18th Annual Holiday Luncheon

Primed to start another decade of business in South Jersey, the Southern New Jersey Development Council gathered its membership to reflect on the past year and gather momentum for 2010.  The political landscape, educational institutions, transportation enigmas, and the business arena are shifting as the region enters a new decade. 

SNJDC Bi-Annual Board of Trustees Meeting

Dr. Donald Farish, President of Rowan University, told the SNJDC Board of Trustees that Rowan’s revolutionary changes mean what was once a mid-tier college is becoming a first class university.  The new Cooper Medical School at Rowan University may begin seeing students as soon as 2012.  The Rowan Boulevard will continue to grow throughout the decade creating a downtown in Glassboro.  However, new challenges such as increasing tuition, a changing campus, and transportation concerns appear on the horizon for the school.  Farish contends that the private sector of South Jersey can play a key role, partnering with the University to create a real beacon of higher learning tethered in our region but renowned across the nation.

The SNJDC board followed Farish’s address with their own committee reports for 2009 including a presentation on transportation projects that was given to Governor Elect Chris Christie’s transition team. 

Luncheon

Assemblyman Vincent Polistina (R-2), spoke to the SNJDC membership at the luncheon portion of the program explaining how his unlikely career in politics has kept his policies friendly to business and his district.  According to Polistina “Every engineer and surveyor in this room knows this state has strangled business.”  Polistina recommends a fiscally conservative legislative agenda as well as significant reductions to the power of NJ’s Department of Environmental Protection as a solution to our woes.

The Development Council also recognized some of their most senior members with continuous membership awards ranging back 50 years. The SNJDC would like to wish all of its members the happiest of New Years.

Legislative Breakfast

Ranking members of the NJ Senate and Assembly talked property taxes, fiscal responsibility, massive restructuring, and hope for a new legislative year over bacon and eggs at the SNJDC’s Legislative Breakfast at Mastori’s Diner in Bordentown.

Senator Tom Kean Jr. and Assemblyman Louis Greenwald headlined the dual bill of speakers and held an extensive open discussion with SNJDC members. Both representatives stressed bi-partisanship and a shared rejuvenation for the upcoming year. Both men saw an opportunity to take massive steps toward solving some of New Jersey’s most agonizingly redundant issues.

Real problems exist such as the depleting transportation trust fund and our ailing tax system. We need real solutions. As Senator Kean put it, “We have the opportunity to act like adults,” let us not squander it.

Transportation Committee

The SNJDC Transportation and Aviation Committee met at the SJTA office to discuss the exciting new path's SJTA will be pursuing on our road and railways and most significantly, in our airspace. Dennis Culnan, Chief of Staff to the Executive Director, outlined how specific advances to Atlantic City Airport will improve its ability to serve the public as:

• A mass transit hub soon to serve a capacity of 5 million passengers annually.
• A site for community involvement that can train and house emergency workers and the Coast Guard.
• A facility for astounding revolution in air travel such as the NextGen Aviation Research and Technology Park.

Culnan said that the Atlantic City Airport can now compete with more urban centered hubs, and establish Atlantic City as a destination not just for the region, but across the nation. These advances would begin what Culnan referred to as a comprehensive multi-modal transportation solution to South Jersey.

Awards Dinner

GREYHAWK North America, the NJ Board of Public Utilities, South Jersey Federal Credit Union, South Jersey Healthcare System, and former SNJDC chairman Chris Perks, were honored at the Tavistock Country Club in front of a business community anxious to demonstrate the resiliency of South Jersey's economy.

Award winners were recognized for their own achievements in economic development, but when in front of the microphone the recipients each described how their success benefited others. Jeanne Fox, President of the NJBPU, remarked on the $1.2 billion her organization has given to reduce energy waste. Russ Gillespie, Trustee for SJ Healthcare, stated that, their innovations may be a product of exceeding their financial goals, but the major objective has always been administering the best quality of patient care. Chuck Romanoli, GREYHAWK, NA, acknowledged the employees that have been integral in the company's success. And Ben Griffith, SJFCU, demonstrated how his new office facility was much more than a state of the art workspace, the Credit Union bought local materials and used local construction workers. "The most important thing is we put people to work," said Griffith.

The SNJDC thanks AT&T, our corporate and program sponsors, the Bay Atlantic Symphony, and every individual who attended the Reception.