No. 5: Melissa Orsen

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Orsen is senior vice president at South Jersey Industries and president and chief operations officer for South Jersey Gas. In her role, Orsen is responsible for the day to day leadership and strategic oversight at South Jersey Gas, with a focus on driving operational excellence.

Orsen joined SJI in 2017 as general counsel, responsible for advising the board of directors and executive team on legal matters, overseeing all corporate legal and government affairs. Previously, she was the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, leading the state agency as it rolled out billions of dollars in state subsidies meant to bring the state out of the Great Recession.

Her public sector tenure went on several years under both Democratic and Republican governors. She was deputy attorney general between 2000 and 2003, spanning six governors: two Democrats and six Republicans. She served various chief of staff posts across the Christie administration, before rising to deputy commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs and then the NJEDA.

With many of its operations in Atlantic City – a potential offshore wind hub on the East Coast – SJI has positioned  itself as a key participant in the developing industry.