Nov - Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce

Southern New Jersey’s
Business-to-Business
Newsletter
www.vineland.org
GREATER VINELAND
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Volume 18
Serving Cumberland, Salem,
Atlantic, Cape May and Gloucester Counties
News & Views
November 2005
Number 11
Politicians, subbing for Forrester, field questions from Chamber audience
epublican candidate for governor
Douglas Forrester had to cancel
his scheduled appearance at the
October general membership luncheon,
but Chamber members were briefed on
some key issues with stand-ins from
both parties, Assemblyman Jeff Van
Drew, Democrat, and State Senator
Nicholas Asselta, Republican.
Asselta quickly cleared up the reason for Forrester’s cancellation––the
White House had requested that he
appear at a press conference in Trenton
to discuss veterans’ issues, a cause,
Asselta said, important to both
Forrester and Asselta.
Van Drew identified several pressing
issues of the campaign such as healthcare, the state budget and property
taxes. Asselta said another important
concern, especially to the Chamber
audience, is “Who will be better for the
New Jersey economy?”
Both speakers promised improvements in state finances. Asselta said
non-essential state employees would be
eliminated (“the products of pay to
play”), and an attempt is being made to
consolidate some of the school districts.
“There are 612 districts in New
state computes pensions is unfair.
Asselta responded that state-sponsored
pensions such as those for firefighters,
police and educators are all individually
negotiated. Van Drew said, “It was not
meant for pensioners to have many parttime jobs; we need to stop some practices that abuse the system.”
Another audience participant, Dr.
Sydney Tyson, asked , “How do you
address healthcare issues?” Asselta said
a major problem concerning healthcare
is the high insurance costs. Tyson
acknowledged his costs were “huge.”
Both politicians agreed medical malpractice reform was a pressing need.
R
Local Red Cross aids
hurricane victims
Photos by Prestige Publications
Assemblyman Jeff Van Drew, right, and State Senator Nicholas Asselta
answer questions from the audience at the Chamber’s October luncheon.
Jersey,” he said. “Some districts have
only one building and some have no
buildings.”
Van Drew complained about New
Jersey’s property taxes, the highest in
the nation, he said. “We need to look at
the tax structure and how schools are
financed,” he added, but at the same
time “we must be vigilant that cuts or
reductions do not include vital institutions such as the state school or the veterans’ home.”
Charles Loyle, a member of the
audience, commented that the way the
Attention, employers: here’s how to keep your employees
mployers and supervisors had the
opportunity to take a close look at
their roles from the employee’s
point of view at last month’s seminar,
“Managing and Retaining Your Valuable
Assets––Your Employees,” held at
Cumberland County College’s Luciano
Student Center.
The seminar, the second in a series,
was sponsored by the Greater Vineland,
Bridgeton Area and Greater Millville
Chambers of Commerce.
Presenter Cynthia M. Hickman, Ed.
D., told the group that managing
employees is “just like parenting––you
can create dysfunctional people or wonderful, beautiful people” depending on
several key factors.
Creating productive employees is
more than giving them a good salary
and benefits, she said. Keep them happy
by making them feel part of the company team, giving them challenging work
suitable to their skills and abilities,
keeping lines of communication open
and providing appropriate training and
resources to get the job done.
Hickman gave an example of a typical employee, “Samantha,” who was
enthusiastic about her customer service
job in the beginning but eventually
became frustrated because it was difficult to discuss matters with her supervisor––e-mail was their chief method of
communication––and because she was
given extra projects to do without sufficient training. Another factor was discovering she would not be given the
raise she expected at the end of her first
E
The role of the local chapter of the
American Red Cross in helping hurricane Katrina and Rita victims was
described to the Chamber’s Community
Affairs committee at the October meeting, held in the Chamber meeting room.
