Men of the Year 2024

by Staff | Dec 26, 2024

Some men are introduced to the idea of community service at a young age, inspired by the examples set forth by their parents and mentors. Others come to it gradually, and as they get older they realize that they may need more than personal or career goals to feel truly fulfilled. Whatever path they happen to have taken, the individuals we have selected for our annual Men of the Year list have one trait in common: a desire to make a difference and to uplift those around them. We salute the many ways in which they help the less fortunate and are proud to recognize their contributions to South Jersey.

MAN OF YEAR: JON KATZ

Katz has spent nearly his entire adulthood committed to service and doing something for a greater good. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for more than 20 years in infantry, logistics, acquisition and recruiting, and has since worked in the defense industry and as an entrepreneur.?????

Since 2021, Katz has led as president and CEO of Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc., the largest employer of people who are blind or visually impaired in New Jersey. In just three years, Katz has led the organization through a transformation from a small self-sustaining manufacturing facility to a full-scale social enterprise. He grew the operation from a single line of business into four, which include textile manufacturing, an e-Commerce store, document scanning and digital imaging, and kitting/packaging/light assembly, all while nearly doubling revenue from $11.4M to $20.2M. What’s more, Bestwork’s direct blind labor increased by 38 new employees. Expansion efforts have led to Bestwork opening a satellite location in Montclair. Recently, Katz finalized a letter of agreement with Salus at Drexel University to start the first phase of establishing blind, low-vision services on Bestwork’s campus in Cherry Hill.

Katz serves on the board of the National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind as chairman of the operations committee and serves as vice chairperson on ACCSES NJ’s executive committee.?Also an avid cyclist, he participates annually in the Great Cycling Challenge, an event that raises money to fight childhood cancer. Since 2020, his personal impact to fight the disease and save young lives has resulted in riding 3,853 miles and raising $8,949 for the cause.

MARCUS ALLEN

Allen is a charismatic and passionate public servant and a visionary leader with more than two decades of experience as a nonprofit executive. He has worked tirelessly to improve life circumstances for disadvantaged youth and to advocate for equal opportunities for communities of color since joining Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence (BBBSI) in 2013 as the organization’s first Black chief executive officer. Today, he manages the largest one-to-one mentoring program in the commonwealth and the third largest Big Brothers Big Sisters Agency in the nation.

Through BBBSI, Allen has enacted innovative youth mentoring programs designed to help positively transform the lives of children facing adversity in Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. He is also committed to reshaping Big Brothers Big Sisters of America nationally, serving as co-chair of its Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee and a member of its National Leadership Council.

Allen is a respected community leader and outspoken advocate of amplifying social justice and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, making him a sought-after speaker with numerous appearances on television and radio networks. His efforts have led to appointments to the U.S.Commission on Civil Rights in Pennsylvania, and as a senior fellow for the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania.

Allen currently serves on the board of directors for the United Way and Philadelphia Health Management Corporation. He is a graduate of Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and received his MBA in technology management from the University of Phoenix. He is a two-time inductee into the Paine College Sports Hall of Fame and played basketball professionally overseas. He is also a member of a rare group, having both summited Mount Kilimanjaro and cycled across the country.

PHILLIP W. HEATH

For over 30 years, Heath’s career has been distinguished by his leadership experience with various local, regional, and national health care organizations. With extensive experience in the hospice, senior housing, long-term care and health care technology arena, he has been involved in corporate community affairs, social responsibility, inclusion and diversity initiatives, and has been a community volunteer throughout his life.

Heath’s personal mission of service has always been to provide “what the patient wants and what the patient needs.” That priority continues as president and CEO of Samaritan. There, he leads the organization’s mission to deliver extraordinary compassion and professional expertise to help patients, clients and those who care about them live their best lives every day.

Under Heath’s leadership, Samaritan entered a Premier Partnership with Rutgers University-Camden to advance training in, and access to, person-centered serious illness care in the region. Additionally, Samaritan has taken the lead in the formation of the Social Isolation, Loneliness & Connection Collaborative, bringing together over 40 regional organizations committed to addressing issues of social isolation and loneliness.

