By Joshua Burd
Barbara E. Kauffman, the longtime executive vice president and chief operating officer at the Newark Regional Business Partnership, will step down from the full-time role this fall.
The organization announced Tuesday that Kauffman, an influential figure in the city and state business communities, will do so after 34 years with the group. She started as a project manager for NRBP’s predecessor organization, Renaissance Newark Inc., and became a vice president in an economic development capacity when RNI merged with the Metro Newark Chamber in 1993.
She was later elevated to executive vice president and chief operating officer.
“We are grateful to Barbara for her many years of service and dedication to our members,” said Monica Slater Stokes, chair of the NRBP board of directors and managing director for corporate and government affairs at United Airlines. “Barbara has made countless connections across industry sectors, and established long-lasting partnerships that created many opportunities to grow and expand business.”
Kauffman has been a fixture at events in Newark, including NRBP’s own Real Estate Market Forum, which is held every March and draws a crowd of top industry players as panelists and attendees. She’s also a regular at key economic development events in the city.
Chip Hallock, the organization’s CEO and president, lauded her consistent efforts to support NRBP’s members and her work to produce hundreds of high-quality events that included expert speakers and supportive sponsors.
“Barbara has an extraordinary combination of intelligence, passion and work ethic that has served our members well,” Hallock said. “She has been a statewide resource for countless business acquaintances in helping to build their networks and careers — we can’t applaud Barbara enough and wish her well as she continues her civic engagement.”
Kauffman said she plans to remain active, noting that she enjoys “the challenge of making a meaningful introduction and providing assistance through our wide network of member contacts.”
“I am fortunate to have members who are so willing to use their networks to respond to other members and provide assistance,” she said. “I intend to continue making connections after I step back from NRBP. 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.”
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