JerseyMan Magazine V12N1

GOTTA HAVE HART FLYERS GOALIE CARTER HART

George Anastasia’s

MOB SCENE

®

Volume 12 • Number 1 – $3.95

Taryn Hatcher

Host of Flyers Pre- and Post-Game Live on NBC Sports Philadelphia

INSIDE: UNFORGETTABLE

BY PAUL DOMOWITCH

STOCK MARKET WIZ HUGH HENNE MARCH MADNESS BEHIND THE SCENES

jerseymanmagazine com

2

PUBLISHER

FROM JerseyMan Magazine THE VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1 ____________________________________________________________________________________

BY KEN DUNEK

Ken Dunek Publisher ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ashley Dunek

The Journey Continues

EDITOR George Brinkerhoff

H

ART DIRECTOR Steve Iannarelli

eading towards 65 this year—and it is a sobering number.

For most people, it is a time of reflection, of slowing down and enjoying grandchildren.

But not for me.

It seems like I am busier than I have ever been professionally. Running a local business and a national franchise business can be frenetic at times. And I love the action.

So, I will push my social security payments out until the very end and continue to do what I love to do.

No grandkids yet, but I recognized a long time ago this is in God’s hands, not mine. One thing I do know, if we were to be blessed in this area my wife Terri will be the greatest grandmother on earth.

For whatever time I have left, my goal is to stay relevant, to be caring and giving to others, and to set an example for my four daughters on how to navigate the swirling and sometimes treacherous waters of life.

And I do it without a life jacket—while continuing to enjoy the ride.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Anastasia, Jan L. Apple, Michael Bradley, George Brinkerhoff, Sam Carchidi, Paul Domowitch, Alexandra Dunek, Ashley Dunek, Mark Eckel, Robert Kennedy, Sam Kraft, Dei Lynam, Anthony Mongeluzo, Kurt Smith Event Coordinator & Administrative Assistant Alexandra Dunek Website & Digital Coordinator Jamie Dunek Editorial gbrinkerhoff@jerseymanmagazine.com Advertising 856-912-4007 Printing Alcom Printing, Harleysville, Pa.

––– P.S. Throughout our 11 year history, one of the things I am most proud of is the quality of writers that have and continue to contribute to our publications. I was thrilled when we were able to convince writers like the late Bill Lyon and the late Stan Hochman to join our staff.

And of course our current writers do a wonderful job of telling the local stories we choose to appear within these pages.

With that said, I would like to welcome Paul Domowitch to the JerseyMan/PhillyMan stable of writers. I have known Paul since 1983, when he covered the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL for the Philadelphia Daily News. We hope you enjoy his article in this issue (page 30), and in future issues of our magazine.

Controller Rose M. Balcavage Sales Associates Ashley Dunek, Jamie Dunek, Terri Dunek, Allison Farcus, JP Lutz Interns Chloe Senatore, Jess Connell JerseyMan/PhillyMan Advisory Board Peter Cordua (Chairman). . . HBK CPAs & Consultants Bill Emerson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emerson Group Jerry Flanagan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J Dog Brands Bob Hoey. . . . . . . . . . . . . Janney Montgomery Scott Kristi Howell. . Burlington Co. Chamber of Commerce Ed Hutchinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hutchinson Robert Kennedy. . . . . . . . . . The Kennedy Companies Doug MacGray . . . . . . . . . Stonecrop Wealth Advisors Anthony Mongeluzo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCS Charlie Muracco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLM Advisors Ryan Regina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Sky Enterprises Scott Tanker . . . . . . . . . . . Tanker Business Solutions Joe Tredinnick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cornerstone Bank Les Vail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Workplace HCM Jim Wujcik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Santander Bank

“Success usually comes to those too busy to look for it.” – Henry David Thoreau JerseyMan Magazine/PhillyMan Magazine, products of a partnership between Ken Dunek, Anthony Mongeluzo, and Alcom Printing Group, are published by New Opportunity Publishing, LLC, with offices at 5 Perina Boulevard Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. Copyright 2022.

Atsion, NJ Photo Steve I.

www.jerseymanmagazine.com

INSIDE Taryn

ON THE COVER……

24

Hatcher

TYRESE MAXEY

p.

“Play by the rules, but be ferocious.” – Phil Knight JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 12 • NUMBER 1

40

by DEI LYNAM

28

WHERE WE EAT DONKEY’S PLACE DOWNTOWN

30

UNFORGETTABLE

by PAUL DOMOWITCH

34

DAVE CANTIN AN ENTREPRENEURIAL LIFE

48

p.

28

GOTTA HAVE HART FLYERS GOALIE CARTER HART

58

STOCK MARKET WIZARD MITCHELL HENNESSEY, AKA HUGH HENNE

64

THE BIG SHOW MARCH MADNESS BEHIND THE SCENES

COLUMNS

1 2 J O T T I N G S • 2 0 G E O R G E A N A S T A S I A ’ S M O B S C E N E • 26 GET FIT 72 THE CIGAR GUY • 74 TECH TIME • 78 THE WINE MAN

Cover photograph Jeremy Messler Photography LLC / Art Direction Steve Iannarelli

www.jerseymanmagazine.com

JOTTINGS

______________________________________________________________________________

BY GEORGE BRINKERHOFF

Little Green Men (and Women)

R Photos Steve I.

EMEMBER THE LITTLE GREEN PLASTIC ARMY MEN that you used to play with as a kid? (Well, at least some of you.) There’s a company named BMC Toys that produces a line of “Classic Army Men” that uses the same molds they obtained from the original makers. (I can almost see the gleam in your eyes as you drift back to the hours of innocent kid drama, fighting heroic pitched battles against the bad guys. Our art director sure had a blast setting up his squad for their portrait, as you can tell by the photos.) And, according to the company blog, because of queries from female veterans as well as a letter from a six-year-old girl looking for “female green army men,” BMC Toys also has available for purchase little green women soldiers as well! Check them out and take a trip back to your childhood by going to www.bmctoys.com.

12

“Imagination is everything.

It’s the preview of life’s coming attractions.”

– Albert Einstein

Swing and a miss.

A

s our What We Eat article demonstrates (Check it out on page 28), some eateries like Donkey’s Place can become well-loved, successful iconic establishments that generations of people return to again and again over the years, even the decades. Sadly, however, many small businesses fade out of existence, even those where all the cards for success seem to be in place. One such business that seemed to have every ingredient for success on their menu was Mike Schmidt’s Philadelphia Hoagies. The chain opened back in the 1990’s with 10 stores throughout the Philadelphia area. With the name and apparent support of the Philadelphia Phillies own home-run king, Michael Jack Schmidt, combined with a variety of sandwiches (what outsiders call submarine sandwiches, but are known to us in the Philly area as “hoagies”), success seemed assured. In fact, your hungry scribe was a repeat customer at the one in Marlton, NJ, so it must’ve been pretty good. Alas, it was not to be, however. According to the Franchise Graveyard blog in 2004, quoting Maxim Magazine online, “despite Mike’s 12 All-Star appearances, nine of the restaurants were forced to shut their doors, and franchisees filed suit against the company. The one remaining restaurant, in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, changed its name to Schmittys...”

Source: (http://failedfranchise.blogspot.com/2004/09/ mike-schmidts-philadelphia-hoagies.html)

13

Lost & Found

SOUTH JERSEY NATIVE BILL BUSARELLO LOVES FINDING THINGS. He also enjoys helping people. And he’s found a way to combine his passion and his talents through one unique activity. That’s why whenever someone asks for his help, he’s always ready to lend a hand. And in that hand, he’ll be holding his metal detector because the people who ask for his help have generally lost something valuable, maybe irreplaceable and possibly priceless. We’re talking rings, necklaces, bracelets, metal artifacts of all kinds. If it’s metal and you’ve lost it, he’ll try and help you recover it. You see he’s part of a very generous group of people that will donate their time and effort to help you recover your lost engagement, wedding, high school, college or other meaningful keepsakes that have disappeared. And he does it free of charge.

When he’s not searching for recently lost items, he sets his sights on and successfully finds much older, historical objects. Coins are a big part of his discoveries. While he’s only been metal detecting for a few years since his retirement, he’s found an astonishing number of coins from every era of North American history.

Recently, he made a pretty fascinating discovery right here in South Jersey near the Delaware River: an Irish trade token from the 1600’s (pictured). Since the first European inhabitants were just beginning to settle in the Delaware Valley during this period, finding something from 14

that era is quite unusual and pretty special. Add to that that there was an identifiable name on the item, and you’ve got an amazing historical find. It bears the name of one “Andrew Robeson” and “Clonmel” which is in the county of Tipperary in Ireland. According to Busarello, Andrew Robeson is recorded as immigrating to the Province of New Jersey from Clonmel in 1676. Smith’s “History of New Jersey” lists him as “Surveyor General” and as a member of the First Council of Proprietors of West Jersey which was established in 1687.

In November 1690, he purchased and lived in an estate known as Shoomac Park near Philadelphia where he died in 1694. As Busarello indicated about finding things with ties to historical characters, “This is my first ever find directly associated with an identifiable person …. I believe that either Robeson himself or a colleague actuIrish trade token ally dropped this token.” from the 1600s.

Another example of this token is held in the collection at the British Museum in London, England. The find is a fascinating and unique discovery, providing a compelling glimpse of our region’s rich history still waiting to be revealed, just beneath our feet.

If you’ve lost something metal of value, sentimental or otherwise, that you’d like to have back you can contact Bill at billbusarello@gmail.com, or search: New Jersey Metal Detectorists on Facebook.

15

Third time’s the charm?

The USFL is back! It’s the third time since the 1980s that a league by the same name has been attempted. Starting in April 2022 and featuring eight original team names and logos from the 80s, including the Philadelphia Stars, the plan this year is for the league to play all their games in Birmingham, Alabama. With a ten-week season and a two round playoff this year, the broadcast rights will be split evenly between, Fox, NBC, FoxSports and the USA Network. FoxSports, who owns the league, has committed a reported $150 to $200 million over three years, with plans to bring on an additional $250 million from outside investors. Besides the team names and logos, there apparently is no legal connection with the 1980’s entity of the same name.

With the advent of the latest version of the USFL, and its nascent Philadelphia team, the league will give football fans its fix in the spring. But it’s doubtful that the league will have the star power of the 1980’s which featured all-time greats such as Herschel Walker, Steve Young, Jim Kelly, Reggie White, Doug Flutie and Sam Mills, not to mention two-time USFL Champion, (and JerseyMan publisher) Ken Dunek!

Subscribe Today!

Get the next 4 issues for only $20!

www.jerseymanmagazine.com 16

17

15th Annual Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run (Rev Run) – King of Prussia, PA

Rodney & Erika McLeod’s Sneaker Ball – Philadelphia, PA

The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) presented $42,000 to Valley Forge National Historical Park from funds raised through this year’s 15th annual Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run (Rev Run) held virtually in April.

Philadelphia Eagle Rodney McLeod and Erika McLeod’s (pictured above with JerseyMan publisher Ken Dunek) Change Our Future Foundation held thier Inaugural Sneaker Ball in December. The night included a sneaker museum, a silent auction, food sampling from Philadelphia chefs and a Toy & Sneaker Drive for the youth of Philadelphia. The organization raised close to $250,000, collected over 250 new pairs of sneakers and 150 new toys. Photos: @RichWahPhotography

MiamiMan Magazine Launch Party – Miami, Fla. On October 27th we gathered at the fabulous DOYA restaurant in the Wynwood section of Miami to launch our newest franchise MiamiMan Magazine. Owners Mike Adada and Dean Parsons were wonderful hosts, and drew an enthusiastic crowd to the affair. Look for their premier issue in early 2022. For more information on a USAMan franchise in your area, please contact ken@jerseymanagazine.com for more details.

18

Since its inception in 2006, Rev Run has raised $500,000 for Park infrastructure improvement projects and programming to enhance visitor experience.

19

MOB SCENE

_______________________________________________________________________________

BY GEORGE ANASTASIA

Unsolved: How the Mob and the CIA like it

T

HEY REMAIN TWO of the great unsolved mysteries in American history.

Both have strong connections to organized crime.

And both were back in the news big time late last year.

The assassination of John F. Kennedy and the disappearance of James R. Hoffa got headlines and media attention as 2021 drew to a close. A documentary by Oliver Stone refocused attention on the murder of JFK and raised new and troubling questions about who was behind that hit and why. And a landfill in New Jersey once again became the focus of an FBI search for the body of Jimmy Hoffa.

There is little dispute about the mob’s involvement in the Hoffa case.

The one-time head of the International Teamsters Union was angling to regain the top spot in that organization when he disappeared on July 30, 1975.

Hoffa thought he was going to lunch that day with Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano, a mob leader with whom he had had a falling out. The meeting was set for the Machus Red Fox restaurant just outside of Detroit.

