The Ocean County Business Association is holding an Open House event on Thursday, October 18, at the Clarion Hotel in Toms River from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. It's a great opportunity to mix and mingle with the best business owners in Ocean County. Fellow business owners and the public is welcome.

OCBA announces its annual spring drive for new members. Since we only allow one member per category, there has never been a more opportune time to join. Some of the more popular categories at OCBA include:

• Criminal Attorney
• Personal Injury Attorney
• Painting/Wallpapering
• Windows and Doors Installation
• Wireless Communications

For more information on the benefits of being an OCBA member, click here.

In 2015, with the untimely passing of our former president, the OCBA board of directors voted to rename our annual golf outing the Marty Aronow Charity Golf Classic to Benefit CAREing for Children. Marty was an exemplary OCBA president (2013-2014) who helped bring to life a golf fundraiser that would support OCBA’s CAREing for Children(CFC)—a 501(c)3 charity that provides food, gifts, and toys to underprivileged families and children during the holidays.

The Fifth Annual Marty Aronow Charity Golf Classic will again be played at the Pine Barren’s Golf Club on Tuesday, May 15, 2018. Last year’s Fourth Annual Golf Classic raised $14,000 for the 2017 holiday season. In the four years this event has been held, we have raised $70,000. Clare Bojus, CFC chairwoman, uses these funds to purchase food boxes, toys, and clothing, which are always in high demand.

The distribution of these gifts was an OCBA family event with Sheree Robinson’s grandchildren, Robbie and Danielle, instrumental in unpacking several pallets of toys that were delivered. OCBA member Steve Belitrand aided in arranging pickups of holiday gifts for the charities. The charities we assisted are too numerous to mention here but among them are: DYFS of Toms River and Lakewood, St. Joseph’s Church in Toms River, Pine Beach and Beachwood police departments, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department, Providence House, Salvation Army, O.C.E.A.N. Inc., and Mental Health Associates of NJ.

Because CFC is run strictly on volunteer power and there are no overhead costs, 100 percent of the donations go to support the charity. Likewise, 100 percent of the Golf Classic net proceeds (after golf-course expenditures) are funneled directly to CFC.

As you can see, this cause is close to our collective heart and one that, we hope you agree, is worth your time, money, and effort. We’re optimistic that this year’s Classic will surpass last year’s very successful event—and help even more people in our community. If you would like to join us, please contact Steve Pellegrinelli at 732-240-4500 x7173 or email him at spellegr@oceanfirst.com or Bill DeBernardis at 732-557-9600 or email him at info@apadnj.com. Sponsorship opportunities and entry can be found here.

The Ocean County Business Association, representing Ocean County's "Best In Business", has elected a new slate of officers for July 2017-June 2018.

Thanks to OCBA member/board trustee Chris Aldrich of Andrew K. Knox and Company for chairing this year’s Open House event. It was a huge success! We had lots of guests and prospective members in attendance—and a fascinating afternoon of learning.

Our first speaker, Toms River Sheriff Michael Mastronardy, spoke of the chaotic 48 hours following the pipe-bomb explosion in a trash can in South Seaside Park last September. It was timed to detonate when runners from the Semper Five road race would be passing by, but fortunately, the race was delayed and there were no casualties.

Was it an act of terrorism? Lots of calls and misinformation flooded Mastronardy’s office, and all leads were explored.

With the sheriff’s office, the state police, the prosecutor’s office, the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives), and the FBI all working on the case, the attack was ultimately deemed terrorism, and the perpetrator, Rahami, was caught in Linden, N.J.

Next at the podium was sheriff’s officer Christine Casullo and her furry pal, Gertrude Penelope—a bloodhound currently serving in the canine unit. Gertrude is used for tracking and search and rescue. The canine unit has nine other dogs, whose jobs include sniffing for bombs, drugs, and arson. There are six handlers for the ten canines, and all dogs live with their handlers.

We left the Open House meeting feeling thankful for both the humans and the animals that are making our lives better and safer here in Ocean County.

Providence House honored OCBA’s in-house charity, CAREing for Children, at its annual Survivor Celebration on October 20 at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River.

CAREing for Children (CFC) provided toys and food to Providence House families during the 2015 holidays.

A division of Catholic Charities, Providence House provides individual and family support services and shelter to the victims of domestic violence.

CFC raises funds throughout the year and donates food boxes, toys, and other gifts to families in need during the holidays. Its largest fundraiser event is the annual Marty Aronow Charity Golf Classic held in May.

Attending the Survivor Celebration were CFC chairperson Clare Bojus, OCBA president Regina Gelzer, and OCBA member and Providence House board member Tim Bradshaw.

“Survivors got up and talked about their experiences with domestic violence and abuse, their escape journeys, and how Providence House helped them,” says Regina. “It was a very moving, emotional ceremony.”

(l. to r.) Mary Pettrow and Jennifer Bauer, both of Providence House. Tim Bradshaw, Regina Gelzer and Clare Bojus of OCBA.

OCBA past president and board member Lisa McComsey is coauthor (with chef Amy Cramer) of Seagan Eating: The Lure of a Healthy, Sustainable Seafood + Vegan Diet, published by Penguin Random House in July 2016. Lisa and Amy’s first book, The Vegan Cheat Sheet, debuted July 2013.

The book presents a thoughtful, well-informed case for making seaganism the new gold standard for sustainable, satisfying, and healthy eating.

In this guide, Lisa and Amy share tips on how to shop, cook, and eat better and more mindfully as seagans, proving you can eat luxuriously and healthfully every single day. Readers learn:

• The health benefits of seafood
• The best (and worst) fish for health and sustainability
• Seagan grocery staples and best practices for buying seafood
• Fish in a Flash – five easy preparations and recipe hacks
• 21 days of seagan menus, plus decadent, crowd-pleasing seagan and vegan recipes
• 23 vegan foods you should ditch and why

Ideal for anyone looking for an easier introduction to the vegan diet, who wants to make incremental changes to their diets, or who simply can’t accommodate an all-or-nothing approach, Seagan Eating is the perfect guide to help punch up your nutritional intake while still maintaining a well-balanced, sustainable, and mostly vegan diet. For more information, visit www.seaganeating.com.

The Ocean County Business Association is Ocean County’s premier business networking group. However, that doesn’t mean it’s all about business. The 60+-member-strong organization of business owners and senior decision makers is also committed to giving back to the communities—through its non-profit arm called CAREing for Children (CFC).

Chaired by longtime OCBA member Clare Bojus, CFC’s primary purpose is to provide gifts for children at Christmastime. In 2015, the group handed out more than 3,000 toys through various agencies.

“The number of families we help is enormous,” says Bojus. The majority of toys are delivered through other agencies, including the Island Heights United Methodist Church, Preferred Behavioral Health, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, DYFS of Toms River, O.C.E.A.N. Inc., Providence House, Lakehurst police Department, Lakehurst First Aid Squad, Lakehurst VFW, Lakehurst Fleet Rescue, Beachwood and Pine Beach police, The Hope Center of Toms River, Seaside Park police and borough, and many individual families.

“The gifts are always unwrapped, so everyone can see what they are receiving,” explains Bojus. “We categorize them by age group, sex, baby or young adult,” she adds, “which helps the agencies tailor the gifts to their recipients.”

Bojus, who has chaired the charity for the past 15 years, says CFC started small and just kept growing. “In the ‘90s, Paul Losseff, our resident eyeglass and hearing-aid dispenser, suggested we each bring an unwrapped gift to our holiday party. After a few years, the pile of gifts became so large that Phil Brilliant, our environmental consultant, loaned us his truck and we began delivering gifts.”

Now CAREing for Children is a year-round endeavor. Bojus visits toy trade shows, where she orders thousands of toys at wholesale prices. They are delivered and housed at Bojus’s facility. She owns The Creative Basket, which supplies gift baskets for all occasions.

Every May, OCBA holds its biggest fundraiser of the year—a golf outing—and all proceeds go to CFC. In 2016 , the event raised more than $20,000 in its second year. “The rest of the donations are made up through the generosity of OCBA members throughout the year,” she adds.

CFC also supplies many food pantries in the area. “This started when one of our members was able to secure a large block of donated food,” explains Bojus. We now supplement donations with purchased goods and distribute them through St. Joseph’s Church in Toms River, St. Steven’s Church in Whiting, and Morning Star Presbyterian Church in Bayville.

“It’s been a very rewarding experience,” she concludes. “It’s wonderful to put a smile on a child’s face and food in his or her stomach. But it’s also wonderful to see the generosity and commitment of my fellow members.”

The Ocean County Business Association (OCBA) raised $20,087 for the charity, almost double from what was raised last year, at its Marty Aronow CAREing for Children Golf Classic, held recently at the Pine Barrens Country Club, Jackson.

