South Jersey BIZ - Issue #12 (December 2023)

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SJBiz_WhosWho in Banking_1223FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 12 / 5 / 23 3 : 53 PM Page 4 WHO’S WHO IN BANKING 2023 GeorgeDestafney DavidMills PRESIDENT OF NEW JERSEY REGION , OCEAN FIRST BANK SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT , MIDDLE MARKET , WSFS BANK Destafney was promoted Mills helps provide lend - to regional president four ing and financial services years after joining Ocean - to middle - market com - First Bank . He is responsi - panies in New Jersey ble for all retail , commer - and Pennsylvania . He cial and business banking started his career with activity in New Jersey . He MeridianBank — which brings more than 25 later merged with years ’ banking experi - CoreStates , First Union ence , having worked at andWachovia , and M & T TD Bank and its predeces - Bank — before joining sor , Commerce Bank . WSFS in 2017 . For over Destafney is active within 30 years , Mills has ad - the community , volunteer - vised business owners ing with several nonprofit on strategic plans and organizations . He is a provided senior financ - member of the Children’s ing to achieve their ob - Specialized Hospital Foundation board of trustees and Saint jectives . WSFS Bank is the largest locally headquartered bank John Vianney High School advisory board . in the Greater Philadelphia area with over $ 20 billion in assets and 88 banking offices . On what makes a great industry leader … They should be collaborative and work well with all depart - The best part of his job … ments and levels . They should be innovative and embrace new I love the variety of my job — every day is a new experience for tools and enhancements to stay competitive and efficient . me . I have the privilege of building relationships with business Adaptability is important : The financial environment is a dy - owners from all kinds of industries . As I observe the best namic one and a great leader must focus on industry trends , practices from each industry , I am able to share the diversity adjusting to address those changes and find new strategies . of my experiences with business owners to help them devel - The most important quality is the desire to continue learning . op strategic financing solutions to help their businesses thrive . Financial leaders should be committed to staying informed about industry trends , regulatory changes and advancements in technology . CamilleGadsden SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT CONTROLLER & ASSET RECOVERY , FIRST HARVEST CREDIT UNION SteveMcWilliams Gadsden has been in banking for over 30 EVP - CHIEF LENDING OFFICER , REPUBLIC BANK years and is dedicated McWilliams has over 30 to improving others ’ fi - years in the banking in - nancial well - being . She dustry . He previously is among the founders served as Republic Bank’s of First Harvest’s em - Philadelphia Metro mar - ployee - run program ket president and senior Charitable Journey , lender , was responsible lends her expertise to for growing the bank’s Rowan College of South New York City presence Jersey’s accounting advi - and has been an integral sory committee , and part of its commercial was voted an emerging loangrowth since his ar - leader by Cross State rival in 2009 . Prior to join - Credit Union Associa - ing Republic Bank , tion . An impassioned McWilliamsworked as a breast cancer awareness advocate , Gadsden volunteers for regional vice president in Pink Roses & Teal Magnolias , which raises money for various Commerce Bank breast / gynecological cancer clinical and research programs at markets for eight years . He is a lifelong Philadelphian , and has MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper . also contributed to the community with his leadership on the boards of the Philadelphia Museum of Art , the Main Line Cham - The best part of her job … ber of Commerce and John Hallahan High School , as well as I find great satisfaction in making a difference and supporting supporting the Montgomery Township Police Pension Fund . my team’s growth . Helping others and facing new challenges can be incredibly fulfilling . I enjoy guiding my team and explor - The best part of his job … ing innovative approaches . By fostering a positive learning envi - The best part of my job is working with my teammates and cus - ronment , I’m able to contribute to their personal and profession - tomers to help the bank and our customers achieve their finan - al development , and the overall success of the organization . cial goals while building the local community . SouthJerseyBiz.net | VOLUME 13 ISSUE 12 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | 29

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SJBiz_WhosWho in Banking_1223FINAL.qxp_Layout 1 12 / 5 / 23 3 : 53 PM Page 5 WHO’S WHO IN BANKING 2023 DominiqueGoss CarolFranklin EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF M & T CHARITABLE FOUNDATION , SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT , OPERATIONS GROUP MANAGER , M & T BANK TRUIST Goss ’ passion and com - Franklin has served in vari - mitment to equity and un - ous operations leadership derserved communities of roles for Truist and its human diversity is predecessorBB & T since demonstrated in her 2016 . She oversees opera - work . Her commitment to tions for 130 branches in improving the quality of Pennsylvania and New Jer - life for M & T’s customers , sey , and is responsible for colleagues and communi - the growth and develop - ties is evident in her ment of nine operations broad understanding of managers . Prior to joining business principles , which Truist , Franklin was an ex - serves her well when col - ecutive vice president for laborating with other National Penn , and she business leaders to align has served as an advisor shared values . She was for the American Bankers named and invited to at - Association , Stonier Grad - tend Forbes ’ “ Queens of Culture : Legends of Business ” event uate School of Banking , for the past 15 years . honoring 40 impactful women of color . Goss is board member for Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates and Greater Philadelphia On what makes a great industry leader … Philanthropy Network , and is a 2019 - 2020 Connecting Leaders Throughoutmy career , I have met several great leaders who Fellow with the Association for Black Foundation Executives . have shared common qualities I believe are found in most great leaders across any industry , not just in financial services : They The best part of her job … understand the significant importance of building relationships I enjoy engaging with people , fostering collaboration and em - with both clients and teammates . They lead with empathy and powering communities , but also contributing to M & T’s core care . They have an endless desire to learn . They understand purpose of making a difference in people’s lives . The added di - that failures do not define a person or a career . They show great mension of aligning philanthropic goals with business objec - resilience . And they treat everyone with respect . tives further enhances the meaningful impact of the work . LouLombardi LeandraAcetti COMMERCIAL MARKET EXECUTIVE , FULTON BANK REGIONAL VP , CORNERSTONE BANK Lombardi joined Fulton Acetti joined Cornerstone Bank in 1997 , and is re - Bank in 2021 and has 24 sponsible for leading its years of experience in the commercialbanking ef - banking industry through - forts within New Jersey out the Greater Philadel - and Greater Philadelphia . phia and South Jersey re - He is a Heritage Conser - gions . She has held vari - vancyboard member , ous credit , commercial where he also co - chairs and health care lending , the finance and invest - and leadership roles at ment committees . He and large and regional banks . Fulton Bank are members Acetti currently leads a of The Satell Institute . Pre - team of commercial viously , Lombardi chaired lenders and is responsible the Bucks County Chil - for expanding the bank’s dren’s Museum , was a brand in the community , member of the Greater as well as developing Philadelphia Y Honors Committee , and was both a board client relationships by providing concierge service , customized member of the Lower Bucks American Red Cross and chairper - financing and treasury solutions . She is a board member of son of its audit committee . Gateway Community Action Partnership and treasurer of Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce . His predictions for the next decade of banking … Technology can’t replace the human element of banking — On what makes a great industry leader … making relevant connections for entrepreneurs to help grow A great leader exhibits confidence , shares their vision with the their business , providing insights as a trusted advisor . That said , team , communicates on a regular basis , accepts feedback to anything that can be automated without detracting from the improve the process and create efficiencies , leads by example , client experience will be . AI is just entering financial services , takes accountability , inspires confidence , supports their team with the benefits to the industry and our clients yet to be real - and expresses gratitude . I have found these qualities create a ized . Banks will be leveraging technology to deliver deeper in - positive influence and motivate a team to achieve success . sights and a frictionless experience . 30 | SOUTH JERSEY BIZ | VOLUME 13 ISSUE 12 | SouthJerseyBiz.net

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