Michele N. Siekerka, Esq., President and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, leads the nation’s largest, most influential employers’ organization, advocating on behalf of New Jersey’s large and small businesses for policies that will make New Jersey more affordable and regionally competitive.

Being known as a collaborative leader, Siekerka is leading an NJBIA established coalition (New Jersey Business Coalition) comprised of more than 100 business and nonprofit associations across the state to tackle the tough economic and business challenges our state is facing during COVID 19.

Well versed on the ‘boots on the ground” issues affecting our state’s business community, Michele is often the “go to” resource for media and is sought after to share her expertise in public forums across the state.

Ray Cantor is Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer of Government Affairs of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), the nation’s largest state-level business association whose member companies collectively employ 1 million people.

Cantor, an attorney whose career has included high-level positions in the legislative and executive branches of government, a former assistant commissioner and, later, chief adviser to the commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), leads NJBIA’s advocacy efforts on environmental and energy matters affecting the business community.

At DEP, Cantor oversaw the offices of Legal Affairs, Dispute Resolution, and Economic Analysis in addition to advising the DEP commissioner on policy, legal, management, and economic matters. Cantor was also responsible for policy formulation related to all DEP regulations, including site remediation, NRD, air quality, water regulation, and land-use management.

A graduate of New York Law School, Cantor began his career working at the state’s Office of Legislative Services as senior counsel in the Environment, Energy, & Natural Resources section. He later served as the Assistant Commissioner of Land Use Management & Compliance at DEP until 2002 and also worked as a project consultant for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Cantor’s experience as a business lobbyist includes five years as director of Government Affairs for the Medical Society of New Jersey and then executive director of the New Jersey Apartment Association. He returned to the state DEP in 2010, where he served as chief advisor to DEP Commissioner Bob Martin for eight years.

As director of state policy solutions, Burdis manages a team of professionals who endeavor to harmonize emerging state electricity policies with wholesale market design and transmission system planning policies. His organization specifically focuses on: offshore wind development; clean energy development; resource adequacy evolution; grid modernization; and, grid security maintenance.
Before his current post, Burdis served as the business operations manager to PJM’s General Counsel / Senior Vice President of Law, Compliance and External Relations. Here he managed a portfolio on matters relating to corporate governance, regulatory filings, development of policy and messaging, and long-term corporate strategy.

Prior, Burdis served as manager of policy analysis & strategy, managing a team of economists focused on the outreach and strategy development for state government engagement; focusing on policy assessment, market design and transmission planning. Additionally, he managed PJM’s engagement with the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI) and its interaction with the company’s Executive Team and Board of Managers.

Burdis started his career as an engineer working in PJM’s markets and operations divisions.
He is a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, holds a Master of Science in Engineering from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Science from Lebanon Valley College.

Burdis started his career as an engineer working in PJM’s markets and operations divisions.

He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering from West Virginia University and a Bachelor of Science from Lebanon Valley College.

Varu Chilakamarri is a partner in the firm’s Environment, Land, and Natural Resources practice group. Her practice focuses on litigation services, with a specialization in appellate matters and in administrative, environmental, and energy law. Varu also counsels clients on government-facing matters, which often involve strategic analysis of legal risks and opportunities presented by statutory and regulatory frameworks.

Varu joins the firm after a 17-year career at the US Department of Justice, where she was a successful federal district and appellate court litigator and held various senior leadership roles. Most recently, she served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the DOJ’s Civil Division. In this role, Varu was the head of the Torts Branch, an office of over 230 litigators and staff who defend the United States in a wide range of suits for monetary damages—including toxic tort cases arising out of environmental regulatory actions, constitutional tort cases, and cases brought under unique statutory compensation programs.

