The board of the Lakewood Industrial Commission (LIC) elected its 2023 officers at the annual reorganization meeting of the LIC. Robert Kirschner, owner of Robert Kirschner Real Estate, Lakewood, was re-elected chairman. Other officers are Justin Flancbaum, executive director of the Lakewood Township Municipal Utilities Authority, vice chair; and Gregory Stafford-Smith, managing partner of Welcome Home Investments, secretary.
The rest of the 2023 board, who are appointed for five-year terms by the Lakewood Township Committee, are Thomas Calabro, owner of Twin City Jewelers; Hal Halvorsen, retired banker; Shlomo Katz, a principal in Olympic Properties commercial and residential real estate development; and Edwin Schuster, owner of E.J. Schuster’s Office Supplies and Furniture.
Lakewood Township Committeeman Michael D’Elia will serve as 2023 Lakewood Township Committee liaison to the LIC. Sean T. Kean, Esq., of Cleary, Giacobbe, Alfieri, Jacobs, LLC, was appointed the attorney for 2023; and Jeffrey W. Staiger of Remington & Vernick Engineering will serve as the LIC’s engineer.
Steven Reinman was appointed the executive director of the LIC and the secretary-designee. Anita Doyle will continue as the administration manager for the LIC and Lakewood Airport. She also serves as UEZ clerk for the LDC (Lakewood Development Corporation) in the administration of Lakewood’s Urban Enterprise Zone Program.
The LIC, established in 1960 and operating by New Jersey Statute, is charged with fostering industrial and economic development, increasing employment opportunities, and promoting the economic well-being of businesses in Lakewood Township, among other duties.
Anyone else think it’s odd that this “industrial commission” seems to be over weighted with real estate professionals, and very little if any actual industry? It’s almost like the only thing they will do is create more, and more homes…
While I am usually a critic of government and bureaucracy, in this case, I think that real estate knowledge is more useful than “industrial” knowledge. The purpose of the Industrial Commission is to promote and attract businesses to come to the Lakewood Industrial Parks. The nature of those businesses (ie: what kind of industry) is much less important to the LIC than what they can do to make Lakewood an appealing location to do business. Their ultimate goal is to promote commerce, provide jobs and increase the tax base coming from real estate developed in the Industrial Parks.
Yes, they do have to fit the Industrial profile of the Lakewood parks, which, for example, is limited to lighter forms of industry.