Business Briefs

Ann Joy Becker has announced the opening of a local franchise of Decor & You, a home-based interior decorating company serving the Howell area. Becker specializes in assisting homeowners with services such as finding the proper placement of artwork and selecting window coverings and furniture. Designers are all professionally trained in interior design and offer services to residential and commercial clients. Decor & You began in 1994 as the brainchild of two Connecticut residents, Karen Powell and Josie Cicerale, and has since grown to include more than 60 franchises in 26 states.

The Lakewood BlueClaws are reminding Ocean County and Monmouth County organizations that members of the team’s management department are available during the off-season as part of the team’s Speaker’s Bureau.

Those interested in having a member of the BlueClaws front office speak at their event are asked to call (732) 901-7000. Speakers are available each day of the week and can provide a number of messages to fit various groups.

The Speakers Bureau is designed to serve, but is not limited to, such groups as schools, chambers of commerce, Rotary Clubs and retirement villages, as well as other service organizations and businesses.

Kimba’s Pet Sitting will join Carmela’s Cleaning Service to offer area residents the combined services of in-home pet care as well as professional house cleaning to pet owners as well as those without pets. Carmela Powell and Kimba’s Pet Sitting are insured and bonded members of Pet Sitters Inter-national, a professional pet-sitters organization. Pet sitting and house cleaning services are available in Ocean County and southern Monmouth County.

The Jackson Chamber of Com-merce has announced the following new members of the Board of Directors: President Maureen Brown, of Commerce Bank, Jackson; First Vice President Ed Peraria of Cookstown Quality Inn, Cookstown; Second Vice President Jeremy Fishman of the Lakewood BlueClaws, Lakewood; Third Vice President Mary Ann Vinciguerra of Vinci’s Bar & Grill & Pizzeria, Jackson.

Debi Meli, of Howell, has joined the firm of J.J. Moriarty and Associates of Toms River as the executive assistant to the president. Meli previously worked as an associate producer for MCA Broad-casting Inc at its WWOR television station, Secaucus, and served for more then 10 years as the public relations manager for Tribune Broadcasting’s WPIX-TV, New York.

In her capacity as the public relations executive for the WB television network affiliate in New York City, Meli was responsible for securing press coverage for the station, including sporting events, prime time programming, news and public affairs, as well as for the station’s “Care for Kids” campaign.

She also brings a wealth of experience in the area of coordination in community affairs in both large and small market media companies.

J.J. Moriarty and Associates is a full service public relations, advertising and strategic planning enterprise with offices in Toms River. The company’s president, Jack Moriarty, said he is delighted to have Meli join the firm and is looking forward to having her share her wealth of experience with the clients of J.J. Moriarty and Associates.

The Verizon Foundation recently awarded more than $500,000 in grants to charitable and nonprofit agencies in New Jersey, including a grant that will support the work of the CentraState Health-care Foundation, Freehold Township.

Suited For Success Boutique has moved to 521 Princeton Ave., Lakewood. The program, funded by Ocean County Private Industries Council and sponsored by the Lakewood Board of Education, provides career clothing for qualified women entering the workforce. For shopping or donating information, call (732) 905-3685.