Local Leadership. Shared Purpose.
Our Board
The Somers Point Northeast Neighborhood CDC is guided by local leaders who bring experience in municipal government, engineering, finance, business development, and community engagement. Together, they provide strategic leadership in support of the neighborhood’s long-term vision.
Michael Bray
Michael Bray is a South Jersey hospitality entrepreneur, wine educator, and community leader. He is the owner of Passion Vines Wine & Spirit Co., the award-winning, full-service wine and spirits retailer with locations in Somers Point and Egg Harbor Township, and Queen Jayne's, a craft cocktail lounge. Passion Vines also ships product nationwide, wherever permitted. He's built both businesses around one idea: great drinks are about more than what's in the glass. They're about place, history, craft, and the genuine hospitality that brings people together.
Michael's most personal cause is the fight against multiple sclerosis. For nearly two decades he has been a leading fundraiser for the National MS Society, and he is the driving force behind The Right Notes: South Jersey's Fight Against MS. Now in its 12th year, the annual event has raised more than $1 million to support MS research and the families living with the disease.
That commitment to giving back runs through everything he does. Passion Vines has been named one of New Jersey's most philanthropic companies by New Jersey Monthlyand received the Philadelphia Business Journal's Corporate Giving Award. Michael serves on the board of Shore Medical Center and has held leadership roles with the Somers Point Business Association and the Somers Point Economic Development Advisory Commission. His recognitions include the Philadelphia Business Journal's "40 Under 40" and its South Jersey Entrepreneur Award.
A lifelong student of wine, Michael writes a quarterly wine column for NJ Lifestyle Magazine, leads tastings and classes, and travels to meet the producers and winemakers behind the bottles on his shelves. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Denison University and lives in Somers Point with his family.
"It's so much more than just wine. It's terroir, history, geography, family, and ultimately connection."
Chairperson
Nicholas J. Pantilione
Nicholas J. Pantilione is Senior Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at Parke Bank, where he began as an intern in 2005. He leads lending, underwriting, marketing, and business development teams. A Stockton University graduate, he earned his degree in finance and played varsity baseball.
Board Member
Shana Kestrel
Board MemberShana Kestrel is a longtime Northeast Neighborhood resident, artist, and experienced municipal finance professional. She is founder of The Kestrel Nest, an integrated creative wellness practice, and treasurer of the Somers Point Arts Commission, supporting community connection and quality of life through creativity and public service.
Greg Schneider
Board MemberGreg Schneider brings more than 20 years of experience in engineering, surveying, and planning to the Somers Point Northeast Neighborhood CDC. A founder and co owner of Kates Schneider Engineering, LLC, Greg has served as Municipal Engineer for the City of Somers Point since 2015 and holds multiple professional certifications in engineering, planning, surveying, and floodplain management.
His work in Somers Point has earned numerous awards from the New Jersey Society of Municipal Engineers, as well as recognition as one of Atlantic City Weekly’s “Top 40 Under 40” in 2019. Greg is also a longtime Board member and Director of Operations for Kizzy’s Place Animal Rescue, where he has helped more than 1,000 homeless animals find new homes.
Greg brings extensive professional expertise, community knowledge, and a deep commitment to Somers Point to the CDC’s mission.
Rob Hopkins
Board MemberRob Hopkins is a Somers Point resident, proud father, and community advocate with a background in finance, construction, and property management. He attended Rowan University and worked as a mortgage broker before transitioning into the house flipping and construction trades, where he also ran multiple masonry companies throughout Atlantic & Cape May counties. He currently serves as a property management consultant for a local family office overseeing a large real estate portfolio.
Rob founded the Somers Point Farmers Market, helping create a gathering place for residents and local businesses. His wife, Desiree, owns and operates Strengthening Souls Yoga in Somers Point. Together, they also run a nonprofit, that has delivered tens of thousands of toys and monetary donations to children’s hospitals throughout the east coast.
Jane Alvarez
Board MemberJason Frost
Board MemberJason Frost serves as City Administrator for Somers Point, overseeing daily municipal operations and city departments. He implements policies established by the governing body, manages public services and administrative functions, and oversees purchasing and contract awards as the City’s Qualified Purchasing Agent.