ICON Awards 2020 | 1

IconAwards

ICON Awards 2020 | 3

IconAwards

he business world is full of successful leaders deserving of recognition—many of whom NJBIZ honors annually through various special awards programs ranging from Best Fifty Women in Business to Heath Care Heroes to General Counsel of the Year.

Then there are those business leaders who are in a class of their own: the pioneers and change-makers. The ones others look to for mentoring and advice. They paved the way, made their own rules and continue to kick-start change.

It’s these individuals who inspired NJBIZ to create its ICON Awards program. Now in its fourth year, the ICON Awards program recognizes New Jersey business leaders over the age of 60 who have helped the Garden State’s business community grow and continue to champion their industry through profes-sional creativity, innovation and leadership.

Our search for New Jersey’s veteran business leaders led to some of this state’s most amazing individ-uals who have dedicated their lives to everything from public service, health care and some of the state’s most influential institutions. They are innovating, leading, mentoring, creating new jobs, keeping long-time businesses going, and still finding the time to give back to their communities.

In these pages, our ICON honorees reflect on topics, such as how their leadership style has contribut-ed to their success, who or what inspires them and what they are most passionate about. Their answers reveal a lot about what got them to the top and will hopefully inspire all of us to make a daily impact on the success of our region.

Karren L. JohnsonEvent Supplement Editor

Thank you to our sponsors!

Larry SamilowCo-Founder

& Managing DirectorVerve Group Consulting

Dave ScelbaFounder

Scelba Consulting LLC

Dennis M. ToftChair, Environmental

Law GroupChiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC

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The judges

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ICON Awards 2020 | 7

kenneth Karle

KAREN GIANNELLI THOMAS GIANNONE

Douglas kennedyPresidentLAN Associates, Engineering, Planning, Architecture, SurveyingMidland Park, Bergen County

Achievements:Responsible for overall management of over 100 employees in three offices in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Karle has served as an architect, engineer or planner on projects for clients ranging from school districts, senior living facilities and public agencies.

Who inspires you? Our founder, John Lacz, was a solid presence in our business and as a mentor. He gave selflessly to the success and growth of the company, cared for his employees and developed the business from nothing. I was always inspired by his ability to assess, train, mentor, invest in, motivate and cultivate staff.

What do you feel is your biggest contribution to the New Jersey business community?Creating good paying jobs for talented people that benefit them and society. We provide a service that allows our employees to express their creativity and enjoy pride in their achievements. We leave a physical mark on the quality of life and the economic engine of the region through new schools, public facilities and infra-structure.

Describe your leadership style and how it has helped you be successful.My leadership style uses optimism, honesty and trust while asking questions to stimulate big picture thought on concepts that can shape the future, even if they seem irrelevant at the moment.

Director, Financial Restructuring & Creditors’ Rights DepartmentGibbons P.C.Newark, Essex County

PrincipalAvison YoungIselin, Middlesex County

President & CEOPeapack-Gladstone BankBedminster, Somerset County

Achievements:A Fellow and Officer of the American College of Bankruptcy and a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Giannelli has concentrated her prac-tice in financial restructuring, debtor/creditors’ rights, and related insolvency law matters for more than 30 years. She has been a member of various women’s professional organizations, has spoken at various conferences focused on women’s issues, and has served as a leader and role model for women both within and out-side Gibbons.

What do you feel is your biggest contribution to the New Jersey business community?My dedication to assisting clients with financial problems has defined my career. Helping a business client find a solution to its financial difficulties through either a restructuring of debt or an orderly liquidation is satisfying and rewarding to both the client and attorney. On numerous occasions, I have also represented court- appointed fiduciaries in executing their duties in insolvency matters. I’ve also had the pleasure of educating dedicated junior attorneys and support staff.

Describe your leadership style and how it has helped you be successful.I have learned a calm style of leadership from my mentors. I’d like to think I lead by example and in a manner that encourages others to to further their own careers.

Achievements:Recognized as one of the most successful brokers in the New Jersey commercial real estate market, Giannone has also supported New Jersey’s business community by actively volunteering in the state’s leading business organizations such as the New Jersey Technology Council and BioNJ.

What is something you

are totally passionate about? Since graduating from college, I have always had an interest in teaching small groups of people concerning real estate matters or issues of life. Whether it in-volved my team members or a small church group, these experiences have always been a highlight in my life.

What is the best decision you’ve made during your career?To pursue roles that required a broader view of the business world. That quest took me from an engineering track to the real estate industry to servicing the real estate needs of various industries as a tenant rep broker. Coupled with the knowledge obtained by completing an MBA, each step in my career expanded my understand-ing of business.I have learned the hard way that …Rarely do good results occur without hard work, struggles and failure. The key is to have faith that you’re doing what you’re meant to do and then persevere through the difficulty.

Achievements:Kennedy has a proven track record of building and repositioning businesses and sits on the boards of numerous organizations. He has helped transform Peapack-Gladstone and its wealth man-agement division into a financial services power-house.

What do you feel is your biggest contribution to the New Jersey business community? As a banker, I have led a number of teams that have provided billions in capital to businesses, which has enabled investment in a broad array of industries, supported well-paying jobs, resulted in a strong economic base, and ultimately a higher quali-ty of life for everyone in the state.

What is something you are totally passionate about?One of my biggest passions is education. I believe it transforms lives and is a key to turning dreams into reality. As a member of the board of trustees for Mont-clair State University for over 20 years and more recently a member of the board of trustees for Sacred Heart University, I have seen first-hand how education can transform the lives of young adults.

You’d never guess that ...My biggest fear was flying. Several years ago, I decided to face this fear head on and become a pilot. The moral of the story is not to run from your fears, but rather run toward them and great things can happen.