Ram’s Morristown Liquors Inc.

Rina Asemamaw is a Morristown resident, mom, business, and property owner. As a resident and a business owner, I know our small business community, our vibrant downtown, and our families are at the heart of this town. That is why I make it a priority to know my customers and my neighbors.

I would like to serve on the Morristown Partnership Board of Trustees as a way of giving back to the community. I love taking my daughter to South St. for Sunday brunch and for Halloween trick-or-treat or the Morristown Green to see Santa for Christmas. I believe, as Morristown develops into a more dynamic and vibrant town, we need new voices and hands to ensure our small business community continues to thrive. I am ready for the task.

AMHigley Construction

Please accept this letter to serve as formal application for consideration to join the Morristown Partnership Board of Trustees. As a builder committed to and focused on building Morristown’s physical spaces and broader community (quite literally AMHigley’s mission is Building Community) it would be a privilege to serve on the Board.

Moreso, my vested interest is for my two young sons, Jack and Patrick, who are being raised in our community as my wife Ellen and I would like to ensure their hometown continues as the joy we know it to be. As a builder, my hope is to be a part of building upon Morristown’s special foundation for Jack and Patrick while in so doing honoring my wife’s long time family involvement with the community – be that through her father having been a partner at NK Architects or her mother being a teacher at Assumption School for over thirty years.

The opportunity to answer any questions, comments, or concerns is welcomed and I also invite you to confer with my friend and professional colleague Jeff Rawding regarding my candidacy. Thank you for your consideration in the meanwhile.

Oldwick Soup Co.

My name is Bob Hiller and I am a member of the Morristown Community, both as a resident and small business owner of the Oldwick Soup Company, now in its 7^th year.  I’d like to tell you a little about myself:

Oldwick Soup (dba “Lovethesoup!) operates a “Ghost Kitchen” where we make our large variety of delicious and healthy soups at 270 South Street (for the past 2 years now.)  We operate our weekly retail business at up to 15 farmers markets (including the Morristown Farmers Market.) We also ship nationally, and are gearing our wholesale business up, and plan to intensify roll-out to specialty retailers within the next 12-15 months.

Previously, I was involved in marketing and advertising to blue chip clients in the food industry for many years.  My wife Mary Ann and I ran our own national marketing agency, The Imagineer Group in Basking Ridge for 20 years, where we were the sole marketing agency for the Professional Division (foodservice) at Nestle USA. I am a graduate of Syracuse University and the Culinary Institute of America where I honed my skills. I have also been a regular guest lecturer for the Food Studies Program at Syracuse University.

Being an active member of the Morristown Partnership Board of Trustees will enable me to focus more on our community and assist in creating awareness of all the great opportunities and resources that are available in this wonderfully vibrant community. I will bring my restaurant/food, marketing, special events and general business acumen experience to the Partnership, and I plan to be an active member of the group.

Philly Pretzel Factory

Laura has extensive experience as an executive assistant in corporate finance, family and municipal law, and the food/beverage industries. Her experience incorporates sales and marketing and client services.

Laura was an executive assistant to the Vice President of the Financial Counseling Division of the Goldman Sachs Company for a decade. She later utilized her corporate talents as an executive assistant to the CEO of NEMF, a logistics and transportation company.

Laura’s experience working in these roles enabled her to understand the importance of working independently, confidentiality, and professional conduct communicating with C-suite executives, business owners, diplomats and, other government officials.

A lifelong resident of Morris County, Laura attended the Rothman Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies as well as the Paralegal Studies Certificate Program at Fairleigh Dickinson University, in Madison.

Laura was a volunteer intern for a Superior Court Family Judge in Bergen County, where she participated in family mediation. From there, she quickly landed a position as a legal secretary with a law firm in Morris County. In this position, she was responsible for assisting in all casework.

Laura participates in local government committees. She has recently been appointed by the Morristown Town Council as Commissioner to the Morristown Housing Authority Board of Commissioners. She is also a public member of the Office of Attorney Ethics, DEC XA Morris County chapter. She previously served as recording secretary for the Township of Randolph Planning Board.

Laura has a passion for helping people and making a positive impact in their lives. She founded and operated Senior Subway, Inc., a not-for-profit organization transporting senior citizens in Morris County.

For the past ten years, she has been the Clients Relations Specialist for Wei of Chocolate, a small woman-owned organic dark chocolate company. She has also joined the Philly Pretzel Factory team in Morristown.

