Enterprise 4Q2015

Physicist Shirley Ann Jackson, First African-American Woman to Earn an MIT Doctorate, Nabs our Leader in Innovation Award  Page 12

NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.njchamber.com

a quarterly focus on the people and the issues that drive New Jersey business 4Q 2015

Audacious Achiever

FROM MONTCLAIR TO THE MOON, AND BEYOND Moonwalker Buzz Aldrin Receives the N.J. Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award  Page 12

MEET THE WINNERS OF OUR BUSINESS AND LEGISLATIVE AWARDS: Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno (above) Sen. Jeff Van Drew Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole Assemblyman Gary Schaer Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande Labor Commissioner Harold J. Wirths PNC Bank Executive Linda Bowden Why they are good for the economy, Page 20

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table of contents

Message from the President 04 New Jersey is Long on Discussion and Short

Cover 12 Buzz Aldrin returns to his native

on Solutions

22 News Makers

New Jersey to receive the N.J. Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award

13 New Jersey residents choose

their favorite science fiction

focus on news 06 Business Summit offers a path to a more

prosperous New Jersey

focus on health care 16 Working Well:

Wellness Programs Boost a Company’s Health, Morale and Bottom Line

features

05

18 Leadership Lesson: Responding

Gracefully and Constructively in the Face of Rejection

focus on events 05 The Walk to Washington

Turns 79 in February

19 The N.J. Chamber Honors Seven for

21

Outstanding Economic Growth Work

06

President’s Message

New Jersey is Long on Discussion and Short on Solutions

BY THOMAS A. BRACKEN

It is no secret that our state is dealing with some monumental issues that have been discussed ad nauseam for months and years. The problem is that we are long on discussion and short on solutions.

We all know that problems get worse over time if not dealt with aggressively and thoroughly – and our problems are getting worse. That is the reality of our state today.

The final resolution (hopefully soon) of our many issues will be transformational for the future of our state and all of its businesses and citizens. Getting to effective solutions should involve thoughtful analysis and expert input from a cross section of the state so we can be sure that the outcome puts us on a path to prosperity.

We will continue to strongly encourage our legislative leaders and the Christie administration to engage experts from business, labor, higher education, not-

4 |

for-profits and other sectors to discuss solutions. Our state is blessed with many experienced, intelligent people who would embrace the opportunity to assist in creating a better future for all of our citizens. ◆

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

CHAMBER STAFF

Thomas A. Bracken President and CEO

Donna Custard President, New Jersey Chamber Foundation

Michael Egenton Executive Vice President, Government Relations

Lawrence Krompier Vice President, Member Services

Ray Zardetto Vice President, Communications

Scott Goldstein Communications Manager and Enterprise Editor

Ric Principato Creative Director/ Web Tech Manager

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Staff

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

NJCC Board of Directors Officers Chair

Amy B. Mansue President & CEO Children's Specialized Hospital First Vice Chair

Robert Doherty New Jersey State President Bank of America Second Vice Chair

Linda Bowden Regional President New Jersey PNC Bank Treasurer

Howard Cohen Executive Advisor – NJ Wholesale Commercial Lending Group Wells Fargo Secretary

Robert Podvey Director Podvey Meanor Immediate Past Chair

Ralph Izzo Chairman and CEO Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc PUBLISHED BY

280 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210 Phone: 617-428-5100 Fax: 617-428-5118 www.thewarrengroup.com ©2015 The Warren Group Inc. All rights reserved. The Warren Group is a trademark of The Warren Group Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Advertising, editorial and production inquiries should be directed to: The Warren Group, 280 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210. Call 800-356-8805.

focus on events

The Walk to Washington Turns 79 in February DON’T MISS THE ‘TIME-HONORED EXERCISE IN EXTREME NETWORKING’

The Star-Ledger has called it “A time-honored exercise in extreme networking.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer said it is “Like a power lunch writ large.”

And Gov. Chris Christie has said, “The year does not begin until the Chamber dinner in Washington.”

They were all talking about the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Walk to Washington and Congressional Dinner, a New Jersey institution for more than three quarters of a century.

Don’t miss the 79th annual “Walk” on Feb. 25 and Feb. 26, 2016.

The event attracts New Jersey leaders in every industry – giving you an opportunity for conversation, visibility and camaraderie that will help your business grow.

The networking begins as the Chamber’s chartered Amtrak train departs Penn Station in Newark and rolls through New Jersey, picking up hundreds of guests along the way. 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 and a dessert buffet extravaganza that allows the networking to continue into the night.

The event gives the state’s leaders “across the ideological spectrum a once-a-year opportunity to network, all in the privacy of a steel tube hurtling down the tracks at 80 miles per hour,” said the website PolitickerNJ. Last year, attendees included Christie and his leadership team, members of New Jersey’s Congressional Delegation, more than 40 state legislators, and 20 local and national news organizations. Of course, there were business leaders ranging from mom and pop proprietors to Fortune 500 CEOs. 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 Washington, networking and exchanging business cards.

