NEW JERSEY LEADERS IN BUSINESS, CULTURE, AND THE ARTS SHARE FAVORITE GLOBAL FOOD CITIES, TOP FASHION BRANDS, AND WHAT SUCCESS MEANS TO THEM

BY BLUE SULLIVAN AND ZACHARY WEG PHOTOS BY TOM ZAPCIC

Brian Silbert

Principal, Silbert Realty & Management silbertrealestate.com

Brian Silbert isn’t your everyday developer. With uncommon humility and warmth, the Garden State native has led his firm, Silbert Realty & Management, for more than 30 years and has helped shape the layout of the tri-state area. Be it commercial space in New Jersey or retail outlets on Long Island, many proposals for projects slide across his desk, and he along with his 30 team members work tirelessly to bring them to fruition.

“I was intrigued by the construction industry, and then in the sales end of real estate,” said Silbert, who entered the business at only 19 years old. “Being a part of creating environments for companies and people is rewarding. I was taught many years ago by my father to never worry about the dollars because, if you do things right, the money follows.”

Silbert takes a refreshing community-minded approach to his work. “I’m honored to play a role in creating something that serves a community and the people in it. I’ve learned if you do things right and are aligned with good people, you’ll make a pro­ t.”

WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU?

I’m very blessed. I have a great team with me. I have people working with me in this company, some of them going on 19 years. I’m very proud of that. That’s success to me, to see people have great camaraderie, enjoy coming to work and interacting. We’re very blessed with that.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP GLOBAL FOOD CITY, AND YOUR FAVORITE DISH IN THAT CITY?

One of my favorite places I’ve visited is Barcelona. I had a wonderful experience in that cuisine and getting ideas and things to bring back here.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FASHION BRAND/DESIGNER?

I admire Ferragamo (I’ve met him before) and Zena. To me, you dress the part and you look the part. First impressions are always very important.

Christina Lucas

Co-Owner, Diane and Company / dianeandcoonline.com

When discussing her family’s business, Diane and Company, Christina Lucas’ energy, enthusiasm, and love of her work is instantly clear. ­The nationally famous Freehold-based fashion boutique provides gowns and formal wear for the most treasured of occasions (weddings, bridal showers, proms, and so much more), thus Lucas is keenly aware of the role she plays in a person’s special day. “We really care for our clients,” she said. “We know that coming into a store where people have to help you can be intimidating or uncomfortable. We want to give women a fun experience no matter their size or insecurities.”

Diane and Company carries many of the globe’s leading designers, from Francesca Collection and Sherri Hill to Ideas By Barbara, Junnie Leigh, and Stephen Yearick. ­The store has been in operation for 53 years, and the business is truly a family a flair. Lucas shares the reins with her mother, Diane Scali (the founder), and her sister, Kimberly Gambale. But for Lucas, the familial connections extend far beyond her bloodline.

“In the months it takes for the gown to come in and alterations to take place, our clients become a part of our family,” she said. “We love getting to really know our clientele. We are blessed to have such amazing clients, and families that allow us to create magic for them in a gown form.”

WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU?

Confidence! Confidence in my craft and work ethic. Being able to confidently help women not only look but feel beautiful for their special event is something that comes easy to me after 20 years. Diane (my mom), Kimberly (my sister), and I have created a special place where we can create a one-of-a-kind custom gown for a mother of the bride or groom, giving the same attention you would for a bride, but here at Diane and Company it’s all about the moms. The best part of my job is the “after wedding” phone call, when our client received so many compliments on how they looked during the event that they couldn’t wait to tell us about it. Making women happy is success!

WHAT IS YOUR TOP GLOBAL FOOD CITY, AND YOUR FAVORITE DISH IN THAT CITY?

Rome, Italy Piazza Navona! When I was in my early 30s I went backpacking through Europe alone and found myself in the Piazza Navona in Rome one day. I sat at a little restaurant and enjoyed a cold glass of white wine and a plate of cacio e pepe. It was creamy, unforgettable bliss. I sat in the square surrounded by the most beautiful buildings and was in flaw of the detail that the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (the Fountain of Four Rivers) presented in front of me while not only enjoying this meal but healing my soul. Take me back any day.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FASHION BRAND/DESIGNER?

Well, if you would have asked me ten years ago, I would say Christian Louboutin shoes, but after having my two beautiful kids my feet grew and my obnoxious collection of shoe art does not fit and frankly, they are just too uncomfortable now! Turning 40 this year has changed my fashion style from less name brand and more about collecting unique timeless pieces from smaller boutiques. My fashion style is black; I wear black to work every day and even in my casual attire. Black clothing is chic and timeless; the pop of color you will always find me with is my signature hot pink lip.

Daniel Garbacz

General Manager, Ferrari of Central New Jersey centralnewjersey.ferraridealers.com

From his sharp haircut to his sleek designer shoes, Danny Garbacz is a consummate European gentleman. A native of Poland, the genial 47-year-old immigrated to the U.S. at 18. He nurtured an early interest in fast cars, and today he serves as the general manager at Ferrari of Central New Jersey, a position he said ful­fills a lifelong fervor.

“I went to automotive school in Poland and always had a passion for cars,” he said. “I was always into racing, and Ferrari was always on my radar as a kid.”

In 2004, Garbacz began his career with Ferrari of Central New Jersey as a technician and, after 14 years as the service director with another Ferrari dealership in the tri-state area, he returned to the iconic brand’s Central New Jersey branch. “I’m very happy to be back at this store because this was my baby, “he said. “I always had a personal connection to the store and I’m thrilled to return.”

WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU?

