NJBIA will honor a host of longtime leaders in the energy and environment sector whose work has made a significant impact on New Jersey when the association hosts the 6th annual Energy and Environmental Policy Conference on Oct. 27-28 at the Delta Hotels Woodbridge.

The two-day conference, the premier conference of its kind in New Jersey, will feature nearly 50 speakers discussing the most relevant topics regarding the state’s energy and environmental policy, as well as a keynote speech from Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

The 2026 honorees for the event include:

• Melissa Danko, Executive Director, Marine Trades Association of New Jersey 

• Kevin Haney, President and Chief Executive Officer, Colliers Engineering Design 

• Grace Hanlon, Executive Director, Jersey Shore Partnership 

• Irene Kopp, Former Deputy Commissioner, NJDEP 

• Mike Renna, President and CEO, South Jersey Industries (retired) 

• John Wohlrab, Director of Government Affairs, Waste Management of New Jersey 

“We look forward to hosting this conference that has really grown into such an important forum examining the critical issues shaping New Jersey’s energy and environmental policies,” said NJBIA Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer Ray Cantor.

“We also appreciate the opportunity to recognize these New Jersey executives whose past advocacy and leadership have steered energy and environmental policy in this state and whose insights can help us explore innovative solutions for the future,” Cantor said.

For more information about NJBIA’s 6th Annual Energy and Environmental Policy Conference, including speakers, panel discussion topics, and registration information, go here.

Media interested in covering this event can RSVP to NJBIA Chief Communications and Media Officer Bob Considine at bconsidine@njbia.org.

Melissa Danko  

For the past 25 years, Danko has served as Executive Director of the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, establishing herself as the foremost advocate for New Jersey’s over $6 billion recreational boating and marine trade industry.

Under her leadership, MTA-NJ has grown into the unified and authoritative voice for over 300 marinas, boat dealers, manufacturers, service yards, suppliers, and retailers across the state. Danko is a results-driven leader with deep expertise in government affairs, regulatory advocacy, and strategic growth as well as educational programming, event planning and small business management assistance.

Danko has successfully shaped dozens of state and federal laws and environmental regulations that directly affect the marine sector. She has spearheaded the development of industry-leading education and workforce-training programs, produced more than 25 highly successful boat shows and conferences (including the Jersey Shore Boat Sale & Expo and New Jersey Boat Sale & Expo), and dramatically expanded membership, non-dues revenue, and statewide influence.

Danko currently serves on the Recreational Boating Leadership Council, New Jersey Clean Vessel Act Committee, New Jersey Business Coalition, Barnegat Bay Advisory Committee, and the New Jersey Clean Marina Program.

Kevin Haney 

Haney is President and Chief Executive Officer for Colliers Engineering Design, a multidiscipline engineering and architecture firm that currently employs more than 3,500 people in 85 office locations nationwide.

Haney’s responsibilities include the oversight of the direction and execution of the firm’s strategic operation, management of the executive leadership for company performance, facilitation of organic and acquisitive growth, and management of the firm’s overall environment to create and sustain a culture of success for the firm’s people, business and surrounding communities.

Haney has been recognized in multiple publications and received awards for Inspirational Leadership and Excellence in Management.  He often speaks at engagements on topics such as growing a business, cultural excellence, leadership, motivating your workforce, and people/career development.

Passionate about providing growth opportunities for, and helping to protect younger generations, Haney is a current Board Member of Junior Achievement of New Jersey North District and Chairman of the Board for Law Enforcement Against Drugs (L.E.A.D.), a national non-profit (501 c3) organization supported by dedicated police officers, that achieves its goals by collaborating with educators, community leaders, families and L.E.A.D. support organizations.

Grace Hanlon

Hanlon is Executive Director of the Jersey Shore Partnership, New Jersey’s leading advocate for both beach replenishment and coastal protection. She works to protect the state’s 130-mile coastline, an environmental treasure and a powerful economic engine for the state.

New Jersey’s four shore counties – Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, and Cape May—generate more than $25 billion in visitor spending, roughly half of all tourism spending in the state, and account for 45% of New Jersey’s visitors. Hanlon’s work focuses on protecting the beaches and coastal communities that drive this extraordinary economic activity.

Previously Hanlon served as Executive Director of the New Jersey Division of Travel & Tourism, where she helped lead the state’s tourism industry through Superstorm Sandy and played a role in major events including New Jersey’s first Super Bowl and the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.

