Local Business

Local Chambers of Commerce, Including Brick’s, Form Countywide Coalition

by
Daniel Nee
January 19, 2016

Brick Township Chamber of Commerce

Several of Ocean County’s chambers of commerce will band together to promote economic development countywide in a partnership with the county’s freeholder board.

The Brick Township, Greater Toms River, Lakewood and Southern Ocean chambers of commerce have spent decades “fully dedicated to the economic development of Ocean County,” chamber officials said in a statement issued Monday. Together, the chambers and the freeholders “understand and recognize the diverse resources within the county that can lead to smart business growth, which in turn will create new jobs and additional business opportunities.”

The partnership will also encourage businesses to work closely with their regional chamber staffs.

Members of the coalition’s Executive Committee include the current eight voting members from each of the founding chambers: Michele Eventoff, Executive Director of Brick Township Chamber and President Jeffrey Bevacqua; Noelle Lotano, CEO of Greater Toms River Chamber and Chairman Jeremy Grunin; Robert Gazic, Executive Director of Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and President Julie M Vanore; Lori Pepenella, DMO & Communications Director of Southern Ocean County Chamber with President Andrea Driscoll. Pepenella will serve as vice-chair.

“Our chambers of commerce are staffed by professionals who can offer their expertise to promote local businesses,” said Jeremy Grunin, who chairs the new Ocean County Commerce Coalition. “

This is an excellent opportunity to bring together the best of the private sector and the public sector to support not only tourism, but the entire business community,” said Freeholder Joseph H. Vicari, liaison to the Ocean County Department of Business Development and Tourism.

First on the committee’s agenda is an economic impact “think tank” set for the early spring.

The committee will post updates to its Facebook page.