ALLIANCE FOR ACTION ANNOUNCES 2010 EAGLE AWARD RECIPIENTS
  Recipients of 2010 Eagle Awards by the New Jersey Alliance for Action for outstanding service to New Jersey have been announced.  

Alliance Chairman George Laufenberg and President Philip K. Beachem said the presentations will highlight the Alliance's Annual Dinner on Wednesday, October 13, at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick.  

The Eagle Award recipients will be:
Ellis S. Vieser Lifetime Achievement Award - Robert Mulcahy III, for a career of public service, including Rutgers University Director of Athletics and head of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

Richard M. Hale Chairman's Award - John B. Wilson, President & CEO, Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in New Jersey, for leadership in higher education for the state's 14 independent colleges and universities.

President's Award - Tonio Burgos, President, Tonio Burgos and Associates, for providing nearly four decades of counsel on a wide range of government, civic involvement and legislative affairs affecting public and private issues in the New Jersey-New York region.

Sigurd Lucassen Labor Award - James Kehoe, President, NJ Association of Pipe Trades and Business Manager of Local 322, Plumbers and Pipefitters, for leadership in organized labor dedicated to improving the economy and creating jobs.

Dr. John L. Buzzi Engineering Excellence Award - George Alexandridis, P.E., Chief Engineer of the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, where for a decade he has overseen development and implementation of the Commission's $950 million capital program.

The Alliance's Eagle Awards Dinner draws nearly 1,000 to what has been described as New Jersey's top networking event for leaders of business, labor, the professions, academia and government.
To register, Go Here.

SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT HEAD ADDRESSES ALLIANCE FOR ACTION
  Marc Larkins, CEO of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority, reported that a review is underway on school construction projects awaiting funding decisions.  He estimated that the review is scheduled for completion in approximately 4 months.  

Larkins spoke at a "Meet the Players" program sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action.  He said that the review will provide a "fresh look at the Authority's 52 projects currently in the Authority's capital plan."  He added:  "everything is on the table."  

Larkins said the $500 million in new bond funding for school construction and renovation approved by the state represented "an expression of support" and the second step now must be what to do with those funds.   

Larkins, who has been the Authority's CEO for three months, reported that 620 projects have been funded since the school construction program began 10 years ago.  This includes 54 new schools and 45,000 students who have benefited statewide.  

In discussing the future, Larkins declared that 52 projects are currently under construction or design work.  He emphasized that the Authority is focused on doing a better job of managing these projects.  

George Laufenberg, Administrative Manager of the New Jersey Carpenters Funds who is Chairman of the Alliance for Action, asserted that unemployment is affecting some 50 percent of the membership of the Carpenters union.  He urged Larkins to bring back to Trenton the urgent need to create jobs as New Jersey's key priority for construction trades and the overall state economy.  

JACOBS ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF STATE EDUCATION FACILITIES AUTHORITY
  The New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority elected a slate of officers at its annual meeting, headed by Robert B. Jacobs as the Chairman.  A member of the Authority since 2003, Jacobs is a labor and employment law attorney.  

As vice chairman, Authority members elected Ridgeley Hutchinson, a business representative of the New Jersey Council of Carpenters.  He is co-chairman of the Mercer County chapter of the New Jersey Alliance for Action.  

Joshua F. Hodes was elected as the Authority's new treasurer.  He is chief of staff to Assembly Majority Leader Joseph Cryan.  The independent and self-supporting Authority is New Jersey's primary issuer of municipal bonds to finance development of campus facilities at public and private colleges and universities.  

CORPS OF ENGINEERS PLANS TO RESTORE STORM -DAMAGED BEACHES
  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to help restore beaches along the south Jersey shore that suffered damage from the strong storms of the winter -- but is awaiting approval from Washington on necessary funding.  

That was the report by Lt. Col. Thomas Tickner, Commander of the Corps Philadelphia District, at a meeting of the  "Meet the Players" series sponsored by the New Jersey Alliance for Action.  