“I have participated on this train trip for many years, and it is an excellent opportunity to meet the legislative and business leaders throughout our state,” said Peter J. Hovnanian, Principal of J.S. Hovnanian & Sons. ◆

To register, go to www.njchamber.com.

ENTERPRISE 4Q 2015 | 5

More than 500 business leaders and the state’s four top-ranking legislators – Democrats and Republicans – came together to problem-solve at the two-day New Jersey Business Summit in Atlantic City on Sept. 17 and 18.

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken.

Ralph Thomas, CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs.

Unprecedented Business Summit Offers Recommendations for a Stronger New Jersey

BY SCOTT GOLDSTEIN

Six panels of experts, more than 500 business leaders and the state’s four top-ranking legislators – Democrats and Republicans – came together to problem-solve at the New Jersey Business Summit in Atlantic City on Sept.

17 and 18. And there were more than two dozen media members there to document the affair.

This event was unprecedented in that it united more than 40 separate organizations that represent business, labor, hospitals, universities and nonprofits in a singular mission – addressing the most pressing issues stifling economic growth in the Garden State.

At the Summit, these groups began to craft recommendations for a better New Jersey to present to the State Legislature.

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President Tom Bracken set the tone in his opening remarks when he urged participants to set the bar high for New Jersey. “We are in a so-so rut.

We are in neutral and we need to raise the bar significantly,” he said.

6 |

Michele Siekerka, president of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, said,“We must grab on to an agenda that has common ground, and move that agenda forward.”

It didn’t take long for summit participants to propose ways to make New Jersey’s business climate more competitive with other states and nations.

Regulations and Mandates A panel on regulations and mandates suggested reducing the number of offices that builders must deal with to get permits; cut the number of agencies that regulate a single issue; and establish a red tape review commission for each state agency and department.

“There is much legislation and regulation that has outlived its usefulness,” said Dennis Toft, co-chair of the environmental group at the law firm Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi. “If the state is going to regulate something, it should not be regulated at the local level. We should consider not regulating things that other states do not regulate.” continued on page 8

Photos by Russ DeSantis and Noah K. Murray

focus on news

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focus on news continued from page 6

Linda Bowden, New Jersey regional president of PNC Bank.

Ted Zangari, chair of the Real Estate Department at the law firm Sills, Cummis & Gross.

Taxes A panel on taxes suggested that New Jersey cut either the estate tax or the inheritance tax. Currently New Jersey is one of only two states that imposes both (Maryland is the other) – a fact that is unquestionably driving high-income residents out of New Jersey.

“People are migrating out of state to states like Florida and Pennsylvania,” said Linda Bowden, New Jersey regional president, PNC Bank. “Pennsylvania has no inheritance tax and a lower estate tax. Florida has no income tax.” Bowden added, “Raise the estate tax exemption. Bring down the inheritance tax. A few small tweaks in the tax code would make a big difference.”

Bob Briant, CEO of the Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of New Jersey, makes a point while Jim Benton, president of the New Jersey Petroleum Council, looks on.

Workforce A panel on workforce readiness urged educators to instill more career skills in the high school curriculum, and urged colleges to provide students with more real world experiences through internships, mentorships, co-ops and research projects to help preserve New Jersey’s competitive workforce.

“There is a gap between what colleges produce and what the workforce needs,” said Narimam Favardin, president of Stevens Institute of Technology. “Less than one-third of workers are in a field related to their degree. There needs to be a bridge of the gap.” continued on page 10

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focus on news continued from page 8

Walter Brasch, partner and chief business development officer at the accounting firm O'Connor Davies.

Senate President Steve Sweeney (center) and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto.

Sen. Steve Oroho.

On another note, Barbara Gitenstein, president of the College of New Jersey, said state government leaders must be mindful of public funding for higher education. “New Jersey is at the top of the list in investment in K-12 education, but it is near the bottom of the list in investment in higher ed.”

“New Jersey has not had a gas tax increase since 1988, but the (gas tax) continues to fund the infrastructure,” said Phil Beachem, president of the New Jersey Alliance for Action.

“This is no longer sustainable.” He added the idea of a gas tax increase “needs bipartisan support so we take the political debate out of the question.”

Transportation and Infrastructure An especially lively panel on transportation and infrastructure said the state can no longer delay settling on a new revenue source to fund the state’s Transportation Trust Fund, a nearly broke account that pays for maintaining the state’s highways, bridges and mass transportation. This is a safety issue, and it is also critical to the business climate since the movement of goods and people are critical to the state economy, panelists asserted.

Legislators Respond A panel of New Jersey’s four legislative leaders – Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick – occasionally displayed flashes of sharp partisanship, but the four agreed with two of the biggest proposals that came out of the Summit: New Jersey’s estate and inheritance taxes need to be loosened; and the Transportation Trust Fund need to be addressed.

The Path to a More Prosperous New Jersey Here are the recommendations that came out of the New Jersey Business Summit: Recommendations from the Panel on Regulations Mandates Moderator: Robert Prunetti, president and CEO, MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce

Recommendations from the Panel on Taxes Moderator: Ralph Thomas, CEO and executive director, New Jersey Society of CPAs

Panelists:

Chris Daggett, president and CEO, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; William P. Flahive, former deputy attorney general and attorney, Law Office of William Flahive; Dennis Toft, co-chair, environmental group, Chiesa, Shahinian & Giantomasi; George Vallone, president, The Hoboken Brownstone Company; Rick Weber, owner, South Jersey Marina; and Ed Wyngren, executive director, New Jersey Farm Bureau.

Panelists: Jay Biggins, executive managing director, Biggins, Lacy,

uu The Office of Legislative Services should analyze each piece of legislation for cost and revenue. It should look at what proposed legislation costs state businesses, and explore how it affects the business climate.

uu Raise the estate tax exemption or eliminate the inheritance tax.

uu Reform the Administrative Procedures Act. It takes a year to adopt a rule in this state, which is too long. Make comment and response process easier so an agency doesn’t have to go through a year-long process. uu If the state is going to regulate something, it should not be eligible for local regulatory action. uu If other states don’t regulate something, New Jersey should not. uu Reduce the number of places to go to get construction permits. Rules at each office sometimes conflict with each other. This raises the cost of housing. uu Establish independent red tape review commissions for each state agency and department. uu Expedite the process for permits and approvals.

10 |

Shapiro & Company; Linda Bowden, New Jersey regional president, PNC Bank; Peter Crowley, president and CEO, Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce; Joseph McNamara, director of the New Jersey Laborers’ Employers Cooperation and Education Trust; Ted Zangari, member, Sills, Cummis & Gross and chair of its Real Estate Department.

uu Help small business with capital gains losses when they are in the startup phase and growing phase. uu Provide tax deductions for charitable contributions. uu Raise the retirement income exclusion for individuals. uu Provide tax relief/incentives for small and medium sized businesses. uu Rethink how to fund education, besides property taxes. New Jersey towns are rejecting residential projects because it would attract kids, which makes the project too expensive. uu Control the tax burden on individuals or New Jersey will lose valuable talent.

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr.

Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean Jr., Richard Bagger, senior vice president at Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick. Celgene Corp.

The panel was moderated by Eric Scott, vice president of news and content at Townsquare Media and FM101.5.

“We agree that the estate tax and inheritance tax is a problem,” said Sweeney, a Democrat. “That has to be done.

Period. The question is how do you phase it in so you don’t blow a hole in the budget?”

Sweeney added, “The infrastructure has to get fixed and we have to address whether (a funding source) is a (petroleum) sales tax or gas tax. There will be a tax. We need to be able to move people and we need to be able to move product.”

Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick said, “I am ready to vote on a gas tax increase today.” Though he followed up with a condition: “I want a commitment that the estate and inheritance tax will be reduced.”

His fellow legislators did not exactly jump on board with that idea, but they didn’t dismiss it either.

“We need a balanced approach. We have a billion-dollar pension (gap),” Sweeney said.“We are in a hole right now and we have to get out of this hole. We can’t ignore some of our problems.”

Moving on After the Summit Upon completion of the event, the legislators publicly agreed to meet with Summit representatives going forward and to follow-up on the event’s proposals – a commitment that was met with applause from the Summit participants.

“I think we made some history here and I think we have a pathway to make things better for us,” said Bracken. “There’s a brighter future out there for all of us.” ◆ Scott Goldstein is communications manager for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

Recommendations from the Panel on Workforce Readiness Moderator: John Harmon, president and CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of NJ

Recommendations from the Panel on Transportation Moderator: Jim Kirkos, president and CEO, Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce

Panelists:

Panelists:

Nariman Farvardin, president, Stevens Institute of Technology; Barbara Gitenstein, president, The College of New Jersey; Paul Grzella, general manager and editor, Courier News and Home News Tribune; Marilou Halvorsen, president, New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association; Kristi Howell, president and CEO, Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce; and Les Vail, president and CEO, Gloucester County Chamber of Commerce. uu Expand incentives for employers to recruit, hire and train employees; make employers more aware of these incentive opportunities. uu Career success should be part of the curriculum at least at the high school level. It’s important to begin mentoring opportunities at an early age. uu Colleges should provide students with more real world experiences through internships, mentorships, co-ops and research projects to help preserve New Jersey’s competitive workforce.

Phil Beachem, president, New Jersey Alliance for Action; Jim Benton, president, New Jersey Petroleum Council; Bob Briant, CEO, Utility and Transportation Contractors Association of NJ; John Donnadio, executive director, New Jersey Association of Counties; Greg Lavelee, business manager, International Union of Operating Engineers (825); and Cathy Lewis, director of government affairs and public relations, AAA New Jersey. uu Increase local aid allocations to reduce the property tax burden and enhance and secure a safe transportation network. uu Bipartisan support for transportation funding to take the political debate out of the question. uu Invest in the sewer and water system.

uu Provide programs that will help provide a workforce which is better aligned to employer needs, which will make New Jersey more competitive with other states. uu Provide public funding for higher education that is more in line with national average.

