NJBIZ Looking Ahead 2026: What business leaders worry about

As part of the NJBIZ Looking Ahead 2026 special feature, we asked industry leaders across New Jersey: What do you worry most about heading into the new year? Read the Letter from the Editor and other Q-and-A’s here.

Cannabis

Scott Prisco
CEO, Priscotty

I try not to operate from a place of worry, either in life or in business. I tend to look at the glass half full and focus on solving problems as they arise rather than stressing about hypothetical outcomes. In my experience, most challenges work themselves out when you stay focused, adaptable and execution-oriented. There isn’t anything specific that keeps me up at night. I’m confident in our team, our company and my leadership. Even when external factors are outside of our control, there is always a solution, a pivot, or a way to adjust and make the best of the circumstances. That mindset shapes how I approach both business and decision-making.

Energy

Stephen Sweeney
Leadership council, Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, former NJ Senate president

In 2026, I worry about the magnitude of the energy crisis we’re in in New Jersey. We’re consuming far more energy than we produce, demand is continuing to grow, and families and business owners are paying the price with higher costs and growing uncertainty. We’ve got to move quickly to plan and build new power supplies and energy infrastructure, including natural gas and renewables, to keep costs down while maintaining a reliable energy system. Adding supply will take years, and prices are rising now. I am hopeful that Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill and her administration will recognize the urgency of the challenges New Jersey will continue to face if we don’t take action.

Food/hospitality

Amanda Stone
NJHRA

Preserving the tip wage is the most important issue in our industry. It supports a system many restaurant workers rely on to earn well above the minimum wage, while also allowing restaurants to manage labor costs and staffing levels. Eliminating the tip wage would limit earning potential, reduce job availability, and ultimately force some restaurants to close, as we’ve seen in jurisdictions like Washington, D.C.

Health care

Debbie Hart
CEO, BioNJ

At the state level, fiscal sustainability remains essential. New Jersey faces meaningful budget pressures as we move forward, with many competing needs and a substantial tax burden. The state also continues to navigate a complex regulatory environment and high costs that affect overall affordability and competitiveness, alongside the possibility of additional taxes that could place further strain on that landscape.

Michael Maron
CEO, Holy Name

Losing control of our independence because the environment becomes financially or politically untenable. Not because of mismanagement — because the system starts punishing organizations that refuse to consolidate. And second: a catastrophic workforce shortage that makes capacity irrelevant.

Brian Lawrence
CEO, FellowshipLIFE

I’m most concerned about whether the industry will have enough qualified caregivers, nurses and physical/occupational therapists to keep up with the extraordinary demographic shift ahead. If we cannot staff appropriately, access and quality across the sector could become increasingly fragile.

Labor

Greg Lalevee
Business manager, IUOE Local 825

Too much disagreement between Trenton and Washington slowing or killing critical infrastructure investment, especially the Hudson tunnel.

Money

Edward Moran
Senior vice president, commercial banking market president, OceanFirst Bank

At OceanFirst we monitor unemployment trends closely and when I think about some of the biggest concerns for business and our economy, I focus on issues that would arise should unemployment begin trending upward and pick up steam. Unemployment trends could be influenced by a combination of softening economy and implementation of AI.

Real estate

Charles Burton
Head of government and community relations, Lefrak

Automation is the new defining force of our economy. It is a challenge for all industries and our government partners. Automation will prove to be an unnavigable risk if the state does not continue to keep pace with its impacts and opportunities. As we kick off a new year, we’re in a strong position to grapple with automation given the state’s embrace of the artificial intelligence sector and notable partnerships between the State of New Jersey and Princeton University, for example. If the state’s economy is going to continue to be on the right side of automation we need to work together to identify opportunities to bring AI technology firms to New Jersey, create jobs that the sector demands, and identify ways to embrace AI to drive down costs in government so that we can lower taxes.

Retail

Michael Stigers
President, Wakefern Food Corp.

I wouldn’t say I worry, but I do prioritize making sure our teams have the support, tools and training they need to serve our family-owned member companies and the communities behind them. We lead by listening and always focusing on our teams and our customers.