Business News: Thanksgiving Food Drive, Countywide 'Opportunity' Event

Weichert Realtors to Hold Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive

Weichert, Realtors’ Basking Ridge office is holding its annual Thanksgiving food drive with the assistance of Basking Ridge Girl Scout Troop 60872, and troop leaders Jackie Engle and Lisa Richter. All donations will benefit the Somerset County Food Bank Network.

During the drive, both organizations will be collecting canned and dried foods such as soups, tuna, peanut butter, spaghetti and cereal, as well as non-food items such as deodorant, hand soap, diapers/wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste and shampoo. The items can be dropped off through Nov. 14 at the Weichert Basking Ridge office at 22 Henry Street between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. The non-perishable items later will be delivered to the food bank.

“As a company, Weichert enjoys giving back to the communities we serve,” said Thomas Goodrich, manager of Weichert’s Basking Ridge office.  “We hope our support of the Somerset County Food Bank Network will help the organization achieve its goals in helping to provide for those who need it most.”  

For more information about how you can make a donation, contact the food drive coordinator Carol Conway at 908-334-1986.

Somerset County Business Partnership's annual "Opportunity" meeting set for Dec. 1

The Somerset County Business Partnership annual meeting, “Intersections of Opportunity,” invites the county's is the county’s business people and residents for an event on Dec. 1 that would combine networking opportunities with the recognition of companies that boosted the local economy.

The 2011 event is scheduled for Thursday, Dec, 1, at the Bridgewater Marriott, 700 Commons Way in Bridgewater, according to an announcement from the partnership.

The celebration is scheduled to begin with a networking reception at 11:45 a.m. followed by a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. The annual meeting typically attracts 400 guests for a relaxed afternoon of networking and celebration as the business community honors its own for success, reflects on the Business Partnership’s accomplishments of the past year, and sets the agenda for a prosperous and sustainable 2012, according to the partnership.

“The Annual Meeting is the most important gathering of the year in Somerset County, the singular event that brings the entire Somerset County community together for a day of networking and recognition of companies that made a major contribution to our economy” said Mike Kerwin, the Business Partnership's Chief Executive Officer. “Attendance by Somerset County business and political leaders makes the annual meeting the premier event for making important and beneficial contacts.”

Information and reservations may be obtained by calling the Somerset County Business Partnership at 908-218-4300 or online. 

Coldwell Banker announces it wins web award

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, with offices in Basking Ridge, Bernardsville and Bedminster, this month announced that its website, ColdwellBankerMoves.com, was presented the Real Estate Standard of Excellence award by the Web Marketing Association. This is the first time that ColdwellBankerMoves.com has been honored with a WebAward by the Association, according to a release from the company, based in Parsippany.

Now in its 15th year, the WebAward program conducts an annual website award competition that names the best websites in 96 industries while setting the standard of excellence for all website development. ColdwellBankerMoves.com, the largest real estate services website of its kind in the Tri-State area, was judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology, according to the company. 

“Today’s homebuyers are extremely Internet savvy. More than 80 percent of people start their home search online," observed Hal Maxwell, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New Jersey and Rockland County, NY. “I am very proud to have our website recognized among this elite group.”