Skip to main content

Governor Phil Murphy

Twitter Facebook YouTube Instagram Snapchat

Special Guests to Join First Lady Tammy Murphy at Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Address

02/28/2023

TRENTON– First Lady Tammy Murphy will welcome special guests to join her for Governor Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Address on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Each of these individuals were invited by the First Lady because they personify the values and spirit that Governor Murphy highlights in his speech and embody the Murphy Administration’s policies at work for New Jerseyans.
“My proposed budget is a renewed commitment to building a New Jersey that is both affordable and rich with opportunity,” said Governor Murphy. “This year, I am honored to be joined by individuals whose voices have guided the creation of this year’s budget and who embody the values my Administration leads with every day. Together, we will ensure that we are shaping this Next New Jersey in the service of growing and securing the middle class, where the American Dream is more expansive and inclusive than ever before.”
“As Phil shares his vision for the Next New Jersey, I am honored and humbled to be joined by this group of remarkable special guests who represent the rich diversity and unique stories of our state,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “New Jerseyans are the driving force behind the work of this Administration, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to serving them. With the specific needs of every community in mind, we are making New Jersey the best state in the nation in which to live, study, work, and raise a family.”

The following guests, listed in alphabetical order, will be in attendance:
Clinton F. "Freddy” Banks (Willingboro, New Jersey)
Clinton F. “Freddy” Banks Jr., has been a resident of Willingboro, NJ for 44 years and has lived in Burlington County since 1959. He graduated from Palmyra High School in 1966 and attended Cheyney State College for 2 years until he was drafted to serve in Vietnam. After returning to the United States, Clinton worked at United Parcel Service for 31 years, retiring in 2004. During his tenure, he held the positions of Preloader, Shop Steward, Recording Secretary, and Business Agent of Teamsters Local 623 Philadelphia, PA.
 
Alam Nunez De la Rosa (Camden, New Jersey)
Alam Nunez De La Rosa is a married father of 3 who recently purchased a home in Camden, NJ with the assistance of NJHMFA’s Down Payment Assistance program. Alam arrived in the United States in 2016 from the Dominican Republic and proudly became a U.S. citizen in 2022.
 
Kennedy Fuller (Jersey City, New Jersey)
Kennedy Fuller is an 8th grade honor roll student at Academy I Middle School in Jersey City, where she is a member of the track and volleyball teams. Her favorite subjects are algebra and language arts. She is a proud member of the Jersey City Lacrosse team, and an active member of Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Troop 10910 since 2014. When school is out, she enjoys traveling with her family and sketching. She loves hanging out with her little sister, Kelsey, spending time outdoors playing sports, camping, hiking and riding her bike.
 
Michael Mattessich (Hazlet, New Jersey)
Michael Mattessich is a United States Marine Corps Veteran, who 8 years ago, experienced homelessness. He is currently the Director of Goodwill's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program which covers 7 New Jersey counties to aid veterans who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or transitioning from incarceration or active-duty service to the public sector. Mattessich is a new homeowner in Hazlet, New Jersey where he resides with his wife Ritchie, and son Marcus and daughter Ava. Mattessich also runs a charity called B4VOIN Bikes 4 Veterans and Others in Need which has donated over 425 bikes to Veterans and their families since March of 2019.  
 
Mary McLoughlin (Montgomery Township, New Jersey)
Mrs. Mary McLoughlin is currently the Superintendent of Schools for the Montgomery Township School District.  She has been an administrator in New Jersey for over 20 years with experiences as a High School Principal, Director of Special Services, Assistant Superintendent, and Superintendent.  Mrs. McLoughlin is in her 10th year with the Montgomery Township School District, serving in various administrative capacities before assuming the role of Superintendent. Mrs. McLoughlin focuses on the overall student experience, placing value on foundational relationships, trust, and the safety of the entire school community.  Through her leadership, she is able to positively impact student success, academic rigor, inclusivity and belonging, and the social-emotional needs of all students and staff.
 
Khelsea Sealy (Trenton, New Jersey)
Khelsea Sealy is a resident of Trenton, NJ who has called Mercer County her home for over a decade. She works as a product manager for Bank of America & Merrill Lynch. Kelsea recently gave birth to a baby girl with her partner, Jonathan, at Capital Health Medical Center in Hopewell, NJ, where she was introduced to the Family Connect program. She is currently using the service to further learn how to take care of her newborn baby.
 
Mayor Marty Small (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
Marty Small was sworn-in as acting mayor on October 4, 2019, having previously served as City Council President. Small, a lifelong resident of Atlantic City, was first elected in 2003, making him the youngest Councilman in the history of Atlantic City. In the past, he worked as a Social Caseworker for Atlantic City in the Welfare Department and as a Safe Haven Program Coordinator, where he facilitated Youth and Senior Citizen programs. He later went on to work for the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City as Youth Program Manager, Director of Health, Life Skills, and Recreation & Unit Director. In 2002, he became the Vice President of the Atlantic City Board of Education. He received his B.A. in Communications from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.
 
Elvira Smith (Millville, New Jersey)
Elvira Smith is the Director of Crisis Screening Services at Cumberland County Guidance Center and has worked in the Crisis Program for The Guidance Center for nearly 30 years. She has served on the front line of countless initiatives to improve crisis care to the Cumberland County communities. Smith has been instrumental in delivering CIT training to police departments within Cumberland County. She has been sought after to advise the Prosecutor’s office and police on crisis intervention methods and techniques. Most recently, Smith has worked with NJ State Police on the ARRIVE Together program, designed to partner law enforcement officers and crisis screeners to help bring care and services to individuals in behavioral health crisis who otherwise would likely end up in the criminal justice system.
 
Korn Wongsarochana (Clinton, New Jersey)
Korn Wongsarochana is the Owner and Head Chef of Pru Thai restaurant in Clinton, NJ. A former New York native, Korn and his family have called Clinton their home for 18 years. Korn and his wife, Chayanee Swadtayawong, have owned and operated Pru Thai for 5 years and have opened a second location in Pennington, NJ. Pru Thai recently hosted the Governor and other key stakeholders for a roundtable discussion on the impact of the Governor’s proposed liquor license reforms.