Acting NJDOT Acting Commissioner Francis (Fran) O’Connor was nominated to serve as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation by Governor Murphy in January 2024. He currently is awaiting New Jersey Senate approval and is serving as Acting Commissioner.

Fran returns to New Jersey State service with over 40 years of public and private sector transportation experience. He began his public service career at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority as a toll collector and rose to be the Deputy Director of the NJTA’s Electronic Toll Collection Program. In that role he launched the Authority’s first electronic toll collection installation.

While in the private sector, Fran advised transportation agencies across the country on the development and execution of critical projects with a strategic focus on toll roads. In this work, Fran has overseen hundreds of employees at a time, implemented large-scale customer service centers, and engaged with regulatory entities at all levels of government.

He graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s in accounting from St. Peter’s University.

Vice-chair Christopher M. Milam was appointed to the Authority’s Board on July 5, 2017. Commissioner Milam is the owner of the insurance firm, The Franklin Stevens Group. Vice Chair Milam resides in Gloucester County and his term expires on May 7, 2026.

Commissioner Barbara Holcomb was appointed to the Authority’s Board on June 20, 2023. She is a former employee of the Delaware River Port Authority/PATCO where she was Manager of Capital Programs overseeing the Authority’s Transportation and Capital Grant Programs. During her tenure at DRPA, Commissioner Holcomb also served as a committee member and former Chair of the Regional Technical Committee for the Delaware Valley Reginal Planning Commission. Commissioner Holcomb resides in Camden County and her term expires on February 18, 2028.

Commissioner C. Robert (Bob) McDevitt was appointed to serve on the Authority’s Board on July 15, 2008. Commissioner McDevitt is served as the President of Unite Here, Local 54, located in Atlantic City, for 26 years. Mr. McDevitt currently serves as the Chairman of Unite Here’s retirement fund. He resides in Atlantic County and his term expires on January 13, 2022.

Stephen F. Dougherty, Executive Director, joined the Authority in 2010 and serves as the Executive Director. In this capacity he is responsible for the overall operation of the Atlantic City Expressway, Transportation Services and the Atlantic City International Airport. Between full and part-time personnel, the Authority boasts close to 400 employees. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, Mr. Dougherty served as Chief of Staff for six years where he oversaw the coordination between the Governor’s office and the Authority, internal compliance, strategic planning and supervising the SJTA’s external legal counsel, among numerous other duties. Before joining the SJTA, Mr. Dougherty worked for the United States Congress as a Project Coordinator for U.S. Representative Robert E. Andrews (NJ 01) from 2002 to 2010.

David Zappariello, Chief of Staff, joined the Authority in January, 2016 and serves as the Chief of Staff to Mr. Stephen F. Dougherty. He oversees communications, internal compliance and ethics, travel approvals, strategic planning and is the liaison to the  Governor’s Authorities Unit. Mr. Zappariello also assists with board meetings, speeches and reports, rules and regulations adoption and the marketing of the ACE and ACY. Mr. Zappariello  represents the Authority as a Trustee for the Atlantic County Economic Alliance and as a Board of Director for the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce. In addition to his employment at the SJTA, Mr. Zappariello served as mayor and councilman in Buena Borough for eight and nine years, respectively. He was also appointed to the Planning and Zoning Board, Housing Authority, and the Municipal Utilities Authority. Mr. Zappariello also served as president of the Atlantic County Association of Township Officials.

Dominic D’Amico, Director of Transportation Services, joined the Authority in June 2006 and serves as the Director of Transportation Services. In this capacity, he is responsible for the operation of the Authority’s Transportation Services. Prior to his appointment, Mr. D’Amico served as the General Manager of the Transportation Services Department. Mr. D’Amico graduated from the Rutgers-Camden University School of Business with a Bachelor’s Degree and received his Master’s Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Joel T. Falk, Director of Transportation Technology, was appointed to the position of Director of Transportation Technology in 2023 with the primary charge of delivering the Authority’s All Electronic Tolling (AET) program. Prior to that, Mr. Falk was the SJTA Director of Information & Toll Technology since June of 2006. In that capacity, Mr. Falk was responsible for maintenance and support of all existing Authority computerized systems as well as the planning, development and implementation of new technologies on the Atlantic City Expressway and Atlantic City International Airport. Prior to being appointed ITT Director, Mr. Falk served the Authority as a Project Manager in the Engineering Department from 2004 to 2006. Mr. Falk has over 25 years of experience in the public and utility sectors of New Jersey. He currently serves as the Authority’s Executive Committee representative to the E-ZPass® Group, a 34 agency, 19 state body that governs the E-ZPass toll collection system. Mr. Falk holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from the Richard

Stockton College of New Jersey and an M.B.A. in Technology Management from Drexel University.

Karen Davis, Chief Financial Officer, joined the South Jersey Transportation Authority March of 2015. Ms. Davis serves the Authority as Chief Financial

Officer, Treasurer and Director of Finance and is responsible for the Authority’s debt management, cash management, accounting, budget, information technology and revenue control and procurement functions. She is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor and a Certified Fraud Examiner. Ms. Davis received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Binghamton University and a Masters of Science in Forensic Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Davis had over twenty years of experience in public accounting and with private organizations, starting her career in accounting and finance with Ernst & Young.

