As one of the areas most involved community advocate, Lawanda Reid helps others achieve their goals of social service through the support of the Southern NJ Community Services organization.

Lawanda and her team are absolutely committed to improving the lives of people in southern New Jersey and welcome those to help in that cause.

Lawanda Reid

Executive Director

lreid@snjcs.org

Lawanda M. Reid (Hartsfield) is the Director of Southern New Jersey Community Services (SNJCS). With 20+ years of dedication to caring for individuals in all areas of the human service field, she accepted this position with the vision of providing services to the youth and Senior citizens in the community.

She started in the healthcare field in 1998 as a Nursing Assistant (NA), three years after graduating from Bridgeton High School. As a single mother two; Zamir and Antwanna; she initially took the job because she needed an income. She soon realized that she enjoyed helping people that could not help themselves. She decided to take the free classes offered at her work site to get her certificate and become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Her instructor saw potential in her and recommended her for a position in the medical unit at Southwoods State Prison, where she worked as CNA/Medical Records Clerk caring for elderly inmates in the Extended Care Unit (ECU) and the Infirmary for 4 years.

Needing more income, she took on a job mentoring trouble youth through an agency located out of Pennsylvania. She worked for that agency for 2 years. One day she was assigned to a 16-year-old girl to shadow for her 8-hr. shift. During that shift, the young girl kept asking to see the social worker. Every time a request sent up the social worker was either busy or on break. Right before dinner the young girl said, “Ms. Lawanda, if I don’t talk to the social worker I’m leaving.” The Social Worker still did not see her. About 2 hours later that young girl ran away from the facility and she could not stop her. Three days later the young girl was found beaten, raped and asleep on a bench at the bus terminal in Atlantic City. Lawanda decided that day to enroll in Cumberland County Community College seeking a degree in Social Work. With thoughts of that day, she could not help but wonder if the outcome would have been different if that young girl had a chance to see the Social Worker.



Lawanda expanded her educational goals after graduating with her Associates Degree in Social Work. She began working in group homes for individuals with Development Disabilities. She always worked in the behavioral homes. Wanting to understand these unique individuals, she then sought a degree dealing with behaviors.

Everything was going well for Lawanda, and then tragedy struck. Her husband of 6-years was murdered by the Bridgeton Police in December 2014. In that moment, her whole world stopped. She disconnected from everyone and everything. She stopped working, quit school and wanted to quit life itself. Because of her strong family support system and the support of her community, Lawanda decided to live again. She turned tragedy into triumph and started a non-profit organization called Reid’s Manor. Still in its development stage, it will be designed to help young mothers to live comfortably on their own. She returned to school and received her bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science in 2017 from Wilmington University. She decided to put her experience and education to use and secured a position at South Jersey Extended Care as the Director of Social Services. SJEC service a variety of individuals, from the elderly who is housed for long-term care to young adults who is seeking short-term care and rehab. While working at SJEC she decided to pursue her master’s degree.

It was full steam ahead for Lawanda. In 2018, she graduated from Wilmington University with a Masters in the Administration of Human Service that qualifies her to run any social or human services department. 

Once she received her degree she was promoted at her current place of employment. She is now the Director of Admissions, Business Office Director as well as the Director of Social Service. She oversees the top three offices in one building. Something that has never been done in this company.

She looks forward to this new opportunity afforded to her to be the Director of Southern New Jersey Community Services, in hopes to provide the services needed and wanted for and by the community. Lawanda is so dedicated to this vision, she we be enrolled in Wilmington University to pursue a Doctorate Degree as Doctor of Social Science in Prevention Science to better serve the Southern New Jersey Community.

Muhammad Umar

Board Member

Executive Vice President

mumar@snjcs.org

Umar received his Master’s in Computer Science from Preston University and a double bachelor’s receiving Honors in Computing Communications from Leeds Beckett University and a bachelor’s in electrical and Information systems from University of Bradford. He is also designated PMP Project Management Professional from Six Sigma Greenbelt SSGB.



Umar maintains a Graduate Diploma in Management Information System Project Management Professional and Agile Scrum Master with 15 years of project management and over 18 years of technology experience in telecom, financial, insurance, health, and transportation industry. Managed Large-scale IT infrastructure and software development projects from management and technical perspectives.

Umar was also in the MBA program from NJIT. Recently maintains a Release Program Manager position with AT&T for cloud Technology and currently manage projects like 5G and FirstNet for the company. Have been with AT&T for over 10 years now in the same cloud technology area. Umar serves as a vice-chair on Zoning Board of Adjustment for Galloway Township in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Umar has formally served on citizen budget committee. Umar is every active in various civil and community organizations.

