CONTENTS

President's Message 8

GAF Leads on Sustainability 12

Enabling Leaders and
Teams to Succeed 16

Honoring Those Who Give the Most 22

Young Professionals Blossom 26

Leadership 30

Morris County Chamber of Commerce

325 Columbia Turnpike – Suite 101, Florham Park, NJ 07932

973.539.3882 | morrischamber.org

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at kmurphy@morrischamber.org.

Please send all of your “Around the Chamber” announcements

to Chris Reardon at chris@reardoncommunications.com for

consideration to be included in the “Around the Chamber” newsletter.

This is a Town Square Publications, formerly MetroMedia (since 1997), publication created and produced for the Morris County Chamber of Commerce

325 Columbia Turnpike - Suite 101, Florham Park, NJ 07932

973.539.3882 | morrischamber.org

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Every effort has been made to ensure the Accuracy of the information in this publication. The Chamber and Town Square assume no Responsibility for misinformation. Please contact the Chamber with any additions or corrections. Reproduction in whole or in part without Permission of the Chamber and Town Square Is prohibited.

Chairman, CEO and Publisher | Douglas K. Ray

President and Chief Operating Officer | Scott Stone

Vice President / Director | Scott Ray

Managing Director | David Small

Director of Production | Ryan Moore

Sales Executive | Dede Harmell

Editor | Chris Reardon

Design Project Manager |
Mike Nickells

On the Cover:
Sustainability through business

president's

MESSAGE

CHAMPIONING A THRIVING BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Morris County is a special place – a place where the public, private and nonprofit sectors come together to make a difference in their organizations and the broader community. The Morris County Chamber of Commerce recognized four of our nonprofit members and a private sector philanthropist for remarkable achievements in the last year at the 17th Annual Nonprofit Conference and Excellence Awards. In this issue, you can read about the event and inspirational keynote address.

Businesses in Morris County, recognizing the positive impact they can have on the communities locally and globally, are developing products and services with this in mind. Once such example is featured in our cover story, which focuses on the amazing sustainability program of GAF, the leading manufacturer of roofing products in the world.

At any given time, the economy can present challenges and opportunities. Through many decades, the Morris Chamber has provided resources and fostered connections that help businesses thrive despite the economic conditions. One of our articles highlights the importance of business coaching and how it has evolved to become a highly systematic process to help client companies facilitate change. Many of the most successful companies today work with business coaches to develop employee groups and help them become more effective teams.

To foster community and professional development, this fall the chamber will launch the Morris Mastermind – led by a member – that will bring together business principals, founders and owners to learn from each other and gain insights from guest speakers. Applications are currently being accepted.

Finally, I hope you enjoy the profile of the Young Professional Forum, which is open to member organizations (owners and employees) aged 21-39. The forum offers networking, volunteer opportunities and professional development. I encourage you to have any young professionals in your organization participate. I am sure they will find it worthwhile.

Enjoy your summer and I look forward to “seeing you in September” at our signature events, including the Morris in the Evening networking event on September 28 at the Mountain Lakes Club.

GAF LEADS ON SUSTAINABILITY

By Christopher Reardon

GAF is not leaving saving the planet to someone else. Equally important, the roofing giant is employing innovative thinking in a corporate sustainability program that is as far-reaching as it is comprehensive.

“In 2019 we as a company established a series of extensive priorities for the organization,” said Jeff Terry, vice president corporate social responsibility & sustainability. “Our senior team identified social responsibility as one of those priorities.”

Sustainability became a foundational component of GAF’s social responsibility efforts, with the company focusing on three broad areas:

1. 1. People – Including employees, DEI, community investment and the GAF Roofing Academy that trains and places roofing workers among GAF’s network of independent certified contractors.
   
2. 2. The Planet – With a set of goals to be achieved by 2030.
   
3. 3. Progress – Investing resources in the right way while also growing the business and focusing on societal needs.
   

“We’re not the kind of company that says by 2050 we’re going to be zero this or zero that,” Terry said. “The only way to get there is by doing the work. We’ve got a road map around our pillars that are achievable.”

Those pillars aim to establish a circular economy in the roofing industry and entail:

1. 1. Product Circularity – Recycling asphalt shingles with the goal of diverting 1 million additional tons of roofing materials from landfills annually.
   
2. 2. Operational Efficiency – Achieving 80 percent waste diversion rates across all manufacturing plants, recycling 100 percent of post-manufacturing waste thermoplastic polyolefin, or shingle scrap, and retaining, recycling or reusing fiberglass mat scrap and cores.
   
3. 3. Carbon Emission Reduction – Reducing GAF’s operational carbon emissions by improving energy efficiency, introducing renewable energy sources and exploring and/or innovating new technologies to remove carbon from the environment.
   
4. 4. Product Transparency and Expending GAF’s Green Portfolio – Conducting life-cycle assessments of all core GAF products and driving product expansion in solar and non-asphaltic roofing products.
   

“We know these goals are achievable,” Terry said.

His confidence is fueled in large part by the buy-in corporate-wide he sees at GAF.

“It’s not this thing being done by a handful of people. It’s become our ongoing philosophy,” Terry said. “Executive leadership has championed this but there’s a lot of bottom-up, too. To take hold you have to have the groundswell of employee involvement.”

GAF’s sustainability efforts have gone well beyond the company, its plants and the communities where those plants are located. For example, in 2020 the company launched GAF Community Matters, a program to help build more sustainable and resilient communities across the United States, including an effort currently underway to repair or replace 500 roofs throughout the Gulf Coast region, starting with 150 roofs in New Orleans’ 7th Ward - an area notorious for being hit hardest by coastal storms. The idea is to support homeowners who have been devastated by natural disasters, such as hurricanes, by replacing the blue tarps used to temporarily protect their homes with sustainable, resilient roofing products and utilizing fortified building practices that will allow them to better weather the next storm, Terry explained.

Sustainability programs such as that at GAF offer companies many benefits, according to Forbes. They enhance brand value and meet consumer demand. Millennials are twice as likely to change their habits to reduce environmental concerns and Generation Z is even more focused on the planet. In addition, Nielsen studies show that 66 percent of consumers would spend more for a product if it came from a sustainable brand, Forbes reports.

These programs increase efficiency. According to McKinsey, a sustainability strategy can reduce costs substantially and can impact operating profits by as much as 60 percent. In addition, they help with recruitment and retention. Nearly 40 percent of millennials have taken a job because of the company's sustainability and they are even willing to take a pay cut to work at an environmentally responsible company, according to Forbes.

Finally, shareholders like sustainability. Gartner research found that 85 percent of investors considered ESG (environment, social and governance) factors in their investments in 2020.

According to the World Economic Forum, 90 percent of business executives consider sustainability important yet only 60 percent of companies have sustainability strategies in place. Terry said companies should not hesitate to create a sustainability program and offers advice on doing so.

“Ensure you focus your work/program around your core business offering and connect it directly to your business strategy,” he said. “Often you see sustainability efforts that live at the edge of the business; be aspirational in your plan but operationally relevant to what you deliver in the marketplace today or plan to in the future.’

Terry also said smaller companies should not shy away from sustainability programs because of their size or the imagined cost.

“This work doesn’t need to cost a lot of money,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how big your business is. It takes focus and intentionality to develop and deploy a sustainability-minded ethos within your company. A sustainability program is more of a framework to support why and how you deliver your product or service to your customer and society overall. This does take time to do it well, however.”

ENABLING LEADERS AND TEAMS TO SUCCEED

By Christopher Reardon

The days of the lone wolf being a top performer in business are gone. In truth, wolves are most effective when working in a pack. Yet teamwork often comes more naturally for wolves than for people.

That is where today’s business coaches come in.

“Business coaching has become more systemic,” said Andrew O’Connor, principal at A.J. O’Connor Associates (AJO). “Years ago you were brought in to coach an individual and the experience happened in a vacuum. Now we’re seeing increased transparency about the goals of the engagement enabling the benefits of coaching to cascade through the team and have a greater organizational impact. It’s become a very popular development tool for leaders.”

Maureen Ennis, founder and chief catalyst at Thrive Digital Era, agreed.

“It’s very acceptable to have a coach these days,” she said. “It used to imply a performance problem. Now we work with big-impact teams…that must perform at a high level, build relationships and make something happen.”

AJO is a third-generation, family-owned specialty HR consulting firm that works with clients of all sizes in a wide variety of sectors. Founded in 1983 as an outplacement company, they expanded their service offerings to include coaching and consulting beginning in the 1990s. Their expertise includes human resources consulting, talent development, coaching solutions and career transition services. More recently, AJO launched Resero, a coach-education program that has been certified by the International Coaching Federation.

In addition to supporting leaders in navigating today’s dynamic business environment and improving their overall contributions to the business, AJO’s coaching engagements also focus on behavior change and emotional intelligence, including communication, conflict management, influencing skills and relationship management.

