TRENTON,  Feb. 3 - Two prominent leaders of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, the state's business advocacy organization, were named to NJBIZ newspaper's "100 Most Powerful People in New Jersey Business" list this week.

 
Dennis Bone, who chairs the state chamber's Board of Directors, was named the second most influential businessman in the state behind Gov. Chris Christie. Thomas A. Bracken, the newly named president and CEO of the state Chamber, also was named to the list.

 
"Tom and I are honored and gratified to have been named to the list," said Bone, who is also president of Verizon New Jersey. "I think this speaks volumes for the strength and depth of the leadership team we have working for our Chamber of Commerce members and partners everyday."

 
Calling him a "straight-talking realist," NJBIZ credits Bone with "routinely throwing himself into big issues such as how to upgrade the state worker training programs and how to encourage citizens to fight back against New Jersey's legacy of official corruption."

 
Bracken, named 43rd on the NJBIZ list, was called a "fixture in the New Jersey business community" with his 40 years of banking experience, including leadership positions at Sun National, CoreStates, First Union and TriState Capital banks.

 
"The governor and state Legislature have both said that improving our state's business climate is at the top of their priority list and I look forward to working with them and our membership to do everything we can to make their priority a reality," Bracken said.

 
NJBIZ complied its list from discussions with business and political leaders across the state. 

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