NJBIA’s Siekerka, Ford Recognized on Insider NJ’s ‘Powerful Women of NJ’ List 

On Feb 5, 2026

NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka and Vice President of Government Affairs Althea D. Ford were among the trailblazing women honored on Insider NJ’s “Powerful Women of New Jersey” list compiled by former state Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter. 

“This carefully curated group of remarkable women serves as a powerful reminder of the value women bring to every space we occupy including politics, business, education, and healthcare,” Sumter wrote of the 254 influential women on the 2025 Powerful Women of New Jersey list. 

Since 2014, Siekerka had led NJBIA, the nation’s most influential statewide employer organization, advocating on behalf of New Jersey’s business community for policies that will make the state more affordable and regionally competitive. 

Siekerka is often the go-to resource for media and public forums on issues affecting New Jersey business. She shares her business expertise as a member of several boards of directors, including the Citizens Financial Group, the National Association of Manufacturers, the New Jersey Innovation Institute, the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and Junior Achievement of New Jersey. 

Ford joined NJBIA in 2023 and leads the association’s lobbying efforts on healthcare, education, and consumer affairs. She is also the executive director of Focus NJ, an independent nonprofit research organization that analyzes economic trends and workforce development. 

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