The New Jersey Bankers Association recently installed a new slate of officers for its 2024-2025 fiscal year, including Patrick Ryan of First Bank as chair, Craig Montanaro of Kearny Bank as first vice chair and Elizabeth Magennis of ConnectOne Bank as second vice chair.

Ryan said he is eager for the opportunity.

“I’m very excited for the coming year as chair of the New Jersey Bankers Association,” he said. “This is an exciting and challenging time in our industry.

“NJBankers is in a great position to help member banks navigate these turbulent waters. And, more importantly, the association can help drive meaningful change as we move forward. We have an amazing team of leaders at the association. I’m proud to have this opportunity to do my small part to help the industry grow and prosper in the next year and beyond.”

Ryan is the founder, director, CEO and president of First Bank, and is responsible for the strategic direction and overall performance of the company. Since the bank’s inception in 2008, it has grown to 26 locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida, with $3.59 billion in assets and 288 employees.

First Bank has been named one of S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Top 100 Best-Performing Community Banks in the nation for record growth and profitability.

Montanaro is the CEO of Kearny Bank. He was appointed to serve on the board of directors of Kearny Financial Corp. and the board of directors of Kearny Bank in 2010. He joined Kearny Bank in 2003 when Kearny acquired West Essex Bank, where he served as chief operating officer. He was appointed CEO of Kearny Financial and Kearny Bank in April 2011.

Magennis is the president of ConnectOne Bank, the bank subsidiary of ConnectOne Bancorp Inc. ConnectOne is a leading commercial bank, with over $9 billion in assets, serving the New Jersey, New York and South Florida markets.

Magennis holds over 30 years of experience in the banking industry. As president of ConnectOne, she is responsible for the growth, function and strategic direction of the bank. She joined ConnectOne Bank in 2006 and has played an integral role in growing the company to a top-performing bank with industry-leading metrics.

Steven Klein, chair and CEO of Northfield Bank, will serve as immediate former chair.

In addition, new members serving on the NJBankers board of directors for the 2024-2025 year include:

• John Borelli, Jr.: CEO, Newfield National Bank;
• Matthew Carcich: CEO, Freedom Bank;
• John DeSclafani: senior vice president/commercial banking leader, Wells Fargo Bank;
• Edward Dietzler: CEO, Bank of Princeton;
• Catherine Franzoni: Chief operating officer, Manasquan Bank;
• Donald Mindiak: CEO, First Commerce Bank;
• Michael Shriner: CEO, BCB Bank.

CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) — As the nation celebrates its 248th birthday, dozens of new U.S. citizens celebrated their own milestone Thursday. 

“I see freedom,” said Jonathan A. Monger as he looked up at the American flag waving on the pier near the USS Battleship New Jersey. “I see this nation being a great nation and the land of opportunities.”

Monger is one of 42 men and women who took their oath of American citizenship in a special ceremony aboard the Battleship New Jersey, including nine U.S. military service members. 

“It’s a journey that I’ve come through and I anticipate to go further and I appreciate this because it falls on Independence Day,” Monger said. “That makes it historic and it’s a great day in my life.”

The citizenship candidates were all lawful permanent residents and have met the requirements to naturalize, including passing a history and civics exam unless exempt. 

More than 878,500 new citizens were naturalized in fiscal year 2023 during ceremonies nationwide.

“All of us know every immigrant has a special story or incredible story to tell how our journey started and we believe in the process of this immigration and it’s a dream come true for us,” said Armand Arana, who immigrated to the northeast in 2006. “It’s freedom, opportunity and greatness.”

The citizenship candidates originate 21 countries: Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Liberia, Mexico, Montenegro, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Venezuela.

John Marino expects hockey fans to have a lot of questions about Utah’s new NHL team.

“You don’t really know what to expect. Location wise,” the Massachusetts-born defenseman said, “I’m sure some people don’t know where it is.”

But the five-year veteran looks forward to putting Utah Hockey Club on the NHL map.

Marino, who has made the playoffs in four of his five seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils, will be tasked with bringing experience and establishing a winning culture in Salt Lake City after being traded to Utah late last month.

“I think it starts with the older guys instilling that in the younger guys and teaching them the ropes,” Marino said this week.

The 27-year-old racked up 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) last season in New Jersey. Along with Mikhail Sergachev, who Utah acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay, Marino hopes to be part of an improved defensive unit in Utah.

“I think they’re sending a message for sure doing what they did in the offseason that they want to be a competitive hockey team,” Marino said. “They have such a dangerous forward group up front, playing fast, transitional hockey. I think it’s going to be exciting. I think it’s only going to be improvement from here and who knows where it’s going to go.”

Marino followed the team’s move from Arizona to Utah closely earlier this year.

“Watching the video of all the other guys coming out on stage [during the team’s introduction event], the fan presence and the atmosphere, it seemed pretty cool,” he said. “It’s going to be special to be a part of it.”

The defenseman said he’s heard good things about the franchise — and Salt Lake City — already.

“I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, nothing about great things about the owner and what it’s going to be, the fans, the atmosphere. Talking to some of the guys who have already been out there from Arizona, nothing but good things to say about it.”

And as for his new home? Marino says he’s ready for his next chapter.

“I’ve heard it’s just beautiful there. Being up in the mountains, the scenery. There’s a ton to do, outdoor actives and everything like that,” he said. “But getting that firsthand experience will be a lot different than looking at it through my screen.”