New Jersey's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority announces two key appointments

New Jersey's Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) has appointed Sharon Dickerson as general counsel and chief legal officer, alongside Jerry Barnhart as the new director of the special improvement district division.

Dickerson brings extensive experience to her new role, having previously served as assistant general counsel for CRDA for 13 years. Her return to the authority in July followed a three-year tenure with the Department of Law & Public Safety, division of law, where she served as an assistant attorney general in the Financial Affairs Practice Group.

Barnhart, a certified public manager and seasoned director, began his public service journey in 1996 with the Atlantic City Police Department, where he held various leadership roles until his retirement in 2021. Post-retirement, he assumed the position of chief instructor at the Atlantic County Police Academy.

The CRDA, shaped by the 2011 Tourism District Act, has expanded its mission to function as an economic development agency for Atlantic City. In addition to its traditional role, it now oversees land use regulation, tourism marketing, and clean and safe initiatives.

The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) has also undergone staff changes as of late, as David Rebuck bid farewell to the regulator after 13 years at its helm earlier this month.

Rebuck's departure, effective immediately, concluded a distinguished tenure as the longest-serving Director in DGE's history. In total, his career spans over 36 years of service to the Garden State.

Effective March 1, Deputy Director Mary Jo Flaherty assumed the interim directorship, stepping into Rebuck's shoes to guide the division through its transitional phase.