15 of ROI-NJ's 2022 Influencers Are Connected to NJIT
ROI-NJ recognized 15 leaders connected to New Jersey Institute of Technology in its 2022 Power lists of ROI Influencers.
The honorees made lists for Higher Education, Technology, New Jersey Executives, Economic Development, Real Estate, Elected & Appointed Government Officials, Associations & Organizations, Consultants and the Top 50 statewide, with most having earned such recognition in the past.
The lists are “meant to recognize those who are most influential in the business world,” explained Tom Bergeron, editor and chief content officer at ROI-NJ, in an editorial note. “Because the state’s business community is so closely tied to government, there are plenty of elected (and appointed) government officials, too.”
Here’s a closer look at the NJIT-connected honorees by category.
Higher Education: Joel S. Bloom
Bloom, NJIT’s president since 2011, also was #1 on the last year’s list of ROI Influencers: Higher Education. “It’s a victory lap for Bloom,” ROI-NJ noted. “He retires this summer having elevated the school to new levels.”
Technology: Simon Nynens, Haro Hartounian
Nynens is CEO of NJIT’s New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII).
Hartounian is senior vice president of NJII-backed company BioCentriq, which specializes in cell and gene therapy development.
New Jersey Executives: Robert Cohen, Gary Dahms, Marjorie Perry
Cohen, chair of NJIT’s Board of Trustees and an alumnus of the university, is president of digital, robotics and enabling technologies at Stryker.
Dahms, an NJIT trustee, is CEO and president of T&M Associates.
Perry, chair of NJIT’s Board of Overseers and an alumna, is president and CEO of MZM Construction.
Top 50: Luis De la Hoz, Michele Siekerka
No. 32 De la Hoz, a member of NJIT’s Hispanic Latinx Leadership Council, is chairman of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and first vice president and regional director for community lending at Valley National Bank. He also appears on the Associations & Organizations list.
No. 39 Siekerka, a member of NJII’s Board of Directors, is president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, the largest group of businesses in the state. She also appears on the Associations & Organizations list.
Economic Development: Jose Lozano
Lozano, a member of NJII’s Board of Directors, is senior vice president for strategic business partnerships at Hackensack Meridian Health, after serving as president and CEO of Choose New Jersey.
Real Estate: Jeff Milanaik
Milanaik, an NJIT alum, is a partner for the Northeast Region of Bridge Industrial.
Elected and Appointed Government Officials: Paul Sarlo
Sarlo, an NJIT alum, is deputy majority leader of the New Jersey Senate – where he represents 15 municipalities in Bergen and Passaic counties – and mayor of Wood-Ridge.
Associations & Organizations: Debbie Hart, Dean Paranicas, Anthony Russo
Hart, a member of NJII’s Board of Directors, is president and CEO of BioNJ, an association of companies that develop new treatments, medications and vaccines.
Paranicas, a member of NJII’s Board of Directors, is president and CEO of the HealthCare Institute of New Jersey.
Russo, an NJIT alum, is president of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and publisher and CEO of its magazine, Commerce.
Consultants: LeRoy Jones
Jones, an NJIT alum, is a partner at 1868 Public Affairs.
ROI-NJ chronicles news about business and economic development in New Jersey on roi-nj.com and in a weekly print edition. To see all of its 2022 Power lists, please go here: https://tinyurl.com/52y9mua4.
