The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce will host “NJ250: New Jersey Powers America,” an event celebrating the businesses and people who helped build New Jersey and the nation, on Oct. 7 at The Palace at Somerset Park.
The event, running from 5 to 8:15 p.m., is timed to the country’s 250th anniversary and will spotlight New Jersey’s contributions to industry, innovation and economic growth while looking ahead to the state’s next 250 years. The program will recognize individuals and organizations from New Jersey’s past, present and future.
The evening opens with a networking reception and dinner at 5 p.m., followed by welcome remarks at 6:30 p.m. (To register, click here)
New Jersey Hall of Fame President Steve Edwards will speak on the Hall of Fame leaders who helped build America, followed by a recognition of the Chamber’s oldest member companies.
At 7 p.m., BINJE Founder and Editor Tom Bergeron will moderate a panel titled “How New Jersey Built America — and How We Build the Next 250 Years,” featuring:
- Cathy Bennett, president and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association;
- Chrissy Buteas, president and CEO of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey;
- Pete Connolly, CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program;
- Debbie Hart, president and CEO of BioNJ;
- Dan Kennedy, CEO of CREDA NJ.
Paul Israel, director and general editor of the Thomas A. Edison Papers at Rutgers University, will speak at 7:45 p.m. on New Jersey’s business icons. Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell will deliver closing remarks at 8 p.m. before the program concludes at 8:15 p.m.
Event agenda:
5 p.m. — Networking reception & dinner
6:30 p.m. — Program begins, welcome remarks
6:35 p.m. — Celebrating the NJ Hall of Fame leaders who built America
6:45 p.m. — Recognizing NJ Chamber’s oldest member companies
7 p.m. — “How New Jersey Built America – and How We Build the Next 250 Years” panel
7:45 p.m. — Recognizing New Jersey’s business icons
8 p.m. — Closing remarks, “The Next 250”
8:15 p.m. — Program concludes
