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ment Affairs Unions G
Real Estate Economic
CEOs Politicians Healt
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POWER LIST 2018

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Economic Developmen
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ROI-NJ.COM March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

Editor’s Desk

Making the call

Picking the list of the state’s most influential has never been harder

“H
ere’s the thing about the administration,” the

insider began. “I can call someone at 9 a.m.,
someone I know is well connected, and get the
inside scoop on a situation.
“Then, I can call someone at 9:30, someone I know is
well connected, and get the exact opposite story.
“And I don’t think either one is lying or trying to mislead
me.”
That’s the way it is with a new
administration, especially after eight
years of the other party. It not only brings
out changes, but confusion.
Key players are learning their place.
And, in some cases, jockeying for
position.
Figuring out the lineup card is difficult for those trying
to get in good with Gov. Phil Murphy’s group.
I know how hard it can be.
This is my fifth year doing a statewide list of power
players — and it was by far the hardest.
Everyone is trying to get the lay of the new landscape.
Which law firms are suddenly more important?
Unions? We know the governor is a strong supporter —
but which union leaders will he favor?
Infrastructure? Logistics? Transportation? Yes, yes and
yes.
Influencers
POWER LIST 2018
It’s why so many of Murphy’s appointees make up so
many of the top spots.
Which businesses will be able to work with these
appointees remains to be seen.
Of course, that’s the fun part. Seeing how predications of
power and influence play out. Seeing how some of the picks
that are intended to make you think I’m clever may make
you think I’m not so smart.
Longtime followers of my list will notice more than just
the publication title has changed.
This year, the numerical ranking is cut off at 25.
The change was made for a number of reasons.
For starters, it ends the silly game of seeing whether
someone moved up or down in their ranking. Was there
really a difference between 36 and 37, or even 76 or 96?
I can assure you, no. So, why number them? Just being
selected means something. Remember, most of my input
comes from your peers.
More importantly, cutting the numerical rankings off
sooner allows us to create groupings of influencers based
around sectors. It’s a chance to highlight the top people in an
industry rather than try to arbitrarily rank them against the
top players in other industries.
Will the list prove to be accurate in the long run?
There’s no way of telling. But, if you listen to the next
part of the phone call I started with, I think you’ll have the
answer.
“Here’s the catch,” the insider said. “If I call back in six
months, I’m probably calling a new set of people.”
— Tom Bergeron

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ROI-NJ.COM March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

POWER LIST 2018 ROI Influencers

1 Phil Murphy
Governor

H
ere’s the good news for Gov. Phil Murphy, the
person who takes the top spot in the first ROI
Influencers Power List, our ordering of the most
influential people in New Jersey business.
The office he holds may be the most powerful in the U.S.
Here’s the bad news.
His party controls both houses of the Legislature.
Why is that bad news? Because, with no formal
opposition, his own party is left to fight amongst itself to
determine which of Murphy’s many campaign promises —
many of which deal with economic development — are the
highest on the priority list.
“I’ve always said having complete control is never a good
thing for a party,” one longtime Trenton insider said. “When
there’s opposition, they help dictate which priorities move to
the top, giving those in power an excuse.
“When you’re in complete control, you have to explain to
your backers — the ones who helped you get elected — why
their priority isn’t as important as those of others.”
Murphy made plenty of promises regarding the business
world during the campaign, including:
 Incentives: Will he revamp the way the state Economic
Development Authority doles them out? Will they remain
weighted toward the biggest companies, or give a much-
needed boost to the startup sector? And will urban areas
continue to have an advantage over others?
 Cannabis: Will there be a push for legalization for
medical purposes or an attempt to build a full-blown
cannabis economy, one that could provide much-needed
opportunities for pharma?
 Education: Will making community colleges free to
all residents increase the readiness for the workforce of
individuals who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend college
— and keep more coveted students in the state, too? All this
while fully funding K-12 programs?
 Minimum wage: Will there be a push to reach a $15
minimum wage over the objections of small business
owners — and how quickly will the raise be implemented?
 Millionaires tax: Will he reinstate the tax on the state’s
wealthiest and risk driving more of them out of the state?
And, then, of course, there’s the pension problem.
Fully funding the pension for state workers may not
even be possible. And, if it is, it may surely mean there is no
money left for the other ideas noted above.
This is why having so much power isn’t necessarily the
best thing.
It’s time for the governor to get down to business. He
can impact the New Jersey economy more than anyone else.
How he chooses to do it remains to be seen.
But, no matter what he chooses, only one thing is
certain: Unlike when he was on the campaign trail, he won’t
be able to please all of his supporters.

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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Top 25
2 George Norcross
Cooper University Health Care/
Conner Strong & Buckelew
Chairman/Executive chairman
If anyone thought he had
been outflanked by Gov.
Murphy, they need to think
again. “George may be
even more powerful than
before,” an insider said. “He
is locking up party chairman positions all over
the state.” Norcross’ placement is no surprise to
anyone who does business in the state. As the
chair of the Cooper health system, he’s a major
player in health care. As the executive chair
at Conner Strong & Buckelew, he’s a force in
insurance. As a South Jersey power player, he’s a
force in all things Camden and the region. No one
is better connected in business or politics. And no
one can deliver more votes in the Legislature. His
candidate failed to get the nomination in the race
for governor, but his influence has not diminished.
The old line about state power rankings holds
true again: No matter what the topic, you start
with Norcross at No. 2 — and then decide if he
needs to go higher. For this one, we’ll keep him
right here.
5 Jeff Bezos
Founder and CEO
Amazon
Forget for a minute that
his company’s RFP for a
second headquarters made
every municipal official,
development player and
elected official in the state
(even those running for governor) stop what they
were doing and prepare a bid to enter the Amazon
sweepstakes. Even those who knew they had no
chance. Take that away, and Bezos still may make
the Top 10 on this list. His company is based in
Seattle, but he’s well connected to New Jersey.
He is one of the state’s largest employers, as his
warehouses employ more than 13,500 workers,
more than singlehandedly replacing the retail-type
jobs lost in downsizing of malls. More than that,
he has huge influence on the warehouse market
(dividing existing properties into those suitable
for e-commerce and those not). And he is a
Princeton graduate. The old definition of power
and influence for this list used to be: Would the
governor take your call? With Bezos, Phil Murphy
would make the call himself. At whatever time
requested.
3 Steve Sweeney
New Jersey State Senate
President
He failed to get the
nomination for governor,
but he beat back the bid
by a powerful teachers
union to oust him as a state
senator. He failed to get the
governor’s EDA pick, Tim Sullivan, removed before
confirmation, but he perfected an end-around
move on taxes by creating his own bipartisan
panel. You see where we are going here: Politics
is a game. And, win or lose, few play it better in
the state than Sweeney. Murphy, an outsider to
politics, has the power of the office but not the
experience. “Remember, Murphy will need him
to get a lot of things he wants to get done,” one
insider said. Sweeney knows this. And he knows
how to make sure he gets what he wants in the
process. Most of all, he knows Murphy did little
to stop the NJEA’s attempt to knock him out of
the Legislature, forcing Sweeney to spend more
money than he wanted to get re-elected. The
battle ahead will be interesting.
6 Sheila Oliver
Lieutenant governor
She has been behind
the scenes since her
inauguration, but Oliver
wields significant power
through her experience and
relationships in Trenton.
Some say she is helping Craig Coughlin adjust to
life in his new role, which is one of her previous
jobs: Assembly speaker. As the highest-ranking
African-American government official in the
state, her mere presence may blur certain
geographical barriers that exist here, helping to
get key initiatives through. With a shifting balance
of power, and new players on the field, she has
the advantage of setting a new tone for the
administration. Oliver not only is one of the few
top Murphy players with Trenton experience, she
was a powerhouse in the Legislature and more
than knows how the game is played. She also is
poised to have a significant impact on key issues
affecting the state in her role as head of the
Department of Community Affairs.
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March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
4 Tammy Murphy
First lady
Much has been made
about Tammy Murphy’s
palpable presence in the
administration. Whether it’s
as surface level as being
present at bill signings, or as
behind-the-scenes as interjecting on the nuclear
subsidy bill issue in the Legislature, the first lady
is making a name for herself. She has hired a
policy person in addition to her chief of staff, and
has her own office. She’s been called the true
power, or quarterback, of the administration, and
the governor doesn’t appear to be bothered by
or hide her influence. Some question whether
her powerful presence in the administration will
be accepted by the general public, but there’s
no question she already has been accepted
by Trenton insiders and top businesspeople:
“She is smart and skilled and should not be
underestimated.” We agree. It’s why she has
a spot of her own on the list. Her presence
reinforces the conversation of the times: Women
should have a seat at the table. One thing is for
certain — the state has a tag-team governorship.
7 Tony Coscia
Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf
Partner
Perhaps lost in the noise
surrounding his role
in Amtrak, which he is
successfully running as a
business despite its recent
rash of accidents, and
the role he is playing with the Gateway Tunnel
project (he’s the leader), is the fact that Coscia
is and always has been an excellent lawyer, one
of the top in the state. “People seem to forget
that,” one insider said. Admittedly, it’s easy to
overlook it because of his history of public service
(he previously served at the EDA and ran the
Port Authority). His role with Amtrak helps him
get this spot. He has had success with its P&L
statement, perhaps setting a roadmap for New
Jersey Transit. And he is doing his best to keep a
multitude of parties and interests moving forward
on the desperately needed, game-changing tunnel
project. Then there’s this: Insiders say Murphy,
a longtime friend, values his input and counsel.
Coscia, it is said, was one of the first people
Murphy visited when he was an unheralded
ambassador figuring out how to run for governor.
ROI-NJ.COM March 5, 2018
8 Pete Cammarano
Governor’s Office
Chief of staff
In an administration
short on public service
experience, Cammarano
has it. Not just in politics,
not just in Trenton, but in
the actual job. Cammarano
served as chief of staff for former Gov. Dick
Codey, when Codey was suddenly thrust into
the role upon the resignation of Gov. Jim
McGreevey, earning the experience Murphy’s
team desperately needs. “I wouldn’t say he’s the
calming influence; that would indicate things
need to be settled,” one insider said. “He is a voice
of experience, someone skilled in best practices.
And that’s needed.” Cammarano, who has served
as both a lobbyist and the mayor of Metuchen,
brings that experience, too. He understands how
all the power players work together. “One day, he’ll
be someone people say the governor leaned on
— or someone people say the governor made a
mistake with by not leaning on more.”
11 Bob Garrett
Hackensack Meridian Health
Co-CEO
The pace with which
Garrett has been adding
affiliations and programs at
Hackensack Meridian Health
outstrips his competitors and
has put the health system in
the running for the largest in the state. From gaining
approval to open the first private medical school
in the state this summer, to the large network of
innovation labs and centers opened in the last
couple of years, the health system is diversifying
and thriving. Garrett also is working on increasing
his visibility not only in the state, but nationally as
well. He has expressed interest in joining one of his
colleagues on the board at the American Hospital
Association, as well as being more engaging
politically. It doesn’t hurt that his chief of staff,
Jose Lozano, served as chief transition officer for
the Murphy administration. Critics question if his
outside-the-box approach to growth is making
Hackensack better, or just different. And while only
time will tell if the ventures the system has invested
in today reap future rewards, Garrett gets much
credit for bringing fresh thinking to an old industry.
POWER LIST 2018 ROI
9 Ras Baraka
Newark mayor
A few years back, it looked
as if Jersey City would
replace Newark as the
state’s most important
city. And, while Jersey City
has not regressed, the
rise in Newark under Baraka puts it firmly in the
No. 1 spot. From construction to education to
relocation, it truly is Newark’s time, and Baraka
is at the helm, steering the city’s promising
comeback. Between the growth of numerous
commercial real estate projects, the new Grammy
Museum Experience, the luring of Broadridge
Financial and Mars, and making the shortlist for
Amazon’s HQ2, the city has gotten more than
a few big names to take a second look at it. In
addition, with Hudson County overflowing with
New York City’s resident outmigration due to high
costs, Newark is starting to pick up commuters
to the Big Apple — and believes it will play a
greater role in the future. Baraka is quick to credit
others for the city’s success, saying it’s a matter
of everyone working together. But make no doubt,
he is the leader.
12 John Strangfeld
Prudential Financial
Chairman and CEO
You won’t see Strangfeld
out in front with
pronouncements or
endorsements. Nor will
you see him taking a stand
on legislation or social
issues. The leader of Prudential is not about
that. But, behind the scenes, he is following
the longstanding Prudential tradition of being
an active participant in the city of Newark. It’s
more than just the fact that Prudential never left,
always giving the city an anchor it could depend
on even in its toughest times. Or that its new
building is a new anchor for the area around
Military Park. Those involved in city politics say
Prudential always is willing to do whatever is
necessary to help the city grow and prosper.
The company lent expertise (and employees) to
Mayor Ras Baraka when he took office. They offer
testimonials or whatever else is needed when the
city is courting new employers. And that’s just the
start. “Prudential does more things that people
don’t know about, than what they do that people
do know about,” one insider said.
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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Influencers
Top 25
10 Jose Lozano
Governor’s Office
Director of transition
As director of the transition
team for Murphy, Lozano
served as a unique bridge
between the business and
political worlds. He is chief
of staff of Hackensack
Meridian Health, one of the largest health
systems in the state, and has extensive political
experience. Lozano was credited by Murphy with
spearheading the effort to diversify the cabinet
and ensure the team represents the population
of the state, with greater minority representation.
Individuals from previous administrations
have recognized the effort and said that, unlike
previous governors, the new administration has
paid attention to communities that are largely
sidelined post-election. The administration is now
touting Lozano’s efforts, including being the first
one to have a majority female cabinet. Lozano
was not supposed to stay in the administration
following the transition. That’s likely to change.
It’s just a matter of when and where he will serve,
insiders say.
13 Matt Platkin
Governor’s Office
Chief counsel
A year ago, Platkin already
was popping up on some
influencers’ radars as
someone to keep an eye
on. Rumors then were that
he would be a key policy
person for the administration, having served as
policy director during the campaign. Now, he’s
involved in every detail of the new administration.
As chief counsel, Platkin signs off on every policy
and announcement. “If you look, you’ll see his
name is on everything,” an insider said. Platkin’s
experience at the national level and campaigning
for U.S. Sen. Cory Booker in 2013 are just some
of the impressive aspects of his resume. He
wields a lot of power, but, simultaneously, has
a lot of responsibility in ensuring the young
administration runs smoothly. More than that,
he’s part of what one insider said is the governor’s
go-to trio. “Any initiative the governor gets on
economic development has to go through three
people: Cammarano, Lozano and Platkin. That
should tell you something,” one insider said.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Top 25
14 Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti
Department of Transportation
Executive director
We can only imagine the job
interview went something
like this:
Gov. Phil Murphy:
Our transportation and
infrastructure issues make
us a national disgrace. I need you to fix them.
Gutierrez-Scaccetti: I’ll take the job.
We may be joking, but the task at hand
couldn’t be more serious. Murphy is going
to lean on Gutierrez-Scaccetti, a former New
Jersey Turnpike executive, to overhaul all things
related to transportation in the state. Roads,
bridges, tunnels, rail — it all comes with the job.
At least one insider feels Murphy got the right
woman for the job. “Just watch,” they said. “She’s
going to be great. She’s going to make major
changes and improvements. She did it in Florida.”
Business leaders can only hope so. Crumbling
infrastructure not only impacts their ability to
move product, it impacts their ability to attract
and retain talent.
17 Ralph Izzo
Public Service Enterprise Group
Chairman and CEO
It’s not often that the
influence (and credibility) of
a selection gets decided in
real time. But that’s the case
with PSEG head Ralph Izzo.
The highly regarded Izzo
has found himself in the middle of a firestorm in
the past months — or, since he announced PSEG
would close its nuclear facilities without the
promise of a potential safety net subsidy, should
they become an economic liability. Izzo has
taken the criticism as a leader would. “It’s gotten
a little bit more irrational than I thought it would
get, I won’t deny that. But I didn’t think it was fair
to put people in the position to take this kind of
criticism unless I was willing to take it myself,”
he said. The reason he does, he said, is simple:
“I am absolutely, 100 percent, convinced it’s the
right thing for the state of New Jersey. I am 100
percent convinced that, over time, people will
realize we are being a good corporate citizen and
we are trying to be helpful to the state.”
15 Chris Paladino
New Brunswick Development Corp.
President
Since he was No. 1 on
our inaugural Real Estate
Influencers list last fall,
some would say it only
makes sense for him to
have the top real estate
spot on this list. That’s not always the case — but
it is in this instance. Paladino, the longtime leader
of Devco, is the leader in the type of public-private
partnership deals the governor (and municipal
leaders) increasingly will need to use in the
future. It’s the way big things will be built in the
future. Right now, you can look no further than
the Stockton/South Jersey Industries campus
being built in Atlantic City and the amazing
New Brunswick PAC project that is slowly rising
across from the Heldrich Hotel (another Devco
project). Paladino’s next project, the Hub in New
Brunswick, is a place the new administration
may look to for more development opportunities.
“Paladino is a master at not only building new
projects, but navigating the increasingly complex
capital stacks needed to get them built,” one
insider said.
18 Gurbir Grewal
Attorney general
As the first confirmed
appointment of the new
cabinet, Grewal has hit the
ground running and — in
line with Murphy’s views
— begun tackling national
issues. The state overall has been quick to
respond to and rebuff mandates and debates in
Washington, D.C. From addressing ICE arrests,
to DACA, to opposing a transgender military ban
and offshore drilling, Grewal has put New Jersey
on the national radar. Some critics wonder how
much attention to federal politics and policies is
too much, though, saying it feels as if the “New
Jersey agenda is the anti-Trump agenda.” (But
Grewal did take a huge step recently with a new
office addressing the opioid epidemic in the
state.) Despite significant attention from being
the first-ever Sikh-American to be appointed a
state attorney general in the country, Grewal
hasn’t been distracted by the media attention and
has transitioned quickly into his new role after
leaving the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office.
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March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
16 Elizabeth Muoio
State treasurer
The former
Assemblywoman has her
work cut out for her as she
holds the top financial spot
in the state as treasurer.
She will help oversee a
number of Murphy’s initiatives if they come to
fruition, including legalized marijuana or a state
bank. Some have questioned what experience
she has that qualifies her for the role, while
others believe her experience with economic
development will prove an asset. While in the
Assembly, she sponsored a number of bills that
would impact taxes, NJ Transit and the EDA,
among others. She now oversees all of the above,
as well as casinos, utilities and the state pensions
and benefits. As the first woman to assume the
role in more than 30 years, she is being closely
watched on how she handles it all. “This is not
an easy job,” one insider said. “You have to speak
to the Legislature a lot. You have to be prepared,
because they will be.” Insiders say Muoio is up for
the task.
19 Barry Ostrowsky
RWJBarnabas Health
CEO and president
He’s the head of
RWJBarnabas Health.
And that alone gives him
tremendous influence
over all parts of the state,
especially underserved
populations. Of course, with Ostrowsky, it’s
always been about how he goes about what
he does as much as what he does. Smart,
thoughtful, creative and caring — and always
with an eye toward doing a greater good for the
people he serves and the state in which lives
and loves. “He’s just one of those leaders New
Jersey is lucky to have,” one insider said. “He’s a
pro’s pro.” Ostrowsky’s presence as a strong CEO
and influential thought leader is unquestioned.
Some feel that he will be tested in 2018, as
RWJBarnabas Health will face tougher battles
to accomplish its goals because of the change
of administration in Washington. (He is also
on the board of the embattled PSEG.) Most are
convinced Ostrowsky will find a way to succeed
— because he always seems to do so.
ROI-NJ.COM March 5, 2018
20 Craig Coughlin
General Assembly
Speaker
As the new speaker of the
General Assembly, Coughlin
brings a change in tone
from the past several years.
His measured approach
and mild mannerisms are
in stark contrast to the aggression and tension
that New Jersey has become accustomed to.
But, in his inauguration speech, Coughlin made
sure the public knew that his preferred tone does
not mean he will take anything lying down. He
sent a message that he is willing to work with the
Senate, but if there is something he disagrees on,
he is not afraid to say so. In the past, Coughlin
served as chair of the Assembly Financial
Institutions and Insurance committee, and it is
apparent some of his key initiatives, which have
languished in the past, will likely breeze through
the Legislature. His only issue: Growing into the
job. “It’s a really important job,” one insider said.
“But one you have to learn how to handle.”
23 Tim Sullivan
New Jersey Economic
Development Authority
CEO
He comes from Connecticut
by way of New York City,
at least on his resume.
Sullivan is a Georgetown
grad who grew up in New
Jersey, attending Bergen
Catholic. Murphy has talked extensively about
changing the way the EDA does business, and
will push policies that increase awards to smaller
companies. Sullivan will be charged with carrying
out his vision. He gets rave reviews from his
previous bosses, including former New York
Mayor Michael Bloomberg. And he withstood
an attack from the state’s union leadership,
which tried to quash his nomination. He never
responded. One insider said he didn’t have to, as
the governor’s support never wavered and his
confirmation was never in doubt. “This is a top
guy, someone the governor wanted,” the insider
said. “He’ll soon get a chance to show why.”
POWER LIST 2018 ROI
21 Kevin Cummings
Investors Bancorp
CEO and president
You can’t do business
without a banker. For
New Jersey businesses,
that banker often comes
from Investors. It’s not
