OFFICERS

Matthew DeNafo is President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA).

DeNafo leads a team of more than 300 employees in providing environmentally and economically responsible waste management services across ACUA’s Wastewater and Solid Waste Divisions. This includes a 40 million-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment facility and regional sewage collection system serving 14 municipalities as well as a state-of-the-art solid waste and recycling Environmental Park that serves all 23 municipalities in Atlantic County and a regional collection fleet.

DeNafo oversees an annual operating budget exceeding $70 million and an annual capital budget exceeding $20 million.

DeNafo most recently served as Vice President of Centralized Maintenance and Asset Management at ACUA where he was responsible for overseeing all Centralized Maintenance and Asset Management activities throughout the Authority. This included a staff of more than 60 employees across the fleet, facilities, electrical and instrumentation, mechanical services, IT and research and development departments. In this position, DeNafo provided strategic and tactical leadership, in addition to assisting with project development and management. He oversaw asset selection and procurement, repairs, maintenance, research & development, MIS and external shared services.

DeNafo joined the organization in 2007 as an Associate Engineer and was promoted to Senior Engineer in 2011. Throughout his career, he has contributed to many of ACUA’s integral infrastructure and engineering projects, including the construction of its compressed natural gas (CNG) station, wastewater facility protective seawall, green vehicle wash, pump station improvements, emergency power upgrades, and landfill cell construction.

DeNafo graduated from the Rowan University College of Engineering with a degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering in 2006, and earned a Master’s in Environmental Engineering from Rowan in 2007. He also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from Rutgers University, which he completed in 2018. 

DeNafo is a New Jersey Licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified Municipal Engineer. He is Board Treasurer of the Atlantic County Economic Alliance (ACEA), President of the Waterford Township Board of Education and sits on the Advisory Board for the Cape May County Technical School and the Board of Trustees for the NJ Clean Cities Coalition.  DeNafo is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), New Jersey Water Environmental Association (NJWEA), and the Solid Waste Association of North America’s New Jersey Chapter (SWANA NJ).

CONTACT MATT
mdenafo@acua.com
609.272.6991

Linda Bazemore is the Senior Vice President of Administration and Finance/CFO at the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA).  She joined the organization in January 2016 with more than 14 years of experience in administration, finance management and policy development. 

In her current role at the Authority, Bazemore oversees the operations of the Finance and Human Resources departments.  Her role includes advising on developing, coordinating, and carrying out administrative and financial policies, procedures, and plans. In addition, she provides advice necessary to make management decisions, establish organizational goals and objectives within the organization.

Before joining ACUA, she served as the Deputy Executive Director of Administration for the Atlantic City Municipal Utilities Authority (ACMUA) —  a position she held for nine years. Bazemore was responsible for managing finance and capital projects; interpreting and implementing administrative and financial policies;  preparing and managing budgets; contract and vendor negotiations; developing and reviewing RFPs; strategic planning; overseeing the accounting, personnel and customer service divisions; and regulatory compliance, among other duties.  Prior to joining the ACMUA in 2001, she served as a Senior Accountant and Senior Rate Analyst at the South Jersey Gas Company.  

Bazemore is Treasurer for the Executive Board of the Atlantic Cape Community College Foundation Board. Furthermore, Bazemore serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the NJ Asset & Rebate Management Program.

Bazemore is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Municipal Finance Officer. She holds a Masters of Business Administration from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Stockton University. 

CONTACT LINDA
lbazemore@acua.com
609.272.6982

Greg Seher is the Vice President of Solid Waste for the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA). Seher oversees all operations within the Solid Waste Division. This includes managing the Authority’s landfill, recycling program, transfer station, compost facility, and curbside collection services for thousands of residents across Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties.

Prior to his role as Vice President, Seher was the Director of Solid Waste Operations, where he provided administrative oversight, personnel management and operations support to all functions of the Solid Waste Division. Seher previously held the positions of Maintenance Resource Coordinator, where he was responsible for managing maintenance contracts, overseeing fleet maintenance, and asset management, and Senior Project Analyst, where he played an instrumental role in researching and leading alternative technology projects for the Authority.

Seher currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) NJ Chapter and holds leadership roles across several organizations in his community, including the Absecon City Planning Board, Absecon City Zoning Board, Holy Spirit High School Board of Directors, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Church Parish Council and Finance Committee, and Knights of Columbus Villa Marie Council 6342. He previously served on the Absecon City Emergency Management Committee, Association of Environmental Authorities (AEA) NJ Energy Subcommittee, Atlantic Cape Community College Green Education Institute Advisory Board, Literacy Volunteer Association Board of Directors, and Sustainable Jersey Absecon Municipal Committee, and has been a volunteer with the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, South Jersey Field of Dreams, and Absecon Blue Devils football.

Seher is a past participant of the Lead NJ and Atlantic City Tomorrow programs and was recognized as an Atlantic City Weekly Top 40 Under 40 for his professional accomplishments.

Seher holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Science from Stockton University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Saint Joseph’s University. He is a graduate of the Water and Wastewater Development Program of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and has earned a Manager of Landfill Operations Certification from SWANA.

CONTACT GREG
gseher@acua.com
609.272.6935

Tom Ganard is the Chief Engineer for the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA).  Tom oversees the operations of the Engineering and Research and Development Departments for the Authority.  He is responsible for long range planning, design, permitting, and construction of infrastructure for ACUA’s Wastewater and Solid Waste Divisions. In addition, he provides overall strategic and policy planning in conjunction with the other Executive Team members for the ACUA.

