ERA Brokers of New Jersey recently elected board members to serve on the ERA Brokers of New Jersey Board of Trustees for 2005. The board serves the 45 ERA offices in Bergen, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex and Union counties.
Named president of the board was Scott Lauri, president, broker/owner of ERA Absolute Realty, North Brunswick. Lauri also served as vice president and technology chairman of the board.
Other area members elected to the board are John Sharp, broker/owner of ERA Designs for Living, Old Bridge, elected treasurer; and Carol Ann Stevenson, broker/owner of ERA Advantage Realty, Freehold (Advantage also has offices in Manalapan, Keyport, Cream Ridge and Morganville), was elected secretary.
Sharp has served as the board’s treasurer the past seven years, and has 18 years’ real estate experience. Stevenson has worked in real estate 15 years, and served on the education committee.
J. Nolan Higgins, CFSP (certified funeral service practitioner), of Freehold, was recently recognized by the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice for more than 25 years of membership. The academy awards the CFSP designation.
To receive the designation, the practitioner must complete a 180-hour program of continuing education activities and events, and accumulate 20 hours per year to recertify.
Joann M. Ping of Manalapan has been recognized for her continued commitment to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Jersey, Union chapter, with a $250 grant to the organization. Ping is one of several recipients to receive a PSEG Dollars for Doers grant. The announcement was made by PSEG (Public Service Enterprise Group Inc.), an energy and energy services company based in New Jersey.
PSEG annually rewards the achievements of employee volunteers and the nonprofit organizations they serve through two programs: Dollars for Doers, which provides up to 200 grants at $250 each, and Recognizing Excellence in Volunteerism, which provides grants of $1,000-$10,000 to nonprofit organizations served by employee volunteers.
Sam’s Club, Freehold Township, will hold an “Office Merchandise Showcase” event for small business professionals Jan. 27 from 7-10 a.m. at its facility, 100 Trotters Way. The event will feature a selection of office and break-room supplies showcased in two display settings, and local business owners will receive a complimentary breakfast. For more information, call Sam’s Club, (732) 780-4477.
Edward Jones, a financial services firm established in 1871, announced that John R. Cocozza, the Edward Jones investment representative in Freehold, would be hosting a one-hour satellite broadcast on Jan. 11, titled “Is the Uncertainty Over?”
Geoffrey Colvin, co-host of “Wall Street Week with Fortune,” and Alan Skrainka, Edward Jones’ chief market strategist, were scheduled to discuss the recent presidential election and what the results may mean to investors.
The interactive event is presented at
select Edward Jones branch offices nationwide via the firm’s private video network. The Freehold office is located at 395 W. Main St.
Joseph Cilea, D.C., president of Advanced Wellness, Marlboro, announced that his practice is now providing physical therapy services at the YMCA in Freehold Township for the convenience of members who are rehabilitating after injury or surgery. Advanced Wellness’ protocol includes pool therapy. For more information, call (732) 431-2155.
Abraham S. Opatut, a longtime resident of Freehold Township, has been named to the board of directors of Fulton Financial Corp., Lancaster, Pa. In this position, he will ensure that the performance of the corporation is conducted in a way that represents the interests of the shareholders. As a director, Opatut’s responsibilities also include appointing senior management for the company, approving Fulton Financial’s overall strategic direction, and reviewing and evaluating the corporation’s financial and operational results.
Opatut is chairman of First Washington State Bank, which recently merged with Fulton Financial Corp. and is now the corporation’s 13th affiliate bank. He is also chairman of First Washington Community Foundation, and is currently president of Colonial Foods Inc. and Colonial Marketing Associates.
Opatut holds a bachelor of arts degree from New England College, Henniker, N.H., and attended John Marshall Law School.
Liberty Manor Assisted Living, Manalapan, has named Jessica Stewart as its new director of marketing. In her
newly created role, Stewart oversees the daily operations of the admissions and marketing departments, and is the primary contact for families seeking assisted living services at Liberty Manor. She will also be responsible for working with area health care professionals and organizations that are looking to help seniors find assisted living care. She is a resident of Tuckerton.
Beata “Berta” Pruszkowski recently joined Re/Max Central, Manalapan, as a sales associate. Formerly of Weichert, Realtors, Pruszkowski specializes in the listing and sale of residential properties in Middlesex and Monmouth counties. Pruszkowski is a resident of Sayreville.
PEP (People Empowering People) — for business owners and professionals in the Monmouth County area — meets on the second Monday of each month. There is no cost to attend, and refreshments are served at the meetings. For more information, call Sandy Franco, (732) 863-9955.
Women in Business Committee of the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce will host a program Jan. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Citrus Restaurant, 32 W. Main St., Freehold. Guest speaker Sally Madden, a professional organizer, will present “Banish Clutter From Your Life!” The cost is $30 per person and includes luncheon and the program. For reservations and information, call the Chamber, (732) 462-3030; fax (732) 462-2123; or e-mail [email protected].
The Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce will meet Jan. 27 at 8:30 a.m. at the Chamber office, 17 Broad St., Freehold. Guest speaker Dr. Jim Sinclair, first vice president of New Jersey Business & Industry Association, will discuss New Jersey’s gubernatorial election and budget debate. The cost is $10 per person and includes continental breakfast. For reservations and information, call the Chamber, (732) 462-3030; fax (732) 462-2123; or e-mail [email protected].
Diane Turton, president, owner and broker of record for Diane Turton, Realtors, was recently presented the “2004 Athena Award” by the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce (WMCC) during its 19th annual Athena Award luncheon. The award program celebrates the potential of all women as valued members and leaders of the community. Turton was also recognized for her efforts to counsel, encourage and mentor women who are entering the workforce, moving forward in their careers or returning to work.
The Athena Award program was created in 1982 by a chamber of commerce in Michigan with the goal of focusing on outstanding women professionals and executives in the community. A second goal was to open leadership opportunities for women in the chamber of commerce and the community’s workplaces. The WMCC is currently the only chamber of commerce in New Jersey to honor deserving individuals with this prestigious award.
Active in the residential real estate industry in New Jersey and south Florida, Turton participates in a wide range of community activities and supports many causes, charities, fund-raisers and drives. Her efforts have earned her numerous awards including the 2004 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Additionally, she was named one of the Garden State’s Women of Influence for 2004, an honor presented by NJBiz Magazine. In 2005, Turton will be presented the Clara Barton Humanitarian Award by the American Red Cross Jersey Shore Chapter as well as the Distinguished Citizens Award by the Boy Scouts, Jersey Shore Council which will be presented to Turton along with her husband, Bruce.
The Monmouth-Ocean Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) will host a dinner meeting Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Old Time Tavern, routes 37 and 166, Toms River. The topic for this month’s dinner meeting is “What Every Woman Should Know About Social Security.”
Dave Delaney, senior public affairs specialist for the New Jersey Area Office of the Social Security Administration, will discuss retirement, disability, survivor benefits and the lifetime protection Social Security provides. Delaney will also host a question-and-answer session at the meeting. He has worked for the Social Security Administration for 27 years and has received several recognition awards, including the Social Security Commissioner’s Citation, the highest employee award given to employees of the Social Security Administration. He is responsible the Social Security Administration’s public relations activities in central and southern New Jersey.
Prospective NJAWBO members are invited to attend the event. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers. Reservations are required before Jan. 21. For reservations, call Marianne Gepp of Gepp’s Getaway Travel, (732) 775-8900. For directions to the Old Time Tavern, call (732) 349-2387.
For further information about NJAWBO, call the state headquarters at (609) 581-2121, send an e-mail to [email protected] or visit the organization’s Web site at www.njawbo.org.