Meet the Candidates
Leadership For Our Community
Joanne Lam
Bio
I'm a Holmdel mom
with two kids in Satz
and Holmdel High
School. Like many
parents here, my
husband and I moved our family to Holmdel 9 years ago for one reason - its schools. We want to provide our kids the best opportunity to succeed in a district known for academic excellence and strong values. Both kids have consistently been on honor roll and participate in various sports.
Background & Experience
I am the first generation in my family to go to college. As a former student athlete, I earned an accounting degree from Fordham University while on the women’s crew team. I spent 10 years in corporate tax departments of companies including Prudential, GE Healthcare and Goldman Sachs before transitioning in 2007 to financial advisor roles in Citigroup Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, and HSBC before going independent. Currently, I'm a wealth advisor with a focus on retirement planning and tax-efficient strategies.
Reason for Running
With 68% of property taxes funding our schools, Holmdel's $70M budget is running a $2.5M deficit, putting teacher retention and hiring, as well as student busing at risk.
With real-world tax and planning experience at top global firms, I can understand complex budgets and financial statements to effectively make smart budget decisions. By responsibly managing the budget, we won't have to decide between teachers’ salaries, school busing, academics, sports, or school upgrades.
As a former student-athlete (swim team in high school & crew team at Fordham), I know having a strong sports program and extracurriculars is crucial to building confidence, resilience and teamwork and is as important as academics in our kids’ development. If elected, I will promote a stronger sports program and equal resources for female athletes.
I believe that politics have no place in our common efforts in achieving this goal. If elected, I will work to bring fiscal transparency and accountability back to the forefront of the agenda and emphasize ethics and responsibility in every budget decision.
Education has given me the foundation to achieve the American dream. Like many of you, I believe that our children deserve the best education to better prepare them for their future. With your support, we can help push this important goal forward. Our children deserve nothing less.
Brittany Manning
Bio
My family and I moved to
My family chose Holmdel
in 2016 for its outstanding
schools—and we’ve
proudly called it home ever
since. With three sons in 4th grade, 2nd grade, and preschool, I’m committed to keeping Holmdel’s tradition of excellence alive for every student.
Giving back has always been a priority for me and my family. I serve as a high school basketball official in Monmouth and Ocean Counties, an HYAA basketball commissioner, and a youth coach—sharing a passion for basketball that gave me lifelong lessons and opportunities has been wonderful. I’m also an active member of Middletown United Methodist Church, where I volunteer my time auditing financials each year.
Background & Experience
I was raised in upstate New York and was taught the value of academics, athletics and community service. I was involved in student government and National Honor Society and also developed a love of basketball and played on a State Championship team. I went on to earn both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. Currently, I’m a certified public accountant (CPA) and Vice President of Tax at a multinational distribution company.
Reason for Running
Public schools run on public trust—and that starts with how we manage our $72 million budget. With 16 years of experience in accounting, financial planning, and tax compliance, I’ll bring a professional, detail-oriented approach to make every dollar count.
Good financial management isn’t just about balancing today’s books—it’s about building a strong foundation for the future. I know how to dig into financial statements, ask tough questions, and advocate for resources that directly benefit students—in the classroom, in technology, and in safe, modern facilities.
I’m running for the Board of Education to ensure every Holmdel student has the chance to thrive. I’ll listen to parents, teachers, and students, and I’ll treat every tax dollar with the same care and responsibility I bring to my profession. Together, we can keep Holmdel schools strong—for every child, every family, every future.
Running for the BOE is about making sure every student in Holmdel has the opportunity to thrive. I promise to listen to the needs and feedback of parents, teachers and students and find a path forward that will be the best for all parties involved. I’ll treat your tax dollars with the same care and responsibility I apply in my professional duties. Let’s work together to keep Holmdel schools strong for everyone.
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Dr. Greg
Fernandez
Bio
I first moved to Holmdel
when I was 10. I was
lucky to grow up in
Holmdel when it was a
top 10 school district in New Jersey - the academic standards were high, driven by a strong parent community, and the opportunities were yours to earn. By the time I graduated from Holmdel High in 1991, I had made lifelong friends, bonded by achievement, intellectual curiosity, and creativity, in a supportive academic environment. Thanks to this strong foundation, I went on to becoming a physician.
In 2015, after more than 20 years out of state, practicing medicine and starting a family, my wife and I moved back to Holmdel with our two small children for one major reason: The schools. We wanted our kids to have the same incredible experience I had.
Background & Experience
I attended Columbia University with enough AP credits to graduate in three years, majoring in both Japanese and premed sciences. After college, I started out working in the Japanese music industry, but after some twists and turns, I eventually pivoted to medicine, specializing in psychiatry. Currently, I work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where I care for patients while also leading major technology implementations—balancing budgets, training teams, and aligning competing priorities.
Reason for Running
Holmdel schools gave me an unmatched foundation—for my career and for life. The smartest, most accomplished people I’ve ever known weren’t classmates from Columbia University or medical school, but the friends I grew up with right here in Holmdel—now physicians, journalists, bestselling authors, musicians, physicists, and engineers. At Holmdel, we learned to think critically—and it shaped who we became.
But today’s world is different. Students are growing up in a tech-saturated environment that opens new frontiers but also erodes focus, resilience, and social skills. Rising anxiety, attention issues, and disruptive behavior in classrooms are real challenges. Add to that a serious budget deficit threatening teachers, busing, and academic programs—and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
I’m running for BOE because Holmdel is my hometown, and my children attend the very schools that once set me up for success. I bring a unique perspective—as a physician, a problem-solver, and someone who’s lived the Holmdel story as both student and parent. Those same skills—listening, analyzing, and making fair, fact-based decisions—are exactly what Holmdel schools need right now.
I’m ready to tackle our budget challenges, support teachers, strengthen academics, and ensure our students gain the critical thinking skills they’ll need to thrive in an AI-driven future.
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