Pamela Grites, executive director,
said the community has responded generously, donating $400,000 to a hurricane relief fund and sending about 20
volunteers to work in disaster areas
along the Gulf coast. In addition, the
Red Cross has assisted in relocating
more than 90 displaced families, whom
Grites characterized as “fragile” because
of the trauma they have endured.
The director of the Atlantic/Cumberland chapter of the Red
Cross praised the volunteers for their
“tremendous demonstration of courage.”
All volunteers must complete training
by the Red Cross before they are sent to
areas in need, she said.
In addition to serving the needs of
disaster victims, the Red Cross continues its mission of providing for local
needs, Grites said, which continue.
“Fifty-three households were affected
by fire last year,” she said.
She pointed out that all disaster services are provided free of charge and that
volunteers are an essential part of Red
Cross operations.
Calendar of Events
Presenter Cynthia Hickman recognizes a member of the audience at the recent
seminar on “Maintaining and Retaining Your Valuable Assets––Your Employees.”
year because of insufficient company
sales. All those disappointments culminated in her leaving the company.
“Establishing employee commitment
and motivation helps you retain employees,” Hickman said. “Chief among
employee needs are feeling included and
involved, being appreciated, providing
opportunities for growth and achievement and being treated with fairness.”
Pay equity is a given, she indicated.
“This doesn’t mean the company must
pay what it can’t afford but that the
employee is paid fairly, in accordance
with the market pay for that job.”
The speaker summarized strategies
for retaining employees:
•
Create ownership ( being part
of the company)
•
Open up channels of communication
•
Recognize employees
•
Provide resources and training
•
Change work schedule/location
•
Develop the employee’s personal goals and vision
Thursday, Nov. 17
General Membership
Luncheon • Ramada Inn
11:45 a.m.
Thursday, Dec. 15
Holiday Party
Running Deer Golf Club
1111 Parvins Mill Rd.
Pittsgrove, NJ 08318
5:30-8 p.m. • $45
Advance registration and
payment required no later
than Dec. 9
Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce
2115 S. Delsea Drive, Vineland, NJ 08360
Phone: (856) 691-7400
Fax: (856) 691-2113
Web Page: www.vineland.org
E-mail: chamber@vineland.org
Executive Director: Paige Desiere
Officers
President of the Board
Gary Galloway, Rental Country
First Vice President
Gina Biagi, Eye Associates
Second Vice President
Robert DeSanto, Gruccio, Pepper, DeSanto &
Ruth, P.A.
Third Vice President
Wayne Triantos, Triantos,
Deon & Delp
Immediate Past President
Dennis Palmer, Landis Sewerage Authority
Board of Directors
Tony Asselta, Asselta Mechanical
Pete Capizola, Newfield Bank
Diana Caraballo, AFLAC
Jeannine Cavagnaro, Cumberland
Empowerment Zone
Dennis DeMatte Jr., Cumberland County
Improvement Authority
Kathy Farinaccio, Comcast
Russell Kadlac, Stanker & Galetto
Lilly Kejzman, Ramada Inn
Kevin Kleiner, Dondero’s Jewelry
Victor LaTorre, LaTorre Hardware
Glenn Lillie, Allen Associates
Tammy Maciocha, South Jersey Gas
Hugh McCaffrey, Southern N.J. Steel
John McClain, Century 21
Graham Realty • Ron Rossi, Rossi Honda
Diane Sacco, Sun Bank
Lou Tramontana, Torchio Bros.
Sandi Zapolski, Urban Enterprise Zone
Treasurer: Harry Hearing, Romano, Hearing,
Testa & Knorr, C.P.A.
Solicitor: Michael Benson, Buonadonna,
Benson & Parenti, P.C.
NEWS & VIEWS Publisher:
Cohansey Cove Publishing Editor:Paige Desiere
From the Director’s Desk
Six simple secrets of ‘awesome’ customer service
hen it comes to customer service, the distance between awful and
awesome isn’t that great. The difference lies in six simple
“secrets.” The “secrets” aren’t difficult to uncover, and they are
easy to apply. Don’t think of them as techniques –– they are strategies.