ENTERPRISE 4Q 2015 | 11

feature – Second Annual N.J. Chamber Innovation Gala

Aldrin Returns to Native New Jersey to Receive

Photos by Russ DeSantis

Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award Kaku and Jackson Also Honored at Second Annual Innovation Gala

Dr. Michio Kaku (left), the physicist and television personality who served as the evening's keynote speaker; physicist Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and the first AfricanAmerican woman to earn a doctorate at MIT; and astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Photos by Russ DeSantis

BY SCOTT GOLDSTEIN When New Jersey-native Buzz Aldrin was a youngster, who could imagine that he – or anybody – would one day walk on the moon? But if you looked hard enough, there were celestial signs. His mother’s maiden name was Moon.

She was born the same year the Wright brothers first took flight. Aldrin’s father was an aviator, and Buzz took a great interest in space exploration when he was a student at Montclair High School bound for West Point.

“How about this – my MIT-bound high school classmate wrote in my yearbook: ‘Rocketman – I’ll build ’em, you fly ’em,’“ Aldrin said during an off-the-cuff address at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce iGALA on Oct. 26.

The rest is history. Aldrin, then 38, along with fellow astronaut Neil Armstrong, walked on the moon in July 1969, a feat witnessed on TV by more than 600 million people – by far the largest television audience of its time.

Buzz Returns Home Aldrin, now living in Florida, returned home to attend the Chamber’s iGALA and receive the N.J. Chamber’s Life12 |

time Innovation Achievement Award. Also honored at the iGALA were Dr. Michio Kaku, the physicist and television personality who served as the evening’s keynote speaker, and physicist Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and the first African-American woman to earn a doctorate at MIT. Innovation was the theme of the evening. Among the 500 guests at The Palace in Somerset were CEOs, academic leaders and heads of the state’s most prestigious research firms.

Jackson received the N.J. Chamber’s inaugural Alice H. Parker Leaders in Innovation Award. In addition to her service at Bell Laboratories, Jackson was a professor of physics at Rutgers for five years, and served as chair of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission during the Clinton administration.

The theme of Jackson’s acceptance speech was: Don’t let the unlikely stop you. She recalled a professor at MIT suggesting she choose a different course of study, despite being one of the top students in the class. continued on page 14

New Jersey Chooses its Favorite Science Fiction In addition to honoring and hearing from science titans at the iGALA 2015, New Jersey residents were asked to vote on the best sci-fi movies and characters. Here are the results.

What is the greatest science fiction movie of all time?

Star Wars

48.5%

2001: A Space Odyssey

25.3%

The Terminator

6.6%

Jurassic Park

5.4%

Alien

3.9%

Interstellar

3.9%

Star Trek (2009 reboot)

3.6%

Plan 9 from Outer Space

3%

What is the greatest quote in science fiction history?

"We should be striving to send people to Mars," Aldrin told the iGALA audience. "We can colonize the planet and make humans a two-planet species."

Among the 500 guests at the iGALA were CEOs, heads of the state's most prestigious research firms, and academic leaders.

“May the force be with you.”

(Star Wars)

44%

“I’ll be back.”

(The Terminator)

20.5%

“I am your father.”

(Star Wars)

12.8%

“Take your stinking paws off me you damn, dirty ape.” (Planet of the Apes)

8.6%

“Klatuu, barada nikto.”

(The Day the Earth Stood Still)

7.3%

“Soylent Green is people.”

(Soylent Green)

4.9%

“Dinosaurs eat man. Women inherit the Earth.”

(Jurassic Park)

1.8%

What device depicted in a science fiction movie do you wish was real?

Transporter (Star Trek)

56%

Time traveling (Back to the Future)

26%

Rosie the Robot (The Jetsons)

7.1%

Orgasmatron (Sleeper)

5.9%

Light Saber (Star Wars)

4%

The Shrink Ray (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids)

0.9%

What science fiction character would you most like to have dinner with?

Mr. Spock

34.4%

Obi Wan Kenobi

20.7%

Yoda

19.4%

Dr. Who

9.7%

Ellen Ripley

8.4%

Chewbacca

5.3%

Hal 9000

2.2%

What science fiction movie has the greatest ending?

Aldrin received the N.J. Chamber's Lifetime Innovation Achievement Award from Chamber President Tom Bracken and Chamber Chair Amy Mansue.

Planet of the Apes

50.6%

Dr. Strangelove

17.5%

2001: A Space Odyssey

13.3%

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

9.8%

Soylent Green

9.2%

What is the best sci-fi franchise?

Star Trek

50.6%

Star Wars

49.4%

Who is the better revolutionary leader?

Princess Leia Organa (Star Wars)

64.3%

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

35.7%

Who is the best Enterprise captain?

Kaku and Aldrin share a quiet moment.

James T. Kirk

74.8

Jean-Luc Picard

25.2%

ENTERPRISE 4Q 2015 | 13

feature Second Annual N.J. Chamber Innovation Gala continued from page 13

Star Wars was named the greatest science fiction movie of all time in a New Jersey Chamber of Commerce survey, and Chewbacca accepted on behalf of the entire cast and crew.

Tom Bracken, president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce talks with Shirley Ann Jackson, president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

Bea Daggett of Paper Mill Playhouse; Robert Goldsmith of Greenbaum Rowe Smith and Davis; and Chris Daggett of the Gerladine Dodge Foundation.

Robert Ross, Amrit Walia, Lou Gallo and Fred Bertoldo of Wells Fargo.

Charlene Brown of AT&T enjoys the festivities.

Guests line up to get autographs and photos with the guests of honor.

In her speech, Jackson referred to Aldrin, saying his “walk on the moon represents humanity’s most audacious achievement.”

Kaku, in his keynote, said Aldrin and his Apollo 11 crewmates were especially courageous because the technology NASA was dealing with in the late 1960s was comparable to the technology inside one of today’s cell phones.

Later, in his acceptance speech, Aldrin good-naturedly disputed Kaku’s characterization. “A cell phone can fly if you throw it,” Aldrin said, “but I have yet to see a cell phone land a Lunar Module safely on the moon.”

A Mission to Mars The 85-year-old Aldrin has not lost his sense of mission.

He actively promotes efforts to get students involved in careers related to math, science and engineering. And he is somewhat famously calling for NASA and the international community to push toward a human mission to Mars. “We 14 |

should be striving to send people to Mars,” Aldrin told the iGALA audience.“We can colonize the planet and make humans a two-planet species.”

Aldrin acknowledged this won’t happen in his lifetime, but he said the U.S. president whose administration accomplishes this would be “immortalized – remembered for thousands of years.”

Thousands of years? That could describe how long Aldrin and Armstrong may be remembered for their lunar achievement.

“Apollo 11 was the rarest of events,” said Amy Mansue, chair of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, when introducing Aldrin.“Nothing like it had ever happened before and nothing like it could happen again. Only once could humans for the first time set foot on a world other than Earth.” ◆ Scott Goldstein is the communications manager for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

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focus on health care

Working Well: Wellness Programs Boost a Company’s Health, Morale and Bottom Line

BY ALICIA BROOKS WALTMAN

Ed Lara

Jim Dunleavy

Hefty health care claims, numerous sick days and reduced productivity can wreak havoc on an employer’s bottom line and best-laid plans, not to mention the hardships created for the sick employees and their families.

The good news is there is something companies can do about it. Establish workplace wellness programs designed to keep workers healthy and keep companies humming.

Sometimes created by an employer, sometimes purchased from and run by a health insurer, “there is a strong appetite in the business community for wellness programs,” said Eduardo Lara, vice president of marketing and product development for Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. “They can help to improve productivity, boost morale, reduce absenteeism and contain health care costs.”

A wellness program usually has two components: lifestyle management, which helps employees drop unhealthy habits like smoking and lack of physical activity before they get sick; and disease management, which helps employees manage existing chronic health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Lifestyle management takes the form of on-site exercise facilities or programs; rebates or discounts on outside gym memberships; and access to programs for addressing food addiction, smoking cessation and other issues. Disease management includes systems that remind workers to attend doctors’ appointments, take medication on schedule and eat healthier.

16 |

Paul Marden

Ward Sanders

Wellness programs are not mandatory, and usually offer carrots, rather than sticks, to encourage participation. For example, the wellness programs offered by insurer UnitedHealthcare gives monetary reimbursements for healthy behavior, according to Paul Marden, CEO of United Healthcare NJ, which insures 1.7 million people in the state. Employees who take a biometric health screening, which includes BMI, cholesterol and blood pressure measurements, get $75, as do those who take part in a phone-based health coaching program, which can be done with a nurse, a nutritionist or another health care provider, depending on employees’ needs. UnitedHealthcare’s online wellness platform, RALLY, gives employees a way to keep track of their health info and take part in challenges – such as participating in a walking program, or pledging to eat at home more often – and get monetary rewards for it.

“We seek to motivate and engage employees … in a fun way, and if they want to participate, great,” said Marden, who said programs on average costs less than 1 percent of the premium paid for health insurance. Nationwide, UnitedHealthcare estimates just under 100,000 members take part.

But are wellness programs worth the money? Health care giant Johnson & Johnson reported that, over the span of 15 years, its wellness program helped decrease the number of smokers at the company by two-thirds and cut the number of those with high blood pressure in half,

according to a 2010 report in the Harvard Business Review. J&J also reported a $250 million savings on health care costs, and a return of $2.7 for every dollar spent.

A 2012 study by the Rand Corporation, looking at 600,000 workers at seven large employers, found wellness programs reduced health care costs, on average, by $30 per member per month. The money-saving effect was biggest in the area of disease management, which produced 87 percent of savings, creating a return on investment of $1.50 for every dollar spent. The study said that nearly half of all employers with at least 50 employees offered wellness programs, and that half of those who didn’t said they wanted to introduce one.

Smaller employers may create informal wellness programs, but that can come with some risk.

There are privacy laws concerning health information, and wellness programs must be compliant with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to Wardell Sanders, president of the NJ Association of Health Plans. Programs must be sensitive to what employees with disabilities can and can’t do.

“Vendors know the ins and outs of the laws regarding the programs,” said Sanders.

Of course, a wellness program is only as successful as its participation rate.

Jim Dunleavy is director of rehabilitation services at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, and head of the facility’s wellness programs for employees.

Trinitas offers their employees a fitness center, and programs such as “Biggest Loser”-style weight loss contests, healthy cooking demonstrations, walking clubs and others. And he is currently looking into contracting with employee health insurers to run a more structured program that provides incentives for participation.

“The entire industry is always looking for the best tool to get people motivated to move,” said Dunleavy, “and take better care of their health.” ◆

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feature

Lessons in Leadership: Responding Gracefully and Constructively in the Face of Rejection

BY STEVE ADUBATO, PHD

A challenge for business leaders is knowing how to act in the face of rejection. Great leaders are often remembered for how they handle difficult circumstances. This includes when, as a leader, you are given the answer “no” in a business or professional situation – particularly when hours, days and even weeks or months have been spent trying to land a particular client or account. The exceptional leader is able to handle rejection and turn it into something positive. Consider the following tools for seeing “no” as an opportunity to grow and come back stronger: 18 |

Don’t take it personally. Often, the person rejecting you or your organization is not doing so on a personal level, but they are saying “no” for a variety of reasons – including market conditions, or internal factors in their organization. Never forget that many decisions are beyond your control. Don’t get down on yourself – a negative attitude can impact your entire team.

Engage the person who rejected you. Be confident and secure enough to ask why you were turned down. A positive attitude puts you in the frame of mind to say, “Is there anything I need to know that can help me improve myself or my organization?” Great leaders are lifelong learners and taking the time to reassess your approach will likely produce better outcomes moving forward.

Resist the urge to blame others. No one is inspired or motivated by hearing a leader say that it was someone else’s fault as to why things didn’t turn out right. Your team members as well as key stakeholders are looking to you for strength and moral support.

Pick yourself back up. After you’ve had a chance to lick your wounds and learn as much as you can about why you got a “no,” get right back on the horse. If you obsess over a rejection or setback, you are likely to carry it with you when dealing with your next challenge.

Put your energy into moving forward. Don’t just say you will learn from it. Write down what you will and won’t do in the future when faced with comparable circumstances. This will have a powerful impact on your leadership style and improve your chances of being more successful next time.

Keep your emotions in check. Being rejected in any venue can be emotional. However, it is not okay to completely lose your composure. Rather than letting your emotions drive how you will react, ask yourself beforehand; “How will I deal with ‘losing’ or hearing ‘no’?” Some would call this negative or pessimistic thinking. I call it being realistic. While you won’t know exactly how you will react until it happens, learning to manage emotions when dealing with “no” is an important lesson that can make a big difference in how we lead.

What did you do to stay positive the last time the answer was no? Write to Steve Adubato at sadubato@aol.com. ◆ Steve Adubato, author of “You Are the Brand” and the upcoming book “Lessons in Leadership”, is an Emmy award-winning anchor for PBS affiliates Thirteen/WNET and NJTV. He also provides executive leadership coaching and seminars for professionals.

Read more Lessons in Leadership at www.Stand-Deliver.com.

Follow Steve on Twitter @SteveAdubato and Facebook @ steveadubatoPhD.

focus on NJCC Events

Mark Jones, vice president of external affairs, Jersey Central Power & Light; Jim Fakult, president, Jersey Central Power & Light; Andrew Hendry, president and CEO, New Jersey Utilities Association; and Jim Laskey, attorney, Norris, McLaughlin and Marcus.

Labor Department Commissioner Harold J. Wirths is greeted by New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken.

John E. Harmon Sr., president and CEO, African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey.

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce honored four legislators, two members of Gov. Chris Christie’s cabinet and a tireless New Jersey bank executive – all of whom have gone above and beyond to help recharge New Jersey’s business climate – at a reception in Bridgewater on Oct. 14.

The event, held at the New Jersey Center of Excellence, attracted 150 guests, including members of both parties– many of whom said it is time for the parties to put politics aside and pave the way for more economic development and jobs in the Garden State.

“Everybody is always asking, ‘What’s the formula for growing jobs?’” said Labor Department Commissioner Harold J. Wirths, an award recipient. “It’s simple: Less regulations, less laws and less taxes.”

Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, who also was honored, said she considers the award a contract between the Christie administration and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce to continue working

Photos by Russ DeSantis

The N.J. Chamber Honors Seven for Outstanding Economic Growth Work

PNC Bank Executive Linda Bowden arrives at the reception.

Tom Bracken, president and CEO, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Michael Egenton, executive vice president, government relations, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

together to grow the economy over the administration’s final two years. “You shouldn’t get an award for doing your job,” Guadagno said. “This is a pay-it-forward award for those who pass up the obstructionism and look for solutions to our challenges.”

