Andréa M. Garcia
Andréa M. Garcia is the Managing Partner and co-owner of COMMS/NATION LLC, a Public Relations + Graphic Design Services agency, and a LGBTBE certified business located in Weehawken, NJ. In her new role as a board director, she will work to develop statewide communications strategies to raise awareness and help grow the LGBT business network in the Garden State. Acting as the Chamber’s volunteer VP of Marketing, she grants the Chamber access to COMMS/NATION’s PR resources, furthering the organization’s media and promotional reach.
“The LGBT community are early-adopters who transcend the spectrum of diversity. They are driving the future of identity and are an economic force that must be nurtured. We truly have a chance to help shape New Jersey’s local economy – I’m very proud to give back to my community,” says Garcia.
Garcia joined the NJ Pride Chamber as a member in 2021, where she saw the tremendous value in being a member after attending in-person networking events. “You get back what you put into your network, the more hands you shake, the more opportunities you can make.”
Every year, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) co-hosts a flagship conference alongside one of its affiliate chambers throughout the country.
It was during the NGLCC’s 2021 Back to Business (B2B) Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – that Garcia realized the potential of opportunities that could be capitalized on and created right here in New Jersey for the greater benefit of the local economy.
“The New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce is currently creating the business case that New Jersey is the next best place to host the national conference. It’s thrilling to feel like we are bidding for a shot to host what is essentially the ‘LGBT Business Olympics’. I’m very honored to take part in that mission and to be on a board with like-minded professionals who strive towards success,” said Garcia.
Stephanie Lokker
Stephanie Lokker is the Managing Partner of Lockerbie & Co.
[www.letsgetstrategic.com],
a strategy and management consulting firm based in Passaic, NJ, composed of former Big Four and Big Three (MBB) advisory leaders who provide transformational advising and solutions inclusive of people, processes, data and technology. Lockerbie currently holds 11 diverse-supplier certifications on both the state and federal level – including LGBTBE certified.
In Lokker’s volunteer role as a NJPCC board director, she will oversee the Chamber’s statewide initiatives as the VP of Supplier Diversity.
Lokker is currently architecting a series of town halls that will include the Chamber’s leadership, local political and community leaders, and corporate Chief Procurement Officers (CPOs) to discuss the current needs of suppliers and how to bring more diversity into their supply chains. She will also oversee the Chamber’s educational resources for the diversity program and its statewide outreach implementation.
“By pooling these resources, we are able to develop a stronger relationship between minority business owners and corporations. NJPCC is committed to working with the 28 Fortune 1000 companies in New Jersey to find solutions that will make the supply chain more dependable and resilient – the same attributes of the diverse people who make up the great state of New Jersey,” said Lokker, Managing Partner of Lockerbie & Co.
John Traier
John Traier is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), licensed in the State of New Jersey and is owner of his accounting firm, John M. Traier & Associates LLC.
John graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers College (major in Economics) and a Master of Business Administration (major in Professional Accounting) from the Rutgers Graduate School of Management. He is a Deloitte alumni and served as Acting Commission of the NJ Department of Banking and then Director of the Division of Banking.
John was appointed to the Board of Directors in 2014.
Jacob Meola
Jacob Meola is a “Jake of All Trades!” or a serial entrepreneur with many hats. He owns an online second-hand bookstore — which was created to help books live a second life — a karaoke DJ and an actor with Haunted History Productions. In addition, he helps empower main street families and businesses by providing access to the justice system for a fraction of the cost.
Jacob serves on the NJPCC Board of Directors as the VP of Membership. “Through this position, I provide outreach to potential new members, support current members by providing programming and resources, and help connect businesses within the chamber,” he said.
“The NJ Pride Chamber will be the hub for all things LGBTQ in the state of New Jersey,” Jacob said. “By creating partnerships and providing resources for small businesses and the LGBTQ+ population at large, we are able to instill a sense of community and betterment of others. The phrase ‘Better together’ is a great example of our goals as a chamber. We believe that by pooling our knowledge and resources, we truly will be better, and we can improve the lives of many LGBTQ folks in the state.
Jacob feels the Board of Directors help out the LGBTQ business community?
“To keep it concise, we are your connectors to the resources you don’t know you need,” he said. “We are able to use our wide net of resources to connect not only businesses to each other, but to provide education in areas that are important to the LGBTQ community and the business community. We are also your advocates in local government to help push for increased inclusivity and recognition of LGBTQ owned businesses in the state of New Jersey.”
Jacob said a Chamber of Commerce’s purpose is not only to provide areas to network, but to be a resource and a safe place for small businesses to learn and grow together.
“The goal is to build up the community from within and we are fortunate to have an entire state behind us to help us reach this goal. The chamber does a lot of hard work to connect with businesses, both large and small, and share the resources it uncovers with its members. By participating in the chamber, you not only help grow your business, but you also help strengthen a community that is often underserved.”
Victor Peter Rodriguez
Victor Peter Rodriguez is the Vice President Store Manager III at TD Bank in the Western Bergen Passaic Region of New Jersey. Touting the motto of Victor Peter Bio -- “America’s Most Convenient Bank” should have quotes around it. TD is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S. with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services. TD Bank is a proud Corporate Partner of NJPCC. Rodriguez’s region currently supports the banking needs in New Jersey.
“We are very pleased to welcome Victor Peter to our Board of Directors. His extensive experience in helping to serve the public from all walks of life and his familiarity with operations management will allow us to broaden our membership reach,” said Gus Penaranda, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Pride Chamber of Commerce.
In his new role as a NJPCC board director, Rodriguez will facilitate and record the chamber’s executive Board meetings and oversee the updating of the organizational policies, procedures and office policy manuals.
“Over the years, I have learned that anyone can bring lasting change to a community through hard work and creating opportunities to give back. Celebrating diversity has been the cornerstone of my career. I’m very proud to support our LGBT+ business owners and allies,” said Rodriguez.
Rodriguez embodies the requirements and experience needed as meeting facilitator, having fulfilled exceptional roles in the field of management, including his prior experience as a Business Manager for the fashion house brand, Christian Dior, and Vice President for Senior Licensed Cluster Branch Manager at HSBC Bank. In his current managing role at TD Bank, Rodriguez coaches and develops his team and ensures on-going training, performance management, and talent development.
Originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador Rodriguez is fluent in Spanish – an invaluable skill set as NJPCC is actively working to attract and support Latinx and Spanish communities. Rodriguez graduated from Baruch College in 2004 with a degree in Business Administration, specializing in International Marketing Management.
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