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Governor Murphy Announces Executive Staff Transition with Appointments of Andrea Katz Spevak as Cabinet Secretary, Carolyn Cannella as Deputy Chief Policy Advisor, and Catherine Klinger as Director of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy

05/24/2023

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today announced the appointment of Andrea Katz Spevak as Cabinet Secretary, Carolyn Cannella as Deputy Chief Policy Advisor, and Catherine Klinger as Director of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy. Katz Spevak is currently the Deputy Commissioner of Operations at the New Jersey Department of Human Services. Cannella serves as Senior Advisor for Economic Growth in the Governor’s Office and Klinger currently serves as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy (OCAGE). They will serve under Chief Policy Advisor Dennis Zeveloff. 

“I am thrilled to announce Andrea as Cabinet Secretary for my Administration,” said Governor Murphy. “Andrea has been a valued member of this Administration since day one, overseeing the groundbreaking work that our Department of Human Services has done to protect some of our most vulnerable residents. She understands the coordination required for a well-functioning department and I am confident this wealth of experience will be an asset as she assumes the role of Cabinet Secretary.” 

“As Senior Advisor for Economic Growth, Carolyn has helped develop major policy initiatives across sectors,” continued Governor Murphy. “I am confident that her insight and experience will prove invaluable as Deputy Chief Policy Advisor, providing the opportunity for our goals of a stronger and fairer economy to be implemented in each aspect of our policy agenda.”

“In her new role as Executive Director of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy, Catherine will be the architect for my Administration’s bold blueprint for a future where clean energy and social justice go hand in hand,” continued Governor Murphy. “Catherine has played an important role in shaping this vision, and I am confident she will continue to do so. I congratulate each of them on their new roles and have the utmost faith in their ability to continue guiding us forward. I also want to thank outgoing Cabinet Secretary Christine Sadovy and former OCAGE Director Jane Cohen for their work and their notable contributions to my Administration.”

“I am honored to continue my career in public service in this new capacity in the Murphy Administration," said Andrea Katz Spevak, Esq., incoming Cabinet Secretary. "It has been a great privilege to help lead the Department of Human Services under Commissioners Sarah Adelman and Carole Johnson as the Administration has made historic advancements in access to health care and social services. I look forward to working across government and with our dedicated state agencies to secure the Governor's legacy of a better New Jersey for all."

“I am excited to continue to serve Governor Murphy’s Administration as he advances a fairer and stronger New Jersey and improves the lives of New Jerseyans,” said Carolyn Cannella, incoming Deputy Chief Policy Advisor. “I thank the Governor for this opportunity and look forward to working alongside this dedicated team as they continue to design and implement this Administration’s nation-leading policies."

“Governor Murphy created the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy to help realize his bold climate vision and harness the tremendous opportunity of the green economy for the benefit of all New Jerseyans,” said Catherine Klinger, incoming Director of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy. “I look forward to continuing to collaborate with partners across sectors and with our State agencies to implement lasting climate solutions that support a fairer New Jersey. I want to thank Governor Murphy for this opportunity, and I am honored to serve the state in this new capacity.”

As Cabinet Secretary, Andrea Katz Spevak, Esq, will serve as a senior administration official within the Murphy Administration. In this capacity, she will oversee agency actions and liaise with the Administration’s Cabinet-level agencies and offices. Andrea Katz Spevak currently serves as Deputy Commissioner of Operations at the New Jersey Department of Human services, overseeing human resources and employee relations, department operations, legal and regulatory affairs, the Office of Emergency Management and the Human Services Police. Katz Spevak had served as chief of staff at Human Services since 2018 before becoming a Deputy Commissioner in 2022. Katz Spevak has spent most of her professional career working in human services policy and legislative affairs. She served as Associate General Counsel at the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office and as Chief of Staff for Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle. She also worked in private practice as an attorney. Katz Spevak received her B.A. from The George Washington University and J.D. from the Seton Hall Law School.

As Deputy Chief Policy Advisor, Carolyn Cannella will serve as a senior administration official within the Murphy Administration. In this capacity, she will play a critical role in advancing the Administration's policy agenda. Prior to this role, she served as a Senior Advisor on Economic Growth, where she helped drive key economic development initiatives across the state, including infrastructure, real estate, and clean energy projects, notably supporting the State’s offshore wind initiatives and related port and supply chain investments. Prior to the Governor’s Office, she worked at VF Corporation on global strategy for two brand divisions, and at Goldman Sachs, where she worked on commodity derivatives. Cannella grew up in Hudson County and received her Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and Masters in Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School, where she consulted for the Governor’s Office on green economic policy.

As Director of the Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy, Catherine Klinger will oversee the environment and energy portfolio, leading work on the Governor’s clean energy agenda, environmental justice, and climate resiliency work, and among other key initiatives. Klinger has nearly two decades of experience in policy development and public service, centered on creating community-led solutions to create healthy, safe, energy efficient, and decarbonized housing. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Klinger was a Vice President with the national non-profit the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. She received a Bachelor of Science from St. Joseph’s University and Masters of Public Health from Drexel University.  

For a picture of Andrea Katz Spevak, click here.

For a picture of Carolyn Cannella, click here.  

For a picture of Catherine Klinger, click here.