We Are A Blog Lucianne Loves!

We've already logged more than 5,000 posts on this blog.
New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie has called us "a great blog."
This week we've been ranked by Blog Net News New Jersey as one of the three most influential blogs in the region.
In a relatively short time, we've surpassed 85,000 visits and 200,000 page views.
We've attracted visitors from every corner of the world.
On Saturday we had one of our most-heavily trafficked days ever, setting new records for page views and visits.
November is destined to be our biggest month of the year so far.
And now comes one of the greatest honors: We've been selected as one of the Blogs Lucianne Loves by Lucianne Goldberg. We received the word from Joshua Goldberg himself.
Our blog posts will now go viral via blogslucianneloves.com.
We're thrilled and hugely gratified.
And we thank each and every one of you for making it possible!

Christmas In Historic Haddonfield

Over the long weekend we bucked the tide and avoided the malls and the big box stores.
Instead, we sought out small towns and independently-owned shops and we had a great time.
Every Friday evening through December 24 the charming shops of Haddonfield NJ (along Kings Highway and adjoining streets and lanes) offer candlelight shopping.
Tree branches are outlined in miniature white lights and the sidewalks are aglow in candle-lit luminaries. The street scape of this historic town is a joy to behold and the individual shops and shopkeepers are most welcoming. And candlelight nights also offer live music and other treats.
We always seek out The Owls Tale offering selected antiques, estate jewelry and Victoriana. Don't miss the window of this shop showcasing toys from yesteryear. You'll find Charlie McCarthy, Howdy Doody, Noah and his ark, dolls, carriages, wagons and other under-the-Christmas-tree treasures that you remember.
Another favorite shop of ours is the Haddonfield Floral Company. This place is always decorated so beautifully that you cannot resist a peek inside. The shop is festooned with thousands of lights, unusual trees and the most distinctive ornaments imaginable. Don't miss the unusual tree made of discarded light bulbs. It's wonderful!
We also took a stroll through the English Garden Gift Shop. You don't have to be an anglophile to love this treasure trove of all things British. Here you'll find many specialty foods, sweets, household and decorative items, authentic rugby shirts and gifts for the home and garden. If you've ever been to England you'll be surprised to find many of the same items here that you'd find in a British food emporium. If you've never been there, discover just how veddy, veddy fine it can be!

Welcome Blogs Lucianne Loves

Lucianne.com has long been one of our very favorite sites on the web.
Lucianne Goldberg has assembled the best collection of news and commentary from media all over the world.
Now Lucianne has launched another site just for blogs. It's called Blogs Lucianne Loves. We heartily endorse this new collection of blog posts designed to showcase the very best from the blogosphere.
As kindred spirits, we wish Lucianne & Co. the very best.
We know this new site will be a great success.

Vote For Favorite Fast Food

What's your very favorite fast food joint?
McDonalds? Taco Bell? Chick-Fil-A? Wendy's? Or is it someplace else?
Here's your chance to vote in our poll.
Vote at the top right of this page.
And tell your friends to vote, too.
Vote now!

Merry Collingswood Christmas Parade

If Haddonfield NJ has the best Fourth of July parade then it must be said that nearby Collingswood has one of the biggest and best Christmas parades.
We joined thousands of others along the parade route today and were delighted by the music, the characters, the colors and the spirit of this festive holiday celebration.
The crowd was three and four deep along Haddon Avenue in Collingswood and the small town pride was absolutely contagious. The bright sunlight and relatively warm temperatures (with just enough nip in the air to feel right) made the event all the more enjoyable.
The anticipation was high as the parade stepped off with numerous marching bands, 10 string bands, classic cars, floats, boys scouts, aspiring ballerinas, bag pipes, an old-fashioned calliope, jugglers and even an organ grinder. The event did not disappoint - plenty for everyone.
In fact, the whole thing lasted nearly two hours.
Yes, the crowd included lots of kids, dogs, aunts, uncles and grandparents (not to mention weary parents). And yes, a great time was had by all on a picture perfect day.
So, here's one parade lover who's happy to share a few photos with you.
Enjoy!

Update: Newest Christie Appointments

New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced today additional members of the Transition New Jersey sub-committees, including Humans Services and Children and Families, Environmental Protection and Economic Development and Growth. These sub-committees will conduct a top to bottom review of their respective government department and agency.

Human Services and Children and Families

Lori Grifa
Partner, Wolff and Samson

Environmental Protection

Denis Toft
Partner, Wolff and Samson

Economic Development and Growth

Richard Saker
Chairman, President and CEO Saker ShopRites, Inc.

Vote For Favorite Fast Food

What's your very favorite fast food joint?
McDonalds? Taco Bell? Chick-Fil-A? Wendy's? Or is it someplace else?
Here's your chance to vote in our poll.
Vote at the top right of this page.
And tell your friends to vote, too.
Vote now!

Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation

President George Washington's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, 1789:

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanks giving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many single favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the Service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks, for His kind care and protection of the People of this country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the single and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of His providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, of the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have to acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge and in general for all the great and various favors which He hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humble offering our prayers and supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all people, by constantly being a government of wise, just and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone know to be best.

Review: Up In The Air

George Clooney's new flick Up In The Air doesn't land in theaters until next month but last night we were treated to an advance preview.
In this film Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is about to reach ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he's met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams (Vera Farmiga).
Ryan Bingham's job is to fire people from theirs.
The anguish, hostility, and despair of his "clients" has left him falsely compassionate. He lives out of a suitcase, and loves every second of it.
When his boss hires arrogant young Natalie (Anna Kendrick), she develops a method of video conferencing that will allow termination without ever leaving the office - essentially threatening the existence Ryan so cherishes.
Determined to show the naive girl the error of her logic, Ryan takes her on one of his cross country firing expeditions, but as she starts to realize the disheartening realities of her profession, he begins to see the downfalls to his way of life.
The film is billed as a comedy-drama directed by Jason Reitman and co-written by Reitman and Sheldon Turner. It is adapted from the novel, Up in the Air, written by Walter Kirn.
This movie is billed as a breakout film for Clooney -- a chance for him to give a more mature, more nuanced performance. And so, we have the new "vulnerable" Clooney. His character is presented as masculine, structured and controlled but ultimately poignant and endearing.
And when you have warm eyes like Clooney (and you're also tall, dark and handsome) you can pull this off. Plus, it helps to be paired with Farmiga who is sexy and captivating.
The script by Reitman and Turner sails along with a quick wit that is very of-the-moment. The generation-spanning dialogue will make you chuckle and nod in recognition. And the performances (including Jason Bateman as Clooney's boss and a cameo by Sam Elliot) are snappy and on target.
But about three-quarters of the way through, the film seems to lose its way.
There's a point at which Farmiga says "Call me when you're lonely" and, as she turns and leaves, Clooney answers, to no one in particular: "I'm lonely right now."
The film could end right there.
But it doesn't.
And what happens from this point on becomes a bit preposterous.
Still, this movie is better than most. And it's scoring high with preview audiences and via advance reviews from the critics.
Clooney's name always pumps up the box office and the principals are great fun to watch. Plus, the story is hip and thoroughly American as it bounces from airport to airport and city to city.
It's about America right now -- with all its woes, disillusionment, detachment, cheap temptations and yearning for connection and the path to a better day.
A few decades ago that day might have appeared by the end of the movie.
But Hollywood is now so lost in existential ennui that it refuses to embrace such hopefulness within the confines of an otherwise excellent script.
Here's hoping that real life deals us a better hand.

Runyan's Statement Announcing Run

Following is the statement of Jon Runyan:
Yesterday, I received an offer to pursue my professional dream of winning a Super Bowl, and have decided to sign with the San Diego Chargers for the remainder of this season through the playoffs. Win or lose, these will be my final games as an NFL player.
Last night, I personally informed the Republican County Chairmen in NJ's 3rd Congressional District that after the season is over I plan to officially retire from football and pursue a campaign for the United States Congress.
I want to thank all of the people who have been encouraging me to run next year and let them know that I look forward to a successful end to my career on thefield, and a spirited campaign against Congressman Adler in 2010.

Christie Announces New Appointments

New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced today additional members of the Transition New Jersey sub-committees, including Military and Veterans Affairs, State, Banking and Insurance, Community Affairs, Gaming, Sports and Entertainment, Agriculture and Authorities. These sub-committees will conduct a top to bottom review of their respective government department and agency.

Military and Veterans Affairs

Col. Mike Warner, U.S. Army (Ret.), Chair

President, SMH International

Dr. John de Talvo

Retired Superintendent of Schools, Perth Amboy

Robert Ferguson, Jr., USN

President, Ambrose Asset Management

Gen. Paul Glazar, ANG (Ret.)

Retired General and Consultant

Paul Goldenberg

Senior Adviser, Department of Homeland Security

Ronald Griffin, U.S. Army

Gold Star Father and Founder, Military Families United

Mary Annie Harper

Chief of Staff, Congressman LoBiondo

Col. Peter O’Hagan, USMC (Ret.)

Former Director, New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety

State

Lieutenant Governor-Elect Kim Guadagno, Chair

Jeff Booker

Consultant, Brown & Brown Metro Insurance

Joan Bramhall

Morris County Clerk

Jack Carbone, Esq.

Partner, Carbone and Faase

Carol Cronheim

Seminar Director, Leadership New Jersey and Ph. D. Candidate, Bloustein School, Rutgers University

Emlyn Koster

President/ C.E.O., Liberty Science Center

Ruth Lipper

Director, TeleTech Corp.

Terriann Moore-Abrams, Esq.

Chief Attorney, Essex County

Robert Morrison

President, Quadrant Arts Education Research

Banking and Insurance

Edward Deutsch, Chair

Chairman, Somerset Hills Bancorp and Partner, McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, LLP

Thomas Considine

Vice President of Government Relations, MetLife

Claire Eckert

Retired Executive, Goldman Sachs

James V. Gorman

Chairman, Blue Warrior Capital

Russell L. Hewit

Senior Partner, Dughi & Hewit, P.C.

Leo Leyva, Esq.

Shareholder, Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, PA

Bruce Meisel

President/CEO, Pascack Community Bank

Albert Preziosi

Co-Owner, World Auto Group

Cindy Radazzo

JT PAC, US Representative

James Ulrich

Director of Global Market Research, Deutsche Bank

Community Affairs

The Honorable Sandra Cunningham, Chair

State Senator, 31^st District

Alfred Koeppe, Chair

CEO, Newark Alliance

Mayor John Bencivengo

Mayor of Hamilton Township

Bruce Blumenthal

Community Development Ombudsman, NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency

Hank Butehorn, Esq.

Partner, Ronan Tuzzio & Giannone

William Cassidy

Senior Partner, The Human Resource Partnership LLC

George Louis Garcia

Managing Partner, Garcia Turula LLC.

Kelly Hatfield, PhD

Former Councilwoman, Summit

Mayor Kennedy O’Brien

Mayor of Sayreville

Ira Oskowsky

Regional Sales Director, CMG Mortgage Insurance Company

Michael Pane, Esq.

Partner, Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla, PC

Gary Scharfenberger

Deputy Mayor, Middletown

Charles Tahaney

Former Township Manager, Livingston

Tim Touhey

CEO, New Jersey Builders Association

Alan Zakin, Esq.

Principal, Alan Zakin Associates

Gaming, Sports and Entertainment

Jon Hanson, Chair

Chairman and Founder of the Hampshire Real Estate Companies

Former Chairman, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority

Joseph Corbo, Jr.

Vice President and General Counsel, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

Vince Curatola

Actor

Michael Gulotta

CEO, Deo Volente Farm

Carole Hedinger

Former Acting Executive Director, New Jersey Lottery

Mark Juliano

CEO, Trump Entertainment

Al Leiter

Commentator, YES Network

Allen Littlefield

Partner, Fishman, Littlefield & Fishman LLC

Bob Mulcahy

Former Athletic Director, Rutgers University

Jim O’Neil

Chief of Investigations, NJ Lottery

David Satz

Vice President of Government Relations and Development, Harrah's Enterntainment, Inc.

John Tsanas, Esq.

Attorney at Law

Lloyd Tulp

Principal, Tulfra Realty

Finn Wentworth

Founder, YES Network and Former CEO/COO, Yankeenets

Agriculture

George Gilmore, Chair

Chairman, Ocean County Republican Organization

Kurt Alstede

General Manager, Alstede Farms LLC

William Brooks

Farmer and Deputy Mayor, Upper Pittsgrove

Sam Fiocchi

Bob Greco

Chairman, Cumberland County Republican Organization

Paul Galletta

Owner, Atlantic Blueberry Company

Charles Kuperus

Former Secretary of Agriculture and Owner, Kuperus Farmside Gardens & Florist

Steven V. Lee, IV

Secretary/Treasurer, Lee Brothers, Inc

Peter Melick

Farmer, Melick's Town Farm and Former Member, State Board of Agriculture

Gregory Romano

Assistant Director, New Jersey Conservation Foundation

Jack Tomasello

Vice-President/Co-Owner, Tomasello Winery

Hal Wirths

Freeholder, Sussex County

Authorities

Michael DuHaime, Chair

Managing Partner, Mercury Public Affairs, LLC

Andrew S. Berns, Esq.

Partner, Einhorn, Harris, Ascher, Barbarito & Frost, P.C.

Matthew Boxer

State Comptroller

Joseph Buckelew

Executive Chairman, Conner Strong

John J. Carney, Esq.

Partner, Baker Hostetler, LLP

Oren Dabney, Sr.

CEO, Jersey City Incinerator Authority

Anthony Della Pelle, Esq.

Attorney, McKirdy and Riskin PA

Craig Domalewski, Esq.

Partner, Dughi and Hewit, PC

Daniel R. Lindemann, Esq.

Attorney, Lindemann LLC

Thaddeus Maciag, Esq.

Attorney, Maciag Law LLC

Steven H. Sholk, Esq.

Director, Gibbons P.C.

Charles H. Shotmeyer

President, Shotmeyer Brothers, Inc.

Dianne Solomon

Former Senior Account Administrator, Keane Organization

Mary Elizabeth Warner, Esq.

Corporate Counsel, Quick Chek Corporation

Christie Announces More Committee Members

New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced today additional members of the Transition New Jersey sub-committees, including Corrections and Homeland Security, Energy and Utilities, Environmental Protection, Healthcare, Human Services and Children and Families, Law and Public Safety and Transportation.
These sub-committees will conduct a top to bottom review of their respective government department and agency.

Corrections and Homeland Security
Joe Billy, Chair Former Special Agent in Charge,
New Jersey Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

Warden Bill Fraser
Executive Board, New Jersey County Jail Wardens Association

Jerry Decicco President,
Jersey City Police Officer's Benevolent Association

Dr. Ralph Fretz
Director of Assessment, Community Education Center

Dan Lombardo
President/CEO, Volunteers of America Delaware Valley, Inc.

Cornell Brooks
Executive Director, NJ Institute for Social Justice

Nancy Wolff Director,
Center for Behavioral Health Services and Criminal Justice Research and Public Policy Professor, Rutgers University

Ralph McGrane
Retired Warden, Rikers Island

Jan Gilhooly
Former Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service

Energy and Utilities
Chair, Bob Martin
Retired Partner, Accenture, LLP

Laurence M. Downes
CEO, New Jersey Resources Corporation

Connie Hughes Former Commissioner,
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Walter Lynch President,
American Water Services

Russell Maffei
Business Administration Officer, City of Jersey City

Caroline Ehrlich
Chief of Staff, Woodbridge Township

Joseph Dominguez, Esq.
Senior Vice President, Exelon Generation

Ralph LaRossa
President/COO, Public Service Electric and Gas Company

Robert Clifton
Government Affairs Manager, Comcast

Environmental Protection
Chair, The Honorable Marcia Karrow
Former State Senator, 23rd District

John Abene President,
Delphi Energy

Peter deNeufville
Chairman, Voltaix, L.L.C.

Anthony Mauro, Sr.
Chairman, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance

David Pringle Campaign Director,
New Jersey Environmental Federation

Steve Santola, Esq.
Executive Vice President/General Counsel, Woodmont Properties

John Spinello, Jr., Esq.
Former Associate General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Edward Walsh
President, The Walsh Company

Anthony Slimowicz
Director, WCD Capital Partners, LLC

John Trela, Ph.D.
Former Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection

Rhea Brekke
Executive Director, New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology

Tony Monteiro
CEO, Dynamic Insurance Inc.

John Sartor
Exectuvie Vice President, Paulus, Sokolowski & Sartor, LLC

Joseph Riggs
Group President, K. Hovnanian Homes

Bruce Katcher, Esq.
Partner, Manko Gold Katcher & Fox LLP

Health Care
Chair David Knowlton
President/CEO, New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute

Dr. Alan Carr
Comprehensive Pain Management

Kevin Barry, MD
Anesthesiology, Morristown Memorial Hospital

Stewart Berkowitz, MD
Jersey Shore Brachytherapy

Judy Burgis
Senior Vice-President for Corporate Services, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Joseph Clemente, MD
President/CEO, Medical Health Center

Annette Catino
President/CEO, QualCare Alliance Networks, Inc.

Robert Hariri, MD PhD
CEO, Celgene Cellular Therapeutics

Patricia Kelmar
Associate State Director – Advocacy, AARP New Jersey

Mark Manigan, Esq.
Health Law Practice Group, Brach Eichler LLC

William McDonald
President/CEO, St Joseph's Healthcare System

Gary Puma
President/CEO, Springpoint Senior Living

Christopher Rinn
Director - Emergency Medical Services, Jersey City Medical Center

Brent Saunders
President, Consumer Health Care and Senior Vice President, Schering-Plough

John Sheridan
President/CEO, Cooper Hospital

James Orsini, MD
Essex Oncology Of North Jersey

Ryan Graham
Senior Sales Director of Employee Benefits, Fairview Insurance

Loretta Brickman
Co-Owner, BD Consulting & Public Relations

Human Services and Children and Families
Chair John Bonanni
Administrator, County of Morris

Anthony Ferrera
Director of Operations, Somerset Counsel for Alcohol and Drug Dependency

Gail Gordon, Esq.
Attorney, Brad Campbell, LLC

Peter Haytaian
Regional CEO, North Amerigroup Corporation

John M. Marchetti
Chief of Staff, Senator Bill Baroni

Jim Lape
Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health & Psychiatry, Trinitas Hospital

Robert Stack
President/CEO, Community Options

Richard Strobel, Esq.
Chief Counsel, Burlington County Board of Social Services

Charles Venti
Deputy Director, The Nicholson Foundation

Debra Wentz
CEO, New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies

Marianne Majewski
Executive Director, Catholic Charities of Metuchen

Sherri Larner
Marriage and Family Therapist

Law and Public Safety
Chair David Samson
Former Attorney General and Senior Partner, Wolff & Samson P.C.

Fred Alworth, Esq.
Director, Gibbons P.C.

Richard Badolato, Esq.
President, NJSBF and Partner,

Connell Foley LLP
Peter Bogaard Bogaard & Associates

Paula Dow, Esq.
Essex County Prosecutor

Norman Feinstein, Esq.
Founding Partner, FRBK and Former President, NJAA

Christine Hanlon, Esq.
Menna Supko & Nelson, LLC

Kenneth Laptook, Esq.
Partner, Wolff & Samson P.C.

Joe Oxley
Former Monmouth County Sheriff

Richard D. Pompelio, Esq.
Executive Director/Law Director, New Jersey Crime Victims Law Center

John Sierchio
Detective, Bloomfield Police Deparment

Mark Sheridan, Esq.
Partner, Drinker Biddle LLP

Wayne Positan
Partner, Lum, Drasco & Positan, LLC

Barbara Silver Hutcheon, Esq.
Wolff & Samson P.C.

Patrick P. Toscano, Jr., Esq.
President, The Toscano Law Firm, LLC.

