NJBankers announces Columbia Bank's Kemly as 2019-2020 chair.

Byline: Jessica Perry

Thomas Kemly, Thomas Shara and John Fitzgerald have been installed as officers and board members for the New Jersey Bankers Association's 2019 2020 fiscal year.

According to NJBankers, as officers the trio will be a part of guiding the association and implementing its mission.

Kemly, the president and chief executive officer of Columbia Bank, will serve as chairman. According to NJBankers, Kemly began his career at Fair Lawn-based Columbia Bank as a management trainee in 1981. He was appointed to his current position in 2012. He also serves as a director on the board of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and is a past president of the Financial Managers Society.

Shara, who has served as president and CEO at Oak Ridge-based Lakeland Bank since 2008, will serve as NJBankers' first vice chairman. He is also a member of the board of directors of CIANJ and serves on the board of trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic, New Jersey and the board of governors for the Ramapo College Foundation and the Chilton Medical Center Foundation.

Magyar Bank President and CEO Fitzgerald will serve as second vice chairman. He joined New Brunswick-based Magyar in 2001 and established its Commercial Lending Department, NJBankers said. He was named to his current role in 2010 and previously served as the bank's chief operating officer. Fitzgerald is the vice chair of the board of trustees for the State Theatre, is a past chairman of the board of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce and a past president for the Community Bankers Association.

In addition to representing the interests of its members before state and federal government or regulatory authorities, the mission of NJBankers includes providing support for public relations and media, professional development, and employee health benefit...