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Pic- Lt. Governor–Elect Dr. Dale G. Caldwell,
Atlantic City, NJ — December 10, 2025 — The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce convened senior government officials, C-suite executives, media leaders, and international business partners at its annual JBiz Expo Economic Summit, held at Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City. The summit opened with the National Anthem, setting a unifying and patriotic tone for a day focused on economic leadership, collaboration, and growth.
The forum marked the first public appearance of New Jersey Lt. Governor–Elect Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, MBA, Ed.D., since the election and included formal acknowledgment from Governor Phil Murphy, who recognized the Chamber’s eight-year partnership with the State of New Jersey in advancing economic development, job creation, and business growth.
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Ahead of Dr. Caldwell’s keynote address, the Lt. Governor–Elect met privately with the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce leadership and its Founder & CEO, Duvi Honig, together with members of his transition team. The meeting outlined a framework for a direct and ongoing working relationship between the incoming administration and the Chamber, focused on economic development at the highest strategic level. Discussions centered on job creation, workforce development, capital access, affordable housing, infrastructure investment, and coordinated public-private initiatives designed to accelerate economic growth across New Jersey.
Dr. Caldwell later toured the summit floor, engaging with business leaders, sponsors, and international delegates, before delivering a keynote outlining the incoming administration’s economic vision. His remarks focused on stimulating job creation, expanding business development, strengthening workforce pipelines, and driving statewide economic growth through coordinated public-private partnerships. Dr. Caldwell emphasized the importance of working closely with trusted partners such as the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce and its Founder & CEO, Duvi Honig, to ensure policy priorities translate into real economic outcomes for businesses and communities across New Jersey. His decision to make JBiz his first public appearance following the election signaled early alignment with the Chamber’s role as a strategic economic partner.
In a recorded message to attendees, Governor Phil Murphy acknowledged the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce for nearly a decade of consistent collaboration with the State, citing its leadership in strengthening businesses, fostering public-private partnerships, and supporting economic opportunity across New Jersey’s diverse communities.
Leadership Perspective
Click to watch National Anthem
Duvi Honig, Founder & CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce and Founder of JBiz, underscored the broader mission and impact of the forum:
“JBiz was built to be more than a conference — it is an economic platform designed to bring real leadership, real capital, and real solutions to the table,” said Honig. “The fact that the Lt. Governor–Elect chose JBiz as his first public appearance since the election, and that Governor Murphy acknowledged our eight years of partnership with the State, reflects the trust earned through consistent, serious work. Our mission is to unite communities through commerce, strengthen parnassah, and work hand-in-hand with government and global partners to drive economic growth at the highest level.”
The JBiz Economic Summit distinguished itself as a working economic platform, intentionally designed to align leadership, capital, policy, and innovation in ways that produce real-world outcomes. Discussions throughout the forum reinforced that future economic growth depends on coordinated public-private collaboration, relationship-driven access to capital, and proactive preparation for the 2026 economic landscape. Leaders emphasized that siloed approaches no longer work; sustainable growth requires alignment, trust, and execution at scale.
Equally important was the summit’s tangible relationship value. Business leaders, government officials, financial institutions, technology innovators, media voices, and international partners engaged in meaningful dialogue that translated into follow-up meetings, partnerships, and financing conversations. By combining high-level insights with direct access to decision-makers, the JBiz Economic Summit reaffirmed the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce’s role as a credible convener—transforming economic dialogue into opportunity, job creation, and long-term growth.
Keynotes, Panels, and Strategic Leadership
A central highlight of the summit was the Banking & Financial Services Keynote, delivered by Steve Bush, President of Apple Bank, the event’s main sponsor. Bush addressed the role of relationship banking in economic development, emphasizing how long-term financial partnerships unlock capital, support deposits, and generate sustainable revenue while fueling job creation across New Jersey.
The summit’s Artificial Intelligence Leadership Panel, officially sponsored by GHA Technologies, Inc., was chaired by Mark Minevich, Chairman of Going Global Ventures and one of the Top 100 Most Influential AI Leaders globally. Panelists included Elaine Barsoom, former Head of AI & Technology Innovation Partnerships at Nike, alongside senior technology and enterprise leaders. The discussion explored how AI is reshaping enterprise operations, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and workforce strategy, with emphasis on governance, real-world deployment, and scalable adoption heading into 2026.
A major policy-focused session was the New Jersey Economic Empowerment & Development Panel, sponsored by Premier Network. The panel featured senior state, municipal, and international leadership, including Kathy Guzman, CEO of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), Ben Landa, Founder & CEO of Premier Network, the Consul General of Serbia, and Mayor Perry of Middletown. Panelists addressed job creation, workforce pipelines, affordable housing, infrastructure investment, and cross-border economic collaboration.
The summit also hosted a high-profile Media & Economic Forum, featuring nationally recognized voices including John Tabacco (Newsmax), Hilary Fordwich, and Chris Arps, examining how media, markets, and public policy intersect and how economic narratives influence investor confidence and public perception.
Awards, International Participation & VIP Reception
The JBiz Economic Summit included a formal Awards Ceremony recognizing leadership in government, banking, and international economic collaboration. Honorees included Lt. Governor–Elect Dr. Dale G. Caldwell and Steve Bush, President of Apple Bank, alongside chamber and international business leaders.
In participation were the Consul General of Serbia, the American Korean Chamber of Commerce, the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce, the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce, and Farooq Mirza of Pakistan, President of 4Pillar Network, together with other chamber partners.
The summit was preceded by an exclusive VIP Cocktail Reception, held the evening before at Harrah’s, bringing together senior government officials, sponsors, business leaders, media figures, and international delegates for high-level relationship-building ahead of the forum.
U.S. Senator Andy Kim issued a formal letter commending the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce for organizing and hosting the JBiz Expo, praising its positive impact on New Jersey’s business community. He specifically recognized Duvi Honig for his leadership and dedication, highlighting how JBiz strengthens collaboration between government and business leaders, drives innovation, and contributes to economic growth across the state, while helping unite communities through commerce.
Looking Ahead
With the incoming administration, the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce will continue to serve as a policy-aligned economic partner, working closely with state leadership on workforce development, affordable housing, technology adoption, and investment attraction. The JBiz Economic Summit will remain an annual anchor, complemented by targeted forums and sector-specific initiatives throughout the year.
About the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce
The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce is a leading economic organization dedicated to business empowerment, advocacy, and public-private collaboration. Through high-level economic forums, strategic partnerships, and global trade initiatives, the Chamber works to strengthen local economies while connecting businesses to opportunity at the state, national, and international levels.
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