ROI-NJ.COM Mo n d ay, D ec e m b e r 3 , 2 0 1 8 $2.

50

GROWING BY DESIGN: P.K. Architecture THE BAYADA WAY: Founder of private FOCUS ON … WOMEN IN BUSINESS: Making
founder is living his dream. Page 4 nursing company gifts $20M to his workers. Page 10 waves in distinctive endeavors. Page 35

Confusion
over
cannabis
Marijuana legislation
leads to even more
questions than answers
BY ANJALEE KHEMLANI

Influencers
akhemlani@roi-nj.com

A package of bills to help legalize

recreational marijuana and expand medical
PEOPLE of COLOR 2018 use, which passed a joint Senate and
Assembly committee last week, has done
SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION little to provide clarity for those awaiting the
STARTS ON PAGE 15 opportunity to apply for a license.
While the bills are considered a concrete
step in the right direction, attorneys still have
many questions and concerns. And they
have found the bill — though thorough —
very complex.
“Even the lawyers are somewhat
scrambling to get a hold of what exactly the
moving target is,” Michael McQueeny, an
associate in the Cannabis Practice at Genova
Burns, said.
The New Jersey Bar Association held a
meeting last Tuesday to recap the legislative
action, and some attorneys are still waiting
to see what happens to the bills in the near
future. But, in the meantime, McQueeny
said, the marketplace appears to be poised to
take responsible action.
“We had the most competitive application
process in this country for licensure on the
medical front,” McQueeny said.
During the application process for the
additional six medical marijuana dispensaries
being sought by the Department of Health,
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REACH DEAL ON
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UPCOMING EVENTS PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

12/08/18
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based bills voted
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DIRECTOR, EVENTS
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Where: The Legacy Castle, 141 will oversee all financial pleas fell on deaf ears, as
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ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
HIRING AUTISTIC ADULTS
My son is autistic. He also has a job. Here’s why utilizing this untapped market of employees can help economy
T
he first words after the job interview often were the
hardest.
“They said they were reviewing all of the candidates
and they would get back to me in a week,” my 21-year-old son
would say confidently as he climbed back in the car.
He was proud that he handled the interview all on his
own and that I waited in the car.
I offered the usual words of
encouragement, while also knowing the
truth: They weren’t going to call back.
This was the type of place that hires
just about anyone on the spot.
Anyone who isn’t autistic, that is.

In a time when companies are
begging for employees — willingly paying well above
minimum wage for starter jobs and then bending over
backward to do anything to keep them — only one segment
of the population still is woefully underemployed.
People classified with ASD, or autism
spectrum disorder.
It’s not necessarily the fault
of employers (don’t misinterpret
the point of this column). If you
are not familiar with the habits
or idiosyncrasies of someone on
the spectrum (that’s another way
to say they are quirky), you may not
understand what they have to offer.
And you may not be comfortable
interviewing them.
Especially when you see they are
not comfortable being interviewed.
That’s where people such as Brooks
Sanders, manager of employment services
at Eden Autism Services in Princeton, step
in.
Sanders’ job is to be a liaison between
those on the spectrum and those looking
for employees.
He places a couple dozen ASD young
adults a year, he estimates.
The process, Sanders said, is not necessarily
any different than someone who is neurotypical (it’s a term
for those who aren’t on the spectrum). It starts with finding
someone’s skills and passions.
“We use a person-centered approach,” he said. “That’s
customizing each employment opportunity to the person,
as opposed to putting them in a placement just to put them
in a placement. You want to develop something that is
specifically for the individual, so they are successful when
they enter the workforce, versus putting them in a job that
doesn’t suit or them or interest them at all.
“If they love the guitar or music, the goal is to find a job
involving that. It’s the same as you and I. You love what you
do; they should love what they do as well.”

Major companies around the country are starting to
come around.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Editor’s Desk
Microsoft, SAP and IBM all have started programs able to answer the phone, but they could do everything else.”
looking to hire workers on the spectrum. Sanders works with the potential hires, too, making sure
In New Jersey and elsewhere, Project Search is they are ready for the workplace and what will be involved.
working with many hospitals in the state to hire those with And, in each situation, he stresses the positive.
development disorders — often beyond the scope of ASD. “I like to call the ASD community individuals with
And state Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo, exceptionalities,” he said “I don’t like the word disability,
in a recent op-ed, said Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration I think it just puts a negative spin on things. I like to
supports the efforts to make the workplace more inclusive. say exceptional individuals, because our population are
“Our approach to disability employment issues is simple: extremely exceptional people. They may lack one area, but
Everyone deserves choice,” he wrote. “Everyone deserves they are very strong in another.”
opportunity. Our approach is rooted in the belief that, while Sanders said the support members around someone in
many people have special needs, all people — each and the ASD community can play a role in the process, too.
every one of us — have special gifts, and we all deserve the “If you know they would be interested in a job stocking
chance to realize our potential.” shelves in a grocery store, start by stocking the groceries or
From some, it’s a part of an inclusionary hiring practice organizing things around the house,” he said. “Those skills
to diversify the staff. And, while that sentiment is nice, the and tasks can align with gainful employment in the future.
reality is, it only goes so far. “What we try to do is use the vocational skills that are
Society needs it to get better. participants have and align them with jobs later.”
For starters, there is a That’s at the heart of what Eden Autism Services does.
growing shortage of workers “We are preparing a person for employment,” Sanders
(or people willing to work; said. “It’s one thing to put a job application out there, but it’s
don’t get me started) and another thing to teach them how to secure a job and prepare
a growing number of them specifically for a job that’s needed.”
members in the ASD 
community (one estimate My son is more high-functioning than others on the
says it is now 1.5 spectrum.
percent of the overall He is on track to earn his associate degree next spring. It
population). will take him three years — but, after the struggle that was
The business high school, an endless line of special ed schools mixed with
community needs to a strong component of school refusal — my wife and I are
find more placement thrilled. Just keep making progress, we say.
services for this My son has held a job before. He previously worked the
population. drive-thru line at Wendy’s. And last summer, the fine people
Thankfully, at the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program gave
efforts are picking him a four-hour-a-week internship. (He loved it.)
up. And for the But, for all that, making that final connection of a new
right reason: job offer always is his toughest challenge.
Adults on the My son was turned down by a half-dozen places before
spectrum have the Kohl’s in Morris Plains gave him a shot. A second shot.
something to He worked there as a holiday hire last year. And, even
offer. In many ways, employers though he had been turned down on four occasions during
are finding their personalities can serve as an the year, he was picked up again this winter.
advantage in the workplace. He’s trying to prove himself.
Routine, monotonous, repetitive tasks? A neurotypical He worked 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving, 7 a.m. to 7
person may only be interested in that job if they saw it as p.m. on Black Friday and then 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
an entryway into the company — thus making it a job with (Raise your hand if you’d sign up for that.)
endless turnover. He works the register. We feel the interaction he gets
For someone on the spectrum, it might be fulfilling. with customers is helping him grow as a person.
 He said the neverending line of customers over the
Here’s the catch — as anyone out there with an ASD holiday weekend didn’t bother him. He enjoys working.
child or young adult will tell you — no two ASD people Here’s how much: I drove him to work on Black Friday
are the same. They are all on the spectrum, but in different after he had only a few hours of sleep. He got out of the car at
spots. And with different skills. 6:59 a.m. — and ran through the parking lot to get to the store.
The challenge is finding where they fit in the workforce. He didn’t want to be late. Not even a minute late.
Sanders said he works with companies to make sure they How many employees have that spirit?
understand the abilities of the potential hire. Isn’t it time we give the ASD community a bigger shot in
“Let’s say they are looking for an administrative assistant,” the workplace?
he said. “We may have an individual who has all of the skills They may just surprise you. And fill a need your business
but is nonverbal, so we need to let them know they wouldn’t be can’t fill otherwise. — Tom Bergeron
3
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Goods & Services
Growing,
by design
P.K. Architecture won the Edison Chamber of Commerce’s Architect of the Year award. ­— PHOTOS COURTESY P.K. ARCHITECTURE
P.K. Architecture has completed more than $100M in projects in N.J.
BY MEG FRY
mfry@roi-nj.com
Paritosh Kumar said he came to the United
States to pursue his dream of becoming an
architect.
Nearly 35 years later, he has achieved that
— and much more — as owner and principal
of P.K. Architecture in Clark.
“A diamond may be small, but a lot of
work has gone into it,” Kumar said.
After completing nearly $100 million in
projects in New Jersey and being awarded
Architect of the Year by the Edison Chamber
of Commerce last month, the self-made
entrepreneur said he is ready to expand
his business to provide turnkey services all
under one roof, ranging from architectural
planning through construction.
P.K. Architecture, Kumar said, is
therefore expected to grow both its revenues
Conversation Starter
Learn more about
P.K. Architecture at
pkarchitecturellc.com
or 732-381-3005.
4
December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
and hiring needs nearly four times over the
next two years.
“Though we already do much more than
what we sign on a contract,” Kumar said.

Born and educated in India, Kumar
studied architecture until he immigrated
to the U.S. in 1983 at the age of 24 to earn
his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in
architecture and urban design from the
University of Oklahoma.
Kumar said he then began a 13-year
career making millions of dollars for tri-state
architectural firms. However, shortly after he
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

became a U.S. citizen in 1999, his son was

born.
Battle of the borders
“I already was doing so many of the Paritosh Kumar said he worked
(tasks) myself, and, at the same time, I in New York City for more than
needed some flexibility to be able to take care a decade for large architectural
firms.
of my son,” Kumar said.
After working as a consultant for a short “But working in New Jersey is the
time, Kumar opened his own firm in 2001. difference between night and day,”
he said.
“I was able to work on my own as an
architect from home for the first two years In New York, for example,
with my son,” he said. architects can inspect their own
projects, according to Kumar.
Soon enough, Kumar said, he had trouble
accommodating his growing clientele. “But, as humans, they always can
So, he moved into an office space in miss something,” he said. “I think
it is very important to have a third
Edison before relocating to his current
party inspect your projects, which
storefront in Clark.
is required in New Jersey. The
P.K. Architecture’s revenues have grown town inspects everything here.”
nearly 400 percent since.
Still, while Kumar said he enjoys

Kumar said he always sees the job as his
Community CANstruction the cheaper and larger space for
his firm in New Jersey, the public
client would. Organized by the American Institute of Architects and the Community Food is not as aware of the value of
“I always say, ‘If I were in my client’s Bank of New Jersey, P.K. Architecture participated in the “CANstruction” architects here.
position, how would I feel?’ I treat them as if competition in Pennsauken in October, Paritosh Kumar, owner and principal,
said. “People tend to think that,
I were in their shoes,” he said. because the contractors are doing
“Construction can be very challenging, “People donate large cans of food for the needy and we make sculptures out the hard labor, they are much
so I am patient with my clients during the of them before they are disassembled and distributed,” he said. more valuable than those who
design process if they want to make any Following the competition, Kumar said he was then approached by the Girl sit in an office and draw,” he said.
changes.” Scouts of America to help educate girls in engineering and architecture. “That means they often don’t
question when contractors charge
Kumar said he then coordinates with “So, P.K. Architecture worked with a group of about 10 high school-aged girls them huge amounts of money,
contractors and townships to make sure to create a model of a space shuttle from Girl Scout cookie boxes that was but even a small fee for us can
everything goes smoothly. then displayed in the Woodbridge mall,” Kumar said. become a big deal for them.”
“Building inspectors tell me all the time
that I should see some of the drawings they
receive,” he said. “They say, ‘We have to
return them multiple times, which delays the
construction process, because we don’t have
enough information.’ ”
With nearly 32 years’ experience in the
industry, including three years’ experience in
town planning and interior design, Kumar
said his goal is to earn first-time approvals
for his blueprints on each project.
So far, he said, he has been successful,
despite often multitasking on multiple
medical, high-end residential, commercial
and mixed-use projects, such as the Shanghvi
Plaza in Irvington, which earned him a 2013
Good Neighbor Award from the New Jersey
Business & Industry Association.
“That shopping plaza helped to bring the
entire area up in value, as it acted as a focal
point,” Kumar said.
Kumar also pointed to his work with Gulf
American Line, an international logistics A rendering of a shopping plaza by P.K. Architecture.
and transportation solutions company in
Berkeley Heights. residential units in Scotch Plains, Kumar said and included solar energy capabilities,” he said. with the expansion of his business in the
“They liked the design of their his designs have and will continue to become P.K. Architecture has accomplished all beginning of next year.
headquarters so much that they are branding much more energy-conscious. this, Kumar said, with a small team of nearly “We will continue to bend over
and using it all over the country,” he said. “For example, with the Lisicki Veterans 10 independent contractors, including backwards for our clients, seeing through
 Apartments in Carteret, we turned a engineers, artistic directors, lighting each project from conception through
As P.K. Architecture works to complete dilapidated building into state-of-the-art consultants and more. construction,” he said.
6,000 square feet of highly-anticipated luxury veterans’ housing using sustainable materials Kumar said he plans to add to the team twitter: @megfry3

5
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

Parts & Labor

Water, water
everywhere
A worker cutting a broken pipe to fix a water leak. — FILE PHOTO

The huge water problem no one is talking about — but everyone should be

W
hen Greg Lalevee heard “It’s a combination of the age of Not being seen is only one of the ways to wake up, turn on the TV and see a water
about the recent water infrastructure and the number of people we water differs from the state’s crumbling main break in the streets and commuters
issue in Newark, his mind have using it,” he said. infrastructure needs, such as roads, tunnels at the PATH station, sloshing through 8
wandered back decades. Lalevee says it’s the biggest problem no and bridges. inches of water to make their commute, and
Back to when Newark was known as the one is talking about. Figuring out who controls the water is a not think that we have to come up with a
brewery capital of the Northeast, home to And for one good reason. Few people challenge unlike any other. systematic way to address this?”
all the big-name beers, including Ballantine, see it. “It’s kind of like herding cats,” Lalevee That’s why Lalevee said there could be a
where his grandfather worked. “It’s no different than how we can beat said. “There are so many parties involved. silver lining to the water issue in Newark.
“The whispers were,” Lalevee said, “that a road to death,” he said. “We’re doing the Some water is owned by the town, others by “Any issue with water will hopefully make
the water in Newark was so good that all same thing with water, but because it’s the region. Some is private. other people sit up and say, ‘How’s our water
these brewing companies ran there and set subterranean, you can’t see it.” “You can go from town to town down a system?’” he said. “The fact the discussion
up shop.” Lalevee and his union colleagues see it. line and have a different water authority.” is even happening is a good thing. There’s
Lalevee, the business manager of IUOE And it’s a mess. Finding a solution is imperative, he said. needs to be some planning and upgrading
825 — the union that gets the call when it’s Not only are the water mains And far more cost-effective than responding and updating — and the sooner the better.”
time to work on water deteriorating, they are difficult to replace — to emergencies. Don’t be confused, 825 doesn’t mind the
issues — does not bring even if the money can be found to do so. “It’s a testament to aging infrastructure,” work. Lalevee, however, just puts the needs
up the memory to “When we look at underground Lalevee said. “We’ll go in and fix the main of the state above everything else.
disparage Newark. infrastructure in New Jersey — and the same line that breaks and what happens? It finds “Our guys respond to every emergency,”
In fact, Lalevee said goes for New York and Connecticut — there’s the next weakest link. That’s just going to he said. “On one hand, it’s a ton of overtime
Newark is more proactive gas over water over electric,” he said. “We continue to happen. This is the difference when you get shaken out of bed in the middle
than most when it open up holes around here, and there are between fixing things on an urgent basis of the night.
comes to upgrading and seven different pipes or conduits down there. and understanding that the infrastructure “But that’s no way to run a water system.”
updating its water lines. And not all of it is easily located or fixed. is old and that we need to plan out a It’s been too long, Lalevee said, since
He brings up the breweries because that “People put things in years ago without solution.” water was a priority.
may have been the last time anyone really really thinking about when people were The problems, Lalevee said, are not going How long?
thought about the water infrastructure that’s going to have to go back in there. That’s the away. Perhaps since Mickey Mantle was hitting
now crumbling under the roads throughout challenge of the underground infrastructure “We need a plan of attack,” he said. “Look Ballantine blasts.
North Jersey. throughout the Northeast.” at Hoboken: How many times are we going — Tom Bergeron

6
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
Science & Technology
Team effort
Why partnerships are key to building smart cities
BY MEG FRY
mfry@roi-nj.com
The future of our cities and the impact of
smart technology will change the way we live
within the densest state in the union, James
Barrood said.
“From more efficient energy usage via
smarter grids and renewables to a superfast
and ubiquitous communications wireless
infrastructure, connecting everything and
everyone to ride-sharing options on all
types of vehicles, including electric and
autonomous vehicles, life will undoubtedly
get better for all New Jerseyans,” Barrood,
CEO of the New Jersey Tech Council, said.
Barrood led the New Jersey Tech Council
in hosting the Smart Cities Conference
during Tech Day at Rutgers University last
month.
The all-day event featured more than
a dozen prominent speakers sharing their
ideas on how to better finance and ethically
manage increasing technology in cities.
Everyone agreed on one thing — it could
not happen without strategic partnerships.
“We work with certified partners to build
and improve each city,” Amy McIlvaine,
business development manager at AT&T
Smart Cities, said. “Because our end game is
for us to be able to run a city from a single
platform such as an iPhone.”
AT&T, McIlvaine said, defines a smart city
as one that takes an integrated and strategic
approach to citizen engagement, sustainability,
cost reduction and citizen well-being.
“It is all about actions and decision-
making happening automatically,” she said.
Therefore, a tremendous focus for smart
cities is on reliable and affordable transportation,
Ann Ferracane, general manager of New York
and New Jersey at Lyft, said.
“Smart cities will be much more
integrated via apps to connect with multiple
modes of transportation, with the ultimate
goal of designing our cities around people
rather than transportation,” she said.
The mobile-based ride-sharing company
recently partnered with the city of Summit
to help subsidize rides to and from the train
station to help prevent the cost of having to
build a new parking garage, Ferracane said.
7
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
And, in Santa Monica, California, Lyft also
introduced scooters into the transportation
market so that riders could utilize them for
short distance travel, she added.
“With the potential for autonomous
vehicles in the future, a short ride may
not make sense with the congestion it will
create,” Ferracane said. “So, in the future,
we also will provide multiple transportation
recommendations for both time and
financial value.
“Santa Monica also is a city in which
we’ve introduced local city transit options
into our mobile app, to better piece things
together like a puzzle with the intention
of using autonomous and other modes of
transportation to truly optimize routes.”
Lyft also partners with New Jersey towns
on more than moving people around the state.
“For example, we just launched the
Medford Saving Lives program, which is a
transportation partnership with the city to
attempt to reduce drunk driving by working
with restaurants and bars in the city to provide
rides during certain hours,” Ferracane said.
“We’re also working with cities such as
Westfield, Ridgewood, Ridgefield, Jersey
City and Hoboken, and, on a broader
spectrum, (we) are busy creating university
partnerships, such as being the official ride-
share partner at Rutgers University.”
twitter: @megfry3
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

Commercial Real Estate

Big deal
Why 4.1M sq.ft. Linden Logistics Center is ‘trophy property’

BY TOM BERGERON

M
tbergeron@roi-nj.com

indy Lissner said she

hasn’t been surprised by
the interest.
The CBRE executive
vice president said calls
have been coming in steadily since CBRE was
named as the leasing agent for the Linden
Logistics Center, a 4.1 million-square-foot,
state-of-the-art logistics park on a 350-acre
tract of land in Linden that is being produced
in a joint venture of Advance Realty and
Greek Development.
She understands why.
“It’s a trophy property in a market that
has seen very high
demand in the past
couple of years,” Lissner
said.
Actually, she said, it’s
more than that.
While the eight-
Mindy building park, tentatively
Lissner
scheduled to be ready for A rendering, top, shows how the facility will likely be used. An overview of the planned Linden Logistics Center, above. — COURTESY CBRE
its first occupants late in 2020, is centrally
located near the Port of New York and New standard trailer parking or car parking. We she said the size of it will make it attractive go considerably farther south or west.
Jersey, Newark Liberty Airport, New York have the potential to bring rail to the site and to larger users who have been shut out of the “Historically, we’ve lost a lot of deals over
City and all of the region, Lissner said the create a rail-served building or serve someone region recently. 700,000 square feet to the Lehigh Valley and
park’s biggest value may be in its potential. who needs some outside storage. Right now, “There are a lot of large users in the Central Pennsylvania — and a lot of that has
“At this point in the project, we’ve got we have some flexibility in zoning.” market, more than we’ve seen them in a long been due to our inability to accommodate
flexibility,” she said. “We can accommodate For what type of tenant isn’t as clear. time,” she said. “And, New Jersey being what those users. So, we’re seeing a lot of activity
some special-use type of users. Lissner said the park will be perfect for it is, there is an inability to accommodate from those larger users who haven’t had
“We have the ability to have above- the region’s growing e-commerce needs, but large users unless those tenants are willing to the ability to find a location in New Jersey,

8
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

especially port-related users.” some non-standard needs.

Officials from Advance Realty and Greek “The market is excited. We’re getting a
Development said the Linden Logistics Center lot of inquiries from brokers and some direct
will be the largest active industrial development response from end users, who are trying to
in the Port of New York and New Jersey region see what our timetable is like. There’s a great
and stressed the buildings are being designed buzz in the marketplace because it is so big
to meet the needs of logistics, distribution, and so perfectly located and so impactful.
fulfillment, manufacturing, last-mile delivery “We’re talking to some real users at this
and other modern industrial users. point. In a perfect world, we’re hoping we
“New Jersey has long been known for can structure a deal that we can announce to
its thriving industrial market, and this first- the market before we began construction.” A side view of the
class development will cater specifically to twitter: @tombergeron5 planned park.
the fast-growing logistics, distribution and
fulfillment businesses that are currently
fueling the sector’s growth,” Advance Realty
CEO Peter Cocoziello said.
Frank Greek, president of Greek
Development, said the project will be
transformative.
“With this development, Advance and
Greek will create not just one of the largest
logistics parks in the New York/New Jersey
region, but a venue that can help the area
maintain its longstanding position as a leader
in the nation’s industrial market,” he said. “As
e-commerce, last-mile delivery and other
21st century industries continue to reshape
and drive our economy, we are working to
ensure they will have truly first-class facilities
that help them meet their evolving needs.”
Located off Tremley Point Road, Linden
Logistics Center will be situated 10 miles
from the Port of New York and New Jersey
— the largest port on the East Coast and
the third-largest port in the United States —
and minutes from the New Jersey Turnpike
and Newark Liberty International Airport.
The location provides exceptional access to
one of the world’s most concentrated and
affluent customer bases, with approximately
100 million consumers located within a day’s
drive from the property.
Linden Mayor Derek Armstead said he is
happy to see the land is finally being utilized.
“I’m excited that Advance Realty and
Greek Development see our vision that
Linden is the investment of the future,” he said.
“This land has been vacant for over 25 years.
“Only when vision and opportunity meet
can an incredible project like this happen.”
Lissner and the team at CBRE hope
to make it happen. Lissner will work with
Executive Vice President William Waxman
and be supported by a 10-person team
including Tom Sullivan and Kevin Dudley.
Lissner said the group already is fielding
calls.
“The interest level is very big,” she said.
“Typically, in this market, we don’t see a lot
of preleasing. It’s the type of market where it’s
‘build it and they will come.’ Once people start
to see site work happening, steel going up,
that’s when they real activity starts. But I do
think we have an opportunity for preleasing
here because of the ability to accommodate

9
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

Health Care

The Bayada Way

Meet the founder, Mark Baiada, who is giving $20M to his employees, present and past

BY TOM BERGERON been very fortunate to get a lot of really will get 50 bucks before they get their first aligned perfectly with the company’s values.
tbergeron@roi-nj.com good people working with me so that we paycheck.” “Being presented with the money was

C
elebrations that honor
employees — just for being
good employees — are not
unusual at Bayada Home
Health Care.
Founder Mark Baiada has been holding
such events almost from the time he started
his now-$1.4 billion business in Moorestown
in 1975.
A gathering late last month was just a
little different.
On this occasion, Baiada announced he
was going divide a $20 million gift among
the company’s more than 32,000 employees,
past and present.
It’s part of his “Lasting Legacy” campaign
at the company, which will become a
nonprofit Jan. 1.
“We started 43 years ago, and I’ve always
could serve the community and build up the
company,” he told ROI-NJ. “I’ve always had
gratitude and real appreciation for the people
that I’m working with.
“So, just before I
give it all away, I said,
‘Let me give some to
the employees to really
express my appreciation
and gratitude for all the
Mark
work that got us to be a
Baiada
billion-dollar company.’
“It was just a thank you in the spirit of
Thanksgiving. We decided to make it a
surprise.”
Employees will be awarded a bonus
based on how long they have been with the
company — even those who just started.
“At minimum, everyone will get at least
$50,” Baiada said. “In fact, some people
Baiada also is making sure that past
employees are recognized, too.
Anyone who had worked at least 25 years
but had left the company since 2010 also will
get a check.
“I have a lot of people that put in a lot of
time and I want to make sure they’re properly
thanked, too,” he said. “It’s really about the
spirit of my sentiment and my gratitude
rather than the money. But the money is a
nice way to do it.”
Matt Gunkel, a registered nurse and
field staff supervisor who has worked in the
Mount Laurel office for six years, said he was
stunned when he heard about the rewards.
“I was going to a luncheon and I expected
someone to raise a glass and say some kind
words about the holidays,” he said. “I was not
expecting this.”
Then again, Gunkel added, the idea
shocking, but the gesture itself is right in line
with the way this family behaves,” he said.
“Top down, it’s the best company I’ve
ever worked for: kindness, recognition. It’s
everywhere in the company. I thought it was
just the office I worked in, but I’ve visited
other offices and seen it there, too.
“The culture is second to none.”
Baiada’s act of kindness are legendary in
the company.
There are Bayada Bucks, which can be
redeemed for gifts, scholarship awards for
additional schooling and an emergency fund
available, for those facing financial hardships.
Baiada feels that’s the role of the CEO
— to take care of the people who are taking
care of the company. It’s what he calls “The
Bayada Way.”
“We believe our employees are our
greatest assets, so it’s just our approach to

Mark Baiada, the founder of Bayada Home Health Care in Moorestown, announces his $20 million gift to employees. — PHOTOS COURTESY BAYADA HOME HEALTH CARE

10
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
The private nursing company gifted its 32,000 employees with a special legacy.
them,” he said. “We’re thankful for their
work, we support and encourage them, we
listen to them, respond to them.”
Baiada said workplace flexibility is
standard. As are numerous awards.
“We have our Hero of the Quarter
program, where each office has a hero who
exemplifies The Bayada Way in the spirit
of what we do,” he said. “The office winner
can then become a division winner, a region
winner and then a national winner.”
Bayada operates in 22 states.
Once a year, representatives from all of
them come together.
“We have an annual awards weekend
where we bring everybody together and we
give out all the awards and special winners,”
Baiada said. “It’s a weekend of appreciation
rather than a weekend we are preaching to
them and trying to teach them stuff.
“It’s just us saying, ‘Let’s get together and
honor the people.’ ”
Baiada describes the company this
way: We provide nursing, rehabilitative,
therapeutic hospice and assistive care
services to children, adults and seniors
worldwide. We care for our clients 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
“So, we’re really a mobile community-
based workforce of health care professionals,”
he said.
Baiada said he still can’t believe his
success.
“We went from zero to $1.4 billion with
Conversation Starter
Reach Bayada Home Health
Care at: bayada.com
or 888-876-0111
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
all these employees and across all these
states, all while helping to transform health
care delivery,” he said. “When I started
the business, I didn’t realize I was going to
end up with a family and such incredible
relationships.”
It’s a company Baiada wants to last for
generations.
“We have a written philosophy, and one
of our beliefs is, we’re going to leave a lasting
legacy,” he said. “That means we’ll be here in
100 years to serve our communities.”
He now feels the best way to do that is to
become a nonprofit.
“I’m the sole owner of the company, and
I was contemplating its future: What am I
going to do?” he said. “I could sell it, but then
I just have money. I don’t need it, and that
would just undermine The Bayada Way and
the spirit of what we’re doing.
“I could give it to my kids, and I have
three who work here, but the family is behind
us because they realized they couldn’t sustain
it 100 years.
“We decided the best way to continue
as an organization of lasting value was to
go into nonprofit status. So, we’re going to
be a self-funded social entrepreneurship, a
nonprofit B corporation.”
Doing so, Baiada feels is the best way to
keep The Bayada Way going.
Of course, the financial gift to the
employees does that, too.
When asked what he’s going to do with
his extra holiday cash, Gunkel didn’t hesitate:
He’s paying it forward.
“I’m going to be extra generous this year,”
he said.
That’s The Bayada Way.
twitter: @tombergeron5
11
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Tech Trends: Esther Surden
On a roll
After $10M in funding, what’s next for Jersey City augmented reality startup Apprentice?
BY ESTHER SURDEN FOR ROI-NJ
esurden@njtechweekly.com
Jersey City startup Apprentice is riding high.
The company recently closed an $8 million
funding round led by Pritzger Group Venture
Capital (based in Chicago) that, on top of an
earlier $2.5 million seed round, brought its
total funding to $10 million.
The team is going
to need every bit of
that money to take its
unique pharmaceutical
workflow product to
more customers, said
Angelo Stracquatanio,
co-founder and CEO.
Stracquatanio and co-founder Gary
Pignata started the company in 2014
with the idea of helping pharmaceutical
manufacturers by incorporating artificial
intelligence and augmented reality into the
workflow of scientists in labs and engineers
in manufacturing suites.
The good news for Apprentice:
Customers saw its vision and helped it
develop its product.
“Our customers were really collaborative
in this process, and the customers are the
ones that helped us understand the best ways
to leverage the technology,” Stracquatanio
told us. “Without them, I don’t think we
could have gotten to this point.”
The company stayed small as the duo
developed their first products.
“Last year around this time was our first
external round of financing,” Stracquatanio
noted. “This was our first stamp of approval
from the external world validating us in the
industry and validating the concept of what
we are doing.”
The $2.5 million round was led by
Silverton Partners of Austin, Texas.
In February 2018, the company released
its latest product, an all-day workflow tool
for scientists in the lab or the engineer in a
manufacturing suite. The tool guides the
scientist’s or engineer’s process step by step,
piece by piece, and gives “cool” augmented
reality instructions. It answers questions
about how to actually go about doing a
TECH PARTNERS
ROI-NJ has teamed up with Esther Surden, creator of njtechweekly.com, to bring you weekly insight into the tech world.
Apprentice team leaders. —
­ APPRENTICE
task; demonstrates techniques; and brings
up photos, videos or 3-D AR content. So, as
the scientists or engineers go through their
workflows, they can actually understand
what they’re doing.
The new product includes some cutting-
edge computer vision modules that capture
everything that’s happening, Stracquatanio said.
It also has the “industry’s first conversational
AI (artificial intelligence) AR platform,” he
said. “You talk to it in a similar way you would
talk to Alexa or Google, but we have two-way
communications. … When a person talks
to our software, it talks back, and the data
is captured to provide real-time feedback to
that operator or scientist, so they know when
they’ve done wrong and what they need to do
to correct it. If they need help on what to do, we
can provide an AR demonstration.”
One would think that scaling such a
customized product into different workflow
environments might present a challenge
for the company, but Stracquatanio said
they’ve got that all under control. “We’ve
started building ‘out-of-the-box’ integrations
and can connect to a number of different
12
electronic document-management systems.
Those media-management systems have the
content that we can pull into our system.” The
startup has also developed an API, so it can
“ingest data from home-grown applications”
and then send that data to any number of
other systems a customer might use.
Also, once Apprentice connects to
content-management or document-
management systems, it has automated
software to convert those documents into
AR workflows.
“If I have a 150-page batch record, for
example, we’ve developed all these new tools
to take it and bring it into augmented reality,
and augment the content they have with a
photo, video or 3-D content. This provides a
rich set of data to the scientist as he or she
goes through the process.”
How will Apprentice deploy its most
recent round of capital? For one thing, the
money will allow the company to extend its
customer base.
“What we are focusing on is expanding
current customer users, expanding the
number of scientists and engineers using
December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
our product at customers we already have. A
second focus will be to broaden the number
of sites and new customers that we are
working with,” Stracquatanio said.
Eventually, Apprentice will scale by
looking at new markets and new customers,
he added.
Another area is R&D: “We will be
investing a lot more in our AR.”
Stracquatanio noted that the company’s
motto is “We don’t just augment reality, we
augment human ability.” So, Apprentice will
be bringing in more AI capabilities, more
machine learning capabilities and more
contextualization capabilities.
“We want to use augmented reality to
have a better understanding of where the
individual is, what they are working on and
what they are interacting with, and stitch all
this together to create a very sophisticated
engine that will empower the individual as
they go through their workflow.”
Stracquatanio noted that the company
has been helped a lot in its journey by the New
Jersey Economic Development Authority.
“One of the venture capital funds we have
today was introduced to us through the EDA,
and we’ve had multiple customer introductions
through the EDA, as well as multiple
introductions to government. The EDA has
been incredibly helpful for us to leverage their
network and capabilities within the state and
within the larger venture community.”
While New Jersey is home to both
Stracquatanio and Pignata, when they were
fundraising, the two often got questions
from the venture community about why they
are located here.
“I have a locked and loaded answer for
that,” Stracquatanio said. “There are 3,000
pharma and biotech companies in the state
of New Jersey. In addition to that, we are
already leveraging the greater New York area
for personnel resources.
“We have the best of both worlds. We get
to pull from the resources of New York City
without paying New York City prices, and
we can get to all those pharma customers in
a half hour. There is no better place on the
planet to locate this organization.”
twitter: @njtechwkly
ROI-NJ.COM
COM December 3, 2018
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
applicants noticed the strong emphasis on
diversity, creative partnerships and ensuring
local and out-of-state interests are balanced.
“Even if people feel there are
shortcomings with the legislation, I think
the marketplace is responding to what
the governor and the executive branch is
putting out as their core characteristics for
awarding a license,” McQueeny said. “I think
the market, in a very organic way, is actually
rising to that challenge.”
Since the medical application did not
have a residency mandate — the legalization
bill requires an owner or operator to reside
in New Jersey for two years before qualifying
— there were more than 100 applicants
filing more than 140 applications, according
to Robert Schiappacasse, co-chair of the
Cannabis Practice at Sills Cummis & Gross.
Schiappacasse said it is likely there would
have been fewer applicants.
McQueeny said the residency
requirement is of particular interest, as
Colorado has scaled back its requirement
over time.
McQueeny said it is unlikely New Jersey
will have to make such a move, since the state
has affluent residents who are ready to invest
in the new industry, he said.
Patrick Harrity, an attorney with
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
legislation, the commission is where
Will loss of incentives cost everyone should be keeping their focus. The
certain municipalities cannabis business? commission’s makeup and how it addresses
all the concerns will clear the way for the
The package of bills to help legalize recreational marijuana and expand
lawyers who are currently trying to read the
medical use, which passed a joint Senate and Assembly committee last week,
included a key provision for real estate developers: Those opening cannabis tea leaves.
businesses may not use state incentives to do so. “What I focused on and what I’ll be
focused on in the coming months is the
Incentives help drive businesses to certain areas. Without them, municipalities
idea that the passing of the legislation is only
such as Jersey City could be left out.
going to be one piece of the puzzle, because
That’s a concern of Michael McQueeny, an associate in the Cannabis Practice the regulatory commission that is going to be
at Genova Burns.
formed is going to have a tremendous amount
“We don’t know how that’s going to play out, but will that affect the amount of authority and responsibility,” he said. “We
of money going from developers into a city like Jersey City?” he said. “Or, if don’t know who they are going to be.
someone already has a tax incentive in Jersey City … and then, all of a sudden,
“We’re not strangers to regulation in New
they allow a retail cannabis operator in their first floor, do they then risk losing
their tax incentive?” Jersey and we are no stranger to regulatory
commissions like this, so what role this
That’s especially important for a city such as Jersey City, which is being
commission will play and the impact it’s
viewed as the pathway for out-of-state visitors to (in a non-nefarious way)
impact the state’s economy through the new industry. Especially from over the going to have on the industry in the state is
river, according to McQueeny. going to be the critical thing to watch.
“This is so unique that it’s going to be
“Everyone focuses on the taxation — the governor said 25 percent and (Senate
President Stephen) Sweeney said 12 percent — but there are more subtle tax difficult to directly analogize it to some of
hits,” McQueeny said. the other regulated industries … but one
thing that will be important is, you do see,
and sometimes it varies with the political
McCarter & English focused on startup business sector should keep its eye on? winds, certain agencies at times attempt to be
and emerging growth practices, said one of Harrity said how the conditional more involved, more proactive and enforce
the things he is most interested in is transfer licenses, which would help boost in-state regulations more strongly. Sometimes, you
restrictions for licenses. interest and prevent out-of-state (as in, more see a more hands-off approach and that’s
That is something that will be addressed experienced) businesses from dominating, something we won’t see for a while in the
by the regulatory commission. are ultimately handled. advancement of this industry.”
So, what are the key provisions the Schiappacasse said more than the twitter: @anjkhem
13
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
PEOPLE of COLOR 2018
N
ew Jersey, one of the biggest melting pots in
the country, is on pace to become a majority
minority state in the next 10 years.
The influence people of color have in the
state is growing quickly, as well.
How quickly — and how extensively — is another issue.
While we interviewed more than a dozen leaders for
our inaugural ROI-NJ Influencers list of People of Color, we
found there still is an issue in ethnic minority communities
about actively seeking positions of power and influence.
SPECIAL PULL-OUT SECTION
Influencers
Many said they prefer to stay and operate in the
background, playing into cultural norms of just keeping their
head down and doing their job.
“There are some of us — it’s been my biggest struggle — to
be comfortable talking about yourself,” one power player said.
“It’s not something, culturally we were raised (to do). It’s an
interesting thing about minorities: We are much more extroverts,
and think in quiet, strategic ways, but we are not self-promoters.
“We prefer teams to get the credit.”
ROI-NJ is doing its part to change that.
15
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Inside, you’ll find the ranking of the 10 most influential
people of color in the state, as well as 50 other influencers.
The lists were determined by interviews with key people in all
sectors of the economy, as well as the judgment of the ROI-NJ
Editorial Board.
We know it’s not perfect. We know — despite our best
efforts — we will have overlooked a worthy omission or two.
But we are determined to make sure more people of color are
honored for their work in the state. It’s a part of the population
that has been overlooked for too long.
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018

Our wish list

By highlighting accomplishments, leadership of state’s top People of Color,
we aim to draw attention to how important ethnic diversity is to N.J.

