Top CFOs is pleased to announce The Top CFOs of New Jersey for 2024. With its close proximity to major markets, global connections through the East Coast’s largest seaport, and a strong commitment to growing next-gen tech and startup companies, New Jersey continues to evolve as a bustling business hub. The individuals on this year’s list come from a wide range of fields, from AI-focused technology companies to restaurant groups and life science corporations. While the areas of expertise may vary, these leaders share common interests that center around implementing financial strategies that drive company growth.
Among this year’s awardees, we’re honored to feature Michael Langford, CFO of Reed Tech, whose vast experience ranges from supporting emerging start-ups to established corporations, where he has driven substantial revenue and profit growth. Furthermore, we’re pleased to honor Alberto Attar, CFO of Chiquita, who has solidified himself as a proven leader in the field of consumer products and foodservice manufacturers. Lastly, throughout her career, Sara Bonstein has raised over $2 billion in the capital markets, currently serving as CFO of Insmed, a global biotech company on a mission to improve the lives of people living with rare diseases.
The top CFOs on this year’s list have emerged from a competitive field of individuals who are guiding their companies to thrive, while expertly navigating an ever-changing financial landscape. Please join us in recognizing the accomplishments of The Top CFOs of New Jersey for 2024.
1. Beth Gas
pich
Chief Financial Officer, NICE
Beth Gaspich serves as Chief Financial Officer of NICE, a worldwide leader in AI-powered self-service and agent-assisted CX software. Currently, over 25,000 organizations partner with NICE and benefit from its innovative technology. In her present role, Gaspich is responsible for all aspects of finance, investor relations, legal, and global operations, including purchasing and facilities as well as management information systems.
Gaspich has more than 25 years of combined experience leading finance, operations, and business activity in the software and financial services industries. Gaspich joined NICE as CFO of the financial crime and compliance division, NICE Actimize, in September 2011, where she was responsible for finance, legal, and business operations. Prior to joining NICE, Gaspich served as CFO for Archive Systems, Inc., a privately held document management software provider. She was also a founding member and vice president of finance at RiskMetrics Group, Inc., a cloud-based risk management software company, where she helped take the company through a successful public offering on the NYSE in January 2008. Gaspich has held several other senior positions throughout her career at large global financial institutions, including JP Morgan and Price Waterhouse. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Missouri.
2. Anthony Pagano
Chief Financial Officer and Council Member, Genmab
Anthony Pagano joined Genmab in 2007, was appointed SVP in 2011, and became the EVP and Chief Financial Officer in March of 2020. Genmab is an international biotechnology company focusing on innovative and differentiated antibody therapeutics for cancer and other serious diseases.
Before joining Genmab, Pagano was corporate controller and senior director of business planning at NovaDel Pharma, a publicly-traded, specialty pharmaceutical company. He started his career at KPMG LLP, ultimately becoming manager, where he provided audit and M&A consulting services to clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500s in a broad range of industries. Pagano is a CPA and received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from The College of New Jersey, as well as an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University.
3. Joe Aho
Chief Financial Officer, Majesco
Joe Aho is the Chief Financial Officer of Majesco, a company that helps insurers modernize, innovate, and connect with people and businesses in a personal and compelling manner. He is a seasoned finance expert who brings extensive experience and a proven track record in driving growth for enterprise software companies.
Prior to joining Majesco, Aho worked at Compuware for over 20 years, where he held several positions in the sales operations and finance areas, working as vice president of finance in charge of strategic planning and analysis, before ultimately assuming the role of CFO. In 2014, Aho played an integral role in the sale of Compuware to Thoma Bravo. Aho holds an MBA from Wayne State University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from The University of Michigan.
4. Brian Carolan
Chief Financial Officer, SailPoint
Brian Carolan began his career in 1993 and has garnered 31 years of experience in the technology sector. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of SailPoint, a leading provider of identity security for the modern enterprise. Carolan oversaw finance and accounting functions at the C-level for a high-growth startup that eventually went public.
Before joining SailPoint, Carolan was CFO of Commvault, where he played an integral role in guiding the company through its startup phase to becoming an $800 million annual revenue, publicly traded software company. Earlier in his career, he worked at EY as a manager, where he oversaw multiple audit teams for a wide range of clients, from startups to Fortune 500 corporations. Carolan graduated from New York University with his MBA in finance and from Villanova University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
5. John Gallagher III
Chief Financial Officer, Certara
John Gallagher III has served as Chief Financial Officer of Certara since April 2023. Certara accelerates medicines using proprietary biosimulation software, technology, and services to transform traditional drug discovery and development. Its clients include more than 2,300 biopharmaceutical companies, academic institutions, and regulatory agencies across 70 countries.
