DHS Forum to Highlight BENS 
New Jersey Business Force
Panel Discussion to Focus on New Jersey’s 
Successful Public/Private Security Partnership

Members and government partners of the New Jersey Business Force - a first-of-its-kind homeland security partnership between the state of New Jersey and its leading companies – will lead a panel discussion at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Industry Forum on March 8, 2004 at the Wardman Park Marriot Hotel in Washington, DC.  The presentation – scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. - and subsequent discussion will focus on the success of the partnership and how industry and government throughout the nation can better cooperate to make the country secure. 

Developed by the non-profit Business Executives for National Security (BENS), BENS Business Forces create public/private partnerships to fill state and regional Homeland Security gaps that neither government nor business can handle alone.  The New Jersey Business Force – the pilot program for the Business Force concept – was launched in March 2003 and has quickly grown to 25 companies from a wide variety of industries. 

"By creating private-public partnerships like the BENS New Jersey Business Force, we will significantly aid New Jersey's ability to prepare for and respond to any possible attacks," said New Jersey Governor James McGreevey.  "The New Jersey Business Force is a model that will help New Jersey keep its communities as safe as they can be."

New Jersey Business Force Executive Director Brian Dunlap added, “Right from the start, the state and our member companies were enthusiastic, innovative, and hard working, allowing us to quickly turn the Business Force from concept into reality.” 

Panel participants include Brian Dunlap and representatives from New Jersey Business Force member companies and state government security partners: New Jersey Office of Emergency Management Commanding Officer Major Dennis Del Fava; Automatic Data Processing Vice President Gary Tarino; Prudential Financial Deputy Chief Compliance Officer Phillip Harrington; and NJN Public Television and Radio Executive Director and CEO Elizabeth Christopherson. 

In late 2003, BENS established the Georgia Business Force and MidAmerica Business Force (based in Kansas City).  The two have already begun building partnerships that will make their communities safer.  New York City and Northern California Forces will be launched this year. 

Founded in 1982, BENS’ membership of more than 400 senior business executives focuses on two key security issues:  developing business-government partnerships to deal with homeland security and reshaping and rebuilding our military for 21^st Century challenges.  For more information on the New Jersey Business Force visit www.njbusinessforce.org.  Further information about BENS is available at www.bens.org.