Georgene Applegate, Toms River, has joined Mon-Oc Federal Credit Union as branch manger of its newest office scheduled to open this spring in Howell at the corner of Lanes Mill Road and Route 9. Applegate was formerly the branch manager of Sovereign Bank in Toms River. She also held the position of assistant branch manger at Commerce Bank in Jackson and assistant manager at CoreStates Bank, Howell. She is responsible for new business development and will initiate visits to sponsor groups in the Howell area. She is also responsible for processing member transactions, including new accounts, and providing financial services information, loan approval, rates and membership requirements.
Mon-Oc has offices in Barnegat, Freehold, Middletown, Neptune and Toms River.
Robert Sposato, L.P.N., EMT, and CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, were presented America Heart Association (AHA) ECC Awards for being one of the training centers with the greatest percentage increase of people trained over the prior year.
CentraState Medical Center, an authorized AHA community training center, provided training to nearly 3,000 people during 2002-03 in AHA basic life support, advanced cardiac life support and other cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training programs. Sposato, coordinator for CentraState’s CPR training center, is an AHA Operation Heartbeat volunteer.
CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold Township, has re-elected Ruben Cardona, a shareholder (partner) at WithumSmith+Brown, to its board of trustees and elected John G. Collins, past president of Fleet N.J., to the board. Both are serving two-year terms.
Cardona, a resident of Marlboro, has worked at WithumSmith+Brown for three years and is a former partner in the seventh-largest national accounting firm in charge of the accounting and auditing departments for the state of New Jersey. He previously served on CentraState’s board of trustees from 1990 to 2000, chairing its audit committee and serving on the finance, investment and quality of patient care committee.
Collins, a resident of Colts Neck, is retired from Fleet N.J., where he was president for two years. Previously, he was vice chairman of Summit Bancorp for 15 years. He is a trustee of the Foundation of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and chairs its finance committee. He also serves on the board of directors of Provident Bank of Jersey City, the board of St. Peter’s College in Jersey City and the board of Collier Services in Marlboro.
Gellman Images, Freehold, provided footage for a segment broadcast on CNN’s "Headline News" April 6. The video segment, hosted by Cheryl Ladd, was of an event covered by Gellman last year.
Gary Gellman, one of the owners of Gellman Images, will be interviewed on News 12 New Jersey April 24 at 3 p.m. and April 25 at 11:30 p.m., regarding the firm’s 15th anniversary. Gellman Images will also be interviewed on a station in Delaware in late April.
Small-business owners looking for long-term and fixed-rate loans will have the opportunity to learn about the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 504 Loan Program at a free seminar April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, 17 Broad St., Freehold.
SBA’s 504 Certified Development Company (CDC) program provides growing businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for the purchasing of major fixed assets, such as land, buildings, machinery and equipment. Proceeds from 504 loans must be used for fixed asset projects such as the purchasing of land, construction of new facilities, as well as modernizing, renovating or converting existing facilities. The loans may also be used for the purchasing of long-term machinery and equipment, as well as grading, street improvements, utilities, parking lots and landscaping.
To be eligible, the business must be operated for profit and fall within the size standards set by the SBA. Under the 504 Program, the business qualifies as small if it does not have a tangible net worth in excess of $7 million and does not have an average net income in excess of $2.5 million after taxes for the preceding two years. Loans cannot be made to businesses engaged in speculation or investment in rental real estate.
Area small business owners who want to attend the April 20 event are asked to register by calling the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce at (732) 462-3030.
For more information about SBA’s programs for small businesses, call the SBA New Jersey District Office at (973) 645-2434 or visit the SBA’s Web site at http://www.sba.gov/nj. The SBA, in co-sponsorship with Staples, has introduced an online newsletter, "SBA Solutions." For a free subscription, go to http://web.sba.gov/list and select New SBA Solutions Newsletter.
Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce will hold a general meeting on April 22 at 8:30 a.m. in the chamber office, 17 Broad St., Freehold. Joseph Robinson, administrative supervisor of educational technology for the Freehold Regional High School District, will discuss cost-effective technology integration for the delivery of "E-learning" and remote student access, including homebound students and the virtual classroom. The cost to attend is $10 and includes continental breakfast. For reservations and information, call (732) 462-3030; fax (732) 462-2123; or e-mail ad[email protected].
Business After Hours, sponsored by the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, will be held April 29, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Freehold office of the Monmouth County clerk, M. Claire French. Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the facility and learn the many ways the clerk’s office assists business. The cost is $10 per person and includes refreshments. Attendees should bring business cards. For reservations and information, call (732) 462-3030; fax (732) 462-2123; or e-mail ad[email protected].
People Empowering People (PEP), a group for business owners and professionals in the Monmouth County area, meets on the second Monday of the month in the Freehold Township area. To reserve a place, call Sandy Franco at (732) 863-9955. Membership is free. Refreshments are served.
Professional and Business Singles Network will host an "Experiential Seminar and Grand Opening Dance Social" April 24 at the Doral Forrestal Conference Center, 4100 College Road east at Route 1, Princeton. The seminar will be held at 7 p.m., followed by the social at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $25 for the seminar and social, or $15 for just the social. "The Art of Flirting" will be presented by Bernadette M. Smith, coach and motivational speaker. There will be a cash bar. Membership is not required; walk-ins are welcome. Details: (800) 537-3859 or www.PBSNinfo.com.