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The Business Books NJ Executives are Reading, and the Lessons they are Learning

The Edge for July 2021

An Exclusive Article for NJ ChamberEdge

It’s summer reading season, so we asked business executives to share with us the books that have motivated and inspired them, along with the lessons they gained. Here is what they said:

 

Claude RichardsonHow to Get Your Point Across Without Provoking a Negative Response

The best business book I have read is Crucial Conversations, by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler and Emily Gregory. The authors assert that mastering the skills in this book will help you to improve your personal and professional relationships; control your emotions; and increase your influence in any organization and at home. This book equips you with skills needed to talk about almost anything with just about anyone. For me, the effect has been an increase in trust and candor. Mastering these skills will always be a work in progress, however I’ve learned to get my point across without provoking a negative response, and making the other person feel heard and respected even when we disagree.”

– Claude Richardson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Delta Dental of New Jersey

 

Dennis ToftFocus on Giving Rather than Receiving, and Influence Will Follow

My favorite business book is The Go Giver by Bob Burg and David Mann. The book was given to me by my partner Frank Giantomasi. Upon reading it, I realized that I was already following many of the philosophies in the book. The book provides five laws for “Stratospheric Success,” which are based upon the theory that success can best be measured in the value you provide to others. By focusing on what one gives rather than on what one receives, compensation and influence will follow. Giving includes helping others make connections. I have found this to be true in my approach to clients, co-workers and life.

– Dennis M. Toft, Chair, Environmental Law Group, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC

 

Dale FavorsBuilding Coalitions, and Finding Comfort in Compromise

The best business book I have read is The Gumbo Coalition by Marc Morial. It highlights the importance of building a team of trusted allies who can disagree at times but agree to execute for the common good. It also discusses the value in building coalitions that will help to move difficult projects forward; and finding comfort in compromise.

– Dale Favors, Managing Partner, Adaptive Growth Leadership

 

Responses for this article were edited for space and clarity.

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Newsmakers

Carolyn Welsh

NJ Sharing Network CEO Carolyn Welsh was honored by the organization for her 25 years of service in advancing the organization’s lifesaving efforts through the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue in the state. Headquartered in New Providence, NJ Sharing Network partners with 54 hospitals to provide hope for nearly 4,000 N.J. residents waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.

Betty Larson

Merck appointed 20-year health care industry veteran Betty Larson as executive vice president and chief human resources officer, the Rahway-based pharmaceutical giant announced. Larson is responsible for global human resources and diversity, equity and inclusion for the company. She comes to Merck from GE HealthCare, where she served as chief people officer.

Public Service Enterprise Group Foundation sent a $1.45 million gift to Stevens Institute of Technology to further develop sustainability programming at the school and develop a pipeline of talent prepared to address threats to sustainable development. This gift, the latest in a long relationship between the school and PSEG, will enable the school to create the Stevens Center for Sustainability.

Delta Dental of New Jersey announced that Stuart Brereton was named its new vice president and chief sales officer. Brereton previously was regional vice president at Prudential Financial, and spent many years before that at The Hartford, where he began as a sales executive, serving the large group market and ascending to the position of regional sales director. 

EisnerAmper, the global business advisory firm with a heavy presence in New Jersey, announced it will combine forces with Alabama-based tax and real estate consulting firm Tidwell Group LLC, in a transaction expected to close in May. Tidwell has 40 partners and a staff of more than 200 professionals in six offices across Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Ohio.

The M&T Charitable Foundation is awarding $900,000 in grants to commemorate its 30th anniversary – including a $30,000 grant to the affordable housing project of Habitat for Humanity of Passaic County in Paterson. Founded in 1993, the M&T Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic arm of M&T Bank.

TD Bank elevated Matthew “Matt” Boss to head of U.S Consumer Banking, the Cherry Hill-based financial institution announced. In his expanded role, Boss will be responsible for TD’s more than 1,100 store locations, contact centers, digital sales and capabilities, retail operations, U.S. Wealth and TD Auto Finance, while continuing to oversee all consumer product teams.

Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at JFK University Medical Center in Edison recently received a major research grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The five-year award of more than $2.2 million will be used to study a novel approach to treating traumatic brain injury.

Camden-based American Water Charitable Foundation recently donated $250,000 to the American Red Cross as part of the foundation’s Disaster Relief Grant Program.

Aaron Hajart was named COO of Community Medical Center in Toms River, officials at RWJBarnabas Health announced. Hajart has experience within the RWJBarnabas Health system, serving as the Southern Region senior vice president for service line and practice integration. In this position, Hajart led initiatives reducing long-term admissions by 85% and cut unnecessary patient days by 14,000 per year.

New Jersey Institute of Technology’s Martin Tuchman School of Management announced it will offer a new concentration in business and sports data analytics beginning in the fall.

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