Meadowlands Regional Chamber Honors Region's Business Leaders with Annual Leadership Luncheon

Chamber Head, Jim Kirkos, Receives Special Award for a Decade of Service and his Contribution to the Growth of the 39-year old chamber. End Quote

New York, NY (1888PressRelease) July 14, 2012 - The Meadowlands Regional Chamber honored 13 of the region's leading professionals in business for their contributions to the Chamber and the greater Meadowlands community. A total of thirteen members received 2012 Leadership Awards at the 6th Annual Luncheon, which drew the event's largest attendance ever.

The awards recognized a diverse group of dedicated individuals that have helped the Chamber reach record levels of membership, new programs and active committees. The individuals received the Arline Simpson Leadership Award named after one of the Chamber's original members who exemplified volunteerism and commitment and was remembered fondly by Chamber leader, Jim Kirkos, for her casual style and strong opinions.

Gil Medina, Cushman & Wakefield's New Jersey Managing Director, gave a keynote speech to launch the event, referencing history's leaders such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams and even Napolean Bonaparte. Medina highlighted "character" as a central leadership quality. He quoted Jefferson who spoke about Washington at a crucial point in the revolutionary war, saying: "Like the (Meadowlands) institution and the people we recognize today, Washington was chosen because of his character and because of his leadership." And he recalled Adams, who "captured the essence of leadership as exemplified by the Chamber and its leaders when he wrote: 'If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.'"

Chamber honorees, who were honored with the Arline Simpson Leadership Award for contributing to the Chamber and the Greater Meadowlands community, included:

Daniel Baer, PB Americas, Inc., Newark, NJ

Donnett Barnett Verley, Verizon Communications, Fair Lawn, NJ

Tom Bogdansky, Freeman, Kearny, NJ

Robert Ceberio, RCM Ceberio, LLC, Wayne, NJ

Vivian Colon, Candlewood Suites, Secaucus, NJ

Robert Kilroy, Jewel Electric Supply, Jersey City, NJ

Steven Leitner, NAI James E. Hanson, Hackensack, NJ

Tom Martucci, Homewood Suites by Hilton, East Rutherford, NJ

Kevin O'Connor, United Water, Harrington Park, NJ

Toni Pinto, Renaissance Meadowlands, Rutherford, NJ

Frank Recine, Newmark Knight Frank, Rutherford, NJ

Andrea Schrager, Meadowlands Consumer Centers, Secaucus, NJ

Linsey Schwetje, IntermediaPost, Paramus, NJ

"The Chamber values and appreciates the leadership qualities bestowed by these distinguished business leaders," noted Kirkos. "The Arline Simpson Leadership Award is a prestigious accolade named after the late Arline 'Simpson' Seidman, a former Chairwoman of the Chamber whose dedication and leadership spanned a 25 year period."

Kirkos Recognized by Chamber Founder, Richard Fritzky and the Board

In a moving tribute to Jim Kirkos, Chamber Ex-Officio Anthony Scardino read a letter from Chamber founder Richard Fritzky who first welcomed Jim as a Consultant more than 10 years ago and then asked him to accept the position of Chamber Chief Executive Officer. He described Jim's commitment, heart and soul and professional expertise as the reason the Chamber has survived and prospered in difficult times, and said Jim is a prime reason that the Chambers membership is so engaged in helping each other and the various causes supported by the group.

Kirkos accepted the award humbly: "I am honored to lead a business service organization where so many are willing to dedicate precious time to helping other members and advancing our mission," he said. "By recognizing these individuals with this award, we show our appreciation and gratitude to those who step up and lead our many initiatives. The Chamber is successful because of these dedicated business associates, and I am only the facilitator."

As a well-respected business service organization, the Meadowlands Regional Chamber strives to keep its membership of more than 1,000 organizations abreast of news, public policies, economic developments, and initiatives that impact their organizations and the local economy. The Chamber's website, www.meadowlands.org, includes events, initiatives and a full membership list.

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