Monmouth Legal Secretaries will sponsor its annual Day at the Races at Monmouth Park, Oceanport, July 10. The cost is $33 and includes admission to the clubhouse, program and pen, and buffet lunch including dessert and iced tea. Spouses, families and friends are welcome; reservations are required by June 15. For reservations and details, call Marjorie Mershon at (732) 473-1038.
Monmouth-Ocean Chapter of New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners will hold a dinner meeting May 27 at Jumping Brook Country Club, Neptune.
At 5 p.m., massage therapist Mary Kinch of Middletown will conduct a pre-meeting on the benefits of massage. The dinner will feature a panel of women business owners who are successful in fields where women leaders are uncommon — Jean Kraft, president of J.T. Kraft Konstruction LLD, West Orange; Laura Brinkerhoff, a certified professional geologist and founder of Brinkerhoff Environmental Services, which has offices in Manasquan, Medford and Mays Landing; and Shelly Hewson, founder of Hewson Enterprises Inc. Landscape Contractors, based in Plainfield.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their daughters (age 12 and older). The cost is $35, and reservations are required by May 21.
Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce will hold a general meeting May 27, 8:30 a.m., at the chamber office, 17 Broad St., Freehold. The cost is $10 per person and includes continental breakfast. For reservations, call (732) 462-3030 or fax to (732) 462-2123.
Dr. Michael Baskin, an optometric physician whose office is in the Pond Road shopping center in Freehold Township, recently attended the TLC Conference on Custom Lasik and Technological Advances in Refractive Surgery, Vision Therapy and Macular Degeneration. The main topic of discussion was the role of custom Lasik in refractive surgery in 2004, and the latest developments and procedures in laser vision correction. Rheopheresis, the newest procedure for dry macular degeneration, was also presented.
Prudential Financial Inc. announced that Buddy Benton, an agent with an office located at 981 Route 33, Suite A, Monroe, has qualified for membership in the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT).
MDRT membership is based on excellence in customer sales and service. Founded in 1927, MDRT is an independent association of approximately 28,000 of the world’s insurance and investment financial services professionals who have met strict ethical and professional requirements. The organization is internationally recognized, and its members represent 68 nations and territories, and some 475 life insurance companies.
Benton, a resident of Millstone, is one of 900 Prudential sales professionals who qualified for MDRT this year. MDRT recently reported that Prudential Insurance Co. of America had the fourth highest number of MDRT qualifiers, based on membership levels of insurance companies worldwide.
Geller & Co., a finance, accounting, procurement and tax outsourcing firm, announced the opening on May 17 of an office at 70 Wood Avenue in Iselin.
Joseph Gitto, 41, a resident of Marlboro, has been promoted to head the New Jersey office. He has been a senior member of Geller & Co.’s Emerging Business Group since he joined the firm two years ago. His assignments to date have included acting as CFO for a variety of Geller & Co.’s public and private clients. For the preceding 18 years, he worked with public and private small to midsize companies in the role of CFO, controller and financial consultant.
Gitto earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and finance from Baruch College, New York City, N.Y. He and his family reside in the Morganville section of Marlboro.
Geller & Co., a New York-based business process outsourcing firm founded in 1984, offers finance, accounting, procurement and tax outsourcing solutions to the private equity community, serving a wide range of clients including emerging businesses, major global organizations, middle market companies and private equity firms. The company employs financial and accounting professionals including financial analysts, accountants, financial planners, procurement experts, tax specialists, attorneys, systems experts and bookkeepers.
Michael B. Mangini, a Freehold attorney, has been awarded a certificate of recognition in advanced estate planning by The American College, Bryn Mawr, Pa., for successfully completing three, three-credit courses in the college’s master of science in financial services degree curriculum. The American College is not an ABA-approved certifying entity. The program requires successful completion of advanced estate planning and personal income taxation. In addition to his juris doctor degree, Mangini also holds a certificate of recognition in business succession planning.
A graduate of Fordham University School of Law, former Army JAG officer and assistant Monmouth County prosecutor, Mangini devotes his practice to developing asset protection and transfer strategies for his clients, their families and businesses. He is pursuing the American College’s CAP (Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy) designation.
Somerset Tire Service Inc. (STS), an independent tire and automotive service company, held a grand opening celebration for its new retail location in Cream Ridge. The new branch, located at 301 East Millstream Road, is the 103rd company-owned store to open in the tri-state area. Mayor Ronald Dancer of Plumsted Township was the special guest.
The new location will offer a full array of automotive products and services, including tires, automotive parts and services. STS Tire & Auto Centers, an employee-owned company, was founded in 1958. For more information, visit the Web site www.ststire.com or call (609) 758-3395.
Barbara Berg, branch manager of Weichert, Realtors’ Marlboro office, announced that three sales associates were recognized for their industry successes in April.
Dolores Jenkins led the office in listings. A member of Weichert’s Sales and Marketed clubs, Jenkins qualified for the New Jersey Association of Realtors 2003 Circle of Excellence Sales Club at the bronze level.
Geri Levinson led the office in sales and dollar volume. Levinson is a member of Weichert’s Sales Club.
Robyn Novick led the office in revenue units. A member of Weichert’s Sales and Marketed clubs, Novick qualified for the New Jersey Association of Realtors 2003 Circle of Excellence Sales Club at the silver level.
Steven Medlin, of Marlboro, has joined Integrated Financial Resources, based in Wall, as a financial representative.
He previously worked in telecommunications sales at Inter-Tel, Siemens and TIE Communications. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, and is a member of the board of directors and secretary of IRSA International Rett Syndrome Association, as well as a past president of the Business Forum of Central New Jersey.
Integrated Financial Resources is a district office of New England Financial of North Jersey, Fairfield, one of the 69 offices of New England Financial, headquartered in Boston. The company provides financial and insurance services. New England Financial is an affiliate of MetLife.
Dr. A.K. Bhattacharya, of Plastic Surgery Plus in Freehold Township, recently participated as a speaker in the Physician Lecture Series for the medical science students of the Freehold Regional High School District. The satellite program is geared toward students interested in pursuing a career in the field of medicine. Bhattacharya spoke about careers in plastic surgery, both at Freehold Borough High School and CentraState Medical Center.
Bhattacharya also attended the closing program and ceremonies for the first class of 17 graduating seniors of the district’s Medical Sciences Learning Center. Students and their parents, as well as administrators and staff from the high school district along with CentraState administration and staff, celebrated at a luncheon April 19 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.
For the second year in a row, Bhattacharya exercised another of his talents with the local community by teaching a six-week class in tae kwon do to children in grades three through five at the Joseph J. Catena School in Freehold Township. As part of the Enrichment Program at the Catena School, Bhattacharya, a fourth-degree black belt master in Korean-style tae kwon do, shared his skills with the youngsters during January and February. He also has been teaching classes at his home for years, including a self-defense class for women.
Bhattacharya is a double-board certified plastic surgeon and university professor in plastic surgery at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), the State University of New York, and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.
Professional and Business Singles Network will sponsor an experiential seminar May 29, 7 p.m. at the Doral Forrestal Conference Center, 4100 College Road East at Route 1, Princeton. A holiday dance social will follow at 8:30 p.m. Admission to the seminar is $25 and includes the dance; admission for just the dance is $15. There will be a cash bar. For details, call (800) 537-3859 or visit www.PBSNinfo.com. Membership is not required, and walk-ins are welcome.
Stenciled, Etc. By Amy, a new business specializing in custom stenciling and decorative wall finishes, is open for business. Owner Amy Westpy, of Marlboro, is a member of the Stencil Artisans League and received her training at Dundean Studios in Chatham. For more information, call (732) 547-1602.