Business News

Dewberry Promotes Cirrotti

Christopher M. Cirrotti, PE, PP, CME, LEED AP, has been promoted to associate vice president and business unit manager of Dewberry’s Parsippany design branch effective immediately. In his new role, Cirrotti will be responsible for managing the design branch’s daily operations and serving a diverse client base ranging from local municipalities to national developers. He has 22 years of experience and has been with Dewberry since 1999. Dewberry is located at 600 Parsippany Road.

Cirrotti has served as assistant business unit manager since 2003 and has extensive experience managing a wide array of civil engineering projects involving private land development, redevelopment, and public works construction. His technical experience includes engineering feasibility studies, site planning, civil design, stormwater management, roadway and infrastructure design, regulatory permitting, low impact development, and construction management. He brings particular expertise with healthcare projects; his portfolio also includes public works, residential, commercial, retail, industrial, and institutional work.

Dewberry is a leading professional services firm with a proven history of providing architecture, engineering, and management and consulting services to a wide variety of public- and private-sector clients. Recognized for combining unsurpassed commitment to client service with deep subject matter expertise, Dewberry is dedicated to solving clients’ most complex challenges and transforming their communities. Established in 1956, Dewberry is headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, with more than 40 locations and 1,800+ professionals nationwide. To learn more, visit www.dewberry.com.

Lightstone Group Acquires Marriott Courtyard on Route 46

The Lightstone Group announced that it has closed on the senior mortgage acquisition secured by the 151-room Marriott Courtyard hotel on Route 46. The purchase price was $9.3 million or $62,000 per key (52% of UPB).
The hotel, which is under both Marriott management and flag, was originally constructed in 2001 and underwent extensive lobby and guestroom renovations in 2006 and 2008. The property has three floors with 146 guest rooms, five suites and three meeting rooms, with more than 1,350 square feet of meeting space.

The property is well positioned in Parsippany with major demand drivers from nearby office parks, and is 32 miles west of  New York City and 27 miles northwest of Newark Liberty International Airport.

"The collateral presented a sound investment opportunity at our discounted basis and further expands our presence in the New York Metropolitan area hotel sector, " said Ryan Colbert, an acquisition officer at the Lightstone Group."As we continue to build our hospitality business, we are working to identify additional opportunities in strategic markets for high-quality investment opportunities. The transaction marks Lightstones third note acquisition collateralized by a hotel property and its fifth hospitality acquisition since 2007.

Morris Corporate Center gets Energy Star recognition
CBRE, a commercial real estate brokerage firm, has announced that Morris Corporate Center 1, located at 300 Interpace Parkway, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s prestigious Energy Star recognition, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.
The site is now included on the Energy Star registry, which lists buildings that are leaders in energy efficiency. To qualify for the Energy Star certification, a building or manufacturing plant must earn a 75 or higher on the Environmental Protection Agency's 1-100 energy performance scale, indicating that the facility performs better than at least 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. Commercial buildings that earn Energy Star recognition use 35 percent less energy and generate 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than similar buildings across the nation.

The building is part of Morris Corporate Center 1 and 2, a premier 520,000-square-foot Class A office campus; it recently underwent an extensive capital improvement program that cost more than $5 million. It included adding new common areas and a lobby, putting green, HVAC upgrades, and a green initiative with energy-efficient HVAC rooftop units and roofs.

Continuum Health Alliance Open House Celebrates New  Regional Office

Continuum Health Alliance, a regional healthcare management company, headquartered in Marlton cele-brated the opening of their regional office at 160 Littleton Road on Wednesday, July 27. The new office will provide technical and training support for its clients in North Jersey.  The office will initially house five employees, including a client service representative who will support close to 100 physicians. In addition, the office will house IT hardware in order to decrease the response time required to address the needs of Continuum’s North Jersey clients.
 
“We are pleased to welcome a growing company such as Continuum to the Parsippany Area.  As the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce marks its 55th Anniversary, helping businesses to succeed has never been more important-especially since the Chamber has community and economic development programs available to assist companies that expand in Parsippany.  We are currently in the process of assisting Continuum locate quality job candidates from our local residential workforce while introducing them to our fine services," said Chamber President, Robert Peluso.  Continuum Health Alliance is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Continuum Health Alliance, LLC (“Continuum”) is a regional healthcare management company founded in 1998 by nationally-renowned pediatrician John M. Tedeschi, MD. Continuum offers operational oversight and optimizes business processes, enabling physician groups and hospitals to better serve their patients. The company’s comprehensive service portfolio offers dynamic solutions for administration, finance, revenue cycle management, and information technology. Continuum also collaborates with hospitals to create and manage medical group networks, hospitalist programs, and innovative hospital-based programs; and helps medical providers navigate and respond to the regulatory requirements mandated by America’s health care reform legislation.  The company presently oversees an aggregate client workforce of more than 1,800 employees located in approximately 85 medical offices and hospital settings. Learn more at www.challc.net.

Parsippany Red Roof Inn Received Certificate of Excellence

Red Roof®, a leader in economy lodging today announced that their property located at 855 US Highway 46 has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence, which honors top-rated lodging businesses, restaurants and attractions, as reviewed by travelers on the world’s largest travel site*.
To qualify, these businesses must maintain an average rating of four or higher out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include volume of reviews and how recently they have been submitted by TripAdvisor travelers. The accolade is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide.

“Red Roof is pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Andrew Alexander, President at Red Roof. “Our guests see Red Roof consistently excelling in expectation and quality in both product and price. They believe that our brand offers Midscale quality, but at an affordable price. Simply put, our customers see our brand as a “Nice Place. Nice Price.™ We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive traveler reviews on TripAdvisor.”

“The TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence program gives exceptional businesses in a variety of different industries around the world the recognition they deserve,” said Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business. “From top-rated restaurants in Boston to top-rated attractions in Barcelona, we want to applaud these businesses for offering TripAdvisor travelers a great customer experience.”

Red Roof® is a leader in the economy hotel segment with both franchised and corporate-owned properties, serving millions of guests each year. The company and hotels are known for a warm and welcoming spirit, along with their Smart-by-Design®, value-added amenities that are simple, yet economical, and meet the needs of every guest. With coast-to-coast.

Red Roof has nearly 350 properties in the U.S. Having completed a nationwide renovation of their properties, the primary goal at Red Roof is to provide customers a savings without sacrificing comfort. Red Roof’s new NextGen® hotels feature sleek exteriors with luxuriously appointed and technologically advanced interiors that signal a new era for the hotel chain. Red Roof guests consistently see the brand excelling in expectation and quality in both product and price, Nice Place. Nice Price.™ - is what every consumer can expect when they stay at any one of our hotel locations; and because our company has a single brand in our portfolio, Red Roof also offers franchisees – One Brand. One Focus.™ Most recently, Red Roof launched its Nicest Price™ advance purchase option, which rewards guests who reserve and pay for their room in advance. The Columbus, Ohio-based company has more than 4,500 employees. For more information or reservations, call 800-RED-ROOF (800-733-7663) or visit redroof.com.

Michael's Relocated to Troy Hills Shopping Center

Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce celebrates Grand Opening of Michael's, now located in the Troy Hills Shopping Center, Route 46. Left to right. Joseph Daddario III VP Michaels, Robert J. Peluso, President Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, Ria Savino Store Manager, Michele Vellegas, District Manager.
Photo courtesy of Ildiko Peluso, PACC and Valley National Bank

Solix, Inc., a leading provider of government and commercial process outsourcing solutions that administers more than $6 billion on behalf of its clients, today announced it has completed an expansion of its headquarters at Lanidex Plaza West. The company added 10,000 square feet of office space at 10 Lanidex Plaza West to complement the existing 56,000 square feet it occupies as the sole tenant of the 30 Lanidex Plaza West office building. With a workforce in excess of 400 in New Jersey, the move signifies the company's growth and investment in Parsippany.

Solix completed its move to the Parsippany campus in late 2009 and has received numerous accolades for the positive impact it has had on the region. Awards include the 2010 Business Expansion Award from the Morris County Economic Development Corporation, the 2010 Business and Community Service Award from the Morris County Chamber of Commerce and the 2010 United Way Commercial Real Estate Impact Award.

"We're pleased to continue the momentum we've achieved through the hard work of our staff and the quality of service we provide our customers," said John C. Parry, Solix CEO. "The expansion is indicative of the company's strong performance in serving the government sector as well our successful entry into the commercial market and we're pleased that we've been able to stay and grow in New Jersey."

