The Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce named its 2016 slate of government award winners during the chamber’s 27th Annual Mayors Dinner, held at the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott on April 15, 2016.
Each year the chamber honors each of the municipalities in Union County and recognizes their public servants, including those who were the year’s brightest stars.
Mayor Sal Bonaccorso of Clark was named Mayor of the Year for his work turning an abandoned brownfield site into the new Clark Commons, the largest commercial real estate project in Union County in two decades. He thanked John Laezza, Clark Business Administrator for all his assistance.
Laura Reinertsen, clerk/administrator in Kenilworth, was named Business Administrator of the Year for her focus on improving the Kenilworth business community through multiple administrations.
Mayor Angela Garretson of Hillside was voted Best Speaker of the night.
“The business community and local government work hand-in-hand to support and build local communities, employ local residents and drive the local economy,” said Jim Coyle, the chamber president. “Each supports the other and a dinner honoring our government leaders and attended by members of the business community is an ideal setting to recognize that partnership.”
The dinner also gives each mayor or their designee of each town the opportunity to share with the audience the municipality’s accomplishment for the year and their expectations for the coming year. Many make their presentations entertaining or amusing, to the delight of the crowd.
About the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce:
The Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce is the largest business association in the New York/Northern New Jersey Region, comprising 12 regional and local chambers including the Clark Chamber. With 1,200 members, the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce has a 95 percent retention rate, the highest in the country.
(above) Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso (second from right) was named the 2016 Mayor of the Year at the Gateway Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Mayor’s Dinner. He is accompanied by (left to right) Eric Segal of Security Business Solutions and chairman of the chamber’s Government Affairs Committee; John Laezza, the Clark Business Administrator; and Edward
Gunther of Centric Benefits Consulting and chairman of the chamber’s board.