They are a way of thinking that determines a way of doing.
•
Make yourself visible and available. Make sure you stay close to
your customer – if they can see you, you are available to help them. Even if
they have a question or request that you can’t assist them with. The least
anyone can do is find the answer or locate a person who can.
•
Be interested. People want to do business with people who are
interested in them. They want someone concerned with their needs and
expectations. The best product at the best price isn’t the best deal if you
don’t care about your customers.
•
Keep promises. One of the quickest ways to irritate customers is
to tell them what you’ll do for them and then not do it. Commit to what
you know you can do. Say what you’ll do and do what you say.
•
No excuses. Your customers have enough problems of their own
– they don’t want to hear yours.
•
Apologize first, explain later. Whether or not you have a legitimate excuse, and whether or not the customer is interested in any kind of
an explanation, the first thing to do with an unhappy customer is apologize
sincerely. An insincere apology is in many ways worse than no apology at
all.
W
Chamber donates $1500 to firefighter scholarship
the N.J. National Guard troops:
Altar & Rosary Society, BJ’s Wholesale
Club, Cold Stone Creamery, Commerce
Bank, Community Food Bank of NJ,
Eastlantic Diagnostic /Garden State MRI,
BRIDGETON ONIZED
Photo courtesy of Sandi Zapolski
Lloyd Ronchetti, right, accepts check
from Chamber President Gary Galloway
for the Ronchetti scholarship fund. The
presentation took place at the annual
Firefighters Dinner sponsored by the
Chamber in October.
A hearty thank you!
Thanks to the following businesses
and individuals for their contributions
at the recent deployment ceremonies of
General Membership Luncheon
Thursday, November 17, 2005
11:45 A.M. Luncheon
Ramada Inn
(2216 W. Landis Avenue, Vineland)
$20.00 per person
The Delaware River and Bay Authority’s Compact was amended in 1990 to
permit the agency to use excess resources to engage in economic development projects in the four southern counties of New Jersey. The economic
development mission of the DRBA is to bring new business to the area,
providing additional jobs for area residents and an increased economic
base to the community.
GVCC General Membership Luncheon
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Clip and return to Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce
2115 S. Delsea Dr. Vineland, NJ 08360
Phone: (856) 691-7400
Fax: (856) 691-2113
___Yes! I/We will attend the luncheon.
___ # attending @ $20 each ($30 for non-members.) Please register in
advance.
___Please check if you would like to introduce yourself at an upcoming
Chamber luncheon.
South Jersey
Federal Credit Union
800-582-7640
www.southjerseyfcu.com
Page 2
F.J. Reilly Communications, Inc., J.W.
Pedersen Architect, P.C., L.J. Zucca
Distributors, Inc., Merighi’s Savoy Inn,
Minotola National Bank, Newfield National
Bank, Quizno’s Sub, Rental Country Inc.,
Roger and Judy Scull, Theodore S. Krause,
and Wealth Capital.
Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce
Federal Credit Union
YOU
•
Tell the truth. Don’t lie.
Telling the truth is about telling what
you know or admitting that you don’t
know. Customers may not be happy
with the truth when they hear it, but
they’ll be even angrier if you lied.
“Quality Customer Service &
Confidence: You Can’t Succeed
Without It” is the topic of our next
seminar. This is the third in a series of
workshops addressing the subject of
competition in the “big box” world. It
will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 16 at
Cumberland County College in the
Luciano Center for Public Service &
Paige Desiere
Leadership from 8 to 10 a.m.
Reserve your spot by calling the Chamber at 691-7400 or Cumberland
County College at 691-8600, x392.
And remember, your membership in the Greater Vineland Chamber of
Commerce allows for any of your employees to attend our functions. So, if
you cannot attend, why not send a substitute? ––Paige Desiere, Chamber
Executive Director
Check enclosed for $ ________
Visa/MasterCard_________________________________Exp.Date_______
Business____________________________________________________
Name(s)____________________________________________
Please return registration forms by Tuesday, November 15, 2005.
All reservations are considered confirmed. If you do not attend, you will be billed for
the cost of the luncheon.
News & Views•November 2005
Business Spotlight of the Month
South Jersey Paper Products a landmark Vineland company for 55 years
f one is asked to name some of
Vineland’s longtime business success stories, the name South Jersey
Paper Products is sure to come up.
Founded by Daniel Stone in 1950,
the company has gone through three
locations: from Delsea Drive to Elmer
Road and finally to its present impressive space at the Vineland Industrial
Park, where it occupies 10 acres.
It is now owned by Stone’s daughter,
Bonnie Spector, and her husband Marty,
who sell paper products mainly in bulk
to clients such as the Atlantic City casinos, public schools, hotels and motels.
But the complex at 2400 Industrial Way
(off Mill Road) also contains an outlet
store where many of the industrial
strength products are sold in smaller
quantities to accommodate the retail
customer or small businessperson.
“These retail products are better
quality than you’d buy at the supermarket, “ says Marty Spector. “They’re the
same quality as what is sold to restaurants or hotels but in quantities to suit
the retail customer.” Bonnie Spector
says a vacuum cleaner she acquired in
1980 still works great, an example of
the superior quality of the company’s
cleaning equipment that is used by professional contract cleaners.
The company’s inventory includes
disposable paper products such as towels, tissue and plates, in addition to
cleaning supplies and equipment. It has
also branched into ice cream supplies,
including cones, syrups and toppings,
an offshoot of its paper cup line. “We
Drive landmark for many years––from
1950 to 1985––the owners couldn’t be
more pleased with their location at the
Industrial Park. “It has great accessibility, being close to Route 55,” says Marty
Spector, in addition to acres of space for
expansion.
Their customers come mainly from
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, spanning
Toms River to Cape May in New Jersey.
Forty-two employees, including 12
sales persons, comprise the staff in
addition to the owners. The employees
include the two Spector sons, Brandon,
Director of Operations, and Todd,
Director of Sales. There is also a toddler grandson, Brandon’s son, but “We
haven’t put him to work yet,” chuckles
Bonnie Spector.
The couple lived in Vineland for
many years but now have a home in
Longport, on the beach, and one in
Florida. They admit to a more than
casual interest in golf and look forward
to spending more time pursuing leisure
activities in the future––but for now it’s
still all business. As it has been for the
past 55 years.
I
Members of the South Jersey Paper Products managerial team examine some of
the products in the outlet store. From left are Brandon, Bonnie and Marty Spector.
stock a total of 4,000 products,” says
Marty Spector.
Browse through the retail outlet
store and you’ll see a wealth of products for the home and entertaining
––colored paper napkins and plates,
plastic bowls and cups, and cleaning
products and equipment. The company
also provides service on all its products
and will even train the customer in
their proper use.
Although the company was a Delsea
SERVICES...Provided by Fellow Chamber Members!
Building Contractors
Car Wash
Full Service Car Wash
2611 S. Main Rd.
Vineland, NJ 08360
BUILDING CONTRACTORS
(Between Grant &
Sherman Aves.)
317 W. ELMER ROAD ■ VINELAND, NJ 08360-6381
Phone: (856) 692-8088 ■ Fax: (856) 692-3058 ■ Toll Free: (888) 692-8098
e-mail: sng@stankergaletto.com ■ Web Site: www.stankergaletto.com
Commercial Insurance
FREE upgrade with this card
Custom Framing
The
Canvas Bag
Gallery & Frame Shoppe
46 East Commerce St.
Bridgeton, NJ
NOW OPEN IN VINELAND
782 S. Brewster Road, Suite A-5
Madison Square Complex
Vineland, NJ 08361
Conservation framing, needlework & object
856-455-5673
framing. Corporate services a specialty
856-692-1121
Flooring
Financial Services
Rachel Vazquez
Bookkeeping • Accounting • Tax Preparation • Notary Public • Business
Startups • Payroll • Insurance and other financial services
Se Habla Espanol
Tel: 856-692-4422
739 E. Landis Ave.
Cell: 609-805-2055
Vineland, NJ 08360
Fax: 856-692-4495
Email:
Website: www.rvfinancialservices.com
rv@rvfinancialservices.com
Growers/Shippers/Distrib.
