Business & Tech

Chamber of Commerce Honors Area Business Leaders

Awards dinner pays tribute to businesspeople working for economic development in town.

A crowd of about 50 people were on hand at the Monday night for the 's annual awards banquet. The event is held to recognize the efforts of outstanding chamber volunteers and to celebrate the achievements of the chamber and the in the past year.

For the 2012 edition, attendees had the chance to hear about the nonprofit organization's plans to promote community economic development in the new year.

"That means more than rateables," explained PACC President Robert Peluso. "It's important for people to do well. In this economy, it's about job creation and helping people find jobs.If we can help people do well, then business will grow and the entire community will benefit."

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Part of the PACC's mission is to recruit businesses to move into the township, to promote tourism and to help businesses in Parsippany to thrive. The organization does this, Peluso said, by offering programs such as its Workforce Development Program, which helps job seekers learn skills to become marketable to employers.

The group provides resources to new and established companies to drive growth. Another program offers the Greater Parsippany Rewards Card, which enables people to learn about businesses while enjoying discounts. And the chamber's yearly Taste of Parsippany also connects businesses with consumers.

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"We want to help people feel better about themselves so they can do better for themselves and their families," he said, "helping them to help themselves, helping businesses create opportunity. ... It's about more than filling vacant office space. It's the people that make the difference in any organization, and when it comes to people, we have the quality advantage in Morris County."

The night's keynote speaker was Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, who also spoke about putting people back to work and giving business a boost. The congressman also congratulated the award recipients and saluted the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce.

"Robert [Peluso] and [PACC Executive Director] Craig Schlosser and many of you have been on the ground working in your own ways to help people find jobs and opportunity," he said, adding that the chamber is to be commended.

Frelinghuysen also shared thoughts regarding the people in Lake Hiawatha still coping with the aftermath of last summer's devastating floods.

"That really affected a lot of Parsippany families and a lot of Parsippany businesses too," he said. "Those effects are not over, and I know many of you here, along with the mayor and the council and the Rotary and Kiwanis have done a great deal on behalf of your neighbors.

"We don't know what everyone's situation is, but between Mayor [James] Barberio and the state of New Jersey and the federal government, we'll try to make things better."

Frelinghuysen also mentioned the many people struggling to find work during these tough economic times. 

"People have been out of work six months, 12 months, 18 months, two years," he said. "Lives have been disrupted, men and women. Livelihoods and incomes have been affected."

The congressman said things will only improve if everyone, Democrats and Republicans, work together, and he praised the PACC for bringing people and businesses together to work for economic growth and mutual success.

The evening's award recipients were as follows:

Community Growth Award
Care One at Morris Assisted Living
Parsippany Soccer Club

Business Leader of the Year Award
Mary Adelman, Small Business Development Center of Northwest New Jersey

Community Spirit Award
Wendy Flanagan, Brand4Market
John Chaplin, Wireless Depot of Lake Hiawatha

Economic Development Award
Lisa Koch-Fraser, Paychex

Outstanding Public Service Award
Dan Dembek, PACC
Matthew Pierone, Gourmet Cafe

Board Member of the Year
Frank L. Cahill, Galleria Associates


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