I
am an immigrant.
I am a woman.
And I am lucky.
I live in New Jersey, the most diverse state in the nation, one where I see many people who look like me every day. And one
where I see people who also do not appear to be from here, trying to make their way here.
But I am still brown.
And that means all of the things I cherish can seemingly be taken away in an instant — by a suspicious look, an ignorant comment
or an act of violence or hate.
It’s a reality that brown people face every day. Even in New Jersey.
When my editor approached me about doing an ROI Influencers list celebrating the accomplishments of people
of color, I balked.
As a member of the minority population, I understand not
wanting to be singled out and identified by your race or ethnicity. So,
why would I want to be part of making a list that makes skin color a Why we chose
prerequisite for membership?
‘People of Color’
But, after interviewing more than a dozen thought leaders in
minority communities, I learned the list would be welcomed. Provided it be done right. The only thing harder than picking
The hope is that the pictures of the people on the coming pages will serve as role this list was deciding what to call
models for what can be — and what should be. it. We opted for “People of Color”
Picking the list wasn’t easy. We selected 10 as the most influential and ranked them, because that is the phrase many
then added 50 others, listed alphabetically. ethnic minority groups now prefer.
Deciding who was on either list was difficult. (We realize some do not like it.)
We knew this was the inaugural list, and perhaps the first of its kind in the state. We The impetus for the list can be
kept hearing how hard it might be, and, thus, the common response thought leaders had traced to the fact that New Jersey
was, “That’s why it’s never been done before.” will soon become a majority minority
I know many of the deserving people who are not only leading the way, but also state — meaning more than half of
reaching back and pulling up the younger generations. But there are also those who were its population will be non-white. In
the trailblazers, who may or may not have ever gotten the recognition they deserved. order to be considered, you had to
So, we decided to focus more heavily on those individuals and, provided this goes fall under that definition of minority,
over well, hit up the rising stars or less visible but equally impactful individuals next year. including those who identify as
So, start sending those names in. Hispanic, African-American, Asian or
The list shows business has long been ahead of the curve on diversity, and that multiracial.
government, at least in New Jersey, is catching up.
The hope is that society will, too.
On some days — but not all — it feels as if all of the progress that has been made during my lifetime has been lost.
Minorities and immigrants are used to this roller coaster.
Ask anyone on the list: They’ll tell you their success stories are filled with overcoming obstacles — obstacles of many sizes that they
know can reappear in an instant.
For the most part, I am fortunate.
I do not belong to an ethnicity that is feared, and I don’t wear a hijab or turban — items that would single me out in a crowd for hate.
I deeply respect those individuals and their commitment to their beliefs on a daily basis.
For others, the immigrant and minority experience continues to be unpleasant and uncomfortable — even for the wildly accomplished
people who appear on this list. It’s a shame.
But it is our hope that, by honoring those who have overcome so much, we will help show the way for others to follow in their footsteps.
— Anjalee Khemlani

17
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018

Top 10

1 Ras Baraka
Mayor
City of Newark

I
t’s easy to rattle off the list of reasons
why Newark Mayor Ras Baraka is in
the No. 1 spot of the inaugural ROI
Influencers list of People of Color.
You start with the exponential
growth of real estate projects in his city —
and his ability to help stalled projects get
to the finish line.
You then go to the quality-of-life
upgrades he has brought to the city —
crime is down, education is up.
And, of course, you talk about the
chase for Amazon’s second headquarters,
and how just making the final list of 20
brought the city more positive notoriety
and interest than it’s had in a generation.
Good reasons all — but not the reasons
our insiders felt he should be in the top
spot.
Baraka is noted for being true to
himself, his community and the city he has
called home his entire life.
“It’s not just because he is the mayor
of the largest city, but because of the way
he governs that city,” one insider said. “He
is unapologetic about what is important to
him.
“He is not sacrificing his interest in
redevelopment, development or expansion.
He is ensuring that everyone in the
city gets to go along for the ride. That
resonates with other diversity members.”
Insiders say Baraka has spent the last
few years investing not just in the city, but
in the people. In particular, he has done an
excellent job of attracting businesses to
downtown with a focus on women- and
minority-owned businesses.
He is also being lauded for his strong
push for mixed-income housing to avoid
gentrification that plagues nearby cities.
That’s why another insider said
Baraka’s greatest attribute is that he still is
working at the grassroots level for his city.
“When I think of Ras, I think of a
guy who has pulled (himself) up by his
bootstraps,” the insider said. “He is trying
every day to make the city he was raised
in better for people who live here and for
people who work here.”

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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018

Top 10

2 Gurbir Grewal
Attorney general
State of New Jersey

G
rewal received significant attention internationally when he was appointed as the first Sikh-American attorney general
in the country. Grewal, however, has little time for fame. He has remained focused on the task at hand and is a firebrand
all on his own. He just filed suit against a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary on an issue involving opioids — proving he is
willing to battle one of the most influential companies in the state. Grewal also has been a leader in the fight over immigration
and overall criminal justice reform — including a recent announcement to overhaul the process for sexual assault cases that
could make New Jersey a leader in the space. Not bad for someone who almost was passed over. “When the Murphy team first
looked at him, they saw him as a Christie guy,” one insider said. Someone else convinced them to take a second look.

3 Sheila Oliver
Lieutenant governor
State of New Jersey

W
hether she continues to wield political influence has been debated, but no one questions whether Oliver continues
to wield influence in government. She is the highest-ranking African-American woman in the state — a title she
previously held as the Assembly Speaker. She is setting her own path. Oliver surprised some by choosing to head the
Department of Consumer Affairs, rather than be secretary of state. Others got it. “She’s a smart lady,” one insider said. “You think
she did that by accident? She’s in charge of the agency with the largest pot of money in the entire state.” As for power? “She still
wields influence back in her county, but even by virtue of choosing the DCA over just going to the traditional secretary of state’s
office, she has proven her dedication. She’s a thoughtful and deliberate leader in that way.”

4 Cory Booker
U.S. senator
New Jersey

H
e is expected to make a run at the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. But, while his national presence is
growing, Booker’s position on this list stems from his solid work as a U.S. senator. Booker has helped New Jersey
through the Opportunity Zones legislation and the Alternatives to Opioids bill. Both are now law in the U.S., and Booker’s
name is at the top of the sponsors. The first has a significant potential impact for the state’s economy, building on the Urban
Enterprise Zones that the state already has, as Opportunity Zones create an even stronger incentive for redevelopment by
making it enticing for businesses to avoid taxes on capital gains. The second bill puts New Jersey at the forefront of the opioid
epidemic by offering a solution in the medical realm while others have often focused solely on the social aspect.

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ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018

Top 10

5 Jose Lozano
CEO & president
Choose New Jersey

L
ozano is the most organized business guy you will meet in government or quasi-government circles, insiders say. And
he is credited with the precedent-setting minority makeup of Gov. Phil Murphy’s cabinet — something he helped achieve
while running Murphy’s transition team. “He understood that Murphy was the right person to move the agenda forward for
minorities,” one source said. Murphy understood that Lozano was someone he couldn’t lose, persuading the well-respected and
well-accomplished former Hackensack Meridian Health chief of staff to be his leader at Choose New Jersey. He clearly is one of
Murphy’s go-to guys, another insider said. Lozano’s business background and political experience have served him well in that
role. Some, however, wonder if it’s just a stepping-stone to another job. “Phil Murphy should pick him to be his next chief of staff,
if he wants to get his economic fairness and equality agenda through,” another source said.

6 Carlos Medina
Chairman
Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

M
edina and Vice Chairman Luis De La Hoz are taking the Hispanic Chamber to new heights. The pair has led the
meteoric growth of the chamber — which has helped increase the influence of the Latino business community. It
will continue to grow as the Hispanic population continues to eclipse the African-American population in the state.
Medina is using the chamber to give the community a voice. He has gone so far as to endorse political candidates, breaking
with tradition of the organization. Medina thrives outside of the chamber, too. He is the president of Robinson Aerial Surveys and
serves on the board of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey. And he was on the short list for lieutenant governor when
Kim Guadagno was running for governor. “Because he is an independent, Carlos has made the chamber a player for elected
officials,” one source said.

7 John Harmon
CEO & president
African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey

H
ow’s this for an endorsement: “(He is) the go-to person for anything and everything related to African-American
businesses,” one source said. Case in point, as the new administration pushes for legalization of marijuana and
expansion of medical marijuana, Harmon has seen a huge bump in the number of calls his office received to help find
diverse partners, which was one of the criteria for a license. Insiders feel the chamber will play a role in the continuing debate.
Often seen as on the same platform as Carlos Medina and the Statewide Hispanic Chamber, Harmon faces a different struggle
as the African-American community is slower to come together. Harmon has used key issues — including the social justice
aspect of cannabis reform — to build the group. It’s working. In recent years, and especially with the new administration, the
chamber has come under the spotlight and is increasingly influential.

21
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018

Top 10

8 Aisha Glover
CEO & president
Newark Alliance

A
isha Glover built her rock-star reputation as the head of the Newark Community Economic Development Corp. — and by
taking the lead on the city’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters. Glover ensured that Newark was leak-free during the
process and took the nondisclosure agreement seriously, but she also took full advantage of the opportunity Newark
was given when it was named one of the 20 finalists. Glover’s office promoted the merits of the city to an overflow of callers.
The impact of her efforts may be felt for years to come. Glover, who came to New Jersey in 2015 with a solid background of
development and corporate experience, recently took over as head of the Newark Alliance — a move one insider felt was a
logical step in her professional development. “Transferring to the Newark Alliance helps to expand her wings, which have been
tested already and she’s proven very capable,” the insider said.

9 Diana Gutierrez-Scaccetti
Commissioner
Department of Transportation

T
he Jersey-born head of the New Jersey Department of Transportation has been in the hot seat lately, being out front not
only on issues caused by New Jersey Transit, but also the state’s mistakes during the recent snowstorm that paralyzed
roadways, creating a nightmare commute. One insider feels Gutierrez-Scaccetti may be the ray of hope the state needs.
The person preached patience. “She has worked in probably every job from paving asphalt over holes to running the agency who
is now in charge of what, over the last eight years, has become one of the most disastrous public transportation systems in the
country,” the insider said. “Who better to have to fix that than her, who understands what every single role means and how they
work together? She has the brains, the ability and the power. The question is, will she have the resources?”

10 Kris Singh
CEO & president
Holtec

H
ow’s this for influence: Singh, the CEO of Holtec, caused a firestorm earlier this year with some critical comments about
the workforce preparedness of the citizens of Camden, based on his own experiences. His comments led to protests,
but they were not disputed by other business leaders. Privately, most said he was just going public with something
many knew to be true. The public relations nightmare spurred local politicians into action and spurred conversations about the
expectations that should be set by businesses moving into the city and state. However you view the comments, they should
not take away from Singh’s rags-to-riches story. Many feel he has the quintessential immigrant story tied to humble beginnings,
from a village in his home country to higher education in the U.S. and subsequently building a successful business in the energy
sector. “You would not be wrong to put him on the list,” one source said.