Plumbing/HVAC
“Cour tesy First”
First”
William Consalo & Sons Farms, Inc.
Consalo Farms, Inc.
WCS Trucking, Inc.
GROWERS • SHIPPERS • DISTRIBUTORS
www.wmconsalo.com
THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE IN FRUIT AND PRODUCE
SINCE 1927
Vineland, NJ
Tel: 856-691-3377
Fax: 856-691-0164
Nogales, Arizona
Tel: 520-281-4855
Fax: 520-281-4214
Sherrington, Quebec
Tel: 450-454-5075
Fax: 450-454-3709
Plumbing Supplies
“se habla espanol”
www.courtesyfirst.com
PLUMBING • HEATING • COOLING • POOL SERVICE • WATER CONDITIONING
(856) 692-6017 • 1721 North West Ave, Vineland, NJ 08360
Primary Health Care
GIL WALTER
Chief Executive Officer
COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE, INC.
An affiliate of South Jersey Health System
70 Cohansey Street • P.O. Box 597 • Bridgeton, NJ 08302
(856) 451-4700, Ext. 2014 • (856) 455-3144 Fax
News & Views • November 2005
Page 3
What’s new in business?
un National Bank recently presented the American Red Cross
Atlantic/Cumberland Chapter with a
check for more than $86,000 to support
the Hurricane Katrina ongoing relief
efforts.
The total donation includes a
$10,000 initial contribution from Sun
National Bank to kick off its support
efforts. During the collection time
beginning Sept. 1, employees and customers contributed more than $43,000,
and the bank made a matching contribution of more than $33,000.
S
Dennis Palmer, immediate past
president of the Chamber, was recently
elected chairman of the Board of the
Water Resources Association (WRA)
of the Delaware River Basin, for a twoyear term.
The WRA is a non-profit watershed
advocacy organization whose mission is
to promote sound water resources planning and management in the Delaware
River Basin.
Palmer is the Executive Director and
Chief Engineer of the Landis Sewerage
Authority in Vineland. He is a licensed
Professional Engineer in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania. He has more than 28
years’ experience as an environmental
engineer and previously served on the
Board of Directors and Executive
Committee of the WRA.
Gary Simmerman, Chairman of the South Jersey Healthcare System Board
(with scissors), cuts the ribbon at a ceremony for the expansion project at the
SJH Fitness Connection with various SJH dignitaries and guests.
Allen Associates, Vineland provider
of health, dental and prescription coverages and financial planning, has named
G. Larry Miller as a consultant.
Miller will perform business development and customer retention activities
for Allen Associates’ municipal and
educational district clients.
Previously Miller spent more than 40
years in education in Millville, including 10 years as superintendent of
Millville Public Schools before retiring
in 2004. His career in Millville also
included the positions of assistant
superintendent, principal, vice principal,
counselor and teacher.
We l c o m e New Members!
SJ CONSULTANT
Computer services
189 W. Broad St., Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Ph: 856-453-0825 • Fax: 856-543-3678
www.sjconsultant.com
Earl Roberts
THE FLOWER SHOPPE, LTD.