Provenzano, head of North Jersey Teamsters Local 560 and a capo in the Genovese crime family was still back East when Hoffa pulled into the restaurant parking lot.

Tony Pro had an airtight alibi. He was hundreds of miles from Detroit.

Hoffa was last seen getting into a car in the parking lot of the restaurant and being driven away.

Underworld folklore and FBI investigations have fueled speculation ever since. What is sometimes lost in the story of the disappearance is the overarching issue of labor racketeering that is at the heart of the case.

Organized crime and organized labor have 20

often been in bed together.

The Teamsters, the Laborers Union, the Hotel and Bartenders Union and the Longshoremen’s Union have long and tainted histories tied to the mob. The classic movie On the Waterfront from 1954 captured the mob’s control of dockworkers in New Jersey. A dozen years

and New York in an effort to thwart German saboteurs during World War II. Little Nicky Scarfo’s control of Bartenders Union Local 54 was a big part of his power base at the dawn of casino gambling in Atlantic City in the late 1970s. And there are many who believe Las Vegas was only able to become the glittering gambling mecca it is today because of the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund.

M The mob felt it had helped JFK get elected in 1960 and expected something in return. earlier, in real life, Lucky Luciano was sprung from prison after arranging for longshoremen to serve as the eyes and ears of U.S. Naval Intelligence along the docks in New Jersey

ILLIONS OF DOLLARS were lent to mob-backed developers in the 1960s and 1970s to build luxurious new casino palaces in the desert. The mob’s control of a half dozen casino-hotels and its monthly skim of tens of thousands of dollars were all part of the labor racketeering game.

Mob families from Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee and Cleveland shared in the skim which amounted to millions of dollars in untaxed profits.

Hoffa was a big part of that, but after being sentenced to 13 years in prison in 1967 for jury tampering, fraud and conspiracy he was replaced by Frank Fitzsimmons who developed an even cozier relationship with the wiseguys. Hoffa’s attempt to bump Fitz aside and take back the International Teamsters Union after his unexpected release from prison in 1971 was a bold gambit that cost him his life.

Under the terms of a sentence commutation granted by then-President Richard Nixon (and allegedly paid for with a $500,000 bribe), Hoffa was not supposed to engage in union activities. But he thumbed his nose at authorities by announcing that he wanted to be the Teamsters’ president again. While that issue might have led to legal proceedings and a judicial decision, a more important verdict was handed down after the aborted meeting

at the Machus Red Fox. The consensus is that Hoffa was taken to another location where he was executed.

Over the years the location of the hit and the names of the shooters have become part of the legend. While Martin Scorsese in his movie The Irishman adopted the less-thancredible account that Philadelphia-area mob associate Frank Sheeran was the shooter other authoritative accounts have linked the gunman to Tony Provenzano’s North Jersey mob crew.

Varying stories have placed the body underground in the Detroit area, up in smoke and reduced to ashes at a crematorium or transport ted to New Jersey where it was buried under Giants Stadium or in the landfill that is now the focus of the latest investigation.

The FBI searched a spot under the Pulaski Skyway back in October. The “site survey” took two days and “data is currently being analyzed,” according to an FBI statement.

The feds ended up there because of the dogged journalistic work of Dan Moldea, a reporter who has been tracking the Hoffa case since the disappearance and who is the foremost expert on the Teamster-mob saga.

Moldea jokingly refers to himself as Ahab.

Hoffa, then, is his white whale. Deathbed information provided to Moldea from a man who claimed he buried Hoffa’s body after placing it in a 55-gallon drum might be the key to locating the remains and ending what is now a 47-year quest.

The smart money’s on Moldea.

W

HILE THE MOB’S ROLE in the Hoffa case is a slam dunk, its place in the JFK assassination is part of an even broader and more troubling conspiracy that Oliver Stone focused on in his documentary JFK Revisited: Through the Looking Glass.

The two-hour film, which aired on Showtime, makes a strong case for the CIA’s involvement in the Kennedy assassination. But the documentary doesn’t go into any great detail about the CIA’s links to the mob and how organized crime might have been part of the conspiracy.

To trace those connections, you have to go back to Cuba in the 1950s and the mob’s takeover of the gambling, entertainment and sex industries in that island nation. The takeover was planned during a mob conference in 1946 in Havana. Lucky Luciano, released from prison but deported, made his way there from Sicily and oversaw a major organized 21

crime sit-down in which he and his good friend Meyer Lansky laid out their plans for a gambling and adult fantasy land just 90 miles from the coast of Florida.

Author T.J. English writes about all of this in his wonderful book Havana Nocturne, detailing how the mob (led by Lansky) took over the island, corrupted the government and generated millions. What no one factored in was Fidel Castro whose revolution ended the mob’s grand experiment.

Or as English writes, “The dream was that Havana would be a party that never ended.

Instead, it turned out to be one of the greatest hangovers of all time.”

It was, in fact, a hangover not just for the mob, but for the United States government.

Castro became the target of multiple CIA plots to depose or kill him. The Bay of Pigs—a fiasco—was the most prominent failure. But there were more than a dozen other attempts, all part of CIA-orchestrated plots known as Operation Mongoose, to have Castro killed.

Some of those were conducted in league with mobsters who wanted to regain their stranglehold on the island. Sam “Momo” Giancana from Chicago, John “Handsome Johnny “Roselli from Las Vegas, Santo Trafficante Jr. from Tampa and Carlos Marcello

22

from New Orleans all have been linked to the CIA’s plans to kill Castro.

Strange bedfellows? Maybe, but if you look at Luciano and the dockworkers during World War II it would not have been the first time a government agency called on the wiseguys for assistance.

Kennedy’s falling out with the CIA after the Bay of Pigs is pointed to by Stone as a catalyst for his assassination in his new documentary.

But the CIA wasn’t the only organization miffed at the new president.

The mob felt it had helped JFK get elected in 1960 and expected something in return.

Kennedy’s father, Joseph, a one-time bootlegger whose connections to organized crime went back to Prohibition, supposedly sought the mob’s assistance in “getting out the vote” in West Virginia and Illinois. Mobsters like Giancana believed JFK should have been beholden to the organization.

Instead, JFK appointed his brother Robert as U.S. Attorney General and Robert Kennedy launched a “war” on organized crime and organized labor. Mob boss Carlos Marcello and Teamster boss Jimmy Hoffa were two of RFK’s primary targets.

The assassination of JFK blunted that antimob campaign and Robert Kennedy soon

stepped down as Attorney General.

How big a role did the mob play in the murder of JFK? Marcello and Trafficante both boasted about it, according to informants who came forward years later. More might have been learned from Giancana and Roselli.

Giancana was scheduled to testify before a U.S. Senate committee investigating the CIA-mob connection in plots to killed Castro.

But he never made it to Washington. He was found shot to death in a basement kitchen of his Chicago area home on June 19, 1975.

Giancana was cooking up some sausage and peppers at the time and the theory is that he was killed by someone he knew and for whom he was preparing a meal.

Roselli, the mob’s longtime point man first in Hollywood and then in Las Vegas, was also mentioned repeatedly in the CIA-Castro plotting. He was killed in the summer of 1976. His body was stuffed into a 55-gallon drum that was found floating in Dumfoundling Bay near Miami.

While certainly lesser crimes, the Giancana and Roselli murders, like the assassination of JFK and the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, remain unsolved. And that, one could argue, is the way the mob and the CIA like it. n

23

DEI LYNAM

_______________________________________________________________________________ ___

One Percent Every Day

W

Maxey won over the Philadelphia fan base with his enthusiasm and energy, not to mention his infectious smile.

When Maxey and the rest of his teammates arrived in Camden, NJ, to get ready for the 2021-22 season, there was one glaring absence; Ben Simmons was a holdout. The Sixers roster lacked a true backup point guard. The tem24

porary job would have to be filled by Shake Milton, Tyrese Maxey, or Furkan Korkmaz.

Simmons was a three-time all-star and named first-team all-defense last season, so big shoes had to be filled. Could Maxey assume those responsibilities?

Maxey’s college coach, John Calipari, strongly believed his former player could handle the job. He had said as much the day after

the Sixers selected him No. 21 overall in the 2020 NBA draft.

“I thought he should have gone earlier,” Calipari said. “Let me tell you; there are a lot of people that are going to regret that they passed. There are about eight positions that will look back a few years from now who will say look where he went, and look where he could have gone.

Photo Dei Lynam

HEN TYRESE MAXEY completed his rookie regular season with the Philadelphia 76ers, he had appeared in 61 of the 72 game schedule, averaging eight points and 15 minutes. When the NBA playoffs started, he was ready to do more. Maxey had three double-figure scoring games in the first-round series against the Wizards. And in a critical game six conference semi-final contest against the Hawks, he contributed 16 points playing 29 minutes in a five-point win.

The University of Kentucky product had won over the Philadelphia fan base with his enthusiasm and energy, not to mention his infectious smile. He hoped to build on that experience in his second season by earning more minutes and a permanent place in the rotation.

“My goal for the summer was to get one percent better every single day,” Maxey said at the start of training camp. “Now that we are here, I want to apply that and help the team win.

There is one goal in mind, and that’s winning.”

“But he goes to Philly. Do you know who the last player Doc [Rivers] had from us? It was Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander]. I will go deeper; Sam Cassell was helping tutor John Wall in Washington, Shai, and now he has Tyrese. As an assistant coach in Philly, you have a guy, who played for me, took my team to the playoffs, won championships - Doc’s won championships. They are going to have a great run in Philly, and Tyrese is going to be a part of that.”

AST FORWARD TO OPENING NIGHT of this season, and Maxey had earned the starting point guard spot. He helped his team beat the Pelicans by scoring 20 points, grabbing seven rebounds, handing out five assists, and turning the ball over just one time.

Also included in his night were two made threes and a perfect night at the foul line.

It was just one game, but people saw a capable on-court leader who did things his predecessor did not; attempt three-pointers and make free throws. The Sixers proceeded to win eight of their first ten games before being ravaged by injury and players landing on the health and safety protocols list. But Maxey was a constant, and his game was growing. With that, compliments started pouring in. After a loss to the Bucks in November when Maxey led the way with 31 points, Doc Rivers acknowledged his second-year guard benefitted by being surrounded by veterans, but he gave greater credit where credit was due.

“Having all of those guys [veterans] is probably good for Tyrese. But Tyrese is good for Tyrese,” Rivers said. “He works. He listens. He watches film. He does everything you need to do to become better in basketball.”

There are nights Maxey struggles shooting the ball. After those games, he and his coach are often asked should he have found one of his experienced teammates? Striking that balance when to give and when to take is a work in progress.

“It’s tough,” Doc Rivers said. “He’s young, and he’s playing with a bunch of guys that are really good. Every time he shoots, he’s thinking, “Hell, I should’ve gotten that to Seth, Tobias, or Joel.” He’s got to keep picking his spots.”

There is a lot of basketball left in the season, but Tyrese Maxey is proving to be worthy of the company Coach Calipari put him in before he ever played an NBA game. The second-year numbers of Gilgeous-Alexander, Wall, and Maxey are almost identical, with all three averaging between 16 and 19 points and four to six rebounds. The assists for each have greater disparity, with Maxey currently averaging five dimes.

It’s become clear, setting a goal of getting better one percent every day adds up. n

F

25

GET FIT

For more guidance, follow Alexandra, NASM Certified

______________________________________________________________________________________________ Personal Trainer on Instagram at @TipsfromAFitChick

BY ALEXANDRA DUNEK

6 Fitness Mistakes You Might Be Making 1. Not eating enough protein Protein is the most satiating macronutrient, but a majority of people underestimate how much they are eating every day. A general guideline would be to aim for 30-40g per meal. My favorite options are egg whites, protein shakes, shrimp, chicken, deli meat, fish and lentils.

Macronutrient refers to nutrients in food consisting of protein, carbohydrates and fat.

2. Not doing dynamic stretching The type of stretching you do before you lift weights is crucial to warming up and preventing injury. Most people are familiar with static stretching—we did this in P.E. class growing up or before playing sports—it’s when you hold a stretch in a certain position for a few seconds. This is good to do after you finish working out but shouldn’t be the way you warm up. Dynamic stretching involves a controlled movement through a full range of motion. This type of stretching activates your muscles and increases blood flow. For example, leg swings, inchworm, side lunge and push-ups are a few I use daily.

3. Not getting enough sleep It sounds so simple, but getting enough sleep truly affects the quality of your life, including your gym performance and adhering to your nutrition plan. If you don’t have a consistent sleep schedule, I recommend improving on this area before you decide to cut your calories or increase your cardio.

4. Doing too much cardio Cardio is a great addition to a healthy lifestyle, but more isn’t always better. Sohee Lee mentions in her book Eat. Lift. Thrive., “The more cardio you do on a regular basis, the more you’re going to have to add to see physique results.” If you start out doing hours of cardio and eating little as possible, you will have no area to tweak once you stop seeing progress.

5. Not using progressive overload Progressive overload means doing more over time. You can achieve this by increasing the weight of the load, utilizing better form or doing more reps. This is how you become stronger and ultimately change your body composition, which is the goal for most people. Tip: It helps to write down your workout so you know how and where you can improve the following week.

Body composition refers to what your body is made up of (muscle mass, body fat percentage, etc.)

Dynamic stretching activates your muscles and increases blood flow.

6. Doing a different plan every time It’s easy to jump around from machine to machine or exercise to exercise in the gym every day, but you’re doing yourself a disservice by just going through the motions. Instead, pick a routine and stick to it throughout several months using progressive overload and recording your weekly numbers. n

Here are some resources I recommend: Eat. Lift. Thrive. by Sohee Lee, book available on Amazon Instagram: @soheelee Coaching guides by Mark Carroll, available at www.coachmarkcarroll.com. Instagram: @coachmarkcarroll Helpful form tips: follow @haileybarragan on Instagram Online nutrition coaching with Avatar Nutrition, www.avatarnutrition.com 26

27

Where We Eat

Donkey’s Place Downtown

BY ASHLEY DUNEK

Donkey’s famous cheesesteak comes on a round Kaiser poppy seed roll, defying the stereotype of a cheesesteak

IF YOU’RE FROM THE TRI-STATE AREA, you’ve likely heard of the local hot spot Donkey’s Place in Camden, NJ. They’ve been giving Philly cheesesteaks a run for their money since 1943.

This October they opened their newest location in Mount Holly, and we were the first in line.

WHO? Joe Lucas and Jared Berkey partnered up to bring this popular joint to downtown Mt. Holly. Joe is a third-generation owner along with his brother, Rob Jr., who runs the Camden location.

WHY? Since I might be one of the only people who had never tried Donkey’s Place until NOW, it’s obvious that I’ve been miss-

WHERE? The Mount Holly location is the third location joining Camden & Medford (opened in 2001). It’s a small building with a takeout window, no indoor seating and plenty of picnic tables for their guests to dine. n Joe Lucas

Jared Berkey

The late, great Anthony Bourdain visited the Camden location during an episode of CNN’s Parts Unknown and declared that “The best cheesesteak in the area might well come from New Jersey.”

WHAT? The menu isn’t extensive, and no one cares! The famous cheesesteak comes on a round Kaiser poppy seed roll, defying the stereotype of a cheesesteak in every good way.

Savory meat topped with melted American cheese and caramelized onions that melt in your mouth. Add their sriracha ketchup for a kick.

*PRO TIP - If you’re a vegetarian, they have a secret option for you, and you won’t be disappointed!

28

Photos Ashley Dunek

The name Donkey’s Place came from the founder, Leon “Donkey” Lucas, an Olympic heavyweight boxer who was said to have a punch like the kick of a mule!

ing out. I’ve tried a lot of Philly cheesesteaks in my day but this one made me forget about the others. There’s a reason they’re selling up to 500 cheesesteaks on a busy day!

29

Unforgettable.

BY PAUL DOMOWITCH

I

n 2003, Mitch Albom, the long-time sports columnist for the Detroit Free Press and a best-selling author, wrote a terrific novel called “The Five People You Meet In Heaven.”

The book is about an old man named Eddie who works as a mechanic at a seaside amusement park. He is killed trying to save a little girl from a falling ride. Eddie ends up in heaven where he meets five people who had a significant impact on his life.

I turned 67 in June and semi-retired in October after 39 years at the Philadelphia Daily News and Inquirer. I have no plans to put in my application for the afterlife any time soon.

But if I am lucky enough to hit the lottery and make it to heaven in about 30 years or so, I have a list of unforgettable people I’ve covered over the last four decades that I would definitely like to sit down with and interview again for the Pearly Gates Daily News.

Here are the two that are at the top of my list:

SAM MILLS

MILLS

Sam Mills is the most inspirational player I ever knew. Every kid who’s been told he’s too short, too slow, too this or too that should acquaint themselves with Sam’s amazing story.

By the time I met him in 1983, he already had been given pink slips by the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts.

Those rejections had nothing to do with a lack of ability. They had to do with a lack of height. Sam, an All-American linebacker at Montclair State, was only 5’ 9”, and the Browns and Argonauts didn’t think there was a place for a linebacker in pro football who was that small.

After Toronto cut him, he took a job teaching photography at a North Jersey high school. He thought his dream of playing professional football was over. Then a new spring league called the United States Football League was formed. One of the teams in that league, the Philadelphia Stars, called Sam and asked him if he’d be interested in trying out.

Sam actually had to think about it. He already had been disappointed twice. He wasn’t sure he wanted to shoot for the trifecta. But he ended up signing with them.

Sam ended up becoming the best defensive player in the USFL and leading the Stars to two league titles.

During the Stars’ first training camp in Deland, Fla., their head coach, Jim Mora, spent the first two weeks trying to convince his defensive coordinator, Vince Tobin, that they needed to cut Sam. “We can’t have a 5’ 9” linebacker playing for us,” Mora kept telling Tobin. “People will laugh at us.” Tobin’s answer: “If you want to cut your best defensive player, then go ahead.

51

30

“My first impression of him?” Mora Sam Mills is the most told me that first year. inspirational player I “I thought he was too short to play. And he ever knew. Every kid doesn’t make up for who’s been told he’s it with exceptional speed. But the more too short, too slow, too you watch him, the this or too that should more you like him.”

Mora eventually acquaint themselves with became a believer.

Sam’s amazing story.

When he took the New Orleans Saints’ head coaching job in 1986 after the USFL folded, he took Sam with him.

Mills spent nine years there and three more in Carolina.

Was a five-time Pro Bowler. Led the expansion Panthers to the NFC Championship Game in their second season of existence.

Even though he played there for just three years at the end of his career, the Panthers erected a statue of Sam in front of their stadium.

Mills has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame three times.

Mora, who once wanted to cut Sam, now unabashedly calls him the greatest player he’s ever coached. So does Tobin, who coached Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary with the Bears.

AM DIED TOO YOUNG. He succumbed to intestinal cancer in 2005 at the age of 46. He was an assistant coach with the Panthers at the time.

I went to Charlotte and interviewed Sam seven months before he died. He already had lived a year longer than the cancer doctors had predicted at that point.

If I went there looking for a bitter, feeling-sorry-for-himself man, I would’ve been disappointed. But I had known Sam a long time. He never felt sorry for himself a day in his life. He was a fighter. And he fought the cancer right to the end.

“If God ain’t finished with me yet, nothing will happen,” Sam said to me that day. “You’ve just got to believe and keep on going. It certainly makes you appreciate life a lot more. I remember last year when we went out to Arizona for a game after I was diagnosed. You look around and you say, wow, what a beautiful country.

“You hear people talk about a movie coming out this winter or next spring and you think, man, I might not even make it that far. They talk about road projects and developments going up that should be done in 2005, and you say, I might not even see that.

“But that’s the way life is every day anyway. You don’t know whether you’re going to be around the next day. But something like this brings it to the forefront. I remember after I was diagnosed, thinking, they’re saying I might not even be around for my 45th birthday. But thank God I am.”

S

REGGIE WHITe

WHITE

92

I’ve had the honor of being on the 48-member selection committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the last 21 years.

In 2006, I had the pleasure of making the presentation for Reggie White when the former Eagle was a finalist for the Hall in his first year of eligibility.

His selection was a formality. No one needed to be convinced Reggie belonged in the Hall of Fame. He was arguably the greatest defensive player who ever lived.

Since our selection meetings are marathons that have been known to last up to nine hours, I kept my sales pitch short and sweet. It was just five words: “Ladies and gentlemen, Reggie White,” I said.

He was a unanimous selection.

Reggie was not just a Hall of Fame player. He was a Hall of Fame human being. An ordained Evangelical minister who used football as his pulpit to spread the word of God. But the man was not above vengeance. God help the poor offensive lineman who went after his knees. Or a cheap owner like Norman Braman who seemed to care more about the bottom line than winning and the welfare of his players.

EGGIE SPENT THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS of his prolific 15year career with the Eagles. Was the heart and soul of their late-80s/early-90s GangGreen defense, which was the best defensive unit in franchise history and one of the best in NFL history.

Reggie spearheaded an unstoppable defensive line that also featured Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons, Mike Golic and Mike Pitts.

During Reggie’s final four seasons in Philly from 1989 through 1992, GangGreen averaged an unbelievable 54 sacks and 47 takeaways per season and held opponents to 16.6 points per game.

The 6’ 5”, 295-pound White lined up at both tackle and end and was a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. Played in 121 games for the Eagles and had 124 sacks. In 1987, he played in just 12 games because of the players’ strike and still had a league-high 21 Reggie White was one sacks. Think about that for a second. of the most honest

Reggie played two and candid players seasons in the USFL beI’ve ever known. fore signing with the Eagles three games into Ask him a question, the ’85 season. Made an any question, and immediate impact in his first game, recording 10 he would give you tackles and two and a half a truthful answer, sacks against the Giants.

“I had never seen even if it got him into anyone that big and trouble sometimes. strong who could move that fast,” said Arizona State head coach and former Eagles cornerback Herm Edwards, who played the last of his nine seasons with the Birds in Reggie’s first. “He was explosive. He drove blockers back like they were on roller skates.”

White was a named plaintiff in the NFL Players Association’s lawsuit against the owners that brought free agency to the league. As soon as free agency was implemented in 1993, White bolted Philly. Not because

R

31

he disliked the city or the fans, but because he despised Braman.

He said he wanted to go someplace where he could do the most good for minority and underprivileged people. He said God would tell him where that would be.

When it ended up being in predominantly white Green Bay, Wisconsin with the team that offered him the most money, a lot of people called him a hypocrite.

But White followed through on his promise, helping both the black and white communities of Wisconsin and spreading his ministry there. He also helped turn around the Packers. They made the playoffs all six years Reggie played for them. Made it to the NFC Championship Game his third year there and won the Super Bowl in his fourth. In his final season with the Packers in ’98, he had 16 sacks.

“Reggie was no phony,” his wife Sara said in her acceptance speech for her husband at his posthumous Hall of Fame induction in August of 2006. “He stood for what he believed in.” Indeed he did.

I interviewed Reggie dozens of times during his career, both in Philly and Green Bay. He was one of the most honest and candid players I’ve ever known. Ask him a question, any question, and he would give you a truthful answer, even if it got him into trouble sometimes.

I still remember flying to Green Bay to interview him the season after he signed with the Packers. Talked to me for 45 minutes. Admitted he never would have left Philadelphia if Jeff Lurie had bought the Eagles from Norman Braman a year earlier.

I was stunned when I heard the news of Reggie’s sudden death the day after Christmas in 2004. It was one of those tragedies where you will always remember where you were when you found out.

I was at the Philadelphia airport getting ready to board a plane for an Eagles Monday night game in St. Louis against the Rams when my office called to tell me.

Like Sam Mills, Reggie died too young. He had finished his football career but had so many grand plans for his post-football ministry.

“If life had a Hall of Fame for people who were important in society, let me be so bold as to say my dad would be in the life Hall of Fame,” Reggie’s son Jeremy said in 2006 when he presented his dad for induction in Canton.

“His passion for God, his love for his family and community, and his dedication toward making the world a better place would at least get him nominated.” n 32

33

Dave Cantin Entrepreneurial. Spirited.

Philanthropic.

BY JAN L. APPLE

Dave Cantin has never been one to think inside the box. And clearly, his entrepreneurial life path has been anything but ordinary.

34

www.davecantingroup.com 35

D

AVE CANTIN explained that, in 2017, he created the second largest merger and acquisition deal in the automotive space in U.S. history.

“Second to Warren Buffett, today what is [Buffett’s] Berkshire Hathaway Automotive Group,” he said. Suffice it to say, he was skilled at the task.

That very same year, he also launched the Dave Cantin Group (DCG), a national firm headquartered at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City with locations across the country.

DCG offers an array of services, focused predominantly throughout the automotive industry.

The 42-year-old founder and CEO, born and raised in Freehold Township, NJ, compared the structure of the company to that of a JP Morgan or Goldman Sachs. The DCG Group, he explained, is the parent company to a family of brands: DCG Acquisitions (mergers and acquisitions), DCG Capital (lends money for capitalization loans, mortgages and more) and DCG Media (automotive podcasts and other brands). “DCG acquisitions is one of the largest mergers and acquisitions firms in the automotive industry,” said Cantin.

