Meadowlands USA: August/September

2015 Connecting New Jersey Businesses

Aug/Sept $4.00

Palisades Medical Center

Ranked Among the Top Hospitals in New Jersey: An Interview with President & CEO Bruce J. Markowitz

Health & Wellness Issue: The Benefits That Can Help Your Business

Keeping the Region Healthy: Developments & Growth at Our Hospitals

Fighting the Good Fight:

How Public Affairs & PR Firms Advocate for the Meadowlands Business Community

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WILLIAM MURRAY

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, NATIONAL DIRECTOR 201.460.2835 One Meadowlands Plaza East Rutherford, NJ 07073 FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT MWW.COM

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WE REACH HIGHER

WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER

Towering achievements through collaboration Local 825 Operating Engineers have been at the controls of high-rise construction from Atlantic City to Jersey City.

Our operators are the best trained and most experienced on any construction site. Yet it takes even more to raise productivity.

Collaboration is the key to reaching new heights and Local 825 Operating Engineers are trained to rely on construction team members to get big things done safely, on time and on budget.

Collaborating comes easily to us because our 6,500 members are involved in their communities every day of the year – as workers, volunteers, coaches, moms and dads.

We can help lift your productivity … and your bottom line.

Let’s reach new heights together.

Local 825 Operating Engineers work together to build better communities.

International Union of Operating Engineers

LOCAL 825

Greg Lalevee, Business Manager

BETTER BUILDING BEGINS HERE WWW.IUOE825.ORG

contents

Connecting New Jersey Businesses

L EADERSHIP C OUNCIL Allstate Bergen Community College Bergen Engineering/Branca Properties Boiling Springs Savings Bank Bruinooge & Associates Comfort Guard Contracting LLC Ernst & Young, LLP Eastwick Colleges Forsgate Industrial Partners FORT Group Goya Foods Hackensack University Medical Center Hartz Mountain Industries J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc. JACOBS Kearny Bank Meadowlink Commuter Services MetroMultiMedia MWW Group NAI James E. Hanson, Inc. New York Jets NJSEA Onyx Equities, LLC Prime MSP PSE&G Skanska USA TD Bank United Water NJ Verizon 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.

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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 Meadowlands Health & Wellness News From the Meadow

DEPARTMENTS

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Economic Update Accounting Business Wise Featured Member: Verizon New Jersey Insurance & Risk Management Health & Wellness Human Resources & Operations Public Affairs Legal Tech Talk Small Business Corner

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.

FEATURES

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Investing In Our Healthcare: An update on our regional hospitals Palisades Medical Center Ranked Among the Top Hospitals in New Jersey Fighting the Good Fight

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: Palisades Medical Center Ranked Among the Top Hospitals in New Jersey

MEADOWLANDS USA

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

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Business Report From the Desk of Rick Dabagian

Chairman of the Board of Directors, Meadowlands Regional Chamber

T

here are many chambers in the area serving a number of constituents. There are other professional organizations we belong to in an effort to sharpen business skills and strategic thinking. Why do so many organizations belong to the Meadowlands Regional Chamber? What sets us apart from other Chambers?

I confess, I was skeptical when first approached to join the MRC. At the time, I was involved with several business organizations and doubted there was anything new with the MRC scene. Eventually, I agreed to pony up a year’s membership and thought I just would not renew the next year. I not only was wrong, but I never looked back and cannot imagine where I would be professionally today had I not joined over 12 years ago. The question we must ask ourselves is why?

While circumstances can be different for members, one theme holds true and will for years to come: The MRC is an economic engine, providing opportunities for those who live, work and visit the region. Here are some reasons members join and how we can reach our goal of 1,500 members by December 2016: • Led by our President & CEO Jim Kirkos, there are few business leaders who command the respect and understanding Jim has in New Jersey. Having an exceptional Chamber office staff allows Jim to engage business leaders, along with small-business owners, with the same zeal and interest. From our officers, operating committee and board of advisors, I have never worked with such a dedicated and responsible group of individuals. Our committee chairs and members comprise the heart and soul of the organization. Without them, our fabric would look a lot different.

• The Chamber is often the only voice delivering member interests to area legislators on issues affecting the business community.

Members are frequently exposed to direct conversation with these leaders to discuss transportation issues, economic development, education and workforce development. I just returned from an engaging Eggs & Issues event featuring a dynamic presentation by Wayne Hasenbalg, CEO of the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, with over 100 attendees.

• Members have the opportunity, not only to network, but to have introductions made on behalf of member companies who look to meet other members. Connecting with customers, prospects and suppliers, members make friendships along the way. Chamber members look to assist other members.

• The Meadowlands continues to gain momentum as a destination of choice and will increase with American Dream and possible gaming in the future. Judith Ross heads our Meadowlands Liberty Convention & Visitors Bureau (MLCVB) and has engaged Chamber members from the tourism industry. This promotes the region to visitors while supporting the member’s property, restaurant or special events venue. This passionate group continues to support Chamber events and makes certain that whatever the event is and wherever it is held, we do things only one way: first class.

• Our calendar has over 75 events each year, attracting members who are interested in gaining professional development, getting involved with community activities and enjoying business discounts. Members know their next business opportunity may come from our Chamber family.

As I reflect on the past 18 months as chairman of the board, I assure you we have only begun to witness what lies ahead for us as professionals, volunteers and, in many cases, friends. We have a strong ‘farm team’ of members who continue to rise and fill the chairs of responsibility. I look forward to working with these dedicated people in the years ahead.

Respectfully,

Rick Dabagian To stay informed about more activities from the Meadowlands Regional Chamber please visit www.meadowlands.org.

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We have the energy to make things better [

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

]

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ECONOMIC UPDATE

Free & Low-Cost Training Workshops

EDA board action helps small businesses overcome barriers to success

A

ction taken by the Board of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) in July allows for the continuation of a strategic partnership with UCEDC, a statewide not-for-profit economic development corporation. The partnership helps to extend the state’s reach to underserved businesses and communities and expands the array of training and technical assistance services available to New Jersey entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Through a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) process, the Board approved a new contract between the EDA and UCEDC, which helps New Jersey businesses start, grow and thrive through procurement, technical assistance and innovative lending programs.

“Small businesses are critical to the state’s economy,” said EDA Chief Executive Officer Melissa Orsen. “Our partnership with UCEDC has allowed us to help businesses in a comprehensive way, from financial literacy programs and training workshops to guidance in the development of business plans—all steps that help to ensure a business will succeed.”

UCEDC offers a wide variety of free and low-cost training workshops, including a series of courses that help develop financial and business literacy for business owners at all stages of maturation and a comprehensive program that walks entrepreneurs through all aspects of starting a business, culminating in the development of a business plan. UCEDC also offers a range of financing vehicles. In addition to its strategic partnership, EDA also provided a $250,000 loan to UCEDC last year to help boost its lending capacity.

In 2014 alone, UCEDC trained or mentored more than 1,700 entrepreneurs, conducted 55 business training workshops and provided $4.1 million in loans to 45 small businesses—40 percent of which were minority- or woman-owned enterprises.

“We are delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with the EDA, which has helped us make our programs available to more New Jersey businesses, enabling them to expand and create jobs in the state,” said Maureen Tinen, President, UCEDC. Through the RFP process, the EDA first formed its partnership with UCEDC in 2008. UCEDC was selected again in 2011 for the second, three year contract award.

Orsen noted that the EDA’s partnership with UCEDC is part of the state’s ongoing commitment to supporting small business growth, which also includes dedicated programs that increase access to capital and offer competitive financing to businesses that may not qualify for traditional bank financing.

Through the Loans to Lenders Program, the EDA makes capital available to financial intermediary organizations that can effectively reach small businesses in local markets, including micro-lenders and Community Development Financial Organizations (CDFIs).

These organizations have the ability to offer term loans and lines of credit to micro-enterprises and small companies not qualified for traditional bank financing.

Since 2010, the EDA has provided a total of $5.5 million to five CDFIs, including the $250,000 loan to UCEDC. In addition, the Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation (GNEC), New Jersey

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Community Capital (NJCC), Community Business Assistance Corporation (CBAC) and Regional Business Assistance Corporation (RBAC) have also received assistance. Of the businesses supported with these funds to date, more than 50 percent are minority- or woman-owned.

The Small Business Fund provides financial assistance to qualified businesses through direct loans, participations or guarantees, with fixed interest rates. The EDA also partners with New Jersey’s banking community through its Premier Lender Program, which helps to lower the cost of borrowing for small businesses. Bond financing is also available for qualified manufacturers and not-forprofit organizations.

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 more about opportunities for business growth throughout New Jersey, visit the state’s business portal at www.NewJerseyBusiness.gov or call the Business Action Center at (866) 534-7789.

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ACCOUNTING

Succession Planning How to value & exit your company

I

n recent years, an aging population and tremendous U.S. wealth creation have created a need for business ownership transition and succession planning. This trend should continue and accelerate in the upcoming decade, making it imperative that business owners recognize the most fundamental and important challenge they face: valuing their company.

An accurate valuation not only helps owners execute a business succession efficiently, it preserves wealth and the business’s future growth prospects.

Certainly a business owner may execute an “exit event” for many reasons: gift and estate-tax planning, death or disability of the primary owner, divorce, bankruptcy or an offer from a prospective buyer.

In every case, a properly executed valuation is critical, and each type of exit event requires unique considerations that owners should recognize to protect their interests.

Owners often believe they have a strong understanding of their business’s value, based on their experience with the company. Unfortunately, this “personal valuation” may not fully reflect certain market conditions and other key factors. It may also be inconsistent with what prospective buyers are willing to pay.

A variety of factors may be to blame.

For instance, the value of a small or medium-sized business may include significant personal goodwill of the founder due to individual skills and customer relationships.

In such instances prospective buyers may

Maximizing after-tax proceeds requires the development of a blueprint for any successful transition.

—Emilio T. Escandon

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argue that a discount is appropriate, out of the assumption that once the owner exits much of the value may be lost. Additionally, owners preoccupied with running the business may neglect the business-value drivers that significantly affect the value of their ownership.

Owners may also rely on distorted or inaccurate information regarding the business’s value, due to rule-of-thumb values provided by brokers or hearsay.

To sell a business, the seller also of course must find a buyer willing to pay the desired price. But different levels of value may apply to the business, and the price may vary significantly, depending on who the prospective buyers are. For instance, a strategic buyer may offer a premium for the value of the business to eliminate the competition, acquire the customers or key suppliers or expand the company’s market share. This “strategic value” is the highest possible value a business owner may get and typically involves dismantling the business or incorporating it into other operations.

Then there are buyers interested in keeping the business intact and providing management and financial support as necessary to ensure future growth and profitability. These “financial investors” usually pay less than strategic investors due to their interest in maximizing their return on investment.

Third, there are opportunistic buyers AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

who want to capitalize on an advantage they may have over exiting business owners. These buyers usually offer a price that equates to buying an asset in a fire sale.

Most of the exit events described focus on maximizing the after-tax proceeds at the lowest risk possible, regardless of whether the event is planned. But maximizing after-tax proceeds requires the development of a blueprint for any successful transition.

A successful plan starts with expert advisors who, with a team of experienced tax-planning and valuation professionals, will identify and execute the most appropriate exit options. If a business owner procrastinates or chooses not to proactively plan an exit strategy, he or she may incur significant losses once the transition time arrives.

Clearly, the succession-planning process requires a deep understanding of the factors that drive value. At MBAF, skilled business-valuation professionals are dedicated to making the succession-planning process efficient and successful.

By Emilio T. Escandon, CPA, MBAF Principal, with contributing authors: Tony Argiz, CPA/ABV/CFF, ASA, CVA, CFE, Chairman, CEO, MBAF Principal; Richard Weiss, ASA, MSA, MBA, MS, MBAF Director; and Steven Blumenthal, CPA, MBAF Principal, who can be reached by email at sblumenthal@mbafcpa.com or by phone at 1-800-239-1474.

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BUSINESS WISE

Purchasing Practices

Save money & improve your business with these tips

S

aving money is one of the best ways to prepare for the future because needs and desires are sometimes unpredictable.

Furthermore, having extra money to spend gives you the ability to improve your business immediately. Maybe you need to train your employees. Maybe you need to hire new employees, or want to give productive employees a raise or a bonus. Maybe an unforeseeable disaster occurs and repairs need to be made.

Anything can happen in life and having extra money available can determine whether your business fails or succeeds.

One way to always have extra money is by saving it. You can save more money by putting these purchasing habits into practice:

ucts they need.

Before purchasing from any company, do research. Check the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, the company’s website or do a Google search to read reviews. Find out whether or not the prospective company offers quality service because paying for efficient, quality service will have a positive impact on your bank account balance in the end.

Purchase from the right people Be sure to purchase from people you know and trust. You should have a close and direct relationship with these people. Relationships like these are built upon loyalty.

People you know and trust will give you the information you need to achieve greatness because they want you to succeed.

They will tell you the truth because your friendship is important to them.

You can also purchase from vendors that your trusted contacts have close and direct relationships with. One way businesses lose money is by purchasing products from vendors they do not know. These vendors may not have your best interests in mind and they may be more concerned with making a quick buck.

Buy quality products at affordable prices Another way to save money is to purchase quality products at affordable prices. One way to do this is to purchase products when they go on sale. Many companies have sales throughout the year especially during important holidays. Purchasing products on sale will enable you to increase your savings, especially if you need to buy in bulk.

Also remember to shop around. Does another company sell the same product you are looking for at a cheaper price?

Also, do not forget about your trusted contacts. Is it possible that one of them has a business relationship that will enable them to get you a discount on the product you need?

Saving money is definitely beneficial to any business. That saved money may be the life jacket you need to sustain your business during an emergency. It can also help you pursue the goals you have to improve your business.

For our business, Bank Card Systems, we have applied many of these principles.

For example, we have saved ourselves and our clients’ money by establishing direct relationships with equipment manufacturers and eliminating the costs associated with third party vendors.

As you begin or continue your money-saving journey, remember to purchase products from someone you have a close and direct relationship with. Also, remember to pay for quality service. Be sure to purchase only what you need and be sure to purchase quality products at affordable prices.

Little by little, these purchasing practices will help you prepare for and secure the future of your business and those you serve.

Pay for quality service When it comes to saving money, purchasing efficient, quality service is key. Poor service can result in you spending more because the job was not completed correctly the first time. In addition, it can result in you wasting time and having to wait longer than expected to get the products you need.

This can keep you from running your business effectively and can prevent you from getting your customers the service or prod-

Purchase only what you need Save money by prioritizing potential purchases. What do you really need to buy?

Some companies try to encourage customers to buy by offering an incentive like a “Buy One, Get One” sale or a coupon. Seeing a sale or receiving a coupon does not mean you have to purchase anything. Sometimes purchasing something you do not need can be more detrimental than helpful.

By taking note of your needs in the

By Tarek Saheli, CEO of Bank Card Systems. Part of BCS’s mission is to save merchants’ money because they have their merchants’ best interests in mind. The company does so by acquiring savings through the elimination of third parties and by passing these savings on to its merchants.

In addition, BCS also lives up to its mission to save merchants money by offering many services for a small fee. Learn more at www.bcspos.com.

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past, you will be able to prioritize future needs and estimate when those needs might arise. This will help eliminate unnecessary spending, and it will also help you save more money.

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BUSINESS WISE

Effective Signage

Six strategies to draw your customers in

W

hat is the first thing that prospective customers see when they approach your business?

Your signage tells them where you are, draws their attention and attracts them into your business—or possibly drives them away.

Summing up your business brand for the world to see, your business signage creates that all-important first impression. How can you ensure it is a good one? Whether you are developing signage for a new business, or updating signage for an existing business, here are some factors to consider: 1. What are the constraints affecting signage in your area? Your city’s local zoning ordinances will typically govern the type of signage a business can have. For instance, there may be restrictions on the size of a sign, how it can be lit up and even the colors used. Your business location (such as a strip center, mall or downtown pedestrian area) may have its own restrictions. For instance, in one shopping center near my home, all businesses’ signs have to use the same font and a limited palette of colors to create a more uniform look.

2. What do you want to include in your sign? Your sign is a 24/7 branding tool, so ideally, you want to include your business logo and use your business’s color palette so that your signage harmonizes with the other visual aspects of your brand. However, if you have a complex logo or can’t use it for other reasons (such as zoning restrictions), try to at least use fonts and colors that tie in with your brand.

3. Think practical. We hae all seen examples of the business whose store sign is in a beautiful script that looks pretty, but is impossible to read—especially if you are whizzing by in a car going 45 miles an hour.

Always remember that the purpose of your sign is 1) to help customers find you and 2) to get prospects to notice you.

A hard-to-read sign might attract attention of prospects with time on their hands (“What does that say?”), but it will only frustrate customers trying to find you. Make sure your business signage is large enough, contrasting enough and the font clear enough

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to be easily readable from across the street, across the parking lot or wherever else your customers may be coming from.

4. Consider placement. Where your signage is placed has a big effect, too. A sign that is easy to read when lit at night may be hard to see in the bright light of day, when there is a lot of glare or when the sun hits it from a certain direction. Before investing in a permanent sign, try testing a banner with the same colors, fonts and font sizes in different places on your building.

You may discover that you need signs on two sides of your building; that tall trucks parked nearby block the view of your sign; or that a neighbor’s awning obstructs it from the street. It is best to learn these limitations now before you spend money on permanent installation.

5. Investigate additional signage options. Talk to your property landlord about options for additional signage to help attract more attention to your business. For instance, if your business is far off the street in the back of a big shopping center or office park, it may be impossible for customers to see from the AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

201.939.5577 x136

road. In this case, see if the center will consider putting up directional signs at the center entrances listing which businesses are where.

Strengthen your case by getting other businesses to ask for the same thing.

6. Keep it up. Once your sign is up, spend the time and money to maintain it. Replace burned-out bulbs promptly and keep it clean.

Nothing turns prospective customers off like a broken or partially burned-out sign. It tells people you don’t care—and when they see that, they won’t care to do business with you.

Rieva Lesonsky is CEO and President of GrowBiz Media, a media company that helps entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. Follow Rieva at Twitter.com/Rieva and visit SmallBizDaily.com to sign up for her free TrendCast reports. She has been covering small business and entrepreneurial issues for more than 30 years, is the author of several books about entrepreneurship and was the editorial director of Entrepreneur magazine for over two decades.

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BUSINESS WISE

Reducing Travel Fare Ideas for low-cost business trips

I

f your upcoming travel plans include a trip for business (or even for a leisure vacation) be sure to consider these tips for low-hassle, low-cost travel. A little planning can make your travel cheaper with less stress, too.

1. Sign up for cloud email & documents No more thumb drives or synching devices upon your return.

The beauty of the cloud is that you can easily carry your emails, photos, graphics and documents along with you. Everything is available in one place upon your return, no matter which device you use.

2. Use noise-canceling earphones Earphones that limit outside noise let you work no matter how many cranky babies are seated around you on the plane—or how many decibels are in that airport coffee shop. More importantly, they reduce noise-related stress.

3. Consider alternative methods of ground transportation Services like Uber are a good alternative to taxi cabs and rental cars in many cities. It can save money and it may be a convenient option in locations that lack good taxi service or where you do not need a rental car. You use a mobile app to request a pickup so the convenience factor can be helpful.

4. Lunch is cheaper so make it your main meal At most restaurants lunch is considerably cheaper than dinner.

Eating a big lunch late in the afternoon may save you money— especially over a week’s travel. Skip the evening meal with just a snack to tide you over.

5. Hit grocery stores instead of restaurants Who says you always have to eat in restaurants when traveling? Eating grocery store food instead of restaurant food can be cheaper and healthier. Price savvy travelers and those who watch their diets carefully look for nearby grocery stores. Buying food there—instead of going to an often overpriced restaurant—and taking it back to your room or to a local park will cut costs.

6. Make business your main travel purpose & you may be able to deduct it While it may be tempting to get some business done while on a family trip or other travel for pleasure, that may not be the smartest move from a tax deduction standpoint. That is because the IRS will only allow you to deduct for travel when primarily done for business.

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You can mix business with pleasure while on your business excursion—just be sure you do not deduct for the non-business part of your trip. And, most importantly, make sure you document your travel as being “primarily” for business.

7. When traveling internationally use a translation app Do not count on everyone speaking English in your international travels. Today there are translation apps you can use on your smartphone that will provide common travel phrases and requests to help you communicate. The TripLingo app, for example, not only provides a number of travel phrases but it will also provide instant voice translations in up to 19 languages.

8. Get a micro-projector If you give sales or customer presentations, you need some way to show your screen to a group. A micro-projector that can be used with a mobile device is a big help. Gone are the days of lugging a heavy projector around—or worse: asking the company you are visiting to use one.

9. Bring an extra charger No matter how many extra phone chargers you think you need, it is easy to run out. If you are traveling all day and taking connecting flights, you may not be able to find charging stations at airports—and when you use a GPS app to navigate around in a rental car, it practically drains your smartphone battery in front

of your eyes.

Even when I carry extra chargers and power everything up before I leave home or the hotel, I always seem to have something die before the day’s end. Do yourself a favor and get an additional backup battery/charger for your next trip.

10. Learn to pack efficiently Packing to save space is an art form and efficient packing can nearly double your space inside a suitcase or briefcase. This can also prevent costs associated with checked bags (or allow you to use a smaller carry-on, saving your back in the process).

Here are a few tips: • Roll clothes in plastic bags saves space and keep wrinkles down • Place smaller items inside larger items to save space • Explore mobile apps like the PackPoint app to help you plan your packing for extended trips 11. Email your important items to yourself in advance Always email yourself your full itinerary (including those all-important confirmation numbers) and a copy of your identification documents and your passport in advance. It is a small step, but if you have ever had a briefcase left behind in a rental car or your pocket picked, you will appreciate this.

If your boarding passes, ID, and/or passport get lost or stolen, you at least have access via email to recover them. This enables you to provide evidence to help you start the process of getting replacements and return home.

12. Check Seat Guru for the best seat choices Not all seats are the same on every plane or even on the same flight.

Seat Guru shows the configuration of the plane for each airline. It helps you determine the best seats by highlighting which seats have the most room, which seats do not recline, which have issues such as being too close to restrooms and other annoyances that can make travel less pleasant.

Be sure to open up SeatGuru.com, which is a free service, in another browser window to check when making seat selections. You’ll be glad you did.

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13. Don’t overlook the importance of “free” Breakfast is a particularly high-priced meal in most hotels, and WiFi can also be pricey at $15.00 to $20.00 per day in some locations. Some hotel chains offer free breakfast and free WiFi, sometimes just for those who are members of their rewards programs, so be sure to do your homework. Checked bag fees can mount up too, so take the time to look for airlines that offer free checked bags.

Saving on breakfast, WiFi access and baggage costs can save you hundreds on a single business trip.

Bank with us and stop paying for business checking.

Anita Campbell manages several online communities and information websites, reacing over 6 million small business owners, stakeholders and entrepreneurs annually—including Small Business Trends, a daily publication about small business issues, andBizSugar.com, a small business social media site.

42 Regional Offices 1-800-273-3406 kearnybank.com

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Verizon New Jersey Verizon’s Vision Verizon New Jersey 540 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07101 Location New Jersey Headquarters in Newark www.verizon.com/about/community/nj/ Top Executive Leecia Eve, Vice President Before joining Verizon in July 2013, Leecia Eve served as the Deputy Secretary for Economic Development for New York, and, as such, was the chief economic development advisor to New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. As Deputy Secretary, Ms. Eve focused on leveraging State resources to attract new investment in strategic industries and critical infrastructure through public-private partnerships, bring new businesses to New York and help New York’s businesses strengthen and expand, while marketing the Empire State as a state that is once again open for Business. She previously served in the Cuomo Administration as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Empire State Development, the primary economic development agency of the State of New York.

Year Founded 2000, through the merger of Bell Atlantic and GTE Number of Employees Over 15,000

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We believe in the power of technology to solve just about anything. That’s why we gather some of the sharpest minds and put them to work on the toughest challenges.

Our vision of the future is based on expanding global markets for mobility, broadband and video. Our investment in superior wireless, fiber-optic and global IP networks puts Verizon in the center of these powerful growth markets and enables us to deliver unique connected services on a global scale.

A Changing Industry

There has been an explosion in the use of wireless technology in almost every aspect of our daily lives. It is not surprising that the number of wired phones in New Jersey has declined dramatically over the last decade. Between 2003 and this year, we have lost more than 3.8 million landlines in New Jersey, a reduction of 261 percent. In the past three years, we declined from 2.1 million lines to less than 1.5 million.

Verizon is an Innovative Company

Our level of innovation is matched by our investment in the communications infrastructure we provide to millions of Americans. The telecommunications and cable industry as a whole deserves kudos, having invested $46 billion in 2013, more than any other industry. And within this group, Verizon excels. Verizon was on Progressive Policy Institute’s 2014 list of top “Investment Heroes.”

Last year, Verizon invested $15.4 billion in the U.S., more than Exxon Mobil, Chevron and Walmart. New Jersey is a state that prides itself on innovation and our company enables so much innovation to take place here. We have made a conscious choice to be here in a state of innovators and innovative leaders.

We have more than 15,000 employees in New Jersey and thousands of retirees, with robust pension benefits, who continue to call New Jersey home. We have a major corporate complex in Basking Ridge. In 2013, we paid $64.5 million in taxes to the state and local governments in New Jersey. In 2012, our statewide capital expenditures were $2.1 billion. This investment is extraordinary and one example of our commitment to New Jersey.

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

FEATURED MEMBER

The FIOS Network in New Jersey

To date, we have brought our all fiber-optic FiOS service to 358 towns in New Jersey. Verizon’s fiber-optic FiOS TV and FiOS Internet services are available to more than 2.1 million New Jersey homes and businesses.

Since 2007, we’ve done nearly 1,000 free services drops, providing FiOS TV and Internet to public schools, libraries and municipal buildings, as well as fire and police departments.

We have partnered with eight county colleges to offer training and equipment to local municipalities with public, education, government access channels, including Camden County College, Gloucester County College, Brookdale Community College, Mercer County Community College, Bergen Community College, Essex County College, the County College of Morris and Union County College.

We have launched 233 local access channels, providing municipal governments and schools with the opportunity to provide hyper-local information and programming to their residents.

Verizon is focusing on meeting its system-wide franchise obligations to build its fiber network to 70 of the state’s most populated municipalities and county seats by 2015, as required by state cable franchise law.

Verizon is a Responsible Citizen

In 2012 and 2013, through the Verizon Foundation, the company has provided more than $5.8 million in support of New Jersey community organizations. In 2013, Verizon employees provided 40,000 hours of volunteer work at their favorite New Jersey nonprofits. Verizon’s investment in the community reflects our commitment to progress in education, healthcare, domestic violence and sustainability. Verizon has been working on domestic violence issues for decades.

Since 2001, Verizon has been working with HopeLine, an organization that collects used wireless phones and accessories.

They are used to support organizations across the country that assists survivors of domestic violence. Verizon has collected more than 10 million phones nationwide, donated more than $18.1 million to domestic violence organizations and donated 151,000 HopeLine phones to victims and survivors.

In June, we launched a program through HopeLine called “Because Voices Have Power,” a national digital and social media campaign designed to increase awareness of domestic violence among consumers. We provide a platform for the public to send messages of hope to domestic violence victims and survivors.

Our education programs provide professional development, Verizon’s technology and employee initiatives to teachers and students in K-12 schools to support the integration of mobile technology. In support of ConnectED, Verizon will make an investment in education of up to $100 million in cash and inkind services over the next three years reaching more than 1,000 schools in all 50 states. The focus is on increasing STEM engagement and achievement of students in underserved schools.

Verizon is Committed to a Sustainable New Jersey

Verizon is investing more than $20 million to install new solar power systems at facilities in Carteret, Freehold and Piscataway that will generate more than 3.5 megawatts of power annually. Installation will be completed at the end 2015. Over the last two years, Verizon has invested more than $34 million in on-site green energy in New Jersey. Upon completion of the new solar projects, Verizon will operate an approximate 7 megawatt green energy system in the Garden State, which will produce more than 23 million kilowatt hours of green energy. That system produces enough green energy to power more than 2,000 homes annually.

Verizon is Committed to Diversity

Verizon is one of only 18 corporations in the entire country that is a member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable, which recognizes and celebrates corporations that spend at least $1 billion with diverse suppliers.

Last year, Verizon spent more than $6 billion. This is the sixth year in a row that we have been on the Roundtable. This has been good for Verizon, for our customers and for businesses across the state and nation.

In 2012, Verizon purchased $5.3 billion of goods and services nationally from women, veterans and minority owned businesses. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized Verizon as a Million Dollar Club member for its investment of $500 million to Hispanic-owned businesses in New Jersey.

Last year Verizon spent more than $4 million with minority-owned businesses and more than $46 million with women-owned businesses. In 2012, the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council recognized Verizon as a “Top Corporation” in supporting women-owned businesses. Nearly 40 percent of Verizon’s Board of Directors is comprised of women. In 2014 Working Mother magazine named us to its list of 25 best companies for multicultural women for the ninth consecutive year.

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INSURANCE & RISK MANAGEMENT

Business Liability Insurance

It is not one size fits all: tips for choosing the right coverage

S

tarting a small business is not a one size fits all-process. However, one best practice that all small businesses should consider is liability insurance. It is no surprise that most of the information out there about liability insurance comes directly from insurance providers, so it is important to do extensive research to ensure that you are relying on objective information to make business decisions.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers a wealth of information on liability insurance for small businesses that can help. Here are a few points to consider as you work to ensure that your business has complete protection:

So, what is liability insurance?

Liability insurance protects you from a variety of legal claims including bodily and personal injury as well as property damage that can occur during day-to-day business operations. If you do not have employees, you may not be required by law to have insurance, but you should still be prepared.

A single incident can unravel all of the hard work that you have done to build your business.

What you may not know is that there are different types of business liability insurance for every imaginable risk that your business might encounter. They include: • General liability Insurance • Product liability Insurance • Professional liability Insurance

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• Commercial property Insurance • Home-based business Insurance

General liability insurance

Business owners purchase general liability insurance to cover legal hassles due to accident, injuries and claims of negligence.

These policies protect against payments as the result of bodily injury, property damage, medical expenses, libel, slander, the cost of defending lawsuits and settlement bonds or judgments required during an appeal procedure.

Product liability insurance

Companies that manufacture, wholesale, distribute and retail a product may be liable for its safety. Product liability insurance protects against financial loss as a result of a defect product that causes injury or bodily harm. The amount of insurance you should purchase depends on the products you sell or manufacture. A clothing store would have far less risk than a small appliance store, for example.

Professional liability insurance

Business owners providing services should consider having professional liability insurance (also known as errors and omissions insurance). This type of liability coverage protects your business against malpractice, errors and negligence in provision of services to your customers. Depending on your profession, you may be required by your state government to carry such a poliAUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

cy. For example, physicians are required to purchase malpractice insurance as a condition of practicing in certain states.

Commercial property insurance

Property insurance covers everything related to the loss and damage of company property due to a wide-variety of events such as fire, smoke, wind and hail storms, civil disobedience and vandalism. The definition of “property” is broad, and includes lost income, business interruption, buildings, computers, company papers and money.

Property insurance policies come in two basic forms: 1) all-risk policies covering a wide-range of incidents and perils except those noted in the policy; 2) peril-specific policies that cover losses from only those perils listed in the policy.

Examples of peril-specific policies include fire, flood, crime and business interruption insurance. All-risk policies generally cover risks faced by the average small business, while peril-specific policies are usually purchased when there is high risk of peril in a certain area. Consult your insurance agent or broker about the type of business property insurance best suited for your small business.

Home-based business insurance

Contrary to popular belief, homeowners’ insurance policies do not generally cover

home-based business losses. Depending on risks to your business, you may add riders to your homeowners’ policy to cover normal business risks such as property damage. However, homeowners’ policies only go so far in covering home-based businesses and you may need to purchase additional policies to cover other risks, such as general and professional liability.

Identifying additional risk

Your business may require additional insurance options to cover things like commercial vehicles, property and medical payments. Speak to an experienced licensed insurance agent to go over the fine details of your business insurance needs on an annual basis. The type of business that you own will largely dictate which type of insurance (and how much) you will need. For example, a florist might not need as much coverage as a Jet Ski-rental company. The perceived risk for the florist is much lower, so they may not need as much coverage.

Does your business utilize expensive machinery, cars, and/or employees? What is involved in your day-to-day operations?

No one knows your business as well as you do, so take the time to consider any and all perceived risks and be sure to flag them in the discussion with your insurance agent.

Employment insurance

Small business employers are required by law to have certain types of coverage. Each state has its own specific requirements, so it is important to research the laws in New Jersey: www.nj.gov/labor The three key insurance requirements typically include: • Workers’ Compensation Insurance • Unemployment Insurance Tax • Disability Insurance (in some states) Last but not least, make sure that you shop around. We often stress the importance of maintaining and utilizing your network—and this is yet another great opportunity to reach out for referrals and to connect with other small business owners regarding their experiences with a licensed insurance agent or provider.

Mariama Bramble is a contributor to the SBA’s blog which can be found at www.sba.gov/blogs.

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

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Investing In Our Healthcare An update on our regional hospitals

“T

he only thing permanent is change”, wrote the ancient Greek, Heraclitus, and two of our Meadowlands Regional Chamber member hospitals are most certainly giving living expression to that sentiment. Hackensack University Health Network (HackensackUHN), parent company of Hackensack University Medical Center (HackensackUMC), and Palisades Medical Center (PMC) joined hands in a clinical affiliation about three years ago. But just this past spring, the affiliation morphed into a partnership.

One of the great Robber Barons of the American industrial ascendancy, J. P. Morgan, enjoyed saying, “I like a little competition but I like a little combination better.”

In that spirit, HackensackUHN signed a definitive agreement with PMC to make it a part of its expanding network.

“We are proud to sign this definitive agreement with Palisades Medical Center,” said Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of HackensackUHN. “We have been fortunate to partner with Palisades since 2012 through a successful clinical affiliation. Working together, we have enhanced and expanded the award-winning programs provided at Palisades and we will continue to do so. I am grateful for the leadership of Palisades’ CEO, Bruce Markowitz, and Theresa De Leon, chairwoman of the board, for their partnership and vision.”

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HackensackUMC Palisades As a result, Palisades Medical Center will be known as HackensackUMC Palisades, taking its place as a full member of the HackensackUHN, greatly benefitting and expanding services to the Hudson County region.

“The definitive agreement with the Hackensack University Health Network signifies a meaningful evolution of progress for Palisades Medical Center,” said Bruce J. Markowitz, president of PMC. “Most importantly, this relationship provides tremendous benefits to our patients as they will have access to exceptional specialty services at the local level, in their own backyard. We are very proud to partner with the leading healthcare organization in the region.”

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

three other major developments were fulfilled when they announced partnerships with Meridian Health, Seton Hall University (SHU) and, just this past month, a new clinical affiliation with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center.

John Theurer Cancer Center brings state-of-the-art cancer care to Hudson County with new Palisades Medical Center facility

The John Theurer Cancer Center at Palisades HackensackUMC recently opened the John Theurer Cancer Center at Palisades Medical Center, a new 9,600-square-foot outpatient facility overlooking the Hudson River and New York City skyline.

There, patients receive the same world-class cancer care that has long been available in HackensackUMC. This facility gives Palisades’ patients access to the best diagnostic and treatment technologies and the opportunity to enroll in more than 200 clinical trials.

“We now offer the highest quality cancer care to the Palisades community,” said Markowitz.

PMC has been widely recognized for its contributions this past year. Inside Jersey magazine and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. ranked it among the Top Hospitals in New Jersey and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association recognized it with their “Get With The Guidelines® Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Award” for their treatment of heart failure and stroke patients. In addition, Modern Healthcare designated it among the “Best Places To Work in Healthcare” in that it empowers employees to perform at their optimum level to provide patients and customers with the best possible care.

Its new 57,000-square-foot medical office building provides state-of-the-art ambulatory and specialty-care services. It houses a dialysis center; the new cancer center; an ambulatory center for endoscopy, cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopaedics; and multi-specialty physician practices from HackensackUMC. Ever-true to its roots as a nonprofit community hospital, PMC also has expanded its already-extensive outreach programs designed to improve the health and access to care for everyone in its community.

In 2014, 3,500 uninsured and underinsured residents received free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate, body mass index/BMI, peak flow and pulse oximetry. Twelve hundred residents learned directly from medical experts about key health topics, including obesity and nutrition, pain management, smoking cessation, diabetes, podiatry and women’s health issues, such as breast cancer. And finally, PMC participated in 88 community health fairs.

Seated from left to right, Joseph Simunovich, chairman of Hackensack University Health Network Board of Trustees; Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, president and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network; John K. Lloyd, FACHE, president and CEO of Meridian Health; Gordon Litwin, Esq., chairman of Meridian Health Board of Trustees.

Meridian Health partnership Meridian Health recently joined hands with HackensackUHN in a definitive agreement to merge and become Hackensack Meridian Health. The agreement followed seven months of due diligence, but the merger still requires state and federal regulatory clearance—which both health systems expect within the next nine to 12 months.

“Hackensack University Health Network is pleased to partner with Meridian Health in this historic merger,” said Garrett. “From the beginning, both organizations knew we wanted to do the right thing for the people of New Jersey. Hackensack Meridian Health will truly elevate the level of healthcare provided throughout much of New Jersey by creating the state’s most comprehensive healthcare system.”

The combined entity will include 11 hospitals: Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune; Ocean Medical Center, Brick; Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank; Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin; Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel; Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge; Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy; Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack; HackensackUMC Mountainside, Montclair; HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley, Westwood; and HackensackUMC Palisades, North Bergen; and, two children’s hospitals: K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital in Neptune and Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack.

The combined entity will employ approximately 25,000 team members and nearly 6,000 physicians.

Standing, left to right: Patrick Murray, chairman of the Seton Hall Board of Regents; Joseph Simunovich, chairman of the Hackensack University Health Network Board of Trustees.

Sitting, left to right: A. Gabriel Esteban, president of Seton Hall University

Hackensack University Medical Center likes the fast lane It’s difficult to include HackensackUMC or HackensackUHN in an article like this—because what you really ought to be doing is writing a book.

Besides all that they have achieved in cooperation with PMC,

Seton Hall University & a new medical school In June 2015, HackensackUHN and SHU announced they had signed a definitive agreement to form a new, four-year private

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Continued from pg. 21

school of medicine. The school intends to locate on the campus of the former Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. (Roche), a state-of-the-art biomedical facility, in Nutley and Clifton. This definitive agreement marks yet another step forward for the new school of medicine. Earlier this year, the New Jersey Board of Medical Examiners granted conditional approval to the project, subject to the approval from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

Establishing a school of medicine with the backing of two esteemed institutions will, they believe, attract the best and brightest to the field of medicine in New Jersey and help curb the critical physician shortage that the state and the nation currently face.

By 2020, it is estimated that there will be a shortage of 2,500 physicians in the Garden State. HackensackUHN and SHU’s joint venture to create a premier academic institution will help combat the physician shortage by providing key educational, research and career opportunities to incentivize the next generation to pursue a career in medicine. SHU’s plan to co-locate its College of Nursing and School of Health and Medical Sciences with the new school of medicine is not only innovative but mirrors how healthcare will be delivered in the future. HackensackUHN’s hospitals will serve as the primary clinical teaching sites for SHU and SHU-affiliated graduate education programs.

“We are excited to be taking this next step with Seton Hall University. Our academic reputations, combined with our clinical expertise, will guarantee the establishment of a world-class academic institution in the Garden State,” said Garrett. “New Jersey has long been known as a home to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, and it is imperative we continue to support our future workforce through a premier school of medicine.”

“Seton Hall University has always been committed to academic excellence and servant leadership,” said Dr. A. Gabriel Esteban, president of SHU. “As a Catholic university with strong programs in the sciences, nursing, health and medical sciences, and health law, we are perfectly poised to create a school of medicine that will educate talented people in the diverse fields of healthcare.”

Englewood Hospital Medical Center affiliation Then, there is Englewood Hospital and Medical Center (EHMC) which has entered into a new clinical and academic affiliation with HackensackUHN. They will become a member of HackensackUHN, which will enable EHMC to cost-effectively implement an upgrade of information technology systems, including its electronic medical record (EMR) system. Membership also will connect EHMC to a growing consortium of hospitals and hospital networks in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including HackensackUHN— with opportunities to offer services at significantly lower costs.

In an earlier clinical alliance, EHMC and HackensackUHN agreed to create a regional cardiac surgery program, anticipated to become one of the largest such programs in Northern New Jersey, and serving as a national model for collaborative care. Both systems already boast award-winning heart surgery outcomes that rival any in the tri-state area. The combined service will further drive outstanding quality as well as improved access to cardiac surgical services for patients in the region.

Unsurprisingly, in closing, there is one telling note of interest and excellence. Garrett has been ranked as “The Most Powerful

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Healthcare Leader” on NJBIZ’s “Power 50 Health Care” list.

In simply reading the above, you certainly know why both he and the organization he serves boldly go forward.

Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center is located in Secaucus.

Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center For its part, Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center (MHMC) is celebrating the enhancements to its state of the art emergency room (ER). They recently instituted a program that will ensure every ER patient is seen by a nurse within five minutes of arrival and by an ER physician within 15 minutes of arrival. This means that patients can be evaluated and move on to the next stage of treatment or discharge within a couple of hours, rather than the traditionally long ER waits of so many other hospitals.

The hospital has made significant investments in information technology in recent years, especially within the ER. The ER is fully digital and paperless, providing for real-time tracking of patients, their treatments and test results. As a result, they can keep patients and families up to date with the most current medical information.

With their technologically-advanced diagnostic imaging and laboratory services, their ER team ensures patients that they will receive appropriate tests from the onset. This adds an additional level of efficiency in diagnosis and treatment.

Utilizing state-of-art equipment, including some of the newest and most modern ambulances in the region, the MHMC EMS team exceeds patient expectations for medical transportation. MHMC also offers a Specialty Care Transport Unit (SCTU), a specialized ambulance staffed by highly trained registered nurses (RN) and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). It provides transport between medical facilities for critically-ill patients.

By Rich Fritzky, retired President & CEO of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber and founding editor of Meadowlands USA

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An interview with President & CEO Bruce J. Markowitz

alisades Healthcare Systems, Inc. comprises 449 hospital and long-term care beds through its hospital and The Harborage nursing home and most recently opened a 57,000-square-foot Medical Office Building on its campus overlooking the Hudson River.

Palisades Medical Center has been ranked among New Jersey’s top hospitals by Inside Business magazine and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. Located in North Bergen, it has a total of 202 beds and serves a population of 400,000 patients in Hudson County and South Bergen County.

We sat down with President and CEO of Palisades Healthcare Systems, Inc. Bruce J. Markowitz to gain his perspective on the hospital’s past, present and future and how it is leveraging new technology and forging academic, clinical and community-based partnerships to better serve the region.

What is the Palisades Medical Center’s mission?

Palisades Medical Center’s mission is to enhance the health status of the diverse communities we serve and deliver patient 24

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Awards & Achievements for Palisades Medical Center Ranked among the top hospitals in the state by Inside Jersey magazine and Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. PMC ranked “Best Places to Work in Healthcare” by Modern Healthcare American Heart Association recognizes Palisades with their “Get With The Guidelines Gold-Plus Quality Achievement Awards” for the Medical Center’s treatment of heart failure and stroke patients This past June, diplomas were handed out to medical residents who completed their training The Harborage was named on U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Nursing Homes” List and received a 5-star rating from both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services

care in a safe and nurturing environment consistent with the highest standards of excellence, quality and efficiency, and with strict adherence to ethical practices. Our mission also includes a strong academic commitment to train future physicians to be leaders in healthcare by delivering world class, compassionate medical care.

Palisades Medical Center is the largest employer in its service area and in addition to being ranked as a top hospital, it has also been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s “Best Places to Work in Healthcare.”

What new technologies and programs are PMC introducing to help the welfare of their patients moving forward?

As a nonprofit hospital, Palisades Medical Center allo-

cates resources, including the support of our benefactors, for projects that impact our mission. We have significantly invested in the latest, effective technologies to provide our patients with the best health care resources available. For example, our EHR system (Electronic Health Records) provides our nurses, physicians, interns and residents with state of the art tools that enhance patient care for the most effective results while maintaining the privacy and security of patient data.

All of our patient rooms have been renovated (pictured above), with all new furnishings to optimize comfort, safety and care of our patients. Nursing stations have also been updated to strengthen patient monitoring and safety.

PMC’s new on-campus Medical Office Building (pictured above) is also providing new, specialized services for community residents that previously had to travel outside of our local communities for MEADOWLANDS USA

these services. The new 57,000-squarefoot facility provides state-of-the-art ambulatory and specialty care services.

Services featured in the new building include the Palisades Dialysis Center; HUMC’s John Theurer Cancer Center at Palisades; Cardiology, Orthopedics, Women’s Health, and multi-specialty physician practices from Hackensack University Medical Center. The new Ambulatory Care Center expands Palisades Medical Center’s capabilities and provides our community with convenient access to new, specialty care services that they would otherwise not find locally in our communities.

Preparing the next generation of physicians brings vibrancy to our Medical Center and enhances our efforts to provide quality health care to our communities. Our robust Graduate Medical Education Program now includes more than 110 residents that specialize in Dermatology, Continued on pg. 26

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Palisades Medical Center in the Community 5,000 residents received free health screenings, including blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, heart rate, body mass index/BMI, peak flow and pulse oximetery An additional 2,500 residents learned directly from medical experts about key health topics, including obesity and nutrition, pain management, smoking cessation, diabetes, podiatry, and women’s health issues such as breast cancer 88 community health fairs and events annually done in conjunction with partnering schools, employers, civic organizations, and religious congregations throughout our area to educate residents, improve access to care, and reduce health disparities

Mayor Nicholas Sacco, Chairwoman of PMC Board Theresa de Leon, PMC President and CEO Bruce J. Markowitz, HUMC President and CEO Robert C. Garrett, and Chairman of HUMC Board Joseph Simunovich

Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gastroenterology, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Podiatry and Orthopedics. All specialties embrace a curriculum that emphasizes compassionate medical care, an active role in patient advocacy and community service. Ultimately, many of our program graduates will continue to serve the residents of our local communities.

Also, because of the culturally diverse patient population we serve, Palisades Medical Center has implemented a video translation service throughout its facility to enhance communications between caregivers and both inpatients and outpatients. Available 24/7, it features live, private interpretations by certified medical translators in 13 languages.

Recently, Palisades Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center joined together. The agreement signifies a medical evolution in the state of New Jersey. What was the reasoning behind this partnership and what are the two parties looking to do in the future to help the larger community?

This new relationship represents significant benefits for patients as they will have access to exceptional specialty services in their own backyard. A perfect example of how this partnership benefits our community is the new John Theurer Cancer Center at our new, on campus medical office building. Patients receive the same world-class cancer care available at the John Theurer Cancer Center at HUMC on our campus. The outpatient facility will help provide state-of-the-art cancer care to the estimated 4,000 Hudson County & Southern Bergen County patients in need of cancer treatment annually. As a result, our community has direct access to a nationally recognized cancer center.

Another example is Palisades Medical Center’s Neonatal Level 2 Nursery. Thanks to our affiliation with HackensackUMC, parents-to-be that come to Palisades can feel confident in knowing that they will receive the highest quality care in our Maternity Center and in our Neonatal Level 2 Nursery should health problems arise.

In the fall of 2014, Hackensack University Health Network and PMC signed a letter of intent further expanding its partnership. This partnership integrates PMC as a full member of the Hackensack University Health Network, greatly expanding services to the Hudson and Southern Bergen County regions, and both organizations have moved into the next steps of regulatory approval. We are very proud to partner with the leading healthcare organization in the region—and excited with the opportunity it represents to improve the health of our communities.

Throughout the year, Palisades Medical Center’s dedicated staff and volunteers work to educate local residents about health and wellness issues. Can you expand on your community outreach program and what are some things PMC does to help better our community?

At Palisades Medical Center, we are proud of our strong tradition of caring for our community. Our staff and volun-

GME Residents

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Continued from pg. 25

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ollaboration is the future of healthcare.

The sharing of ideas, best practices and resources is an integral part of our success. Earlier this year, Hackensack University Health Network (HackensackUHN) was proud to sign a definitive agreement with Palisades Medical Center, marking another step for Palisades to become a full member of our expanding Network. We have been fortunate to partner with Palisades since 2012 through a successful clinical affiliation. Working together, we have enhanced and expanded the award-winning programs provided at Palisades, and will continue to do so. This new partnership will continue to place HackensackUHN’s hospitals on the cutting-edge of medicine and healthcare delivery for its patients; expanding the Network’s reach into Hudson County. It is a welcome addition to our HackensackUHN family of hospitals: HackensackUMC, HackensackUMC at Pascack Valley and HackensackUMC Mountainside.”

–Robert C. Garrett President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hackensack University Health Network

teers work with our community partners and stakeholders to improve the lives of thousands of local residents. Our clinical and medical staff, employees and volunteers work with community leaders, municipality healthcare agencies, EMS representatives and other key partners to offer free health screenings, educational seminars, training and classes, facility tours and other activities. In fact, the New Jersey Hospital Association has recognized our efforts with its Community Outreach Award.

PMC’s strategic plan aligns with the Affordable Care Act’s requirement for hospitals to identify, analyze and address the healthcare needs of their service areas. Consequently, many Palisades Medical Center doctors participate in an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) with Hackensack University Medical Center in order to improve the quality and efficiency of the care they provide. This helps en-

sure quality metrics are in place that focus on patient-centered care and increased coordination of care among providers.

In order to effectively address population health issues, Palisades Medical Center developed a Community Health Needs Assessment through a collaborative effort of our community partners that worked throughout past years to identify the most-pressing healthcare needs in our service area. This assessment includes action items and plans to address the prevailing healthcare concerns in our community.

One of the needs identified as a chronic illness in our community is cardiovascular disease. PMC has responded to this need by implementing an evidence-based Care Transitions Intervention Model for cardiac care. This program is working to accelerate the process of reducing readmissions, increasing patient understanding of their disease, advancing medication management and improving care MEADOWLANDS USA

processes of heart failure (HF) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. To view the Community Health Needs Assessment, you can visit our website www. palisadesmedical.org.

PMC is also working to improve access to healthcare for residents in our local communities with our “Home Visit” program. Many of PMC’s physicians now perform home visits to better serve patients and ensure appropriate care and follow-up. This brings convenience along with specialized care to our home-bound patients and those who face significant challenges accessing medical care.

This year, we also successfully implemented Jersey Health Connect at PMC. This important initiative allows patients and their healthcare providers to easily and securely access medical information to improve quality of care, prevent potential medical errors and reduce unnecessary testing and treatments.

Continued on pg. 28

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“W

e are very proud of our collective efforts to improve the health status of our communities, and inspired by the commitment of our community stakeholders that work alongside us to fulfill our collective mission.”

–Bruce J. Markowitz President & Chief Executive Officer of Palisades Healthcare Systems, Inc.

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Continued from pg. 27

All of these efforts represent a solid foundation to support our public health initiatives that will help improve the well-being of our neighbors and our community.

Established in 1991, The Harborage is a 247-bed nursing home and rehabilitation center for patients recovering from surgeries, strokes and debilitating injuries—and those that need long term nursing care. What does The Harborage at Palisades Medical Center do to stand out among the rest of nursing homes in New Jersey?

Since opening its doors in 1991, The Harborage has been recognized and honored for consistently providing patient-centered care in a safe, nurturing environment with the highest standards of excellence, quality and compassion. The Harborage has been successful because residents, families and care-givers collectively build and foster a spirit of community in a positive, compassionate and unique setting.

U.S. News & World Report has recognized The Harborage as one of the nest nursing homes in the nation.

U.S. News & World Report creates the annual “Best Nursing Homes” list by using data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that sets and enforces standards for nursing homes. U.S. News & World Report awards the “Best Nursing Homes” designation to facilities that earned an overall rating of five stars. Nursing home ratings are based on overall performance in health inspections, nurse staffing and quality of medical care.

In addition to the U.S. News & World Report rankings, The Harborage also recently received a 5-star rating, the highest rankings possible, from both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services.

The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is responsible for ensuring that nursing home facilities are compliant with mandatory federal and state regulations.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Safety is an Investment

Create a safer workplace through employee engagement

What is a safety perception survey?

The survey is designed to capture perceptions of management and employees on a broad spectrum of elements that contribute to successful safety management.

Personnel who participate in the survey are asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with a variety of work safety-related statements. Survey participants reply, using a five-point scale, from strongly agree to strongly disagree. These responses generate comparative percentile values.

The comparative percentile scores aid in establishing improvement priorities and tailoring improvements. The data can be compared to prior survey results to measure and identify trends in safety perceptions.

Safety perception survey tips

Perception Gap

When developing your Safety Perception Survey, consider the following:

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neutral

Agree

Please read each statement carefully and provide your open and honest opinion 1. It is common for employees to take part in identifying and eliminating worksite hazards.

2. Safety never takes a back seat to assigned tasks.

3. Employees often get involved in developing or revising workplace safety and health practices.

4. Detailed inspections of the workplace are mad at regular, frequent intervals.

5. Management’s views on the importance of safety are often stressed in employee communications.

For ease of analysis and in order to compare items and rank average response scores, all statements should be construed as positive.

A higher average response score then indicates a more favorable response than a lower average response score—and items can be compared apples to apples.

Share the results: In areas where the Safety Perception Survey indicates problems, we suggest that each problem be verified, its nature defined, and the management system inadequacies that produce them be eliminated.

The survey participants will value your candor and respect your honesty. Safety perception surveys are a powerful tool for understanding and benchmarking your company’s march towards world-class safety performance!

Sunny Corona is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) Consultant with over 30 years of experience working with small and global size companies. She is a managing member of Custom Safety Services, LLC, a full service safety consulting company. Sunny and her partner provide on-site, customized employee training and OSHA compliance services (including written programs) for employers covered by the OSHA “1910-General Industry” safety standards. Sunny can be reached at (201) 703-6966 or Sunny@CustomSafetyServices.com.

Employee Ratings

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Survey questions: Statements in the survey may present either a positive or negative description or perception of the safety program.

For example, “Good teamwork exists within our department” is a positive item, while, “Safety takes a back seat to performing duties” is a negative item.

Strongly Agree

S

afety Programs/training/committees should always be viewed as an investment, therefore, subject to measurable results analysis.

A properly administered Safety Perception Survey will provide the measureable “objectives” for achieving the “goal” of a safe workplace.

Safety perception surveys allow management to: • Evaluate employee and management perceptions of the existing safety program • Identify behaviors, attitudes and other factors hindering safety program outcomes • Provide management with valid leading indicator safety metrics • Effectively incorporate safety into the improvement process • Increase employee engagement and morale • Motivate your organization to find gaps, develop an action plan and make positive changes

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NJ Sharing Network is committed to saving and enhancing lives through the miracle of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Funds raised by the NJ Sharing Network Foundation support donor families, research, and education about organ and tissue donation.

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For more information regarding Weiss Realty Co. Inc.’s Healthcare Real Estate Services Please Call Jaime M. Weiss or Matthew B. Weiss.

Weiss Realty Co. Inc. 250 Moonachie Road, Moonachie, New Jersey 07074 201.814.1800 www.jweissrealty.com jweiss@jweissrealty.com mweiss@jweissrealty.com

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

HEALTH & WELLNESS

New ACA Provisions

Should companies change policy year to delay compliance with ACA provisions?

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epresentatives from several insurance carriers are encouraging employers with 51-100 full-time employees (FTE) to move their policy years to October 1 – September 30, effective October 1, 2015, to delay certain Affordable Care Act (ACA) design requirements applicable to non-grandfathered group health plans for plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, summarized as follows: • Small, insured group health plans must offer essential benefits and provide a bronze level of coverage.

• Insurance carriers will be subject to new underwriting rules with respect to small, insured groups. Instead of using experience rating, carriers will use community rating.

Rating variations will be restricted to: a) benefit coverage elected (plan and tier) b) geographic area c) age, limited to a ratio of 3 to 1 for adults d) tobacco use, limited to a ratio of 1.5 to 1.

offered by the health insurance issuer.

An employer who employs 51-100 employees is not required to remain with the same insurer between 2013 and 2016 in order to be eligible for transitional relief in 2016.

The definition of “small employer” will increase from an employer with up to 50 employees to an employer with up to 100 employees, beginning with the 2016 plan year.

The compliance issues associated with this proposal are outlined below.

The other conditions are as follows: 1) Limited Workforce Size - The employer employs on average at least 50 FTEs (including full-time equivalent employees) but fewer than 100 FTEs (including full-time equivalent employees) on business days during 2014.

2) Maintenance of Workforce and Aggregate Hours of Service - During the period beginning on February 9, 2014 and ending on December 31, 2014, the employer does not reduce the size of its workforce or the overall hours of service of its employees in order to satisfy the workforce size condition described above.

Bona fide business reasons for a reduction in workforce size or overall hours of service will not be considered to violate this provision. For example, reductions of workforce size or overall hours of service because of business activity such as the sale of a division, changes in the economic marketplace in which the employer operates, terminations of employment for poor performance, or other similar changes unrelated to eligibility for this transition relief are for bona fide business reasons and will not affect eligibility for the transition relief.

3) Maintenance of Previously Offered Health Coverage During the coverage maintenance period, the employer does not eliminate or materially reduce the health coverage, if any, it offered as of February 9, 2014.

For purposes of this paragraph, the term “coverage maintenance period” means for an employer with a calendar year plan, the period beginning on February 9, 2014 and ending on December 31, 2015; and for an employer with a non-calendar year plan, the period beginning on February 9, 2014 and ending on the last day of the plan year that begins in 2015. An employer is not treated as eliminating or

Notably: • There is transition relief available in some states by some carriers which allows employers to keep their current products through September 30, 2017; and • Changing the plan year to later in the calendar year will expose a mid-sized employer to the employer penalty as of January 1, 2015 rather than the first day of the 2016 plan year.

CMS transitional policy Under a transitional policy, non-grandfathered health insurance coverage in the 51 – 100 market that is renewed for a policy year starting between January 1, 2016 and October 1, 2016 (even if the employer did not previously have health insurance coverage) will not be considered to be out of compliance with newly effective market reforms if permitted by the state and

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2015 transition relief for employers with 50-99 full-time employees Beginning in 2015, large employers can be subject to penalty when not offering affordable, minimum value coverage to all full-time employees. Final rules provide relief for mid-sized employers to delay the Employer Penalty until 2016.

The transition relief applies to all calendar months of 2015 plus any calendar months of 2016 that fall within the employer’s 2015 plan year so will cover non calendar-year plans, but only if the employer did not modify the plan year after February 9, 2014 to begin on a later calendar date (for example, changing the start date of the plan year from January 1 to December 1).

materially reducing health coverage if: • It continues to offer each employee who is eligible for coverage during the coverage maintenance period an employer contribution toward the cost of employee-only coverage that either: o Is at least 95 percent of the dollar amount of the contribution toward such coverage that the employer was offering on February 9, 2014; or o Is the same (or a higher) percentage of the cost of coverage that the employer was offering to contribute toward coverage on February 9, 2014.

• When there is a change in benefits under the employee-only coverage offered, that coverage provides minimum value (MV) after the change; • It does not alter the terms of its group health plans to narrow or reduce the class or classes of employees (or the employees’ dependents) to whom coverage under those plans was offered on February 9, 2014.

4) Certification of Eligibility for Transition Relief - The large employer certifies on Form 1094-C that it meets the (1) – (3) above.

Plan Year v. Policy Year The policy year is relevant for transition rule purposes. The plan year is relevant for employer penalty purposes. A plan year is an accounting period. It is usually the same as the policy year (the period for which rates are locked in), but not always.

To confirm the plan year, employers can examine the summary plan description and/or Form 5500.

Employers relying on transition relief for the employer penalty until 2016 will no longer qualify if they change their plan years along with their policy years.

If employees pay premiums on a pre-tax basis, there should be a plan year change for the cafeteria plan. Any plan year change would have to be properly documented.

It may be desirable to change other policy years (e.g., for the disability and life insurance plans) as well to maintain a consistent program.

Bottom Line Employers with 51-100 full-time employees can move their policy years to October 1 – September 30, effective October 1, 2015, to delay certain design requirements applicable to non-grandfathered group health plans. In addition to changing a policy year, employers should change the plan years of their cafeteria plans to allow employees to make pre-tax elections for the new period of coverage.

Also, if desired, employers should change the policy years of their other underlying benefit plans. Employers with 50-99 full-time employees relying on transition relief for the employer penalty until 2016 should not change their plan years along with their policy years.

By Patti Goldfarb, an employee benefits specialist, and owner of the Employee Benefits Advisors Group. She has written and spoken about healthcare reform since its passage in 2010. If your business would like a consultation, Patti can be reached at (201) 255-6239 or pgoldfarb@ebagroup.net.

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

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

The SHOP Exchange Expands Small business can enroll employees anytime

I

1) Everything is online. Visit HealthCare.gov/small-businesses/ to apply for the SHOP Marketplace. Choose a plan or plans, complete your coverage offer, manage employee participation and pay your premiums. Your enrollees can apply online too.

2) Flexible coverage options. You control the coverage you offer and how much you pay toward employee premiums. You choose whether to offer dependent coverage and dental insurance.

You choose how long your employees’ open enrollment period is and the waiting period before new employees can enroll.

3) There is help to apply and enroll. Licensed agents and brokers registered to work with the SHOP Marketplace can help you apply and enroll for coverage. You can also continue to use your current agent or broker as long as they complete the SHOP Marketplace registration requirements.

Working with a SHOP-registered agent or broker does not cost you or your employees a dime. When you apply, you can search for agents and brokers registered to sell SHOP Marketplace plans by name and ZIP code.

4) Employee choice. In all states, you can offer one health and one dental plan to your employees. In some states, you can choose a coverage category, like Bronze or Silver, and let your employees select the plan that meets their needs within the category that you choose.

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Protect more. For less.

I can help you save money now.

Call me first to save on insurance for your car, home, boat, and motorcycle - all through my agency. Plus, you don’t have to wait until your policy expires to switch. Ask me about the Early Signing Discount.* Call me today.

Dave Meredith Agency 201-355-8090 50 Union Avenue Rutherford dmeredith@allstate.com

Proud to offer Good Hands® protection to our community. *Early Signing Discount requires switching your insurance 7 or more days prior to the effective date of your new policy. In some states, discount diminishes each renewal, and in some states disappears. Coverages and discounts are subject to terms, qualifications, and availability. Allstate New Jersey Property and Casualty Insurance Co., Bridgewater, NJ, Allstate New Jersey Insurance Co. Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Co.

143990

f you are a small business owner, you know how important it is to offer high-quality, affordable health and dental coverage that meet the needs of your business and your employees. The Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace can help you do that by offering flexibility, choice and the convenience of online application and account management.

The SHOP Marketplace is currently open to employers with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees (FTE’s), including nonprofit organizations.

In 2016, the SHOP Marketplace will be available to larger businesses with 100 or fewer FTE’s.

You can enroll in the SHOP Marketplace at any point throughout the year, and there is no restricted enrollment period when you can start offering your enrollees SHOP Marketplace coverage.

Here are the top five benefits of the SHOP Marketplace:

5) You may be eligible for a tax credit. The SHOP Tax Credit Estimator can help determine if your business may qualify for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit worth up to 50 percent of your premium costs. The tax credit is available only for plans bought through the SHOP Marketplace.

See if you qualify to offer SHOP Marketplace coverage to your employees online at healthcare.gov so you can begin the enrollment process!

This blog originally appeared on Healthcare.gov. The Meadowlands Regional Chamber’s Employee Benefits & Wellness Committee can also provide assistance and consultation on your SHOP Marketplace inquiries. Please visit www.meadowlands. org/content/health-wellness-committee to learn more.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Eating Well on the Go

Healthy Eating Advice for Business Travelers

W

hen corporate travelers are polled about the stresses of business travel, “poor eating habits” always makes the Top Five.

AVE reached out to registered dietician Stephanie Joyce with Alliance for a Healthier Generation for five easy ways to maintain your healthy home eating habits while on the go.

1. BYOWB - You can’t tote liquids past airport security, but you can carry an empty container. Airports are increasing their availability of water fountains and bottle filling stations. Bring your own water bottle and fill up to stay hydrated and minimize cravings for other costly airport beverages that can be full of sugar and empty calories.

2. Pack Healthy Snacks - Healthy snacking will not only curb hunger, it will help you avoid making poor food choices in a pinch. Many food manufacturers package products in 100 calories or “to-go” size packs, so shop ahead for these items. Think whole-grain granola bars, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. Fruits and vegetables make the cut through airport security, so pack travel-friendly options like bananas, apples, oranges, and packaged baby carrots.

3. Don’t Skip Breakfast - Even if you have an early morning flight, make sure you eat a nutritious breakfast before you begin your trip. A healthy breakfast prepares your body and mind to handle the day ahead.

Plan the night before so you have something quick, healthy, and ready so you can get out the door on time. If you’re on the road for an extended period of time, consider bringing whole-grain oatmeal packs that you can easily prepare via the microwave or hot water from the coffee machine, and pair it with a piece of fruit.

as chicken and pair it with vegetables. You may want to skip the fries and substitute with a garden salad or whole-grain choice like brown rice. The fiber and nutrients will keep you fuller longer.

5. Take Out the Guesswork - If you’re not sure whether your snack is a healthy choice, visit the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Smart Snack Product Calculator. This easy-to-use tool will walk you through the process of entering nutrition information to see if your snack-of-choice is a Smart Snack! (https://www.healthiergeneration.org/take_action/schools/snacks_and_ beverages/smart_snacks/alliance_product_ calculator/) At AVE, our No. 1 priority is to provide a seamless transition for our guests who will be away from home for an extended period of time. We provide on-site ameni-

ties and services to ensure they can maintain their health and wellness routines. Our communities offer 24-hour fitness centers with cardio and weight equipment, a bike share program, weekly fitness classes like bootcamp, yoga, and tennis instruction, and massage studios so they can book sessions right at home.

We also provide weekday club breakfast in our cafes with healthy choices including yogurt, fresh fruit, and oatmeal. Most important, our furnished suites feature fully equipped kitchens with full-size appliances, glassware, silverware, and cookware so guests can prepare healthy meals at home.

By Ashley Cerasaro, Director of Communications & Digital Media at AVE by Korman Communities. More information about AVE and its extended stay living accommodations can be found at www.aveliving.com.

4. Choose Wisely at Restaurants When eating out at restaurants, choose wisely. Consider making one of your meals a big salad with lean protein. Ask the wait staff to put the dressing on the side. You could also select a grilled lean meat such

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HUMAN RESOURCES & OPERATIONS

Active Military

How to handle when employees are called to military duty

D

o you have a military veteran, reservist or National Guard service member on your books? If so, it is a good idea to be aware of what the law requires when it comes to handling employees who may be called to active duty— whether to a war or disaster zone.

Here is what you need to know: Know how the law protects employee rights The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects the reemployment rights of service members when they return from active duty and prohibits any form of discrimination by employers based on military service or obligation. It also protects employees’ benefit rights when they are required to perform military service.

Understand your obligations as an employer If you or your human resources team do not know the requirements of USERRA, you should familiarize yourself with its key details. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) website includes a variety of tools, FAQs, posters and fact sheets for both employers and employees.

Another useful resource is the USERRA Advisor, which is part of a useful collection of “elaws Advisors” from the DOL that provide advice on all aspects of employment law). The advisor lets you easily navigate by Employer Issues or Employee Issues.

Here is a breakdown of your key obligations as an employer to active duty military service members:

• You must provide reemployment to uniformed employees for up to five years after they are called for active duty.

• You must continue to provide serving employees and their dependents with health coverage benefits for up to 24 months while they are serving.

If the employee chooses not to continue coverage, USERRA gives them the right to be reinstated in your plan when they are reemployed.

• Returning service members must be reemployed in the job that they would have attained had they not been absent, with the same seniority, status, benefits and pay.

• Service members who are convalescing from service or training injuries have two years from the date their service was complete to return to employment.

While it is important to be aware of your obligations, employees also have their

• You must provide employees information about their rights under USERRA. How you do this is up to you, however the DOL website does provide posters and fact sheets to help you share information easily with employees.

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obligations to employers and that includes providing you with adequate verbal and written notice of their impending active duty—unless this is “…impossible, unreasonable or precluded by military necessity.”

According to the USERRA, adequate notice should be given “as far in advance as is reasonable under the circumstances.”

Read more at www.dol.gov or contact your local VETS office if you have any questions about your obligations.

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.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Meadowlands Regional “2040 Foundation” Leadership, Vision, Education, Action

I

n 2009, the Meadowlands Regional Chamber (MRC) established the 2040 Council, an economic development “think tank” comprised of C-Suite level executives from small to large companies who have invested mightily here in the Meadowlands region.

Business leaders met regularly throughout the year to discuss “big picture” issues that would affect the economy now through the year 2040: transportation infrastructure & mobility, flood control, education & workforce development, the regulatory environment and overall economic development.

This prestigious and dynamic group, the Meadowlands Regional 2040 Council, has for the past few years helped shape the public affairs advocacy initiatives of the MRC—tackling the tough issues that affect business owners and residents of the region.

In 2012, the MRC adopted a five-year Strategic Business Plan that called to transition the 2040 Council into a 501c3 Foundation so the necessary resources could be established to have a real and lasting impact. The mission of the “2040 Foundation” is to provide a business perspective and a long-term vision to plan for a growing and sustainable economy through the year 2040.

One of the driving goals for the 2040 Foundation is to enhance the local economy by strengthening the workforce and improving the overall quality of life for the Meadowlands community, so the group has identified educational outreach as key to their mission. The 2040 Foundation will help promote awareness of workforce training programs to ensure that our region maintains high quality human capital to meet the needs of growing businesses. An educated and better developed workforce will retain existing companies and entice new businesses to relocate or invest in the Meadowlands.

The group is comprised of business leaders that have deep roots in the region and a strong commitment to improving the area for those who live and work here.

“Goya Foods has invested almost $1 billion dollars in a new 650,000 square-foot headquarters facility and state of the art distribution center here in the Meadowlands. The future of the region is critically important to our business and our family,” comments Peter Unanue.

Today the Meadowlands Regional 2040 Foundation, now fully installed as a foundation, has a nine member board of trustees led by Chairman Fletch Creamer of J. Fletcher Creamer & Son and Vice Chair Bill Hanson of NAI James E. Hanson.

Fletch and Bill are joined by Rich Branca, CEO of Bergen Engineering; Dominick D’Agosta a former senior banking executive; Alex Klatskin, CEO of Forsgate Industrial Partners; Ed Russo, CEO of Russo Development; John Saraceno, Principal of Onyx Equities; Tony Scardino, former Mayor and NJ Senator of Anthony Scardino & Associates, Inc.; and Peter Unanue, COO of Goya Foods.

Thought Leaders Conference: Join the Conversation The 2040 Foundation will host a Thought Leaders Conference, its first major fundraising event, on October 6th at the Meadowlands Hilton Hotel. More information can be found at www.meadowlands.org.

“The Thought Leaders Conference will be a powerful tool to help create a vision of how this region can be a driving force in our overall economy for many years to come. We must be bold and willing to find solutions to any and all obstacles,” states Fletch Creamer.

Chairman Fletch Creamer of J. Fletcher Creamer & Son

Vice Chairman Bill Hanson of NAI James E. Hanson

Rich Branca, CEO of Bergen Engineering

Dominick D’Agosta a former senior banking executive

Alex Klatskin, CEO of Forsgate Industrial Partners

Ed Russo, CEO of Russo Development

John Saraceno, Principal of Onyx Equities

Tony Scardino, former Mayor and NJ Senator of Anthony Scardino & Associates, Inc.

Peter Unanue, COO of Goya Foods

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LEGAL

Avoiding Legal Land Mines

Due diligence in acquiring commercial & residential real estate

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n many parts of New Jersey, the real estate investment and acquisition market is hot, and now is the time to invest and expand. Whether it’s the simple purchase of a home, acquiring new corporate office space, or a larger scale residential or commercial development project, there are common areas of due diligence any buyer or investor should keep in mind before proceeding towards a deal.

Adept navigation of legal land mines associated with the acquisition and development of property are critical to a successful outcome. These transactions typically touch upon diverse areas of law and require expertise and careful planning. A modest investment in due diligence on the front end will often save substantial costs, and even litigation, on the back end.

Here are a few basic tips to consider in navigating the legal land mines associated with real estate acquisition and development.

Zoning codes & land use permits First and foremost, every buyer should have a thorough understanding of the current, permitted uses of the land to be acquired. A good starting place is reviewing the zoning code of the municipality where the property is situated.

For example, if you are a franchisee seeking to purchase property to open another restaurant or retail store, find out if the use is permitted as of right on the property and what restrictions may apply, and potentially conflict, with your plan.

There are likely to be restrictions related to use, bulk, density, height, traffic and parking, among others, written into the municipal zoning code for the land or area where your property is situated.

Familiarize yourself with and identify the challenges associated with current zoning restrictions on the property. You may need to apply for and obtain one or more variances from the local zoning or 38

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planning board before your proposed development can proceed. If your property abuts a County road, you may also need approvals from the County Planning Board.

In confronting these challenges, one means to insulate yourself from investing in the land use process—with no guarantee of obtaining necessary approvals—is to negotiate a provision in the purchase sale agreement that conditions the closing of sale upon the seller obtaining the land use approvals necessary for your project to proceed as a legally permitted use.

Challenges & objections in local community One common challenge for real estate developers, retail businesses, or even AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

a homeowner seeking an extension on their home, is the possibility of objections from neighboring or competing businesses, or other property owners in the surrounding area.

While it may be instinctual to view objectors as your adversaries, a different approach may often yield a better result. To the extent practicable, applicants before land use boards facing objectors may consider directly engaging in constructive dialogue with objectors to determine whether their concerns can be resolved prior to an application being heard by a land use board.

A striking example of the success of this approach can be found in a New Jersey academic institution that sought to develop its campus in an area abutting

a residential neighborhood. The initial plan, as proposed, quickly resulted in local neighbors forming a neighborhood association to oppose the zoning board application.

The savvy applicant, rather than attempting to bulldoze the application through the zoning board, instead chose to engage the neighborhood objectors in a month long process of constructive dialogue through a series of direct, face-toface meetings.

With time, the applicant was able to get the support from the objector neighborhood association for a revised plan that allowed the applicant to develop its property—but in a manner that also addressed the objector’s concerns. The leadership of the neighborhood association, once advocating against the development, then joined the ranks of its supporters.

There are a variety of other considerations in the due diligence process.

Check to see if the property is in a redevelopment zone. If so, traditional zoning

laws go out the door and are generally superseded by the zoning approved in the Redevelopment Plan governing the property. In such an instance, the next step may be the negotiation of a redevelopment agreement with the municipality, often a very complex process and substantively different from the traditional land use process.

Environmental impact investigations A diligent investor in real property will also want to conduct a thorough environmental investigation prior to acquisition of a property. The presence of actual or potential environmental contamination, the existence of hazardous materials upon the property, or the historical use of hazardous substances in the vicinity of the project site could result in substantial liabilities under state and federal law.

Local rent laws Finally, if you are looking into residential real estate investment, such as the

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purchase of a multi-family dwelling, be sure to review the local rent control laws in the municipality and verify that the rent rolls on the property are legal and in compliance with any applicable rent control ordinance.

This review is important because the legally permissible rents of units impact the overall market value of the property.

Ravinder S. Bhalla is a Partner at Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader based in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, practicing in commercial and land use law and litigation. Mr. Bhalla has served as a Commissioner of the Hoboken Planning Board, and also served as Special Litigation Counsel for the Hoboken Rent Control Board. Mr. Bhalla currently serves as City Council President in the City of Hoboken.

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FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT On the public affairs & public relations front Author’s Note

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n what seems like another lifetime to me now, I once, metaphorically speaking, went to war with some of the talented leaders who will be mentioned in this article. And so, to Jim McQueeny, Ron Simoncini, Mike Turner, Bill Murray and Caryl Bixon-Gordon: thanks for the memories.

Our Chamber is blessed with a host of creative members who advance the public affairs and public relations interests of businesses throughout the region and beyond. Their job is complex, creative and dynamic in that they work to enhance the visibility of their clients, to shed a light on their presence in the community and to resolve problems and issues that impede their ability to do business.

Yes, it is they who engage local, regional and state government to pave the way for clients to both increase business and/ or to grow their physical facilities as needs require. They are the navigators through the endless tributaries that are the government and the media.

Axiom Communications & the first Bergen Business Expo

One of Ron Simoncini’s, of Axiom Communications in Secaucus, great achievements was in working with Jim Kirkos of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber to secure the Meadowlands as the ideal location in North Jersey for a planned sports and entertainment district that includes a convention center and gaming facilities.

This resulted in the birth of the Meadowlands Liberty Convention & Visitors Bureau (MLCVB).

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To support both its and the Chamber’s mission, the Chamber has hosted or participated in numerous events in the past year to align with and secure support from local legislators and business leaders to expand gaming beyond Atlantic City—the most recently being the Bergen County Business Expo which it hosted in June.

Axiom’s event management work included working with the Meadowlands Regional Chamber to secure the Meadowlands Racetrack as the site, getting Bergen County Executive James Tedesco to keynote and bringing in top tier area business leaders who support the Chamber’s vision for the area.

These included presenting sponsor, NAI James E. Hanson, media sponsor, NJBIZ, and event/panel sponsors Hackensack University Health Network (HUMC), Price, Meese, Shulman & D’Arminio, PC, Morgan Stanley, XCEL Federal Credit Union and United Water. In Thyme Catered Events and Personal Touch Caterers pulled out all of the stops in jointly sponsoring a crowded and highly successful networking cocktail reception as well.

Upper Main Street Alliance highlights Hackensack’s redevelopment

Over the past several years The Upper Main Street Alliance and the City of Hackensack have been vamping up efforts to create partnerships and attract developers to the County Seat in order to re-emerge as the urban transit community and culture and arts des-

tination that Hackensack is destined to be.

This year, Ron Simoncini and Axiom Communications joined the Upper Main Street Alliance’s team to help the City attract developers and to help the artists in the area find a voice for their vision. A branding study, highlight video, media updates on redevelopment projects and feature stories in The Record, NJBIZ and the Hackensack Chronicle produced results.

It also provided the marketing support for the city’s placemaking initiative in which it hired the National Consortium for Creative Placemaking, Arts Bergen and The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation to help encourage the already existing arts and cultural community in Hackensack to recognize the vital role that they play in the city’s revitalization.

Get in the Conversation Reach your audience online, offline, in search, on social media and on their mobile devices Create marketing-driven opportunities that transform your business Generate and leverage press coverage that raises your profile Target, compel, convert and track a highly qualified audience Facilitate interactions with your prospects and customers online

Contact Ron Simoncini

Burton Trent shines

Michael Turner of Burton Trent, headquartered in Trenton, simply sent me a copy of a banner article in Politifax, the highly respected electronic newsletter on everything to do with New Jersey and its politics. The bold headline read, “Superlatives of the Year”.

All I need do is share the first paragraph of the piece. It read: “Best Lobbying Effort! There hadn’t been a meaningful reform of the alimony system in, well, forever. That’s because the State Bar Association has opposed change for what should be obvious reasons. Then, a group of alimony payers—men and women alike—hired Michael Turner at Burton Trent, who steered a comprehensive reform measure through the Legislature, where 39 members are lawyers, and got the Governor to sign it. Some of the people who initiated the movement are comparing their lobbyist to Saint Jude, who also worked wonders with lost causes.”

Once you are compared to Saint Jude, no need for further examination or words, written nor spoken, are required.

Burton Trent is headquartered in Trenton, NJ.

201-348-8998 info@axiominc.net

own. your. channel.

Axiominc.net AxiomMediaService.com

Beckerman Communications delivers

Tim White of Beckerman Communications, headquartered in Hackensack, shared what the firm has accomplished for three clients: Garden Homes, the Mill Creek Residential Trust and Compassion and Choices.

Garden Homes, a large developer of residential and mixed-use properties in New Jersey, was seeking an amendment approval before the planning board of the Village of Ridgewood. Their plan called for new multifamily residences to be constructed near the heart of Ridgewood. There was strong vocal opposition to the project, but Beckerman turned that around by engineering a local media outreach campaign that mobilized supporters who saw the many benefits of bringing new housing options to Ridgewood. In a 6 – 3 vote just this past June, Ridgewood’s planning board approved and the project is moving forward.

While in the process of obtaining municipal approvals and tax incentive packages from Jersey City to redevelop the former site of the Butler Brothers Warehouse into luxury apartments, Mill Creek Residential Trust (MCRT) was confronted with a dilemma when all progress stalled following the 2013 municipal elections.

They retained Beckerman to work with the new city adminMEADOWLANDS USA

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Continued from pg. 41

istration and planning board to obtain required project approvals. Positive media coverage was generated, facilitating meetings with key elected officials and stakeholders and meetings with community groups were organized. As a result of Beckerman’s efforts, the site is now being renovated.

Compassion & Choices, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization, is committed to improving care and expanding choice at the end of life. Beckerman was asked to design and execute a public relations campaign supporting passage of “death with dignity” legislation in New Jersey.

Highly controversial, Beckerman orchestrated a campaign to educate voters and to generate balanced and positive media coverage to help secure a favorable vote in the New Jersey legislature.

After endorsements from eight of New Jersey’s prominent newspapers, positive news coverage and key placements of op-eds and letters to the editor, the New Jersey Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act passed the Assembly last November by a vote of 41-31.

Now before the State Senate, Beckerman continues to work in support of the legislation and it is now working with Compassion and Choices on their efforts in New York and Maine as well.

Caryl Communications on the go and grow

At Caryl Communications, located in Paramus, they are adding staff, promoting staff and continuously expanding their client base.

Founded by its president, Caryl Bixon-Gordon, it has grown from a single person operation to become one of New Jersey’s leading public relations organizations.

The firm has established a strong niche in real estate, servicing commercial, residential, multi-family and retail sectors. In addition, technology, legal, financial services and healthcare firms are among Caryl’s many clients as well as hospitality, food services, educational, nonprofit and trade organizations.

The economy appears to have improved in the past six months, according to Bixon-Gordon.

“We have experienced a definite uptick in business with more inquiries, new clients and prospects than any time in the past six

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years,” she said. “The recession slowed the decision-making process for new business for us and for other companies and industries as well. But that seems to be changing; people are making decisions, which is a great sign.”

Bixon-Gordon noted that the public relations industry is still largely retainer based as ongoing news and activities are integral to successful campaigns.

“However, the last recession has changed what many clients want and what they will spend, so we offer more short-term project campaigns and introductory programs as well as long-term retainer relationships,” she added.

A quick perusal of Caryl Communications website is telling.

Within two days of the date of the day I took my look, press releases went out about: Alfred Sanzari Enterprises’ four hour cruise around Manhattan, aboard the luxury yacht, the Lexington, where 50 of New Jersey’s best commercial brokers were entertained; the TITLE Boxing Club’s lease at Summit Plaza in Hackensack; the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Industrial Office Parks’ (NAIOP) continuing support of the Community Food Bank of NJ; Cushman & Wakefield’s designation as the retail leasing and managing agent for the Plaza at Harmon Meadow in Secaucus; the Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal’s encouraging forecast at the New Jersey Commercial Real Estate Summit; and Cushman & Wakefield’s positive, mid-year industrial real estate market forecast.

Among their major clients are Inserra Supermarkets (ShopRite), the Allendale Community Center for Senior Living, Levin Management, Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, Cushman & Wakefield and Integrated Business Systems.

MWW is world class

On MWW’s website, a brilliant writer suggests that at the dawn of the information age, we have become “paralyzed by information” and that their job is to cut through the noise and the dissonance. “In order to be heard, you have to be relevant,” they insist. You must “matter more to your employees, matter more to your customers, matter more to your key stakeholders, and most importantly, matter

more than your competition.”

They pitch their NetRelevance methodology which measures impact and not just input as models typically do. Think takes, ideas, and a conscious and continuous reading of marketplace and cultural trends contribute to customized, creative, and continually evolving pro-active client campaigns. After all, “No business can stand out if it blends in.”

Headquartered in East Rutherford, NJ, they also have offices in Trenton, New York City, Chicago, Washington D.C., Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and London. A small representative sampling of clients includes Netflix, Walgreens, Samsung, Tyson, Subaru, Virgin America, Southern Comfort, Edmunds.com, Jack in the Box and Men’s Warehouse.

Led by their public relations executive of the year—so designated again and again and again—Michael Kempner, founder and president, has won just about every honor his industry offers.

Internationally acclaimed, he was appointed to the White House Council for Community Solutions by President Obama. Bill Murray, long active in the Meadowlands, is one of his executive vice presidents and the national director of MWW’s 50 State Public Affairs Network.

They have won the Anne Klein Advocacy Award for their “Good Matters” program which supports employee volunteer hours and pro-bono work. In a very big way this past year, MWW contributed to the Community Health Law Project, Spirit Day, Dream Room Makeover, the Center for Food Action and Tool for School.

Two of their more creative and impactful campaigns include

last year’s New Jersey “Stronger than the Storm” campaign and their “Connecting with the LGBT Traveler” campaign. The former—and it is very likely that everyone in New Jersey recognizes “Stronger than the storm”, a collective response to Super Storm Sandy and its devastation—earned MWW the North American Public Relations Campaign of the Year award and went a long way to sustain and grow the state’s $38 billion tourist industry The former, the Connecting with the LGBT Traveler campaign, appealed to the hospitality, travel and tourism and transportation community to directly market to the ever widening LGBT community. To be successful in this market, brands must ensure that promotional materials are inclusive of all couples in their imagery and language, replacing “bride and groom” for instance with “couple.” Examples are Amtrak’s “Ride with Pride” initiative and Vegas’s potent “Everyone’s Welcome, Even Straight People” pitch.

16 million Americans identify as LGBT and, pound for pound, they make more money, they have more discretionary income and they use their passports far more often. With marriage equality now the law of the land, the events planners and their partners are going to be very busy.

Complex, creative and dynamic, things are changing at the speed of light and it helps to have a professional along for the adventure—one who can help navigate through the storms and chart a course for success.

By Rich Fritzky, retired President & CEO of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber and founding editor of Meadowlands USA.

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TECH TALK

What’s In The Dress?

Wearable technology changing how we live, work & socialize

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earable technology, wearables, fashionable technology, wearable devices, tech togs or fashion electronics are clothing and accessories incorporating computer and advanced electronic technologies.

The calculator watch, introduced in the 1980s, was one original piece of widespread worn electronics and more recently we are seeing a rapid expansion in the field of wearable health devices.

Many of these devices can help users lead healthier and more productive lives. Global revenue estimates for wearable electronic devices for fitness and personal health and wellness were $1.6 billion in 2013, and will ramp up to an estimated $5 billion in 2016, according to Gartner Research.

Wearable technology weaves technology into the everyday life impacting the way we live, work and socialize.

Ilya Fridman designed a Bluetooth headset into a pair of earrings with a hidden microphone. The Spy TIE includes a color video camera and USB Heating Gloves keep hands warm when plugged in.

Twitter users can wear a “Pocket Tweet” using a Java application and cutting out and applying a Twitter text bubble to a person’s shirt. This is just one example of “do-it-yourself wearable tech” that was part of an art exhibit for the Wearable Technology AIR project in 2009.

Wearable technology can have many applications and the decreasing cost of processing power and other components is encouraging widespread adoption and availability.

According to Forbes, 71 percent of 16-to-24 year olds want wearable tech.

Wearable technology is on the rise in personal and business use. For businesses, research from Salesforce suggests that wearable technology can enhance work performance. Data from wearables gives managers insight into what employees need to perform tasks more effectively, what motivates them and what keeps their spirits high. This 44

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information alone is powerful enough to drive engagement, a factor in business performance leaders constantly seek to improve.

Here are the four main benefits that improve business performance from Wearable’s.

1. Streamline customer interactions.

2. Increase productivity & performance.

3. Increase employee support.

4. Improve employee well-being.

In healthcare, many examples exist to date, but the craze goes beyond connected eyewear such as Google Glass and smart timepieces such as the Apple Watch.

Designers are creating apparel, accessories and fitness wear that can do everything from monitor your heart rate to AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

charge your smartphone. Here are some examples of cool wearables hitting the market: • Soon you may be able to charge your smartphone with your clothes. Flexible solar panels have inspired designers to come up with clothes and accessories that can power electronics. Start-up Wearable Solar is using the technology to make lightweight wired garments that enable the wearer to charge a smartphone up to 50 percent if worn in the sun for a full hour. New York-based Voltaic Systems makes a collection of bags that can charge a variety of devices.

• Some designers want to make our clothing to do more. Amy Winters, the designer of the Rainbow Winters clothing line, makes garments that

respond to their environment. For example, there is a dress made with holographic leather and it reacts to sound. As volume increases, it begins to illuminate and make what Winters describes as “visual music.”

There is also a bathing suit that reacts to light, with the center panel turning into purple dots in the sun.

• Things can get lost pretty easily in those massive walk-in closets. In his fall 2013 collection, fashion designer Asher Levine included tracking chips that let items be located by the owner using a customized TrackR app. Levine, who has created looks for Lady GaGa and will.i.am., partnered with Bluetooth solutions company Phone Halo on the chip.

• City bike-sharing programs such as New York’s Citi Bike may be great, but the stations may be a bit hard to find without a map. Adafruit, a company that sells DIY electronics and kits, has built a helmet to help make that process more efficient. It has a built-in navigation system that uses lights that flash on the left or right to let the rider know where to turn.

The interface is still a bit complicated though. The user has to manually enter the coordinates of a destination—but it is still safer than trying to use a smartphone while riding.

• Using eye-tracking technology, fashion designer Ying Gao has created a set of dresses that move when someone is looking at them. When the garment is gazed at for a time, tiny motors move parts of it in patterns. The dresses also glow, covered in photo-luminescent thread or featuring glow-in-the-dark threads that make up the base layer of fabric.

• The merger of technology and highend accessory design is a definite trend. Handbag designer Rebecca Minkoff has made four clutches that encase speakers for Stellé Audio Couture.

• The start-up Heapsylon has a smart sock, Sensoria, that is paired with an anklet to automatically detect the type and level of activity based on pressure signals coming from the foot of the wearer. Sensors in the

sock communicate data to the anklet, which then can relay the information to the user via an app. For example, it can track a runner’s regular form and send an alert when he or she is making an injurious movement.

perceptible electronics,’ which is in fact a type of ‘e-skin’. When a patch of the material is fastened to the human body, researchers claim it is all but impossible to notice.

• Berlin-based label Moon Berlin, which makes luxury clothing, focuses on using technology to enhance the look of its designs. Soft-circuit LEDs are integrated into the garments, connected to an electrical circuit attached to rubber-like materials that are integrated into fabrics.

Along with providing a touch sensor-like system, imperceptible electronics could be used to monitor the health of a patient, embedded as part of a prosthetic to provide feedback, and possibly form the basis for an entirely robotic skin in the future. Despite the cyborg connotations, this thin and flexible e-skin could greatly improve the application and wearability of personal health devices.

Analyst Gartner has predicted that smart clothing has the biggest potential for growth out of all the different wearables types—moving from virtually zero sales in 2014 to 26 million items in 2016.

Wearables could be the defining technology of the next decade. Wear it well.

• Imagine if devices could be designed to mold seamlessly with the human body, such that they almost disappear entirely. A new technology may make this possible, in the form of an ‘imperceptible’ electronic skin that can monitor the body, or help people to communicate through touch. Scientists at the University of Tokyo have developed a flexible sensor thinner than plastic wrap and lighter than a feather. The scientists refer to their breakthrough as ‘im-

By Nick Pascarella and Gina Mercado, on behalf of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber’s Technology Committee. Nick Pascarella is a partner at TruBambu (www.trubambu.com), a business technology consultancy company. Gina Mercado is vice president of client relations at Big Red Pin (www.bigredpin.com).

• Even more intimate than smart socks, intelligent sports bras can track users’ performance. This NuMetrix sports bra, made by Textronics, has a small transmitter that snaps to the garment to tracks a user’s heart rate.

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SMALL BUSINESS CORNER

Revolving Credit Line Benefits for your small business

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any businesses at one time or another may have cash flow challenges. One popular option to obtain short term funding is to secure a revolving line of credit. This not only helps with basic day to day operations, such as meeting payroll, purchasing supplies, increasing working capital or obtaining extra inventory; it also provides many other benefits.

What is a revolving line of business credit?

In basic terms, a revolving business credit line refers to a bank or merchant offering a specified amount of always available credit for an undetermined amount of time. The debt is repaid periodically and can be borrowed again once it is repaid.

There is no set monthly payment, but interest accumulates and is capitalized like any other credit.

As a business makes payments on the revolving credit line, those funds become available for borrowing again. The credit limit may be used again and again as long as you do not exceed the maximum limit.

Having access to a source of funding is an essential part of success in business, but not all forms of financing are created equal. Unlike other kinds of lending, a revolving business credit line offers a number of advantages over other types of funding such as:

1) Flexible Payment Terms – Traditional term loans require set monthly payments that can potentially present a challenge to the growth of a start-up business.

On the other hand, a revolving credit line offers flexible repayment terms. Unlike a term loan, if a business has a slow month it can pay the minimum amount due.

2) Personal and Business Separation – One of the challenges many busi-

ness owners face is keeping personal and business expenses completely separate.

The benefit of a revolving business credit line is that it enables you to streamline and track your business expenses since your credit line is dedicated solely for business.

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3) Access to Cash on Demand –

a business can use the cash for multiple purchases compared to a loan that can only be used for one purpose.

A business revolving line of credit provides companies the flexibility needed to meet their short term funding needs. When the need for cash is there, funds are there. By having access to cash on demand, you can take your mind off of money and focus on running and growing a successful business.

4) Builds Business Credit – Business-

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.

Unlike a traditional loan, a revolving credit line enables you to source funding before your business actually needs it. Because of the cyclical nature of business, you may find yourself wanting to borrow money to take care of your company’s short terms needs. By being able to access funds on the credit line at any time you can keep your business running smoothly, day in and day out. es need to establish ratings with the major business credit reporting agencies. Using a business revolving line of credit allows you to build a positive payment history that appears on your company’s business credit report. This will allow you to potentially obtain future credit for your business based on your company’s creditworthiness.

5) Flexibility of Usage – A closed-end

loan is for a particular use whereas a revolving business credit line allows you to decide what to spend your cash on for your company. Since the credit line is revolving

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SMALL BUSINESS CORNER

Automating Work Flow

The seven tedious office tasks you can automatically process

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hy work harder when you can work smarter instead?

Several office tasks are perfect candidates to automate—without sacrificing the well-being of your business.

In fact, some of these tasks not only save time, but also can actually be done better through automation. Automation makes it less likely that (a) you’ll forget; (b) tasks will fall through the cracks if an employee leaves; (c) mistakes will occur through repetitive entry of information.

Here are seven tasks that you can and probably should consider automating to get things done faster and more reliably:

1. Paying Bills

Instead of spending your limited time pay-

ing bills each month, use a service like Bill. com to manage all of your payments.

The service works with any bank and even integrates with Xero and Quickbooks.

You will not have to go cut checks or manually enter them into your accounting system. You can manage all of those payments online in one place. Bill.com claims that it can cut users’ bill-paying time in half.

Or, just check directly with your bank.

Many now offer bill payment services, sometimes at no extra charge.

2. Delegating Customer Support Issues

Handling customer communications via email can become a nightmare as your business and the volume grow. Instead of letting one employee’s inbox get buried in messag-

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es, while other members of your team are in the dark, employ a ticketing system or online help desk like Groove or FreshDesk.

Help desk solutions provide a central place to access customer issues and communicate. Set up a contact form on your website, and route communications by type to central inboxes, where assigned individuals on your team can answer them.

These solutions also help you create a knowledgebase of commonly asked questions. This becomes a self-serve portal for customers, eliminating the need to answer many questions individually.

3. Managing Marketing Communications

Those who successfully use marketing automation report that it is like having anoth-

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er employee or two in your business.

Marketing automation software programs, like Infusionsoft and Hubspot, give you a way to automate large chunks of your online marketing by establishing a series of steps for generating leads on your website and then designating follow-up activities.

For instance, you can send a series of follow-up emails to people who have visited your site and filled out a lead form for one of your free downloads.

ness owners—what about our employees?

Today there are so many inexpensive tools on the market that automatically back up data at scheduled intervals (example: Carbonite), that there is no excuse for data loss. Or if your company’s data is mainly in the form of documents, pictures and similar files, use one of the central cloud storage platforms, such as Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, or Apple iCloud, to store everything in the cloud.

4. Filling Out Online Forms

6. Scheduling Meetings

This is a personal productivity enhancer.

Inputting your name, company, address and contact information time after time in online forms can be tiresome. A software program like Roboform stores your data so you don’t have to manually enter it each time you come across one of those pesky online forms. Or simply use the similar functionality built into browsers such as the Chrome.

5. Backing Up Data

Despite our good intentions, too many of us forget or put off this important activity until it is too late. And it is not just for busi-

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When scheduling meetings with many people, finding a time good for everyone’s schedules can be a daunting task. Instead of going back and forth in a long email chain, set up a scheduling app like ScheduleOnce to simplify the process.

ScheduleOnce allows users to connect their existing calendars from sources like Google or Outlook. So when you need to schedule a meeting or appointment, you can invite others to view available dates and choose an open time that works for them.

7. Managing Your Inbox

Email can be one of the most time con-

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

suming tasks on an office worker’s daily to-do list. When it comes to sorting emails, you can set up labeled folders for different types of emails, like newsletters and communications with clients. You can even enable Smart Labels within Gmail, so that the platform will automatically sort some of your emails, like promotions and social notifications, into separate folders.

When it comes to responding to emails, there are likely some responses that are going to be the same or at least similar.

Set up canned responses in Gmail or email templates in Outlook instead of re-typing those messages over and over again.

Anita Campbell manages several online communities and information websites, reaching over 6 million small business owners, stakeholders and entrepreneurs annually—including Small Business Trends, a daily publication about small business issues, andBizSugar.com, a small business social media site.

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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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

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

Panera Bread Secaucus 201.348.2846

Saladworks East Rutherford 201.939.8886

Subway Secaucus 201.325.0300

Penang Malaysian & Thai Cuisine Lodi 973.779.1128

Sal’s Good Eats Teterboro 201.375.4949

Subway North Bergen 201.869.4469

Segovia Restaurant Moonachie 201.641.4266

Tandoor on the Hudson Weehawken 800.221.6721

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

The Original Pita Grill Hoboken • 201.217.9777 Thistle Restaurant Lyndhurst • 201.935.0004 Tokyo Hibachi & Buffet Secaucus • 201.863.2828 Urban Plum Secaucus • 201.520.0574 Varrelman’s Bakery Rutherford 201.939.0462

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 Crow’s Nest Hackensack 201.342.5445

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 Oceanaire Seafood Room Hackensack 201.343.8862

Whiskey Café Lyndhurst 201.939.4889

Son Cubano at Port Imperial West New York 201.399.2020

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

51

EVENT PLANNING & CATERING SERVICES 4 Wall New York Moonachie 201.329.9878

CeCe Productions, LLC Rutherford 201.672.0050

Fiesta Banquets Wood-Ridge 201.939.5409

16W Marketing Rutherford 201.635.8000

Chit Chat Creative Caterers Hackensack 201.820.4033

Flyte Tyme Limousine Mahwah 201.529-1452

AAA Giants Limousine & Car Service Secaucus 201.679.2860 Adam Leffel Productions / Petals Premier Event Design Hackensack 201.487.1300 Al Di La Italian Bistro East Rutherford 201.939.1128 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

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MEADOWLANDS USA

Classic Party Rentals Secaucus 201.809.4840

Freeman Kearny 201.299.7400

Content Party Rentals East Rutherford 201.623.0400

Garden Vista Ballroom Passaic 973.777.6655

Culinary Conference Center At HCCC Jersey City 201.360.5303

Graycliff Catering Inc. (The Graycliff) Moonachie 201.939.9233

DDM Production Jersey City 917.418.8625

Heights Flower Shoppe Hasbrouck Heights 201.288.5464

Elan Catering & Events Lodi 973.777.0503

In-Tents Party Rentals Wood-Ridge 201.282.2026

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

meadowlands.org

Metropolitan Exposition Services Moonachie 201.964.1800 Nanina’s In The Park Belleville 973.751.1230 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

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

Personal Touch Caterers Hackensack 201.488.8820

Stout’s Transportation Trenton 1.800.245.7868

Jimmy’s Artistic Creations East Rutherford 201.460.1919

Positive Impact Partners East Rutherford 201.939.8601

Sweet Dreams Studio Photo Booth Madison 703.585.4704

Kismet Limousine Teaneck 973.876.3410

Premier Entertainment East Rutherford 201.842.1698

The Balcony Carlstadt 201.933.0071

In Thyme Catered Events Rivervale 201.666.3353

Meadowlands Exposition Center Secaucus 201.330.7773

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

Saint Peter’s University Conferences & Events Jersey City 201.761.7414

The Viv Experience Ridgefield 201.390.2311

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

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

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Jersey City 201.499.2578

Hilton Meadowlands East Rutherford 201.896.0500 Please review your advertisement carefully.

Proof Sheet

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

by Hilton East Rutherford East Rutherford 201.460.9030 Hyatt Place Secaucus/Meadowlands Secaucus 201.422.9480

Marriott at Newark Liberty International Airport Newark 973.623.0006 Quality Inn Lyndhurst 201.933.9800 Red Roof Inn Secaucus 201.319.1000 Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel Rutherford 201.231.3100

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 The Meadowlands River Inn Secaucus 201.867.4400 Westin Hotel Jersey City 201.626.2900

Residence Inn East Rutherford 201.939.0020

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

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uire 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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53

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

Kerasotes Showplace 14 Secaucus 201.210.5364

Explore the Real Meadowlands!

Liberty Science Center Jersey City 201.200.1000

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

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

Join us for an Eco-Cruise, paddling tour, or a river cleanup on YOUR Hackensack River. www.HackensackRiverkeeper.org New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (Main Ticket Number) 201.935.8500 North Arlington Bowl-O-Drome 201.998.9621

NY Giants 201.935.8222 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

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

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

For more info call: 201-968-0808 Youth1 Media Montclair 973.509.3111

Title Boxing Club East Rutherford 201.933-2800

Health, Fitness & Beauty

Retail & Outlet Shopping

Alternative Two, Inc. Lyndhurst 201.729.1217

Best Buy Secaucus 201.325.2277

CKO Kickboxing Lyndhurst 201.438.5425

Calvin Klein Company Store Secaucus 201.223.9760

European Wax Center Rutherford 201.935.9299

Country Whimsey Rutherford 201.438.0488

Rock Spring Club West Orange 973.731-6464

LA Fitness Signature Club Secaucus 201.751.9940

Six Flags Great Adventure Jackson 732.928.2000

Meadowlands Athletic Club Lyndhurst 201.933.4100

Smooth Sailing Celebrations Oak Ridge 973.409.4456

New York Sports Club Hoboken 201.222.5771

Heights Beer & Wine Emporium Hasbrouck Heights 201.426.0555

Statue Cruises Jersey City 201.432.6321

Planet Sun, Inc. Rutherford 201.941.6000

Raymour & Flanigan Secaucus 201.809.1353

The Players Club Paramus 201.483.9690

Simply Face & Body Ramsey 877.57.SIMPLY

Tommy Hilfiger Clearance Secaucus 201.863.5600

The DOJO Rutherford 201.933.3050

Westfield Garden State Plaza Paramus 201.843.2121

World Golf Network RiverVale 973.509.3111

East Rutherford Jewelry Exchange East Rutherford 201.507.0009 Gucci Secaucus 201.392.2670

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NEWS FROM THE MEADOW

Volunteer Center Launches Board Matching Program for Corporations

Meadowlands Museum Receives Donation from BCB Community Bank

“N

O

onprofit organizations continually face the challenge of finding committed board members”, states Erica West, director of corporate engagement at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. “It is estimated that nearly 2 million nonprofit board seats need to be filled each year.”

The Volunteer Center’s BoardLink fills this gap by providing personalized matching services to skilled corporate professionals who have an interest in giving back to the community through nonprofit board service. By leveraging their 50 years of experience with non-profits and volunteer service, the Volunteer Center is poised to both fill a tremendous need in the community and also provide a real benefit to corporations.

Integrating board volunteerism into the workplace is a powerful way to keep employees engaged and fulfilled and help them enhance their leadership skills, while also promoting corporate social responsibility. The community benefits tremendously by having strong leadership at local non-profits that are addressing needs in the community.

The Volunteer Center has a growing cadre of more than 40 nonprofits in the Northern New Jersey/New York metro area who are interested and ready to take on new board members through BoardLink.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is one company that is working with the Volunteer Center to make BoardLink available to Novartis senior leaders. Their involvement reflects the company’s commitment to engaging their employees in philanthropic initiatives that will further their mission of caring and curing and improve the social environment in which Novartis operates.

“By sharing their vision, strategic thinking and experience with a nonprofit organization in the community, Novartis leaders can also enhance their abilities and grow professionally”, states Wanda Sims of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. We look forward to working with the Volunteer Center to engage our leaders in advancing the work of local nonprofit organizations.”

For more information about BoardLink, please visit contact Erica West at ewest@bergenvolunteers.org, 201-489-9454, ext. 133.

fficials from BCB Community Bank in Rutherford present a celebratory check for $2,500 to representatives of The Meadowlands Museum.

“This generous gift will support the museum’s community outreach efforts,” said Tom Bryant, Museum president.

The donation also makes the bank the Museum’s first Vision Partner, a newly established sponsorship opportunity that other businesses can also take advantage of.

“BCB Community Bank is honored to join with The Meadowlands Museum in the development of the museum’s new brochure,” said Thomas Coughlin, bank president and CEO. ”The Meadowlands Museum and BCB Community Bank share the same vision of getting actively involved in the communities we serve and providing those communities with the resources they need to thrive and prosper.”

Meadowlands Museum works to link students of New Jersey, both young and old, to objects that can help them connect to and understand the history the Meadowlands area communities of today.

The Museum is housed in an early 19th century farmhouse. It is one of the few remaining homes of that time period left in our Meadowlands area. The house is listed on the Bergen County stone house survey, the state and national register of historic sites and the Historic American Buildings Survey.

Front, left to right: Michael Rizzo, business development officer; Kathleen Hansen, branch manager; and James G. Rizzo, director (BCB Community Bank).

Back, left to right: Rod Leith, trustee; Kathleen Mathieu, vice president; and Gilda Healy, interim director (The Meadowlands Museum).

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NEWS FROM THE MEADOW

President & CEO of Sussex Bank Anthony Labozzetta Elected to the New Jersey Bankers Association Board of Directors

DMR Architects Completes Refit of LongVacant Commercial Space Into New Location for Frontage Laboratories, Inc.

T

D

he New Jersey Bankers Association recently announced the members of their Executive Committee, Board of Directors and Charitable Foundation for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

Chairman Gerald Reeves congratulated those recently elected and reelected to the Board of Directors including Anthony Labozzetta, President & CEO of Sussex Bank along with Peter Michelotti, Community Bank of Bergen County; Edward Anthony Labozzetta Dietzler, Bank of Princeton; Peter Schoberl, Community First Bank; and Kathleen Stone, Susquehanna Bank.

The members guide the Association as it implements its mission to represent the membership’s interests before state and federal government and regulatory authorities, providing support in public and media relations, education and providing employee health insurance benefit programs.

For more information about the NJBankers visit www.njbankers.com.

Sussex Bancorp is the holding company for Sussex Bank, which operates through its regional offices and corporate centers in Rockaway, Rochelle Park and Wantage, New Jersey and through its eleven branch offices located in Andover, Augusta, Franklin, Hackettstown, Newton, Montague, Sparta, Vernon and Wantage, New Jersey, and Astoria and Port Jervis, New York; loan production offices in Rochelle Park, Rockaway and Wantage, New Jersey, and Tri-State Insurance Agency, Inc., a full service insurance agency with locations in Augusta (Sussex County) and Rochelle Park (Bergen County), New Jersey.

For additional information, please visit the Company’s website at www.sussexbank.com.

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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

MR Architects recently completed Frontage Laboratories’ new 36,000 square foot fit-out at 200 Meadowland Parkway in Secaucus, New Jersey. The clinical research facility is the first tenant in this space in three years.

According to Marcus & Millichap’s Medical Office Real Estate Report for the second half of 2014, nationwide, developers completed an estimated eight million square feet of research and development space in 2014, up from approximately six million square feet in 2013.

“We are getting a lot of business from companies looking to take older commercial and warehouse space and refit them for new purposes,” said Lloyd A. Rosenberg, AIA, President and CEO of DMR Architects. “The research and development sector is particularly active in needing more space, and we welcome the challenge of bringing new life to older buildings.”

DMR has designed or redesigned spaces for numerous healthcare organizations and medical/research and development facilities including Hunterdon Healthcare Maternity and Newborn Care Center, and numerous projects for Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Children’s Specialized Hospital lobby.

DMR redesigned the second story space that was vacant for three years to accommodate for the clinical lab’s 160-bed clinical research center’s administration offices, exam rooms, nurse’s station, pharmacy, sleeping/observation rooms, labs, recreation center, bathrooms with showers, a kitchen and a cafeteria.

This is Frontage Labs’ second building in North Jersey and will allow it to nearly triple its capacity in the United States.

“DMR Architects’ plans created a space that complements our existing facility in nearby Hackensack, while allowing us to conduct a wider range of clinical studies,” said Eileen McAuley, Senior Vice President, Clinical Operations for Frontage Labs. “Our needs are somewhat unique in that we need an environment where scientists can do life-saving work without it feeling too clinical for the patients who are visiting for a day or overnight.”

For information about medical office and other building repurposing projects completed by DMR Architects, call 201.288.2600 or log onto www.dmrarchitects.com. For more information about Frontage Laboratories, Inc. visit http://www.frontagelab.com.

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“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

NEWS FROM THE MEADOW

INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

Fairleigh Dickinson University announces new Chamber of Commerce affiliations & major nonprofit trade associations

T

he Center for Excellence: Leadership, Governance and Philanthropy at Fairleigh Dickinson University is pleased to announce new affiliation relationships with three major chambers of commerce: Meadowlands Regional Chamber, Morris Chamber and the Somerset County Business Partnership and two major statewide nonprofit trade associations – the Center for Nonprofits and the New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth and Families.

The Center for Excellence is a leading educational and professional development center for New Jersey’s growing nonprofit sector for emerging and current leaders who aspire to become high performing executives in leadership, philanthropy and board governance. Two Certificate Programs are offered: Executive Nonprofit Leadership and Executive Philanthropy & Resource Development.

An introductory Certificate in Nonprofit Essentials is also available for those interested in learning about or embarking upon a career transition to the nonprofit sector.

Dennis C. Miller, Executive Director of FDU’s Center for Excellence, is excited about the University’s new affiliations because of the caliber of their executive leadership and impressive membership organizations.

FDU looks forward to working in partnership with these outstanding affiliate organizations as well as the entire nonprofit sector of New Jersey to develop meaningful ways to serve our communities.

Individuals may register for either the Fall of 2015 beginning in September or Spring of 2016 Semester beginning in February.

For additional information, please contact FDU at 201-692-6500 or email at ceinfo@fdu.edu.

All State Dave Meredith Agency..............................................................................34 AVE, www.aveliving.com.........................................................................................43

Advanced Animal & Pest Control............................................................................53 Axiom Communications, www.Axiominc.net.........................................................41 Chart House, www.chart-house.com.......................................................................51

Comprehensive Behavioral Healthcare, Inc., www.cbhcare.com...........................31 Designer Sign Systems, www.dss-nj.com...............................................................12 Ernst & Young, www.ey.com...........................................................Inside Front Cover

Farleigh Dickinson University, www.fdu.edu.........................................................11 Frank’s GMC, www.FranksGMC.net.........................................................................39 h323HD, Inc., www.h323hd.com.............................................................................9

Hackensack Riverkeeper, www.hackensackriverkeeper.org....................................54 Hackensack University Medical Center, www.HackensackUMC.org...........Back Cover

Il Villaggio, www.ilvillaggio.com...........................................................................59 Jewel Electric, www.jewelelectric.com.....................................................................9

Kearny Bank, www.KearnyBank.com......................................................................15 International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, www.elec825.org............2 MBAF, www.mbafcpa.com.............................................................Inside Back Cover

Meadowlands Awards Gala, www.meadowlands.org............................................51 Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment, www.playmeadowlands.com..................55

Morton’s Steakhouse, www.mortonsteakhouse.com.............................................50 MWW PR, www.mww.com.......................................................................................1

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

Nanina’s In The Park & The Park Savoy, www.naninasinthepark.com......................57 Nap Color, napcolor.com/portfolio.........................................................................13

Nick’s Towing Service, www.NicksTowingService.com............................................48

NJ Sharing Network, www.NJSharingNetwork.org.............................................31 Oceanaire Seafood Room, www.theoceanaire.com................................................50 Optimum Orthopedics, www.OptimumOrthopedics.com.....................................23 Overhead Door, www.DockNDoor.com....................................................................6

Palisades Medical Center, www.palisadesmedical.org.......................................29 Paramount Exterminating, www.ParamountExterminating.com...........................39

Pole Position Raceway, www.polepositionraceway.com.........................................54 Professional Insurance Associates, Inc....................................................................35 Provident Bank, www.ProvidentNJ.com...................................................................9 PSE&G, www.pseg.com............................................................................................5 Ramapo College, www.ramapo.edu/certificates...........................Inside Back Cover Scarinci & Hollenbeck, www.scarincihollenbeck.com.............................................19

Thought Leaders Conference, www.meadowlands.org..........................................53

Uniform Fashions, www.somesfashions.com........................................................23 United Water, www.unitedwater.com....................................................................33

Weiss Realty, www.jweissrealty.com.....................................................................31 XCEL Credit Union, www.XCELfcu.org.com.............................................................55 For more information on advertising in Meadowlands USA magazine or online advertising at www.meadowlands.org please contact Martha Morley at 201-493-7996 or email: greerentps@aol.com Call for new items! If your organization has news or announcements to share with our audience, please send to Joe Garavente at JGaravente@meadowlands.org or call 201-939-0707

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MEADOWLANDS USA

meadowlands.org

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015

Learn in small classes.

Succeed in big ways.

With an average class size of 23, and a student–faculty ratio of 18:1, Ramapo College offers students an individualized learning experience. Our students are able to build meaningful, close-working relationships with faculty members through mentorship, collaboration and research opportunities.

Ramapo College offers more than 40 undergraduate majors, eight part-time graduate programs and bachelor’s degree completion options. Discover how we prepare our students for a lifetime of success.

Learn more at:

www.ramapo.edu/musa

or 201-684-7300

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#1 HOSPITAL IN NEW JERSEY. AGAIN. HackensackUMC has again been named the #1 Hospital in New Jersey

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We are also ranked as the #4 Hospital in the NYC Metropolitan area.

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