N.B. Chamber of Commerce forming

Area businesses
invited to kick off

event Dec. 4

BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP

Staff Writer

North Brunswick officials invite the local business community to a kick-off event for a new Chamber of Commerce.

The township will host a holiday networking social to celebrate the newly created Chamber of Commerce at Sir John’s Restaurant, located at 230 Washington Place, Dec. 4 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

"There is a large business base in North Brunswick Township, including both commercial and industrial, that would greatly benefit from the numerous programs, events, common voice, and unique services that a local chamber of commerce could offer them," Laurie Ann Doyle, the township’s director of economical and industrial development, said.

Doyle is working to develop the Chamber of Commerce under the direction of Mayor David Spaulding, who conceived the chamber as a vehicle to promote a private/public partnership in the community.

"A local chamber can address concerns unique to the North Brunswick business community while providing local networking opportunities that will benefit individual businesses," Spaulding said.

The township has secured FirsTEAManagement (FTM), a management firm that has specialized in chamber of commerce and business improvement district management in northern New Jersey since 1980, to manage operations, programs and events, according to Doyle.

"FTM currently manages the Perth Amboy Chamber of Commerce, which is a highly successful vehicle for the local businesses," Doyle said.

FTM President David Biagini said, "Starting a chamber of commerce from scratch is both challenging and rewarding."

Biagini said the township has a small steering committee composed of "very dedicated and civic-minded business people who have stepped forward to help move this project from concept to reality."

The chamber steering committee, facilitated by Doyle and FTM, consists of Scott Lauri of ERA Absolute Realty, Vincent DeLuca of AFLAC, Dennis Mascali of The Chubb Institute, Dr. William Charschan of Charschan Chiropractic and Sports Injury Associates, Michele Brunton of The Technology Center, Dr. Michael Pollard of Hands-on-Health, and Larry Burton of Allied Mortgage.

The steering committee opened a post office box and telephone number in North Brunswick and planned the holiday social to help local businesses become acquainted, Biagini said.

"We’re looking forward to our holiday networking social as a gauge of the business community’s enthusiasm," Biagini said.

ERA Absolute Realty of North Brunswick will serve as the corporate sponsor of the social and will help defray operational costs, Biagini said.

"We believe North Brunswick businesses need a chamber of commerce to achieve a collective voice through our own organization," Scott Lauri, a broker at ERA Absolute Realty, said. "We are proud to be the first corporate sponsor of this movement and hope other local businesses will follow our lead."

The social will include a hot buffet dinner, soft drinks, a cash bar and door prizes drawn by the mayor.

Mayor-elect Francis "Mac" Womack will also attend.

"Much of the event will be dedicated to pure networking between businesses," Biagini said. "We think North Brunswick business people might be surprised to see how many business neighbors they have, what they can offer each other, and what they could do as a group if they worked together."

To make a reservation to attend the networking event, or to become involved with the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce, call Leona Biagini at (732) 247-5150.