Heath’s commitment to elevating the conversation around health equity and advancing access to serious illness care includes positions on the board of trustees for the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation, Responsive Care Solutions—where he serves as vice chair, and the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey—where he will join the executive committee in 2025.

“If our work is not serving, caring, authentic and trusting,” says Heath, “then we are not fulfilling our mission.”

DR. NICHOLAS L. DEPACE

Dr. DePace is a nationally esteemed multi board-certified cardiologist and premier authority on the groundbreaking study and treatment of autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Along with his longstanding affiliation with Jefferson Hospital, Dr. DePace established Franklin Cardiovascular with extensive offices and testing facilities located in Sicklerville. In addition to his burgeoning practice, he has also authored six books and over 200 medical articles and reviews.

Over 40 years ago, and with the encouragement of his father, Dr. DePace began acquiring one-of-a-kind pieces of sports memorabilia and this passion has since grown into an internationally renowned personal collection. At the request of his great friend and beloved former heavyweight champion boxer, “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier, Dr. DePace promised that he would make this formidable collection accessible to the public. Thus, the dream of the DePace Sports Museum was born.

With his vast collection on display, for free, to the public, the museum is looking to make an impact in the community in numerous ways. Some of its charitable missions include providing uniforms, equipment and more to local sports team in need; supporting college scholarships and other educational youth-related projects; supporting various animal shelters and rescues; working with at-risk youth and more.

Dr. DePace’s collection, consisting of memorabilia, artifacts, uniforms and equipment used by the greatest names in sports history is now available for viewing by appointment at the museum in Washington Township.

RICCARDO DALE

Dale is a testament to perseverance and the power of mentorship. After a challenging upbringing caused him to leave home at 16 years old, he was unsure where life’s journey would take him. That’s when his basketball coach and mentor stepped in to help guide his future. Dale went from failing academically to getting a full college scholarship and starting his career of service at just 20 years old when he was elected to the board of trustees at Rowan University. He went on to become an award-winning speaker by the age of 21, and by 22, Dale had been elected to the Beverly City Board of Education. A year later, he became of New Jersey’s youngest elected officials as a councilman in Beverly City.

But what Dale is perhaps most known for is being the founder and CEO of Free All Minds, a year-round leadership academy for young men of color based in Camden. At this nationally recognized academy, students take weekly classes centered around academic achievement, career readiness, life skills and wellness. Since its inception, Dale and the organization has sent dozens of young men off to college or trade school, with Free All Minds athletics program producing a number of college athletes along the way. Dale has plans to expand the academy to all 50 states with the goal of sending 50,000 young men of color to college.

While it’s clear that Councilman Dale has made an impact in the community at just 27 years old, he feels like he’s only getting started and the best is yet to come.

BOAZ MATLACK

After the gruesome recording of George Floyd’s death was made public back in 2020, Matlack says he felt “trapped and alone.” Growing up in the quiet community of Medford, he had never experienced these emotions before. But he used the feelings of anger and despair as motivation to make a difference, and shortly he joined his sister at a demonstration along Medford’s Main Street. The honks and cheers he heard inspired him to take matters a step further, and for the next two weeks, every evening after work, he perched himself at a median along Route 70 with signs calling for social justice. It wasn’t long before other members of the community would join him.

Soon after, another community leader from Burlington County joined Matlack and together, along with hundreds of others, they marched all across the region. By working with local municipalities to ensure safe demonstration, the pair led over two dozen marches to help send a unified message of racial justice.

His efforts helped earn him Rowan College of Burlington County’s Civility Award and it’s evident that Matlack continues to take his activism to heart. He’s a member of DEON (Diversity & Equal Opportunity Network); served as chairman of criminal justice for the Southern Burlington County NAACP and has worked directly with the county’s Minority and Equality Rights Task Force. As he now looks to obtain his degree from The University of Colorado, he knows that community activism will certainly be a part of his future.

“Once I graduate and become self-sufficient, I will rejoin the fight for social justice however I can,” he says.

JARED SILVERSTEIN

It takes a unique individual to see a need in the community and strive to fill it while seeking nothing in return. The equity that keeps Silverstein working so hard as a tireless advocate for those in need is gratitude, friendship and the community he has created. When families feel lost and in the dark, he takes it upon himself to provide light in the form of knowledge, resources and funding.

His dedication has created a vital resource for families facing hardship, offering them a place of support and hope. Silverstein’s personal experience, strength and commitment to the “go beyond” philosophy are not just words—they are principals he truly lives by. As a father of twins with autism, he intimately understands the challenges of raising special needs children. Their struggle has become his mission and his help has touched countless families in meaningful ways.

And so in 2015, Silverstein founded Puzzle Pieces Squared (P2), a support organization dedicated to empowering individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. With a focus on raising awareness, providing financial resources and tools, and promoting inclusion, P2 works vigorously to create a world where those with autism are understood, accepted and given the tools they need to thrive. Through its community-outreach and educational efforts, P2 has become a vital source of support, fostering connections and offering a voice for individuals with autism and their advocates.

QUANDELL IGLESIA

Iglesia is a seasoned professional in business development at National Integrity Title Agency, drawing from extensive real estate expertise developed through his leadership at IQ Real Estate Team. Dedicated to community empowerment, he is the founder and president of the nonprofit SNJ Millennials, fostering growth and connectivity among young professionals.

Through SNJ Millennials, he introduces young professionals to new business networks while providing them with valuable business educational resources. Certified in foundations of diversity, equity and inclusion, Iglesia is also on the board of education for Monroe Township Public Schools, and is the former New Jersey Young Democrats - Southern Vice President. He’s also received numerous awards, including the Phoenix Game Changer Award from the Gloucester County NAACP, the 2019 Most Influential African American: People Making a Difference Award from the South Jersey Journal and the Spirit of Community: Bob Shryock Award from the Volunteer Center of South Jersey among others. He’s also been recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Vineland African American Community Development Corporation.

Further, Iglesia’s entrepreneurial excellence earned him the Young Professionals Leadership Award from Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce and his unwavering commitment to education, entrepreneurship and DEI initiatives cements his legacy of service and leadership in South Jersey. Most recently, he was featured on segment on PHL17 News for his efforts working with future Hispanic leaders during Hispanic Heritage Month.

WILLIAM JENSEN

In 2017, Jensen made a determined and conscious decision to build an organization that was unique in its mission and help an underserved community of neurodiverse young adults. Jensen’s son Luke was diagnosed with autism as a young child and then at age 21, faced aging out of his public education services with very little options to pursue a purposeful and fulfilling adult life. Jensen and his devoted wife Gloria, began to brainstorm and conceptualize a nonprofit that would fill the void for those with a confirmed neurodiverse diagnosis.

Luke’s Place Inc., named appropriately after Jensen’s son opened its doors in 2018, is a facility that is based in a community setting in Audubon. The 501(c)(3) organization provides social, athletic and volunteer opportunities, with a very vibrant day program that focuses on community awareness and embracing their participants with care and devotion to their total well-being.

In addition to running the successful nonprofit, Jensen, Gloria and their daughter Natalie, a licensed occupational therapist, volunteer their time with Special Olympics of South Jersey, Luke’s Place Bowling League and Luke’s Place cornhole tournament. Jensen and his wife also assist local school districts to help neurodiverse students and their families transition into adult life, guiding them through the various support available through New Jersey’s Division of Development Disabilities.

Luke’s Place has received a Congressional proclamation from the United States House of Representatives along with the Camden County Freedom Medal for its efforts. The organization is also the proud recipient of a citation from the State of New Jersey and General Assembly for their service in the special needs community in South Jersey along with a proclamation from their municipality recognizing its community impact.

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Published and copyrighted in South Jersey Magazine, Volume 21, Issue 7 (October 2024)

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Author: Staff

Men of the Year 2024

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