(Monroe Township, NJ) Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno told hundreds of small businesses there are now two New Jerseys – a green one and a red one – and one will help the other rise up.
The green area is the majority of the state that was not severely impacted by Hurricane Sandy and the following Nor Easter that hit the Jersey Shore so hard Oct. 29.
The red zone is “devastated to the range of about $37 Billion with 230,000 homes lost and $500 million in funds have already been distributed in emergency aid,” she told attendees of the statewide New Jersey Small Business Development Centers Network Annual Luncheon at the Forsgate Country Club. “Believe me. I know. I live on a street named Riverview in Monmouth Beach, just a block from the town that used to be Sea Bright.
Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno with State Legislators and NJSBDC Network Executives
Assemblymen Troy Singleton, Declan O’Scanlon, Jr., NJSBDC Chief Operating Officer Deborah Smarth, Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno, NJSBDC Chief Executive Officer Brenda Hopper, Assemblyman Gary Chiusano & Senator Stephen Oroho (Left to Right)
She made her remarks at NJSBDC network’s annual Small Business Growth Awards Luncheon, a tribute to the leadership of 13 thriving small businesses located across the state – all clients of the NJSBDC network – as well as their advisors from the 11 NJSBDC centers and two specialty programs located statewide.
All of the honored businesses said they could not have even expanded or started their company, let alone see it flourish, without the help of the NJSBDC network counselors and experts. The credited their success to the assistance of the network.
The Lt. Governor also thanked the NJSBDC network for all they have done to advance business in the state as well as their incredible support of businesses during the storm.
The NJSBDC network counsels almost 6,000 small business clients annually, sponsors more than 900 training seminars and events each year attended by over 13,000 entrepreneurs and helps facilitate millions of dollars in financing for its clients each year.
Until the storm, Guadagno said the state was recovering well, noting that last week Forbes raised New Jersey’s rating from 44 to 36 in just one year.
The red and green areas Guadagno referred to are depicted in FEMA maps, which also contain small pockets of yellow where there was minor damage from the storm.
“Those devastated need one stop shopping and that’s what we have created at the cabinet level” she said.” You need grants, now.”
But, she told the NJSBDC Awards luncheon as she held up a color coded map, the predominant part of New Jersey has already moved on and they will be the people coming to the shore next year.
“Tourism brings in $38 billion in business to New Jersey and the rest of us are going to work with the green part, growing companies, giving incentives. I take responsibility. Call me. Text me. Its’ my job to cut through the red tape.”
She promised to answer ever inquiry because “you as small businesses must have confidence in your government to grow your company.”
Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, Jr., who was among the legislators honored by the NJSBDC network for his support of the business community, supported the Lt. Governor’s assessment, referring to the entire coastal damage but noted his particular district in Monmouth County.
“I represent 16 towns that were hit, 11 of them devastated and four of our mayors lost their homes,” O’Scanlon said. “Sea Bright and the Bayshore are coming back. The first restaurant reopened in Sea Bright last week and we’re hoping more will in the next few weeks. People like you intervened and organized during the storm, working endlessly and were supplying families with what they needed within two days.”
Alfred Titone, District Director of the Small Business Administration, the primary funding partner of the NJSBDC, said “the storm was barely over and we (SBA) were there.”
“We’re definitely open for business,” he said. “Most of the shore will be open for business this summer. The four percent loans we offer are not grants but they are great because you can stretch them over a long period of time.”
NJSBDC Chief Executive Officer-State Director Brenda Hopper said the luncheon is a testimony to the expertise and knowledge imparted by the NJSBDC’s counselors during storm recovery but also by the cooperation of business and government to the larger issue to growing business throughout the entire state.
She said she was particularly pleased to present the first Malachia Brantley Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, honoring Malachia Brantley Sr. who passed away last March. The first recipients were his family who grew a Newark based business named Brantley Brothers Moving & Storage
Company in1967. In 1972 the Rutgers Minority Investment Company loaned the company $60,000 and advised Brantley to drop the customers who were lagging behind with their payments.
Today, Brantley Brothers pulls in close to $3.5 million in sales a year, making it one of the largest black-owned moving companies in the country.
The citation, accepted by his family, notes that he was honored as one of the most influential men in Newark, had a street named after him, was appointed a Trustee at Voorhees College and Integrity House, featured in Black Enterprise magazine and received the 25th anniversary NJ Small Business Development Centers award.
The luncheon is sponsored by PSE&G, PNC Bank and Verizon, and the In-Kind Media sponsor New Jersey Business, a publication of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association.
Beyond O’Scanlon, three other legislators received Business Advocate Awards for their support of the NJSBDC network and small business ownership. They are: Assemblymen Gary R. Chiusano, District 24; Assemblyman Troy Singleton, District 7 and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, District 15.