22
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018

A to Z

Leslie Anderson Adenah Bayoh Wasseem Boraie Mo Butler Patricia

CEO & president Founder & CEO Vice president Partner Campos-Medina
New Jersey Adenah Bayoh and Cos. Boraie Development Mercury President
Redevelopment Authority LUPE PAC

She is the first African- The days of describing The family real estate The longtime confidant of Over the years, Campos
American woman to Bayoh as a minority development company Cory Booker is well-known has taken the advocacy
lead an independent entrepreneur and real he helps run with his in Newark and around the group for Latinas in
financing authority in estate developer or a father (Omar) and brother state, and is equally adept politics and made it
New Jersey — and she’s female entrepreneur and (Sam) is everywhere in at talking politics and a significant force.
been reappointed by three real estate developer are the state, doing major business, which made Murphy’s administration
governors. Here’s why: long gone. This self-made projects in Newark, New him a natural for his role has especially elevated
Under her leadership, woman should be known Brunswick and Atlantic as a partner at Mercury. Campos’ role on
the NJRA has leveraged simply as a force in City — with more to come. And, if Booker decides to appointments and
approximately $4 billion business — someone with Individually, Boraie was run for president — and advocacy efforts.
in new investments, a number of commercial recently named by Murphy most feel he will — Butler’s
helping to redevelop and real estate properties to the State Investment profile will grow even
and transform some throughout Essex County. Council. greater.
of New Jersey’s most
economically challenged
areas.

Marlene Caride Kyung Hee Choi Upendra Chivukula Tai Cooper Jose Cruz
Commissioner Vice president, Commissioner Deputy chief policy adviser Senior managing director,
Dept. of Banking Asian Health Services Board of Public Utilities Governor’s Office co-head
and Insurance Holy Name Medical Center HFF

Many in the health and After leaving a career Chivukula is known A former aide to Newark The hardest-working
insurance industries are on Wall Street, Choi among the South Mayor Ras Baraka, now broker in the state? Or the
thrilled to have Caride has focused solely on Asian community as a working in Murphy’s loudest-talking? Might
lead DOBI, especially boosting the Asian and trailblazer, achieving a office, Cooper continues be both. Cruz brings
in her recent pursuit to other minority care position in the Assembly to display her skills. energy and excitement to
stabilize New Jersey’s programs at Holy Name well before South Asians “She came out of solid everything he does. He
health insurance market, Medical Center. In fact, were active participants political chops. In her role, never stops working. And
making it a leader in the the program has been in elections and politics. especially the integral he always gets results.
country. Caride is seen as garnering attention Chivukula is also the role she has played in the A regular on our ROI
a powerful Latina in the nationally as well as first South Asian to be opportunity zones, that’s Influencers: Real Estate
state. around New Jersey. appointed commissioner a key component,” one list, Cruz more than earns
RWJBarnabas Health’s of the BPU. In his current source said. his spot here.
Somerset hospital has role, he has the ability
just started to copy the to affect the future of
idea this year. Murphy’s environmental
agenda and is an expert
source on clean energy.

23
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018
A to Z
Michellene Davis
Executive vice president and
chief corporate affairs officer
RWJBarnabas Health
An undeniable
powerhouse in Essex
County and in the
Democratic Party, but also
on social impact in the
health care space. She
makes every list because
she’s strategically
worked her way up to the
position she has now,
one source said. “She
clearly ran into a little bit
of trouble (earlier this
year), but you know she’s
a powerhouse.”
Tara Dowdell
President
Tara Dowdell Group
A well-connected
leader and behind-the-
scenes player. Like
many minorities who
entered politics in the
Gov. Jim McGreevey
era, Dowdell had no
“political godfather.” She
is a well-known entity in
the minority and political
circles as a Democratic
strategist. And she literally
is a familiar face from
regular appearances on
MSNBC’s “AM Joy,” and
her time previously as an
“Apprentice” contestant.
Luis De La Hoz
Vice chairman
Statewide Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce of New Jersey
A true grassroots hustler
and helper, he is known
to people at all levels of
business and government.
De La Hoz is an equal
partner in the running of
the Hispanic Chamber,
and credited with a lot
of its success. “He and
Carlos (Medina) make a
good pair because Carlos
needs the membership to
be engaged and active in
order for him to have the
influence he has achieved
as a representative of the
chamber.”
Shereef Elnahal
Commissioner
Department of Health
Being a young
commissioner is no easy
feat, but Elnahal has
brought energy to the
health care scene with
a pursuit of technology
and his efforts to expand
medical marijuana. He
also is handling the crisis
at a Wanaque health
facility, the results of
which remain to be seen.
That’s a heavy lift for Year
One in one of the most-
watched departments.
Lizette Delgado
CEO
New Jersey Schools
Development Authority
Delgado is also seen as
a huge organized labor
advocate — a hard area
for a Latina to traditionally
break through. Through
her new position in
Murphy’s administration,
Delgado’s influence only
figures to grow. “She is
a Latina who came up
through labor,” one insider
said. “She’s impressive.”
Nariman Farvardin
President
Stevens Institute
of Technology
Stevens, long considered
one of the top STEM
schools in the country,
has taken major steps
forward since Farvardin
took over in 2011. The
school prides itself in
showing how science,
technology, engineering
and math can improve
and transform all aspects
of society. It’s the reason
why Stevens’ graduates
always seem to have
(multiple) offers from the
corporate world.
24
Sonia Delgado
Strategic adviser, lobbyist
Princeton Public Affairs
Those who know her best
say she’s a bureaucrat
at heart and an excellent
source of health care
policy. Delgado has had
the ear of commissioners
of health as well as
human services for years
and is often the first call
for counsel on new policy.
“She has written many
health care laws,” one
insider said.
Kenneth Frazier
Chairman & CEO
Merck
Leading a pharmaceutical
company in a time of
increased public scrutiny
is a tough task. But
it’s nothing compared
to walking out on the
president of the United
States. Frazier led the
charge that maimed
the business council to
President Donald Trump
last year. He is known as
“The CEO who stood up to
Trump first.”
December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Uli Diaz
Vice president,
government affairs
Horizon BCBSNJ
Currently the highest-
ranking minority executive
at the state’s largest
health insurer, he is a well-
known entity in Trenton.
Diaz also plays a role in
North Jersey politics as
a Democratic operative
and is a known ally of U.S.
Sen. Robert Menendez.
“Everyone knows him, and
he knows everyone,” one
source said. “He is the
quintessential New Jersey
operative.”
Parimal Garg
Deputy chief counsel
Governor’s Office
Garg, who started on the
Murphy campaign, easily
transitioned into deputy
counsel in the front office.
Garg has been seen as
the key player on the
legalization of marijuana
in the governor’s camp.
Whatever the governor
ends up signing is likely to
have Garg’s input.
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018

A to Z

Ghermezian family Gerry Gibbs Kiran Gill Vin Gopal Corry Hong
Developers Founding principal CEO & president Majority conference leader Founder, CEO & president
Triple Five Capital Impact Group PARS Environmental State senator UNICOM Global

How do you talk about A former assistant An Indian-American Gopal became the first Buying the former
influential minorities treasurer in the state, he woman in charge of her South Asian to hold Merck headquarters in
and not talk about the is now head of a contract own engineering firm is office in the state Senate, Whitehouse Station —
Iranian Jewish family lobbying firm on State hard to come by. Gill not proving his star power by which some considered
that is planting a $5 Street. Gibbs is a guy only leads the company, unseating an incumbent an outdated piece of real
billion economic impact to know. “He knows the she also has been in an area with few South estate that would never
flag in the state? The ins and outs and how it increasingly visible in the Asians. Many feel he’s just sell — may have been
Ghermezians, led by Don, works,” one insider said. political realm as one starting to show his true enough to get Hong on
are bringing to life the “He’s always a guy to call of several desi women potential. He is the head the list. But, when we
American Dream project, because he has his ear to trying to create a pipeline of the Manufacturing heard his plans for the
making New Jersey a new the ground.” of female politicians Caucus, vice chair of the building, and his desire to
destination to match their within the South Asian Transportation Committee work closely with other
previous successes of community. and a member of the New Jersey companies, it
building the largest malls Economic Growth and the sealed the deal.
in the world. Health committees.

25
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018
A to Z
Ali Houshmand
President
Rowan University
The smartest (and most
innovative) man in higher
ed in the state? You
could make that case.
Then again, doing so
would be putting a limit
on the limitless talents
of Houshmand. The
Rowan president sees
his role as a leader in not
only developing a next
generation of students,
but the South Jersey
economy as well.
Wes Mathews
Director, Office of Int’l.
Trade and Investment
New Jersey EDA
Mathews is a Murphy
guy through and through,
and that will benefit the
state as it continues to
open its doors to more
international business.
In his new role, directing
international trade and
investment into the state,
Mathews relies on his
contacts as a diplomat
from when he served
as chief of staff to the
governor when Murphy
was U.S. ambassador in
Germany.
Sarah Jones
Director, government affairs
Horizon BCBSNJ
A former staffer for U.S.
Rep. Donald Payne and
a well-known political
operative in Essex County,
Jones is a key player for
Horizon in D.C. and is
often seen in Trenton. A
quiet observer in public,
but a fierce negotiator
behind the scenes. “She’s
extremely talented,” one
insider said.
Analilia Mejia
New Jersey executive
director
Working Families
Known as a thorn in
everyone’s side, Mejia’s
aggressive personality
play a role in her success.
“She is universally
known as a pain, but it’s
effective because she
gets the money,” one
insider said. The Latina is
known in many circles for
advocating on behalf of
her organization.
Andy Kim
U.S. representative (elect)
3rd District
He gets a nod for
unseating powerhouse
Republican Tom
MacArthur in the most
contentious House
battle in New Jersey.
Now that New Jersey
has lost a more senior
representative, Kim is on
the line to prove he has
the chops to do the job in
D.C.
Robert Menendez
U.S. senator
New Jersey
Menendez is credited for
pulling himself up by his
bootstraps to be possibly
the most powerful
minority senator today.
Having survived the fight
of his political life after
already surviving ethics
complaints in the last
few years has further
cemented his legacy.
Menendez continues to
have a loyal following
among minorities as he
advocates on their behalf.
26
Kris Kolluri
CEO & president
Coopers Ferry
Partnership Inc.
A former Department
of Transportation
commissioner and the
first Indian-American
governor (for a day),
Kolluri wields significant
influence and is well
connected in South
Jersey. His work in
Camden is lauded by
many. “What he’s doing
isn’t easy,” one source
said.
Raj Mukherji
Majority whip
Assembly
Often described as a rock
star, Mukherji remains a
well-respected voice in
the Assembly and a role
model for young South
Asians in the state. He
became the majority whip
this year and also serves
as the vice chair of the
Telecommunications and
Utilities Committee and is
a member of the Budget
and Joint State Leasing
committees.
December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
Rafael Mata;
Jermaine Pharmes
Director; compliance
manager
Hudson County Office
of Business Opportunity
The rising stars of Hudson
County are making waves
with their success in helping
increase the county’s
spend with minority small
businesses. They have
made progress in an area
the state has unsuccessfully
pursued for years.
Wendy Neu
Chair & CEO
Hugo Neu
She is the head of
the company behind
the transformative
Kearny Point project,
which is remaking and
transforming the area
while setting an example
for others. It remains to be
seen what Act II may be,
but, with an opener such
as this, there’s no need to
see much more just yet.
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
Rajiv Parikh
Partner
Genova Burns
He was counsel in Murphy’s
transition team, and
“everyone knows him,” one
source said. He is a go-to
for election law. “Angelo
Genova was always known
as the guy to go to for
everything election, but
that has now turned into
Parikh — so, from a white
Italian guy to brown Asian
guy,” one insider joked.
Speculations about his
future abound. He could
easily run Genova or go
the public route into the
Murphy administration in
some capacity, sources say.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018
A to Z
Arlene Perez Marjorie Perry Eliana Pintor Marin Dennis Pullin
Partner CEO & president Budget chair CEO & president
DeCotiis, Fitzpatrick MZM Construction Assembly Virtua
& Cole LLP & Management
A partner at DeCotiis and Perry likes to call herself By virtue of her position The new CEO of the largest
past head of the Hispanic an overnight sensation as budget chair, Pintor New Jersey-based health
Bar Association, Perez is that was 20 years in the Marin, a Portuguese- system in southern New
seen as a humble, young making. And, while she American, is in a position Jersey is the only minority
Latina who impressively finally may be getting the of significant power. CEO of a health system in
became the Democratic recognition she deserves, Any of the initiatives the the state. Pullin has started
chair in Hunterdon she earned her stripes in Legislature pursues with off quietly, meeting both with
County — one of the most the construction business intentions of collecting legislators and competitors
Republican areas and one long ago. She is a role revenues have to begin in order to gain a better
of the hardest counties to model (and tough-talking with her committee understanding of the state.
make moves in politically. mentor) to underserved — including legalizing While his predecessor faced
“In an all-boys club, to classes in the rough-and- marijuana, for example. significant political battles
be a female Latina in tumble industry. being in the same territory
Hunterdon County is as Cooper University Health,
pretty rare,” one insider Pullin is confident the past
said. “She brings a new will not affect the future and
voice to the Democratic is working to further cement
party.” Virtua’s reputation.
27
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
Lata Reddy;
Ommeed Sathe
Senior vice president; vice
president
Prudential, Impact
Investments
Prudential quietly does
more in the city of Newark
than most realize. And,
when it comes to making
impact investments, it
starts with Reddy and
Sathe. We’d like to say more
… but we know Prudential
wants to keep it quiet.
Shavonda Sumter
Majority conference leader
Assembly
As a majority leader in
the Assembly, Sumter
naturally holds influence,
but her sharp mind is the
first thing many notice.
“An astute politician,” one
source said. She was on
the shortlist for lieutenant
governor for Murphy, and,
despite losing the chance,
Sumter is seen as a power
player in politics and
overall in the state.
Ron Rice
State senator
28th District
The senior African-
American senator is
seen as the voice of the
black caucus and has
played a significant role
in slowing the legalization
of marijuana in the state
with concerns over the
social justice provisions.
Rick Thigpen
Senior vice president,
corporate citizenship
PSEG
Thigpen is seen as
singlehandedly pushing
through a $300 million
subsidy bill that would
benefit PSEG in keeping
alive its nuclear power
plants. The state’s largest
utility will still go through
a review process, but the
signing of the bill is seen
as win. Thigpen also is
noted for taking PSEG’s
role in Newark to a new
level of engagement —
“pursuing social reform
from the inside,” as one
insider put it.
ROI Influencers PEOPLE of COLOR 2018
Carlos Rodriguez
CEO & president
ADP
As the head of one of the
state’s most important
and iconic companies,
Rodriguez has integrated
all aspects of diversity
into ADP’s talent process,
including hiring, talent
development and
succession planning.
ADP is now in position
to have women make up
33 percent of its senior
leaders, and minorities in
20 percent of its executive
ranks in fiscal year 2019.
Ralph Thomas
CEO & executive director
New Jersey
Society of CPAs
Thomas has been the
CEO and executive
director of the New
Jersey Society of CPAs
for almost two decades
— and a tax expert for
longer than that. It’s why
he and the association
were go-to sources
for information on the
federal government’s tax
reform bill as well as the
governor’s adjustment of
the corporate business
tax in the latest budget
battle.
29
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Marcus Samuelsson
Owner, chef
Marcus B&P
It’s one thing to get new
restaurants to open in
Newark — another to
get one run by Marcus
Samuelsson. The well-
known celebrity chef
opened Marcus B&P in
the Hahne’s building in
2017, a move that not
only brought great food to
the city, but showed other
restaurateurs that the city
was ready for the next
step in its growth.
Dr. Jianping Wang
President
Mercer County College
One insider summed it
up: “She is a hustler. She
goes out to companies
along the Route 1 corridor
to create a pipeline for
her graduates to get
jobs. I have not a seen
a community college
president behave in
such a manner. There
is no task that’s too
small. One of the most
humble presidents. She’s
really grounded. Very
impressive.”
A to Z
Troy Singleton
State senator
7th District
The quiet but well-
connected senator is a
force to be reckoned with.
“He gets a lot of credit
for turning a Republican-
leaning district into a
Democratic-leaning
district,” one source
said. Another pointed to
Singleton as a potential
successor to Steve
Sweeney for the seat of
Senate president in the
future.
Ning Yuan
President
China Construction
America Inc.
Yuan heads the biggest
under-the-radar company
in the state. Unless you’re
in the real estate space.
Real estate pros know
China Construction is
an emerging force in
the industry — just one
that doesn’t do a lot to
promote its successes
and influence.
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

