Jacqui Workman

President, BACONJ

It might be the lone Barbadian organization in New Jersey, but it is a powerful one, with an impressive history of support to particularly children in New Jersey and Barbadian causes, whether in the USA, home or elsewhere.

Guiding BACONJ – the Barbados American Charitable Organization of New Jersey – since 2017 as President is Jacqui Workman. Energetic, dependable and always willing to support any Barbadian initiative in any role, she is also one of the Barbadians who understands the necessity and is determined to have a stamp beyond associations for the benefit of community and the country of her birth.

Jacqui took the first step in 2019 with her appointment to the City of Plainfield Planning Board, a position she still holds, and last year, she was elected to a three- year term on the Plainfield Board of Education where she chairs the Operation Committee.

Her areas of focus are working with stakeholders and community members to create and implement a strategic plan that will guide the district for 3-5 years, creating equity for all students and using data to guide school district’s decisions.

An employee of the City of Plainfield Department of Communications, Jacqui, originally from the Pine, St, Michael has been living in the USA for more than 30 years.

Before public life, she worked mainly in marketing and event planning. She spent nine years as Events Manager at Realogy Holdings Corp. from 2005, was Events Manager at Century 21 Real Estate for just shy of nine years until 2014, spent almost three years as Senior Customer Engagement Manager, ERA Real Estate, and some six years from 2017 as Director of Operations, BMC LLC Group.

Raised by her grandparents to strive for excellence and treat others as she would want to be treated, Jacqui has always been supportive of causes. Her interest in community involvement developed as an Easter Seal, when she worked with Century 21, a sponsor of the program. This involved spending a day to prepare a camp site for summer, including cleaning, gardening and roofing.

Her work with BACONJ followed. She served as Public Relations Officer and Lead Planner from 2007 – 2016, before being elected President. The association concentrates on providing scholarships to students but members work tirelessly to assist those less fortunate anywhere in the world. The 501(c)3 not for profit, which normally holds three main fundraising events annually, has provided aid as far away as Africa and the Caribbean, apart from Barbados. It also provides holiday gifts to the DCPP – Division of Child Protection and Permanency - program.

Through BACONJ, her board positions and any other opportunities, Jacqui, who is married to Troy, intends to continue her passionate commitment to helping children achieve their goals.