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Smartphone Apps that Give Execs an Edge, Part 2

The Edge for October 2017

An Exclusive Article for NJ ChamberEdge

Back in May, we asked business people to name the apps they use most frequently, and there was no shortage of answers. So we are doing a sequel. We asked the same question this month, and the answers ranged from news apps to monitor the economy to apps that help manage employees. One exec mentioned a well-known networking app that keeps his phone buzzing. And, for down time, an executive said he checks the New York Giants app to keep tabs on his favorite football team.

 

Here is what the four executives said:

Keeping Up with The Business News

Bill Dressel

The apps I use the most are Spotlight and Politico – news sources that allow me to keep a close eye on New Jersey’s important issues. I monitor them several times a day. They keep up with the critical issues of the day, and the issues that I should know and my clients should know, such as changes in property taxes, corporate taxes, and the minimum wage. Any business person should be aware of the business climate in which they operate.

– Bill Dressel, Public Affairs Consultant

 

The App that Keeps the Phone Buzzing

Cal Thomas

LinkedIn is a strong prospecting tool. It connects me to people whose business I can help or to those who can help my business. It’s the only app that makes my phone buzz. My phone buzzes when somebody wants to connect or when somebody looks at my LinkedIn profile. I teach my clients how LinkedIn can help them get introduced to the right people.

– Cal Thomas, Vice President-Sales Training, Sandler Training

 

Managing Employees with a Smartphone

Roger Salomon

Montclair State University has made a concerted effort to make business processes move easily, and as efficiently as possible. Since moving to Workday, the human resource management system, it has become much simpler to manage employees in terms of vacation and sick time, hour adjustments, pay rates and salaries. The power of this cloud-based system is made even simpler with its mobile app. I can, for example, approve vacation time with a couple of taps on my smartphone. The app is extremely secure and makes managing all aspects of my staff’s employment quite simple.

– Roger Salomon, Technology Support Services Director, Feliciano School of Business, Montclair State University

 

Health Management, Business News and the New York Giants

Robert Garrett

I have four favorite apps: The Hackensack Meridian Health app (My Meridian Health) allows me to schedule follow-up appointments, pay my bills and navigate the services offered at our facilities. The Wall Street Journal app gives me a glimpse of the latest international and national headlines. The Business Intelligence app that Hackensack Meridian Health’s in-house team has created allows me to monitor patient volume, quality metrics and our finances. And the official New York Giants football app gives me updates on how the men in blue are doing.

– Robert Garrett, Co-CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health

 

 

Interviews and submissions are edited and condensed.

Responses for this article were edited for space and clarity.

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Newsmakers

Hackensack Meridian Health and Hunterdon Health announced they have signed a letter of intent to merge Hunterdon Health into the HMH system. The organizations emphasized that the letter of intent is not a final agreement and no immediate changes are planned to patient care, physician practices, employee roles, compensation or benefits. It comes after votes by the boards of both health care systems authorizing the two organizations to move forward with the exploration of a merger.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology Board of Trustees has unanimously appointed Dr. John Pelesko as the university’s interim president, effective August 4, 2026. The appointment follows the announcement that current President Teik Lim will retire on August 3, 2026.

The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants announced that Christopher M. Lovasz, managing director at Deloitte & Touche LLP, became president of the organization for the 2026-27 term effective June 1. Lovasz succeeds John M. Szczomak, a member of Smolin, Lupin & Co., LLC.

Bank of America, the Veteran Tickets Foundation and FIFA launched a $2.25 million initiative to distribute free FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets to veterans, active-duty service members, first responders and their families.

RWJBarnabas Health has promoted George Helmy to executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer, expanding his responsibilities across government affairs, communications, community health, system planning, philanthropy, grants, and strategic partnerships. Helmy joined RWJBarnabas Health in 2023 with a loaded resume – having served as gubernatorial chief of staff, U.S. Senator in 2024, and state director to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker.

New Jersey American Water appointed David Forcinito to serve as vice president of operations, returning the longtime utility executive to the state subsidiary after he served as a vice president for parent company American Water. The appointment marks a homecoming for Forcinito, who began his 35 years with the company as a project engineer and advanced through a series of leadership positions.

OceanFirst Financial Corp. has completed its merger with Flushing Financial Corp., creating a regional banking franchise with 71 branches across New Jersey, New York, Long Island and Pennsylvania. The merger was first announced in December as a roughly $579 million all-stock transaction. The combined institution will operate under the OceanFirst brand.

Provident Bank appointed Annamaria Vitelli as executive vice president, chief wealth officer for the Iselin-based financial institution. She was also named president of Morristown-based Beacon Trust. In the new role, Vitelli will lead the strategic direction and growth of Provident Bank’s wealth management business, including investment management, trust and fiduciary services, among other responsibilities.

