Reinventing Recruiting…and It’s about Time HR Group Meets March 13
Every business wants to recruit and hire the best possible candidates and retain them. That is why in June and July of 2013, 122 firms willingly listed, described and dissected nearly 100 recruiting practices that “touched” their candidates’ experiences.
Ninety of those companies even invited a random sample of candidates, the majority of whom were not hired, to confirm their awareness and opinion of those practices. Those employers whose candidates saw their treatment as positive, were honored in October 2013 at the HRT Technology Conference in Las Vegas.
Gerry Crispin, one of the founders of the TalentBoard, the nonprofit driving the Candidate Experience Awards, will present information about the movement to reward companies that utilize positive recruitment practices and implications of this evidence-based approach for recruiting on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources (JSAHR) meeting, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, NJ.
Attendees will learn about and be able to apply principles of engagement to their recruiting process; be able to apply and distinguish minimally acceptable standards on how to treat candidates; relate the difference between candidates and the relationship needs of prospects and candidates in the recruiting pipeline, and identify best practices in treatment of candidates based on survey data.
The registration fee for the March meeting, including a full buffet breakfast, is $30.00 for JSAHR members; $40.00 for nonmembers; $25.00 for those in-transition, and $10.00 for full-time students. This program is pending HRCI credits To register, call Kathi Evans, JSAHR administrator, at 732-270-5204, or email jsahr.shrm@gmail.com. JSAHR is a Silver Excel award winner of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).
About the Speaker: Gerry Crispin, is a life-long student of staffing. He stays grounded by engaging with a rich network of friends, colleagues and practitioners every day and, with his business partner Mark Mehler, Gerry facilitates peer-to-peer conversations between recruiting leaders through http://www.careerxroads.com/ which the two founded in 1996. For more than a decade, their small, but intense, invitation-only meetings (The CareerXroads’ Colloquium) are hosted eight times each year around the world on various topics.
First of Its Kind Online Wellness Tool for the Mind Offered by Preferred Behavioral Health
Most people today, who are extremely savvy about their own care and wellness, want access to treatment and support on-demand. To fulfill that need, Preferred Behavioral Health (PBH), of NJ, 1500 Route 88, Brick, NJ 08724, announced today that they have signed an agreement with myStrength, Inc.™, a online behavioral health and wellness company, to offer providers and consumers web-based and mobile self-help resources.
With this partnership between PBH and myStrength, PBH will be able to help meet the significant increase in demand for services by providing 24/7 access to behavioral health support services.
Lanette Rozier, PBH vice president of Quality Improvement, said, “We are pleased and excited about our partnership with myStrength. It is the first of its kind program in New Jersey and is being supported by a grant from United Way. As an organization, we really see this self-help site as a great resource. myStrength, the health club for your mind, offers a range of clinically based, personalized resources to improve mental health and overall well-being for our consumers and staff alike.”
myStrength is an evidence-based program that allows users to track their progress in overcoming mild to moderate cases of depression and anxiety, and in relieving stress.
Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health, said, “Behavioral health, perhaps more than any other healthcare specialty, is suited to leverage virtual delivery and myStrength is making it possible.”
For more information about PBH and myStrength, contact Lanette Rozier at 732-458-1700 Ext. 1105 or lrozier@preferredbehavioral.org. Visit www.preferredbehavioral.org.
About Preferred Behavioral Health: Preferred Behavioral Health (PBH) of NJ, Inc. was established in 1978 to provide outpatient therapy and emergency mental health services to residents of Northern Ocean County, N.J. Since then, PBH of NJ has become a 501(c)(3) comprehensive behavioral health care provider, offering a full array of services in central New Jersey, including mental health and substance abuse treatment programs for individuals of all ages. PBH of NJ is licensed in mental health and addiction services by the New Jersey Department of Human Services. PBH of NJ accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurances. A sliding fee scale is available for those without insurance. www.preferredbehavioral.org or 732-367-4700.
OHI Extends Its Hours for Open Enrollment Appointments – Open to the Public
With the deadline to enroll in health insurance looming, OHI (Ocean Health Initiatives), a federally qualified health care center, is extending the hours of its Open Enrollment Help Days in Lakewood, Toms River, and Manahawkin to accommodate the growing need of the general public and OHI patients to enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Bilingual Certified Application Counselors in the OHI Health Exchange Marketplace department will be available by appointment only through March 31, 2014 as follows:
1. Toms River, 301 Lakehurst Road:
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
2. Lakewood, 101 Second Street:
Monday: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3. Manahawkin at 333 Haywood Road:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Beatriz C. Patino, the coordinator of the Health Exchange Marketplace Department, and Carmen E. Lopez and Sasha Andino, associates, and other qualified staff will answer questions, explain any changes, and help individuals sign up for health insurance.
For Open Enrollment Day appointments and questions, call Health Exchange Marketplace Department at 732-363-6655.
About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) federally qualified health center (FQHC) with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood; 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River; 333 Haywood Road, Manahawkin; Clifton Avenue Elementary School, 625 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood; and the Mobile Medical Unit outside the George J. Mitchell Elementary School, 950 N. Green Street, Little Egg Harbor.
OHI provides comprehensive preventative and primary health and dental care to Ocean County uninsured and underinsured populations on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual’s or family’s ability to pay. Services include pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, behavioral health, dental, family medicine, internal medicine, OB/GYN, podiatry and social services.
OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.
National Trainer and Consultant to Be Featured Speaker at OCBA
Want to grow and expand your business? Barry Farber, a trainer and consultant to Fortune 500 corporations, business owners, professional athletes and entertainers, will give you the inside story at the annual open house being held by the Ocean County Business Association at Clarion Hotel and Conference Center, 815 Route 37 West, Toms River, on Thursday, April 3, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Farber, president of Farber Training Systems Inc. and The Diamond Group, will speak about “Generating New Business.” Named “Top Speaker of the Year” by Successful Meetings magazine, Farber is the bestselling author of 12 books, including his latest release Success Secrets of Sales Superstars, which was published in April 2013 by Entrepreneur Press.
Farber’s programs include an action plan checklist of practical ideas that can be implemented for measurable results utilizing examples from his own successes as a broker and agent for Six Flags’ $7 million Evel Knieval roller coaster, and marketer and co-inventor of the FoldzFlat ™ Pen, which sold millions in promotional, direct response and retail markets.
The luncheon and meeting are open to members of the OCBA, their employees and guests: prospective members and members of the media. A buffet lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m.; Farber’s program will begin at noon.
The luncheon costs $20.00, but is free for prospective members and the media. Reservations are required.
To register, contact Stephanie Slevin by March 24, 2014, at info@OceanCountyBusinessAssociation.com. For further information, call 866-606-6222 or visit www.OceanCountyBusinessAssociation.com.
Local Dentist Participates in Annual “Smiles for Life” National Campaign to Benefit Children
Imagine having a sparkling white smile and then imagine that your beautiful smile is helping families whose children have cancer or children who need cleft palate surgery. If you see people with beautifully whitened teeth, chances are they are participating in the 2014 Smiles for Life Campaign, sponsored each year by Toms River dentist Dr. Ron Rotem.
Dr. Rotem, a member of the national Crown Council, contributes 100 percent of his fees to charity for professionally whitening teeth from March 1 through June 30. Through the national Smiles for Life Campaign, Dr. Rotem has donated more than $50,000.00 during the past 10 years to charities, including Ocean of Love, a nonprofit organization that aids families whose children have cancer, and The Smile Train, which provides surgery for children who need cleft palate surgery.
Dr. Rotem says, “If you are planning to professionally whiten your teeth, this is a wonderful opportunity to do something for yourself, and, at the same time, make a difference in a child’s life.” The campaign ends June 30.
To contribute to the 2014 Smiles for Life Campaign, call Dr. Rotem’s office to reserve a date for whitening (732–341–8500).
Since 1998, The Smiles for Life Foundation, the charitable arm of the Crown Council, has raised more than $30 million for children’s charities across North America because members of Crown Council dental practices have agreed to donate the cost of professional tooth whitening during the Smiles for Life campaign.
Dr. Rotem graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in 1991. His practice focuses on cosmetic dentistry and conscious sedation. Dr. Rotem belongs to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is affiliated with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, NJ Chapter of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation, the International College of Cranial Mandibular Orthopedics, the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association, Monmouth/Ocean Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Rotem is an active member of the Crown Council. He is also a member of the Jersey Shore Business Network, Toms River.
UEZ Microloans Benefit Six Lakewood Businesses
Rabbi Moshe Weisberg, treasurer of the Lakewood Development Corporation (LDC) and Patricia Komsa, LDC executive director, awarded six microloans, ranging from $20,000 to $35,000 each, to certified Lakewood UEZ businesses at a recent Lakewood Township Committee Meeting.
The recipients are Cleanstock, a paper and plastic goods company with a same-day delivery service; New Jersey Appliance, a retail store catering to property management companies, builders, and consumers; Daily Deals on 2nd, a variety discount store; the men’s clothing store His Place; Aqua Custom Creations, aquariums for residential and commercial facilities; and the CPA firm JD Hutman.
