NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka has been selected as one of New Jersey’s most influential business leaders by NJBIZ in its annual Power 100 list published Monday.
The Power 100 identifies important leaders who are in positions to shape New Jersey’s economic future and make the state a better place to live, work and do business. In short, these are “the folks to watch,” according to NJBIZ.
NJBIZ made note of Siekerka’s steadfast opposition to the $15 minimum wage legislation, which impacts small businesses most. NJBIZ said that after the law’s enactment:
“…NJBIA’s attention turned to seeking changes and helping its members cope with the new requirements, as well as the paid leave law that is now in effect. But the group also pays attention the big picture, recently issuing a report on New Jersey’s approaching ‘financial cliff’ showing that state expenditures have outstripped revenue for the past 10 years. Studies like that and daily news bulletins, keep the NJBIA at the forefront of the conversation about where the state’s economy is headed.”
The NJBIZ Power 100 List ranks the Top 10 influential leaders, and lists the remaining 90 in alphabetical order. This year’s Top 10 are:
- Phil Murphy
- Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and Senate President Steve Sweeney, who tied for No. 2;
- Brian Gragnolati, the president and CEO of Atlantic Health System;
- S. Senator Cory Booker, D-N.J.;
- George Norcross, the executive chairman at Conner Strong & Buckelew and chairman of the board of trustees at Cooper University Health Care;
- Gov. Sheila Oliver;
- Kevin Conlin, chairman of the board of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey;
- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
- NJ Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan
and New Jersey’s freshmen Congress members Andrew Kim, Tom Malinowski, Mikie Sherrill and Jeff Van Drew, whose election helped deliver a Democratic majority to Congress. The four tied for No. 10 on the Power 100 list.