CABA's Moving and Shaking in NJ

CABA’s Gala Dinner brings NJ Governor Out

By Allison Skeete


The Caribbean American Business Association (CABA) of New Jersey hosted its annual Gala Dinner recently and the four year old not for profit organization was joined by New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine who did more than make a courtesy appearance. The Governor came in and spent the cocktail hour engaged in genuine conversations with the group of successful entrepreneurs of Caribbean Ancestry who are minority business owners in the state he leads.

Along with the Counsel Generals of Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago, Derrick James and Dr. Harold Robertson, Corzine listened to concerns about stimulus funding for businesses owned by the group that represents a growing part of many constituencies in the United States. He also spoke as dinner began giving much hope that they will be able to continue doing business in this difficult economic time.

NJ Council Official Elsie Dublin-Foster shared with guests that the New Jersey governor was the first to create an official box to check for Caribbean American residents of this state; a bit of information very relevant today as the New York Group CARIBID2010 is seeking to have that very same box become a part of the US Census to address the growing income and profits benefits from this diverse and often overlooked and undercounted group.

The Gala Dinner was the stage for CABA to honor those in the New Jersey business community and this year the group heralded such stalwarts like Deborah Collins, Esq., who serves in Essex County as the Executive Director Economic Development Corporation and Director, Small Business Development and Affirmative Action.

Judge Julien Neals currently Corporation Counsel for the City of Newark; as Corporation Counsel, Judge Neals manages attorneys who practice in areas, including Contracts & Legislation, Labor, Civil Litigation, Real Estate, Tax Appeals & Tax Abatements, Workers’ Compensation and Municipal Prosecutions and Trevor Layne MD, a leading oncologist in New Jersey. They were recognized for their strength, courage, vision and commitment in upholding a positive image in the community.