United Airlines took another step in its Starlink rollout June 22, as its first widebody aircraft equipped with the satellite-based internet service departed Newark for London. The Boeing 777-200 – United Flight 14 – marked a milestone in United’s effort to bring high-speed connectivity to international travelers. United said nearly 60 widebody aircraft are expected to be outfitted this year, with full fleet installation targeted by next summer.

RWJBarnabas Health opened the Melchiorre Cancer Center on the campus of Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. The five-story, 137,000-square-foot outpatient facility is part of the health system’s $1.5 billion effort to bring National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer care to every part of New Jersey.

AT&T invested nearly $2 billion in New Jersey network infrastructure between 2021 and 2025 – part of a broader effort to modernize communications and reduce the digital divide. The investment was announced alongside a larger national commitment tied to the 150th anniversary of Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone call, with AT&T planning a $250 billion long-term investment in U.S. connectivity.

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University has solidified its position as a top tier national leader in environmental medicine, ranking ninth among participating medical schools across the United States in the 2026 Planetary Health Report Card.

JAG Physical Therapy has opened its newest outpatient facility in Kearny, marking the provider’s 10th clinical location in Hudson County.

Rutgers Business School’s full-time MBA Program is ranked 7th for return on investment among 68 top public and private business schools nationwide, according to Bloomberg Businessweek. The new ranking positions Rutgers Business School 5th among public schools across the U.S. for delivering a return on investment to its graduates.

The François-Xavier Bagnoud Center at the Rutgers School of Nursing has appointed Jamie Steiger as executive director and Joanne Simone as deputy director after both served in interim roles since October.

A new mini-soccer pitch opened Saturday at Cadwalader Park in Trenton as part of a community celebration tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026. The field was developed through a partnership involving the New York/New Jersey World Cup Host Committee, Bristol Myers Squibb and the U.S. Soccer Foundation, along with city and parks officials. The opening event featured a health fair and free groceries, drawing families for a day of activities and marking the debut of a permanent recreational space.

Jersey City-based Goya Foods, the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the U.S., responded to the humanitarian crisis following the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela by donating 100,000 pounds of food to help families affected by the disaster.

New Jersey Institute of Technology launched the Profeta Real Estate Center, designed to prepare students for careers in modern real estate development. The center was created with support from developer and philanthropist Paul Profeta. University leaders said the program will integrate architecture, engineering, business, technology and environmental studies to address the growing technical, regulatory and environmental demands facing the industry.

The College of New Jersey and Mercer County Technical Schools launched a new dual enrollment program that will give high school students a direct pathway into careers in artificial intelligence and robotics. Supported by a New Jersey Department of Education grant, the initiative is among the state's first comprehensive programs connecting high school, college, and workforce preparation in these rapidly growing fields.

Montclair State University announced the launch of five new online academic programs, an expansion designed to meet the growing demand for flexible, high-quality education among working professionals and degree-completion students. The new offerings are in criminal justice, technology, education, healthcare management, and communications.

Thomas Edison State University is launching a new course format designed to help students earn undergraduate degrees faster, more flexibly and more affordably. Beginning with the July 2026 term, students will be able to enroll in new four-week accelerated courses that allow them to focus on one subject at a time while progressing quickly through their degree programs. Registration for the new format began in May. The accelerated format is designed specifically for working adults.

Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG Law) announced that seasoned attorney Joseph Aboyoun has joined the firm’s Corporate Group as a member. Aboyoun brings four decades of legal experience, particularly within the automotive and dealership sectors. Prior to joining CSG Law, Aboyoun served as a partner at a national firm and was a co-founder of a boutique law firm dedicated to automotive law.

Connell Foley LLP announced that Edward Cienki has joined the firm as 'of counsel' within its healthcare practice group. Cienki will advise healthcare organizations on cannabis regulation, corporate governance, financial restructuring, insurance, compliance and white-collar defense.

Archer & Greiner announced that PJ Farinella has joined the firm as a partner in its Business Litigation Practice Group. Based in Voorhees, Farinella brings experience handling complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts. Farinella has represented clients across a range of industries in high-stakes litigation matters.

Archer & Greiner announced that Lisa A. Bothwell has joined the law firm’s Corporate Practice Group as of counsel in its Princeton office. Bothwell has experience advising businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors on mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, private offerings, and day-to-day operational needs.

G.S. Wilcox & Co. announced the addition of Ryan Mansbach as vice president. He'll focus on sourcing debt and equity financing across commercial real estate sectors. Mansbach previously worked as a corporate development consultant at Four Springs Capital Trust, supporting capital-raising and M&A efforts. He is a former U.S. Army officer and graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Novo Nordisk said its once-daily oral version of Wegovy has surpassed 3 million prescriptions in the U.S. within five months of its January launch. Wegovy was first approved by the FDA in 2021 for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or weight-related conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol.

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