A good measure of success is seeing and realizing the positive impact that I’ve had on others. Working alongside them, helping someone realize their own potential and achieve their goals that they might not have otherwise achieved, makes me feel like I have done something right

WHAT IS YOUR TOP GLOBAL FOOD CITY, AND YOUR FAVORITE DISH IN THAT CITY?

Florence, Italy, and tagliatelle ai funghi e tartufo.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FASHION BRAND/DESIGNER?

I like to wear European-style suits, and my favorite brand is Hugo Boss. I also wear of a lot of Ferrari-branded clothing. I wear of a ton of Ferrari dress shirts.

Frank Rizzuto

Owner, A Salute Italian Restaurant / asalute.com

Frank Rizzuto opened A Salute in a storied former church on Matawan’s Main Street that dates back to 1850. The history contained within its hallowed walls is palpable; one can almost feel the 170 years within every room. Rizzuto’s goal was to create an experience that fused the classic surroundings with the flavors of modern Italian cuisine, and customers have responded by filling the house every night. The restaurant is also a popular choice for special events and regularly hosts high-profile fundraisers for New Jersey’s notable political figures, among other gatherings.

Rizzuto himself has led an interesting and varied life through his many business ventures, both in and outside the restaurant industry. He’s worked in the oil and energy sectors and also helms a finance company, which is still in operation today. Since getting into the restaurant industry in 2010, he’s found rousing success. In addition to A Salute, Rizzuto owns two other thriving restaurants/bars: the dockside favorite Inlet Café Tiki Bar in Highlands, and Good fellas, a beloved brick-oven pizzeria and bar in Staten Island. As the sole owner of all three successful restaurants, Rizzuto has a full plate, but one needs to only read the customer reviews of all three locales to discover how well he continues to serve his many dinner guests.

WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU?

Success is when you have a vision, and you execute the plan and everyone succeeds.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP GLOBAL FOOD CITY, AND YOUR FAVORITE DISH IN THAT CITY?

I have traveled and been fortunate enough to grow up in the New York City metro area, which includes New Jersey restaurants. Where we are is by far the best global food area in the world.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FASHION BRAND/DESIGNER?

I have my own style depending on the day or mood I’m in.

Jordon Michel

Co-Owner, Tessuto Menswear Boutique / tessutomenswear.com

Jordon Michel, co-owner of Tessuto Menswear Boutique, knows the significant role a person’s wardrobe plays in modern life. “Like it or not, how you look is important in how you are perceived by others,” he noted via his store’s site. “Research shows that people begin making judgments about you, based on your appearance, within six seconds of meeting. If that is true, then the image you project is critically important in paving the way to relationships you are attempting to cultivate, be they business or social.”

With his father Ernst and brother Asheley, Michel shares a family clothing legacy that spans three decades. Businessmen travel to Tessuto from all pockets of New Jersey and New York to ­find the perfect clothes to shape those ­first impressions, as the boutique carries high-quality garments from throughout Europe. Within the walls of the Somerville boutique, Michel and his family know what sets them apart from big-box department stores; part of that difference is many larger corporate stores mostly carry clothes from Asia, whereas Tessuto features top-end fashions from Italy, Germany, France, and Sweden.

Michel and his family have a well-earned reputation for delivering unparalleled, personalized service, with a steadfast commitment to providing a shopping experience that is unforgettable. In addition to their chic designer menswear, they also provide tailoring and alteration services, and even offer tuxedo rentals.

Many Tessuto customers have been loyalists for years. The Michel family takes great pride in establishing strong client relationships, bonds that have even resulted in invitations to weddings and other cherished family events.

WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU?

To me success is more of a feeling: when you, your family, and your clients are all happy and doing better because of the job we do.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP GLOBAL FOOD CITY, AND YOUR FAVORITE DISH IN THAT CITY?

Although I have never been to Italy, I love Italian food. However, with my roots I also love many Caribbean dishes.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FASHION BRAND/DESIGNER?

My favorite fashion designer would have to be a company we carry at the store called FEFE, out of Naples Italy. The style and fi t is the best.

Casey Webb

Host, Man v. Food

Casey Webb doesn’t have a typical job. As the longtime host of the Travel Channel’s reality hit Man v. Food, the New Jersey native travels across the country and devours heaping plates of local delicacies, from stacked sandwiches to ­fiery wings. A veteran of the service industry, Webb started working in restaurants at 14 and immersed himself in the work. “The beauty about that is it threw me into a world where there’s so much going on,” he said. “There were a lot of characters, and I think I was a budding character myself.” Shortly after his entry into the industry, Webb brought his natural charisma to acting and has made appearances on acclaimed series such as Boardwalk Empire and Inside Amy Schumer. When he got the fateful call that he landed the role as the new host of Man v. Food in 2017, his twin passions for food and acting came together. “To me, it’s about breaking bread and spending time with people,” he said.

WHAT DOES SUCCESS MEAN TO YOU?

Really, it was when I started getting direct messages on social media or via email from people who were watching the show and liked the show. To me, that’s success. If I can entertain, if I can make a kid laugh…that’s what I find successful.

WHAT IS YOUR TOP GLOBAL FOOD CITY, AND YOUR FAVORITE DISH IN THAT CITY?

For me, it’s New Orleans. It’s about breaking bread and spending time with people. That changed my life, making gumbo from scratch with Leah Chase at Dooky Chase in New Orleans

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FASHION BRAND/DESIGNER?

Growing up, I had an affinity for reclaimed things. I like things that have history to them, and the same rules apply. I bought a lot of different clothes as a kid. I don’t really fall into one category; it’s more function over fashion for me. I’m a jeans and T-shirt kind of guy.