NJBIZ reveals 2025 Leaders in Finance honorees (updated)

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To recognize New Jersey’s financial executives who contribute to the success of their companies and their communities, NJBIZ is unveiling the 2025 Leaders in Finance award recipients. 

Following an open nomination period, honorees were chosen by a panel of independent judges with experience in the financial field. The selections are based on the nominees’ involvement in their industries and communities, as well as their professional achievements. 

This year, the more than 40 award recipients span the categories of banking, corporate, investment, professional and blockchain. 

A ceremony recognizing these individuals will take place from 8-10 a.m. April 29 at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset. Tickets will be available soon on the event page.  

The presenting sponsor for the event is Provident Bank.  

Congratulations to the 2025 Leaders in Finance honorees! 

Ash Ahluwalia, head of social security planning, OneTeam Financial LLC 

Billy Angelo, partner, Angelo & Associates CPAs PC 

Karen Artasanchez, shareholder, WilkinGuttenplan CPAs & Advisors 

Edward Bishof Sr., vice president for finance and chief financial officer, Seton Hall University 

Sara Bonstein, chief financial officer, Insmed 

Jim Bourke, managing director, Advisory Services, Withum 

Sean Byrnes, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Kearny Bank 

James Cadet, market executive, Merrill Wealth Management, Bank of America 

Harry Carpenter, partner and cannabis advisory services co-practice leader, Citrin Cooperman 

Fred Castrovinci, regional president, New Jersey commercial and business banking, Valley Bank 

Monique Chiarito, chief financial officer, Rema Foods Inc. 

Adam Cohen, chief operating officer and chief financial officer, Asset Based Lending 

Joseph Damiano, CEO and managing partner, Sax LLP 

Andrea Diaz, partner, SKC & Co. CPAs LLC 

Mike Dinneen, president and CEO, First Harvest Credit Union 

Brad Domenico, vice chair, Cushman & Wakefield 

John Fitzgerald, president and CEO, Magyar Bank 

Rick Fonseca, senior director, Utility & Services Company Finance, PSEG 

Timothy Gearty, national instructor and editor in chief, Becker Gearty Continuing Professional Education 

Diane Gigliotti, senior vice president and controller, Provident Bank 

Alison Harris, relationship executive, Middle Market Banking, JPMorganChase 

Noreen Horgan, chief financial officer, Atlantic Medical Group-Atlantic Health System 

Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, CEO and executive director, New Jersey Society of CPAs 

Travis Lan, chief financial officer, Valley Bank 

Mark Mahasky, senior vice president and head of acquisitions, Denholtz 

Noah Michael O’Hare, vice president, retail operations administrator, Spencer Savings Bank 

Samuel Pauls, renovation loan sales manager, New Rez LLC 

Adam Puff, president, Haddonfield Financial Planning 

Vaishnavee Ranganathan, assistant controller, DOWC 

Lori Roth, global managing partner, Prager Metis CPAs 

Bhakti Shah, partner, PKF O’Connor Davies 

Jenny Sharpe, principal, The Sharpe Group LLC 

Ashalata Shettigar, partner, Tax, market leader, REITs, Cohen & Co 

Dan Silverman, CEO, Balcony Technology Group Inc. 

John Smallwood, president, Smallwood Wealth Management 

Douglas Smith, managing member, Axiom CPAs LLC 

Robert Traphagen, managing partner, Traphagen CPAs & Wealth Advisors 

Matthew Vamvakis, managing director, senior private banker & banker team lead, New Jersey, J.P. Morgan Private Bank 

Michael Walliser, president, Condor Capital Wealth Management 

Patrick Walsh, managing partner and CEO, Withum 

Diane Wasser, managing partner, Regions, EisnerAmper 

Wesley Wilcox, partner, G.S. Wilcox & Co. 

Alexis Zack, chief financial officer and treasurer, City of Linden 

Cynthia Ziegler, vice president, Revenue Cycle Management, Holy Name Medical Center 

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:54 p.m. EST March 14 to reflect Travis Lan’s title change. At 10:47 a.m. EST March 17, the story was updated to note Billy Angelo’s preferred first name.