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Largest Employers S-Z
Schering-Plough Corporation
2000 Galloping Hill Road
Kenilworth, NJ 07033  
Phone: (908) 298-4000
Web Site: www.scheringplough.com
Fred Hassan
Chairman and CEO
NJ Employees:           5,200
Products/Services: Pharmaceuticals, consumer products

Origins derive from 1851 founding by Dr. Ernst Schering in Berlin of firm which sold pharmaceutical products for common complaints and photographic chemicals, introduced in US 1880 under label of Schering & Glatz> US operations nationalized after outbreak of World War I, also nationalized at beginning of World War II and operated by US government until divested as publicly-owned firm in 1952 to investment group headed by Merrill-Lynch> Schering first moved to NJ 1933 from NY City, incorporated as NJ corporation 1935> In 1957, acquired Newark-based White Laboratories, maker of Feen-A-Mint laxative and Aspergum> Modern company derives from 1971 merger of Schering Corp., research-based pharmaceutical firm, and Plough, Inc., consumer product manufacturer founded by Abe Plough 1908 in Memphis, TN, with products including St. Joseph children's aspirin and cold products, Dr. Scholl's foot powder, Maybelline cosmetics> 55,000 employees in 140 countries> Pharmaceutical sales account for 80% of total revenue, with world’s best-selling over-counter allergy drug Claritin and anti-cancer drug Intron A accounting for about third of total sales> In November 2007, acquired Organon BioSciences unit from Akzo Nobel, with its Organon human health and Intervet animal health businesses> Other drugs include Avakine treatment for intestinal disorder Crohn's disease; Vasomax male impotency treatment; Melacine, therapeutic vaccine for malignant melanoma; Nasonex allergy nasal spray; Vytorin and Zetia, cholesterol-lowering agents marketed in joint venture with Merck> Consumer product trademark brands include Coppertone, Shade, Tropical Blend, Solarcaine sun care, Dr. Scholl's foot care, DuraSoft contact lenses, Coricidin cold tablets, Chlor-trimeton antihistamine, Afrin decongestant, Gyne-Lotrimin vaginal yeast infection treatment, Correctol and Feen-A-Mint laxatives> 1990 sale of Maybelline cosmetics division for $300 million to outside investment group> Subject of speculation over possible takeover, merger because of relatively small size in consolidating pharmaceutical industry, then-CEO Robert Luciano led successful 1987 effort to toughen NJ law against hostile corporate takeovers, Luciano retired as CEO 1996 and as chairman 1999> Luciano successor as CEO Richard Kogan resigned under pressure 2003, replaced by Fred Hassan, previously CEO of Pharmacia Corp.> Donated $1 million in 1987 to endow W.H. Conzen chair at University of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ in clinical pharmacology honoring past CEO> Sponsor of Schering-Plough Foundation, targets support in three major areas: health, education, community initiatives (social/civic welfare, public policy, culture and arts and women and minorities).

 

 

Sears Holdings Corp.
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
Phone: (847) 286-2500
Fax: (800) 427-3049
Web Site: www.sears.com
W. Bruce Johnson
Interim CEO and President
NJ Employees:           8,200
Products/Services: Retail chain
Seras Holdings Corp. corporate parent of Kmart and Sears, Roebuck and Co.> Sears-Kmart $12 billion merger completed April 2004 creating combined operations with 3,500 stores and annual sales of $55 billion, problems in consolidating operations provoked sales declines, loss of market share, criticism of deal> Nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in US and Canada> Leading home appliance retailer in US as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance> Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and apparel labels such as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer; also has Martha Stewart Everyday products; nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 13 million service calls made annually> Sears Roebuck founded by Richard Sears, railroad agent at Minneapolis and St. Louis railway station in North Redwood, MN, who sold lumber and coal to local residents on the side to make extra money, later received rail shipment of unwanted watches he sold to other station agents, and established 1886  R.W. Sears Watch Company in Minneapolis, following year moved to Chicago and joined by Alvah C. Roebuck, who responded to Sears classified ad for watchmaker, changed company name 1893 to Sears Roebuck & Co.>  50  million households with Sears Card, third largest charge card issuer in US, losses from credit defaults resulted in tightening of credit standards> Opened 1996 national footwear distribution center in Edison to manage footwear distribution to over 700 Sears stores nationwide, employs 200.

 

Selective Insurance Group
40 Wantage Road
Branchville, NJ 07890
Phone: (800) 777-9656
Fax: (973) 948-7509
Web Site: www.selectiveinsurance.com
Gregory Murphy
Chairman, President and CEO
NJ Employees: 1,800
Products/Services: Insurance

 

Holding company organized 1977 which includes subsidiary Selective Insurance Co. of America and six other property/casualty insurance subsidiaries> Formerly SRI Group, name changed 1986> Ranked as 47th largest property/casualty insurance group in US by A.M. Best Co. with $5 billion in assets; ranked by FORTUNE Magazine as 31st largest in insurance property and casualty stock company sector, and 929th on overall FORTUNE 1000 list for 2008> Primary business auto liability, homeowners, property, workers compensation, fidelity and surety bonds> About 50% of total premium revenue from NJ, expanded during 1990s in Southeast and Midwest> Insurance sold through approximately 900 independent agents in 22 primary eastern and Midwestern states> CEO Gregory E. Murphy named 1999, previously president and chief operating officer, 19-year career with Company.

 

Sony Corporation of America

550 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 833-6800
Fax: (212) 833-6956
Web Site: www.sony.com
Howard Stringer
President and CEO
Sony Electronics
1 Sony Drive
Park Ridge, NJ 07656
Phone: (201) 930-1000

Fujio Nishida

President & Chief Operating Officer
NJ Employees:  1,000
Products/Services: Consumer electronics, information technology  products, industrial and professional products, recording media
Sony DADC Disc Manufacturing 500,000-square-foot (230,000 square feet of manufacturing and 270,000 feet of warehouse space) plant in Pitman with 800 employees manufactures discs, records and tapes, began producing vinyl LPs in 1960, began manufacturing compact discs in 1988, current CD production capacity about 18 million discs monthly, DVD capacity 15 million discs monthly> Pitman plant one of two Sony optical media manufacturing locations in US, other in Terre Haute, IN> Park Ridge former national headquarters for Sony  Electronics division with 1,600 employees, headquarters relocated 2004 to San Diego> Sony Broadcast Products Division in Montvale sells equipment to professional broadcasters, cable networks and production companies, other NJ facilities include Cranbury> Sony-Blockbuster Ampitheatre outdoor concert and events facility on Camden waterfront opened 1996, Sony did not renew contract for naming rights in 2001, now known as Susquehanna Bank Center.

 

Staples
One Research Drive
Westborough, MA 01581
Phone: (508) 370-8500
Fax:  (508) 370-8989
Web Site: www.staples.com
 
Ron Sargent
Chairman & CEO
 
Staples
155 Route 22 East
Springfield, NJ 07081
Phone: (973) 467-3337
Fax: (973) 574-5978
NJ Employees:           1,900
Products/Services: Office supplies 
 
World's largest office products supply company, stores in 28 countries with 94,000 employees> Pioneered office superstore concept in 1986, serving customers through superstores, mail order catalogs, e-commerce and contract business, typical store carries over 7,000 items> Proposed merger with Office Depot terminated 1997 following objections of federal antitrust officials on grounds of reduction in competition> Acquired July 2008 Corporate Express, 18,000-employee office products firm based in Amsterdam, for $2.65 billion, expands presence in Europe> Founded 1986 in suburb outside Boston; 1994 acquisition of family-owned National Office Supply based in South Hackensack, national contract stationer, now operated as Staples Advantage, with 200  employees, also maintains distribution center and warehouse in Cranbury.

 

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
777 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10604  
Phone: (914) 640-8100
Fax: (914) 640-8316 
Web Site:  www.starwood.com
 
Frits van Paasschen
President and CEO
NJ Employees: 1,400  
Products/Services: Lodging
 
One of world's leading hotel and leisure companies with over 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees> Brands include Sheraton, Westin, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Four Points, and W Hotels> Founded as Starwood Lodging Trust, real estate investment  trust (REIT), restructured 1999 as corporation following change in federal tax laws cutting tax benefits for REITs> NJ employment greatly expanded by acquisition of ITT Corp. in February 1998 following proxy battle with Hilton Hotels Corp.,  with purchase including ITT’s 13 Sheraton NJ-based hotels and Caesar's Atlantic City casino-hotel, in 1999 sold for $3 billion all Caesars casino-hotels to Park Place Entertainment, spin-off of Hilton’s gaming properties, Park Place subsequently acquired by Harrah's Entertainment> Sheraton or Westin properties in NJ include Parsippany; Princeton; Atlantic City; Edison; Mount Laurel; Weehawken; Eatontown; Mahwah; East Rutherford; and Secaucus> New NJ hotels opening 2009 in West Hoboken; Mount Laurel; and Jersey City> Public company traded on NY Stock Exchange> Implementing plan to focus on hotel management, reduce ownership of real estate> As of year-end 2007, hotel portfolio included owned, leased, managed and franchised hotels totaling 897 hotels with approximately 275,000 rooms, comprised of 74 hotels owned or leased with majority equity interest, 415 hotels managed on behalf of third-party owners and 408 hotels which pay franchise fees for use of Starwood brand names> Frits van Paasschen named President and CEO September 2007, previously served for two and a half years as President and CEO of Coors Brewing Company, largest division of Molson Coors Brewing Company,

 

 

Toys 'R' Us
One Geoffrey Way
Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone : (973) 617-3500
Web Site:  www.tru.com
John Eyler
President and CEO
NJ Employees:           2,800
Products/Services: Retail toy, children's clothing chain
World's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, ranks second to Wal-Mart in total toys sold> Sells merchandise through over 1,500 stores as of 2008, including 584 Toys"R" Us stores and 262 Babies"R"Us stores in US, more than 688 international stores in 33 countries, which includes licensed and franchise stores, and through its Internet site at www.Toysrus.com> Founded 1957 by Chairman Emeritus and former CEO Charles Lazarus, close personal, political supporter of NJ Senator Frank Lautenberg, grew rapidly under Lazarus to become largest world toy retailer, following Lazarus retirement growth slowed resulting from series of management mistakes, growing competition from Wal-Mart, specialty toy retailers, e-commerce, failures to renovate stores, poor customer service> In early 1980s, branched out into children's clothing withs first Kids"R"Us stores in Paramus and Brooklyn, closed its freestanding Kids"R"Us locations in 2003, continues to market clothing through Toys "R" Us stores> Public company from 1978 until July 2005, when investment group consisting of affiliates of Bain Capital Partners LLC, Kohlberg Kravis, Roberts & Co. , and Vornado Realty Trust completed acquisition for $6.6 billion> In early 2006, won NJ court decsion in lawsuit against Amazon.com, terminating original 10-year contract made in 2000 with Amazon to manage Web site to market toys in return for $50 million annual fee> CEO Gerald L. Storch named February 2006, previously Vice Chairman of Target Corporation.

Trump Entertainment Resorts
2500 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Phone: (609) 441-6060
Fax: (609) 441-7926
Web Site: www.trump.com
Donald J. Trump
Chairman
Mark Juliano
CEO
NJ Employees:           10,700
Products/Services: Lodging/Gaming
Parent company that owns Trump Plaza, Trump Marina, Trump Taj Mahal casino-hotels in Atlantic City, other Trump real estate ventures owned and managed through separate corporate entities> Announced May 2008 proposed sale of Trump Marina to Coastal Development LLC for $316 million, Coastal plans to rename hotel "Margaritaville" after closing of sale> Opened August 2008 new $250 million 782-room Chairman Tower at Trump Taj Mahal> Other Trump NJ properties include Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster> Trump Atlantic City casino-hotels include 2,888 guest rooms, 461 suites and 33 restaurants> Market share of Trump hotels declined due to increased competition from new resorts such as Borgata, failure to renovate Trump Marina and Trump Plaza> Trump acquired Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Castle 1996 (Castle renamed 1997 as ‘Trump Marina’), purchase price of Trump Castle challenged as excessive by shareholders with resulting litigation adversely affecting stock price> Opposed State of NJ construction of new $300 million tunnel to marina section of City to facilitate access to proposed mega-resorts of Mirage Resorts and CEO Steve Wynn (project assumed by MGM upon its 2000 acquisition of Mirage), Boyd Gaming other developers, filed unsuccessful lawsuits seeking to halt financing and development> High debt burden and depressed stock price adversely affected financing options, renewed reports of potential default on interest payments or asset sales to raise capital, possible leveraged buyout to take company private.

