ACG NJ / TMA NJ Joint Breakfast Meeting, April 16, 2019

Michele Siekerka, Esq. became the 11th President of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association in October 2014. 
Michele came to NJBIA from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection where she served in the critical position of Deputy Commissioner.  Prior to serving as Deputy she served as Assistant Commissioner for Water Resource Management.  
In those positions, Michele was a principal player in Governor Christie’s charge in “Rebuilding New Jersey” in the wake of “Superstorm Sandy.”  She was responsible for coordinating funding, outreach and resources for the rebuilding of impacted environmental infrastructure.  

CPA and senior financial executive with over 25 years of experience in both public accounting and private industry. Significant experience in owner managed companies, based in New Jersey, ranging from $20 million to $150 million in sales with concentration in consumer products, in both manufacturing and distribution. Work closely with management teams to implement change and overall improvements to bottom line.
Currently, CFO at Dr. Praeger's Sensible Foods, a global healthy frozen food manufacturer sold in all major supermarkets. Day to day duties include all finance, accounting, legal, HR and IT.   

Sharon pursued a degree in banking after being graduated from the Rutgers MBA program. She joined Sterling National Bank in the Corporate Finance Group, where she was reunited with her former colleagues and returned to the hybrid product asset based lending with a cash flow component. Sterling is unique because the mandate is that they do asset based loans but can also accommodate when a stretch is needed. Sharon is on the board of the New Jersey TMA and is active on several committees. The committee closest to her heart is the Diversity Committee. Since Sharon is well – networked, she is able to work with a variety of debt funds, private equity groups and of course, the entrepreneur in the direct deal. Although her calling territory is New York (0ffice in Manhattan) and New Jersey (Office in Paramus), she can follow the transaction of a referral source anywhere in the country.