Enterprise 1Q 2014

GOV. CHRISTIE TO KEYNOTE 77TH ANNUAL WALK TO WASHINGTON AND CONGRESSIONAL DINNER ON APRIL 22  PAGE 12

NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.njchamber.com

a quarterly focus on the people and the issues that drive New Jersey business 1Q 2014

A GUIDE TO HIRING: Do’s and Don’ts From Leading New Jersey Employment Lawyers

Page 16

Also Inside:  George Washington Marches Through Trenton, Again  Choosing the Right Tech Gear For Your Company  The Business Case for Social Responsibility

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table of contents

A Guide to Hiring: 16 When interviewing job candidates, there are questions you can ask and questions that can put you in the throes of a discrimination lawsuit. Here are the do’s and don’ts.

Focus on:

news 06 Power Players

NJBIZ newspaper released its list of 100 most powerful businesses people in the state, and the N.J. Chamber of Commerce was well represented.

08 Job Creation, Shared Services and College

Affordability are Priorities for the State Senate in 2014

09 John Harmon, N.J. Chamber Board Member,

Named Chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce

10 New Jersey: First State to Have African-

08

American and Hispanic U.S. Senators Sit Simultaneously

12 The N.J. Chamber’s 77th annual Walk to

Washington and Congressional Dinner, the state’s “Ultimate Business Event,” is Rescheduled for April 22 and 23. See photos from the first 76 years.

construction/real estate 14 Why Spending $1.3 Billion to “Raise” the

Bayonne Bridge Makes Economic Sense

features

14

04 Message from the President

Our Leaders Must Dig Deeper

18 A Painting of President-Elect George Washington

Marches through Trenton, Very Carefully

19 The Business Case for Social Responsibility 20 A Guide to Choosing the Right Technology

for Your Company

21 How You Can Help Change Lives and Strengthen

N.J.’s Talent Pool

22 News Makers

18

president’s message

BY THOMAS A. BRACKEN

Our Leaders Must Dig Deeper New Jersey has made significant progress in the past five years getting its fiscal house in order. This is a tribute to the hard work and collaborative efforts of the Christie administration and the Legislature.

However, there is a long way to go before New Jersey can declare victory.

This was articulated very well

by Gov. Chris Christie in his 2015 budget address on Feb. 25. He gave a candid and sobering assessment of the challenges our state faces, but he strongly resolved to provide the leadership needed to address these daunting obstacles and continue our fiscal progress. This is consistent

with a message the governor has repeated often – the business of government must continue despite any and all distractions. Given where we are at this moment in our state’s history, our leaders must dig deeper than ever if progress is to continue.

The governor said in his budget address that he is willing to do what is necessary, and he asked the members of the State Legislature to continue collaborative efforts with him.

Gov. Chris Christie delivers the budget address in the Assembly Chambers at the State House on Feb. 25.

4 |

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce urges the governor and the Legislature to continue working together to solve our toughest problems, and we further urge all members of the business community to encourage our elected leaders to prioritize initiatives and legislation that will accelerate economic progress and job growth.❖

Thomas A. Bracken President and CEO New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

Photo by Tim Larsen/Governor’s Office

CHAMBER STAFF

Thomas A. Bracken President and CEO

Dana Egreczky Senior Vice President, Workforce Development

Michael Egenton Senior Vice President, Government Relations

Lawrence Krompier Vice President, Member Services

Ray Zardetto Vice President, Communications

Scott Goldstein Communications Manager and Enterprise Editor

Ric Principato Interactive Designer

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Staff

216 West State Street Trenton, N.J. 08608 Phone: (609) 989-7888 www.njchamber.com

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS FOR N.J. CHAMBER MEMBERS Save up to 28 percent on shipping costs

Fortune 500 technology for small and mediumsized businesses A 5 percent discount on auto insurance for member company employees.

For a complete list of discounts for N.J. Chamber member companies and their employees, go to www.njchamber.com/advantage

NJCC Board of Directors Officers Chairman

Ralph Izzo Chairman and CEO Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. First Vice Chair

Amy B. Mansue President & CEO Children’s Specialized Hospital

GROW. WISELY.

Second Vice Chair

Robert Doherty New Jersey State President Bank of America Treasurer

Howard Cohen, CPA Chairman EisnerAmper LLP Secretary

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focus on news

Power Players NJBIZ’s List of Powerful People Includes the N.J. Chamber’s President, Chairman and 6 Board Members

XX RALPH IZZO, chairman, president and CEO of PSEG, one of the most critical companies in New Jersey.

XX BOB DOHERTY, the New Jersey state president for Bank of America, the state’s largest commercial bank.

XX AMY MANSUE, president and CEO of Children’s Specialized Hospital, the largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the nation.

XX BARRY OSTROWSKY, president and CEO of Barnabas Health, the largest health system in the state.

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

Appearing on the list are New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Tom Bracken, N.J. Chamber Chairman Ralph Izzo, Chamber First Vice Chairwoman Amy Mansue, Chamber Second Vice Chairman Bob Doherty, and six other other members of the N.J. Chamber’s board of directors.

“The ability of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce to advocate for the business community is greatly enhanced by the quality of our board of directors,” Bracken said.“This recognition by NJBIZ demonstrates the strength of our board, for which we are extremely proud.” ❖

XX LEECIA EVE, the new vice president of state government affairs for the tri-state area at Verizon, which has big plans in the state.

XX LINDA BOWDEN, regional president-Northern New Jersey at PNC Bank, which boasts more branches (335) in New Jersey than any other bank.

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

XX JOHN LLOYD, president of Meridian Health, one of the strongest hospital systems in the country.

XX TOBY ENQVIST, vice president-Newark Hub for United Airlines, which considers Newark Liberty International Airport its third-largest hub.

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focus on news

Job Creation, Shared Services and College Affordability are Priorities for the State Senate in 2014 The state’s Senate Democrats’ priorities in 2014 include promoting shared services among municipalities; making higher education more affordable; Sandy recovery; and last, but not least, job creation and stimulating the economy, said Tim Lydon, then the executive director of the state Senate Democratic Office, during a New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Roundtable breakfast.

Lydon and Christine Shipley, executive director of the Senate Republican Office, were the featured guests at the November event in Monroe.

The governor and the Legislature are hoping the newly enacted Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 will spur the economy, Lydon said. That legislation – vigorously supported by the N.J. Chamber – expands the number of companies eligible for state business incentives.

Heading into 2014, the state’s unemployment rate was 7.8 percent, the lowest in five years.

Shipley said the Republicans, the minority party in the Senate, “are prepared to work with the Democrats” on issues like college affordability and shared municipal services.

She cautioned, however, that the Republicans are concerned about some Democratic initiatives she called “anti-business mandates,” such as mandated paid leave and legislation called “ban the box” that would restrict employers from asking job candidates about potential criminal histories.

“Some of the goals may be laudable, but they make the state less competitive, and it hurts business expansion and job growth,” Shipley said.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce continues to lobby against both of those initiatives.

A special thank-you to UPS for sponsoring the breakfast. ❖

Mark Giuffre, vice president-state government affairs at UPS; Tim Lydon, then the executive director of the state Senate Democratic Office; Christine Shipley, executive director of the Senate Republican Office; Michael Egenton, senior vice president-government relations at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce at the November breakfast.

8 |

Tim Lydon, then the executive director of the state Senate Democratic Office, said the governor and the Legislature are hoping the newly enacted Economic Opportunity Act of 2013 will spur the economy.

Christine Shipley, executive director of the Senate Republican Office, said the Republicans “are prepared to work with the Democrats” on issues like college affordability and shared municipal services.

Photos by Ric Principato

John Harmon, N.J. Chamber Board Member, Named Chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce John E. Harmon Sr., a member of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors, has been selected to serve as the chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

John E. Harmon

“John is so deserving of this honor,” said Harry Alford, president and CEO of the National Black Chamber.

“He has been very involved in our agenda for 15 years and knows the ins and outs of running a Chamber of Commerce. His leadership is valuable to us.”

Harmon, the president and CEO

of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, said,“I am humbled by the appointment, and I am looking forward to working with the national office and my colleagues across our federation to advance an agenda that will grow and sustain black businesses across America and The Diaspora.”

Harmon has been with the African American Chamber in New Jersey since it was founded in 2001.

“John Harmon has been a tireless and effective leader of the New Jersey business community for many years,” said Hosea Johnson, chairman of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey. “His exceptional work ethic, high morals, character and integrity are a valuable asset to any organization. John will be an excellent chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.” ❖

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ENTERPRISE 1Q 2014 | 9

focus on news

N.J.: First State to Have African-American and Hispanic U.S. Senators Sit Simultaneously Part of New Jersey’s greatness is its wide range of cultures, religions and population – making us one of the most diverse and tolerant states in the nation. We benefit from an assortment of religious centers and services; ethnic restaurants and food stores; and cultural programs, parades and festivals. In short, we benefit from an understanding gained from seeing each other up close.

prove himself twice. He must prove his or her competence to the mainstream and the (minority) group he or she is a member of. In a business context, these gentlemen know the struggles that small and diverse businesses face because they, too, need to prove themselves over and over.

