Meadowlands USA: April/May Issue

2015 Connecting New Jersey Businesses

April/May $4.00

ELEC & LOCAL 825

More jobs, more contracts: major progress on initiatives & achievements

Commercial Real Estate On The Upswing: Sales in North Jersey at highest levels since 2006 Get Found On The Web: How SEO can lead customers to your business The Paperless Office: A “green� tip that can save money & the environment

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We have the energy to make things better [

... for you, for our communities and for our children.

]

www.pseg.com/sesamestreet

To download the app, visit www.pseg.com/sesamestreet or scan the QR code below.

The PSEG Foundation is proud to partner with Sesame Street on a new, free app called Let’s Ger Ready: Preparing Families for Emergencies. This unique app, geared toward pre-school children, introduces ways to prepare for emergencies in an entertaining and ageappropriate way and provides a number of resource guides and short videos to help parents, educators and other caretakers as they guide the children through the learning process.

contents

Connecting New Jersey Businesses

L EADERSHIP C OUNCIL Allstate Bergen Community College Boiling Springs Savings Bank Bruinooge & Bowman Comfort Guard Contracting LLC Ernst & Young, LLP Eastwick Colleges FORT Group Goya Foods Hackensack University Medical Center Hartz Mountain Industries JACOBS Kearny Federal Savings Bank Lincoln Equities, Inc. Meadowlink Commuter Services MetroMultiMedia MWW Group NAI James E. Hanson, Inc. New York Jets NJSEA PNC Bank Prime MSP PSE&G Skanska USA TD Bank United Water NJ Verizon Wilenta Carting, Inc. Publisher: Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 201 Route 17 North Rutherford, NJ 07070 201.939.0707 Managing Editor: Joe Garavente Email submissions: jgaravente@meadowlands.org Advertising Director: Martha Morley, Greer Enterprises, Inc. 201.493.7996 Design: Evan Eagleson, Eighty6, LLC. Printing: Action Graphics Meadowlands USA Magazine Distribution: MTM Resources Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any artwork, editorial material or copy prepared by Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce and appearing in this publication is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. Additional magazines and reprints of articles are available.

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Meadowlands Business Report Harmon Meadow Retail, Restaurants & Hotels Directory Meadowlands Restaurants & Dining Event Planning & Catering Services Meadowlands Hotels & Accommodations Destination Meadowlands News From the Meadow

DEPARTMENTS

6 8 12 14 20 22 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44

Economic Update Environmental Update Featured Member: The Dave Meredith Agency Investment/Banking & Financing Featured Member: Spectrum Works Legal Business Wise Featured Member: Eastwick College and the HoHoKus School Continuing Education & Business Learning Health & Wellness Real Estate Featured Member: Boiling Springs Savings Bank Tech Talk Small Business Corner

FEATURES

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Commercial Real Estate on the Upswing More Contracts, More Jobs

The views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, the Meadowlands Regional Chamber.

Cover: ELEC & Local 825, Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative

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MARCH 2015

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Business Report From the Desk of Jim Kirkos

President & CEO, Meadowlands Regional Chamber

W

ith Spring finally upon us and even warmer weather yet to come, I am very pleased to welcome you to the latest edition of Meadowlands USA! Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our work lives that we forget to appreciate the blooming nature around us. Especially here in the Meadowlands, where we are fortunate to have so many ecotourism opportunities right here in front of us. In this issue, we highlight the Spring and Summer schedule for the Hackensack Riverkeeper which offers so many opportunities to experience the Meadowlands’ beautiful nature and ecosystem. I highly encourage you to check out the schedule and see if you’d like to partake in any of these tours or programs.

And speaking of the environment, with April being Earth month in this issue we have an Environmental Update on how to transition your office to become “paperless” to save money and save the planet. We recently implemented some of these green principles in the Chamber office and I am proud to report that it does impact our bottom line and we feel better knowing we are reducing our carbon footprint. If more companies apply these suggestions, the impact on economy and the environment would be huge!

On another positive note, I was very excited to learn from the recent Meadowlands Industrial Report (released in April by NAI James E. Hanson) that commercial vacancy in our area is dropping while rent prices are rising. This is a very good sign for all our businesses, indicating that the local economic climate is heading in the right direction. In this issue we interviewed executives from some of our commercial real estate firms to gain their perspective on this trend. We will of course continue to keep you updated on local economic conditions in the future.

I’d also like to remind our readers that this content (plus even more!) is also available on our newly released blog: www.meadowlandsusa.com. This blog allows you to comment on published news stories—and also submit your own! I invite you to take advantage of this function by contributing business intelligence you feel can help organizations save money and operate more efficiently.

I wish your business much growth and prosperity this Spring!

Respectfully,

Jim Kirkos Follow me on twitter: @JimKirkos To stay informed about more activities from the Meadowlands Regional Chamber please visit www.meadowlands.org.

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APRIL/MAY 2015

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Public Safety & Homeland Security Meeting the professional advancement needs of those committed to protecting the public.

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• Master of Administrative Science • Master of Science in Homeland Security • Bachelor of Arts in Individualized Studies Certificate Studies Career-relevant programs are available at the graduate and undergraduate level in such areas as terrorism, forensics, global security, disaster and emergency management, transit safety, homeland security, and more. Credits earned can be applied toward the appropriate degree program.

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ECONOMIC UPDATE

Tax Credits for Technology Sector Grow NJ program offering incentives for businesses in tech, life science, energy & health

C

ontinuing the state’s commitment to support technology companies at every stage of growth, the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) recently took action on several projects under the Grow New Jersey Assistance program. Strengthened through the Economic Opportunity Act, Grow NJ offers enhanced benefits to companies in targeted industries, including technology, life sciences, energy and health.

“New Jersey has long been a leader in innovation, and the state is committed to supporting the attraction and expansion of businesses in the technology sector,” said EDA President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Lizura. “New Jersey is highly educated and perfected located - a natural fit for emerging and established technology companies.”

Through the Grow NJ program, the EDA approved four businesses in the greater technology industry with tax credits totaling more than $26 million. This assistance is expected to leverage over $37 million in private investment and the creation of 458 new jobs. To date, nearly 30 percent of tax credits approved under Grow NJ have supported this sector, accounting for the creation of over 2,600 new jobs and the retention of 2,700 “at risk” jobs.

Businesses approved in March include Advanced Accelerator Applications, USA, which is considering an existing facility in Millburn or new construction in Missouri to house its US headquarters. The company develops, produces and commercializes diagnostic and therapeutic products for use in treating cancer and other diseases. Advanced Plasma Therapies, Inc., a medical device and drug manufacturer, is weighing a move to a multi-tenant office building in West Windsor to support its expansion.

Also in Middlesex County, iCIMS, a software and services company, is contemplating an expansion in Old Bridge rather

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than relocating some of its operations to Colorado.

Grow NJ represents one element of the continuum of assistance the state offers to support the technology industry. Just this week, the EDA hosted its third Founders and Funders event, which directly connects entrepreneurs and start-up companies with investors. During the three events held to date, more than 90 businesses have participated in a “speed dating” match up with 60 investors.

In response to another marketplace need, the EDA also recently approved $1 million to support the expansion of three co-working spaces in Hoboken, Jersey City and Asbury Park. Co-working space is of particular value to those in the technology sector as it helps to foster a collaborative environment and offer flexible, expandable infrastructure, without long-term commitments as a company grows.

Other programs available to support the industry include the Angel Investor Tax Credit Program, which provides credits against New Jersey corporation business APRIL/MAY 2015

or gross income tax for 10 percent of a qualified investment in an emerging technology business with a physical presence in New Jersey and that conducts research, manufacturing, or technology commercialization in the state; and, the Technology Business Tax Certificate Transfer Program, which allows unprofitable technology and biotechnology companies to sell New Jersey tax losses and/or research and development tax credits to raise cash to finance their growth and operations.

The EDA is part of the state’s results-driven Partnership for Action. Created by Governor Christie and led by Lt. Governor Guadagno, the Partnership is the hub for all economic development activity in New Jersey and is comprised of four interconnected and highly focused organizational elements: Choose New Jersey, the Business Action Center, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education and the EDA. To learn about programs and initiatives to support the technology industry, visit www.njeda.com and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn @NJEDATech.

Your Source For Commercial Real Estate  Brokerage Services  Property Management  Tenant Representation  Financing  Investment  Property Valuations  Corporate Services  Government Services  Logistics

Spring2015 Meadowlands Industrial

Hackensack  201 488 5800 Parsippany  973 463 1011 naihanson.com

Visit www.naihanson.com/flyers/mmr.pdf to view our Spring 2015 Market Report

ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

Eco-Program Season Begins

EarthFest II, new pontoon boats, full moon paddles & a cleaner river

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ackensack Riverkeeper is pleased to announce its 2015 Eco-Program schedule. The clean water advocacy group is poised to provide thousands of people with an enjoyable & educational experience of the river, its watershed and wildlife. Riverkeeper’s Eco-Cruises, guided paddles, boat rentals, river cleanups, bird-walks and indoor presentations combine environmental education with public service and fun. The new season begins with the Second Annual EarthFest Overpeck on April 25 and runs through the end of October.

“After such a tedious winter, we are very much looking forward to our second EarthFest and our upcoming Eco-Program season,” said Riverkeeper Captain Bill Sheehan. “Last year we literally cracked the magic number: more than ten thousand people took to the water and the water’s edge with us. I don’t know if we can top that but we’ll certainly have a lot of fun trying.”

Hackensack Riverkeeper offers a series of six unique and distinct Eco-Program opportunities:

Eco-Cruises

This is Hackensack Riverkeeper’s signature environmental education program. Forty Open Eco-Cruises are scheduled from May 2 through October 11 aboard the brand-new, 30-foot pontoon cruisers Geraldine Theresa and Robert H. Boyle II. These are both set to be christened on Earth Day, April 22. Open trips are great for individuals, couples and families and can be had for a program donation of $25 per person for adults/$10 for kids 4-12.

Three distinct Eco-Cruise itineraries are offered: 1) Meadowlands Discovery, which explores the wetlands & creeks of the river’s estuary; 2) Boating through Bergen, which runs upriver to the center 8

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of Hackensack and the museum ship USS Ling; and 3) Excursion Around the Bay, a maritime history tour to Staten Island and back past the port facilities of Newark and Elizabeth.

Charter Eco-Cruises can be arranged for groups of up to 30 people for any available date/time May 2 through October 31. Hackensack Riverkeeper asks a donation of $300 per boat for Adult Charter Eco-Cruises and $250 for Youth Charters. Half-day Combo Programs are also available for schools. Those interested can call Program Director Captain Hugh Carola at 201-968-0808 for more info or to book a trip. Open Eco-Cruise dates/times are not available for Charters.

Passaic River Eco-Cruises are conducted by Hackensack Riverkeeper in partnership with the City of Newark from Riverbank Park, located on Raymond Boulevard in the city’s Ironbound section. Seven summer dates have been set aside for these unique tours, which

APRIL/MAY 2015

include both waterfront excursions and trips up the Newark and Elizabeth Shipping Channels off Newark Bay. Those looking to participate in Passaic Eco-Cruises should visit www. newarkriverfront.org or contact Newark Riverfront Revival at 201-241-8311, 973-733-5868, or newarkriverfront@ gmail.com to secure their seats.

Paddling Center at Laurel Hill Park

Hackensack Riverkeeper’s Paddling Center, located on the river at Laurel Hill County Park in Secaucus, NJ will be open weekends starting Sunday, April 26 and running through Sunday, October 31 weather permitting. The Center offers the use of canoe & kayaks for a donation of $25 per paddler (two-paddler minimum) as well as guided paddles conducted by manager John Normile and team. Fifteen tours are scheduled including ten popular full (and near-full) moon paddles. Pro-

For more information, including itinerary options, call him at 201-968-0808. Costs: $150-$200 depending on location and duration of trip; for up to 12 people.

Indoor Presentations

Captains Bill Sheehan and Hugh Carola enjoy conducting multimedia presentations for groups of any size. They have a wealth of materials including PowerPoint slideshows and video screenings that are appropriate for all age groups. Presenters will be sure to bring informational literature for all attendees. Costs: $150 if presented within the Bergen, Hudson, southern Rockland, eastern Passaic or greater Newark areas; $200-$300 if presented further afield. Call 201-968-0808 for more information.

gram donation: $30 per paddler / $15 per paddler for those their own boat(s). Private group paddle tours can be arranged by calling Captain Hugh at 201-968-0808 or e-mailing hugh@hackensackriverkeeper.org.

Overpeck Park Kayak (and Canoe) Center

2015 marks the third year of operation for this popular, central Bergen paddling venue at Overpeck County Park in Teaneck, NJ. Beginning with EarthFest and running through Sunday, October 31, the Center will be open Wednesday-Friday from noon to sunset; and weekends from 9AM to 6PM. Unlike the tidal waters of the Hackensack River, the impounded waters of Overpeck Creek are generally calm and easy for novice paddlers and families with children to handle. Program donation: still only $15 per paddler (2-paddler minimum) for up to two hours; $10 per paddler for each additional hour. Children canoe passengers ride as guests of Riverkeeper.

River Cleanups

These active conservation events give people of all ages the opportunity to give back to the environment and their communities. Public river cleanups are scheduled at ten different waterside locations within the Hackensack River Watershed from April 18 through November 1. Riverkeeper provides cleanup tools and supplies as well as refreshments for all volunteers. All they ask is that everyone pitch in and help rid local waterways of litter and other debris.

In addition to the Hackensack River and its tributaries, cleanups will also take place on Lake DeForest in Orangeburg, NY, Oradell Reservoir in Closter, NJ and along Newark Bay in Bayonne, NJ. For more information about river cleanups including group participation and the organization’s Corporate River Stewardship Program, call Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator Caitlin Doran at 201-968-0808 or e-mail her at Outreach@HackensackRiverkeeper.org.

“All of us at Hackensack Riverkeeper are looking forward to a great 2015 season on and about the water,” said Program Director Captain Hugh Carola. “You can do, you can learn, you can work out, or you can just sit back and let the boat and your captain do all the work. Whichever you prefer, we know that you’ll go home with a new appreciation of your Hackensack River. See you there!”

