Linda Doherty, President & CEO of the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), is one of the state’s “Best 50 Women in Business” according to NJBIZ magazine.
Every year, NJBIZ selects professional women from around New Jersey, representing a wide variety of industries and career paths, who all share one characteristic: leadership in the Garden State’s business community. This highly competitive list includes C-suite executives, educators, entrepreneurs and many others who are making a strong positive impact on the state’s economy.
The New Jersey Food Council, is a Trenton-based business trade association that represents more than 1,500 members in the food retail, wholesale, and manufacturing segments of the $136 billion New Jersey food distribution industry, including some of the largest employers in a state with almost nine million residents to feed every day. Not only does she represent some of the finest companies in New Jersey, but some of the finest corporations in the world.
Larisa F. Perry, Wells Fargo; Kimberlee S. Phelan, WithumSmith+Brown; Linda Doherty, NJFC President; PC, Jerry Brown, Comcast Business during presentation ceremony.
As the fifth and longest serving NJFC president in its 48-year history, Ms. Doherty develops and launches programs and policies designed to continuously strengthen this industry that is so critical to the state’s economy, consumers, and workforce. Her professional focus is on association management, public policy, leadership development, corporate communications, public affairs, and government relations.
This year, she celebrated her 24th anniversary with the NJFC and 13th anniversary as president.
“To stand alongside such an accomplished group of women who are making a significant impact on business in New Jersey is a humbling honor and a special moment I will cherish,” Doherty said.
Doherty has been credited with developing NJFC’s Leadership Development program, growing it’s Student Scholarship and Educational Foundation, bringing more diversity onto the Board of Directors and in leadership positions andsharing her experiences, career insights and advice as a leading female food industry executive.
“Linda could not be more deserving of this recognition,” said Patrick C. Dunican, Jr., Chairman and Managing Director of Gibbons P.C. in Newark, who submitted Doherty’s nomination to NJBIZ. “She has made incredible strides as a leader in the food industry and the New Jersey business community at large.”
Doherty also has a strong passion for community outreach focusing on food assistance programs for women, children, families, and other individuals in need. As an advocate for women’s issues and financial stability, she founded the Girl’s Investment Network (GIN), a group of women in various stages of economic health to learn about financial stability, investing opportunities, and balancing personal finances.
Doherty is married and has three adult children.