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The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) and its partner, COMMERCE Magazine, welcomed business leaders recently to the 3^rd Annual Best Practice Conference saluting leadership.

More than 150 executives participated in the conference which featured a keynote speech from Jonathan Gilliam, a national security expert and former U.S. Navy SEAL, who often appears as a CNN commentator. Best Practice Awards were also given to business leaders selected by a blue-ribbon panel of judges assembled by CIANJ. The association represents more 900 corporate members and works to advance free market principles.

Martin Kafafian, managing partner at the Beattie Padovano law firm, who chairs the CIANJ board of directors, opened the program. He said: “It makes so much sense to focus on best practice because they are at the core of what we do at Commerce and Industry Association. CIANJ is all about helping business grow and thrive. What better way to accomplish that, than to share best practices, the experience – the knowledge and lessons learned by running a business.”

As part of the salute to leadership, COMMERCE Magazine Editor Miles Epstein asked business executives to share thoughts on the subject for the magazine’s annual Best Practices Guide. This year’s edition contained advice from 100 chief-executive-officers, managing partners and business owners. The guides were distributed at the conference. They are also available online at http://www.cianj.org/commag/bestpractices2016/index.html

Fred Amicucci of Data Screening accepted the award on behalf of Karen Jacobsen.  Jacobsen stated having open communication and understanding other people’s jobs within our organization is the foundation of the company.

Gilliam gave insights on leadership and shared many of his experiences as a Navy SEAL and former FBI agent with the conference goers yesterday at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville. His remarks drew hearty applause from the crowd. He urged the business executives to motivate their teams. “Leaders are made, some are self-made. But many are taught by mentors. There’s no doubt in my mind that leaders are not born – it takes time to cultivate a leader.”

Many of the CEOs who wrote for the Best Practice Guide discussed their personal approaches to leadership and collaboration. The judges were asked to select the most clever, extraordinary and innovative entries to be honored at the conference.

CIANJ President John Galandak said this year’s judges included:  Dennis Bone, head of the Feliciano Center for Entrepreneurship at Montclair State University; Rob Ffield, a former commander of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight squad; Bill Hanson, president of NAI James E. Hanson; Debbie Hart, president of BioNJ; Dean Paranicas, president and CEO of the Healthcare Institute of New Jersey; and Dean Siamack Shojai of the business school at William Paterson University.

The Best Practice award winners for 2016 included:

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