NJBIZ Conversations

Getting NJ ready for FIFA World Cup 2026

Jim Kirkos and the organization he leads – the Meadowlands Chamber – are helping business owners and executives prepare for a the weeks-long FIFA World Cup 2026 tournament, which will be played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford this summer. Here, Kirkos discusses those preparations, the lessons learned from previous events like Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014, and how businesses can take advantage of the opportunity.

On the ground at the 2026 Newark Summit

In February, NJBIZ Editor Jeffrey Kanige and Managing Editor Jessica Perry returned to the Newark Summit – a real estate conference focusing on businesses in New Jersey’s largest city.
During the summit, they interviewed some fellow attendees – business leaders with an interest and affinity for Newark. Listen now!

Meet Atlantic Health CEO Saad Ehtisham

Atlantic Health CEO Saad Ehtisham took on the role in July 2025 after longtime leader Brian Gragnolati retired. Here, Ehtisham talks about what drew him to New Jersey, the biggest challenges he sees in leading Atlantic Health and the outlook for the industry as a whole.

How one CEO moved from real estate to tech

In May 2025, Bergen County and Hoboken-based Balcony forged an agreement under which the company would digitize 370,000 property deeds for the clerk’s office. The two parties said the move represented the largest blockchain-based deed tokenization project in U.S. history. Here, Balcony CEO Dan Silverman explains how he moved from real estate development into technology, the advantages of Balcony’s system and where the company goes from here.

Holy Name CEO talks lessons learned from pandemic and more

Michael Maron, CEO of Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, talks about the lessons he and his staff took away from the COVID-19 pandemic, what last year's $75 million donation from the Douglas M. Noble Family Foundation will allow the hospital to accomplish and what it will take to survive and thrive in what has become a tough climate for health care providers.

What should workers be doing now to prepare for retirement?

A recent study by Prudential Financial found that most workers nearing retirement age with investable assets of at least $100,000 are confident that they will have enough to retire. But the company's Global Retirement Pulse Survey also suggested that these folks – Pru calls them the "mass affluent" – may not be as prepared as they could be.
David Blanchett, Prudential's head of retirement research and a portfolio manager and PGIM – Pru's investment management arm – discusses the survey's findings, its implications and what workers at various stages of their careers should be doing now. 

Furniture industry veteran shares where he sees opportunities

Think Simplicit works with other businesses to outfit and maintain commercial buildings. Here, founder Matthew Negron discusses his business philosophy, what he looks for in acquisition targets and where he sees the most promising opportunities.

Healthcare Institute of New Jersey leader shares industry outlook

Chrissy Buteas, president and CEO of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, talks about what she’s experienced in her time on the job, how the industry is coping with policy changes coming out of Washington and the outlook for a sector that remains critical to the state’s economy.

Bankers assess economy, analyze CRE landscape

Chris Maher, CEO of OceanFirst Financial Corp., offers an assessment of the economy and looks toward 2026. And he's joined by OceanFirst Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Real Estate Officer George Destafney, who analyzes the commercial real estate landscape.

How Provident Bank continues to serve its communities even as it grows

Provident Bank started with one office in Jersey City 185 years ago. Today, the bank is a prominent financial services institution with a market capitalization of more than $2.4 billion and about 1,800 employees. 
In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, CEO Anthony Labozzetta talks about what the bank has become and how it continues to serve its communities even as it grows. Labozzetta also offers insights on the national and regional economies and the banking industry in general.