Florist
780 S. Main Rd., Vineland, NJ 08360
Ph: 856-691-9292 • Fax: 856-691-8484
www.flowershoppeltd.com
Gail Krementz
THE DAVIS COMPANIES
Staffing services
1851 W. Landis Ave.
Page 4
Vineland, NJ 08360
Ph: 856-507-9799 • Fax: 856-507-9940
www.daviscos.com
Nancy Lupperger
WILLY VELEZ-LOCKSMITH
Locksmith
P.O. Box 1193 • Vineland, NJ 08362
Ph: 856-982-8778 • Fax: 856-650-9180
CASA PAYROLL SERVICE
Payroll services
3122 Fire Rd., Pleasantville, NJ 08232
www.casapayroll.com
Ph: 609-383-0677 • Fax: 609-383-0907
Lexi Dougherty
Allen Associates also recently
announced the appointment of Laura
Lombardo as Senior Account Manager.
Lombardo’s specialty is group retention
and helping large employers develop
strategies for benefit offerings in both
medical and ancillary coverages.
Lombardo has nearly a decade of
experience in the health care industry,
most recently as an Account Manager
for Aetna, Inc. in the Philadelphia/New
Jersey markets. She holds life and
health insurance licenses in both
Pennsylvania and New Jersey and a
bachelor's degree in communications
from the University of Delaware.
The South Jersey Healthcare
Fitness Connection hosted a ribbon
cutting ceremony on Monday, Oct.10, to
celebrate the opening of its recent
MEMBER
2005
“COME GROW
WITH US”
expansion project. The renovations,
which have more than doubled the
facility’s floor space, include a new 30minute circuit workout room for
women only, new exercise equipment
and new décor.
“In addition to our new look that’s
both appealing and motivating, we’re
offering several new services such as
spinning classes,” said Bruce Willson,
director of the SJH Fitness Connection.
“The expansion also includes a brand
new cardiovascular workout area and a
state-of-the-art women’s circuit training
area.”
The ribbon cutting kicked off the
annual membership special, which runs
from Oct. 17 through 31. Anyone joining with an annual membership during
those two weeks will receive the rest of
2005 free.
A free business seminar focusing on
legal, insurance and human resource
issues for the small business person or
entrep will be held on Nov. 10 at the
Millville Rescue Squad Building, 600
Cedar St., Millville, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Speakers will be Brendan
Kavanagh of Kavanagh & Kavanagh
on legal issues; Michael J. Roche of
Allied Insurance on business insurance;
and Bruce Ricards of Wood Street
Partners on business procedures and policies.
The seminar is sponsored by the
Vineland-Millville Urban Enterprise
Zone. For more information or to register, call the UEZ office at 856-5630440. Space is limited.
Membership
Renewals
Abbey Bradway Associates, LLC
ABCO Insurance Services, Inc.
Affiliated Podiatrists of South Jersey,
LTD
Allen Associates
Al’s Friendly Service Center
Arbor Associates, Inc.
A-Tech Engineering, Inc.
Barse & Fabrico, CPA’S P.A.
Biagi, Chance, Cummins, London,
Titzer, Inc.
Bierig Brothers, Inc.
Biondi Insurance
Cold Stone Creamery
Commerce Bank
Community Food Bank of NJ
Community Health Care, Inc.
Commuter Signs
Copiers Plus
Cranberry Run, Inc.
Cumberland County College
Cumberland County
Planning & Development
Delsea Drive Shop Rite
MEMBER
2005
“COME GROW
WITH US”
Dendrinos Medical Association
Easter Seals NJ
Equity One Inc.
Fabbri Builders, Inc.
JG Finneran Associates, Inc.
Minotola National Bank
Newfield National Bank
Penn Lincoln Mobile Home Park,
LLC
Quizno’s Sub
Rehabilitation Hospital
of South Jersey
Rienzi Bridal Salon
Rossi Motors, Inc.
Sir Speedy Printing Center
South Jersey Paper Products
Southern New Jersey Steel Co., Inc.
Swanson Hardware Supply
The Cabinet Source, LLC
TJD Architects, PC
Training School at Vineland
Turf Construction Co., Inc.
Univision
News & Views • November 2005