Amanda Pierce

Board Member

Treasurer

apierce@snjcs.org

Ms. Amanda Pierce is a well-established surgical technologist working in the main operating room, at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.  Received the award for Excellence in Nursing Support by her peers. Ms. Pierce is the first technologist to be promoted to specialty team coordinator of Orthopedics, busiest service line at the hospital. As a natural leader, Ms. Pierce exhibits the ability to delegate, prioritize, and work with her team often in a high pressure setting.  Ms. Pierce prides herself on teaching peers as well as truly caring for her patients. 

Growing up in a big family, she became passionate about helping others. Serving her community of Gloucester City has always been part of her life from her role of youth soccer head coach to riding shifts on the ambulance. Since her high school years Ms. Pierce has volunteered in her community to various organizations from nursing homes to Delaware River clean up.  Her interest focuses on mentoring young children, encouraging them to be involved in sports and the performing arts. 

Tracy Thompson

Board Member

Secretary

tthompson@snjcs.org

Tracy Thompson has over 20 years of community service, volunteerism and time with charitable organizations for the privileged. Thompson earned her B.A. degree in 1994 for Literature/Language at Stockton University, with a concentration in Communications. While in college she interned at CBS Television in the Sports Dept., in Philadelphia, PA. Tracy’s strong communication skills landed her a leadership role as the Chairwoman of the Advisory Committee for Councilman-At-Large Eugene Robinson in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

In 2002, Tracy Thompson became a business owner of Millennium Cuts & Beauty Salon in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tracy then established a promotion company, called One Love Entertainment, to pursue her love of promoting events and shows. She got her break when House of Blues, a part of Showboat Casino, worked with her on several concerts and co-promoted various events.

Most recently, as a student of Atlantic Cape Community College, she completed the Professional Series Certification for Addiction Counseling, in December 2019. She intends to continue to make a positive difference in our society through Human Services. Tracy is a Political Enthusiast. She serves as a Active Campaign Manager for various South Jersey candidates, as well as a Political Field Director. Tracy lives in Atlantic County, New Jersey and has raised her son (a graduating student in June 2021 from the Aviation Institute of Maintenance in NE Philadephia, PA). She has a N.J. State License for The Dept. of Children & Families Division of Child Protection & Permanency. She is the proud foster parent of 2 siblings (brother and sister). She received Special Recognition by the Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders and an Appreciation Award for her superior volunteer services in Atlantic County. In addition, she has over 25 years of diverse Casino experience as a Casino Dealer, Promotions Representative and Executive Cashier with Harrah’s Resort, Caesar’s Entertainment and Taj Mahal Casino. Also, she continues to volunteer for her alma mater of Stockton University where she was appointed as an Admissions Ambassador and a 2019 Development and Alumni Relations Award Recipient.

John Varallo

Board Member

John is a lifelong resident of Southern New Jersey, having lived in Atlantic County his entire life. John is an advocate for Southern New Jersey Residents and his family of firefighters. John attended Atlantic City High School. After High school John attended Atlantic County Community College and Marietta College in Ohio. John is an active Firefighter for the Atlantic City Fire Department and is the President of the Atlantic City Professional Firefighters IAFF L198 and NJFMBA Local 8, John is a member of FMBA, ALFCIO, Central Labor Council, John is a business Owner in South Jersey and is a proud father of three children.

Frank Schirripa

Board Member

fschirripa@snjcs.org

Frank received his B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the State University of New York at Albany in 1999 and his J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School in 2002, where he served as the Chairman of the Moot Court Association. Mr. Schirripa was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. 

Frank is an Attorney in New York City focuses his practice on representing institutional investors – predominantly Taft-Hartley pension and benefit funds – that have been damaged as the result of securities fraud or corporate malfeasance. Throughout his career, Mr. Schirripa has specialized in handling highly complex multi-party litigation in federal and state courts throughout the United States and has served in a lead, co-lead or representative capacity in numerous high-profile cases.  Prior to founding the Firm, Mr. Schirripa practiced securities and consumer class action law.

Frank has been recognized by his peers as a New York Super Lawyer in Securities and Class Action Litigation. Mr. Schirripa regularly

Frank is a member of the American Bar Association, Litigation Section; the Federal Bar Council; New York State Trial Lawyers and the New York Court Lawyers’ Association.

Frank regularly is involved with his community with your focused education and activities, Fran has 4 daughters.

Rosalind "Ros" Hickman

Executive Assistant to the Director

rhickman@SNJCS.org

Kayla Veltman

Board- Recording Secretary

Kveltman@SNJCS.org