Collaboration Brings Our Members Together

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.    

I am proud of the programming that the Chamber has provided this last year including assisting our members with the transition to a post-pandemic work environment.  In April we heard from Bhushan Sethi, Joint Global Leader, People & Organization, of PwC about the “future of work” and how businesses will need to adapt, plan for various scenarios and decide what their growth plan is.  According to Sethi, the biggest challenge for businesses going forward is going to be finding talent.  With this in mind, the Chamber has multiple resources available for our members including the “Human Resources and Talent Committee” and also the Connect to Morris website www.connecttomorris.com where businesses can create profiles and post employment opportunities.  I encourage you to explore both and see how they can support your business.  (You can read a recap of Mr. Sethi’s presentation at the Chamber’s blog section of the website, where you can also contribute your thought leadership, https://www.morrischamber.org/mccc-blog)

In this issue of Business Edge we celebrate the contributions of the banking industry in keeping our businesses operating during this challenging year.  In a matter of days, banks figured out how to process the many PPP loans, while continuing to serve clients’ other banking needs. Through their efforts the otherwise devastating economic impact of this crisis on businesses that together employ thousands of people was abated.  In addition to profiling their accomplishments, our member banks explain what they have learned through this crisis. 

The Chamber prides itself on connecting members to each other and resources they need to succeed, expanding each other’s networks and also seeking to benefit our community.  In this spirit, two stories this summer focus on the interaction between our Chamber’s for-profit and not for profit member organizations.  Many of the more than one hundred members from the not-for-profit sector joined together at the annual not for profit conference, to hear from keynote Thomas Weatherall, President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation New Jersey.  His talk “Hope is not Canceled” focused on the importance of communicating a clear and compelling vision and building relationships with donors.  The Chamber also brought together a panel featuring corporations to discuss their respective approaches to corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and how they identify non-profits with which to partner, fund and support through volunteer efforts.  The Chamber also honored five exemplary leaders and innovative programs: Trish O’Keefe of Atlantic Health System; Mark Valli of NORWESCAP; Tara Skirzenski of Morris Arts; Dress for Success for virtual programming; and the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris for first aid workshops.
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Finally, we highlight the power of collaboration among our members by profiling the pilot of “Hands On! Philanthropy.” When the Chamber’s Health & Wellness Committee came together to support four non-profits, extraordinary relationships developed.  Read about the many benefits of the program.  Innovative and collaborative programming such as this, developed by our members for our members, is what makes the Morris Chamber a special place.  I wish you an enjoyable summer and I look forward to seeing you in (real live) person!