Mindy Holman; Judith Schumacher-Tilton
Chairman; President
Holman Enterprises; Schumacher Auto Group
Longtime leaders of two of the largest auto dealership groups in the state. Schumacher-Tilton was recently named first female head of the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers.
Rachael Honig; Camelia Valdes
Acting U.S. attorney; County prosecutor
Department of Justice; Passaic County
Honig is just the second women to serve as U.S. attorney for the state. And, although that is a matter of politics, it should be noted that she has served in the office with distinction during administrations of both parties. Valdes is honored for being a powerful county prosecutor — one who has been recommended by all minority law organizations as their choice to take over the role full-time.
Dianna Houenou
Chair
Cannabis Regulatory Commission
She will oversee the regulation of an industry that has potential to not only bring great revenue to the state, but right many of the wrongs that resulted from the War on Drugs.
Melonie Johnson
President and chief operating officer
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa
She heads one of Atlantic City’s most impactful and influential casino properties at a time when how the city recovers and rebounds from pandemic will matter for years to come.
Barbara Kauffman
EVP and chief operating officer
Newark Regional Business Partnership
She is a top leader at the most important business group in Newark and Essex County and the outgoing head of Executive Women of New Jersey, an organization she remains deeply involved with.
Karen Kessler
Co-founder and president
Evergreen Partners
Known for her straightforward counsel on sensitive issues including regulatory inquiries, personnel matters, business practices and criminal and civil litigation — and her ability to keep issues private.
Lei Lei
Dean of the Business School
Rutgers University
An expert on supply-chain management, she oversees the education of the next generation of business leaders at the state’s top business school.
Nadine Leslie
CEO
Suez North America
Longtime Suez executive who rose to the top job in 2019, she is known for her knowledge and leadership on all areas. Also known as an influential board member of Choose New Jersey.
Elizabeth Magennis
President
ConnectOne Bank
Recently promoted to president from chief lending officer, she will oversee the growth and strategic direction of the $7.4 billion-asset company.
Asw. Eliana Pintor Marin
D-Newark
General Assembly
As Assembly budget chair, she played a key role in the Economic Recovery Act of 2020 — and will be a key figure on the Select Commission on Emergency COVID-19 Borrowing.
Maggie Moran
Co-founder and managing partner
Kivvit
Whether it’s in New Jersey or on the national scene — in business or politics — Moran has made Kivvit a go-to source for strategic communications and consulting.
Sheila Oliver
Lieutenant governor
State of New Jersey
Has been a state leader throughout the pandemic, leading the charge on rental assistance and prevention of evictions, as well as serving as a champion for those in skeptical communities to get vaccinated.
Fabiana Pierre-Louis; Esther Salas
Associate justice; Judge
New Jersey Supreme Court; U.S. District Court
Pierre-Louis, the youngest member of the state Supreme Court, is a role model for the court for years to come. Salas, the first Hispanic to serve as a New Jersey District Court judge, has earned the admiration of all for the grace and courage she has shown following a horrific family tragedy last summer.
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For the Top 10, click here.
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For the rest of the Top 50 (alphabetically), click here (A-HH) and here (Q-Z).
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And click here for 10 legendary business figures.
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For all of the ROI Influencers: Women in Business, click here.
