NJBIZ ICON Honors 2022 – Jerry Zaro

Jerry Zaro, Chair of the Sills Cummis Banking and Real Estate Services Department, was selected by NJBIZ as a 2022 ICON honoree. The ICON Awards recognize New Jersey business leaders over the age of 60 who have helped the New Jersey business community grow. According to NJBIZ, the ICON Award honorees are “business leaders who are in a class of their own: the pioneers and change-makers. The ones others look to for mentoring and advice.” They were recognized at a ceremony at The Palace at Somerset Park in Somerset, NJ on June 28, 2022.

The following Q&A with Jerry Zaro appeared in the NJBIZ ICON Honors Supplement.

“Throughout his career, Zaro has made contributions across a wide and diverse swath of activities in two states involving billions of dollars in economic activity in law, real estate, transportation and sports. He has served in a variety of leadership posts in the administrations of the last eight consecutive governors of New Jersey, most recently as a member of Governor Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council – Facilities and Construction Subcommittee.”

What do you feel is your biggest contribution to the New Jersey business community?
When you’ve been involved in public policy for over 30 years, many things come to mind. But the item I think had the greatest impact was rolling out the Licensed Site Remediation Professional program, which has been successful in taking down bureaucratic roadblocks, hastening development and job creation.

Describe your leadership style and how it has helped you be successful.
My father taught me at an early age to treat everyone, regardless of station, as a valued individual, deserving of respect and dignity. By recognizing the great potential in every human being and the enormous contribution that can be made at every level in a business organization, it’s amazing how much others can contribute to your business and therefore your success when you let them shine.

You’d never guess that…
In my teens I was a “hippie” and was one of the people who actually was in attendance at Woodstock in 1969. But, never one to miss a business opportunity, it was also a formative experience in that it inspired me to become an attorney for rock promoters and musicians for over 30 years.

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