Ari Horowitz, a personal financial representative at the Morganville office of Allstate Financial Services, has qualified for membership in the 2004 Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), the premier association of financial professionals.
A 17-year veteran of the industry and three-time qualifier of the MDRT, Horowitz has represented Allstate since 1991. He is a resident of East Brunswick.
The Acura National Dealer Advisory Board (NDAB) has elected Rod Ryan, president and CEO of Ryan Automotive LLC, as chairman of the board for a one-year term. As chairman, Ryan serves as the liaison between Acura corporate management and the Acura dealers as they discuss issues that affect dealers nationally. During his term, he is expected to preside over and attend several events, including chairing Zone Operation Forum meetings. He will also attend the National Automobile Dealer Association (NADA) Dealer Attitude Survey Presentation meetings, held twice each year in Torrance, Calif; chair the NDAB private and executive sessions held in December and during the summer; and attend the annual NADA Convention and provide the dealer perspective at the convention’s Acura Make meeting, highlighting areas of opportunity for Acura growth.
An automotive industry veteran, Ryan founded Ryan Automotive — whose corporate headquarters are in Edison — in 1972, building it into a multifranchise enterprise that includes two Acura dealerships. He became one of the first Acura dealers in the country when in 1987 he started Open Road Acura of East Brunswick. He later acquired Open Road Acura in Wayne in January 2001. As the owner of a large group of dealerships throughout the state, Ryan has held other positions similar to NDAB chair, presiding over dealer groups for BMW and Honda, as well as Acura.
The Acura NDAB, composed of both Acura dealer members and Acura corporate management members, was established in 1999 to serve as a forum for the discussion and resolution of strategic national issues that affect Acura and its dealers. The board’s primary goal is to develop solutions for those issues.
The Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce will hold a new member orientation Oct. 20 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Chamber office at 1 Distribution Way, South Brunswick. Members that have joined the chamber within the past six months are invited to attend the free program. Preregistration is recommended. The “Third Thursdays Leadership Luncheon,” featuring guest speaker Congressman Rush Holt will be Oct. 21 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency, 2 Albany St., New Brunswick. The luncheons feature leaders from business, government and entertainment. Cost is $55 for nonmembers and $40 for members. “How to Finance a Business” will be Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. at the chamber office. Attendees will learn about loans and financing for businesses. “12 @ 12” will be Oct. 28 at noon at the chamber. The invitation-only event is open only to chamber members. A “Chamber Family Tailgate Party” will take place at the Rutgers University vs. West Virginia University football game Oct. 30 at Rutgers University Stadium, Piscataway. The event at a reserved corporate tent will be 1 1/2 hours prior to game (time to be announced). Price is $40, and includes admission to the tailgate event, game ticket. Cancellations will not be accepted after Oct. 15. Registration is required for all the above. To register or for more information, visit www.mcrcc.org or call (732) 821-1700.
Peter Smyth, CEO of Greater Media Inc., parent company of Greater Media Newspapers, has been elected vice chairman of the Radio Advertising Bureau (RAB) board of directors. He has actively served on the RAB board for the past five years. He will begin his newly elected duties Jan. 1.
Smyth joined Greater Media in 1986 as general manager of WMJX-FM in Boston and held various executive positions until his appointment in October 2000, as president and chief operating officer. In March 2002, he was named as Greater Media’s president and chief executive officer.
Radio Ink, a widely respected industry publication, has selected him as one of the 40 “Most Powerful People in Radio” in 2001, 2003 and 2004.