Meadowlands Magazine: August 2021 by Meadowlands Media

AUGUST 2021

BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEANS BUSINESS Igniting a Regional Recovery Pg. 20

Meadowlands Area Health & Resource Guide Pg. 15

Thought Leaders: Opinion & Commentary from the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey and J. Fletcher Creamer & Son Pg. 6

How Employers Can Address Mental Health in the Workplace Pg. 24

Here when you need us most. Now and always. We’re making it easier to get the care you need, like chatting with a nurse or having a virtual doctor visit 24/7 at no cost.

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Horizon® name and symbols are registered marks of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. © 2020 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. Three Penn Plaza East, Newark, New Jersey 07105

GO BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF EXPECTED THINKING

INTEGRATED PUBLIC RELATIONS

contents

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL American Dream BCB Community Bank Bergen Community College Bergen Engineering/ Branca Properties Blue Foundry Bank Delta Dental Edison Properties ELEC 825 | Engineers Labor-Management Cooperative Ernst & Young, LLP Eastwick Colleges EZ Ride Forsgate Industrial Partners Genova Burns Goya Foods Hackensack University Medical Center Hartz Mountain Industries Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJNYC Hospital for Special Surgery IBEW 164 In Thyme Catered Events

J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc. Kearny Bank Lakeland Bank Langan Engineering New Jersey-NYC McGowan Builders, Inc. Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment M&T Bank MWWPR NAI James E. Hanson, Inc. New York Jets NJ Sharing Network NJM Insurance Group NJSEA Onyx Equities, LLC Personal Touch Experience PSE&G Quest Diagnostics Russo Development Scarinci Hollenbeck TD Bank Suez Water New Jersey Inc. Verizon Wacoal America WSP

Publisher: Meadowlands Media, a division of the Meadowlands Chamber MCHQ - Business Hub 1099 Wall Street West, Suite 100 Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 (201) 939-0707 Director of Communications & Publications: Joe Garavente Email submissions: jgaravente@meadowlands.org Advertising Director: Martha Morley, Greer Enterprises, Inc. (201) 493-7996 Media & Editorial Production Coordinator: Brianne Hailey Killeen Design: Stephanie Kowalsky, Eighty6 Printing: A&P Printing Meadowlands Magazine Distribution: MTM Resources Copyright 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any artwork, editorial material or copy prepared by Meadowlands 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. The views expressed in this magazine are those of the submitting authors and do not necessarily represent the views of, and may not be attributed to the Meadowlands Chamber or Meadowlands Media.

Oncologists Sound the Alarm on Drop in Cancer Screenings

10 Tips For Hiring, Engaging and Retaining New Employees

Bergen Community College Means Business

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Meadowlands Business Report Meadowlands Eat & Drink Meadowlands Transportation Event Planning & Catering Services Harmon Meadow Retail, Restaurants & Hotels Directory Explore the Meadowlands Stay in the Meadowlands Destination Meadowlands

DEPARTMENTS

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Thought Leaders: Opinion & Commentary Lessons in Leadership Health & Wellness Human Resources & Operations Business Profiles

FEATURES

Meadowlands Health & Wellness Guide

Bergen Community College Means Business meadowlandsmedia.com

August 2021

BUSINESS REPORT “Now more than ever, we’re connecting Meadowlands businesses with the critical news and resources they need to stay ahead.”

Let’s avoid the noise and stay focused! Are you feeling like this is a déjà vu moment with the recent delta variant surge in covid? Well, you are not alone. However, as I have stated before in my notes to the MC membership, we must all find a way to remain focused on how to move our businesses FORWARD despite all the noise. What noise am I referring to you ask? The noise that has incited political partisanship and fueled social media misinformation (on both sides), creating deeper divides and causing smart people to no longer trust our medical professionals when they tell us how best to beat back this virus. In our history, we have trusted our medical professionals and biopharmaceutical researchers to develop vaccines for smallpox, diphtheria, polio, measles, tuberculosis, yellow fever, typhoid, pneumococcal, shingles and influenza, just to name a few. All have been developed with amazing success, saving millions of lives. Today our biopharmaceutical researchers have delivered us a vaccine in record time. The brightest minds in the world came together, without cutting corners, to tackle this pandemic and provide us with a remedy that prevents death and serious illness from COVID-19. All we have to do is trust them and get vaccinated. I do trust them. That is why I dropped everything I was doing when it was my turn to get vaccinated because I want to move forward in my life, leading my family and this organization to a brighter future. For those that have lingering questions and concerns about getting the vaccine, please turn off the TV and go see your doctor or local pharmacist – someone you trust – and get your questions answered. If you need help with talking to someone, contact our office and we will connect you to a medical professional at Hackensack Meridian Health who will give you the facts as they know them.

Our focus is this: • • • •

• • •

Continue to identify financial support programs that help businesses to recover and prosper. Collaborate with state and regional business organizations to find solutions to the workforce issues affecting so many industry sectors. Continue to innovate utilizing in-person and hybrid events that allow learning, networking and, yes, even some fun. Building connections is critical to all businesses. Ramp up our advocacy and work with public officials to build a strong regional economy by investing in our infrastructure, capitalizing on the Meadowlands as a primary destination, streamlining the permitting process and making government more business-friendly. Continue to improve the quality of life in our communities by supporting our nonprofits. Advance leadership development so we can groom and incubate the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs. Lead important issues like diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in business and in life.

This list certainly requires focus, determination and a clear mind that is not hampered by worries of COVID-19. Onward my friends!

Let’s continue to diminish COVID-19’s ability to grow and mutate by following the science and being proactive – together! Focused Once we remove the threat of illness, we can really focus on how to stabilize and grow our businesses. There are still many elements of the federal, state and county stimulus programs that are available, especially to small businesses. Have you taken advantage of them? Do you need help? If so, call (201) 9390707 and someone from our management team will assist you.

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August 2021

Jim Kirkos President & CEO Meadowlands Chamber

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR LIFE For nearly 100 years, J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc. has provided solutions to the infrastructure needs of the business community, governmental agencies and utility companies throughout the United States. To learn more visit us at JFCSON.COM UTI L I TY

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THOUGHT LEADERS: OPINION & COMMENTARY

Our Garden State

The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey is working with businesses to promote cultural awareness, mutual respect and community By John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ

he Garden State, home to over 9 million people; is a very densely populated state with beaches, suburbs, rural, urban, and mountainous communities. The people that live and work here and call New Jersey home represent a diversity of ethnicities and backgrounds. Blacks account for approximately 1.2 million people and unfortunately have the highest poverty, unemployment, low median income and have a net worth of approximately $5,900 vs $315,000 for whites. Moreover, black businesses in our state are under 100,000 and 93% of them are sole proprietorships. Briefly, there are a few conclusions that are often drawn from these statistics: blacks lack the wherewithal to participate within the economic mainstream of our state; or this presents an opportunity to devise an intentional strategy to improve the economic standing for blacks in our state and improve the overall competitiveness in New Jersey. The latter perspective has been the subject of great interest across the United States following the murder of George Floyd. Many corporate leaders and government officials have made bold statements and launched initiatives to address the social and economic disparities of blacks versus other demographics in New Jersey and across the country. Historically and today the AACCNJ has embarked upon a dialogue that is the cornerstone of our mission: “to sustain black owned businesses and the communities where they domicile.” This charge is now being led by the US Chamber of Commerce (USCC) through an initiative entitled ‘The Equality of Opportunity’, which I am excited to be a part of. Through this initiative, the focus is to connect black people and black businesses to employment opportunities, board seats and contract opportunities with corporations around the country. In addition, the 6

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John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President & CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ

USCC also incorporated criminal justice reform, health and education as other areas wherein blacks have been severely adversely impacted or need improvement. In New Jersey, we are working with the NJ State Chamber of Commerce, NJ Business and Industry Association, NJ Bankers Association and healthcare providers to accomplish the similar aforementioned USCC goals in New Jersey corporations and state government. These collaborations are essential to fostering a better sense of cultural awareness, mutual respect and community while building trust and coexistence. The irony is that making investments in exploring the best pathways to derive the commensurate value proposition, or return, is marginalized by perceptions that are not based on facts. These perceptions lead to the statistics that I stated earlier. Unfortunately, we have policies and a way of doing business in our state that perpetuate economic disparities for blacks in New Jersey. For example, unlike New York, New Jersey does not have goals for minority and women-owned businesses, August 2021

which means that blacks and others cannot participate in public contracting equitably. On the other hand, in New York, former Governor David Paterson worked with the legislature to institute a 20% goal for minority and women-businesses in the state. later Governor Andrew Cuomo later increased the goal to 30%, resulting in greater reciprocity for taxpayer dollars, growth and opportunity for these business owners. In the state of NY, these efforts have led to over $3 billion in public contracts with minorities and women in 2019-2020 and over $19 Billion since 2011. Meanwhile, blacks in New Jersey received approximately 1% of public contracts. Also, in New Jersey, we have seen an expansion of Project Labor Agreements (PLA), a synonymous undertaking deployed by the trade unions to ensure that their members have substantial participation on public contracts without disruption from work stoppage due to strikes. Through this arrangement many companies that are signatory to the trades have enjoyed a significant preference on public contracting opportunities, i.e., Newark Airport Expansion, Wind Energy Projects in Salem and Paulsboro, the new Taxation and Health Human Services buildings and State House in Trenton. It is important to note that New Jersey has a $5 million exemption on public contracts that allows non-union businesses in our state to participate in these taxpayer-funded public contracting opportunities without being a member of the trades. However, when we asked the Murphy Administration and the legislative leadership in our state to consider raising the $5 million PLA exemption to a level commensurate with that instituted by former President Obama ($25 million), they politely refused. Notwithstanding the use of PLAs in New York, they have still managed to deliver over $3 billion in public contracts to mi-

norities and women-owned businesses. There is an additional example that I would like to bring to your attention and that is the requirement in New Jersey which allows auto insurers to use credit scoring, education and occupation as proxies to determine auto insurance coverage. The New Jersey Senate passed a bill that would abolish this practice; however, it has been stalled in the assembly for far too long. In closing, it is well documented that through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), corporations and governments receive value and optimal return on their investment. We at the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey would welcome the opportunity to explore ways to assist you in accomplishing your DEI goals.

“

In New Jersey, we are working with the NJ State Chamber of Commerce, NJ Business and Industry Association, NJ Bankers Association and healthcare providers to accomplish the similar aforementioned USCC goals in New Jersey corporations and state government. These collaborations are essential to fostering a better sense of cultural awareness, mutual respect and community while building trust and coexistence.

”

BERGEN ENGINEERING CO. Building Contractors – Construction Managers 375 Murray Hill Parkway East Rutherford, NJ 07073 Phone: 201- 438- 4700

Fax: 201- 438-0034

Richard Branca, President 60 Years of Construction Excellence www.BEConline.com

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The opinions expressed in this section are those of the submitting authors and do not necessarily represent the views of and may not be attributed as opinions of the Meadowlands Chamber or Meadowlands Media.

375 Murray Hill Parkway East Rutherford, NJ 07073 Phone: 201- 438- 4994

Fax: 201-935-2850

Richard Branca, President Quality Ownership, Management, and Development Since 1975

www.BrancaProperties.com

405 Murray Hill Parkway

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August 2021

THOUGHT LEADERS: OPINION & COMMENTARY

Accountability in Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) COVID-19 has propelled ESG from a regulatory obligation to a collective expectation By Tracy Straka, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary at Creamer Environmental Inc.

he COVID-19 pandemic created rapid, large-scale change in the way people live, work and interact. It forced many to discover new ways of doing things and became not only a stark reminder of our vulnerabilities but, as well, a demonstration of the interconnectivity and resiliency of people worldwide. It also surfaced tensions, inequalities and injustices that long predated 2020, forcing a spotlight onto the human aspects of corporate ESG initiatives and putting a very public face to the shortcomings and successes of many of these efforts. ESG is the acronym for environmental, social and governance. These concepts encompass a broad set of issues, from a company’s carbon dioxide footprint to fair labor practices, corruption, sustainability and much more. But in in its simplest form, it essentially describes a company’s commitment to people, community and the environment. ESG is a form of corporate self-regulation that gives a company a formal platform to demonstrate that its actions have a positive impact on the environment, consumers, employees, communities and the public. It has traditionally been a non-financial measure of business practices that investors and shareholders look at to evaluate how these actions contribute directly to an organization’s risk management profile, environmental stewardship and corporate social responsibility. But due in part to COVID-19’s inequitable human impact this idea is now moving beyond the investment world and into the mainstream and raising expectations about the social accountability of the corporate environment. Even before the COVID-19 outbreak, certain ESG criteria factors had gained popular momentum globally, with major economies around the world mandating specific tracking and reporting obligations 8

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By Tracy Straka, Executive Vice President and Corporate Secretary at Creamer Environmental Inc.

for many industries. Most of this reporting was geared towards providing data to investors and regulatory bodies, with the ‘E’ and ‘G’ aspects getting most of the attention. Investors and regulators identified most readily with the ‘G’, which documents and evaluates the internal planning, monitoring and measuring processes that a company uses to govern itself and includes activities such as risk management, legal and regulatory compliance, materials sourcing, resilience and meeting shareholder expectations with respect to sustainability and social governance. Thanks in large part to government regulations, mainstream and social media – and Mother Nature’s almost weekly reminders about climate change – the general public easily identifies with the ‘E’, which measures things that contribute to carbon emissions and climate change such as energy management and consumption, water and wastewater management, emissions and product lifecycles. These items are easAugust 2021

ily quantified and companies can demonstrate a numeric reduction as they improve upon their energy consumption. The “S” factor is more ambiguous, as many of its elements are subjective and not easily measured. This aspect of ESG addresses the relationships and reputation a company has created with its various stakeholders and relates to issues like employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, human rights, community relations, social justice, and labor practices. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with activism associated with racial inequality and other social injustice movements brought many social issues to the forefront. People of lower socioeconomic status, especially those with lower income, wealth, and education, were most impacted by the pandemic in terms of health, working, and living conditions. Many of these individuals work in industries and under conditions that leave them especially vulnerable to pandemic exposure, and we heard story after story about how health care aides, factory and supermarket workers and others in similar occupations had a much higher incidence of COVID infection and job losses. Thanks in part to social media, many companies were exposed as having deficient “S” practices – some by their own employees. People took notice and demanded change. Because of this, employees and investors have become very vocal about their expectations for corporate accountability on issues like employee health and safety, workforce policies, job security, labor practices and business resilience. People now expect to see tangible commitments and verifiable change. Even as life begins to return to “normal,” employees, customers and other stakeholders expect companies to continue to take a stand on significant ESG issues.

The paradigm has shifted from green vs. gold to green equals gold. It is no longer sufficient, for example, to equate the number of minorities on your board with whether you truly are an inclusive organization. Prospective job candidates are evaluating job opportunities in part based on a company’s ESG commitments. Socially conscious consumers are voting with their wallets, encouraging businesses to take a closer look at their operations and roles as responsible employers. Investors are demanding that companies continue to do more across all three ESG pillars and expect transparency and detailed ESG reporting of measurable accomplishments and future goals. Businesses are responding by mainstreaming their ESG efforts and communicating them by centering their marketing campaigns around corporate sustainability strategies and improvements, with the idea that framing those approaches openly and presenting them effectively will increase employee morale and foster customer loyalty. As the ESG initiative continues to evolve, there is sure to be more to come on its recast from back office regulatory compliance to front-and-center mainstream business strategy. The effects of societal influence will continue to push businesses towards a more collaborative and accountable ideal. The opinions expressed in this section are those of the submitting authors and do not necessarily represent the views of and may not be attributed as opinions of the Meadowlands Chamber or Meadowlands Media.

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August 2021

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

Problem-Solving

Everyone is a leader…and a problem solver

eading seminars and coaching always teaches me something new about leadership and communication. In a recent seminar, while discussing certain leadership frustrations many leaders have around the work of team members, a client brought up his concerns about team members sometimes bringing him problems, dumping them on his lap, and expecting him to “fix” things simply because he holds the highest position in the org chart. Consider the following when it comes to leadership and problem solving. Problem solving 101: Have you ever heard a leader say don’t bring me a problem unless you have a solution? That is not exactly what we are talking about. This is too simplistic, myopic and discourages team members from bringing problems to you because too often the solution isn’t so clear cut. I have come to look at it this way. Before you go to a leader of an organization in a knee-jerk fashion by saying, “Hey boss, we have a problem,” team members need to think, brainstorm and consider possible options and potential solutions. That doesn’t mean that they know exactly what to do, but they have thought about it. They have pondered it. They have struggled with it. Why doesn’t this happen more often? I have come to the realization that many team members have what I call the “I am not the leader, you are” philosophy. But that thinking just won’t get most teams where they need to be in a highly competitive, fast-changing, evolving environment with intense competition. That approach won’t work on the best teams, the teams that have to be innovative, creative, entrepreneurial and ultimately successful. In fact, what I am advocating is that ultimately, on the best teams, “everyone is a leader.”

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What is the job of the leader of the team who isn’t at the highest level on the organizational chart? I argue that the leader should take their frustration around having a problem dumped on their lap and channel it into asking effective questions of team members and helping them to be the most effective leaders they can be. My approach is to describe my own shortcomings as a leader and what I have learned in the process. In this regard, I have been guilty of being a less than effective leader when having a problem dumped in my lap. I admit it, I have a “fix it” mentality. A “fix it” mentality is not the best approach for a leader who wants to build the best team possible: It creates unintended consequences. More specifically, if a leader is the “Mr. Fix It” team members come to expect he or she will simply fix any problem, and that leader enables others not to think for themselves. He or she lowers expectations for every team member by not challenging them to be more creative, entrepreneurial and strategic in their thinking and collaborating with others by coming up with options as to how to deal with particularly difficult situations. In my view, it creates a “top down” culture that does not promote an

August 2021

entrepreneurial, innovative spirit. Encourage collaboration and brainstorming: As leaders, we must help our team members be the leaders they are capable of being, even if they tell you at first that they are not leaders, but they are willing to follow direction. That is not enough. As leaders we must encourage collaboration, brainstorming and, yes, the struggle of team members thinking through a problem and presenting possible options and solutions. Is any of this easy? Of course not. After all, leadership, at least the kind I am describing, is not for everyone. But for those of us who try to practice this leadership on a daily basis, in spite of the frustrations, it is extremely rewarding. Steve Adubato, PhD, is the author of five books including his latest, “Lessons in Leadership.” He is an Emmy® Award-winning anchor with programs airing on Thirteen/WNET (PBS) and NJ PBS. He has also appeared on CNN, FOX5 NY and NBC’s Today Show. Steve Adubato’s “Lessons in Leadership” video podcast with co-host Mary Gamba airs Sundays at 10:00 a.m. on News 12+. For more information visit www.Stand-Deliver.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Oncologists Sound the Alarm on Drop in Cancer Screenings

ProCure Proton Therapy Center, the longest-established proton therapy center in the tri-state area, is helping local residents catch up on cancer screenings.

hile COVID-19 vaccinations mark an important step toward ending the epidemic, studies have shown that many Americans are falling behind on another important preventive health measure. Physicians at ProCure Proton Therapy Center joined oncologists from around the country in encouraging Americans to catch up on cancer screenings. Experts recommend regular screenings for breast cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and lung cancer. A study published last fall in the JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics found an 85% drop in breast cancer screenings and a 74% decline in prostate cancer screenings. Screening rates for the top four cancer types remain below pre-pandemic rates, according to the Community Oncology Alliance and CancerCare, which launched a national awareness campaign in April to bring more attention to the issue. Doctors cited delayed screenings as a reason they are starting to see more patients with advanced forms of cancer. “While it is understandable that people limited interpersonal contacts during the height of the pandemic, it is vital that they catch up on their cancer screenings,” said Brian H. Chon, M.D., medical director at ProCure Proton Therapy Center. “These screenings could help detect cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage.” Detecting cancer in the early stages, before it spreads, could make patients eligible for a non-surgical treatment option called pro-

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August 2021

ton therapy. ProCure is New Jersey’s most experienced proton therapy center. It offers pencil beam scanning – the most advanced form of radiation with the most precise technology. “Proton therapy targets tumors with precision and reduces radiation exposure to healthy tissues,” Dr. Chon said. “That means fewer side effects and a lower risk of life-threatening medical issues.” Learn more about proton therapy at ProCure: ProCure.com/what-makes-procure-different Learn more about “The Time to Screen” campaign: https://timetoscreen.org ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Somerset, opened in March 2012 as the tri-state region’s first proton therapy facility, treating a range of cancers including disease of the prostate, breast, lung, brain, head and neck, and gastrointestinal system, as well as sarcomas and many pediatric cases. Using the most advanced radiation treatment available ProCure has treated more than 5,000 patients and enables many cancer patients to choose a non-surgical treatment personalized to their medical needs and lifestyles, often with fewer side effects and less downtime—giving them more freedom to enjoy what matters most in their lives. For more information, visit ProCure.com.

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MEADOWLANDS

HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE Hospitals

Hackensack University Medical Center Hackensack, NJ 07601 (201) 996-2000 Hospital for Special Surgery HSS Paramus Outpatient Center Paramus, NJ 07652 (201) 599-8000 Hudson Regional Hospital Secaucus, NJ 07094 (201) 392-3100 Palisades Medical Center North Bergen, NJ 07047 (201) 854-5000

Health Service Organizations & Medical Providers Act Now Foundation Dementia Center North Bergen (201) 721-6721 Agile Urgent Care Secaucus (201) 381-4800 At Home Sleep Solutions, LLC Fair Lawn (855) 859-3300 Bergen County Medical Initiative Hackensack (201) 342 2478

Comprehensive Behavioral Healthcare, Inc. Lyndhurst (201) 935-3322

Drs. Brosnan, Clark & Montemurno Rutherford (201) 935-8550

CORE Medical & Wellness, LLC Lyndhurst (888) 521-0688

We Take Care of All Your Health Needs Contact Patti Goldfarb: pgoldfarb@ebagroup.net 201-255-6239 ebagroup.net

Employee Benefits Individual Health Insurance Medicare Plans Long Term Care Insurance

Geria Dermatology Rutherford (201) 623-8000 Hudson Physical Therapy Secaucus (at Hudson Regional Hospital) (201) 874-7898 Levine Eye Center Rutherford (201) 438-4418 Light The Way Midland Park (201) 444-8103 meadowlandsmedia.com

August 2021

MEADOWLANDS: HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE Insurance: Professional Services

MedExpress Urgent Care Lodi (201) 843-3207

Allstate Insurance: Dan Meredith Rutherford (201) 355-8090

Proton Therapy Center Somerset (877) 967-7628

Allstate Insurance: Secaucus Secaucus (201) 867-2287

PSA Healthcare Hackensack (201) 645-4379

The Ehnert Agency West Caldwell (973) 882-9110

Ridge Family Dental Lyndhurst (201) 939-5757

Employee Benefits Advisors Group Ridgefield Park (201) 255-6239

SportsCare Physical Therapy Centers Locations Throughout the Area sportscare1.com

Professional Insurance Associates, Inc. Carlstadt (201) 438-7500

Tailor-Made Smiles Rutherford (201) 933-7550

VMM Benefits Inc. – Aflac Lyndhurst (201) 697-0203

Quest Diagnostics Locations Throughout The Area questdiagnostics.com

PPE, Safety & Reopening Resources

Home Care Services

al-SHIELDS (various PPE including facial and respiratory protection, hand sanitizers, gloves and gowns) al-shields.com

Comfort Keepers Secaucus (201) 340-2238

Loving Care Agency, Inc East Rutherford (201) 939-4300

Carucci Safety & Equipment / MPT Rentals, Inc. Lyndhurst (201) 340-4880

Senior Helpers Paramus (201) 968-5777

Health Insurance

Health Insurance Programs through the Meadowlands Chamber Available to Qualifying MC Members Only (201) 939-0707

Health Insurance Carriers Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield: www.horizonblue.com

Dental Insurance Delta Dental (800) 452-9310 deltadental.com

Custom Safety Services, LLC Fair Lawn (201) 703-6966 LDI Color ToolBox (temperature sensing personnel management kiosk) (845) 656-1152 M Awards Plus (branded PPE and social distancing products) mawardsplus.com Meta Viable Solutions (various PPE and business reopening resources/consultancy) (201) 438-1500

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August 2021

Protek Products / Triple Threat (powerful but gentle hand and surface disinfectants) (201) 969-3040 R.S. Knapp / Napco Copy Graphics (safety signage) (201) 438-1500 Safety NJ (safety certification courses) Bloomfield (973) 320-3200

Spa & Wellness Services Elite Salon & Spa Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 (201) 288-3136 Planet Sun, Inc. Rutherford (201) 941-6000 SoJo Spa Club Edgewater (201) 313-7200

Fitness Facilities & Gyms

High Exposure Rock Climbing/Ninja Warrior Gym Northvale (201) 768-8600 LA Fitness Signature Club Secaucus (201) 751-9940 Shiva Shanti Yoga School Rutherford (201) 531-9642

Organ Donation

NJ Sharing Network Foundation New Providence (908) 516-5400

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

Addressing Mental Health

How employers can take action to improve workplaces and support employees

n the year 2019, the infamous COVID-19 pandemic began to take its toll on the entire world. People found themselves suffering in isolation, impacted by job loss and broken due to loss of family members and friends, among many other facets. According to a CDC survey of adults that was published in April of 2020 by the National Institute of Mental Health, 31% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, 13% reported that they started or increased their substance use, 26% reported symptoms related to stress and 11% having admitted to thoughts of suicide within the previous 30 days. In regard to the same study, these numbers are almost double to what they would have been expected to be had the pandemic hadn’t happened.

Here we are now The mental health epidemic triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic continues to linger. Thankfully, the pandemic did raise awareness on the topic of mental health, making more people knowledgeable on the topic and advancing more resources to those who are suffering. Numbers began to show that more and more people became familiar with crisis intervention services. These services reported the

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August 2021

major increase in volume depicting anxiety and distress during the pandemic’s uncertainties, according to data published by the National Institute of Mental Health in April 2021. Awareness has been raised but what’s next?

Here is what employers have to say Eighty-three percent of employers have identified that wellbeing will take over as one of their organization’s top priorities through the next three years, according to data from Willis Towers Watson. Taking action Employers should be considering these four actions to initiate their pursuit to aiding their employees. 1. Understand: Employers need to first gain an understanding on the complexity behind the emotional wellbeing needs of the employees. 2. Design: Next, it is time for the employer to formulate their plan that will be used to enhance the experience for the workers in the workplace. 3. Align: The employer should now adjust the workplace culture to coincide properly with the company’s core values.

4. Adjust: In the long term, the employer should be taking notice to what is and isn’t working in the workplace. With this, strategies of improving will need to be utilized. Aside from learning these four basic steps, here are some plans for employers to implement now and in the near future in order to address the mental health epidemic that COVID-19 has faced us with: 1. Putting technology to use: Technology is an amazing tool, especially today in its most innovative, modern state. It can be used to retain workplace relationships for those working from home and those working in the office. This subsides the sense of isolation and creates a positive impact in terms of employee communication, further driving a better wellbeing for each team member. Along with this, technology can be used to provide helpful resources for both remote and in-person employees, such as licensed counselors on call, meditation platforms and remote education to encourage learned coping methods and strategic stress management. 2. Bringing down the stigma: Mental health has a large stigma around it that causes employees, and people in general, to fear the idea of discussing it and seeking help. Reducing the stigma begins with starting the conversation and making the topic gain its normality. With this, it will be easier and less intimidating to have a therapist present ways of recognizing symptoms, improving wellbeing and seeking help. 3. Opening up paths for communication: It is vital for an employer to openly communicate with their employees about mental health resources that are available in the workplace. Communication needs to be used to deliver information about updates in mental health resources offered and covered in the benefits plans. It is also crucial for an employer to learn communication in terms of showing empathy in

times of mayhem. 4. Prioritizing wellbeing: Wellbeing should be a major focal point in benefits plans. This includes physical, mental and financial health during both times of ease and in times of crisis. Companies can do this by building the resources into their benefits plan. As stress levels rise, the number of doctors visits will tend to increase. Therefore, if employers can provide employees with beneficial medical offices and articulate new insurance plans for these increasing doctor visits, employees will learn to trust their jobs in a health and safety sense. These are only a few ways in which employers can take action to aid their workers. Once new plans similar to these are learned and implemented, a better sense of health and unity will develop in the workplace. Brianne Hailey Killeen is a Media & Editorial Production Coordinator for the Meadowlands Chamber and Meadowlands Media. In this role, she supports media content production and business development. Brianne can be contacted at bkilleen@meadowlands.org ––––– Editor’s Note: Comprehensive Behavioral Healthcare, a longtime member of the Meadowlands Chamber, offers a full spectrum of behavioral health services, family support services and mental health services to help individuals get the treatment they need. Please see their ad on page 25 for more information. Schedule an Appointment (201) 646-0195 | Mental Health Urgent Care (201) 957-1800 | Mental Health EMERGENCY (201) 262-4357 (HELP)

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August 2021

Students learn in two flight simulators for careers in the region’s expansive aviation industry.

Bergen Community College Means Business

hen it comes to the region’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, Bergen Community College President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., wants the community to know “Bergen means business.” “At the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey’s unemployment rate reached nearly 15% and key industries central to New Jersey’s economy, including hospitality, entertainment, logistics and manufacturing, practically screeched to a halt,” he said. “But now it’s time for a comeback - ‘Jersey-style’ - stronger and more resilient than before.” During his first six months as president of the state’s No. 1 college for associate degree graduates, Friedman has prepared the College to lead the region’s recovery from the pandemic through new partnerships, programs and initiatives. Central to this work, Friedman convened a special task force - the Bergen 20

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Community College Economic Recovery Committee - charged with creating and implementing strategies that will continue to position the institution as a catalyst for recovery. The group of strategic thinkers that features faculty and College leaders, began meeting in late April. The committee serves in an advisory capacity to the president, providing recommendations on programs and services and developing ideas centered around removing barriers to employment. Representing an academic institution, committee members will also identify career pathways that lead to meaningful employment, placing the College at the center of these efforts. As the committee begins to expand the College’s connections with business, industry, government, labor and nonprofit entities, each meeting features invited guests from these key sectors. “The committee really takes the

August 2021

College’s positioning as an engine for economic development and puts that work into overdrive,” Friedman said. “We recently welcomed Bergen County Workforce Investment Board Executive Director Tammy Molinelli to a meeting, which helped amplify how critical the County of Bergen remains as a driver of economic activity. I’m grateful that our Bergen County government partners have embraced the opportunity to collaborate on the institution’s economic development work.” In an example of this collaboration, county government officials helped connect the College with executives from Volvo Car USA, who then selected faculty and students from Bergen’s hotel and restaurant management program to fully operate the company’s corporate café at its national headquarters in Mahwah. The College’s hotel and restaurant management programs prepare students

for careers in the leisure and hospitality industry - one of New Jersey’s nine key employment sectors. Bergen’s academic offerings in these areas include culinary arts, hospitality and events planning. “The Volvo partnership, which came to our attention through the office of Bergen County Executive James J. Tedesco III, represents the best of how the College can assist an industry partner,” Friedman said. “It’s incredibly special to watch Bergen students preparing meals at one of the world’s most recognizable motor vehicle brands - and hearing rave reviews from those who work at the corporate headquarters.” Also related to culinary education and the College’s relationships in the community, the hotel and restaurant management discipline faculty recently hosted an advisory committee meeting featuring industry heavy-hitters such as Alex LaPratt, of Atrium DUMBO, Beasts & Bottles, Jean George and French Laundry; Christopher Struck, the beverage director of ilili Restaurants; and Laurie Hamm, the owner of the Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern. The conversation, which focused on issues such as human resource management, purchasing and finances, will assist the department in adjusting its curricula to better prepare students for the post-pandemic workforce. College officials and faculty rely on this feedback on trends, challenges and opportunities that the College can then implement into its coursework. “It’s these relationships that make the College’s programs so unique. We’re able to put students in an environment that mirrors what they’ll see in the workforce before they even leave our campus,” Friedman said. To wit, the College’s signature health professions programs stand at the top of the list when discussing Bergen creating pipelines to employment. Supported through the Building Our Future Bond Act, the College opened the region’s only Health Professions Integrated Teaching Center five years ago. The three-story facility features a dynamic medical simulation lab, a dental hygiene clinic and other learning spaces that maintain the same equipment as the region’s best healthcare facilities. “Healthcare has remained at the center of all of our lives during the last 17 months,” Friedman said. “To take it a

step further, it’s the nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics who have stood on the front lines and become some of the most visible and valued members of our local community. Even before the pandemic, healthcare represented the No. 1 employment sector in Bergen County, but COVID-19 raised the bar even higher. The College educated the generation of healthcare professionals who led us through the pandemic - and we’re educating the next generation right now who will take care of us in the future. As the demand for healthcare professionals grows stronger, Bergen will continue to help ‘take care’ of the county’s future by providing the highquality education and training expected by the region’s top healthcare employers.” STEM education also represents one of Bergen’s major pipelines to industry

- punctuated by the nation’s only STEM Student Research Center of its kind at a community college. In addition to county chapter 12 funds, the U.S. Department of Education and Emil Buehler Perpetual Trust helped support the construction of the $1 million research center, which features large “showcase” windows that enable observation from outside the center, a drones/robotics wing, a MakerSpace and mini-course classroom. More than 2,000 students take advantage of programs such as engineering science, computer science and biology while completing research projects inand outside the classroom. Projects have included converting a softball field house into a workshop, high-altitude balloon launches, retrofitting a gas combustion truck and motorcycle into electric vehicles

President Eric M. Friedman, Ph.D., and STEMatics Grant Program Director Luis De Abreu recently toured the STEM Student Research Center.

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August 2021

and conducting experimental testing with wind turbines and solar panels. Meanwhile – also as part of the multifaceted strategy to position the College as a central partner to government, industry and labor as the state emerges from the pandemic – Bergen joined with the New Jersey Business and Industry Association to cosponsor Bergen County’s “employer legislative committee” (ELC). The events, which have taken place since 1959 in all of the state’s 21 counties, provide an opportunity for members of industry, labor and government an opportunity to network, discuss emerging topics and receive briefings from NJBIA on legislative and regulatory issues affecting employers. President Friedman and President and CEO of the Meadowlands Chamber Jim Kirkos now chair the Bergen County ELC. Finally, in recent months, Bergen’s Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development has launched a comprehensive apprenticeship program that offers jobseekers opportunities in healthcare and manufacturing with pipelines to employment – and a paycheck –while learning on-the-job skills at major employers such as CVS, CareOne and Hackensack Meridian Health. “It’s pretty simple: apprenticeships pay off,” Friedman said. “They work for both the employer and the student/employee.” With the College ready to stand

Bergen students operate Alex’s Cafe, the employee restaurant at Volvo’s corporate headquarters.

as the center of the region’s recovery, Friedman led the full reopening of campus facilities this summer. The College’s revised reopening plan includes offering courses both in-person and online during the upcoming summer and fall semesters, reopening campus resources and allowing faculty and staff to return to their offices after more than a year of operating via a mostly remote instructional and professional environment. “I say with great enthusiasm that it’s time to come back to Bergen,” Friedman said. “We look forward to providing

Healthcare represents Bergen County’s No. 1 employment sector.

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August 2021

students with the opportunity to return to an on-campus environment where they can learn, socialize and enjoy a comprehensive collegiate experience. Additionally, we will continue to follow the best practices recommended by health officials in order to safely reopen our campus. I’m incredibly proud of our work during the pandemic that prevented any cases of community spread among those who remained on campus.” For families and students unsure of their plans for higher education due to the pandemic, Bergen’s affordable tuition and renowned faculty complement general education classes – such as English composition, general biology and statistics – that remain ideal for transfer to many four-year colleges. Bergen offers more than 130 degree and certificate programs in areas such as aviation, criminal justice, dental hygiene, fashion design and hospitality. Students considering enrolling at the College should first file their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Filing a FAFSA can help students become eligible for programs such as the state’s tuition-free Community College Opportunity Grant, which has now expanded to include households making up to $65,000 per year, and other tuition assistance programs. The College has also frozen tuition rates at last year’s levels and offered students the opportunity to apply for stimulus funds awarded through the institution and federal government. Students interested in receiving more information on Bergen can visit the College’s website at Bergen.edu.

SALE PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE as demand increases with prices steadily up from $113 PSF in Q2 2016 to $150 PSF in 2Q 2019 and $182 PSF currently.

AVERAGE ASKING RATES The Meadowlands in The Meadowlands continues to have a have reached historical LOW VACANCY RATE highs and are currently with only 3.7% of $13.22 psf. 97.4 million SF available.

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HUMAN RESOURCES & OPERATIONS

10 Tips For Hiring, Engaging and Retaining New Employees

ecruiting and retaining new employees for small business owners is both an internal and external challenge, especially in today’s everchanging business environment. I will share some of my top tips for how to be successful on this journey. First, you need to be aware of your own leadership style and personality type. As your business grows and evolves, recognize the imperative need to delegate, trust and let it go. Here are ten steps for hiring an A-player employee and retaining them. 1. Start by looking inward: Create your organization (business) chart to map out what and how objectives need to be completed, specifying who will do what. 2. Plan and budget: Plan cost effective budgeting, using your network and trusted sources to find your avatar (or ideal) employee. Applicants searching for remote roles will find an abundance of options today – far more than were available in 2019. But it’s crucial to know that not all remote work opportunities are equal. Just because an employee offers remote work does not mean they have an effective remote workplace; nor does it mean that you will enjoy their approach. 3. Put processes and metrics in place: Set up clear processes

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August 2021

and policies that reflect your company mission, strategy and action plan. This way when you are ready to hire, you have proven hiring processes, onboarding framework and retaining methodologies already in place. Educate a hiring manager or yourself on candidate engagement and provide personalized interview questions. Track hiring metrics to measure, manage and improve success. 4. Qualify candidates: Before you setup an interview, search the candidate’s background check and referrals. Make a three step interview process to ensure you make an educated decision on the candidate. Be aware at what generation falls your new employee so you can tailor your management style. 5. Prepare for onboarding: Prepare a human based needs welcome package so your new employee understands, from the first day, at what environment will work. Communicate clearly and consistently your business policies, initiatives, and challenges so that everyone is clear, concise, and placed into context of it being based on the best available evidence and information currently. 6. Cultivate trust and motivation: Build a sense of accountability and competence at the highest level of the business.

This will initiate a dialogue with your employees within a context of trust and motivation. 7. Make employees part of the transition: Engaging your employees in the planning process and ensuring participation and engagement with support from you or your management will guarantee a successful transition. Employees don’t just want managers to make decisions; they want managers to demonstrate competence in making decisions that positively affect work outcomes. 8. Develop the employee experience: Performance management has always been important for the company leadership. The first is what employees want from their experience with an employer over the course of their career. The second, and quite possibly most important and overlooked, factor is the role of the manager/you in influencing employees’ career experiences. 9. Define expectations around remote working: Remote work can be excellent for professional fulfillment and work/life integration. However, many companies are offering this for the first time and there will certainly be many examples of both effective and ineffective remote work. Ask the right questions to make sure you have a complete understanding in terms of whose version of remote or hybrid work is right for you. What are your company’s core values? How often are they expected to come to the office? What percentage of employees are remote overall or on my team? How often do people get together in person? 10. Implement a mentorship or professional development program: Use mentoring for personal achievements in any category of your business/profession, require years of preparation, effort and individual work. Take the opportunity to share what you have learned during life and your career with your mentee. Invest part of your time with your mentees in order to develop a good relationship based on honesty and your own credibility. Be able to offer a judgment and a constructive critique of the reality of the employee when it is necessary.

Compassionate Care. Expert Treatment.

When you’re having a mental health crisis, immediate help is just a phone call away. The CBH Care Wellness & Support Center provides Bergen County residents experiencing a mental health crisis with 24/7 rapid responses and support services. Must be 18 years or older, with a diagnosable mental illness.

By phone 24/7: 201.957.1800 Walk-ins: Mon–Fri: 8am–8pm Sat–Sun: 9am–5pm

Make your employees part of your vision and share the results. Have your employees adopted it? Do they like it? Are business goals being met? Desi Tahiraj High-Performance Executive Coach | Human Resources Consultant for Universities and Governmental Agencies | Burnout Expert | Author | Podcast Host | International Speaker

CBH Care Wellness and Support Center 569 Broadway Westwood, NJ 07675 cbhcare.com

(201) 951-1178 | desitahiraj.com | tahirajdesi@gmail.com

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August 2021

BUSINESS PROFILE

Frank’s Truck Center

Since 1930, Frank’s Truck Center has been serving the truck industry with honesty and integrity.

hat started as bonding time with his father set Frank Pezzolla, Sr. on the path to his desired career. As a young man, Frank learned the ropes while repairing carriages in his dad’s blacksmith shop. By 1930, he opened his own shop, Frank’s Garage, in Lyndhurst, consisting of nothing more than a rented dirt floor on Ridge Road. This allowed him to make repairs and work on trucks and cars. The more the time passed, the more strategies Frank was able to come up with to make his work more efficient with the circumstance he was working with. An example of this is when he showed his capabilities to work underneath a vehicle without a jack stand or lift by digging a pit in the floor. Years later, Frank, Sr. expanded his passion and brought his three sons – Frank, Jr., Benny and Bob – into the business. By this time, they were doing business as Frank’s GMC Garage after GM awarded him a GMC franchise in 1937. Frank, Sr. not only taught his sons how to run a sales, parts and service business, but he taught them to do it honestly –while caring for people and giving back to the community. Flash forward: Today, decades later, Frank’s Truck Center is successfully run by Frank, Jr. and his three sons: Frank M., Joe and Michael. In addition to the GMC franchise, they are also an authorized dealer for Hino, Isuzu and Freightliner trucks. Years of keeping this business alive also means years of overcoming obstacles along the way. It is safe to say that the COVID-19 pandemic, by far, has been one of the biggest hardships for the globe as a whole.

HERE IS WHAT FRANK, JR. AND HIS SONS HAVE TO say about how their business – a mainstay for the Meadowlands area’s industrial sector – has responded to the pandemic. “Through the years Frank’s has met many challenges and worked through them all, never forgetting to give back to community in the meantime.

But never has anything affected business, all businesses, all peoples, all humanity like the recent and on-going COVID-19 pandemic. No one saw it coming, no one knew how to plan, no one knew how to respond. Our biggest concern was how to protect our families, our employees, our customers and our business.’ Deemed an essential business by our governor, we were able to remain open, but then what? It became a vigilant and constant job keeping up with all the guidelines set forth by the CDC and the state.

We dealt with employees getting sick, those who couldn’t work, those who worked from home and those who were furloughed. We kept as many employees on our payroll as possible, holding their jobs for as long as possible. We are tremendously grateful for those who braved the storm and came to work every day. It allowed us to survive.

We learned quickly how to do business in a very different way: Zoom! Touchless deliveries! Masks! Gloves! Hand sanitizer everywhere! Six feet apart, etc., etc.! The beauty of it was that everyone was on board, employees and customers alike. And so we began a new era, a new way to work, live and care for each other – and a new way of doing business, perhaps forever.”

- Frank Pezzolla, Jr.

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BUSINESS PROFILE

Langan Engineering

Integrated Land Development Engineering and Environmental Consulting Services Contact Information: 300 Kimball Drive, 4th Floor, Parsippany, NJ 07054 (973) 560-4900 | langan.com Organization History Bernard F. Langan founded Langan Engineering in 1970 in Clifton. After creating his company, he added on geotechnical and site/civil engineers to expand his firm. Those engineers were George E. Derrick, Dennis J. Leary and George P. Kelley. Supporting Projects Around The World Langan Engineering provides an integrated mix of engineering and environmental consulting. The industries Langan specifically works in are land development projects, corporate real estate portfolios and the energy industry. Services • • • • • • • •

Site/Civil Geotechnical Environmental Energy Earthquake Traffic and Transportation Surveying Environmental Compliance • EHS Management

Hackensack University Medical Center – The Second Street Pavilion: Langan is providing land development engineering and environmental services for the new Second Street Pavilion at Hackensack University Medical Center. The new 530,000-SF pavilion would add up to 200 private patient rooms and 24 operating suites to the hospital.

• • • • • • • •

Landscape Architecture Land use planning Natural resources Sustainable Design Waterfront Geologic Hazards Demolition Geographic Information Systems • ESG M&A Consulting

Differentiators Langan prides itself on providing an unmatched combination of technical excellence, practical experience and client responsiveness. The technical excellence of Langan is that the engineers, scientists, landscape architects, planners, surveyors and technical specialists are recognized as the best in their respective disciplines.

American Dream in East Rutherford: Langan provided site/civil engineering, geotechnical engineering, surveying, environmental engineering, and permitting services for the new indoor amusement park and water park component of the project.

Client Portfolio The clients include developers, property owners, public agencies, corporations, institutions and energy companies around the world. Giving Back Langan has partnered with more than 130 nonprofit and charitable organizations. The company’s focus is to support initiatives focused on community development, medical research, economic opportunity, humanitarian aid, and education. Some of the organizations we partner with include Engineers Without Borders, Habitat for Humanity, ACE Mentoring Program, American Red Cross, and American Cancer Society. Langan harbors an environment where the employees have individual community service efforts.

770 House / 7th and Jackson Resiliency Park in Hoboken: Langan implemented the design of a cloud-based outlet control into the stormwater management system for this project, which is located in a coastal city faced with the challenges of global climate change and the impacts of frequent localized flooding, as well as catastrophic-scale flooding issues.

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August 2021

BUSINESS PROFILE

Y International USA

Export Consumer Goods Industry Contact Information: 1170 Valley Brook Ave, Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 (201) 777-7200 | yinternational.us.com Executive Team: Mr. Scott Weber, Regional Manager – USA Ms. Nicole Weiss, PHR, Human Resources Administrative Manager – USA Mr. Justin Altman, Operations Manager – USA What We Do Y International mainly exports to the parent company, Lulu Group International’s 130 hypermarkets located throughout the Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar), and India. However, with the growing demand, we plan to expand our operations within the United States, South/Central Asia, and the whole Gulf region. Y International USA currently employs 100+ individuals and provides top wages, benefits and growth opportunities. Business Goals & Objectives Y International has a 75,000-square-foot state-of-the-art export distribution center has spacious storage units. It is equipped with advanced machinery to process and handle dry, frozen and perishable food and nonfood products. The company and warehouse also ensures safety by: • Enhanced security cameras covering every angle of warehouse • Swipe entry access based on clearance and classification • Visitor SMS and email notification system with NDA and photo capture • OSHA safety compliant • All employees undergo thorough backgrounds checks, physical and drug test screening

About the Company Y International USA, a part of Lulu Group International, specializes in exporting consumer goods and food items to retail businesses located across the Middle East and India. As the first export distribution center in the United States for Lulu Group International, Y International USA plans to expand in several other geographic locations across the United States. Lulu Group International chose New Jersey as its primer location in the United States due to its history of agriculture, economic demand of jobs and close proximity to New York City. The parent company of Y International is Lulu Group International, which is a multinational company operating in over 37 countries across the Middle East, Africa and the region of Asia-Pacific. Lulu Group International has several lines of business that includes retail chain stores, shopping malls, wholesale distribution, food processing, export/import, general trade, hospitality and money exchange and remittance. Its hypermarkets, supermarkets and department stores total over 130 across the Middle East, India and Africa. Client Portfolio Y International exports to Lulu Hypermarkets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait. Giving Back Y International USA is planning to actively participate in various social initiatives in the numerous international countries they work in. They also seek to give back and improve the lives of the neighborhoods they operate in within New Jersey.

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August 2021

MEADOWLANDS EAT & DRINK

Al Di La East Rutherford, (201) 939-1128

Bonefish Grill Secaucus, (201) 864-3004

Chili’s Restaurant Secaucus, (201) 319-0804

Outback Steakhouse Secaucus, (201) 601-0077

Applebee’s Bar and Grill Clifton, (973) 471-6161

Buffalo Wild Wings Secaucus, (201) 348-0824

Colonial Diner Lyndhurst, (201) 935-3192

Pink at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment East Rutherford, (201) 842-5013

Angelo’s Ristorante Lyndhurst, (201) 939-1922

Annabella’s Fine Foods, Inc. East Rutherford, (201) 804-0303 Bagels Plus & Deli Secaucus, (201) 330-0744 The Barrow House Clifton, (862) 336-7070

Bazzarelli Restaurant & Pizzeria Moonachie, (201) 641-4010 Big Bowls Little Plates Secaucus, (201) 514-4163 Biggies Clam Bar Carlstadt, (201) 933-4242

Bistro Six-Five-Zero Hasbrouck Heights, (201) 288-6100

Boogie Woogie Bagel Boys Weehawken, (201) 863-4666

Burger King Secaucus, (201) 325-0498 Cafe Four Fifty Five Secaucus, (201) 864-7300

Caffe Capri East Rutherford, (201) 460-1039 Carrabba’s Italian Grill Secaucus, (201) 330-8497

Casa Giuseppe Restaurant & Bar 503 Lyndhurst, (201) 460-0060

Chart House Restaurant Weehawken, (201) 348-6628 Chevys Clifton, 973-777-6277

Panera Bread Secaucus, (201) 348-2846

Chipotle Mexican Grill Secaucus, (201) 223-0562

CUPS frozen yogurt - that’s hot Secaucus Dunkin Donuts/Subway Secaucus, 201-617-9200

Elia East Rutherford, (201) 939-9292 Finch’s Rutherford, (201) 231-3141

Francesca’s Gourmet Food Fair Lawn, (201) 773-8293

Gabriel’s Grille & Bar Hasbrouck Heights, (201) 288-9600 Ghost Hawk Brewing Company Clifton, ghosthawkbrewing.com

Houlihan’s Secaucus, (201) 330-8856

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Ruth’s Chris Steak House Paramus - Maywood, (551) 258-0013 Rutherford Pancake House Rutherford, (201) 340-4171

Saladworks East Rutherford, (201) 939-8886 Sals Good Eats Teterboro, (201) 375-4949

Segovia Restaurant Moonachie, (201) 641-4266 Shannon Rose Clifton, (973) 284-0200

Il Cafone Lyndhurst, (201) 933-3355

PUBLIC ENTITY LIFE/HEALTH AUTOMOBILE HOMEOWNERS

Redd’s Restaurant & Bar Carlstadt, (201) 933-0015

Ruth’s Chris Steak House Jersey City, (201) 448-8664

Hoboken Road Tavern East Rutherford, (201) 939-1128

CONSTRUCTION BONDS CASUALTY PROPERTY

Red Lobster Secaucus, (201) 583-1902

Ruth’s Chris Steak House Weehawken, (201) 863-5100

Firenza Pizza Secaucus, (201) 210-2562

Good Chinese Kitchen North Bergen, (201) 295-0806

BUSINESS INSURANCE CONSULTANTS ALL FORMS OF COVERAGE

Poke Bros Secaucus

Il Villaggio Carlstadt, (201) 935-7733

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas Clifton, (973) 661-2435

Justin’s Ristorante II Wood Ridge, (201) 933-4276

Starbucks Coffee Secaucus, (201) 223-4924

Jack Austin’s Weehawken (201) 348-4444

Starbucks Coffee East Rutherford, (201) 438-0584

La Reggia Restaurant & Banquets & Lounge Secaucus, (201) 422-0200

Stefanos Mediterranean Grille Secaucus, (201) 865-6767 Subway Weehawken, (201) 865-2500

Marco Polo Pizza/ Breakfast Grill Weehawken, (201) 863-0057

Subway Secaucus, (201) 325-0300

Subway North Bergen, (201) 869-4469

Mamma Vittoria Nutley, (973) 662-0242

Masina Trattoria Italiana Weehawken, (201) 348-4444

McDonalds North Bergen, (201) 868-9888 Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Lyndhurst, (201) 933-2220

Morton’s The Steakhouse Hackensack, (201) 487-3614 Mr. Bruno’s Pizzeria & Restaurant Lyndhurst, (201) 933-1588

Oceanaire Seafood Room Hackensack, (201) 343-8862 Olive Garden Secaucus, (201) 867-3543

Tokyo Hibachi & Buffet Secaucus, (201) 863-2828

Top That! Donuts Rutherford, (201) 559-5485 Urban Plum Gastropub Secaucus, (201) 520-0574 Varrellman’s Baked Goods Rutherford, (201) 939-0462 Vesta Wood Fired Pizza & Bar East Rutherford, (201) 939-6012 Volare’s Restaurant Rutherford, (201) 935-6606 Wayback Burger Secaucus, (201) 293-4654

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Il Villaggio_Oct2015_V1_Il 10/20/15 4:29 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

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

MEADOWLANDS TRANSPORTATION

AAA Giants Limousine & Car Service (201) 933-3313

Minuteman II Limousine and Car Service (973) 347-6100

Academy Bus, LLC (201) 420-7000

Moonlight Limousine & Party Bus Service (201) 254-0126

Axis Global Systems, LLC (718) 458-3666

NJ Transit (973) 491-8903, www.njtransit.com

Country Club Services (973) 376-4352

NY Waterway (201) 902-8700

Empire CLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services (888) 826-3431

TIME TO GET OUTSIDE!

Come Join Us and Explore the Real Meadowlands

Panorama Tours (973) 470-9700

EZ Ride (201) 939-4242

Vander Plaat Executive Limo (201) 891-3856

Lyft Lyft.com

PARTNERING TO PROVIDE CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN SERVICES

CALL FOR APPOINTMENT (201) 939-0707

A STREAMLINED PAPERLESS PROCESSING SOLUTION DISCOUNTED SERVICES

DO YOU SHIP INTERNATIONALLY

FOR MC MEMBERS

Let the adventure begin, via Eco-Cruise, guided kayak tour, or a river cleanup all in your Hackensack River.

MCHQ & BUSINESS HUB 1099 WALL STREET WEST SUITE 110 BUSINESS HUB LYNDHURST NJ 07071

Reservations and info: 201-968-0808 HackensackRiverkeeper.org

(201) 939-0707 MEADOWLANDS.ORG

EVENT PLANNING & CATERING SERVICES

16W Marketing Rutherford, (201) 635-8000

Bounce Music & Entertainment Englewood Cliffs, (201) 482-8191

4 Wall New York Moonachie, (201) 329-9878

Cliffhanger Productions Inc. Rutherford, (201) 460-1489

Al Di La Fine Italian Private Catering Rutherford, (201) 939-1128

Freeman Kearny, (201) 299-7400

Annabella’s Fine Foods, Inc. East Rutherford, (201) 804-0303

Graycliff Catering Inc. (The Graycliff) Moonachie, (201) 939-9233

Any Excuse For A Party (973) 808-8700

Il Villaggio Carlstadt, (201) 935-7733

Apple Spice: Box Lunch Delivery & Catering Company South Hackensack, (201) 525-2775

In Thyme Catered Events River Vale, (201) 666-3353

The Boulevard North Bergen, (201) 744-8169

Jimmy’s Artistic Creations East Rutherford, (201) 460-1919 LTB Entertainment Secaucus, (201) 282-1117

Mamma Vittoria Nutley, (973) 662-0242

Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment East Rutherford, (201) 842-5013

Sterling Affair Caterers Carlstadt, (201) 372-0734 Sweet Dreams Studio Photo Booth Madison, (703) 585-4704

Nanina’s In The Park Belleville, (973) 751-1230 Party Supplies Co, Inc. Rutherford, (646) 431-1805 Personal Touch Experience & Catering Hackensack, (201) 488-8820 Pink at Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment East Rutherford, (201) 842-5013 Sal’s Good Eats Teterboro, (201) 375-4949

Seasons Catering Washington Township, (201) 664-6141

Unique Event Center Little Ferry, (201) 880-5025 United Eventures (201) 694-6583 Venetian Garfield, (973) 546-2250 Wall Street Cafe & Catering Lyndhurst, (201) 933-1099 Willwork Inc. Woodland Park, (201) 321-1135

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EXPLORE THE MEADOWLANDS ECOTOURISM Hackensack Riverkeeper Hackensack, (201) 968-0808 NJSEA DeKorte Park Lyndhurst, info@njsea.com / (201) 460-1700 River Barge Park and Marina Carlstadt (201) 460-1700

BERGEN COUNTY PARKS Belmont Hill County Park Garfield Borg’s Woods Nature Preserve Hackensack Dahnert’s Lake County Park Garfield

Darlington County Park Mahwah, (201) 327-3500

Samuel Nelkin County Park East Rutherford, (973) 777-0318

Mill Creek Point Park Secaucus, (866) 927-6416

Hackensack River County Park Hackensack, (201) 336-7275

Van Saun County Park Paramus, (201) 262-3771

Losen Slote Creek Park Little Ferry

Wood Dale County Park Hillsdale, (201) 336-7275

Washington Park Jersey City/Union City, (201) 348-5700

Laurel Hill Park Secaucus, 201-915-1386 Overpeck County Park Leonia, (201) 336-7275

HUDSON COUNTY PARKS Mercer Park Bayonne

Pascack Brook County Park Westwood, (201) 336-6000

Stephen R. Gregg Park Bayonne, (201) 858-7180

Ramapo Valley County Reservation Mahwah, (201) 327-3500

Columbus Park Hoboken, (201) 915-1388

Riverside County Park Lyndhurst, (201) 939-9339 Saddle River County Park Saddle Brook, (201) 796-0324

West Hudson Park Kearny, (201) 217-5482 Braddock Park North Bergen, (201) 915-3188 Laurel Hill Park Secaucus, (201) 915-1388

NJSEA PARKS Richard W. DeKorte Park Lyndhurst, (201) 460-1700

Liberty State Park Jersey City, (201) 915-3403

River Barge Park and Marina Carlstadt, (201) 460-1700

Lincoln Park Jersey City, (201) 915-1388

STAY IN THE MEADOWLANDS Aloft Secaucus Meadowlands Secaucus, (201) 809-1000

Embassy Suites Secaucus, (201) 864-7300

Holiday Inn Express Paramus, (201) 843-5400

AVE CLIFTON Clifton, (973) 859-3200

Envue, Autograph Collection Weehawken, (201) 758-7920

Best Western Premier NYC Gateway Hotel North Bergen, (201) 758-5770

Fairfield Inn By Marriott East Rutherford, (201) 507-5222

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Carlstadt, (201) 460-9292

Canopy by Hilton Jersey City Arts District Jersey City, (800) 445-8667 Courtyard by Marriott Edgewater, 201-945-5440 Courtyard by Marriott Lyndhurst, (201) 896-6666 Courtyard by Marriott Wayne/Fairfield, (973) 646-3377

Fairfield Inn By Marriott North Bergen, (201) 272-6600

Home2 Suites by Hilton Hasbrouck Heights Hasbrouck Heights, (201) 552-5600

Hampton Inn Carlstadt, (201) 935-9000

Homewood Suites by Hilton East Rutherford, (201) 460-9030

Hampton Inn & Suites Teaneck Glenpointe Teaneck, (201) 883-9777

Homewood Suites by Hilton Teaneck/Glenpointe, (201) 883-1777

Hilton Garden Inn Secaucus, (201) 864-1400

Hyatt Place Secaucus/ Meadowlands Secaucus, (201) 422-9480

Crowne Plaza Saddle Brook, (201) 880-5952

Hilton Hasbrouck Heights Hasbrouck Heights, (201) 288-6100

Econo Lodge Carlstadt, (201) 935-4600

Hilton Meadowlands East Rutherford, (201) 896-0500

Element Harrison, (862) 234-4922

Holiday Inn Hasbrouck Heights Hasbrouck Heights, (201) 288-9600

Element New York/ Wood-Ridge Wood-Ridge, (201) 460-0790

Holiday Inn Secaucus Meadowlands Secaucus, (201) 809-4746

Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel Rutherford, (201) 231-3100 Residence Inn East Rutherford, (201) 939-0020 Residence Inn Saddle River, (201) 934-4144

La Quinta Inn & Suites Clifton/ Rutherford Clifton, (973) 778-6500

Residence Inn by Marriott Port Imperial Weehawken, (201) 758-7922 Residence Inn by Marriott Secaucus Meadowlands Secaucus, (201) 223-9901 Saddle Brook Marriott Saddle Brook, (201) 843-9500 Sheraton Lincoln, Harbor Hotel Weehawken (201) 617-5600

La Quinta Inn & Suites Secaucus, (201) 863-8700

SpringHill Suites East Rutherford Meadowlands/ Carlstadt Carlstadt, (201) 935-9400

MC Hotel Montclair, (973) 329-5500

Teaneck Marriott at Glenpointe Teaneck, (201) 836-0600

Red Roof Inn Secaucus, (201) 319-1000

meadowlandsmedia.com

August 2021

www.naninasinthepark.com 973.751.1230

540 Mill Street, Belleville, New Jersey 07109 info@naninasinthepark.com

DESTINATION MEADOWLANDS

RECREATION, SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum Of NJ Teterboro, (201) 288-6344

Kerasotes Showplace 14 Secaucus (201) 210-5364

Liberty Science Center Jersey City, (201) 200-1000

ECOTOURISM

SHOPPING MALLS/CENTERS

NJSEA Meadowlands Environment Center Lyndhurst, (201) 460-8300

Bergen Town Center Paramus, (201) 845-4051

American Dream East Rutherford, 1-833-AMDREAM

Hackensack Riverkeeper Hackensack, (201) 968-0808

Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC) Englewood, (201) 816-8160

Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment East Rutherford, (201) 460-4166

Bowlero Walllington Wallington. (973) 773-9100

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament Lyndhurst, (201) 933-2220

HEALTH, FITNESS & BEAUTY

MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, (201) 559-1562

Haircutter in the Meadow Secaucus, (201) 863-3900

NY Giants East Rutherford, (201) 935-8111

Jenny Craig Secaucus, (201) 330-0110

NY Jets Florham Park, (516) 560-8100

King’s Court Health & Sports Club Lyndhurst, (201) 460-0088

Chuck E. Cheese’s North Bergen, (201) 861-1799 Durkan Fencing Company South Hackensack, 201-880-9585 Entertainment Cruises | Spirit of New York & New Jersey Dining Cruises (201) 333-8600 Field Station: Dinosaurs Leonia, (855) 999-9010 Fun Ghoul Costume Co. Rutherford, (201) 460-1489 GolfTec Englewood, (201) 567-0103 High Exposure Rock Climbing/ Ninja Warrior Gym Northvale, (201) 768-8600 Hornblower Cruises & Events 888-467-6256

NY Red Bulls Harrison, (201) 583-7000 NY Waterway Weehawken, (201) 902-8700 RPM Raceway Jersey City, (201) 333-7223 Statue Cruises Jersey City, (201) 432-6321 Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (212) 344-0996

GNC Live Well Secaucus, (201) 348-9549

The Plaza at Harmon Meadow Secaucus, (908) 226-5285 Newport Centre Jersey City, (201) 626-207z The Mills at Jersey Gardens Jersey City, (908) 436-3005 The Shops at Riverside Hackensack, (201) 489-0151 Westfield Garden State Plaza Paramus, (201) 843-2121 OUTLET SHOPPING

LA Fitness Signature Club Secaucus, (201) 751-9940

Calvin Klein Company Store Secaucus, (201) 223-9760

Poofy Organics Rutherford, (201) 438-6800 Sally Beauty Supply North Bergen, 201-295-0020 SOJO Spa Club Edgewater, (201) 313-7200

Gucci Secaucus, (201) 392-2670 Tommy Hilfiger Secaucus, (201) 863-5600

FOR ALL YOUR LOADING DOCK AND OVERHEAD DOOR NEEDS COMMERCIAL | INDUSTRIAL

CORPORATE OFFICE 20 META LANE | LODI NJ 07644

CONTACT JAI PATEL | jai@dockndoors.com www.overhead-doors.com

OTHER OFFICES SERVING WESTCHESTER COUNTY, ALL BOROUGHS OF NYC

RECENT JOBS METLIFE STADIUM • AMERICAN DREAM MALL WORLD TRADE CENTER

meadowlandsmedia.com

August 2021

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS Allstate Agency, www.allstate.com/kmeredith........................................................ 29 Bergen Community College, www.bergen.edu........................................ Front Cover MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION

WE TELL THE STORY. INTEGRATED PRINT & DIGITAL MEDIA PACKAGES

Branca Properties Inc., www.brancaproperties.com................................................. 7 CBH Care, www.cbhcare.com.................................................................................. 25 Employee Benefits Advisor Group, www.ebagroup.net.......................................... 15 Frank’s GMC, www.franksgmc.net.......................................................................... 15 Hackensack Meridian Health, www.hackensackumc.org.......................... Back Cover

print & digital visibility packages for your business

Hackensack Riverkeeper, www.hackensackriverkeeper.org................................... 31 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey,

www.horizonblue.com...............................................................Inside Front Cover

Hudson Physical Therapy, www.hudson-pt.com..................................................... 14 IBEW Local 164, www.ibew164.org........................................................................ 13 Il Villaggio, www.ilvillaggio.com............................................................................ 30 J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, www.jfcson.com............................................................. 5 Jewel Electric, www.jewelelectric.com.................................................................... 17

Meadowlands Magazine is

NOW REACHING

50,000

NAI James E. Hanson, www.naihanson.com.......................................................... 23

BUSINESS OWNERS/ EXECUTIVE AUDIENCE (TOTAL BASED ON PRINT & DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION)

Nanina’s In The Park, The Park Savoy & Park Chateau,

www.naninasinthepark.com.............................................................................. 34

MWW Group, www.mww.com.................................................................................. 2 Overhead Door, www.DockNDoor.com................................................................... 35 PIA, www.pia.org.................................................................................................... 29 ProCure Proton Therapy Center, www.procure.com.................................................. 9 Prologis, www.prologis.com................................................................................... 35 Spencer Savings Bank, www.spencersavings.com................................................... 1 Suez, www.suez.com...................................................................... Inside Back Cover Think Tank with Steve Adubato, www.nj.com/SteveAdubato.................................. 11

Now publishing: Meadowlands Magazine Meadowlands Live! | Visitors Guide Economic Development & Relocation Guide The Table: Metropolitan NJ Dining Guide Emerging Leaders Podcast Meadowlands Minute with Steve Adubato Financial Futures: Business 4.0

For more information on multimedia advertising in Meadowlands Media products, please contact Martha Morley at (201) 493-7996 or email: greerentps@aol.com

ADVERTISING CONTACT: MARTHA MORLEY 201) 493-7996 | GREERENTPS@AOL.COM

Call for new items! If your organization has news or announcements

MEADOWLANDSMEDIA.COM

JGaravente@meadowlands.org or call (201) 939-0707

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August 2021

to share with our audience, please send to Joe Garavente at

Investing in New Jersey

We’re working to keep the state strong by investing $640 million in critical infrastructure

HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER

THE ONLY PLACE WITH NJ’S #1 ADULT AND CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

We are honored that U.S. News & World Report has ranked Hackensack University Medical Center and Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital as the #1 adult and children’s hospitals in New Jersey. Hackensack University Medical Center is also proud to be home to the state’s best cancer center, and three specialties ranking in the top 50 nationally, including Cardiology & Heart Surgery, Neurology & Neurosurgery and Urology. And we’re among the state’s best for Geriatrics, Orthopedics and Gastroenterology & GI Surgery. Now more than ever, being recognized among the best only inspires us to keep getting better. Learn more at HackensackMeridianHealth.org.