Morris County Chamber of Commerce Honors Women in Government Leadership

At the annual luncheon, Commissioner Director Christine Myers and County Administrator Deena Leary share their paths to leadership, inspiring professionals across sectors.

The Morris County Chamber of Commerce celebrated women in government on July 26, 2024, at its annual “Women in Government Luncheon” held at the Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, where Morris County Commissioner Director Christine Myers and Morris County Administrator Deena Leary were the distinguished guest speakers.

The Women in Government Luncheon is sponsored by the chamber’s Women in Business Program and Government Affairs Forum and is hosted each year as part of the chamber’s Women in Business networking program. The series of luncheons invites women, and men, of all professional backgrounds to explore the unique challenges, opportunities and rewards women face in a variety of business sectors. Morris County Commissioner Deputy Director Stephen Shaw and Commissioners John Krickus and Thomas Mastrangelo were also present at the luncheon.

Morris County Administrator Deena Leary, Morris County Commissioner Director Christine Myers and Meghan Hunscher, Morris County Chamber of Commerce President.

“More than half of the American populations is female yet women make up just 25 percent of the U.S. Senate, 28.5 percent of the U.S. House of Representatives and 29.9 and 33.7 of state senates and assemblies, respectively, while just 12 of 50 states have women governors,” said Meghan Hunscher, chamber president. “Women continue to overcome the same unique challenges to excel in the government sector as they do in the business world. Here in Morris County, we are fortunate to have Director Myers and County Administrator Leary in leading government positions and hearing the stories of their respective roads to success was very inspirational.”

Myers has enjoyed a successful career in business, at both the corporate and small business level, as well as in the nonprofit sector. Her political career began in 2016 when she was elected to the Morris County Board of County Commissioners (then “Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders”). In 2017, she was appointed by then-President Donald J. Trump to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy, before being re-elected as county commissioner in 2022. Among her accomplishments during her time on the board has been leading the adoption of the county Strategic Plan and debt reserve policy to ensure the long-term prosperity of Morris County.

Myers was appointed by her fellow commissioners to serve as director of the board for 2024.

“When Kathy DeFillippo was retiring, it was an opportunity to come back to the board. I was re-elected to my second term beginning 2023 and am grateful to have the opportunity to serve,” said Myers. “Growing up, my parents instilled in me that I needed to participate in my country or I couldn’t complain. ‘If things are bad, don’t look at others; look at yourself,’ my father would say.”

Leary, who lives in Harding, began her career with Morris County as an intern in 1995 with the Division of Transportation Management. She worked through the ranks to become Director of Planning & Development in 2011 and was promoted in 2013 to lead a new combined department of Planning & Public Works. In 2017, she was appointed Assistant Morris County Administrator.

She assumed the post of County Administrator in 2023 after being named Acting Administrator in 2022 upon long-time Administrator John Bonnani announcing his official retirement taking place at year-end. With her appointment, Leary became the first female county administrator in Morris County history, placing her among four current counties with women administrators out of the 21 counties in New Jersey.

“I’m so glad I had the opportunity to work with John and learn all that I did from him. I knew it wouldn’t be easy to follow in his footsteps, but the support of the Commissioners and the support of an amazing staff, department directors and everyone involved with the county, make the job a lot more manageable. The pandemic was certainly a unique learning experience, too,” said Leary. “In Morris County, we try to do what needs to be done and sort out resources along the way, and I hope our residents can appreciate and see how this helps our county function so well.”

Morris County is governed by a seven-member Board of County Commissioners, who serve three-year terms. The Commissioner Board sets policies for the operation of six super-departments, more than 30 divisions plus authorities, commissions, boards and study committees. The Board of County Commissioners has been granted broad powers by the state legislature to regulate county property, finances and affairs.

The Commissioner Board’s duties include:

• Preparing and adopting the county budget.
• Authorizing expenditures and bonds.
• Appointing county officials and members to boards, commissions and authorities.
• Passing on all claims against the county.
• Supervising the administration of county government.

The County Administrator is appointed by the Board of County Commissioners to manage Morris County's daily operations, which includes implementing policies and preparing the annual budget and works cooperatively with the county’s constitutional officers and independent agencies. The county’s six departments (Employee Resources, Finance, Human Services, Law & Public Safety, IT, and Public Works) report directly to the administrator, who is supported by the Assistant County Administrator. The Administrator’s Office also oversees the Office of Communications and Digital Media, the Office of Planning and Preservation, and the County Library.