The golf outing was renamed the Marty Aronow CAREing for Children Golf Classic in honor of past OCBA president Marty Aronow, who passed away last year. It was Marty Aronow who was the driving force in establishing this golf outing as a fundraiser for CAREing for Children, a 501(c)3 charity OCBA has supported since 2001, that provides needy families with food and holiday gifts for their children.

Last year, OCBA members personally donated more than $6,000 to purchase food boxes and hundreds of toys at trade shows and other venues. The toys were given to organizations, including the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department; State of New Jersey, Department of Children, DYFS of Toms River and Lakewood; The Hope Center, Toms River; Providence House; Seaside Heights Police Department, Ocean Inc. of Barnegat and Toms River; St. Joseph’s Church, Toms River; Morning Star Presbyterian Church, Bayville, and the Lakehurst Police Department.

Marty (front row, yellow tie) posing with his board members and officers at the 2013 OCBA Holiday Party.
Photo courtesy of Angie Lombardi Photography

One of the good guys is gone—and OCBA has lost one of its greatest champions. He fought a battle against an invisible foe. And while it took his body, Marty's legacy of strong family and an impeccable work ethic lives on in his children, colleagues, clients, and friends.

The owner and principal consultant of Aronow Business Advisors since 2005, Marty was a master troubleshooter, problem-solver, and team builder who helped scores of business owners set and meet goals—whether for growth, turnaround, or retirement. Guided by his motto, "Problems don't fix themselves; they get worse," clients learned that good planning and consistent follow-through are the keys to success. Prior to launching his own business, Marty served as a professional-services executive for three decades, with vast experience in technology, construction, and contracting.

Clients and colleagues admired Marty for his expertise and loved him for his kindness. While tough in business—and unafraid to take on even the toughest challenges—he cared deeply for those he worked with and was praised for his listening skills, great sense of humor, and passion for the job. One client put it simply: "Spending time with Marty will make you better.

He was one OCBA's most influential members. When he joined the organization in 2009, Marty immediately dove in and began volunteering. He co-chaired the marketing committee, became a member of the board of trustees, served as vice president, and was elected president in 2013. Under his leadership, OCBA teed off its first annual golf outing in May 2014, which raised more than $10,000 for CAREing for Children—OCBA's charitable arm that provides holiday gifts and food baskets to families in need. A true professional in every sense of the word, Marty was always impeccably dressed, usually in suit and tie, and gave generously of his time and talent.

In 2010, Marty and his wife, Lisa, founded the Aronow Family Foundation in memory of Marty's cousin and best friend, Evelyn N. Aronow. The organization supports the work of advocacy and education for people with disabilities. He was also a mentor for SCORE, Service Corps of Retired Executives.

Donations in Marty's name can be made to the New Jersey Commission on Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities (NJCRID), P.O. Box 26 Kendall Park NJ 08824 or CAREing for Children, P.O. Box 1291, Toms River, NJ 08754-1291.

More than 75 business owners and managers attended OCBA's annual open house in April. With a keynote speech by noted author and motivational speaker Barry Farber, it was an action packed lunch meeting. Acting President Chad White of Safe Harbor Wealth Management kicked the activities off. The main purpose of the event is for potential members to attend an OCBA luncheon, meet with existing members and learn about how the organization fosters business exchange in Ocean County. More than 35 prospective members and guests attended.

Bruce Rush, of Autoshred, introduced the guest speaker. Bruce worked with Barry many years ago for a copier company before both of them caught the entrepreneurial bug and started their own businesses.

The open house is just one of many activities OCBA holds each year to promote business exchange in Ocean County. The group is unique in that we are category exclusive, and we are entirely dedicated to business referrals. To find out more about membership click here.

If you're an Ocean County-based business owner or corporate decision-maker looking to meet the most trusted and respected people in our community, then Ocean County Business Association (OCBA) is the ideal networking organization for you. Read more about OCBA and see for yourself how this unique organization can be one of the most important steps you'll ever take toward boosting your business.

Finding high-quality, reliable product and service providers can be tricky business. Where do you look? Whom can you trust? The Ocean County Business Association solves that problem once and for all. Each carefully screened member must meet rigorous standards and adhere to the OCBA Code of Ethics. To locate the product or service provider you want, click here.

We are now accepting applications for new members. If you're interested in joining, there are three ways for you to contact us. Click here to e-mail our membership representative. Download a membership application immediately. Call us for more information or for questions you may have at 1.866.606.OCBA (6222).

Don't delay. Once your category is filled, you will no longer be eligible for membership. Some members have maintained their categories for over 25 years! To view which categories are currently taken, check out our membership list.