SDA Management Team
Manuel M. Da Silva - Chief Executive Officer
On December 4, 2019, the SDA Board of Directors unanimously elected Mr. Da Silva as the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer after having served as Interim CEO since May 2019.
Da Silva previously served as the Vice President of Construction Operations for the SDA, where he was responsible for the oversight of Capital Construction, Facilities Projects and Emergent projects. Prior to this position, he served as a Program Director of Program Operations at SDA and was responsible for the management of Capital Projects.
Da Silva joined the New Jersey Schools Development Authority in 2010 as a Senior Manager Engineering.
He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of engineering and construction in both the public and private sector, including projects with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the U.S. Postal Service.
Prior to joining the SDA, Da Silva was Director of Operations for M. Alfieri Co., Inc. and responsible for property management including planning, engineering and construction for tenant fitouts and new office facilities. His responsibilities covered 2.2 million square feet of Class A office buildings and nine multistate land development sites.
He graduated from the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1993 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering and a Minor in Management, and obtained his Professional Engineer’s license in 1997.
Laurette J. Pitts – Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Laurette J. Pitts serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA), where she is responsible for the executive oversight of the Authority’s financial accounting and disbursements, budgeting (operating), grants administration, treasury operations, procurement, contract management, vendor prequalification, as well as risk management and safety.
She joined the New Jersey SDA in May 2025. Prior to serving as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Pitts was the Chief Financial Officer for the Philadelphia Zoo.
She has more than 25 years of experience in the field of accounting and finance. Prior to joining the SDA, Pitts held several executive leadership roles in the gaming/hospitality industry, which included the oversight of several large construction projects in NJ, PA and NY. She held executive positions with both publicly traded and privately held gaming/hospitality organizations in states such as NJ, NY, PA, MS and MN. Pitts was a member of the Senior Executive team that opened the first casino in PA – Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Pitts began her accounting career as a staff accountant for Harrah’s Atlantic City and grew her career with that organization for several years before moving on to director roles at other properties around the south, Midwest and East Coast regions.
She has extensive experience in construction management, grants management as well as accounting and financial reporting.
Pitts earned a B.A. in Accounting from Richard Stockton University and an M.B.A. from Metropolitan State University.
Janice Venables, Esq., Vice President, Corporate Governance
Janice B. Venables serves as Vice President of Corporate Governance for the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA). She joined the SDA in November 2023.
Prior to joining the SDA, Ms. Venables served as Senior Counsel for the Murphy Administration. Among her responsibilities there was working with State Boards, Commissions, and Authorities to ensure compliance with the Governor’s directives and agenda.
Ms. Venables has more than 25 years of litigation experience, working on cases related to medical malpractice, insurance defense, and commercial litigation. In addition, she worked on parental rights cases associated with the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency in her role as Deputy Attorney General.
She has additional experience through her community involvement as a local Councilwoman, a Planning Board member, and time as an investigator for the District IX Ethics Committee.
Ms. Venables is a graduate of Villanova University and has a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers University School of Law-Camden.
Ramy Kamel, Vice President, Program and Construction Operations
Ramy Kamel serves as Vice President of Program and Construction Operations for the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA), where he is responsible for the executive oversight of capital construction and emergent projects, including design, environmental services, planning, program operations, and construction. He joined the SDA in August 2024.
Mr. Kamel has more than 24 years of dedicated experience in the real estate and construction sectors across New Jersey and New York. Prior to joining the SDA, he served as Vice President of Construction/Operations Management at AECOM, where he developed extensive expertise in commercial, corporate interiors, higher education, and mission-critical projects. Before his tenure at AECOM, Mr. Kamel held several key positions with real estate developers and global construction managers, successfully completing numerous public and private projects.
Mr. Kamel received a Masters degree in Business Administration from Lehigh University, a Masters degree in Construction Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Mr. Kamel holds certifications as a LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP), Certified Construction Manager (CCM), and Project Management Professional (PMP).
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