Victoria Foundation Executive Officer and Board Member Named to the 2025 ROI Influencers Power List

Victoria Foundation's Executive Officer Craig Drinkard and Trustee Gary Wingens were named to the 2025 ROI Influencers Power List, presented by Return On Information – New Jersey (ROI-NJ). The media outlet publishes news and features about New Jersey's business community and recognizes remarkable leaders.

According to ROI-NJ, Drinkard was chosen in the Associations & Organizations category because "he has served in a variety of roles over the past two decades for the Newark-based Victoria Foundation," which awarded more than $12 million in grants in 2024.

Born and raised in Newark, Drinkard's career includes assignments with the federal government, private sector, and non-profit and philanthropic organizations. He has also served on a number of nonprofit boards, including LISC-NJ, YouthBuild-Newark, LEAD Charter School, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, and the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Business Administration in Management.

Wingens, chair and managing partner at Lowenstein Sandler, was named as one of the influencers selected in the Law category. According to ROI-NJ, he was chosen because "when he's not running one of the nation's top firms, he's offering expert counsel in structured finance, mortgage finance, and commercial real estate."

In his role at Lowenstein Sandler, Wingens oversees acquisitions, dispositions, and financings of properties; mortgage loans; and servicing rights valued at billions of dollars. Under his leadership, Lowenstein Sandler has increased its workforce to more than 350 lawyers with offices in New York, California, New Jersey, Utah, and Washington, D.C. Wingens also founded the Lowenstein Center for Public Interest to centralize the firm's pro-bono and public interest efforts, areas that are of extreme importance to him.

In addition to being a Victoria Foundation trustee, Wingens also serves on the Board of Directors for Kids In Need of Defense, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, and The Jewish Education Project.

Along with Drinkard and Wingens, many Victoria Foundation friends and partners were also inducted into the 2025 ROI Influencers Power List. Leaders from the Foundation's partner organizations – such as John Schreiber, CEO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center and Ryan Haygood, CEO, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice – made the list. Fellow funders – such as Calvin Ledford Jr., President, PSEG Foundation; Brandon McKoy, President, Fund for New Jersey; and Lata Reddy, Chair, The Prudential Foundation – were included, as well. Tara Dowdell from Tara Dowdell Group – a Foundation consultant – was also included in the Public Relations, Marketing, and Communications category.

"It is beyond humbling to be named to the 2025 ROI Influencers Power List alongside so many influential people, many – such as Victoria Foundation's Gary Wingens – who I know personally and admire wholly," said Drinkard. "What is more remarkable than my selection is seeing so much representation from Newark on this list, which demonstrates that our city is doing great things, and that the individuals leading that charge are committed to positively impacting the community every single day."

To be eligible for the ROI Influencers Power List, an individual must be nominated by readers of the outlet or a leader within an influential New Jersey sector. ROI-NJ then determines the top candidates and categorizes them based on their industry. This year's list included trailblazers in the fields of Super 75; Law; Executives; Government & Public Affairs; Consultants; Banking; Sports, Art, & Entertainment; Higher Education; Economic Development; Technology; Unions; Public Relations, Marketing, and Communications; Energy & Environment; Accounting; Health Care; Real Estate; and Associations & Organizations.

For more information about Victoria Foundation and to sign up for news updates, visit victoriafoundation.org.