In addition to her current role as NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs, Althea D. Ford has been selected to lead the Focus NJ Center for Economic Research & Workforce Solutions, an independent nonprofit that conducts timely nonpartisan research economic and workforce issues.

Ford, who succeeds former Focus NJ Executive Director Elissa Frank, was appointed to her new position this week by the Focus NJ Board of Trustees, effective October 1.

“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,” said NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka, who also chairs the Focus NJ Board of Trustees.

“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.

“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,” Siekerka added.

“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,” Ford said.

In addition to in-depth research projects, Focus NJ regularly tracks how the Garden State’s GDP, unemployment, income, and other indicators are affecting the state’s economy its Economic Tracker dashboard, which is accessible to all.

The tracker compares current and historical economic data through interactive maps, charts and tables updated as data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis are released.

Focus NJ also provides an online Workforce Development Map, which is an interactive map cataloging more than 400 workforce development training programs throughout the state to connect workers, employers, and training providers. This resource is continually updated to provide useful information for members of academia, business and government, as well as current workers and future workers.

Thus far, 1,600 people have looked for training through the Workforce Development Map, which nearly 500 of them going directly to websites of program partners.

Ford joined NJBIA in January 2023, with specialty advocacy roles in education, healthcare and childcare. She previously served as director of government relations for the New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association (NJSFDA).

Ford is a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned her master’s degree in politics and education from the Teachers College at Columbia University in 2010.