NJTV announces chamber chief's debut on new program

August 05. 2011 2:03PM

NJTV announces chamber chief's debut on new program

Tom Bracken, President of the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce (Christina Mazza)

The pilot episode of "NJ Boardroom," the Foundation for New Jersey Public Broadcasting's first original series, will premiere Sept. 4 on NJTV.

The show, hosted by New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce President Tom Bracken, features four prominent business personalities discussing issues around the state. The pilot, featuring Phil Beachem, president of New Jersey Alliance for Action; Verizon New Jersey President Dennis Bone; Phil Kirschner, president of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association; and Dean Paranicas, president and CEO of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey, revolves around the current business climate in the state.

The program was first reported by NJBIZ in its Grapevine column.

Foundation President Steven Priolo said the show will debut at 10 a.m., with an 8 p.m. encore the same day, and will keep to that schedule Sundays through September.

"Our hope is between now and (the end of September), preferably sooner rather than later, we will secure enough funding interest and commitment to continue producing more original half-hour 'NJ Boardroom' programs," Priolo said, adding that he hopes to create 11 episodes.

According to Priolo, who is heading the drive for funding, each episode will cost roughly $20,000 to $30,000 to produce.

Priolo said if the funding comes through, the show will move forward with topics like energy, pharmaceuticals, higher education and women in business. While no future guests have been lined up, Priolo is confident that "the pool of diverse business talent" in the state will make it easy to pick participants.

The pilot episode was filmed at the Woodrow Wilson Library, at the Prospect House on Princeton University's campus.