AMY FREAD GIS Manager, Office of Information Technology
Giving Back
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Fread’s work in the GIS industry began in 2010, when she interned with the New Jersey National Guard, mapping real property assets at its facilities. Before joining Middlesex County in 2018, she worked as a contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, providing mapping for soldiers, civilian staff, and field specialists in the 99th Readiness Division, which spans 13 states. Fread holds an associate degree in liberal studies from Ocean County College and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a certificate in cartography (the precursor to GIS degrees) from Rowan University.
“Working for County government has been so rewarding,
transformative, and fulfilling in ways I didn’t initially expect.”
Middlesex County’s approximately 1,900 employees do the critical work of keeping the County’s programs, services, and facilities running. From skilled tradespeople with extensive training and technical certifications to employees who hold advanced academic degrees and professional certifications, every County employee makes vital contributions that help make Middlesex County the best place to live, work, and play. What inspires these individuals to work in public service?
Fread says her work with the County provides her with a real sense of purpose. “The opportunity to solve problems, particularly the type of problems that can have an exponential ripple effect amongst staff and the greater public, is the most meaningful and fulfilling part of my job,” says Fread, who also appreciates the opportunity to work alongside her colleagues on the GIS team. “They impress me daily with their intellect and their determination to create user-friendly, visually compelling products that have been positively embraced by the organization.”
SALVATORE MANETTO Senior Engineer, Office of Engineering
Working in the public sector was always the goal for Athanasopoulos, who initially planned to work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuting sex crimes cases. With years of volunteer experience and externships in victim and child advocacy, she was on her way to achieving that goal — until she discovered a new one. The opportunity in County Counsel “presented itself like kismet,” says Athanasopoulos, who originally joined the office as Deputy Counsel in 2003. More than 20 years later, she still relishes the challenges of the job — despite the day-to-day pressures. (The Office of County Counsel serves as chief legal counsel to the Board of County Commissioners, the Constitutional and statutory officers, the County administrator, and County department heads and office directors.)
NIKI ATHANASOPOULOS , ESQ. First Deputy County Counsel, Office of County Counsel “Representing Middlesex County
Currently the lead engineer overseeing the County’s Community, Investment, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan, Manetto interned in the Office of Engineering in 2017 before joining the County as a full-time engineer from 2018 to 2022. He then spent nearly three years as operations assistant traffic engineer at the NJ Turnpike Authority before returning to the County in 2024. A graduate of Rutgers University with a BS degree in civil and environmental engineering, Manetto is a licensed professional engineer and holds a professional traffic operations engineer certification.
“The most meaningful part of my job is creating solutions that truly make a difference in the community.”
and making a difference in advocating for the public is such a rewarding career.”
He says he found his stride at Middlesex County working on capital improvement projects that enhance residents’ quality of life. “Every project begins as a need expressed by the people of Middlesex County,” says Manetto. “From there, we develop and refine ideas through thoughtful design and bring them to life through construction. The reward comes when that solution becomes more than just a completed project — it becomes a lasting resource for the community.”
“I continue to fulfill my dreams of serving the public with purpose,” she says, also crediting County Counsel Thomas F. Kelso, the Board, and Administration as critical to her decision to stay with the County. “One of the most meaningful parts of my job is the respect and appreciation I get from my colleagues, which gives me a tremendous sense of pride representing Middlesex County.” Before joining the Office of County Counsel, Athanasopoulos served a judicial clerkship with two Superior Court judges of New Jersey, Criminal Division. Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, the New Jersey State Bar, and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, she holds a JD from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and a BA in English and Women’s Studies from Penn State University.
“Behind every County program, service, and initiative are talented, hard-working County employees. Their contributions are invaluable.”
County Commissioner Deputy Director Shanti Narra Chair, Public Safety and Health Committee
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4 Your Middlesex | 2025 Issue 3
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