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Board Members

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Current Board Members

All correspondence should be addressed to the member, c/o Burlington County Board of Social Services, 795 Woodlane Road, Mount Holly, N.J. 08060

Sarah W. Holley, Chairperson

Sarah Holley…wife, mother, educator, community advocate.

Sarah Holley was born and raised in Gates, North Carolina. A graduate of Elizabeth State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Minor in African American Studies, Sarah began her career as a seventh grade Social Studies teacher in Plymouth, North Carolina. Her love and dedication to youth and education served her well, and she maintains this dedication and has remained an educator throughout her lifetime. Sarah has devoted her life to the betterment of the hundreds of students she has affected and affected. She is a retired public-school educator; ending her professional career in Hamilton Township NJ (Mercer County). However, she remains a cutting-edge innovator with acquired supplementary training in Effective Schools; Strategies of Differentiation in Instruction; Instructional Theory into Practice (ITIP). Sarah is a skilled Diversity Trainer and has served as a school Affirmative Action Officer and a member of Grice Middle School (Hamilton, NJ) Management Team.

Sarah met her husband Ed, a Vietnam Veteran returning home from the war, her junior year in college, and married him soon after graduation. The union was blessed with two children, Ashanti and Darvis, both stellar products of the Willingboro Public School District. Sarah takes particular pride, and rightly so, in the accomplishments of her children. Ashanti, an Assistant Superintendent of a school district in New Jersey has earned two Master Degrees, one in Educational Leadership and another in School Counseling. Furthermore, Ashanti holds a PhD from Rowan University. Darvis, a Principal in a South Jersey school district has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and has recently completed an Educational Leadership Certification from Harvard University. Currently, Darvis is enrolled in a PhD program at Stockton University. Although she has been the recipient of multiple citations and awards, one she holds dear is the Distinguished Mother Award from the Burlington – Willingboro Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated.

As a very out-spoken and outgoing member of the Willingboro Township for over 44 years, Sarah has served on the Willingboro Board of Education for 13 years, holding the office of President for four of those years. In this role, she implemented a plethora of initiatives to better the District, including the Early Childhood Program for the three and four-year-old learners and has worked to increase technology-based school security. Sarah was honored by former Congressman Tom McArthur as a certified board member.

Additionally, Sarah is a member of several organizations including, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated; serving as Social Action Chair of the Rancocas Valley Alumnae Chapter, Vice Chair of the Burlington County Library Board, member of the Burlington County Board of Social Services, Democratic Committeewoman; serving as Vice Chair of the Willingboro Democratic Committee, Vice Chair of the Burlington County Federation of Democratic Women; an active member of Women, Words and Wisdom; Former Commissioner of the Willingboro Planning Board, Former Commissioner of the Willingboro Zoning Board; Former Secretary of the Willingboro and Vicinity NAACP; Former President of Burlington-Willingboro Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated and Former Recording Secretary, Willingboro Democratic Club, just to name a few. She was appointed a member of the BCBSS in 2020.

Michael Trainor, Vice Chairperson

Michael Trainor is a lifelong resident of South Jersey. Raised in Willingboro, New Jersey and graduating from Rowan University, he is very aware of the issues that face all of South Jersey. He currently lives in Edgewater Park, NJ with his wife and 3 children. Throughout his life he has found passion in helping others and volunteering his time whenever possible. Immediately after graduating from Rowan, he began his professional career in the finance industry, the vision of wanting to help others made him successful in this arena. As his children grew older he began volunteering with the local athletic association where he ended up spending 8 years on the executive board. It was there that he started the town’s first flag football league and began to earn the trust and respect of the townspeople of Edgewater Park. In 2013, the Democratic party of Burlington County approached him and asked him to run in the next election for town council, he obliged and won his first election. By giving all of the people of Edgewater Park his personal attention and building their trust, it was just a couple of years that he was elected Mayor. He currently serves the town of Edgewater Park and focuses on open communication and attracting new businesses to town. He also sits as the Chairman of the River Route Economic Development Steering Committee. A committee of 16 municipalities focused on building commerce in communities along Route 130 and the Delaware River. He continues his pursuit of helping others and makes time to visit with resident and businesses in town every chance he gets. He began serving on the BCBSS in 2023.

