By Michael Sol Warren | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

At the heart of every story is the characters, and at the heart of all news is the people who make it. As we start 2018, here is a look at 25 New Jerseyans we think are going to make waves this year. Our list includes politicians and entertainers activists and sports figures. Some of these names are familiar, other less so. But what they all share is our expectation that this is going to be a big year for them, and that their stories are ones you'll soon be following closely.

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Photo courtesy of the Paterson Mayor's Office

25. Jane Williams-Warren

In the wake of the corruption scandal that earned former Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres five years in prison, interim-Mayor Jane Williams-Warren has to pick up the pieces in the Silk City's mayor's office. Williams-Warren knows she needs to separate herself from Torres to build public confidence; her decision not to collect pension while serving as mayor could help with that. And while Williams-Warren has said she won't run for reelection in May, but a lot can change in a few months.

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Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

24. Kellyanne Conway

Yeah, we know she had a big 2017 — if only for inspiring this now infamous "S.N.L." skit in which she was reimagined as Pennywise from "It" — but 2018 could actually be transformative for the the New Jersey pollster turned presidential adviser. This year will see her take over as Trump's opioid czar, leading the administration's fight against the opioid crisis. If Conway succeeds, she could force her numerous haters to eat their words. (And if not, well, we can look forward to another year of Kate McKinnon impressions.)

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Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media

23. Vin Gopal

Vin Gopal, a Long Branch native, is a rising star in the state Democratic Party. In November, he scored an upset win over incumbent Republican Jennifer Beck to take the state Senate seat for the 11th District. Gopal's rise is a sign of New Jersey's South Asian population's growing political and social influence.

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Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

22. Charlie Puth

Fresh off a tour with Shawn Mendes, the pop sensation from Rumson is due to put out a new album in 2018 — which some suspect might launch him into the realm of superstar. Puth's debut album, "Nine Track Mind," peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200; this past summer, Puth's hit 2015 collaboration with rapper Wiz Khalifa "See You Again" briefly became the most viewed YouTube video ever. On Oct. 5 Puth released his latest single, "How Long." The song is still a staple on the Billboard pop charts.

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Photo courtesy of James Solomon

21. James Solomon

After a shocking city council victory in Jersey City, 33-year-old Solomon seems to be starting a bright political career as a rising star for Democrats. A native of Millburn who has lived in Jersey City since 2014, Solomon campaigned on standing up to developers and has not been afraid to criticize Mayor Steven Fulop. Of course, Fulop followed a similar path to city hall; maybe Solomon will find himself in the mayor's office one day.

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Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

20. Ras Baraka

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka continues to oversee the city's resurgence. Since his election in 2014, Baraka has won praise for lowering crime, increasing development and pushing for affordable housing. Baraka is now trying to shape the city's future as a tech hub, and those hopes center around Amazon's looming HQ2 decision. Will Newark (and the $7 billion in tax incentives) land the tech giant? What will Baraka do if Amazon decides to go elsewhere? And oh yeah, Baraka is up for reelection in 2018.

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Cristina Rojas | For NJ.com

19. Catherine McCabe

McCabe made a career of working in environmental protection on the federal level, and now she'll be New Jersey's chief environmental defender after Phil Murphy chose to serve serve as the head of the state Department of Environmental Protection. McCabe last served as the acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency, a role she held from January 20 until February, when Scott Pruitt took over. Murphy and environmental groups have loudly criticized the Christie administration for its handling of climate change issues; McCabe will be the face of change in this area.

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Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

18. Kevin Brown

One of New Jersey's most influential labor leaders, Brown leads the state chapter of 32BJ SEIU, a union representing property service workers. The union has 12,000 members in New Jersey, representing the likes of security guards, office cleaners and food service workers. As the movement to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour gains steam under Murphy, look for Brown's union to be leading the charge.

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David Gard | For NJ Advance Media

17. Aron Kotler

Lakewood has grown exponentially to become the state's fastest-growing city, and there's not signs of slowing. At the heart of it all is an internationally renowned Yeshiva, Beth Medrash Govoha, and the man who runs it, Rabbi Aron Kotler. But Kotler's influence in town extends beyond the yeshiva; he's also part of the Vaad, a group that wields large influence in the town's Jewish community. As Lakewood and its growing pains attract more attention, how will Kotler and other community leaders handle the pressure?

