NEWARK, NJ, Mar 25, 2019 – Judith A. Sheft, associate vice president of strategic relations and external affairs and senior adviser to the president of the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII), an NJIT Corporation, has been appointed Chairwoman of the Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation, (GNEC).
The GNEC was established in 2005 as a community development corporation, and Certified Community Development Financial Institution. The organization has been committed to helping entrepreneurs in the Greater Newark region access the training and financing needed for their businesses. GNEC specializes in needs-based counseling and technical assistance to businesses at all stages of development. Business counselors provide one-on-one needs assessment, business planning, technology assistance, marketing and management guidance as well as access to needed financing and other business development resources through microloan funding and extensive partner linkages.
In making the announcement, GNEC Executive Director, Steven Gomez said, “Judith Sheft has been dedicated in providing leadership, vision and direction to ensure success for our clients. We at GNEC are confident that the same rigor and focus will be directed to her work on the GNEC Board. She is a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion and works to engage women, underrepresented minorities and veterans in various support initiatives.”
At NJII, Sheft provides leadership, vision and direction to ensure the successful leveraging of NJII, NJIT and partner institution technology, innovation and resources to achieve enhanced outcomes for clients. She is involved with regional economic development having responsibilities for management of the i6 BioFoundry business acceleration program, the HealthIT Connections entrepreneurial cluster development program and the Procurement Technical Assistance Center. Companies that have participated in programs she has managed have seen significant revenue and job growth as compared to national averages. She is strong proponent of diversity and inclusion and works to engage women, underrepresented minorities and veterans in various support initiatives.
Sheft serves on the Board of Advisors to the NJIT Murray Women’s Center and helps mentor students and faculty. She has been a member of the NJ – Israel Commission and serves on the Women’s Center for Entrepreneurship Corporation and Einstein’s Alley, working to assist early stage tech and life sciences entrepreneurs. In 2017-2018 she served on New Jersey Governor Elect Phil Murphy’s Transition Team for Government, Technology and Innovation
She holds BS and MS in Mathematics from the University of Illinois and an MBA in International Business from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.