| Attention: Business and Features Editors |
 | NJBIA Honors 13 at Annual Awards For Excellence Dinner |
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| News Release: October 17, 2000 PRINCETON-The New Jersey Business & Industry Association presentedits Award for Excellence on Tuesday, October 17, to five companies andone individual for their innovation, community commitment and dedicationto their employees. With 16,500 member companies, NJBIA is the nation'sstate-level largest employer association. Association President Joseph E. Gonzalez Jr. and Board of Trustees ChairmanAlexander McWilliams II presented the awards in a dinner ceremony at thePrinceton Marriott. Seven runners-up were also recognized for their achievements. "Serving as the 'Voice of Business in New Jersey,' we spend a lot oftime telling people about our organization and how business benefits NewJersey," Gonzalez said. "This is one of those rare occasions when we canset aside the dry statistics and let the world know about the wonderfulthings that you-New Jersey's employers-are doing." "The winners stand out from the pack," Gonzalez continued. "It'snot just that they are visionary and successful. It's not just thatthey have helped make New Jersey a better place in which to live and work. It is also the fact that they have done all these things while succeedingas business owners." "Tonight's award recipients, representing both small and large companiesin each award category, have found a way to do something extraordinarywhile attending to the already demanding job of running their businesses." Awards for Excellence and Honor Roll recipientswere recognized in four categories: Enterprise, which recognizes companiesthat have made a significant economic contribution through the creationof new jobs; Environmental Quality, which recognizes companies that havedone outstanding work to preserve or enhance the quality of the naturalenvironment; Outstanding Employer, which recognizes companies that havedemonstrated a creative and forward-looking approach to meeting the needsof their employees; and Public Service, which goes to an individual forsolving pressing social or economic problems in New Jersey. An independent panel of judges selected this year's winners. Thirteenmembers of the Princeton and Newark Chapters of the Service Corps of RetiredExecutives (SCORE) volunteered their time to conduct the judging. WithumSmith+Brown,the New Jersey-based accounting and consulting firm, verified the informationsupplied by the award winners. Following is a brief description of the Awards for Excellence winnersand the Honor Roll recipients. For more informationon the winners, you may call Chris Biddle at 609-393-7707, ext. 227, orJeanne Murawski, ext. 215: New Jersey Business & Industry Association Enterprise Award Hutchinson Industries Inc., Trenton The Olde Mill Inn, Basking Ridge Environmental Quality Award L'Oreal USA Clark Manufacturing, Clark Outstanding Employer Award Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton Public Service Award Awards for Excellence Enterprise Award Hutchinson's "run-flat" tire inserts are critical to the survivabilityof military land troops, including the U.S. Army, in 62 countries. Theseinserts are designed to keep vehicles moving in the event of flat tires.Using the Hutchinson inserts, heavy artillery vehicles and armored truckslike the Hummer can still be driven even if their tires take a hit. In addition to its "run-flat" system, Hutchinson makes aluminum wheelsfor the commercial version of the Hummer vehicle. The company investedover $1.5 million dollars to build a high-tech aluminum wheel manufacturingplant in Trenton last year. Thirty-one jobs were created as a result, accountingfor a 30 percent increase in the size of the company's Trenton workforce.These employees-from engineers and draftsmen to CNC operators and laborers-learnbetween $19,700 and $85,000 depending on their position and experience.All employees also enjoy a full benefits package. Hutchinson currently owns and operates three plants in Trenton employingmore than 70 people. The company also makes rubber-liner inserts for heavytrucks and other vehicles used in the manufacturing, warehousing and miningindustries. Hutchinson does about $20 million in sales annually and anticipatessteady growth in the future. The Hutchinson Group, a division of the TotalGroup, employs 20,000 people in 17 countries. Its Trenton facility is ISO9000 certified. The Hutchinson Group has been designing and making its"run-flat" tire systems for more than 40 years. Enterprise Award Managing Partner Thomas Curnin heads up a team that has transformedwhat had been a dilapidated, bankrupt eyesore into a