36 Valley Rd, Clark, NJ 07066 The NJBIA Events Team 609-393-7707 Email Registration
Join us for an in-person event at the Holiday Inn Clark, where we’ll hear from Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio (R-23) and Senate Deputy Republican Leader Joseph Pennacchio (R-26).
During our event, the Leaders will discuss their legislative priorities, as well as policies impacting New Jersey’s business community.
Please note that Senate Republican Leader Anthony Bucco, who was originally scheduled to be part of this event, will no longer be able to attend due to an unexpected scheduling conflict in the Legislature.
Christopher Emigholz
Chief Government Affairs Officer, NJBIA
As Chief Government Affairs Officer for the New Jersey Business & Industry Association Christopher focuses on taxation, budget, economic development and workforce development. NJBIA is the largest and most impactful business association in the nation.
Prior to his current job, Emigholz worked in state government for a decade. He was the Budget Director for the State Senate Republican Office for 8 years overseeing economic, fiscal and education policy, and he also directed education policy and legislative affairs in the New Jersey Department of Education prior to that. This is his second stint at NJBIA having served for years as their workforce development and education lobbyist earlier in his career. He was also a teacher through the Teach For America program in a high school in Atlanta, Georgia, and a community liaison/volunteer coordinator for an elementary school in Baltimore City through the AmeriCorps-VISTA program.
Emigholz has a Master of Public Policy degree from Rutgers’ Bloustein School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Johns Hopkins University. He currently lives in Robbinsville, NJ with his wife and 3 children, where he is active in the community including coaching youth sports and serving on the school board to which he was elected.
Assemblyman John DiMaio
Minority Leader
DiMaio Assemblyman John DiMaio has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2009, representing the 23rd Legislative District. This district includes parts of Warren, Hunterdon and Somerset Counties. He currently has the distinction of being the Assembly Minority Leader.
Assemblyman DiMaio has been an active public servant dating back to his teenage years. While in high school, he was a charter member of the Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad’s “Youth Squad” and later joined the Squad and earned Life Membership.
A Hackettstown native, DiMaio was first elected to public office at age 23 as a member of the Hackettstown Town Council where he served from 1980 to 1990. He was elected Mayor of Hackettstown and remained in that office from 1991 to 1999. In 1999, DiMaio was elected to a term as President of the statewide New Jersey Conference of Mayors.
Mr. DiMaio served as a Warren County Freeholder from 2000 to 2009. He was elected Freeholder Director twice during his tenure. As a Freeholder, DiMaio was a member of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority.
Upon joining the Assembly, DiMaio was appointed to a number of legislative committees including Agriculture and Natural Resources, Telecommunications and Utilities, Appropriations and the Budget Committee. His Assembly colleagues have honored him previously by selecting him for various leadership positions in the Republican caucus including Budget Officer and Conference Leader.
DiMaio is recognized for his legislative efforts to support the business community in New Jersey. He was a small business owner himself for over 40 years, operating a family owned general construction company, and understands the challenges experienced by small businesses. He is also known for being a watchdog for taxpayers, as well as a supporter of farmland and open space preservation.
The Assemblyman still lives in Hackettstown with his wife Gina. They have two grown daughters, a grandson and a granddaughter.
Senator Joe Pennacchio
Deputy Republican Leader
Joe Pennacchio has served in the New Jersey Legislature as Senator for the 26th Legislative District since 2008. Prior to serving in the State Senate, Pennacchio served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2000 to 2008. He currently serves on the Legislative Oversight and Senate Economic Growth committees.
Pennacchio has been on the forefront for Transparency in Government. His efforts helped bring a comprehensive, inclusive website to New Jersey. It shows taxpayers exactly how each and every dollar is being spent in a timely, user friendly easy to use website and ultimately a useful tool in cutting wasteful, questionable spending. He has sponsored legislation that would also bring transparency to all levels of government.
As an Assemblyman, Pennacchio secured 300 acres of the former Greystone tract for Morris County to be used in perpetuity for open space and recreation. As Senator, he successfully lobbied the Christie Administration to commit an additional 100 acres of the former Greystone tract for the same purpose in 2012.
Senator Pennacchio has been recognized as a “Taxpayer Champion” by the New Jersey Taxpayer Alliance, receiving a 100% score regarding ten bills that were vital to New Jersey’s taxpayer communities. In the past, Americans for Prosperity has also given their coveted “A” rating to State Senator Joe Pennacchio for his efforts on behalf of New Jersey taxpayers. Pennacchio has been recognized as a Guardian of Small Business from 2008-2011 from the New Jersey Federation of Independent Business.
Senator Pennacchio served on the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1998 to 2001, where he served as freeholder liaison to the county administration and finance offices, and was deputy liaison to the County’s Department of Human Services. As Freeholder, Pennacchio started the Kids First program in Morris County, which highlights and addresses children’s issues. The Senator helped to bolster the Morris County economy by establishing a $75 million economic growth fund for Morris County and worked to secure funding for the Master Plan for the Picatinny Technology Transfer Program.
Pennacchio has proven capable of working with administrations of both parties and legislators across the aisle to craft and pass important legislation. Much of this legislation was directed at improving the lives of New Jersey’s children and protecting open space. Legislation was signed into law which gives the county surrogate the option to deposit minors’ funds in any federally insured bank within the United States, allowing them to earn a higher rate of interest, and legislation establishing court awarded kinship legal guardianship status, making it easier for family members to become legal guardians of children, which has become a national model.
Senator Pennacchio is a former member of Governor DiFrancesco’s New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the Montville Economic Development Council. He is also a founder and former member of the Montville Education Foundation.
The Senator and his wife Diane live in Montville Township.
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Refund Policy: If you cancel 7 days or more prior to the scheduled event date, you will be eligible for a full 100% refund. Unfortunately, cancellations made within 1 week (7 days) of the event will not be eligible for any refunds.