Geoffrey S. Berman, Esq. Partner,
Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Transportation
Chair James Weinstein
Senior Vice President, AECOM

James Crawford
Executive Director, EZ Pass

Samuel Raia
Mayor, Saddle River

Frank Druetzler
Mayor, Morris Plains

Jerry Amedeo
Director, Camp Harmony

Ron Gravino
President, Ron Gravino Consulting

Jerry Langer
Chief Commercial Officer, Langer Transport

Jack Lettiere
President, Jack Lettiere Consulting, LLC

Nevins McCann
Partner, Connell Foley, LLP

Michael Misseri
CEO, Empire Coach

Dave Ragonese
Attorney, White and Williams, LLP

Bill Shiels
Police Sergeant, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

Education
Sandra Chronic
Curriculum Supervisor, Hunterdon Central Regional High School

Kyrillos: Listen To Business Owners

New jersey State Senator Joe Kyrillos, senior Republican on the Senate Economic Growth Committee, noted the New Jersey Business and Industry Association’s annual survey of current economic conditions shows business owners don’t believe that recovery will come in 2010. More importantly, survey respondents gave “record low marks to New Jersey as a place for expansion of their business facilities.”
“It’s time for Trenton to listen and respond to the pleas of the beleaguered business owners that New Jersey depends on to create jobs and economic growth,” Kyrillos said. “Business owners not only expect no growth in 2010 – business people are saying that New Jersey is a bad place to grow if they could expand.”
Just 11 percent of survey respondents say New Jersey is a good place for expansion of business facilities, down from 50 percent nine years ago and a high of 67 percent in 1987. A whopping 52 percent of business owners said New Jersey is a poor place to expand, up from just 9 percent in 2001.
“Business owners aren’t saying that New Jersey is a bad place to grow because of the recession,” Kyrillos said. “Big majorities say New Jersey is the worst place for taxes and fees, government spending, labor costs, regulation and anti-business sentiment.
“Governor-elect Christie won office because he promised to remove the record-high taxes, unnecessary regulations and bureaucratic obstacles that have depressed private sector job growth for the past eight years. Trenton needs to hear and respond to the pleas of our state’s business owners, and help Chris Christie restore the Garden State to economic prosperity.”

Christie Announces Committee Members

New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced today members of the Transition Counsel, as well as members of the Economic Development and Growth, Education, Treasury, Labor and Workforce Development and the Office of the Governor Transition Sub-Committees.
These sub-committees will conduct a top to bottom review of their respective government department and agency.

Transition Counsel
Stephen J. Edelstein, Esq., General Counsel to the Transition
Schwartz Simon Edelstein Celso & Zitomer LLC

John Bruder, Esq.
The Law Office of John E. Bruder

David Catuogno, Esq.
Forman Holt Eliades & Ravin LLC

Mark Cimino, Esq.
Mark Cimino, Attorney At Law

Gabrielle Charette, Esq.
Megna Law Firm

William T. Cooper, III, Esq.
Cooper & Cooper

Paul Donini, Esq.
Donini & Ramsey

Denis G. Murphy, Esq.
Schwartz Simon Edelstein Celso and Zitomer LLC

Anthony Kearns, Esq.
Rylak, Gianos, Kearns & Phillips

Stefani C. Schwartz, Esq.
Schwartz Simon Edelstein Celso and Zitomer LLC

Economic Development and Growth
Mayor John McCormac, Chair
Mayor of Woodbridge and former State Treasurer

Dennis Bone, Chair
President, Verizon New Jersey Inc.

Jeff Altschuler
President and CEO, Allied Beverage Group, LLC

Daryl Brewster CEO,
Brookside Management

Linda Doherty
President, New Jersey Food Council

Debra Dowdell
President, New Jersey Restaurant Association

Richard DuHaime
Owner, Valentine Beauty Supply

The Honorable Bob Franks
Former United States Congressman and President of the Health Care Institute of New Jersey

John Galandak President,
Commerce Industry Association of New Jersey

Rich Goldberg
Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications, DRS Technologies

Robert Harris
President, Harris FRC Corporation

Mitchell Hersh
President and CEO, Mack-Cali

Joe Jacobs Former
Vice Chairman, Casino Reinvestment Development Authority

Harrison LeFrak
Partner, Lefrak Organization

Ed Nyland
Director of Business Development, George Harms Construction Company, Inc