Colleen Hackett, Director of Business Administration, was appointed to the position of Director of Business Administration in February 2023. Her responsibilities include oversight of human resources, affirmative action, risk management, procurement and business development. Mrs. Hackett joined the Authority in 1999 as a Capital Program Analyst where she analyzed the operating and capital budgets. She was promoted to Project Manager in 2002 where she managed consultants on all Airport projects. In 2005, Mrs. Hackett was elevated to the Grants Manager overseeing all FAA related grant applications and funding. In 2006, she transferred to the Finance department where she held the position of Accounting Supervisor and subsequently Assistant Comptroller, responsible for all aspects of Accounting. In 2015, Mrs. Hackett was promoted to Administrative Services Manager, where she served the Authority for eight years managing all procurement activities, while simultaneously serving as Deputy Treasurer and Post Issuance Compliance Officer. Mrs. Hackett holds a B.S. in Finance from The College of New Jersey and an M.B.A. in Management from Rutgers University. She also currently holds a Registered Public Purchasing Official certificate.

Paul C. Heck, Chief Administrative Officer, joined the Authority on May 25, 2005 and currently serves as the Chief Administration Officer. He is responsible for the oversight of the Airport, Transportation Technology, Safety and Business Administration Departments, inclusive of the Human Resources, Labor Relations, Benefits & Risk Management divisions and the Authority’s Affirmative Action Officer. Mr. Heck’s work experience prior to joining the SJTA includes working for Towers Perrin, now Willis Towers Watson, where he was responsible for administering outsourced health and welfare benefits for various clients. Mr. Heck holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Rowan University, an M.B.A from Rutgers University and a Graduate Certificate in Finance from University of Southern New Hampshire. Mr. Heck has been certified as an Employee Benefit Specialist (C.E.B.S), a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and an Associate in Risk Management (ARM).

Tim Kroll, I.A.P., Airport Director, currently serves as Airport Director since his appointment in 2017. Prior to becoming Director, Mr. Kroll was Deputy Airport Director for eight years. Mr. Kroll’s responsibilities include oversight of all Airport functions including, but not limited to operations, maintenance, finance and concessions. Mr. Kroll joined the Authority in May of 2002 as a budget analyst responsible for preparing budget reports for both the Airport and Expressway. He was promoted to the position of Operating Budget Manager in 2004 where he was responsible for developing and maintaining the operating budgets for both the Expressway and the Airport. In 2006, Mr. Kroll was appointed Manager of Capital Programs where he developed the annual and five-year Authority capital programs. Additionally, he was responsible to secure and oversee all FAA related grant agreements and funding. Mr. Kroll graduated from Fairfield University in 1999 with a degree in Business Management. In June of 2013 he received the International Airport Professional (I.A.P.) designation, from the International Airport Professional Accreditation Program.

Stephen M. Mazur, Chief Engineer/Director of Engineering, joined the Authority in July 2014 and serves as Chief Engineer and Director of Engineering. He is responsible for all engineering activities of the Authority, including the Atlantic City Expressway and the Atlantic City International Airport. His duties include environmental compliance, planning, design and construction of all Authority capital projects and facilities, including the coordination of activities between the Authority and its consultants. He also serves as the Authority’s voting member of the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization’s Policy Board and Technical Advisory Committee. He is also the Executive Director’s designee on the National Aerospace Research & Technology Park’s Board of Directors, where he also serves as Treasurer. Prior to joining the Authority, Mr. Mazur worked in the private sector for 15 years in engineering and project management roles for Orth - Rodgers & Associates and Dixon Associates Engineering, LLC. Mr. Mazur holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and Master’s of Civil Engineering Degrees from Villanova University. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and Licensed Professional Planner in the New Jersey. He is also certified as Professional Traffic Operations Engineer.

James G. Sullivan, Jr. Chief Field Operations Officer, joined the Authority in February 2006 and serves as the Chief Field Operations Officer.

His responsibilities include the oversight of the Operations Department, Engineering Department, Transportation Services Department and the Authority’s NJ State Police Liaison. Mr. Sullivan is also responsible for the overall condition and safe operation of the Atlantic City Expressway and the AC-BC Connector Tunnel, maintenance of all facilities, the vehicle & equipment fleet and the coordination of the associated capital and operating budgets and the procurement requirements, as they support strategic planning efforts to meet the Authority’s goals and objectives. Prior to his employment with the Authority, Mr. Sullivan served 28 years with the New Jersey State Police. It was in this capacity where he worked with the Homeland Security Branch – Special Operations Section, three years as Statewide Incident Management Unit Head and liaison to the NJ Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the I-95 Corridor Coalition. Mr. Sullivan has attended the Certified Public Manager Program, Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command and the New Jersey State Police Executive Leadership Course.

Nelson W. Wiest, Director of Operations, was appointed to the position of Director of Operations in February of 2023. The Operations Department is responsible for maintaining the Atlantic City Expressway, its right-of-way and associated buildings and facilities. This includes the  Division and regional maintenance facilities, the Emergency Service Patrols (ESP), the Operational Dispatch Unit and traveler information systems, the Fleet Division, the Crafts Division (skilled labor) and maintenance of NJ State Police Operations for the Expressway. Prior to his appointment as Director, Nelson retired October 1, 2022 as SJTA’s Fire Chief at the Atlantic City International Airport, he was appointed to the Fire Department in November of 1996. Nelson received his CPM (Certified Public Manager) designation from Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration in September of 2020.