Joe Giovannoli and Tracey Salmon-Smith Join
VLJ’s Board of Trustees
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 24, 2023
CONTACT
Eric W. Hughes
Bershad Communications Manager
Volunteer Lawyers for Justice
(973) 233-5724
Email: ehughes@vljnj.org
Newark, NJ – Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) is pleased to announce that Joe Giovannoli of Waldwick, NJ and Tracey Salmon-Smith of Manalapan, NJ recently joined its Board of Trustees at the beginning of the year.
Joe is the founder and CEO of 9Sail, a lead generation and search engine optimization firm with a focus on the legal industry based in Fairfield, NJ. 9Sail combines search engine optimization and pay-per-click management to help businesses solve their issues with lead generation, brand awareness, reputation building and management, and generating targeted website traffic. Joe founded 9Sail in 2015 with a goal to provide white-glove service in the search marketing industry.
When asked about what attracted him to work with VLJ, Joe responded, “I was drawn to VLJ for the work they do with veterans which really struck a chord for me. Our veterans, many times, do not get a fair shot in life and certainly do not get the gratitude they deserve. By helping veterans, VLJ does its part to give back to these heroes.”
Joe received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Fairleigh Dickinson University (2013), where he was a co-founder of the Entrepreneurs Club, which ultimately laid the groundwork for his outstanding leadership. Joe describes himself as a wine and bourbon aficionado, an avid golfer, and a lover of the outdoors.
Tracey, a partner at international law firm Faegre Drinker in the business litigation practice group, brings a wealth of experience to VLJ. As a trusted adviser and pragmatic problem solver, she assists clients with commercial and business disputes, employment litigation, securities law and internal investigations. As a former assistant United States attorney (AUSA) who also spent several years as in-house counsel for a global financial services firm, Tracey knows firsthand the pressures and challenges her clients face.
On her appointment to the Board, Tracey relayed, “As a lawyer, being able to use my knowledge and skills to help those who do not otherwise have access to legal services is powerful. I’m thankful for the experiences I’ve had being able to assist VLJ clients with restoring their driver’s licenses and am excited for the opportunity to join the VLJ Board of Trustees to continue its purpose of serving people experiencing poverty.”
Tracey received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Dartmouth College (1987) and a Juris Doctor from Villanova University School of Law (1990). In her free time, Tracey enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and mentoring young people.
Cathy Keenan, VLJ’s executive director, reflected on Joe and Tracey’s appointments to the board of trustees, “VLJ prides itself on having a diverse and committed board of trustees dedicated to advancing VLJ’s mission. Joe and Tracey continue that tradition by bringing incredible personal and professional experience that will ensure our resources are well-managed and VLJ remains at the forefront of legal, social, and technological advances. When it comes to ensuing access to justice for people experiencing poverty, Joe and Tracey exemplify what it means to be compassionate professionals who pay justice forward.”
Connect with Joe on LinkedIn Connect with Tracey on LinkedIn
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About Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ)
VLJ is an award-winning, comprehensive nonprofit legal services program based in Newark, NJ, with a statewide reach. VLJ's mission is to ensure access to justice for people experiencing poverty. The Newark-based organization ensures fair access to the legal system through partnerships with corporations and hundreds of volunteer attorneys. In 2022, VLJ’s work impacted nearly 4,561 people—including 1,714 children—and its volunteer attorneys provided $2.4 million in free legal services.