News Release: June 24, 2003
Contact: Steve Wilson, ext. 245Melanie Willoughby has joined the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) as Senior Vice President for Government Affairs. With more than 20,000 member companies, NJBIA is the nation's largest statewide employer association. Ms. Willoughby's primary responsibility is management of the association's government affairs department.
Before joining NJBIA earlier this month, Ms. Willoughby served for 18 years as president and CEO of the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, the statewide retail business organization representing over 3,500 stores with over 75 percent of the state's retail sales.
Prior to joining the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, Ms. Willoughby was assistant vice president for marketing with the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.
"I am very pleased to welcome Melanie back to the association," said NJBIA President Philip Kirschner. "As our head of the government affairs department, she will oversee the work of our talented staff of eight lobbyists and be our chief contact with the state Legislature. She will work to ensure that the interests of our 20,000 members are protected in the legislative process."
Ms. Willoughby started her career in the government arena 27 years ago when she joined the administration of New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne. She served as the director of state and federal government affairs for the NJ Department of Community Affairs.
Ms. Willoughby served as the vice chair of the New Jersey Small Employer Health Benefits Board when it was first established in 1992. The reform of the small employer market had been a very important issue to the members of the Retail Merchants Association.
Willoughby was directly involved in the creation of the legislation that created the Small Employer Health Benefits Board. She served as co-chair of the HEAL Coalition (Help Establish Affordable Healthcare Laws) that moved the reform agenda forward to correct the inadequacies in the small employer marketplace in the early 1990's.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please call Steve Wilson at 609-393-7707, ext. 245.
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