Government clients choose Solix to manage public benefit programs ranging from funding for schools, libraries and healthcare facilities to qualifying low-income consumers for discounted utility services and reviewing grant requests for scientific research. Commercial clients choose Solix to simplify and manage customer contact operations as well as processes often related to meeting regulatory requirements. Solix offers a full-suite of platforms and enterprise solutions to its customers including Solix Eligibility Administration Platforms (SolixEAP), GrantEase and Solix Universal Solutions Platform (SolixUSP).  

J. MICHAEL ARMSTRONG, Chief Executive Officer of Community Hope, has been named one of six of the nation’s Behavioral Health Champions by Behavioral Healthcare Magazine.  With more than 35 years of experience in the behavioral healthcare and addiction fields, Armstrong was selected from dozens of nominations received for the awards, which will be presented at the SECAD conference in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
“What’s surprising about our Champions . . . is not their heartfelt passion for the work, but the fact that they, in their own gentle ways, are remarkably tenacious, entrepreneurial and determined,” said Dennis Grantham, Senior Editor of Behavioral Healthcare Magazine.  “They have invested patient decades, urging and helping their respective organizations to grow.  They have taken risks, championing investment in once-unproven ideas.”

Armstrong joined Community Hope in 1999, expanding the agency’s programs from serving 52 individuals with mental illness to today serving 300.  Among a handful of initiatives he successfully developed is the Hope for Veterans Program. In 2004, he led the opening of the largest program in New Jersey for veterans homeless as a result of mental illness and substance abuse.  Community Hope’s 95-bed transitional housing program won national acclaim from the Mutual of America Foundation with its Community Partnership Award as a model to be replicated across the country to address widespread homelessness among veterans.

Prior to joining Community Hope, Armstrong served as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of SERV Centers of New Jersey, Inc.  Previously, he was SERV’s Vice President of Addiction Services and held various positions at Elizabeth General Medical Center (now Trinitas Hospital) in Elizabeth and the former Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield.  He holds an MBA degree from Rutgers University and an MA in Counseling and a BA in Psychology from Appalachian State University in his home state of North Carolina.

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, Community Hope was formed as a private nonprofit organization in 1985 under the name Project Hope by family members and mental health professionals seeking a safe haven in the community where young adults could continue their recovery from chronic mental illness. 

Mack-Cali to Develop Office Building for Wyndham Worldwide’s Corporate Headquarters Consolidation

Mack-Cali Realty Corporation  announced that it will develop a 203,000-square-foot class A office building for Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, enabling the hospitality company to consolidate its Parsippany based workforce within a single campus.

The new building will be constructed adjacent to the 250,000-square-foot Wyndham Worldwide corporate headquarters at 22 Sylvan Way in the Mack-Cali Business Campus. Upon completion, the two buildings will provide a single, cohesive location for the thousands of associates based in Parsippany, and bring the total square feet leased in the Campus to 453,000, an increase of 14 percent.

The existing class A office building at 22 Sylvan was completed in 2009 by Mack-Cali during phase one of the campus project for Wyndham Worldwide. As part of phase two, the Company has pre-leased the new building for 15 years and three months, with both phases now having a co-terminus lease.

Mack-Cali president and chief executive officer Mitchell E. Hersh, commented, “When we acquired the Campus in 1998, we were attracted to its existing premier buildings and exceptional tenants. The property also offered additional attractive development sites to accommodate the growth needs of first-class companies in this barrier constrained market. We’re pleased that we are able to extend our strong relationship with Wyndham Worldwide in the Campus.”

While specifics are still to be determined, the new building is anticipated to increase efficiencies, and support the culture and core values of Wyndham Worldwide, which include a strong commitment to sustainability and responsible environmental practices. The Wyndham Worldwide corporate headquarters at 22 Sylvan Way has received numerous recognitions, including earning the prestigious silver LEED certification for Corporate Interiors by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The three-story granite and glass building is expected to be completed in first quarter 2013 and ready for occupancy by late third quarter 2013. The architect on the core and shell portion of the project is HLW International.

About Mack-Cali Realty Corporation
Mack-Cali Realty Corporation is a fully integrated, self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) providing management, leasing, development, construction and other tenant-related services for its class A real estate portfolio. Mack-Cali owns or has interests in 278 properties, primarily office and office/flex buildings located in the Northeast, totaling approximately 32.4 million square feet. The properties enable the Company to provide a full complement of real estate opportunities to its diverse base of over 2,000 tenants.

Additional information on Mack-Cali Realty Corporation is available on the Company’s website at www.mack-cali.com. Mack-Cali is a member of the Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce.