NJBIZ Conversations: Barbara Kauffman

Barbara Kauffman has been with the Newark Regional Business Partnership for 34 years, working her way up from a project manager for the group’s predecessor organization, RNI, to become executive vice president and chief operating officer. In the process, she became one of the state’s most incisive voices on business and economic development issues. On July 12, Kauffman announced that she will be stepping back from her full time role at the NRBP this fall. But that doesn’t mean she’s going away.

“I will be pursuing opportunities to continue my commitment to the City of Newark, in part through work at NRBP, the NJIT Martin Tuchman School, Rutgers Business School, and by continuing to serve on boards such as the University Hospital Foundation, the Newark Museum Business and Community Council, and more,” she said in a statement accompanying her announcement.

Just before that news broke, Kauffman sat down for an NJBIZ Conversations interview about the business environment in and around Newark, the organization’s priorities for the rest of the year and the challenges facing corporate and government leaders in the region.

To watch the interview, click on the image below.