2024 Awards for Excellence

On Oct 7, 2024

New Jersey Business Magazine is proud to present the 2024 Awards for Excellence to two executives and nine companies that have improved the quality of life in New Jersey in outstanding ways. Powered by NJBIA, the awards honor select employers from NJBIA’s membership for outstanding achievements.

2024 AFE Members of the Year

For company contributions to NJBIA and efforts to improve the state’s business climate.

Nisivoccia

Nisivoccia LLP is a leading accounting and consulting firm based in Mount Arlington. Established in 1989, the firm offers comprehensive services including audit and assurance, tax planning, and advisory for individuals and businesses. Nisivoccia specializes in various industries such as real estate, construction, and nonprofit organizations, providing tailored solutions to meet clients’ diverse needs. Nisivoccia is a strong partner with NJBIA, especially in the support of nonprofits. From the company’s inception, the firm has provided accounting, tax, and audit services for profit, not-for-profit, and governmental entity clients, domestically and internationally – with some of its first clients still active today. Many of the firm’s professionals serve as board members or through active participation, support not-for-profit organizations. They understand the value that these organizations bring to people and missions they advocate for, and they support these missions. The firm’s dedication to integrity and professionalism has established it as a trusted partner in financial management.

Johnson & Johnson

JOHNSON & JOHNSON, FOUNDED IN 1886, is a global leader in healthcare innovation and solutions. Headquartered in New Brunswick, the company showcases expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech in particular, and is uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today. Its pharmaceutical division focuses on areas like immunology, oncology, and neuroscience, developing innovative treatments for complex diseases, while its medical devices segment offers a wide range of products for surgery, orthopedics, and cardiovascular health. With a commitment to improving human health and well-being, the company emphasizes research and development, ethical practices, and sustainability. Johnson & Johnson is one of the world’s most valuable companies and is one of only two US-based companies that has a prime credit rating of AAA. Johnson & Johnson has been a great partner with NJBIA and works diligently to support the association. As a global enterprise, Johnson & Johnson is dedicated to addressing critical health challenges and enhancing quality of life worldwide.

ELEC825

Engineers Labor-Employer Cooperative 825 (ELEC825) is a prominent labor-management partnership focused on enhancing the working conditions and professional development of engineers in the construction and industrial sectors. By advocating for fair labor practices and continuous skill advancement, ELEC825 helps ensure that engineers are well-equipped to meet the demands of modern engineering challenges. ELEC825 works to expand economic development by working with business partnerships, professional associations, and industry coalitions to support policies, legislation, and regulations that encourage responsible economic development. The cooperative provides a range of services, including workforce training, dispute resolution, and contract negotiation support. ELEC825 also engages in initiatives to improve safety standards and operational efficiency within the industry. It has supported NJBIA through advocacy and participation in events such as the WBLF.

2024 AFE Community Service

For companies committed to leadership in finding solutions to social or economic challenges.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Horizon has allocated more than $75 million through its philanthropic arm, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, to non-profit organizations to develop and deliver programming that addresses pressing health issues. 

To address the opioid crisis, the Foundation and Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey created the Knock Out Opioid Abuse (KOOA) initiative to address the epidemic through outreach, education, and a statewide awareness campaign. 

The Foundation also provided an initial $200,000 grant to create the Growing Health Pantries initiative in New Jersey. This collaboration with New Jersey’s five food banks will provide local pantries with the knowledge, resources, and framework to establish nutrition policy, increase healthy food options and provide essential wrap-around services to address the social determinants of health. 

Lastly, through the “Horizon Cares” community engagement activities, employees logged in more than 7,620 volunteer hours and generated $257,708 in economic impact. Horizon also matched $472,814 in gifts made by employees. 

Shovlin Mattress Factory

Extremely connected to Fanwood and Union County, Ron Shovlin, president of Shovlin Mattress Factory, is described as having a heart of gold and willing to help anyone. He has donated mattresses to victims of local house fires as well as cancer patients. He is a partner with Play for Pink, a charitable breast cancer organization, for which, on an annual basis, he donates a portion of the sales of the company’s Nirvana mattress to the organization. Ron Shovlin has also run a number of food drives and donates to many organizations, including the Girl and Boy Scouts, youth sports teams, community programs, and local schools. 

Shovlin Mattress’s biggest project – One Tree Planted – is at a record high of 7,000 trees planted in Appalachia. For every single box spring that is built, a tree is planted to help offset the wood that was used in the manufacturing process. 

All the above-mentioned only scratches the surface of everything Ron Shovlin has done for the greater good. 

AmeriHealth

AmeriHealth has a mission to enhance the health and well-being of the people and communities it serves. For years, the company has partnered with the LARC School, a local nonprofit special education school in Bellmawr, serving students with disabilities. In 2023-2024, AmeriHealth enhanced the school’s library by hosting a fundraiser and book drive, collecting books, sensory objects, and supplies for students, and refurbishing the library with newly donated items.

