ISELIN-The New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) today presented William Dalton, director of corporate relations with Clayton Companies, with its 2004 Leonard C. Johnson Award for his work on behalf of the Association and its member companies.

NJBIA Chairman Bart Luedeke presented the award during the Association's 2004 Public Policy Forum, which was held at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin. The Johnson award winners are individuals who have made a long-term commitment to the work of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.

"Anyone who has raised money knows what a challenging task it can be," Luedeke said. "But for nearly 25 years, Bill Dalton has raised money for NEW JOBS (the business community's largest and most influential political action committee), hosted fund-raisers and reached out to new organizations; and he has done it with a good natured style that makes people want to be a part of it. Most important of all, his efforts have helped to elect probusiness candidates in many State legislative elections."

Dalton has been a member of the NEW JOBS Board of Trustees since 1980, serving terms as chairman, vice chairman and treasurer. He was instrumental in forming a partnership with the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey in the 1980s. He has hosted numerous fund-raisers, most recently serving as event chairman of the NEW JOBS Monmouth-Ocean fund-raiser held this fall.

Dalton has also been a member of NJBIA's Environmental Quality Committee since 1980, helping to analyze environmental legislation and regulations to determine their potential impact on the business community. He is also a long-time member of NJBIA's Government Affairs Committee and a former chairman of the Monmouth County Employer Legislative Committee.

The Leonard C. Johnson Award is named after Leonard Johnson, president of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association from 1963 through 1977. He was a highly regarded industry leader and served as an advisor to four New Jersey governors.