Board Members

Mr. Shara was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Lakeland Bank effective April 2, 2008. Prior to joining Lakeland Bank, Mr. Shara served as President and Chief Lending Officer of TD Banknorth’s (now TD Bank) Mid-Atlantic Division, which includes New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Prior to TD Banknorth acquiring Hudson United Bank, Mr. Shara was Executive Vice President and Senior Loan Officer of HUBCO, a $9 billion commercial bank, where he oversaw organic growth and was responsible for integrating over 30 acquisitions.

Mr. Shara serves on the Board of Trustees of the Boys and Girls Club of Paterson and Passaic, N.J., the Board of Directors of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, and is Chairman of the New Jersey Bankers Association board. He also serves on the Board of Governors of the Ramapo College Foundation and is a Foundation Officer on the Board of Trustees of Chilton Medical Center Foundation. Mr. Shara earned a master’s degree in business administration as well as a Bachelor of Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Ms. Deacon is the Secretary and Treasurer of Deacon Homes, Inc., a real estate development company in Sparta, New Jersey. She has over thirty years of extensive experience in real estate development, construction, property management and sales. In addition to serving on every committee of the Board during her tenure with Lakeland Bancorp, Inc., Ms. Deacon has held leadership and committee positions in state and local real estate associations, during which time she has gained experience in ethics, professional standards, strategic planning and governance. In January 2010, Ms. Deacon was elected Vice Chairman of the Boards of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Lakeland Bank, and in May 2011, she was elected Chairman of the Boards of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Lakeland Bank. Ms. Deacon has been a member of the Board of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. since 1995.

Mr. Bohuny is the President of Brooks Limited, a construction company in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. He has over twenty years of experience in the real estate business, particularly land development and building, as well as a background in the equity and fixed income markets.

Mr. Flynn is a partner at PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP, the leading North American firm in the PKF International network of independent accounting and advisory firms. Mr. Flynn is a member of the Executive Committee and managing partner for the firm's New Jersey market. With over thirty years of experience as a practicing certified professional accountant, Mr. Flynn has in-depth knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards. He has worked with audit committees and boards of directors, including previously serving on the Boards of TD Banknorth, Inc. and Hudson United Bancorp. Mr. Flynn provides Lakeland Bancorp, Inc.’s Board and Audit Committee with extensive expertise in auditing and preparation of financial statements.

Mr. Fredericks has extensive years of service as a Director of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Lakeland Bank. He has experience in the real estate industry, having managed a number of real estate partnerships. Mr. Fredericks has held leadership positions in numerous charitable organizations. He served as a trustee of Chilton Memorial Hospital, at which time he served as a member of the finance committee, and is presently the President of the West Milford Education Foundation.

Mr. Gragnolati is President and CEO of Atlantic Health System, an integrated health care delivery system with 17,000 employees that serves more than half the state of New Jersey. He serves as Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Hospital Association (AHA) and has twice been presented the AHA’s Partnership for Action Grassroots Champion Award, which honors a hospital leader who has effectively educated elected officials on major issues affecting hospitals, while advocating for patients and the community. 

Mr. Gragnolati is also an active member of the board of Paper Mill Playhouse and serves as an Advisory Trustee for Liberty Science Center. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Health Systems Analysis from the University of Connecticut, an MBA from Western New England College, and an Executive Leadership Certificate from the JFK School at Harvard University. 

Mr. Hanson oversees the operation and investment activities of The Hampshire Companies and its funds.  He has over 35 years of real estate investment management and operational experience.  Mr. Hanson is currently a Council Member of the New Jersey State Investment Council; an Executive-In-Residence and Co-Chair of the Board of Advisors for the Center of Real Estate Studies at Rutgers Business School; a Commissioner of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission; and a Member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Hanson earned a bachelor’s degree from Hope College and a juris doctor degree from Vermont Law School.

Ms. Hendershot, having most recently served as global team project lead for Munich Re Group, has significant experience in the leadership and management of various corporate entities and their operations. She also has experience in managing and controlling risk-taking operations within the insurance industry, and in information technology strategy and developments. Ms. Hendershot received an economics degree from Cornell University.

Mr. Inserra is Chairman of the Board and CEO of Inserra Supermarkets, Inc., a family-owned business founded in 1954. Inserra Supermarkets is one of the largest supermarket chains in the metropolitan area, which owns and operates 22 ShopRite stores throughout New Jersey and New York. He holds a number of leadership positions, both professionally and philanthropically, including board member and treasurer of Wakefern Food Corporation.

In 2013, Mr. Inserra was named Chairman of the Board of Governors at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) after serving as First Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Human Resources Committee at HUMC. He is currently a board member for Food Industry Alliance of New York, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, Hackensack Economic Development Commission and several foundations. Mr Inserra holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Economics from Lehigh University.

Mr. Inserra served as a director of Pascack Community Bank from 2011 until the closing of the merger with Lakeland Bank, and as a member of Pascack’s compliance committee.

Mr. McCracken is the president of Wood Funeral Home and Smith-McCracken Funeral Home and the sole managing member and owner of REM, LLC, a real estate holding and investment company.  Mr. McCracken has over eighteen years’ experience serving on the boards of various banks, and presently serves as a director on the Boards of Directors of Lakeland Bancorp, Inc. and Lakeland Bank, and as Chair of the Compensation Committee.

A lifelong member of our communities, Mr. McCracken has held leadership positions in numerous non-profit and local charities, including presently serving as the Board Chair of Atlantic Health Systems, and previously as Board Chair of Newton Memorial Hospital, now known as the Newton Medical Center.

Mr. Nicholson has broad experience in the management and acquisition of companies and commercial real estate. As a result of his civic and business commitment to our communities, Mr. Nicholson has been honored with the Outstanding Citizen of the Year award from Sparta Township and as a Distinguished Citizen by the Boy Scouts of America, Patriots Path Council. He also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from his alma mater, Florida Southern College, for outstanding service to his professions and community.