Jun Choi, Co-Emcee

Jun H. Choi is the former Mayor of Edison, New Jersey, the 5th largest municipality in the state. He led the $140 million and 700 employee government through a period of significant reform. His administration improved services while bringing fiscal discipline to a bloated government saving taxpayers millions each year, reformed the Edison police department which received national accreditation during his tenure, and revamped the planning process during which the largest redevelopment project in Edison’s history (1.2 million sq/ft Edison Towne Square) was negotiated. Mayor Choi also preserved over 37 acres of open space and completed a comprehensive energy audit of all municipal facilities in Edison which substantially reduced the Town’s carbon footprint. His administration also set one of the highest ethical standards for the public sector in the state making Edison an open, transparent and responsive government. During his tenure, Edison received several honors including the “Best Place to Raise Kids” in NJ according to Business Week magazine and one of the “Best Places to Live” in America according to CNN Money magazine.

Prior to his elected position, Mayor Choi served as Executive Director of a Student Achievement Task Force at the New Jersey Department of Education. Recognizing that New Jersey’s great public education system opened all kinds of opportunities for him, he advocates for policies that would provide the same opportunities to our children. He also served as Chair of the Mayors’ School Funding Committee in 2007 and co-authored the New Jersey Charter School report with the CEO of Citizens for Better Schools in 2001. Previously, he held positions at the US Office of Management and Budget (White House Budget Office) and as a management consultant for Ernst & Young LLP advising Fortune 500 companies on business and technology strategy.

Mayor Choi served as Founding Chair of KALCA (Korean American League for Civic Action) and has been a strong advocate for Korean and Asian American causes. He speaks regularly at conferences, including KASCON, NetKal and KAC, to encourage young leaders to enter careers in public service.

Mayor Choi earned his BS from MIT and his Master’s in Public Policy from Columbia University. He is a 2003 Leadership New Jersey Fellow and has taught economics and public policy as an adjunct professor. He is currently a Managing Director at Government Strategy Group, a management consulting firm focused on government efficiency, and Visiting Associate at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University. He serves on numerous boards including Trustee of the NJ League of Municipalities’ Education Foundation and Co-Chair of the Edison YMCA Capital Campaign. He resides in Edison with his wife Lisa.