February 06, 2017

• 2017-02-06

NJBIZ's List of Powerful People Includes 11 New Jersey Chamber Board Members

NJBIZ newspaper released its Power 100 list this week - a list of what the newspaper considers the most powerful people in the New Jersey business community. 

February 06, 2017

• 2017-02-06

NJBIZ's List of Powerful People Includes
11 New Jersey Chamber Board Members

NJBIZ newspaper released its Power 100 list this week - a list of what the newspaper considers the most powerful people in the New Jersey business community. Appearing on the list are New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Chair Amy Mansue; Second Vice Chair Linda Bowden; Immediate Past Chair Ralph Izzo, and eight other non-management members of the N.J. Chamber's Board of Directors.

Here's a full list of Board members on the list:

Amy Mansue, president, southern region, RWJBarnabas Health, a health system with a statewide network covering about 5 million residents;

Linda Bowden, regional president-Northern New Jersey at PNC Bank, which boasts more branches in New Jersey than any other bank;

Ralph Izzo, chairman, president and CEO of PSEG, one of the most critical companies in New Jersey;

Robert Barchi, president of Rutgers University, the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey;

Leecia Eve, vice president-state government affairs, NJ, NY & CT, at Verizon New Jersey Inc., has the unique resume of having worked for Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York, Joe Biden and Hillary Rodham Clinton;

Jim Fakult, president and CEO of Jersey Central Power & Light, is rebuilding the major utility's reputation and infrastructure.

Jeffrey LeBenger, chairman and CEO of Summit Health Management and Summit Medical Group, the state's biggest physician group;

Richard Maser, the founder, chairman and CEO of Maser Consulting, the Red Bank-based engineering firm with 21 offices nationwide doing public- and private-sector work;

Carlos Medina, chair of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, representing Hispanic-owned business, which contribute more than $12 billion in revenue;

Barry Ostrowsky, president and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health, the largest health system in the state;

Ted Zangari, who, as chair of the Redevelopment Law and Public Policy Practice Group at Sills, Cummis & Gross, works on many of the state's political and developmental issues and projects.

"The ability of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce to advocate for the business community is greatly enhanced by the quality of our Board of Directors," N.J. Chamber President and CEO Tom Bracken said. "This recognition by NJBIZ demonstrates the strength of our board, for which we are extremely proud."

To see the full list, click here

February 02, 2017

• Charles Stile
• 2017-02-02
• NorthJersey.com

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, the newly installed archbishop of Newark, said he will join the New Jersey of Chamber of Commerce’s annual “Walk to Washington” pilgrimage later this month.

The 80th annual chartered Amtrak train ride on Feb. 16 is a rolling schmooze fest packed with lobbyists, legislators and political operatives.

January 25, 2017

• 2017-01-25

Congressional Delegation to be Honored
at the N.J. Chamber's 80th Trip to D.C.

#chambertrain

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce announced today that Gov. Chris Christie, and U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory D. Booker; as well as Congressman Christopher Smith, will speak at the 80th annual Congressional Dinner on Thursday, Feb. 16 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C.

The dinner is the highlight of the Walk to Washington, the N.J. Chamber's annual train trek to the nation's capital. The event attracts New Jersey business leaders in every industry and political leaders in every level of government, giving guests unprecedented opportunities for conversation, visibility and business networking.

"This is the kind of super-networking that helps businesses grow," said Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. "That is why we have been doing it for 80 years. It is New Jersey's biggest and most prestigious business event of the year."

Guests have the opportunity to hear from Gov. Christie and members of New Jersey's Congressional delegation as they discuss efforts to build the economy and generate jobs; and discuss changes in D.C. under the new Congress and the Trump administration.

Gov. Christie has said, "The year does not begin until the Chamber dinner in Washington."

The event also will feature candidates for governor, including Assemblyman Jack Ciatterelli, Sen. Raymond Lesniak, former ambassador to Germany Phil Murphy, and Assemblyman John Wisniewski.

Every winter, Chamber members board a chartered Amtrak train to Washington for the Walk to Washington, a name given to the event because riders on the train walk up and down the aisles discussing issues and generating business contacts.

Last year, the Walk to Washington and Congressional Dinner attracted 900 business executives, government officials, and more than 40 members of the news media.

The Train Schedule

The upcoming Walk to Washington begins the morning of Feb. 16 when the Chamber's train picks up passengers at Penn Station in Newark. The train then makes stops in Iselin (Metropark), New Brunswick, Trenton, Philadelphia and Wilmington before heading into Washington.

Participants spend the evening at a grand reception and at the Congressional Dinner at the Marriott Wardman. The networking continues the next morning with a reporters roundtable breakfast followed by the charter train's return trip to New Jersey, bringing guests back to their point of origin.

For more information about the Walk to Washington, go here: njchamber.com/w2w

To follow the Walk to Washington on Twitter and Facebook, use hashtag #chambertrain, or follow the New Jersey Chamber on Twitter - @njchamber.

January 25, 2017

• 2017-01-25

N.J. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO
Thomas Bracken's Statement on the passing of Caren Franzini

I am deeply saddened by the passing of Caren Franzini. Caren was a stalwart in the area of economic development and her accomplishments over many decades had an enormous positive impact on our state's business climate.

Among her many achievements was leading the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to its premier status nationally. But more than her professional accomplishments, Caren was simply an outstanding person. Always positive, always enthusiastic, always smiling and always willing to help (and most times lead) worthy causes.

Our state has lost one of our finest citizens. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Caren's family, who, along with all of us, will truly miss this wonderful and inspiring woman.

January 25, 2017

• Brent Johnson
• 2017-01-25
• NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Gov. Chris Christie will be back in Washington on Feb. 16 -- to headline a leading New Jersey political event he skipped last year.

The Republican governor is scheduled to speak that night at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce's 80th annual "Walk to Washington."

January 25, 2017

• Andrew George
• 2017-01-25
• NJBIZ

Gov. Chris Christie plans on speaking next month at a congressional dinner in Washington, D.C. hosted by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, NJBIZ has learned.

News of Christie’s upcoming appearance follows an announcement earlier this month that U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Bob Menendez would also be speaking at the Feb. 16 dinner, which is part of the Chamber’s annual “Walk to Washington” event.

January 24, 2017

• 2017-01-24

State Senators Sarlo and Oroho:
N.J.'s Estate Tax Repeal Must be Protected

The recently adopted phase-out the New Jersey's estate tax will have to be vigorously defended by supporters, as it is slated to be phased out over the next two budget years, said Democratic Sen. Paul Sarlo and Republican Sen. Steve Oroho during a Jan. 24, 2017, luncheon in East Windsor hosted by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

January 10, 2017

• 2017-01-10

N.J. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas Bracken's Statement on Gov. Christie's State of the State address

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce applauds Gov. Christie for accomplishing all of the goals he set out in his 2016 State of the State address, including a tax reform package featuring the elimination of the estate tax.

We also applaud the governor's optimistic outlook for New Jersey's economy in 2017. The governor acknowledged that our state is facing other significant unresolved issues, and the state Chamber is ready to work with him and the state Legislature in addressing these issues.

The governor focused most of his speech on the issue he feels is most pressing in the state today, that being drug addiction. He outlined a comprehensive program to aggressively attack this problem which directly or indirectly impacts a significant number of citizens of New Jersey. We salute the governor for the passion and dedication he is showing on this issue.