He spoke candidly about how he assembled

36

“ I’VE BEEN INVOLVED IN PHILANTHROPY FOR 20-PLUS YEARS. I’VE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN GIVING BACK; THE MORE YOU GIVE, THE MORE YOU WILL RECEIVE.” the DCG team. After traveling the country and meeting one-on-one with hundreds of professionals, he chose “the best of the best” to join his venture. “We have an amazing team,” said Cantin. The skills of his employees—or as he refers to them, members—run the gamut, from those with top-notch track records of operating, selling and buying dealerships, to those with legal, manufacturing and financial expertise. He described automotive industry entrepreneurs as among the most resilient and philanthropicminded individuals he has ever encountered.

“They’re not afraid to give back,” he said.

Cantin, who lives a bicoastal life—splitting his time between New York, California and Florida—is quick to underscore that the financial success of the DCG Group is not what motivates him, nor what brings him the greatest joy and inspiration. That comes in the form of helping people and witnessing their success in reaching goals and fulfilling dreams. It is, quite frankly, what makes Cantin tick. Moti-

vational speaking is particularly meaningful.

Cantin often speaks with youth, including college students and beyond, with the goal of working together to form a realistic plan of action to bring dreams to fruition. His ultimate passion is watching someone he has helped succeed and thrive. “I love to invest in young entrepreneurs who have an incredible vision, but don’t know how to turn that into a reality,” he said.

And his mantra for DCG is different from what one might expect. Cantin asks his team to prioritize in the following order: health, family, passion (whatever that may be) and then DCG. Cantin is laser-focused on youth and philanthropy. “Children are our future,” he said.

“I’ve been involved in philanthropy for 20-plus years. I’ve always believed in giving back; the more you give, the more you will receive.”

He was a board member and past vice-chair of Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a board member of Hope & Heroes Children’s Cancer Fund and Project Ladybug, to name a few. Yet his passion is more than talking the talk. A percentage of the profits from every DCG acquisition revenue is donated directly to a childhood charity in the region where the transaction took place. Charities include those dedicated to pediatric cancer, autism and any disease, illness or cause impacting children. In fact, DCG Giving, the charitable arm of the DCG Group, has a director of philanthropy: Michael A. Weiner, MD, a pediatric oncologist with New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. “Dr. Weiner does his due diligence to ensure that funds are going to the right cause, said Cantin.

“Making a difference in the lives of others is a mission that is very close to my heart,” continued Cantin, who shared his life-changing health odyssey that further ignited his desire to give back. In 2011, he was training for the Boston Marathon and was feeling extremely fatigued. After a series of blood tests, Cantin received a call from his physician urging him to come to the office. His diagnosis: chronic myeloid leukemia, which was described as an incurable disease. He was treated by Gail J. Roboz, M.D., an oncologist with Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. “I said ‘Doc, 90 percent of this cure will be my attitude, ten percent is going to be your meds,” recalled Cantin.

“’I have my 90 percent, so you better have your ten.’” Cantin called Roboz the most incredible, spectacular physician he has ever met.

C

ANTIN underwent five years of chemotherapy. He wasn’t about to give up. After much spiritual work and soul-searching, together with his wife, Dina Cantin (former cast member of The Real Housewives of New Jersey television show), in 2017, he decided to stop treatment.

When his labs/bloodwork came back—under the direction of Roboz—the results were unexpected and shocking. Cantin’s cancer was undetectable and still is. “I wake up every day, thankful and blessed to be here,” said Cantin, underscoring the invaluable family relationships for which he is grateful. He is referring to Dina, who has taught him balance, and his children from his first marriage: Olivia, 12, and David, 11. “They are my world,” said Cantin. He loves watching his son play baseball (he competes in a national league) and loves watching his daughter dance. Cantin has always been passionate about baseball. “I’m a huge NY Yankees fan,” he said.

Sports aside, Cantin’s resiliency was born from a challenging childhood. “Unfortunately, I grew up in a very broken home,” he said. “My father left when I was 9 and never came back.

My mother had many challenges.” The young Cantin quickly became an entrepreneur as well as a leader of the pack. Whether shoveling snow, washing cars or raking leaves, he found ways to earn money. Other kids in the neighborhood followed his lead. At the age of 9 or 10, giving back was on Cantin’s mind: “I would make a dollar and look to give back 90 cents.”

37

The need to make it on his own carried through to his teenage years. “The day after high school graduation, I opened the classified ads in The Asbury Park Press,” he remembered. “College just wasn’t an option. I saw an ad for a salesperson at a car dealership. It said unlimited income potential.” Cantin got the job at a Jeep dealership in Freehold Township.

Within a few years, he climbed the ladder from salesperson to general sales manager. By age 21, he was making $300,000 to $400,000 a year. Soon after, he teamed with former New York Giant’s football player, Brad Benson, and became a minority owner of the Brad Benson Automotive Group in Middlesex County, one of the largest in the country.

F

AST FORWARD to 2014. Cantin sold his minority shares in the automotive group and started independent consulting in mergers and acquisitions.

He also began brainstorming ideas to create his own firm.

The DCG Group had been going strong since its 2017 inception. Then came the unexpected global pandemic. Cantin cannot offer enough praise for the quick action throughout the industry and his team.

In March 2020, when COVID first appeared,

38

“ MY DEFINITION OF SUCCESS IS WHEN YOU REACH THAT PLATEAU OF BEING PURELY HAPPY.” Cantin immediately called a Zoom meeting. “I asked all my staff to put all business aside,” he said. His goal: To be there to help clients in any way, shape or form. That’s exactly what they did during that initial shutdown, from March through July.

Cantin noted that DCG Acquisitions became a sounding board—sending out safety protocols and advising clients on how to position themselves financially, how to weather the storm. DCG Capital assisted clients in negotiating and renegotiating with financial institutions to put payments on hold. The idea was to keep clients’ minds at ease as they faced unprecedented hurdles. “The greatest thing we saw that came out of this incredibly horrible pandemic was the resiliency and tenacity from these automotive dealership owners,” said Cantin. “They went from a complete standstill—a shutdown business—to immediately rallying back by supporting their employees and communities.”

In addition to implementing safety protocols to protect everyone, Cantin was overwhelmed

to witness so many giving back. “I visited my clients across the country throughout the pandemic,” said Cantin, warmed by what he saw.

“It was one incredible philanthropic experience to another. This is an industry that all entrepreneurs should learn from.”

When dealerships reopened, interest rates were low. Yet inventory was and still is limited, due to the initial chip shortage. “People wanted to buy cars like crazy,” said Cantin.

“Dealers are experiencing historical profits, and consolidation in the industry is at an alltime high.” In addition, the opportunity to buy a business today is much greater than it was pre-pandemic.

Cantin acknowledges the business success of the DCG Group. Yet, to him, success is not about finances or possessions. “My definition of success is when you reach that plateau of being purely happy; that’s where I’m at today,” he said. “I don’t need anything in my life other than my wife, my children, my health and having the ability to help others. Every time I help someone, it’s like winning the lottery.” n

39

INTERVIEW BY KURT SMITH Photographs by Jeremy Messler Photography LLC Art Direction Steve Iannarelli

40

Taryn Talkin’ with

T

aryn Hatcher is the co-host of the Flyers Pre- and Post-Game Live shows on NBC Sports Philadelphia, with former Flyer Scott Hartnell and longtime hockey analyst Al Morganti.

She’s exactly the type a fan wants in the job…she’s paid her dues, she can hold her own talking hockey with Scott and Al, and she’s been a Philly sports girl since childhood.

Questions and answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.

Can you tell us how you landed at NBCSN? I interned here in fall 2013. I’d come in on extra shifts to be around producers and anchors. Neil Hartman was very good to me, Amy Fadool was incredible to me. I stayed in touch with Marshall Harris, stayed in touch with [VP of Content] Michelle Murray.

I interned at CBS in New York my junior year and got hired by Rutgers to do on-air stuff in the fall of my senior year at Rutgers. They hired me for the Big Ten Network which allowed me to put together a reel, and I sent it out to all these places.

I made myself graduate early. If everybody else is graduating in May, I’m gonna have to compete with all those people. But in December, I’m only gonna compete with people who are leaving jobs. I was very stressed out, I had no free time at all, but it worked out, so I can’t be mad.

Honolulu had an opening at Hawaii News Now, at KGMB/KHNL. The newsroom manager was like, ‘How serious are you? Are you willing to move 5,000 miles away and work all the time?’ I always knew this was the deal. If I’m going to move far away, I might as well move to Honolulu.

I learned to shoot and edit and produce and write. We had big sports and really, really small sports. So, it was enough to keep me hungry and really want to do it.

Every time I came back, I’d meet with Michelle and talk about agents and contracts. She reached out and said we’re going to have an opening.

I had to give my bosses notice; I’m heading back to Philly. I bawled my eyeballs out because those people were so good to me.

41

Photo Jeremy Messler Photography

Do you feel there’s something you did that separated yourself?

I think it’s being self-motivated more than anything. I try to be that way and be a good teammate.

Yesterday, we had no prompter and no playback. That we put together a show is a modern miracle, that took like 25 people to pull off.

Everybody said good job to me and Al. I just talk about hockey. That’s the easy part. Our engineers, producer, directors, they’re unsung heroes.

I learned in Hawaii how much it takes to put on a show. The amount of work a producer does is insane. Even our tech guys, our tech crew is awesome.

‘‘

My goal has become to make the show as enjoyable as I can make it … otherwise it’s not gonna be fun to watch.”

What’s involved in this, besides what you do on air?

I’m at practice every day. You sit in press conferences. Morning skate on game days. I write every script that goes in Pregame Live because I’m absolutely anal about it. I want it to be my words and sound the way I talk. Some people don’t have to be in the middle of it, but for me, it’s much easier to recall what you’re saying than if I just read it.

There are a lot of times I know stuff I can’t say on TV, but it helps me frame the story better.

I value that.

What do you like most about this gig?

I get paid to watch hockey! I also like that my bosses have been open to letting me do more.

My goal has become to make the show as enjoyable as I can make it.

Scott reminds me of my older brother, the way we antagonize each other. They let me and Scott be ourselves. I don’t want to just say a bunch of stuff you can Google, stats and quotes. It should be fun because otherwise it’s not gonna be fun to watch.

42

You probably deal with criticism, too?

In my first year, I feel I got quite a bit. It only bothered me when I felt it was true, if someone said she really botched that hit, and I felt, yeah, I really botched that hit.

I think it’s more beneficial to be able to be self-critical. My brother’s a helicopter pilot in the Navy, I have perspective on what is a very difficult job. The criticism only bothers me when I agree with it.

How about a favorite moment in your career?

I sat with Carter Hart’s mom; we did a live interview during his first start. He was making amazing saves and the crowd was going crazy. She was so nice and so proud, and I’m such a sympathetic crier that I was like, ‘don’t cry on television, don’t cry on television.’ Carter is such a nice kid.

She was bringing up all the moments where his dad would take him to hockey practice, and they dreamed of this moment.

Oskar [Lindblom]’s first time back playing after he was diagnosed [with cancer]. I literally just got goosebumps thinking about it. We always felt that he was so skilled, he just had the opportunity to succeed, grabbed onto it and made the most of it, and now it was getting taken away from him. To see him in the arena, and the reaction he got, felt like everything he deserved and more.

Just a lighthearted one, when Scott said ‘shinny,’ everybody thought he cursed, and we had to explain what ‘shinny’ hockey was.

That was fun.

Who are your favorite Flyers, today and in history?

Don’t tell him this, Scott [Hartnell] was one of my favorites. He had so much personality, and he was fun. My parents would talk about how Rick [Tocchet] was such a Flyer. I interview Rick all the time, he is so Philly.

I have a ton of respect for Claude Giroux, I watched him as a fan and now I cover him, I’ve had the privilege of being in the tunnel, so I hear things I’m not really supposed to hear. Claude’s competitiveness is one of the most fiery, driven personality traits I’ve seen.

Derian Hatcher was a burly, tough, heavy Dman. The way he played was the way I love to watch sports being played. His wife told me that someone congratulated her once on her daughter getting a big job in Philly. She was like, ‘None of my daughters live in Philadelphia, what are you talking about?’ (Laughs.)

Knowing Jonesy [Keith Jones] as a broadcaster makes me love him as a Flyer. Chris

Pronger’s obviously up there. Simon Gagne and Danny Briere, I associate so much with that playoff run.

What would be the reaction if Giroux won a Cup elsewhere?

We were just talking about this on the podcast. Captains get more heat here, like Eagles’ firstround picks get lots of heat. There would be frustration that it didn’t happen here, because over the past ten years, they’ve made it, missed it, made it, missed it, and it took forever to break through to the second round. We know how that went a year ago.

Do you think anyone puts that on him?

I think some people do, part of it. I always say this about Claude Giroux, why I say the thing about the tunnel. He’s become so used to dealing with the media, I think he kind of goes into autopilot when he’s in press conferences or a media scrum for interviews. That’s all people see, and I think it gets misinterpreted.

People don’t see the passion you see if you go to practice every day. If he trips in practice, he looks like he’s mad at the ice. He’s that passionate. Young players absolutely love his leadership style.

Guys who have been here a long time have a ton of respect for him.

If he leaves and wins and retires, and all you look back on is his Flyers career, he’s right behind Bobby [Clarke] in almost every single category, which is remarkable.

He’s in a contract year and it’s a flat cap. We’ll see what happens.

Do you have a favorite Flyers history moment?

Oh, the entire 2010 run. The Phillies just won the World Series, it felt like Philly was on fire. They had to punch and fight their way into that postseason, then they had to punch and fight their way through the Bruins series.

43

Photo Jeremy Messler Photography

I got to interview Danny Briere on the tenth anniversary of that game seven. That might be my favorite memory, talking to him about that. The whole never say die feeling of that series is so Philly too, it just feels Philly to me.

I remember that Patrick Kane goal, I was in physics that year in high school. I remember staring at it. “I’m so bad at [physics], but I’m telling you that goal doesn’t make sense.” I stand by it to this day.

Were you surprised by Alain Vigneault’s firing? Did you see it coming?

I was surprised by the timing because it happened in the middle of five games in seven days. We were questioning it on air because it felt like with how many games they’d consecutively lost, that’s a legitimate concern. I was surprised at the timing because of how much work they had that week, but not altogether surprised given the situation.

‘‘

[To win the Cup] you need a good team, you need health, you need good goaltending at the right time, you probably need a little bit of luck...”

Had the possibility come up in conversation with your on-air partners?

Before the skid, we were having lots of conversations about how they hadn’t lost consecutive games. There were issues but there were also silver linings.

[Flyers GM] Chuck Fletcher acknowledged it in his press conference. He said, ‘You look at the first ten games of the season, and you look at the second ten games, it’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.’ On one side you don’t even have those conversations, but on the other side, you have to start, especially when losses were piling up and there were so many struggles across the ice.

is because they’ve yet to have their full arsenal of weapons out there and clicking, because of how injured they’ve been. You look at it week after week, it is really jarring, the injuries they’ve had.

I’d love to see them get healthy; I would love to see what they can do.

Jonesy and I were talking about this the other day. Chuck wanted to make improvements on last year’s team to get back to where they were in 2019-20. When you look on paper, it looks like he brought in the right pieces to do that.

That’s the part that I’m sure is frustrating for him, frustrating for Vigneault, now frustrating for [interim head coach] Mike Yeo, it’s frustrating for the fan base. There’s a lot of questions about if the answers are in that dressing room, and it’s hard to evaluate when you’ve had so much bad injury luck. It’s not just guys while they’re out, it’s when guys come back and they’re dealing with things like muscles that nag and pull and get tight. And that’s difficult too, there’s a lot to it. It’s just a tough situation.

So how do you see the rest of the season playing out?

How would you celebrate the Flyers winning the Stanley Cup?

It’s tough to say because they’re still far from healthy. It’s hard to really know who this team

I was talking to [former Flyers coach] Mike Keenan and Rick Tocchet about the eighties teams that got close. If anything, it makes you not take for granted how hard it is. The year the Blues

44

I would try to cover that parade, I’m sure it would be absolute insanity.

won, when they came here midway through the season, they were a team in disarray. They end up hoisting the Stanley Cup. You need a good team, you need health, you need good goaltending at the right time, you probably need a little bit of luck, and all of that to come together.

Philly fans are who they are because they love their teams so much. Agree?

It’s like a family dinner. You can tell each other when you don’t like something, and you can say it as callously as you want, but at the end of the day you still love each other. But if somebody outside the family said something about your family member, you would handle it! (Laughs.) I know people feel very one way or the other on [Flyers mascot] Gritty, but Gritty got popular here the day people outside of Philly started making fun of him.

You don’t talk about our family; we talk about our family!

It’s a passionate family. When they don’t do what we want, we get a little disappointed.

But the love is so undeniable that you feel like it’s okay to be critical sometimes.

Because the passion and love and protectiveness is always going to be there. n

45

46

47

Gotta have Hart

BY SAM CARCHIDI

In the offseason, Flyers general manager Chuck Fletcher made a slew of moves as he tried to erase last

year’s collapse and get the Orange and Black back into the playoffs.

Some of the moves were muted in the first part of the 2021-22 season, especially the deal that brought defenseman Ryan Ellis to the Flyers. Ellis was expected to be a top-pairing partner for Ivan Provorov and someone who would solidify the defense.

But an unspecified injury kept Ellis sidelined for most of the first couple of months, causing the Flyers to struggle to get into a playoff spot and Alain Vigneault to get fired after the team lost eight straight games.

There were few positives in the season’s first two months, but 23-year-old Carter Hart’s improved play was one of the exceptions. Hart’s mostly strong goaltending was even more impressive when you consider the Flyers had been without one of their best defensemen.

48

Photo Len Redkoles/Flyers

Heading into December, Hart had a 2.67 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. He had made vast strides from last season when he was at the bottom of the NHL rankings with a 3.67 GAA and .877 save percentage.

“He seems in a real good place, mentally,” Vigneault said early this season.

In the first quarter of the season, Hart reestablished himself as a franchise cornerstone, and once again looked like one of the NHL’s top young goalies.

In short, he gave the Flyers a chance to win.

Night after night.

As the season reached the quarter pole, Hart was playing well despite the Flyers facing the most high-danger shots in the NHL per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 play, according to Natural Stat Trick.

But there was a marked difference in his results when compared to last season. The reason? Hart had a .883 save percentage on those high-danger shots this year. Last year, his save percentage was only .766 on those shots.

“You need your goalie to be good to have a good team,” forward Scott Laughton said in

late November, “and I think (Hart’s) been outstanding for us.”

Hart’s revival got its roots early in the summer when he took some time off to clear his head.

“I needed a bit of a break after the season,” Hart said. “Just took a little bit of time off the ice. Had to recharge the batteries a bit, so it was good. Got into tennis a little bit in the summer and that was fun; it was good to recharge the batteries and then have a good summer of training. I just wanted to get bigger, stronger, and faster.”

49

“ It was good to recharge the batteries and then have a good summer of training.

I just wanted to get bigger, stronger, and faster.”

Photo Zack Hill/Flyers

Connor Parkkila, who traveled from Washington State to be with his hero, and Carter Hart embrace in the Flyers’ locker room in 2019. Connor wore a Hart jersey with No. 79 on it when the goalie played at Everett in the Western Hockey League — and is the reason the goaltender wears that number in the NHL.

50

“Clearly, last year he didn’t play as well as he had in the past, like the rest of our team,” Fletcher said. “Different circumstances, I think, impacted people differently. His track record to me showed that he’s been a good goaltender at every level for most of his life, and he worked hard at it this summer. He and (Flyers goalie coach) Kim Dillabaugh and his goalie coach back in Edmonton (Dustin Schwartz) got together, and they had a great plan.”

Hart’s early-season revival didn’t surprise Fletcher.

“Carter has always worked hard. He puts the time in, and he’s played well,” Fletcher said before a December game. “Personally, my expectation was that he was going to bounce back. He’s playing as one of the better goaltenders in the league right now and that’s great for us. It’s a tough position, but he’s a guy that we have a lot of faith in. You’ve got to give him credit for the work he put in…. Going forward

Photo Len Redkoles/Flyers

here, we’re going to have to try to play better in front of him and have the puck a little bit more often because we’re putting a lot of pressure on our goaltenders right now.”

Last season,

some of Hart’s struggles weren’t helped by the fact that COVID-19 caused him to be isolated from his teammates. The married players had company all the time. Hart, who is single, did not.

After last season, Hart admitted there were lonely times for him.

“You kind of go home and you’re just in your own thoughts the whole time because you just sit and sit in your apartment alone,” he said. “But things were a lot better at the end [of the season]. I was feeling a lot happier and hanging out with the boys more.”

Things are more normal this season as teams have returned to their familiar divisions and are playing the same schedule as before

51

Photo Zack Hill/Flyers

Eagles star Fletcher Cox and Flyers goalie Carter Hart exchange jerseys.

the pandemic altered things in 2020-21. That means there is a normal schedule with the usual travel, which enables players to bond over dinners and activities away from the rink.

Hart said he was “just enjoying the opportunity and having fun. It’s great being around the

hit of $3.979 million, wasn’t the only goalie to struggle in his second full season. Far from it. The long list includes former standouts like Bernie Parent and Tim Thomas.

Parent’s second season in Boston was awful (3.65 GAA, .891 save percentage), but he

“I think this year I’m having more fun and being grateful to be in the NHL ... living the dream.” boys and things being more normal this year.”

The Alberta native seems more relaxed and focused this season.

“Last year, maybe sometimes I wasn’t grateful for the opportunity to be in the NHL,” he told Jason Myrtetus on Flyers Daily. “I think this year I’m having more fun and being grateful to be in the NHL, playing alongside the best players in the NHL and living the dream.”

And playing before packed arenas again, which, he said, has also been a boost after the pandemic limited crowd sizes last season.

“It’s nice hearing the boos again on the road,” he said with a laugh. “And at home, we feed off the fans’ energy.”

Hart, who signed a three-year contract extension in August that has an annual cap 52

rebounded the next year and had a 2.49 GAA and .926 save percentage with the Flyers. He led the Flyers to two Stanley Cups and is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Thomas struggled for Boston in his second full season (3.13, .905). He then turned into perhaps the game’s most dominating goalie over the next five seasons, twice leading the NHL in save percentage (.933, .938) and GAA (2.10, 2.00) in that span.

Hart hopes to follow a similar path.

“You have to go through adversity to get better and to grow,” Vigneault said early in the season, prior to being replaced by Mike Yeo. “He went through that probably for the first time in his life and his career.”

And learned from it. n

53

CELEBRATING OUR MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR HONOREES

A

fter a year sabbatical, our 6th Annual Unmasking the Legacy celebration finally took place at the exquisite Ballroom at the Ben on November 4th.

6TH ANNUAL

We recognized 6 members of our community who excel not only professionally but also philanthropically and had 300 of our friends, family and colleagues there to celebrate with us.

A contest was held amongst our honorees and we, along with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, were able to donate $14,500 to our honoree charities; the most we’ve ever raised with our event!

We are proud to recognize the top two honorees for the evening: Albert Fox supporting the Greater Philadelphia YMCA and our winning honoree, Lloyd Freeman, supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this such a memorable night. We look forward to carrying on this tradition for many years to come.

Mike Missinelli was our Emcee for the evening.

First place winner Lloyd Freeman. Final donation to BBBS Independence Region was $8,000!

54

6 T H A N N UA L U N M A S K I N G T H E L E G AC Y Runner-up Al Fox. Final donation to the Greater Philadelphia YMCA was $5,000!

Photos John Wilchek Photography

55

CELEBRATING OUR MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR HONOREES

6TH ANNUAL

56

6 T H A N N UA L U N M A S K I N G T H E L E G AC Y

Photos John Wilchek Photography

57

Photo Vinny DiStefano

PROFILE

58

Hugh Henne

Stock Market Wizard

BY MARK ECKEL

MITCHELL HENNESSEY, LIKE MOST 15-YEAR-OLD BOYS IN SOUTH JERSEY, JUST WANTED TO PLAY HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. Because a heart disease ended his football career before it ever really got started, Hennessey turned his attention from the football field to the stock market.

Now a just turned 23-year-old Hennessey, aka Hugh Henne, is a stock market wizard.

The Burlington County native, now living in Hoboken, is worth an estimated $10 million and growing. He is the founder of the private wealth firm Hennessey Capital and co-host of P:GIR (Pennies: Going in Raw), the world’s No. 1 stock market podcast. Over the past four trading years, Hugh Henne’s stocks have annualized over 1,000 percent returns.

This amazing story has happened all because a disease known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) wouldn’t allow him to play football. So, instead, he became a first-round draft pick of another kind, with the same millions as a reward.

“That competitive edge, that competitive

nature that we all use in sports, I was able to bring over to the market,’’ Hennessey said.

“One thing I learned was that no one is born a good trader. It takes work. But you don’t have to be 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds to be good at it either.’’

MITCHELL AND HIS TWIN SISTER

Holly come from a classic hard-working New Jersey background. Anyone who grew up between the late ‘60s through the early ‘80s in the Mercer County area, specifically Hamilton Township, probably knows or went to school with a Kapp. There were 12 of them and Mitchell’s mother, Liz, was No. 9 in the Kapp family.

