The New Jersey State Bar Association’s (NJSBA) 2021-2022 Leadership Academy fellows have been selected from a record number of applicants this year.
“I am so pleased with the selection of the NJSBA’s class of 2021-2022 Leadership Academy fellows and extremely excited for them as they embark on this worthwhile experience. This year’s program is superb and packed with numerous classes that provide the breadth and scope of leadership-building skills which will help transform this year’s fellows into tomorrow’s leaders of New Jersey’s legal community,” said NJSBA President Domenick Carmagnola.
The academy kicks off this month and provides a year of intensive programs to help fellows develop leadership skills. The curriculum includes a wide array of classes on topics such as improving communication skills and getting a deeper understanding of the NJSBA, the legislative process, public-sector law, the business landscape in New Jersey, serving on boards and more. And it will provide networking opportunities essential to leadership in the bar, workplace and community.
Each class of fellows will plan, organize and execute a community service project. The class is expected to graduate in May at the NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City. Upon graduation, each fellow will be appointed to a seat on a standing committee of the NJSBA.
The NJSBA 2021-2022 Leadership Academy fellows are:
- Amani S. Abdellah, an attorney at Hill Wallack where she works with the community associations group
- Omar Bareentto, a corporate litigation and governmental affairs associate at McCarter & English, who represents individuals and businesses in the resolution of a wide variety of commercial disputes
- Jacqueline Choi, a Bergen County assistant prosecutor
- Classie Colinet, an assistant deputy public defender for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender where she represents parents and caregivers in child welfare matters
- Frank D. DeRienzo, an associate at Leary Bride Mergner & Bongiovanni where he has a defense practice focusing on motor vehicle matters, premises liability and construction defect
- Allison Eiselen, an Atlantic County assistant prosecutor, who specializes in complex narcotics and gang investigations and litigation
- Melvina Fennell, a deputy attorney general with the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
- Leonard V. Jones, a civil litigation attorney with Chasan, Lamparello, Mallon & Cappuzzo, who focuses on contracts, governmental entity representation, and labor and employment law
- Courtney A. Johnson Santer, a litigation associate in the commercial services group at McElroy Deutsch where she handles commercial disputes, business torts and criminal matters
- Kristian A. Krause, an attorney with Goldstein, Ballen, O’Rourke & Wildstein
- Diana-Marie Laventure, an associate at Kaufman Borgeest & Ryan, where she focuses on the defense of licensed professionals
- Christine Raniga, corporate counsel at iCIMS Inc.
- Mary Rose is deputy counsel in the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services
- Jill Westerberg, an attorney in private practice at AG Law Firm in New Brunswick
- Brandon Lee Wolff, an attorney at Kaufman Dolowich Voluck, where he focuses his practice in employment, complex commercial, financial services and commercial tenancy litigation.