the biggest bank in New
Jersey, one insider explained, and it doesn’t
necessarily have the most assets, but it is great
at what it does — and everything it does is based
on the state. “There’s a lot of competition for
banks out there,” one insider said. “Investors
stands out because everything it does is about
New Jersey. It’s their whole focus. And that
makes a difference.” Domenick Cama, the chief
operating officer, and Rich Spengler, the chief
lending officer, are key players on the team. The
well-respected Cummings, however, is the most
visible. Except for the bank itself. And he makes
sure the bank’s commitment to New Jersey
can be seen through voluminous amounts of
advertising throughout the state, including a high-
profile partnership with the Prudential Center.
24 Frank Spencer
United Brotherhood of Carpenters
Second general vice president
How does a national labor
leader get picked for a New
Jersey list? Consider these
two quotes: “Right now,
the most power is with the
carpenters,” one insider said
when asking to compare the various unions in
the state. Or this one: “Nothing in the state gets
built without Frank Spencer’s approval.” Spencer,
a former Camden County freeholder, still lives
in the state, too. He began his career as a union
carpenter more than 40 years ago, working his
way up from the executive secretary-treasurer
of the New Jersey Council of Carpenters to the
Eastern District vice president. Despite moving
into the national office, he remains an influential
figure in the Garden State. A longtime community
and Democratic Party activist, he served as
chairman of the South Jersey Transportation
Authority for five years. Currently, he serves on
the board of New Jersey’s Casino Reinvestment
Development Authority.
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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Influencers
Top 25
22 Kevin Conlin
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
of New Jersey
CEO
Some said it’s too early to
put Conlin, the new CEO at
Horizon BCBSNJ, on the
list. After all, he was just
elevated to the top spot at
the start of the year. Others
say there is no way he can’t be on it, because of
the nature of the position. “It’s not the totality of
their covered lives, it’s the impact the company
has on every health plan offered to employees in
the state,” one insider said. “If someone does not
have a Horizon plan, they have a plan structured
off a Horizon plan.” Conlin has been groomed
for the job since coming to the insurer in 2012.
He was one of the architects of the OMNIA plan,
something that has put him in the spotlight since
it was introduced. It may have been the perfect on-
the-job training for the top spot, because insiders
say it will remain an issue for the company.
25 Abbe Lowell
Norton Rose Fulbright
Partner
How did Lowell, one
of the most prominent
Washington, D.C.-based
attorneys, make this New
Jersey list — and in the Top
25, no less? Easy, just look
at his clients — and the impact they have on New
Jersey business. Lowell was one of the architects
of the defense of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez during
his federal corruption trial. He not only helped
Menendez beat the feds once (the first trial was
a hung jury that favored Menendez), he got the
case dropped before a second trial could take
place. Some say going through the process will
only make Menendez a stronger senator and a
stronger candidate for re-election — one who no
longer has an indictment hanging over his head.
And Lowell’s influence in New Jersey is not done.
Not by a long shot. He already is busy working
on his next high-profile New Jersey client: Jared
Kushner.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Top Executives
Jim Fakult
Jersey Central Power & Light
President
Fakult has made his presence felt
in New Jersey since taking over as
JCP&L president in the summer
of 2013. Since then, he has helped
the company make necessary
infrastructure upgrades. While
encouraging strong employee
participation in the community,
he has taken on key roles with the
state Chamber of Commerce and
Choose New Jersey.
Denise Morrison
Campbell Soup
CEO
Morrison is helping Campbell fight
slumping soup sales throughout
the industry by diversifying her
product offerings. Her influence as
a female CEO in the state isn’t in
question. She not only does more
to promote women to leadership
positions (and board positions)
than most, her decision to remain
in Camden was a home run for the
state.
Kenneth Frazier
Merck
CEO
Frazier finally broke his silence
about speaking up against
President Donald Trump in a recent
article in the New York Times.
Last summer, Frazier showed his
leadership when he became the
first big CEO to step away from
one of the president’s business
advisory councils, following a
dispute about how the president
handled a controversial protest
rally in Virginia.
Scott O’Neil/Hugh Weber
New Jersey Devils/Philadelphia
76ers/Prudential Center
CEO/President
In Scott O’Neil and Hugh
Weber, Harris Blitzer Sports &
Entertainment has two of the best
in sports management. O’Neil
serves as the CEO of the group
as well as the Devils, Sixers and
the Prudential Center. Weber, the
president of the Devils and the
Prudential Center, is the face of the
organization’s efforts to help build
more opportunities in Newark.
10
Alex Gorsky
Johnson & Johnson
CEO
By one account, Alex Gorsky was
the highest-paid CEO (of a publicly
traded company) in New Jersey
last year, coming in at just under
$22 million. And while some
of other business leaders will
quietly lament that Gorsky does
not take a more active role in the
state, the company is ubiquitous
at conferences across the state
and is credited for helping to save
downtown New Brunswick many
years ago.
Carlos Rodriguez
ADP
CEO and president
It’s not enough that Rodriguez
is leading one of the state’s top
companies, ADP. He’s doing it in a
new-age way, promoting a diverse
and inclusive leadership team that
resembles the state. The company,
which survived a proxy fight last
fall, has made the DiversityInc Top
50 every year since 2010 and is
noted for its efforts to increase
supplier diversity.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Josh Harris/David Blitzer
Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment
Co-founders
Josh Harris and David Blitzer
continue to invest in the state,
marked by the creation of Harris
Blitzer Sports & Entertainment last
fall. It includes not only the New
Jersey Devils, Philadelphia 76ers
and the Prudential Center, but the
Grammy Museum Experience and
the Sixers Innovation Lab, which
is housed with the team’s state-of-
the-art training facility in Camden.
Bob Unanue
Goya
CEO
Goya, one of the biggest privately-
owned companies in the state,
also is a family business. In fact,
CEO Bob Unanue credits not
only his father and grandfather,
who started the company, but
also his brother and extended
family for helping make it a $1.5
billion business that serves as an
anchor for economic and social
development in Jersey City.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
POWER LIST 2018 ROI
Health Care
Cathleen Bennett
New Jersey Hospital Association
CEO
From state health commissioner
to leading the charge at the New
Jersey Hospital Association,
Bennett is surprising many
who were otherwise hesitant
about the future of the association
after former CEO Betsy Ryan’s
departure. Bennett has been going
“miles per minute,” and using
her insights from her time at the
DOH to create a new path for the
association.
Amy Mansue
RWJBarnabas Health
Southern Region lead
She is the Southern Region
lead at the state’s largest health
system, but her impact resonates
far beyond geography. From her
past prominent roles as CEO of a
children’s hospital and presence
on the New Jersey Chamber of
Commerce board, Mansue has a
noticeable profile in the state. And
her clout within RWJBarnabas
Health could soon rise.
Influencers
Brian Gragnolati
Atlantic Health System
CEO
He’s the head of the third-largest
health care system in the state,
but some fans argue that it’s
the best. And one of the most
innovative. The Atlantic Alliance, a
clinically integrated network, and
the Healthcare Transformation
Consortium are just two initiatives
he has led. Gragnolati also is
the chair-elect designate of
the national American Hospital
Association.
Kevin O’Dowd
Cooper University Health Care
Senior executive vice president
His title is a mouthful: senior
executive vice president and chief
administrative officer at Cooper
Health. His role may be bigger
than that. O’Dowd helps Cooper
maintain (and grow) its stature as
the dominant health care system in
South Jersey. More so, he’s the go-
to person for Cooper Chair George
Norcross. O’Dowd, who served
under Gov. Chris Christie, is still
influential in all things Trenton.
12
Tom Gregorio
New Jersey Innovation Institute
Senior executive director
His title is more confusing than
clarifying: senior executive director,
healthcare delivery systems iLab,
New Jersey Innovation Institute.
Some may not even know his
group is part of NJIT. But what it is
doing — searching for technology-
based innovations — has the
potential to change the way health
care is administered and organized
not only in New Jersey, but across
the country.
Dr. Andrew Pecora
Hackensack Meridian Health
Chief innovation officer
The innovator continues to
rise in stature both in the state
and nationally. His work has
been increasingly recognized,
as evidenced by IBM Watson’s
partnership with COTA. He has
been instrumental in Hackensack
Meridian Health’s efforts to
increase its portfolio in innovation
and startup sectors and is helping
build partnerships like the one with
Memorial Sloan Kettering.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Dr. Jeff LeBenger
Summit Health Management/
Summit Medical Group
CEO
The visionary leader who
has grown Summit Health
Management into a well-oiled
machine has achieved a lot. Not
just a physician, he has smartly
created a data management entity
separate from the physician group
to help streamline processes. To
add to his resume, he has now
planted Summit’s flag in two states
out West, growing the local brand
into a national one. 
Dr. Mark Rosenberg
St. Joseph’s Healthcare System
Chair of emergency medicine
