Inaugural New Jersey reception also recognized long-standing New Jersey Committee Members for their substantial contributions to RPA
NEWARK– Regional Plan Association presented the inaugural Governor James J. Florio Leadership Award to Kris Kolluri, CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, in the first annual RPA New Jersey Reception at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center last night.
The award, named in honor of the late Governor Florio, was created by RPA to recognize and celebrate New Jersey leaders who embody the Governor’s legacy through their work toward better mobility, stronger and more inclusive communities, and a more resilient New Jersey and region. Governor Florio was a true public servant, serving in the NJ State Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives for more than two decades before serving as Governor of New Jersey. He was a Board Member and Co-Chair of RPA’s NJ Committee for more than 20 years, helping to set RPA’s policy priorities for the Garden State. We were honored to be joined by his daughter, Dr. Catherine Florio Pipas, at the event.
RPA presented the award to Kolluri to recognize his current work in developing and delivering parts of the Gateway Program, as well as for his prior decades of service to the state as NJDOT Commissioner and as a leader in the region’s economic development.
“We are thrilled to be able to honor the legacy of Governor Florio by creating an award to recognize some of New Jersey’s most inspiring and influential leaders who have dedicated their careers to improving the quality of life of New Jersey’s residents,” said Tom Wright, President and CEO of Regional Plan Association. “Through his many years of public service and time as a leader for RPA, Governor Florio had an immensely positive impact on our organization, the State of New Jersey, and the region as a whole. Kris Kolluri has likewise made the State of New Jersey a better place to live and work, and it’s a pleasure to honor him with the inaugural award. We’re incredibly proud to be able to work with him now to advance the Gateway Program, which is the nation’s most vital infrastructure project and an extremely important priority for RPA.”
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Kris Kolluri, a worthy winner of the first Governor Florio Award,” said U.S. Senator Cory Booker. “For years, Kris has made our state and our region better with visionary and empathetic leadership, and his indefatigable spirit. He represents the ethos of public service and principled leadership Governor Florio embodied, and we are lucky to have him at the helm of one of the most important infrastructure projects in America.”
“Congratulations to Kris Kolluri on being the RPA’s inaugural Governor Jim Florio Award recipient,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “It is fitting that Kris, overseeing our region’s biggest bi-state infrastructure priority, Gateway, receive an award named after Jim, a man with strong roots in both states. I loved reminding Jim that he was a proud son of Brooklyn who made good in New Jersey. Gateway is an enormous challenge but also an enormous opportunity for our region to invest in its future. I look forward to working with Kris in the years ahead to get Gateway done.”
“It is my honor to congratulate the Regional Plan Association for hosting your first annual reception,” said U.S. Senator Bob Menendez.“Congratulations to Kris Kolluri as the recipient of the Governor James J. Florio Leadership Award, rightfully honored for his immense contributions to improving infrastructure across New Jersey communities as well as his expansive involvement in the development of the Gateway Program. I am honored to commend the organization’s work for the great state and people of New Jersey.”
“Congratulations to Kris Kolluri on receiving the inaugural Governor James Florio Leadership Award,” said Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak. “Kris’ leadership of the Gateway Development Commission has been instrumental in helping us meet important milestones and continue building momentum toward the start of major construction on the Hudson Tunnel Project. The region is fortunate to have a dedicated public servant like Kris in this role.”
“Congratulations, Kris, on being the first recipient of the Governor James J. Florio Leadership Award,” said Kevin O’Toole, Chairman of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. “Throughout your years of public service, you have followed Governor Florio’s example of integrity and honesty in leadership, both as a former commissioner of the NJ Department of Transportation and now as leader of the most important infrastructure project in the nation, Gateway. This is an honor well deserved.”
“Kris Kolluri is a visionary leader and forward-thinking professional who has led the way on large-scale transportation and infrastructure projects and K-12 school construction throughout the State of New Jersey,” said Dana Redd, CEO and President of the Camden Community Partnership and former mayor of Camden, New Jersey. “In Camden, Kris left his imprint by building the first-ever multidisciplinary biomedical research facility which is home to two world-class public research institutions, a medical school, and a community college. As former President/CEO of Camden Community Partnership, he focused on improving the social determinants of health from ensuring that residents had access to testing and vaccines, to employment opportunities, in addition to initiating first-mile/last-mile connections to reduce the barriers to transportation, to securing over $20 million invested in city parks and open spaces. We congratulate this extraordinary individual upon receiving the inaugural RPA Florio Award 2023. It is well deserved!”
The award coincides with a companion internship program, the Governor James J. Florio internship. Starting this summer, a Gov. James J. Florio intern will support RPA’s New Jersey team with stakeholder engagement and public outreach.
The event was also an opportunity to recognize members of the RPA New Jersey Committee that have served and advised the organization for over twenty years. Recipients included:
Fred Brody, Brody Business Development LLC
Robert Goldsmith, Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis
Deborah Hoffman, Passaic County Department of Economic Development
Barbara E. Kauffman, Newark Regional Business Partnership
Susan Lederman, Kean University
Joseph Maraziti, Maraziti Falcon, LLP
Anthony Marchetta, ALM Consulting
Theresa Marshall, ADVENTUS II, Inc.
Linda Morgan, RBH Group
Ingrid Reed, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University
