Top CEOs & CFOs 2025
It takes a village to create a strong community, and it takes impassioned, experienced decision-makers to lead those teams in their efforts. We’re kicking off 2025 by recognizing the following chief officers by celebrating their accomplishments, recognizing their contributions to the local business landscape and sharing some of the insights they’ve gained in their meteoric journeys to the top.
Bob Waller Jr., CEO, Association Headquarters
Waller has dedicated more than 37 years to Association Headquarters, serving as president and CEO and a chief staff executive for five-plus organizations. A recognized leader in association management, he has received numerous awards, including the Glen Bostrom Lifetime Achievement Award and Customer Service CEO of the Year. Waller has held leadership roles with organizations like the American Society of Association Executives, Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives, AMC Institute, and the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization, and served on several nonprofit boards. In his free time, he enjoys restoring antique cars.
Waller has dedicated more than 37 years to Association Headquarters, serving as president and CEO and a chief staff executive for five-plus organizations. A recognized leader in association management, he has received numerous awards, including the Glen Bostrom Lifetime Achievement Award and Customer Service CEO of the Year. Waller has held leadership roles with organizations like the American Society of Association Executives, Mid-Atlantic Society of Association Executives, AMC Institute, and the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization, and served on several nonprofit boards. In his free time, he enjoys restoring antique cars.
On his goals for 2025…
Article continues below
advertisement
As the company grows organically and through acquisitions, my priority is ensuring the right leadership structure and talent are in place to scale effectively and lead across all functions.
advertisement
As the company grows organically and through acquisitions, my priority is ensuring the right leadership structure and talent are in place to scale effectively and lead across all functions.
His advice for emerging leaders…
Hard work is irreplaceable. Leading by example, being available to teammates, and putting inthe time is key to success.
Hard work is irreplaceable. Leading by example, being available to teammates, and putting inthe time is key to success.
Rosemarie Parker, Chief Executive Officer, Family Promise of Southwest New Jersey
Parker has been devoted to advancing the mission of Family Promise SWNJ since 2008, where she’s been serving as CEO since 2017. With a background spanning government and business, she brings a wealth of experience to her work. Under Parker’s leadership, Family Promise SWNJ has not only expanded to serving four counties in southern New Jersey but also added programming to include transitional housing, eviction prevention, rapid rehousing and stabilization. Her work continues to empower families to achieve and to maintain sustainable independence. Parker has also served on several other nonprofit boards and is currently on the leadership council for Impact 100 SJ.
On her goals for 2025…
In 2025, Family Promise SWNJ will celebrate 20 years of service to preventing family homelessness and building stronger communities. We will continue to work with our local business and government partners to find affordable housing solutions because we believe that every child deserves a home here in South Jersey.
In 2025, Family Promise SWNJ will celebrate 20 years of service to preventing family homelessness and building stronger communities. We will continue to work with our local business and government partners to find affordable housing solutions because we believe that every child deserves a home here in South Jersey.
John Sartor, President and CEO, PS&S
With more than 30 years of industry experience, Sartor has worked on many high-profile environmental and development projects in the Northeast region, such as Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel and Casino and the Hoboken South Waterfront. Combining his real estate experience in environmental, site/civil and geotechnical engineering with his construction management for these large-scale, mixed-use development projects has been a great foundation for his role as chief executive at PS&S. This technical expertise has helped shape his leadership strategy and overall extensive knowledge of the ever-changing industry.
On his goals for 2025...
PS&S has aggressive growth goals for 2025. Following the successful integration of our colleagues from Stout & Caldwell and Becica Associates in 2024, we are well positioned to expand in the South Jersey market and remain committed to delivering exceptional service to our clients.
PS&S has aggressive growth goals for 2025. Following the successful integration of our colleagues from Stout & Caldwell and Becica Associates in 2024, we are well positioned to expand in the South Jersey market and remain committed to delivering exceptional service to our clients.
The importance of being a lifelong learner in his industry...
Our industry is ever-changing, both in terms of our clients’ needs and expectations and the tools for delivery. You must constantly push yourself to understand and embrace the “new” normal or risk being left behind.
Our industry is ever-changing, both in terms of our clients’ needs and expectations and the tools for delivery. You must constantly push yourself to understand and embrace the “new” normal or risk being left behind.
Dr. Michael Cioce, President and CEO, Rowan College at Burlington County
The first person in his family to graduate from college, Cioce has dedicated his professional life to bettering the lives of students. He has more than a decade of experience in higher education and was named Rowan College of Burlington County’s sixth president in 2018. Since then, he has not only set up the college for long-term success, but also helped to erase the stigma associated with community college through forward-thinking initiatives. One of his most notable accomplishments was implementing New Jersey’s first 3+1 program, allowing students to earn a bachelor’s degree from Rowan University while avoiding crippling debt.
Lessons from his toughest leadership decision…
A leader has to get buy-in from key stakeholders on important initiatives and be transparent about how they connect with other work occurring within the organization. If you fail to convince one group of the importance of their project, there can be a domino effect that ruins the progress of others within the organization. A leader needs to communicate everyone’s role and how they connect to a bigger vision for institutional
success.
