Valley National Bank has been listed as the sixth-highest-ranked bank by return on equity by U.S. Banker magazine. The magazine featured the results of the ranking in its May issue.
U.S. Banker’s annual performance ranking analyzes the earnings results of the 100 largest banks and scores them based on a three-year average return on equity. Valley is the highest-ranked bank in the tri-state area.
Valley National Bancorp is a regional bank holding company with over $12 billion in assets, headquartered in Wayne. Its principal subsidiary, Valley National Bank, currently operates 163 offices in 106 communities serving 12 counties throughout northern and central New Jersey and Manhattan, N.Y.
Mary Urbano of Marlboro, an exclusive agent with Allstate New Jersey Insurance Co. and an Allstate personal financial professional, has qualified for membership in the 2006 Million Dollar Round Table, an association of financial professionals. Urbano’s agency is located at 35 Route 79 north in Marlboro.
Advanced Information Services Inc., Marlboro, a software and consulting company specializing in business intelligence (BI) software, announced its new partnership with QlikTech, a BI software company. Business intelligence tools enable companies to gather and analyze their data to make more effective business decisions. The company’s Web site is www.advinfoserv.com.
Business After Hours, sponsored by the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, will be hosted by Branches, 123 Monmouth Road, West Long Branch. The event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 20. Attendees should bring business cards. The fee is $10 for chamber members and $15 for nonmembers, and includes refreshments. For reservations or further details, call the chamber at (732) 462-3030, fax (732) 462-2123, or visit www.wmchamber.com.
Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly general meeting at 8:30 a.m. June 22 at the chamber office, 17 Broad St., Freehold. Tom Ford of the U.S. Postal Service will discuss USPS online services, including the Click-N-Ship system and NetPost mailing services. The fee is $15 for chamber members and $20 for nonmembers, and includes continental breakfast. For reservations or further details, call the chamber at (732) 462-3030, fax (732) 462-2123, or visit www.wmchamber.com.
Sue Kozel, founder of SK Visions in Cream Ridge, Upper Freehold Township, received the 2006 WIPP Public Policy Award during a ceremony held May 11 at the spring conference for Women Impac-ting Public Policy (WIPP), a bipartisan women’s business group.
The awards were presented in several categories that honor individuals, associations and companies who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the growth and goals of women-owned businesses. Kozel was the only New Jersey woman to receive one of WIPP’s seven awards.
Kozel’s award honors WIPP members whose active engagement in the political process has set an example for women entrepreneurs.
Kozel was the 2005 co-chair of the WIPP Energy and Environment Commit-tee, moderated WIPP’s 2005 national panel on energy issues, and donated an ad in a national magazine to WIPP to help promote its visibility. She also serves on the U.S. Chamber of Com-merce’s Small Business Council and was honored the same day as a U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2006 Blue Ribbon Small Business during a breakfast in Washing-ton, D.C.
Since 1998, Kozel has donated more than $40,000 annually to promote community organizations and her annual business scholarship, and was named the 2004 Stevie Award recipient for the Women Entrepreneurs in Community Involvement category. WIPP acknowledged Kozel’s work in Monmouth County to promote environmental awareness and community participation.
Kozel was also National Association of Women Business Owners South Jersey’s 2005 Member of the Year and one of NJBIZ’s 2006 N.J. Best 50 Women in Business.
Representatives of OceanFirst Bank are kicking off their 2007 calendar contest and are looking for artists to submit original artwork to be displayed in their community calendar for next year.
More than 11,000 calendars are distributed among OceanFirst customers and the general public throughout Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties. Credit will be given to each selected artist in the calendar, along with a small byline to include artist information.
Artwork may include, but is not limited to, watercolors, sketches or paintings. Suggested themes include seasonal scenes of familiar local landmarks, beaches, oceans or lakes within Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties. The artwork must be color or black and white, horizontal, and 8 inches wide by 11 inches high. Multiple entries submitted by artists may be eligible for multiple entries in the calendar.
A panel of judges will be randomly selected and comprised of senior management and officers of OceanFirst Bank. Artwork will be judged on originality, quality and suitability.
Artists can submit their original work via mail to OceanFirst Bank, Marketing Department/Calendar Contest, 975 Hooper Avenue, Toms River 08753, on disk or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. No artwork will be accepted unless accompanied by an official entry form, which can be picked up at any OceanFirst branch location, requested via e-mail at the above e-mail address or downloaded from the OceanFirst Bank Internet Web site (www.oceanfirst.com). See official rules on the OceanFirst Bank Web site. Deadline for submission is June 30.
Central Jersey Business Profes-sionals is an independent, formal networking group that meets in Freehold every Tuesday at 8 a.m. The organization accepts one person per occupation and is currently looking to grow its membership. Details: Aaron Niederman, (732) 922-6300, ext. 35.
Sun National Bank has named Howell resident Natalie Kober-Dallen-bach manager of its Red Bank Com-munity Banking Center (CBC). The branch is part of Sun’s Eastern Market, which serves customers in Monmouth and Ocean counties. In her position, Kober-Dallenbach is responsible for establishing and expanding customer relationships, and also oversees branch personnel, supervises banking transactions and works closely with customers to ensure all of their banking needs are met.