Board of Directors

Derrick Benns is a Senior Vice President for the Southern New Jersey Market in Business Banking at Bank of America. In this role, Derrick manages a Portfolio of Business Banking clients with $5 million to $50 million in annual revenues.
He is responsible for leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client’s unique needs, to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. Derrick’s mission is to help local companies thrive by achieving their business goals, no matter how simple or how complex.
With more than 20 years of experience, Derrick joined Bank of America in
2021. Prior to joining Bank of America, he spent the last 16 years at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, where he was most recently the Director of Business Banking. Throughout his career, Derrick has worked with businesses and nonprofit organizations of varying size in New Jersey to support their financing needs.

Kenneth J. Calemmo, Jr., Chief Operating Officer of Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law, oversees operations of the 70-attorney firm with offices in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Florida, and Nevada. Known for his community leadership and involvement, Ken serves as an Executive Board Member of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, Chair of the Economic Development Committee, a Board of Trustees member of the Atlantic County Economic Alliance, a Partner of Choose New Jersey, a founding member of the Chelsea Economic Development Corporation, Chairman of Let Us Eat – Please, Inc., and more.  Ken holds a degree in public administration from the University of Scranton.

Carla Caulk is the Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel by Marriott, responsible for the strategic direction, vision, revenue growth and market performance for the property.
As a seasoned professional with more than 22 years of hospitality experience and 8 years in medical & emergency management, Carla is known for her ability to quickly assess situations, identify trends, reorganize, problem solve and achieve new improved results in a short amount of time. While working with Starwood Hotels & Resorts she spent 7 years of her career as a task force DOSM assisting hotels, resorts & sales teams on both the east & west coasts in various reorganization assignments. Carla is a member of ASEA, MPI and PCMA. Additionally, she volunteers her marketing expertise to numerous local Animal Rescue organizations. She is happiest when outdoors with her husband Kelly and working their small rescue farm in Estelle Manor, NJ

Fred DeAndrea serves as Sr. Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Comcast Cable’s Freedom Region.  In this role, Fred leads all local government and community affairs for Comcast in Southern New Jersey, including franchise negotiations, government relations, community relations and regulatory compliance.  Fred is active in the community and is proud to serve on the Greater AC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and he also enjoys coaching Little League baseball in his town.    Fred resides in Haddon Heights, NJ with his wife and two children.       

Barbara DeMarco is Vice President at Porzio Governmental Affairs, specializing in gaming, technology, education, and agricultural policy as well as corporate development issues. She has shepherded over three dozen gaming bills into state law since 1994. As it relates to economic development, she was the lead on a project for Continent 8 Technologies that built a world class data center for online wagering within the Atlantic City Convention Center in a public/private partnership with the CRDA.
 
Since its inception, her name appeared on former Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg’s list of the most powerful and influential women in Trenton. She is a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA

Diane Dixon is the Vice President of Purchasing and Retail Operations for Hard Rock Hotel &Casino and is responsible for overseeing Purchasing, Distribution, Retail and Tenant operations. Diane has over 30 years experience in the casino industry. Prior to joining Hard Rock, Diane was the Administrative Director of Supply Chain Management for Inspira Health Network, a nonprofit healthcare organization serving communities across southern New Jersey. In her casino career she has held various leadership roles in purchasing for Revel,
Colony Capital and the Trump Organization. She is the Executive Chairperson for Women in Leadership at Hard Rock and proudly serves on the Community Relations Committee. Diane is an advocate for developing and supporting women in leadership roles within the hospitality and casino industry.

Dr. Barbara Gaba was appointed the 9th president of Atlantic Cape Community College in January 2017, becoming the first female and first African American president in the college’s history. Since assuming office,her accomplishments include upgraded campus technology and facilities; enhanced marketing initiatives; launch of the new college website; revitalized community engagement projects; increased high school partnerships in Atlantic & Cape May Counties; and partnerships with various entities to advance regional economic development. Dr.Gaba serves on many local & statewide boards and committees, and she is a frequent speaker at national conferences on leadership and higher education issues. Dr.Gaba was named to the “2022 Influencers: Women in Business” list by ROI-NJ.com and the list of African American Women Leaders in NJ by the South Jersey Journal. She is an inductee of the Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance Hall of Fame 2021.

I sell or lease all types of commercial real estate. I have been in this business since 1996. If you are looking to buy, sell or lease a property, large or small I would appreciate the opportunity to work with you.

CEO of a regional Human Services organization addressing the needs of the most underserved in our society.

Ed McFadden is the Vice President of Sales and Business Development for SJI Utilities.  In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the Sales and Marketing efforts for South Jersey Gas and Elizabethtown Gas. His teams are primarily focused on new customer growth, telling the company’s story to prospective and existing customers, and enhancing relationships with customers through green technologies and energy efficiency offerings. Ed joined South Jersey Industries as an outside sales representative in 2010 after a 10 year management career in hotels and restaurants. Following several sales leadership roles within the company he assumed his current role in 2018. In his free time, Ed loves to surf, ski, and see live music. His sanity is supported by his amazing wife, Jillian, and their two energetic daughters. Ed holds a B.S. in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from The Pennsylvania State University.

Jake Perskie is a partner at Fox Rothschild LLP. Based out of the firm’s Atlantic City Office, he is a skilled litigator and business counselor who represents clients across the country in diverse industries, including: gaming, real estate, technology, construction, retail, action sports, media, and professional services. He has particular experience representing private equity backed ventures.  
An "Atlantic City optimist," Jake serves on the boards of the New Jersey Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, The Leadership Studio, and the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City. He also serves as pro bono counsel to the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, Skate AC, Inc., and the South Jersey Boardriders.
An alum of the University of Pennsylvania, Jake earned his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law. He graduated magna cum laude before serving as a law clerk to New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Roberto A. Rivera-Soto.

I specialize in understanding the financial needs of local businesses and providing commercial financing solutions to meet them. At OceanFirst Bank, we strive to provide value and be a useful resource for our customers. Our reward is your continued growth and success.

Joe believes client relationships can impact their lives for decades. Since joining Merrill in 1997, he has participated in transforming client interactions from being transactional to a goal driven approach. Through multiple economic recessions, global crises, and significant life cycle events, Joe has been unwavering in his commitment to help clients follow financial strategies. Using a holistic approach to wealth management, Joe believes that leveraging Merrill’s investment insights and Bank of America’s convenience can help address virtually any financial need. His team is dedicated to using the latest technologies to assist clients with services that help simplify their financial lives. Joe is a member of the Somers Point Rotary Club and the Greater Atlantic City Chamber. Joe and his family enjoy the Ocean City, NJ beaches and skiing in Park City, Utah. He holds the Certified Financial Planner certification and Certified Investment Management Analyst designation.

Ms. Yak has served as the Director of the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center since 2015.  She is responsible for managing, operating, and maintaining world class aviation laboratories and facilities, planning and coordinating FAA’s research and development program and conducting applied research, development, testing and evaluation on current national airspace system enhancements and future next generation air transportation systems. She guides the management of FAA’s research and development porfolio and ensures the safety and welfare of the over 4000 government and contract employees working at the Center.Ms. Yak holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information and System Science from Stockton University and a Masters in Engineering Management from Rowan University. She has received numerous internal and industry leadership and excellence awards throughout her career.

Mr. Zappariello joined the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) in 2016 and serves as the Chief of Staff.  He oversees communications, internal compliance and ethics, strategic planning, travel and is the liaison to the Governor’s Authorities Unit.  Mr. Zappariello also assists with board meetings, speeches and reports, rules and regulations adoption and the marketing of the Atlantic City Expressway and Atlantic City International Airport.  Mr. Zappariello also sits on the Board of Directors for the Atlantic County Economic Alliance.  In addition to his employment at the SJTA, Mr. Zappariello is mayor in Buena Borough where he also served as a councilman for nine years and was on the Planning and Zoning Board, Housing Authority and the Municipal Utilities Authority.  Mr. Zappariello is a past-president of the Atlantic County Association of Township Officials.

Alan H. Zuckerman, shareholder at Flaster Greenberg PC, serves as Chairman of the firm's Board of Directors and is the immediate-past Managing Shareholder. A member of the firm’s Corporate and Tax Departments, he has a business practice with a concentration in federal and state taxation, business and corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions involving both public and privately held companies, estate planning and administration, business succession, and healthcare law. Mr. Zuckerman is also a certified public accountant.