The recipients are being honored by the Chamber for their overall support of the business community and for their work advancing New Jersey as a more business friendly state. The N.J. Chamber selected the lawmakers based on their voting records, bill sponsorships and initiatives.

The nine recipients will be recognized at the New Jersey Chamber’s Legislative and Business Awards Reception on Oct. 11 at Manasquan River Golf Club in Brielle, beginning at 5 p.m.

The event is open to members of the media.

To register, contact Scott Goldstein.

The four recipients of the Legislator of the Year Awards are:

·    Senator Joe Lagana (D-38/Bergen and Passaic Counties)

·    Senator Holly Schepisi (R-39/Bergen and Passaic Counties)

·    Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19/Middlesex County)

·    Republican Leader John DiMaio (R-23, Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties)

The four recipients of the N.J. Chamber’s Business Advocate of the Year Awards are:

·    Dennis Toft, Member of the Firm, CSG Law

·    Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, Chief of Staff, Office of the Governor; and Commissioner, N.J. Department of Transportation

·    Eric Brophy, Economic Development Advisor, Office of the Governor

·    Chuck Richman, Economic Development Advisor, Office of the Governor

The recipient of the N.J. Chamber Alliance Partner of the Year Award is:

·    Dawn Hunter, Executive Director, Greater Vineland Chamber of Commerce

“The honorees were selected because each has taken substantive action to improve New Jersey’s economic climate and each has been at the forefront in the fight for tax and regulatory reform and fiscally responsible infrastructure investment,” said Tom Bracken, president of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. “New Jersey faces many challenges, and the business community is fortunate to have individuals such as these taking action to help make our state more affordable and more competitive.”

Profiles of Legislator of the Year Awards Recipients

Sen. Joseph Lagana has been a key player in New Jersey’s battle against New York City’s proposed Congestion Pricing tax on vehicles entering Midtown Manhattan, a plan the New Jersey Chamber vehemently opposes. He serves as vice chair of the Labor Committee and is a member of the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Lagana has been a staunch supporter of reducing property taxes, strengthening school safety measures and providing mental health resources to students – our future workforce. He joined the Senate in 2018 and previously served three state Assembly terms.

Sen. Holly Schepisi, Republican Conference Leader, was selected as an honoree because when developing policy impacting employers and the economy she regularly seeks the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s input – and she’s most often receptive to our counsel. She is a collaborator who seeks bi-partisan support on issues benefitting New Jersey’s economy, which has resulted in impactful and meaningful legislation. Sen. Schepisi also advocated for lower property taxes and cost of living in New Jersey so more residents are able to live and retire in their home state.

Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin continues to support of New Jersey companies, especially the state’s over 937,000 small businesses, which are the backbone of New Jersey’s economy. Speaker Coughlin championed, and Gov. Murphy signed into law, a package of bills earlier this year designed to create more jobs, streamline state programs and reduce red tape for entrepreneurs and small business owners seeking to invest or grow in the state. He regularly seeks counsel from the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce leaders on critical business and economic issues – and he participated on a panel of legislative leaders in March at our 2023 Business Summit & Expo focusing on how to grow New Jersey’s economy. We also support his priorities of addressing the state’s food insecurity problem and providing property tax relief to residents.

Assemblyman John DiMaio has been a staunch supporter of repealing the Corporate Business Surtax, and reducing property taxes. He supported the reestablishment of the former Red Tape Review Commission to make it easier to do business in New Jersey. The Republican Leader was a panelist during the N.J. Chamber’s 2023 Business Summit. He has been a consistent attendee of the N.J. Chamber Open House, and is always open to meeting and discussing legislative issues important to the business community. He serves as the Assembly Republican Leader, and has served as the Budget and Appropriations Officer.

Profiles of the Business Advocates of the Year Awards Recipients

Dennis Toft, a member at CSG Law, is an environmental attorney regarded as one of New Jersey’s leading Brownfields redevelopment practitioners. He has dedicated many hours chairing the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Environment and Energy Initiative, providing guidance and expertise on a wide variety of legislative and regulatory issues. Toft leads by example and often takes extra steps to assist and support the N.J. Chamber’s advocacy efforts. He regularly appears before the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, municipal land use boards and the Office of Administrative Law, as well as in state and federal courts.

Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, Chief of Staff of the Gov. Murphy Administration and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Transportation, was recently selected by Gov. Murphy to be his administration’s chief of staff, and the Chamber embraces the appointment. Improving the state’s transportation network has always been a top priority for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, since our infrastructure is the foundation of our economy. Gutierrez-Scaccetti has done an outstanding job prioritizing transportation projects that will keep New Jersey’s economy moving. She has a strong record of accomplishment, is an excellent administrator and is dedicated to making New Jersey a better place to live and work. All these admirable qualities make her an excellent chief of staff.

Eric Brophy and Chuck Richman, economic development advisors in the Murphy administration, spearheaded Gov. Murphy’s efforts to improve New Jersey’s permit processes, and expedite them within various state agencies. They have organized and conducted monthly stakeholder meetings held at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Trenton headquarters to discuss their reform efforts. One significant result was the passage and signing of bill A-573, which makes several changes to the Uniform Construction Code Act and codifies a three-day construction inspection turnaround. It allows developers to contract with private on-site inspection agencies if local construction officials cannot complete the inspection within three days. This bill brings New Jersey in line with several states, making it quicker to obtain approvals and ultimately keep projects moving.

Profile of the New Jersey Chamber Alliance Partner of the Year Award Recipient:

Dawn S. Hunter, executive director of the Greater Vineland Chamber, is a dedicated member of the New Jersey Chamber Alliance Coalition, a group of statewide chamber of commerce executives who regularly discuss policy initiatives and ways to make the state a better place to work and live. She often consults with the New Jersey Chamber’s government relations staff about legislative and regulatory issues, and communicates business priorities to her chamber’s membership and to the state legislators representing District 1. Dawn is a regular at New Jersey Chamber events, including the annual New Jersey Business Summit & Expo in Atlantic City.