The winners of the NJBIA 2026 Rising Star awards are (L-R) Olivia Ivy Altidor, Erin Bolger Elizabeth, Melissa “Mel” Josephson, Jocelyn Kranicka, Zack Metzger and Monserrat Miranda.  

NJBIA will honor six standout students with “Rising Star” awards when more than 400 business leaders, entrepreneurs and students gather for the 12th Annual New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum at Bally’s in Atlantic City on Sept. 23-24.

“NJBIA’s Rising Star awards honor students who have demonstrated a passion for their career path, academic success, and a commitment to volunteering in their communities during their undergraduate careers,” NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka said Friday.

“This year, we are proud to recognize the accomplishments of six students who have distinguished themselves at New Jersey institutions of higher education and are destined for great professional success,” she said.

The honorees are:

• Olivia Ivy Altidor, of Hillsborough, a junior studying economics and political science at Rutgers University, New Brunswick.

• Erin Bolger Elizabeth, of Brick Township, a 13-year Brick municipal employee who returned to college and is on track to earn a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Kean University in December.

• Melissa “Mel” Josephson, of Sea Bright, who graduated from the University of Virigina Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy with highest honors in May.

• Jocelyn Kranicka, of Washington (Warren County), a senior majoring in financial technology at the Martin Tuchman School of Management at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark.

• Zack Metzger, of Howell, a freshman at Rutgers University in the Honors College majoring in finance while also serving an elected three-year term on the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education.

• Monserrat Miranda, of Garfield, a senior at Berkeley College pursuing a bachelor’s degree in fashion merchandising and management.

The New Jersey Women Business Leaders Forum, powered by Citizens, is the state’s premier professional women’s conference. Each year it brings together hundreds of women and men engaging workshops, dynamic TED-style talks and inspiring keynotes. Since 2015, WBLF events have inspired thousands of attendees to break barriers, build businesses, launch successful careers and work to make New Jersey’s C-suites and boardrooms more diverse.

The Rising Star winners will receive their awards on Day 2 of the WBLF (Sept. 24) during a champagne toast in Bally’s Grand Ballroom.

Olivia Ivy Altidor 

A junior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick studying economics and political science, Altidor is passionate about business and public policy. Currently working as an intern for U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, Altidor says she is excited to be gaining valuable experience in public service, leadership, and the work that goes into serving a community with purpose and compassion.

Since 2019, Altidor has also worked with UN Women, a United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. As a passionate speaker and advocate for gender and racial equity, Altidor has taken her message of leadership to stages across the nation through spoken word poetry, most recently at the NAACP’s 117th National Convention held in July in Chicago.

A graduate of Hillsborough High School, Altidor has served as a national Girl Scout Council delegate, representing thousands of girls in one of the organization’s highest governance bodies. She was also a Media Girl, representing Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey in public-facing roles, including television and radio appearances. Currently, she serves as a founding member of the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Young Alumnae Network, where she helps guide engagement and outreach effort.

Erin Bolger Elizabeth 

Currently employed as the secretary to the Brick Township Environmental Commission, Elizabeth is a nontraditional student who will complete her bachelor’s degree in public administration at Kean University in December. Elizabeth has earned Dean’s List honors every semester and has been accepted into Kean’s five-year honors master’s program.

As an adult learner, Elizabeth has made it part of her mission to help change the way colleges support older students who choose to return to school later in life. She believes education should be accessible at every stage of life and advocates for resources, encouragement, and opportunities that give every student a pathway to success.

Elizabeth was recently elected chair of the 2026-2027 Student Advisory Committee (SAC) of the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), a role where she can give adult learners a voice in the state's financial-aid policymaking process. She also volunteers to support veterans and student veterans at both Ocean County College and Kean University.

Melissa “Mel” Josephson 

Josephson grew up in Mercer County and is an alumna of The Lawrenceville School, where she was named a 2022 USA Lacrosse All-American. She recently graduated with the highest academic honors from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in Public Policy and Leadership. At UVA she was also the goalkeeper for their Division I women's lacrosse team, where she played a leadership role in directing the team's defense and earned numerous athletic honors.

Today, Josephson works as a public affairs associate at Moxie Strategies in Asbury Park conducting research and crafting messaging campaigns for nonprofits and other governmental entities. Josephson was recently admitted to the University of Virginia Darden School of Business Future Year Scholars Program, which offers deferred admission to the MBA program at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, allowing her to gain several years of professional experience before returning to the classroom.

Through the lacrosse community, Josephson has been closely connected to the One Love Foundation and its mission to educate young people about healthy relationships and help prevent relationship abuse. For the past five years, she has also coached and mentored youth players, giving back to the sport while supporting younger athletes.

Jocelyn Kranicka 

Kranicka, of Washington Township (Warren County), is a senior majoring in financial technology at the Martin Tuchman School of Management at NJIT. Her strong skills as a fintech student have earned her a highly competitive data analyst co-op opportunity at Johnson & Johnson.

As president of the Knit and Crochet Club, she guided an eight-member executive board and helped the club grow as a service-oriented student organization. Under her leadership, the club has donated hundreds of handmade items to Covenant House in Newark to support individuals affected by homelessness and trafficking.

Kranicka has also made a significant contribution through her work at the Highlander H.O.U.S.E., the campus food pantry and a professional career closet that supports student well-being and success. After only one semester, Kranicka was promoted to lead the PantrySoft database system, a role that required both technical ability and leadership skills for the training of other student employees using the system.

Zack Metzger 

Metzger, the 2026 valedictorian of Colts Necks Highs School, won a seat representing Howell Township on the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education when he was still in high school. He is currently a freshman at Rutgers University’s Honors College, where he is majoring in finance. He plans to go on to law school after earning his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers and aspires to a career that intersects in business, law and public service.

He began his public service career in his senior year in high school when he recruited canvassers, fundraised, and ran an issues-oriented campaign for a seat on the state’s largest regional school board. Just weeks after turning 18, he handily won the election to a three-year term with 67% of the vote. He continues serving on the board while attending Rutgers.

Earlier this year, he served as the appointed representative from his district at the New Jersey School Boards Delegate Assembly, where he publicly supported and addressed a resolution requesting increased transparency between county vocational school districts and sending districts. Metzger also works as an intern in Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger’s legislative office, where he leads a research project examining school finance in the 13th Legislative District and the impact of health benefits increases on budgets.

Metzger also recently completed an internship at the Monmouth County Courthouse.

Monserrat “Monse” Miranda 

Miranda, of Garfield, is a senior at Berkeley College pursuing a degree in fashion merchandising and management. She has built her academic journey around leadership and creating opportunities for others. During her time at Berkeley College, she has served as president of the Student Government Association and founded the Fashion Revolution, a student-led club created to advance professional careers in the industry.

She spearheaded a campuswide fashion show, creating a platform to celebrate student talent while highlighting professional attire from the Berkeley College Career Closet that students could use for internships and job interviews. She successfully completed a marketing internship with Prospanica, an organization for Hispanic professionals, and since 2025 has been interning with WindowsWear, which provides digital marketing and social media services for leading brands and retailers.

Miranda represented Berkeley College at the Middle States Commission on Higher Education Annual Conference and as a student speaker at the United Nations High-Level Political Forum, where she contributed to conversations surrounding fashion, sustainability, and the role of the next generation in shaping the industry. In 2025, she was among 200 students nationwide named to the ALL IN Student Voting Honor Roll, recognizing college students who do outstanding work to advance nonpartisan democratic engagement on campus.