For more than 17 years, AmeriHealth has supported Special Olympics New Jersey. Employees describe their involvement with the organization as humbling and fulfilling. Recently, AmeriHealth became a 2024 recipient of the New Jersey Governor’s Volunteerism Award in the category of Outstanding Corporate Leadership. This award is a testament to AmeriHealth’s dedication to making a positive difference in the lives of its communities.

By supporting various causes and organizations to address issues such as hunger, homelessness, access to daily essentials, diversity and sustainability, AmeriHealth fosters a culture of compassion, collaboration, and excellence.

2024 AFE Outstanding Employers

For companies celebrating creative and forward-looking approaches to managing HR.

Commvault

While Commvault represents the gold standard in cyber resiliency, helping more than 100,000 organizations keep data safe and businesses moving forward, the Tinton Falls-based company is also dedicated to its employees by delivering excellence in training and development, workplace health, and compensation. 

Throughout FY 2024, employees participated in 1,200+ formal training programs, which totaled more than 190,000+ training hours, along with additional hours in self-directed and voluntary learning.

Its Employee Assistance Program and mental health provider offers employees and their families support and resources for life’s challenges. It also offers unlimited PTO, flexible work options, subsidized childcare, and family building benefits including fertility solutions support and an adoption and surrogacy benefit covering 100% eligible expenses.

Commvault’s commitment to DEI is codified in its human rights policy. Its employee groups foster cross-cultural learning opportunities, mentoring and community building.

Kolari Vision

Kolari Vision is a world leader in camera technology, especially infrared products, services, and camera conversions. While its American office is in Raritan, it has a European branch in the capital of Slovenia. The company’s mission is to innovate in all areas of photography and push the boundaries of what’s within our line of sight – from infrared to beyond. Its products have gained the trust of the most demanding cinematic, scientific, and professional photographers around the world.

Founder Ilija Melentijevic, Ph.D., is a scientist, innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He began Kolari at the age of 17 and earned a doctorate in molecular genetics by 30. He has published groundbreaking science in top journals and is currently in the process of launching his second major company in New Jersey. Melentijevic has taken the business from a mere concept to a $3 million+ revenue-generating firm. Through Kolari, Melentijevic’s charitable endeavors provide education and equipment for those looking to transform their lives through photography. 

2024 AFE Executives of the Year

For individuals who demonstrate leadership and passion while achieving business success.

Chris Krasas, President and CEO of Carl Stahl Sava Industries

Chris Krasas is president and CEO of Carl Stahl Sava Industries (Sava), a Riverdale-based cable manufacturer that provides cable assemblies, precision miniature and small cables, fitting, pulleys and tools for the medical, industrial, aerospace and consumer markets. 

Krasas, who joined Sava in 2015 as CFO, has consistently striven to understand the needs of the company and translated them into actionable plans. This includes: entering the robotics market, which resulted in more than 15 new projects that have increased sales by more than 20%; initiating one-on-one meetings with all 90 company employees in order to eliminate the barriers that usually separate workers from leaders, often leading to employees feeling neglected; keeping employees safe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by working lockstep with his management team to create a clean and distance-appropriate work environment; and transforming the company’s manufacturing floor by adhering to lean manufacturing initiatives.

According to the company, Krasas’ footprint has allowed the company to prepare for growth over the next five years.

Virgilio Caraballo, President and CEO of Rehabilitation Specialists

Virgilio Caraballo is president and CEO of Fair Lawn-based Rehabilitation Specialists, an organization specializing in services for persons who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.

Caraballo has guided the company through periods of significant growth and has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to innovation, such as implementing: a new state-of-the-art physical therapy room, equipped with SoloTrack, a walking track with harness for persons with disabilities; and the use of virtual reality (VR) therapies, which have been proven to be an effective treatment for improving cognitive function. 

Noted for his leadership ability to inspire and motivate in the workplace, Caraballo also contributes to the broader community. He serves as a member of Brain Injury Association of New Jersey’s Advocacy and Public Affairs (APA) Committee, chairs the subcommittee on Community Affairs of the APA committee, and was appointed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine to the New Jersey Advisory Council on Traumatic Brain Injury. He has served on the Board of Trustees for the Brain Injury Alliance. 

2024 AFE Excellence in Disability Inclusion

For companies focused on delivering equal opportunities to qualified people with disabilities.

Hudson Community Enterprises

Hudson Community Enterprises (HCE) has been providing training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities for more than 60 years. The not-for-profit organization operates many social enterprise businesses, including building maintenance services, Electronic Content Management (ECM)/document scanning, document shredding, digital printing and packaging and fulfillment. Each of these businesses employs persons with disabilities, many of whom have been provided workforce development/training and vocational rehabilitation through HCE. 

The organization also provides workforce development and vocational rehabilitation. Additionally, it offers Project SEARCH and its High School transition programs, which provides students with disabilities access to onsite work experiences. In 2023, HCE launched the Center for Employment and Inclusion and DEAFinite Solutions™, a social enterprise offering business services, all created for the deaf and hard of hearing. Over the last year, HCE launched two initiatives, including Pledge All Abilities and an internship program funded by the NJ Department of Labor.

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