Before joining Certara, Gallagher was CFO of Cue Health, a publicly-traded healthcare technology company. Prior to Cue Health, Gallagher was at Becton, Dickinson & Co., a multinational medical technology company, where he served as senior vice president, CFO of its Medical Segment, and treasurer. Gallagher was also responsible for corporate finance, including financial planning and analysis, and was senior vice president, controller and chief accounting officer. His other prior roles include vice president, financial planning & analysis at NBC Universal, and assistant controller of corporate treasury for General Electric Company. He began his career with Ford Motor Company, holding various roles across treasury, internal audit, and product development. Gallagher graduated from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business with an MBA and from Clemson University with an undergraduate degree in finance.
6. Michael Langford
Chief Financial Officer, Reed Tech
Michael Langford is the Chief Financial Officer for LexisNexis Reed Tech, a company that helps top pharmaceutical labelers and medical device manufacturers better understand regulatory requirements, promptly meet compliance deadlines, and assist with product data management strategies. As CFO, Langford is responsible for leading the accounting, finance planning and analysis, contract administration, and site of office services organization.
Langford has over 27 years of experience, specializing in life science, multinational, and finance leadership roles. Mike has acquired a diverse background of financial, commercial operations, and business development expertise that has enabled him to provide financial leadership across functions and markets. In his prior roles at Bristol-Myers Squibb and ConvaTec, Langford gained experience working in both large multinational as well as small startup environments. He has successfully led numerous project teams with successful execution of initiatives that have yielded substantial revenue, profit, and cash flow improvements. Langford has an MBA from Rider University and a B.S. in finance from Fairfield University.
7. Lalit Mahapatra
Chief Financial Officer, Navitas Life Sciences
Lalit Mahapatra has over 18 years of experience in finance and accounting and currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Navitas Life Sciences, a technology-backed global clinical research organization. Navitas Life Sciences accelerates time to market for life-saving therapies with end-to-end and point services and solutions for drug development and beyond. It provides outsourced data science, regulatory and safety, and full-service CRO services to large and mid-sized pharmaceutical clients.
Mahapatra boasts a long record of achievements throughout his nearly 20-year career, with successful implementations of multiple financial procedures, focusing on financial control and efficiency. Mahapatra has held key roles in renowned companies, including CFO at Ecron Acunova, finance controller at Schneider Electric, assistant general manager of finance at Siemens Information Processing Service Pvt Ltd, and senior manager of finance at Pacnet.
Mahapatra is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and holds a bachelor of commerce degree from Utkal University.
8. Alberto Attar
Chief Financial Officer, Chiquita
Since 2019, Alberto Attar has worked as the Chief Financial Officer of the global product company Chiquita - a leading distributor of bananas and other produce. Attar has 20 years of proven leadership experience, across different geographies and business units of world-class consumer products and food service manufacturers. He maintains a strong passion for developing talent and driving business in both strategy and operations.
Previously, Attar was CFO of supply chain in North America at Unilever. Attar earned an EMBA from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business and an undergraduate degree in business administration from Mackenzie University.
9. Robert Drury
Chief Financial Officer, Alliance Shippers
Robert Drury is the Chief Financial Officer of Alliance Shippers. Founded in 1977, Alliance Shippers Inc. is one of North America’s top privately owned global logistics and transportation service corporations, operating throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and other international destinations. Alliance Shippers Inc. offers comprehensive logistics solutions, including temperature control, intermodal, oceans and air transportation, over-the-road, and freight brokerage.
For the past 30 years, Drury has gained experience in fulfilling financial and business requirements for global companies in a variety of fields including advertising, broadcasting, and film. Before joining Alliance Shippers, Drury was a vice president and chief financial officer at Cox Reps Inc., where he contributed to a 50 percent revenue increase, and facilitated more than $50 million in revenue growth. Drury graduated from NYU Stern School of Business with an MBA in finance and from St. John's University, The Peter J. Tobin College of Business with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
10. Patrick Danna
Chief Financial Officer, Acuative
Patrick Danna joined Acuative in 2007 as Chief Financial Officer, bringing a diverse combination of technology and high-growth company experience to this position. He is responsible for the company’s finance, administration, business process, and information systems. Acuative speeds up technology deployment, scales resources appropriately, and installs and tests equipment with a team of strategically-placed, certified Technical Site Specialists and partners throughout the world.
