The NJ Chamber Board also elects seven new board members
George Helmy, Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at RWJBarnabas Health, has been named to the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber’s Board of Directors confirmed the appointment at its Oct. 15 meeting.
Helmy, who joined the board in December, brings extensive experience in government, public policy and business leadership to the role. He previously served as chief of staff to former Gov. Phil Murphy and as a U.S. senator in 2024, filling the unexpired term of Sen. Bob Menendez.
He also serves on the Rutgers Board of Governors where he is Chairman of the Finance and Facilities Committee and as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he is a member of committees focused on capital planning, governance and ethics.
“George has a deep understanding of New Jersey’s government, business community and the issues that shape our state’s economic future,” said Tom Bracken, president & CEO of the N.J. Chamber of Commerce. “His experience in both the public and private sectors will be a tremendous asset to our Executive Committee. He will continue to help us advance policies that strengthen New Jersey’s business climate, encourage economic growth and make our state more competitive.”
New Members of the N.J. Chamber’s Board of Directors
The Chamber’s Board of Directors also elected seven new members at its Oct. 15 meeting. The new members represent a wide range of industries, including financial and professional services, entertainment, infrastructure, higher education, healthcare and workforce development.
The new board members are:
- Glenn Carroll, New Jersey Managing Principal, Deloitte
- Paul Josephson, Partner, Duane Morris LLP
- Kara Kopach, Director of Studio Operations, Netflix
- Fran O’Connor, Senior Vice President and Business Development Director, HNTB
- John A. Pelesko, Interim President, NJIT
- Lauren Repole, Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Atlantic Health
- Scott Shaw, President & CEO, Lincoln Technical Institute
"We welcome these respected leaders to the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors," Bracken said. "Each of them brings a wealth of business experience that will strengthen our Board and help us achieve our goal of growing New Jersey's economy and making the state more affordable for everyone."
The Chamber's Board of Directors provides guidance to chamber staff on policy issues affecting New Jersey’s short- and long-term economic growth. There is a special emphasis on matters involving Economic Development; Education & Workforce Development; Environment/Energy; Health Care; State Budget/Fiscal Issues; and Transportation.
The full board list can be found here.