The New Jersey Jewish Business Alliance honored three individuals at its 8th annual Legislative and Business Luncheon, held recently at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark.
The NJJBA, under the direction of founder and Executive Director David Rosenberg, aims to connect and advocate for New Jersey businesses in government, educational and public institutions.
Since its establishment in 2015, the NJJBA has worked hard to ensure that New Jersey is recognized as an exceptional place for the Jewish individual to live, work and visit.
The group delivered the following awards:
- The Excellence in Leadership Award: Assemblyman Roy Freiman (D-Hillsborough) — While accepting the award, Freiman emphasized that the business world is about “creating jobs and opportunity for people,” and that is what the Assembly works on: “to appreciate that no one thrives unless the economy and our businesses thrive in New Jersey.”
- Corporate Excellence Award: KRE Group — KRE was recognized for enabling Hatzalah’s communication system to run effectively by allowing Hatzalah to place its antenna on one of the tallest towers in Jersey City.
- Outstanding Achievement Award: Ted Zangari — A member of Sills Cummis & Gross and general counsel for the NJJBA, Zangari was given the award in recognition of his devotion towards the community. While receiving the award, Zangari outlined the professional and personal benefits to his longstanding membership with NJJBA, elaborating that the businessmen he has met through the NJJBA have become more than clients, “they have become friends.”
The event featured two main speakers.
- U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-9th Dist.): Pascrell discussed the consequences of the pandemic on the trade and supply chain. To prevent a future breakdown of supply chains, Pascrell stressed that we must think ahead: “What will we need to maintain the strongest economy five years from now?” he asked. “We have the ingenuity; we have the goal power in our own people, we can manufacture things in our country — it’s critical.”
- Marlene Cintron, regional administrator at the U.S. Small Business Association: Cintron recognized small businesses as a crucial element of the economy, accounting for more than 1.9 billion jobs in New Jersey. She said 1,500 New Jersey small businesses received just under $3 billion in business with the federal government. Cintron expressed her willingness to work with New Jersey businesses: “I want to hear new and innovative ideas from you all, because you are the boots on the ground, and you know what works best,” she said.