The award winners were presented crystal sculptures depicting a light bulb in honor of Thomas A. Edison, one of the Chamber’s founding members, and in honor of the innovative spirit in New Jersey.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues and organizations like the State Chamber to make New Jersey more businessfriendly,” Schaer said.

Added Casagrande, “Our economy depends on thriving small businesses and successful companies. The Chamber is an important part of this effort and represents the interests of all businesses to make sure government is efficient, smarter and responsive.” ◆ A special thank you to Advance Realty for hosting the event at its New Jersey Center of Excellence at Bridgewater. continued on page 20 ENTERPRISE 4Q 2015 | 19

focus on NJCC Events continued from page 19

Jack Miller (left), president and CEO at Solix, shakes hands with Jim Fakult, president of Jersey Central Power & Light, as Paul Boudreau, president of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, looks on.

Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (left); Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno; Peter Cocoziello, president and CEO, Advance Realty Group; and Anders Kaspersson, vice president and program manager for research and development, Nestlé Health Science.

A light moment: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Sen. Jeff Van Drew embrace while looking on are (from left) Assemblyman Gary Schaer, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, PNC Peter Cocoziello, president and CEO of Advance Realty Group. Bank Executive Linda Bowden and Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole.

Nikki Graham, United Airlines; Ed Wengryn, New Jersey Farm Bureau; and Wendy Paul, New Jersey City University.

Amy B. Mansue, chair of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, and president and CEO, Children’s Specialized Hospital.

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And the winners are: (from left) Labor Department Commissioner Harold J. Wirths, Assemblyman Gary Schaer, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande (in back row), Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, PNC Bank Executive Linda Bowden (in back row), Sen. Jeff Van Drew, and Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole.

The four winners of the Legislative Awards are:

The three winners of the State Chamber’s Business Advocacy Awards are:

uuSen. Jeff Van Drew

uuLt. Gov. Kim Guadagno

(D-1 / Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties) Sen. Jeff Van Drew has been a tireless business advocate as an assemblyman and now as a senator. Van Drew sponsored a Chambersupported bill to eliminate the “software tax” and voted against a 15-percent increase on the Corporation Business Tax. He also was the sole vote in the Senate majority to oppose the minimum wage ballot question. Lastly, Van Drew worked with Verizon, a state Chamber member, to bring high-speed Internet and cell phone service to western Cumberland County.

uuSen. Kevin J. O’Toole (R-40 / Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic Counties) A member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, Sen. Kevin O’Toole is a fierce opponent of tax hikes and burdensome regulations, and a champion of small government. He has sponsored legislation implementing a 2 percent property tax cap, public employee pension and health benefits reform, and teacher tenure reforms. In 2013, O’Toole was honored as a “Taxpayer Champion” by the New Jersey Taxpayers Alliance.

uuAssemblyman Gary Schaer (D-36 / Bergen and Passaic Counties) Assemblyman Gary Schaer has supported increases in incentives for companies relocating and expanding in New Jersey. He authored the “Main Street Business Assistance Program”, which provides $50 million in government-backed low-interest loans to growing businesses. Additionally, he supported a $3,000 tax credit for businesses that create and maintain new jobs for one year, and he has approached the State Chamber about forming a local Chamber of Commerce in the city of Passaic.

Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State Since becoming New Jersey’s first lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno has focused on economic development with enthusiasm, delivering as a strong advocate for business to the Christie administration. Guadagno directs the New Jersey Partnership for Action to bring financing, business assistance and marketing to the business community. She chairs the Red Tape Review Commission, conducting an ongoing review and reform of the state’s often byzantine regulatory process. She is accessible, famously providing her cell phone number to business executives at events. Guadagno was the conduit for bringing heads of various state departments to 12 regional conferences throughout the state, in conjunction with the N.J. Chamber, so business representatives could ask questions on navigating state government. She is a friend to the N.J. Chamber. She is a friend to business.

uuCommissioner Harold J. Wirths Commissioner, N.J. Department of Labor and Workforce Development With leadership from Commissioner Harold Wirths, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development has transformed into an agency that directly links job-seekers with employers in the state’s major industry sectors through initiatives such as Jobs4Jersey.com. It also debuted debit cards for those receiving Unemployment Insurance benefits as part of a new anti-fraud program. That program is credited for having saved taxpayers $448 million, and helping bring the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund back to full solvency. Wirths is regularly seen meeting with business leaders at events like the Walk to Washington dinner, the annual New Jersey Chamber Open House and roundtable breakfast sessions.

uuLinda Bowden

uuAssemblywoman Caroline Casagrande

New Jersey Regional President, PNC Bank

(R-11 / Monmouth County)

Linda Bowden, who promotes business development across the region for PNC Bank, is a respected voice that regularly touts the advantages of doing business in the Garden State. Bowden is instrumental in many of the New Jersey Chamber’s efforts, such as its government reform initiative and its initiatives to spur real estate projects in New Jersey. She was a participant in the recent New Jersey Business Summit, which brought 500 state leaders to Atlantic City for two days to solve some of the state’s economic challenges.

