By Meghan Hunscher, President & CEO, Morris County Chamber + EDC
​At the Chamber we welcome the warmer weather and the opportunities for outdoor gatherings that it brings.  We are looking forward to seeing our members in person and offering events like our annual golf outing in June.  As the economy reopens and we transition to in-person events, we also recognize that the pandemic has changed the way we do business. Technology that allows us to meet and participate in events remotely is more prominent in our lives and many companies that can, will continue to offer flexible work arrangements for employees.  At the Chamber we continue to fulfill our mission as a virtual chamber and are mindful that many of our members welcome having this as an option going forward.    

This past year the resilience and perseverance of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce has been remarkable. The chamber celebrated its annual meeting in 2021, its centennial year, in the middle of a pandemic. While it was not the in-person celebration we initially envisioned it was a celebration nonetheless. In the face of a virus that is keeping us apart the virtual annual meeting brought us together like never before!
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With more than 400 attendees we congratulated our leaders in business award winners for their contributions to their business, community and the chamber, celebrated the Huber Award winner, Tyler Cerbo, welcomed a new slate of officers to the board and heard from an inspiring keynote speaker, astronaut Captain Scott Kelly, a New Jersey native who overcame the odds to travel to space for a year despite having a learning disability and lack of direction early in his life. His message was clear: “If I can achieve my dreams, so can you.”

​​Dear Members of the NJ State Legislature:

As you consider the governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget, the below chambers of commerce representing all regions of the state would like to provide feedback and offer suggestions about ways to most effectively allocate funds that will help our economy recover from the shutdown caused by the pandemic and effectively attack our state’s most pressing issue – the economic crisis.

We would first like to acknowledge many positive elements in this proposed budget, particularly that it does not include new or increased taxes, fees or fares. We also appreciate the necessary investments in education, innovation and infrastructure modernization. We encourage you to keep these items in the final budget.  Additionally, we are grateful for the measures that the Legislature has passed over the last several months which have alleviated issues for businesses operating during the pandemic. And of course, we are looking forward to the implementation of the Economic Recovery Act of 2020, which could provide a great foundation for a robust economic recovery.  This pandemic has devastated the state in both the medical and the economic sense. The governor has said from the beginning that public health creates economic health. Now that the number of hospitalizations and positive COVID-19 tests are trending downward and the vaccination process is underway, there are reasons to be optimistic that we are on a road to recovery and to achieving herd immunity. As we continue to lift restrictions and allow for more businesses to open up, we need to equip them with the tools they need to survive, recover and succeed.

Fall 2020
​As many of us are enjoying the fall season at reduced-capacity festivals, farms and restaurants, I reflect on how these past six months have tested our mettle. Now more than ever, the commitment to our businesses is a testament to the economic strength of our county and region. 

While our behavior has changed, our support for one another has not. Our members have made extraordinary efforts to retain employees, patronize one another and donate to charitable organizations. While this crisis has created great opportunity for a number of our members, others suffered significant loss. You have demonstrated your commitment to each other in extraordinary ways, coming together and sharing your time, your best practices, creating new services, offering reduced rates and member deals and engaging in mastermind groups, including the Entrepreneur Roundtable, Not-for-Profit mastermind, Business Strategies and Tactics Forum for business owners and the recently announced Morris Chamber Mastermind to exchange ideas during this challenging time and beyond.  ​

Summer 2020
The world has changed in a matter of months. On behalf of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to all who have lost loved ones during this pandemic. The coronavirus is first and foremost a public health crisis that has also become an economic crisis. Like our members, the Morris County Chamber faced the uncertainty of the impact the coronavirus would have on the organization. The chamber team and board were committed to continuing to fulfill our mission and to serve you, our members, now more than ever.   

To accomplish this, we quickly realized we needed to become a virtual chamber. I am extremely proud of our chamber team, volunteer leaders and our members for quickly adapting to the new circumstances. The engagement of members has been extraordinary, with active participation in the more than one 100 events we have held, including networking events, committee meetings, professional development seminars, government affairs presentations and COVID-19-related information sessions. The chamber has recorded many of these events and posted them on the video library on our website, found here: https://www.morrischamber.org/video-library.html.  ​

The Morris County Chamber of Commerce extends its heartfelt sympathy to the family of George Floyd and the black community.  We condemn discrimination and injustice in all its forms. With this crisis there is an opportunity to make our communities and businesses even stronger by listening to each other and striving to serve each other better.  We recall President Lincoln’s timeless words that all are created equal in this nation that was conceived in liberty. These aspirations are realized through our character and our actions, as individuals and as a community organization.  
 
As a voice of the business community and convener, the Morris Chamber recognizes that we must be intentional about seeking the input and engagement of diverse groups throughout the county, creating a welcoming environment for members regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or ability.  As a member of the national Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, the Morris Chamber is in regular communication with chambers across the country about ways business associations can address racial bias. We look forward to the ACCE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion division’s release of best practices for the workforce, workplace and marketplace. ​

Spring 2020
As we begin our 100th year, I consistently hear how the reputation of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce precedes us. In this issue we celebrate the diversity of programming that we offer that gives this chamber the impact it has. We pride ourselves on providing opportunities to hear from and speak with thought leaders.
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We welcomed Linda Bowden, New Jersey regional president PNC Bank, as our keynote speaker at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Linda inspired the audience of 600 with her overview of her journey and perspective on effective leadership. Similarly, the Women in Business program closed 2019 on a high note with financial advisor, television personality and author Jean Chatzky as keynote. Jean imparted her wisdom and dispensed advice to a rapt audience of 300. The event concluded with a book signing.  ​

Winter 2019/2020
As my first year as chamber president comes to a close, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your enthusiasm, contributions, new ideas and volunteer leadership that makes the Morris County Chamber of Commerce one of the best business associations in the state and country! As an organization we are committed to “the infinite game,” as Simon Sinek calls it, and always asking ourselves how we can make the chamber experience even better than before. I am looking forward to continuing to build on the success of 2019, when we welcomed several hundred new members and also four new team members. I appreciate all your dedication to the chamber’s mission, especially during this time of change, to work collaboratively to advance your interests and champion a thriving business and community environment. ​

​As my first quarter as president of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce comes to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity of my initial column in Business Edge to share with you my impressions of and visions for the chamber.
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Ours is a remarkable chamber. Our more than 800 members represent a wide array of businesses, products and services, and skills. The chamber comprises enterprises ranging from sole proprietorships and start-ups to multi-generational family businesses to regional, national and international corporations, all representing a full spectrum of business sectors. This variety is our strength and reflects what makes Morris County such a financial engine, locally, statewide and nationally.