CCJ Directory

As the Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of one of the largest state agencies in New Jersey, Marcus was directly accountable for 20,000 individuals and a $1 billion budget. In his three year tenure, he reduced the overall agency budget for three consecutive fiscal years, netting $70 million in savings. He realized the efficiencies as a result of strategic operations investments that reduced the prison population by 36% during his tenure. As the Chief Executive Officer, Marcus galvanized his workforce with a focus on increased productivity and professional development, launching the organization’s first ever “Workforce Wellness Initiative,” providing employees access to mental health, financial planning, physical health and spiritual counseling services.

Marcus is no stranger to taking on the most difficult of challenges. As a licensed attorney in the State of New Jersey and the District of Columbia, Marcus’ legal skills have been utilized to spearhead a wide-range of issues from criminal justice reform to multimillion dollar procurements. With a Juris Doctor from Seton Hall University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the College of William and Mary, paired with a multitude of partners at the state and federal levels, Marcus has successfully lobbied for additional resources through both written and oral testimony. Marcus has successfully appeared before numerous legislative bodies throughout the course of his career. He is the past Northeast Regional Chair of the Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) and recently served as the elected Vice-President of CLA by his national peers.

A native of Virginia, Marcus’ work ethic and drive allowed him to relocate to a new market and establish himself as a true leader. Hicks has served three Governors and currently resides in New Jersey.