The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) will sponsor its annual leadership conference, “Taking the Lead,” May 25 and 26 at 11 a.m. at Caesar’s Atlantic City, 2100 Pacific Ave. The awards dinner keynote speaker will be columnist Teena Cahill, who will present “Using the Old Girls’ Network to Find Power.” The installation luncheon keynote speaker will be author Joanne Smikle. The event will also feature workshops and exercises. The public is welcome to attend, and reservations are required. For reservations, call NJAWBO at (609) 581-2121 or visit www.njawbo.org.

Verizon, Newark, has announced it will bring a fiber-optic network, or Fiber to the Premises (FTTP), to customers in the communities of Colts Neck, Fair Haven, Little Silver, Middletown, Red Bank, Rumson, Sea Bright and Shrewsbury Borough. The all-fiber network will deliver faster data speeds and crystal-clear voice, and has the capability to offer video services. The company will seek a franchise agreement before offering cable TV service in a selected community. FTTP uses hair-thin strands of fiber and optical electronics to directly link homes and businesses to Verizon’s network. The network upgrade will offer a range of advanced communication services. The company is one of the first companies to begin using the technology to directly connect homes and businesses to the network on a widespread scale, and with FTTP technology, Verizon can add more capacity, higher speeds or future video services.

The Monmouth County Planning Board was recently recognized for its “Planning Indicators Report” and received the 2005 Achievement in Planning Award from the New Jersey Planning Officials, an association of planning boards and zoning boards of adjustment. The report identifies criteria to help the county monitor and evaluate effectiveness of regional planning policies and discern changes in social, economic or environmental trends. County planner Joseph Barris was the primary author of the report. Planning Board staff used the report during cross acceptance as a means to open dialogue with municipal officials to discuss how local planning initiatives can have an effect on regional systems. Twenty indicators were chosen to address the six general issues outlined in the Monmouth County Growth Management Guide (county master plan). These six issues include the environment, smart growth, resource protection, economic development, housing and transportation.

WOW! Work Out World, in conjunction with members of the nonprofit International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, will celebrate “Get Active America!” week by offering free exercise classes May 20-22 during facility hours. Facility members will also be invited to bring a friend or family member in for free during the week of May 16-22. Local WOW facilities are in Tinton Falls, Brick, East Brunswick, North Brunswick, Middletown, Freehold Township, Red Bank and Ocean. For facility locations or hours, call Marcia D. Anderson, marketing director, at (732) 477-5400, ext. 21.

Commerce Bank recently named Jay Knobloch as manager of its Eatontown store, located at the intersection of Wyckoff Road and Route 36. He will be responsible for new business development, consumer lending, and managing the store’s personnel and day-to-day operations. Knobloch has more than 20 years of banking experience and served most recently as a vice president/branch manager at California Bank and Trust in Alpine, Calif. A resident of Red Bank, he received his bachelor of science degree in finance from Northern Illinois University. Commerce Bank has 17 locations throughout Monmouth County.

Meridian Health, Neptune, recently welcomed Marc H. Lory as its new executive vice president and COO, and president of Meridian Hospitals Corp. He will oversee the operation and development of Meridian Health and Meridian Partner Companies, and collaborate with the president of Meridian Health and its board to develop and implement the organization’s strategic direction. Prior to joining Meridian, Lory served as president and CEO at Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Manchester, Conn. Meridian is comprised of Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune; Ocean Medical Center, Brick; and Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank.