July 11, 2023

New Jersey APAC Reorganizes in Trenton

The New Jersey Architects Political Action Committee (NJAPAC) held its annual reorganization meeting on July 6th in Trenton, NJ, at the offices of Public Strategies Impact (PSI), where they officially welcomed their new Executive Director, Matthew S. Halpin. Matt is a partner at PSI and has taken on the role previously held by our dear friend and long-time colleague, Joseph Simonetta, CAE, who sadly passed away earlier this year.  

In addition to Matt, the meeting was attended by NJAPAC 2023 trustees David Del Vecchio, AIA; Seth Leeb, AIA; Robert Emert, AIA; Jerome Eben, FAIA; Ryan Moran, AIA; Manuel Pereiras, AIA; and Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA. Trustees Lauren Harris, Assoc. AIA; and Brian W. Penschow, AIA, were unable to attend. Ex Officio members Ronald Weston, AIA, AIA NJ President; Kurt Kalafsky, AIA, AIA NJ Legislative and Government Affairs Chair; and AIA NJ Past President Michael Hanrahan, AIA, participated in the meeting, as well. NJAPAC values the participation of other non-Board members who contribute their time and talents to our success, the list of whom includes Judy Donnelly, AIA; Steven Lazarus, AIA; George Sincox, AIA; Simone Tsigounis, AIA, and others. 

The group welcomed newly elected Board member, Manuel J. Pereiras, AIA, to the nine-member Board of Trustees, and thanked Kurt Kalafsky for his service on the Board as his term came to an end. Kurt has recently taken on the role as Chair of AIA New Jersey’s Legislative and Government Affairs and he still participates on NJAPAC.  

In addition to the introductions of new members, the agenda included a presentation of the Treasurer’s report, a legislative update from AIA New Jersey’s Legislative and Government Affairs Chair, a preview of the 2023 events calendar, adoption of a budget for attending political events prior to the elections this fall, and the election of 2023 NJAPAC officers from among the nine-member Board of Trustees. David Del Vecchio, AIA, was elected Chair. Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, was named Vice Chair. Seth Leeb, AIA, continues to hold the office of Secretary / Treasurer.    

This was the committee’s first in-person meeting since the COVID shutdown and was held in remembrance of Joe Simonetta, providing a chance to introduce new members face-to-face, an opportunity for returning members to reconnect, and a chance to discuss strategies for the 2023 election year and beyond. NJAPAC supports candidates for state office on a non-partisan basis. Through its collaboration with AIA New Jersey, NJAPAC is well-positioned to advance the agenda of New Jersey’s architectural community by supporting legislators and candidates who support our legislative agenda. 

Current voting members of NJAPAC who want to find out more about how they can participate in meetings and attend political events on behalf of New Jersey’s architects can request to be added to our email distribution list by contacting David Del Vecchio, AIA, at dave@delvecchio-architect.com. 

To make a donation to NJAPAC, click HERE. 

By Stacey Ruhle Kliesch, AIA, AIA NJ Advocacy Consultant | Posted in NJAPAC | Tagged: #BrianPenschowAIA, #DavidDelVecchioAIA, #GovernmentAffairs, #JeromeLEbenFAIA, #kurtkalafskyaia, #LaurenHarrisAssociateAIA, #LegislativeAffairs, #matthewhalpin, #MichaelJHanrahanAIA, #NJAPAC, #robertemertaia, #RonaldCWestonAIA, #RyanMoranAIA, #SethLeebAIA, #StaceyRuhleKlieschAIA, #TrentonNJ, ManuelPereirasAIA | Comments (0)