The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) announces that the Honorable Tahesha Way, Esq., Lieutenant Governor & Secretary of State will make opening remarks at the 15th Annual Business Leadership Conference on September 24th in Edison, NJ.
“We are pleased with the Lieutenant Governor’s attendance, it is significant to have her participation at this year’s conference,” said John E.Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President & CEO, AACCNJ. “Our ultimate goal and mission at the AACCNJ, is coalescing relationships that strengthen the competitiveness of NJ, we will continue to collaborate with the Murphy Administration and the private sector in New Jersey withfocus and intentionality,” said Harmon.
The conference schedule also includes a Fireside Chat with Michael Garner, MBA, CCA, Chief Business Diversity Officer (City-Wide), Mayor’s Office of M/WBE’s, NYC and Keith Wright, PH.D., Spiritual Leader & Author & Former Director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), and remarks from Andy Ingraham, President & CEO, National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD).
The AACCNJ 15th Annual Business Leadership Conference is themed “Collaborating for our Collective Success”. The conference features panel discussions with a focus on how to build bridges towards mutual success with the overarching goal of improving the competitiveness of the state of NJ, and the economic impact on the 1.2 million Black New Jerseyans, and the over 124,000 Black owned NJ Businesses.
“This year’s event is significant with the upcoming Gubernatorial November election in New Jersey. The recent Disparity Study, commissioned by the Murphy Administration, which placed blacks at the absolute bottom in receiving less than half of one percent of our state’s public contracts; is a reminder of the large scale emergency that we are faced with and it will require a significant response to achieve the equitableparticipation of blacks”, said John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President & CEO, AACCNJ.
The Premium Platinum Sponsor for the 2025 Business Leadership Conference is Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of NJ, Gold Sponsors are:Electra Lines, PSEG, United, Patron Sponsors are JP Morgan Chase and Ferreira.
Attendees can register through the following link: www.aaccnj.com/blc
Business Leadership Conference
15th Annual Business Leadership Conference “Collaborating for Our Collective Success” September 24, 2025
Sheraton-Edison, Edison, NJ
Registration/ General Session/Networking – Breakfast 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Welcome Remarks 9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m.
John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President, and CEO The African AmericanChamber of Commerce of New Jersey (Dignitary)The Honorable Tahesha Way, Esq., Lieutenant Governor & Secretary of State, NJ (Invited)
Sponsorship Recognition 9:40 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Panel 1 – Fireside Chat 9:55 a.m. – 10:25 a.m.
Best Practices In Public Contracting
Moderator: John E. Harmon, Sr. IOM
PMichael Garner, MBA, CCA, Chief Business Diversity Officer City-Wide Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs, NYCKeith Wright, Ph.D., Spiritual Leader & Author, Former Director, PANYNJ
Special Guest Remarks 10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Andy Ingraham, President & CEONational Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators & Developers (NABHOOD)
Panel 2
10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Expanding Access to New Jersey’s capital improvement contracts: Addressing systemic barriers, enhancingtransparency & equity in the procurement process.
Moderator: Markis Abraham, Director, Hudson County Office of Business Opportunity
PanelistsJeanette Barnard, Deputy Director, Div. of Property Mgt. & Construction (DPMC), NJ Treasury Bianca Reyes, Supplier Diversity Manager, PSE&GGlenda Thomas, CEO, Electra Grid SolutionsLarry Wooten, Senior Manager, Supplier Diversity, American Water
Lunch
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Panel 3
12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
A Call to Action: Transportation Infrastructure Delivery, Community Development and Ownership, Building Generational Wealth through Opportunities
Moderator: Tai Cooper, Chief Development Officer, NJ Economic Development Authority (NJEDA)
Panelists: Adenah Bayoh, IHOP Franchisee, Restaurateur & Real Estate DeveloperJoy Butts, V.P. Business Devel. Mgr., CSBC, Strategy Growth & Operations, Chase Bank, N.A. Catherine Renaldi, Executive Vice President, Gateway Development Commission
Panel 4
1:20 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
From Debt to Dynasty: Mastering Business Finances for Long-Term Wealth
Moderator: Funke Olayinka, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, GHIT Consulting, inc.
PanelistsLisa Lovell, MBA, Financial Planner, Prudential Marcus Dyer, Associate,Withum, Smith & Brown Matt Verney, Market President, Truist
Panel 5
2:10 pm. – 2:55 p.m.
Redefining the Workplace: AI, Workforce Readiness, Innovation
Moderator: Gary Mann, CEO, Jasfel Analytics
Panelists: AnJu (A.J.) Hyppolite, Software Engineer, Office of Innovation, State of NJ Tom Bergeron, CEO, Business Every day in NJ (Binje)Brandon Young, President & CEO, Young Management
Closing Remarks
2:55 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM
About The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey
The AACCNJ performs an essential role in the economic viability of New Jersey. While providing a platform for New Jersey’s African American business leaders to speak with a collective voice, the AACCNJ advocates and promotes economic diversity fostering a climate ofbusiness growth through major initiatives centering on education and public policy. The Chamber serves as a proactive advocacy group with a 501(c) 3 tax exemption, which is shared by the National Black Chamber of Commerce.