Of course, these additional responsibilities and efforts come with a reward to constituents that both these fine men represent. New Jersey gets two senators with not only a wealth of knowledge, but with a wealth of “diverse” knowledge.

I have worked in the construction industry, and it is common knowledge that to have a strong foundation a diversity of materials such as rebar and concrete is recommended.

Individuals that bring diversity of thought and life experience to the Elite Group of 100 add tremendous value to that group’s ability to represent and serve a diverse nation.

New Jersey can take great pride in being the greatest contributor of vital diversity to the Elite Group of 100.

John Harmon

Cory Booker

Robert Menendez

Now we have something else to add to the list. When Cory Booker was sworn into the U.S. Senate in October, and joined U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez in Washington, New Jersey became the only state with two minority lawmakers in the nation’s upper house.

It also became the first state to have African-American and Hispanic senators sit simultaneously.

We asked Carlos A. Medina, chairman of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, and John E. Harmon, the president and CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey, to tell us what this milestone means to the business communities they represent. Here’s what they wrote: Carlos Medina

Carlos Medina

10 |

Senate has had few Hispanics and African-Americans The Elite Group of 100 has not always been welcoming to diverse candidates. There have been few Hispanic and African-American members of this club, and currently only Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stand as the other minority members.

I think a minority candidate has to

African-American and Hispanic Sectors Will be Watching New Jersey is home to approximately 9 million people, of whom 30 percent are African-American or Hispanic. The state is often celebrated for its diversity. Now New Jersey has something to really celebrate – the first state to have two minority lawJohn E. Harmon makers serve simultaneously in the nation’s upper house.

Sen. Menendez, of Cuban heritage, has been in office since 2006, while former Newark Mayor Cory Booker, of African-American descent, was elected in November 2013.

Although these members were elected to serve all of the citizens of New Jersey, you can be assured that both the African-American and Hispanic sectors will be monitoring their work closely.

There are pressing needs in both communities to improve health care, educational outcomes, and employment and business opportunities, to name a few of the issues they will be expected to deliver on.

I would encourage our representatives to engage their colleagues from throughout the nation, and across party lines, with a laser focus to adopt policies that will enhance the competitiveness of New Jersey.

We wish Sens. Menendez and Booker much success, and request that they do not hesitate to call upon us for guidance whenever possible. ❖

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WALK TO WASHINGTON THE STATE’S ‘ULTIMATE BUSINESS EVENT,’ RESCHEDULED FOR APRIL 22 AND 23 There’s Still Time to Get on the Train The 77th Annual Walk to Washington and Congressional Dinner has been rescheduled for April 22 and 23, 2014, following the postponement in February due to severe snow.

All of the elements that make the Walk to Washington New Jersey’s premier business event will remain intact.

Gov. Chris Christie will be the keynote speaker – outlining his second-term priorities and plans to bolster the economy – at the event’s Congressional Dinner at the Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington D.C. April 22.

There is still time to register for this event, which attracts New Jersey leaders in every industry – giving you an opportunity for conversation, visibility and camaraderie that will help your business grow. For more information and to sign up, go to www.njchamber.com.

“The Walk to Washington has been the state’s ultimate business networking event for three quarters of a century,” said Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey

Chamber of Commerce. “It has become an institution in New Jersey, and it will go on.”

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s annual trek to the nation’s capital dates back to 1936. The Chamber charters an Amtrak train that becomes a rolling networking event as it travels from Newark to D.C. The Walk to Washington obtained its name when folks realized that few sit on the train;they literally walk up and down the aisle the whole way to D.C., networking and exchanging business cards.

The trip hits a crescendo when the train reaches the nation’s capital and guests gather at the Marriott Wardman Park for a cocktail reception, the Congressional Dinner, a keynote address by Gov. Chris Christie and a dessert buffet extravaganza that allows the networking to continue into the night.

The networking resumes the next morning with a breakfast event followed by the charter train’s return trip to New Jersey.

To register and for more information, go to njchamber. com. ❖

76 YEARS OF THE WALK TO WASHINGTON IN PHOTOS

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ENTERPRISE 1Q 2014 | 13

focus construction/real estate

A Bridge Too Low WHY SPENDING $1.3 BILLION TO ‘RAISE’ THE BAYONNE BRIDGE MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE

BY ALICIA BROOKS WALTMAN

It’s a simple problem with a complicated solution. The Bayonne Bridge is too low for cargo ships to sail under on their way to ports in New Jersey and New York. The solution is in progress: The bridge’s roadway is being raised 64 feet to allow the big ships to get through, and to preserve – maybe grow – the port jobs and revenue that are critical to the economies of New Jersey and New York.

The $1.3 billion project, conducted by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, is underway on the 83-year-old bridge, which connects Bayonne with Staten Island, and is a gateway to the Port of New York & New Jersey (that includes Bayonne, Newark, Elizabeth, Brooklyn and other ports in the New York Harbor area). With 30 percent of all shipping business on the East Coast, the Port of New York and New Jersey is the busiest on the eastern seaboard and it supports 280,000 jobs.

The roadway of the bridge, with its iconic arch, isn’t actually being raised. Workers will build a new roadway that runs 215 feet above the Kill Van Kull strait, replacing the existing 14 |

roadway that is 151 feet above the water. This will allow clearance for newly developed, larger cargo ships – carrying everything from automobiles to bananas to computers – coming in the next few years from Asia via the Panama Canal. The canal itself is undergoing a massive reconstruction project to deepen and widen it to accommodate the larger ships from Asia and other locations looking to pass through its locks into the Atlantic. (At press time, a dispute over cost overruns at the Panama Canal was threatening to delay that project, which is slated to be complete by 2015.) When the project at the canal is complete, New Jersey and New York ports intend to be prepared for the larger ships.

“Regardless of what happens with the canal, we will be ready in December of 2015,” said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Program Director Joann Papageorgis, who is in charge of the Bayonne Bridge project.

When the project is done, the new roadway on the bridge will be open to traffic and the lower, existing roadway will be demolished, Papageorgis said. However, construction on the walkways, additional lanes, shoulders, and other parts of the bridge will continue through 2017.

From an infrastructure viewpoint, the project is overdue.

“Any bridge beyond its 80th birthday needs reconstruction,”

said Papageorgis, noting that the Tappan Zee Bridge, 20 years younger, is being completely rebuilt.“We will be getting a brand new bridge at Bayonne (designed to last) for the next 100 years,” she said. At the same time, the new roadway will let ships carrying up to 11,500 containers pass under safely. Currently, vessels with up to only 9,000 containers can move under bridge.

Safeguarding the Shipping Industry In the long term, the project will safeguard the shipping industry in the region, which supports 280,000 jobs, Papageorgis said. In the short term, the $1.3 billion project is a boon to the local economy, generating 6,300 jobs and $1.6 billion in economic activity, both for the towns surrounding the bridge and for subcontractors throughout the state.

“This is a very important project for our regional economy, especially coming out of a recession,” Papageorgis said. Unless the obstacle is fixed, the port could lose business and jobs to competitors in southern states that are already trying to draw ships to their ports.

John Nardi, president of the New York Shipping Association, which represents the shipping companies and others that use and operate the ports, has been a strong proponent of the Bayonne Bridge project.

“All of my members are the ones who have these ships that they want to bring in,” Nardi said. “This will allow larger, more

modern ships to (use) the port. Other ports on the East Coast are capable of this and if we don’t do this, we will lose freight to them.”The port loads and unloads 3.2 million containers each year, more than any other port on the East Coast of the U.S. or Canada, Nardi said.

“This project is essential for us to compete in a global economy,” added Chip Hallock, president of the Newark Regional Business Partnership, a membership group that represents 435 businesses. “We need to be investing more in infrastructure. We are falling behind on basic maintenance of roads, bridges and tunnels. In terms of providing a transportation system, we have to remain competitive.” ❖

WHAT ABOUT TRAFFIC? To allow for construction, the Bayonne Bridge will be closed each weeknight, Monday through Thursday, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and Saturday mornings from midnight to 8 a.m. Traffic is being diverted to the Goethals Bridge.

The bridge will also be closed eight full weekends in 2014, with advance notification.

The new upper deck will be built using two lanes of the current lower deck as a launching area for construction. This mean the normally four-lane bridge now has two lanes open to traffic.

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ENTERPRISE 1Q 2014 | 15

Cover Feature

A GUIDE TO HIRING: The Do’s and Don’ts

BY DIANNA LASSETER DRAKE

If you’re ready to hire, congratulations. That’s good news for your company, the people you hire and the economy.

But before bringing in candidates, it’s a good idea to make sure you understand the pitfalls in the interviewing process.

There are questions you can ask and questions that can put you in the throes of a discrimination lawsuit.

Peter L. Frattarelli

Julie Werner

W. Raymond Felton

16 |

For example, you can’t ask a candidate if she is pregnant, but you can ask if she has family. You can’t ask candidates if they use drugs, but you can require drug and alcohol screenings before an offer is final. Enterprise magazine put together this guide to hiring by asking leading New Jersey employment lawyers to offer advice on the dos and don’ts.

To start, do not refuse to hire a candidate because they are unemployed, said Julie Levinson Werner, senior counsel at Lowenstein Sandler in Roseland. That is illegal in New Jersey. And recent state legislation prohibits employers from asking job candidates and employees about their social media passwords and user names, Werner added. “The sensitivity with social media is because you might find information that you are not permitted to use in making your hiring decision,” she said.

Tread Carefully Employers must tread carefully.“You can ask questions about the person’s ability and experience related to the function of the position, but you need to avoid anything … that is unrelated to the person’s ability to work at the job,” said W. Raymond Felton, co-managing partner at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis in Woodbridge. Key discriminatory areas include questions about age, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion and nationality.

Health and disability-related questions should also be avoided, said Thomas Doherty, a partner at McCarter & English in Newark. “You wouldn’t ever want to ask, ‘Have you been hospitalized? Have you ever been treated by a psychiatrist? What diseases have you had?’ Those are off-limits,” he says. There could be one exception: If an employer knows that an applicant has a disability, it might be reasonable to ask if it would impede job performance, he said.

Similarly, you can’t ask about pregnancy, but you can ask if a candidate has family or a situation that may prevent him or her from doing the job. It depends on how you raise the question, Felton said. “It does need to be related to job function.”

Know Where the Lines Are Felton suggested using an employment lawyer for such sensitive topics. “If you have a lawyer, script it out so the HR person or whoever is doing the interview knows the questions and knows where the lines are,” he said.

Tread especially lightly around suspicion of substance abuse, said Peter L. Frattarelli, chair of the labor and employment department at Archer & Greiner in Haddonfield.

“Asking too much about drug and alcohol issues during an interview could be viewed as disability discrimination,” he says. “But while you can’t refuse to hire someone because of the perception of a disability, you can make him go through a drug and alcohol screen and a medical exam before the offer is final.”

Employers can step into legal troubles in other ways, Doherty said. For instance, pharmaceutical employees might

come with strict confidentiality clauses about past workplace trade secrets. “In hiring somebody for a scientific or sales position, you want to ask whether or not the person is subject to any post-employment restrictions on competition, on solicitation of customers or employees, or on confidential information,” he said.

The best interviews “are substantive and specific about the job functions and how they can perform them,” Werner said.

Small talk should be avoided because it can be misconstrued, she said. “It’s always ideal if an employer has a good job description,” she added. “That will guide you in what specific skills are required and focus your questioning on those skills.”

Similarly, information on applications or résumés are critical, says Frattarelli. First and foremost, check references.

“Information on the job application can be false, and employers often don’t even bother to check. Also, you [might] think that someone puts a reference down because it’s positive, but you’d be amazed.”

Employers should always ask about departures and gaps in employment: What are your reasons for leaving or why were you out of work so long? “There may be a legitimate answer,” Frattarelli said, “but maybe there is more to the story.” ❖

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feature

A Painting of President-Elect George Washington Marches through Trenton, Very Carefully

BY DIANA LASSETER DRAKE

How do you move a 17-foot tall, 12-foot wide piece of Trenton history? Very carefully.

In October, a huge oil canvas painting – by the famous artist N.C. Wyeth – depicting then-Presidentelect George Washington’s visit here was relocated from a former Wells Fargo Bank office in Trenton to its new home a few blocks away at Thomas Edison State College.

The move took a professional crew two days to complete. The workers removed the canvas from its frame and stretcher on Friday, Oct. 18, and carefully rolled it up. After being stored overnight in a temperaturecontrolled truck, the crew carried the piece into the college main entrance at 101 West State St. (in the shadow of the State House), where it was reassembled and hung in an atrium.

The mural has been in Trenton for more than 80 years, after it was commissioned in 1930 by First Mechanics

18 |

National Bank, the legacy company to Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo is loaning the mural to the college, after the bank moved its Trenton branch to a new smaller space in the city, which cannot accommodate the large painting.

