STEVE WESTHOVEN

It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce Steve Westhoven as our 2026 Cindi Van Brunt Humanitarian Recipient.

The Cindi VanBrunt Humanitarian Award is named in honor of our founder, Cindi VanBrunt, who established CASA for Children of Monmouth County in 2004. Her vision and dedication laid the foundation for the impactful work we continue today. Following her passing in 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer, this award was created to honor her legacy. It is presented to Gala honorees who exemplify compassion, leadership, and a strong commitment to supporting vulnerable children and strengthening our community—qualities that truly reflect this year’s 2026 Gala honoree, Steve Westhoven.

Steve Westhoven is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of New Jersey Resources, a Fortune 1000 diversified energy infrastructure company that delivers safe, reliable natural gas and clean energy services, including transportation, distribution, asset management and retail services.

Steve began his career as an engineer at New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), the principal subsidiary of NJR, where he contributed to the development of the company’s distribution network and gained critical pipeline management experience, and later led Gas Supply. He was part of the team that successfully launched NJR Energy Services (NJRES), a leading provider of unregulated wholesale natural gas and energy management services. He served as Senior Vice President of NJRES from 2009 - 2016 and helped grow the business into one of the most successful wholesale energy services providers in North America.

In 2017, Steve was named Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of NJR’s non-utility businesses. The following year he was named President and Chief Operating Officer of NJR and joined its board of directors. In 2019, he became President and CEO.

Steve earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from The Catholic University of America and serves as a member of its Board of Visitors. He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Steve currently sits on the Boards of New Jersey Resources, American Gas Association (member of the Executive Committee), Choose New Jersey (Vice Chair), National Petroleum Council, and St. Rose High School.