Unity Bancorp Inc. (NASDAQ: UNTY) announced that its board has appointed Sara M. Sooy and Alfred J. Gaburo to the Unity Bank Board of Directors.

Sooy brings banking, finance, governance, and public-sector experience to the position. Her background includes public company audit committee service, credit risk evaluation, commercial real estate finance, enterprise risk governance, capital planning, and fiduciary oversight. She previously held roles with Investors Bank and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and currently serves as a Somerset County Commissioner.

Gaburo brings more than 30 years of experience in public affairs, government relations, economic development, and strategic advocacy. He has represented organizations across New Jersey in healthcare, insurance, transportation, environmental services, maritime, and pharmaceutical industries. Gaburo previously served as a member of the Raritan Borough Council, where he was elected council president and served on the Planning Board and as Police and Fire Commissioner.

"We are pleased to welcome Al and Sara to the Unity Bank Board of Directors," said James A. Hughes, CEO of Unity Bank. "Their professional experience, leadership, and deep understanding of New Jersey's business and community landscape will strengthen our board and support Unity's continued growth."

Sooy earned an MBA in Real Estate Finance from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Saint Francis College. She serves on boards including the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, Somerset County Business Partnership, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Latino Advisory Board.

Gaburo graduated from the University of Delaware and attended programs at the American Institute of Applied Politics and the Eagleton Institute of Applied Politics at Rutgers University. He is a Leadership New Jersey Fellow and has served on boards including Advantage Bank, Community First Bank, Commercial Fidelity Insurance Company, and Saint Peter's University Healthcare System.

Unity Bancorp is the parent company of Unity Bank, which operates 22 branches across New Jersey and Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley.