Mentor Morris Program

Author: Christopher Reardon

​A new dynamic has taken hold at the Morris County Chamber of Commerce – the mentor- mentee relationship. The chamber recently launched the MENTOR MORRIS initiative, which is intended to leverage the invaluable experience and knowledge of older members for the benefit of younger professionals. Yet a funny thing happened – the mentors are getting just as much out of the program as are the mentees. 

​​According to the program overview, “The talented people within our chamber represent a vast untapped resource that we hope to share…Our MENTOR MORRIS initiative is an opportunity to share this wealth of experience by matching up members with others who can give them personalized advice and direction. Our vision is that this initiative will deliver actionable information, strategies and tactics that will help members set and attain their short- and long-term goals.”

The idea for a mentoring initiative came from the Young Professionals Forum (YPF) and chamber leadership tapped Allan Berger of Berger Business Advisors as initiative chair. Berger teamed with Ashley Palmer of Black River Landscape Management and the then-chair of the YPF, consultants Vicki Harte of Harte Marketing Cooperative and Patrick Fennel of the Empowerment Institute, and the County College of Morris to develop the program’s parameters, which includes an online orientation program. “The design of the orientation module is to create a common language and framework for the mentor and mentee to engage successfully,” Berger said. That engagement begins with mentees receiving the backgrounds of three potential mentors and the mentors receiving the backgrounds of a mentee seeking a partner. The mentee then contacts all three possible mentors and selects one. Paula Brueckner of the law firm Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi was one of the pilot mentees and has found the experience to be very beneficial. She is teamed with Donna Miller of C3Workplace.

“Donna has become an invaluable resource for  not only professional advice and guidance but also for my own personal growth,” Brueckner said. “Further, my involvement in the MENTOR MORRIS initiative has given me a huge confidence boost, which is critical  to developing a dynamic trademark practice and deepening client relationships.” Nick Fania of Fania Roofing has found his experience as a mentee equally rewarding. His mentor is Jeff Green of Pinnacle Graphic Communications. “Primarily I have used our conversations as a sounding board for issues that we are having with personnel and the transition of ownership,” Fania said. “I try to come up with a few possible solutions or scenarios to rectify the situation or to plan next steps in the evolution, relying on Jeff to use his experience steering me toward one of my suggestions or in an entirely new direction. Having been able to bounce ideas off Jeff has been a huge benefit to ensure I’m on the desired path or bouncing me back into the proper lane.”

The program’s mentors have benefitted from their participation, as well. “My benefit, beyond raising up others, which is always a benefit, is perspective,” Miller said. “Paula helps to keep my world view fresh. I can run things by her that are going on with my team to gain her insight. This gives me a multi-dimensional view of my team.” Greg Stewart of NexGen Management has been mentoring Ethan Tamman of Keller Williams Commercial Realty. “I’m trying to help steer someone building their career,” Stewart said. “I’m working with someone much younger and I’m seeing him struggle through challenges I struggled with when I was younger.”

Added Meghan Hunscher, chamber president, “This is an opportunity for two generations to learn from each other and to create an inter-generational sense of community.” Berger also noted the MORRIS MENTOR initiative  can be a boon for chamber member companies, as well. “It can benefit companies that have people within their organizations they want to develop,” he said. To learn more about the program or to apply to be a mentor or mentee online, visit the chamber’s website and go to programs, or contact Kay Hilling, the program’s coordinator, at 973.539.3882, ext. 222.