Our Team

Michele Brown

Director

Michele Brown is a Director at Christie 55 Solutions and the Executive Director of the Christie Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering the understanding of major public policy issues facing the nation at all levels of government. The Institute partners with Seton Hall University School of Law and has welcomed luminaries including Secretary Henry Kissinger, Supreme Court Justices, U.S. Senators, U.S. Secretaries, and Governors to present their unique perspectives in their respective fields.

Michele served from 2015 through 2018 as the Chief Executive Officer of Choose New Jersey, a privately funded economic development organization dedicated to attracting and retaining businesses to New Jersey, stimulating job creation and attracting capital investment, and marketing the State of New Jersey nationally and internationally. She partnered with State agencies, universities, private partners and labor organizations to assist and guide companies in establishing operations in the State. She coordinated efforts behind Governor-led business missions to Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. During her tenure, more than 200 businesses chose New Jersey as their new base of operations, resulting in thousands of new and retained jobs and billions in capital investment. From 2012 to 2015 Michele was the Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the State agency responsible for economic development initiatives in the State. Michele managed a staff of more than 500 professionals and a multi-million dollar budget. She effectively implemented a wide array of programs designed to attract and support businesses from inception to growth. Michele played a key leadership role under Governor Christie in coordinating the State’s response to Superstorm Sandy, was responsible for designing and implementing all recovery and restoration programs for businesses affected by the storm, and led the marketing effort to encourage visitors and recovery in the State.

Michele served as Governor Christie’s Appointments Counsel from 2010 to 2012. She was responsible for identifying, vetting, and preparing Cabinet-level, judicial, and State board and commission candidates for Senate confirmation hearings, and placing candidates in positions at all levels of state government.

Previously, Michele was employed by the U.S. Department of Justice for eighteen years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in New Jersey. She specialized in securities, healthcare, and financial institution fraud prosecutions and rose to the rank of First Assistant U.S. Attorney. She served as Governor Christie’s general counsel when he was United States Attorney.

Michele is a magna cum laude graduate of both Drew University and Georgetown University Law Center.