The 78th Annual Walk to Washington and Congressional Dinner on Feb. 19 and 20, 2015 brought to Washington a who's who of New Jersey business and government leaders, all of whom participated in what NJBIZ newspaper has called "a massive mobile networking event" and The Star-Ledger called "a longstanding Jersey tradition."
The single-digit wind chill temperature didn't put a damper on the festivities, as 900 leaders boarded the Chamber's chartered Amtrak train, where networking and "close-contact politics heated up," reported the website PolitickerNJ.
The event, as Politicker described it, gives the state's leaders "across the ideological spectrum a once-a-year opportunity to network, all in the privacy of a steel tube hurtling down the tracks at 80 miles per hour."
The "Arctic Express" whisked through New Jersey, picking up guests along the way. The trip hit a crescendo when the train reached the nation's capital and guests gathered at the Marriott Wardman Park for the Congressional Dinner and a keynote address by Gov. Chris Christie.
Gov. Christie's Keynote
Christie, widely expected to pursue the Republican nomination for president, focused on state politics in his speech, pledging to "resist" tax increases and foster a business climate in the Garden State that encourages business expansion and job growth.
"We need to continue, in my view, to shrink the public sector so that it gives room for our private sector to grow even more by making government less expensive," Christie said. "The way to grow the economy is to make it profitable for business to grow the economy."
U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Donald Norcross, and Tom MacArthur also shared their ideas at the dinner about improving New Jersey's economy.
The N.J. Chamber's 13-Car Chartered Train
On board the four-hour train ride on Feb. 19 were CEOs, small business owners, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and legislators who walked the aisles chatting and exchanging business cards. In fact with more than 40 legislators on board, Assembly Republican Leader John Bramnick, navigating the aisle of one of the middle train cars, suggested that state Democrats and Republicans get along better on the train than they do in Trenton. He half-jokingly proclaimed, "Nobody leaves (the train) until we solve the problems of New Jersey."
During the dinner, the N.J. Chamber presented its 2015 Business Leadership Award to Bill Marino for his accomplishments and service to New Jersey. Marino served as Chairman and CEO of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the state's largest health insurer from 1994 until his retirement in 2011, and he created The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, a charitable foundation dedicated to improving the quality of life in New Jersey
The festivities capped off the following morning with an insightful reporters roundtable breakfast where New Jersey's most experienced news reporters discussed, among other things, the impact of Christie's potential presidential campaign and handicapped the 2017 gubernatorial race.
A special thank you to JCP&L, Walk to Washington's premier sponsor.
For photos from the event, click on an image below:
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Photos by Russ DeSantis Photography & Video.
Everybody is talking about the Walk to Washington:
- Christie draws on Mercedes departure in Chamber speech on N.J. business climate (NJBIZ)
- N.J.'s latest Chamber train ride to Washington has shades of 2017 race (The Star-Ledger)
- Christie tells N.J. business leaders he will work to make state more affordable (nj.com)
- On trip to Washington, Christie focuses on N.J. (The Bergen Record)
- Chris Christie rails against tax increases (CNN)
- Christie tells Chamber audience NJ must be more business-friendly (Asbury Park Press)
- Christie stays focused on New Jersey in Washington speech (The Associated Press)
- New Jersey Leaders Board Train for 'Walk to Washington' Event (The Associated Press)
- Insiders pack Chamber of Commerce Train en route to D.C. (PolitickerNJ)
- This year's "Walk to Washington" setting the stage for 2015, Chamber CEO says (PolitickerNJ)
- Jon Bramnick wants everyone back on the Chamber Train until 'we solve New Jersey's problems' (PolitickerNJ)
- Christie's Walk to Washington Speech Focuses on Familiar Themes (NJTV News)
- NJ Chamber of Commerce President Discusses Walk to Washington Event (NJTV News)
- Business Leaders, Elected Officials Participate in 78th Walk to Washington (NJTV News)
- Leaders meet in the nation's capital for the 78th Walk to Washington (FiOS1 News)
- 78th Walk to Washington returns home to New Jersey (FiOS1News)