PHOTOS & VIDEO: New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, Investors Bank CEO Kevin Cummings, Lakewood Mayor Isaac Akerman, Assemblyman Gary Schaer and other prominent dignitaries were among the throngs of attendees at Tuesday’s Nationwide Parnassah Expo and Business Networking Event at the Meadowlands Exposition Center. The event, hosted by the Lakewood based Parnassah Network organization, drew an unprecedented diverse crowd of businessmen, professionals, activists, and those newly embarking on a career or entrepreneurial path.
Ms. Guadagno, Mr. Cummings, Mayor Akerman and others were among the many experts who addressed attendees in various Expo forums. The Lieutenant Governor encouraged businesses to set up shop in New Jersey, and even offered her cellphone number to those who need to cut through red tape for their New Jersey venture.
After months of guessing about this first-of-its-kind event, yidden from across North America filled the massive 61,000 square foot floor to capacity. Shortly after the 8 hour Expo opened its doors at noon, the lines in the lobby were out the door and the Exposition Center’s 6,000 parking spots were filled, despite the throngs of people carpooling or arriving via bus or train.
People of all ages and walks of life were interacting with each other in myriad ways. Vendors in every industry filled the booths; others were interacting with attendees at the networking pavilions set up for each major industry, or consulting the myriad experts who hosted seminars and Q&A sessions on every pertinent topic imaginable. People who have never met before the Expo were speaking to each other amicably, exchanging ideas and resources, and working to help each other advance in their parnassah quest.
The Expo follows last year’s inaugural Parnassah Expo in Lakewood’s Bais Yaakov Hall, which drew over 7,000 attendees. “Just one year later, even the Meadowlands couldn’t accommodate the Expo parking,” Reb Duvi quips.
Lakewood businesses, businessmen and professionals features prominently at the Expo. The roots of the Parnassah Expo organization are also firmly planted in Reb Duvi’s home community, where he founded the original Learn and Network Kollel in response to the 2008 economic crisis. “Parnassah Network” is now an umbrella organization of countless business and career resources for the Jewish community, including a comprehensive website, job placement, business-to-business networking, networking with experts, vocational training, venture capital and more. Reb Duvi’s tenacity, coupled with his unwavering vision that networking the resources of klal Yisroel in our day and age will help each individual in our midst support their family, have paid immense dividends, b’siyatta dishmaya.
“I’d like to thank Hashem and the members of klal Yisroel who made this revolution a reality,” Reb Duvi concludes.
For more information about Parnassah Network, you can visit www.parnassahnetwork.com, call (732)987-7704 or email [email protected].
Great Event Thanks for everything WHAT A SMASHING SUCCESS
I need a PR firm for my business. Who is doing the work for the expo? Great job!
Everyone I meet has something amazing to say ..either they found clients hired or found a job, I heard the networking was unreal!!kol hakovod!
The chafettz chaim once wandered out loud what was the zechus of rev mier Shapiro to come up with the idea of daf yomi .today I wonder what was the zechus of duvi honing to come up with this parnassa expo which has potential to help yidden years to come
Duvi, we are so impressed and proud of you for bringing this to fruition, and of Esther for her support, etc. You are both awesome!
amazing
I was an exhibitor at the show. I did great.Landed a big sale already! I feel all exhibitors will be rewarded for being participants in a such a Kiddush H’. Reb Duvi: you would be a fool if you let any childish criticism deter you!
the decor was fantastic the booths where fantastic the diversity of the industries were fantastic the coaches were fantastic the seminars fantastic Duvi and team you are fantastic!
R’ Duvy, this whole thing is surreal. I’m so happy to hear that businesses got more sales out of this expo. That’s Amazing. And so are You. And, yes, thanx Esther for ur support. DB.
I wasnt zocheh to be there, but I heard from many attendees that it was absolutely amazing. Thank you Duvi and your whole crew.
The show was great for many people, as they had some nice speeches, many interesting booths including tech, phones, promos, real estate, overseas manufacturing, financing, coaching, writing for ads or resumes, and advertising venues.
Additionally they had a corner with many booths specifically for people looking for jobs including PCS but many others.
There were also areas where people were able to gather and meet and socialize with industry specific crowds, though there really wasn’t a manual to tell you exactly where to go, there were many opportunities for someone positive thinking to find a few interviews, drop off a resume, or even find new resources or ideas for a current business.
As this show is in its inception, the signage and coordination with attendees and booth renters left some with wanting more. People must understand that the organizers will have the time over a few years to become more and more professional.
Parking was an issue as well as the length of travel time(for myself), not to mention the return traffic.
Perhaps situating the event in Lakewood or closer to Lakewood would cause many more people to show up. Perhaps a Sunday is a better day. One must think of business owners that cannot leave their business for a day in such turbulent times, or someone looking to upgrade their job
( just imagine their bosses “where do you want to go? to a job fair?…..”), not many people have the guts or time.
Additionally perhaps TLS can start listing the contacts available at the show (or not from the show) whom business owners can be in touch with as to inform of a position available, request possible candidates, or that job seekers can reach out to.
Thanks
can you post the lt.’s phone number?
The general point is…good or bad, the event was blown up way out of it league.
Just a general bad feeling of being propaganda’d …if that’s a word.
The show was awesome.
There were tons of CEOs in the crowd searching for employees.
I was one. I found an old friend who we are in negotiations to hire.
To get a job today u need to work very hard.
I WAS THERE FOR 5 HOURS. IT LOOKED GREAT FOR BUS TO BUS. FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR JOBS, THERE WAS LITTLE DIRECTION OFFERED. I GUESS IF YOU HAVE INTERNET AVAILABLE 24/6 YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KNOW IN ADVANCE WHAT TO LOOK FOR. I AM HAPPY THAT PEOPLE DID GAIN FROM THE EXPO AND THANK ALL THAT WERE INVOLVED
One thing is for sure. The location was GREAT!! A lot of floor space, enough parking, great sections. Making it closer to lakewood is NOT a good idea. This was successful because people from all over were able to come. If you make it in Lakewood, it will just be a chavrusa tummult.
Shmaya! duvi honig has a business called promotion experts he did the marketing himself!
Can’t wait for the next one!!
Duddy B, your sarcasm is dripping….
To kol hakavod: chill out!