Treasury Announces Appointment of Candice Alfonso as the State's Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion
(TRENTON) – State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio announced today that Candice M. Alfonso has been appointed as Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) and Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and will begin serving in these roles on Monday, November 14.
"We are excited to welcome Candice. Her experience within multiple branches of State government and her long-standing commitment to equity, make her ideally qualified for this position," said State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio.
Alfonso has over twenty years of multi-disciplinary supervisory, administrative management, and leadership experience across all three branches of State government. Prior to joining the Murphy Administration, Alfonso worked for the Judiciary's Office of Probation Services, and the Office of Legislative Services.
Alfonso staffed the Governor's Office of Economic Growth under Deputy Chief of Staff Joe Kelley, where she helped business and industry navigate through the economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, advising the Governor directly on a number of important policies that impacted industry and all New Jerseyans. Alfonso also played a significant role in the Administration's successful effort to bring the 2026 FIFA World Cup™ to the New Jersey/New York region. Central to her duties was the consideration of equity and inclusion presented in the State's winning bid strategy.
Most recently, Alfonso served as Chief of Staff for the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) where she oversaw operations, information technology systems, facilities and human capital management, marketing, budgeting, and strategic planning. Candice remained part of the Administration's World Cup team throughout her tenure with the NJHMFA and she will continue in this role as CDO in Treasury.
"I am honored to have been appointed as the State's Chief Diversity Officer and Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at such a pivotal time in our State," said CDO Alfonso. "I look forward to bringing solutions to removing barriers to public contracting opportunities faced by minority, women, veteran, disabled veteran, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses for a stronger, fairer, and more equitable New Jersey."
The position of CDO in the Division of Purchase and Property was created by law (P.L.2017, c.95, s.1.) to monitor the State's public contracting process for participation by minority and women-owned business. The mission of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) is to execute diversity and inclusion strategies targeted toward greater utilization of minority, women, veteran, disabled veteran, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses. Alfonso will work alongside Treasury's Division of Purchase and Property to meet the requirements of the statute and advance the mission of the office.
As Chief Diversity Officer and Director of ODI, Alfonso will continue the efforts established by her predecessor, Hester Agudosi, to conduct outreach to minority-owned and women-owned business enterprises regarding public contracting opportunities. Additionally, she will be responsible for managing the final phase of the state-wide disparity study to completion, reviewing the final report and collaborating with stakeholders to create a strategic plan to increase contracting opportunities based on the study's findings. On this, and other initiatives, Alfonso will work closely with the Governor's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, the Legislature and other stakeholders.
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