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More than 600 New Jersey business and political leaders attended a 100th anniversary gala for the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night at The Palace at Somerset Park, in the Somerset section of Franklin.
"The business community is as important now as it was in 1911 in promoting the economic development of the state," said Dennis Bone, CEO of Verizon New Jersey and immediate past chairman of the chamber. "The outpouring of the business community tonight certainly demonstrates that the business community is united in promoting New Jersey as a great place for business development."
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno, the keynote speaker, recalled how she worked with the chamber to understand issues and challenges the business community faces as part of her role to improve economic development in New Jersey.
"Working with the Chamber of Commerce, we've changed the way people perceive New Jersey," Guadagno said, highlighting administration accomplishments so far. "With your help, we'll continue this progress for years to come."
Related: Slide show from the chamber gala
Chamber President and CEO Thomas A. Bracken and Chairman Jeffrey C. Scheininger, also president of Flexline, touted the enthusiasm of attendees.
The event's turnout "says A, the business community is alive and well, and B, they like what's going on," Bracken said. "There are a lot of good vibes."
The event carried a theme honoring Thomas Edison, one of the chamber's founding fathers. Three of Edison's great-grandchildren — Lizabeth Sloane Eggemann, David Edison Sloane and Heywood Edison Sloane — were recognized during the gala.
Scheininger also announced the chamber had created a fellowship program to honor William Payne, a 27-year employee who managed many of the chamber's train trips to Washington, D.C. Payne died last year.
The formal remarks started on a light note as Bob Doherty, Bank of America's New Jersey state president, admitted he arrived to realize he was the only man dressed in a tuxedo. Doherty, on the podium sporting a business tie, said he gave a staffer $20 for his tie, and pulled his tuxedo tie out of his pocket as proof for the crowd.
NJBIZ provided event-planning assistance for the chamber's gala.
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