This month, Mercer County mayors and local business leaders looked to foster new relationships during the annual Mercer County Mayors Breakfast.
The roundtable discussions were held at the Mercer Oaks Golf Course in West Windsor Township.
“We are really excited with this program. This is another way for the mayors to meet constituents,” said Peter Crowley, President and CEO of the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce. “A lot of times people do not know what the mayor’s do. These mayors’ do an unbelievable job. This event is a highway to highlight the townships and the mayors. This is just a great opportunity to meet the mayors.”
On June 12, there was a buzz inside the ballroom of Mercer Oaks.
“We have about 160 people registered for this program today. What we are finding is that mayors actually like this,” he explained. “This program just helps open up the communication between the mayors and constituents.”
According to Crowley, the success of the Mayors Breakfast tells people that the chamber plays an important role in bringing together the business community, the non-profit community and the rest of the community.
“This program allows us to know what is going on and we learn things. That is what is key,” he said.
For Frank Lucchesi, Public Service Enterprise Group Regional Public Affairs Manager, said the program has the mayor’s network with the business community.
“We have had different formats over the years. We have had open formats with businesses and residents and also panel discussions. Today’s event is more of a networking session, where the members here can go talk to the mayors and get more personal,” he declared. “This is ultimately what we wanted to do. PSEG is very happy to support this program.”
Lucchesi said each year of the Mayor’s Breakfast is a great experience.
“The turnout is awesome, the people are great, and the mayors are very engaged. Not many organizations you deal with give you access to local elected leaders, so this is very important to have,” he said. “This has just become a great networking session for local municipalities and governments.”
There were nine mayors in attendance, who included Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert, Hopewell Township Mayor Kristin McLaughlin and Hopewell Borough Mayor Paul Anzano.
“They change the format every year. This is always useful to have the opportunity to have a lot of conversations with a lot of people,” Mayor Lempert reported. “I’m working my way slowly around the room.”
Mayor Lempert said the event is an opportunity to let people know what is going on in Princeton.
“One of the things I am trying to get the word out to folks about is the Alexander Road Bridge replacement project, that will be starting in November. Alexander Road will be shut for five to six months,” she said. “We just want to make certain businesses are not caught by surprise.”
Mayor McLaughlin said she wants to let people know that Hopewell Township is an exciting place it would be to put their business.
“We would love to have them. We have all of this beautiful open space for employees to go out and take a walk,” she said. “This is my first time here as mayor and there is so much energy in the room. When you really want to sell your town we need to talk to people face to face. This is a fun and exciting event.”
Mayor Anzano explained that he wanted to hear from those in the business community and know what is important to them in Hopewell Borough and Mercer County.
“I believe Hopewell Borough is a great place to do business. I am here to talk and hear from businesses. This is one of the few times a year we get to talk with them in this setting so this event is important,” Mayor Anzano said.
The Mayor’s Breakfast has been organized for five years and will continue as a program with the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber, according to chamber officials.
For more information on the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber, visit www.princetonchamber.org.