Lisa Plasse, President, Midland Park Chamber of Commerce

In an interview with Invest:, Lisa Plasse, president of the Midland Park Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber is innovating its networking events to boost participation, including the introduction of “networking dating” designed for quick, engaging connections among members in the Bergen and Passaic county area. “We do it twice a year as a fun and efficient way for people to meet others from different towns, not just from Midland Park,” she said.

How is the chamber promoting networking?

One of our biggest challenges right now is getting businesses to attend events. Many have downsized, and in a lot of cases, the owners themselves are the ones running the business day-to-day. That means they’re working Monday through Friday, from opening to closing, and simply can’t leave to attend events.

We’ve struggled with participation. We’ve tried breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, but with everyone’s busy schedules, it’s tough to find a time that works for most people. We’ve been experimenting with different approaches. One example is what we call “networking dating.” It’s a roundtable format where participants have three minutes to talk before a bell rings, and they switch. We do it twice a year as a fun and efficient way for people to meet others from different towns, not just from Midland Park.

We also partner with other chambers. Together, we organize luncheons, breakfast meetings, and evening happy hours. When you have about 10 chambers involved, even if just one or two people attend from each town, it adds up and creates a meaningful networking opportunity.

These efforts have been ongoing since 2021 and 2022, as people started feeling more comfortable attending in-person events post-pandemic. Before that, we tried Zoom, but virtual networking just didn’t provide the same face-to-face connection.

For Midland Park specifically, I partnered with an organization in a neighboring town that publishes a magazine twice a year. All our Midland Park members are included in the directory and receive a listing in the magazine, giving them extra visibility. The publication includes information about local businesses, restaurants, and professional services, making it a useful resource for residents.

How have ongoing economic changes impacted the chamber and its members?

There are definitely challenges. Foot traffic has been a major issue, especially for retail businesses that are competing with Amazon and big-box stores. There’s a lot of pressure to keep businesses running, attract customers, and find innovative ways to stay relevant.

In our town, businesses are trying different strategies — hosting events or meetings that draw people into their stores so they can showcase what they offer. It’s all about being creative in how you engage with the community.

The town helps too. For example, we host a Community Day that brings local businesses together. It’s centered around children, with inflatables and a barbecue hosted by the fire and police departments. It brings families out and gives businesses a chance to connect with them in a more relaxed setting.

What makes Midland Park an attractive business location?

Midland Park doesn’t have one central business district. Instead, we have three main areas where businesses are located, which adds variety. One of our biggest advantages is free parking. Shoppers don’t have to worry about meters in most places, so it’s easier to park and shop. We also offer a nice mix of businesses — florists, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, and CVS, to name a few. Uniquely for a small town, we have five establishments with drive-through service: Dunkin’ Donuts, Starbucks, CVS for prescription pickups, Wendy’s, and Burger King. That’s unusual for a town our size, but it draws people in and makes it convenient to stop and shop locally.

How does the local government collaborate with the chamber to drive economic development in Midland Park?

Each year, the Village Council appoints a liaison to work with the chamber and other local organizations. This allows us to communicate directly if anything is needed. For example, we work together on holiday decorations. The town helps cover the cost of installing and removing the wreaths we put up each season to make the downtown area festive. We also partner with the library to sponsor a summer music series. That requires village approval, but it has been well-received. Local businesses sponsor the events, and we put up signage throughout the summer. It’s great exposure for them, as there’s a lot of foot and car traffic passing by.

The town also supports events like Community Day, the annual tree lighting, and other seasonal festivals. All these partnerships are aimed at supporting local businesses and bringing more people into the community.

Are you implementing specific strategies to support minority business owners?

Right now, it’s really about helping everyone dig in and find what works best for them. I provide a lot of networking opportunities, and I always encourage business owners to reach out if they need help or have questions. While I may not always be able to reach out proactively due to my own busy schedule, I maintain an open-door policy and make sure everyone knows they can come to me for support.

What are the greatest opportunities and challenges for the area’s economic development?

The biggest challenge is competition, whether it’s from Amazon or online alternatives. Even in my own field, music lessons, people can turn to YouTube to learn instead of coming in for instruction. Businesses need to constantly find their niche and create a reason for people to walk through their doors.

The opportunity lies in reinvention — being innovative and creative in how you present your services or products to the community.

What is your outlook for the next two to three years?

We’re in a good place in that we don’t have many empty storefronts. There’s a strong base of businesses here, and we’re hopeful they’ll continue to thrive and bring more people into the town. Of course, fluctuations in food prices, gas, and other essentials have an impact, but we hope as those costs stabilize, more people will be open to shopping and dining locally and enjoying everything Midland Park has to offer.

What will be the chamber’s top priorities for the coming years?

Our top priority is to support businesses in whatever way they need. We’re open to change and ready to pivot as needed. I’m not stuck on doing things the way they’ve always been done — things have changed dramatically even in just the past five years. It’s all about adapting, staying flexible, and figuring out how to tackle new challenges together.