Louis Capelli, Jr., Commissioner Director, Camden County, said the inaugural New Jersey Build Conference accomplished all the goals it had: providing a forum for those leading growth in Southern New Jersey to speak, and a networking session for those who want to get more deeply involved.
“There is no other event like this one,” he said.
The event, hosted by the Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council and the Signatory Contractors Association, was held last week in Collingswood. It attracted more than 200, organizers said.
Christina Renna, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, led a discussion with key leaders:
- Daniel Cosner – President, Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council
- John Hanson – Chief Executive Officer, Delaware River Port Authority
- Ali Houshmand – President, Rowan University
- Congressman Donald Norcross
- George Norcross, III – Chairman, Board of Trustees, Cooper University Health
- Jonathan Young – Camden County Commissioner and Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters
The conference, which was free to attend, will be held every fall. It is modeled after the successful Philadelphia Build Conference that started in 2017 under the leadership of Leo Gallagher, Executive Director of the Signatory Contractors Association.
Cosner called it a great success.
“We were pleased to co-host the New Jersey Build conference, which attracted a strong first-year crowd and featured an impressive lineup of speakers discussion major projects underway and on the horizon,” he said. “The successful and cooperative relationship between the trades, the business and nonprofit communities in South Jersey is an important factor in continuing region’s growth.”
Co-host Leo Gallagher agreed.
“We thank the Southern New Jersey Building Trades Council who agreed to join the Signatory Contractors Association in hosting this year’s event in South Jersey and we look forward to making it even bigger and better next year,” he said.
