TRENTON, NJ—(SBN)—Governor Philip D. Murphy named Laurence M. Downes as chairman of the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). Downes joined the EDA Board in 2010 and has served as Vice Chair since 2016.
“I am honored that Governor Murphy has selected me to serve as chairman of the EDA and I look forward to helping advance his vision for a stronger and fairer economy,” Downes said. “The EDA is staffed by a professional and dedicated group of individuals and I am pleased to have the opportunity to continue our efforts to create jobs and revitalize communities across the state.”
Downes is Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of New Jersey Resources (NJR) and its principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG). He joined NJR in March 1985 and has served as CEO since July 1995. Mr. Downes is a Director and past Chairman of the American Gas Association and the Natural Gas Council, as well as a Trustee of the American Gas Foundation. He chairs the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development’s National Advisory Board at Rutgers University and serves as a member of the Boards of the Drumthwacket Foundation and Choose New Jersey.
“I applaud the Governor’s decision to designate Larry Downes as the EDA Board’s new Chairman,” said Tim Sullivan, who will join the EDA as CEO on February 20. “With a long and distinguished professional and public service career, including eight years on the EDA Board, Larry’s knowledge and insight will be indispensable as we work to grow New Jersey’s economy.”
The EDA is an independent State agency that finances small and mid-sized businesses, administers tax incentives to retain and grow jobs, revitalizes communities through redevelopment initiatives, and supports entrepreneurial development by providing access to training and mentoring programs. The EDA is guided by a 16-member Board, which includes 10 public members, one non-voting member, and five ex-officio members.
Steve Lubetkin is the news director for StateBroadcastNews.com. Steve’s journalism background includes print and broadcast reporting for NJ news organizations. He refocused on multimedia journalism and podcast production after a long career in corporate branded journalism and public relations.
He has won numerous awards for his audio and video news reporting from the Garden State Journalists Association, and he has also been recognized for video by the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He has produced a wide range of audio and video podcasts in his other role as managing partner of State Broadcast News’s parent, The Lubetkin Media Companies.
Steve is co-author, with Toronto-based podcasting pioneer Donna Papacosta, of the book, The Business of Podcasting: How to Take Your Podcasting Passion from the Personal to the Professional.
In March 2021, he was elected to the board of directors of the New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and in July 2021 he was named secretary of the chapter. In August 2021, he was honored by SPJ with one of the organization’s 2021 Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member Awards, given to regular members of an SPJ chapter who go above and beyond in serving their chapter.
Steve has been the computer columnist for the Jewish Community Voice of Southern New Jersey, since 1996.
Steve also has reported on-camera and produces virtual conferences for NJSpotlightNews.org, a public policy news coverage website focused on New Jersey government and industry; and for clients of StateBroadcastNews.com, a division of The Lubetkin Media Companies LLC.
From May-November 2019, he produced and reported a weekly podcast, The CRE News Hour, a news and features program focusing on the commercial real estate industry.
From 2014 to 2019 he was New Jersey and Philadelphia editor for GlobeSt.com and filled in covering Chicago/Midwest and Atlanta.
Steve has also served (from August 2017 to March 2018) as national broadcast news correspondent for CEOReport.com, a news website focused on practical advice for senior executives in small- and medium-sized companies.
Earlier in his career, Steve reported on rock music at the Jersey Shore for the Asbury Park Press, and was a broadcast news anchor and production engineer for WJLK-AM & FM, then owned by the Press. He also worked as a general assignment reporter for the Red Bank Register, Shrewsbury, NJ.
You can email Steve at steve@statebroadcastnews.com.
