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N.J. Executives Talk About How Their Organizations are Responding to the COVID-19 Vaccine Drive

The Edge for June 2021

An Exclusive Article for NJ ChamberEdge

Some New Jersey companies are encouraging their employees to get vaccinated for COVID-19. We asked N.J. Chamber members to talk about what their organizations are doing. Here is what they said:

 

Bishop David EvansLeadership Was Vaccinated First to Encourage Others

The core leadership of our ministry was vaccinated first to encourage the 27,000 members, as well as the surrounding community. This was followed by aggressive invitations through social media, public service announcements and radio coverage to be tested and vaccinated at our site. Thousands responded. As we prepare for the future, we continue to maintain precautions even though restrictive suggestions by the government have been modified.

– Bishop David G. Evans, Pastor, Bethany Baptist Church

 

Tom BrackenWe Are Providing Employees the Time They Need to Get Vaccinated

The business community must work to instill confidence in workers and customers that it is safe to once again visit stores, offices, restaurants and other places of commerce. It is incumbent on businesses to do their part by reminding employees what the medical data clearly show — that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective. At the New Jersey Chamber, we are encouraging employees to get vaccinated and we are providing them the time they need to get themselves and their families vaccinated. The faster we approach community protection, aka herd immunity, the sooner our economy shifts into high gear.

– Tom Bracken, President and CEO, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce

 

Barry OstrowskyAs Healthcare Workers, We Have an Obligation to Protects Patients

As healthcare workers and as team members committed to providing a culture of safety, we have an obligation to do all we can to protect our patients and the communities we serve. As a healthcare leader in the state, we must set the precedent to always provide the safest environment and protect the residents of New Jersey.

– Barry H. Ostrowsky, President and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health, in a statement on RWJBarnabas Health’s website announcing it is mandating COVID-19 vaccination for all team members at the supervisory level and above, with the anticipation that it will eventually be required for all staff.

 

Responses for this article were edited for space and clarity.

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NJ ChamberEdge Archive

Newsmakers

Public Service Electric & Gas officials announced that the utility is lowering gas bills for its residential customers by 23%, effective Feb. 1.

Kathryn Foster

The College of New Jersey President Kathryn Foster donated $250,000 to TCNJ in order to create the Kathryn A. Foster Distinguished Visitor Series – a means to attract high-profile and diverse speakers to campus.

Ralph Izzo

Ralph Izzo, the former CEO and chairman of Public Service Enterprise Group, has been named an honorary lifetime member of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce board of directors, the Chamber announced.

United Airlines is buying 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliners with the option to purchase 100 more new jets that will fly its longest routes and replace less fuel-efficient, decades-old planes. The massive order is a big boost for Boeing from one of its largest customers and comes as United has returned to profitability after the pandemic’s travel slump. The carrier has lately added more international flights thanks to a rebound in demand. United said its order was the largest wide-body sale to a U.S. carrier.

Gary Horan

Longtime N.J. Chamber of Commerce Board member Gary Horan, whose career in health care includes the growth and oversight of Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth and its acquisition by RWJBarnabas Health, announced he is retiring as CEO effective April 14. Horan came to Trinitas in 2001.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey’s philanthropic arm announced that it awarded more than $1 million in grants to 34 nonprofit organizations in the fourth quarter of 2022. This brings Horizon Foundation’s total grants in 2022 to $2.1 million, benefiting 67 groups.

As part of its nationwide commitment to help bridge the digital divide and support student success, the AT&T Foundation granted $215,000 to organizations in New Jersey in 2022. One of the organizations receiving a grant ($20,000) is the N.J. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Jobs for America’s Graduates NJ program, dedicated to helping youth graduate high school and make successful transitions to post-secondary education and employment.

Carolyn Welsh

Carolyn Welsh, the new CEO and president of NJ Sharing Network, announced New Jersey’s number of organ donors, 283, and organs transplanted in a single year, 670, reached all-time highs in 2022. These are significant increases over the previous records of 233 organ donors and 613 organs transplanted. It marked the fourth consecutive year NJ Sharing Network has reported new records in the number of organ donors.

RWJBarnabas Health announced several new hires and some transitions to new roles. Frank Pipas has been named as executive vice president, CFO; and Balpreet Grewal-Virk has been named senior vice president, community health. In addition, several executives have transitioned to new roles, including Indu Lew, chief of staff to Mark Manigan, president of RWJBarnabas Health; Robert Adamson, executive vice president and chief information officer; and Robert Pellechio, senior vice president and chief pharmacy officer.

Venuti Kulp

New Jersey American Water recently announced two promotions. Denise Venuti Free, previously director of communications and external affairs, was promoted to senior director of the department. Chelsea Kulp was promoted from manager of external affairs to senior manager of government and external affairs. Both will continue to oversee communications, issues management, media relations and customer education.

Walmart announced that it is raising the minimum wage for its retail store employees to $14. It's about a 17% increase in salary for these workers, who stock shelves and provide customer service. Store employees throughout the U.S. will make between $14 and $19 per hour starting in March. This is an increase from the current wage range of $12 to $18 per hour.

Volunteers from Wells Fargo’s New Jersey and New York offices teamed up with the Bristol Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital for a corporate volunteer day. They assembled 150 care packages for patient caregivers and painted a multipurpose room.

The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) collected $35,628 in online monetary donations — its second highest — and 2,727 pounds of nonperishable items for its 13th annual food drive to benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey.

Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center recently unveiled a new treatment facility that expands neurological care in Monmouth and Ocean counties. The $2.2 million, nearly 10,000-square-foot Dr. Robert H. Harris Neuroscience Treatment Center houses experts in neurological diseases and conditions and is part of Hackensack Meridian Health’s Neuroscience Institute.

Catherine Tung

Catherine Tung, a former senior adviser to Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and the former associate executive director of the Assembly Majority Office, has joined McCarter & English as a member of its Government Affairs practice, the firm announced.

The OceanFirst Foundation awarded $40,000 to the Brookdale Community College Foundation, giving it the opportunity to provide 40 $1,000 scholarships to deserving students.

Seton Hall University named Mary Kate Naatus to the position of assistant provost and dean of continuing and professional education. Naatus came to Seton Hall from Saint Peter’s University, where she has served for 12 years, including the last five as KPMG Dean of the Frank J. Guarini School of Business.

Macrosoft was proud to be certified by Great Place to Work®. The award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at Macrosoft. This year, 98% of employees said it’s a great place to work.  This is a full 41 points higher than the average U.S. company.

Callisto