NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka is among the prominent business leaders recently named to South Jersey BIZ’s Power 50 list, an annual roundup of the most influential decision-makers in government, healthcare, nonprofits, banking, law, real estate, education and more.
“Behind every good leader is a team they’re accountable to, a career full of good advice, and actionable lessons in how to reframe setbacks as learning lessons, all for the betterment of their neighbors and the community they call their personal and professional home,” the magazine said in announcing the 2023 list.
Siekerka has led the state’s most impactful association representing New Jersey businesses, since 2014, expanding NJBIA’s voice on critical policy issues, as well as member services and resources.
Under Siekerka’s leadership, NJBIA has fought for pro-business reforms to make New Jersey more regionally competitive for small and large companies and has successfully built strategic workforce development alliances among academia, business and government.
Asked by the magazine to name a proud professional moment, Siekerka recalled her tenure as deputy commissioner of the state Department of Environmental Protection in 2012 during Superstorm Sandy, which ranks as the state’s most costly natural disaster, causing $30 billion in economic damage. Superstorm Sandy also claimed 38 lives in New Jersey, damaged or destroyed 346,000 homes, and left 2 million without power, many for extended periods.
“It was such a memorable time being in the trenches with my DEP team, problem-solving in real time and getting New Jersey's critical infrastructure back to normal,” Siekerka told the magazine. “Working toward the state's overall recovery and resiliency after the storm was also a proud mission.”
