It’s nice to talk about wearing your diversity as a badge of honor on your sleeve — or putting a rainbow flag anywhere or on anything. Acceptance … awareness — all good, too. But, when you want to really discuss the impact of Gov. Phil Murphy signing the bill that codifies Executive Order No. 295 into law — the one that directs the Department of the Treasury to establish a certification for LGBTQ+-owned businesses, allowing them to gain access to certain contracting opportunities and government programs — you need to talk about where it means the most. In the cash register. Make no mistake, be ..read more

State Sen. Nellie Pou, the first woman and Latina to represent Legislative District 35, will give the keynote address at William Paterson University’s 2024 undergraduate commencement ceremony May 22 at the Prudential Center in Newark. Pou (D-Paterson) will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. “As the first woman and the first Latina to represent her Legislative District, Sen. Pou is a true pioneer in the William Paterson spirit, and I know our graduates and guests will appreciate hearing from her on this very special day,” WPU President Richard Helldobler said. “Sen. Pou is a s ..read more

There is the Corporate Transit Fee (which will hit the biggest companies), the “Buck-a-Truck” proposal (which will hurt the logistics industry) and cuts to the Economic Development Authority, Business Action Center and Small Business Development Centers (which will hurt everyone). There is plenty in Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget that has the business community upset — that’s why the Chamber Alliance, a coalition convened by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce and more than 40 of the state’s local and regional chambers of commerce, sent a letter to legislators Tuesday morni ..read more

The CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Tim Sullivan, joins Steve Adubato to examine New Jersey’s cultural ties to East Asia, our economic infrastructure and closing the gap between child care and the workforce. The post NJEDA CEO talks about New Jersey’s cultural ties to East Asia on ‘State of Affairs’ with Steve Adubato appeared first on ROI-NJ ..read more

County College of Morris recently announced that U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill secured Community Project funding of $1 million in support of the college’s workforce development programs. The funding will bring CCM programs to the Dover community and will emphasize the health care, technology, engineering and manufacturing fields. “CCM is grateful for this support and the impact it will have on individual lives within the local community of Dover,” CCM President Anthony Iacono said. “Rep. Sherrill has been a huge supporter of CCM and has shown her deep level of commitment to our mission of changing ..read more

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce board of directors elected four new board members to three-year terms at its April meeting. The new board members are: Peter Dontas, executive vice president and market executive, New Jersey, Wells Fargo; Dr. Dustin Riccio, CEO and president, St. Joseph’s Health; Eric Seguin, CEO and president, Solix Inc.; Carolyn Welsh, CEO and president, NJ Sharing Network. “There are many opportunities and challenges facing New Jersey — and these individuals will provide counsel and expertise as we work collaboratively to ensure the state reaches its full economic potent ..read more

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who was admitted to the hospital in early April following a “cardiac episode” stemming from complications tied to his diabetes, died Wednesday. He was 65. A native of Newark, Payne (D-10th Dist.) was first elected to represent New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District in 2012, succeeding his father in the post. He also has served on the city council in Newark and as a freeholder in Essex County. Gov. Phil Murphy said he was deeply saddened, and called Payne his friend and a steadfast champion for the people of New Jersey. “With his signature bowtie, big heart and ten ..read more

The New Jersey Business & Industry Association, in an effort to reframe the fight, said the concerns with the proposed Corporate Transit Fee — a 2.5% tax on the state’s largest companies to pay for New Jersey Transit — go far beyond those large companies. In a message delivered by a group of New Jersey business leaders at NJBIA headquarters in Trenton on Tuesday, leaders said the biggest threat is not legacy companies leaving, but that the slow drip of companies already making workforce, research and facility investments in other states will turn into a torrent. The event was part of NJBIA ..read more

Moxie Strategies, a diverse-, woman- and gay-owned firm led by veteran strategy consultant Maggie Moran and an all-star cast of senior leaders, will launch Monday morning. The firm, which will be based in Asbury Park, will feature a highly regarded executive team, including: Moran: CEO; Jeannine Frisby LaRue: Executive vice president of strategy and business development; Pearl Gabel: Executive vice president of creative and content; Hira Shaikh: Senior vice president of client management; Joe Libutti: Senior vice president of research and analytics. Moran said Moxie Strategies will have the ..read more

Navigating the ever-evolving arena of public affairs demands a mix of insight, expertise, resolve and moxie. As a new era dawns in New Jersey, Moxie Strategies emerges as the vanguard — a boutique national public affairs firm revolutionizing the art of strategy and the science of brand/issue advocacy. Maggie Moran. At the core of Moxie Strategies is a credo that is both our compass and our rally cry: “Unique Depth. Bold Impact.” We are the architects of change in a landscape that is hungry for transformation and where smart, data-fueled, digital-first tactics meet the spark of creative genius ..read more