A revolutionary approach to
curbing the opioid epidemic by
forcing the use of alternatives
to opioids was first launched
at the unassuming St. Joseph’s
Healthcare System. Under the
leadership of CEO Kevin Slavin, the
ALTO program, led by Rosenberg
and spearheaded by Dr. Alexis
LaPietra, has become a national
model. Rosenberg’s work has
garnered interest from hospitals
around the country, as well as the
American Hospital Association.
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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Real Estate
Wasseem Boraie
Boraie Development
Vice president
The patient professional
developer continues to
slowly but surely add
to the impact of Boraie
Development across
the state. Market-rate
multifamily facilities in
Newark and Atlantic City
are going up. Another
site in Newark may
soon produce an even
bigger project. What’s
next? Plenty. The family
business that started
in New Brunswick is
now firmly established
throughout the state.
Ron Ladell
AvalonBay Communities
Senior vice president
The head of AvalonBay
in New Jersey continues
to be a power player in
the industry. Some say
the multifamily sector is
cooling, but you wouldn’t
know it by the smart
(and continual) builds in
the state by Ladell and
AvalonBay. A coveted
speaker in the state, Ladell
always has his finger on
the pulse of the economy,
real estate or the big
picture.
Gene Diaz
Prism Capital Partners
Principal
The announcement that
the Hackensack Meridian-
Seton Hall medical school
got a key accreditation
is just another major
step in the development
project Diaz and Prism
are overseeing on the old
Roche site in Nutley and
Clifton. While the med
school could be a game-
changer for education,
the coming research
center is a life-saver for a
community that worried it
would never recover from
Roche’s departure.
Jack Morris;
Joe Jingoli
Englewood Properties;
Joseph Jingoli and Son
Construction
CEO and president; CEO
Together, they are
transforming the old
Trump Taj Mahal into the
Hard Rock, changing the
face of Atlantic City in the
process. Their interest in
the city is leading to more
investment.
Mike DeMarco
Mack-Cali Realty Group
CEO
He is dramatically
changing the footprint
of the company, and
has won the battle for
control of Mack-Cali,
the publicly traded REIT
that is the largest in New
Jersey. That alone puts
him on the list. He now
must show that its pivot
to more multifamily and
less suburban office (and
the selling off of a lot of
underperforming assets)
can move the stock price.
Joe Taylor
Matrix Development Group
CEO and president
Taylor, the well-respected
head of Matrix, just as
easily could have been
placed on the economic
development list, as his
vision for warehousing
along the New Jersey
Turnpike corridor played
out better than anyone
could have imagined.
Taylor is building in
Staten Island, but his days
in New Jersey are far
from numbered, as he is
headed South, just like the
market.
14
Don Ghermezian
Triple Five
President
Ghermezian heads the
family group that is (finally)
building the 3 million-
square-foot shopping and
entertainment complex
called American Dream.
Slated to open in the
spring of 2019, it’s the
mall that’s not a mall,
but an entertainment
destination, Ghermezian
says. The concept — and
the promise of tens of
thousands of jobs —
was enough to help the
company land the biggest
tax incentive in state
history.
Ted Zangari
Sills Cummis & Gross
Member
He is one of the real
estate co-chairs at Sills
Cummis, heading up
one of the largest real
estate groups in the
state. Zangari’s influence,
however, extends well
beyond the firm. As a
longtime leader of the
Smart Growth Coalition,
he heads a group that
presents the industry’s
ideas (and potential bills)
to the new administration.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Jon Hanson
The Hampshire Cos.
Chairman
Hanson would be the
first to tell you that the
departure of his friend,
Christie, lessens his
influence in Trenton.
Everyone in real estate
would be quick to tell you
that it does not lessen his
influence in the sector.
His counsel is still sought
by other industry leaders.
And his pro bono work
at American Dream and
in Atlantic City will help
transform two key areas
in the state.
Ralph Zucker
Somerset Development
President
Zucker’s Bell Works
project in Holmdel
continues to be one
of the coolest in the
state — have you seen
the renderings of the
rooftop pool at the hotel?
The project is a game-
changer in so many
ways, as it may be the
model for repositioning
outdated assets across
the state while creating a
tech hub for a state that
so desperately needs
to stake a claim as a
center for innovation and
technology.
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Christopher Paladino (732) 249 -2220 Daniel J. Loughlin (973) 939 -3869
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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
POWER LIST 2018 ROI
Politicians
Ravinder Bhalla
Hoboken mayor
Business-first mayor is making a
name for himself in Hoboken. He
quickly stamped out SantaCon, an
annual event that was thrashing
the city and its reputation. And he
fought against encroachment by
NJ Transit’s desire to purchase
Union Dry Dock from New York
Waterway, helping to preserve the
city’s waterfront. What’s next? Too
soon to tell. But he’s already having
an impact just weeks into his term.
Steve Fulop
Jersey City mayor
It wasn’t long ago that many
thought Fulop would be No. 1
on this entire list. And, while
his gubernatorial ambitions are
gone (at least for now), it would
be foolish to consider him to be
anything other than what he is: A
young, smart, forward-thinking,
progressive mayor of one of the
most important municipalities in
the state, one that is still growing
at an astounding rate.
Influencers
Cory Booker
U.S. senator
The senator lives (and works) in
Washington, D.C., now. His heart,
however, is still in Newark. Booker
is showing his political acumen:
He’s excelling as a senator, clearly
exploring the possibility of his
next job (expect a presidential run)
while not forgetting where he came
from. Even more, Booker has made
it clear it’s his job to support and
promote his successor as Newark
mayor: Ras Baraka.
Josh Gottheimer
U.S. representative
The first-term congressman
representing the 5th District,
Gottheimer, a Democrat, is quickly
becoming one of the state’s
most important legislators in
Washington. He has become a
leader in the fight to allow New
Jerseyans the ability to deduct
all of their real estate taxes with
an end-around move involving
charitable deductions. Lowering
the cost of living is key for all
businesses.
16
Dick Codey
State senator
Codey was one of the first
politicians to side with Murphy,
and that alone gives him some
pull within the administration. How
much the former governor has is
a matter of debate. Some say it is
overstated, others say some of the
governor’s top people have looked
to Codey for guidance during
the opening weeks of the new
administration.
Bob Menendez
U.S. senator
The state’s senior U.S. senator
showed his stuff by proving he
wasn’t very influential at all — at
least in terms of peddling influence
— as he no longer is facing charges
he benefited from his position.
His supporters say beating the
federal case makes him stronger
than ever and a shoo-in to win
again in November. They also
feel it will give him more power in
Washington.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Jon Corzine
Former governor
Murphy seemingly ran from any
comparison to Corzine while
running for office, not wanting to be
connected publicly to Corzine’s failed
term as governor. Now that Murphy
has won, insiders say he views
Corzine as a confidant. Corzine,
also a Goldman Sachs alum, is not
a steady source of information, but
he talks with the new governor more
than many realize.
Paul Sarlo
State senator
A pro-business member of the
state Senate, Sarlo has plenty of
influence. He is the deputy majority
leader for the Democrats as well as
serving as the chair of the Budget
and Appropriations Committee. He
also serves on the Joint Budget
Oversight Committee. Trained
as an engineer, he is the chief
operating officer of Joseph M.
Sanzari Inc., a general contractor
and construction company based
in Hackensack.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Economic Development
Michele Brown
Choose New Jersey
CEO and president
One of the tougher calls. Brown
is highly regarded by the board
at Choose New Jersey, a board
made up of representatives of
many of the biggest companies
in the state. And, while Gov. Phil
Murphy has pledged to keep
Choose, an agency funded by the
private sector, it’s unclear how
long Brown (a close confidant of
former Gov. Chris Christie) will stay
as its leader. If she does leave, her
resume figures to help her quickly
land a private-sector job.
Kevin Corbett
New Jersey Transit
Executive director
Why is the new head of New
Jersey Transit on the economic
development list? Because he was
hired to run the company as if it
were a business. Corbett faces a
lot of challenges in his new role
— but having Murphy’s blessing
to run NJ Transit as if it was a
standalone company is not one
of them. The governor is serious
about revamping the agency,
meaning Corbett will have his full
backing to make big changes.
20
Michael Darcy
League of Municipalities
Executive director
Leading the New Jersey League
of Municipalities is no easy task
with the high tax problem in the
state, but the League remains
a strong voice in Trenton. The
League remains a key point of
communication for the more than
500 municipalities in the state, and
its annual event in Atlantic City
remains a must-attend for many
politicians.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Carl Goldberg
Canoe Brook Management
Managing member
Goldberg, the highly regarded
developer who co-founded
Roseland Properties and now
co-chairs the Rutgers Center for
Real Estate, is the point person for
property owners looking to change
state policy allowing for the
reimagining of stranded suburban
office parks. It is one of the state’s
biggest issues — and one where
Murphy may look for solutions
sooner rather than later. He’ll turn
to Goldberg for help.
ROI-NJ.COM March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018

