Marjorie Perry

Marjorie Perry is the president and CEO of MZM Construction & Management Company, Inc. She is also an innovator, public speaker, writer and role model for women and minorities in business.

After growing up in the projects in Newark, Marjorie has built a successful business from the ground up—more than once. With her no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is style, Marjorie excels at the negotiating table as well as the podium. She is a sought-after speaker, who is devoted to talking to students at the college and high school levels.

“From the moment she walked in, the whole room could tell what she was about. She meant business. She was confident, honest, and tough but warm and inviting all the same, and in a minute she could sell me anything,” said a Mathematics major who heard Marjorie speak in an ENTR 201 “Entrepreneurial Mindset” classroom. Another student, a Management major, said: “I really felt like I could relate to her on every level. I appreciate the fact that she is willing to take the time to help me succeed.”

Marjorie built a career working for such corporations as 3M, Johnson & Johnson and United Airlines, before launching her own consulting firm focused on helping entrepreneurs succeed in the marketplace. She lost the first million she made, learning from that failure to earn back the million—and then many more. Impressed by her insight and vision, MZM Construction, which was one of her clients at the time, asked her to join the business as a partner. Eventually Marjorie became the sole principal and CEO of the company. Under her guidance, MZM Construction has enjoyed more than 20 years of profitable performance. Her Newark-based construction and transportation firm has done notable projects for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey, Delta Airlines at the Port Authority of NY/NJ, Verizon, Continental Airlines, for Marriott Courtyard/Residence Inn Hotels and the New Meadowland Stadium.

Marjorie excelled in additional coursework at Rutgers, Stevens, NYU and NJIT, and has a BA degree from Kean University. She received her MBA from NJIT and completed Leadership for the 21st Century at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Her passion for continuing education carries over into MZM’s commitment to keeping up with new industry developments and technologies that can benefit their clients.

Marjorie has received numerous awards and recognitions, including being listed in New Jersey’s premier business publication, NJBIZ, as one of the state’s Best 50 Women in Business, and as one of the Top 25 Entrepreneurs in New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie selected Marjorie to be a member of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. More recently, she was announced as the SBA’s 2012 New Jersey Small Business Person of the Year, and received the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award from Kean University.