thriving enclave ofcharm and hospitality. Nestled in the hills of Somerset County but convenientlylocated on 10 acres just off I-287, The Olde Mill Inn is a restored 18thcentury facility that features 102 overnight guest rooms and suites, 18banquet and meeting rooms, an historic restaurant, and a pub. The transformation has been a dramatic one. Curnin began with 30 employeesin 1993 and now oversees a staff of nearly 160-a fivefold increase in justseven years! In payroll alone, The Olde Mill Inn contributes millions of dollars annually to the stateand local economies. The Inn also invests substantially in upkeep on everythingfrom lawn care to new light bulbs. Local merchants have also benefited from the Inn's restoration. Wheneverpossible, the Inn uses local vendors and contractors to provide services.Photographers, limousine drivers, hair stylists, dry cleaners, musicians,and others benefit from the approximately 200 weddings held at the Innevery year. The investments and careful attention to quality and detail have broughtdeserved recognition. The Somerset County Chamber of Commerce has recognizedthe Inn with its Economic Vitality Award. In 1999, Business News New Jerseyselected The Inn as one of New Jersey's finest privately held companies,and Meeting Planners International, New Jersey, bestowed its Top Facilityof the Year award on the Inn. Environmental Quality Award L'Oreal USA Clark Manufacturing has achieved an impressive voluntaryreduction in its waste and air emissions, as well as its energy usage,thus becoming a leader among New Jersey manufacturers in minimizing itsimpact on the environment. L'Oreal-which manufactures hair products such as shampoos, conditioners,and styling lines under the L'Oreal name-employs 370 people at its Clarkfacility and generates approximately $600 million in annual sales. Havingmade a commitment to being an "environmental leader," the company has gonefar beyond regulatory requirements in its waste reduction. All manufacturingprocesses operate under strict ISO 9002 quality criteria. The plant recycles96 percent of its solid wastes, thus removing an incredible 15,000 tonsof trash that would otherwise have to be buried in landfills or incineratedevery year. It has eliminated 4.2 million pounds of excessive corrugatedpackaging from the manufacturing process. It has reduced its water/sewerageuse by 30 million gallons annually. Finally, L'Oreal has reduced its greenhousegas emissions by 31,400 tons over the past 10 years. These efforts have minimized the plant's impact on the environment,while saving L'Oreal millions of dollars in waste-disposal and other costs.Along the way, the Clark facility has picked up a plethora of environmentalawards and recognition from many organizations, including state and federalenvironmental agencies. For example, it was one of only 17 companies toreceive the US Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Wise National L'Oreal is a leader in striving to create a business that is both profitableand environmentally friendly. The company has sent videotapes of its manyenvironmental programs to public agencies around the country to serve asan example of good corporate citizenry and environmental stewardship. Environmental Quality Award Epicor has succeeded in the monumental task of reducing its industrialwastewater discharge from 8,000 gallons per day to zero. Since 1995, allwater used in the company's manufacturing process and its laboratorieshas been reprocessed and recycled. This complete elimination of wastewaterdischarge into the environment far exceeds state and federal environmentalstandards. Epicor, an ISO 9002 certified company, has invested substantial resourcesinto building an on-site filtration and collection system that purges wastewaterof solid impurities. The company then reuses the remaining cleaner water. Some of the water is even used for sanitation and lawn maintenance. Thissystem also has enabled Epicor to eliminate the use of sulfuric acid andcaustic liquids that were formerly needed to treat its water before discharge. The new recycling system has completely eliminated the discharge ofindustrial wastewater from the company plant to the Linden/Roselle SewerageAuthority. Previously, Epicor sent 8,000 gallons a day to the local sewerageplant for monitoring and treatment. The water conservation system alsosaves the company upwards of $19,000 a year. The company's commitment to the environment has not gone unnoticed.The New Jersey Water Environmental Association presented Epicor with theEcker Excellence in Industrial Wastewater Treatment Certificate. The Cityof Linden has recognized Epicor for building and maintaining one of thecity's most environmentally