Today, MBI-GluckShaw announced that addition of Michele Jaker to the firm as partner.  Jaker comes to MBI GluckShaw from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey where she served as Director of Government Affairs.

“Our focus has been and remains providing the highest quality public affairs work in the State of New Jersey,” said Raul “Rudy” Garcia, president, MBI-GluckShaw.  “Inviting Michele Jaker to join the MBI family, and her accepting that offer, only strengthens that focus.  Michele is not only a good person, she maintains very strong relationships with lawmakers across the state and has extensive experience in government affairs and policy analysis.  While she hails from the great County of Middlesex, Michele is well respected on both sides of the aisle.  We welcome Michele to the MBI family and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship.”

Jaker arrives at the firm with a background in healthcare, insurance, human services and women’s issues.  She has served as the Government Relations Director for Amerigroup in New Jersey (Anthem, Inc.) and was the chair of the Legislative Committee for the New Jersey Association of Health Plans.  Earlier in her career, she founded a public affairs, lobbying and communications firm and served as the Executive Director of both the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey and the Family Planning Association of New Jersey. Jaker got her start in New Jersey government as the Chief of Staff to Senator Joseph Vitale.

“I am very excited about the opportunity and look forward to working with a great group of public affairs professionals serving top notch clients,” said MBI GluckShaw new partner.  “The firm’s commitment to providing the highest quality of client service is clear, something that stands out and something I am proud to be a part of going forward.  This is an exciting move for me personally and professionally and an exciting time for MBI.”

Currently, Jaker serves on the Board of Directors for Garden State Equality and is a member of the Advisory Board of the New Leaders Council – New Jersey chapter.  She has served as Vice-Chair of the Woodbridge Democratic Committee and was a founding co-Chair of Emerge New Jersey, a training program for Democratic women candidates.  She holds three degrees from Rutgers University – an undergraduate degree from Douglass College, a master degree in public policy from the Bloustein School/Eagleton Institute and a law degree from Rutgers School of Law – Newark.