Michelle Bodden joined the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) in March of 2020 as the Authority’s first Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer (CDO). In this role, she leads efforts cultivating equity and inclusion throughout the organization, while also promoting equity throughout the State’s economy through her oversight of DEI within all Authority products and programs. She brings her extensive professional experience in driving DEI strategies, standards, and policies to the State of New Jersey in this critical leadership position.

Prior to joining the NJEDA, Michelle led the supplier diversity program for Allied Universal, a leading security and facility services company with more than 200,000 employees. She also fostered economic inclusion during her tenure with the Women Presidents’ Educational organization, where she executed initiatives focused on developing woman entrepreneurs and advancing the successes of women-owned enterprises. As an experienced entrepreneur herself, having founded a successful consulting firm providing business development, organizational planning, and operational streamlining expertise to multi-physician medical practices, she brings valuable firsthand entrepreneurial knowledge to the Authority, ensuring programs are accessible and developed with the unique needs of small and diverse businesses in mind.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Delaware State University and is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE).