Business Beat for Jan. 10-17

234

Middletown Allstate Agent Recognized for Volunteerism
MIDDLETOWN – Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company agency owner Domenick Carofine received the Agency Hands in the Community Award for his commitment to helping others.
The award came with two $1,000 grants from The Allstate Foundation for the Coastal Habitat for Humanity in Spring Lake Heights and Pet Adoption Network Inc. in Red Bank, where Carofine volunteers.
Allstate New Jersey agents and employees have a proud history of putting their good hands to work in supporting New Jersey communities, promoting volunteerism and providing financial resources to enable local organizations to help others.
The Agency Hands in the Community Award celebrates the spirit of service.
“Commitment to our communities is a natural extension of what we do every day – protecting people and making their lives more secure,” said Rich Crist, president of Allstate New Jersey Insurance Company. “With support from The Allstate Foundation, Domenick, Coastal Habitat for Humanity and Pet Adoption Network Inc. are making their communities stronger.”
The Allstate Foundation awards more than $1 million every year to nonprofit organizations across the country in honor of dedicated Allstate agency owners who give back. To be eligible for nomination, Allstate agency owners must volunteer, mentor or lead a nonprofit of their choice.
 
Girl Scouts Receive $8,000 From Curchin Mini-Golf Open
RED BANK – The Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore received $8,000 from The Curchin Group, LLC, a mid-sized, full-service accounting firm based in Red Bank, during the Eighth Annual Open Miniature Golf Tournament in November.
Clients, sponsors and friends played a round of miniature golf on Curchin’s team-designed 9-hole course flowing throughout the firm’s office. Members of the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore’s robotics club designed the miniature golf hole made from recycled materials.
“We are very thankful to the Curchin Group for not only hosting a fun and fabulous event, but for selecting the Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore as one of the two local charities to receive half the proceeds from the miniature golf open,” said Susan H. McClure, chief executive officer, Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore. “The Curchin Group’s generous donation is helping Girl Scouts throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties grow into strong, independent women.”
Total proceeds from the event amounted to $16,000 with Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore and Family & Children’s Service in Long Branch each receiving $8,000. Over the past eight years, The Curchin Open has raised and donated approximately $105,000 to local charities.
 
OceanFirst Bank Announces Spengeman Appointment
OceanFirst Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of OceanFirst Financial Corp. (Nasdaq:OCFC), has announced the addition of Craig C. Spengeman as executive vice president and director of trust and asset management.
“Craig Spengeman is a respected and successful leader in community bank trust and asset management services and we are pleased to welcome Craig to our OceanFirst team,” said Christopher D. Maher, OceanFirst Bank president and chief operating officer.
Spengeman will be responsible for the overall management and growth of the Trust & Asset Management department at OceanFirst Bank and will report directly to Maher. Most recently, Spengeman served as the president and chief investment officer at Peapack-Gladstone Bank Trust & Investments where under his leadership the division grew from $39 million to $2.5 billion in assets under administration over a 28-year period. Spengeman was also executive vice president of Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation and Peapack-Gladstone Bank.
“Craig’s proven experience building a $2.5 billion trust business, a key strategic growth area for our company, will provide an extraordinary opportunity for the long-term growth of this business line at OceanFirst,” Maher said.
OceanFirst Bank, founded in 1902, is a federally chartered savings bank with $2.3 billion in assets and 25 branches located in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties.