Brenden D. Garozzo MA, LNHA, CALA, RHP
Executive Director of Pines Village
Mr. Brenden Garozzo a seasoned professional in the senior living industry, possesses a wealth of experience and expertise that spans over two decades. Born and raised in Southern New Jersey, Mr. Garozzo’s unwavering dedication to serving the older adult community was kindled during his formative years, nurtured by his close relationship with his beloved grandparents. Following in his father’s footsteps, Mr. Garozzo embarked on a successful career in public service. After his father’s notable tenure as Mayor of their town, Mr. Garozzo assumed the role of Deputy Mayor in a neighboring municipality, where he continued to make significant contributions to his community for fifteen years.
He holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Business, with a specialization from Rowan University. In addition, he has attained an Associate’s degree in nursing. His commitment to excellence and continuous professional development led him to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator and Certified Assisted Living Administrator in 1996. Since 2000, he has been sharing his expertise as an esteemed instructor for the New Jersey Assisted Living Administrator program.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Mr. Garozzo finds fulfillment in his role as a devoted father. In his leisure time, Mr. Garozzo indulges in various outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing, and golf, as well as nurturing his green thumb through gardening. He takes immense pleasure in working on his house and showcasing his culinary skills on his grill and new pizza oven.
Melissa Muti
Melissa is the Director of Health Services at Pines Village, with 18 years of experience working in the healthcare field. Assisting elders and their loved ones has become a passion for Melissa, and it is an honor to serve them. Melissa graduated from Montclair State University with a concentration in Gerontology. Prior to healthcare administration, Melissa’s background also included experience in Culinary Services and Human Resources. Working with elders in the community, led to an interest in pursuing her Nursing Home Administrator’s license, which she obtained in 2017.
In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cycling and spending time in nature with her Greyhound, Nico.
Shaneika Johnson MBA, CALA
Shaneika Johnson has over 30 years of industry experience in senior living. Ms. Johnson started her career at a continued care retirement community as a server. It was in this position where she developed her passion for caring for others. With a desire to broaden her knowledge, she left senior living to work in the hospital setting. She worked as the Director of Dining Services and Regional Operations Support Manager in hospitals located in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. She is well versed in healthcare operations, human resources management, culinary services, and resident satisfaction.
She is a graduate of Strayer University, with a BA in Business Management and an MBA in Business Administration. Additionally, she earned an associate degree from Burlington County College. A life-long learner, Shaneika is always working on a project to learn something new and continue to strengthen her skill set. She has a passion for helping people grow and develop professionally. She served eight years as a regional chair of an employee business resource group facilitating activities to enhance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Ms. Johnson is a proud mother of a beautiful young woman. Ms. Johnson is a leader at her local church and enjoys serving the community. Shaneika follows her personal mantra, “Every day is a gift! Make it count! Do something to help someone else, your loved ones, and your community. Make the best of the gift of life that we are given!”
Lisa Panco
For the last nine years Lisa Panco has been the Resident Service Director at Pines Village. Lisa’s experience working in senior living began at this very community where she worked her way through college as a server in the Culinary Department for six years. After graduating from Georgian Court College with her bachelor’s in social work she began her career officially in nursing and rehab centers. After time her focus switched to Independent Living when an opportunity arose to join the team at Pines Village. The Resident Service Director role gives Lisa time to make connections with the residents, deliver daily enriching activities, and to be involved with implementing and managing policy and procedures.
Lisa has built a solid team of caring and productive team members who provide a first-class level of service to the residents of Pines Village. Lisa has earned several commendable awards such as The Pines President Award in 2017, Pines Village MVP in 2023 , and The Excellence in Leadership Award from Leading Age New Jersey/Delaware in 2024.
Lisa has been married to her husband Ron for 14 years. They live in Beachwood with their 12-year-old daughter Kara. Lisa enjoys time with family and friends, music, and dancing. Her favorite hobby is spending time at the beach.
Jason Naia
Jason Naia is the Director of Plant Operations where he manages the Maintenance and Housekeeping staff. Jason has 26 years of experience in all phases of construction. He started his career building multimillion dollar homes along the coast of New Jersey to later having his own business as a general contractor for many years before settling into the adult care communities.