Ganard has managed over $160 million of capital improvement projects for ACUA. He is responsible for overseeing funding and grant requests made through various agencies including the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank (NJ I-BANK).

Ganard has more than 35 years of experience with the Authority.  He began his career in 1990 as a Project Engineer.  He was later promoted to Senior Engineer in 2000 and Deputy Chief Engineer in 2006. 

Prior to joining ACUA, Ganard worked for Fellows, Read and Associates as well as L.J. Rusciani Associates, where he worked on both municipal and land development civil engineering projects including site plans and subdivisions.

Ganard holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Structural Design and Construction Engineering from Penn State University and a Master’s Degree in Engineering from Widener University. He is a New Jersey Licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified Municipal Engineer. 

Ganard is a member of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers (NJSPE). He has served as President of the Atlantic United Soccer Club, coached Volunteer Youth Soccer and Baseball (AUSC and GTAA) and is a former member of the Atlantic Cape Cumberland Soccer Officials Association (ACCSOA).

He resides in Galloway Township with his wife, Susan.


CONTACT TOM
tganard@acua.com
609.272.6912

Joseph C. Pantalone is Vice President of the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA) Wastewater Division where he oversees the 40 million gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant in Atlantic City, NJ, and regional collection system, which is operated by 80 staff members and serves approximately 225,000 residents of Atlantic County.

Since joining ACUA in 2013, Pantalone has concentrated his leadership efforts on the improvement and sustainability of the wastewater treatment plant, collection system and its employees.
 
Pantalone has collaborated with other ACUA departments such as Engineering and Centralized Maintenance to develop a master plan for capital improvements which include planned upgrades to the solids handling, incineration, aeration and grit removal aspects of the operation. This has been accomplished through the creation of an Operational Management Plan (OMP) that incorporates strategic planning, continuity planning and asset management to manage quality control of the entire operation. The program requires a yearly evaluation, review of standard operating procedures and goal setting established with input of the entire staff.

Pantalone continues to focus on succession planning for many key figures in the ACUA organization while fostering a collaborative and productive team to address the ever-changing regulatory climate. 
 
Pantalone previously served as the Public Engineering Department Head/Human Resources Director for more than 20 years at Adams, Rehmann and Heggan (ARH) Associates, a civil engineering and planning firm serving both municipal and county governments in Hammonton, NJ. In this position, Pantalone was involved in numerous water and wastewater projects throughout South Jersey totaling more than $145 million dollars in infrastructure improvements.

Prior to joining Adams Rehmann and Heggan, Pantalone served as the Executive Director of the Hamilton Township Municipal Utilities Authority in Mays Landing, NJ, from 1981 through 1988.

Pantalone is currently a member of the Association of Environmental Authorities (AEA) where he serves as a Board Trustee (elected 2021), Chairman of the PFAS Committee and a member the Legislative Committee. He served as the President of the New Jersey Water Environment Association, South Section, in 2022 and 2023, and is a member of the Atlantic County Groundwater Advisory Committee. He has served on the Hammonton Chamber of Commerce for more than 20 years, including three years as its President, and is a recipient of the Chamber’s outstanding service to the community award. Pantalone is a member of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society (Hammonton), where he is the Secretary of their ancillary organization entitled the Preservation of the OLMC Festival, Inc. He is also a former member of Atlantic County’s Solid Waste Advisory Council and the Atlantic County Economic Advisory Committee.
 
Pantalone is a graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Sociology and a Master of Arts in Personnel Administration. He resides in Hammonton, NJ.  


CONTACT JOE
jpantalone@acua.com
609.343.7732
 

James B. Rocco is Vice President of Centralized Maintenance and Asset Management for the Atlantic County Utilities Authority (ACUA).

Rocco leads ACUA's efforts to efficiently manage assets and plan for maintenance, repairs, and improvements to its facilities, infrastructure, vehicles, and equipment. He oversees a staff of more than 60 employees from the Authority's facilities, fleet, electrical and instrumentation, mechanical services, and IT departments.

Rocco holds more than 30 years of engineering and project management experience, and has a specific understanding of local environmental utilities authorities. Prior to joining ACUA in September 2023, Rocco served as the Solid Waste Engineer for the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority (CMCMUA) and previously served as the Vice President of Engineering for The Authority in Cumberland County for 13 years.

In these roles, Rocco was responsible for overseeing landfill operations, managing equipment, and implementing key capital projects, such as leachate treatment and landfill gas to energy systems. Rocco is well-versed in preparing bid specifications, contracts, and equipment procuring processes. He is knowledgeable in state and federal environmental regulations, developing efficiency standards, and working with the community.

Rocco earned a Master of Science in Engineering Management and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Widener University. He holds certifications in Manager of Landfill Operations and Leachate Recirculation and Bioreactor Landfills from the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). He is trained as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Hazardous Waste Site Investigator, is a US Department of Transportation (USDOT) Hazardous Material Certified Instruction Trainer and has undertaken Dupont Safety Audit and Accident Investigation Training.

Rocco currently serves on the Board of Directors for the SWANA NJ Chapter. Rocco currently resides in Mays Landing. ​

CONTACT JAMES
jrocco@acua.com
609.272.6902
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