Governance Through Diversity
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Board of Directors
Greater Bergen’s Board of Directors is a group of like-minded individuals who believe in GBCA’s mission of changing lives in our most impacted communities. As a crucial part of our agency’s culture, our board is comprised of those representing the people in our network, government officials, and private sector professionals, allowing us to be in and of the community we serve. They offer consistency in purpose, intent, and responsibility through the oversight of finance, executive leadership, human resources, and planning. Although our board acts as one body, each member utilizes their individual skill set and expertise while working alongside staff and other GBCA stakeholders to uplift individuals and our communities. Effective board leadership is crucial for the success and sustainability of GBCA, and our Board of Directors plays a key role in achieving that vision.
Sercan Zoklu
(Chairman)
Is currently the Borough Clerk of Cliffside Park. He has significant experience in residential, multi-family and commercial real estate properties in Bergen and Hudson Counties. His areas of interest and expertise include Political Science, Finance, Real Estate, and Banking. He is a graduate of Rutgers University, Rutgers Business School, where he was the president of the Class of 2009. He is the Cliffside Park organizer for the Diabetes Foundation. Sercan was appointed to the Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. Board of Directors in September of 2012.
Soraya Gonzalez
(Vice Chair)
Is a long-time resident of Hackensack, New Jersey, and a high school Spanish teacher. Soraya has been an active member of the 1st Bergen Federal Credit Union Board of Directors. She is also active in community organizations such as ALCA (American Latino Civic Association) in Hackensack, NJ and a variety of faith-based organizations.
Ryan Peene
(Treasurer)
Mr. Ryan J. Peene serves as Senior Vice President of Government Banking and Corporate Development at SB One Bank.
In his role, he is chiefly responsible for devising and implementing growth strategies for all commercial business lines throughout the SB One Bank’s regional footprint, overseeing SB One Bank’s government deposit portfolio, and leading the charge for the institution’s community development efforts.
In 2019, he received the 40 Under 40 award from NJBIZ magazine for his work at SB One Bank.
Joseph Rutch
(Secretary)
Is the Borough Administrator for the Borough of Cliffside Park. He has significant community development experience and has been involved in community revitalization efforts throughout his career. He also serves on Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative’s advisory board. He was the Bergen County Community Development Director for eighteen years.
Don Conway
Mr. Conway’s career includes service as a practicing attorney; he also operates a successful real estate business. Don has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Retarded Children (ARC) and is an active member with the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging, an organization for which he seeks sponsorships for children. Don and his wife are frequent travelers to Central and South America and serve as a regular host family for visitors from Costa Rica. Prior to accepting the GBCA chair, he served as Vice Chair for six years.
Mary Amoroso
A Bergen County Comissioner, Mary had a long career as a reporter for The Record, where she covered local, county, state and federal politics. Her long-running show on the Comcast Cable network CN8 won both a CableAce Award and an Emmy. She began her career in public service when she was elected to the Mahwah Town council in 2015. In her work, she merges the passions she developed during her time as a reporter with being an effective advocate for women, children and family issues across Bergen County.
Mary Amoroso
A Bergen County Comissioner, Mary had a long career as a reporter for The Record, where she covered local, county, state and federal politics. Her long-running show on the Comcast Cable network CN8 won both a CableAce Award and an Emmy. She began her career in public service when she was elected to the Mahwah Town council in 2015. In her work, she merges the passions she developed during her time as a reporter with being an effective advocate for women, children and family issues across Bergen County.
Sean Connors
Serves as the board’s Head Start policy council representative. Born and raised in Jersey City, he is a retired Detective with the Jersey City Police Department where he has served for 23 years. Once part of the Consumer Affairs Law Committee and the Public Safety Committee of the New Jersey General Assembly, Connors also served on the Board of Education of the Jersey City Public Schools .
Rafael Marte
Rafael Marte was appointed as a Bergen County Commissioner in March 2023. He has been a public servant for most of his life. As a social worker for nearly 30 years at the Westchester Department of Social Services and as a Councilman in Bergenfield for two terms, Commissioner Marte has always been a passionate advocate for all. He holds a deep connection to his Dominican heritage, and in 2019 founded the Dominican Cultural Association of New Jersey to promote and preserve Dominican culture.
Mitchell Kahn
Was formerly Professor and Director of the Social Work Program at Ramapo College and served as the Executive Director of the Greater Bergen Housing Coalition from 1980-2013. He also served as Vice-President and Director of Organizing for the New Jersey Tenants Organization from 1977-2013. He is a founder of New Jersey Citizen Action and has been on its Board since 1982.
Carmine Meluccio
Senior Commercial Account Executive and Vice President with Columbia Bank in Fair Lawn. Specializes in developing commercial Banking relationships for the bank with a focus on commercial real estate and commercial and industrial lending.
He currently belongs to the following non- profit Organizations;
President of the Fort Lee Rotary, Board Member of the Gold Coast Regional Chamber of Commerce, Corporate Secretary for the Italian American Family Association in Clifton, Clifton Moose Lodge Member.
Amanda Missey
Amanda Missey has more than 30 years of program development, fundraising and administrative experience in the not-for-profit sector. In May, 2014, she became the President and CEO of Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative.
Previously, Amanda spent 18 years at the Bergen Volunteer Center, where she founded Bergen LEADS, a civic leadership program for adults. She is an experienced speaker and trainer on a number of topics including fundraising, corporate volunteering, leadership and board service.