"At a time when our nation is facing a fiscal crisis of epicproportion, there's no one better qualified than Jerry Zaro to ablysteer New Jersey's economic growth strategy," says Corzine, in astatement. "His 33 years of experience offer a diverse perspectivethat links critical facets of our economy--business, banking, realestate, law and transportation."

Zaro is president and managing partner of the law firm of AnsellZaro Grimm & Aaron in Ocean, NJ, and has also been involved inmany business partnerships, including as a principal in a number ofreal estate developments. He was also chairman of Ocean IndependentBank and has served as a director of several other stock exchangelisted companies. In the public sector, Zaro was a commissioner ofthe New Jersey Highway Authority for more than a dozen years, withthe last two as chairman, and recently completed a term as acommissioner of the New Jersey Sports & ExpositionAuthority.

"Given the magnitude of the national economic crisis, I feltstrongly about leaving the private sector to accept this positionto lead the Office of Economic Growth," Zaro says. "The crisis weface is a non-partisan problem that requires a bipartisan solution.Now is a time, more than ever, for all hands on deck."