If you like our weekly lists, you'll love this – an updated and exhaustive reference guide full of leads, contacts and everything else you need to guide you to a successful new year.

The top 10 honorees are ranked numerically; the others are listed alphabetically.

In an effort to combat the increased number of COVID-19 cases in New Jersey, on Oct. 28 Gov. Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 192 providing mandatory workplace standards in an effort to protect employees during the pandemic. Under the order, all employers were required to adhere to certain health and safety protocols as of 6:00 a.m. on Nov. 5.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic — which spurred massive job cuts and sent individual and business spending into a deep freeze — New Jersey’s tax revenue plunged, sending state officials on a desperate search for financial life support. The solution included a bifurcated budget; some spending cuts, more than $4 billion of new borrowing, and some new taxes.

As if the health effects of COVID-19 weren’t enough, the deadly virus may also slam individuals and businesses with more grief in the new year. From determining how states will tax the income of telecommuters, to unanticipated consequences stemming from Payroll Protection Program loans, there’s a lot of confusion. NJBIZ spoke with business experts for some answers.

The result of the presidential election is now clear but a nail-biter race in the U.S. Senate means control of the upper house likely won’t be decided until January 2021. That hasn’t stopped some tax lawyers, like Steven Loeb, from advising his clients to take some steps now before time runs out.