 

 

United Parcel Service 
55 Glenlake Parkway NE
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (404) 913-6000
Web Site: www.ups.com
Scott Davis
Chairman and CEO
 

NJ Employees:               15,500

Products/Services: Shipping 
Founded 1907 in Seattle as American Messenger Company, now world's largest express carrier, world's largest package delivery company and a leading global provider of specialized transportation and logistics services with 330,000 employees> Delivered 4 billion packages and documents in 2007, 15.8 million packages each business day, operates over 93,000 delivery vehicles and over 265 jet aircraft, also industry leader in delivery of goods purchased over Internet> Logistics services include comprehensive management of supply chains, for major companies worldwide> Retail outlets include The UPS Store, (4,666); Mail Boxes Etc., (1,323); UPS Customer Centers, (1,000); Authorized outlets, (17,000); UPS Drop Boxes, (40,000)> Controls 80% of market for standard ground deliveries, ranks 2nd to Federal Express for overnight deliveries> Formerly private company since founding in 1907, initial public offering November 1999 at that time largest in US history, sold 109.4 million shares of common stock priced at $50 per share> Newark Liberty International Airport primary UPS center for European shipments> Opened $80 million, 1,500-employee computer and telecommunications center 1991 in Mahwah, serves as hub of UPS Global Network and one of two world data centers with other in Atlanta, supplemented by Paramus facility> Also operates major distribution facility in Meadowlands> Owns or leases property throughout NJ to service delivery network> CEO Scott Davis appointed effective January 2008, previously vice chairman and chief financial officer> James Kelly, UPS CEO 1997-2001, born in Jersey City, grew up in North Bergen, started career as UPS driver 1964, received B.A. from Rutgers University in 1973.

 

Valley National Bancorp
1455 Valley Road
Wayne, NJ 07470
Phone: (973) 305-8800
Fax: (973) 694-2943
Web Site: www.valleynationalbank.com
Gerald H. Lipkin

Chairman, President & CEO

NJ Employees:        1,800
Products/Services: Banking
Holding company which owns Valley National Bank with over $14 billion in assets> Operates 193 branches throughout northern and central NJ, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens> Now largest commercial bank holding company headquartered in NJ> Founded 1927 as Passaic Park Trust Company, name changed 1956 to Bank of Passaic and Clifton and in 1976 to Valley National Bank> Non-banking subsidiaries include New Century Asset Management Company,  NJ-based money manager, Wayne Title, writer of commercial and residential title insurance policies formed following July 1999 acquisition of Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, only NJ bank to offer title insurance services, and VNB Mortgage Services, residential mortgage loan servicing company> 1997 acquired Midland Bancorporation, $405 million, 13-branch bank headquartered in Paramus, expanded Valley's presence in Bergen County to 30 offices> Gerald Lipkin CEO since 1990, also chairman, Lautenberg Center for General and Tumor Immunology, cancer research center at Hebrew University of Jerusalem founded by Senator Frank Lautenberg. 

 

Verizon Communications
1095 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 395-2121
Fax: (212) 395-1285
Web Site: www.verizon.com
Ivan Seidenberg
Chairman & CEO
Verizon New Jersey
540 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07101
Phone: (973) 649-9900
Fax: (973)  483-0983
Dennis Bone
President
NJ Employees:           17,100
Products/Services: Telecommunications

Company created July 2000 upon merger effective July 2000 between Bell Atlantic and GTE, created nation’s largest local telecommunications exchange carrier, global presence in 40 countries in Americas, Europe, Asia and Pacific> Bell Atlantic one of seven regional phone companies created upon 1984 breakup of AT&T Bell System national local phone network, 1997 merger with NYNEX created consolidated network servicing New England, NY, PA, DE, MD, VA, WVA and District of Columbia> Bell Atlantic NJ  operations derived from former NJ Bell Telephone Co., name changed as of 1994 with other Bell Atlantic subsidiaries to reflect parent's identity> One of NJ's most visible companies, active in major civic, philanthropic, government causes> Spent about $1 billion 1999 to modernize, expand and upgrade NJ telecommunications network, including replacement of analog switches with digital systems, installation of fiberoptic cable, overall NJ fiberoptic network now over 1.2 million miles, ultimate goal to provide fiber connections  to all customers by 2010> Under Telecommunications Act of 1996, approval in 2000 allowed competition by Verizon in long-distance market and opening of NJ local phone market to expanded competition by AT&T and others> Former NJ-based CEO's advanced to high leadership of AT&T (former Vice Chairman Morris Tanenbaum), Bell Atlantic (retired Presidents Anton Campanella and James G. Cullen), and Bellcore (now Telcordia Technologies (retired CEO Rocco Marano).

Wakefern Food Corporation
600 York Street
Elizabeth, NJ 07207
Phone: (908) 527-3300
Fax: (908) 527-3397
Thomas P. Infusino
Chairman
NJ Employees:           3,000
Products/Services: Supermarket cooperative
 Second largest supermarket co-op in US (after IGA), fifth largest US food wholesaler with $4.8 billion in 1999 revenues> Comprised of 40 independent grocers who operate some 200 ShopRite supermarkets in NJ, NY, CT, PA, DE, 100 pharmacies and 50 liquor stores operating under ShopRite name> Established 1947 as buying cooperative by small, independent grocery stores to obtain volume discounts, thus compete with larger supermarket chains, later expanded 1951 to cooperative advertising campaign> Known for marketing innovations, pioneered longer and Sunday hours, drug stores, liquor sales> Group of original founders formed separate company 1966, split with Wakefern 1968 to found Supermarkets General Corp., with operating subsidiary PATHMARK STORES, operating competing Pathmark supermarket chain> Wakefern members participate in co-op governing committee, each required to purchase 85% of products through Wakefern, also submit potential sales of member companies or individual stores for Wakefern approval> Wakefern also owns, operates 16 supermarkets directly through wholly-owned subsidiary ShopRite Supermarkets Inc.> Warehouse and distribution facilities in Elizabeth, Edison, South Brunswick, Walkill, NY> Maintains fleet of 1,500 trailer trucks, over 500,000 deliveries annually> Sponsor of NJ Special Olympics Summer Games, also supports Community FoodBank of NJ, local schools with computer donation programs, training of students for supermarket careers> Total employment of co-op members, e.g., FOODARAMA, VILLAGE SUPER MARKET chains, exceeds 20,000 in NJ> Catherine Frank-White, director of government relations for 13 years, resigned January 2000 to become president and CEO, MERCER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

 

Wal-Mart Stores
702 Southwest 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716
Phone: (501) 273-4000
Fax: (501) 273-4053
Web Site: http://www.wal-mart.com
David D. Glass
President & CEO
NJ Employees:          5,400
Products/Services: Retail discount department store chain
First store opened 1962 by late founder Sam Walton, now Nation's leading retail department store chain with $118 billion in sales in fiscal year ending January 31, 1998> Over 2,800 Wal-Mart Stores, 500 Sam's Clubs discount membership clubs and 100 Wal-Mart Superstores (combination supermarket and discount department stores) in January 1998, averages 60 million customers weekly> NJ facilities include 16 Wal-Mart stores, 5 Sam's Clubs as of 1999> Purchases from 1,637 NJ suppliers over $2.6 billion, with top suppliers Gitano Fashions of Newark and Lolly Togs of Port Reading; collected $21.4 million in NJ sales taxes, paid over $7 million in NJ state local taxes; spent over $465,000 in community involvement, including United Way, Children’s Miracle Network, scholarships.

Wawa Food Markets
Red Roof
260 Baltimore Pike
Media, PA 19063
Phone: (610) 358-8000
Fax: (610) 358-8878 
Web Site: http://www.hoagie.com
Richard P. Wood, Jr.
President & CEO
NJ Employees:           1,100
Products/Services: Convenience stores
Origins derived from nineteenth century Wood family dairy farm, Wood family continues to own, operate business as privately-held convenience store chain> Over $1 billion in annual sales> 500 stores in PA, NJ, MD, DE, VA> Wawa-sponsored petition campaign gained 35,000 signatures in successful effort to have Philadelphia municipal government designate ‘Hoagie’ as official sandwich of Philadelphia in 1992 also sponsors annual Philadelphia ‘Hoagie Day’ featuring 6,000 foot sandwich in 1997> Dave Yeager serves as trustee, NJ SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA> Estimated annual sales $1 billion.

  

 

White Consolidated Industries
11770 Berea Road
Cleveland, OH 44111-1688
Phone: (216) 252-3700
Fax: (216) 252-8073
Michael Treschow
President and CEO
Frigidaire Home Comfort Products
2170 Highway 37
Edison, NJ 08818
Phone: (732) 287-2000
Anders Sharp
Chairman & CEO
NJ Employees:           1,600
Products/Services: Appliances, heating, air conditioning manufacturer
White Consolidated Industries based in Cleveland, a subsidiary of AB Electrolux of Stockholm, Sweden, 100,000-employee international manufacturing conglomerate and world’s leading vacuum cleaner manufacturer which also owns in US Poulan-WeedEater, Eureka vacuum cleaners, several other industrial, consumer businesses> Subsidiary Frigidaire Company, headquartered in Dublin, OH, founded 1916 as Guardian Refrigerator Company and introduced first self-contained electric refrigerator 1916, owned by GENERAL MOTORS from 1918 until sale to White Consolidated 1979, a leading manufacturer of household appliances in North America, markets its products under brand names Frigidaire, Tappan, White-Westinghouse, Gibson and Kelvinator> Frigidaire largest industrial employer in Middlesex County, manufactures room air conditioners and dehumidifiers at its 1,600-employee Edison facility, 33% of all room air conditioners or dehumidifiers sold in North America made in Edison plant> Edison factory received December 1995 first comprehensive facility-wide environmental permit issued to an industrial manufacturer by State of NJ, single permit replaces 18 separate applications formerly required, national model for streamlined environmental enforcement. 

 

 

Yellow Corporation
10990 Roe Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66207 
Phone: (913) 696-6100
Fax: (913) 696-6116
Web Site: http://www.yellowcorp.com
William D. Zollars 
Chairman, President, and CEO       

Jevic Transportation

600-700 Creek Road
Delanco, NJ 08075
Phone: (800) 257-0427 or (856) 461-7111
Fax: (856) 764-7224
Paul J. Karvois
President
NJ Employees:           2,300
Products/Services: Trucking
Trucking company serving North America and, through alliances, Europe,  Asia/Pacific region, and South and Central America> NJ-based subsidiary Jevic Transportation operates in eastern US, founded as independent company 1982 by husband-and-wife team of Harry and Karen Muhlschlegel, with founder Harry Muhlschlegel also serving as driver>  Now comprises fleet of some 1,100 tractors and 2,000 trailers, ships primarily boxed, palletized freight in eastern US but also delivers to selected markets in continental US and Canada through six regional terminals> Over 5,500 clients, including DUPONT, COLGATE-PALMOLIVE, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., Sun Chemical, and Philip Morris> Other Yellow Corp. subsidiaries include Yellow Freight System, serving 300,000 customers and operating regional, nonunion carriers; Saia Motor Freight Line provides freight delivery in 12 southeastern states; WestEx, overnight and second-day carrier in CA, AZ, and NM; and Action Express serves Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains.

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