park office in April 2016 . In his current position , Daniel manages a team of 12 business bankers to achieve business results and consistently provide excellence in customer service .
He is a two-time Circle of Excellence Winner for his role as a business banking sales manager . In 2018 he was awarded the PNC World Class Sales Leader and he is also a six-time PNC Market All-Star . Daniel studied business administration at Brookdale Community College .
Dennis Mikula Jr . is president of Mikula Contracting , Inc ., a family-owned and operated excavation and demolition company since 1946 . In 2020 the company won the prestigious Fairleigh Dickinson University Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship ’ s New Jersey Family Business of the Year Award . Mikula Contracting has also been recognized by various industry organization as a premier N . J . land improvement contractor .
The company has received numerous safety and community outreach awards under Dennis ’ leadership , such as the annual New Jersey Land Improvement Contractors of America ’ s Safety Award and a two-time winner of the CIANJ “ Companies that Care ” award . Dennis is also active in many civic and industry organizations throughout the area . This year he was appointed to the Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Foundation and currently serves as its board membership chairperson .
Ron Andersen Wendy Blacher Christopher Kasker Daniel M . Lesko Dennis Mikula Jr .
November 2023 COMMERCE 5