Liveblogging Leadership New Jersey's Forum on the Future of New Jersey

Today we are producing podcasts for Leadership New Jersey at the studios of NJN in Trenton. We did this last year, and you can still hear last year's podcasts at the podcast blog. The Forum on the Future of New Jersey also has its own site.

That's also where we will be posting the podcasts from this year's program, which is just getting underway with welcoming remarks from Diane Brake, LNJ '90, of PlanSmart NJ.


Diane Brake


Michael Willmann of WMSH Marketing Communications in Haddonfield is the organizer of the Forum.

Here's the lineup of speakers/panels. We'll blog each one separately.

1. "Is New Jersey in the game...or on the bench?" - US Attorney Christopher Christie on the challenges of balancing business needs and the duty to guard against terrorism.



Panel 1: The insider's view (on the ground)
Academic and business leaders discussing why businesses choose to locate in New Jersey. Panelists are Greg Bohn, Advanced Drainage Systems; Jim Hughes of the Bloustein School at Rutgers, Ann Limberg, New Jersey market president for Bank of America; and Kenneth Traub, American Bank Note Holographics.

Panel 2: The Regional View (from 500 ft.)
Regional agencies offering their strategies for attracting business and the investments needed to ensure the state's competitiveness.
Moderated by Jack Lettiere of Nation's Port
Panelists: Tom Carver, NJ Casino Reinvestment and Redevelopment Authority; John Matheussen, Delaware River Port Authority; Carl Goldberg, New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority; Susan Bass Levin, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Joe Montemarano, SMART (Strengthening the MidAtlantic Region for Tomorrow).

Panel 3: The Natitonal and International View (from 10,000 feet)
Leading Corporations discuss the challenges they face in remaining in the state. Moderator, Tom Tauke of Verizon. Panelists: Jay Biggins, Biggins Lacy Shapiro; Nick Montalto, Diversity Dynamics; and Tom Morr, Select Greater Philadelphia.

Keynote speaker at lunch is Gary Rose, Economic Growth Chief, State of New Jersey.

There are about 150 attendees at the New Jersey Network studio in Trenton for the program. We'll be back with more as Chris Christie gets his speech underway momentarily.