Brian O’Leary,
Senior VP & Tax Counsel, NBC Universal

Todd Rechler
Co-Chief Operating Officer and President, RXR Realty

Richard Roper
Director of the Planning Department,
The Port Authority of NY and NJ

Education
Dr. Susan Cole, Chair
President, Montclair State University

Chris Angelillo
Principal, Kittatinny Regional High School

Dr. Richard Bozza, Ph.D.
Executive Director, New Jersey Association of School Administrators

Dr. Ada Beth Cutler
Dean, College of Education and Human Services, Montclair State University

Ross Danis
Associate Dean of Education, Drew University

Peter Denton
Chairman and Founder, Excellent Education for Everyone, Inc.

Kristen Hennessey
Teacher and NJEA Member

Sister Rosemary Jeffries
President, Georgian Court University

Kurt Landgraf
President, Educational Testing Service

Carlos Lejnieks
President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex Hudson and Union Counties

Stig Leschly
Founder and Managing Partner, Newark Charter School Fund

Pablo Munoz
Superintendent, Elizabeth Public Schools

Frank Palatucci
President, New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association

Michael Pallente
Principal, Robert Treat Academy Charter School

Pat Pelosi
Interim Superintendent of Schools, Morris County Vocational School District

Mike Ritacco
Superintendent, Toms River Schools

Bret Schundler
Chief Operating Officer, The King's College

Lawrence Schwartz, Esq.
Managing Director, Schwartz Simon Edelstein Celso & Zitomer, LLC

Shelley Skinner
Advocacy Chair, New Jersey Charter School Association

Luis Vargas
Project Director, PAAC

Brian Zychowski
Superintendent, North Brunswick Township School District

Treasury
Hon. Michael Ferguson,
Chair Former United States Congressman (NJ-7) and Chairman/CEO of Ferguson Strategies

Laurie Ehlbeck State Director,
National Federation of Independent Business

Louis C. Goetting, IV
Former Deputy State Treasurer

Steven Kass
Co-Managing Principal, Rothstein Kass

Richard Keevey
Director, Policy Research Institute for the Region at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University

Rick Lloyd Executive Director,
State Government Affairs and Community Relations,
Johnson and Johnson

John Lutz

Partner, McDermott Will & Emery, LLP

Mark Murphy
President and CEO, Northeast Private Client Group

Jeffrey Oram
Director, Marcus & Millichap

J. Thomas Presby
Director and Chairman, Audit Committee, Tiffany & Co.

Joseph Schmuckler
Senior Executive Officer, Mitsubishi UFJ Securities Co., Ltd.

Peter Spirgel, Esq.
Managing Shareholder, Flaster Greenberg

Candy Straight

Investment Banking Consultant

Labor and Workforce Development
Debra P. DiLorenzo, Chair
President/CEO, Chamber Of Commerce Southern New Jersey

Don Abernathy
President, Extensis

Craig Alper President and Owner,
Alper Enterprises

Ray Bramucci
Public Policy and Business Consultant

Kurt Conti CEO,
The Conti Group

Rafael Fajardo
President, Elizabeth Board of Education

Nelson Ferreria
Owner and CEO, Ferreira Construction Company

Munir Kazmir, MD
CEO, Quality Homecare and Commissioner, State of New Jersey Lottery Commission

Robert Loderstedt
President and CEO, New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program

Bob Yudin Owner,
Yudin's Appliances, Inc.

Office of the Governor
The Honorable Peter Verniero, Chair
Former Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court and former New Jersey Attorney General Partner, Sills Cummis & Gross PC

The Honorable W. Cary Edwards
Former New Jersey Attorney General

Jim Harkness
Executive Director, New Jersey Senate Republican Office

Wayne W. Hasenbalg, Esq.
Partner, Decotiis Fitzpatrick Cole & Wisler, LLP

Patrick E. Hobbs, Esq.
Dean, Seton Hall Law School

Jane M. Kenny
Founding Partner and Principal, The Whitman Strategy Group

Brian M. Nelson, Esq.
Partner, Menna Supko & Nelson LLC

Rachel Donington Torpey