As the assistant Republican Leader in the Assembly, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande has been an outspoken advocate for government efficiency and for identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in government agencies. She has introduced legislation that would promote job creation among small businesses, and a bill that would establish tax-free business incubators at institutions of higher education. Further, Casagrande has a bill that will codify the New Jersey Business Action Center into law, guaranteeing its permanence.

ENTERPRISE 4Q 2015 | 21

news makers

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL on Sept. 29 opened a new, 20-story office tower in downtown Newark, a state-of-the-art, all-glass building just two blocks from its historic global corporate headquarters. “It is so nice to coincide with the 140th anniversary of Prudential, when we were founded just a few blocks away from here,” said John Strangfeld, Prudential’s chairman and CEO. “To go from those modest beginnings to a presence like this is something we’re incredibly proud of, as we are to have the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey be our home for 140 years.”

Peter Dontas

WELLS FARGO & COMPANY has tapped veteran New Jersey commercial banker Peter Dontas to lead the newly created New Jersey Division of Wells Fargo Commercial Banking.

He leads a team of 57 commercial banking professionals who serve middle-market companies through four Wells Fargo Regional Commercial Banking and satellite offices throughout New Jersey. Dontas is based in Summit until the company opens its office in Iselin.

Chris Porrino is rejoining LOWENSTEIN SANDLER after most recently serving as Gov. Chris Christie’s top lawyer.

TRINITAS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER is in the early stages of a three-phase, $18 million project to renovate and expand its existing emergency department. The project will add 18 new treatment rooms, giving the medical center a total of 45 rooms for treating emergency visits, as well as creating separate emergency treatment areas for families, children and seniors.

Tom Bracken

Tom Bracken, president and CEO of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, was elected to the state board of directors of JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF NEW JERSEY. The PSEG FOUNDATION has granted Stevens Institute of Technology $250,000 towards the completion of the University’s Solar Decathlon entry, SURE HOUSE. The SURE (SUstainable and REsilient) HOUSE is Stevens’ entry into the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon competition, and represents the schools’ vision of a sustainable and resilient home for the areas

22 |

at greatest risk during extreme weather. The student-built, net-zero, solar-powered home is currently being built in Hoboken, and will be shipped to Irvine, California for entry into the competition.

The INVESTORS FOUNDATION, an arm of INVESTORS BANK, has awarded $50,000 to Ocean County College. The grant will be used to provide funding for science, technology, engineering and math education and facilities.

Audit, tax and advisory firm WITHUMSMITH+BROWN promoted three senior managers to partner level. This year’s advancing class includes Michael M. Kulick, Nicole D. Lyons and David J. Poillucci.

LASSUS WHERLEY has been named to the Financial Times 300 Top Registered Investment Advisers (RIA). The list recognizes top independent RIA firms from across the U.S. The FT 300 reflects each practice’s performance in six areas – assets under management, asset growth, compliance record, years in existence, credentials and accessibility.

Lawmakers, civic leaders, graduate students, faculty and administrators celebrated the addition of the School of Graduate Studies at BERKELEY COLLEGE in Woodland Park in late October.

Steve Schinella has been promoted to co-office managing partner of the Roseland location of COHNREZNICK. He will work with co-managing partner Phil Mandel. Other promotions at CohnReznick include Thomas Fassett to national practice and growth director; Charles G. Ludmer to chief marketing officer; and Steven Mayer to managing partner-strategic growth, New York/ New Jersey region. Jay Graham, with more than 20 years of diversified public accounting experience, has joined the Roseland office as a partner in the firm’s tax practice.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation and PEAPACK-GLADSTONE BANK announce the appointment of Andrew M. Glatz as senior managing director, head of the bank’s new SBA Lending Division, and David L. Clerkin, as vice president, senior loan specialist.

Steven K. Mignogna, a shareholder with ARCHER & GREINER P.C. in Haddonfield, was a featured speaker at the 37th Annual Duke University Estate Planning Conference. He presented “Ethics and Technology in a Trusts and Estates Practice” on Oct.15. ◆

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Atalanta Corporation imports food from around the world. But when they needed financing to expand their Elizabeth-based headquarters, they didn’t have to go far. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) provided Atalanta with access to the capital they needed to succeed. We can do the same for you. Our loan participation, guarantee and direct loan programs empower businesses of all sizes to reach their goals—even those that may not qualify for traditional bank financing. So whether your business extends around the world or just around the corner, we’re here for you.

To find out how the EDA can help your business access financing, call 609-858-6767 or visit NJEDA.com.

“It was good to know my company went back to Horizon.”

Nadine Elmwood, New Jersey

When Nadine’s company switched from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, she missed the service and quality of the coverage. Eventually, her employer decided to change back and Nadine was thrilled.

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For quality coverage your employees can depend on, check out Horizon.

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