Microloans are now being granted at 3 ½ percent interest amortized from 5 to 10 years for loans ranging from $5,000 to $35,000. They are designed to facilitate small business growth and development, and job creation in Lakewood. Microloans are available for businesses seeking to establish, expand, or redevelop their companies. Funds may also be utilized used for working capital, supplies and machinery, the purchase of inventory, and to refurbish existing facilities. Microloans, however, cannot be used to refinance existing debt.
Rabbi Moshe Weisberg reported that to-date the LDC has awarded close to 100 Microloans. Although it is well-known that statistically over half of all business fail, the Lakewood Microloan program has a better than 95 percent success rate since its inception in 1998.
Patricia Komsa, the executive director of the LDC, said, “The UEZ program has been an economic development driver in Lakewood since its inception. The loan program itself has generated to date 97 microloans and 38 project and joint participation loans totaling $15,243,500.”
The repayment of previous microloans has resulted in “second-generation funds” that are now being used to award the new Microloans. Rabbi Weisberg said, “In this way, the program is self-perpetuating. It does not cost Lakewood taxpayers anything. We are very proud of this program because it is a home-run for the Township, a home-run for the LDC, and a home-run for businesses. The Microloan program brings energy to the township and it brings revitalization to the downtown and other commercial areas. We need to keep this program and the economic development it fosters.”
The Microloan program, a subdivision of the Financial Assistance Program, was cited as a model program across the state by the Urban Enterprise Zone Authority, Trenton.
Rabbi Weisberg encourages those who have businesses in Lakewood to participate in the UEZ program. “Speak to Trish Komsa to find out how. I would especially like to thank Committeeman Ray Coles, who was one of the founders of the Microloan program and served as the chairman of the LDC for many years; and the Township Committee who have been strong supporters of the Microloan program.” Committeemen Ray Coles and Isaac Akerman serve as liaisons to the LDC.
The Lakewood UEZ Microloan Program is now accepting applications for loans up to $35,000 a year. Businesses interested in applying for a Microloan can pick up applications at the UEZ office, Room 12 of the Lakewood Municipal, 231 Third Street, Lakewood, or contact Patricia Komsa, executive director of the Lakewood Development Corporation at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5257 or visit lakewoodnj.gov/department/uez for more information.
If a business is not UEZ certified or for further questions or to learn how to become certified, call Patricia Komsa in the Lakewood UEZ office at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5257. Lakewood businesses can also contact Eli Josephson of the LCSC (Lakewood Community Services Corporation), who provides UEZ consultation services for Lakewood businesses and assistance with UEZ loan application packages.
There’s a New CPA Firm in Town!
Shari Canell and Arleta Kozek, two experienced women CPAs, have formed the new accounting firm of Canell, Kozek & Co., LLC, at 10 West Main Street, Freehold, N.J., in the same offices of the accounting firm of the former Susan Schneider who has closed her practice. All services and phone numbers remain the same.
Shari Canell, Marlboro, who worked for Schneider & Associates for the past 15 years, received her B.S in accounting from Rider University in 1981 and earned her CPA in 1985. Before joining Schneider & Associates, Canell worked at Prudential Property and Casualty Insurance Company in its internal audit division. She also held management positions in Prudential’s financial report and planning coordinating departments.
Canell is a member of the N.J. Society of CPA and the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accounts). She serves as a board member of the Greater Monmouth Chamber of Commerce and Temple Rodeph Torah, Marlboro.
Arleta Kozek, Jackson, started her career at Schneider & Associates 10 years ago as a tax accountant and progressed to senior tax accountant. She earned her B.S. from Rider University with a double major in accounting and finance, and is pursuing a Masters and CPA designation. Kozek who was born in Poland came to the United States at age twelve. She is active in the Polish community and volunteers at the Polish Academy, Manchester, N.J.
Canell said, “Arleta and I feel that our partnership and financial skills are a perfect match. I have expertise in budgeting, tax and financial reporting. I also enjoy training employees. Arleta has expertise in payroll, sales tax, individual and business tax reporting, and a strong knowledge of computer systems. We can service all our clients in English, Spanish and Polish.”
For more information call Canell and Kozek at 732-780-4433 or visit www.FreeholdCPA.com.
About Canell, Kozek & Co.: The financial services of Canell, Kozek & Co. for individuals, businesses, and non-for-profits include business consulting and returns; estates and trusts; tax return preparation and planning; IRS and state tax matters; immigrant-related tax filing; bookkeeping; elder care; trustee, payroll and sales tax; compilation and review reports.
