May 2025 Natalie Ligotino

Congratulations to our May 2025 WaveMaker of the Month!

How long have you been a member of the OceanFirst Bank team? What 
role do you play on the Bank Team? I have been a member of the OceanFirst Bank team since June of 2024 (so it’s been just about 10 months since I started). I work in the accounting department as a Staff Accountant (specifically in Regulatory Reporting) and I’m also a part of the Bank’s EDGE Program.

What has been your favorite volunteer activity – and why? Outside of work, I’m a volunteer EMT and hold a leadership role on my First Aid Squad’s Executive Board – so every moment spent with them is meaningful to me. But my favorite volunteer activity with OceanFirst has probably been the Arc of Monmouth’s 75^th Anniversary Winter Glow Gala. Dressing up, connecting with attendees, and seeing the incredible funds raised for such an important cause made it an amazing night!

What has volunteering taught you? Volunteering has taught me that small actions collectively create big change. It’s also reminded me of the importance of gratitude and perspective—giving back grounds me and reinforces why community matters both at work and beyond.

What song represents your life? “Under Pressure” by Queen & David Bowie (since to me it’s an anthem of controlled chaos) and also “Entry of the Gladiators” (that one song they always play at circuses), since life can often feel like a circus.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? I was all in on the performing arts – I wanted to be an actress, singer, and musician when I was a kid – all things I still do on the side to this day (I am involved in community theatre, a member of some different choirs, and write music)!

What was the last book you read? I’m currently reading Moneyball by Michael Lewis (after recently finishing The Big Short). It is cool to learn more about the revolution in baseball towards using data analytics – realizing that undervalued players with specific skills could be just as effective as big-name stars.