NJBIZ Conversations

Porrino builds a private law practice that works on both sides of the aisle

Lowenstein Sandler Partner Chris Porrino enjoys a reputation for being nonpartisan. For example, Porrino is representing the Trump Organization in its dispute with the state over liquor licenses at the company’s New Jersey golf courses. At the same time, he is representing Gov. Phil Murphy in an investigation over immigration practices being conducted by Alina Habba, President Trump’s choice to serve as U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Porrino talks about what it’s like to handle those two cases and weighs in on the proper role of the attorney general’s office — something the next governor will have to figure out.

Finding a way to reduce substance abuse

Princeton-based Protega Pharmaceuticals focuses on producing abuse-deterrent pain management products, which go a long way toward reducing substance abuse. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Protega Chief Operating Officer Paul Howe describes the company’s products, its research and what the market looks like.

Discussing the security needs of workplaces

Brian Higgins – a former chief of the Bergen County Police – is the founder and president of Group 77, a security and public safety consulting firm based in Mahwah. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Higgins discusses the security needs of workplaces, along with the financial implications for building owners. He also talks about the issues surrounding next summer’s World Cup soccer games at the Meadowlands and elsewhere around the country.

Making medicine a bit easier to take

Ewing-based Orcosa developed the The RITe Platform, which produces an easy-to-take orally disintegrating tablet that rapidly infuses an active ingredient through the tissue in the cheek – enabling therapeutic effects quickly and efficiently. In this episode of NJBIZ Conversations, co-founders Bryan Ridall and Vincent Mileto discuss Ocrosa's origins, the promise of its technology and where the life sciences company is headed next.

Keeping 'PACE' with NJ's 'silver tsunami'

PACE – Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly – is a Medicare and Medicaid program that helps people meet their health care needs in home or the community instead of in a nursing home or another kind of institution. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Trinity Health PACE CEO Dan Drake explains how the program works, enumerates the benefits and assesses the outlook given budget cuts coming out of Washington.

Mayor Carstarphen discusses Camden's renaissance

Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen discusses the city’s renaissance, what it will take to keep the momentum building and his relationships with one of the city’s most prominent citizens — South Jersey power broker George Norcross.

How can businesses cope with unpredictable world events and domestic political upheaval?

OceanFirst Financial CEO Chris Maher provides insight on how events unfolding here and around the world – from the escalating conflict in the Middle East to a heatwave to uncertainty over trade and immigration policies – might affect the economy and how business owners and executives can cope unpredictable world events and domestic political upheaval.

What goes into an award-winning design project?

Gensler's Morristown office is led by Reid Brockmeier and Becky Button. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Brockmeier and Button discuss the design firm's work in and around Morristown, what clients are looking for as the business climate and work environment changes and the characteristics that make cities successful.

SpotitEarly uses dogs' sense of smell to diagnose cancer

Getting screened for cancer is daunting and scary. You know what would make it less daunting and scary? If dogs were involved. At SpotitEarly, a cancer diagnostic startup based in Englewood, dogs are very involved. SpotitEarly uses dogs' remarkable sense of smell to diagnose four common types of cancer: lung, breast, colorectal and prostate. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, SpotitEarly CEO Shlomi Madar elaborates on the company's technology and where it goes from here.

What's going on – and up – in Middlesex County?

Some of New Jersey's most significant economic development activity is taking place in Middlesex County, which is practically bursting with new construction that will bring more tech, eds and meds to Central New Jersey. John Pulomena, who has been the county administrator since 2008, sits in the middle of all this work. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Pulomena talks about what's going on in New Brunswick and throughout the county, and how all that development fits together.