NJ Chamber names Legislator of the Year award winners

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The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce this week announced the recipients of its Legislator of the Year Awards.

The biennial awards recognize leaders for their overall support of the business community and for their work advancing New Jersey as a more business-friendly state.

In addition to five state legislators – selected based on their voting records, bill sponsorships and initiatives – the Chamber will also recognize three leaders inside and outside government for their outstanding work making the Garden State a great place to live and work.

The eight recipients will be honored at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Legislative & Business Awards Reception, which will take place Oct. 22 at EisnerAmper‘s headquarters in Iselin.

The recipients are:

Legislator of the Year Awards

• Sen. Andrew Zwicker, D-16th District
• Vince Polistina, R-2nd District
• Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, D-18th District
• Assemblyman William Spearman, D-5th District
• Assemblyman Robert Clifton, R-12th District

Business Advocate of the Year Awards

• Lisa Chowansky – president, HC Constructors Inc., and first vice chair, NJ Chamber board of directors
• Jacquelyn Suarez – commissioner, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs

NJ Chamber Alliance Partner of the Year Award

• Chris Phelan – president, Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce

New Jersey Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Tom Bracken said the honorees were selected because each has taken action to improve the state’s economic climate – and that each has been at the forefront in the fight for tax and regulatory reform and fiscally responsible infrastructure investment.

“New Jersey faces many challenges, and the business community is fortunate to have individuals such as these taking action to help make our state more affordable and more competitive.”