June 11, 2009

Verizon New Jersey President Elected Chairman of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors

Dennis M. Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey Inc., was installed June 11 as chairman of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. Bone, the 44th chairman since the organization’s founding in 1911, joined the Chamber board in 2000. He succeeds William J. Marino, president and CEO of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, who becomes the immediate past chairman.

“These are difficult times for employers and I look forward to working on their behalf to position New Jersey as an economic leader and a great place to work and live for many years to come,” Bone said. “The state has its challenges and we will continue to offer recommendations designed to take advantage of our assets and to make us more competitive.”

Bone has been an active member of the board, playing a particularly strong role as chairman of the State Chamber’s Platform for Progress Economic Development Coalition since 2005. One of his priorities is to work on bi-partisan solutions to “the state’s immediate problems and long-term systemic issues” that impede companies. For example, he wants to improve the state’s permitting process so there are not lengthy project delays that discourage job creation and expansion.

Bone stressed that leaders need to put aside their political differences and focus on creating a vision for New Jersey that will favorably position the state. “Progress cannot be made if we concern ourselves with partisan politics at the expense of forwarding a positive agenda for our state,” he said. For example, he co-chairs the Chamber’s Cornerstone New Jersey – Vision 20/20 project, which consists of nine initiatives that, if implemented, would position New Jersey as a regional and global leader. Participants from all segments of New Jersey business, association and civic organizations are working collaboratively with state and local leaders to adopt the initiatives.

The agenda’s priorities include investing in clean energy to support the green economy; ensuring New Jersey has an effective infrastructure for transportation, utilities and information data; “right-sizing” government and developing standards for measuring government accountability; and building an economy driven by innovation and education. The group also is focusing on encouraging citizen involvement in government; revitalizing cities and ensuring health care is affordable and accessible to all.

“Dennis Bone has a lot of experience working with both employers and leaders in state government on matters important to all New Jerseyans,” said Joan Verplanck, president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “He is the ideal person to serve as chairman of the State Chamber as we position ourselves to emerge from the recession as an economic power.”

At Verizon New Jersey Inc., Bone is responsible for all of Verizon’s corporate interests in New Jersey. Prior to the Bell Atlantic/GTE merger, Bone was president and CEO of Bell Atlantic-West Virginia. Prior to that, he was vice president-external affairs for Bell Atlantic-New Jersey, Inc. Bone is a 1973 graduate of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. He also has a Master of Business Administration degree in finance and economics from Rutgers University and a Master of Science degree in counseling from The Johns Hopkins University. Bone also has been awarded three honorary doctorates. Bone and his wife, Denise, have three children and reside in Madison.

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee – 2009-11

The balance of the Chamber’s Executive Committee was also installed. The Chamber officers include: First Vice Chairman: Jeffrey Scheininger, president, Flexline/U.S. Brass & Copper Corporation; Second Vice Chairman: Ralph Izzo, chairman of the board, president & CEO, Public Service Enterprise Group; Treasurer: Howard Cohen, managing partner and CEO, Edison Office, Amper, Politziner & Mattia; Secretary: Elizabeth Christopherson, president, CEO and Director, The Rita Allen Foundation; and Immediate Past Chairman: William J. Marino, president and CEO of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.

At Large Members of the Executive Committee include: Peter Cocoziello, president & CEO, Advance Realty Group; Rafael Cuellar, president and CEO, Cuellar LLC dba ShopRite of Passaic/Clifton; Robert Doherty, market president-Northern & Central New Jersey, Bank of America; Hazel Gluck, senior partner, MBI GluckShaw; Mark B. Grier, vice chairman, Prudential Financial; Douglas Kennedy, president, New Jersey Division, Capital One Bank; Amy B. Mansue, president and CEO, Children’s Specialized Hospital; Gil Medina, executive managing director, New Jersey Region, Cushman & Wakefield; and Robert L. Podvey, president, Podvey, Meanor, Catenacci, Hildner, Cocoziello & Chattman.

Board members joining the Board were: Aldonna Ambler, president, AMBLER Growth Strategy Consultants Inc; Pamela J. Craig, chief financial officer, Accenture; Gregg Gerken, market president-North Jersey, TD Bank; Dr. R. Barbara Gitenstein, president, The College of New Jersey; Denise Kassekert; executive vice president/retail banking, Beneficial Bank; Anthony P. La Rocco, partner, K&L Gates; John Lloyd, president, Meridian Health; Peter Mangin, president, Garden State Development Inc.; Hiten Patel, chairman and CEO, Collabera; Michael L. Rodburg, CEO and managing director, Lowenstein Sandler; Kenneth Sharkey; managing partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers’ New Jersey practice; and Kelly Watson, New Jersey office managing partner, KPMG.