2021-2023 Federation Officers
President
Margaret Weinberger, Somerset County
Ms Weinberger grew up on Long Island in Uniondale with two brothers and two sisters. She was a Girl Scout until the age of 18, where she learned and honed her public service skills and became a lifelong Democrat, by becoming involved in the political process before she could vote, passing out literature for Eugene McCarthy for the 1968 Democratic primary.
She received a bachelor of science degree in Art Education from State University College of NY at Buffalo and a masters degree in Educational Technology from Long Island University, NY.
Margaret worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of AZ as a computer programmer during the 1980’s and later as an educator teaching or supervising educational technology in school districts in NY and NJ before semi-retiring.
She is currently married, with two married stepsons and 4 grandchildren.
Margaret has held public office as a replacement for a Somerville councilwoman who passed away while in office, served on the Jessamine Smith Henderson Scholarship Board, and has created various fundraising and social activities. She is also an original member of S.A.F.E. (Somerville Alliance for Food Education), the Somerville Farmer’s Market Committee.
She was President of the Somerset County Federation of Democratic Women from 2013-2020.
Margaret believes we are all connected in this temporary existence where we must do everything we can to leave the world a better place for future generations.
1st Vice President
Rachel Green, Gloucester County
Ms Green and her husband have been residents of Deptford Township for over 40 years. Rachel is the mother of two fabulous children, Alexandra and Alston.
Rachel holds a bachelor's degree in Business Management, a master's degree in Public Administration and is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership.
Rachel served as a member of Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholder's Tolerance Project and Parks and Recreation Committee, on the Deptford Township Planning Board, and on the district's School Board from 2008-2014, including a term as the first Black BOE President from 2017-2018.
Her other service roles include:
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Founder of Jersey Girls4Joe/Kamala/Women For Biden/Harris New Jersey and Co-State Director
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2020 Presidential Biden District Delegate
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Former Secretary of African American History Project of Woodbury and Surrounding areas
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Gloucester County NAACP Executive Board Member
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President Gloucester County Federation of Democratic Women
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Member of Gloucester County Minority Coalition
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Member of the SNJ Black Political Caucus
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National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Southern New Jersey
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Action Together State Civil Rights Director and Southern Regional Director
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New Jersey School Board Certified Board Member
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New Jersey School Board State Executive member - Alternate
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Delegate for Deptford Board of Education Delegate Assembly
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Gloucester County NAACP Image Award in the area of Education 2010
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SJ African American Chamber of Commerce President's Award 2014
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President of Deptford Twp High School Alumni Association
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Obama/Biden Deputy Field Director 2008 and Obama/Biden Director 2012
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2011 served as 1st Vice President Gloucester County NAACP and Executive Committee
TREASURER
Shawn Hunter, Essex County
Ms Hunter was born in Montclair, NJ and moved to Orange to start a new foundation for her family in 2008. From 2015-2020, she worked at the Township of Orange in the finance department. She attended Bloomfield College, Lincoln University and is now pursuing a Law Degree at California School of Law.
Shawn has over thirty years’ experience in finance and is the founder of HBS Asset Company Enterprise, a mid-size elite business office, providing financial assistance in personal and business tax preparation, bookkeeping, and payroll.
In May 2020, Shawn ran for Mayor of Orange. Her goals as Mayor were to stabilize property taxes, support education and the Board of Education, and decrease foreclosures within the City of Orange. Unfortunately, Ms Hunter lost the race, but she continues to work in the community for a better tomorrow.
In addition to her career, Shawn enjoys volunteering her time to different community boards. She is presently serving as a Vice Chair on the Orange Democratic Committee and in the past was involved in the Orange Public Library, the East Orange Education Foundation, Fan-Pac, the Giblin Association, and assisted with feeding the less fortunate families on Thanksgiving’s day at the Township of Orange Firehouse. Currently on Commission Reentry Services for Women Committee.
In the past years her exceptional services in the community earned awards:
*2015 Community Service Award Business by Giblin Association & New Jersey Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin
*2016 The Shirley Chisholm “Civic & Community Service Award” by New Jersey Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver
Shawn is a proud mother of three daughters, two grandkids, and a guardian of her four nephews.
Recording Secretary
Roberta Walters, Somerset County
Ms. Walters was born in New Jersey and lived in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina before returning to her hometown 10-years ago. She is the President of the Somerset County Federation of Democratic Women, Chairwoman of the Manville Democrats and sits on the Somerset County LGBTQ+ Advisory Board. Her other roles include being a member of the Somerset-Middlesex chapter of NOW and a Steering Committee member for Indivisible Central NJ.
Roberta has been engaged in politics as an activist, supporter, leader, and candidate for most of her adult life. For the last few years, she has served as an elected County Committeeperson (District 5) and in in a variety of roles leading and supporting local, county and state candidates. In 2019 and 2021, Roberta was herself a candidate for local office. She is also a 2019 graduate of Emerge NJ.
A fierce supporter of Reproductive Rights, Roberta works with Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ and is the Community Action Team (CAT) Lead for Somerset County and co-lead for Middlesex. This work brings education, activism, and action to a variety of efforts and audiences. Roberta also had the honor of being part of the team who successfully lobbied for the restoration of family planning funding in the budget.