When Jason is not working, he spends his time with his children camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting. He is also a volunteer fireman and has traveled to many western states to help battle large wildfires.
Michael Woods
“Chaplain Mike” Has been involved in various aspects of Pastoral ministry for over 30 years. He was born and raised in Northern New Jersey, (Clifton). Mike is a U.S. Navy Veteran. Prior to joining the team at Pines Village; Mike served as a contractor to the NJ Army National Guard as their Risk reduction Coordinator with respect to suicide prevention, substance abuse prevention and personal resiliency. He is a Certified Christian Counseling Therapist and has a passion to share the love of Jesus Christ with everyone his path crosses.
He is a dynamically gifted preacher / teacher and makes the truths of God’s word come alive in our Vespers services every Sunday afternoon. He’s and his wife of 31 years, Carole, Have been faithfully serving the Lord since they graduated from Cairn University in 1996. They have two adult children and four grandchildren. Mike also serves as our resident Photographer, Musician, and Karaoke M.C.. Chaplain Mike’s versatility, “Can Do” attitude, and servant’s heart makes him an overall asset to the Pines Village team and community.
Meet our Fellowship Village Board of Advisors
Stanley J. Morin, CPA
Chairman of the Board
Mr. Morin currently serves as FellowshipLIFE’s and Pines Village’s chairman of the board. He is a certified public accountant with certifications in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and he is a shareholder of Stanley J. Morin, CPA PC.
Mr. Morin has over 40 years of experience in public accounting and taxation, and is still active in the professional practice with offices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has been a frequent speaker on various accounting, auditing, tax and estate-related topics. His concentrations are primarily in not-for-profit, corporate, and taxation matters. Mr. Morin is a graduate of Husson University in Bangor, Maine, with graduate work completed at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is chairman of the board and finance committee of FellowshipLIFE. He has served on the board and committees of various local and national not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He is a trustee/treasurer of the Jack Weisberg Charitable Foundation. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, and a Chartered Global Management Accountant. He is an active member of the New Jersey State Society of CPAs, having served as a trustee, and was past chairman of the society’s professional conduct and ethics committees. Mr. Morin resides with his wife in Bluffton, SC, and has three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Jeffrey J. Zenna, Esq., LLM
Vice Chairman of the Board
Mr. Zenna is an experienced plaintiff personal injury lawyer and a partner at Blume, Forte, Fried, Zerres, and Molinari, located in Chatham, New Jersey. He is a graduate of the City University New York School of Law.
After law school, he completed a judicial clerkship for the Honorable Mahlon Fast, J.S.C. Since joining the firm, he has received a Master of Laws degree from New York University School of Law.
Mr. Zenna is a member of the Essex, Hudson and Morris county bar associations. He was also admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals (3rd Circuit). As a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, he has lectured on their behalf with regard to trial advocacy, and in 2010 lectured for the New Jersey Association for Justice regarding the use of rebuttal testimony. Mr. Zenna has also been a member of the William J. Brennan, Jr. Inn of Court since 1997. He is a long-standing member of the New Jersey chapter of The Miami Project, dedicated to the cure of paralysis, and he was approved in 2013 to sit on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s 10B Ethics Committee for Morris County for a four-year term.
Joseph Owsinski
CPA
jowsinski@fellowshiplifeinc.org
Mr. Owsinski is a practicing Certified Public Accountant, licensed in New Jersey and New York. He is the founder and managing member of Owsinski & Blarr, LLC, a public accounting firm specializing in portfolio accounting and related services for investment partnerships. He has held this position since December, 1998. He is also the co-founder of a prior accounting firm.
Mr. Owsinski is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. He previously worked at a regulated securities and commodities firm for two top 20 accounting firms. He is a graduate of Adelphi University located in Garden City, New York. Mr. Owsinski has served as the President of Bethel Bible Chapel in Red Bank, New Jersey from 2002 to the present. He has also been the treasurer since 1996. Mr. Owsinski served the City of Long Beach, New York as an auxiliary police officer from 1978 to 1985 and is an Eagle Scout.
Mr. Owsinski has been married to his wife Carroll for 38 years. They have four children, two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law and one grandchild. In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoys boating, fishing, cycling and playing the piano. He is an avid baseball and football fan and an enthusiastic model railroader.
