NJ ChamberEdge
NJ ChamberEdge Sponsor
Business Insights & Inspiration
Business Insights & Inspiration
NJ ChamberEdge Sponsor

The Edge for January 2018

An Exclusive Article for NJ ChamberEdge

Out with the old, in with the new. The new year is famous for new starts. So we asked seven New Jersey executives for their new year’s resolutions, as they relate to their companies, and how they plan to meet the challenge. See their answers here, and how they plan to succeed in 2018:

 

Stronger Team and Stronger Growth

Marjorie PerryWe are a smaller construction firm and our goal in 2018 is to grow revenue by 30 percent on the strength of an expanded team and our reputation for good customer service. We recently hired a CFO and two new senior project managers. This makes us more competitive in the marketplace. As far as customer service, we have a reputation for fast responses, and accurate execution. That gives our clients and our partners a sense of trust and confidence in our organization, and it leads to repeat clients. This year, we entered two joint ventures on large construction projects. Next year, our goal is to add two more joint ventures. That would account for 30 percent growth.

– Marjorie Perry, President and CEO, MZM Construction & Management, Newark

 

Look at Client Relationships from the Perspective of Clients

Max CraneThe new year is a great time for a renewed focus on client service. No matter how successful a law firm is, client service should always evolve and be a priority. This includes taking a fresh look at client relationships from the perspective of each client, as well as asking clients to define an outstanding result prior to the start of each new matter – lawyers are service providers and results count. Another area I would like my law firm to focus on in 2018 is social media. While we have increased the social media footprint of Sills Cummis & Gross, we still need to work on getting our individual lawyers to effectively use social media. If utilized properly, social media is a tool to enhance those professional relationships our attorneys have, not replace them. Here’s to a successful 2018!

– Max Crane, Managing Partner of Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.

 

Expand Diversity, Advance Inclusion

Yvette DonadoThis year has seen a seismic shift in how organizations are experiencing organizational culture, particularly around inclusion. In 2018, in my role as ETS’ chief diversity officer, in partnership with our CEO and the Council on Diversity & Inclusion, my resolution is to build on the foundation we created in 2017 and continue to work toward not only expanding our diversity, but advancing inclusion across the enterprise. Our lens must be broad and consider all activities through this dimension: who we hire, from where, mentorship opportunities, sponsorship by senior leaders and ambassadors of change who will help champion these ideals throughout the organization.

– Yvette Donado, SVP, Chief Diversity Officer, Educational Testing Service

 

Be Innovative Through Creative Thinking and Technology

Bill HagamanI resolve to encourage our firm’s team members to be innovative through creative thinking and the use of technology. The world changes quickly. You must keep up with business trends or risk being out of the game completely. We saw it happen to Nokia. Successful businesses have the foresight to identify client needs before they even know they have them, and fill in those gaps so their business is ready to respond. To stay ahead of the competition and the changes in our profession, we are committed to implementing new technology in most every department.

– Bill Hagaman, CEO & Managing Partner of Withum

 

Advance the Conversation on Economic Diversity

John HarmonIn 2018, we plan to expand the conversation on economic diversity by forging deeper relationships with our partners and leveraging their interests. There is no question that progress has been made in our state, however we all know that we can do better. Therefore, the AACCNJ plans to pursue a mission of collective excellence in the New Year. New Jersey can only realize its best potential when we acknowledge our shortcomings; value others’ talents, abilities and willingness to add value; and provide a clear pathway to implement resolutions.

– John E. Harmon Sr., President and CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

 

Greater Collaboration Inside the Office

Nicole AlexanderIn the New Year, we will increase our focus on greater collaboration among our practice groups to offer "bundled services" to our clients. For example, for our healthcare clients, we will offer legal services beyond healthcare-related law and provide legal counsel for human resources, real estate, corporate, M&A, etc. so that the client benefits from an integrated approach based on the firm's complete understanding of the client organization's needs and goals. This new type of partnership can benefit the client as well as the firm, in terms of time, cost efficiencies and better outcomes.

– Nicole Alexander, Director of Professional and Business Development, McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP

 

Continue to Improve the Customer Experience

Dennis Wilson“Our 2018 resolution is to continue striving to improve our customers’ experiences with Delta Dental. In order to achieve this for our 1.6 million members, we have been promoting oral health in connection with overall health – extending well beyond the traditional role as a dental benefits provider. We now offer an expanded set of online educational resources to help patients find the information they need to make informed decisions. The Delta Dental app puts oral health information, finding a dentist, and benefits information at the users’ finger tips 24/7. Through this new platform, our customers can even obtain dental care cost estimates and make an appointment.”

–Dennis G. Wilson, President & CEO of Delta Dental New Jersey

Responses for this article were edited for space and clarity.

Search the Edge Archive

Newsmakers

Lincoln Techncal Institute Founder J. Warren Davies is among the 50 nominees for the New Jersey Hall of Fame’s class of 2024. A decorated Army Captain and entrepreneur, Davies established Lincoln Tech in 1946 with a singular mission – to empower veterans returning from World War II with the skills needed to transition back into the workforce.


Dr. Lisa Gallucci has been named as the new chair of Delta Dental of New Jersey‘s foundation. Gallucci succeeds Dr. George McLaughlin, who retired at the end of 2023.


Jim Fakult

Jim Fakult, President of Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), has been named the recipient of Morris Habitat for Humanity's Community Partner Award for 2024. The award was presented at the organization's Hearts & Hammers Gala on Feb. 22 in Mountain Lakes.


United Airlines All Female CrewTo honor Women’s History Month, United Airlines recognized an all-female crew that flew from Newark to Sarasota, Florida – and back – led by Capt. Gabrielle Harding. First Officer Julia Ewalefo and all the flight attendants, customer service representatives and ramp services employees working the flight were also women. They flew a Boeing 737.


Lynda Markoe

RWJBarnabas Health appointed Lynda Markoe as its new chief people officer. In her new role, Markoe is responsible for leading human resources operations. Markoe most recently served as chief people and culture officer for Bed, Bath & Beyond.


Heather Veltre

Overlook Medical Center in Summit, part of Atlantic Health System, recently named Heather Veltre as its new chief nursing officer. Veltre will be responsible for the overall delivery and management of nursing, professional development, research, administration and clinical services.


Amazon.com Inc. has joined the ranks of one of Wall Street’s oldest and most exclusive stock indexes: The Dow Jones Industrial Average. The e-commerce pioneer took its position among the 30-company Dow, replacing drugstore operator Walgreens Boots Alliance.


New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson said it completed the acquisition of Ambrx Biopharma Inc. in an all-cash merger deal for a total equity value of approximately $2 billion, or $1.9 billion net of estimated cash acquired. The transaction will be accounted for as a business combination. The acquisition gives J&J an opportunity to design, develop and commercialize targeted oncology therapeutics.


Ground has been broken at Metropark in Woodbridge on the site of the future Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center, a 12-acre, $200 million project that will comprise 240,000 square feet of space. It will include the future headquarters of HMH, along with services such as primary care, medical and surgical specialties, a sports and spine center, retail pharmacy and more.


Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center and Hackensack Meridian Pascack Valley Medical Center recently announced Todd Huffman, who serves as CFO for both facilities, has been recognized as CFO of the Year by Ardent Health Services.


Saint Peter’s Healthcare System unveiled its expanded Family Health Center in New Brunswick. The center, which underwent a $12 million modernization, offers comprehensive primary and specialty care to adults, children and women, many of whom are among the city’s most vulnerable. The new 73,000-square-foot center, which currently has 60,000 visits per year, will now have the capacity for 100,000 visits.


The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has redesignated Rutgers Cancer Institute, together with RWJBarnabas Health, as the state’s only Comprehensive Cancer Center. Rutgers Cancer Institute scored in the “exceptional range” in a 2023 NCI review. That places it among the top cancer centers in the nation, and one of just 56 with the prestigious distinction.


Rowan University President Ali Houshmand said he intends for the school to dramatically increase its enrollment to 38,500 by 2033 – with the majority of growth coming from online programs. Rowan had a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,264 in the fall 2022, according to U.S. News & World Report.


To help bridge resource and leadership gaps at nonprofits across the county, Bank of America’s ‘Leader on Loan’ program, which began in 2017, lends bank leaders to local organizations full-time. Pragna Mehta is concluding her Leader on Loan experience as interim Data and Analytics Strategist for Liberty Science Center. Pragna is TechStart Pathways Program Manager at Bank of America, and she joined LSC through Leader on Loan in the spring of 2023.


Sills Cummis & Gross announced Craig Parker has come on board as the firm’s newest member. Parker joins the Newark-based law firm's Construction Law Practice, where he will provide strategic legal and business counsel to local and national construction contractors, developers, surety companies and commercial clients.