September 10, 2009

Newsmakers

Verizon formally opened its new customer service and operations center in March, to be staffed by nearly 1,000 employees from the Northern New Jersey region.  The 150,000-square-foot center is located at the Eisenhower Corporate Campus in Livingston. "This is a great opportunity for Verizon to streamline our operations and create a more productive work environment all while using new tools a high-tech environment to better engage and serve our customers," said Tom Maguire, area president for Verizon's Mid-Atlantic region.  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized PSE&G for its extraordinary efforts to recycle hazardous lead-clad cable and remove more than 1.3 million pounds of lead from the environment. This is the second time that PSE&G has won one of the EPA’s National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) awards, a result of setting and exceeding voluntary goals.

Walmart announced in April its charitable giving in the U.S. totaled more than $467 million in cash and in-kind gifts in fiscal year ending 2010 (FYE10, Feb. 1, 2009 to Jan. 31, 2010)—an $89 million increase over the previous year’s giving. In international markets, Walmart gave $45 million in cash and in-kind gifts.

John E. Hogan, a shareholder with the Criminal Law Team of the Woodbridge-based law firm of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. has been presented with the “Young Lawyer Award” by the Middlesex County Bar Association. Also, Wilentz sponsored their 50th blood drive in March. A staunch supporter of community activities, Wilentz held its first blood drive on December 10, 1982, and since then has sponsored a semi-annual drive each year. The firm partners with New Jersey Blood Services (a division of the New York Blood Center).

The Women’s Leadership Forum at Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP recently hosted Joan Verplanck, for a program entitled “New Governor, New Rules: New Business?” P hoto caption (l to r) Emily Kaller, GRSD Partner and Chair of WLF; Joan Verplanck, NJ Chamber President; Christine Filip, GRSD Marketing Director and WLF Committee Member; Meryl Gonchar, GRSD Partner and WLF Committee Member

Genova Burns, a multi-practice regional law firm headquartered in Newark, New Jersey, announced today that Nicholas R. Amato, Esq. has joined the firm. Amato brings to the firm a diverse and extensive background in legal, governmental and business affairs spanning over three decades.

Detra Adkins, Glenn Hildebrant and Victoria Hinton of Opportunity Project, Millburn accept a check for over $1,300.00 from the Cranford accounting and consulting firm, Fazio, Mannuzza, Roche, Tankel, LaPilusa, LLC who is a BlueJean Star Sponsor for the 13 th Annual BlueJean Day for Brain Injury Awareness.  Opportunity Project provides resources and advocacy to assist persons with brain injury in achieving their goals of leading fulfilling lives. For more information about Opportunity Project and how you can help, visit their website at www.opportunityproject.org

Caption:  Brenda Ross-Dulan, Southern New Jersey Regional President for Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company, presents a $17,000 grant to Marty Johnson, President of ISLES, Inc., to support the Bromley Community Improvement Initiative, a community development plan to counter the disintegration occuring in Hamilton's historic Bromley neighborhood.  ISLES seeks to improve the neighborhood with community-based planning and environmentally sound principles.

Wilkin & Guttenplan, P.C., one of the top 15 accounting firms in New Jersey, is pleased to announce that Karen A. Schirmacher has joined the firm as a principal.

Amper, Politziner & Mattia, CPAs and Consultants, is pleased to announce that Joseph E. Myers, CCE has joined the firm as Director in the firm’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group.  With over 40 years of experience, Mr. Myers is a veteran financial executive who has served in many capacities.  He received his Certified Credit Executive designation from the National Association of Credit Management (NACM) and is a Certified Expert Witness who has testified in Preference Actions.

Sun National Bank announced that Cherry Hill, New Jersey-resident Steven J. Greenberg was appointed president of Sun Home Loans, Inc., the bank's mortgage company. Greenberg joins Sun from TD Bank in Cherry Hill, where he most recently served as managing director of Money Out Sales with responsibility for increasing sales and profitability of the bank's mortgage and certified consumer lending business.

WithumSmith+Brown was selected as one of the "Best Places to Work in New Jersey", marking the sixth consecutive year the firm has been recognized. WS+B is one of 55 outstanding New Jersey companies in the 2010 program to be honored, and is one of 25 within the ‘large company’ category.

On March 4, Berkeley College students hosted the 4th Annual Charity Fashion Show in support of the American Cancer Society. More than 50 students planned the event, arranged fashion collections and served as runway models, raising $2,060 for the charity through their efforts.

Six Flags Great Adventure, New Jersey’s largest seasonal employer, is hiring more than 4,100 employees including 200 internships for the 2010 season from high school students to senior citizens. Six Flags offers a wide variety of positions and paid internships and offers team members many benefits, including flexible hours, advancement opportunities, health and medical benefits, reward and recognition programs, scholarships, free park admission, free incentives from area businesses and much more.

McCarter & English, LLP was recognized with 12 ranked practice areas and 33 individual attorneys, including nine newly ranked attorneys, named as leaders in their field in the 2010 Chambers USA legal directory. This publication has come to be regarded as the preeminent ranking of attorneys in the US.

The outlook among U.S. small business owners for sales, profits and hiring has improved from record-low levels one year ago, but they remain skeptical about the U.S. economy's recovery, according to the PNC Economic Outlook survey's newest findings. The spring findings of the biannual survey, which began in 2003, also found few have interest in seeking a new loan or line of credit. Nearly half (47 percent) of business owners expect their sales to increase during the next six months compared to 40 percent in the fall and the record-low 26 percent one year ago. Meanwhile, almost one-quarter (22 percent) expect to increase the number of full-time employees in the next six months. This compares to 17 percent in the fall and 12 percent one year ago.