Passionately Making A Difference: Leadership in Public Service, Non-Profit Organizations, and Socially Responsible Businesses

Friday, November 5th
11:00 am – 12:15 pm

Focus
Explore leadership opportunities available to ambitious, socially minded women in public service, non-profit and for-profit fields. Learn from remarkable women who have been able to leverage their unique strengths, experiences and goals to effect change and create a legacy for a better world.

Panelist

Caren Franzini, CEO NJ EDA

Caren Franzini, Chief Executive Officer
New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA)
Ms. Franzini has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) since January 1994. She joined the Authority in March 1991 as Deputy Director.

In 2003, under Ms. Franzini’s direction, the EDA arranged more than $382 million in financings that are supporting public-private investments of $560 million; and created an estimated 2,400 jobs. During Ms. Franzini's tenure, the EDA has focused on assisting business and nonprofits, revitalizing communities through technical and financial assistance, supporting the growth of technology businesses, promoting entrepreneurial development, and developing commercial real estate in distressed areas.

Ms. Franzini serves on the Board of Directors and is the past president of the National Council of Development Finance Agencies. She serves on the Board of Directors for the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, the New Jersey Technology Council; the Southern New Jersey Development Council; the New Jersey Development Authority for Small Businesses, Minorities’ and Women’s Enterprises; Chamber of Commerce Southern Jersey; and Ms. Franzini is President of the Corporation for Business Assistance in New Jersey. She also is a Member of the Edison III Venture Capital Fund Advisory Committee, serves on the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the Advisory Board of the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies of Fairleigh Dickinson University and the Board of Trustees of Prosperity New Jersey.

Ms. Franzini is a recipient of the Golden Investment Partnership Award presented by the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust in recognition for her participation in innovative investment partnerships. She was presented with the “John H. Martinson Technology Supporter Award” by the New Jersey Technology Council. Ms. Franzini received the New Jersey Business and Industry Association’s “Paul L. Troast Award,” which recognized her promotion of and commitment to improve the State’s economy and create jobs. Ms. Franzini was honored for her contribution to the pharmaceutical, medical technology and biotech fields by the Women’s Fund of New Jersey, a federation of organizations that provide services to women in New Jersey. Ms. Franzini is also a recipient of an Advocate Award from the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners for her work in support of women business ownership. Ms. Franzini is listed in the 2002 edition of BUSINESS NEWS Who’s Who directory of New Jersey’s top business executives.

Prior to joining the Authority, Ms. Franzini was an Assistant State Treasurer with the New Jersey Treasury Department. Before that, she worked in the Finance Division at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and previous to that with Public Financial Management.

Ms. Franzini holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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