Hanlon serves on the OceanFirst Bank Community Advisory Board and the Board of the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association, and is a member of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council.

Irene Kropp 

Irene Kropp retired as the Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in July of 2013 after 30 years of public service in the NJDEP.

As Deputy Commissioner, she managed the Department’s Transformation Initiative as well as the Environmental Justice, Permit Coordination, Information Services, Science and Research and Emergency Response Offices. She was also instrumental in the response actions taken by the NJDEP in the Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and Superstorm Sandy. As Assistant Commissioner of the Site Remediation Program, she was responsible for the development of the Licensed Site Remediation Professional program as well as the enactment of the Site Remediation Reform Act.

Prior to Kropp’s role as Assistant Commissioner of the Site Remediation Program, she held various management roles throughout the Department. Since leaving NJDEP, she has consulted on site remediation projects at Langan Engineering as well as for her firm, Kropp & Associates, LLC.

Michael Renna 

Renna is the retired president and chief executive officer of South Jersey Industries (SJI), where he served from 2015 to 2026.

During his tenure, he led one of New Jersey’s most prominent energy infrastructure companies. Under his leadership, SJI strengthened its focus on supporting the state’s vision of a cleaner energy future while continuing to uphold the company’s longstanding commitment to delivering safe, reliable, affordable energy to more than 750,000 natural gas customers via SJI Utilities (SJIU).

Renna joined SJI in 1998 and, as a result of his hard work and commitment to success, he advanced through a number of managerial and professional positions. Prior to becoming CEO at SJI, Renna held the title of president of South Jersey Energy Solutions and South Jersey Energy, the region’s largest energy marketer. He was appointed to the South Jersey Energy Solutions executive committee in November 2012 and to the SJI Board of Directors in 2014. In 2015, Renna was named to his former position as president and chief executive officer of SJI.

Renna retired from SJI in August 2026. Prior to his retirement, he served on various boards of directors including Junior Achievement of New Jersey, NJBIA, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Economic and Community Advisory Council.

John Wohlrab 

Wohlrab is responsible for all activities related to state, county, local, elected and appointed officials to help shape solid waste, recycling and transportation policy for Waste Management Inc.

He has worked in the industry since 1990 when he became controller, and later chief financial officer and partner, of DiMarco Disposal Services/J & J Recycling Co. Inc., in its day New Jersey’s largest independent solid waste and recycling firm. The companies were acquired by WM in 1998.

Following the acquisition, Wohlrab directed Waste Management’s operations in New Jersey and was helpful in integrating the company’s many acquisitions in the state. In 2002, Wohlrab assumed the role of director of government relations for New Jersey and later the company’s regional market area, which includes New York City, Delaware, and eastern Pennsylvania.

In his current role, Wohlrab has been instrumental in shaping legislation that has fostered a more favorable regulatory environment for the environmental services industry. Some examples include New Jersey’s recycling tax, the Slow Down to Go Around Law in 2017, food waste recycling legislation in 2019, and several other bills important to the company and the industry.

Sponsors and partners for NJBIA’s 6th annual Energy and Environmental Policy Conference include: 

• Alpha Generation 

• Amazon 

• American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers 

• American Petroleum Institute 

• Archer & Greiner 

• Arnold Ventures 

• AT&T 

• Atlantic City Electric 

• Bayshore Recycling Corp 

• Chevron 

• Citizens 

• Comcast 

• Competitive Power Ventures 

• Connell Foley LLP 

• DailyPay 

• ELEC 825 

• Exxon Mobil Corporation 

• Focus NJ 

• Jersey Shore Partnership 

• K & L Gates 

• Manufacturing Counts 

• Marotta Controls 

• Minding Your Business TV 

• Natural Allies 

• New Jersey Business Magazine 

• New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program 

• New Jersey Natural Gas SAVEGREEN 

• New Jersey's Clean Energy Program 

• NJ CAR 

• NRG Energy, Inc. 

• Paulsboro Refining 

• Planet NJ 

• Priority Power 

• PSEG 

• Skalli Events 

• Solar Landscape 

• Solstice Advanced Materials 

• South Jersey Industries 

• The Stevens & Lee Companies 

• The Williams Companies, Inc. 

• Trinity Consultants 

• WGL Energy Services