Over 50 Chamber Members and guests gathered at Ross Enterprises in Carneys Point for Morning Coffee and Connections Networking. This was our first event for 2023 and attended by over 60 business folks, special thanks to General Manager Joe Prissel and his team for a terrific event.

Steve Graham from Graham Communications and Chair of The Chamber's Marketing Committee photographed the event, pictures may be viewed HERE

Ross Enterprises utilized PCity Bakery to provide refreshments.

Several guests attended and we have 4 new Member leads we are working on welcoming as new Members.

Our next Networking Opportunity is February 9 at GW Pens in Woodstown, invitation below.

Matthew Cassidy is the CFO and General Manager of Salem Oak Vineyards, LLC in Pedricktown, New Jersey. Matthew was born and raised in rural Southern New Jersey where his entrepreneurial spirits and commitment to public service led him to start and acquire several business ventures and serve in the military. Between 2013-2018, Matthew served as the General & Operations Manager for Salem Oak Vineyards. In 2018, Matthew joined the U.S. Army Reserve, enlisting, then commissioning and promoting quickly to first lieutenant, his current rank. Throughout his military commitments, Matthew remained with the winery. NJ Biz Magazine named him CFO of the Year in the Rising Star category in 2019 and the Department of Defense named Salem Oak Vineyards as a top business for Veterans and Military Personnel in 2020. In 2021, Matthew acquired Deebs Bread and merged it with his start-up, P City Bakery. In separate pursuits, Matthew has served as the principal of two real estate firms that develop mixed-use properties, multi-family homes, and acquires property tax liens for redevelopment. Matthew also has served as a liaison for U.S. Government missions to France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, leveraging his French and Arabic language abilities. In his spare time, Matthew enjoys hiking, traveling, physical fitness, and cooking meals with his family. He is an Eagle Scout from Troop 303 in Carney’s Point and an avid supporter of charities focused on outdoor conservation and career planning for economically disadvantaged youth and adults.

Matthew will serve a three year term on The Chamber Board starting now until 2025.

Paul DiLorenzo is the Executive Director of the Salem Health and Wellness Foundation. He is a seasoned professional with over 40 years in non-profit, philanthropic and government child welfare and youth development settings. He began his career as a caseworker in Philadelphia. The Salem Health and Wellness Foundation is a health care conversion fund that invests in the health and well-being programs for the county’s residents. Paul is also a Senior Fellow at the Child Welfare League of America. He has provided leadership in government, philanthropic and non-profit child welfare organizations, including as the Director of Children’s Policy for the City of Philadelphia and serving as a Special Assistant in the Secretary’s office within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, where he led the development and implementation of community based family support projects. Paul has written extensively and also has presented at numerous conferences and professional gatherings, and at more community meetings than can be counted. 

Paul will serve a three year term on The Chamber Board starting now until 2025.

Chris is born & raised in Salem County and still resides here. Proud to be raised by her father, a former Dupont accountant and her mother a former Director of Nursing at the Salem County Health Department. She has 4 siblings, 2 lovely daughters, rescues dachshunds and volunteers for numerous nonprofit organizations in our area such

as the Pennsville Public Library and the Pennsville Woman's Club. Chris was also a long-term member of the Girl Scout organization both as a scout & a leader. She credits those years with the formation of her core values of courage, confidence and character.

Chris has had experience in the wholesale/retail market, having worked for 'Atlas Foods' in Pennsville as a younger woman where she was introduced to the foundations of excellent customer service, management & sales. After 8 years as a stay-at-home Mom, she entered the Real Estate industry,

never imagining she would love it so much. She focuses on residential & light commercial sales. She was presented the meaningful 'Peer Appreciation Award' in 2005 by GSCBOR.

Chris has been a licensed Realtor since 1993 with the Pino Agency, co-founder of The South Jersey Real Estate Academy and a NJ Real Estate Instructor since 2012.

In 2022, she became the Broker Owner of the Pino Agency and is very excited to now lead her team of 30-plus Realtors. Chris is the current President of the Gloucester/Salem Counties Board of Realtors, a member of the NJ Association of Realtors, the National Association of Realtors, The Certified Residential Council, The NJ Association of Women Business Owners, The Real Estate

Educators Association and the National Woman's Chamber of Commerce. She is very excited to now be a part of The Salem County Chamber of Commerce!

Chris will serve a three year term on The Chamber Board starting now until 2025.

Upcoming American Red Cross blood drives in Salem County with available appointments include:

Saturday 1/21/2023 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Woodstown Masonic Lodge #138, 32 Auburn Road, Woodstown 08098

Tuesday 1/24/2023 from 1 - 6 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, 76 Market Street, Salem 08079

Tuesday 1/31/2023 from 2 - 7 p.m. at the Salem County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 6, 693 South Broadway, Pennsville 08070

Tuesday 2/7/2023 from 12 - 5 p.m. at the Pedricktown Industrial Complex, 76 Porcupine Road, Pedricktown 08067

Tuesday 2/7/2023 from 2 - 7 p.m. at the Ferrell Fire Company, 186 Elk Road, Monroeville 08343

Wednesday 2/8/2023 from 1 - 6 p.m. at the Elmer United Methodist Church, 19 South Main Street, Elmer 08318

To make an appointment to donate blood, go to redcrossblood.org and enter the zip code of the desired donation location.

With sincere thanks to the Salem County Chamber of Commerce members and their employees, families, and friends for their generous and ongoing support,

Cindy McManus

American Red Cross - Community Volunteer Leader - Salem County

cell: 856 217-4986

Held at PSEG's EERC

244 Chestnut St,

Salem, NJ 08079

To register with payment visit:

SalemCountyChamber.com/payments

Join us for great networking at GW Pens, hosted by owner John Greco at:

4 South Main Street

Woodstown

To ensure adequate refreshments, please RSVP to 856-351-2245

This year's Best of Salem County Contest begins March 1 with voting ending March 30, 2023. We'll forward the ballot draft out to everyone several times in February. Please provide feedback to ensure we are appropriately including your business in each category for the terrific products & services your company provides.

The Celebration event is scheduled for Thursday evening, April 27 from 5:30 pm - 7pm at Salem Community College's Davidow Performing Arts Center. One of our Board Members received feedback from quite a few Members asking if we could make the celebration event complimentary for Members. So we listened and are creating an event similar to The Oscars. Take a walk on the red carpet, door prize drawings, lots of photos and recognition. There will be no charge for attendees!

Sponsorships are available at $250 each and pay for recognition certificates, DJ, photo booth, yard signs. If you are interested in Sponsoring, please call Jennifer at The Chamber offices at 856-351-2245 or send an email to [email protected]

Look for more details soon.

Please join Ralston Law in a Boards & Estate Planning event on March 24, 2023 at 7pm. Materials cost $35. However, if you use discount code Misty15 — Ralston Law will pay for $15.00 and you will only pay $20.00

Refreshments will be provided. All attendees will also be entered into a drawing for a free gift.