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The basics:

• The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce‘s Walk to Washington & Congressional Reception returned after a five-year hiatus.
• The event, which offered extensive networking opportunities, featured eight of the major gubernatorial candidates and attracted a significant number of state legislators and business leaders.
• The Chamber also announced the future schedule of the The Walk and other potential plans.

The buzz from the recent New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Walk to Washington & Congressional Reception is still reverberating around the state. The 84th iteration of the iconic event returned after a five-year absence with a group of New Jersey business leaders in every industry, political leaders from every level of government and key stakeholders taking part.

“Over 1,000 New Jersey business and government leaders joined the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Walk to Washington & Congressional Reception last week, marking a triumphant return for the two-day event after a five-year hiatus,” New Jersey Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Tom Bracken wrote in a Feb. 14 statement. “The bottom line: The Walk remains the state’s premier business networking event. And in this pivotal gubernatorial election year, it also served as a powerful rallying cry.”

And to that end, the return of The Walk came at a pivotal time in New Jersey – and the nation– as Gov. Phil Murphy’s final year in office (and final budget) coincides with the beginning of the second Trump administration and the backdrop of the 2025 gubernatorial race to succeed the term-limited Murphy.

Eight of the major gubernatorial candidates participated in the Feb. 6-7 event – Democrats Ras Baraka, Josh Gottheimer, Mikie Sherrill, Sean Spiller and Steve Sweeney joined Republicans Jon Bramnick, Jack Ciattarelli and Bill Spadea. Republican Ed Durr and Democrat Steve Fulop were absent.

The candidates participated in the tradition of walking through the 14 train cars of the Amtrak charter that makes multiple stops between Newark and Washington, D.C. And they were on the dais for a Feb. 7 gubernatorial forum.

Throughout the train, there were food and beverage options; ample networking opportunities; various promotions and displays set up by different Garden State businesses and organizations; and so much more.

Upon arriving in the nation’s capital, homebase for the action was the Omni Shoreham – near the site of the event’s former longtime venue, the Marriott Wardman, which permanently closed.

A who’s who

The main attraction of the first night was the Congressional Reception – honoring the state’s congressional delegation and featuring speeches by Chamber executives, business leaders, Murphy, Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th District. More than an estimated 50 state legislators made their way to Washington for the event, including several legislative leaders.

A who’s who of New Jersey power players and power brokers could be seen milling around the Omni lobby before and after the reception; with networking opportunities everywhere – as well as organized events and dinners throughout the city, for everything for the candidates to businesses entertaining clients.

“The Walk features the kind of super-networking that helps businesses grow,” said Bracken in the lead-up to the event. “That is why we have been doing it for 84 years. It’s still New Jersey biggest and most unique business event.”

And that sentiment and vibe was on full display during the two days earlier this month – with the feedback and reaction both in real-time and following The Walk seemingly universally positive and happy about its return.

“Welcome to the 84th Walk to Washington,” said Bracken during the Congressional Reception, noting that he could not say annual because of the hiatus. “We have finally brought this back.”

“It’s an honor to stand with you,” said Murphy during his remarks. “Tom, 84 years – first time here in five – it feels awfully good to be back. And I’m honored to be with you.”

‘What The Walk’s all about’

NJBIZ recently caught up with Bracken for a post-mortem about the event, the feedback the Chamber has received and more.

“First of all, to get 1,200 people there was just phenomenal,” Bracken told NJBIZ. “I think it shows the intense desire of people to network and to meet with people that they never get a chance to meet with. Which is what The Walk’s all about. And I think in our case – to be able to meet the gubernatorial candidates. We set out with that goal to put together an event that provided all those attractions – and it worked. It worked very well.”

He stressed that having most of the candidates participate and embrace the event – and having that race as a major backdrop – was “huge.”

“I don’t think that there will be a debate in New Jersey where more than more than eight of the candidates are there – as we had,” said Bracken. “So, to me, it was probably the biggest gathering of the candidates, absolutely, so far this year. And it might be the biggest gathering for the entire gubernatorial race season. It was gratifying that they all came – they all participated – and they all respected each other, after the debate of the week before.

“I think people really got a lot out of what they had to say – which was helpful to our attendees and, also, I think was very helpful to the candidates.”

He said economic issues, perhaps unsurprisingly, generated most of the discussion.

“Without question, the No. 1 issue was the need to improve the economy of New Jersey,” Bracken stressed. “It was the topic of every conversation I had. That’s why people went to that – to see if they could get more information on how that might happen. That’s why we focused our entire panel – the questions about the economy and helping the business community. That was, by far and away, the biggest topic of discussion, which went right in the face of the previous two Democratic and Republican debates. Where each of those for two hours never even mentioned the word economy.”

