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The Edge for April 2020

An Exclusive Article for NJ ChamberEdge

Creating Home Offices, and Making it Work

In these trying times, many of us are getting a crash course on working from home. At the snap of a finger, we were forced to set up work spaces at kitchen tables, dining room tables, man caves and even attics. So we asked New Jersey Chamber of Commerce members to tell us how they are managing the change of scenery. Here is what they said:

 

Diane WasserFrom the Dining Room Table: Clear, Concise Communication Makes it Work

I’m grateful to have a comfortable dining room work space (my husband’s office is too messy!). It also doesn’t hurt that my kids are grown. I salute parents working from home juggling their careers and their children’s home schooling needs. In these challenging times, the safety of our staff, clients and the community is paramount. Thankfully, EisnerAmper has long been remote-work capable. What makes it work for us is that our teams have clear, concise and constant communication.

– Diane Wasser, Partner, EisnerAmper

 

Paula FerreiraFrom the Kitchen Table: Stay Connected with Zoom Meetings

With COVID-19, I had to switch to a completely remote environment quickly. My kitchen table is now a makeshift desk. This location allows me to be in the center of what’s happening at home, while still being able to get work done. In order to be the most efficient and avoid distractions, I utilize the entire day. I wake up early and get a few hours in before the house comes to life. I take breaks at meal times to enjoy family time. I finish the day back at the computer when the house is quiet again. A big challenge for me is not being physically present with clients and at the office. Zoom meetings have become a big part of my daily routine.

– Paula Ferreira, New Jersey Office Managing Partner, Mazars USA

 

Jamie KalamaridesFrom the Attic Office – Maintain a Consistent Schedule

I’ve worked from home in my attic office regularly before the pandemic. It’s all about creating and maintaining a consistent schedule but still being flexible. I start the day with an outside run and prayer. My children now attend school via teleconferencing so I’ve adjusted my schedule to eat lunch with them. During this time of uncertainty, it’s important to be more empathetic and responsive to colleagues’ emerging personal needs. Lately, I’ve found creative ways to boost morale. My company recently ran a campaign asking associates to share selfies from their home offices - mine included a painting of my great (x5) grandfather in the background. Check out my other work from home leadership tips on my LinkedIn Blog.

– Jamie Kalamarides, President, Prudential Group Insurance

 

Donald MeyerFrom the Man Cave: Use Quiet Time at Night for Time-Consuming Projects

We don’t have a home office per se, so my wife is camped out in the dining room, my son is sequestered in his room, and my work space is actually three places — the couch, the kitchen and the man cave. I thought there was little chance of getting any work done but we’ve made it work by finding dedicated and semi-private work spaces. The biggest challenge is fighting the temptation to respond to every email. I’m not winning that battle, so I carve out quiet time at night for the more time-consuming projects.

– Don Meyer, Chief Marketing Officer, NJCPA

 

Take Breaks, and Return to the Dining Room Table with a Fresh Perspective

Nicole AlexanderWorking from home is definitely a new experience. Our team is responsible for providing internal and external communications for our firm of over 450 employees. I created a home office in my dining room, and once I got a rhythm going, I was surprised how productive I could be. To keep up morale, I’ve sent take-out from local restaurants to team members and clients. When I have early morning calls, I can stay in my pajamas. But I wear normal clothes for daily Zoom meetings which help to keep everyone engaged. I recommend being open to distractions while working from home. They can give you an opportunity to take a break, regroup and come up with a new perspective on strategy.

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

 
Peter Woolley

Work the Phone for Real Conversations

I have three rules for working from home:

  1. Make a clear end to the day. If you don’t draw a line between work and private life you will quickly damage your private life and burn out. Let your colleagues know when you are available and when you are not. Go “home” for dinner and enjoy it.
  2. More than two emails on a topic requires a phone call. Otherwise, you will be flooded with email and starved for conversation. Many studies have shown, anyway, that phone calls are much more efficient and productive than email.
  3. Same as number one, but apply it to those who report to you: Let them have an end to their day. Give them time to regenerate at home without work.

– Peter J. Woolley, Founding Director, School of Public and Global Affairs, Fairleigh Dickinson University

 

Create New Routines and Stick to Them

Paul MardenUnitedHealthcare is well-known as a top employer for telework opportunities, so that has eased the transition for our workforce. Creating new routines and sticking to them are key. We stay connected with our teams through innovative means. For example, we recently launched an employee app called Sparq that provides employees with real-time information and intelligence. We’ve learned from experience that this improves workflow, ensures deadlines are met and makes the team feel united at a distance. We have managers check in to help people adjust and encourage all team members to speak openly and communicate any expectations or concerns.

– Paul Marden, CEO, UnitedHealthcare New Jersey

 

Responses for this article were edited for space and clarity.

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Newsmakers

As Jennifer Shimek transitions to a new leadership role at KPMG LLP, the company announced Jeffrey Knight has succeeded her as office managing partner in Short Hills.


Ernst & Young LLP appointed Eduardo Villa to serve as the Iselin office managing partner. In his new role, Villa oversees more than 1,200 EY professionals. Villa has been with EY for more than 22 years and has served as the New Jersey Tax Market Leader since 2019.


EisnerAmper has appointed David Frigeri to serve as partner and chief artificial intelligence officer. Frigeri will work with leadership to integrate AI, machine learning, and automation into EisnerAmper’s services to enhance client value and operational efficiency.


Fortune magazine named Merck, Hackensack Meridian Health and Atlantic Health System among the country’s 100 best companies to work for in its latest such list, released April 2. The 100 Best Companies to Work For list honors businesses that build a high-trust workplace environment, and is based on employee surveys.


Public Service Electric & Gas was recognized by J.D. Power as the top utility for residential customer satisfaction in both the electric and gas customer service categories in the East Large Segment for 2024. This achievement marks the second time PSE&G has earned this prestigious dual recognition for its residential customer satisfaction.


Prudential Financial has expanded the role of Caroline Feeney, appointing her as CEO of Global Retirement and Insurance Businesses, a newly created position that will oversee the company’s domestic and international retirement and insurance operations.


Former NJ Transit General Counsel Brian Wilton is joining the national bipartisan government affairs practice of Newark-based McCarter & English LLP.


Kenvue Inc., the maker of well-known brands like Neutrogena, Listerine, Aveeno and Tylenol, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 19 for its new, 290,000-square-foot global headquarters in Summit. The company has officially moved its headquarters from Skillman.


South Jersey Industries has donated $46,000 to the Southern New Jersey Chapter of the American Red Cross. The gift includes $23,000 in pledges from SJI employees as part of the company’s annual giving campaign, matched dollar-for-dollar by SJI. In total, this year’s campaign raised $350,000 for various organizations – a new record for the company.


Rowan University’s Edelman Fossil Park & Museum in Mantua opened March 29. It features towering dinosaur models, interactive exhibits, and a quarry where visitors can dig for fossils.


Thomas Edison State University has appointed Dr. Henry Collier as the new dean of its School of Science and Technology, effective April 7. Collier, a cybersecurity and artificial intelligence expert with more than 15 years of experience in higher education, will lead the school’s efforts to expand its programs and prepare students for careers in emerging technologies.


Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, part of RWJBarnabas Health, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School recently received a $2.4 million grant to develop technology to better manage patients presenting with heart attacks.


RWJBarnabas Health celebrated the grand opening of its largest academic ambulatory outpatient facility, a 15-story ambulatory medical pavilion on the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital campus in New Brunswick.


CentraState Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System, unveiled the Hersh Pediatric Center at CentraState, a facility that combines advanced pediatric emergency and inpatient services in one family-friendly location.


Cooper and Inspira Cardiac Care team members at Cooper University Hospital in Camden were excited to announce they surpassed 1,000 cardiac surgeries in 2024, the highest number in South Jersey, and third highest in the state


The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Board approved the creation of the New Jersey Film Works Grant Program and entered into Memorandums of Understanding with Montclair State University and Brookdale Community College to expand film and digital media workforce development initiatives.


Merck has signed a licensing agreement for a heart disease drug with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals worth up to $2 billion. Merck will get exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and sell Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals’ experimental oral heart disease drug, HRS-5346, worldwide, except in the China region.


Jefferson Health in New Jersey announced its newly elected medical staff officers, who will serve two-year terms. Dr. Gopika Banker was named medical staff president; Dr. Gerardo Varallo was named medical staff vice president; and Dr. Siddharth Bhimani was named medical staff treasurer.