The 2020 NJBIZ Power 100

In this special “Power 100” issue, NJBIZ ranked the 100 most powerful people in New Jersey – its annual list of men and women who are creating New Jersey’s future. Sills Cummis’ Jerry Zaro, the 2019 Chairman of the Gateway Development Corporation (GDC) who remains on the Board as Treasurer, is included on this year’s list. Mr. Zaro was appointed as one of three Trustees of GDC, upon recommendation of NJ Governor Phil Murphy, in April 2018.

NJBIZ had this to say about Zaro: “The New Jersey trustee of the Gateway Development Program Corp., Zaro has been making the case for federal funding of the estimated $14.3 billion bridge and tunnel infrastructure project. The project would produce 12,000 new jobs and generate $19 billion in economic activity, Zaro argues. But he has cautioned that the project is being held hostage, calling it ‘a national disaster happening in slow motion.’ Part of Zaro’s job is to stop that disaster. ‘Jerry is a tremendous advocate for the projects,’ a source who works closely with him told NJBIZ in February 2020. ‘The thing I think he did really better than anyone last year as chairman was delivering the message and spreading the message of the importance and urgency of the project to lots of different audiences. He was very committed to being out publicly at a time when the projects themselves hit significant roadblocks. We needed to keep stakeholders, elected officials, and everybody else motivated and on board and rowing together for the project. Jerry did a great job with being out there and being an advocate for them and an evangelist to keep people’s motivation and interest up.’ Gov. Phil Murphy saluted Zaro in a statement to NJBIZ. ‘Jerry Zaro’s extensive career in public service, under the last eight gubernatorial administrations, has made him one of our state’s most well-respected public policy voices,’ Murphy said. ‘As chairman of the Gateway Program Development Corporation in 2019, Jerry’s expertise was instrumental to delivering a revised financial plan, passing the bi-state Gateway Development Commission Act, and strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders at the state and federal level. I will continue to call upon Jerry’s tireless advocacy to help bring the Gateway Program across the finish line.’”