The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) announced that its Vice President of Government Affairs, Althea D. Ford, has been named executive director of Focus NJ Center for Economic Research and Workforce Solutions, an independent nonprofit that conducts timely nonpartisan research on economic and workforce issues.
Ford succeeds former Focus NJ Executive Director Elissa Frank. She was appointed to her new position by the Focus NJ board of trustees, effective Oct. 1.
“Althea is one of the true rising stars in Trenton, and we are so fortunate that she has accepted this leadership role with Focus NJ, which has its own great momentum going,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka, who also chairs the Focus NJ board of trustees. “Althea is a skilled researcher, policy analyst and public speaker, who garners great respect in the business community. With some great research projects in the queue, we look forward to Althea taking Focus NJ to the next level.
“We are also excited that Jack Ramirez, NJBIA’s director of research, will continue to support the research needs of Althea and Focus NJ, along with our cadre of impressive interns.”
Ford joined NJBIA in January 2023, with specialty advocacy roles in education, health care and child care. She previously served as director of government relations for the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (NJSFDA).
She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned her master’s degree in politics and education from the Teachers College at Columbia University in 2010.
“I look forward to leading this incredible organization to meet its moment and mission of producing research that informs sound policy for the benefit of all New Jerseyans,” said Ford.
