Elvin Montero is deputy executive director of the Chemistry Council of New Jersey (CCNJ). CCNJ is a trade association and business advocacy organization in New Jersey representing 100 large and small companies that are a part of the state’s chemical, pharmaceutical, consumer products, flavor & fragrances, petroleum refining and precious metals industries.

In 2004, Elvin joined the Council as its director of communications and issues management and served as spokesperson for the $25 billion chemistry industry in New Jersey. In 2021, Elvin was promoted to deputy executive director. He assists in overseeing the administration, programs, and strategic plan of the Council. In addition, he continues to oversee all public and media relations for CCNJ, member relations, and organized industry sponsored events, including the Council’s annual conferences. Elvin is responsible for ensuring that the industry’s priority issues, such as chemical plant security, energy, environment, and health and safety are properly executed, and that the industry’s interests are consistently shared with the appropriate state and local officials, and agencies on an ongoing basis.

He regularly represents the Council on various committees, coalitions, and organizations, including the New Jersey Domestic Security Task Force’s Infrastructure Advisory Committee, and was a former member of the Board of the New Jersey Society for Environmental, Economic Development (NJ SEED).

Elvin joined CCNJ after two years with the National Council of Alcoholism and Drug Dependence – New Jersey (NCADD-NJ) where he helped manage their advocacy communications and marketing and launched a successful branding initiative for the organization.

Elvin started his career as a communications professional, after earning his BA from The College of New Jersey and attending the Annenberg School for Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, working in the internet services industry. He first worked as an on-line community manager and producer of content for college orientated Websites owned by Marketsource, Inc., which were later purchased by Delia*s, Inc. Elvin was recruited to join Jupiter Communications in New York City in 2000 as a lead producer/web project manager to help launch B-to-B industry websites that leveraged repurposed company research and analysis for industry sectors.

Elvin was a volunteer and member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). He has served as chairman of the IABC/Heritage Region, which represents more than 2700 members and 20 chapters in 17 states and Washington, DC. He has held several board positions both at the local chapter level and at the regional level, including chapter president of IABC/ New Jersey from 2008-2009.

In the fall of 2017, Elvin was recognized as a “Democratic Rising Star” by the Mercer County Democratic Committee. In the summer of 2016, Elvin was asked by Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D-NJ 12) to represent the district at a special roundtable session regarding national LGBT polices hosted by the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA 34), and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus. In November 2016, Elvin was honored by the Trenton Democrats with the Unsung Hero Award.

In 2018, Elvin Montero ran for Council-At-Large in the City of Trenton. He was unsuccessful in that bid but continues to serve as an advocate for the city and its citizens. He is currently an advisor to the mayor of Trenton and served as co-chair of Mayor Reed Gusciora’s Transition Team. Elvin Montero is a member of the Board of Directors of both the Capital City Redevelopment Corporation and The Passage Theatre in Trenton; he also is a member of the Columbia Care New Jersey Advisory Board.

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Vision / History

Chemistry Council of New Jersey