The New Jersey Business & Industry Association expanded its Board of Trustees to 22 members on Tuesday with the election of Monica Slater Stokes, United’s lead government relations executive in the Northeast, to a three-year term on NJBIA's board.

United, which has the world’s largest aircraft fleet, operates a major East Coast hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and employs over 14,000 people in the New Jersey-New York region. In her role as managing director of Corporate and Government Affairs at United, Stokes builds strategic partnerships and drives programs that support the airline’s in-market public policy, business development, and social impact objectives.

“Monica has built a reputation in New Jersey’s business community as a respected consensus-builder who knows how to navigate challenges, remove obstacles, and keep projects moving forward to produce results,” said NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka. “NJBIA’s board is gaining a member with deep operational acumen and stakeholder-management experience.”

Prior to joining United, Stokes held high-level positions in the public sector, including director of Constituent Services & Community Development for the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). Stokes currently serves on several nonprofit boards including the Regional Plan Association, Choose NJ, and the Newark Regional Business Partnership.

Stokes was honored with NJBIA’s 2025 Caren Franzini Leadership Award, the State Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Issues Advocate Award, and has been recognized by numerous New Jersey publications in annual rankings of the state’s most influential business leaders.

“Our trustees are invaluable to the success of NJBIA’s mission to provide New Jersey businesses with the information, services and the powerful advocacy they need to succeed,” Siekerka said. “Monica knows New Jersey’s business landscape and the challenges our job creators face well. Her pragmatic leadership and solutions-oriented mindset will be a great asset our board.”

For a complete list of all NJBIA board members, go here.