Officials from the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) announced on Monday that former White House staffer and current CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, Desiree Rogers will headline the organization?s national gala in February in New Brunswick, NJ.
In 2008, President Barack Obama named Rogers as the first African American Social Secretary and placed her in a highly visible and innovative position of promoting Obama’s vision of making the White House, the ?People’s House.? Under Rogers? guidance, hundreds of social galas, receptions and fundraisers were conducted at the White House. Rogers eventually resigned in February 2010, following the controversy of the White House gatecrash incident in November 2009, in which two uninvited guest were able to attend a private state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The international media brouhaha of the lapse eventually lead to the resignation of Rogers and was a big black eye for the Secret Service, which ultimately took the blame for the major security breach.
Rogers was named CEO and President of the Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago in August 2010. John Harmon, president of the AACCNJ, said Rogers exemplifies many of the philosophies of the Black Chamber.? ?As the CEO of Johnson Publishing, Desiree Rogers heads an organization with a strong and credible legacy of keeping Black America informed about issues vital to their existence and credibility,? Harmon said in a recent interview with TNJ.com. He added, ?She represents the values and traditions that we at the Chamber advocate to our members and the African American business community.?
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The theme of the 2015 black tie gala is Transforming the Landscape. The event will be held on February 19, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick, N.J.