NJSBDC Chief Operating Officer-Associate State Director Deborah Smarth acknowledged the business client award winners and thanked each of the legislators for their incredible commitment in helping to fund and support the mission of the network which makes growth possible even in these difficult times.
O’Scanlon said Smarth was “lovingly persistent” in seeking legislative support.
The legislators had high praise for the NJSBDC network, Hopper and Smarth and the work they are doing for small businesses throughout the state and noted the critical role the NJSBDC network plays in the economic health of the state.
Assemblyman Singleton, who is working on a bipartisanship project for businesses across the state, said there’s not a Democrat or Republican solution to grow the economy but a bipartisanship one.
“We don’t always agree,” he said. “But I don’t doubt the (Republicans) commitment and it’s a positive to bounce around ideas and seek the best answers.”
Smarth credited Assemblyman Chiusano, O’Scanlon, Singleton and Watson-Coleman for attempting to increase state funding to expand resources for the small business community. She also credited Senator Steve Oroho, a senior lawmaker who was also present at the event, with helping to get the network back in the budget during the first budget cycle of the Christie Administration.
“When I was meeting with the award winners before the luncheon began you could see in their faces and in their eyes the excitement, motivation and dedication to be successful, “Chiusano said. “It’s really inspiring.”
Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, also recognized for her NJSBDC network support, has repeatedly noted the advocacy role NJSBDC plays.
“Thank you to the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers Network on another year of strong advocacy on behalf of New Jersey small businesses,” she said in a prepared statement. “Any investment in the New Jersey Small Business Development Centers is an investment in the future of New Jersey’s families.”
Glenn Shafer, Dean of the Rutgers Business School commended the NJSBDC network and noted the collective, long on-going and successful effort the organization has with the Rutgers Business School.
The award winners, in alphabetical order, are:
- Acrilex, Inc., Jersey City, headed by Steve Sullivan, is an employee-owned leading distributor of plastics, fabricated components and custom manufactured products in the tri state area with branch offices in four national locations. The company credits NJSBDC at New Jersey City University, directed by Barbara O’Neal, for help with marketing, business planning, financial forecasting, government certification, export analysis, procurement and new market expansion.
- Bacon & Graham, Inc., Paterson, owned by Craig Bacon, is a successful and established distributor of warehouse equipment, packaging supplies and cleaning agents. The company sought out help from NJSBDC at William Paterson University, headed by Kate Muldoon, to energize the sales organization and make them more productive and efficient as well as gain market share. And with WPU’s help, it did. B&G developed a more engaged staff company wide and improved sales over last year.
- Cape Atlantic Physical Therapy and Wellness Center, Northfield, owned by Nicola Owen who followed her passion and bought the business in 2008. When she was young she was a patient of Cape Atlantic Physical Therapy, became a therapist, and performed her college internship at Cape Atlantic. Upon graduation she worked there and later had the opportunity to buy it. She turned to the New Jersey Small Business Development Center at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey for guidance and assistance. NJSBDC’s Joe Molineaux advised her to purchase a new building, assisted in appropriate lending programs and formed strategies to obtain financing to purchase a new building and produce a state-of-the-art facility.
- Christie’s Artisan Bread and Pastry Shop, Clinton, owned by Andy and Catalina Christie, is a shop that focuses on true artisan made on premises breads, pastries, tarts, tortes, cakes and celebration cakes produced with the finest ingredients. Both dislocated workers, they sought assistance to bring their dream to fruition from NJSBDC at Kean University. Catalina attended a six week entrepreneurial course and also received help from Center Director Nat Sims finalizing their business plan, re-doing their financial projections resulting in the approval of their loan to renovate and furnish their shop.
- DirtWorx Excavating, LLC, Branchville, owned by William and Lisa Dunn, offers a variety of services in road maintenance, septic services, foundations, site development, retaining walls, underground utilities, drainage and much more. They sought mentoring, guidance, training in securing funding, certifications and training from the NJSBDC at Northwest Jersey to take the company to its next level. Center Assistant Director Mary Adelman and Center Director Dolores Stammer guided the owners and it worked. The company’s revenue exceeds $1.1million this year, doubling its profitability from 2011.
- Environmental Infrastructure Solutions, Brick, owned by Jeanette and Charles Schlapfer, provides the highest quality construction materials and services to projects which focus on storm water management, drinking water quality, brownfield development, open and public recreational space enhancements and reductions in carbon based energy consumption. For six months before EIS became a reality, NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College, Center Director Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes consulted with the Schlapfers regarding the LLC’s formation, mission statement, business plan, marketing plan and strategies as well as financial requirements. She also was instrumental in helping EIS with phases ranging from logo prototype to necessary bonding requirements.
- FEMWORKS, LLC, Newark, owned by Kimberlee S. Williams and Tamara A. Fleming, is an award winning communications network that has been instrumental in empowering entire communities by specializing in building relationships through communications that reach multi-cultural and urban audiences. The relationship with NJSBDC at Rutgers-Newark (run by Tendai Ndoro) began in 2005 and has continued with the center providing 65 hours of training and technical expertise in marketing, business planning and credit management that helped FEMWORKS grow from a home-based, self-financed start-up to a lucrative professional services company.
- Gentle Care Home Services, Inc., Piscataway, owned by Anna Komissarenko, is a private company that provides clients throughout the central and northern New Jersey with quality health care and nursing services in the comfort and security of their own homes. The owner has been working with NJSBDC at the College of New Jersey since 2007. Center Director Lorraine Allen helped her expand the company to the private pay market by offering those clients new services, helped her grow the internal operation to 210 employees, make better hiring decisions, improve the company culture and employee engagement.
- Jidan Cleaning, Medford, owned by Patricia Claybrook, is a full service commercial and residential cleaning company providing residential, office, post construction, carpet and window cleaning, floor stripping and waxing and other services in southern New Jersey, Philadelphia and suburbs and the Harrisburg areas. Claybrook credits consultant Robert Palumbo at NJSBDC at Rutgers-Camden (directed by Gary Rago) for making her entrepreneurial dream a reality, helping her develop a business plan, marketing strategies, payment structures and a human resources strategy. Total sales have increased 156 percent in the last 18 months.
- Lakecalm, Inc., Ramsey is owned by Sheila Robinson-Kiss, a psychotherapist, humorist and founder of the company she created in 1999 to serve as “the calm before the storm.” An award winning motivational speaker and author, her mission is to provide individuals and organizations with tools to move past issues brought on by challenging work/life relationships. She contacted the NJSBDC at Bergen Community College (run by Vince D’Elia) when she moved to northern New Jersey. Center Assistant Director Vince Vicari provided solutions for business growth including promotional strategies, market positioning, networking methods, and process improvements which assisted her to expand her business. She has posted a 40 percent increase in sales revenues within one year.
- Logistic Solutions, Inc., Piscataway, headed by Chief Executive Officer Al Limaye, is a global information technology firm, specializing in delivering customized software and staffing solutions within the highly competitive IT space. The NJSBDC Procurement Program, directed by Stephanie Burroughs, provided valuable advisory services, information and viable leads that helped increase the company’s bottom line. The company has acquired three new private sector procurement contracts that have contributed to a 10 percent growth in revenue and allowed for the creation of more than 50 full-time and three part-time jobs.
- Music Notes Academy, Bridgewater, owned by Brandon Kurzawa, is a community music school and New Jersey in-home music lesson provider. In 2005 Kurzawa began meeting with NJSBDC at Raritan Valley Community College (directed by Bill Harnden) counselors to start a private school with a retail component. He credits NJSBDC for superb guidance and noted that NJSBDC consultant Linda Dousis helped him use Quickbooks which helped him make financial decisions and she also guided him through the acquisition process. He now retains 14 employees and has increased earnings in the first quarter of 2012 as compared to the same period last year.
- Sentinel Photonics, Monmouth Junction, owned by Stephen So, PhD and president, designed and developed a new class of low maintenance, high-precision chemical sensors based on laser spectroscopy, for use in wireless sensor networks. Key applications for precision chemical sensing include air pollution, industrial and automotive exhaust monitoring. NJSBDC’s Technology Commercialization Lead Consultant Randy Harmon first met Sentinel’s President So in March 2011, through Joseph Montemarano of the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded MIRTHE (Mid Infrared Technologies for Health and the Environment) Center, at Princeton University. Harmon helped with budget questions regarding a pending $150,000 grant. After receiving the grant, Harmon assisted with the required 15-page technology commercialization plan for his Phase II proposal. He reviewed, critiqued and offered suggestions for strengthening Sentinel’s plan. The proposal was submitted in late January 2012 and notice of a $500,000 Phase II award was received in August. Sentinel’s Phase II project will result in the first portable carbon dioxide sensor capable of differentiating between manmade and naturally occurring emissions.
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About the NJSBDC network
The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers network provides comprehensive services and programs for small business in New Jersey, helping businesses expand their operations, manage their growth, or start new ventures. Expert staff and practicing business consultants help small business owners and entrepreneurs to develop business plans, find financing, identify new markets, find procurement and international trade opportunities, commercialize technology and develop an E-commerce presence. This non-profit network is a federal-state-educational partnership, leveraging public and private funding sources to further maximize resources for the small business community. The network leverages funding from the Small Business Administration, (SBA), New Jersey Business Action Center (BAC), the educational institutions that host the 11 centers as well as other private sponsorships and grants. The NJSBDC Headquarters is located at the Rutgers Business School in Newark NJ. NJSBDC is an accredited member of the national Association of Small Business Development Centers (ASBDC). More than 1,100 centers and satellite offices serve small businesses across the country.
