John W. Kennedy, Ph.D., is first and foremost a ‘Jersey Boy’, as he has always been proud of his home State and what it actually brings to our country…including significant Manufacturing, Engineering, Science, and R&D capabilities. As an Engineer and NJ Business Owner, John was focused on (both) Engineering & Manufacturing and enjoyed success through working with many incredible individuals. From Coleman Equipment to Sandvik to Barnett Industries to The Multitech Group…all part of my Manufacturing evolution through the Material Handling, Power Plants, and DoD workloads.
When John came to NJMEP as the CEO in 2012, he found a place where he could support a critical Industry that means all the difference to our independence as a Country, while keeping New Jersey in the forefront of technology. In June of 2023 John decided to step away from his role at NJMEP, and take a step back from the management portions of his career. This has led him to working together with his State as part of the NJEDA Team as a Sr. Advisor. A way to continue to give back.
John is married to his forever sweetheart Cecelia, Dad of Sean, and Dad-in-Law to Rebecca Misko. A lifelong Scouter, he is a proud Eagle Scout, Eagle Dad, and National Distinguished Eagle. Lastly, John is a New York Times featured author of the book…’12 Simple Words.