For our second Staff Spotlight segment, it comes as a perfect follow-up to get to know
a little more about our newly named Director, David S. Bagatelle. This upcoming session in
June 2006 will mark his twenty-fifth consecutive year of service to ALJBS. He is only the 6th
Director in our sixty-year history, succeeding longtime Director William T. Wilkins.
Director Bagatelle hopes to continue the traditions set forth by his mentor and
friend, Director Wilkins, and looks for ways to enhance the program for the delegates
in this college-level seminar and one of the top Boys State programs in the country.
Mr. Bagatelle was a delegate to ALJBS in 1981 (sponsored by Post 174 in Wayne, NJ), and began his long service
to ALJBS the following year. During his many years of service to ALJBS, he has performed the following roles:
Assistant Director, Dean of the Program, Political Advisor, Party Advisor, Legislative Counselor, County
Counselor and Senior City Counselor. As a result of his hard work and commitment, in 1991, American Legion
Jersey Boys State awarded Mr. Bagatelle the "Harry V. Groome Award" for outstanding contributions to the
Program. He has spoken to the delegates on numerous subjects as a seminar speaker, in addition to his
continuous support for the delegates at the Political Desk. Mr. Bagatelle was instrumental in making
innovative changes to ALJBS including upgrading seminars, the direct election of Boys Nation Senators,
revamping and streamlining the schedule, the Family Day Picnic, the ALJBS College Fair, the advent of
technology at ALJBS, and the D-Day Presentation.
Director Bagatelle was the founder of the
New Jersey Boys State Foundation, a 501c-3 charitable foundation
whose goal is to raise money for the good of the ALJBS Program. As a member of the Foundation's Board of
Directors, he was elected the organization's first Chairman and served in that role until his appointment
as ALJBS Director. Under his guidance, the Foundation has strengthened each year.
Mr. Bagatelle has been influential in building the Boys State program in the last ten years through his
involvement with the Foundation. From monetary donations to "the Program" each year via the "Legacy
Scholarship Program", to the further integration of Technology, as well as the annual Family Day Picnic
(held prior to Graduation at Rider University each year), Mr. Bagatelle's guidance has helped propel the
Foundation's growth and productivity.
In addition, he is a member of American Legion Jersey Boys State's Board of Trustees and member of the
Trustee's Executive Committee. Mr. Bagatelle is a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 415 in
Saddle Brook, NJ.
Mr. Bagatelle is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Signature Securities Group, a full service
U.S. Retail Broker-Dealer, and Executive Vice President of
Signature Bank. He has served in these roles since
Signature's inception in May 2001. Signature caters to privately owned businesses, their owners, management and
staff as well as high net worth individuals. This target market is currently underserved by the many large
financial institutions that typically service the mass market and by traditional private banks designed to
serve only the wealthy. Having successfully identified this market niche and establishing itself in the New
York market, Signature Bank now operates 13 private client offices located throughout the New York metropolitan
area. After just four years in business, Signature Bank's assets have grown to $3.8 billion while deposits
reached $2.9 billion, as of June 30, 2005. Additionally, Signature Bank now ranks in the top 2.5% of all U.S.
commercial banks, based on total assets (according to the FDIC). In his role, Mr. Bagatelle oversees
Signature's off-balance sheet activities including wealth management, investment management, brokerage,
insurance, and SBA sales and trading and he also assists Signature's private client teams with business
development.
Prior to helping found Signature Bank, Mr. Bagatelle was with Republic National Bank of New York ("RNB") which
he joined in 1993 and held a number of increasingly responsible positions. In 1999 David Bagatelle was
appointed Managing Director of RNB and a member of the Senior Management Committee of the Consumer Financial
Services Division, the third largest consumer banking business in the New York metropolitan area and Vice
Chairman of the Board of Republic Financial Services Corporation ("RFS") and Republic Insurance Agency. Mr.
Bagatelle was the founder of Republic Financial Services Corporation and was named President and Chief
Executive Officer in 1998. Mr. Bagatelle was a major influence in developing and implementing an innovative
business plan that changed the way investment products were sold at RNB along with a creative assets under
management compensation plan and integrated sales approach.
Mr. Bagatelle received his MBA in Finance from New York University's Stern School of Business in 1989 where he
was President of the Investment Club. He received his BA in Government from Wesleyan University in 1986.
He was the founder and President of "Wesvest" - the Wesleyan Investment Club, was President of Delta Kappa
Epsilon Fraternity and was a four year starter on the varsity football team. He is an active Board Member of
the Wesleyan Cardinal Club and is an active fundraiser for Wesleyan University. He also serves on the Board
of Directors of JASA, is a member of the Finance Committee of the Rio Vista Homeowners Association, and is
founder of the Ramapo Valley Homeowners Association, a political action committee representing the interests
of homeowners, taxpayers, and voters in Northern New Jersey.
Mr. Bagatelle holds numerous NASD Securities Licenses including Series 7, 24, 27, 63, and 65 along with a New
York State Life and Health Insurance License. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, is a member of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey State Society of Certified Public
Accountants.
Mr. Bagatelle lives in Mahwah, New Jersey with his wife Sharon and their two daughters Olivia and Emma.