A leader has to get buy-in from key stakeholders on important initiatives and be transparent about how they connect with other work occurring within the organization. If you fail to convince one group of the importance of their project, there can be a domino effect that ruins the progress of others within the organization. A leader needs to communicate everyone’s role and how they connect to a bigger vision for institutional
success.
Mark Storm, CFO, The Arc Gloucester
Storm’s responsibilities include managing the finance department and technology,
providing strategic input, overseeing risk management, conducting vendor
contract reviews, and maintaining audit and banking relationships. With extensive experience in both for-profit and nonprofit industries, Storm brings a unique perspective to consulting in various areas of accounting and finance, and he is always seeking new challenges to
further his professional growth.
providing strategic input, overseeing risk management, conducting vendor
contract reviews, and maintaining audit and banking relationships. With extensive experience in both for-profit and nonprofit industries, Storm brings a unique perspective to consulting in various areas of accounting and finance, and he is always seeking new challenges to
further his professional growth.
His advice for emerging leaders…
Build an ethical, talented team around you. No one knows or sees everything: Having a diverse group with varied expertise helps ensure the success of your team and organization. Building a solid foundation of trust and collaboration within your team is essential.
Build an ethical, talented team around you. No one knows or sees everything: Having a diverse group with varied expertise helps ensure the success of your team and organization. Building a solid foundation of trust and collaboration within your team is essential.
Marshall Spevak, CEO, Battleship New Jersey Museum & Memorial
A Cherry Hill resident, Spevak served on the battleship’s board of trustees for eight years before becoming CEO. Since assuming the role, he has spearheaded the ship’s historic $10 million dry-docking initiative and its successful return home on the Camden Waterfront.
On his goals for 2025…
Surpassing the milestones of 2024 … will undoubtedly be a challenge, but the goodwill and recognition generated from the historic dry-docking have positioned us for continued growth. Looking ahead, the region is poised to host several major events, presenting an incredible opportunity for the battleship to focus on enhancing its status as a premier tourist destination and events venue.
Surpassing the milestones of 2024 … will undoubtedly be a challenge, but the goodwill and recognition generated from the historic dry-docking have positioned us for continued growth. Looking ahead, the region is poised to host several major events, presenting an incredible opportunity for the battleship to focus on enhancing its status as a premier tourist destination and events venue.
Janis Sweeney, Founder and CEO, NEMR Total HR
A longtime South Jersey resident who has served in leadership and ownership roles for several enterprises since the late 1980s, Sweeney founded the company now known as NEMR Total HR in 2006, and has since brought two of her children into the business to truly make it a family-operated company. Her team provides business owners with employee management services such as human resources, benefits, payroll generation and staffing solutions. Sweeney is also the chair of the board of directors for the Camden County Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Her advice for emerging leaders…
Follow your passion. Believe in yourself. Create a vision and mission, [and] let it guide you, unwaveringly.
Follow your passion. Believe in yourself. Create a vision and mission, [and] let it guide you, unwaveringly.
Michael Lovett, President and CEO, Consensus Health
With vast experience as a health care executive across several organizations, Lovett is helping to guide Consensus on a path to continued growth and development thanks to his formidable leadership, analytic, strategic planning and process management skills. He has a history of driving success by focusing on physician satisfaction, patient engagement and financial health.
With vast experience as a health care executive across several organizations, Lovett is helping to guide Consensus on a path to continued growth and development thanks to his formidable leadership, analytic, strategic planning and process management skills. He has a history of driving success by focusing on physician satisfaction, patient engagement and financial health.
His advice for emerging leaders…
Remember that managing and leading are two different things. Managing is a technical skill and is certainly a necessary part of leadership. Leadership is more nuanced. ... A leader must inspire, create the mission and show the team the way to success. A leader must be fair, consistent and unwavering in their commitment to the mission and the team.
Remember that managing and leading are two different things. Managing is a technical skill and is certainly a necessary part of leadership. Leadership is more nuanced. ... A leader must inspire, create the mission and show the team the way to success. A leader must be fair, consistent and unwavering in their commitment to the mission and the team.
Click here to subscribe to the free digital editions of South Jersey Biz.
To read the digital edition of South Jersey Biz, click here.
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 15, Issue 1 (January 2025).
For more info on South Jersey Biz, click here.
To subscribe to South Jersey Biz, click here.
To advertise in South Jersey Biz, click here.
To read the digital edition of South Jersey Biz, click here.
Published (and copyrighted) in South Jersey Biz, Volume 15, Issue 1 (January 2025).
For more info on South Jersey Biz, click here.
To subscribe to South Jersey Biz, click here.
To advertise in South Jersey Biz, click here.
Author: Matt Cosentino and Chelsea Valcourt
Archives
Striking a Chord
Timeless
Polished Plates
Get Connected
Destiny Fulfilled
A Helping Hand
Girls' Courtside Review
A Life-Changing Experience
Boys' Courtside Review
Inching Toward Optimism
The Future of Slay
'[An] Exciting and Great Opportunity'
Top Physicians for Children 2025
Free Agency
Women to Watch 2025
More...