Health Care

New direction
Former investment banker has urgent care franchise growing across N.J.
BY MEG FRY
mfry@roi-nj.com

Albert Saad, owner and operator of two

American Family Care urgent care centers, in
West Orange and South Plainfield, will open
two additional locations, in Cedar Grove and
Aberdeen, by the end of this year as part of
the rollout of six to 10 centers in central and
northern New Jersey that
he began in 2014.
Saad, previously an
investment banker and real
estate developer, said he
looks forward to answering
New Jersey’s need for high-
Albert
Saad
quality, accessible health
care by expanding the
urgent health care franchise in the state.
“It absolutely fills a void,” he said.
Prior to health care, Saad worked as
a media and entertainment investment
banker and vice president at Bear Stearns,
before partnering with a public real estate
investment trust to develop 13 institutional
grade, climate-controlled, self-storage
facilities, totaling more than 1 million
rentable square feet in New Jersey.
“We were developers that were not
purchasing existing, income-producing
properties,” he said. “But that development
function became significantly more
challenging post-2008, and, so, we found
ourselves looking at such opportunities.”
Saad said he initially was attracted to
medical offices due to the stability of the
tenant base.
“I then found the opportunity to jump
the fence and focus not as much on the real
estate side of the business but rather on the
operating side of health care services,” he said.
Urgent care centers, Saad said, fill the space
between primary care physicians, who focus
on chronic matters, and emergency rooms,
which are designed for life-threatening cases.
“Five years ago, the emphasis was on
educating patients on what urgent care was
and how and when exactly to use it,” he said.
“For patients with illnesses and injuries that did
not require lengthy and expensive trips to the
emergency room, they could, for example, have
a laceration sutured or a minor orthopedic issue
attended to in a more expedient, convenient
and accessible manner in 60 minutes or less,
with moderately complex laboratories and
X-rays on-site, and board-certified physicians
capable of treating patients of all ages.
“There also has been a lot of patient
A look at one of American Family Care’s urgent
care facilities. —
­ AMERICAN FAMILY CARE
education delivered from insurance
companies to their subscribers to direct them
to urgent care centers, now that they have
come to understand the value proposition
to them that urgent care is a comprehensive,
more cost-effective venue of care.”
Saad said he turned to the Birmingham,
Alabama-based urgent care franchise due to
its prevalence in the industry. Founded in
1982, AFC cares for nearly 3 million patients
annually with more than 600 physicians
across 200 clinics nationwide.
And, with more than $530 million in royalty fee of 6 percent. we do offer coverage outside of their hours,
annual systemwide revenue and an annual “It keeps us on the right track and keeps on weekends and holidays,” Saad said.
growth rate of 79 percent, AFC is ranked us from having to unnecessarily course- AFC also offers wellness and occupational
by Inc. Magazine as one of the 5,000 fastest correct as we execute our business plans,” health visits for local employers and employees,
growing companies in the U.S. Saad said. “I drive to and work out of the as well as physicals and vaccines for schools,
“As owner-operators of nearly 70 centers centers day-to-day, with the responsiveness camps, sports, travel, immigration and more.
themselves in the Southeast, AFC had a of local market ownership, but also have the “Not only can we run throat swabs for
tremendous track record of success and benefit of working within a larger, established the flu or strep, but also, we can order up
experience,” Saad said. institutional framework.” complete blood counts and comprehensive
Affiliating with the AFC brand conferred While it is positive that patient education metabolic panels and get results within 10
to Saad the benefits of access to polices has become less critical today as the concept minutes on-site, as opposed to sending out
and protocols and best practices, as well as of urgent care has become more familiar to the tests to a lab and receiving results within
vendor relationships, marketing materials, those in New Jersey, now, Saad said, he works a couple of days,” Saad said. “It is a wonderful
and a network of other owners — including a to educate patients on how not all urgent care tool for getting to the right diagnosis sooner,
dozen other locations in New Jersey — with facilities are created equal. which is what patients are looking for when
whom Saad can liaise, he said. AFC, for example, focuses on episodic they visit an urgent care center.”
The total investment for an AFC franchise illnesses and injuries, and therefore, Saad said he will employ nearly 50 across
is estimated to be between $807,500 and complements the primary care physicians in his four AFC urgent care centers. A ribbon-
$1.434 million — however, if converting an the state. cutting for the Cedar Grove location will be
existing urgent care facility, that drops down “We often refer folks with chronic illnesses held Nov. 30.
to between $109,000 and $218,000 — and a to local market primary care physicians, but twitter: @megfry3

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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

Op-Ed

$15/hour in New Jersey

isn’t ‘fair’ if no one wins

G
ov. Phil Murphy has called
for the Legislature to pass

As an advocate
a $15 minimum wage by
the holidays to build a ‘‘fair

for thousands
economy,” help “combat
the crisis of hunger” and
“keep the lights on” for New Jersey’s working
families. His appeal evokes compassion, and of small
there is no doubt the vast majority of New
Jerseyans don’t want to see anyone in our
state going without food and electricity.
businesses in
But there is a serious flaw in the
governor’s linkage of the desire to erase
the New Jersey,
poverty with a significant
increase in the minimum
I can tell you
wage. It’s important to
determine whether that that those in the
retail, hospitality,
solution will accomplish
his stated goal.

food service
Legislation is
Laurie stronger when driven by
Ehlbeck
a deliberative process and
not by the heartstrings. It is critical to learn
who is actually making the minimum wage
and recreation
and determine whether raising it to $15 per
hour will address poverty or exacerbate it.
sectors will be
There are reams of research on the topic, and
even quite a few studies on recent laws raising
hard-pressed
the minimum wage to $15 per hour.
Seattle raised the minimum wage three
by a steep rise
years ago by increments, and it will reach
$15 an hour by 2021. The city commissioned in the minimum
wage.
annual studies on the impact. The third
report, just released in October, shows that,
while pay for low-wage workers rose $8 to
$12 a week, all of those gains were for workers
who had experience. Less-experienced
workers saw no significant change in weekly well-targeted to address poverty. That report
pay. projected thousands of job losses if the state’s
A quarter of those increased earnings wage threshold is raised to $15.
can be attributed to experienced workers As an advocate for thousands of small
making up for lost hours in Seattle at other businesses in the New Jersey, I can tell you
jobs outside city limits. While there was an 8 that those in the retail, hospitality, food
percent reduction in job turnover, there was service and recreation sectors will be hard-
also a significant reduction in the rate of new pressed by a steep rise in the minimum wage.
employees into the workforce. In other words, Operating on narrow profits, those businesses
job opportunities for those with no skills and owners must decide if they can pass on the
no experience disappeared. cost to customers, or if their customer base
A May 2018 study on a $15 minimum would disappear — a more likely scenario.
wage in New Jersey used population and The only other option is to reduce employee
poverty data to determine that two-thirds hours and cut jobs.
of working-age state residents living in In the long run, a “fair economy” isn’t
poverty are not working, and won’t benefit fair when neither the job creators or their
from a raise in pay. The study determined employees win.
that only 9 percent of workers who would
be impacted by the wage hike are single Laurie Ehlbeck is state director of
parents, and 60 percent live with family or are NFIB in New Jersey, an association
secondary earners where both spouses work. advocating on behalf of thousands of
It concluded that the minimum wage isn’t small businesses in the state.

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ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

View Point

Gottheimer, Sherrill have opportunity to lead

L
ongtime readers of this space know we favor
neither Republicans or Democrats — we just
like people who want to get things done. And
actually get things done. (We can sense all
the business owners nodding in agreement.)
So, we were happy to see Josh Gottheimer
hold his ground with Speaker of the House wannabe
Nancy Pelosi — trading support for meaningful change in
Washington.
At least, we hope that’s what happened.
Gottheimer, the co-head of the Problem Solvers
Caucus, got Pelosi to agree to a number of requests, all of
which would actually create a more bipartisan, problem-
solving atmosphere.
The deal talks about every member getting a voice,
bipartisan agreements, modernizing the discharge petition
and increasing committee transparency. Point No. 7
is our favorite: Pelosi has agreed to “commit to a more
and inclusive legislative progress where more ideas and
amendments are debated, and there is less of a reliance on
close rules.”
Nancy Pelosi would be wise
to show she can work with
the next generation coming
to Congress. Gottheimer and
Sherrill would be good places
to start.
We now sense you shaking your head: Sounds like the
new Congress will be a lot like the old Congress.
That was the first reaction of Brigid Callahan
Harrison, the noted professor of political science at
Montclair State University. She’s taking a wait-and-see
approach.
“On paper, the compromises appear to be a big win for
the Problem Solvers. The test, however, will be in whether
these changes will be enforced. ‘Commit to a more fair party
ratio.’ It would be easy for the compromises to be ignored,
or more likely, for the processes to revert to the comfortable
ways that things have been done.”
We’re hoping for better. We’re hoping the new Congress
will actual have new ideas. And we’re hoping the New Jersey
contingent will help lead it.
Gottheimer, an absolute rising star, showed in just one
term that he’s not afraid to get things done — and not afraid
to work with the other party to do so. From what we’ve seen,
he will hold Pelosi to her word. And fight back if she changes
her mind.
The same holds true for the other potential rising star
in the delegation, incoming freshman Mikie Sherrill. She
already has done what she said she would do: She did not
back Pelosi for speaker.
Will it cost her when Pelosi assumes control? Possibly.
But Pelosi has lasted long enough to know many of the new
members who helped the Democrats regain the majority in
the House did so under the promise of change.
Pelosi would be wise to show she can work with the
next generation coming to Congress. Gottheimer and
Sherrill would be good places to start.