All Hackensack Riverkeeper Eco-Program info including schedules is available at www.hackensackriverkeeper.org.

Hackensack Riverkeeper, founded in 1997 by Captain Bill Sheehan, is the leading environmental organization working on Hackensack River issues. A founding member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, the group employs a four-point clean water strategy—Action, Advocacy, Education and Litigation—in its ongoing work to protect, preserve and restore the Hackensack River.

Explore the Real Meadowlands!

Join us for an Eco-Cruise, paddling tour, or a river clean-up on YOUR Hackensack River. reservations 201-968-0808

Bird-Walks

For groups interested in birding and nature study, Captain Hugh Carola is available to lead Bird-Walks or hawk watches at local birding hotspots within the Hackensack River Watershed region.

www .Hackensack RIVERKEEPER . org

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ENVIRONMENTAL UPDATE

The Paperless Office

Save money & the environment by reducing your paper use

D

id you know that the average office worker in the U.S. uses 10,000 sheets of copy paper per year? And that copy paper is the most common type of office waste paper?

The good news is that Americans are now recovering 57.4 percent of the paper they consume, according to Earth911.

But what role can small businesses play?

Going paperless not only de-clutters your office and reduces your storage space, it saves money, reduces your carbon footprint, helps reduce risk and can make it easier on you should the tax man come knocking on your door.

Going completely paperless is not easy, and what works for one business might not work for another. However, there are several options available to small and home-based businesses to help you reduce your paper consumption and improve your document sharing and management processes.

1)Use technology for file sharing Instead of passing paper around, use e-mail, shared server space, electronic document management solutions, or the “group sharing” capabilities available through most home and business computer operating systems.

Use electronic fax systems instead of the traditional paper fax, and scan all essential business documents and save and store them as PDFs in a secure file system.

2) Green your record-keeping Maintaining backed-up electronic records of key business functions not only streamlines your overall business efficiencies it also protects you against risk factors such as burglary, employee theft and other disasters. Roughly 40 to 60 percent of small businesses never reopen their doors following a disaster – so good records management is a must to ensure 10

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you can get up and running as seamlessly as possible should the worst occur.

Electronic record-keeping can also help you maintain a strong audit trail in the event of an IRS audit—no more shoebox record-keeping!

Documents to back-up an electronic management system include payroll records, invoices, customer lists, tax documents, expense receipts and so on.

If you are a sole-proprietor or micro-business, it is still important to back-up all your file data and maintain electronic records of expense receipts, business cards, contractual documents and invoices.

Invest in a basic electronic scanner and scan all your critical documents on a weekly basis and back them up to an external hard-drive and shared electronic workspace, if you have one.

3) Reduce the volume of paper that you receive in the mail Turn to paperless online bill-pay to reduce the amount of billing statements you receive in the mail. And reduce junk mail by opting out of mailing lists at http:// www.donotmail.org.

4) Reduce paper by modifying your printer settings In the home office or at work one very quick way to reduce paper surplus is to modify your printer settings to print duAPRIL/MAY 2015

plex (double-sided) and save ink by using the “fast-draft” print option.

5) Recycle copy paper But do not just install a recycling bin and hope everyone starts using it. Put rules around which documents can and can’t be recycled and communicate your goals and parameters to employees. For more tips, visit Earth911.com.

6)Raise awareness among Employees

Whatever measures you choose to take, make sure you clearly communicate your goals to your employees and equip them with the tools and information that can help them play their part too. Take advantage of these downloadable tip cards and workplace posters from Energy Star’s “Bring Your Green to Work” program to help spread the word about achieving a greener workplace.

Additional Resources SBA’s Green Business Guide – Tools and resources that help businesses expand and grow while saving energy costs.

Stephen Morris is online media coordinator for the U.S. Small Business Administration where he manages digital outreach to the small business community.

Proof Sheet

Please review your advertisement carefully.

Your ad will run exactly as is if no changes are made.

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You do not need to return this form unless you wish to make changes to your ad.

If you require changes/corrections, please return to: Your Town Directory • 21 Van Blarcom • Midland Park, NJ 07432 Or Fax To: 201-444-7473 Phone: 201-444-3577

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11

FEATURED MEMBER

DAVE MEREDITH INSURANCE Auto

Homeowners

Health

Life

Financial

Organization History:

Dave Meredith Agency 50 Union Ave Rutherford, New Jersey 07070 davemeredithinsurance.com Services Insurance & Financial Services Top Executives Dave Meredith, President Stephen Smith, Sales Manager Myrna Munoz, Service Manager Year Founded 1998

Awards & Accolades Allstate Financial Leader Award: 5 Years Allstate Leader’s Forum: 4 Years Chairman’s Inner Circle: 2 Years Honor Ring: 5 Years Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT): 5 Years Chairman’s Conference: 3 Years

MEADOWLANDS USA

What They Do:

The Dave Meredith Agency services customers primarily in New Jersey but they do have customers out of state. The product line consists of auto, home, condo, renters, commercial and business insurance. They also offer a complete line of life, health, annuities and financial services.

The Dave Meredith Agency prides itself on concept planning—not product planning—through complete fact finding and understanding of their customers’ needs and objectives.

Business Goals & Objectives:

Number of Employees 10

12

“As a Personal Financial Representative living in Rutherford for 40 years with my wife Dolores and 3 children I know many local families. My knowledge and understanding of the people in this community help me provide over 4,600 customers with an outstanding level of service,” says Dave. “I look forward to helping families like yours protect the things that are important: your family, home, car and more. I’m also here to help you prepare a strategy to achieve your financial goals.”

The agency has grown to a $6 million agency through outstanding management and staff support. Dave is currently negotiating for two new locations in New Jersey. The agency is a consistent honor winner with Allstate and normally finishes in the top five percent in the country of 26,000 agencies nationwide.

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Our objective is to grow our customer base through proper planning and exceptional service.

Giving Back:

The Dave Meredith Agency is currently a Leadership Council Member of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber. Dave served as the Chamber’s most recent past Chairman.

The agency is also active on the board of the St. Mary’s Community Foundation.

They are also a member of the Rutherford Downtown Partnership as well as the Rutherford Chamber.

APRIL/MAY 2015

Multiple Policies.

One agent.

I can help you save time & money.

One agent for all your insurance needs saves time. And Allstate’s multi-policy discounts are an easy way to save money. For affordable protection for your car, home, boat, motorcycle and more, call me first.

Dave Meredith Agency 201-355-8090

Insurance and discounts subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co., Allstate Insurance Co. Northbrook, IL. © 2010 Allstate Insurance Co.

131666

50 Union Avenue Rutherford dmeredith@allstate.com

T:7.75”

T:5”

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INVESTMENT / BANKING & FINANCING

Bad Credit & Business Loans

How to improve your access to alternative loan programs

I

n a recent report, over 63 percent of business owners attempting to find funding say they most often targeted banks. Unfortunately, the success among these respondents of actually getting a business loan was a low 27 percent.

However, recent news suggest small business owners considered creditworthy are discovering it to be easier to get business loans from traditional banks. This is good news for the economy since access to funding for small businesses is a part of job and economic growth.

Unfortunately, bad credit plagues a large percentage of small business owners as a result of the financial crisis several years back. The fact remains that it’s harder for smaller businesses—even with stellar credit ratings—to get traditional bank loans than it is for larger businesses.

Access to capital is the single largest roadblock most business owners face when growing their business. With a business loan, these businesses can hire new employees, purchase additional inventory, buy or upgrade equipment and increase their marketing efforts.

So what can a business owner do if bad credit is preventing them from getting a business loan?

The good news is there are alternative funding programs and solutions providing business owners the opportunity to obtain a business loan or line of credit regardless of having bad personal credit. Instead, other factors are taken into consideration such as bank deposit history, credit card sales, credit partners and other data sources.

Here are some suggestions that can help get you a business loan regardless of having bad credit:

1) Bank deposits: A business with reg-

ular bank deposits can put its cash flow to work with revenue-based loans. This program is based on the deposits going into the business bank account on a monthly basis. Typically, a business can obtain a business loan equal to 10 percent of its

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annual gross deposits regardless of having bad credit. Another benefit of this program is the time it takes to get funded, which is approximately seven business days.

Keep in mind the loan term can be as long as 18 months with this program, with rates slightly higher than a traditional bank rate. It requires no collateral, financials or tax returns. Repayments are made in small increments every day via ACH from the business bank account.

2) Credit card sales: This type of fund-

ing program, known as a merchant cash advance, provides businesses with upfront cash in exchange for a portion of future credit card sales. For businesses that have regular monthly credit card sales but struggle with bad personal credit, a merchant cash advance may be a viable option.

However, be very selective on what merchant cash advance provider you select. Some providers can cost as high as 38 percent while others can be as low as 12 percent. In addition, when it comes to repayment, the majority of merchant cash providers take a fixed percentage of your daily credit card receipt volume until the advance you took is paid back. Other business cash advance providers may offer a fixed monthly installment payment for its repayment method.

3) Credit Partner: Using a business partner as a credit partner for obtaining lines of credit in the form of business credit cards can be a viable solution to overcome a personal credit challenge. A business

APRIL/MAY 2015

partner who has strong credit scores is the best place to look. You may also want to consider someone who is interested in participating in your business as a potential credit partner.

This method does bring risk to the credit partner because they are cosigning with the business to obtain funding. However, it is important to note the type of unsecured business credit cards I am referring to will not appear on the personal credit reports of the cosigner unless they go into default.

There are many other types of funding programs that offer small business owners the opportunity to get business loans or access to cash without having perfect credit or subjecting themselves to all the rigorous analysis, cumbersome paperwork, lengthy process and aggravating timelines that comes with a traditional business loan.

Marco Carbajo is a business credit expert, author, speaker and founder of the Business Credit Insiders Circle. He is a business credit blogger for Dun and Bradstreet Credibility Corp, the SBA.gov Community, About.com and AllBusiness.com. His articles and blog, BusinessCreditBlogger.com, have been featured in Fox Small Business, American Express Small Business, Business Week, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The San Francisco Tribune, Alltop, and Entrepreneur Connect.

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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE on the UPSWING Sales in North Jersey at highest levels since 2006 Jaime Weiss

S

Steven G. Leitner

Frank Recine

ales last year in North Jersey of commercial property, including industrial, office, multifamily and retail, reached the highest levels since 2006, according to recent reports. Overall sales jumped 37 percent from 2013 for a total of $5.7 billion.

The report covered statistics based on sales throughout six counties in Northern New Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic and Union. Experts in the field weighed in on the findings and offered their thoughts on whether or not the positive trend would continue.

Weiss Realty Co., Moonachie

Grubb Knight Frank, Rutherford

A: Now that the economy has started to show signs of improvement, companies feel more confident that it’s time to make that purchase. The current very low interest rates certainly fuel this optimism. The low rates create an environment in which the only two viable places to put money today are the stock market and real estate, and quality real estate over time has proven to be a very good investment.—Steven G. Leitner, vice president of NAI James E. Hanson in Hackensack.

Q: To what do you attribute the growth in overall sales?

A: Current conditions—tax rates, prices, yields on sales—have created the perfect storm for sellers of real estate. Prices are high right now because the socioeconomic conditions are fabulous. What’s also fueling the market right now is the 1031 exchange [which allows parties that sell certain types of property to reinvest tax deferred].—Jaime Weiss, principal,

A: I attribute this to low interest rates & REO. I recently heard at a seminar that there are over 25,000 commercial loans coming due over the next three years.

Many of these loans are under-performing, which will require a workout or the assets will go through a receivership process. This will continue to add to the steady flow of sales in the market touching all asset classes.—Frank Recine, executive managing director, Newmark

Q: Which sector has seen the most growth?

A: Multifamily properties have been at the top of the list for investment. The reasons are that the stagnant economy has caused many people to leave their homes for rental housing, and the younger generation, which has historically purchased homes, has decided that renting is more economically feasible and gives them more flexibility in life style choices.

The challenge here is that, with so many multifamily units being built and office buildings being converted to apartments, an oversupply of this property class has started to increase vacancies, with the anticipated result of a softening of rents and an eventual decline in property values. — Steven G. Leitner, vice president of NAI James E. Hanson, Hackensack

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A: At this point in time, multifamily has seen the most growth. This is due to several factors: accessible financing in this

asset class, newer industrial product; due to the rising trend in the e-commence markets and stable “Class A” office product in primary markets; and due to institutional buyers seeking stable returns. Entrepreneurial developers are purchasing Value-add product at competitive pricing and re-positioning assets to create value.—Frank Recine, executive managing director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Rutherford Q: What is the current climate for other properties?

A: The office market has been the main challenge. Companies, because of poor economic conditions and internet technology increasing productivity, have found that they can maintain their business with fewer employees. Fewer employees equates to less office space required.

The result is major office landlords have sold many of their buildings or converted them to multifamily. The one bright spot is that investors, expecting the economy to improve, have been purchasing Class A office properties in the country’s major cities.—Frank Recine, executive managing director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Rutherford

By the numbers • Commercial real estate sales: $5.7 billion, up 37 percent from 2013 • Number of transactions: 1,630, up 77 percent

Top locations for total sales • Bergen County totals sales: $512.6 million • Hudson County total sales: $410.9 million

Market stats • Multifamily sales: $1.4 billion, up 22 percent • Industrial sales: $1.5 billion, down 13 percent (second-highest yearly total since 2007) • Office space: $1.3 billion, up 142 percent (Bergen and Hudson county properties saw largest growth) • Retail market: $620 million (little change from 2013)

A: Properties like Starbucks, CVS, Walgreens are in demand. For example, there was a property in Union City that sold in 24 minutes. The location was great but there was no drive-thru. But it had parking which is hard to come by, especially in a populated area like Union City. The seller got a high price, the buyer got a great mortgage at a low interest rate. Everyone was happy.—Jaime Weiss, principal, Weiss Realty Co., Moonachie A: Increased internet sales have forced many retailers to close or downsize their brick and mortar stores, and improve their internet technology to capture more internet sales. The labor participation rate and wages will have to increase to see an improvement in retail sales and a resulting increase in new retail development.

To this point, the Boulder Group reports that the main focus of retail store openings in 2014 was the dollar stores which accounted for 45 percent of the 1,000 new store openings in the United States.

—Steven G. Leitner, vice president of NAI James E. Hanson, Hackensack Continued on pg. 18

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17

Continued from pg. 17

Q: What is the forecast?

A: The industrial market has survived the recession with vacancies reduced and rental and sales prices increasing. The anticipated expansion of the Panama Canal to be completed in 2016, which will enable large cargo ships to access East Coast ports, has encouraged developers to erect large box, high ceiling buildings all along the East Coast, and in New Jersey, close to Ports Newark and Elizabeth.

With internet sales increasing and the resulting importance of same day delivery, medium and large sized buildings are being built and purchased to satisfy the growth of the E-commerce industry. The result of this increased demand for industrial buildings is a significant reduction in the inventory of quality buildings available for purchase.—Steven G. Leitner, vice president of NAI James E. Hanson, Hackensack

graphics for logistics. The “inland port” concept is very attractive. Companies are buying and selling properties inland where they will transport goods that come into the ports.—Jaime Weiss, principal, Weiss Realty Co., Moonachie Q: Do you see a positive trend continuing in commercial real estate sales?

A: Will it last? Hard to say if this trend will continue or if we’ve hit the bubble. If the Fed decides to raise the interest rate, the prices will go down and we’ll see less activity. In four or five years when the interest rates are reset, we’ll probably see another shift.—Jaime Weiss, principal, Weiss Realty Co., Moonachie A: I feel it will last another three to five years. I do not think we are anywhere near a high in the commercial real estate market. I think we are working our way out of a tangled web and the sophisticated players are creating value out of hard work, re-positioning and the miscalculations of previous developers/own-

A: Right now the trend is leaning towards industrial properties. The prices are right and there is a distinct change of demo-

ers.—Frank Recine, executive managing director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Rutherford Q: What factors can result in a turnaround in the commercial real estate market?

A: The quickest way for the floor to drop is with a rise in interest rates.—Frank Recine, executive managing director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Rutherford A: The announcement in recent weeks by the Federal Reserve that they do not see a reason to raise interest rates through the first half of this year should certainly have a favorable impact on real estate investments, at least for the balance of the year and probably into 2016.—Steven G. Leitner, vice president of NAI James E. Hanson, Hackensack Angela Daidone is a freelance writer, editor and public relations specialist. She can be reached at adaidone@aol.com.

Weiss_BP_AD_Layout 1 3/24/15 10:47 AM Page 1

250 Moonachie Road, Moonachie, NJ 07074 201.814.1800 Fax: 201.814.1811 L I C E N S E D R E A L E S TAT E B R O K E R S

Jaime and Matthew Weiss

Office/Industrial/Retail leasing and sales and investments services To view Weiss Realty Co., Inc. exclusives, visit www.jweissrealty.com For more information regarding Weiss Realty’s services for your company, call Jaime M. Weiss.

Building sound relationships on a solid foundation.

Grove Point, Jersey City

Boulevard Apartments, Hasbrouck Heights

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Weiss Realty is a member of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce

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10 Exchange Place, Jersey City

Il Villaggio_3rdQ_V2:Il

10/9/09

1:54 PM

Page 1

“A diamond in the shadow of the Meadowlands, old-style cuisine that never disappoints” Zagat Survey, America’s Top 1000 Italian Restaurants 2008

“Best of Award of Excellence” - Wine Spectator Magazine

Jim Polito, Bartender of 27 years

Wait and Captain Staff, Mario, Sebastian, Donato, Marco, Seth, and Dennis (in center of top photo)

Owner Ralph Magliocchetti and Banquet Director John Yessis

Come experience Il Villaggio’s distinguished cuisine in our newly renovated restaurant Since 1979, Il Villaggio has been consistently providing guests with truly memorable dining experiences.

Our menu specializes in classic northern Italian dishes, which include a wide variety of fresh fish & seafood specials that change daily. Complete your dining experience with our wide selection of homemade desserts.

Il Villaggio caters to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs,Weddings, and Private/Corporate Events.

Monday-Friday: 11:30 am -11:00 pm • Saturday: 5:00 pm - 12 Midnight Sunday: Private Events Only 651 Route 17 North, Carlstadt, NJ 07072 Telephone: 201.935.7733 • info@ilvillaggio.com • www.ilvillaggio.com

SPECTRUM WORKS

80% of People With Autism Are Unemployed. Help us Change That!

Organization Background:

Spectrum Works 100 Dorigo Lane Secaucus, NJ 07094 www.spectrumworks.org Services Nonprofit Screen Printing Company Top Executives Ann Marie Sullivan, CEO Year Founded 2013 Number of Employees 15 Stories & Videos You can view videos and learn more about how Spectrum Works is changing lives and providing employment to empower individuals with autism: spectrumworks.org/stories-videos/

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Spectrum Works is a Secaucus nonprofit screen printing & promotional products company that employs individuals with autism, empowering them with the confidence and skills needed to achieve a sense of independence, purpose and pride.

Spectrum Works currently employs 15 individuals with autism. Simply purchase our high quality, competitively priced products and create hope for a brighter future.

Spectrum’s approach is unique in that it incorporates individuals with autism into the workforce of a successful company, pays them a competitive wage and provides opportunities for advancement.

Spectrum Works’ employees sell, consult with clients, design, and produce the products under the supervision of industry professionals. This innovative employment model is funded by income generated from the sale of screen printed apparel and promotional products.

The goal is be financially self-sustaining from the sale of goods by 2016 and from there to roll out the program to other states.

What They Do:

Spectrum Works is a Secaucus nonprofit screen printing & promotional products company that employs individuals with autism. Your company can “do good” without sacrificing quality and the bottom line: simply purchase products that you would have purchased anyway and help raise awareness that individuals with autism can work and create amazing things they just need opportunities.

You can help us reach our goal to employ 25 individuals with autism this year by simply purchasing products that you would have purchased anyway. Quality is guaranteed as Spectrum utilizes the infrastructure of Green Distribution (one of the largest screen print companies on the East Coast with a large customer-base including Disney, Harley Davidson and Universal Music). This relationship enables Spectrum Works to produce high quality, competitively priced items while giving individuals with autism the opportunity to work along-side neurotypical coworkers. Spectrum Works also sells promotional products.

APRIL/MAY 2015

FEATURED MEMBER

Stats About Autism:

• 1 in 68 children in the U.S. has autism • Over 2 million individuals in the U.S. have autism • Autism costs the United States $126 billion per year • Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average • Approximately 80 percent of individuals with autism are unemployed or underemployed

Business Goals & Objectives:

The goal is to employ 25 individuals with autism this year and to be financially self-sustaining from the sale of goods by the end of 2016. Businesses in the Meadowlands area (and beyond) can help us reach this goal just by purchasing products they would have purchased anyway.

Ultimately, the goal of Spectrum Works goes beyond paychecks and sustainability—it’s about raising awareness that individuals with autism can work and contribute to society.

Growth Strategy:

Spectrum Works aims to increase self-sufficiency for its employees with autism and to attain financial sustainability for the organization through the sale of products created by its workforce. In order to accomplish this, Spectrum establishes nonprofit social enterprises with supportive work environments. The goal of each is to create employment, provide job training, generate revenue and ultimately achieve financial sustainability through the sale of products and services.

Spectrum aims to be financially self-sustaining from the sale of screen printing & promotional items by 2016. Once financial sustainability is attained with its first social enterprise with a record of success, Spectrum will set up additional enterprises and then replicate the model across the United States creating sustainable impact.

Our partner, Green Distribution has recently opened a screen printing facility in Virginia and Spectrum Works plans to

open a program there by the end of 2016.

More About Products & Services:

Spectrum Works manufactures high quality, competitively priced screen printed apparel in a 100,000 sq. ft. facility in Secaucus.

Apparel is created with the assistance of individuals with autism.

Spectrum Works is the manufacturer’s representative for hundreds of suppliers and sells thousands of various types of promotional items.

Business Edge & Competitiveness:

Purchasing products from Spectrum Works provides an inspiring way for your company to support employment for individuals with autism—without sacrificing quality and the bottom line.

Simply purchase products that you would have purchased anyway, and create hope for a brighter future for individuals with autism.

For additional impact, the items can be tagged with Spectrum Works story which could help increase your company’s image as a socially responsible organization.

Client Portfolio:

Clients include the following: Town of Secaucus, Cisco, The United Nations, Marriott, Embassy Suites, The Rainforest Alliance, Township of North Bergen, Jewel Electric, schools, many state government divisions and nonprofit organizations.

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LEGAL

The ABC Test

Determining the status of independent contractors vs. employees

A

t the request of the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the New Jersey Supreme Court decided an important employment law issue that significantly impacts New Jersey businesses and workers. In Hargrove v. Sleepy’s, LLC, the state’s highest court found that the Independent Contractor Test or “ABC test” determines whether a worker is an “independent contractor” or “employee” for the purposes of the New Jersey Wage Payment and Wage and Hour Laws.

This ruling definitively resolves a wide-spread controversy while making clear that the more nebulous standards of the federal government are superseded by the New Jersey test.

The Facts of the case

Plaintiffs Sam Hargrove, Andre Hall, and Marco Eusebio worked as delivery drivers for defendant Sleepy’s, LLC. Their federal employment lawsuit alleged that they suffered various financial and non-financial losses as a result of the defendant’s misclassification of them as independent contractors. Plaintiffs each signed an “Independent Drive Agreement,” which they maintained was designed to deny them employee benefits.

The U.S. District Court applied the twelve-factor “right to control test” established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. v.

Darden, 503 U.S. 318 (1992) and generally used to define who is an “employee” under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Under this analysis, the lower court agreed with the employer that the plaintiffs should be classified as independent contractors.

On appeal, the plaintiffs argued that New Jersey’s public policy rejected the “right to control test” as the exclusive means of determining a worker’s employment status, noting that the state’s courts have employed the “hybrid test” in 22

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cases under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and relied on the “ABC test” when assessing claims brought under the New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Act. Noting that “[n]either the New Jersey Supreme Court nor any other New Jersey appellate court has previously determined which employment test applies to claims that arise under the New Jersey Wage Payment Law or the New Jersey Wage and Hour Law, the Third Circuit petitioned the New Jersey Supreme Court for certification of those questions.”

The Court’s decision

The New Jersey Supreme Court concluded that the “ABC test” derived from the New Jersey Unemployment Compensation Act governs whether a plaintiff is an employee or an independent contractor for purposes of resolving wage-payment or wage-and-hour claims.

The ABC test presumes that an individual is an employee unless an employer affirmatively demonstrates that: The employer neither exercises conAPRIL/MAY 2015

trol over the worker, nor has the ability to exercise control in terms of the completion of the work; The services provided are either outside the usual course of business or performed outside of all the places of business of the enterprise; and The worker has a profession that will plainly persist despite termination of the challenged relationship.

Failure to satisfy any one of these three criteria results in a finding that the person in question is an “employee.”

After considering all of the tests that might be applied, the court concluded that deference should be given to the New Jersey Department of Labor’s selection of the “ABC test” as the appropriate standard to apply under the state’s employment laws. The panel also noted that the test provided the greatest degree of predictability.

As explained in the opinion, “Permitting an employee to know when, how, and how much he will be paid requires a test designed to yield a more predictable result than a totality-of-the- circum-

stances analysis that is by its nature case specific.”

The message for employers

Pursuant to the New Jersey Supreme Court’s decision, the “ABC test” is now the universal standard for New Jersey for wage law and wage and hour purposes. New Jersey law now presumes that a worker is an employee and such presumption will be rebutted only if the employer demonstrates that all three factors of the test are satisfied.

Accordingly, this is a “watershed” decision affecting many companies and industries that typically rely on the use of “independent contractors.” For example, the trucking, delivery and intermodal industries will be particularly impacted, and should immediately contact experienced counsel to determine how to address the potential legal and business implications of the decision.

While the Court focused on the wage payment and wage and hour implications of this decision, the act of misclassification ripples through other aspects of the employment law quantum. For example, coverage determinations under the Affordable Care Act and eligibility under ERISA employee benefit plans can provide grave consequences for plan sponsors who get this wrong.

Gary S. Young is a partner at Scarinci Hollenbeck. He concentrates his practice on ERISA, employee benefits and executive compensation as a member of Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Corporate Transactions and Business Law Group. Gary began his legal career over 40 years ago as a traditional labor lawyer, and he continues to provide employment law advice to private sector employers on subjects such as wage & hour compliance, workplace harassment, FMLA, etc. Scarinci Hollenbeck is a full-service, general practice law firm that provides a broad range of legal services to a diverse group of clients. The firm has offices in Lyndhurst and Ocean, New Jersey and New York, New York.

For more information on the firm, please visit the firm’s website at www.scarincihollenbeck.com.

www www.scarincihollenbeck .scarincihollenbeck.c.com om MEADOWLANDS USA

2 02101 . 8. 9896 .64. 410 1 0 00 meadowlands.org

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LEGAL

Affordable Housing Update NJ Supreme Court strips COAH of jurisdiction

I

n a unanimous decision issued on March 10, 2015, the New Jersey Supreme Court up-ended nearly 30 years of procedural and administrative processes and agreed to allow interested parties the opportunity to pursue their affordable housing challenges in court rather than appear before the Council on Affordable Housing (COAH).

This decision marks the end of the tortured path of COAH’s Third Round Rules, initially proposed and adopted in 2004 and then amended and re-amended in the ensuing years—with a new legal challenge filed virtually every step of the way. The Third Round Rules were unique in that they deviated from the numerical quotas assigned to communities in the first two COAH Rounds.

The Third Round Rules introduced the “growth share” formula, which linked the affordable housing obligations of municipalities to their rates of growth.

The Appellate Division struck down the growth share formula in 2010 and—despite a series of intervening court orders—COAH failed to adopt a new methodology or new rules by the Supreme Court-ordered deadline of November 2014. The Supreme Court’s decision in March is the result.

Most builders and developers are familiar with COAH’s long and challenged history: it has gone 15 years without a viable set of administrative rules. The Court’s ruling this week struck a simple and logical tone.

The Supreme Court held that because COAH, the administrative forum statutorily charged with adjudicating affordable housing issues, has failed to function as intended by the law due to the continuing lack of appropriate rules, it was incumbent upon the court to permit parties seeking their available remedies, the option of doing so in court until such time as the administrative process is restored.

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For approximately 350 of New Jersey’s towns, COAH has been the only forum in which to litigate affordable housing issues. The decision to return these issues to the courthouse is a radical reversal of the process.

Recognizing the magnitude of its own decision, the Supreme Court went on to establish a timeline for the transition from an administrative process to an adjudicatory one. The Court’s Order will go into effect in 90 days, on June 10. In the next 30 day period that follows i.e., by July 10, those towns that previously had received COAH approval or had petitioned COAH to approve their affordable housing plans, on notice to interested parties, may seek a declaratory judgment from the court that their affordable housing plans are constitutionally compliant with the principles in the Mount Laurel doctrine.

Should any of those towns decline to seek judicial affirmation or after July 10, any interested party may file an action challenging a town’s constitutional compliance with its affordable housing APRIL/MAY 2015

obligations. In years past, participation in COAH’s processes had provided longterm immunity to towns from builder’s remedy lawsuits. This recent decision provides for the courts to grant a similar, albeit more temporary immunity during the pendency of the declaratory judgment proceeding or the constitutional compliance cases.

There are two matters of interest for builders and developers: 1) There will be an opportunity to participate when towns file declaratory judgment actions, since the Supreme Court has required such actions to be on notice to interested parties including all on the COAH service list. Although builder’s remedies may not initially be requested, participation at this stage may be a prerequisite for a later builder’s remedy.

2) Even towns that previously received COAH approval should not expect the courts to rubber-stamp those ap-

provals. New fair share calculations, made without using the invalidated growth share approach, will have to be reviewed and the previously submitted fair share plans will be measured against these new numbers.

In its closing remarks, the Court reminded COAH and the Legislature that they retained the opportunity to restore or recreate a viable administrative remedy that towns and interested parties could use in connection with deciding affordable housing issues.

Undoubtedly, the summer of 2015 will be a busy one. Many towns will file declaratory judgment actions seeking to affirm their previous affordable housing commitments—perhaps not because of their underlying philosophical acceptance of the concept but to foreclose the courts from imposing an obligation on them to create more affordable housing opportunities within their midst.

The past efforts of some towns will be acknowledged by the courts. Others,

with weak histories of providing opportunities for affordable housing, may not fare well in this judicial process. Housing advocates and builders will have an opportunity to press this issue in a way that they have been unable to do for decades.

One thing is clear; ten years of litigation on the Third Round Rules have denied all the interested parties certainty on the issue of affordable housing. This decision reminds them all that affordable housing obligations are real and are here to stay.

If you have questions or concerns related to this ruling or other matters, please contact Lori Grifa or Guliet D. Hirsch or a member of Archer & Greiner’s Government Affairs or Land Use Group in Haddonfield, N.J., at (856) 795-2121, in Flemington, N.J., at (908) 788-9700, in Princeton, N.J., at (609) 580-3700, in Hackensack, N.J., at (201) 342-6000, in Philadelphia, Pa., at (215) 963-3300, or in Wilmington, Del., at (302) 777-4350.

Lori Grifa

Guliet D. Hirsch

Lori Grifa is a partner at the firm and practices in the firm’s Government Affairs Group. From 2010 to 2012 she was the Chairman of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing. Guliet D. Hirsch is a partner at the firm and practices in the firm’s Land Use Group.

DISCLAIMER: This client advisory is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute legal or tax advice, and may not be used and relied upon as a substitute for legal or tax advice regarding a specific issue or problem. Advice should be obtained from a qualified attorney or tax practitioner licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where that advice is sought.

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MORE CONTRACTS,

MORE

JOBS

Major progress on initiatives & achievements

W

hen the Engineer Labor-Employer Cooperative (ELEC) was established in 2012, its focus was to provide a common resource for members of Operating Engineers Local 825 and building contractor associations in New Jersey and New York. The goal: to win more contracts and create jobs.

Now just two years later, ELEC has grown in leaps and bounds—in its roster of members, lineup of professional alliances, outreach initiatives and overall presence in the industry.

“When we started out our main goal was to make sure members and contractors had opportunities to secure more jobs,” said Mark Longo, ELEC director.

“An empty hiring hall has always been our chief objective.”

However, while the focus remains the same, Longo emphasized that ELEC’s agenda now has a farther reach.

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“We want developers to know that we are a force in the industry and we want to make a difference in legislative issues that affect not only our members but the economic landscape of the region,” he said.

Setting new goals, expanding its reach

With an ever-increasing roster of operating engineers, the organization sets its sights on broadening its mission to stimulating the economy and advocating for issues that could make an impact on it.

“ELEC had a vision and strategic plan but needed to expand its reach,” said Kate Gibbs, who came on board last spring as its business developer. “The question was how can we continue to support that objective?”

Gibbs, whose background includes public affairs and organizational management, was instrumental in developing an aggressive marketing and communi-

APRIL/MAY 2015

cations plan, which included advertising and public relations, community outreach and social media initiatives.

“We knew we needed to reach business organizations, chambers of commerce and build relationships with municipal and county governments,” Gibbs said. “But we also knew that just joining organizations wouldn’t be enough. We needed to participate, meet as many key people as possible.”

By meeting people in other professional organizations, Gibbs added, it would increase ELEC’s visibility on several fronts as well as fulfill its original goal.

“Participation also means finding out about project opportunities more quickly and putting our members to work,” Gibbs said.

ELEC incorporated traditional advertising that targeted specific audiences in print and online publications. For instance, ads were scheduled to coincide

Mark Longo

with magazine issues that focused on real estate development, utilities, energy and a wide range of building programs of both commercial and public properties.

“This strategy increased our visibility in the market and positioned ELEC as a collaborative labor management organization,” said Greg Lalevee, business manager for Local 825 and ELEC chairman.

As a result, he said, news organizations frequently tapped ELEC officials and consultants for their expertise on a broad range of topics for use in feature stories.

“This further served to position ELEC as a leader in the industry,” Lalevee said.

Gibbs said the organization also ventured into the social media realm, also garnering tremendous success.

Kate Gibbs

Greg Lalevee

“We employed social media—specifically Twitter and Facebook—to our advantage,” she said. “For instance, we’re getting over a thousand clicks a day on Facebook in response to news about the Transportation Trust Fund and some days we get over 6,000 clicks. The results so far have been phenomenal. It’s really staggering how many people we have reached in a short period of time.”

ELEC reports that its Facebook posts have reached over one million politically active New Jerseyans since the campaign launched last fall, and on Twitter ELEC coined the hashtag #NJTTF that has been used by major news organizations, advocacy groups and prominent public officials like NJ Policy Perspective, Forward NJ, NJ Assemblyman Vincent Prieto and oth-

Daniel Ortega

ers. ELEC is also revamping its website to be more mobile friendly, Gibbs added.

A pivotal year

2014 proved to be pivotal for ELEC on several fronts.

More than 300 construction professionals throughout the region attended in October the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s conference in Manhattan, of which ELEC was a key sponsor.

The event was held to provide an overview of the Port Authority’s 2014-23 capital plan and review its construction program.

ELEC’s participation offered its representatives the ideal forum to reinforce its brand presence, provide information to attendees and make valuable contacts.

Continued on pg. 28

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27

ELEC strategists turned to black-and-white cartoons so they would stand out from surrounding content. They succeeded in grabbing attention from politicians and “decision makers” on such sites as NJ Spotlight, PolitickerNJ, NJBIZ, Facebook, Twitter and Google.

Continued from pg. 27

They also gathered information on how firms can get involved with major Port Authority projects in the region, such as the new Goethals Bridge and the PATH restoration.

“The end game for ELEC is to promote the value of operating engineers and our signatory contractors,” said Lalevee.

ELEC also continued to work actively in Trenton, Albany and Washington D.C. to develop and promote legislation that benefits its members and communities. In 2014, ELEC tracked 40 bills and advocated for or against 20 bills that would impact the industry overall.

Among the key issues that ELEC lobbied for in 2014 are the Public-Private Partnership and Contractor Registration expansion.

The Public-Private Partnerships bill permits certain government entities to enter into agreements on building and highway infrastructure projects. “This is an excellent option for funding vital projects that might not otherwise receive financial support or would be very difficult to get approval for,” said Longo.

The Contractor Registration bill requires that contractors working on public utility projects obtain a New Jersey contractor registration. ELEC supported this bill to ensure that the standards of construction in New Jersey are met with the highest level of quality, skill and responsibility, Longo said.

“Our members receive extensive training at our facility, and they possess 28

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a unique skill set that makes them ideally qualified for work on any number of projects,” Lalevee said. “We want to make sure only the best trained, best qualified workers get the jobs.”

Local 825 maintains a 38-acre training facility in Dayton, New Jersey, and another in Middletown, New York, where workers receive targeted training in heavy equipment operation for large construction projects, or specialized projects at sites at disaster situations or deep water projects at port locations.

“Our members have a lot to bring to the table,” said Lalevee. “They have a unique skill set, and have had specialized training that can suit any construction situation.”

Workforce investment

Staying true to its mission of obtaining jobs for its members, ELEC helps Local 825 by reimbursing costs for different credentials required to be on the job.

In 2014, ELEC reimbursed more than $51,000 to members for licensing and credentialing.

“We want our members to be ready to go as soon as a project gets approved,” said Longo. “This helps ensure that members have an advantage over non-licensed operators – they can work when called without any delay.”

Since its inception, ELEC has reimbursed more than $190,000 in licensing fees. ELEC also reimburses fees for security clearances that are being more and APRIL 2015

more in the industry. They include Transportation Worker Identification Clearance, Secure Worker Access Consortium and the South Jersey Chemical Card.

“This has helped us establish increased credibility in the industry as well as make a smoother transition for our members to work,” Lalevee said.

Looking ahead

As of this writing, Governor Chris Christie and lawmakers in Trenton have yet to make a deal on a new source of revenue for New Jersey’s Transportation Trust Fund. If the TTF is not approved, spending for the state roads, bridges and rail projects could be reduced to $600 million from $1 billion.

“This is so important that some agreement must be put in place sooner rather than later,” said Longo, adding that ELEC has been lobbying furiously on the TTF’s behalf. “It’s no secret that our bridges need repair, our roadways need repair.

Without the infrastructure, employers couldn’t receive goods, workers wouldn’t have access to get to work. It would create an enormous burden on communities and the economy would stagnate.

“We’re hoping for a quick resolution, and we’re doing everything we can to put the issue in the forefront of our outreach efforts,” Longo said.

Angela Daidone is a freelance writer, editor and public relations specialist. She can be reached at adaidone@aol.com.

WE PARTNER WITH DEVELOPERS TO BUILD OPPORTUNITY COLLABORATION THAT PROMOTES YOUR BOTTOM LINE ELEC partners with business and professional organizations to promote projects for developers.

Market support and advocacy

We advocate for policies, legislation and regulations that have helped initiate major bridge-building projects, win approvals for pipeline construction and authorize large-scale urban development programs.

We provide professional services that help developers win grassroots support for projects, obtain local approvals and secure permits.

Skills + experience + safety = productivity

ELEC is a labor-management organization built on collaboration between Local 825 Operating Engineers and its union contractors. We continually invest in workforce credentialing and training that ensure greater skills, a superb record of safety and a more profitable bottom line.

Efforts that make a difference

Learn how we can help your business develop!

Contact Kate Gibbs at 973-630-1011.

Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative (ELEC) is a collaborative organization with representatives from: International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley Construction Contractors Labor Employers of New Jersey

Building On Common Ground Greg Lalevee, Chairman | Mark Longo, Director WWW.ELEC825.ORG

ELEC is the labor-management fund for IUOE Local 825

BUSINESS WISE

Guide to Hiring

Steps to make your employment process more effective

T

he goal of every small business owner is growth, but with growth comes more responsibilities and more work. You may already juggle being the boss, accountant, office manager, maybe even janitor, but at some point, you realize you can’t do it all. Finding a new team member can be a daunting task, and 42 percent of small business owners say hiring new employees is their biggest challenge for 2015.

Here are a few resources to make the employment process more manageable and effective for your small business: 1) Clarify your needs for the position Don’t say “I need help,” but rather determine exactly what kind of help you need.

In a recent SCORE webinar “Hiring the Right Employee,” Tricia McLaurin, a senior human resources representative with Paychex, explains the importance of defining the job duties and company’s needs. She says writing a clear, detailed job description with tasks outlined and skills identified will help you find the ideal employee.

Also make sure you are aware of compliance under state and federal law such as the Fair Labor Standards Act. SCORE, a nonprofit association from the Small Business Administration, offers a webinar at www.score.org where you can learn more about: • Writing a job description • Critically reviewing a résumé • Implementing compliant interviewing procedures • Conducting background screening • Verifying I-9 documents 2) Recruiting potential candidates Once you are satisfied with the job description, the next challenge is finding suitable applicants. Today, advertising in traditional media or online job boards may not be enough. Social media has

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become a boon in the recruitment stage.

This month’s SCORE infographic, “Human Resources: What’s Working When It Comes to Workers” (available at www. score.org) illustrates the benefits of advertising job openings through social media: • 94 percent of recruiters use or plan to use social media for recruiting • 73 percent of millennials found their last job through social media • Employers who used social media to hire found a 49 percent improvement in candidate quality over candidates sourced only through traditional recruiting channels

process and will teach you more about fair practices requirements, such as avoiding discriminatory questions in the interview.

After perusing job applications and resumes, whittle your choices down to the top candidates. And when the interviews lead to promising results, reference checks can help determine someone’s personality and work ethic.

SCORE also offers an infographic for all the statistics on how small businesses are facing challenges and achieving success as employers.

Bridget Weston Pollack is the Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the SCORE Association. She is responsible for all branding, marketing, PR, and communication efforts. She focuses on implementing marketing plans and strategies to facilitate the growth of SCORE’s mentoring and trainings services. She collaborates with SCORE volunteers and develops SCORE’s online marketing strategy.

3) Selecting the best employee At this stage of the game, it’s important to be thorough; the Department of Labor estimates bad hires and employee turnover can cost a company 30 percent of its yearly earnings. Rocket Lawyer’s eGuide to Small Business Hiring details the next steps in the selection APRIL/MAY 2015

Examining all the factors, you finally pick the ideal person for the job and your company’s future. You make a job offer, and all parties are satisfied with the employment arrangements. Congratulations, you hired a new employee!

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EASTWICK COLLEGE AND THE HOHOKUS SCHOOL

Organization History:

Eastwick College and the HoHoKus School www.eastwick.edu Services Higher Education Top Executives Thomas Eastwick, President and Founder Year Founded 1985

What They Do Eastwick College offers unique, specialized higher education with an emphasis on accelerated, affordable paths to graduation.

Students train in hands-on lab classrooms for some of the most in-demand careers, including licensed practical nursing (LPN), cardiovascular sonography, electrical apprenticeship, computer/electronics technology and business administration.

MEADOWLANDS USA

Business Goals & Objectives:

One of the main goals at Eastwick is to provide a high value of higher education that has been reviewed and held in high regard by outside organizations. What this means for students is that when we say offer some of the best training in the area, that statement is backed by hundreds of valuable affiliations, accreditations, and approvals through some of the most reputable organizations and agencies.

Growth Strategy:

Number of Employees 450

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Eastwick College started in one location in 1985, then the HoHoKus School of Business and Medical Sciences, with a student population of just 32. The curriculum focused primarily on office and secretarial education. It quickly expanded to include medical programs to meet demand in the growing healthcare field, earning a reputation as the very first proprietary school in New Jersey to be recognized by the American Council of Education—an incredible feat.

Since then, it added three additional campuses in Nutley, Hackensack, and Paterson, with over 25 different paths of study and has accomplished a long list of industry firsts: first private sector school owned by a New Jersey corporation to received degree-granting approval from the NJ Commission on Higher Education, first proprietary school to offer a surgical technology associate degree that is accredited by CAAHEP, and only the second college in the state to offer an associate degree in mortuary science.

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Eastwick has steadily continued to grow and expand due to a focus on innovation, and maintaining a close relationship with local organizations and businesses, building a unique curriculum around their latest employer needs and shortfalls. It has led to milestone programs such as bilingual licensed practical nursing, mortuary science and culinary arts.

More About the Course Offerings:

Eastwick College offers high-demand paths of study in healthcare, trades, computers/technology, business, culinary arts, and funeral services. Popular paths of study include occupational therapy assisting (OTA), cardiovascular sonography, electrical apprenticeship, electronics and computer technology, surgical technology, and HVACR.

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FEATURED MEMBER

Eastwick College – Nutley 103 Park Ave.

Nutley, NJ 07110

Eastwick College – Ramsey 10 S. Franklin Tpke.

Ramsey, NJ 07446

Edge & Competitiveness:

Our strength lies in our accelerated curriculum, which forgoes many of the traditional general education courses and focuses on the key relevant hands-on training that students will need to succeed in their new careers. This allows students to graduate in as little as four months depending on their program choice, and helps us to keep our tuition affordable.

Giving Back to the Community:

We give back to the community through the Eastwick Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps ease the cost of a college education by offering individuals partial to full scholarships through donations from corporations and individuals. A donor can specify what type of training a scholarship will go towards, e.g. nursing, welding, or any career-specific degree or diploma.

We also support local nonprofit organizations that assist students by providing contributions and/or involvement for their activities. In addition, specific donations can be made to our not-

Eastwick College – Hackensack 250 Moore St.

Hackensack, NJ 07601

HoHoKus School of Trade and Technical Sciences

634 Market St.

Paterson, NJ 07513

for-profit preschool in Negril, Jamaica that assists families in need with their children’s preparation before entering elementary school through our affiliated Good JuJu Project. Eastwick Education or Thomas. M. Eastwick personally is matching all donations up to the first $1 million.

Awards & Accolades:

Eastwick College has a long history of awards and recognition. In 2013, it became the first private sector college in the State of New Jersey to offer a degree in mortuary science with New Jersey embalming and funeral director licensing. A year later, it became the first college in New Jersey to offer a cardiovascular sonography associate degree accredited by the prestigious CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs).

And in the span of those two years, it was awarded The Corporation of the Year, and its President, Thomas M. Eastwick, was recognized as Humanitarian of the Year, Bergen Benefactor and Man of the Year.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION & BUSINESS LEARNING

New MBA Program

Berkeley College now accepting applications for MBA in management program

B

erkeley College is proud to announce that it will offer its first Master’s degree program—a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management—in September 2015.

The MBA program builds on the College’s 84-year tradition of student-focused excellence and career placement, and offers a rigorous, balanced curriculum that was developed with input from business and industry leaders.

“Berkeley College cultivates responsible leaders prepared to succeed in a dynamic, global business environment,” said Dario A. Cortes, PhD, President of Berkeley College. “The Berkeley MBA program offers a curriculum anchored in the core values of integrity, stewardship, sustainability and inclusiveness, and reflects the College’s longstanding commitment to student-centered, professional education.”

The Berkeley MBA program, which is a product of long-range strategic planning, will deliver the knowledge and skills required to excel in a diverse and technology-driven business environment. Outstanding faculty with real-world experience will help students integrate concepts taught in the program with actual projects related to their current jobs.

Like all Berkeley College students, graduates of the MBA program will benefit from lifetime career assistance and will join a network of more than 50,000 Berkeley College alumni in the United States and worldwide.

The MBA in Management, as well as future graduate degrees at Berkeley College, will be housed in the School of Graduate Studies.

The MBA program will be offered at Berkeley College in Woodland Park, NJ, beginning September 2015. For more information about the MBA program, including application requirements, contact bcgrad@berkeleycollege.edu or call 855-5BC-GRAD, ext. PM5.

About Berkeley College

A leader in providing career-focused education since 1931, Berkeley College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and enrolls approximately 8,000 students – including more than 900 international students – in its Baccalaureate and Associate degree and Certificate programs. Students can study in more than 20 career fields in the Larry L. Luing School of Business, the School of Professional Studies, the School of Health Studies, and the School of Liberal Arts. A School of Graduate Studies was established in 2015. The website address is www.BerkeleyCollege.edu.

Berkeley College has six New Jersey locations – Clifton, Dover, Newark, Paramus, Woodbridge and Woodland Park; and three New York locations – Midtown Manhattan, Brooklyn and White Plains.

Berkeley College Online® serves a global population. In January 2015, U.S. News & World Report named Berkeley College one of the Best Colleges for Online Bachelor’s Degrees for the second consecutive year, one of two colleges in New Jersey to receive the distinction.

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Renaissance Hall—opened in September 2014—serves as a hub for student services on the Woodland Park campus.

Awards & Accolades for Berkeley College 2015

Best Colleges: Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs - U.S. News & World Report Top School, Military Advanced Education magazine Best for Vets: Colleges 2015, Four-Year Colleges - Military Times magazine

2014

President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll Appreciation Award - Paramus Cultural Arts Council, Borough of Paramus and Paramus Library Patriot Award - Office of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Best Online Programs for Veterans - U.S. News & World Report “Impressive Good Works” Award for Community Service Day - Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) Best Colleges: Online Bachelor’s Degree Programs - U.S. News & World Report Military Friendly School - Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines Military-Friendly School - Military Advanced Education magazine Best for Vets: Colleges 2014, Four-Year Schools - Military Times magazine Best of the Best - U.S. Veterans Magazine

HVACR Technology

HVACR Technology

Welding and Machine Shop

Welding and Machine Shop

eastwick.edu/info

201-327-8877 | Hac erson: Ramsey:Ramsey: 201-327-8877800-646-WELD | Hackensack: 201-488-9400 | Nutley: 973-661-0600 | Paterson: 800-646-WELD

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Workplace Safety

New OSHA Reporting Requirements for 2015

Employers must now report all work-related in-patient hospitalizations, amputations and loss of an eye within 24 hours to OSHA. The current requirement to report all work-related fatalities within 8 hours remains unchanged.

2014 Most Frequently Cited Standards: General Industry 1) Hazard communication (1910.1200) 2) Respiratory protection (1910.134) 3) Lockout / tagout (1910.147) 4) Powered industrial trucks (1910.178) 5) Electrical, wiring methods (1910.305) 6) Machine guarding (1910.212) 7)Electrical, general requirements (1910.303)

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OSHA’s Current Emphasis Program: Temporary Workers The staffing agency and the staffing agency’s client (the host employer) are considered joint employers, therefore, both are responsible for providing and maintaining a safe work environment. OSHA is making a concerted effort, through inspections and enforcement, to assure that temporary workers are protected from workplace hazards.

Protecting our environment.

Serving our community.

Today and tomorrow. We know the two go hand in hand.

That’s why everything we do is focused on what you need today while we plan and prepare for what the world might need tomorrow.

Clean water. A healthy Earth. For your small corner of the world and for the global community.

Every day we’re your vital resource, providing stewardship of our most vital natural resources.

www.UnitedWater.com MEADOWLANDS USA

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REAL ESTATE

Improving Credit Worthiness

Do you know how your FICO credit score is calculated?

A

ll of your debts, payments, credit card accounts and other financial history are distilled down into one number, your FICO credit score. All of the credit agencies calculate a score between 300 (extremely poor creditworthiness) and 850 (perfect credit). The average score is roughly 710.

Your credit score may be used to determine the approval or denial of car loans, mortgages and other major credit purchases, as well as the interest rates available to you. Many individuals do not know their score or how it is calculated.

Understanding what a credit score is made of will help you improve your score:

• The highest percentage, 35 percent,

of your score is determined by payment history. Missing payments or frequently paying bills late will drastically lower your score. The good news is, FICO favors recent activity, so you can improve your score by making timely payments or working out payments plans that suit your budget.

• 30 percent of the FICO score is

based on how much money you owe versus how much credit is available to you. Someone close to maxing out his or her credit cards is seen as a higher risk of default.

• 15 percent of your credit score is

based on the length of your credit history. The longer your credit history the better.

• The type of credit you use deter-

mines 10 percent of the FICO score.

Having many different types of credit, including mortgages, credit cards, car loans, revolving and installment credit, will generate a higher score.

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• 10 percent of your FICO score in-

cludes searches for credit. Applying for many different types of credit over a short period of time can lower your score. Rate shopping for one specific type of loan should not have much impact on your score.

Marc Demetriou has become one of the most trusted and respected mortgage bankers in the state of New Jersey, especially among the accounting and legal community where he is called upon frequently as an exAPRIL/MAY 2015

pert panelist and speaker. Additionally, he is licensed as a continuing education instructor by the NJ State Board of Accountancy to offer credits to accountants/CPA’s to fulfill their annual licensing requirements.

Demetriou is also a host on The Real Estate & Money Show, along with Antoinette Gangi, airing Thursdays at 10 a.m. on WVNJ 1160 AM or online at: realestateandmoneyshow.com. It explores the relevant topics and enlightens potential investors: buying and selling a home, investing in various real estate opportunities, understanding trends in today’s real estate market and achieving financial freedom by living within in your means.

BOILING SPRINGS SAVINGS BANK Organization History:

Boiling Springs Savings Bank was formed by the combination of two local thrift institutions dating back to the 1870s. We first opened as Boiling Springs Building & Loan Association in April of 1939 in Rutherford. We then opened our first branch in Lyndhurst in 1959 and gradually grew, opening our 18th office in Glen Ridge in 2012. We became Boiling Springs Savings Bank in 1992.

The Bank has always been known for its personal and friendly attention to its customers and for its strong ties to its local communities. Boiling Springs is synonymous with Local Values, Local Roots & Local Management.

What They Do:

Boiling Springs Savings Bank 25 Orient Way Rutherford, NJ 07070 www.bssbank.com Location 18 offices in Bergen, Passaic, Essex & Morris Counties Top Executive Robert E. Stillwell President & CEO

Edge & Competitiveness:

Number of Employees 196

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Business Goals & Objectives:

Our goal is to serve our customers and communities with the best products and best service that we can.

Year Founded 1939

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BSSB serves the North Jersey market with a variety of mortgage products, including loans for housing, apartment buildings, commercial properties and construction lending.

We also offer home equity loans and lines of credit. Our deposit products include various checking accounts, money market account, savings accounts, certificates of deposit and our youth savings account, Boiling Bucks.

Our signature product is our Community Alliance Program whereby nonprofit organizations can earn donations based on the balances in supporters accounts. Almost $2 million has been donated through the Community Alliance Program.

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Boiling Springs is distinctive through the Community Alliance Program. Incenting nonprofits to recommend our bank (while helping them receive donations) gives us a competitive advantage in our local communities. By working closely with the nonprofits we are able to foster that bond between bank and community that no other bank can.

APRIL/MAY 2015

FEATURED MEMBER

Giving Back:

The bank’s Community Alliance Program has donated almost $2 million. This program currently services local 345 nonprofits.

In all of our communities we strongly support local organizations through the sponsorships of local events, local teams and local organization. We provide large donations to a number of organizations, primarily to help housing, the hungry and the needy.

We have stepped up to help the communities after natural disasters such as Hurricane Irene or Super Storm Sandy through volunteer outreach and additional monetary funding (primarily to local food banks).

Awards & Accolades:

• The Community Alliance Program won a national award from the American Bankers Association for its new and imaginative way to help nonprofits.

• The Bank has also won the distinction of being included on NJBIZ’s “The Best Places to Work in New Jersey” for the last four years. For three of those four years, BSSB was the only bank to win the award.

• The American Bankers Association also distinguished BSSB as one of “The Best Banks to Work For”, winning this award for the last two years. BSSB was the only bank in New Jersey recognized for this distinction.

• BSSB has also been honored by a number of nonprofits for our community service including 55 Kip Center, Children’s Aid and Family Services, West Bergen Mental Health, among others.

• BSSB serves on the Leadership Council of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber and representatives from the bank have been recognized by the Chamber for advancing economic development through stellar leadership and community service.

When you’re having a mental health crisis, immediate help is just a phone call away.

The CBHCare Wellness & Support Center provides Bergen County residents experiencing a mental health crisis with 24/7 rapid response and mobile early intervention stabilization and support services. (must be 18 years or older, with a diagnosable mental illness)

By phone 24/7:

201.957.1800 Walk-ins:

Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

CBHCare Wellness and Support Center 569 Broadway • Westwood, NJ 07675 www.cbhcare.com

Helping People Meet Life’s Challenges

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TECH TALK

Are You Lost on the Web? Using SEO to get found

P

eople often ask, what is search engine optimization (SEO)? It is an understandable question considering Google and others constantly update their algorithms.

When you open up Google, you are looking for something – and chances are you will probably ask a question. In general, search engines work to serve up the websites that best answer those questions.

When you look for something on the internet by putting search keywords into Google or Yahoo or Bing, how far do you look on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP) to find a site that you want? At most, only the first few pages, if that. What if it’s someone else doing the search and looking for your business?

Are you on the first few pages for keywords that describe your business?

Being the most trusted, most visited or best source for information is how you win at SEO. Making your website visible ahead of the millions of others on the internet is what Search Engine Optimization, or SEO is all about. A website that sits near the top of the SERP is the one that prospects are most likely to click. If your website is not near the top of the results page, then for all practical purposes, your website does not exist.

SEO assessments

To help your page ranking, you can do some things yourself to help the search engines make the best keyword choices for you. A good place to start is an assessment of how your site looks to a search engine.

From there, you can make changes to make your site to be more SEO friendly.

For example, Moz.com has some free tools to see how the search engines crawl your site at https://moz.com/researchtools/ ose/.

A free tool from http://openlinkprofiler. org/ can analyze who has linked to your site’s content. To see what keywords are popular and how your site uses them can be started with freekeywords.wordtracker.com.

Google itself will help you at http:// www.googlekeywordtool.com/.

Bing’s equivalent is at http://www. bing.com/toolbox/webmaster/.

Most free tools require registration.

Tools that can begin to help analyze and improve your SEO performance on a paid basis include SEO Power Suite (about $299), though individual components from the suite can be bought for less.

How SEO works

Search engines look at your site’s content and other people’s websites that link to your content to decide how important your site is compared to someone else’s. In a process called “crawling”, a program goes through every reachable page on your website and puts the major content into a giant database called an index. If a page requires a login for someone to read it, then that page is not reachable and is not indexed.

If you do not do anything else, then the search engine looks at what words are used the most in the content and decides for you that those words are the most important to your business. Sometimes the choices that the search engine makes for you are not the best ones.

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Improving content of page

The content of a page is what makes it worthy of a search result position. It is what the user came to see and is thus extremely important to the search engines. As such, it is important to create good content. From an SEO perspective, all good content has two attributes. Good content must: 1) Supply a demand.

2) Be linkable.

Just like the world’s markets, information is affected by supply and demand.

The best content is that which does the best job of supplying the largest demand. For example a Wikipedia article that explains to the world the definition of Web 2.0. It can be a video, an image, a sound, or text, but it must supply a demand in order to be considered good content.

From an SEO perspective, there is no difference between the best and worst content on the Internet if it is not linkable.

If people can’t link to it, search engines will be very unlikely to rank it. As a result the content won’t drive traffic to the given website. A few examples of this include: AJAX-powered image slide shows, con-

2)

3) tent only accessible after logging in and content that can’t be reproduced or shared.

Content that does not supply a demand or is not linkable is bad in the eyes of the search engines.

Utilizing title tags

Title tags are the second most important on-page factor for SEO, after content. Title tags, technically called title elements, define the title of a document. Title tags are often used on search engine results pages (SERP) to display preview snippets for a given page. They are important both for SEO and social sharing.

The title element of a web page is meant to be an accurate and concise description of a page’s content. This element is critical to both user experience and search engine optimization. It creates value in three specific areas: relevancy, browsing, and in the search engine results pages.

Optimal Format for title tags: Primary Keyword - Secondary Keyword | Brand Name

Optimal Length for Search Engines: Google typically displays the first 50-60 characters of a title tag, or as many characters as will fit into a 512-pixel display. If you keep your titles under 55 characters, you can expect at least 95 percent of your titles to display properly. Keep in mind that search engines may choose to display a different title than what you provide in your HTML. Titles in search results may be rewritten to match your brand, the user query, or other considerations. There are tools available which can show how your title tag would read.

Structuring the Uniform Resource Locator (URL)

Along with smart internal linking, SEOs should make sure that the category hierarchy of the given website is reflected in

URLs. The following is a good example of URL structure: • www.example.com/topic-name/ This URL clearly shows the hierarchy of the information on the page. This information is used to determine the relevancy of a given web page by the search engines.

Due to the hierarchy, the engines can deduce that the page likely pertains to a specific topic. This makes it an ideal candidate for search results related to that topic. All of this information can be speculated on without even needing to process the content on the page.

The following is a bad example of URL structure: • www.example.com/?p=578544 Unlike the first example, this URL does not reflect the information hierarchy of the website. Search engines can see that the given page relates to the domain but cannot determine what the page is about.

The reference to “?p=578544” does not directly infer anything that a web surfer is likely to search for. This means that the information provided by the URL is of very little value to search engines.

URL structure is important because it helps the search engines to understand relative importance and adds a helpful relevancy metric to the given page. It is also helpful from an anchor text perspective because people are more likely to link with the relevant word or phrase if the keywords are included in the URL.

4)

5)

that accurately describe your business.

Don’t just use technical jargon, but also mix in generic terms. Remember that you are writing for people to read your content, not just for a search engine to index it.

Encourage people to share and like your content on social media sites such as Facebook. Those links to your site are among the most influential factors today.

Do not plagiarize from other sites.

If you cut and paste content from someone else’s site, the original site gets the credit for the better rank, not yours. This is a prevalent problem in eCommerce sites where the manufacturer’s descriptions for products are blindly copied. Write original product descriptions.

Keep your content fresh. The search engines will visit your site more often when it sees that there is new content to index.

If you do not have time to do the SEO work yourself, then there are many legitimate SEO firms available to help you. If you do not get the placement you want from your own writing, then it might be time to get help.

For long-term SEO success, you have to keep visitors coming back to your site.

That means continuing to publish content that people are looking for and want to read. It’s a continual process of seeing what visitors respond to and refining what your website offers.

By understanding how search engines work, even after the next search engine update, your website will always perform at its best.

Submitted by Nick Pascarella, partner at TruBambu (www.trubambu.com), a business technology consultancy company, and Art Hendela, President of Hendela System Consultants, Inc.

Making Your Site Better

Once you assess how your current site is, then you can begin to make changes to improve your ranking. Here are some tips to help your website.

1) Write your content using keywords

Committee Chairs:

Nick Pascarella, Trubambu nickp@trubambu.com | (201) 445-8790 Art Hendela, Hendela System Consultants, Inc. Art.hendela@hendela.com | (973) 890-0324

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SMALL BUSINESS CORNER

Inconsistent Income

Dealing with the highs & lows of unpredictable income

D

ealing with an inconsistent income is one of the hardest and most stressful aspects of being a solo entrepreneur. One minute it’s a feast, next a famine—and it is hard to predict which is coming next.

This is not just a problem for your nerves: not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from makes cash flow predictions impossible and budgeting a pipedream. Even if you work like crazy one month, the next month could bring a dry spell and all that hard income you pocketed away quickly gets reabsorbed into keeping you afloat.

While unpredictable income is not something that will ever go away, here are four things you can do to better cope with the highs and lows: 1) Keep your personal & business finances separate Any accountant will tell you that maintaining a separate bank account for your personal expenses (checking and savings) and business finances is essential.

Not only does it make record keeping and tax preparation a lot easier, it also helps you manage and arrange your finances (also known as budgeting).

If you have an online accounting system in place, you can also synch your business bank account with it and automatically import and track expense transactions. This provides a dashboard view of your cash flow. If you work with a tax preparer or CPA, it will also make getting them the reports they need a lot easier.

2) Draw a salary Once you have your business account set up, make a habit of drawing funds from it on a scheduled basis, much like claiming a salary. Perhaps once a week or twice a month, transfer funds into your checking account to pay your personal bills.

How much you draw depends on

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your household budget, but a good rule of thumb is to calculate the bare minimum amount you need to pay off your personal expenses and other non-business obligations (like health insurance).

This bare minimum should be your baseline salary.

While there may be times when you need to draw more out of your business bank account to pay for vacations and other expenditures, try to maintain a consistent schedule and salary amount. This will help avoid the temptation to be frivolous when times are more prosperous.

3) Set money aside for lean months If you do land a windfall client, set aside the money in your savings account (not your personal checking account) so that you can draw on those funds to help tide you over (and alleviate stress) during lean months.

In this setup, you will pay your bills from your personal checking account, deposit payments from clients into your business account and use a separate savings account to deposit whatever is left over after you have paid yourself a salary.

4) Get an idea of your trending income

Predicting cash flow is not easy when APRIL/MAY 2015

you do not know where your next client or project is coming from. However, historical analysis should give you some idea of what your average income is over 12-24 months and give you a better sense of the levels of income that you need to maintain moving forward.

If your baseline income tracks lower than your personal budget, consider cutting expenses or finding new business.

In summary Taking the time to gain insight into your expenses, understanding your income target and drawing a salary accordingly can make your finances a lot more sustainable. It is a simple model—but it works.

Caron Beesley is a small business owner, a writer and marketing communications consultant. Caron has worked with organizations including the Small Business Administration (SBA.gov) and private companies to promote essential resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners start-up, grow and succeed. Follow Caron on Twitter: @caronbeesley.

MEADOWLANDS RESTAURANTS & DINING Cheeseburger In Paradise Secaucus 201.392.0500

Flaming Grill & Supreme Buffet East Rutherford 201.438.1115

Chili’s Restaurant Secaucus 201.319.0804

Gabriel’s Grill and Bar Hasbrouck Heights 201.288.9600

Al Di La Italian Bistro East Rutherford 201.939.1128

Bonefish Grill Secaucus 201.864.3004

Angry Coffee Bean Coffeehouse & Cafe North Arlington 201.772.5554

Boogie Woogie Bagel Boys Weehawken 201.863.4666

Annabella’s Fine Foods, Inc. East Rutherford 201.804.0303

Buffalo Wild Wings Secaucus 201.348.0824

Chipotle Mexican Grill Secaucus 201.223.0562

Café Four Fifty Five Secaucus 201.864.5391

Chit Chat Diner Hackensack 201.820.4033

Café Matisse Rutherford 201.935.2995

Colonial Diner Lyndhurst 201.575.1696

Caffe Capri East Rutherford 201.460.1039

Cosi Secaucus 201.330.1052

Candlewyck Diner East Rutherford 201.933.4446

CUPS frozen yogurt that’s hot Secaucus 201.351.5140

Bagels Plus & Deli Secaucus 201.330.0744 Bareli’s Secaucus 201.865.2766 Bazzarelli Restaurant & Pizzeria Moonachie 201.641.4010 Bel Posto Hackensack 201.880.8750 Biggies Clam Bar Carlstadt 201.933.4000 Bistro Six-Five Zero Hasbrouck Heights 201.288.6100

Carrabba’s Italian Grill Secaucus 201.330.8497 Chart House Weehawken 201.348.6628

Dunkin Donuts/ Subway Secaucus 201.206.6660 Elegant Desserts Lyndhurst 201.933.0770

Fresh Fish. Flown in Daily.

Experience our spectacular new location with contemporary décor and indulge in tantalizing chef creations, exceptional wines and exquisite desserts.

Call or visit us online and make your reservation today.

The Shops at Riverside 175 Riverside Square Mall • Hackensack, NJ 07601 201.343.8862 • theoceanaire.com

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Gainville Cafe Rutherford 201.507.1800 Giovanni’s Restaurant Elmwood Park 201.791.3000 Good Chinese Kitchen North Bergen 201.295.0806 Harold’s New York Deli Lyndhurst 201.935.2600 Houlihan’s Hasbrouck Heights 201.393.9330

I Am Cupcakes Little Ferry 201.440.4249 Il Cafone Lyndhurst 201.933.3355 Il Villaggio Carlstadt 201.935.7733 Jerry’s of East Rutherford East Rutherford 201.438.9617 Kilroy’s Sports Bar Carlstadt 201.896.8900 La Reggia Ristorante Secaucus 201.422.0200 Little Italy Cafe Secaucus 201.348.1400

Houlihan’s Secaucus 201.330.8856

Marco Polo Pizza/Breakfast Grill Weehawken 201.863.0057

Houlihan’s Weehawken 201.863.4000

Martini Grill Wood-Ridge 201.393.2000

PRIME STEAKS. LEGENDARY SERVICE. Prime Steak • Fine Wine • Exceptional Menu

The Shops at Riverside One Riverside Square • Hackensack, NJ 07601 (201) 487-1303 • mortons.com/hackensack

MEADOWLANDS RESTAURANTS & DINING

Masina Trattoria Italiana Weehawken 201.348.4444

Medieval Times Dinner Tournament Lyndhurst 201.933.2220 Morton’s Steakhouse Hackensack 201.487.1303

Outback Secaucus 201.601.0077

Sabor Latin Bistro Weehawken 201.943.6366

Subway Weehawken 201.865.2500

Thistle Restaurant Lyndhurst 201.935.0004

Panera Bread Secaucus 201.348.2846

Saladworks East Rutherford 201.939.8886

Subway Secaucus 201.325.0300

Tokyo Hibachi & Buffet Secaucus 201.863.2828

Penang Malaysian & Thai Cuisine Lodi 973.779.1128

Sal’s Good Eats Teterboro 201.375.4949

Subway North Bergen 201.869.4469

Urban Plum Secaucus 201.520.0574

Segovia Restaurant Moonachie 201.641.4266

Tandoor on the Hudson Weehawken 800.221.6721

Varrelman’s Bakery Rutherford 201.939.0462

Muscle Maker Grill Lyndhurst 201.935.6644

Perkins Restaurant and Bakery Lyndhurst 201.934.9100

Nanina’s In The Park Belleville 973.751.1230

Redd’s Restaurant & Bar Carlstadt 201.933.0015

New China Inn Rutherford 201.438.0234

Red Lobster Secaucus 201.583.1902

Oceanos Restaurant Fairlawn 201.796.0546 Olive Garden Secaucus 201.867.3543

Taverna Mykonos Elmwood Park 201.703.9200

Vesta Wood Fired Pizza and Bar East Rutherford 201.939.6012

Starbucks Coffee East Rutherford 201.438.0584

The Balcony Carlstadt 201.933.0071

Volares Restaurant Rutherford 201.935.6606

Rutherford Pancake House Rutherford 201.340.4171

Stefanos Mediterranean Grille Secaucus 201.865.6767

The Oceanaire Seafood Room Hackensack 201.343.8862

Waterside Restaurant and Catering North Bergen 201.861.7767

Ruth’s Chris Steak House Weehawken 201.863.5100

Subway Hasbrouck Heights 201.727.0373

The Original Pita Grill Hoboken 201.217.9777

Whiskey Café Lyndhurst 201.939.4889

Son Cubano at Port Imperial West New York 201.399.2020

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EVENT PLANNING & CATERING SERVICES 4 Wall New York Moonachie 201.329.9878 16W Marketing Rutherford 201.635.8000 AAA Giants Limousine & Car Service Secaucus 201.679.2860 Adam Leffel Productions / Petals Premier Event Design Hackensack 201.487.1300 Annabella’s Fine Foods, Inc. East Rutherford 201.804.0303 Any Excuse for a Party Fairfield 973.808.8700 Audience Pleasers Upper Montclair 888.283.7532 Bayway Catering Red Bank 908.862.3207 Brennan’s Secaucus MeadowlandsFlorist Secaucus 201.876.0580 Bounce Music & Entertainment Fort Lee 201.490.1091 CeCe Productions, LLC Rutherford 201.672.0050

Chit Chat Creative Caterers Hackensack 201.820.4033 Classic Party Rentals Secaucus 201.809.4840 Content Party Rentals East Rutherford 201.623.0400 Culinary Conference Center At HCCC Jersey City 201.360.5303 DDM Production Jersey City 917.418.8625 Elan Catering & Events Lodi 973.777.0503 ELS Limousine Service Meadowlands Area 877.435.9733 Entenmann’s Florist Secaucus 201.864.2320 Evelyn Hill Events New York 212.344.0996 Event Journal, Inc. Bethpage 516.470.1811 Fabulous Foods Meadowlands Area 800.365.4747 NJ 212.239.6700 NY Fiesta Banquets Wood-Ridge 201.939.5409

Nanina’s In The Park Belleville 973.751.1230

Flyte Tyme Limousine Mahwah 201.529-1452 Freeman Kearny 201.299.7400 Garden Vista Ballroom Passaic 973.777.6655 Graycliff Catering Inc. (The Graycliff) Moonachie 201.939.9233 Heights Flower Shoppe Hasbrouck Heights 201.288.5464 In-Tents Party Rentals Wood-Ridge 201.282.2026 In Thyme Catered Events Rivervale 201.666.3353 Jimmy’s Artistic Creations East Rutherford 201.460.1919 Kismet Limousine Teaneck 973.876.3410 Meadowlands Exposition Center Secaucus 201.330.7773 Metropolitan Exposition Services Moonachie 201.964.1800

New Meadowlands Sportservice, Inc. East Rutherford 201.916.3568 NY NJ Car Service, LLC Lodi 201.283-9400 Outsource Incentive Consulting Corp.

Lyndhurst 800.842.2855 Party Makers West New York 201.580.1736 Pegasus Worldwide Limousine Carlstadt 800.877.3427 Personal Touch Caterers Hackensack 201.488.8820 Positive Impact Partners East Rutherford 201.939.8601 Premier Entertainment East Rutherford 201.842.1698 Saint Peter’s University Conferences & Events Jersey City 201.761.7414

SBI Productions Secaucus 201.939.6005 Seasons Catering Washington Township 201.664.6141 Showstoppers Plus North Brunswick 732.297.0031 Sireno Communications Sussex 973.875.4079 Smooth Sailing Celebrations Oak Ridge 973.409.4456 Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island New York 212.344.0996 Sterling Affair Caterers Carlstadt 201.372.0734 Stout’s Transportation Trenton 1.800.245.7868 Sweet Dreams Studio Photo Booth Madison 703.585.4704 The Balcony Carlstadt 201.933.0071 The Viv Experience Ridgefield 201.390.2311

Overhead Door Company of The Meadowlands For all your Loading Dock and Overhead Door Needs Commercial • Industrial CORPORATE OFFICE: 20 Meta Lane I Lodi, NJ 07644 I 973-471-4060 CONTACT: Jai Patel I Jai@DockNDoor.com I www.overhead-doors.com Other Offices Serving: Westchester County, All Boroughs of New York City Recent Jobs: MetLife Stadium • Yankees & Citifield Stadium • World Trade Center

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MEADOWLANDS HOTELS & ACCOMMODATIONS AVE CLIFTON

by Korman Communities Clifton 973.859.3200 Candlewood Suites Hotel Secaucus 201.865.3900 Clarion Hotel Empire Meadowlands Hotel Secaucus 201.348.6900

Econo Lodge Carlstadt 201.935.4600 Embassy Suites Hotel Secaucus 201.864.7300 Fairfield Inn by Marriott East Rutherford 201.507.5222

Holiday Inn Express Paramus 201.843.5400

Hyatt Place Fair Lawn/Paramus Paramus 201.475.3888

Holiday Inn Express Hotels & Suites Carlstadt 201.460.9292

La Quinta Meadowlands Suites Secaucus 201.863.8700

Holiday Inn George Washington Bridge Fort Lee 201.944.5000

Courtyard by Marriott Lyndhurst 201.896.6666

Hampton Inn at The Meadowlands Carlstadt 201.935 9000

Courtyard by Marriott Secaucus 201.617.8888

Hilton Garden Inn Ridgefield Park 201.641.2024

Days Inn North Bergen 201.348.3600

Hilton Garden Inn Secaucus 201.864.1400

DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Lee - GWB Fort Lee 201.461.9000

Hilton Hasbrouck Heights Hasbrouck Heights 201.298.2417

Homewood Suites

by Hilton East Rutherford East Rutherford 201.460.9030

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Jersey City 201.499.2578

Hilton Meadowlands East Rutherford 201.896.0500

Hyatt Place Secaucus/Meadowlands Secaucus 201.422.9480

Holiday Inn Hasbrouck Heights Hasbrouck Heights 201.288.9600 Holiday Inn Secaucus Meadowlands Secaucus 201.348.2000

Marriott at Newark Liberty International Airport Newark 973.623.0006 Quality Inn Lyndhurst 201.933.9800

Residence Inn Saddle River 201.934.4144 Saddle Brook Marriott Saddle Brook 201-843.9500 Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Weehawken 201.617.5600 Springhill Suites Newark 973.624.5300 Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe Teaneck 201.836.0600

Red Roof Inn Secaucus 201.319.1000

The Meadowlands River Inn Secaucus 201.867.4400

Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel Rutherford 201.231.3100

Westin Hotel Jersey City 201.626.2900

Residence Inn East Rutherford 201.939.0020

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DESTINATION MEADOWLANDS Recreation, Sports & Entertainment AMF Wallington Lanes Wallington 973.773.9100

Kerasotes Showplace 14 Secaucus 201.210.5364

New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (Main Ticket Number) 201.935.8500

Smooth Sailing Celebrations Oak Ridge 973.409.4456

LA Fitness Signature Club Secaucus 201.751.9940

Calvin Klein Company Store Secaucus 201.223.9760

Liberty Science Center Jersey City 201.200.1000

North Arlington Bowl-O-Drome 201.998.9621

Statue Cruises Jersey City 201.432.6321

NY Giants 201.935.8222

The Players Club Paramus 201.483.9690

Meadowlands Athletic Club Lyndhurst 201.933.4100

Country Whimsey Rutherford 201.438.0488

New York Sports Club Hoboken 201.222.5771

East Rutherford Jewelry Exchange East Rutherford 201.507.0009

Planet Sun, Inc. Rutherford 201.941.6000

Gucci Secaucus 201.392.2670

Simply Face & Body Ramsey 877.57.SIMPLY

Heights Beer & Wine Emporium Hasbrouck Heights 201.426.0555

The DOJO Rutherford 201.933.3050

Raymour & Flanigan Secaucus 201.809.1353

Aviation Hall of Fame Museum of NJ Teterboro 201.288.6344

Make Wine with Us Wallington 201.876.9463

Bergen Performing Arts Center Englewood 201.816.8160

Meadowlands Area YMCA Rutherford 201.955.5300

Chuck E. Cheese’s North Bergen 201.861.1799

Meadowlands Museum Rutherford 201.935.1175

Field Station Dinosaurs Secaucus 855.999.9010

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Lyndhurst 201.933.2220

GolfTec-Englewood Englewood 201.567.0103

NY Jets 516.560.8100 NY Red Bulls Harrison 201.583.7000 Pole Position Raceway Jersey City 201.333.7223 River Barge Park Carlstadt 201.460.1700

Nereid Boat Club Rutherford Hackensack Riverkeeper 201.438.3995 Hackensack NJ Meadowlands 201.968.0808 Commission Environment Center Harlem Wizards Lyndhurst Secaucus 201.460.1700 201.271.3600

Rock Spring Club West Orange 973.731-6464 Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson 732.928.2000

World Golf Network RiverVale 973.509.3111 Youth1 Media Montclair 973.509.3111

Health, Fitness & Beauty Alternative Two, Inc. Lyndhurst 201.729.1217 CKO Kickboxing Lyndhurst 201.438.5425 European Wax Center Rutherford 201.935.9299

Title Boxing Club East Rutherford 201.933-2800

Retail & Outlet Shopping Best Buy Secaucus 201.325.2277

Tommy Hilfiger Clearance Secaucus 201.863.5600 Westfield Garden State Plaza Paramus 201.843.2121

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www.jewelelectric.com 50

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10% OFF Group & Corporate Events for Meadowlands Regional Chamber Members

NEWS FROM THE MEADOW

NAI Hanson Issues 2015 Meadowlands Industrial Report

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AI James E. Hanson, a leading New Jersey-based commercial real estate firm, today issued its Meadowlands Industrial Report, which noted a .4 percent decrease in vacancies and a 37-cent increase in rent per square foot (PSF) during the final two quarters of 2014 (relative the second half of 2013).

With an average asking rent of $6.46 PSF, a 7.3 percent vacancy rate and net absorption of 588,758 square feet, the Meadowlands remains the most sought-after Industrial submarket in Northern and Central New Jersey. During the second half of 2014, 80 leases for spaces exceeding 20,000 square feet were signed. Over course of the entire year, more than 4.7 square feet were leased.

On the sales side, investors continue to look very favorably upon the submarket’s long-term prospects to generate yield. Over the final six months of last year, more than 24 properties changed hands, including the sale of five-building, 172,000 square foot portfolio. NAI Hanson’s industrial team of Tom Vetter, SIOR and Jeff DeMagistris, SIOR brokered the deal. The two brokers also facilitated 32 lease transactions in 2014 comprising approximately 900,000 square feet.

“The Meadowlands industrial submarket is unique in both its central location, which is near one of the world’s most important ports and several of the East Coast’s most significant highways,” Vetter said. “With the continued emergence of e-commerce, the declining price of gasoline and overall economic growth, we expect that supply will remain tight in this global logistics hub.”

About NAI James E. Hanson

Since 1955, NAI James E. Hanson has been a leading independent full-service brokerage commercial real estate and property management firm serving a diverse client list. NAI Hanson offers its clients strategic solutions and provides comprehensive value-added services such as office, industrial and retail brokerage, investment sales, land sales, management, government services and financing expertise.

NAI Hanson is also one of the original members of NAI Global, an international commercial real estate network with over 375 offices spanning the globe. For more information on NAI James E. Hanson, contact William C. Hanson, SIOR, at the company’s Hackensack office at 201-488-5800 or visit www.naihanson.com.

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Courtyard Marriott Lyndhurst Meadowlands Completes $3.4 Million Renovation

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oody National Management recently announced completion of an extensive $3.4 million renovation of the Courtyard by Marriott Lyndhurst property; a property owned by Moody National REIT I, Inc. and managed by Moody National Management.

The top to bottom renovation overhauled all aspects of the Courtyard property including renovated guest rooms, a redesigned lobby as part of the Courtyard Refreshing Business design and the Bistro.

“Moody National Management and their renovation team captured the essence of what our guests expect from a Courtyard by Marriott with the recent renovations,” said Bret Esbrandt, General Manager of the Courtyard Marriott Lyndhurst. “Our newly renovated guest rooms and lounge-restaurant setting, display a modern, yet comfortable, flair.”

Well-positioned to meet room night demand, the Marriott Courtyard Hotel is located just six miles from New York City and is centrally located to the Meadowlands Sports Complex – MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Giants and the New York Jets. The hotel’s proximity to the New Jersey turnpike and the Meadowlands makes it a prime location for business and leisure travelers alike. Just 20 minutes from New York City via public transportation, the hotel provides guests an ideal location, along with reasonable rates in comparison to New York City hotel prices.

The 227-room Marriott Courtyard hotel opened in 1990. Located on three acres of prime real estate, hotel amenities include an indoor swimming pool, HDTV, in-room hospitality centers with refrigerators, and approximately 3,100 square feet of flexible meeting space.

Moody National REIT I, Inc., an entity of Moody National Companies, acquired the Lyndhurst property in September 2014, with Moody National Management taking over management operations at the time of purchase.

Upon acquisition, Moody National REIT I, Inc. and Moody National Management began an extensive property improvement plan to bring the hotel to the latest Courtyard by Marriott brand standards.

“Completing this multi-million dollar renovation showcases Moody National Management’s commitment to the Meadowlands area and the City of Lyndhurst. We are excited that this renovation has enabled us to continue to contribute to our community,” Esbrandt said.

NEWS FROM THE MEADOW

The Provident Bank Receives Financial Education Innovation Award

T

he Provident Bank, New Jersey’s oldest community bank with branches throughout its central and northern counties, as well as eastern Pennsylvania, was honored today with the Innovation in Financial Education Award presented by Nasdaq and EverFi. The award recognizes Provident’s significant efforts to improve the financial capability of young Americans.

Twenty-five financial institutions were honored with this distinction at a ceremony hosted this morning at Nasdaq’s Marketsite headquarters in New York City. Honorees were selected based on a set of criteria that included the scale and reach of their financial education initiatives, the duration of their commitment, and unique employee volunteering activities that supplement their programs.

“The institutions we’re recognizing here today have led exceptional efforts to rethink how financial education is taught in our nation’s schools,” said EverFi Founder and CEO Tom Davidson. “Our global competitiveness is dependent on the next generation understanding how the economy works and how to achieve financial security in their lives. We are grateful to the organizations that are helping pave a brighter future for students today.”

CORPORATE SOCIAL

RESPONSIBILITY FEATURED SPEAKER

FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2015 11:30 AM–2 PM n STONY HILL INN, HACKENSACK

Learn How Corporate Social Responsibility Impacts the Bottom Line and Enhances Civic Engagement – of the Individual and Company. As evidence suggests, CSR is increasingly important to the competitiveness of companies. It can bring benefits in terms of risk management, cost savings, access to capital, customer relationships, human resource management, and innovation capacity. n Join 250 Bergen County leaders for a powerful networking and learning event. Hosted by Bergen MR. MICHAEL KEMPNER LEADS, the region’s premier civic leadership program, the CEO, MWW PUBLIC RELATIONS afternoon includes networking, lunch and program.

SPACE IS LIMITED – GUARANTEE YOUR SEAT BY BECOMING A SPONSOR! LEARN MORE AT BERGENLEADS.ORG OR CALL BEANNE DEGUZMAN, 201-489-9454 X112.

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Hackensack University Health Network Appoints Mark Sparta as Executive Vice President

H

ackensack University Health Network is pleased to announce that Mark Sparta has been promoted to the role of executive vice president and chief population health officer, effective May 15, 2015. As a nation, priorities have shifted from reactive care to focus more on preventive care. HackensackUHN has also embraced this culture of keeping our entire community as healthy as possible through streamlined treatment, preventive measures and eduMark Sparta cational outreach.

“I congratulate Mark on his new promotion. Mark was an obvious choice to fill this new role due to his extensive experience in this area,” said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Health Network. “He has been a HackensackUMC colleague for more than 25 years; most recently spending eight years as our vice president of Clinical Services and senior operations officer. He left that position this past November to serve as acting CEO of HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley.”

Sparta’s expertise in population health management is evident in his clinical background as a physical therapist, and his executive sponsorship and leadership in the development of Fitness & Wellness Powered by the Giants on Route 17 in Maywood. His commitment to providing patients with a comprehensive, state-of-the-art center is evident to the thousands of members and patients it provides services to today.

In his new position as executive vice president and chief population health officer, Sparta will lead the development of HackensackUHN’s population health program and accountable care services. He will facilitate strong partnerships internally with the HackensackAlliance ACO leadership and the medical executive community; as well as with external community health agencies, nursing home facilities and other entities.

“We are grateful to the work Mark has done at HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley to continue elevating the quality of care provided at the hospital,” added Garrett.

During his tenure, the hospital announced that it will submit plans for a new Emergency Department. The proposed $14 million dollar project will double the current space to more than 22,000 square feet and include a prominently featured entrance in the front of the facility. HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley also opened its brand new Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center.

A PROGRAM OF R

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NEWS FROM THE MEADOW

Palisades Medical Center CEO Leads March of Dimes Effort to Improve Health of Hudson County Babies

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ore than 12,000 of New Jersey’s babies will be born premature this year, and Bruce J. Markowitz, President and CEO of Palisades Medical Center, is working with the March of Dimes to change this.

Mr. Markowitz has taken Bruce Markowitz on the role of Hudson County March for Babies Chair to raise awareness and important funding to provide for babies who are born premature or with birth defects.

March for Babies, the March of Dimes largest fundraiser, will be held on April 26, at Liberty State Park in Jersey City.

March for Babies helps fund lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at helping moms have stronger, healthy babies. Last year, in Hudson County, more than $150,000 was raised. This year, Mr. Markowitz will lead participants and the community in making a difference for the health of moms and babies.

“I am honored to serve in the important role as the Chairman of the Hudson County March for Babies,” said Mr. Markowitz. “I believe we can all rally behind the March of Dimes and its mission to help moms have full-term pregnancies and research the problems that threaten the health of babies.”

Hudson County residents can sign up today at www.marchforbabies.org and start a team with co-workers, family or friends. Last year, more than 650 people attended the event.

We’re so excited to have Mr. Markowitz on board to help us at a local level,” said Addy Bonet, State Director for the New Jersey March of Dimes Chapter. “His passion for the cause will be a huge driving factor in the success of our event. We are grateful for his commitment.”

For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.

Find out how you can help raise funds to prevent premature birth and birth defects by walking in March for Babies at www.marchforbabies.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Kearny Federal Savings Bank Rebrands as Kearny Bank

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earny Federal Savings Bank, a federally chartered stock savings bank, wholly owned by Kearny Financial Corp., and the 6th largest bank in New Jersey, is now Kearny Bank (www.kearnybank.com).

Founded in 1884 as Kearny Federal Savings and Loan in Kearny, New Jersey, the bank received its federal charter in 1941. Kearny Bank has a branch network of 42 locations in nine New Jersey counties including, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic and Union, and in two New York boroughs, Brooklyn and Staten Island.

“Our new logo represents more than just a new look. Rather, it signifies a set of three guiding principles that we have embodied from our early beginnings in 1884: People, Performance and Relationships,” said President and CEO, Craig Montanaro. “These essential components have always been our hallmark and now, they are our mantra.”

In addition to the rebrand and new look, Kearny Bank has announced that several enhancements and new initiatives will take place throughout 2015 and beyond. They include: • Mobile Banking: Through use of a mobile phone, customers will be able to quickly access their bank accounts and have the ability to conduct financial transactions.

• Enhanced Website Functionality: A newly remodeled website will provide even easier access to bank accounts and offer the ability to conduct transactions and open new accounts more readily.

• POP Money: Customers will be able to “Pay Other People” directly from their bank accounts, using their mobile phones.

• Construction and Small Business Lending: Construction and small business lending will be expanded, particularly in Brooklyn and Staten Island and throughout the New York City market.

“2015 will be a good year for Kearny Bank and we look forward to acquainting our current and future customers with our new brand and our new and enhanced offerings,” Montanaro said. “Our plans include the development of new business lines, opportunities for future growth, and the expansion of our geographic reach.”

Under the new brand, the bank will continue its corporate social responsibility efforts by working closely with local communities and non-profit organizations including Junior Achievement, EverFi, and Habitat for Humanity. In 2014 alone, the bank contributed nearly $250,000 to non-profit organizations.

The Power of ONE One sunflower seed has the potential to bloom, grow and create countless other seeds.

So too does the gift of life through organ and tissue donation.

One organ donor has the power to save up to 8 lives.

One tissue donor can restore health to over 50 others.

Be that power of ONE. Register as an organ and tissue donor today.

NJ Sharing Network is a non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for the 5,000 people currently waiting for a transplant in New Jersey.

Join us in our mission to increase the number of lives saved through education, research, donor family support and public awareness about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

SAVE THE DATE! 5K Celebration of Life June 7, 2015 - New Providence, NJ Golf Classic October 5, 2015 - Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, NJ Symposium on Organ and Tissue Donation November 14, 2015 - Iselin, NJ For more information about special events, partnerships, and sponsorship opportunities, contact: Jackie Lue Raia 908-516-5686 jlueraia@njsharingnetwork.org

www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

NEWS FROM THE MEADOW

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Significant Victory for Scarinci Hollenbeck’s Environmental and Land Use Group

S

carinci Hollenbeck has announced a significant victory for its client R&K Associates, LLC in a precedential case tried by John M. Scagnelli, Partner and Chair of the Environmental and Land Use Law Group, together with William A. Baker, Esq. also of that group.

John Scagnelli William Baker The case R&K Associates, LLC v. Des Champs Laboratories, Inc. involved the availability of an ISRA (Industrial Site Recovery Act) De Minimis Quantity Exemption (DQE) to Des Champs Laboratories, Inc. which sold its Livingston, New Jersey property to R&K in 1997. The matter was tried before an OAL administrative law judge and decided by NJDEP Commissioner Martin who issued a final decision in favor of R&K. By way of background, at the time of the sale, Des Champs was granted NFA Approval based on a Negative Declaration stating there was no contamination of the property. After finding that the property was the source of contamination of Livingston’s drinking water wells, the NJDEP rescinded that NFA approval in 2008. Then, 12 years after it sold the property, Des Champs filed for an ISRA DQE Exemption. The case went up to the Appellate Division twice, and was remanded for hearing in 2014 before Judge Gail Cookson who issued an initial decision ruling in favor of R&K on several grounds. Recently, in his Final Decision, NJDEP Commissioner Bob Martin ruled that 1) Des Champs had no standing to apply for an ISRA DQE as a former owner, 12 years after leaving the property; 2) Des Champs had waived its legal right to apply for an ISRA DQE exemption since it initially obtained ISRA approval through a different route; and 3) Des Champs had not provided documentary and witness information to the environmental consultant who initially performed the Preliminary Assessment of the Des Champs facility.

The ruling in this matter has far-reaching implications for owners of industrial establishments seeking ISRA DQEs and for environmental consultants who perform assessments of their facilities.

Mr. Scagnelli explained that “this case is significant as it is the first case that discusses the standards for documentary as well as witness proof of a party’s entitlement to a DQE. The decision makes it clear that the DQE is not an automatic paper exemption—you have to back it up.”

He continued, “The case sets forth the standard of care a party and its environmental consultant need to use in performing an environmental preliminary assessment, and explained the importance of the DEP’s decision. Parties who initially select one way to comply with ISRA statute when selling a property or business cannot—years later—assert that they can comply in a different way if the DEP determines their initial means of compliance was invalid.”

About the Scarinci Hollenbeck Environmental Litigation Group

Scarinci Hollenbeck’s attorneys have significant experience in representing clients in environmental lawsuits in federal and state courts and in proceedings before administrative agency tribunals. They are proficient at handing broad spectrum of environmental contamination and toxic tort claims, including remediation and litigation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund) and the New Jersey Spill Compensation and Control Act.

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MEADOWLANDS USA

meadowlands.org

APRIL/MAY 2015

Advanced Animal & Pest Control............................................................................11 Allstate (Dave Meredith Agency), www.allstate.com...............................................13

AVE, www.aveliving.com.........................................................................................31 Bergen Business Expo, www.BergenBusinessExpo.com.........................................39 Bergen Engineering Co., www.BEConline.com................................Inside Back Cover

Bergen LEADS, www.bergenleads.org....................................................................53

Branca Properties, Inc., BrancaProperties.com.................................Inside Back Cover Chart House, www.chart-house.com.......................................................................47

Comprehensive Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., www.cbhcare.com...........................41 Corporate FunRun, www.corporatefunrun.com......................................................37 Eastwick College and the HoHoKus Schools, www.eastwick.edu...........................35

Elec, www.elec825.org....................................................................Front Cover & 29 Ernst & Young, www.ey.com.....................................................................Inside Cover Farleigh Dickinson University, www.fdu.edu............................................................5

Frank’s GMC, www.FranksGMC.net.........................................................................11 Gehtsoft, www.gehtsoftusa.com...............................................................................1

Hackensack Riverkeeper, www.hackensackriverkeeper.org......................................9

Hunter Group, www.TheHunterGroup.com.............................................................15 Il Villagio, www.ilvillagio.com................................................................................19

Jewel Electric, www.jewelelectric.com....................................................................50 Meadowlands Race Track, www.playmeadowlands.com........................................31

Morton’s Steakhouse, www.mortonsteakhouse.com.............................................46

NAI James E. Hanson, www.naihanson.com...........................................................7

Nanina’s In The Park & The Park Savoy, www.naninasinthepark.com......................51 Nick’s Towing Service, www.NicksTowingService.com............................................11 NJ Sharing Network, www.NJSharingNetwork.org.................................................55

Oceanaire Seafood Room, www.theoceanaire.com................................................46

Overhead Door, www.DockNDoor.com...................................................................48 Palisades Medical Center, www.palisadesmedical.org.............................Back Cover

Paramount Exterminating, www.ParamountExterminating.com...........................47

Pole Position Raceway, www.polepositionraceway.com.........................................50

Provident Bank, www.providentnj.com..................................................................49 PSE&G, www.pseg.com.............................................................................................2 Ramapo College, www.ramapo.edu/certificates.............................Inside Back Cover Scarinci & Hollenbeck, www.scarincihollenbeck.com.............................................23

United Water, www.unitedwater.com.....................................................................37 XCEL Credit Union, www.XCELfcu.org.com.............................................................25

WeiserMazars, www.WMexactlyright.com..............................................................13

Weiss Realty, www.jweissrealty.com.......................................................................18

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BRANCA PROPERTIES, INC. Owner – Developer – Manager 375 Murray Hill Parkway East Rutherford, NJ 07073 Phone: 201- 438-4994 ■ Fax: 201- 935-2850

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Richard Branca, President Quality Management Since 1975 www.BrancaProperties.com