Sixteen graduates from eight New Jersey banks recently graduated from the New Jersey Bankers Association’s (NJBankers) Leading on the Cutting Edge leadership development program.
The 6-month intensive course is facilitated by George Wright, founder and president of WrightOne Consulting, and explores topics such as self-awareness and emotional intelligence, critical and strategic thinking, leading innovation and encouraging creativity, giving and receiving feedback and more.
“Leading on the Cutting Edge was designed to equip bankers with the skills needed to thrive in the dynamic and ever-evolving banking industry,” Jessica Jakobson, NJBankers vice president of Professional Development said. “The program’s focus on critical leadership competencies allows participants to step outside their comfort zone and focus on professional growth.”
“Five years in, the Leading on the Cutting Edge program has become a true proving ground for leadership,” Wright said. “It pushes participants to think critically, lead with purpose, and build the kind of peer relationships that matter in high-stakes environments. With the pace of change in banking—especially with AI reshaping how we work—leaders need more than technical skill. They need judgment, adaptability, and the confidence to shape what’s next. That’s what this program delivers.”
The 2025 Leading on the Cutting Edge graduates are:
- Seena Alipour, Sales & Deposit Analyst, First Bank
- Karina Ayco, AVP/ Senior Paralegal, Northfield Bank
- Arlin Borjas Garcia, AVP/Assistant BSA/AML Officer, Spencer Savings Bank
- Evan Buck, BSA Specialist I, First Bank
- Esteban Coellar, Strategic Project Coordinator, Columbia Bank
- Amanda D’Alessio, AVP/Corporate Secretary & HR Director, United Roosevelt Savings Bank
- Valerie Gaspard, AVP/Deposit Operations Manager, Spencer Savings Bank
- Michelle Jowett, AVP/Specialized Lending Supervisor, OceanFirst Bank
- Jacqueline Judge, VP/Operations Manager, Valley Bank
- Joseph Murphy, VP/Controller, Spencer Savings Bank
- Mary Patkus, VP/BSA Officer, Magyar Bank
- Lourdes Rodriguez, AVP/Branch Operations Manager, Northfield Bank
- Juliane Roy, VP/Management Reporting Manager, OceanFirst Bank
- Jonathan Schultz, SVP/Commercial Banking Project Manager, Northfield Bank
- Betty Sellinger, VP/Director of Operational Risk Management, OceanFirst Bank
- Saranda Shahini, Senior Marketing Coordinator, Spencer Savings Bank
