New Jersey

Jeffrey Ware Executive Director

Vanda Ondrus President

Says the Fort Lee Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director, Jeffrey Ware. Under the leadership of Mr. Ware and the Chamber’s President, Vanda Ondrus, the FLRCC provides plenty of opportunities for small business owners and service professionals to share their stories through networking events, spotlighting members through marketing, making introductions, and facilitating collaborations. The Chamber can also help members by providing business guidance, mentoring and by facilitating conversations with local officials.

"Every business, regardless of its size or background, has a unique story to tell,” says Ondrus echoing the sentiment. “Our mission is to provide members with the platform and support they need to thrive and to contribute to the vibrancy of Fort Lee."

The Fort Lee Regional Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization founded in 1950 dedicated to advancing the economic, civic, and cultural welfare in the communities of Cliffside Park, Edgewater, Englewood Cliffs, Fort Lee, Leonia, Palisades Park, and Ridgefield. But members come from outside this region, as well.

“I joined the Chamber in 2014,” Ware said, “as a representative of the local Little League youth baseball and softball programs, as a way to strengthen the bonds between community, local business and public officials. At first, it was a challenge.” But then he was given a piece of simple advice that he says he should have already known, “Get involved.” Mr. Ware started attending every event he could make. He volunteered to come early and help with registrations and check in attendees to get to know names and faces, and to make starting conversations easier. Eventually, he joined Chamber committees to help plan events and initiatives.

“These were great ways to show off my commitment to the community and what I could do,” he recalls.

It is what he now tells other members looking to get the most out of belonging to the Chamber. People want to do business with people with a proven track record, someone they feel comfortable with and who they trust, he explains. “What better way to demonstrate all these things than by working together with other members on a program or event.”