The Edge for December 2022

It can be hard to find the time to slow down and give thanks. That’s why, during this holiday season, we asked New Jersey Chamber of Commerce members to take a moment and send us a written tribute to their mentors – the people that have helped them succeed in their careers and in life. It is evident in these tributes how powerful a mentor can be, and how a few well-placed words motivate, inspire and even propel a career. We invite you to read them below:

My Friend’s Sister said, ‘There will Never be Enough Good CPAs.’

In high school, I had a friend whose sister was a CPA. When I was struggling with finding a college and thinking about a major, she simply said, ‘There will never be enough good CPAs.’ That short statement stuck with me. I wanted to develop a skill that would be employable after I graduated. While attending Montclair State University, Irene Douma, my advanced accounting professor, taught a difficult class. She was a very tough grader and brought the class in on Saturdays if we weren’t properly prepared for class. Fast forward many years later, I told her she’s the reason why I passed the CPA Exam. Now, as I approach the end of my career, I am thankful that I became a CPA and worked for the NJCPA for 35 years. I couldn’t have wished for a better journey.

– James Hardenberg, Chief Learning Officer and Interim CFO, New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA)

My Track Coach said, ‘Have You Thought about Becoming a Lawyer? You’re Smart and You Like to Think Things Through.’

The seed of advice that influenced my decision to pursue law was planted on June 26, 1985 – the day after my high school graduation. Following a meet-up with my high school track coach, David Costello, to demonstrate running techniques at a local college’s football training camp, we decided to grab a bite to eat. During our meal, coach asked me what I wanted to do when I graduated from college. I didn’t have an answer. He said, “Have you thought about becoming a lawyer? You’re smart and you like to think things through.” At the time, I couldn’t conceive of it as I’d hope to be done with school after college. Flash forward to the summer of 1986, I had yet to declare a major. Coach’s conversation, however, still echoed in my ears, so I decided to take a constitutional law class my sophomore year. The rest is history.

– Demetrice R. Miles, Member, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi

Sister Mary Jean Brady said, ‘You Have to Live the Mission Everyday’

I am in health care because of a great mentor, the late Sister Mary Jean Brady, a family friend who had served as CEO of Mercy Hospital in Rockville Center, N.Y. In college, I was unclear on my career path so I interned with Sister Mary Jean one summer. She was on the frontlines of some of the most important moments in people’s lives and had a profound impact. I was hooked. She connected with parents holding their children for the first time, and families heading to the chapel overwhelmed with bad news. I learned through her that you have to live the mission every day. It’s not a job. It’s a way of life. As the CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, I consider myself the chief mission officer. I no longer work in a hospital every day, but I still round in our hospitals regularly to continue to live the mission.

– Robert C. Garrett, CEO, Hackensack Meridian Health

Three Great Mentors Provided Me with Opportunities and Wisdom

Some experiences early in life, particularly my parents’ hospitalizations, led to me pursuing a career in hospital administration. At 24, I had my first exposure to health care planning, working for Joseph Slavin, executive director of the Regional Health Planning Council in Newark. From there, I met Albin H. Oberg, CEO of Clara Maass Memorial Hospital in Belleville, who hired me to work as his administrative resident, where I learned that vision and strategy are the primary roles of a CEO. I got a big break when Bellevue Hospital, New York City, CEO Ron Milch asked me to join him as associate executive director. It was beyond my experience at the time. Within a year, I was overseeing a third of the operations, which prepared me for my next role as COO of Cooper Health System in Camden, where I became CEO in 1999. These three executives saw potential in me and provided opportunities that formed the foundation of my 40-year career. They were great mentors and I am grateful for their strong influence on my career.

– Leslie D. Hirsch, President and CEO, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System

My Father Taught Me the Importance of Hard Work

My biggest influence was my father, Paul Petruzzi, who grew up modestly in a small mining town in Pennsylvania and joined the Marines after high school. After completing his enlistment, he became a butcher at a corner food market. Through hard work and determination, he rose up to grocery store manager. Eventually he saved enough money to move back to his home town and open two supermarkets. The biggest thing I learned from my father was the importance of hard work. He was at the store all day and many nights trying to improve and grow his business. I’ve taken that with me throughout my career and discovered that hard work overcomes many obstacles. He also had a great sense of humor, and from that I learned not to take myself too seriously. Humor can help provide the proper context to our day-to-day challenges.

– Barry Petruzzi, Vice President, Delta Dental of New Jersey and Connecticut

My Mentor said, ‘Surround Yourself with Good People and Treat them Right’

In 1994, I walked into Lorelei Personnel (later Lorelei Staffing) and was introduced to the president, Lori Germain. Lori was an amazing mentor for the 14 years that I worked for her. Here are some of the lessons learned that are still applicable: Surround yourself with good people and good things will happen; Invest in your people (especially regarding training) and you will gain loyalty in return; Knowing how to talk to people is as big a skill as any; Compassion is critical.

– Nick Malefyt, President, Master Search Solutions