“These are the soft skills that consistently come up in most engagements,” said Shannon O’Connor Bock, president. “We pride ourselves in focusing on presence and connecting on a deeper level with the client so that they are able to develop a deep sense of self-awareness and experience long-term sustainable change.”

Ennis started Thrive Digital era in 2006 after a career leading large-scale change at Prudential and Honeywell. The company focuses on helping organizations and their employees grow and flourish – leading hybrid teams, leverage new technology, continuously coaching and developing employees and leading change.

“Caring for people on their journey and making sure they’re adopting new ways of working,” Ennis said.

Indeed, facilitating change is the mainstay of business coaching today, including the focus on leadership development and team training.

“Things can change at any moment – mergers, pandemics,” Ennis said. “You have to plan for uncertainty…In that context, leaders need to lead their teams in ways that are agile, quick and empowering.”

O’Connor Bock sees change, or adaption, at the root of nearly every service AJO provides. Talent development elevates team performance and activates talent to facilitate growth and success. Coaching unlocks the potential of emerging leaders to drive transformational change. Career transition enables companies to support exiting employees as they plan for their next opportunity. Even HR consulting revolves around transformation, she added.

“An emphasis on developing and leveraging a coaching mindset is how we help to set leaders up for success and it runs the gamut in all of our service areas,” O’Connor Bock said. “We use coaching as a tool in engagements, ranging from change management to organizational design. It is at the core of our business.”

Yet all the coaching ultimately works toward creating high-performing teams that have long-term impacts.

“Our coaching, no matter at what level, has to have a lasting effect,” said Andrew O’Connor.

Ennis coaches intact leadership teams involving high-stake project implementations by leveraging retreats, workshops, interactive learning and individual, peer and group coaching to “level-up” their game, she said.

“It’s exciting to work with leaders who have a bold vision and help them achieve their goals,” Ennis added. “In today’s world we all need to learn new things to succeed. It’s hard to do that without help – smart business leaders reach out to coaches to get that help.”

HONORING THOSE WHO
GIVE THE MOST

By Christopher Reardon

It was a gathering of the good.

Leaders and staff of many of Morris County’s nonprofits recently met for the 17th Annual Nonprofit Conference and Excellence Awards luncheon of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, held at the Mansion at Mountain Lakes. The chamber boasts more than 100 nonprofit members.

“It is you and your organizations articulating your vision for a better world and making that vision a reality with your staff and volunteers that improve the quality of life for everyone,” said Meghan Hunscher, chamber president. “Morris County is truly a special place in large part because of the amazing relationships and collaborations that have been cultivated between the private, public and nonprofit sectors (and) we are honored to be at the intersection of many of those relationships.”

Guests were treated to a riveting presentation by keynote speaker Joan Garry, founder of the Nonprofit Leadership Lab an internationally recognized coach for the private sector.

Garry spoke about how nonprofits are different from businesses; the challenges and opportunities of shared leadership; changing mindsets; and what it takes to create a true partnership with a nonprofit’s board.

“You have this unique role in that you are more needed in difficult times,” she said, adding that challenging times offer opportunities.

To be most successful, nonprofits should focus on their vision, including passion and story-telling; growth; impact; and people, including participation and partnerships.

“When you tell your stories with a passion…you build an army of partners,” she said. “The power comes from partnerships you nourish.”

Garry said some of the most important partnerships a nonprofit leader has are with their board.

“It starts by getting the right people on the bus,” she said.

There are three types of board members, she explained – rock starts, helpers and those missing in action. Leaders should focus on the helpers, which will turn them into rock stars and drive away the MIAs. Also, prioritize skills and talents when seeking board members and keep their passion ignited, she added.

Finally, Garry gave the audience the recipe for operating a thriving nonprofit – raise their gaze, be a five-star story-teller, value partnerships, make every donor dollar count and invest in sustainability.

“When people say there’s dearth of leadership in our society…they should spend time in a room like this,” she said.

The conference also featured the 2023 Nonprofit Excellence Awards. The Innovative Program, Organization Over $1 Million Award went to the Grit ‘n Snow program of the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA, which collaborated with Mountain Creek Resort, the Mental Health Association and Peapack-Gladstone Bank to enable children in grades 3-8 to learn to snowboard or ski. Alex Martinez, CEO of the YMCA, said emotional strain on children increased during the pandemic and saw the program as a way to ease this stress.

“Together we created this innovative program to change lives,” he said.

