Germaine Ortiz

Commissioner Germaine M. Ortiz was first elected to the Bergen County Board of County Commissioners in 2016 and made history in 2019 as the first Latina Chairwoman. A first-generation American of Colombian descent, she earned dual degrees in Spanish and Communications from Seton Hall University and built a successful 20-year career on Wall Street, ultimately serving as Vice President at Dinsmore Capital Management. Her dedication to public service began on the Palisades Park Board of Education and City Council before she went on to serve with the Bergen County Utilities Authority and the Board of Trustees at Bergen Community College. In 2020, she led the Bergen County Complete Count Committee, ensuring the county’s most successful Census count in two decades. Commissioner Ortiz continues to apply her financial expertise and people-first approach in service to Bergen County and currently serves on the Board of County Commissioners.