IssuesWatch Live: Professional Issues Update (E2407004)

Theresa is the chief operating officer of the NJCPA. She oversees the management of all programs that support the organization's strategic plan, mission and objectives. Theresa provides overall staff supervision as they work to achieve the organization's goals and objectives. She also manages all aspects of budgeting and resource requirements. Theresa has been with the organization for more than 15 years. Prior to her role as COO, Theresa worked with NJCPA chapters, committees and interest groups as director of member engagement.

Aiysha (AJ) is the CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA). Previously, she was executive director of BKR International’s Americas Region, where she was responsible for overseeing the implementation of all strategic efforts for BKR accounting and business advisory member firms in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to serving the accounting profession, AJ worked for a range of associations including Vizient, the nation’s largest healthcare performance improvement company, where she supported members with complex benchmarking needs. She has more than 20 years of wide-ranging global experience working for nonprofits and professional and trade associations. AJ was elected to the boards of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) in 2024 and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce in 2023. She was a member of BKR’s Center of Excellence Advisory Board and is on the boards of the Community Foundation of New Jersey, Together for Youth and Junior Achievement of New Jersey. In addition, she was recognized among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today (2023 and 2024), named on the NJBIZ Power 100 and Accounting Power 50 lists (2023 and 2024), and cited as one of its 2023 People to Watch in Finance. She was also named to ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: Accounting Power List (2024), its Top 50 Women in Business (2024) and its Influencers: People of Color (2023). She served on the Alumni Board of the University of Chicago (2021-2023), where she graduated with a Master’s in Administration and Policy. She also completed the Senior Management Program in Business Management at University of Chicago/IE School of Business and holds a certificate in Management Accounting for Leaders. She holds a B.S. from Western Illinois University.

Marita was appointed the acting director of the New Jersey Division of Taxation, effective Sept. 25, 2023. She had been a deputy director since 2017 and started at the Treasury Department in 1987 as a technical assistant. She steps into her new role as the tax division takes on lawmakers’ overhaul of New Jersey’s corporate tax system and creation of StayNJ, a property tax relief program for senior citizens. Her goals include improving the customer experience, facilitating tax education with the public and engaging with employees.

June is a principal at WilkinGuttenplan and is the president of the NJCPA for the 2024/25 term. She has been a member of the NJCPA since 1995 and has served in a variety of capacities, including the Peer Review Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Volunteer Relations Committee, and was chair of the NJ-CPA-PAC Board of Trustees, chair of the Committee Operations Committee and vice leader of the Business Valuation, Forensic & Litigation Services Interest Group. She is also an active participant in the Accounting & Auditing Standards and Nonprofit interest groups. Before WilkinGuttenplan, June was the managing member of zbt Certified Public Accounting & Consulting, LLC. She is a former treasurer of Garwood Municipal Library; a recipient of NJCPA’s Volunteer Award in 2018 and its Women to Watch Award in 2019; one of New Jersey Monthly’s Leading Women in 2015 and one of NJBIZ Accounting Power 50 from 2020 to 2022.

Melanie is the executive director of the New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC). Named one of New Jersey’s most influential economic development leaders in 2021, she is no stranger to the New Jersey business community. Before joining the NJBAC in 2018, Melanie served as the chief government affairs officer of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA).A seasoned government relations strategist, Melanie has worked with state and local levels of government as an advocate for businesses of all sizes. Prior to joining NJBIA, she served as the president and CEO of the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, a statewide retail business organization representing over 3,500 stores. Her personal motto, “I’m from state government and I’m here to help," reflects her commitment to aiding New Jersey business owners.