Before that, Varu was an appellate attorney in the Environment and Natural Resources Division, serving as lead counsel in complex civil and criminal appeals. These included facial challenges to the constitutionality of federal laws and regulations, and challenges to the validity of federal permitting and land use decisions (e.g., cases involving the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act). She also litigated enforcement cases, including those involving violations of substantive environmental laws, recordkeeping requirements, and various Title 18 provisions. She argued cases before the US Court of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, D.C., and the Federal Circuit, and she has practiced in several other federal appellate and district courts. Varu was previously appointed as the Division’s first counselor for animal welfare matters and served as Chief of Staff to the Assistant Attorney General in DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.

Varu’s work at the DOJ often centered on novel legal challenges arising from a broad suite of federal statutes, including two preemption lawsuits that went to the US Supreme Court.

Varu joined the DOJ in 2006 through the Attorney General’s honors program as a trial attorney in the Civil Division’s Federal Programs Branch, and during her tenure, also worked in the office of the Associate Attorney General as Acting Deputy and served on detail to the White House Counsel’s Office. Before joining the DOJ, Varu clerked for Judge R. Guy Cole in the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Judge Timothy B. Dyk in the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Ms. Cradic joined New Jersey Resources (NJR) in February 2018. As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Non-Utility Businesses, Strategy and External Affairs, she is responsible for providing leadership, management and vision to NJR Clean Energy Ventures, NJR Energy Services and NJR Midstream. She also oversees the company’s Corporate Strategy, Government Affairs, Communications and Sustainability functions.

Before joining NJR, Ms. Cradic served the New Jersey Office of the Governor in several capacities, including as Senior Policy Advisor, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Cabinet Liaison before becoming Chief of Staff to the Governor. During her tenure, Ms. Cradic was instrumental in balancing state budgets and delivering policy agendas in regulatory, governmental and political environments. Prior to that, Ms. Cradic served as Deputy Director and Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Ms. Cradic holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from The College of New Jersey, a master’s degree in mass communication from New York University and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.

She currently serves on the Board of Governors for Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, the New Jersey Future Board of Trustees and Executive Women of New Jersey. She is also a trustee for the NJ chapter of The Nature Conservancy.

Cyril W. Draffin, Jr. is Senior Fellow, Advanced Nuclear for the U.S. Nuclear Industry Council, where he facilitates progress on the development, demonstration, regulation, financing, and deployment of multiple Advanced Nuclear technologies to meet industrial and utility energy requirements. Mr. Draffin is Regulations and Workstream lead for the U.S. Department of Commerce Small Modular Reactor Working Group, is Vice-Chair of the Maryland Cybersecurity Critical Infrastructure subcommittee, is leader of MIT Alumni Angels of DC, and is affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Energy Initiative.

Previously, Mr. Draffin was Director, Strategic Development for Northrop Grumman Corporation; Vice President of a venture capital company; Director at the U.S. Department of Energy; and Nuclear and Environmental Engineer at Bechtel Power.  Mr. Draffin has BS and MS degrees in chemical engineering from MIT.

Erick combines nearly two decades of public sector leadership and private sector experience in the energy industry. He brings a keen understanding of the strategies and approaches to shaping and affecting policy through collaboration with trade groups, community groups, business and municipal stakeholders.

Erick advises businesses in the utility, energy, hydrogen energy, software development and renewable energy sectors. A leading authority in New Jersey’s energy and utility sector, he currently serves as President of the New Jersey Energy Coalition, where he assists water, electric, gas utilities and renewable energy companies with navigating and crafting regulatory policy. He also has a deep understanding of the interplay between cybersecurity and the energy industry, with experience managing the Best Practices in Cybersecurity Program for Protect Our Power, an independent organization of former electric utility industry, military, government and regulatory experts focused on strengthening the resiliency of our electric power grid. In addition, Erick is the current Chairman of the New Jersey Society for Economic, Environmental Development’s Energy Committee, where he oversees energy-related initiatives and policy activism for the organization.

