Our Team
Meet Your NJ 211 Team
Dedicated. Passionate. Diverse. NJ 211 is composed of a proud group of individuals that truly care about helping New Jersey residents. After all, we live here, too. And we want to make sure our
neighbors get the help they need, when they need it, working closely with our Board of Trustees to achieve our mission and our goals.
Our team is diverse, just like the state of New Jersey. We celebrate our differences and embody the core values of NJ 211—compassion, accountability, reliability, ethical, and service excellence. And we bring years of experience in community service to NJ 211.
Executive Team
Learn more about Melissa
Melissa Acree serves as the Chief Executive Officer of NJ 211, a position she has held since May of 2017, providing executive leadership and vision to the organization. In 2022, she led the development of a three-year strategic plan, working in conjunction with the board of trustees and executives, to reset priorities and define future goals for the organization.
Prior to becoming Executive Director, Melissa joined the organization in 2013 when she was hired to spearhead a new, professional training and development program for the organization. She was promoted in 2016 to Director of Business Development where she launched the ReachNJ hotline to address the needs of those suffering from the opioid overdose epidemic. Melissa is known for her ability to respond at the highest level when needed. This trait was evident in the 22 months that NJ 211 elevated its operation to meet the needs of the state and our residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her collaborative nature, ability to lead by example, and strong interpersonal skills have resulted in new and meaningful partnerships. Melissa is also actively involved in the national initiatives of the 211 National Network.
Learn more about Paula
Paula Umaña serves as the Interim Chief Operating Officer. Paula brings a wealth of experience to this role. She is passionate about social and economic mobility. Paula has devoted her career to driving growth and opportunity to close the cycles of poverty and promote equity. From organizational development to community empowerment, Paula’s leadership and advocacy have contributed to increased capacity and efficiency within a wide range of organizations. She has successfully led numerous initiatives in United Way and other nonprofit organizations, driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.
Learn more about Don
Don Bennett serves as the Controller of NJ 211 and is responsible for all aspects of the financial operations of the organization. Don earned his Bachelor’s degree and MBA in Accounting from William Paterson University. With vast financial experience in public accounting and higher education, Don brings over 20 years of accounting, budgetary, and operational knowledge to NJ 211. During his career, he has served in many roles and collaborated with cross-functional teams to solve complex organizational issues.
Don joined the organization in February 2023 as a Senior Accountant and was instrumental in onboarding the organization’s new PEO leading to upgrades and improvements in payroll, timekeeping, and accounting processes. He was promoted to Controller in January 2024 and is committed to continuous system and process improvement to help build organizational capacity at NJ 211.
