Committed to Business, Committed to Each Other

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.  ​

The Morris County Chamber of Commerce recognizes the importance of facilitating important discussions such as this. As many businesses have shifted to having non-essential employees work remotely, we created opportunities for discussions around reopening. The chamber’s Human Resources and Talent Forum, the Human Resources Executive Council and the Morris Business Cabinet held interactive roundtable discussions about practical considerations when implementing a “back to work” plan. Human resources, risk management and real estate considerations were shared in these ​discussions. It also was gratifying to hear from so many of you that the Morris Chamber task force report, which included a risk assessment, was a helpful guide in reopening your business.

We have also added a new resource tool, “Connect to Morris” – connecttomorris.com – that recently was launched by the Morris County Economic Development Corporation. The website gives you another opportunity to profile your business and post available job, apprentice and internship opportunities. If your organization is a nonprofit you also can post volunteer and board opportunities. In addition, join us in October for the chamber’s first virtual job fair. To learn more, visit our event calendar.  

As an economic engine for the country, Morris County best demonstrates how New Jersey is an innovation state. At the chamber we bring you informative and dynamic events that let you get up close and personal with the decision-makers in industries whose research and products impact people around the world. This fall, we celebrate the life sciences and health care industries at our Racing Toward a Vaccine event, where the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey will moderate a panel discussion with Pfizer, Porzio and Roche about the status of the vaccine, testing and therapeutics. The chamber’s Diversity and Inclusion Summit will include as panelists the chief diversity officers from Atlantic Health and Bayer, moderated by ROI-NJ. Please visit our event calendar to register for these events. 

Read Business Edge Fall 2020 Edition​