Three Cheers Show & Tell

SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE: Gov. Phil Murphy Jeff Hendler is CEO of Logical Buildings.
announced an aggressive agenda for the state to push
shared services agreements among its many, many We asked him about how
municipalities, the better to ease the tax burden. The “not in property owners can leverage technology
my backyard” attitude of every tiny town can hinder cost-
saving, but the governor hopes he can grease the skids for to reduce building expenses.

“
some local efforts. Cheers, because who enjoys handing Energy is a big-ticket expense at any multifamily property, but
over hard-earned cash to the government? landlords usually consider electricity that powers common
areas and building systems a fixed cost that can’t be reduced.
EDA ACTION: The state EDA, a force under former Gov. Chris Christie, has continued Today’s technology refutes that
its makeover under Gov. Phil Murphy, adding a small business unit and opening a notion. Using a combination
second round of its Innovation Challenge for communities. Good to see the agency of sensors, software
remains vital even with a different take on support. Cheers! that tracks patterns
$15 OR BUST: Murphy wants a $15 minimum wage bill on his desk, and he wants of electricity, gas
it now, sparking the latest back-and-forth with Senate President Steve Sweeney and and water use,
other members of the Legislature (same team, guys!). and artificial
Meanwhile, Cooper University Health Care and some intelligence, a
other hospital systems are putting their money where growing number
their mouth is, boosting their wages to the $15 of New Jersey
mark. Cheers to the health sector, and jeers to the landlords are
squeaky wheels of government! gaining deeper
insight into their
buildings. With
better knowledge
about when and
how electricity,
“We run into sexual assault in the workplace water and
gas are used,
frequently, and it would probably be a good thing they’re often
able to reduce
if the attorney general would create some as part consumption when
of directive where lawyers who are dealing with costs are highest,
netting savings of up
civil cases can report in to the attorney general to 25 percent of a
for assistance and guidance … in prosecuting it building’s total
energy costs.”
criminally.” — Neil Mullin of Smith Mullin P.C., talking
about Attorney General Gurbir Grewal’s new guidelines
for handling sexual assault cases.

33
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

Focus
On …

WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Jessica Wooke, chief product officer at RobustWealth, a fintech firm based in Lambertville. —
­ ALEXANDRA PAIS

DIGITAL
For women, fintech industry offers some parity, but there are still challenges

DIVIDE
F
BY BRETT JOHNSON
bjohnson@roi-nj.com

or the eight years Jessica Wooke was a network engineer at a previous company,
there were practically no other women beside her.
As a result, she experienced too many awkward situations to talk about, she said. One that comes to mind
involved a male colleague talking to her about a massive data center build-out that she was spearheading.
“I was crushing it — on time and under budget — and, so, he said to me, ‘Yeah, but when are they going to
start paying you right?’” she said.
It was a stunning, stop-in-your-spot comment.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 41

35
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

Focus On … Women in Business

Stret c h
for success
With five locations and more than $1M in revenue, Kika Stretch Studios
is proving entrepreneurial ideas can come from anywhere

BY MEG FRY Wise felt she could fill a niche no one  therapist, exerts force upon one’s limbs to
mfry@roi-nj.com else was in: teaching people how to stretch Wise didn’t have much money to start — move them into new positions.
properly. just $500 she had from a tax return in 2011. “Imagine lying on a mat and having
After graduating from Montclair State “Our coaches help take away the tension She had, however, gumption and someone gently stretch out your entire body
University in 2006 with an undergraduate that has been trapped inside your body for determination. for you,” she said. “People are straining their
degree in dance, Hakika Wise worked years,” she said. “I always was offended when someone muscles because they are so tight.
professionally as a dancer and actress in New So far, it’s working. capped my capabilities,” she said. “If someone I help to treat them in the
York City. Kika Stretch Studios, one of the first set a limit for my life, it was my job to prove ways a dancer would, by
“But I got sick of being a starving artist,” assisted stretching studio concepts in the them wrong.” therapeutically stretching
she said. country, opened its fifth franchise location last She also had a new concept. tension away.”
She said she also wanted to have better month in Short Hills, with two more expected Based upon what she had learned Assisted stretching, Wise
control of her schedule in order to raise her in the state before the end of the year. about anatomy and physical fitness as added, can help reduce pain,
infant son. This year, the business is expected to a dancer, Wise said, she developed especially in the neck and
So, Wise polled her family and friends. surpass $1 million in revenue — and Wise a unique and specialized shoulders, as well as stiffness in
“I asked, ‘Should I start a business, or is ready to share The KIKA Method with the combination of joints that limits range of
should I go back to school?’” she said. “They nation. passive stretching motion.
said, ‘You have no money; no clients; and She also is looking to work with and techniques in “The benefits
you know nothing about business.’ And that support more entrepreneurially-minded which an of The KIKA
all made sense.” women and minorities like herself in New external Method are mental
But life is short, Wise said, and she had Jersey. element, clarity, improved
no intention of living a life directed by others. “I want people to read my story and such as a posture, decreased
So, she started a business: Kika Stretch understand that, sometimes, you don’t need stress, enhanced
Studios.
Studios a large amount of money to start working performance,
toward your dreams,” she said. improved flexibility
and much more,”
she said.
To prove her
method, Wise began by
renting a shared space
with a real estate agent

Hakika Wise, founder and CEO of Kika Stretch

Studios, openened one of the first assisted
stretching studio concepts in the country. —
ALEXANDRA PAIS

36
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
“I am thrilled that my dream for so many years has come to fruition and I have the
opportunity to share The KIKA Method and Kika Stretch Studios with businesses nationally.”
— Hakika Wise, founder and CEO of Kika Stretch Studios
for $345 a month and paid $150 to print up
marketing materials she said she used to help
educate the public about assisted stretching.
“I also hired college students to wear
Gumby costumes around the town of
Montclair, stretching and giving out
brochures,” Wise said. “I mastered the art of
guerilla marketing, being that I had no money.”
After six months, the real estate agent
asked her to leave the space because she was
using it too frequently for her work with
clients.
“I guess he thought the idea was a joke and
that I would help him pay for the space, but,
actually, I started growing clientele,” Wise said.
It was time for a new space. Many new
spaces, as it turned out.

Wise said she quickly found a bigger,
albeit more expensive, space in 2012 — at
$600 per month — in the basement of a
Turkish restaurant in Montclair.
“In the summer, you would smell curry
and onions through the vents, but my clients
still came,” Wise said. “That is when I knew
our services outweighed the circumstances.”
Her business earned six figures while
located in that basement — until it flooded
18 months later.
Wise then moved into her own storefront
in Montclair in 2014, to help further her
concept and brand with prospective clients.
“People were starting to believe in us,”
Wise said.
Business was going great, she added,
and, for the next 18 months, Wise and Kika
Stretch Studios enjoyed a great deal of press
and a growing roster of clients.
So, Wise took her son on a much-needed
and well-deserved vacation to Hawaii in
2016, but, upon her return, said she was led
by her brother to discover her studio was on
fire — leading her to have to again move into
a basement space, this time in a church, for
nine months while the studio was rebuilt.
“Still, we never missed payroll and we
continued to build clientele,” she said.
Her business happened to be featured in
The New York Times while she was in that
basement — and people kept calling and
Conversation Starter
Reach Hakika Wise at:
hd@kikastretchstudios.com
or 973-707-2707.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Focus On … Women in Business
Working mother From fire to franchise
On a recent morning, Hakika Wise, When Hakika Wise, founder and
founder and CEO of Kika Stretch CEO of Kika Stretch Studios, said
Studios, said she sent 20 emails, she decided to franchise, she
made breakfasts and lunches, and proceeded to remove herself
told her son to brush his teeth — all from the day-to-day operations of
before 7 a.m. the business in order to have the
“Sticking to a routine and forcing time and creativity to work on the
yourself to wake up early is always franchise model.
something I had to do,” Wise said. “If you’re weighed down by the
“But knowing what your priorities daily operations of your business
are and not being afraid to put your — the paperwork, the phone calls,
family first is what I would suggest, the emails — and you feel as if you
because it is possible to handle everything at the same time, even if you are have reached a plateau, it’s time
running to the car with a coffee in one hand and a yogurt in the other.”
to start firing yourself from some
Wise initially created Kika Stretch Studios in an effort to have more control of the things you don’t have to do
over her schedule with her son. and to trust your staff to allow
them to help you grow,” Wise said.
“I never wanted the babysitter to see him more than I did,” she said.
“You’ll make more money, and
Today, Wise said trying to make each day the same while raising her 9-year-old everyone will be happier.”
son and stepdaughter is pretty much impossible.
Wise said franchising simply was
“I’ve come to terms with that,” she said. “You have to deal with unexpected an extension of what she already
family and employee issues. had successfully accomplished at
her studio in Montclair.
“But my routine usually starts with positive affirmations before I even look at
my phone, to set my intention for the day. I then work before the kids wake up, “It’s about finding good people
take them to school, work until about 5 p.m. and, when that time comes, I’m a and teaching them what you’ve
mother who looks at her phone as little as possible.” done, which I already had within
my own studio,” she said. “So, I
believed in my ability to find and
emailing her from all over the world. trained in our own original techniques of teach the right people.”
“I recognized we were onto something unlocking flexibility,” she said.
What she did not realize, Wise
that didn’t exist everywhere,” Wise said. “My Two additional Kika Stretch Studios will
said, was how difficult it would be
goal was not to scale; my goal was simply to open in Englewood and Summit later this to be a woman franchisor.
take care of my family. But I remember when year, and by the end of the next, Wise said
one of my clients said, ‘You have to franchise. her goal is to open at least 10 more franchise “The world does mostly consist
of men,” she said. “It is like I have
You have to offer this to more people.’ locations nationwide.
to automatically prove myself
“I realized it wasn’t just about me “My five-year plan is to open 65 franchise
and show that I know what I am
anymore. It was truly about helping people.” locations,” she said. talking about, and that can be
 Though franchise costs range from tough sometimes when you are
Wise opened the second Kika Stretch $40,000 to $99,000, Wise said anyone not given the platform others are.”
Studios in Westfield in May 2015. Locations interested should reach out.
Still, Wise said, franchising has
in New York City (2016), Morristown (2018) “We have income-based programs
helped her to help others while
and now Short Hills have followed. specifically for women and minorities growing her own business.
At each, 45-minute sessions typically that allow them to enter into our franchise
start at $80. without needing millions of dollars up front,” “Especially if you focus on helping
people, people are looking for
“I am thrilled that my dream for so she said. “We vet potential franchisees and, if
opportunities to invest into a
many years has come to fruition and I have they qualify, we can take them through this
business model that will lead
the opportunity to share The KIKA Method process toward franchise ownership. them to financial freedom,” she
and Kika Stretch Studios with businesses “Even if you think you’ll never be able to said. “I didn’t realize there were so
nationally,” Wise said. afford it, contact us anyway. You never know.” many people unhappy with their
Wise currently works with three Wise said she always will encourage jobs until they started contacting
franchisees and 14 employees to assist clients, women following in her footsteps to take full me about franchise opportunities.
including Steve Adubato, broadcast anchor advantage of their opportunities. “It’s cool that we’re helping both
and author, and Bobbi Brown, entrepreneur “Don’t think that it can’t happen,” she said. our consumers and our owners
and founder of Bobbi Brown Studio. “You might as well try when you are alive.” lead better lives.”
“Our stretch coaches are thoroughly twitter: @megfry3
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ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

Focus On … Women in Business

Healthy

Oxygen bars are the unique corporate event add-ons that are catching on

Fadja Robert-Carr, owner and CEO of Elevate O2, an oxygen bar for recreational entertainment in Belleville. — PHOTOS BY ALEXANDRA PAIS