As a confidential aide to a commissioner and the President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Erick advised on energy sector policy issues and liaised with New Jersey organizations, including the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), Department of Energy, Department of Environmental Protection, and the Economic Development Authority, to address issues regarding cybersecurity, workforce development, electric vehicles, and rulemaking. Prior to his roles in the energy and utility space, Erick was the Agency Manager of the NJ MVC.

Erick has led and participated in key industry panels regarding utility policy, energy efficiency, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicle, hydrogen, nuclear energy and incentive programs at forums like NARUC, the New Jersey Business & Industry Association and EUCI. He has also lectured at the Rowan University Center for Responsible Leadership, Stockton University and at the Stevens’ Institute.

Rebecca Moll Freed is a partner in the firm’s Government Contracts and Procurement Policy practice. She is also a member of the Nonprofit, Power, and Public Policy and Law practice areas.

Rebecca’s practice is truly at the intersection of law, government, and business. Through her varied practice, Rebecca focuses on helping companies successfully navigate through a myriad of complex regulatory frameworks pertaining to political contributions, pay-to-play rules, government contracting, ethics rules, lobbying requirements, and energy and utility matters. Rebecca also works extensively with trade associations, charitable organizations, social welfare organizations, issue advocacy groups, political action committees, independent expenditure only committees (Super PACs) and coalitions on governance, lobbying and political activity compliance matters. Rebecca always takes a “hands-on” approach to working with clients and views herself as an extension of the client’s team.

Rebecca counsels companies on government contracting and the procurement process. She provides training and counseling to companies, in-house counsel, and corporate ethics and compliance officers seeking to maximize government contracting opportunities while assuring their compliance with the law. Rebecca provides clients with substantive counsel on pay-to-play laws and has extensive experience in assisting clients in successfully preparing and completing RFPs and RFQs for federal, bi-state, state, and local government entities. Rebecca also has experience with vendor codes of ethics, prequalification questionnaires, background qualification questionnaires, diversity in government contracting, set-asides for minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs), Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), and public-private partnerships (P3s).

Rebecca is also a member of the firm’s Government Ethics and Election Law team. She has helped clients develop enterprise-wide multi-jurisdictional compliance programs for political engagement, lobbying compliance, and gifts and entertainment. Rebecca has frequently developed these programs for clients who are government contractors with the end goal of making sure their political contributions, lobbying activities and interactions with government officials do not jeopardize their eligibility for government contracting opportunities.

In the energy and utility space, Rebecca has worked with utility companies, solar companies, and offshore wind companies on procurement matters and lobbying and political activity compliance. She has also represented clients before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU).

Janice Fuller is Anbaric’s Mid-Atlantic President where she spearheads the company’s policy efforts as well as leads project development of offshore wind transmission infrastructure.

Prior to joining Anbaric, Ms. Fuller served as Chief of Staff to Congressman and House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (NJ-06), and previously served as District Director. She also held roles as Director of Cabinet Affairs in the administration of Governor Jon Corzine where she oversaw the operations of several state departments and as the Executive Director of a statewide political party, as well as senior leadership roles in numerous political campaigns.

Ms. Fuller graduated with honors from Boston University. She previously served as an elected member of the Board of Education in her hometown in New Jersey and currently serves as the President of the Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County.

Jeff Grant manages matters related to utilities and utilities sustainability with over twenty years of experience with portfolio utilities management, including Environmental Social Governance (“ESG”) utility metrics and reporting for commercial and multifamily facility portfolios.   He is expert in delivering results by managing energy rates, boosting tenant utilities revenue, and improving facility energy efficiency.

He began his career with Mack-Cali in 1999 having come from the consulting engineering profession where he specialized in utility reliability and mitigation of utility rate risk by strategic central plant and utility services design.  Prior to consulting engineering, he managed a design-build mechanical contracting company and prior to that he was with the Exxon Research and Engineering Company.