Sports, especially football, are also in the Kapp genes. All of his uncles played football and Joe Kapp, who quarterbacked the Minnesota Vikings in the ‘70s, is a distant relative.

“When I found out I couldn’t play football

anymore I was in a dark place,’’ Mitchell said.

“Football was my first love.’’

The stock market wasn’t just a rebound for the teenager it became his passion, his mission. He studied it, worked at it and became one of the best at it.

“I was always of the mindset that I wanted to make money,’’ Hennessey said. “I didn’t know a whole lot about business, or especially the market, except from the basic courses I took in school. But I was bored at home without sports. I needed to do something.’’

An encounter with his Uncle Paul’s (the oldest of the Kapp family) daughter’s thenfiancée, now husband, at a Christmas Eve get-together got the ball rolling. And it hasn’t stopped.

“He told me about a couple of books to read, and I fell in love,’’ Hennessey said. “I told myself I’m just going to do it and I opened a custodial brokerage account.’’

At the age of 16, he used the money he made working at a local restaurant, the CYO Day Camp in nearby Yardville, N.J. during the summer, shoveling snow in the winter and other odd jobs and went online and found TD Ameritrade.

“My first trade, I just followed someone 59

Photo Vinny DiStefano

“EVEN THOUGH I WAS LOSING MONEY, I WAS STILL ENJOYING MYSELF. THAT MIGHT SOUND CRAZY.’’ online I saw,’’ Hennessey said. “And that first trade tripled within 30 minutes. I got lucky.’’

And he got hooked.

“I remember yelling, ‘Mom, I’m going to be a billionaire.’ That was my mindset,’’ he said.

“But from that point forward I didn’t have a green trade (profitable) over the next two years. So, I got super lucky, and then I really got smacked in the face. I didn’t realize how lucky I was with that first trade.’’

Undeterred, and with that competitive nature percolating, he didn’t stop. He kept studying different companies, kept working every angle, while now attending school at Burlington County College.

“It was a lot of stubborn pride,’’ he said.

“The best and worst thing that happened to me was that first trade. The best being that I know the kind of money you can make doing this. And even though I was losing money, I

60

Mitchell with his twin sister Holly.

was still enjoying myself. That might sound crazy but…’’

It began to turn around for him and his strategy began to work.

“If I could get inside these trades before the news hit CNBC or MSNBC, I’d be on top of the news,’’ Hennessey said. “That was my strategy. I knew I had catalyst news coming. I had to take out as many variables and as much risk as I could. That’s what it comes down to,

is taking out risk.’’

As his stocks started to hit his account grew, $100,000, $200,000. Then he set a goal.

He gave himself a year to turn $50,000 into $1 million. He did it in four months.

“I was at about $200,000. But I was only going into plays I felt really good about,’’ he said.

“Everyone kept telling me if I’m only putting $20,000, or so, into it and I’m only playing six, or seven, plays a year I’m not going to make any real headway. I got away from my strategy. So, I decided, let me take $50,000 of the $200,000 and go heavy on my strategy and see where it goes.’’

Hennessey found three stocks he liked that fit his strategy—Waitr Holdings (WTRH), Ageagle Aerial Systems (UAVS), and ibio Inc (IBIO). Then he went in on RumbleOn (RMBL).

“I was down around 15 percent on the trade overall, but I knew my strategy and I knew what I was waiting for. And then in one day I made 150 percent on the account.’’

Another day he made 350 percent.

HENNESSEY USED SOCIAL MEDIA to build his brand and it’s also how his alias emerged. His Twitter account, with over 200,000 followers, allowed him to get out his

Photo www.penniesgoinginraw.com

Hugh Henne (@Hugh_Henne) and Dan, Deity of Dips (@DipDeity).

message and also led to other endeavors like his podcast.

“When I started, I was MH Investment and I had a photo of me in my Northern Burlington High football jacket,’’ Hennessey said. “I would give opinions on stocks, the market, it was my trading journal, my thoughts of the day. But nobody took me seriously. I was this teenage kid and I looked like I was 12.

“I was sitting with my grandfather one day and he was joking about how someone called him Hugh Hefner again, because he did resemble Hugh Hefner, and it just came to me: Hugh Henne. I put up the photo of Hugh Hefner, changed my name, and now people started to listen.’’

One of those people was a guy in Alabama who sent Hugh Henne a bunch of direct messages.

“This guy told me he faked his graduation at Auburn so his parents would think he graduated when he didn’t. And that his claim to fame was he air-balled a shot at an Auburn’s woman’s basketball game. I had to answer him.’’

That guy turned out to be Dan Knight, who is Mitchell’s co-host of the twice-a-week P:GIR podcast that began in July 2020 and that Apple ranks No. 1 in the world.

Another was a professor at the University of Nevada-Reno, who asked Hugh Henne to come and speak to his MBA class.

“It’s been cool,’’ Hennessey said of the podcast. “With so many people coming into the market over the past year, or so, it’s a place I can share my thoughts and experiences. It brings me back to when I first started doing it. The community gave me so much when I started, I wanted to give back.’’

Hennessey has begun to give back, not just in his teachings and speaking engagements, but monetarily. In 2021 he donated $10,000 to the CYO Camp where he worked as a teenager and $20,000 to fund the Hugh Henne Investment Competition at the University of NevadaReno’s Business School.

What’s next for the just 23-year-old whose competitive nature still burns?

“Right now, I love doing what I’m doing,’’ Hennessey said. “My end goal is to be a financial influencer on CNBC one day and to own my own wealth management firm.

“The expression I use is that we’re building the plane while flying it. When I first started trading, my original goal was to go into real estate, so it’s ever evolving. I knew I always wanted to do well in life and be successful, but I didn’t know what ‘successful’ meant to me. At first, I thought it was just a money thing when I was 15, or 16, and the money is important, but there’s that feeling. I’ll get DMs where a person tells me he and his son had nothing in common until one day on an eighthour drive they found they both were in the market, and they talked about trading. And there are so many stories like that. That’s the best feeling.’’ n

61

SPORTS GUYS

The Big Show Behind the scenes as Philly prepares for March Madness

BY MICHAEL BRADLEY

THE LAST TIME Scott Ward helped out at an NCAA men’s basketball tournament event in Philadelphia, his job was not exactly a resume booster.

“I was mixing Powerade in the locker rooms,” he says, laughing. “I’ve come a long way.”

Ward has certainly made progress. He’s the Senior Associate Athletic Director and COO at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the point man for Penn’s hosting of the East Regional weekend, March 25-27 at Wells Fargo Center (WFC), which will choose a Final Four participant and continue the city’s long tradition of hosting NCAA tourney games.

Since the tourney’s debut, in 1939, Philadelphia has hosted NCAA contests 29 times.

Penn’s Palestra, The Spectrum and WFC have all taken turns, with Penn’s venerable gym 64

staging three games in ’39 and then serving as the site on 18 other occasions. The Spectrum checks in with five different tourney opportunities. Included are the 1976 and 1981 Final Fours and the famous Duke-Kentucky regional final in 1992 that the Blue Devils won on Christian Laettner’s dramatic, buzzer-beating turnaround jumper in what some consider the greatest college game of all time. This year will be Wells Fargo’s sixth time and its third regional.

It makes sense that the NCAA should keep coming back to Philly, given the city’s great basketball heritage. Larry Needle, Executive Director of PHL Sports, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, understands that.

“Philadelphia is certainly always in the mix

Scott Ward

when it comes to NCAA championships, and basketball in particular,” Needle says. “It has a tremendous history.”

•••

WHEN THE BALL is tossed in the air to start the March 25th Sweet 16 doubleheader, fans fortunate to get a ticket will be treated to great games and memorable performances. Everyone watching on TV will see the Philadelphia sports world at its finest. But getting to that moment will have required tremendous effort, planning and cooperation. The city, Wells Fargo Center and Penn have been working toward the Regional for several years, ever since the NCAA sent out a Request for Proposal.

Philadelphia’s hosting of the tournament is part of a panoply of NCAA events coming to town over the next five years. The city will host first and second-round tourney games in 2026, the men’s lacrosse final four at Lincoln Financial Field in 2023 and ’24, the NCAA rowing championships on the Cooper River in Camden in 2023 and the wrestling champion-

ship tournament at WFC in ’25.

“We like to think we have a well-oiled machine in Philadelphia, based on the experience we’ve had hosting so many national and international events over the years,” Needle says.

“It speaks to the willing and able partners we have to step up and host events. Our job, at the end of the day, is to be a facilitator. If we don’t have venues and schools and teams stepping up, we don’t have any events.”

••• AS THOSE TRYING to organize an NCAA event get ready, they have plenty of work to do. Ward says there is one more thing everybody had better do: study.

“The NCAA has a 200-plus page operations manual that you have to know by heart,” he says. “They will quiz you on that.”

Phil Laws can testify to the NCAA’s rigor. As Senior Vice President and Arena General Manager for Wells Fargo Center, he takes part in the walk-through with NCAA reps a couple of days before the games. “It has to be perfect,”

No one in the arena proper may drink out of a cup, glass or bottle that doesn’t have an NCAA logo on it.

And the association expects the site to have someone policing that edict.

Law says. That means the time leading up to that inspection can get hectic, especially since the WFC staff has plenty of events before and after the tournament to deal with.

“It can have its moments,” Laws says. “The days getting ready for [the tournament] can be stressful. The walk-through is more about tweaking.”

Although Philadelphia and Penn are the hosts, this is an NCAA event, and there is an incredible amount of details. For instance, no one in the arena proper may drink out of a cup, glass or bottle that doesn’t have an NCAA logo on it. And the association expects the site to have someone policing that edict.

There is plenty of other work to be accomplished, too. From the city’s point of view, 65

Larry Needle

there must be enough hotels, restaurants and other facilities to accommodate the four teams that will be playing, the media who come to town and the NCAA officials on site. The city’s Convention Services team works with local properties to see which ones are interested, and then the NCAA will select six: one for each team, one for the media and one for the game officials. There is also ground transportation and police escorts for the participating schools to arrange. Needle and his team will also coordinate any signage or banners around

66

the city that bring awareness to the event. A key player for Philadelphia in this process is Brea Stanko, the liaison with the NCAA and Wells Fargo Center.

“She will coordinate everything from onsale ticketing efforts to city awareness, so that people will feel the event while it’s here,” Needle says.

The NCAA doesn’t work directly with the arenas where its tournament games are played— other than to make sure the branding and how things will look (there is a special court) are correct—so it needs a member institution to be its representative. Enter Penn, which takes its turn in the rotation of city schools as a host. Its job is to make sure everything moves smoothly for the schools, so Ward and his team have to work with the city and WFC to make sure the NCAA gets what it needs.

“What the NCAA cares about is the experience for student-athletes, coaches and fans,” Ward says.

In addition to his regular chores at Penn— Ward is also Executive of the Penn Relays— Ward has been working with his staff to put together what is necessary for the weekend.

For instance, veteran Penn Sports Information Director Mike Mahoney will be handling media relations for the games, and he has been recruiting volunteers from other schools and

These representatives must be able to handle everything necessary. If a team wants to get its picture taken on the steps of the Art Museum, the liaison handles that. city teams to handle all that is necessary for the small army of print, online, TV, radio and other reporters who will cover the tournament in Philadelphia.

Ward must also choose four-team liaisons who will attach themselves to each team and provide whatever is needed during their time in the city. “It’s most likely a Penn person or a Philadelphia basketball person,” Ward says. “It’s a glamor position.” These representatives must be able to handle everything necessary, including arranging team meals and practices. If a team wants to get its picture taken on the steps of the Art Museum, the liaison handles that.

“Whatever a team might need during its stay, it will reach out to that person,” Ward says.

Ward and his staff will make sure locker rooms are equipped properly and that athletic trainers—from Penn and other local schools—

are on site. They will make sure the teams get into the venue safely and find their way around.

“We take care of everything behind the scenes,” Ward says.

••• LAWS ADMITS that no one in Philadelphia takes the bid process for NCAA events for granted. And since Laws has spent more than 10 years in the city—and 21 total with Comcast Spectacor, Wells Fargo Center’s owner— he knows what he’s doing. For instance, he has seen the NCAA change its approach to alcohol sales at games over the years. For decades, no one was allowed to have a drop.

Phil Laws

Then, beer, wine and spirits were allowed in boxes and club areas. Now, the general public will be able to enjoy a drink while watching the games.

He also understands that almost all of the sponsors who have presences as the arena will be supplanted by NCAA partners. That’s not ideal, but Laws says there is an understanding that regional relationships do not take precedence over the NCAA’s deals.

“We have a lot of valuable corporate clients,” Laws says. “They are key foundations of revenue for us. They become invisible. They know that, but it’s strange to have the personality of the building erased.

“At times, it doesn’t seem like our building.”

Despite that change of identity, the NCAA’s presence is a good thing for Wells Fargo Center—“We do get revenue,” Laws says—and Philadelphia. It’s a big event that gets plenty of attention nationwide. It shows that the city remains a preferred destination for the NCAA, as well as professional leagues looking for places to stage big events.

That’s all thanks to those behind the scenes, who make sure everything goes smoothly.

And that the Powerade tastes good. n 67

LegacyClub A social club

where business happens

We are proud to introduce you to our private business network n Do you want to expand your network

in Philadelphia and South Jersey?

n Do you want to create powerful connections with other business professionals in the area?

n Do you want to attend exclusive networking

events once a month at local venues?

LEGACY CLUB SPOTLIGHT

John Wilchek Photography

The JerseyMan Legacy Club is the best way to expand your network in the South Jersey & Philly area. It’s truly about developing relationships that grow into partnerships, clients and friendships.

– Ryan Harbinson, Clearbridge Branding Agency, Member since 2019 “Since becoming a JerseyMan Legacy Club member almost two years ago, I have made the best professional connections! I am so glad I made the decision to join because I have made some lovely friends, acquired several new design clients, and enjoyed many events at fun venues. Special thanks to Ken Dunek and his beautiful family for always making me feel welcome!””

– Michelle Sapp, Arhaus, Member since 2020

Nicole MCH Photography

To learn more about the Legacy Club contact Ken at: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com or call 856.912.4007

LegacyClub Members

Joe Allen Sonitrol Carole Alston-Bissett Destination Style, LLC

Chris Ambruch Alcom Printing

James Andreacci TRUIST

Mark Anson Renovate Right, LLC

Suzanne Aumack AUMOST Creative Group

Keith Baldwin Spike’s Trophies & Awards

Kara Bargher Illuminazion

Brian Barry Catholic Partnership Schools

Joseph Baselice The Black Horse Cigar Shop

Fred Baxter NFL Alumni Philadelphia Chapter

Robert Beach Procision Commercial Realty & Procision Business Brokers

Kevin Beaford WSFS Bank

Andrew Bellia Bellia Print & Design

Devin Bender PCH Technologies

Robert Bender The First National Bank of Elmer

Brian Bielawski Dynamic Advertising Solutions*

Matt Blatz PCS*

Christine Blithe ARS Truck & Fleet Service*

Eric Blumenthal Frankel Financial Corp

Ken Bode Integrity Staffing Solutions

Scott Bornfreund The MFC Group, LLC

Michael Bowman Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board

Carrie J. Boyle Boyle & Valenti, P.C.

Michael Brady LPL Financial

Al Branca AXE PRIME LLC

Kimberly Bryson Girl Scouts of Central & Southern NJ

Jason Burd Edward Jones

Tim Button ProStrategy Solutions, LLC

Rebecca Caimano First Tee Greater Philadelphia

Taylor Campitelli Intelligent Staffing Company

Michael Carpino Univest Bank

Vince Ceroli Vantage Property Managers

Mike Chapman Tourneau

Meggan Ciaccia Ciaccia CPA

Ren Cicalese Alloy Silverstein Group Geoffrey R. Cleveland Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

Jon Cofsky whitepenny

Larry Cohen BCA Insurance Group

Michelle Cohen Union Home Mortgage

Justin Colantonio Total Technology Resources

Cheryl Colleluori HEADstrong Foundation

Brian Collins CertaPro Painters

Rachael Collins Berkshire Hathaway

Michael Colonna Merchant Advocate

Mike Commisso Docutrend, Inc.

Joseph J. Console Console Matison LLP

Trevor Cooney Archer & Greiner P.C.

James Corbett Project Refit

Peter Cordua HBK CPAs & Consultants

Kathryn Covolus LexisNexis

Michael Craig Pennworth Financial Services

Joseph Cronin The Cronin Firm

Rob Curley TD Bank

Justin Deal PayDay Employer Solutions Anthony DeGerolamo DeGerolamo Financial Services*

David DeMuth CFO Consulting Partners LLC

Sheri Desaretz Looking Forward Coaching*

Joe Devine MillerDevine Leadership Advisors

Gary DeVito Zarwin Baum Devito Kaplan Schaer Toddy, P.C.

Kevin Diduch KD Law Group

Devin DiNofa Keller Williams Real Estate*

Joseph Diorio TRUIST

Derek Doernbach Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate

Chris Dohl The Alias Group

Lia Domenick Allstate

Bob Doria Medford Village Country Club

George Duffield Sr. National Integrity

Ken Dunek New Opportunity Publishing

Doug Easlick Graham Company

Anna Ehlenberger Converge HR Solutions

Donald Eichman Alcom Printing

William Emerson Emerson Group

Gennaro Esposito DFX Sound Vision

Ryan Esposito Constellation Brands

Bill Evans Liberty Fox Technologies

David Ewing Coldwell Banker

Gary Farnesi Beneficial Bank

Mark Fisher ABMM Financial

Patrick Fisher WSFS Bank

Jerry Flanagan JDog Brands

Sean Flanagan Always A Good Sign

Stephen Flanagan JDog Carpet Cleaning

Ted Flocco Ernst and Young

Steve Foreman Financial Business Systems, Inc.

Lynn Fraser Emerson Group

Mike Fuller Maggianos

Frank Furfari Vantage Financial

Ted Gallagher EHC Associates

Shane Gardner Gary F. Gardner, Inc.

Damien Ghee TD Bank

Jim Gibson Alcom Printing

Dave Gill Haefele, Flanagan & Co., P.C.

Mark Godofsky Steve Goodman Timothy Guim Cathy Gunn Chris Green Liz Green Jen Groover Rafael Haciski Thanuja Hamilton Sharon Hammel Ryan Harbinson Berkley Harmon Leor Hemo John Herring Paul Hewitt Robert Hoey Robert Hoey, Jr. Michael Holt Timothy Horan Nichole Howard Kristi Howell Stephen Hruby Jr. Jack Hughes Michael Hughey Kenyon Hunter Edward Hutchinson Michael Hyland Tim Irons Mike Jaconelli Ron Jaworski Timothy Jennings Chris Jerjian Keith Johnson Lisa Joswick Kenneth Justice Brett Kahn Abbie Kasoff Keith Keller Lisa Kelly Bob Kennedy Robert Kennedy Jeffrey Kerstetter Eileen Kevany Emma Kimenhour Phil Kirchner Peter Kleiner David Klemic Anne Koons David Kryszczak Edward Labman Jesse LaGrossa Joe LaGrossa Marjorie Lakatos Trae Lamborne Brian C. Lane Stephen Lang Keith Langan Julie LaVan Sam Lepore Beth Leska Bryan Levens Brian Libby Ronald Lieberman Josh Lignana Robert Lipinkski Rachel Lippoff Jerrod Littleton John Lorenzo Eric Lynn Douglas MacGray Chris Maciborski Doug Madanick Matthew Malinowski Fred Marcell Samantha Martin Tom Matera Betty Maul Stephen McCarthy Jim McCormick Diane McGraw Brian McGroarty Michael McGuire Steve Meranus Jeremy Messler Rich Miller John Milne Brian Minker Justin Mirigliani Samir Mody Rosemarie Mohr Ann Monappella Anthony Mongeluzo Ron Monokian

Surety Title Greater Philadelphia YMCA PCH Technologies Cathy’s Catering Richard Green & Son Public Adjusters Richard Green & Son Public Adjusters Thuzio Johnson Kendall Johnson Advocare Sleep Physicians of South Jersey Republic Bank Clearbridge Branding Agency Insperity Vantage Real Estate Services, LLC Liberty Bell Bank Compliance Services Agency Janney Montgomery Scott Janney Montgomery Scott Holt, McNally & Associates Philly Metro Golfweek Amateur Tour Nichole MCH Photography Burlington County Chamber of Commerce Patriot Landscaping Services Gallagher NFP Compass RE Hutchinson Mechanical Services Gateway Mortgage T.C. Irons Insurance Tam Lending Ron Jaworski Golf Telecorp Kiwi Offices Laurel Lanes Blackbook, LLC KMJ INC. Prelude Solutions Say It With Clay SpeedPro South Jersey Foundation Title Insperity The Kennedy Companies Malamut & Associates, LLC The First 7* American Heart Association SNJ Flaster Greenberg PK Media Klemic Performance Method BHHS Fox & Roach Four Star Event Catering Univest Marcum, LLP McKella 280 Townsquare Media Egress Solutions LLC A-1 Courier Service HBK CPAs & Consultants Surety Title Company, LLC Advanced Mediation Solutions Keller Williams Real Estate Wells Fargo SNEVEL Technologies, LLC Primepoint Adinolfi & Lieberman, PA Spadea Lignana, Attorneys at Law Cherry Hill Cigar Club A Kid Again Surveillance Secure Delaware Valley TwoTwo Creative* Northbound Strategies Stonecrop Wealth Advisors, LLC Weisman Children’s Kulzer & DiPadova, P.A. Corporate Source Republic Bank Insperity AnnieMac Home Mortgage FrontEnd Graphics* Strategic Funding Alternatives Burns Honda McGraw Productions Core Title* Johnson, Kendall & Johnson EBE Events and Entertainment Jeremy Messler Photography, LLC MillerDevine Leadership Advisors Trion Group Able Technology Partners, LLC Checkmates Charitable Association Keller Engineers of New Jersey Brock & Company, Inc. Allstate PCS We Make It Personal by Joy’s Hallmark

Kerry Morgan

Lisa Morina

Dan Morroni

Stephen Mullen

Harry Mumma

Devin Muracco

Peter Musumeci

Carolyn Natrin

Sharena Ngang

Andrew O’Brien

Joe O’Donnell

Joseph Ohlweiler Marc Oppenheimer

Michael Pallozzi

Susan Papay

Rae Pastore

Jason Penza

Lee M. Perlman

Mike Perlow

Jaime Picozzi

Frank Plum

Roy Plummer

Peter Ponzio

Scott Poris

Casey Price

Geoff Rabinowitz

Maurice Rached

Chris Rathke

Ryan Regina

Matt Ribaudo

Raegen Richard

Robert Richardson

David Roberts

Charo Rogers

Mike Rosiak

Jill Ross

Jamie Roth

Andrew Ruhland

Robert Salotto

Richard Sanford

Michelle Sapp John & Mike Scanzano

Carla Scott

Sergio Scuteri Robert Semptimphelter Jeremy Shackleford

Debra Shain

Robby Sheehan

Lee Sheilds

Jennifer Sherlock

Dr. Joel Shertok

Gary Shickora

Joe Sigle

Robert Silcox

Joe Silva

Joe Simone

Frank Sisto

Robert Sitzler

Josh Smargiassi

TJ Smink

Chris Smith

Ralph Smith

Michael Snyder

Jake Still Richard B. St.Maur III

Robert Sullivan

Melissa C. Tagye

Scott Tanker

Robert Telschow Jr

Keshler Thibert

Brooke Tidswell

Kenneth Toscano

Joseph Tredinnick

Les Vail

John Vanderslice

Angela Venti

Josef Vongsavanh

Brandon Walker

Douglas Walker

Eileen Ward

Bill Webb

Layne Werner

Andrew Whipple

John Wilchek Jr.

Christofer Wilhelm

Christina Wilson

Jason Wolf

Vittoria Zaslavsky

Jim Ziereis

Melissa Zobel

Jack Zoblin

21st Century Blueprint Jefferson Health Morroni Custom Clothiers Linnworks Gradum Consulting CLM Advisors TD Bank Insperity First Children Services Vantage Real Estate Fulton Bank N.A. The Alternative Board Southern New Jersey Parx Casino HFM Investment Advisors, LLC Townsquare Media New Jersey Angels Glasstown Productions Law Offices of Lee M. Perlman Perlow Productions SimplyPut* Workplace HMC Inc.* Armed Forces Heritage Museum Penn Investment Advisors 1776 at Cherry Hill Mall Price & Price, LLC New Balance AutoBay, LLC Independence Blue Cross Big Sky Enterprises, LLC BostonMan Magazine Edward D. Jones, LP Allied Document Solutions and Services, Inc radius180, LLC InXpress Weisman Children’s Hospital & Voorhees Pediatric Facility Flow Financial Therapy WebsLaw National HR First Financial Lending Dauntless Design Collaborative Arhaus Scanzano Sports DVIF&G Capehart Scatchard, P.A. Farnsworth & Semptimphelter LLC WSFS Bank Shain Marketing/PR Consulting BBSI Friedman LLP Jenna Communications, LLC Process Industries Consultants Northwestern Mutual Santander RCS Food Truck Kokua Technologies* Regional Resources Energy Group JuJu, LLC Sitzler Chiropractic Boomerang Philadelphia Union* Micro Integration Services, Inc.* Capehart Scatchard, P.A. Spark Creative Group Junk Rescue Coordinated Project Solutions, LLC Schooley Mitchell Truist Wealth Tanker Consulting Services Colliers Engineering & Design Le Canard Tourism Farm Truck Brewing New York Life Insurance Company Republic Bank Workplace HCM, Inc. Strategic Solutions Group Alloy Silverstein* Center City Photo House of Aperture LLC Walker Cutting Services LoCorr Funds Saratoga Benefit Services Temple Sports Properties Evesham Mortgage John Wilchek Photography Gateway Mortgage Hard Rock Cafe Wolf Commercial Real Estate TD Bank Tropicana, Atlantic City William Penn Bank Cory Communications

*JerseyMan/PhillyMan Ambassador

PROMOTION

A Financial Road Less Traveled

by Albert A. Fox, CFP®, CIMA®

H

APPY NEW YEAR to our clients, friends, and colleagues! As 2022 begins, it is hard to believe that we are nearing the two-year anniversary of Covid-19’s first appearance in the United States. What was initially described as, “two weeks to flatten the curve,” has become an onagain, off-again disruption of work, school, holidays, and life as we knew it. In the midst of all that disruption, the stock market suffered an initial drop in March 2020 before setting new all-time highs most of the past two years.

of overall inflows and outflows, and establish savings goals of varying durations. Once that framework is in place, determine how to achieve the savings goals through a diversified portfolio by analyzing historical rates of return, inflation, and risk factors. Sometimes it helps to leverage a financial advisor to get organized, but the principles of this exercise can be employed by anyone.

