NEW YORK: The halls of the Liberty Science Center were filled with the movers and shakers of the Hudson County community last night as the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce held it’s eighth annual Legends Ball.
At this year’s event, four individuals from the Hudson County community, as well as CarePoint Health and the CarePoint Health Foundation, were honored for their contributions and service to the county.
“Since it’s grown over the eight years we’ve been doing it, it’s really become sort of a hall of fame for Hudson County,” said Maria Nieves, the president and CEO of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce. “The folks that we honor at these events have really, truly, dedicated decades of service to Hudson County. They do it not only professionally. but also through community service.”
Frank Guarini, a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise were among the attendees of the event, which included a dinner and a silent auction.
William and Barbara Netchert were two of the awardees of the night. William Netchert, a lifelong Jersey City resident who graduated from Saint Peter’s University, works as a senior partner in the law firm of Netchert, Dineen & Hillman, and has been the chairman of the Hudson County Community College Board of Trustees since 2003. In that position, he has been involved in the funding of resources for the college’s $250 million physical expansion.
Barbara Netchert has been the Hudson County Clerk since 2007, and has served as a trustee on nonprofit boards like the Boys & Girls Club of Hudson County.
“It’s a honor to have lived long enough to be a legend,” joked William Netchert during an acceptance speech. “More so it’s an honor to be recognized by such a great organization.”
Julia DiGioia, a Jersey City-born surgeon who has spent the last 25 years diagnosing and surgically treating breast cancer, and James Miller Sr., the CEO of Liberty Savings Federal Credit Union, were also honored with an award.
CarePoint Health and the CarePoint Health Foundation were also honored for their service to Hudson County residents. CarePoint Health runs the Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital in Jersey City and Hoboken University Medical Center.
“This year’s honorees like in past years are a diverse group,” said Nieves. “Very local, born and bred in Jersey City and Hudson County.
“We had a public sector person in Barbara, who has served the public as an elected official, and then her husband who’s really helping to steward the community college to great things. The business leader who literally founded a business at their kitchen table to a large corporate legend who…is doing great corporate work through their foundation,” she added.
“A lot of these folks are nominated not just by the leadership of the chamber of commerce, but by our members which I think speaks volumes about not just their popularity, but how they’ve touched so many people in our communities.”
