NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka on Friday announced the business professionals who will lead NJBIA’s three member councils in 2023 and help steer the informative programs and events that provide New Jersey businesses with the tools and resources to prosper.
The Women Business Leaders Council, the Not-for-Profit Council and the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council will collectively benefit from the expertise of 17 individuals who will serve as co-leaders and guide the councils’ work.
NJBIA Women Business Leaders Council
The Women Business Leaders Council works to advance the next generation of women executives into the C-suite and boardroom by providing information, educational opportunities and an open exchange of ideas though online programs and in-person events. The NJBIA Women Business Leaders Forum, which is the largest professional women’s conference in New Jersey, brings together hundreds of businesspeople every September for two days of executive TED-style Talks and valuable breakout sessions, coaching and network opportunities.
In 2023, the council will be led by:
- Lorena Mosquera, Workflow Strategist, Paradigm Marketing and Design
- Sally-Jo O’Brien, Director of Executive Coaching, Human Emergence Group
- Stephanie Staub, Director of Infrastructure and Energy Strategy and Workforce Partnership, New Jersey Community Colleges Consortium
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Women Business Leaders Council will present an online program: Dare to Lead: Setting Boundaries for a Healthy, Productive Year. O’Brien, a certified facilitator of Dr. Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead program, will present a 90-minute virtual program on setting healthy boundaries in your personal life and professional career. To register to attend, go here. Council meetings are open to both NJBIA members and future NJBIA members.
NJBIA Not-for-Profit Council
The NJBIA Not-for-Profit Council brings together professionals from not-for-profits and for-profit businesses to exchange ideas and resources that can help turn contacts into donors and enhance fundraising and strategic partnerships. For 2023, there are seven co-leaders who will guide the council’s online programs and in-person events, including the annual Not-for-Profit Summit, which takes place this year on March 21 at the Pines Manor in Edison.
The Not-for-Profit Council co-leaders are:
- Dawn Doherty, Executive Director, Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide
- Sally Glick, Ambassador, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
- Jodi Grinwald, Founder & Change Agent, Today is the Day LLC
- Mary Lonergan, Corporate Partnerships & Engagement Officer, Covenant House
- Joseph J. Perez, CPA, Partner, WithumSmith+Brown, PC
- Gary Pollack, Senior VP Government Affairs & Health Equity, GoMo Health
- Gerald Tieyah, Senior Manager of Volunteer Services and Community Engagement, Food Bank of South Jersey
On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the NJBIA Not-for-Profit Council will present The Evolving Dynamics of Corporate Giving, a one-hour virtual program led by Diana Blankman, head of US Corporate Social Responsibility at Sanofi. Blankman also is president of Sanofi Cares North America, which provides donations to nonprofit organizations to reduce inequalities in patient access to medications. To register to attend, go here. This online program is open to both NJBIA members and future members.
NJBIA Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council
The NJBIA Diversity Equity & Inclusion Council includes business leaders from all backgrounds and industries who strategize successful DE&I practices at meetings and collaborate on major events, including the annual DE&I Summit, which will be held Tuesday, April 18 at the Holiday Inn, Clark.
For 2023, there are seven co-leaders of the DE&I Council:
- Beanne DeGuzman, Director of Development, iLearn Schools
- Denise Venuti Free, Senior Director of Communications & External Affairs, New Jersey American Water
- Jason Holt, Esq., Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC
- Shyekah “Shy” Hopkins, Marketing Coordinator, New Jersey Small Business Development Center
- S. Craig Mourton, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Fairleigh Dickinson University
- Andrea S. Murphy, Director of Environmental Affairs & Sustainability, Panasonic North America
- Jackie Lue Raia, President, ALEXENA Consulting, LLC