Without question, the No. 1 issue was the need to improve the economy of New Jersey. It was the topic of every conversation I had.
– Tom Bracken, NJ Chamber of Commerce president and CEO

Bracken alluded to the governor’s upcoming Budget Address and wondered how much the economy will feature in that speech.

“It is the biggest issue facing our state – without question,” Bracken emphasized. “People realize that – and they were hoping that going there they might get information that will be helpful to see the direction we’re going in. Because we’re not going in a great direction – and we need to make a U-turn and really start to improve our economy if we’re ever going to achieve the revenue goals we need to make the payments on all of the bills that have been created.”

A key part of that effort toward solutions for the business community is the establishment of a new Economic Council, enshrined by Murphy through an executive order, which Bracken talked about in his remarks at the event and in his letter afterwards.

“I’m pleased to report that on Feb. 5 – the day before the Walk to Washington – I participated in the inaugural meeting of the state’s new Economic Council, created by Gov. Murphy,” said Bracken in his Feb. 14 statement. “This Council, composed of government and business leaders, is focused on developing actionable strategies to make New Jersey a more competitive place to do business.”

Big numbers

NJBIZ also spoke post-event with one of those key members of the Chamber team and planners for The Walk – Michael Egenton, executive vice president, Government Relations.

“I’m ecstatic about the outcome of the event, the draw, the participation,” Egenton told NJBIZ, who described the days after at the State House as “euphoric” and noted the positive feedback from legislators who attended as well as a bit of FOMO from those who were unable to.

“We had over 40 legislators on the train – and I would probably say another 15-20 that made their way down to D.C.,” said Egenton. “We probably had at least over a third of the Legislature down there. It’s a huge great, draw – when you think about transporting, I call it the New Jersey contingency, down to D.C., it really is.”

Egenton credited the work of his colleagues at the Chamber as well as Amtrak and the Omni Shoreham.

“All these components have to work meticulously in order for us to pull it off,” Egenton explained, giving a particular mention to Kevin Friedlander, senior vice president, Communication/Events for the Chamber, who oversaw a lot of the logistical aspects of the organizing. “And being away five years, I was even concerned and nervous. I don’t even think I slept the night before up in Newark – thinking of all of these different things for it to come together.”

Positive participant reviews

Participants also shared positive reviews of the trip.

“Great to be back on the train! A welcome opportunity to reconnect with long lost colleagues and make new connections,” Phil Brilliant, past chairman of the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce and founder of Brilliant Environmental Services, told NJBIZ. “Can’t wait until the next one.”

“The long-awaited return of the Walk to Washington delivered on its promise of impactful engagement. NJCPA members and staff connected directly with lawmakers, forged valuable business relationships and amplified the voice of New Jersey CPA’s (did you see all of the ‘Proud to be a New Jersey CPA’ buttons?).” Aiysha Johnson, CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, told NJBIZ. “The energy and networking opportunities were exceptional – and we’re eager to continue partnering with the Chamber.”

TAPinto Newark took over the sponsorship of the kick-off breakfast from Verizon this year. It was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Newark just steps from Penn Station.

“My business partner, Jonathan Jaffe, and I learned about three weeks before the Walk to Washington that Verizon wasn’t sponsoring the breakfast,” Bruno Tedeschi, a co-founder of TAPinto Newark and a New Jersey-based public relations professional, told NJBIZ. “Having previously worked with Verizon and having attended the breakfast for many years, we knew how many important and influential people attend the breakfast and ultimately the train. We definitely had a purpose in mind as well. We used the opportunity to raise red flags about diminishment of local journalism and its impact on our democracy.

“It was especially poignant that it came just days after The Star-Ledger published its last print edition and more than 250 people who had worked there during its heyday gathered for a wake,” Tedeschi continued.

Tedeschi said that The Walk to Washington is one of the few opportunities in New Jersey to meet so many influential and important people in a short period of time. “But you really have to make sure your 11-second elevator speech is crisp and to the point because there are so many people to talk to and so little time – you are in D.C. before you know it,” said Tedeschi.

Egenton said he loved hearing and seeing the feedback – and the connections made – especially for first-time attendees of the trip.

“That’s what it’s all about. That’s what this trip has always been about – about bringing New Jersey together, a show of strength of our all collectively working together,” said Egenton. “Keeping New Jersey at the top of the list – networking and making those connections. I call it the premier networking event.”

Moving forward, the Chamber plans to hold The Walk in alternating years – rotating it with the ReNew Jersey Business Summit in Atlantic City. That means next year, the Summit will be held with The Walk coming back in 2027.

Bracken also hinted at potential plans for a mini summit over the summer to maintain continuity.