This weekend, the television program “Minding Your Business” on News 12+ featured a segment at the New Jersey Council of County Colleges to highlight NJBioFutures, an initiative aimed at building a skilled workforce for New Jersey’s life sciences and biomanufacturing sector.
NJBioFutures is designed to support the state’s cell and gene therapy industries through education and training programs provided by community colleges. The initiative is part of the broader New Jersey Pathways project, which focuses on aligning educational offerings with industry needs.
The discussion was led by Bob Considine and included Conrad Mercurius, Executive Director of Workforce Development & Career Education at Raritan Valley Community College; Jennifer Kaklamanis, Director of Workforce Education at Mercer County Community College; and Joanie Coffaro, Vice President for External Affairs, Communication, and Advancement at Middlesex College.
“We have developed good manufacturing practices, pharmaceutical aseptic manufacturing and aseptic bio manufacturing, and all three are almost ready to launch,” said Kaklamanis. “We have two underway and a final [certificate] that will launch with the launch of all of our labs.”
“Students can go right out and get a job as an aseptic cleaner or a GMP cleaner and get started in the pharmaceutical industry right away.”
“Minding Your Business” is produced by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) as a weekly TV show. The program has received seven Telly Awards over the past three years, including a gold award in 2024 in the Interview & Talk Show category.
