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Department of the Treasury

Treasurer's Office Staff

Jo-Ann Povia, Chief of Staff
As Chief of Staff, Ms. Povia plays an integral role in all Treasury matters, while directly overseeing communications and legislative affairs, as well as the divisions of Administration and Revenue and Enterprise Services. She brings a wealth of both public and private sector experience to her role, having most recently served as Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Elizabeth Maher Muoio. In this capacity, she directed Assemblywoman Muoio’s legislative agenda and oversaw research, constituent relations and intergovernmental relations. Prior to that she served more than a decade as Director of Research and Special Projects for the Mercer County Board of Freeholders after serving many years in executive management for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.

Darryl Isherwood, Director of Communications
As Director of Communications, Mr. Isherwood oversees all internal and external communications for the Department of the Treasury. He has over 20 years of media and communications experience, including three years as a Senior Advisor in Governor Phil Murphy’s Communications Office and a year at the New Jersey Economic Development Authority as a Senior Advisor and Sector Lead, Film and Digital Media. Before his stint in state government, he worked as a communications consultant to some of the state’s largest companies, specializing in media relations and crisis communications. Prior to his work in communications, he was an award-winning reporter in NY and NJ, covering politics and business for NJ.com and the Star Ledger, the Times of Trenton and other major national and regional outlets.

Andrea Spalla, Assistant Treasurer
As Assistant Treasurer, Ms. Spalla oversees Treasury’s divisions of Pension and Benefits, Purchase and Property, Property Management and Construction, and Unclaimed Property. She first joined Treasury in 2018 as the Director of Legislative Affairs and Constituent Relations. In her three years in that role, she provided input and guidance on a wide variety of policy and legislative matters related to Treasury’s broad mandate, and assisted the Treasurer and Treasury’s Chief of Staff in all aspects of their operational and crisis response decision making. Prior to joining Treasury, she served as Chief of Staff to State Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker; served on the Princeton Board of Education, including two years as President; and co-founded two non-profit organizations. Before moving to New Jersey, she practiced international corporate law in New York for Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton.

Aaron Binder, Deputy Treasurer
As Deputy Treasurer, Mr. Binder assists in managing the State budget and oversees Treasury’s Office of Management and Budget, Office of Revenue and Economic Analysis and the Division of Taxation. Previously, Mr. Binder served in the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office (AMO) where he served as part of the leadership team, most recently as the Deputy Executive Director. During his 16-year tenure with the AMO, he served as the lead Aide for the Assembly Budget Committee and oversaw a number of key policy issues, including the State budget, public employee pension & benefits, banking and insurance, transportation, and health care. Prior to joining the AMO he served in a number of financial roles for Congreso De Latinos Unidos, Amtrak, and the City of Philadelphia.

Michael Kanef, Esq., Assistant Treasurer
As Assistant Treasurer, Mr. Kanef oversees Treasury’s Office of Public Finance, Division of Investment, Division of Risk Management, and the New Jersey Lottery. He first joined Treasury in 2018 as the Director of the Office of Public Finance. He came to Treasury as a veteran of the finance industry where he built a 20-year career with both Moody’s Corporation and Moody’s Investors Service, including nearly a decade as Chief Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Officer. Prior to joining Moody’s he worked as an attorney for several New York-based law firms, including Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom, where he handled structured finance matters.

Sharon Alessi, Executive Assistant to both the Treasurer & Chief of Staff
Ms. Alessi has served the Department of the Treasury for more than 30 years, lending her invaluable assistance to 14 state treasurers over the course of five different administrations, including direct support to five state treasurers over the course of three different administrations. Ms. Alessi ensures the day-to-day operations of the Treasurer’s Office function smoothly, coordinates planning for the state budget process and plays an integral role in ensuring a smooth transition during changes in administrations.


Last Updated: Tuesday, 05/02/23