Biographies
Debra Procacci DiLorenzo, Principal
Debra P. DiLorenzo served as President & CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey from 1994 through 2019. She was the first female president in the Chamber’s history. During that time, the Chamber was named the “Best Chamber” in the State by NJBIZ because of its aggressive and effective Program of Work, as well as its commitment to members.
Under her leadership, the Chamber was the first and only Chamber in the USA to have earned ISO 9001:2015 Certification, an international quality management system designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of their customers and serve them with excellence.
In 2009, Debra was appointed by Governor-elect Chris Christie to his 10-person Executive Transition Team and chaired the Department of Labor Subcommittee. The Governor appointed her to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority in 2011 and reappointed her again in 2013 and 2017. In 2017 Governor Murphy appointed her to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development Transition Committee.
Prior to her current position, Debra was Senior Vice President, Government Relations at New Jersey Business and Industry Association, where she directed the association’s lobbying team from 1990—1994. And before that, Debra held various management positions at South Jersey Gas Company from 1979—1990, including Vice President, External Relations. Debra earned her B.A. and M.A. in Communications from Rowan University, serves on regional and Statewide Boards and has received numerous awards including as Rowan University’s Distinguished Alumnus; Woman of Distinction—Girl Scouts of America, Camden County Council; Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs South Jerseyan of the Year; U.S. Department of Defense Seven Seals Award; NJBIZ’s Top 50 Women in Business; NJBIZ’s Inaugural Icon Award; Rowan University’s Rohrer College of Business Medal of Excellence Award and SJ Magazine’s Women of Excellence Award.
She resides in Longport, Atlantic County with her husband, Joe. Together they are very proud of their son Anthony and his wife Suzie and their daughter Angelica.
Kathleen A. Davis, Principal
Kathleen Davis joined the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey in 1995 and served as the President’s second-in-command until 2019. Davis was the first female COO of the Chamber. As Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Davis was responsible for overseeing the government relations, special events, marketing and communications, finance, and member retention functions of the Chamber. For two decades, she served as lead facilitator for the South Jersey Summer Institute for Educators, a three-week long program for teachers that exposes them to the region’s business community including the skills and characteristics businesses seek in the future workforce – their students. In 2012, Davis, along with Rowan University School of Business professors Linda Ross and Kimble Byrd, published a study in the Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice that examined the long-term impacts of the Summer Institute. Davis served on Governor Christie’s Privatization Task Force, and Camden City Mayor Redd’s Transition Team, where she co-chaired the Economic Development & Entrepreneurial Committee. She also served as a member of the Courier-Post Editorial Board.
Prior to her position at the CCSNJ, Davis was Director, Government Affairs for New Jersey American Water Company, Assistant to the Governor (Jim Florio), and was Supervisor, Government Relations for South Jersey Gas Company.
She has been recognized by South Jersey Magazine as “33 People to Watch,” received the Boy Scouts of Gloucester County Distinguished Citizens Award, NJBIZ Best 50 Women, NJBIZ’s ICON Award, U.S. Department of Defense Seven Seals Award and received Rowan University’s 2016 Alumni Ambassador Award. In 2019, she received the Rowan University Rohrer College of Business Medal of Excellence for Distinguished Service.
Davis is a 1981 graduate of Rowan University, receiving her B.A. in Law/Justice. She resides in West Deptford Township with her husband, Mark. They are the proud parents of their son, Craig.