Economic Development

Larry Downes Tim Lizura John Schreiber Kevin Walsh

New Jersey Resources New Jersey Economic New Jersey Performing Arts Center Fair Share Housing Center
Chairman and CEO Development Authority CEO Executive director
Chief operating officer

Downes could make the list for
his work as chairman and CEO of
New Jersey Resources and New
Jersey Natural Gas, positions he’s
held for more than two decades.
But it is his ascension to the chair
of the New Jersey Economic
Development Authority, a spot
previously held by his esteemed
colleague, the late Al Koeppe, that
pushes him higher.
He’s made a career at the New
Jersey Economic Development
Authority. Lizura, who started with
the EDA in 1996 as part of the real
estate development team, is the
current chief operating officer. He
has served under governors of
both parties and now four CEOs,
earning a stellar reputation in the
business community.
It would be easy to say we
included an arts guy on our
economic development list
because it’s proven that the arts
spur business. Schreiber, the head
of NJPAC, makes the list for other
reasons. He’s not only helping to
build One Theater Square across
from the center, he is leading the
movement to redevelop the land
behind his center, including a new
hotel and more residential housing.
Have you heard much from
Murphy about affordable housing?
There’s a reason the new governor
has been essentially silent on the
issue. Walsh, the head of the Fair
Share Housing Center, quietly has
been helping towns work through
their needs even with the rules
still being worked out. “Have you
noticed that the governor has said
nothing about affordable housing?”
one insider said. “That’s because
Kevin is making it run smoothly.”

