Catherine Frugé Starghill, Esq. Named a 2025 Woman to Watch by South Jersey Biz Magazine
Hamilton, New Jersey, March 3, 2025 – Catherine Frugé Starghill, Esq., Vice President of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges (NJCCC) and Executive Director of the New Jersey Community College Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development, has been named a 2025 Woman to Watch by South Jersey Biz Magazine. This prestigious recognition highlights “women who are paving the way for others while balancing high-demand careers, family responsibilities, and volunteer work with exceptional leadership and dedication.”
Starghill has played a transformative role in workforce development across New Jersey. She is the co-architect of the New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities initiative, a statewide effort aligning education with workforce needs. Through this initiative, she has collaborated with more than 1,800 industry and education partners to drive economic growth for industry and economic mobility for residents. Her leadership has also led to the establishment of two industry-specific workforce development organizations that are the most innovative examples of public-private partnerships: The New Jersey Film Academy and NJBioFutures, further advancing career pathways for countless individuals.
Her impact extends beyond program development. Starghill hosts the annual New Jersey Pathways to Career Opportunities Summit, bringing together more than 500 industry and education partners to explore strategies for building a stronger state economy, fostering an innovative workforce, and promoting economic mobility.
“It is an honor to be recognized as a 2025 Woman to Watch,” said Starghill. “Empowering individuals through education and workforce development is my passion, and I am committed to creating opportunities that support economic growth and innovation.”
Starghill’s distinguished career in workforce and economic development includes serving as the former Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL). In this role, she oversaw critical program areas such as Research and Information, Income Security, and Labor Standards and Safety Enforcement, managing a workforce of over 300 employees and a $45 million budget. Her expertise in public policy and leadership extends to previous roles at the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Ford Motor Company.
Her accolades reflect her influence and dedication. She was named to NJBIZ’s Top 50 in Education list in both 2022 and 2023 and was recognized as one of New Jersey’s 25 Most Influential African Americans by South Jersey Journal in 2017.
When asked about a female milestone she hopes to see achieved, Starghill emphasized the importance of leadership diversity at the highest levels of government. “The first – and maybe even the second – female president of the United States. We came close to this milestone at least twice, not to mention Shirley Chisholm’s 1972 attempt. The power of women to manage careers, families, households, companies large and small, and simultaneously keep themselves centered and composed is the all-encompassing power and self-control needed in the White House now more than ever.”
Starghill holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Accounting from the University of Michigan, a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School, and a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification from the New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Beyond her professional achievements, she is the proud mother of two children, Britt Andrew and Brie Alexandra, and was married to the late Rev. Dr. Britt A. Starghill.