Dorothy Bayles, Secretary/Treasurer

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Dorothy relocated with her husband and daughter in 1978 to Eastampton Township, and recently moved to the new 55 and older community in Eastampton. She attended BCC for computer classes and office management and Rutgers University for election law. She has always been active in the local community, where people affectionately know her as Dee. She joined Neighborhood Watch where she served as treasurer and volunteered for Citizen’s Patrol and Fun Day for several years. During her career she worked at the Children’s Home in Mount Holly and managed the vehicle donation program. Dee spent 20 years at the Board of Elections as Senior Election Clerk and Administrator. She was also appointed by the Governor as a Commissioner to the Board of Elections. Always active in the Township, she has been a member of the County Committee for 38 years serving as chairperson and/or treasurer. She was elected last year to a fourth term to the New Jersey State Committee. Dee looks forward to serving the larger community in her new role.

Randolph L. Brolo, Jr., Alt. Secretary/Treasurer

Started Career as an Apprentice for Laborers Local 172 in 2006. Became an Organizer for Laborers Eastern Region Organizer Fund in 2017. Most recent position as of January is South NJ Business Development Manager NJ LECET. Some of the other positions that are held:

Burlington County Central Labor Council(AFL CIO)- Trustee
Lumberton Township Planning Board- Chairman
Burlington County Community Development Program (CDBG)-Advisor Committee
Burlington County Workforce Development-Vice Chairman
Mount Holly Municipal Authority-Vice Chairman
Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust (LECET)- South New Jersey Business Development Manager
Rancocas Valley High School Board of Education- Board Member
Also the Co Chair of the Lumberton Democratic Party.

Father of Five and also a Grandfather. I enjoy helping my children with their extra curricular activities. Also a Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu jitsu. Also enjoy going to car shows with my Antique Car.

Harriette Cohen, Citizen Member

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Harriette and her husband Alan and two daughters relocated to Willingboro in 1973 and resided there until moving to Mt. Laurel in 1998. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University and her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University, while at the same time helping her children with their homework and while her husband was completing his studies toward a Ph.D. During her career of 35 years she worked as a School Social Worker in both Burlington and Camden Counties and directed an Adult Medical Day Center. Always active in the community, Harriette was a member of the Willingboro Township Local Assistance Board, serving as chairperson for 15 years, and a member of Temple Adath Emanuel, where she served on the Board of Trustees for 25 years and was the first woman president of the synagogue. She was instrumental in moving the temple from Willingboro to Mt. Laurel in 1997. For many years Harriette was an adjunct instructor at The College of New Jersey teaching a variety of courses in the departments of Guidance and Counseling, Special Education and Sociology. A lover of history she has been a volunteer at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. She also volunteers as a Democratic Committeewoman and serves as President of the Mt. Laurel Democratic Club. In addition to reading, hiking, and relaxing on the beach, Harriette’s greatest joy is spending time with her family and six wonderful grandchildren. She has been a BCBSS member since 2019.

Saima Abrar Bhutta, Citizen Member

Saima Bhutta is a health care provider by profession and a community activist, volunteer, and political leader by passion. Saima is passionate about the fight against social and racial injustices and all inequalities towards vulnerable population. She has participated in several Black Lives Matter marches and other events organized by Burlington County NAACP. In the past 25 years, her volunteerism has spanned, grab-and-go meals for homeless, soup kitchens for food insecure, clothing drives for refugees and other needy communities. She is also involved in Moorestown local schools, coaching clubs such as the Lego Robotic Club, and volunteered in Wrestling and Swimming teams. Since 2000, she has also been a teacher in Sunday schools. From 2005 to 2006 she provided health care services for antenatal and postnatal care to mother and child through Project H.O.P.E and the Catholic Charities of Camden County. In 2006 she was the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Freedom Medal in recognition for her services to the Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) sites in Camden NJ. Saima is passionate regarding climate change issues and environmental preservation and currently is serving a 2nd term on the Sustainable Moorestown Committee.