Laura has a “client-obsessed” mentality and a discerning eye for assisting businesses and its clients. She has a rich understanding of corporate structure and obligations. She is driven by a shared purpose to effectively partner with businesses to efficiently address their needs as well as the needs of their clients.

Mongey Management Co., LLC

My name is Michelle Mongey and I am an active member of the Morristown community. I am  committed to the mission of the Morristown Partnership and would be honored to serve on its Board of Trustees.  As a member of this important organization, I hope to bring the small business perspective to keep Morristown thriving. Our family business has been a landmark in Morristown for 50 years and we have worked to support local schools, charities, organizations and other small businesses which are vital to adding a vibrancy to this beautiful and historic town. 

My father served on the Morristown Partnership for many years and was proud of all that was cooperatively accomplished.  I am committed to working with other community members and town leaders to continue the legacy of my father, his colleagues and the current Board of Trustees.  Morristown is destined for even greater growth and I hope and look forward to being a part of this great Morristown vitality. Thank you.

Apricot & Baklava

Serving on the board of trustees for the Morristown Partnership is an excellent opportunity to make a positive impact on the local community. The organization is dedicated to promoting economic growth and development in Morristown, New Jersey, through various initiatives, such as marketing, event planning, and advocacy. By serving on the board of trustees, one can play an active role in shaping the future of Morristown and contributing to its long-term success. Additionally, serving on the board of trustees provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. Board members work closely with other community leaders, business owners, and government officials, gaining valuable experience in leadership, networking, and decision-making. Furthermore, serving on the board allows individuals to give back to their community and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Overall, serving on the Morristown Partnership Board of Trustees is an opportunity to be part of a dynamic and passionate group of individuals committed to building a better future for Morristown. It’s an opportunity to contribute your skills, experience, and energy to a worthy cause while also developing yourself personally and professionally.

My name is Semih Ozkaya, and I’m a 21-year-old Turkish college senior. I’m currently studying biology with the aim of becoming a dentist, but my interests extend far beyond the field of healthcare. One of my passions is interior design, and I love to immerse myself in creating beautiful spaces that inspire and uplift people. I’m also working on obtaining my real estate license, which I see as an opportunity to combine my love of design with my business acumen.

In addition to my studies and entrepreneurial ventures, I am also the proud owner of two successful businesses in Morristown, New Jersey. The first is Apricot Nuts, a specialty food store that offers a wide variety of nuts, dried fruits, and other snacks. We’ve been open for almost a year now, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far.

More recently, I opened a coffee shop called “BAKLAVA,” which offers a unique and delicious blend of traditional Turkish sweets and modern coffee drinks. Running these businesses has been an incredible learning experience, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with people in my community and provide them with high-quality products and services.

In my free time, I love meeting new people and engaging in meaningful conversations. I’m always looking for opportunities to learn from others, especially those who have more life experience than me. I believe that every person has a unique story to tell, and I’m eager to listen and learn from as many people as I can.

Overall, I’m a driven and passionate individual with a wide range of interests and aspirations. Whether I’m pursuing my education, growing my businesses, or connecting with others, I’m always striving to learn, grow, and make a positive impact on the world around me.

We will post additional candidate profiles as they are received. 

Updated: 3.31.23

Election Information

Self-nominations for five seats on the Morristown Partnership Special Improvement District’s (SID) Board of Trustees are accepted in March of each year, an election is conducted in April.

In order to be listed on the Ballot of Nominees, you must be an SID member (an owner of commercial real estate (Class 1 or 4) that is subject to assessment or the owner of a business, or the authorized representative and employee of an owner of a business, located in an assessed property within the Special Improvement District; specific requirements can be found in the Corporation’s By-Laws).  This would exclude church, governmental, non-profit or owner-occupied residential properties.

Annually, there are five (5) seats available for three-year terms beginning May 1 and ending April 30.

Voting

You are entitled to vote if you are a commercial property owner or business owner paying a special assessment in the Special Improvement District, or the official designee of the property or business owner.

Paper ballots will be mailed and available for download.

Each assessed property has one vote and must be cast by the entity, or entities, which own(s) the property.  Only one ballot may be cast for each such entity.  Each “bona fide” business located within the Special Improvement District (a business with a separate and distinct existence from all other businesses located at the same property) also has one vote.

Ballots must be returned to Morristown Partnership for tabulation, by the League of Women Voters, by the posted deadline.