6 BUSINESS TRENDS — OCTOBER 2010


EDITORIAL


DAN MCDONOUGH JR. Publisher


ALAN BAUER


STEVE MILLER ED LYNES


General Manager & Editor Executive Vice President Vice President of Sales


in our opinion Say ‘thank you’ A little appreciation can go a long way Y


ou would be hard pressed to find someone to tell you that teamwork on the job is not important.Over the last 20 years or so, more and more companies are finding


creative ways to build employee morale and strengthen their teams. “Team building,” as it’s officially called today, takes on many


forms: From in-depth behavioral analysis of each employee to company outings where fun problem-solving activities are com- pared to in-office challenges. Over the last few years, team building has become even more


important as the nature of what we ask of our employees has changed dramatically with the recession. Many workers are simply happy to have a job these days, but


it’s easy to understand how they can feel insignificant, uncom- fortable, overworked or even threatened in their position. And while keeping employees happy and motivated has to be a true concern, companies are often finding it hard to justify spending money on formal team-building activities when paying the bills can be a daily grind. But there is a simple solution to the problem: Say “thank


you.” Most employees aren’t in need of gifts and bonuses, special


lunches and celebrations, or company outings to keep them happy.


Often, recognition for their hard work does the job, and the higher up it comes from, the better. The best part about saying “thank you” is that it’s a free ges-


ture; it doesn’t cost you anything, but it can bring you a solid re- turn on investment. The happier your employees are, the more motivated they will be to do well for the company. So take some time out of your day to recognize those who work hard for you every day.


DANMcDONOUGH, JR. Co-Chairman & Chief Executive RUSSELL CANN Co-Chairman & Chief Financial Officer MICHAEL LaCOUNT, Ph.D. Vice Chairman


www.elauwit.com Must Do List


Start your October off on the 6th with the 2010 Economic Out- look, featuring John Silvia, chief economist Wells Fargo Securi- ties. Silva sits on the Blue Chip Panel of Economic Forecasters and also serves on an informal advisory group for the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. After you absorb all that


heavy-duty data, you’ll need to “Rethink Recharge Reinvent,” so head for the Burlington County Chamber’s Business Leaders Conference on Oct. 21 at the En- terprise center at BCC. If you serve on an NPO board, pencil in “The Future of Fund- ing for Non Profit Organizations in New Jersey” on Oct. 13. Dodge Foundation President Chris Daggett will keynote and he‘ll be joined by Doug Schoenberger of Verizon, Lois Greco of the Wa- chovia Regional Foundation and Sidney Hargro of the Communi- ty Foundation of South Jersey. Then, on Oct. 22, if you can stand the oxymoronic quality of the event’s name, head to Fors- gate Country Club in Monroe for the (we can only hope) aptly named “Government Efficiency and Best Practices Forum” pre- sented by the state Chamber. Featured presenters will include DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa and four former state treasurers, Brian Clymer, Sam Crane, Jim DiEleuterio and John McCor- mac.


And, of course, since this is the height of “election season,” there are a zillion candidates fo- rums and an equal number of appearances by state officials at a another zillion chamber of commerce meetings and similar events. Enjoy. Here’s the full rundown on what’s on tap in the month


Michael Willmann THE ‘MUST DO’ LIST


ahead. Oct. 6 Economic Outlook with John


Silvia, chief economist, Wells Fargo Securities The Philadelphia Council for Business Economics Federal Reserve Bank/Philadelphia 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Info: Michael Weiss at (215)


493-1606 Oct. 8 Economic Development


Forum, Salem County Chamber of Commerce


Salem Community


College/Carneys Point 8 a.m. to Noon Info: 299-6699 or www.salemn- jchamber.homestead.com


Oct. 8 NJBIA: Meet the Decision


Makers Department of Environmen-


tal Protection Commissioner, Bob Martin; Assemblyman John McKeon, Assembly Environ- ment and Solid Waste Commit- tee Chair; Senator Robert Gor- don, Senate Environment and Energy Committee Vice Chair; and Senator Christopher “Kip”


Bateman, Senate Environment and Energy Committee Forsgate Country Club/Mon-


roe Township 7:45 to 10 a.m. Info: Katie Wittkamp at (609) 393-7707,


ext.239 www.njbia.com Oct. 13 The Future of Funding for


Non Profit Organizations in New Jersey


Non Profit Development Cen-


ter of Southern New Jersey and Center for Non Profits South Jersey Tech Park at


Rowan University 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Info: npdcsnj.org


Oct. 15 The 210th Annual Meeting –


featuring David Gregory, moder- ator of Meet the Press Greater Philadelphia Cham-


ber of Commerce Pennsylvania Convention Center/Philadelphia 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. www.greaterphilachamber.com


Oct. 15 Congressional Action Com-


mittee: District 3 Congressional Debate


Chamber of Commerce of


Southern New Jersey Mansion/Voorhees 8 to 10 a.m. Info: www.chambersnj.com


Oct. 19


Awards for Excellence Dinner New Jersey Business & Indus- try Association The Pines Manor/Edison 6 p.m. Info: Katie Wittkamp at (609)


please see EVENTS, page 10 or


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