Danna has more than 25 years of experience in financial functions, including strategic planning, corporate accounting and reporting, tax, treasury, M&A, and risk management. Previously, Danna was a senior vice president of finance and treasurer at Fundtech Ltd and, before that, he was a vice president, controller at ClientSoft Inc. Earlier in his career, Danna worked with Consolidated Hydro, Inc. as a vice president controller and treasurer. Danna is a CPA and holds a B.S. degree from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ.
11. Brian Diamond
Chief Financial Officer, The Dinex Group
Brian Diamond is the Chief Financial Officer of The Dinex Group, Chef Daniel Boulud's restaurant group that currently operates 18 restaurants, including nine in New York City and an additional nine in both national and international destinations. Throughout Diamond’s career, he has gained experience in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, capital raising, and compliance. As CFO of The Dinex Group, he manages its finance department, handling financial reports and negotiations.
Diamond has a diverse and extensive work history in the finance department of various restaurant and hospitality groups. He started his career at Smith and Wollensky Restaurant Group, eventually becoming the director of financial reporting. His other prior roles include CFO of TAO Group, overseeing the finance department for the group’s restaurants and nightclubs in NYC and Las Vegas, CFO for the Dining Entertainment Group/DBA Brother Jimmy's, and vice president of finance for Culinary Concepts Hospitality Group, where he oversaw the finance and human resources departments. Diamond attended the University of Miami, where he earned a bachelor’s of business administration degree with a focus in accounting.
12. Peter Ciano
Chief Financial Officer & SVP Corporate Development, Tris Pharma
Peter Ciano joined Tris Pharma in April 2010 and currently serves as the CFO & SVP of Corporate Development, where he leads the company’s licensing and M&A initiatives. Ciano brings a diverse background and an analytical approach to the role. Tris Pharma is a privately held, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical company that is applying its drug development capabilities and proprietary technologies to transform the treatment of ADHD, pain, and neurological disorders - including addiction and diseases of the central nervous system.
After business school, Ciano worked at a boutique strategic management consulting firm for over six years, working with leading pharmaceutical firms such as Pfizer and Novartis, drug distribution companies, and health system firms. In his next role, Ciano spent six years at Kos Pharmaceuticals, ultimately stepping into the position of executive director of corporate development and business planning, before Kos’ acquisition by Abbott Labs. Ciano is a pharmacist by training and holds an MBA in finance from Rutgers University.
13. Dean Gels
Chief Financial Officer, Netrix
Dean Gels brings over 20 years of corporate finance and leadership experience to his role of CFO at Netrix Global, a leading global provider of cybersecurity and IT services that address mid-market and enterprise businesses’ most mission-critical IT needs, through proprietary and managed solutions.
Prior to his role at Netrix, Gels was CFO at LRN and also worked for multiple high-growth tech companies, including MSA Security, OVHcloud, Borderfree, and RBC Capital Markets. Earlier in his career, Gels was the vice president of corporate development at Borderfree, where he managed the sale of the business to Pitney Bowes for $489 million. Before that, he was a technology investment banker at RBC Capital Markets, where he completed more than 40 deals, amounting to $17 billion in aggregate transaction value. Gels served as an infantry officer in the United States Army in the Pacific theater during his five-year commitment. He holds an MBA from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
14. Patrick Shalloo
Chief Financial Officer, Turning Point
Patrick Shalloo is the Chief Financial Officer of Turning Point, a breakfast, brunch, and lunch concept that was founded in 1998 and currently boasts 25 locations throughout the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Shalloo is responsible for the company’s fiscal planning and financial strategies, after having spent over 14 years in New York City in various financial leadership roles at Union Square Hospitality, the Tao Group, and Related Restaurant Group.
Shalloo is an experienced financial leader who began his career at Forsgate Country Club with Matrix Hospitality in Jamesburg, NJ. Shalloo holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Boston University, a master’s degree in hospitality management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
15. Sara Bonstein
Chief Financial Officer, Insmed
Sara Bonstein joined Insmed in January 2020 as Chief Financial Officer, and oversees the company’s key financial functions, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, procurement, and investor relations, in addition to its global compliance program. With more than two decades of operational and financial leadership in the life sciences industry, Bonstein has raised over $2 billion in the capital marketplace while establishing strong financial controls, streamlining business operations, and building high-performing teams. Insmed Incorporated is a global biopharmaceutical company on a mission to transform the lives of patients with serious and rare diseases by developing investigational therapies. Insmed's first commercial product is a first-in-disease therapy approved in the United States, Europe, and Japan to treat a chronic, debilitating lung disease. Insmed is also advancing an early-stage research engine encompassing a wide range of technologies and modalities, including artificial intelligence-driven protein engineering, gene therapy, and protein manufacturing.
