NJBIZ Conversations

How can higher education make college more affordable?

Caldwell University President Jeffrey Senese, who took on the role in July 2023, talks about his efforts at the university this past year, what the school and the higher education system in general can do to make college more affordable and the role of the university president during such tumultuous times.

What can New Jerseyans can expect to see on the state's roads, rails, bridges and tunnels?

Anthony Attanasio's experience with transportation and infrastructure issues is deep and wide. Before founding Hawk Strategies, a Somerville-based consulting and marketing firm, he held senior roles at the center of policymaking in New Jersey. Here, Attanasio talks about his consulting work now, what the state's priorities should be, particularly with regard to NJ Transit, and what New Jerseyans can expect to see on the roads, rails and bridges over the next 12 to 24 months.

Appealing to consumers' appetites

Mama’s Creations rebranded from MamaMancini’s last year to highlight its move beyond prepared Italian foods — for which the company and its founder, Daniel Mancini, had become widely known. Under CEO Adam Michaels, Mama’s Creations is on course to do just that in a big way. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Michaels discusses how the East Rutherford-based company plans to expand, what sort of acquisition targets he is looking for and why he thinks the company is well-positioned to meet consumers where they are in the grocery store and on the dining table.

Banker-turned-landscape-company owner shares why she decided to sell

For more than 80 years, Siciliano Landscape Co. operated as an independent, family-run business. The company is now part of Mariani Premier Group – a much larger business – but the family continues to run it. Karen Siciliano, a former Wall Street banker, is still in charge after selling to Mariani. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Siciliano talks about the sale, how it unfolded and what the integration process was like.

How far-reaching are the effects of the Key Bridge collapse?

Brendan Heegan, the founder and CEO of Secaucus-based Boxzooka – an ecommerce fulfillment technology provider – and Tom Behnke, the company’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, explain the ramifications of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and how the Northeast region is coping.

What can AI do for businesses?

Karthik Krishnamurthy, CEO of Basking Ridge-based software engineering company Ascendion, discusses what artificial intelligence can do for businesses, how Ascendion helps clients use the technology and how to address the questions that arise around the deployment of AI.

4.8 magnitude earthquake rattles New Jersey

The 4.8 magnitude earthquake that jolted New Jerseyans on April 5 was mild by the standards of the world’s most seismically active areas, but it was enough to startle most residents. In this special edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Whitney Boykin, an associate with DeSimone Consulting Engineers, explains how buildings and other structures are designed to withstand earthquakes and other hazards and why New Jerseyans should be confident that the state can survive the shaking.

Former state attorney general discusses the business of law

Chris Porrino is a former state attorney general who now chairs the Litigation Department at Roseland’s Lowenstein Sandler. Earlier this year, Gov. Phil Murphy added yet another entry to Porrino’s resume: chair of the state Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission. In this episode of NJBIZ Conversations, Porrino talks about the work of the commission and how it will affect businesses, what’s happening in the business of law and the controversy over the so-called county line on ballots.

The future of offshore wind in New Jersey

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind CEO Joris Veldhoven talks about the challenges facing offshore wind developers, addresses the opposition and lays out a course for the future.

Former Marine uses winter sports to help kids avoid serious problems

Schone Malliet – former Marine Corps pilot, salesman and banker – is the founder of Winter4Kids, a nonprofit organization based in Sussex County that offers vulnerable kids the opportunity to experience winter in a new way, with lessons, better nutrition and, most important, fun. In this edition of NJBIZ Conversations, Malliet talks about how he came to establish Winter4Kids, what it took to get the organization started, how he keeps it running and his plans for the future.