BINJE 2026 Power Players Include Key Leaders from NJIT

Members of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) leadership are among those recognized on BINJE’s 2026 Power Players list — a showcase of more than 100 CEOs, principals, managing partners and executives who are shaping the future of business in New Jersey.

The honorees include NJIT President Teik C. Lim, trustees Gary Dahms and Paul Profeta, Hispanic Latinx Leadership Council member Luis De La Hoz, Hillier College Board of Visitor member Becky Button, and NJII board members Debbie Hart and Michel Siekerka.

Under President Lim’s leadership, NJIT has elevated its profile through expanded research in artificial intelligence, strategic donor cultivation, recruitment of top leadership and significant growth in housing and classroom facilities to support a rapidly expanding student body.

Dahms, CEO, president, and chairman of the board of T&M Associates, brings extensive experience in engineering and infrastructure leadership. T&M just recently entered into a partnership agreement with NJIT to upskill its engineering workforce.

Profeta is visionary in entrepreneurship, real estate and community development. His impact at NJIT includes two major efforts to nurture future leaders: through the Paul Profeta Community Entrepreneurship Program at NJII; and through the Paul Profeta Real Estate Technology, Design and Innovation Center at NJIT’s Martin Tuchman School of Management.

De La Hoz, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and senior vice president and New Jersey market manager for PNC’s Community Development Banking group, represents NJIT’s commitment to community engagement and Hispanic and Latinx leadership development.

Button is a co-managing director of Gensler’s Morristown office. She develops and leads programs that support the firm’s relationships and the next generation of talent that will lead them, bringing real-world experience to HCAD’s academic vision.

Hart helped establish BioNJ in 1994 and has since been a leading force in building New Jersey’s life sciences ecosystem. She serves as vice chair of the New Jersey Commission on Science, Innovation and Technology and has held key roles on statewide higher-education and biotechnology task forces. Her leadership has earned numerous honors, including recognition among Scientific American Worldview’s 100 Most Influential People in Biotechnology.

Siekerka is a New Jersey business and policy leader known for her work advancing the state’s economic vitality and workforce development. As president and CEO of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, she has championed initiatives supporting innovation, job growth and regional competitiveness. She brings this strategic expertise to her role on the NJII Board of Directors, helping guide its mission to accelerate research, partnerships and economic impact.

On January 13, 2026, they’ll be honored at The Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick, with the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce serving as planner and producer of the ultimate networking event to kick off the year. The complete 2026 Power Players list is available here.