“This mural is an important part of Trenton history and it was always our desire to keep it in the city in a space where people could continue to enjoy it,” said Brenda Ross-Dulan, Wells Fargo’s Southern New Jersey regional president.

“We are honored to house this historic work of art and continue to make it available to residents and visitors of Trenton and Mercer County,” said Dr. George A. Pruitt, president of Thomas Edison State College.

“It is fitting that the mural is located so close to the site of the Battle of Trenton, where Washington led the Continental Army to a historic victory that helped turn the tide of the Revolution.” ❖ Photos provided by Thomas Edison State College.

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The Business Case for Social Responsibility

BY GERI STENGEL

Is a business “socially responsible” if it does no harm, follows government mandates, and recycles? Well, doing those things isn’t socially irresponsible, but these days customers expect more than the bare minimum of “do no harm.” They expect positive action. They expect you to make the community that supports the business a better place.

The degree of positive action that will attract customers depends on your size, your community, your market, and your business. It may be as easy as donating a prize to the school fair or as complex as making sure that your supply chain doesn’t include sweat shops or pesticides or animal cruelty.

Social responsibility does not mean that you need to lose money or give something away for nothing – although donating to nonprofits is one way to be socially responsible. The idea is that as your business grows, so too will your positive effect on the community.

One day, instead of just giving a prize to the PTA, you may be able to donate food for its fundraiser or underwrite a scholarship program.

Like advertising, social responsibility is a cost of doing business. Like advertising, it gets your business noticed and increases customer loyalty. Social responsibility comes in many forms: Partner with a cause: It’s easy to find a cause, no matter what the size of your business or the culture of your community. A gift for the PTA raffle is one way; you could also provide refreshments to a local charity’s fundraiser, or serve as a drop-off point during a winter coat drive. The smaller you are, the more important such partnerships can be. You get high visibility, good vibes and, depending on what you do, new walk-in traffic. But do your research first. Make sure the cause is one that matters to your target market. Advertise your participation, even if it’s only with posters in the window and next to the cash register.

Make sure your partner mentions your help as well, on event programs and in newsletters.

Donate to nonprofits: Give part of your profits, whether for one night or on a regular basis, to a nonprofit.

Go green: Change your light bulbs, cut down on the use of air conditioners, even dim the lights. You’ll be doing a good thing and cutting expenses. Winwin. Consumers want to feel virtuous; help them by offering discounts if they use their own shopping bags. Use recycled materials in your advertising (and say so).

Treat employees well: An often overlooked aspect of social responsibility is treating employees well. Employees paid a living wage have a stake in making the business succeed. They’ll work harder and smarter. That’s to your benefit.

Buy from socially responsible suppliers: Buy from other socially respon-

sible businesses. Even if you donate to nonprofits and pay your own employees well, it just doesn’t ring true if the goods you sell are produced in sweatshops.

Collaborate and communicate: Joingroups that promote social responsibility in your community or sector.You’ll get ideas for improving the social responsibility score of your own business as well as the support to implement those ideas.

None of these suggestions takes a lot of money. Small businesses, even startup businesses, can be socially conscious and profitable. ❖ Geri Stengel is president of Ventureneer. com, an online peer learning service for small business, especially those making a social impact such as nonprofits and social enterprise; and she is president of Stengel Solutions, a strategic planning, marketing and marketing research firm.

Originally published December 2013. Reprinted by permission, freeenterprise.com, in agreement with NY Enterprise Report. Copyright© 2013, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

ENTERPRISE 1Q 2014 | 19

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A Guide to Choosing the Right Technology for Your Company

BY IAN MARLOW

Technology choices for business managers are complex, whether you’re choosing cloud computing, software or the best security measures and backup procedures. In an effort to simplify matters, here are the Top 10 things business managers need to know when considering new technology: 1. Strategy is as important as execution: Selecting and implementing technology requires research, planning and testing. That is followed by execution and training. First, identify the issues to solve and then find the software or processes that solve them. It’s important to think Ian Marlow holistically and map out how the solution works with your existing technology. Avoid “shiny object” syndrome. Buy only what you need. Test and tweak the new technology before you deploy it company-wide, and train your staff thoroughly (provide reference material).

2. Less is more: Keep it simple. The more solutions you have, the more tech support you will need. Over time, this can become challenging and pricey.