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21
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Unions
John Ballantyne
Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters
Executive secretary-treasurer
Some view Ballantyne, the executive secretary-
treasurer of the Northeast Regional Council of
Carpenters, as the top man for the top union in
the state. “Right now, the most power is with the
carpenters,” one insider said. Ballantyne’s impact
in New Jersey goes further, as he is member of
the board of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield and
the Sports and Exposition Authority.
Kevin McCabe
Carpenter Contractor Trust
President
McCabe is the president of Carpenter Contractor
Trust, the head of the Democratic committee
in ever-important and increasingly powerful
Middlesex County and one of the commissioners of
the Port Authority. That’s a pretty nice triple play of
influence. “This clearly is someone whose influence
will only continue to grow,” one insider said.
Kevin Brown
32BJ Service Employees International Union
State director
As the New Jersey state director of 32BJ Service
Employees International Union, Brown has long
been calling for a $15 minimum wage. Murphy
has said repeatedly he is in favor of increasing the
wage. But how much — and how fast — remains
to be seen. This much is clear: Brown will have
the governor’s ear on the issue.
Bill Mullen
New Jersey State Building
and Construction Trades Council
President
Mullen made news when his attempt to block the
appointment of Tim Sullivan to head the EDA fell flat.
Of course, many viewed that as more of a loss for
state Senate President Steve Sweeney. Despite the
action, Murphy still counts unions as a big supporter
and partner going forward. Mullen represents 15
unions and more than 150,000 members.
22
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Greg Lalevee
International Union of Operating Engineers 825
Business manager
As the business manager for the International
Union of Operating Engineers, Lalevee is in the
middle of jobs coming from the gas tax for
the Transportation Trust Fund, as well as the
potential jobs involving the proposed Gateway
Tunnel project. In addition, Lalevee and IUOE are
pushing for more repairs for the state’s crumbling
water infrastructure.
Ray Pocino
Laborers International Union of North America
Vice president and Eastern regional manager
Murphy has made labor an important part of his
coalition moving forward. So, it only makes since
to save a spot for Pocino, who remains a force
in the union world as he holds dual titles of vice
president and Eastern regional manager of the
Laborers International Union of North America. In
addition, Pocino is a New Jersey commissioner to
the Port Authority.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
POWER LIST 2018 ROI Influencers
Government Affairs
Bill Castner
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
Senior vice president
of corporate and regulatory affairs
Castner, a veteran at an early age of all things
Trenton, is senior vice president of corporate and
regulatory affairs at Horizon BCBSNJ. He came
to the company, in part, to handle fallout from the
introduction of its OMNIA insurance plan. Rumor
has it, discussion of the plan is coming up again.
You can be sure Castner will be in the middle of it
when it does.
Dale Florio
Princeton Public Affairs Group
Managing partner
Florio and Princeton Public Affairs Group remain
the gold standard for lobbying in Trenton. Florio
was well connected to the Christie administration,
but few feel a change in party will result in a
change in his status. After all, he brings more
than three decades of experience to the game.
“There’s a reason everyone says Dale is the best:
It’s because he is,” one insider said.
Michellene Davis
RWJBarnabas Health
Executive vice president
and chief corporate affairs officer
When many were asked who the most influential
woman in the state is, they noted Davis, the chief
corporate affairs officer at RWJBarnabas Health.
“Let’s put it this way: Whenever Michellene needs
something, she always gets it. She’s incredibly
persuasive, usually because she’s almost always
on the right side of an issue.” A great speaker and
great leader, Davis is an easy choice.
Phil Norcross
Optimus Partners
Chairman
Norcross is the co-head of Optimus Partners, a
powerhouse lobbying firm he formed with Jeff
Michaels in 2010. The pair have recently joined
up with Democratic strategist Julie Roginsky to
form Optimus Communications. His connections
are as good as any, starting with his brothers, U.S.
Rep. Donald Norcross and South Jersey power
boss George Norcross.
24
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Leecia Eve
Verizon
Vice president
for government affairs, tri-state region
The only thing that slows this veteran leader of
government affairs for Verizon is that not all of
her work is centered in New Jersey. At Verizon,
she oversees the tri-state region. And she serves
on the ever-important board of the Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey, but as a New York
appointee. That being said, her influence in New
Jersey should not be underestimated.
Trish Zita
Kaufman Zita Group
Principal
Zita continues to be a growing force in the
lobbying world in Trenton. Smart, strategic and
well connected are just some of the ways Zita is
described. The Kaufman Zita Group, which she
formed with Adam Kaufman, is taking the lead on
a variety of issues, from offshore wind production
to out-of-network health costs to the growing
craft beer industry in the state.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
POWER LIST 2018 ROI
Consultants
Mike DuHaime
Mercury
Partners
DuHaime always will be noted
as an architect of Christie’s two
successful runs for the office. But
don’t think Christie’s departure
lessens his influence. DuHaime
maintains a strong presence in
the state. And not just in politics.
DuHaime has successfully pivoted
to advising some of the state’s top
companies and is expanding his
leadership role at Mercury outside
of the state.
Maggie Moran
Kivvit
Managing partner
The Democratic strategist is more
than just the another behind-the-
scenes player in business and
political moves across the state.
Moran heads Kivvit, a multimillion-
dollar firm with five offices
nationwide. In New Jersey, her
team led successful New Jersey
public policy initiatives, such as
Building Our Future (the higher
ed bond act), ForwardNJ (the
coalition behind TTF funding) and
ReachNJ (an addiction awareness
campaign).
Influencers
Brendan Gill
BGill Group
CEO and president
Gill has made a name for himself
as a stellar political operative
and was a key figure in the
campaign to elect Phil Murphy.
His connection to the governor’s
administration is strong enough to
push him as a contender for a spot
in the Top 25. How much he will
toggle between public and private
dealings is unclear. This much,
however, is certain: Gill is a power
player who will be attractive to a
variety of clients.
Bill Palatucci
Gibbons P.C.
Special counsel
Here’s another name that may
have people scratching their
heads. “Isn’t he done, now that
Christie is done?” Not quite. And
not by a long shot. Palatucci still
knows how to run campaigns, still
knows how to help Republican
candidates carry (dark) blue states
like New Jersey and still has plenty
to offer candidates such as Bob
Hugin and many others at a time
his party is under attack from all
sides in the Garden State.
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Michael Kempner
MWW
CEO
Kempner, a key Democratic
consultant and strategist, leads
one of the top public relations/
government affairs firms in the
state. The group represents some
of the top companies and issues
in the state, including working
with Jersey Central Power & Light,
American Dream and the effort
to help rebuild the Transportation
Trust Fund. The broad-based firm
handles business and political
issues, not to mention crisis
communications.
Michael Soliman
Mercury
Partner
Soliman, long a strategist
and consultant for U.S. Sen.
Bob Menendez, moves up in
importance now that Menendez
has rid himself of federal charges.
Not that Menendez was Soliman’s
only game. He is connected
to a number of Democratic
officeholders across the state, a
fact that will serve him well under
new Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Karen Kessler
Evergreen Partners
President
Simply put, she may be the
person on the list you never
want to call. As the go-to person
for crisis communication in the
state, Kessler handles situations
when they get difficult. Of late,
she’s been a leader in #MeToo
workplace harassment cases. Of
course, her best work is handled
behind the scenes as she privately
helps companies manage publicly
sensitive situations.
Bob Sommer
Awsom Associates
CEO
The list of top people he doesn’t
represent may actually be shorter
than those he does. That list,
both public and private, includes
many of our top influencers. The
longtime marketing and political
consultant has mastered the ability
to thrive in both the corporate and
political worlds for one simple
reason: He has the ability to get his
clients the things they need.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Higher Education
Robert Barchi
Rutgers University
President
Neuroscientist by training and
CEO by nature, Barchi backed a
partnership with RWJBarnabas
Health that is creating the state’s
largest academic health care
system. Some $2 billion in capital
construction has added facilities
for nursing, chemistry, engineering,
business and the performing
arts. And school mergers he
encouraged have boosted Rutgers’
nursing and law school rankings.
Nancy Cantor
Rutgers University-Newark
Chancellor
Few higher education leaders
anywhere have embraced their
role of integrating their school into
their city as well as Cantor has at
Rutgers-Newark. A champion for
the city, she is the first to pitch
in when it comes to luring more
companies. And she has made a
point to make sure the campus
is providing opportunities for
advancement for its residents.
Joel Bloom
New Jersey Institute of Technology
President
Bloom has overseen a
transformation of NJIT — and
we’re not just talking about the
campus, which is in the middle
of $400 million in construction
upgrades, including an eye-
pleasing events center. SAT scores
are up, as is fundraising. And the
New Jersey Innovation Institute,
an NJIT corporation that is a
portal for business partnerships,
now has annual revenues of more
than $60 million.
Susan Cole
Montclair State University
President
Always one of the first names to
come up in a discussion about
transformative higher education
leaders, Cole’s impact at Montclair
State continues to grow. The
opening of a $60 million state-of-
the-art communications building
is just the latest achievement, and
the growth of its business school
continues to impress companies
and attract students.
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Chris Eisgruber
Princeton University
President
He runs Princeton, the top
university in the country. Eisgruber,
however, is trying to take it to even
greater heights. The school has
made a sustained effort to be more
involved in collaborations with the
state business community. And the
opening of its innovation center,
an 31,000-square-foot incubator
with more than two dozen science-
based startups, shows it wants to
create a few companies, too.
Sue Henderson
New Jersey City University
President
Henderson is at the forefront of
educating first-generation college
students, those that will help the
fill the coming need for a more
educated workforce. “One of the
things we need to think about in
this country is to meet the needs of