Roberta is employed as a Quality Assurance Manager and has been with her current company for 28 years. An avid animal lover, she has two rescue dogs Bella and Oakley. Roberta is a certified therapy dog handler, and you can find her and her therapy dog Bella leading Read to the Dog programs at local schools and libraries. During her down time, Roberta enjoys NY Giants football, everything Star Trek and playing with her dogs.
PHOTO/INFO FORTHCOMING
Strategic Communications Director
Patricia Ceaser, Passaic County
Trustees
Andrea Mastro
Cape May County
President 2018-2020
Ms. Mastro has been a member of the State Federation since 2004 serving as President (2018-2020), 1st Vice Present (2017-2019), Recording Secretary (2016-2017) and Representative to the Executive Board from Cape May County Federation of Democratic Women (2006-2016).
Prior moving to Camden County in 2017, Ms Mastro actively participated as an officer in Cape May County Federation of Democratic Women (2004-2016), and member of Upper Township Democratic Club and Ocean City Democratic Club. She served on the Cape May County Regular Democratic County Committee (2010-2017), and as a poll worker for Cape May County Board of Elections (2008-2017). She was a founding member of CMCFDW Party for the Party Committee raising funds to support County Freeholder candidates. She is also a member of South Jersey Women for Progressive Change, Action Together NJ, and Maria’s Women United.
Sylvia Vason
Essex County
President 2017-2019
Ms Vason is a long-time member of NJFDW, serving 16 years as Treasurer before being elected as President for the 2017-2019 term.
Professionally, Sylvia was Municipal Clerk for 18 years at the Borough of Lawnside and for 15 years at the Borough of Chesilhurst.
Sylvia lives in Newark with her husband, Orlando Vason; together they have two children and five grandchildren.
- Sylvia's Leadership Credo -
Here's to strong women:
May we know them,
May we be them,
May we raise them!
Marge DellaVecchia
Camden County
President 2015-2017
Marge retired from a 28 year government career having held positions in local, county and state government. As such she worked as the deputy county administrator in Camden County, as the director of engineering in Cherry Hill, her home town, and was the Executive Director of the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency where she was responsible for overseeing the financing of thousands of units of affordable housing throughout New Jersey. She now is a Senior Director of a consulting engineering, architecture and environmental science firm located in Cherry Hill.
Marge and many other active membership of the NJFDW worked together in 2014 and 2015 to organize, manage and ensure a successful National Convention in New Jersey after the untimely and sudden passing of the NJ Federation President. Together the NJ women oversaw and orchestrated a successful convention and came out of the event stronger, proud of themselves and the State of New Jersey's Democratic Women and more united.
Marge was a stabilizing force for the organization and its members during her presidency and tenure as president. She successfully increased the membership in the organization and worked to encourage participation by young women in the organization and help get them elected to office in NJ.
She was pleased to succeed the office to the capable hands of the current NJFDW Executive Board.
Amy Papi
Registered Governmental Affairs Agent for the state of NJ as an Associate Advisor for Political Strategy, Executive Director for NJ Advisory Council on Safety and Health, representing WC Petitioner Attorneys, Physicians & Labor
Chief of Staff for State Sen. Barbara Buono, having worked for her as Chief of Staff when Buono was an Assemblywoman, along with former Assemblyman Peter Barnes, Jr.
Past President of Info Line of Central Jersey
Co -Founder and past President of the Middlesex County Federation of Democratic Women ( including holding other positions for MCFDW); 1st Vice President for the NJ Federation of Democratic Women and 2nd V.P.
In conjunction with the National “Women in Blue” event, 2016 “March Women History Month”, NJFDW Past-President Marge DellaVecchia and I co-chaired first time “Meet & Greet” inviting all Democratic NJ State Legislators along with Women from across the State to a luncheon at the state house promoting Women’s issue and getting to know us as a Federation. Very successful.
I am Licensed for Property/Casualty & Health in NJ
Coalition member of NCADD-NJ receiving the 2017 NCADD-NJ Advocacy Leaders award, Resolution presented by Sen. Patrick Diegnan. Advocacy member of Wellspring Center for Prevention.
Member of the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School “Women’s Health Institute” Member of the “One Health Initiative” Member of the “Transgender Health” ( Gender Center of NJ ) Received “WHI” Recognition Award. 2016-Yale University I spoke on “How a Bill becomes Law”
With my assistance Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin presented Rutgers Medical School Women’s Health Institute a Joint Senate and Assembly Resolution honoring the many great women Doctors that are constantly studying and researching issues that will help us live a better and longer life. “ It’s all about engaging women helping other women making a difference. “
Auxiliary Board Member of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.
I organized a meeting along with Rutgers Doctors and Staff to visit the State House and meet with Senator Joe Vitale, Health Chairman to discuss women’s issues. We successfully have a bill now law, “Maternal Health Awareness Day” Jan. 23rd
Member of the Middlesex County Democratic Organization Social Club and Labor Club. Middlesex County Democratic Committee woman; Member of the East Brunswick Democratic Organization Corresponding Secretary; Board Member of the East Brunswick Senior Commission and East Brunswick Zoning Board.
Received numerous awards from NJ Congressman Frank Pallone, Joint Senate and Assembly Resolutions including NJ General Assembly Women’s Caucus honoree during “Women’s History Month” in the Assembly Chamber & the Middlesex County Freeholders. Recipient of 2013 Peg Roberts Award. Chaired the 44th National Federation of Democratic Women Annual Convention hosted by NJFDW/NFDW.
Additional Trustees
Dr Gail G Cook
Margaret Martin