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Photo courtesy of Jessica Culley

16. Jessica Culley

Immigrants in New Jersey, both documented and undocumented, are keeping close watch on the Trump administration's efforts to make the United States more exclusive. In South Jersey, Jessica Culley leads CATA-The Farmworkers Support Committee, a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 by migrant farmworkers to advocate for immigrant rights and better living and working conditions. Expect to see Culley's name in the news as federal immigration policies continue to become less welcoming.

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Photos courtesy of Thomas/Boyd Communications and Zito Partners

15. Jack Morris and Joe Jingoli

Jack Morris, the CEO and president of Edgewood Properties, and Joe Jingoli, the CEO of Joseph Jingoli & Son, are partnered with Hard Rock to reopen the shuttered Trump Taj Mahal as Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The $500 million renovation project is expected to be completed in 2018 with hopes for a summer opening. Between this project, the Gateway development and the potential reopening of Revel, Atlantic City's prospects are looking up.

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Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Audi

14. Taissa Farmiga

Her older sister Vera Farmiga shot to fame on the strength of movies like "Up in the Air" and TV shows like "Bates Motel." But the 23-year-old Taissa, who grew up in Readington, has been working since 2011. 2018 is shaping up to be her potential breakthrough. She's got four movies coming out this year, including a starring role in the horror flick "The Nun" (it's the fifth installment of "The Conjuring" series) and "The Long Dead Road," the latest from buzzy directed Hannah Fidell ("A Teacher") that premieres this month at Sundance.

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Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

13. Craig Coughlin

Representing the 19th district in the state Assembly since 2010, Craig Coughlin is the incoming Speaker of the Assembly after current Speaker Vincent Prieto lost the faith of Democratic Party powerbrokers. The position means Coughlin will help shape the state's legislative agenda by deciding which bills get voted on in the Assembly. Coughlin won't commit to supporting marijuana legalization, and that sets the stage for a potential conflict with Murphy.

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Saed Hindash | The Star-Ledger

12. Kevin O'Toole

As the new chairman of the Port Authority of NY/NJ, O'Toole serves as the lead advocate for New Jersey in the bistate agency. This means O'Toole will have to balance of number of pressing, New York centric issues with New Jersey's concerns. Two things that stand out: how to upgrade the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC without any real support from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo; and how to increase Port Authority funding for the Gateway Tunnel project.

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Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal

11. Amol Sinha

A native of Lawrenceville and current Jersey City resident, Sinha became the executive director of the ACLU-NJ in September. With this new role, Sinha will become a prominent figure advocating for immigrants' rights and social justice initiatives on the state level. Sinha also figures to be a major player in the effort to legalize marijuana, so keep an eye on him as New Jersey's pot debate rolls along.

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Larry Higgs | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

10. Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti

Gutierrez-Scaccetti will be New Jersey's next transportation chief, which means the never-ending complaints of commuters will become her prime responsibility. When announcing Gutierrez-Scaccetti's appointment, Murphy made it clear that he expects her to prioritize one thing: rebuilding the "national disgrace" that is NJ Transit. The success of Murphy's governorship may hinge in large part on whether or not she succeeds.

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Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

9. Chris Christie

After a tumultuous eight years in office, Chris Christie will leave Trenton as the most unpopular governor in New Jersey history. It's no secret that Christie was hoping for an even higher office, but that seems to be out of the cards after a failed presidential bid and being repeatedly spurned by the Trump administration. So what is next for the outgoing governor (beyond, that is, going to see "Springsteen on Broadway")?

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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

8. Nico Hischier

After a dreadful last place season last year, the Devils are squarely in playoff position at the top of the NHL's Eastern Conference. At the heart of the turn around? 18-year-old Nico Hischier, the No. 1 draft pick seen as the future of the team. Other players (see: Taylor Hall) may be bigger stars right now, but fans will be watching Hischier closely with the hope that his play will mean longterm success instead of a flash-in-the-pan season.

