GARDEN STATE LEADERS IN BUSINESS, CULTURE, AND THE ARTS SHARE ADVICE FOR THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS, BACKYARD OASIS AMENITIES, AND THEIR ULTIMATE DREAM CARS
BY ZACHARY WEG AND JACKLYN PELLEGRINO PHOTOS BY TOM ZAPCIC
Mark Bernard
Director of Operations, Charlie’s of Lincroft and Charlie’s of Bayhead charliesofbayhead.com / charliesoflincroft.com
At Charlie’s of Bayhead and Charlie’s of Lincroft, Mark Bernard is the man behind the curtain, running and overseeing both restaurants, which opened in 2017 and 2022, respectively.
“One of my primary objectives is to ensure we’re giving the authentic Charlie’s experience to each and every guest, every night of the week,” said Bernard. “We want everyone that comes in, whether for a special occasion or weekday dinner, to be treated that way. Even if you’re not celebrating anything in particular or merely stopping in to have dinner and drinks, every night at Charlie’s should feel like a special treat that’s our goal here.”
The Bayhead location, set just two blocks from the ocean, primarily focuses on fresh seafood, while Lincroft specializes in high-end steaks (like a 44-ounce, 45-day dry-aged Porterhouse) in addition to ocean fare. Charlie’s also boasts an impressive wine selection across its two locations. Both restaurants feature a wine cellar and wine dining rooms that can be reserved for private affairs, from anniversaries and bridal showers to small weddings.
“We have wines that are curated from all over the world,” said Bernard. “We offer up to 30 wines by the glass, which is generally rare in a restaurant. Our Bayhead wine cellar can support about 1,500 bottles of wine under temperature, while our Lincroft cellar can hold up to 3,000.”
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS?
Work hard, stay focused, and remember to have work-life balance.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE SUMMERTIME DREAM CAR? LOCALS TO MOGULS A 1963
Cadillac Eldorado convertible, because it obviously needs to be a convertible for summer.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM BACKYARD OASIS AMENITY?
I do like a very nice outdoor backyard kitchen.
Matteo Livoti
Chief Operations Officer, Livoti’s Old World Market livotisoldworldmarket.com
Livoti’s Old World Market is an Italian specialty market with five locations throughout New Jersey. Matteo Livoti, chief operations officer for the family business, noted that on a day-to-day basis, he is in and out of every store.
Livoti’s is famed for constantly updating and improving the stores with new produce stands, updated floors, and fresh décor. Livoti helps to lead those improvements and also works with the company’s supervisors and store managers to make sure all the stores are upholding the Livoti’s gold standard.
“We love the fact that it’s a family business,” said Livoti. “A lot of people have to wait until the weekend or when they get home from work each night to spend time with their family, but we’re lucky. We get to see each other almost every day, and you never know who it’s going to be will I run into my brother, my brother-in-law, my sister, my father, or my uncle? It’s wonderful.”
Since Livoti’s is an Italian specialty market, Livoti added that his father and brother venture to Italy every year to personally source items that are then imported to the store. This can be anything from cured meats, oils, balsamic, and herbs to specialty items specifically for holidays.
Livoti said that when customers come into the store (which he described as part supermarket, part restaurant), he hopes they see the details that his family continues to pour into the concept, from cleanliness to customer service. He said that if a customer doesn’t see a product they are looking for in the store, a team member will offer to order it for them.
“We’re constantly changing and adapting to whatever the customer’s needs are,” said Livoti. “Shopping at Livoti’s doesn’t feel like a typical grocery run; it’s an experience. Italian music is playing as you walk in, and there are so many wonderful foods and items to discover. You can almost hang out in there and make an event out of just going grocery shopping.”
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS?
There’s a quote someone told me once that really resonated with me: “The money is already printed, you just have to go get it.”
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE SUMMERTIME DREAM CAR?
Porsche 911 GT3 RS
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM BACKYARD OASIS AMENITY?
A pickleball court.
Bill Fink
Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer, Provident Bank provident.
Only four months into his appointment as executive vice president and chief lending officer at Provident Bank, Bill Fink is thriving. In his new role, Fink is responsible for leading and directing the bank’s commercial lending strategies, overseeing a $16 billion loan portfolio along with a team of 250 employees. It’s a milestone moment for the 30-year banking veteran, whose fervor for commercial banking was kindled during his college days at St. Joseph’s University.
“I remember learning about and being fascinated by all the different components of commercial lending – the financing, growth potential, and being a catalyst for that growth,” said Fink. Today, several years and innumerable transactions later, that is precisely what Fink does on a day-to-day basis: help companies grow and maximize their potential.
“What I really enjoy about the profession is the diversity of opportunity to help companies,” he said. “I’ve had the opportunity to work with just about every type of enterprise, from small start-up businesses to Fortune 500 corporations. I’m honored to have the opportunity to help them achieve their goals.”
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS?
My advice to this year’s graduating class is: Be a lifelong learner, build your professional network early and continuously, and be open to change as unexpected changes in your life and professional career are inevitable.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE SUMMERTIME DREAM CAR?
