Morris County Chamber Hosts 103rd Annual Meeting Luncheon

Elects seven new members to the board of directors

Florham Park N.J. – Feb. 14, 2024 – The Morris County Chamber of Commerce hosted its 103rd Annual Meeting Luncheon [yesterday] at the Hanover Marriott Hotel. The luncheon featured Dr. Thierry Klein, president, Nokia Bell Labs Solutions Research, as the keynote speaker. The chamber also honored Carole Rogers, founder of nonprofit Impact 100's Garden State chapter, with the Saint Clare's Health William P. Huber Award for Outstanding Community Leadership. 

Chamber president Meghan Hunscher noted the chamber added 146 new members and grew in total membership to 792 in 2023 while hosting more than 250 events and meetings providing opportunities for networking, education and leadership development.
 
“When I think of what success means at the chamber I am reminded of the many stories I have heard from you of connections and referrals you’ve made and received, trust you’ve built and closed business that has occurred,” she said. “We demonstrate the power of connection.” 
 
The theme of Klein’s address was Innovating with Purpose. Klein leads a global multi-disciplinary team conducting research beyond today’s technologies in AI and machine learning, knowledge systems, autonomous software, the fusion of physical-digital worlds and dynamic digital twins. Nokia Bell Labs pursues responsible, sustainable technologies that will have a demonstrable impact on society and creates value through partnerships and collaborations.
 
Klein said Nokia has transitioned from a B2C communications company to a B2B technology innovation leader developing networks that sense, understand and act – creating solutions that have real-life application, such as optimizing the efficiency, productivity, safety and sustainability of vertical industries through better coordination of humans and technology.
 
“We don’t think of the world without us in it,” he said. “This is not about robots taking over the world.”
 
Klein also talked about how Nokia Bell Labs relies on partnerships with businesses to take its research from the lab to the field.
 
“We develop the technologies but we look to enterprise and industrial partners to accelerate the value creation and implement the technologies in real applications and use cases that solve the most impactful business problems,” he explained.
 
Finally, Klein talked about what he called Nokia Bell Labs’ “most exciting” new project, building and deploying the first-ever cellular network on the Moon that will be essential for communication in future lunar missions.
 
The Saint Clare's Health William P. Huber Award for Outstanding Community Leadership recognizes a person who displayed outstanding leadership to benefit the community during the previous year. Founded in 2013, Impact100 Garden State was inspired by a growing national trend in women’s collective giving, a model that enables the nonprofit to combine the donations of many women to award grants to local nonprofits. SparkNJ awards annual Equity Grants through the Community Foundation of New Jersey. They provide financial support for Black-led charitable, community and civic organizations in northern New Jersey.
 
Rodgers told the audience Impact100 Garden State to date has awarded more than $3 million to 64 organizations, representing the collective impact women can have on the nonprofit community. She also noted the New Jersey chapter was founded by six women sitting at a dining room table and remembered the many women who served as mentors to her during her renowned career.
 
“I don’t think anyone can accept an award like this without mentioning the mentors who have helped her through the years,” she said. “Thank you for what you do to make our slice of the world a better place.”
 
Morris County Commissioner Director Christine Myers presented a State of the County address at the meeting.
 
“Twenty-twenty-three was a great year,” she said, noting the county maintained its AAA credit rating, had no tax increase and invested in infrastructure and parks while also recognizing the role the business community plays in Morris County. “Our strong business community is the economic engine that allows us to provide great services at a very low tax rate.”
 
However, Myers warned there has been a decline in volunteering and engagement throughout the county, from EMT to advisory boards, and encouraged the audience to volunteer in some way in their communities. She also invited everyone to participate in the Morris County’s celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary of independence by visiting [email protected].
 
The chamber also announced the election of seven new members to its board of directors. The new members are:

• Marcus Banks, senior vice president-litigation, employment law and government relations, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

• Rosanne DeTorres, managing partner and founder, DeTorres & DeGeorge
• James Jacobi, founder and CEO, Ascend Advisors
• Barbra Katz, chief human resources officer at Crum & Forster
• Peter Levy, partner, Mandelbaum Barrett
• Jill Massey, vice president, global medical strategy and operations, Gilead
• Eric Sequin, CEO, Solix

 
About the Morris County Chamber of Commerce 
The Morris County Chamber of Commerce has more than 800 member organizations that range from entrepreneurs and small businesses to large corporations and Fortune 500 companies. The chamber’s mission is to collaboratively advance the interests of its members to champion a thriving business and community environment. The chamber’s many events, meetings and seminars provide a platform for its members to connect, collaborate, learn and succeed. The chamber is dedicated to the advancement of Morris County's businesses and community by providing services, information and advocacy to support the success of its member organizations. They are headquartered in Florham Park.