It’s no coincidence that I often find myself in conversations about why New Jersey makes sense for companies looking to grow. What’s even more intentional is that those conversations often evolve beyond location, infrastructure, and access to markets, and focus on our people.
It’s the people who call New Jersey home, and their willingness to welcome others, share their knowledge, and help create opportunities, that make our state a special place to do business.
Last week I got to show Jonny Kelly, Brendan Gallen, and Erin Nixon from The Foundation in Belfast exactly what I mean, and I couldn’t be prouder of how New Jersey showed up and showed out!
Trips like this take a lot of planning and coordination, and I am so grateful to everyone who was so generous with their time. This started with Michael Egenton at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce who I might argue agreed to meet even before the email hit his inbox. New Jersey’s business community is lucky to have him as one of their key champions.
In the hours and days that followed that introduction our guests had the opportunity to meet people from across New Jersey’s business, academic, legal, healthcare, and innovation communities. A sincere thank you also to Paul St. Onge, Matthew P. McDermott, Christopher Hughes, Adam Zellner, Jose Lozano, Thomas Prol, Zenon Christodoulou, and Michael Reagan for making time to share their knowledge, perspectives, and connections.
From seeing firsthand the results of the work that brought two outstanding law firms together to form FTB Gibbons, to getting an inside look at New Jersey’s healthcare and business communities, and visiting the New Jersey Innovation Hub, these conversations offered a valuable introduction to the opportunities our state has to offer.
As this company with more than a century of success looks to expand their U.S. presence through New Jersey, Jonny, Brendan, and Erin experienced firsthand what makes our state special: people who are genuinely willing to open doors, share what they know, and help others succeed.
There was, of course, also time for an iconic New Jersey diner, Rutgers University, and plenty of miles on the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway!
As always, it’s important to recognize that these conversations were made possible by longstanding relationships and a shared commitment to what makes New Jersey truly special.
These connections didn’t begin when Jonny, Brendan, and Erin arrived last Monday, and they certainly didn’t end when their visit was over.