It could also hamper productivity. It’s best to choose software and hardware that addresses multiple issues whenever possible, and add only what you need when you need it. In fact, see if a software upgrade will do the trick first.

3. Make sure everyone on your team is using the same information: With multiple employees accessing the same data saved in multiple locations (locally, network, Dropbox, SkyDrive, etc.), they could be working on different versions of the same file. This can lead to confusion, misinformation, duplicate 20 |

work and incompatibilities.

4. Know your workforce: Base your decisions on how and where your employees work. Assess if they are office

KEEP IT SIMPLE. THE MORE SOLUTIONS YOU HAVE, THE MORE TECH SUPPORT YOU WILL NEED.

based, home based, or in the field. Do they work in different environments at different times? What type of devices do they use?

5. Back it up: Data is your company’s lifeblood, so back up all business computers daily, whether they are at the office, employees’ homes for telecommuters, or in the field. Back up locally and/or in the loud, and make sure you have control over the backup and the information.

6. Keep your information secure: From health records to financial statements, make sure your system keeps data private and protected.You can use software that blocks strangers or certain employees from removing what they should not, and software that alerts you when someone attempts to access company data. Questions to ask include: Who’s logging onto the compa-

ny network from a home computer to access company information? Is someone able to copy that company information from the network to the home computer?

7. Learn about and adapt virtualization: The use of remote data centers, off-premise servers, cloud computing, and virtual desktops are strategic business move in today’s business environment. And such “virtualization” is surprisingly cost-effective.

8. Work-from-anywhere is here to stay: Mobile and remote offices are not just for disaster-related situations. It is the emerging workplace model, and virtualization makes it possible.

9. Control external messaging: Take control of external company messaging and protect your brand with email templates, signature control and mobile device controls.

10. Don’t let technology wag the dog: Understand your tech needs first and allow your internal processes to drive your decisions. You choose – not the other way around.

A professional information technology service provider will take a holistic look at your operation and suggest the technology that suits your needs. They will show you what’s new on the market; explain how to integrate software; and implement tech solutions that make sense for your business. ❖ Ian Marlow is CEO of Fairfieldbased FITECH (www.fitechllc.com), a technology firm serving companies across a wide range of businesses and industries, including real estate, lending, insurance, professional services, security, manufacturing and government. The firm was cited as NBIZ’s “Business of the Year” among companies with 50 employees or less. Contact Ian at imarlow@fitechllc.com.

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New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation YOU CAN HELP CHANGE A LIFE AND STRENGTHEN N.J.’S TALENT POOL

BY DANA EGRECZKY

To build a career in New Jersey, kids today need an education and a plan.

That’s because the Garden State will soon rank second in the nation for the number of bachelor’s degrees needed to fill workforce demands, and keep our economic growth on track.

But over half of New Jersey’s high school graduates – many our top-performing students – aren’t ready for life after high school. They take longer than four years to earn a college degree. Even in the midst of a recession, hundreds of thousands of jobs are vacant because employers cannot find qualified people, particularly in scientific and technical fields. Making matters more challenging, one of the most sought-after degrees by college students is in psychology.

Two things need to change: Teens need to work harder in high school to avoid remedial college courses so they can graduate from college within four years. And they need to be armed with better information about the employment marketplace so they can select marketable majors.

That’s where the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation comes in. We are launching the College Career Ready Academy to prepare high-potential high school students for the challenges ahead of them.

The Academy is a week-long summer residential experience for students entering freshmen, sophomore or junior years designed to make certain they are motivated to perform at the peak of their ability and excel in the colleges and careers they choose.

The Chamber Foundation needs your help to make this project a success.

You can help cover the cost of a highpotential student from a low-income family to attend one of the programs,

SEND A DESERVING STUDENT FROM A LOWINCOME FAMILY TO THE ACADEMY. YOUR $2,500 TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION ALSO PROVIDES A YEAR OF MATHEMATICS TUTORING IN THE SCHOOL YEAR FOLLOWING THE ACADEMY EXPERIENCE. YOU DESIGNATE THE SCHOOL AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SELECT THE ELIGIBLE STUDENT. or you can volunteer to give participating students a view of the world they will soon enter.

The Academies will be offered during select weeks in July and early August at partner colleges The College of New Jersey, Richard Stockton College, Drew University, Montclair

State University, and New Jersey City University. A special Academy at the Kessler Foundation will be held for college-bound students with mobility disabilities.

The Academy is especially interested in students who have the necessary ability, but need additional motivation to achieve their full potential.

