Leadership Cape May County

Creating Leaders...Building a Bright Future for Cape May County

Leadership Cape May County is designed to develop informed, committed and qualified business, community, and civic leaders for the benefit of our area. Using models established by successful Leadership programs held around the United States, this program combines classroom learning with field experience to grow your skills as a leader.

Participants learn about:
   - Leadership styles
   - Strategic Thinking and Creative Problem Solving
   - Effective Communication
   - Change Management
   - Conflict Resolution and More...

Participants will also have the opportunity to learn more about the exciting things happening in Cape May County as well as the issues that we will need strong leadership to solve.

Make an Impact

A key feature of the program is a capstone project in which teams work together to create an innovative plan to address a need in Cape May County. Projects will be presented to a consortium of business and civic leaders with the goal of implementation.

Nine Months of Learning…a Lifetime of Benefits

Involvement in Leadership Cape May County doesn’t have to end at graduation. Alumni have the opportunity to continue with the program as part of the Leadership Network where they will have access to community leadership opportunities, special networking events and tailored education sessions.

Cape May County Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation and Stockton University form innovative partnership for emerging leaders

Students in the foundation’s Leadership Cape May County program can earn three college credits and fulfill elective requirements toward Stockton University’s MBA and MBA-HAL degrees. Read more.

How do I get involved with Leadership Cape May County?

LEADERSHIP CMC ENROLLMENT IS NOW CLOSED!

APPLICATIONS NOW UNDER REVIEW.

*Limited to 2 applicants per business.

*Leadership Cape May County is a 9-month-long seminar and interactive program, running from
September to May and meeting one day (Third Wednesday of the month from 8:30am to 5:00pm) each month. Graduation will be held in mid-June 2026.

Participants are required to attend all class days. To graduate, participants are expected to miss no more than a total of 1 ½ days. Any participant missing more may be asked to withdraw from the program without refund of tuition. Candidates must have the support and commitment of their employers.

This application is due by August 15, 2025. If accepted for the 2025–2026 Class, you will be notified by September 1, 2025. The tuition fee of $799 is due by September 13, 2025 and is non-refundable. Make check payable to Cape May County Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation.*

What are others saying about Leadership Cape May County?

“Being able to participate in Leadership Cape May County was a wonderful opportunity. I not only gained better leadership and communication skills but also gained new friends and colleagues. Learning more about the County’s leaders, opportunities, unique challenges, and positive solutions only reinforced the pride and love I have for our great community.”
-Amy Mahon, Director of Operations and Marketing, Reich Asset Management, LLC

8th Class Graduates

Leadership graduates: Isabella Fooks- Michnya (Angelic Health Palliative & Hospice Care); Marie Porreca (Angelic Health Palliative & Hospice Care); Carla Colson (Cape May MAC); Kacie Rattigan (City of Cape May); Eric Prusinski (City of Cape May); Jasmine Batzell (Crest Savings Bank); Kelsey Cooker (Crest Savings Bank); Charles Wieland (Delaware River & Bay Authority); Christine Jenter (Laura Bishop Communications); Erin McFeeters (Lower Township MUA); Melissa Jasinski (Lower Township MUA); Bianca Woodland (Morey's Piers & Beachfront Waterparks); Alisandra Almeyda-Capella (OceanFirst Bank); Metodi Iikov (OceanFirst Bank); Christine Marciano (Sturdy Savings Bank); John Gallego (The Arc of Cape May County, Inc.); Marnie Niederhofer (Water's Edge Environmental, LLC)

7th Class Graduates

Leadership graduates: Jennifer Collins (Cape May County Herald Newspaper); Alicia Cooper (Cape May County MUA); Kierstin Cooper (OceanFirst Bank); Jake DeVries (Crest Savings Bank); Becky Kennedy (Cape May County Chamber); Tusa Magalogo-Fitisemanu (Cape Assist); Karen Melita (Angelic Hospice); Shannon Prickett (Crest Savings Bank); John Prutting (Angelic Hospice); Amelia Rizzo (Delaware River & Bay Authority); Denise Shutter (Cape May Stage); Peter Stanton (Angel of the Sea); George Swoyer (Swoyer's Services); Charles Wilkins Jr. (Delaware River & Bay Authority)

6th Class Graduates

Leadership graduates: Cathy Baldacchini (Cape May MAC); Camryn Castellini (South Jersey Power Association); Denise Castro (OceanFirst Bank Foundation); Sherrie Caudill (Millenium Account Services); Luba Cordero (Douglass Candies); Cody Danks (Cape May Brewing Company); Christopher Dare (Crest Savings Bank); Robin Drechen (Sturdy Savings Bank); Phaedra Laird (Laura Bishop Communications); Natalia Leusner (Cape Assist); Casey McBride (Cape May Brewing Company); Jim McBride (Coldwell Banker Sol Needles); Victoria McBride (Cape May MAC); Marcia McCulley (AtlanticCare); Jacqueline Mercado (Crest Savings Bank); Jann Mevoli (Sturdy Savings Bank); Sydney Patrick (TD Bank); Jeydi Serrano (Burke Motor Group); Mandy Vollrath (Crest Savings Bank); Dawn Zaccaria (Delaware River Bay Authority)

5th Class Graduates

From left to right: Vesna Palifrova – (Crest Savings Bank), Brendan Schaffer – (Wildwood Public Schools), Debbie Green – (Cape May County Clerk’s Office), Peter Morano – (South Jersey Gas), Camille Fitzmartin – (Van Note Harvey), Ayeshah Dickerson, Alicia Pearson – (Kindle Insurance Agency), Nicole Morris – (OceanFirst Bank)

4th Class Graduates

Pictured from left to right Top Row: Michael McMahon (McMahon Insurance Agency), Russ Simmons (Wild Island Graphics), James Valm (Thompson Island Brewing Co), Meggan Haig (Sturdy Savings Bank), Andrea Morsello (Sturdy Savings Bank), Susan Gibson (Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities), Kate O’Connell (City of Cape May), Mary Farrell (OceanFirst Bank), Steve Soldatovich (Solven Group), Andrew Baird (Cape May Lewes Ferry), Chris Paprzycki (Burke Motor Group), Seated: Ceyda Soylemez (OceanFirst Bank), Tracey Nordberg (City of North Wildwood), Christina Stanley (South Jersey Gas), Gabrielle Vitola (Cape May Lewes Ferry), Kelli Prinz (D'Arcy Johnson Day), Emily Paul (CompleteCare Health Network). (Not Pictured is Kyle Kulkowitz (Mad Batter Restaurant), and David Winter (Carroll Villa Hotel).

3rd Class Graduates

Pictured from left to right Top Row; Mike Couch (Coast Guard Community Foundation), Brittany Toland (WIldwoods Convention Center, Kim Tweed (Complete Care Health Network), Erin Ledwon (CMC Herald), Elizabeth Rauenzahn (Sturdy Savings Bank), Nick Ebner (Morey's Piers), Patrick McMahon (McMahon Insurance Agency), Bottom Row: Rachel Davis (Crest Savings Bank), Terry Anstead (Cape May Lewes Ferry), Issan Acosta (OceanFirst Bank), Justin Vitti (Cape May Brewing Company), and Volha Kislaya (OceanFirst Bank), (Not pictured is Anthony Sciandra (Atlantic City Electric)

2nd Class Graduates:

Pictured from left to right Top Row; Ron Sulpizi (Sturdy Savings Bank, Chris Oney (CMC Chamber of Commerce, Matt Faragasso (TD Bank), Dawn Sheeks (CMC County Clerks Office), Amy Mahon (Reich Asset Management), Heather Frame (Wildwoods Convention Center), Maggie Colwell (Crest Savings Bank), Judy Rogozinski (Atlantic City Electric). Bottom Row: Maggie Warner (Morey's Piers), Jen Shivers (Cape May-Lewes Ferry), Alicia Grasso (Cape May Brewing Company), Kristin Jackson (Atlantic Cape Community College), Maria Gamble. (Not pictured is Nina Ranalli (Coast Guard Community Foundation)

The Inaugural Class Graduates: 

Pictured from left to right; Brigitta Scott (CMC Chamber of Commerce), Elizabeth Hulitt (First National Bank of Elmer), Michael Porch (DRBA), Eliza Lotozo (Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities), Rhonda Jackson (Fishermen's Energy), Anthony Martino (Gaiss' Meat Market), Maria Kellett (Atlantic Cape Community College), Paula James (Atlantic City Electric), Steven Steger (Stager Beach Service), John Young (Sturdy) and Beverly Trapp (GWTIDA). Not pictured is June Cooper (Crest Savings Bank).