Business Beat

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Circle BMW is a Drop-Off Site for Holiday Food
EATONTOWN – Circle BMW, 500 Route 36 East, will be accepting donations of nonperishable food items during November and December to support The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties.
Donations of nonperishable food items will be collected and delivered to the FoodBank until Dec. 31. Donations may be dropped off at Circle BMW between 7:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Circle BMW is currently accepting the following nonperishable items for the FoodBank: Stuffing and gravy, ready-to-eat canned meals, canned sweet potatoes or yams; canned vegetables; canned fruits, jellied cranberry sauce, tuna, peanut butter and jelly, instant potatoes, pasta, rice, macaroni and cheese, canned juices and sip-size juices and canned and dry soup.
Circle BMW is once again proud to support The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties by being a drop-off site during the holiday season. With the recent devastation along the Jersey Shore more area residents are in need of assistance this year.
For more information about The FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, call 732-918-2600, ext. 223 or visit www.foodbankmoc.org.
 
Weichert’s Rumson Office Holds Toy Drive Through Nov. 28
RUMSON – With the season of giving upon us, Carin Henderson, branch manager of Weichert, Realtors’ Rumson office, has announced the start of the annual holiday toy drive.
The drive will benefit children associated with the Jason’s Dreams for Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization that is devoted to granting wishes to children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses through a variety of fundraising events and individual and corporate donations.
“This is our way of giving back to the community that has given us so much,” Henderson said. “The holidays mark a time of year when charitable organizations receive their greatest demand for assistance and The Jason’s Dreams for Kids Foundation is no exception. It’s our hope that through this drive, we will be able to bring joy to some deserving families.”
As part of the 34th Annual Weichert Toy Drive, the local community is invited to donate new, unwrapped toys at the Weichert Rumson Office, located at 30 Ridge Road, through Wednesday, Nov. 28. The donated toys will be collected on behalf of The Jason’s Dreams for Kids Foundation and donated in advance of the organization’s annual Boat-ride with Santa event during which gifts are distributed to the critically ill children.
For more information about the toy drive, or to make a donation, feel free to contact the Weichert, Realtors’ Rumson office at 30 Ridge Road, or by phone at 732-747-8282.
 
Monmouth Ocean Underwriters Clinches Silver Certification 
ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) has announced that the Monmouth Ocean Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Health Underwriters has received silver certification – awarded to the strongest chapters in the nation.
“Our chapter is very proud of our achievement of silver certification,” said Chapter President Ray Pokorny. “We orchestrated a total team effort by our board and worked tirelessly to achieve this. We set the silver certification as a goal worked hard to attain it. I am very fortunate to work with such a strong group of leaders in the Monmouth Ocean NJAHU board.”
The Monmouth/Ocean chapter represents health insurance brokers and other industry professionals in Monmouth and Ocean counties as well as drawing participation from neighboring Middlesex and Burlington counties.
The Monmouth/Ocean Chapter was recognized for this award as part of NAHU’s Chapter Certification Program, an ongoing program that recognizes excelling chapters throughout the calendar year. Recognition is based on specific criteria. To earn silver certification, chapters must satisfy at least six of 14 criteria. Once a chapter satisfies nine of the 14 criteria, it can apply for gold certification. If all 14 are satisfied, the chapter will automatically receive platinum certification.
“The leadership of NAHU members has a far-reaching impact on providing for the healthcare needs of individuals, families and business in their communities. We are grateful for Northern New Jersey’s hard work with chapter development and recognize them for their efforts with this well-deserved award,” said NAHU CEO Janet Trautwein.
The Northern Chapter is a part of the New Jersey Association of Health Underwriters (www.njahu.org), a statewide consumer advocacy organization of professionals in the health insurance industry dedicated to educating the public on critical healthcare issues, shaping health insurance legislation and raising the ethical standards of the industry.
 
Leonardo Jewelers Selected 2012 Family Business of the Year
RED BANK – Leonardo Jewelers has been selected as a 2012 Family Business of the Year by the Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurial Studies at Farleigh Dickinson University’s Siberman College of Business.
The Rothman Institute holds the Family Business of the Year awards each year and has been recognizing New Jersey’s finest family businesses since 1992. Each October, the Institute holds a reception, luncheon and awards ceremony to honor businesses in two revenue categories: Under $10 million and over $10 million in annual revenues.
At this year’s 20th anniversary, Leonardo Jewelers was honored as a finalist in its category and is proud to have been selected for the prestigious award.
“For us, customer service is the core of what we do,” said Lourdes Zeik Chivi, one of the firm’s owners. “We are so honored that the Rothman Institute has given us this professional recognition.”
Today, Leonardo Jewelers continues to focus on jewelry and timepieces. The family continues to be owned and operated by all five siblings. Their extraordinary level of customer service is coupled with a reputation as a sensational luxury jeweler. The combination of qualities is one of the reasons that make Leonardo Jewelers a recipient of a 2012 Family Business of the Year award.
At Leonardo Jewelers, the family is hands-on.
 
Women Business Owners to Hold Gift Auction for Sandy Relief
MONMOUTH COUNTY – The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) Shore Region announces that its 15th Annual Gift Auction will now benefit the NJ Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund, established by New Jersey first lady Mary Pat Christie.
NJAWBO Shore Region will hold its 15th annual gift auction from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Sterling Gardens, Matawan. The auction is expected to being at 7:30 p.m. The net proceeds from the event, as well as the region’s 50/50, will be donated to the fund to help those who lost so much during the storms.
The auction has something for everyone including a silent auction, door prizes, grab bags, a live auction and a 50/50 raffle. Auction gifts typically include spa-themed baskets, massages gift certificates, restaurant gift cards, jewelry, crystal, baskets of cheer and more.
The event will be held at Sterling Gardens, 227 Freneau Ave., Matawan. A buffet and dessert display will be featured.
The cost is $35 per person or $500 for sponsorship that includes admission for 10 and an ad in the program book.
Donations for the auction also can be made.
Additional information and reservations are available by visiting www.njawbo-monmouth.org. To donate a gift or to place an ad in the evening’s program email Linda Coppolino at linda@littlehatmarketing.com.
Information about the relief fund is available by visiting www.sandynjrelieffund.org.
 
Weichert Recognizes its Holmdel Office
HOLMDEL – Jack Waters, regional vice president of Weichert, Realtors, announced the Holmdel office was recognized for outstanding performance in October.
The office led the region, which is comprised of offices throughout Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties, in resale dollar volume. In addition, sales associates Leonard Klein and Michael Arbolino of the Holmdel office were recognized for their exceptional industry success during the month of October. Top producers, Klein led for resale revenue units, while Arbolino led for resale dollar volume.
Klein and Arbolino can be reached at Weichert’s Holmdel office at 43 East Main St. or by calling 732-946-9400 for more information.
Since 1969, Weichert, Realtors has grown from a single office into one of the nation’s leading providers of homeownership services by putting its customers first. A family of full-service real estate and financial services companies, Weichert helps customers buy and sell both residential and commercial real estate, and streamlines the delivery of mortgages and home and title insurance.