The Exemplary Leader, Organization Under $1 Million Award was given to Kim Iozzi, executive director at Dress for Success Northern New Jersey, who kept services available during the pandemic by diversifying revenue streams and volunteer engagement.

“I couldn’t do what I do without our volunteers…and our partner agencies,” she said.

The Innovative Program, Organization Under $1 Million Award went to the Keys 2 Success program of the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, which provided piano instruction to underserved youth in Newark and held a concert for them to perform before their families.

“For many of them, this was the very first concert of any kind they had attended,” said Robert Butts, conductor and artistic director of the orchestra. “They experienced what it was like to hear their children perform.”

The Exemplary Leader, Organization Over $1 Million Award was given to Diane Williams, president and CEO of JBWS (formerly Jersey Battered Women’s Services), who kept services available during the pandemic, introduced a DEI initiative at the organization and created wellness rooms for staff, recognizing they were experiencing emotional stress, as well. She also rebranded the organization to be inclusive of non-women.

“This award is really because of everything we’re doing collaboratively,” she said.

The Exemplary Private Sector Award honored Rosanne DeTorres, managing partner of DeTorres and DeGeorge Family Law. DeTorres sits on a number of nonprofit boards and her firm supports an array of causes focusing on women and children.

“Every one of us in this room has something to contribute because we all have experiences, abilities and qualities no one else has,” she said. “When we use these unique abilities to contribute back to the world and help others, those efforts can have lasting implications.”

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BLOSSOM

By Christopher Reardon

They are not just coming – they are here.

More than 10,000 baby boomers are retiring daily, leaving millennials as the largest component of the U.S. workforce at 35 percent, or 56 million. That is expected to balloon to 75 percent of the workforce by 2025.

According to a study by EY (formerly Ernst & Young), millennials are the most tech-savvy, social media-adept and enthusiastic generation in the American workforce. Yet multiple studies also report they are not considered effective team players, a particularly strong suit of boomers.

So important are millennials to businesses – and so important is the need to further develop their skills – that these workers warrant their own forum at the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. The Young Professionals Forum is open to all chamber members or their employees aged 21-39. The official mission is to “provide under-40 members with their own forum to cultivate relationships, develop professionally and support the community.”

“We have this niche. The only thing holding us together is our age,” said Alexis Wyckoff, forum chair and operations manager at the law firm Weinstein & Klein. “We’re not discipline-focused like the HR Forum or Tech Talk. We welcome anyone from any background. This makes our group more diverse and allows us to have more engaging conversations where you get so many unique perspectives. We look at what millennials are interested in and have a conversation about that.”

The three goals of the forum are to provide social and business engagement, foster community outreach and promote professional development, according to Wyckoff. The group achieves the first goal through networking opportunities, both monthly forum meetings and quarterly off-site gatherings such as happy hours and visits to art galleries.

Millennials are often considered weak at in-person networking, preferring instead to interact via social media. Not so for the young professionals at the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, Wyckoff said. The forum’s members love face-to-face networking and it was the first chamber committee to return to in-person meetings following the pandemic.

Achieving the goal of community outreach entails working with and supporting Morris County’s nonprofit sector.

“Getting out there and creating a team to run a 5K for a cause,” Wyckoff said. “Going to the local food bank chapter and packaging food for their annual pack-a-thon.”

Professional development comes via guest speakers offering expert advice on a wide range of topics, from how to build a business profile to how to network and how to work well with others in the workplace.

“Millennials are in a unique position because some of us are just starting careers, joining new companies or going out on our own,” she said. “Having someone come in and help us navigate those challenges and facilitate those conversations creates such a special environment.”

The forum also partners with other chamber committees at times, such as a panel discussion about the multi-generational workplace held last year with representatives from several committees participating. Wyckoff is looking to hold another joint event about financial health later this year.

Membership in the Young Professionals Forum delivers benefits to members’ companies, as well, Wyckoff added. The forum offers members networking opportunities that may not exist at smaller companies and off-site networking for members from larger companies where that interaction tends to be in-house.

“Also, for smaller companies that don’t offer professional development opportunities, that’s where we come in,” she said. “We’re really trying to cater to everyone and offer opportunities to employees they may not otherwise have access to.”

With only 29 percent of millennials saying they feel engaged at work, according to Gallup, a chamber forum offering just that – engagement and professional development – can play a significant role in employee satisfaction and retention for member companies.

The Young Professionals Forum is open to professional members and their employees aged 21-39. To learn more, visit https://www.morrischamber.org/young-professionals-forum.html.