Publicize or Perish!™ ###
You’re a WHAT! What’s a Vegan? What Does That Mean? Local Woman Co-Authors Book
Lisa McComsey, Island Heights, needed an edge to win her family’s annual fitness competition. She had heard that a vegan diet might just give her that edge so McComsey decided to try it for a month—why not? How bad could it be? Instead of feeling bored and deprived, McComsey found the vegan diet to be exciting and delicious.
What does a vegan eat? Plant-based foods, which can be lasagna, pizza, muffins, pancakes, chocolate cake, fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains, and any animal-free food. What is not on the vegan menu? Such animal options as meat, chicken, fish and any food that comes from an animal.
Based on her own experience, McComsey realized that changing one’s life-time eating patterns can feel overwhelming at first. That’s why she and her friend Amy Cramer, a former colleague at People magazine and a vegan chef, decided to collaborate on a book that would clearly and simply explain “how” to be a vegan. (The “why” has already been talked about and written about profusely: many of the ills Americans suffer—heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, to name a few—are attributable to a diet rich in animal products.)
The result of their collaboration is The Vegan Cheat Sheet, published by the Penguin Group, a portable, Zagat-sized guide that outlines everything a person needs to know to become a vegan: 21 days of vegan menus, recipes, a vegan travel guide, a fast-food survival guide, a shopping guide, a “how-to” guide for getting through social scenes with nonvegan family and friends, important facts, and party menus.
McComsey said, “I’d really like to convey that going vegan is so much easier and more fun and delicious than one could ever imagine. I consider myself a foodie—I love to eat, yet I never feel deprived. Also, I’m a klutz in the kitchen and have little-to-no culinary skill. The recipes in our book are so easy, even I can make them! Amy and I are unlikely vegans who now have a passion for this way of eating. We run marathons, hike mountains (Amy lives in Boulder), have huge amounts of energy, and feel fabulous.”
Lisa, herself, has completed 25 marathons (26.2 miles), the latest in November 2013 and five of them as a plant-powered runner. She also finished several triathlons and a couple of century (100-mile) bicycle rides. McComsey said, “The point being, you can be a vegan athlete!”
Vegan is making the news recently. New York magazine calls 2014 “the year of the vegan”; and “Haute vegan” was named one of 2013’s top 10 trends in American dining in The Week magazine (12/31/13). Some famous vegans include Bill Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, Brad Pitt, Olivia Wilde, Mike Tyson, and hundreds of other celebrities who have adopted an animal-free life. ( Jay-Z and Beyoncé became vegans for 22 days.)
McComsey, a Toms River High School South graduate, received a B.A. in art history from Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. She has been a freelance writer, editor and marketing consultant for more than 15 years and is currently the copy director for Allure magazine, a Condé Nast publication. Her experience includes working in the magazine-publishing industry for titles, such as Vogue, People, Life, In Style, Allure, Vanity Fair, GQ, and the New York Times, among others.
McComsey is a board member and past president of the Ocean County Business Association (OCBA), Toms River, and serves on the executive board of the John F. Peto Museum & Studio, Island Heights.
She is the two-time winner of Time Inc. President’s Award; two-time recipient of Ocean County Business Association Member of the Year award; winner of United Way of Ocean County Community Outreach Award; and the winner of RARE Center for Tropical Conservation Volunteer Service Award. McComsey received the Toms River High School South Tennis Lifetime Achievement Award, and has won several awards as a Toastmasters speaker.
And, yes, McComsey DID win her family’s fitness competition and $400.00!
About The Vegan Cheatsheet The Vegan Cheatsheet and author sites: Book: www.vegancheatsheet.com and www.facebook.com/ vegancheatsheet. The Authors Guild: www.lisamccomsey.net; Amazon book page (reviews): http://amzn.to/1ixp1e7; Amazon author page: www.amazon.com/author/lisamccomsey . Co-author Lisa McComsey is available for book signings, talks, and public appearances. Contact her at 848-333-6100 or lisa@lisamccomsey.com.
Emmanuel Cancer Foundation to Honor Jonathan and Alene Herman
The Emmanuel Cancer Foundation (ECF), 1710 Highway 71, Wall Township, is honoring Jonathan and Alene Herman, Manhattan, at its 13th Annual Winter Gala “Hollywood Nights,” at the Jumping Brook Country Club, Saturday, February 22, 2014, 6:00 p.m. to midnight.
