Morris County’s flagship business event will celebrate innovation, leadership, and workforce impact as regional employers take center stage in Whippany
The Morris County Chamber of Commerce will place the spotlight squarely on business leadership, workforce innovation, and community impact when it convenes its 105th Annual Meeting on Friday, February 12, 2026, honoring four organizations whose work has helped shape the region’s economic and civic landscape.
The Chamber’s 2026 Business Catalyst Awards will be presented to Delta Dental of New Jersey Inc. of Parsippany, Guided Parenting Support (GPS) of Morristown, Marotta Controls Inc. of Montville, and SESI Consulting Engineers of Parsippany. The awards recognize companies that demonstrate exceptional business performance while also delivering measurable value to employees, clients, and the broader Morris County community.
This year’s honorees reflect the diversity and depth of the county’s modern economy, spanning healthcare services, family and behavioral support, advanced manufacturing and aerospace systems, and professional engineering and infrastructure consulting. Chamber officials said the recipients were selected for their ability to pair sustained organizational growth with leadership that strengthens local talent pipelines, professional development, and regional resilience.
The 105th Annual Meeting will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Hanover Marriott Hotel in the Whippany–Parsippany area, bringing together business owners, executives, nonprofit leaders, municipal officials, and economic development partners from across Morris County and northern New Jersey.
Beyond the presentation of awards, the event serves as one of the Chamber’s most important annual forums for setting priorities, evaluating regional economic trends, and strengthening collaboration between the private and public sectors. Attendees will also hear the Chamber’s annual State of the Chamber address, outlining organizational initiatives, advocacy priorities, and strategic investments for the year ahead, followed by the State of the County address, offering a broader snapshot of Morris County’s economic, infrastructure, and workforce outlook.
A featured highlight of the program will be a keynote presentation by Seth Mattison, a nationally recognized futurist and workplace strategy expert, who will deliver a forward-looking session titled “The Future-Ready: Strategies for Leading the Future of Work.” His presentation is expected to focus on how organizations can adapt to accelerating technological change, generational shifts in the workforce, evolving leadership models, and the growing demand for flexible, purpose-driven workplaces.
Chamber leadership said the keynote was intentionally selected to align with the Business Catalyst Award theme, which emphasizes not only performance and profitability, but also adaptability, talent retention, and organizational culture in an increasingly competitive labor market.
In addition to the Business Catalyst Awards, the Chamber will present the Saint Clare’s Health William P. Huber Award for outstanding community leadership to Gary Fisch, founder of Gary’s Wine & Marketplace. The honor recognizes individuals whose entrepreneurial success is matched by long-standing civic engagement, philanthropy, and support for regional nonprofit organizations and community initiatives.
For more than a century, the Morris County Chamber of Commerce has played a central role in convening employers, advocating for infrastructure investment, supporting small businesses, and promoting the county as one of New Jersey’s most business-friendly regions. The 105th Annual Meeting continues that tradition by highlighting organizations that represent the future direction of the local economy while reinforcing the Chamber’s long-standing commitment to community-centered growth.
This year’s Business Catalyst honorees were cited for their ability to build resilient business models while remaining closely connected to the people they serve. From expanding access to healthcare and family services, to engineering solutions that support public safety and transportation networks, to designing systems that power mission-critical industries, the 2026 recipients demonstrate how Morris County companies continue to compete at a national level without losing their local roots.
Chamber officials also emphasized that the award recipients share a common focus on workforce development, whether through employee training, leadership mentoring, flexible workplace policies, or partnerships with educational institutions. That focus has become increasingly critical as employers across northern New Jersey face tight labor markets, skills gaps, and rapid shifts in job requirements.
The annual meeting is expected to draw a full audience of business and civic leaders, and online registration is scheduled to close several days prior to the event, in keeping with past attendance trends.
As Morris County continues to evolve into a hub for healthcare services, advanced manufacturing, professional services, and technology-driven enterprises, events such as the Chamber’s annual gathering provide a rare opportunity to examine the region’s economic trajectory through the lens of real-world employers and community partners.
Coverage of the Chamber’s annual meeting and its award recipients will be featured as part of Sunset Daily News’ ongoing business reporting, which focuses on the companies, leaders, and workforce trends shaping New Jersey’s economic future.