Prior to joining Insmed, Bonstein served as the chief financial officer and chief operating officer at OncoSec Medical, and as the chief financial officer at Advaxis, Inc. She also previously held positions at Eli Lilly & Company and Johnson & Johnson. Bonstein holds a B.S. in finance from The College of New Jersey and an MBA from Rider University. She is also a member of the board of directors of scPharmaceuticals Inc. and Xilio Therapeutics, Inc.
16. Bryan Fuerst
Chief Financial Officer, Propel Health
Bryan Fuerst first joined Propel Health in 2001 as the director of financial and system integrations, ultimately becoming CFO. In his current role, Fuerst is responsible for all areas of the company’s financial strategy. Propel Health is an independent network of healthcare agencies, offering industry-leading capabilities in brand strategy, communication, and engagement to help clients create more meaningful customer relationships that propel brands forward.
Bryan has a proven track record of supporting company growth and innovation. Previously, Fuerst was a senior financial solutions director at Alithya - The Oracle Practice and, prior to that, vice president - global controller at Cantor Fitzgerald. Fuerst earned an EMBA from New York University and an undergraduate degree in accounting from Long Island University.
17. Stephen Mathey
Chief Financial Officer, Within3
Stephen Mathey joined Within3 as Chief Financial Officer in 2021. Mathey is a senior executive and accomplished global finance leader recognized for his successful and extensive track record in a broad range of functions, including business CFO, M&A, strategic planning, analysis, and new business ventures. As the world leader in insights management, Within3 is solving the life science insight gap. Their insights management platform gathers, integrates, and analyzes insights better than any other platform on the market, reducing insight reporting from months to days and eliminating 90 percent of the workload.
Mathey is a trusted business partner who enables commercial success through a deep understanding of business needs, strategic problem-solving, sound financial management, and execution. He is a proven leader with experience in organizational effectiveness, change management, and employee development. Before joining Within3, Mathey was a chief financial officer at Vela and before that, he was vice president of finance, planning, and analysis at TravelClick. Earlier in his career, he worked with American Express as a financial analyst of client financial services. Mathey graduated from Moravian University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
18. Jeffrey Klein
Chief Financial Officer, Saatva
Jeffrey Klein is the Chief Financial Officer of Saatva. Established in 2010, Saatva is the original DTC mattress industry disruptor, founded on the principle that everyone deserves healthy and restorative sleep on a quality bed. Saatva’s handcrafted, eco-friendly mattresses offer premium materials that meet the highest health and environmental safety standards.
Klein began his career in 1991 and has 33 years of experience as a financial professional. Before joining Saatva, Klein was a chief financial officer at Glow Recipe and, prior to that, a chief financial officer at The Maesa Group. Earlier in his career, he worked with Coopers & Lybrand as a senior associate. Klein graduated from NYU Stern School of Business with an MBA in finance and from Lehigh University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
19. Mark Herman
Chief Financial Officer, FirstEnroll
Mark Herman began his professional career 30 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Financial Officer of FirstEnroll, a one-stop solution for third-party health insurance billing and enrollment needs - from lead to payment and recurring payment to billing customer service. With their services, support, and software, they are a powerful solution to managing health insurance sales processes, recurring billing, marketing, and partner programs.
Herman first got his start in 1994 as a vice president corporate controller at Atari. From there, he went on to Caminus Corporation, before eventually rising to chief financial officer at Viventium, his most recent position prior to joining FirstEnroll. Herman graduated from Questrom School of Business, Boston University with an undergraduate degree in accounting and finance.
20. Carl Calarco
Chief Financial Officer, Symphony Talent
Carl Calarco is the Chief Financial Officer of Symphony Talent, a recruitment marketing technology company that helps talent acquisition teams automate tasks and empower innovative candidate interactions. Symphony Talent's award-winning EVP strategy, employer brand campaigns, career site design, and recruitment technology support more than 4,600 customers across the globe, including the world's leading brands.