Tickets are $150.00 each and include a cocktail hour, dinner with a six-hour open bar; live entertainment by Slim Chance and the Gamblers; a DJ; a casino, including horse racing; a fortune teller; a photo booth; caricatures; a sports memorabilia auction, and more. Prizes include one-week accommodations in Mexico, signed memorabilia, and two tickets to the Emmy Awards.
It was during his traumatic childhood that Jonathan Herman realized the value of good support systems, ranging from family to caring organizations. Both Jonathan’s parents died at a young age from cancer. His maternal uncle and his wife, Joel and Stephanie Markel, welcomed Jonathan and his brother Russell in their home, but tragedy faced this family too. Joel and Stephanie Markel’s second son Ryan passed away from cancer shortly before his first birthday.
It was ECF that helped the family. Jonathan said, “ECF was a strong and supportive backbone for our family in a desperate time of need. The tireless effort of so many people at ECF helped push my family through a very challenging period in our lives.”
Jonathan remains grateful and indebted to all those who helped him. “I was once told, ‘Only a life lived for others is a life worth living.’ I am very lucky that both Preferred Home Health Care (of which Jonathan is COO) and ECF allow me to do exactly that – living a life for others.”
Joann Passantino, Eastern regional director of Emmanuel Cancer Foundation, said, “They are truly great people and they generously support ECF. We are so very pleased to honor them.”
Contact Passantino at 732-282-2324 or joann@emmanuelcancer.org. for more information, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities.
ECF provides specialized services, at no charge, to New Jersey families who are caring for a child with cancer. The services include professional in-home counseling, advocacy on behalf of families; materials support, such as food, clothing, toys, and household items; and emergency financial aid, such as paying for rent or utilities.
For the past 30 years, ECF has helped more than 1700 New Jersey families in Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean, counties who are dealing with pediatric cancer. The regional centers of EFC are in Scotch Plains (Headquarters), Woodbury, Midland Park, and Wall Township.
About Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services:
Since 1987, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), 45 Main Street, Eatontown, N.J., has provided a wide range of medical and non-medical home health care services from pediatric to geriatric care throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PHHC is accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program), an accrediting organization for the home health care industry.
Preferred works collaboratively with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and facilities to ensure a smooth transition to one’s home. In-house services include skilled nursing care for infants, children, adults, and seniors; personal care services, including bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, etc.; private duty nursing services; and at-home physical therapy, among others. All of the care can be provided in-house and is coordinated by registered nurses, with clinical supervision available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit Preferred at PreferredCares.com for more information.
Costanzo Named Branch Manager of Home Health Care Company
Michelle M. Costanzo, Brick, N.J., was recently named branch manager of the Brick Township office of Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), with headquarters in Eatontown. As branch manager, Costanzo is responsible for the day-to-day management and supervision of all internal employees and external staff of certified home health aides and skilled nurses, such as RNs and LPNs, among her other duties.
Before joining PHHC, Costanzo worked for more than 17 years in the health care industry during which she developed customer service programs and sensitivity training for employees and directors, among other initiatives. She has extensive background in advocacy and program development.
Costanzo, a graduate of Rutgers University, received her MSW (Masters of Social Work) with a specialty in administration and policy development from Monmouth University in 2001. At Monmouth University, she was inducted into Alpha Delta Mu, the honorary society for social workers, and served as its president.
Among her achievements, Costanzo was the 2011 keynote speaker at the N.J. Director of Nursing Conference, Atlantic City. She received the “Above the Call of Duty” and the “Manager of the Year” awards while working at Laurelton Village, Brick, N.J.
Costanzo serves as the head cheerleading coach of Holy Innocents School, Neptune, a position she had held since 2012. She is also a member of the Alzheimer’s Association and the Susan G Komen Foundation since 2003 and 2006, respectively.
Costanzo said, “I became an advocate for social justice and social change when I earned my Master’s degree, which focused on community development, administration, and public policy. I am so proud to be working for PHHC, a company that is genuinely interested in providing every aspect of home health care needs from pediatrics to geriatrics.”
For more information, contact Costanzo at 732-840-5566.
About Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services:
Since 1987, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), 45 Main Street, Eatontown, N.J., has provided a wide range of medical and non-medical home health care services from pediatric to geriatric care throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PHHC is accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program), an accrediting organization for the home health care industry.
Preferred works collaboratively with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and facilities to ensure a smooth transition to one’s home. In-house services include skilled nursing care for infants, children, adults, and seniors; personal care services, including bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, etc.; private duty nursing services; and at-home physical therapy, among others. All of the care can be provided in-house and is coordinated by registered nurses, with clinical supervision available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit Preferred at PreferredCares.com for more information.