Jeff is a mechanical engineer from Tulane University and a business administration master from Rutgers Graduate School of Management.  Also, he is a licensed engineer, a Certified Energy Manager, Certified Energy Procurement Professional, certified NJ BPU Benchmarker and a registered NJ BPU Energy Agent – Private Aggregator – Energy Consultant.

Brian Keatts is a partner in the Business Law and Litigation Department at Davison Eastman Munoz Paone, P.A. With over 20 years of experience across multiple state and federal jurisdictions, Brian has represented clients across a wide range of industries, including the construction, energy, business, commercial real estate, environmental, banking, insurance and governmental sectors.

Brian Keatts’s trial experience includes serving as special counsel for the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), in connection with the NJ’s joint beach replenishment program along portions of New Jersey. Brian also has experience representing architects, engineers and attorneys against claims of professional malpractice. He has provided counsel to interstate natural gas companies in project planning, construction and all associated litigation, as well as to private utilities and governmental agencies in planning and getting their projects built.

Brian Keatts’s practice focuses on all facets of complex commercial litigation and general liability matters, including construction claims and related litigation, drafting property right agreements, contractual disputes, condemnation/eminent domain, consumer fraud claims, regulatory claims and licensing (e.g., A901 licensing), and various tort and business interruption claims. He regularly represents clients at mediation, arbitration, commissioner hearings, and state and appellate courts. Brian works extensively with clients in analyzing issues, forming litigation strategies when necessary, and directing a team to implement those strategies.

Bob Martin is a senior executive with vast experience in both the public and private sectors working with and running large and complex organizations. Extensive skills and experience managing, transforming and consulting to companies and government organizations. His abilities include strong analytical, strategic, leadership, people management and development, financial, and regulatory skills. Bob has strong sector knowledge in the utility & energy industries, government, health insurance, and manufacturing & distribution.

Bob’s work at Christie 55 Solutions has included working with clients on:

• Renewable Energy Strategy (Offshore & Onshore Wind, Solar, Battery Storage and Hydrogen)
• Business Strategy and Growth
• Sports Betting
• Regulatory & Permitting Strategy at the State and Federal levels
• Land Use Strategy
• Environmental Strategy
• Fossil and Nuclear Power Generation
• Electric Power Transmission
• Infrastructure and Engineering

Bob served as New Jersey’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection under Governor Christie from 2010 to 2018, managing over 2,800 professionals and a multi-million dollar annual state budget and other federal and state resources. He effectively implemented DEP’s mission to protect the air, water, land and natural and historic resources of the state. He has deep knowledge and expertise in state and federal environmental and land use laws and regulations, and working with numerous federal agencies and departments. Bob also played a key leadership role under Governor Christie in coordinating the State’s preparation and response, and long-term rebuilding from natural disasters, especially for Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

Prior to public service, Bob was a Partner at Accenture LLP with over 25 years of experience consulting to a broad variety of businesses and industries, and trusted advisor to senior executives to help them achieve their vision and create value. He has extensive skills and experience in all aspects of business and management consulting, including business strategy and planning, business transformation and operations reengineering, IT strategy, systems implementation and change management.

Bob has extensive international experience including living and working in the UK for 5 years, and doing significant consulting work throughout Europe and Canada. He has demonstrated expertise in all the key aspects of the utility industry, including electric generation, electric & gas transmission, and electric, gas and water distribution operations. Bob has a BA in Economics & Sociology from Boston College and an MBA, concentrating in Finance & Investments, from the George Washington University.

Paulina Banasiak O’Connor is a seasoned veteran of New Jersey politics with years of experience in the executive and legislative branch as well as the private sector. She has years of experience in public policy and government affairs, specializing in relationship management, issue advocacy, and strategy implementation.

She is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Offshore Wind Alliance, an advocacy project established to represent the offshore wind development community in the state. Previously, Paulina was a lobbyist at The Zita Group, a woman owned lobbying firm in Trenton, where she served as Vice President. Prior to The Zita Group, Paulina served in the role of Director of Legislative Affairs as well as Acting Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Philip D. Murphy. Since the start of the Murphy administration, she was a part of developing and advancing the Governor’s legislative policy priorities which included bills related to the environment, clean energy, gun violence prevention, economic tax incentives, and online sports gaming. Among various high-level responsibilities, Paulina contributed to crafting the Governor’s state budget, preparing cabinet officials for confirmations, legislative hearings, and participated in the appointments process. Paulina also served on the Commission on Capital Budgeting and Planning as the Governor’s Appointee. Paulina began her career in public service as a Legislative Director for former Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), then Chair of the Assembly Human Services Committee and Vice-Chair of the Assembly Transportation Committee. In 2017, Paulina became the Chief of Staff to Assemblyman Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson) working on legislation pertaining to clean energy, public transportation, veteran’s services, and the state budget.

Before starting her career in government, Paulina worked as a social worker in Bergen County with survivors of domestic violence. She received her Bachelors in Psychology from Montclair State University and her Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University. She lives in Bordentown City with her husband and dog.

Grace Power has more than two decades of experience advising businesses and governmental leaders on a variety of public policy issues. With experience in government, law firms, and the private sector, she is uniquely positioned to help clients navigate complex government regulations and processes to achieve their regulatory and policy objectives.

Grace brings deep experience in the energy, utilities, and renewables industries and, before joining McCarter, served as Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for HomeServe USA, the leading provider of home repair solutions in North America, where she developed and led a nationwide government and regulatory affairs program focused on public utility commissions.

Previously, Grace served as the Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities within the Administration of Governor Phil Murphy. She provided strategic leadership to implement executive orders, legislative mandates, and policy goals. Grace served as Chair of the 2019 Energy Master Plan Committee, leading a multi-agency public process involving hundreds of stakeholders in government and business to develop a master plan designed to achieve 100% clean energy in the state by 2050. The multifaceted plan includes expanding the state’s renewable infrastructure to support the development of renewable energy such as solar and offshore wind.

In her roles in private practice, Grace also served as outside counsel to numerous retail energy suppliers, large national energy providers, and one of the largest New Jersey water utilities, advising them on all facets of regulatory, policy, contract, licensing, and legal compliance issues impacting their day-to-day business operations.

Active in state and local politics, Grace is a Board Member for the Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey. She also serves on the Board of Consultors for the New Jersey State Bar Association Public Utility Law Section. Grace previously served as Co-Chair of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee Women’s Caucus.

Crystal Pruitt is the External Affairs Lead supporting all teams and portfolio of projects at Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind.  Prior to her joining Atlantic Shores, Crystal was the Deputy Director in the Clean Energy Division of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and ran the Office of Clean Energy Equity.  This office, created in 2020, was the first of its kind focusing on ensuring access to clean energy programming and technologies for all residents across New Jersey.

A graduate of North Carolina State University and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Crystal transitioned to government work in 2017 and has worked in both the Legislative and Executive Branches.

Notably, prior to her work with the NJ Board of Public Utilities, she was Chief of Staff, for now, NJ State Senator Andrew Zwicker (LD-16), and worked as a legislative liaison for the NJ Department of Human Services.  In addition to her state government experience, she is also a sitting councilwoman in her hometown of Franklin Township, NJ, located in Somerset County, NJ.

As the president and chief executive officer of South Jersey Industries (SJI), Mike Renna leads one of New Jersey’s most prominent energy infrastructure companies.

Mr. Renna joined SJI in 1998 and through his hard work and commitment to success, he advanced through a number of managerial and professional positions. Prior to his leadership role at SJI, Mr. Renna held the titles of president of South Jersey Energy Solutions and South Jersey Energy, the region’s largest energy marketer. He was appointed to the South Jersey Energy Solutions executive committee in November 2012 and to the SJI Board of Directors in 2014. In 2015, Mr. Renna was named to his current position as president and chief executive officer of SJI.

