Business Briefs

A trade show networking extravaganza, a joint effort of the chambers of commerce of Lakewood, Point Pleasant, Brick Township, Point Pleasant Beach and Toms River, will be held 5-7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Jenkinson's Pavilion, Point Pleasant Beach. More than 100 businesses will display their services and wares. The festivities will include door prizes, giveaways, a cash bar, pasta stations and hors d'oeuvres. Admission is free. For display table information, call 732-477- 5788 (Brick) or 732-363-0012 (Lakewood).

Maria Richman, O.D., F.A.A.O., has been named the New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians' (NJSOP) 2009 Optometrist of the Year.

The Optometrist of the Year award is presented to an optometrist who during the preceding 18 to 24 months has proven himself or herself to be an outstanding practitioner. In order to qualify for the award, a candidate must demonstrate a mode of practice that shows deep commitment to his or her patients.

In addition, the optometrist must have shown concern and involvement within the association and the profession, and made a significant contribution to the community.

Richman's peers chose her for the award in recognition of her contributions to the visual welfare of the community, the association, the profession of optometry and the state of New Jersey, according to a press release.

Richman earned her degree from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. As a student, she trained in a low-vision externship at Philadelphia's Scheie Eye Institute and served as president of the Gold Key Honor Society.

Richman joined NJSOP in 1990 and is the founder of the society's Low Vision Committee. She serves on the board of directors and is the chair of the Clinical Care Center and the Continuing Education Committee.

In June, Richman was elected to the American Optometric Association's Low Vision Rehabilitation Section Council while simultaneously pioneering the development of NJSOP's new mentor program.

Richman practices in Manasquan and Lakewood with her husband, Dr. Harvey Richman. They reside in Sea Girt with their two children.

Supergym in Jackson hosted Husky House's Fall Festival on Oct. 24. The event raised money for Husky House, which helps find homes for dogs that had to be given up by families who could no longer afford to keep them in this economy.

According to Supergym manager Heidi Hersh, the highlight of the event was when more than 300 people participated in the "Thrill The World" dance tribute to Michael Jackson.

Hundreds of people pledged money to Husky House to be a part of "Thrill The World," an international dancing of Michael Jackson's Thriller dance, which sets a world record every year for simultaneous dance all around the world. Piper Williams, Supergym owner, said Supergym gave away free dance lessons over the past two months in preparation for the event.

Joseph M. Monahan, Ph.D., business scholar and former banking executive, has been tapped to lead the Georgian Court University School of Business, Lakewood. Monahan most recently served as the dean of the Finlandia University International School of Business and as the school's executive vice president for external relations. He brings to Georgian Court more than 30 years of leadership in industry and academic settings.

In business, Monahan served as a vice president with Marine Midland Bank, Credit Suisse, Generale Bank, and Kansallis Osake-Pankki Bank, all in New York City. In recent years Monahan also taught at the School of Business and Public Service at the State University of New York/Canton and served as its dean. There, he developed international business programs in Hong Kong, Brazil and Russia.

TD Charitable Foundation, Lakewood, has awarded Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI) a grant of $5,000 toward OHI's "Childbirth Education Classes for the Underserved" project. According to many statistics, pregnant women who are uninsured and underinsured, or who have little or no financial support, are least likely to receive prenatal care and education. To help pregnant women such as these deliver healthy babies, OHI is initiating an eight-week educational program, "Childbirth Education Classes for the Underserved."

The Plumsted Business and Merchants Association will sponsor its 2009 Fall Business Expo from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 7 at the New Egypt Elks Lodge, 105 Lakewood Road, New Egypt. The event will present the opportunity for the community to get acquainted with local business owners and merchants in Plumsted and surrounding communities. This season's expo will feature exhibitors, vendors, door prizes, gifts, food and savings.

Young Professionals invites the public to attend its November meeting, where guest speaker Ruth Palacio will present "Coping Behavior Gone Wrong." The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Farrell's Stout & Steak, 401 Broadway Ave., Point Pleasant Beach. Palacio, the owner of Palacio Consulting, will help attendees identify their own coping patterns as well as those of their clients, monitor and replace negative barriers, and discover new coping techniques, among other topics.

Young Professionals, a committee of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, is open to the public. Advance registration is $20 ($25 at the door) and includes hors d'oeuvres, unlimited networking, the presentation, and a cash bar. To register, contact Jennifer Weisert at 732-206-0527 or send an email to jweisert@manasquanbank.com.

Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. recently launched a new electronic newsletter, called e-Check-Up. Since e-Check-Up launched in August, many people have signed up for the e-newsletter. The newsletter includes articles about general health information, news from the hospital about new programs and services, special events, programs, lectures and support groups. To suggest a topic for a future issue, readers can email info@sbhcs.com.

To sign up for the newsletter, visit www.saintbarnabas.com and select Kimball Medical Center from the "Find a Facility" link on the home page. Click on the "Subscribe to Our Health e-Newsletter" link and complete the information. The newsletter will be sent via email on a monthly basis.

The Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources (JSAHR), a Superior Merit Award Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, will host its annual legal seminar sponsored and presented by attorneys in the Jackson Lewis law firm, Nov. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon at Jumping Brook Country Club, Neptune.

Immigration issues and "E-Verify; Employee Free Choice Act — What Is New?" will be addressed in addition to wage and hour issues, including the position of the government on wage and hour matters, such as rounding, and practical tips. "Ten Questions We Often Hear" will also be discussed. Participants will have an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the seminar.

The registration fee for the seminar and a full buffet breakfast is $60 for JSAHR members, $90 for nonmembers, and $50 for those in job transition. Call Kathi Evans at 732-244-8892 to register.