The former chief executive officer for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment is joining the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, charged with overseeing business operations and global growth for the company’s 147 sites across two dozen countries.

The move comes in the wake of flat Halloween sales, word the retailer would cut its corporate workforce by 19%, and a targeted $30 million reduction in costs in an effort to offset the impacts of lower demand and inflationary pressures.

The firm represented a joint venture of Morristown-based Claremont Development, Cypress Equity Investments and Battery Global Advisors to secure the eight-year, fixed-rate loan.

See the Garden State growers on this year's list, which overall represents achieved three-year revenue growth ranging from 241% to 125,138%, with a median growth rate of 611%.

During a Nov. 10 quarterly earnings call, the multistate operator reported that New Jersey has been the “leading growth driver” this year within the company’s Northeast region.

Steve Schlesinger, who has led the Iselin-based marketing research company since 2000, moved into a new role and handed over the reins to Reed Cundiff.

After arranging the sale of the 32,000-square-foot property in September 2021, JLL has signed the Bergen County location's first new lease since the acquisition.

Located next door to each other, the properties offer a cumulative 13,900 square feet nearby to downtown Trenton.

The communications company with operational headquarters in Basking Ridge also appointed Angie Klein to the new role of senior vice president and president of Verizon Value within its Consumer Group division, effective Jan. 1, 2023. 

The Garden State's placement - an improvement from its 12th-place ranking in the spring, translates to 47.1% of participating facilities receiving A marks.

Jim Kras, CEO of the Belvidere-based buyer, said, "We believe there is significant potential for these on-trend products based on consumer demand for flavorful and well-packaged products that are all-natural, preservative-free, sustainably produced and fresher than traditional sauces."

According to the governor's office, the 1 million-square-foot project is expected to generate more than $4.6 billion in regional economic activity, create more than 2,500 jobs and provide over $1.9 billion in wages.