BY MEG FRY Especially in the corporate world, she
mfry@roi-nj.com added.
“They can expect for it to be a hit and the
adja Robert- talk of the office party,” Robert-Carr said.
Carr said After working at marketing events and
there’s a product launches for major brands for more
reasonable than a decade, Robert-Carr founded her
chance you own health and wellness company to provide
have heard of yoga and Pilates and fitness instruction just
an oxygen bar. four years ago.
And a better chance you have never tried Elevate O2, she said, is a more focused
it. Yet. spinoff into that sort of healthy recreational
“It is still such a novel experience and entertainment.
service for many people,” Robert-Carr said. “We provide people with alternative and
That is why the self-described holistic amazing experiences for guests outside of the
health enthusiast launched into the “quirky realm of partying,” Robert-Carr said.
yet effective” niche business this year, she Starting with the oxygen bar.
said, as owner and CEO of Elevate O2 in “I experienced an oxygen bar many years
Belleville. ago and it always has been difficult to find
“There is so much opportunity for again,” Robert-Carr said. “Even now, curious
people to try and love things that are new people often ask what it is because it is so
and different,” Robert-Carr said. colorful and bubbly.”
Each 10- to 15-minute recreational
oxygen session provides 95 percent pure
oxygen combined with an aromatherapy
essential oil. Elevate O2 provides for its guests
more than 70 aromatic options, including
cherry blossom, strawberry mint, pure
lavender and even one entitled the “beach.”
“Some people describe it as an
innovative style of hookah, combining pure
aromatherapy and oxygen — without the
smoke,” Robert-Carr said. “Some people also
say it helps to clear their mind.”
Elevate O2 does not make any medical
claims, nor does it treat any ailments with its
oxygen bar, Robert-Carr said.
“But, if you do your research, you may
Conversation Starter
Reach Fadja Robert-Carr at:
info@elevate02.com
or 505-484-9818.
find out for yourself the health benefits of
oxygen therapy,” she added.
For example, oxygen bar fans have
touted benefits such as stress reduction,
increased alertness and sometimes even
the disappearance of headaches and sinus
congestion.
Costs for an oxygen bar depend on the
number of guests attending an event, the
location, and how much equipment needs to
be mobilized in order to serve guests over an
average of six hours, Robert-Carr said.
“The market rate right now is about
$1,900 for an event in the tri-state area,”
she said. “That also includes the setup and
breakdown, as well as a ‘bartender’ who
helps to ‘serve’ the guests.”
Robert-Carr said she currently works
with two additional independent contractors,
but may be looking to add to her team if she
expands outside of the tri-state area.
While oxygen bars often are requested at

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ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY

Focus On … Women in Business

weddings and bachelorette parties, Robert- in air-polluted cities where something like
Carr said her presence at corporate events is this would be a total gem. In fact, the oxygen
rapidly growing in popularity. bar originated in Tokyo based on that
For example, Elevate O2 recently premise.”
provided an oxygen bar at the Statewide Wherever Elevate O2 takes her, Robert-
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Carr said recreational entertainment and
Jersey’s annual business convention and the oxygen bars provide a great playing field with
Annual Health Exposition in Edison, as well lots of room and potential.
as for Annalect, a data-driven marketing “It also is a great opportunity for capital Robert-Carr
agency, and Kleinfeld Bridal, a bridal dress investors seeking to invest in an emerging demonstrates how to
boutique, in New York City. sector,” she said. use the equipment at
“As event planners, what can you do to twitter: @megfry3 an oxygen bar.
make your event stand out?” Robert-Carr
said. “For example, major corporations at
trade shows might provide an oxygen bar at
their booth because people will want to sit,
talk and mingle.
“It gets people to stay and listen to what
they have to offer.”
Robert-Carr estimates Elevate O2 will
make, at minimum, $100,000 in profit in
2019, with the demand for oxygen bars only
increasing.
Within five years, Robert-Carr said,
Elevate O2 would like to be manufacturing
its own products for use at their oxygen bar.
“But at this stage, it is more about creating
brand awareness and creating more of a
demand for our products,” she said. “I also
am building relationships with people who
do business in emerging markets, especially

Noses up
Elevate O2 is designed to look
like a bar where one might order
cocktails, Fadja Robert-Carr,
owner and CEO, said.
But at this bar, the patrons wear
nasal cannulas, or single-use pieces
of flexible hygienic plastic that
allow for a low-flow of oxygen to be
directly inhaled through the nostrils.
“I was at a high-end event this
past month in which someone
said this was not the most
attractive accessory they ever
wore,” Robert-Carr said.
But everyone gets over that rather
quickly, she added.
“Corporate environments tend
to be very serious, but, after 10
minutes, people are laughing
and talking despite the nasal
cannulas,” Robert-Carr said. “It’s
fun.”
In planning to design and
manufacture her own products,
Robert-Carr said she may take
such factors into consideration.
“It’s been presented this way
throughout the last 20 years,
though I may consider coming up
with a more innovative design,”
she said.

39
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Focus On … Women in Business
Stepping up Finding candidates for leadership posts BY BRETT JOHNSON
can be a problem, accounting firm partner says: bjohnson@roi-nj.com
We’ve had dearth of people who want role How is Cathy Davis different from the 11
other principals at her accounting firm?
She’ll tell you it’s a compassionate leadership
style, a softer touch that she’s proud to call
her own.
There’s also the number of women
among the 12-person leadership team: None,
besides her.
That detail, which she avoided any hasty
mention of herself, has her standing out in the
new leadership role she took on last month
at MSPC Certified Public Accountants and
Advisors in Cranford, but it’s not unusual.
“It’s actually not something I think about
too much, because I’m happy to say being a
woman hasn’t been a factor as I’ve advanced
in my career,” she said. “Although I’ve heard
of other women in other places having
trouble, feeling like there’s a glass ceiling
they can’t penetrate. … For our firm, we’ve
honestly just had a dearth of candidates that
wanted to step into the role.”
However, the number of women entering
the accounting industry is accelerating, Davis
said, especially as the graduates from college
accounting programs lean toward a female
majority. And as accomplished accountants
such as Davis work their way up leadership
ladders, there are more women in the roles
that can guide these young accountants to
become the next higher-ups.
It’s in Davis’ job description to mentor
the younger, up-and-coming accountants
and encourage them as they create their
own leadership path. She’s not only guiding
women, of course, but she has put an emphasis
on that during her time with MSPC.
At the local firm, she founded what’s
called the Executive Women’s Networking
Group. The group encourages the
professional development of women at the
accounting firm through various activities
and events.
Cathy Davis, principal at MSPC Certified Public While in her previous role as tax manager
Accountants and Advisors in Cranford. —
­ MSPC at MSPC, where she oversaw a team of
Conversation Starter
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS AND ADVISORS primarily women, she said that she identified
Reach Cathy Davis of MSPC at:
cdavis@mspc-cpa.com the sort of potential in young accountants
or 908-272-7000. that a mentor once saw in her.
“I was fortunate to have a strong female
40
December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM
mentor early in my career and I relish the
opportunity to now be a mentor to the
other women in the firm,” Davis said. “I got
to where I am due in no small part to so
much support and encouragement from my
betters, both male and female, and I do my
best to pay it forward.”
Through her experience with the
networking group, what Davis has gathered
about the difficulties women encounter in
always pressing forward with advancing
in accounting careers has a lot to do with
balancing family life with a high-powered
profession.
“People often feel very torn — and it’s not
easy to have a little baby at home and take
four months of working around the clock
for tax season,” she said. “You’re going to
be limited as to what you can do, especially
during those busy months.
“You won’t always be there for dinner,
or to pick a kid up from school. It’s just the
nature of the beast.”
Like many accounting firms today,
MSPC offers its employees the flexibility of
working remotely.
“Having the ability if your kid is sick to
hop on the computer at home does help,”
she said, adding that it’s “still a challenge
to give everything to a career but also have
happy home life. And we have to sometimes
remind ourselves don’t always have to be the
absolutely perfect mother or the perfect wife
all of the time if you’re braving both family
and career lives.”
With the tax filing flurry coming up —
exacerbated this year with an entirely new set
of rules for federal taxes with last year’s Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act — accountants will soon
have a reminder of just how demanding the
profession’s work can be.
But Davis, and many of the future
accounting leaders she mentors, however
stressful they might find it, describe these
times of the year with a word not usually
filed alongside tax forms: fun.
“It’s true; it can be really exciting to get
up and come into work every day,” she said.
“The deadlines can be tough — and the busy
seasons hectic — but I do find it to be a lot
of fun.”
twitter: @reporterbrett
ROI-NJ.COM December 3, 2018
Jessica Wooke is now chief product officer at RobustWealth, where she leads product and technology development. —
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35
“That hurt, because, first of all, how does
(he) know what I make?” she said. “Also, it
wasn’t like there was going to be any follow-
up on that colleague’s part. It was just an
affirmation that I wasn’t making what I
should — and that wouldn’t change.”
Wooke is now chief product officer at
RobustWealth, a Lambertville-based fintech
firm where she leads product and technology
development.
Are things different in fintech?
The answer isn’t yet clear.
Fintech, an emerging area of tech headed
by companies such as Square, Stripe and
PayPal, is in an interesting space right now.
It’s new, exciting and — Wooke has her
fingers crossed — maybe less totally male-
dominated.
There has been a spotlight recently
shined on the need for more women to get a
foot in the door at these burgeoning fintech
firms, Wooke said.
“It’s great to see this now, because it has
been absent for so long,” she said. “When you
look at the middle layer of companies in the
fintech sector in the management levels, you
see a fair amount of women in director or
vice president roles today. Taken as a whole,
however, there’s still room for improvement.”
As far as the number of women
candidates there are to fill fintech jobs,
there’s a growing number — both on the
Conversation Starter
Reach RobustWealth at:
service@robustwealth.com
or 609-483-8101.
Kerry Dougherty, a software engineer at Credibility
Capital in Newark. —
­ CREDIBILITY CAPITAL
leadership side Wooke mentioned, as well
as the technical side. But those dealing with
the invisible infrastructure, the technical
makeup of a fintech’s product, still lean
largely male.
Wooke said her own firm has had
more women enter these positions, mostly
candidates from recruiting events focused
on women in technical positions. She’s
not certain that there has been the needed
critical mass of women venturing down this
career path.
“It’s amazing, because there’s just this
diversity of technical jobs out there and I
think, if more women got over the stories
that they tell themselves, they’d realize they
could not only be good at it, but have fun
with it,” she said.
For one, the software engineer position
could use better female representation,
41
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY
Focus On … Women in Business
­ ALEXANDRA PAIS
Wooke said. And it’s very much in-demand
in the world of fintech, she added.
Kerry Dougherty, a software engineer
at Newark-based fintech firm Credibility
Capital, is one of the talented women coming
to an awareness of that.
But Dougherty didn’t take a straight
path to this line of work. She started off in
a customer-facing job at an advertising firm
before realizing she had shelved a gift for
more technical roles.
“And, when I think back on it, I always
loved the technical side of things — ever
since I was young,” she said. “But, the truth is,
adults weren’t helping push me to that. When
I’d show a skill at something like math, and
start teaching it to those around me, adults
would comment that I’d make a great mom
or a great teacher.”
Stereotypes weighed just as heavy on
her decision to enroll in one of the now-
ubiquitous bootcamp coding programs on
the internet to get into software engineering.
“I thought this was the kind of career
that people who looked exactly like Bill
Gates went into,” she said. “So, I had trouble
picturing myself in it. But, when I actually
got into this workforce, I realized that there
were other women as well.”
At Credibility Capital, she’s part of
a fintech startup where there’s an equal
distribution of men and women on a still
very small team.
But she notices some disparity among
fintechs in the coworking spaces she
commonly works in, which might have a
ratio of one woman for every 20 men. She
has also been to tech networking events that
place her alongside around 500 men as one
of only two women in the room.
Top of the tech world
You would be hard-pressed
to come up with a more
accomplished tech entrepreneur
overall than Meg Columbia-Walsh.
She founded and sold five
companies, which means she’s
started and exited — the norm
for a tech
entrepreneurial
venture — more
companies than
most executives,
men or women.
Columbia-Walsh
Meg is particularly
Columbia-Walsh
keen on the
emerging area of artificial
intelligence. She most recently
co-founded a firm pioneering
artificial intelligence technology
in Jersey City, Wylei Inc., before
moving onto her next project in
marketing automation.
“The AI space is as disruptive as
the web was when it first started,”
she said. “Mobile, social media
— it doesn’t come close to the
disruption that I see.”
There’s a rarity to her story,
because there are only just
about 6 percent of women at the
CEO level in the tech industry,
according to a Harvard study.
But in a historic shift that should
contradict that figure, women
now comprise half of engineering
undergrads in some of the
country’s top schools.
“We have plenty of female
engineers (in the tech industry)
now, we just need to start
promoting them,” she said. “Tech
firms need to be filling executive
ranks with women. … The talent is
there, hiring them is a choice.”
“It’s in situations like that where I realize
that this is what they mean when they say
there’s no women in tech,” she said.
The solution to that, she thinks, might be
found in new ways of recruiting in the sector
that have applicants go through a skills test
that strips identifying information from the
candidate’s coding aptitude.
“Coding is great that way,” Dougherty
said. “You can’t tell from looking at a code
what type of person wrote it.”
twitter: @reporterbrett
Conversation Starter
Reach Credibility Capital at:
inquiries@credibilitycapital.com
or 973-718-9100.
ROI-NJ RETURN ON INFORMATION-NEW JERSEY December 3, 2018 ROI-NJ.COM

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Johnston, founder, Both had endured the to its website. The ACF online at www.
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