Small Business Success Focus of 15th Annual Growth Awards Event

On Dec 13, 2017

The New Jersey Small Business Development Centers network, America’s SBDC New Jersey, will hold its 15th annual Small Business Growth Success Awards luncheon on Dec. 15 at the Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township. Prime financial sponsors include PSEG, PNC Bank and Bank of America. Other financial supporters include City National Bank, Peapack-Gladstone Bank, and UPS. New Jersey Business magazine is the media sponsor.

Clients of the NJSBDC network’s 12 regional centers and Specialty programs will be recognized for their success. “This is the highlight of this celebratory gathering,” said Brenda Hopper, chief executive officer and state director of the NJSBDC network. “We’re very proud of their success.”

“We congratulate our 15 business award winners and are glad that state legislators will join in the recognition,” said Deborah Smarth, NJSBDC network chief operating officer and associate state director. “It’s become a real tradition.”

Assemblyman Gary Schaer, Assembly Budget Committee chairman, is guest speaker. The event has more than 300 registrants from small business and other sectors. Senator Christopher (“Kip”) Bateman, Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, and Assemblyman John Wisniewski will receive honorary legislative acknowledgements for their support of NJSBDC’s mission. Michael Pappas, former Congressman and SBA regional administrator of Region II, will also be in attendance.

The SBDC client success award winners are from different industries with varying revenue and employment levels; from start-ups to established businesses with $6 million plus in revenues and up to 125 employees. They include:

KDW Partners in Princeton, owned by Eric Kainer, features Ambedded Technology advanced storage systems and Modulan cabinets and containment systems for large data centers and smaller environments.

Consolidated Packaging Group, LLC, led by Executive Vice President Gary Kaufman, manufactures flexible packaging solutions at its facility in Ridgefield Park.

Arable Labs, Inc. in Princeton, founded by Adam Wolf, Ph.D., is a data and analytics company that helps farmers and agribusinesses to better assess crop status, forecast growth and make better decisions relating to managing food production systems.

Aikido Center of Manasquan, directed by owner and chief instructor Tim Vazquez, provides training opportunities for self-defense.

Integrated Learning Center, Inc. in Union, established by Dulce Ramos – an immigrant from the Dominican Republic- provides language instruction for corporate clients. Ramos also started a new consulting business called Zunzun House, Inc. assisting non-profits and for-profit companies.

Maria Mentiras Bar & Grill, LLC, owned by Maria Gutierrez – an immigrant from Columbia – opened up her premier Union City, restaurant specializing in Latin fusion specialty dishes.

Massage Heights of Morristown, owned and operated by David Shawger and Dale Carmody, decided to open a day spa.

Hafco Foundry and Machine, Inc., run by Basil and Billy Fornaci, is a family-run business located in Midland Park. The company distributes metal castings and machined parts to the rail industry and industrial pneumatic vacuums and dust equipment for the coal mining industry.

Great American Sealcoating, established and operated by Tim Smeltz, is located in Bridgewater.

DoveLin Enterprises, Inc. in Berlin, owned by Mary Lindsay and Franklin Dove, Jr., provides commercial flooring services to general contractors, hospitals, retail stores, etc.

Graycell Labs, Inc., established by Dharmesh and Shweta Vachhani, offers a suite of IT technology based services and solutions. The company is located in Edison.

Minuteman Press of Newark, owned and operated by Holly Kaplansky, provides marketing and printing services.

Cardinal Bistro, owned and operated by father-son team Thomas and Michael Brennan, opened in Ventnor.

Stout’s Transportation, a family-run operation for two generations in Ewing, provides motor coach travel for tour and charter excursions, shuttle transport, and school and transit buses. Tim Stout is company president.

Dingman’s Dairy in Paterson, owned by Ann Marie Belasco and son Anthony is a distributor of ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen desserts, cones, and other related products.

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