National Association of Corporate Directors New Jersey Chapter Announces 2026 Director of the Year Awards

January 28, 2026- East Brunswick, NJ – The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) New Jersey Chapter is pleased to announce the 2026 Director of the Year Awards, an annual celebration recognizing exemplary leadership and the vital role of corporate governance across public, private and nonprofit boards in New Jersey.

Now in its seventh year, the Director of the Year Awards brings together corporate directors, business leaders, governance professionals and community stakeholders to honor outstanding contributions to board leadership and governance effectiveness. The event underscores the importance of transparency, accountability and ethical oversight in today’s dynamic business environment.

Event Details:

Date: Monday, May 4, 2026
Time: 6–9 p.m. EDT
Location: Pleasantdale Château, West Orange, New Jersey
Registration: Now open — visit nacdonline.org/New-Jersey for more details and sponsorship opportunities.

“Strong boards are essential to building resilient, high-performing organizations,” said Jeannie Diefenderfer, board chair of NACD New Jersey. “The Director of the Year Awards reflect our chapter’s commitment to advancing governance excellence and fostering a community of directors who are dedicated to thoughtful leadership and responsible stewardship.” 

“The Director of the Year Awards have become a cornerstone gathering for New Jersey’s governance community,” said Richard Mroz, event chair for the NACD New Jersey Director of the Year Awards. “Each year, this event creates an opportunity for directors and leaders to connect, exchange insights and celebrate the impact that effective boards have on organizations, stakeholders and communities. We look forward to another meaningful and engaging evening in 2026.” 

The awards event fosters meaningful networking, knowledge exchange and thought leadership on governance best practices. Attendees include directors from diverse industries, executives, governance experts and representatives from community organizations. Highlights of the evening will include keynote remarks, presentation of honors and opportunities to engage with the state’s most influential leaders in governance.

For more information about the 2026 Director of the Year Awards, including sponsorship opportunities and registration, please visit nacdonline.org/New-Jersey or email Kristin Hassan at Kristin.Hassan@outlook.com.

Nominations for consideration of the awards are made by directors affiliated with the NACD New Jersey Chapter and reviewed by a selection committee made up of community and corporate leaders and noted authorities on governance. For more information about the event, visit the 2026 NACD New Jersey Director of the Year Awards event page.

About the NACD New Jersey Chapter

NACD New Jersey provides a forum for NACD members to exchange knowledge and discuss leading boardroom practices in the New Jersey–based area. More than 20 NACD chapters enhance the value of NACD membership by providing directors with a local forum to address governance challenges in order to elevate their board’s performance. Members enjoy peer-to-peer dialogue about critical boardroom issues such as cyber risk, CEO succession planning, activism and leadership. To learn more about NACD New Jersey, please visit https://www.nacdonline.org/new-jersey/.

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the leading member organization for corporate directors who want to expand their knowledge, grow their network and maximize their potential. For more than 47 years, NACD has helped boards and the business community elevate their performance and create long-term value. Our leadership continues to raise standards of excellence and advance board effectiveness at thousands of member companies. 

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