OceanFirst Bank will be celebrating the new year with its annual food drive which is currently being held from Jan. 12- 26. All donations will help support the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Donations of nonperishable items can be made locally at the following OceanFirst branches: Freehold Poet’s Square Branch, 48 Thoreau Drive, Freehold Township, ext. 5900; Freehold Marketplace Branch, 308 W. Main Street, Freehold Township, ext. 5950. For more information, call 732-240- 4500.
The National Association of Women Business Owners, Central Jersey chapter, will hold a dinner meeting and networking event from 6-9 p.m. Jan. 19 at Buttonwood Manor, Matawan. Linda Stillman, president of Business Training and Consulting Institute, will present “How Do You Reset Your Mind for Sales?” Attendees will learn an “18-second workout” for warming up before every sales event. Each attendee will receive a smart card with nine sales success factors. The cost to attend is $38 for members, $43 for nonmembers, and walk-ins pay an additional $5. Online registrations will be accepted until 6 p.m. Jan. 18. Details: www.nawbocentraljersey.org.
Central Jersey Business Partners is a local networking group actively seeking members. The group meets at 8 a.m. locally on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at Panera Bread, Mount’s Corner shopping center, Route 537 Freehold Township. All are welcome to visit and see how to grow a business through networking. Details: 732-804-3083.
Free Motion Rehabilitation Center, 528 New Friendship Road, Howell, will host a supply drive to benefit Rescue Ridge animal rescue during January. Some of the requested items are Purina Proplan chicken and rice shredded dry dog food and Purina Proplan Weight Management dry dog food, Purina One Cat Chow chicken and rice, Friskies canned cat food. Dog bowls, large dog toys, Biljack dog treats, and cat toys and beds have also been requested. Cleaning supplies including sponges, laundry detergent, fabric softener, trash bags and Swiffer supplies would also be useful. Drop offs are welcome between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. For a complete wish list and to find out how to donate or get involved, call Free Motion at 732-901-8844 or stop by and speak to Jenny Murphy.
On Jan. 14, Monster Mini Golf will open in the Exclusive Plaza, 314 Route 9 north, Marlboro. Monster Mini Golf offers 18 holes of harrowing hazards, kooky creatures and playful monsters. Visitors will also be able to play arcade games, glow-inthe dark air hockey and more. Monster Mini Golf features two private party rooms. The franchisees are Andrew and Darlene Kiss. Monster Mini Golf, licensed by Monster Entertainment, is based in Providence, R.I. Presently, there are 29 locations either open or in development across the United States, including a Monster Mini Golf presents Kiss (the legendary rock band) as a flagship location in Las Vegas. Details: www.monsterminigolf.com.
The Colts Neck Business Association will hold its annual luncheon on Jan. 18 at the Colts Neck Inn. Motivational speaker and insurance broker DonnaLyn Giegerich will give the keynote address. Giegerich, a township native, will talk about financial freedom, networking and wellness. The title of her speech is “Daring Adventures and Wild Possibilities.”
Giegerich, of Middletown, is an insurance producer at Couch Braunsdorf Insurance Group in Liberty Corner and co-owner of Heritage Benefits Group LLC in Red Bank. She has been in the insurance industry for more than 20 years and is also a cancer survivor.
More information is available at www.donnalyn.org.
Sal Barbagallo, incoming president of the CNBA, will speak briefly on his plan for the new year. He said he will focus on promoting tourism here.
“The more people we can bring into Colts Neck, the better the business community will do,” he said.
Barbagallo, who is one of the group’s founders, said he will encourage more farm stands on Route 34 and will create a map that identifies local businesses and horse farms.
The luncheon will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Colts Neck Inn, corner of Route 537 and Route 34. The cost is $30 per person, whether paid at the door or in advance. Registration will be accepted online at www.coltsneckbusiness.org.
The Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce 82nd annual luncheon meeting and installation of officers and directors will be held on Jan. 11 at the Bella Vista Country Club, Marlboro, at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $35 for chamber members and $40 for nonmembers. The guest speaker will be James W. Hughes, professor and dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University. Hughes will give his analysis of the regional and state economy. Installation will be conducted by M. Claire French, Monmouth County clerk. Register online at www.greatermonmouthchamber.com, click on the Calendar tab
The Howell Chamber of Commerce will host a Breakfast Bonanza networking event from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Jan. 21 at Chickfil a, 4881 Route 9 north, Howell. All are welcome to attend for networking and to hear a presentation of “Stop and Think: Are You Maximizing Your Marketing Dollars?” presented by Connie Schmidt Kirman of Kumon Learning Center of Howell and “Think” children’s newspaper. Admission is free to chamber members, $5 for prospective members. Refreshments are available for purchase. Details: 732-363-4114.
A Howell Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Jan. 13 at the Chapter House, 1454 Route 9 south, Howell. Rob Imperato, a certified life-empowerment coach, will offer strategies to tackle new year challenges in life and business. Cost: $15 for chamber members, $25 for nonmembers. To RSVP or for more information, call 732-363-4114.