Message from our President/CEO, UN Representative/Director, Christine Overton, Ph. D.

Welcome to the Chamber of Commerce, based in the historic Hanover Area of New Jersey, USA. The Chamber of Commerce is the backbone of the nation’s economy in most communities around the world and serves as the trusted premier voice for the citizens it represents.

The Chamber makes progress through an economic, political and social system based on individual freedom, incentive, initiative, opportunity, and responsibility. Our membership is comprised of successful and talented business leaders willing to make an investment in the future. We have a clear vision for our area and for the state of New Jersey, designed to improve the lives of those who live and work here and this cooperative effort between business, government and the community continues to grow into a membership which supports everybody equally. In my personal opinion, true achievement is reflected in the strength of its communities. The Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce wants the communities we serve to be better and stronger because we are there.

As business and community leaders, we are dedicated to working tirelessly to build a strong and dynamic membership where we network together in productive ways and form mutually beneficial partnerships. Now more than ever we stand next to all of you as we are confronted with an economic affliction of great proportions. We suffer from the longest and one of the worst sustained economic challenges in our national history. It distorts our economic decisions, penalizes thrift, and crushes the struggling young and the fixed-income elderly alike. It threatens to shatter the lives of millions of our people. Industries have cast workers into unemployment, causing human misery and personal indignity which keeps us from maintaining full productivity. The economic ills we suffer have come upon us over several decades. They will not go away in days, weeks, or months, but they will go away and we are anticipating a stronger economy in 2012.

It is no secret the recession has had a devastating effect on the retail industry. The tight credit market and even tighter consumer spending have left a trail of vacant retail centers over the past four years. Carcasses of once-vibrant retailers litter our strip-mall landscape - from high-profile chains to lesser-known retailers. The 2009 bankruptcy of Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp. took out car dealers and jobs throughout the state. I am very encouraged to see the automotive industry improving once again and am committed to partnering with local dealerships to help them in any way that we can. Consumer confidence is an important aspect of our agenda this year.

New Jersey has long been considered a desirable location for retail businesses because of its dense and affluent population. When I took over the Presidency at the end of October 2011, I spent significant time taking stock of the retail community in Morris County where the majority of our membership base works and resides. After having served for two years with the State Chamber in Trenton, I was well versed in the successes and challenges New Jersey faces particularly with its retail — an area I am determined to support. Last year I visited retailers and other consumer-focused businesses, like restaurants, to see how they were weathering the recession storm.

Some have had to get creative, while others are extolling the virtues of their niche to explain why they are enjoying a surge in business. The cost of payroll is a great concern these days for many, resulting in letting employees go and cutting their hours. People have to eat, but many observed consumers are buying less and being more frugal, preferring to buy from cheaper outlets instead of going to restaurants or specialty stores. Everyone wants a bargain these days, which has proven to be a welcome trend for some merchants who specialize in packaging a number of products to stimulate interest. The concern I heard most frequently was a need for quality affordable healthcare insurance - our Board is working on this request and investigating programs which we anticipate being able to offer to our membership later this year.

It is important for non-profit and for profit companies to partner together in a strong and positive manner. It is important to bridge the gap between all diverse cultures. The world has become much smaller today, where partnering across the vast oceans is easier than ever before. Our Chamber is dedicated to introducing you to all our global partners. We will be instrumental in organizing specific events where we can meet in one place to discuss international business opportunities. Our Chamber supports international trade and encourages all people to work together for the good of the community.

We have a no-nonsense approach which brings Republicans, Democrats and Independents together to propose practical solutions to problems. In addition to promoting your services, we are forming strong partnerships where we are making significant and positive moves to improve the economy. Membership with the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce knows no sectional boundaries or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and our factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we are sick--professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. We welcome you to our unique style of business development; encourage you to write articles and to submit 30 second commercials showcasing your company and products. Join our respected roundtables and prepare to work hard in a chamber that recognizes that there is no “I” in the word “Team”. Membership with the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce is just that — a team of professional leaders making positive moves to improve our economy one connection at a time.