The African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (AACCNJ) announces they will present 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., SpiritualLeader & Author & Former Director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), at the 15th Annual Business Leadership Conference which will be held on September 24, from 9 am – 3 pm, at the Sheraton-Edison, in Edison, NJ.
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 publiccontracts; 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, as their availability and qualifications for participation has been well documented, historically as contributors to the success of America, right up to current day”, said John E. Harmon, Sr., IOM, Founder, President & CEO, AACCNJ.
“Blacks have the highest level of poverty and unemployment; 93% of black businesses are sole proprietorships, Blacks represent 14% of the state’s population and according to Nielsen we are over indexed in our spending for several industries. Moreover, black voter participation for the majority political party has consistently made a difference in the election outcomes. Our contributions from a consumer spending and voterparticipation perspective have not been reciprocal from those that have derived benefits; and therefore, as an organization, representing the interests of black people, it would be an egregious failure of our obligation to our constituency if we did not voice our concerns and pursue strategies for greater accountability, opportunities, and equity”, said John E. Harmon, Sr. “We must make the right selection for governor given the social economic standing of the 1.2 million black residents and over 124,000 black businesses, our agenda must be heard, embraced and equitably executed.”
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
Sponsorship Recognition 9:40 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Panel 1 – Fireside Chat
Best Practices in Public Contracting 9:55 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.
Moderator: John E. Harmon, Sr., Community Development Officer, AACCNJ
Michael Garner, MBA, CCA, Chief Business Diversity Officer City-Wide, Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs, NYC
Keith Wright, Ph.D., Spiritual Leader, Author, Ph.D., Former Director, Business Diversity, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Port Authority of NJ & NJ
Panel 2 10:45 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Expanding Access to New Jersey’s Capital Improvement Contracts: Addressing systemic barriers, enhancing transparency & equity in the procurement process. Moderator: Markis Abraham, Director, Hudson County Officeof Business Opportunity
Panelists
Jeanette Barnard, Deputy Director, Div. of Property Mgt. & Construction (DPMC), NJ Treasury Bianca Reyes, Supplier Diversity Manager, PSE&G
Glenda Thomas, CEO, Electra Grid Solutions
Larry Wooten, Senior Manager, Supplier Diversity, American Water
Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Panel 3 12:30 p.m. – 1:15p.m.
A Call to Action: 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, Restauranteur & Real Estate Developer
Joy Butts, V.P. Business Devel. Mgr., CSBC, Strategy Growth & Operations, Chase Bank, N.A. Thomas Prendergast, CEO, Gateway Development Commission (Invited)
Panel 4
From Debt to Dynasty: Mastering Business Finances for Long-Term Wealth
Moderator: Funkae Olayinka, Chief Executive Officer, GHIT Consulting, inc.
1:20 p.m. – 2:05 p.m.
Panelists
Lisa 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.