sheryl.stitt@njefa.nj.gov

Sheryl Stitt is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority. Ms. Stitt serves as the Authority’s liaison to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, the New Jersey Presidents’ Council and New Jersey’s higher education sector associations, among others. She oversees the communications activities of the Authority, including legislative and regulatory affairs and public relations communications. Ms. Stitt has served as the Acting Executive Director of the Authority on three prior occasions, overseeing the sale of nearly $1.2 billion of bonds for New Jersey’s colleges and universities. Ms. Stitt has been with the Authority since January 2000.

Ms. Stitt is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley with a B.S. in Psychology. She is Fellow Graduate of Leadership New Jersey.

steven.nelson@njefa.nj.gov

Steve Nelson is the Deputy Executive Director for the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, a role he assumed in 2023. He is also responsible for overseeing statewide debt issuance by colleges and universities. Joining the Authority in 2014, Steve served as a Project Manager and then the Director of Project Management before taking on his current role. Prior to joining the Authority, he served as a higher education, not-for-profit, and generalist banker for issuers across the nation.

Since joining the Authority, Steve has led the issuance of more than $8 billion in par for new money and refunding bond purposes, including pricing and closing seven of the Authority’s 10 largest financings in the Authority’s history. Under his leadership, EFA’s Project Management division was instrumental in setting three volume records for issuances; first in 2016 with $1.35 billion total in par value; next in 2017 with a total $1.43 billion in par value, and again in 2024 with $1.9 billion in par value issued. Since 2014, Steve has guided the Authority’s refunding activity to generate nearly $470 million in combined net present value savings, another EFA record. Steve also serves as the Authority’s lead internal and external representative on all matters relating to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Steve has a B.A. in Political Science from Williams College, an MPA in Public Finance from New York University, and an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School.

brian.sootkoos@njefa.nj.gov

Brian Sootkoos is the Director of Finance and Controller of the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority. Mr. Sootkoos leads the Finance Division and is responsible for the financial operations of the Authority.

Prior to joining the Authority in April 2017, Mr. Sootkoos was an Audit Senior with Ernst & Young, LLP, and an Accounting Manager and AP Supervisor with Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. His expertise includes SEC, GAAP, and IFRS reporting compliance, developing and monitoring budgets, internal and external reporting, strategic planning, managing various financial audits, and systems review, development and implementation.

Mr. Sootkoos holds a B.S. in Accounting, a B.S. in Finance and a Masters in Accountancy from Rider University.

ellen.yang@njefa.nj.gov

Ellen L. Yang, Esq. joined the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority in 2016. Ms. Yang is the Authority's Director of Compliance Management, Ethics Liaison Officer, and EEO/AA Officer. Ms. Yang’s responsibilities include overseeing the Division of Compliance as to legal and compliance matters related to financings, grant administration, post-issuance matters, corporate governance, and administrative operations. Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Yang was engaged in private practice in New Jersey, Ohio, and Indiana with a focus on civil litigation and creditor's rights. Ms. Yang also has a banking background, having spent a number of years with Bank One Corporation in business banking and commercial loan operations. Ms. Yang received a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History and History from Duke University.

Rebecca.Crespo@njefa.nj.gov

Rebecca Crespo is the Authority’s Project Manager where she is responsible for facilitating statewide debt issuance for the benefit of colleges and universities in New Jersey, both public and private, and state-supported debt issues for higher education programs. Ms. Crespo joined the Authority as a Project Management Assistant in 2016 and later served as the Associate Project Manager. Ms. Crespo rejoined the Authority in 2023 after working as a Municipal Advisor at Lamont Financial Services Corporation.

Ms. Crespo has a BS in Business Administration from The College of New Jersey as well an MBA in Finance from Rutgers Business School.

ed.difiglia@njefa.nj.gov

Ed DiFiglia serves as the Senior Communications and Legislative Affairs Mananger at the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority. Mr. DiFiglia is responsible for the day to day communications of the Authority, as well as developing and implementing internal and external communications strategies that advance the Authority’s mission.

Before joining the Authority, Mr. DiFiglia was a program manager at New Jersey Future where he oversaw the Jersey Water Works collaborative. A strong believer in community service, he serves on his local planning board and chairs his local environmental commission.

Mr. DiFiglia holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Saint Michael's College in Vermont and a master's degree in legislative affairs from The George Washington University.

carl.macdonald@njefa.nj.gov

Carl MacDonald is a Senior Project Manager with the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority, having the responsibility of facilitating statewide debt issuance for the benefit of colleges and universities in New Jersey, both public and private, and state-supported debt issues for higher education programs. Mr. MacDonald joined the Authority as a Project Manager in October 2016. Prior to joining the Authority, he served as an associate investment banker for Commerce Capital Markets and its successor firm, TD Securities, for nine years. During this time, Mr. MacDonald was involved in numerous local transactions throughout New Jersey. Mr. MacDonald has also served as Project Manager with the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority since July of 2012. He has experience with issuing both public offerings and direct placements, structures for fixed rate, variable rate and multi-modal transactions, as well as issuing both taxable and tax-exempt financings.

Mr. MacDonald has a B.S. in Computer Science from Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ, as well as an MBA in Finance from Seton Hall University’s Stillman School of Business.

kristen.middleton@njefa.nj.gov

Kristen Middleton has been with the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority since October 1993. She has been in her current position as the Assistant Controller since 2003. As the Assistant Controller she has responsibility for managing several areas of the finance department including the bond fund general ledger and investments. She also works on the administration of the State’s Higher Education Capital Grant Programs.

Ms. Middleton holds a BSBA from Shippensburg University.

jamie.odonnell@njefa.nj.gov

Jamie O’Donnell is the Grant Program Manager for the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority. In her role as Grant Program Manager, Ms. O’Donnell manages the Authority’s overall grant program administration efforts for programs statutorily implemented by the Authority and programs administered on behalf of other State agencies. Responsibilities of the Grant Program Manager include: support the development of regulations and solicitations; manage the application intake process; coordinate the development and execution of various documents; and provide support on various post-grant award administration matters from requisitioning to post award compliance. Ms. O’Donnell also serves as the Authority’s OPRA custodian.

Ms. O’Donnell is a graduate of Lycoming College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology.

sheila.toles@njefa.nj.gov

Sheila Toles currently acts as New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority Human Resources Manager where she serves as the Certifying Officer on behalf of staff in the administration of State benefits programs and is directly responsible for the overall oversight and administration, coordination and evaluation of the human resource functions for the Authority.

Ms. Toles continues to have primary responsibility for direct administrative support to the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director and facilitates communications with the Board of Directors and related committees. She is also responsible for coordinating the Authority’s monthly board meetings.

Ms. Toles joined the Authority in May of 2000 as Executive Assistant. Over 19 years with NJEFA, Ms. Toles has acted in various capacities working with executive management.

Ms. Toles’ career in State service includes work in the New Jersey Department of Labor and the Office of the Governor.

gary.vencius@njefa.nj.gov

Gary Vencius joined the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority in 2001. His responsibilities include administration of the Authority’s operating general ledger, including payroll, annual budget, monthly reporting, procurement, and arbitrage rebate compliance.

His experience includes several accounting positions in the private sector with Automotive Rentals Incorporated and Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc.

Mr. Vencius holds a B.S. in Accounting from Rowan University.