Michele Jaker

Michele Jaker has over 20 years of experience in public policy and government affairs. Michele joined MBI as a Partner in September of 2018. Michele comes to the firm with a strong background in health care, insurance, human services and women’s issues. Prior to joining MBI, Michele served as Director of Government Affairs at Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, representing the state’s largest health insurer before the New Jersey Legislature and various New Jersey departments and agencies. 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, Michele 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. She has served as a public defender in municipal court. Michele got her start in New Jersey government as the Chief of Staff to Senator Joseph Vitale. Currently, Michele 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 formerly 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. Michele proudly 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. She is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association since 2001.

• Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Director of Government Affairs
• Amerigroup in New Jersey (Anthem, Inc.), Government Relations Director
• Legislative Committee for the New Jersey Association of Health Plans, Chair
• Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, Executive Director
• Family Planning Association of New Jersey, Executive Director
• Senator Joseph Vitale, Chief of Staff

• New Jersey State Bar Association, 2001 - Present (Member)