Mary K. Murphy Executive Director, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority

Mary K. Murphy, Executive Director of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, will offer the keynote address at this year's Women's Leadership Summit.

The Summit, which includes two round table discussions, an interactive panel, and a health & wellness expo, will take place Thursday, September 28, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Forsgate Country Club, 375 Forsgate Dr., Monroe Township, NJ.

Murphy is a licensed planner in the State of New Jersey with more than 20 years of experience in transportation planning and policy in the greater New Jersey/ New York metropolitan area. She holds a master's degree in community and regional planning from the University of Texas and a bachelor's degree in environmental planning and design from Rutgers University.

"This event is essential in the development of today's and tomorrow's female leaders, but is most definitely co-ed," said Lina Llona, Middlesex Chamber President, "The point is to highlight how women have emerged as a significant force in Central Jersey's economic development boom. We promote this through inspiring, educating, and connecting the region's female business professionals."

Women account for at least 50 percent of all workers within the financial, education, health services, leisure and hospitality sectors, according to U.S. Labor Department statistics. "As women continue to play a more dominant role in our economy and the economic recovery, it's important to look at how and what our policy makers can do to ensure equal access and opportunity," Llona said.

Click here for more information and to register for this event!

The Middlesex Chamber Is Back With Its Signature Networking Event

The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce was thrilled to be part of the Middlesex County Business Summit September 8 at the Rutgers Visitors Center in Piscataway.

The Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce collaborated September 13 for the annual Global Business Summitat the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Princeton.

This year's program, "Building Bridges to Business Connections," featured keynote speaker Alfred Berkeley III, former President of NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. and member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Cyber Security. His presentation, "Going Global: A Road Map to Success, Real Life Lessons Learned," focused on expertise and advice on growing a business to an international scale.

The event also included the NJ Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards (NJIEA), which honor current first-generation immigrant business leaders.The awards were created to highlight the history of immigrant entrepreneurs and their contributions to communities throughout the state.

The NJIEA honorees were: Rashaad Bajwa, Domain Computer Services, Inc.; Mihai Banu, Blue Danube Systems; Carlo Momo and Raoul Momo, Terra Momo Restaurant Group; K. Peter Yu, YU & Associates, Inc.; and Rekha Rao, Rao Legal Group, LLC.

Arturo Osorio of Rutgers University led one of two breakout sessions which highlighted how to use Central Jersey as a springboard to international markets. The second breakout session featured Matthew Smith, HSBC, and Larry Richards, BEX Global and focused on how to protect business investments and payments.

With a combined membership base of over 2,500 companies representing over 450,000 employees, the Global Opportunities Program is the largest Chamber business program supporting international outreach for companies in the state.

"As a result of the Global program partnership with the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce, the business corridor between New Brunswick and Princeton continues to experience tremendous growth in international business opportunities and we are thrilled to be leading that growth," said Lina Llona President & CEO of the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

We had a great time at Due Mari in New Brunswick September 15 as the Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted its September Networking Breakfast.

The MCRCC Networking Breakfast is designed to provide members and their guests with the opportunity to network with other members, develop new connections and to grow their businesses.

Thanks to MCRCC Board member David H. Stein, shareholder, Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, PA, for welcoming nearly 50 attendees representing all sectors in Middlesex County.

Our spotlight speaker this month was Tom Bridgeforth, president of City Wide of Central New Jersey, which provides building maintenance solutions for commercial properties. The company provides more than 20 different services such as parking lot repair, landscaping, and handyman services, while specializing in janitorial.

Bridgeforth decided to go into business for himself and purchase a City Wide franchise - the first office in New Jersey - after spending most of his career in corporate America. He previously worked for AIG in various program management and strategy roles.