pleasing sites. Outstanding Employer Award Topping the list of reasons Epicor is an outstanding employer is itscommitment to employee safety. This is evidenced by its recent recognitionas a STAR Site by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)in its Voluntary Protection Program. This program recognizes employersthat have done an outstanding job incorporating comprehensive safety andhealth programs into their operations; motivating others to achieve similarresults; and establishing cooperative partnerships between employers, employeesand OSHA. The former Exxon Bayway facility in Linden served as Epicor'smentor. In awarding the company STAR Site status, OSHA noted that Epicor andits employees made tremendous progress in reducing risky behavior and promotingsafety by connecting these goals to employee performance. Employee participationin making safety policy and workplace changes were viewed as key to theprogram's success. Beyond safety, Epicor also continues to provide comprehensive healthcarecoverage, including dental, for all full-time staff and their families-andat no cost to employees. In addition, the company offers a generous retirementplan, which includes matching funds of up to 3 percent of an employee'sbase salary. The company also conducts an annual salary review that rewardsemployees who make major contributions to Epicor's growth and stability.Finally, the business owner and president, Rose Bussiculo, shares the company'sprofits with employees in the form of annual bonuses. Epicor's fine treatmentof its employees is successful when measured against the benchmark of employmentlongevity. More than half of its employees have been with the company formore than 15 years! Outstanding Employer Award Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton, a 160-bed, acute-carefacility, takes worker happiness and fulfillment seriously. Witness theestablishment of the Employee Satisfaction Committee in 1999. This is noidle committee. Its elected members represent all hospital departmentsand all 965 employees, and it has real horsepower to gets things done.In its first year of existence, the committee has created an employee fitnessprogram, healthier cafeteria menus, increased educational opportunitiesand eligibility to apply for tuition grants, improvements to the hospitalpension plan, and long-term disability and life To keep its staff healthy, the Hamilton hospital offers an on-site WeightWatchers program, a free workout class conducted by a physical therapist,and access to the Rehabilitation Department for use as a Fitness Center.It has also constructed a 1.2-mile-long walking path around the hospitalcampus and connected the hospital walking paths to a neighboring townshippark. Other benefits include the opportunity to earn additional vacationtime based on hours worked, expanded hours for the HR department so eveningand night workers have improved access, and employee-benefits fairs whereemployees can gain a greater understanding of the benefits offered. The results of instituting the Employee Satisfaction Committee's recommendationsspeak for themselves. Since the committee was established in March 1999,the hospital has seen a 7 percent decrease in employee turnover. It alsohas enjoyed the highest scores ever in its patient satisfaction surveys. Public Service Award Insurance executive Al Singer was watching television one night andlearned that even in this land of plenty, 15 million children go to bedhungry. "To put an end to this horrible situation," as he puts it, Singerformed People Against Children Starving in the United States (PACS-USA),a joint venture with Feed the Children in Oklahoma City. Singer's antihunger program solicits funds from the insurance industryto purchase truckloads of food for distribution in cities across the nation.Since its founding in December 1997, PACS-USA has distributed 185,000pounds of food to food banks in Hackensack and Edison, New Jersey; Harlem,New York; and Monterey, California. The most recent area distributiontook place in Teaneck, New Jersey, on June 10. Singer, president of Singer Nelson Charlmers insurance company, raisesthe money needed to buy the food. Singer writes letters and makes presentationsto persuade insurance companies to pay for the food. A donation of $7,200buys 880 packages of food-enough to fill a tractor-trailer. The purchasedgroceries are then distributed to areas chosen by the contributing companies.Al Singer has turned his considerable talents as an insurance salesmanto a very worthy project. He's doing his part to ensure that thousandsof children no longer go to bed with empty bellies. Enterprise category:
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