The New Jersey Builders Association has installed Thomas Bovino as its 69th president. — Courtesy: NJBA
By Joshua Burd
The New Jersey Builders Association has installed a longtime member and 36-year veteran of the homebuilding industry as its 69th board president.
Thomas P. Bovino, president of Jackson Development Corp., steps into the role alongside a slate of four other elected officers, succeeding Josh Mann in the post. Each will serve a one-year term after being installed at the organization’s March 4 board meeting.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to have been named president of NJBA,” Bovino said. “Over the course of 30-plus years of membership, I have learned that this position comes with great responsibility and opportunity. The products we create as an industry have a profound impact on not only our customers but also on the communities where we live and work.
“I look forward to working with our membership and policy makers in Trenton to tackle New Jersey’s housing supply crisis and create a positive impact on the communities we seek to create.”
Jeff Kolakowski, the CEO of the influential association, said Bovino’s “leadership and knowledge on housing issues will be heavily relied upon as he is entering the NJBA presidency at a unique and opportunistic time for the New Jersey building industry.”
“Supply is at an all-time low, prices are at all-time highs and moderate- and low-income households have never been more challenged in their pursuit of the American dream of homeownership,” Kolakowski said. “I look forward to pursuing Mr. Bovino’s agenda as we work together to not only strengthen the NJBA membership but also to provide opportunities for the millions of New Jerseyans who are struggling with housing costs.”
NJBA’s other 2022-2023 elected officers include:
- Vice president: Frank Belgiovine, Belmont Construction Corp.
- Treasurer: Debra J. Tantleff, Tantum Real Estate
- Associate vice president: Suzzane Kronenfeld, realtor.com
- Second associate vice president: John R. Cioletti, Reno’s Appliance
In its announcement, NJBA touted Bovino’s knowledge and experience in acquisitions, approvals, financing, sales, construction, project completion and site development. Currently, he is leading a team of professionals to create and shape a transformational, mixed-use community dubbed Jackson Twenty-One, which spans around 1,000 acres but will stay as roughly 70 percent passive or active open space, with smart growth principles and green building technologies like solar power and electric vehicle charging stations.
When complete, the site will consist of both market-rate and affordable housing as well as multiple commercial uses, according to a news release. Bovino has also successfully led several projects to completion throughout his career, including The Vineyards at Diamond Ridge, which won NJBA’s Community of the Year award.
Bovino is also a former president of the Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey, servings in the role in 2016 and 2017. He also sits on the board of directors of First Commerce Bank, where he has chaired its asset liability committee for 11 years, and lives in Asbury Park with his wife, Lisa, and three children.