My ultimate summertime dream car is a fully restored 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air coupe.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM BACKYARD OASIS AMENITY?
The one dream item that I would like for my backyard oasis is a six-burner built-in stainless-steel grill. I grill actively, and I have a great grill currently, but an upgrade to a six-burner built-in grill would be perfect.
Teresa Minnick
Broker Associate, Christie’s International Real Estate christiesrealestate.com / tcmrealtygroup.com
With 25 years of experience and countless transactions under her belt, Teresa Minnick has made her mark on the NJ real estate scene. “The business runs in my blood,” said the native Garden Stater and proud grandmother of ten. But for Minnick, the fast-paced industry doesn’t feel like a grind, and she brings a refreshing geniality to her work that grounds and calms her clients. She is currently the broker for The Atlantic Club Residences, an oceanfront luxury condominium complex in Long Branch that is set to open in February 2027.
“I fell in love with new construction,” she said of her decision to join the team behind The Atlantic Club. “We are currently at 35% sold, even with the building still under construction, a testament to the excitement surrounding this project.” The development, nestled along Ocean Avenue with sweeping views of the Atlantic, features a massive 75,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor amenities, including a posh pool deck, sunny yoga studio, and spacious ocean club room, along with 132 luxury condos, plus ultra-swanky penthouses.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS?
Don’t be afraid. Truthfully, not to be afraid and to take chances because, if you don’t take the chance, then how would you know?
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE SUMMERTIME DREAM CAR?
My first car was a powder blue Camaro, and while I’m not really a car person, that Camaro was the car. It was my growing-up car and still holds a special place.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM BACKYARD OASIS AMENITY?
I have two answers to this question. My first answer is a vegetable and flower garden, but my true answer would be the ocean as my backyard. That would be my dream.
John Leonard
Co-Owner of Leonardo Jewelers / leonardojewelers.com
John Leonard is a legacy jeweler (his grandparents, both Cuban immigrants, founded Leonardo Jewelers in 1964 in Elizabeth), but he’s most inspired by the person behind the piece. He’s passionate about finding the perfect jewel or precious stone to capture his client’s essence. Leonardo Jewelers’ Red Bank and Metuchen showrooms carry pieces from all over the world, and Leonard employs his expertise to personalize the shopping experience. The most rewarding aspect of his day? Seeing his clients wear a new piece that he knows they’ll treasure for years to come.
“I want to help my clients select pieces that will transcend generations,” he said, adding that he believes fine jewelry represents something far greater than sparkle and shine; they are family heirlooms. “The right piece will take on a greater meaning. It’s not just about luxury. Many times, the most memorable pieces aren’t the ones you wear every day. They only come out for special occasions, and you remember them at these grand events and milestone celebrations. So, if I can be a part of a person’s life in that way, in their happiest and most memorable moments, that means the world to me.”
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS?
Learn how to rebound from failure. I think life really comes down to how quickly you can shake things off.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE SUMMERTIME DREAM CAR?
In the past, I would have said something flashy and fast, like a McLaren, but I’m starting to like vintage cars more and more. Let’s say a Porsche Speedster in a stick shift with no roof.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM BACKYARD OASIS AMENITY?
I can’t sit still [laughs], so for me, it would be a full basketball court or a full tennis court.
John Williams
SVP of Sales and Guest Experience, Head of Stork Club By Landmark Hospitality / bylandmark.com, storkclubexperience.com
John Williams is in the business of creating experiences. As the senior vice president of sales and guest experience with By Landmark Hospitality, Williams ensures that each and every visitor enjoys the time they spend at a Landmark property, whether they are exchanging vows at the 200-year-old barn of the Ryland Inn or sharing a plate of fried calamari at Maddy Rose Restaurant on the Jersey City water front. “My hospitality career started when I was 15 years old looking for a summer job,” noted Williams. “I love the social aspect, that’s what keeps me energized. I don’t think there’s any better place to be than on a buzzing restaurant floor on a Saturday night.”
Passionate about the oft-lost art of old-world dining and socializing, Williams also helms the members-only Stork Club, an exclusive luxury lifestyle club that hosts special experiences and private events across By Landmark’s vast portfolio of high-end venues. “Many places offer good food and drinks, but what we do goes a step further – we provide an experience, a moment they’ll always remember,” added Williams.
WHAT ONE PIECE OF ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THIS YEAR’S GRADUATING CLASS?
The one piece of advice I’d give is that you’re going to learn a lot by doing. I think college is for growing and working is for learning. You never know where you’re going to end up, and making decisions that are the best at the time is the only way to move forward. It may never be perfect, but you may end up at the perfect place, like I have.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE SUMMERTIME DREAM CAR?
I have it! It’s a 1962 Cadillac Coupe DeVille in a flat baby blue with a white top.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM BACKYARD OASIS AMENITY?
I have a 15-year-old son, so my goal is for the backyard to be a place where he wants to bring his friends to hang out.