Business Briefs

Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Center, Monroe, was the recipient of a special grant from New England Financial. Jeffrey Shapiro, a financial representative with Berger Financial Group LLC, a general agency of New England Financial, presented the $5,000 check to Ellen Stein, executive director of the center, on June 20.

Special Strides is a nonprofit organization designed to benefit handicapped children through the use of specially trained horses.

"Therapeutic riding is endorsed by top medical professionals worldwide, as well as the American Physical Therapy Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association," Stein said.

Shapiro, who serves on the Special Strides board of directors, secured the grant through New England Financial’s Field Charitable Contributions Fund, which was established to recognize charitable efforts on the part of its field agencies.

Special Strides will be holding its second annual square dance fund-raiser on Sept. 15, and is in need of donations of goods and services to be used in a silent auction at the event. For more information, call Ellen Stein at (732) 446-0945.

Marcie Horowitz, president of Management Resources of Morganville, Marlboro, has been chosen as the recipient of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2001 New Jersey Women in Business Advocate of the Year Award.

Horowitz was presented her award by James A. Kocsi, SBA acting New Jersey district director, at a ceremony commemorating National Small Business Week (May 6-12) at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Brunswick.

In making the announcement, Kocsi said, "Marcie Horowitz’s efforts to increase the opportunities available to women entrepreneurs and to improve the environment for the creation and expansion of businesses owned and operated by women throughout New Jersey, is evident through her work with the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners."

Kocsi also cited Horowitz’s involvement in helping the SBA to launch the Women’s Business Center in Bound Brook in December 1999. Since its opening, the Women’s Business Center has helped hundreds of New Jersey women business owners start small businesses by providing them with training and mentoring programs.

Claude Ranieri of Freehold, a broker-owner of Re/Max American Realty Associates in Colts Neck, was honored at the Floyd Wickman Master Sales Academy held in Las Vegas recently.

Ranieri received the 5/50 Award and the Platinum Award for outstanding sales achievement. By completing Floyd Wickman Master Sales Academy, Ranieri has earned the designation of Master Salesperson and membership in the Master Sales Society. Floyd Wickman Courses is a real estate sales and management training organization. For more information, call Ranieri at (732) 625-9500, or visit the Web site, www.american-realtyassociates.com.