Events are limited to 50 students.

Students who attend any of the sessions will learn how the academic and social decisions they make impact their ability to get into college and their ability to pursue a career.

They will spend time with panels of admissions officials from participating colleges and with professors from various academic disciplines, gaining knowledge about the admissions process and the demands of various areas of study.

Parents who work for N.J. Chamber member companies receive a $50 discount off the program’s tuition of $1,850 per student, which covers day and evening program activities, materials, food, room and board, and follow-up activities.

For more information, contact Patty Cullinane at patty@njchamber.com or at (609) 789-5279. Learn more at the website: www.College CareerAcademy.org. ❖ Dana Egreczky is president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Foundation. She also has been an industry trainer and was a middle school and high school teacher for 16 years.

ENTERPRISE 1Q 2014 | 21

news makers

JERSEY CENTRAL POWER & LIGHT says it will spend $251 million this year to further expand and strengthen its infrastructure.

The company says the work will enhance and maintain service reliability throughout its 13-county service area. This represents about a $50 million increase compared to what the company spent on reliability infrastructure in the region last year.

SUN NATIONAL BANK, headquartered in Vineland, N.J., will provide its customers with surcharge-free ATMs at more than 800 Rite Aid pharmacies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. More than 100 of the ATMs at select Rite Aid locations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania will display the Sun National Bank brand logo.

Former state Comptroller Matthew Boxer joined the law firm of LOWENSTEIN SANDLER as chair of its Corporate Investigations and Integrity Practice.

Matthew Boxer

Former Assemblyman Scott Rudder joined the government relations firm of MANAGEMENT & GOVERNMENT RESOURCES INC., where he serves as a partner.

WELLS FARGO & CO. said John Cole has been named Northeast business banking division manager, assuming responsibility for the company’s Pennsylvania and Delaware business banking teams in John Cole addition to the New Jersey, New York and Connecticut teams he has managed since 2009.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY was named one of the “2014 Top 10 Non-Profit Companies for Executive Women” by the National Association of Female Executives.

Ted Zangari

Ted Zangari and Andrew B. Robins, lawyers with SILLS CUMMIS & GROSS, were named recipients of the New Jersey Builders Association’s Chairman’s Award for their exemplary service.

NJTV, New Jersey’s public television network, announced that its popular public affairs program, “On the Record with Michael Aron,” will now occupy an evening timeslot on Saturdays. The series, previously seen at 2 p.m. that day, now airs Saturdays at 6:30 p.m.

The program’s encore will remain slotted on Sundays at 10 a.m.

22 |

ATLANTIC CITY ELECTRIC presented $41,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties, and BBBS of Cumberland and Salem counties.

Ed Baird, executive vice president and COO of PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL’s International Division, will retire from that position on April 4. Taking over the top international post will be Charles F. Lowrey, who for the past three years has served as executive vice president and COO of Prudential’s U.S.-based businesses. Steve Pelletier, currently CEO of Prudential’s Group Insurance business, will succeed Lowrey as head of U.S. businesses. He will be promoted to executive vice president.

Assuming Pelletier’s role as CEO of the Group Insurance business will be Lori Fouché, who currently serves as president and COO of Group Insurance. She will be promoted to senior vice president.

Eighty-one teams of creative middle and high school students have earned the title “Best in State” in the second VERIZON Innovative App Challenge, a national competition in which students design a mobile application concept that addresses a need or problem in their local schools or communities.

UCEDC, a statewide, nonprofit economic development corporation, was recognized as New Jersey’s leading microlender by the U.S. Small Business Administration. It loaned $2 million to 71 small businesses in fiscal year 2013.

John C. Connell

John C. Connell, partnershareholder with ARCHER & GREINER P.C. in Haddonfield, has been reappointed to a second two-year term on the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Rules of Evidence.

The Bridgewater-based law firm NORRIS MCLAUGHLIN & MARCUS, P.A., named Adelaide Riggi and Mark D. Marin members of the firm. Riggi, of Morristown, practices divorce and family law. Marin, of New York City, practices intellectual property law.

COMCAST BUSINESS was named Service Provider of the Year for North America by the Metro Ethernet Forum. The company also won Best Marketing and Best Carrier Ethernet Business Application for its ethernet network deployment with the Denver Broncos.

The NEW JERSEY HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION has launched Keep NJ Healthy, a new website (www.keepNJhealthy.com) designed to help consumers and employers maintain health and wellness. ❖

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That’s A Recipe For Success.

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