Under his leadership, SJI has strengthened its focus on supporting the state’s vision of a clean energy future while continuing to uphold the company’s longstanding commitment to delivering safe, reliable, affordable clean energy to over 700,000 natural gas customers via SJI Utilities (SJIU).

In 2021, SJI took significant strides to fulfill the goals outlined in its comprehensive sustainability plan, including the development of a portfolio of innovative renewable energy projects through its growing non-utility subsidiary, SJI Energy Enterprises (SJIEE). Mr. Renna and SJI are at the forefront of this transformation, delivering clean energy solutions for a better today and tomorrow.

An alumnus of the University of Delaware, where he earned his undergraduate degree in finance, Mr. Renna also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell University. He serves on various boards of directors including the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and Choose New Jersey. Additionally, Mr. Renna sits on the board of trustees for The Hun School of Princeton. He is also a member of the steering committee for the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University, participates in the University of Delaware’s Student Mentoring Program and is a member of the Jefferson Health New Jersey Business Council.

Christine Todd Whitman is the President of The Whitman Strategy Group (WSG), a consulting firm that specializes in energy and environmental issues. WSG offers a comprehensive set of solutions to problems facing businesses, organizations, and governments; they have been at the forefront of helping leading companies find innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

Governor Whitman served in the cabinet of President George W. Bush as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from January of 2001 until June of 2003. She was the 50th Governor of the State of New Jersey, serving as its first woman governor from 1994 until 2001.

As Governor, Christie Whitman earned praise from both Republicans and Democrats for her commitment to preserve a record amount of New Jersey land as permanent green space. She was also recognized by the Natural Resources Defense Council as having instituted the most comprehensive beach monitoring system in the nation. As EPA Administrator, she promoted common-sense environmental improvements such as watershed-based water protection policies.  She championed regulations requiring non-road diesel engines to reduce sulfur emissions by more than 95 percent.  During her tenure, the Agency was successful in passing and implementing landmark brownfields legislation to promote the redevelopment and reuse of “brownfields”, previously contaminated industrial sites.

She is the author of a New York Times best seller called “It’s My Party Too”, which was published in January of 2005 and released in paperback in March 2006.

Governor Whitman formerly served on the Boards of United Technologies Corporation, Texas Instruments Inc. and S.C. Johnson and Son, Inc. She is on the Advisory Board of The Northeast Maglev (TNEM).Governor Whitman also serves a number of non-profit organizations including as Chairman of the American Security Project, Vice-Chairman of the Trustees of the Eisenhower Fellowships, Executive Committee of the National World War II Museum, and member of the Boards of Directors of the World Food Program USA and the Meridian Institute. She is co-chair of the Forward Party, the States United Democracy Center, the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Leadership Council, the Aspen Institute K12 Climate Action Task Force, and the National Institute for Civil Discourse. She is a member of the National Advisory Committee for the Presidential Climate Action Project, a founding member of the Climate Leadership Council, and Senior Fellow at the Kettering Foundation. She is a member of the advisory boards of the Renew America Movement, the Rick Herema Foundation, and the ERA Coalition.

She was co-chair of the Commission on the Rule of Law and Democracy at the Brennan Center at New York University. During the 2020 election cycle, she served as Chair of Republicans and Independents for Biden, and as one of the Advisory Board members for the Voter Protection Project.

In 2018, Governor Whitman was the recipient of the Panetta Institute’s Jefferson-Lincoln Award for her dedication to the key principles of the American democracy and the ideals of the nation. Governor Whitman was awarded The Eisenhower Medal for Leadership and Service in 2017.

Prior to becoming Governor, she was the President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and served on the Somerset County board of Chosen Freeholders.

Governor Whitman holds a BA from Wheaton College in Norton, MA, and was married for 41 years to the late John R. Whitman. She has two children and seven grandchildren.