When Fox, Penberthy & Dehn at Morgan Stanley began providing comprehensive financial advice and guidance to clients in 1994, behavioral finance was seldom discussed in the wealth management industry.

Nearly 28 years after our founding, we think it is more important than ever to assess clients’ thoughts and feelings about risk.

Now let’s cover another mental trap you may be familiar with, herd behavior, which often appears directly with confirmation bias. It’s the tendency for investors to mimic what they perceive other investors doing, rather than doing their own thinking or seeking the assistance of a financial professional. It’s prevalent in the financial markets as one of the causes fueling dramatic rallies and sell-offs. The fear if missing out, or FOMO, is something we’ve all experienced. The fear of missing out on the upside of an investment is often the driving force behind herd behavior. As people rush into popular investments because of this fear, or because they heard something positive, but haven’t actually done their own due diligence or spoken to their advisor, prices can move quickly and become overvalued.

For those who are not familiar, behavioral finance is a subset of behavioral economics and suggests that psychological influences and biases affect the financial behaviors of investors and advisors. In layman’s terms, it seeks to understand how people make decisions by combining psychology, economics, and other social sciences. It helps us to explain the difference between efficient, irrational, and actual behavior of clients.

The internet and housing bubbles are prominent examples of herd behavior in the last 25 years. It took years for investors to recover from the bursting of those bubbles, yet many of those same investors are now crowding into expensive stocks, low credit quality bonds, and emerging asset classes like cryptocurrency. Investors tend to identify bubbles after they collapse, and then struggle to justify changes until it is too late.

The first concept to explore is mental accounting, which refers to the different values a person places on the same amount of money, based on subjective criteria. Although money has somewhat consistent, objective value, the way we anticipate utilizing money is often subject to different rules. People tend to make spending and saving decisions based on how the money was earned, how they intend to use it, and how it affects them emotionally. It’s important to notice the effects of mental accounting because it alters our perception of finances, with potential negative effects that include overspending and irrational investment decisions.

The good news is that there is a way to avoid these common behavioral flaws, which is something we talk about frequently in our informative video series, located on Fox, Penberthy & Dehn’s website. The biggest part of the solution is getting organized sooner rather than later; constructing a comprehensive plan that manages risk and sets attainable goals is essential to good financial (and mental) health. An exceptional advisor will ask for your input, revisit the plan with you regularly, decide if a course adjustment is necessary, and implement changes. Remember, your actions today will determine your family’s financial future.

Trying to reconcile headlines, our daily experiences, and portfolio values is no easy task. As Financial Advisors, it is our job to continually reassess the multitude of challenges that threaten a successful outcome for clients. So much has changed in the past couple years.

Common examples of mental accounting include tax refunds, bonuses, or an inheritance. Many people spend their “extra money” in ways that are not fully thought out or aligned with their goals. For instance, some people received Covid relief funds, but also carry a large amount of credit card debt. In this scenario, they would likely benefit by using the funds to pay towards the large outstanding debt before it accumulates any further.

Albert Fox is a Financial Advisor in Morgan Stanley’s [office location] office.

Although Albert Fox has compensated JerseyMan to have this advertisement featured in its publications, this is not a solicitation nor intended to provide individually tailored investment advice. The strategies and/or investments referenced may not be suitable for all investors. You should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters.

One way to address compartmentalized mental accounting is to create a comprehensive household spending plan, analyze the sustainability

The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.

Sources: Source for paragraph 3: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2040946. Source for paragraphs 4-5: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/27/42-percent-of-americans-have-increased-their-credit-card-debt-during-covid-19. html. Source for paragraphs 7-8: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/27/heres-how-long-stock-market-corrections-last-and-how-bad-they-can-get.html and https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/27/heres-how-long-stock-market-corrections-last-andhow-bad-they-can-get.html and https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2000/wp0048.pdf and https://www.amgfunds.com/research_and_insights/investment_essentials/psychology/herd-behavior.html.

Investments and services offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 3946064 12/21.

70

Stay Connected JerseyManMagazine.com

BY SAM KRAFT

Sponsored by The

Smoking Dog

Jake Wyatt’s Lucid Interval

Wrapper: Candela • Binder & Filler: Dominican

I

N FEBRUARY 2020, Jake Wyatt launched their first line of premium cigars. 30 years before their debut, the co-owner of Jake Wyatt, Gerard Abajian, was working in retail. He found success selling cigars at his brick and mortar store in California. Eventually, he sought to make a cigar brand of his own. After collaborating with former professional baseball player, Neil Garcia, the two of them conceived their new child, Jake Wyatt. The paternal imagery isn’t all for show, either. The name Jake Wyatt is a combination of the founders’ sons’ names.

The cigar being reviewed today is the Jake Wyatt Lucid Interval.

What makes this cigar unique is that it has a candela wrapper. Sometimes referred to as a Double Claro, a candela wrapper is green in color. In the 1940s, the US demand for milder cigars started to grow.

Cuba responded with this light green cigar.

In order to make a candela, harvested tobacco goes through a very slow drying process. Afterward, it’s rehydrated and taken for storage and rolling. Despite its longer drying time, the tobacco doesn’t need to be aged or fermented, and therefore the total process is faster than that of a traditional cigar. The candela’s rise in popularity grew to an extent that, at one point, the majority of cigars sold in the US were candelas.

Soon the demand couldn’t be met, and customers had to turn to other

72

cigars. Only 3% of cigars sold today are natural candelas.

Like every Jake Wyatt, the Lucid Interval is beautifully wrapped with stripes at the bottom and top. Its design is finished with a decorative circle towards the cap. The eye-catching wrapper is shiny and flawless. Candela wrappers are notoriously delicate, and the smoker needs to be careful when cutting and lighting the cigar.

On the very first puff, the cigar is extremely smooth. It tastes like sweet grass and pine. There is also a slight white pepper spice. It’s not until the second third that the cigar starts to present mild citrus flavors.

The taste is reminiscent of lemon rind and green tea. The final third brings out more oil as well as hints of nutmeg and cream.

The Lucid Interval is an excellent cigar that’s mild and smooth. It’s as delicious as it is artful. Smoking a candela that has been crafted with the care demanded for one, is a unique joy. If you have never tried a green cigar, now is the time. n

Photo jakewyattcigars.com

THE CIGAR GUY ______________________________________________________________________________________________

@PCS_AnthonyM

TECH TIME

Have any tech ideas you want to talk about? Feel free to reach out to me on Twitter (@PCS_AnthonyM) or email me any time at Anthony@helpmepcs.com.

_______________________________________________________________________________

BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

2022 Tech Predictions Time to Get Serious About Data Privacy & Security The top trend for 2022 is going to be all about data privacy and security. As privacy concerns grow, consumers are demanding organizations do more to protect their information.

Privacy laws and regulations continue to evolve, reminding brands they need to focus on building trust and showing consumers how they’re taking privacy seriously. This means building “privacy-by-design” consumer-facing features, creating a culture around data privacy, and implementing technology supporting an organization’s privacy and security goals.

Work from home is here to stay Since the pandemic started, some companies have not opened their doors, and I don’t see a full-time return to work. However, the pandemic has opened up opportunities for a remote workforce and depending on your profession, you can work from anywhere in the world. To be competitive with benefits, I see more and more companies offering a hybrid work solution.

We are doing it with my company, PCS. I fiercely opposed working from home and then saw the benefits of it. I do believe in the hybrid model as it is essential to building your team and culture.

The return of Smart Glasses Although these new devices offer excellent utility, they meet with skepticism from consumers concerned about privacy. However, the enterprise market is accepting these technologies, where they face stricter regulation.

With Facebook becoming Meta, you will see a huge marketing and PR push to make these technologies more mainstream.

Automation to become Hyper-Automation As companies depend more and more on technology, they will also rely more on automation. If you can easily repeat a task, have a computer do it. Automate everything from robots and systems tasks to anything digital.

With a shortage of labor and rising costs, companies will have to take advantage of technology to run their processes to be more efficient and profitable.

More hacks are coming

Depending on your profession, you can work from anywhere in the world.

If you thought 2021 was terrible with ransomware and global hacking, you haven’t seen anything yet. In the first six months of this year, companies and organizations paid hackers more than $590 MILLION in ransom.

We will have spent more than $1 billion this year with hackers. When you see dollar signs like that, it will only embolden them to attack more. At the end of the day, this is a very profitable business for the bad guys.

Do you have any tech predictions? Send me your thoughts online @PCS_AnthonyM or email me at Anthony@helpmepcs.com I would like to wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season and a Happy New Year! n

74

ADVERTISE WITH US

Contact: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com

MIND YOUR BUSINESS ADVERTISE WITH US

contact: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com

THE WINE MAN _______________________________________________________________________________

For comments, questions, suggestions and/or feedback, contact Robert Kennedy at rkj@Kennedy-companies.com.

BY ROBERT KENNEDY

11th Annual NJ Wine and Food Classic

O

raised much-needed funds for kids and their families in our area deserving of financial assistance.

The “Y” as it’s fondly referred to, also recognized a community leader at the event, as it does each year. This year’s recipient was Rob Curley, South Jersey/Coastal Market President for TD Bank. Rob and TD have been involved in many charitable organizations and projects in the southern New Jersey area, and Rob was certainly deserving of this award.

The evening was an eclectic sundry of wine merchants and food stations featuring the wineries’ respective grapes by table strategically placed around the ballroom. It began with a VIP hour that permitted

78

Photos courtesy Greater Philadelphia YMCA

N FRIDAY EVENING, November 12th the Greater Philadelphia YMCA held its 11th Annual NJ Wine and Food Classic at the Westin in Mt. Laurel attended by a few hundred supporters or so. As a witness to this wonderful fundraiser, I was impressed with the featured wines, breweries, distilleries and bakeries on display. This delightful classic brought together many community leaders and area friends eager to sample and taste many of these delectable foods and wines. It was a night of pleasant fellowship. More importantly, this shared friendship

the attendees to sample some excellent wines before the general public arrived. Chris Wanamaker, the sommelier from Aldo Lamberti restaurant in Cherry Hill, took to the stage to highlight 3 particular wines on display during the VIP program: 2018 Goldeneye Pinot Noir; 2018 Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2018 Shafer Cabernet One Point Five. Chris’ knowledge and expertise of these wines were very much appreciated as he discussed these three beauties during the first half of the event.

HE GREATER PHILADELPHIA YMCA is all about building stronger communities through healthy living. The Y provides programs throughout the Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey area and serves more than 250,000 of those families in our community that need care for their children. Some of us have benefited from the Y’s health and fitness centers, taking advantage of their programming. Moreover, we’ve also been witness to many of the area’s underprivileged kids that are utilizing these same programs and services. It’s warming to watch.

There are many fundraising events that the Y conducts throughout the year, but none better than the annual NJ Wine and Food Classic. It’s a time to reconnect with friends—community leaders in a relaxed and laidback environment for a greater cause while enjoying some fabulous wines and foods. It’s a time to kick off the holidays and a time to share stories and laughter while recognizing the wonderful assistance given back to those that need it the most. It’s a time to reflect on how much we’ve been given throughout our lives, and the goodwill created by supporting such a stalwart organization as the Greater Philadelphia YMCA. Awesome wines and delectable foods for a very worthy Y. Can that combination get much better than that? n

T