Melissa Orsen

Senior Vice President, SJI and President and Chief Operations Officer – South Jersey Gas

Education

B.S.  – University of Delaware

J.D. – Widener University School of Law

Work Experience

  • South Jersey Industries

    • Senior Vice President, SJI and President and Chief Operations Officer, SJG (July 2020-present)

    • Senior Vice President and General Counsel (2018-present)

  • Chief Executive Officer - New Jersey Economic Development Authority (2015-2017)

  • Deputy Commissioner – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (2014-2015)

  • Chief of Staff – Office of the Lieutenant Governor (2012-2014)

  • New Jersey Department of Community Affairs

    • Chief of Staff (2010-2012)

    • Chief Counsel (2003-2010)

  • Deputy Attorney General – State of New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (2000-2003)

Background

As senior vice president, SJI and president of SJI Utilities, Melissa J. Orsen provides strategic oversight and drives full alignment of operational excellence across SJI’s collective utility operations. Ms. Orsen joined SJI in 2017 as senior vice president, general counsel, responsible for advising the Board of Directors and executive team on legal matters, overseeing all corporate legal and government affairs. Shortly after her arrival, Ms. Orsen was appointed to president and chief operations officer of South Jersey Gas. In 2021, she was named to her current position as president of SJI Utilities and continues to maintain her role as senior vice president, SJI. Before joining SJI, Ms. Orsen served as the CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, where she directed more than $1 billion in economic development activities across the state. Earlier in her career, she served as chief of staff to the former lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and as deputy commissioner to the Department of Community Affairs, where she focused on the state's recovery after Superstorm Sandy. Ms. Orsen was also a deputy attorney general, with a focus on federal and appellate litigation. An alumna of University of Delaware, Ms. Orsen earned her undergraduate degree in criminal justice and holds a Juris Doctor from Widener University Delaware Law School. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey Board of Directors and Junior Achievement of New Jersey. For three consecutive years, NJ Biz has recognized her in its Law Power 50 list, naming her within the top five in 2021.

Social Media/Contact

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-orsen-5890b087/

https://www.sjindustries.com/sji/media/SJI2/Melissa-Orsen-bio.pdf?ext=.pdf

ThursdayScott - Positive Solutions2:30 pm