this workforce that’s coming along
that hasn’t been the traditional
group of people who have gone
to college and then filled the
workforce in the past,” she said.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Nariman Farvardin
Stevens Institute of Technology
President
Stevens has been on a remarkable
upward trend since Farvardin was
named president in 2011, affirming
its place as one of the top STEM
institutions in the country. It prides
itself at showing how technology
can disrupt and improve any
industry. The university also prides
itself on its grad placement record,
much of which is earned through
one of the best co-op internship
programs in the country.
Ali Houshmand
Rowan University
President
There’s plenty to say about
Houshmand’s success. Since
taking over as president in 2012,
enrollment and SAT scores are
up, there has been more than
$1.5 billion in university-affiliated
construction (including the famed
Rowan Boulevard) and tuition
and fees have increased below
the rate of inflation. Simply put,
Houshmand runs Rowan as if it
were a business. Others could
benefit from his new-age thinking.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Technology
James Barrood
New Jersey Tech Council
CEO and president
Buzzing a tech giant with a sky
banner is no small feat, and Jim
Barrood has helped push the NJ
Tech Council into a more visible
role, in part thanks to the national
race to get Amazon’s HQ2. The
Council’s events attract some
of the largest names in New
Jersey and around the country as
more support and awareness for
innovation and technology grows
in the state.
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Colin Day
iCIMS
CEO
Day’s company, iCIMS, is a perfect
example of using advanced
technology to disrupt an industry.
In this case, one of the most
important: staffing and recruiting.
The presence of iCIMS at the new
Bell Works site in Holmdel was a
coup for the growing tech center,
and the company’s stunning
growth serves as an example for
how the state can create, nurture
and grow a tech brand.
30
Donald Katz
Audible
CEO
The fact that his organization,
Audible, was purchased by
Amazon may have helped
Newark make the list of finalists
for Amazon’s coveted second
headquarters. But it’s not why he’s
on this list. Katz has believed in
Newark for decades, and has used
his technology-based company
to help rebuild the city’s economy
while bettering the lives of its
residents.
Monica Smith
Marketsmith Inc.
CEO
As the head of a digital marketing
firm that is one of the largest
woman-owned companies on the
East Coast, Smith has used the
power of technology to run her
i.Predictus brand and become a
sought-after speaker in the tech
world. Through the Tech Council
and the state chamber, she is
starting to bring impact to the
state business community, and her
philanthropic efforts continue to
be a model for all companies.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Donald Sebastian
New Jersey Innovation Institute
President
As head of the New Jersey
Innovation Institute, Sebastian
is leading the charge to use
technology to disrupt and improve
everyday life, from smart cities to
health care. More so, NJII may be
the leading example of harnessing
the power of higher education to
the private sector to find innovative
business solutions.
Marcus Weldon
Bell Labs
President
Some think the heyday of Bell Labs
disappeared decades ago. The
truth is, under Weldon’s leadership,
the organization continues to
be a global leader in disruptive
technology in telecommunications
networks. He is considered one of
the leaders in the field in terms of
his depth of vision for the future of
networks.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Lawyers
Joseph Boccassini
McCarter & English
Managing partner
The longtime powerhouse firm
continues to chug along in Newark
as a leader with numerous Jersey
clients, big and small. McCarter
was a key player in settling the
Morristown Medical Center
property tax case, an issue that
impacted the state, and has a long
history of servicing startups as
well as priding itself on its pro bono
work, especially in cases involving
asylum-seekers and refugees.
Max Crane
Sills Cummis & Gross
Managing partner
Crane heads one of the top
firms for commercial clients in
the state, as the firm handles
corporate, litigation and real estate
matters with clients ranging
from Fortune 500 companies to
emerging growth firms and even
international businesses. Sills has
been named New Jersey “Firm
of the Year” two years running by
Benchmark Litigation.
32
Ed Deutsch
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney
& Carpenter LLP
Managing partner
Anyone who thinks the firm will
lose influence now that Christie
is out of office is mistaken.
“Politically connected work was
just the gravy of what they do,” one
insider said. That might be true.
The firm, led by the highly regarded
Ed Deutsch, is one of the biggest in
the state, and its book of business
extends to almost every possible
sector of the industry.
Paul Josephson
Duane Morris
Partner
Josephson served as a special
counsel to Murphy during the
campaign, the latest in a long list
of public-sector jobs he has held
during various administrations.
Josephson specializes in a
broad range of business matters,
usually involving public interest or
regulated by government agencies.
He has a special interest in coastal
infrastructure. And he has the ear
of many government officials.
March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Patrick Dunican
Gibbons P.C.
Chairman and managing director
The legal industry was the most
difficult to figure out in this year’s
list, as firms are battling to win
favor with a new administration
from a different party. Gibbons,
run by Dunican, was continually
noted by insiders as the firm that
is the most influential — and tied
to the most dealings — with the
Murphy administration. A number
of partners are worthy of mention.
We’re going with Dunican, who
oversees it all.
Nancy Erika Smith
Smith Mullin
Co-founder and partner
She has earned the reputation
all lawyers strive to earn: She is
one to be feared. In a time when
harassment and workplace issues
are (rightfully and thankfully)
moving to the forefront of the
business community, she and
partner Neil Mullin are well-known
throughout the state. “Trust me, all
of the big companies know who
she is,” one insider said. “And they
knew it before she took on the
Gretchen Carlson case.”
ROI-NJ.COM March 5, 2018
Tom Bracken
New Jersey Chamber of Commerce
CEO and president
Bracken is helping the state
Chamber of Commerce be a hub
for some of the most important
people and issues in business,
as well as a great go-between for
politicians and the business sector
of New Jersey. Bracken and the
chamber continue to attract some
of the top names in government
and business, allowing stronger
ties to be built.
John Kennedy
New Jersey Manufacturing
Extension Program
CEO
Recognizing the disconnect
between the manufacturing
industry and the general public
(and policymakers), Kennedy has
been leading the charge to revamp
the identity of the manufacturing
sector in the state. Gone are the
days of dirty, polluting plants,
he has said repeatedly. He’s got
the ear of Trenton, as evidence
by the bipartisan, bicameral
Manufacturing Caucus, which
launched last year.
Debra DiLorenzo
Chamber of Commerce
Southern New Jersey
CEO and president
With so many good area
chambers, it’s hard to pick just
one. But we’ll go with CCSNJ and
DiLorenzo, who leads a group
many recognize as the South
Jersey business community’s
voice in Trenton. CCSNJ helped
defeat the ballot question that
would have expanded casino
gaming into North Jersey, and
her appointment to the Casino
Reinvestment Development
Authority enables her to play a
bigger part in shaping Atlantic City.
Carlos Medina
Statewide Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce
Chairman
Carlos Medina is a reserved, but
powerful player in the business and
political world who is growing in
visibility. He was on the shortlist to
be Kim Guadgano’s running mate
in the 2017 gubernatorial election
and is a member of the Horizon
BCBSNJ board. His chamber
received national recognition
for its fast-paced growth and
has attracted support from key
businesses in the state.
33
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
POWER LIST 2018 ROI
John Harmon
African American Chamber
of Commerce of New Jersey
CEO and president
Harmon connects the small
business owner to some of the
key players in the business and
political worlds of New Jersey. He
also has boosted the membership
of the African American Chamber
of Commerce of New Jersey
and its visibility. The chamber’s
events attract some of the
largest companies in the country
interested in diversifying their
vendor contracts — a key issue for
the chamber.
Satish Poondi
Indian Business Association
Board member
Relatively unknown in the political
world until last year, Poondi has
quietly boosted the interests of
South Asians in the state and
cultivated key relationships with
politicos. As a board member of
the Indian Business Association,
Poondi is leading the branch
focused on policy and political
engagement. He acts as a liaison
for the communities and has been
a strong voice for brokering better
ties between minorities for greater
impact within the political system.
Influencers
Associations
Debbie Hart
BioNJ
CEO and president
Hart has developed key
relationships in Trenton to
reinvigorate the sector, helping the
launch of the Biotechnology Task
Force this year. The annual BioNJ
event attracts banner keynotes,
as well as a cameo from the new
governor this year. And regular
events are attended by some of the
top pharma companies in the world.
Michele Siekerka
New Jersey Business
& Industry Association
CEO and president
The problems with the business
climate and cost of living in the
state are well-known, but turning
knowledge into action has given
the New Jersey Business &
Industry Association increasing
visibility in the past year. Siekerka
is determined to address the key
issues, such as the outmigration of
millennials and retirees. The group
played a key role in getting the
estate tax rolled back last year.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers POWER LIST 2018
Banks
Linda Bowden
PNC Bank
New Jersey regional president
With approximately 300 branches across the
state, PNC Bank may have more outlets than
any other financial institution. Linda Bowden,
the company’s New Jersey head, may be the
state’s most ubiquitous banking executive. She
is a staple on the networking scene and involved
in many charitable endeavors — not surprising,
since Bowden is the unique banker who also has
a Master of Social Work degree.
Philanthropy
Bob Doherty
Bank of America
State president
Bank of America brings an interesting perspective
into New Jersey, as it does business with one
in two households and one in three commercial
entities through its numerous banking arms.
Doherty, the head of banking in the state, is taking
his active role in business a step further; he is
serving a two-year term as the chairman of New
Jersey Chamber of Commerce board of directors.
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March 5, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Ray Chambers
Philanthropist
Chambers continues to use his money and
influence for the good of the state — and the
world. Some say he still is a go-to consultant for
any development project in Newark, including the
city’s celebrated, successful effort to become a
finalist in the Amazon HQ2 sweepstakes. Simply
put, he has the presence and the pedigree to
make things happen and the respect of all those
he encounters.