Board
Rosemary Becchi
Rosemary Becchi is the President and Founder of New Jersey Policy Institute. Rosemary is an attorney with a long and successful career in both the public and private sectors. Her work crafting tax and education policy has prepared her to identify and bring solutions to New Jersey’s most pressing problems. As Tax Counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Rosemary co-authored the 529 college savings provisions in the tax code. Family is her first priority. As a mom of three, she is committed to creating a New Jersey where her daughters and the next generation can put down roots and thrive. Rosemary is also the founder of the advocacy organization, Jersey 1st.
Marcela Crossman
Marcela Crossman is a businesswoman, veteran, immigrant, and mother of two. She currently serves as a Senior Director at SS&C Technologies, which is the world’s largest independent hedge fund and private equity administrator, as well as the largest mutual fund transfer agency. Marcela oversees a global team that focuses on tier 1 asset management firms. She also serves as the Chairman of the Board for Jersey 1st and is an active voice in state and local politics. Marcela holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering with a major in Computer Engineering from Rutgers University – School of Engineering. She served in the United States Marine Corps Reserves 1996-2003.
Barbara Deponte
Barbara Deponte currently serves as Director of Advocacy and Policy Initiatives at NYU. As Director of Advocacy, she specializes in seeking better health outcomes for the disabled community, particularly in the field of dental care. She previously worked with Project Accessible Oral Health, whose mission is to connect multiple stakeholders from across medical, dental, education, political and public sectors to function as a collective catalyst for action, moving the needle on policy, education and raising much-needed awareness of this crisis. Barbara is a mother of two and serves on the Jersey 1st Board of Directors.
Erica Jedynak
Erica Jedynak is the COO for yes. every kid., bringing executive experience in building highly effective advocacy teams and organizations. She has managed business operations, public affairs, and national coalitions for numerous causes. Jedynak is a seasoned media professional and speaker; and has been published in The Wall Street Journal and Forbes, quoted in the NY Times, and appeared on Fox Business, NJ News 12, and Bold TV. She has received distinctions, including the Athena International Leadership Award, the NJ Globe’s Top 100 Most Powerful People, and InsiderNJ’s Power 100 List and Top 100 Policymakers. Jedynak earned a B.A. in Political Science, cum laude from Drew University, and a Mini-MPA from Rutgers University’s Center for Executive Leadership in Government.
Andy Mulvihill
Andy Mulvihill, a resident of Andover Township, is a developer and owner of the Crystal Springs Resort. He is an author of the Penguin Random House published book “Action Park: Fast Times, Wild Rides, and the Untold Story of America’s Most Dangerous Amusement Park.” Andy has served on the New Jersey State Board of Education since 2011 and is currently the Vice President. In his role, Mulvihill continues to advocate for an education agenda which includes support for school choice, charter schools, parental rights and enhanced teacher accountability.
Elyssa Webber
Elyssa Webber (Giordano) is the Senior Manager of Special Projects at State Policy Network, which exists to catalyze thriving, durable freedom movements in every state, anchored with high-performing independent think tanks. In this role, she works mainly on the LaunchPad program, which creates a community where social and business entrepreneurs and organizations seek innovative solutions to address pressing problems related to human freedom and civil society in the states. After seeing policy success in the states while previously working at Americans for Prosperity, Elyssa strongly believes change across the country starts in local communities with people in various positions who want to make a difference. Elyssa has been named to the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 SaveJersey.com “Right Women to Watch” list. In her spare time, she works with local charities like Hudson Link for Higher Education and Families for Families, both of which support individuals and families in her community. Elyssa graduated from the Politics program at Marymount University in 2014. She currently resides in Bergen County, NJ with her husband, his three children and their mini-poodle, Biscotti.