Brian G. Lawrence, LNHA, CPA, MBA
Mr. Lawrence has over 20 years of healthcare and Life Plan Community/CCRC experience. He began serving FellowshipLIFE, Inc., as chief financial officer in 1999 and added the role of executive vice president in 2006. With a well-rounded understanding of the Life Plan Community and healthcare business, and 10 years of progressive leadership in the organization, Mr. Lawrence assumed the duties of president and CEO in 2009.
Mr. Lawrence is a licensed nursing home administrator and a certified public accountant. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Seton Hall University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He also holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration in finance from the Stern Graduate School of Business at New York University.
As president and CEO, Mr. Lawrence is currently leading FellowshipLIFE’s senior leadership team with responsibility for overall Healthcare and Medical Services, Independent Living, and Home Community Based Services operations and performance. Mr. Lawrence actively participates with the FellowshipLIFE board of directors, ensuring the execution of strategic planning and development initiatives. His vision and number one priority is providing a high level of care and services to seniors and maintaining the sound financial health of the organization.
Mr. Lawrence received the “President’s Award” from LeadingAge NJ in 2019 for his outstanding accomplishments in the senior living industry. He is a member of the American Society on Aging, LeadingAge, Healthcare Financial Management Association, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. He resides in Millburn, New Jersey, with his wife, son and daughter.
Douglas Bauerband
Douglas J. Bauerband is a nationally recognized Financial Educator, Author, Speaker and Retirement Specialist, whom you may have seen on NBC, ABC CBS, and FOX network affiliates and Yahoo Finance, Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch, Philadelphia Business Journal, Wall Street Select, New York Business Journal, and others. He is the Co-Author of Retire Abundantly and has been interviewed by James Malinchak, featured on ABD TV’s hit series, Secret Millionaire.
As the Founder and Owner of G. Douglas Financial Group and G. Douglas Wealth Management, an independent wealth planning firm, Doug and his team have been showing business owners, professionals, and other hard-working people how to avoid the biggest retirement mistakes and more fully enjoy a secure retirement and leave a greater legacy for their children, grandchildren, and charity for over three decades. “The rewards I work for are lives well-lived – our clients enjoying peace of mind, financial freedom, and the knowledge that they will leave an impactful legacy!”
David G. Kostinas
David Kostinas is the owner of David G. Kostinas & Associates, a consulting company that has served New Jersey’s health care industry since 1985. Mr. Kostinas has represented New Jersey’s major health care providers in system development strategies, business brokering, new venture development, facility sales, acquisitions, mergers, and regulatory issues.
Mr. Kostinas has counseled clients for transplantation services, cardiac surgery, new psychiatric hospitals, major capital projects, free-standing ambulatory surgery centers, ESRD centers, linear accelerators, nursing homes, assisted living, medical day care centers, Life Plan Communities, cardiac care programs, and rehabilitation.
In addition to his professional positions, Mr. Kostinas has also been very involved in community activities. Mr. Kostinas served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton for 23 years, including Chairman of Governance Committee and Chairman of Hamilton Continuing Care Center. Mr. Kostinas is Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Springpoint, Past Chairman and member of the Board of Trustees of Children’s Specialized Hospital and past member and officer of the Board of Directors of Integrity House.
Robert Fodera
Mr. Robert Fodera currently serves as a board member of FellowshipLIFE and is a member of the Board’s Audit Committee. He is a certified public accountant with certifications in New Jersey and New York and is a retired partner of Baker Tilly where he was partner in charge of the firm’s Metropark, NJ office.
Mr. Fodera has over 40 years of experience in public accounting and taxation and is still active in the profession with a small practice in New Jersey. He is active with the NJCPA and currently serves as treasurer of that organization’s scholarship fund. He has been a frequent speaker on the New Jersey Law and Ethics program and has been appointed to the State Board of Accountancy by Governor Phillip Murphy. Mr. Fodera’s practice concentrations include real estate, construction, legal and professional service firms, manufacturing and distribution industries, healthcare practices, and nonprofit and governmental organizations.
Mr. Fodera is a graduate of Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. He has served on the board and committees of various local and national not-for-profit and charitable organizations. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Public Accountants. Mr. Fodera resides with his wife in Hillsborough, NJ and has two daughters and two grandchildren.