Tickner and District Deputy Engineer for Programs and Project Management Roy Denmark said the Corps wants to restore the beaches to their pre-storm conditions.  They identified the beaches as Surf City-Long Beach Island, Brigantine Island, Absecon and Cape May City.  

NEW BUILDING IN KEARNY PLANNED BY DESSERT-MAKING FIRM
  The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission approved a zoning certificate for Bindi USA to build a new headquarters building in Kearny.  Bindi USA is the United States operator for the Italian dessert maker.  

The project will have a 64,000-square-foot warehouse and office space and an interior loading dock.  Into the second phase of the project, slated for completion around May 2013, Bindi plans to construct production and additional warehouse space.  

The project site is a vacant property near the intersection of the Belleville Turnpike and Barsczewski Street.  Bindi USA's current headquarters are in Totowa.  

BASF TO BUILD $100 MILLION HEADQUARTERS IN FLORHAM PARK
  In a piece of good economic news for New Jersey, BASF, the world's largest chemical company, announced plans to construct a $100 million building in Florham Park as its North American headquarters.  The location will be the former Exxon-Mobil site.  

The new building is expected to be completed in mid-2012 to provide office space for 1,100 employees.  BASF has been located on an adjacent property since moving from Mount Olive in 2004.  BASF, which is based in Germany agreed to a 15-year lease from the Rockefeller Group.  

A BASF spokesman said the company hopes to earn the Platinum LEED environmental certification for its new headquarters.  The Florham Park Planning Board approved the project.  

ALLIANCE FOR ACTION TO HEAR REPORTS ON THE FUTURE OF CAMDEN
The future of Camden and the growth of Camden County College will feature a meeting of the Camden County Alliance for Action on Friday, June 25.  The meeting at The Mansion on Main Street, Voorhees, will begin with registration at 8:15 a.m. and the program at 9:00 a.m.

Speakers will include:

• Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey Nash, on "Camden - Positioned for a Most Promising Future."
• Dr. Raymond Yannuzzi, President of Camden County College on "Camden County College -- Four Decades of Growth."
• Richard Hammer, Assistant Commissioner-Capital Program Management, NJ DOT on "Unveiling the FY 2011 NJ DOT Capital Program."

STATE DEP COMMISSIONER MARTIN TO SPEAK AT ALLIANCE PROGRAM
  The New Jersey Alliance for Action will host an appearance on Thursday, July 8, by Commissioner Robert Martin of the State Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as part of the popular "Meet the Players" series.  

Martin will speak and answer questions at the Carpenters Funds Conference Room, Raritan Plaza II, Raritan Center in Edison. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. and the program at 10:00 a.m.  

Martin's responsibility is to protect New Jersey's natural resources while promoting economic development.  He will discuss efforts to streamline the permit process and remove unnecessary bureaucratic roadblocks.  

To make a reservation Go Here.    

REPORT ON BEACHES TO HIGHLIGHT MONMOUTH ALLIANCE MEETING
  A report on whether the beaches are ready for the summer season will be given at a meeting of the Monmouth County Alliance for Action on Friday, July 9.  

The meeting at Eagle Oaks Country Club in Farmingdale will begin with registration at 8:15 a.m. followed by the program at 9:00 a.m.  

The report on the beaches will be made by David Rosenblatt, Administrator-Engineering & Construction, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  

Other presentation will be:

• County Freeholder John D'Amico, on "Monmouth County - Never at a Loss for New Ideas."
• Cortland Coleman, Director of Communications, Liberty Natural Gas, on the Liberty Natural Gas Project.

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

• Dr. Paul Katz has been selected as the founding dean of the new Glassboro Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.  He currently is vice dean of faculty and clinical affairs at The Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton, PA.
• Michele Siekerka has been appointed Assistant Commissioner of Economic Growth and Green Initiatives for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

Back to Online News Home Page