State Officers

Jonah Kutikov
State President

Hi everyone my name is Jonah Kutikov and I am a Senior at Eastern Regional High School. I am excited to be your  for this year. As a freshman, I joined DECA not thinking much of it, but after competing at SCDC and ICDC I realized that I wanted to pursue something more within DECA. These past three years in DECA have helped me grow as a person and meet new people who share similar interests and goals as myself. Joining DECA has been one of the best choices and experiences of my high school career, so far. I can’t wait to make more memories. Feel free to reach out to me @deca.jonah on instagram or decapres@njdeca.org.

Noah Pitzer
State Recording Secretary

Hey New Jersey DECA! My name is Noah Pitzer, and I’m excited to serve as your State Executive Recording Secretary for the 2025–2026 school year. I’m a senior at Cherry Hill High School East, and I first joined DECA during my freshman year without fully knowing what to expect. Over time, it’s become one of the most meaningful parts of my high school experience. Whether it was traveling to conferences, learning how to pitch ideas, or connecting with other members, DECA has helped me grow both personally and professionally. It even inspired me to take a step and start my own business. This year, I’m really looking forward to helping other members get as much out of DECA as I have. I hope we can all continue to discover new interests, take on new challenges, and push ourselves to grow—both inside and outside of competition. As Recording Secretary, I’ll be working to keep everyone informed and connected as we move through what I know will be an exciting year. I can’t wait to meet and connect with many of you at COLT, Districts, SCDC, and ICDC! If you ever want to reach out, feel free to contact me at decasec@njdeca.org or on Instagram at @deca_noah. Let’s make this a great year together!

Charles Pepe
Vice President of Public Relations

Hi everyone! My name is Charles Pepe and I am beyond excited to serve as your Vice President of Public Relations for this year. I’m currently a senior at Verona High School, and when I first joined DECA, I had no idea what to expect. Through DECA, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many great people, create unforgettable memories, and grow as a person. It has helped me break out of my shell, speak with confidence, and develop skills that I know I’ll carry with me far beyond high school. Being a part of this organization has pushed me to be a better leader and teammate, and I’m incredibly grateful to now be serving on this year’s State Officer Action Team. I can’t wait to meet and connect with members from all over New Jersey at COLT, Districts, States, and ICDC, and to help tell your stories throughout the year. If you ever have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at decaprvp@njdeca.org or on Instagram @deca.charlie.

Alexa Katsaros
Vice President of Media

Hi NJ DECA! My name is Alexa Katsaros, and I am a junior from Ridgewood High School. I am beyond excited to serve as Team 65’s VP of Media. I have enjoyed being a member of my school’s DECA chapter over the past two years, gaining valuable skills for the business world, while networking and making many new friends at SCDC and ICDC. As a state officer, I hope to have a great impact on NJ DECA, from increasing membership and enhancing communication to fostering stronger connections across chapters. I’m grateful for this opportunity and look forward to meeting all of you at upcoming conferences and competitions. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions through my email (decavpmedia@njdeca.org) or Instagram (@deca_alexa_).

Jude Palazzo
Southern Region Vice President

Hey everyone! My name is Jude Palazzo and I am beyond excited to serve as your Southern Region VP for this upcoming year! I’m going into my junior year at Kingsway High School. Before joining DECA as a freshman, I wasn’t quite sure what DECA was or if it was the right fit for me. Now, after three amazing years in the organization, I couldn’t be more grateful that I took the leap and joined. Meeting thousands of incredible people at events like States and ICDC has been unforgettable, and I’m more eager than ever to keep building lasting connections. DECA has given me the chance to pave my own unique story and grow into the leader I am today. As a state officer this year, I’m honored to represent all the outstanding members across New Jersey and to bring unforgettable experiences that allow you to keep writing your story within DECA. Feel free to reach out anytime at decasrvp@njdeca.org or on Instagram at deca.jude.

Annie Ferrans
Central Region Vice President

Hey Everyone! My name is Annie Ferrans and I am so excited to serve as your Central Region VP! I am from Livingston High School. I joined DECA as a freshman in high school, and now, as a senior, I could not be more grateful I did so. I have met so many great people already through DECA, and I cannot wait to meet even more. As my second year on the NJ state officer action team, I am excited to serve our state DECA again. My favorite DECA conference was definitely ICDC this year because of the amazing people I met. As a state officer, I hope to inspire even more people to participate and join DECA! I am looking forward to helping you all and making so many memories this year with Team 65. Feel free to reach out to me (decacrvp@njdeca.org) or on my instagram (deca_annie).

Jonah Wagner
Northern Region Vice President

Hi everyone! My name is Jonah Wagner, and I am excited to serve as your 2025-2026 Northern Region Vice President. I am a senior at Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest, and this is my fourth year in DECA. I joined DECA with little knowledge about what the organization would be able to do for me. DECA has been a critical part of my life helping shape the person I am today. The skills that I have gained through my participation in DECA such as networking have helped me in so many different aspects of my life. I want to help you all make the most out of your participation in DECA by promoting the development of skills that will help you in and out of DECA. I cannot wait with Team 65 to make this vision a reality and look forward to all of New Jersey DECA getting to see our vision. DECA truly has the power to change your life if you let it and I cannot wait to help you all make the most of this amazing experience. I look forward to seeing you all at COLT, Power Trip, SCDC, and ICDC! If anybody has any questions, please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram: (@jonahwagnerrr) and (@decajonah) or email: (decanrvp@njdeca.org)!