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Jeff Granit | For NJ Advance Media

7. Gurbir Grewal

Grewal is set to become New Jersey's (and the nation's) first-ever Sikh Attorney General when the Murphy administration takes over in January. Coming off of a successful tenure as Bergen County prosecutor, where he was twice nominated by Christie, Grewal is already positioning himself as an opponent of the Trump administration. Expect New Jersey to be more willing to join states like Massachusetts and California in taking legal action against the federal government under Grewal's lead.

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Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for AFI

6. Sean Baker

One year after New Jersey's Damien Chazelle took home the Best Director Oscar for "La La Land," there's another hometown hero making waves: Summit native director Sean Baker, who had a big success in late 2017 with the critically acclaimed "The Florida Project." The film could win a Golden Globe in January (Wilem Dafoe is nominated for best supporting actor). Some prognosticators have suggested that "The Florida Project" could land a Best Picture nomination. The director has not yet announced plans for his next project, but it will be interesting to see if Baker (whose previous film, "Tangerine," was shot with an iPhone) stays on the low budget path, or makes the leap to a big studio and a big budget.

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Photo courtesy of New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault

5. Patricia Teffenhart

Teffenhart is the executive director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, and in the midst of a national reckoning on sexual harassment, she has found her work elevated. Since the New York Times published its Harvey Weinstein report in October, New Jersey sexual assault hotlines have seen an uptick in calls. Teffenhart's platform is now larger than ever.

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Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

4. Sheila Oliver

New Jersey's incoming Lieutenant Governor, Oliver will head the state Department of Community Affairs in the Murphy administration. That means she is effectively the de facto mayor of Atlantic City, as the state agency took over the city in November 2016. But Oliver opposed the takeover, and she has a history of opposing privatization. So what will she do with Atlantic City?

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Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media

3. SZA

New Jersey's breakout pop star has received multiple Grammy nominations for her critically acclaimed album "CTRL," including a coveted Best New Artist nod. Bringing home some hardware would be icing on the cake, but no matter what happens at the January ceremony, the diva has cemented herself in the pop culture conscience and now stands poised to become one of the most successful New Jersey musical artists in years.

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Justin Zaremba | NJ Advance Media for The Star-Ledger

2. Mikie Sherrill

Sherrill, a veteran Navy pilot who flew helicopters on missions in Europe and the Middle East, is the frontrunner to challenge Republican incumbent Rodney Frelinghuysen in the 11th district. Sherrill claims that Frelinghuysen is out of touch with his constituents, and that appears to be a common sentiment: the district that is typically solidly Republican is now considered a tossup. If the Democrats hope to take back the House of Representatives in 2018, they'll be looking closely at races like this one.

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David Gard | For NJ Advance Media

1. Phil Murphy

Who else did you think we'd pick as the New Jerseyan poised to have the biggest 2018 of all? Despite never holding an elected office before, New Jersey's next governor already has ambitious plans for the Garden State. From legalizing marijuana and raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour to levying a millionaire's tax and creating a state bank, Murphy's term in Trenton promises to be night and day from Christie's eight years. The state legislature is dominated by Democrats, but an already low-burning feud with state Senate President Stephen Sweeney is a sign that achieving Murphy's goals won't be a cakewalk. So how much will Phil Murphy accomplish in his first year? And how will he handle the surprises that are sure to come?

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Honorable mention

Picking just 25 people to keep an eye on was tough, and many potential candidates didn't quite make the cut. Here are a few more names to keep an eye on in the coming year.

Stephen Sweeney: The state Senate President is still the second most powerful man in government, and he'll be key to any progress in Murphy's agenda.

Chris Ash: The head football coach at Rutgers has given fans hope after two seasons of steady improvement.

Sharon Sevrens: After 12 years of success with Amanti Vino in Montclair, this North Jersey wine connoisseur is expanding her operation to Morristown in February.

Vito Perillo: The newly elected mayor of Tinton Falls is a 93-year-old World War II veteran.

Dave Gettleman: The Giants new general manager has to find a new head coach and sort out the team's quarterback situation all while cleaning house, but at least he has the second pick in the draft.

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Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MSolDub. Find NJ.com on Facebook.