NEWARK, NJ—Susan Scimone-Bellini, of Palisades Park, New Jersey, received her 2021 Director’s Community Leadership Award on June 6, 2022, after a delay due to COVID restrictions. Ms. Scimone-Bellini is a senior vice president and senior regional administrator at Lakeland Bank, headquartered in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. Throughout her 37-year career in the banking industry, she has been driven by the value of forming relationships that connect her to the community.

Ms. Scimone-Bellini serves on the board of directors for the Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) and Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the board of directors for the Four Foundation, the March of Dimes Northern Chapter, and Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County. In 2019, Sue was honored as the Woman of the Year by the Federation of Italian American Societies of New Jersey for her commitment to service and dedication to preserving the legacy of Italian heritage. A 2009 graduate of the FBI Newark Citizens Academy, Ms. Scimone-Bellini currently sits on the FBI Newark Citizens Academy Alumni Association executive board and serves as treasurer.

Whether delivering toys to hospitals on Christmas Day, helping to build houses for those in need, or feeding the hungry, Ms. Scimone-Bellini consistently strives to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Her greatest gift is her ability to bring people together and she is a firm believer that many hands make the task easier to accomplish.