The Newark Regional Business Partnership said Kirsten Giardi was promoted to senior vice president, strategic growth & member experience of the chamber of commerce serving the Greater Newark region.
This elevation follows a period of significant programmatic expansion and the successful delivery of high-impact initiatives that have strengthened connections across the Greater Newark business community.
Giardi joined NRBP in 2023 as vice president of member relations and engagement.
In her new role, Giardi will serve as the primary architect of the NRBP member value proposition. She will oversee the design of all summits, councils, and signature events, while leading efforts to secure corporate sponsorships and deepen the organization’s relationship with Newark’s vital anchor institutions.
“Kirsten has consistently demonstrated an ability to blend strategic vision with member-focused execution,” said Ferlanda Fox Nixon, president and CEO of NRBP. “Her leadership in conceptualizing our inaugural Leadership Summit and her impressive efforts to reignite our Transportation Symposium have set a new standard for how we serve our members. This promotion ensures that her talent for strategic growth remains at the heart of our mission.”
At the Inaugural Leadership Summit last month, Giardi spearheaded a full-day convening of more than 150 business and nonprofit leaders. Designed to engage members of NRBP’s newly established Nonprofit, Women’s, and Entrepreneurs councils, the event featured tailored program tracks that addressed the distinct challenges and opportunities facing each group.
Speakers included executive leaders of PSEG/PSEG Foundation, Victoria Foundation, Popular Bank, Prudential Foundation, Panasonic Foundation, and Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
Giardi also restarted the Transportation Symposium this past November after a multi-year hiatus, re-establishing NRBP as a central convener for regional infrastructure and transit dialogue. High-level leaders of Amtrak, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, NJ Transit, United Airlines, and the New Jersey Department of Transportation gathered to exchange insights, discuss preparedness plans, and highlight the range of interagency collaboration in anticipation of FIFA World Cup 2026.
“I am honored to step into this expanded role as the Newark Regional Business Partnership enters a new chapter,” said Giardi. “The Leadership Summit’s strong turnout underscored our members’ desire for deeper cross-sector collaboration, and I look forward to building thoughtful, inclusive opportunities that support shared economic growth across the region.”
