People in Business, April 21 – New Jersey Herald

Corey Brown received the 2018 Rudolph N. Hawkins Staff Member of the Year award at the Metro YMCA’s annual awards dinner on April 11 at the Hanover Marriott in East Hanover.

Membership was climbing at the just-renovated Sussex County YMCA last summer when Brown, the associate executive director, was called upon to take charge. As interim executive director, Brown smoothly managed challenges that come with a growing YMCA, keeping members happy and the branch’s finances strong.

“Not only did the branch continue to hit its targets, but it exceeded expectations,” said Rob Wiggins, Sussex County district executive director of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges. The Sussex County YMCA is one of seven branches of the Metro YMCA.

While honored, the Sussex County native said all the YMCA directors deserve to share in the recognition. “The Sussex County YMCA couldn’t be more welcoming. I’ve never been anyplace where the entrance doors are held open by members and staff as much as here,” Brown said.

Since the completion of the $3.8 million expansion and renovation in January 2018, membership has grown more than 10 percent, to 10,742. The project added a full-size high school gymnasium and additional wellness space, a cycle room for spin classes, and a play zone in the lobby for children. Program space, locker rooms and bathrooms, and the welcome center were all updated.

Brown, of Warwick, N.Y., joined the Sussex County YMCA leadership team in 2015, following eight years working at the Fairview Lake YMCA Camps. There, he led survival camps, oversaw weekend programs, and became marketing director.

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Ellen Lalwani, chief retail officer of Lakeland Bank, has been named by NJBIZ to the Best 50 Women in Business list, announced Thomas J. Shara, president and CEO of Lakeland Bank.

“I have worked with Ellen for nearly two decades, and have witnessed firsthand her incredible ability to empower, inspire and motivate those around her to achieve the maximum results needed for a bank to be successful in the exceedingly competitive financial industry,” said Shara. “And while she is focused on driving the bank forward, Ellen’s leadership style has a strong foundation built on serving as a mentor and being dedicated to community service.”

“I joined Lakeland Bank in August 2008 when the bank was $2 billion in assets. Today, the bank is over $6 billion in assets and growing,” said Lalwani. “I strongly believe the bank’s success is due to our wonderful associates who work as a team to provide financial stewardship to our customers and who are truly committed to serving the communities in our marketplace.”

Lalwani began her career with Lakeland in 2008 as senior vice president, director of retail sales. She was promoted in January 2016 to first senior vice president, chief retail officer and to her current position in October 2016.

Lalwani earned a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in economics from St. John’s University and recently graduated from the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking held at the University of Pennsylvania. She has also earned an Aresty Scholar designation from The Wharton School of Business and attends the JWMI Institute of Strayer University.

The Best 50 Women in Business awards honor women business leaders that are prominent in their companies and industries, as well as their communities.

Lakeland Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of Lakeland Bancorp Inc., which has $5.6 billion in total assets. The bank operates 50 branch offices throughout Bergen, Essex, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties, as well as six New Jersey regional commercial lending centers in Bernardsville, Jackson, Montville, Newton, Teaneck and Waldwick.

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David Thoenig of the Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors, Sparta Office, was recently recognized for his outstanding performance at the regional awards recognition event held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Fairfield.

Thoenig’s outstanding performance earned him the honor of the Chairman’s Award for being the top agent regionally in 2018 for the number of successful closed transactions. He also took home the Silver Level “Solo” Award for ranking No. 2 nationally out of over 9,000 Realtors within the Realty Executives International franchise system for the number of transactions closed in 2018 by a single agent. In addition, he ranked No. 233 nationally and No. 9 in New Jersey, out of all licensed Realtors in all companies, for his individual transaction volume by REAL Trends, a privately held publishing, consulting and communications company which ranks the best Realtors across the United States.

“I wake up every morning looking forward to going to work. Helping clients with their real estate needs is what I love to do,” Thoenig said.

According to Doug Radford, president of Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors, “David is one of the hardest working Realtors I know. I congratulate David on consistently, year after year, achieving this level of success. It is a true honor to work with David.”

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Anthony Puccio, of Stillwater, has been promoted to the position of chief financial officer at Heath Village. Prior to being named CFO, Puccio served 19 years as controller.

In his capacity as CFO, Puccio oversees the financial operations for Heath Alliance for Care Inc., and its subsidiaries, Heath Village Retirement Community and Canterbury Village, an assisted living community in West Orange. He also serves as the fiduciary lead for the development of Heath Village West, which includes a new 92,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Health Care Center and Rehabilitation Facility and new independent senior living cottage-style apartments. He also manages the information technology infrastructure for all Heath Alliance communities.

“It has been my great pleasure to work with Tony for nearly 20 years. He has been an integral member of our team. I am certain that as CFO he will continue to help us support our mission of providing seniors with a full range of care, services and opportunities in a secure, dignified and fulfilling and stimulating environment,” said Heath Alliance for Care CEO Patrick Brady.

Puccio earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from William Paterson College and has held positions previously at Lakeland Health Care Center, a long-term care and assisted living facility in Haskell, and Newton Memorial Hospital. He is a member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

Heath Village is a full-service, not-for-profit, retirement community located at 430 Schooley’s Mountain Road in Washington Township, Morris County.

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Doug Radford, president of Realty Executives Exceptional Realtors, has announced that the following Realtors in Sussex County branch offices were recognized for their outstanding achievements in the month of March.

In the Byram Branch Office, the office top listing agent was broker associate Mary May and the office top selling agent was Realtor associate Brandee Murray.

In the Sparta Branch Office, the office top listing agent was broker associate Lynn Garafola and the office top selling agent was Realtor associate David Thoenig. The team of Realtor associates Chris Bruscino, Jeannette Burke and Brian Weatherwalks, The Real Deal Team, was named the office top team for both listings and sales.

In the Vernon Branch Office, the team of broker associates Allison Callow and Denise Hart was the office top listing team and the team of Realtor associates Cherie Maio and Laura Alexis was the office top selling team.

“Congrat-ulations to each of these agents who continue to be exceptional Realtors. Their successes are tied directly to the fact that they are each dedicated, caring and knowledgeable Realtors,” Radford said.