IssuesWatch Live: Q&A with Jack Ciattarelli (E2510444)

Jack M. Ciattarelli is a former State Assemblyman for the 16th Legislative District having served from 2011 to 2018. In the State Assembly, he sat on the Financial Institutions & Insurance Committee and the Regulated Professions Committee. In addition, in 2016, Jack was appointed to serve as a member of the New Jersey Biotechnology Task Force. The task force analyzes and recommends ways for the state to retain and attract new companies in the biotechnology industry as it represents thousands of jobs, hundreds of companies, and billions of dollars in economic activity and tax revenue each year. He was a candidate for governor in the 2017 Republican gubernatorial primary. In seeking the Republican nomination for governor, he sacrificed running for re-election to the State Legislature, where his term as State Assemblyman for the 16th District ended this past January. He is a successful entrepreneur and small business owner twice over, having founded two publishing companies, each time working as CEO and Publisher for Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine medical journals. Jack recently founded and launched a third medical publishing business, this one focused on healthcare information and education for senior citizens. Jack earned his Bachelors of Science in Accounting and Masters of Business Administration in Finance at Seton Hall University, where he has also taught as an adjunct professor. Jack is also a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

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, 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. AJ worked for a range of associations including Vizient, the nation's largest healthcare performance improvement company. She has more than 20 years of global experience with 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. AJ is a recipient of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association’s (NJBIA) Leonard C. Johnson Award, was recognized among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today (2023 and 2024), named on the NJBIZ Leaders in Finance list (2025), its Power 100 (2024) and its Accounting Power 50 lists (#1 2023 and 2024), and cited as a 2023 People to Watch in Finance. She was named to ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: Accounting Power List (2024, 2025), Top 50 Women in Business (2024) and People of Color (2023). AJ 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.

Sarah Krom, CPA, MST is Managing Partner at SKC & Co. CPAs and is well-respected by her clients and business associates for bringing tremendous value to those relationships for over ten years. Sarah works closely with clients to establish realistic financial goals and helps create reporting systems to ensure that they are on track to achieve those goals. By immersing herself in the daily operations of the business, she is able to consult on operational efficiencies, cost-saving tactics, and real-time financial reporting. Sarah is a past President of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is a trustee on the board of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and also serves on its strategic planning committee.