“Six Steps to a Better Business,” a free seminar, will be presented by Susan Koval, a certified Action International business coach, Dec. 8 at two Freehold locations: the Cornerstone Caffe, 2 East Main St., with networking and breakfast 7:30-8 a.m. and the seminar 8-10 a.m.; and at the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce office, 17 Broad St., with networking and refreshments 6:30-7 p.m. and the seminar 7-9 p.m. The seminar will discuss how to systemize a business, how to leverage time, team and knowledge to maximize efficiency and profits, and how to turn marketing and advertising into an investment rather than an expense. There is no fee; breakfast and refreshments and the workshop materials are included. To make a reservation, call (732) 792-1311, e-mail susankoval@action-international.com or fax (732) 792-1355.
Concorde Limousine, Freehold, is serving as a drop-off location for the Toys for Tots program sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps. New, unwrapped toys can be brought to Concorde’s office, 900 Route 33, by Dec. 15. For more information, call Marion Pattberg at (732) 577-0023, ext. 7119.
BNI, a business networking group, is now forming a chapter at the Empire Diner in Freehold Township. Meetings are held Friday mornings from 7-8:30 a.m. For more information, call Peter Joffe at (732) 995-8966.
Joffe Family Chiropractic, Manalapan, will hold a holiday food drive to benefit the Open Door food pantry in Freehold. Open Door serves approximately 350 families per month at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church on Throckmorton Street in Freehold. Lunches are served Monday through Thursday from noon to 1:30 p.m. Items of need include baby food and diapers, peanut butter, tuna, ketchup, mayonnaise, juice and rice. Joffe Family Chiropractic is at 61 Pease Road, Manalapan. For more information, call (732) 536-9191.
The nonprofit 180 Turning Lives Around, Hazlet, recently named Philip D. Murphy as the new president of its board of trustees. Murphy previously served as the 2nd Floor advisory council chairman for 180’s adolescent and teen helpline, and presently serves as a senior director of the Goldman Sachs Group Inc. He resides in New Jersey with his wife and four children.
180 also welcomed new trustees members Delores D. Jones-Brown, Freehold, a professor at The College of New Jersey, Ewing, with a concentration in advanced criminology and substantive criminal law; Debbie Reilly, Marlboro, audit senior manager at Deloitte & Touche LLP; and Kim Widener, Rumson, a member of the Rumson PTA, and the board of directors at the Two River Theater, Red Bank.
CentraState Medical Center, Free-hold Township, has completed a $687,000 expansion of its special care nursery from four to eight bassinets for newborns who are born prematurely or require other specializes care. The nursery is licensed by the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services as an intermediate care, level 2 special care nursery.
According to a press release from CentraState, 10 percent of all deliveries at the medical center require some form of special care. The increase in deliveries at CentraState — up 50 percent over five years — prompted the renovations to the special care unit.
The new license permits CentraState to accommodate up to eight special care newborns at a time. The special care nursery is for premature babies born after 32 weeks of gestation who require oxygen, antibiotics, close observation or other specialized care.
Central Jersey Business Profes-sionals, an independent networking group with one person per occupation/category, will meet on Tuesday mornings at 8 a.m. at alternate locations in Freehold and Eatontown. The group invites people of all occupations to attend a meeting to learn more about the organization. To join, the business must not be a member of another networking group that is one person per category/occupation. For more information, call Aaron Niederman at (732) 922-6300, ext. 35, or send e-mail to cjbusinessprofessionals@yahoo.com.
Central Jersey Women’s Network, a NAFE (National Association for Female Executives) network, will hold its monthly dinner-meeting and program from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 8 at The View at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, 2 Augusta Blvd., Lakewood. The program will be presented by representatives from Dottie’s House, plus Ken Fivek, golf pro with Castle Management. Registration is requested, but walk-ins will also be welcome. The cost is $40. To register, e-mail admin@cjwn.org or call (908) 281-9234.
Professional and Business Singles Network will sponsor an after-hours gathering and discussion Dec. 13 at Cervantes of Spain, 24 North Ave./Route 28, Cranford. The gathering will be held at 6 p.m. and the discussion will begin at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes complimentary tapas. Membership is not required; walk-ins are welcome. Details: (888) 348-5544 or www.PBSNinfo.com.
Marion Pattberg of Freehold has been promoted to director of corporate development at Concorde Limousine of Freehold. Among her responsibilities is to build on the corporate account base, develop strong relationships with meeting planners across the United States, represent Concorde at various organizations and chambers, and maintain strong ties with existing clients. Pattberg began as a reservationist with Concorde in 2004 and has 20 years of experience in the travel industry.
Chips Salon and Day Spa, Marlboro, has become the first certified Deva Curl Salon in Marlboro. Owner Onita Luisi, a 20-year specialist in curly hair, and her staff have been trained and certified in the latest curl techniques, including No-Poo for frizzy, unmanageable curls and the One Condition spa treatment.
Business After Hours, sponsored by the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, will be co-hosted this month by Del Rose Cleaning Service and Wholesale Art Showroom. The meeting will be held 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Wholesale Art Showroom Gallery, 660 Tennent Road, Manalapan. All attendees will receive $10 off holiday residential cleaning (good only in Monmouth County).
The cost to attend is $10 per person and includes wine and hors d’oeuvres. Those attending should bring business cards. For more information or to register, call the Chamber of Commerce at (732) 462-3030, fax (732) 462-2123 or e-mail admin@wmchamber.com.