Althea D. Ford, currently Vice President of Government Affairs at the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), has been appointed as Executive Director of Focus NJ Center for Economic Research & Workforce Solutions. Her appointment was made by the Focus NJ Board of Trustees and will take effect on October 1. Ford replaces Elissa Frank in this role.
NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka, who also serves as chair of the Focus NJ Board of Trustees, commented on the appointment: “Althea is one of the true rising stars in Trenton and we are so fortunate that she has accepted this leadership role with Focus NJ, which has its own great momentum going.”
Siekerka further said, “Althea is a skilled researcher, policy analyst and public speaker, who garners great respect in the business community. With some great research projects in the queue, we look forward to Althea taking Focus NJ to the next level."
She added, “We are also excited that Jack Ramirez, NJBIA’s Director of Research, will continue to support the research needs of Althea and Focus NJ along with our cadre of impressive interns.”
In response to her new position, Ford stated: “I look forward to leading this incredible organization to meet its moment and mission of producing research that informs sound policy for the benefit of all New Jerseyans.”
Focus NJ is an independent nonprofit that provides nonpartisan economic and workforce research. The organization regularly updates its Economic Tracker dashboard with data from sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. This tool offers interactive maps, charts, and tables showing trends in New Jersey’s GDP, unemployment rates, income levels, and other economic indicators.
The organization also manages an online Workforce Development Map cataloging over 400 training programs across New Jersey. This map connects workers, employers, and training providers with information relevant for academia, business, government professionals, current workers and job seekers. To date, 1,600 individuals have used this resource to search for training opportunities; nearly 500 users have accessed program partners’ websites directly through it.
Ford joined NJBIA in January 2023 after working as director of government relations for the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association. She specializes in advocacy related to education, healthcare and childcare issues. Ford holds a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in politics and education from Teachers College at Columbia University.