She has been founder member of several organizations in the South Jersey area, building bridges of understanding and peace between different communities. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Saima saw the need to build bridges and understanding of Pakistani culture through social activities. Saima founded Pakistan American Society of South Jersey (PASSJ) in 2001. Through PASSJ, she worked on sharing values, culture, and religious understanding between the local community and the Muslim and Pakistani communities of South Jersey. In 2015, with the help of other Muslim leaders in the South Jersey region, Saima founded the Muslim Federation of South Jersey (MFOSJ), which seeks to build connections with local, state, and federal government officials so that the interests and views of the South Jersey’s diverse Muslim community are represented in mainstream political environments. MFSOJ is actively involved in outreach work, distributes food and care packages to vulnerable communities and backpacks to inner-city schools. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees of PASSJ and is Vice President of MFOSJ.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she not only provided health care support to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but also privately collected and distributed PPEs to businesses, first responders, and vulnerable population. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, she got involved in establishing COVID testing sites in Moorestown and volunteered as a health care provider and arranged health fairs and worked with organizations to identify vulnerable population of Southern New Jersey and helped them with COVID related education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, in her role as Outreach Liaison of MFOSJ, she coordinated with businesses who were hit hardest especially the mom-and-pop restaurants and Deli’s, offering support by organizing and distributing thousands of meals out of those sites and hundreds of rations to communities identified as Food-Insecure. In 2021, in recognition for her work, she was presented with the New Jersey Governor’s Jefferson Award in the area of Health Care Service.

In 2022, she was appointed by the Governor of the State of New Jersey to the New Jersey Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission within the Department of State. Members of AAPI reflect the diverse perspectives of the New Jersey AAPI community and the state’s commitment to expanding equity and inclusion in New Jersey.

Since 2000, Saima has been actively involved in voter registration drives, educating voters on political issues, and helping candidates with their political campaigns at local, state and federal level. She leads the Muslim Voter Project in South Jersey and co-leads the Muslim Caucus of New Jersey and American Muslims for Democracy. In 2021 she organized voter registration and vote by mail events at the two largest area mosques GCLEA (Camden County, NJ) and Bait Al Qayem (Burlington County, NJ). Additionally, she also volunteered in the 2020 Census Complete Count Committee in Burlington County, educating community members about the benefits of participating in the census, and dedicated her time to aiding as many people as possible complete it, so that communities in New Jersey could reap the benefits.

She is an active member of Sisterhood of Salam Shalom and the Jewish Christian Muslim Dialogue of Southern Jersey. She was also selected by the Mayor and the Town Council to be on the Task Force to form a Diversity and Inclusion committee for Moorestown NJ. In recognition of her work, she was awarded the Outstanding Women of Burlington County in the area of Diversity and Inclusion. She is also a recipient of US House of Representative’s Certificate of Congressional Recognition for her work on Diversity and Inclusion.

In 2021she organized an Eid banquet for the elected town council members with the Muslim community of Moorestown. For the first time ever in the history of Moorestown, one hundred and eighty Muslim residents of the town were in attendance to meet with their elected members of the Town Council and the Mayor. In addition to meeting their elected leaders, the Muslim families brought items for the Mother and Child drive for the Providence House which was part of Senator Troy Singleton’s endeavors. In recognition for her services to the community and as a role model for teamwork, dedication, and inclusion, the Mayor of Moorestown presented her with a Proclamation in 2022.

She is on the Homeland Security’s Operation Allies Welcome task force, supporting efforts to coordinate the integration and resettlement of vulnerable Afghans and our Afghan allies and is a recipient of US House of Representative’s Certificate of Congressional Recognition for her efforts in Welcoming the Afghan Refugees to Liberty Village.

Saima is co-founder and chairperson of a local charity organization, United we Serve. United we Serve, a 501 (c)(3) organization, supports multiple causes including supporting food-insecure families and support minority and women rights.

Jaclyn Veasy, Citizen Member

Jaclyn (Jackie) Veasy is a lifelong resident of Evesham Township and currently still resides in the Brush Hollow neighborhood. Born and raised in Marlton, Jackie is a graduate of St. Joan of Arc School and Holy Cross High School. She attended Rutgers University and received her Bachelor of Arts in American Studies. A 10-year veteran of the insurance industry, Jackie works for a large National Insurance company in Marlton. Jackie has been a long-time volunteer in Evesham Township promoting her love for giving back to her community. For the past decade, she has served as a committee member for the Relay for Life of Marlton, a community event that raises funds for the American Cancer Society. Devoted to her alma mater, Jackie is an active member of the St. Joan of Arc Parish family, serving as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister at Sunday Mass. With her mother, Joan, Jackie coordinates St. Joan of Arc’s Sunday-morning children’s liturgy program. Jackie also organizes and volunteers at St. Joan of Arc’s annual summer carnival. Jackie is an avid traveler and yoga practitioner. Her family and friends are incredibly important to her, as is her desire to give back to the community in which she and her sister were raised. She began serving on the BCBSS in 2023.