With 28 years of experience, Calarco’s prior roles include CFO at Qognify, CFO at Create the Group, vice president, finance and division CFO at Google, and senior associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers. Calarco graduated from the University at Buffalo with an undergraduate degree in business administration - accounting and finance.
21. Robert Lyons
Chief Financial Officer, The Alaimo Group
Robert Lyons is the Chief Financial Officer of The Alaimo Group. For over 55 years, Alaimo Group has provided engineering services throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. They are one of the few firms that specialize in work for the public sector and are a composite of individuals who are experts in all types of engineering, from civil to environmental.
Lyons first got his start in 2005 as an auditor at Parente Randolph. From there, he went on to MarketMobs.com, before eventually becoming treasurer at A Step Toward Hope, his most recent position prior to joining The Alaimo Group. Lyons graduated from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University with an MAFM in finance & accounting and from Rowan University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
22. Joseph Baumann
Chief Financial Officer, Argosy International
Joseph Baumann has a diverse work experience spanning several decades and has held senior leadership positions in various companies, showcasing his expertise in finance, operations, and strategy. Baumann is currently Chief Financial Officer of Argosy International Inc., a leading supplier of products for aerospace and commercial applications in the Asia/Pacific region with over 15 distribution and sales facilities on four continents.
Prior to his current role, Baumann served as the CFO at Direct Supplies Warehouse, Inc. from 2021 to 2022. From 2019 to 2021, he held multiple financial roles including CFO, vice president of finance, corporate controller, and financial professional. From 2012 through 2019, Baumann was the COO and CFO of Strativity Group, where he oversaw tactical operations management, led strategic initiatives and provided hands-on leadership. Before joining Strativity Group, he worked at Chopard USA Ltd., a Swiss luxury goods retailer and distributor, as CFO, where he managed various departments, ensured US GAAP compliance, and handled audits.
Early in his career, Baumann worked as the accounting manager at Ford Bacon & Davis, where he oversaw accounting functions for multiple locations. Baumann received his B.S. in accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
23. Jace Bender
Chief Financial Officer, Zelouf International
Jace Bender began his professional career 44 years ago. Today, he is the Chief Financial Officer of Zelouf International, a third-generation wholesaler and fabric converter headquartered in New York City. For more than 35 years, they’ve been a leading supplier of cost-efficient, quality fabrics delivered at high speeds. Garments made with Zelouf Fabrics can be found in a wide range of stores including Macy’s, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, and Target, along with independent boutiques, major e-commerce platforms, and many other retailers.
Bender began his career in 1980 as a financial and marketing position at American Cyanamid. From there, he went on to Wise Foods, before eventually rising to the role of president at JEB Consulting LLC, his most recent position prior to joining Zelouf International. Bender graduated from Questrom School of Business, Boston University with an MBA in international finance and from Lehigh University College of Business with an undergraduate degree.
24. Avi Shafar
Chief Financial Officer, goTenna
Avi Shafar is the current Chief Financial Officer at goTenna, the world's leading mobile mesh networking company and provider of off-grid connectivity solutions for smartphones and other devices. The company’s mesh networking protocol, Aspen Grove™, is embedded into lightweight, low-cost devices, and paired with easy-to-use mobile apps enabling mobile, long-range connectivity, even without cell, wifi, or satellite.
Prior to his current role, Shafar was CFO at Simulmedia from June 2011 to August 2021. Simulmedia provides data-optimized targeting for video advertising. Before that, he was CFO at Broadband Enterprises, an online video network that connects advertising buyers and sellers. Prior to that, he was controller at I.D. Systems, a company that uses RFID technology for wireless vehicle tracking and fleet management. Shafar was also assistant controller at Cadogan Management LLC and audit manager at EisnerAmper LLP. Shafar has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Brooklyn College.
25. Amir Richulsky
Chief Financial Officer, Green Street Power
Amir Richulsky serves as Green Street Power’s Chief Financial Officer. Green Street Power Partners (GSPP) is a national developer, financier, owner, and operator of solar energy systems benefiting businesses and communities across the country. GSPP specializes in structured finance for solar assets, securing sponsor and tax equity, alongside project-level debt financing, to realize the highest value for its clients.
Prior to joining GSPP, Amir spent five years at the Sapir Organization, as an integral part of the finance team, in addition to being CEO of Sapir Corp Ltd. Before joining the Sapir Organization, Amir served in financial leadership roles at both Adam America and Deloitte. Richulsky holds a bachelor’s in accounting and business management and is a licensed CPA in Israel.