Felicia Hopson, County Commissioner

Felicia Hopson is a resident of Willingboro and is Director of Operations for a Financial Services Company. Felicia earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English from Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Wilmington University in Wilmington, Delaware. Felicia has earned her Six Sigma, Green Belt Certification from Villanova University with a specialization in Financial Services. Felicia plans to continue pursuing her Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, with a specialization in Leadership with specific focus in Servant and Transformational Leadership Theories, from Walden University.

Felicia was an adjunct professor at Rowan College at Burlington County, and has also taught at Middlesex County College, Mercer County College, Atlantic County Community College and University of Phoenix. In addition to being an adjunct professor, Felicia also has taught professional development sessions in Personal Branding and Leadership.

Outside of work, Felicia is very active in her community. She served on the Willingboro School Board for four years and held the offices of Vice President and President. During Felicia’s tenure on the school board, there was a 28% increase in students participating in PARCC testing, an increase in academic achievement in English and Mathematics and five consecutive years of increased graduation rate from Willingboro High School.

Additionally, Felicia is very active with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Theta Pi Omega Chapter. She has been a member of her sorority for over 25 years. She joined Theta Pi Omega Chapter in 2013 and has served on several committees. As a Board Member, she serves as liaison to Human Services, Economic Development, Corrections, the Library and Schools. She began serving on the BCBSS in 2019.

Allison Eckel, County Commissioner

Charles SanFilippo, Director

Appointed as Acting Director in March 2016, Charles oversees the daily operations of all agency programs and services. Prior to being appointed to his present position he served as Administrative Supervisor of Income Maintenance. He began his career at the agency in 2003 when he was hired as an eligibility worker. He was promoted to unit supervisor in 2009, to assistant administrator in 2011, and to full administrator in 2013. From 1994 to 1998 Charles was the Director of the Oaklyn Memorial Library in Oaklyn, New Jersey, where he served as library administrator, supervised staff, and maintained library resources. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania majoring in communications. He resides in Beverly.

Richard Strobel, Chief Counsel

An attorney licensed in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Richard earned his Bachelor’s Degree magna cum laude from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia and Juris Doctorate Degree from Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, served as Assistant Counsel to Governor Thomas H. Kean, and has represented the legal interests of the BCBSS since 1990. Nominated by New Jersey Governors of both parties and confirmed by the Senate to the New Jersey State Board of Human Services, he served eighteen years as Chairman leading the oversight panel for State Government’s largest department helping over one million citizens with a $12 billion budget and 20,000 employees. He served in this capacity during the Administrations of Governor Whitman, DiFrancesco, McGreevey, Codey, Corzine and Christie. During this time he was appointed as a transition team member where he advised the Governor-Elect and helped author a report on two state government departments: Human Services and Children and Families. A civic leader, he has served in leadership posts with the Burlington County Bar Foundation, Red Cross, Rotary, Boy Scouts, Jaycees, St. Charles Borromeo Parish, and was founding President of the Cinnaminson Education Foundation. Professionally he has served as President of the New Jersey Association of County Welfare Attorneys, Regional Representative for the American Association of Public Welfare Attorneys, Chairman of the Burlington County Bar Association’s Local Government Committee, Judge of the Burlington County Mock Trial Competition, and Speaker at the 47th Annual Conference of the National Child Support Enforcement Association in Washington, DC. Richard was chosen to be a Fellow in Leadership New Jersey’s Class of 1999 and was awarded the Certificate of Honor by the American Red Cross Burlington County Chapter, New Jersey Senate Citation for outstanding achievement with Adult Protective Services, Robert W. Criscuolo Award by the Burlington County Bar Association as outstanding young lawyer, and Service to the Community Award by the New Jersey State Bar Association. Richard is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.