- [Narrator] Funding for this edition of One-On-One with Steve Adubato has been provided by The Russell Berrie Foundation.

Making a difference.

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- This is One-On-One.

- I'm an equal American just like you are.

- The way we change Presidents in this country is by voting.

- A quartet is already a jawn, it’s just The New Jawn.

- January 6th was not some sort of violent, crazy outlier.

- I don't care how good you are or how good you think you are, there is always something to learn.

- I mean what other country sends comedians over to embedded military to make them feel better.

- People call me 'cause they feel nobody's paying attention.

_ It’s not all about memorizing and getting information, it’s what you do with that information.

- (slowly) Start talking right now.

- That's a good question, high five.

(upbeat music) - Hi, everyone, Steve Adubato, we kick off the program with Tony Labozzetta, who is in fact the President and CEO of Provident Bank, the oldest bank in New Jersey, the second-largest bank in the state in terms of asset size, Tony, good to see you again.

- Great to see you, Steve.

Pleasure to be back.

- You got it, the footprint of Provident today is...

Describe it, please.

- Wow, you know, I would say one of the most trusted, oldest banks in the state, where being focused entirely on the customer's journey, we're so customer-centric, employee-centric, community-centric, I think that experience really is what defines us as a regional bank, community bank in our space.

- But the geographic footprint, if you will, where?

- The geographic footprint, we are predominantly northern...

Most of New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, we have locations in New York, on Long Island, specifically in Astoria, Queens.

- Tony, let's talk about this historic merger between Provident Bank and Lakeland Bank, successful... Officially successful, the government signed off on it in May of 2024.

A, why the merger?

B, the impact on customers, please, Tony.

- Sure, I would argue that... Not argue, I would state that the merger is compelling from every stakeholder's perspective.

When you look at it from a customer, which is obviously the communities and customers, the scale that we produce of being at approximately 25 million and the synergies we create allows us to redirect some of those dollars into investments, into better technologies, to be able to provide digital solutions for our customers to access the bank in any way they choose, so...

Allowing us to have better data capabilities.

From our shareholders having the efficiency, having a bank that can continue to grow and have a successful and a potentially prosperous future, I think is really important.

From our employees and talent, we're able to bring together the best teams from the combined bank, access to new talent in the marketplace that would allow us to continue to grow and be very stable, and very prosperous as we move forward, and it'll give us greater resources through our foundation and the bank to be able to aid the community better through our charitable giving and our volunteers.

- For some who were critical of the merger, who said, you know, it's gonna create these "banking deserts," if you will, where communities won't have a bank, talk directly to that.

- I certainly don't subscribe to that, you know, when you look at our institution, you know, clearly, there's 22 branches that closed as a byproduct of this merger, but I would say, predominantly, most of 'em were within a mile or so of the existing location, right?

So banks today have to optimize their channels, I mean, so we're not in the mode of reducing branches, we're in the mode of optimizing, that means being able to give access to more customers, you might see us open a branch in a different location, but we're... We basically consolidated those that were so close in proximity to one another, that they made no impact to the customer, except the fact that they're going from one location to the one potentially across the street.

- Tony, you talk... You've been talking a lot about access, and that people want to access their bank and deal with their bank in different ways, to what degree has technology impacted what you just described?

- It's immense, and I think that, you know...

I'm not sure if the average individual sees that, but in a modern era of banking, you...

When you walk into a branch these days, the activity levels, albeit there's some outliers, the activity levels are very, very small relative to the history where people used to line up, more of customers, especially the younger generations, but even the older generations have embraced this, they're using mobile banking.

The phone... Smartphones are probably the most used vehicle today in our banking, so having the right digital platforms, having ways where customers can seamlessly, without friction, use your product suite, I think is critical.

Having branches available for those that wish to make... To come in at any time, you don't have to set appointments with us, you just walk in and talk to some of our great service staff, you're able to do that, so it's really a hybrid world we live in, but I will tell you that, from pure percentage points, it's a...

Dominant activity is happening through the digital channels.

- Let me try this, because government policy impacts so many aspects of our life, but government policy clearly impacts the banking world, so as we do this program, we always put the date up, as to when we're taping, we're taping toward the back end of October 2024.

The Federal Reserve, the Fed, interest rates.

How much does that impact not only the banking world, but your customers and their ability to purchase houses, purchase cars, and borrow money to do those things?

Tony, please.

- Well, so it's a huge impact, but it also...

It starts with why rates rise and fall, right?

So when we saw the rapid rise of rates, it was a byproduct of what was happening...

Inflationary cycles that happened in our economy, so that... You know, the effects of the rising rates is like putting an anchor or brakes on the economy, right?

Consumer spending, business spending, reduces access to credit, is diminished, capacity for projects to cash flow are not there, so a lot of liquidity sits on the sidelines, and we don't see those robust investments that you see when we're in this potential cycle now of rates coming down.

It also impacts the consumer largely because if they have credit card debt, you know, the... Obviously, the movement of Fed rates usually is tied with a prime or SOFR that credit cards and home equity loans are usually more attached to, so it becomes more expensive for the consumer when we see the rates go the other way, obviously, the cost of servicing that debt declines, so it's better for the consumer, and you might also have... You might spur some activity...

Deeper activity in business to invest more, which is obviously wonderful for our economy and growth.

- Tony, one more on technology, AI and banking.

Worry you?

Concern you?

Excite you?

What?

- All the above.

(Steve laughing) I mean, I think AI is here, and we too, as an institution, are looking at how we make AI a part of our business processes, a lot... As many institutions, not just us, we have a lot of vendors that we operate through, and our vendors are also using some of that AI in their business processes, I think AI is gonna present a challenge for us in terms of what you may see in the fraud space and the hyper-activities, and some of that area, but in that same vein, we may be able to use AI as a tool to help fight that fraud, or or activity in that sector.

- What's the partnership with the New York Yankee Radio Network?

- I think the partnership... You know, we sponsored the broadcast booth and I think we chose the Yankees because of, you know, the same culture, longevity, winning attitudes, you know, constantly seeking to win, and perfection, and I think some of the things defined, you know, we saw it in ourselves, I mean, we're not saying we're the Yankees, but we admire their culture, and I think that's why we chose to be partners with them in the broadcast booth.

- Tony Labozzetta is President and CEO of Provident Bank, Tony, I thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate it.

- Always happy Steve, pleasure to be here.

- You got it.

Stay with us, we'll be right back.

- [Narrator] To watch more One on One with Steve Adubato find us online and follow us on Social media.

- Hi, I'm Jacqui Tricarico, Senior Correspondent for "One-on-One."

So pleased to be joined now by mother and daughter Kristy and Hailey Whilden, who are the co-founders of Hands Up Silent Theatre, a theater for both the deaf and the hearing located in Millville, New Jersey.

Thank you both so much for joining us.

- Thank you for having us.

- Thank you for having us.

- And I definitely have to mention Russ Berrie Awardees this past year, 2024 Making a Difference Award winner.

So congratulations on that.

Russ Berrie is a funder of our program as well, and we know that they love to shine a light on the amazing work people are doing throughout the community.

So congratulations.

- Thank you, I really appreciate that.

- Of course, Kristy, I'd love to start with you, first, tell us about your personal struggle with hearing loss, because it happened in your adult life.

Explain to us what happened and how you found out that you were slowly losing your hearing.

- Sure, so I was a music educator for 10 years.

I owned my own music academy in Tuckahoe, New Jersey.

I had some other teachers there that worked for me that taught, like, guitar and some other instruments, but I was the head piano teacher.

So our claim to fame was that, I think, it was five of our students were invited to play at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

So that was a really exciting time for us and we were on top of the world.

And then, I started to notice that the kids were saying, "Hey, Mom, turn the TV down, it's too loud."

Or we're driving in the car, and it's like, "Mom, turn the music down, it's too loud."

And I was like, "I really need to get that checked out."

So then I learned I have hereditary progressive sensory and aural hearing loss, which also my father has.

But, normally, it doesn't hit someone until they're in their early to late seventies.

So it happened to turn on for me when I was 33, so that's when it started to decline.

They say I'll lose about 5% of my hearing every year until it's gone.

- Wow, okay, so fast forward and, you know, this is a lot of information to take in for you and your family, your children.

So, Hailey, when did this idea for Hands Up Silent Theatre come into play?

What was going on at that time, and why did you and your mom come up with this idea?

- So it really started when she first told me that she was losing her hearing.

I was only 11 at the time, and being a little girl, I was terrified that I was gonna lose communication with my mom.

I thought I wasn't gonna be able to talk to her and have her all throughout my life.

Obviously, that isn't true.

She went on to get her American Sign Language degree, her associates degree, and her professors allowed me to come with her.

I actually went on to get the same degree.

But, with that, we formed a joint love for the language.

And, at the time, we were going to see Broadway shows all the time, not all the time, that'd be a little crazy, for my birthday every year.

- I love Broadway too.

- I would love to go all the time.

- Me too.

- Every year, we were going for my birthday.

And when she started to notice that she was losing her hearing, she paid more attention to the interpreters, and we noticed that the interpreters were on the ground, and they were only lit up by a small light, and it was very hard to see them.

I got to see all of the amazing costumes, the lights, the performance in its entirety, and my mom was looking at this person in the corner.

And, from that, we saw the inequality in the arts, and my mom suggested that we create a choir using sign language.

And me being a kid, I was like, "That's kind of boring.

We should do a theater."

And so that's really how Hands Up Silent Theatre was born.

Yeah.

- That's awesome.

And the theater brings so many people together.

Kristy, talk about how this theater is different.

Right now you and I are communicating over Zoom, but we're using close captioning so you know what I'm saying.

On a stage when actors are performing, like Hailey said, you're looking at the interpreter to the side, you're not immersed in the actual what is happening on stage.

So talk about how Hands Up Silent Theatre works.

What's going on?

- Sure, so when our students come to us, like 95% of them have never signed before.

A lot of them never even danced or even came to theater before.

And they come to us looking for a family, really, we are one giant family.

So how it works is the kids come to us and we teach them the songs in American Sign Language.

We teach them how to voice with it.

So we use what's called SimCom, which is Simultaneous Communication of ASL and voice at the same time.

So that way it's 100% accessible, not just accessible, but equal for you as a hearing person to be looking up on the stage and enjoying the lights, the costumes, the sounds, everything, and it's just as equal for the deaf community member to be looking up on the stage to see the play in their own language as well.

- What has been the reaction from the theatergoers in the community?

Because this started out kind of small, right?

It's grown pretty big.

How many people can you fit in that theater?

- Well, we started out with seven kids and just a grand idea.

And, that year, we ended up putting on "The Lion King" in a theater that was probably about 400.

And we didn't fill it by no means, but it was taken really well.

So, from there, we went onto a theater that was about 220 and our kids grew to about 20 kids.

And we sold out that theater a couple years in a row, so then that's when we moved to Millville.

And then, we used the Levoy Theatre, which now has approximately 700 seats, and now, last year, we sold out our first show there.

So, like, that was very exciting.

So now we have approximately 40 students.

And what's really great about this is it's not just teaching them theater, it's teaching them about a different culture and also a different language, and some of our kids have really taken this on.

Like, for example, we have a student that's at Bloomsburg University who is becoming an interpreter.

We have one that went to Flagler College who's become a deaf educator.

We have another one who has aspirations of becoming a lawyer for the deaf, another one that wants to be a psychiatrist for the deaf.

So, like, we are opening these kids' eyes to different possibilities for different occupations in the future too, which is really exciting.

- Yeah, like you mentioned, ASL is another language that I believe we all should be learning to be able to communicate with the deaf community.

And, Hailey, how are you taking these life experiences with your own career path, your own educational path?

What are you studying right now?

- So I actually just finished my degree in psychology, my bachelor's degree in psychology.

Before that, I got my associate's in American Sign Language and deaf studies.

I recently got married and I moved to Kentucky, so, unfortunately, I'm not there every week with the kids.

But I started teaching lessons here, private lessons, and I've gotten really good feedback from my students.

They say they really enjoyed learning and they're so glad that I'm here for them, and I'm so happy to hear that.

I, of course, come back when I can to see the kids and help out.

I also do private lessons with the kids whenever they need it, so.

- That's wonderful.

And like I mentioned at the beginning, you are both Russ Berrie Making a Difference winners.

What has that recognition meant to both of you?

- I was actually surprised.

I didn't know it was a thing.

And I got this nomination, I was like, "Wow, what is this?"

So to be able to go there and to be on that stage with all those incredible people, it's really...

It was mind-blowing, 'cause it's actually kind of um... - Hailey, what's the word when you finally feel like what you do matters?

- Validated?

- Validated.

- That's a good one.

- That this is actually a really important thing and that other people are seeing it in that way as well.

So like I was super honored to be nominated for this award.

- It was definitely such an honor to be invited onto the stage, even though my name wasn't technically on the award.l They did let me speak, and I thought that was very kind of them.

And it was amazing to meet so many incredible people.

- An honor well deserved for both of you doing great work.

I can't wait to get my kids down to the theater to see one of the performances.

Thank you both so much for joining us today.

- Thank you so much.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- You can come down in May, we are doing (indistinct).

- Awesome, I can't wait.

Thanks.

- Thank you.

- All right, we'll be right back after this.

- [Narrator] To watch more One on One with Steve Adubato find us online and follow us on Social media.

- We're now joined by Christian Kane, co-founder of the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams, RWJBarnabas Health and Underwriter of Public Broadcasting, and of our programming.

Hey, Christian, good to see you.

- Hey, Steve.

Thanks for having me back again.

It's been a while.

- Last time was five years ago.

This Field of Dreams had not been built at the time.

We're gonna show pictures as you're talking.

What the heck is it and why is it so incredibly significant for so many?

- So the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams is the country's only special needs complex.

It is a safe haven for those living with a special need regardless of their age and ability.

And it allows for, you know, inclusive engagement.

It allows for participation in, you know, activities and events that, you know, Steve, you and I, and you know, people who are typical, you know, just take for granted.

- And your son, Gavin, who is 13 right now?

- Yeah, getting old.

- Yeah, tell us about Gavin and Gavin's connection to this Field of Dreams becoming a reality.

- Yeah, you know, obviously the story, you know, we were in a car accident and, Gavin at 19 months old, suffered a traumatic brain injury.

It took away his ability to walk and talk, but it did not take away his ability to wanna participate and engage in, you know, typical events and be a part of the community.

And, you know, as we were, you know, trying to get him to be a part of the community, there just weren't things to do.

And therefore, that's why Mary, my wife, and I, you know, decided in 2017 to start the idea of the conception of it.

And then in 2022, you know, to open it up to the public.

And you know what an amazing thing.

You know, as he's getting older, and listen, he's in sixth grade now.

He's in a typical elementary class.

He participates, he uses a voice to speak.

He's there, Steve.

And there's so many other individuals who are, you know, who live with a special need who just wanna be with others that are typical.

- The money came directly from a certain source.

Yes, they are an underwriter of our work on public television, but it's named the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams for a reason.

Please.

- So, you know, you're building this thing and you know, we had a raise, you know, a significant amount of money and you wanted a leader in the community that was going to be able to support you, you know, not just to have it built.

The idea was now to continue this thing and run programming and events and leagues.

And that's when we were able to meet with, you know, RWJBarnabas Health.

And, you know, without Steve, without hesitancy, they were like, you know, not only do what do you need financially, you know, to make sure that this thing's built, but what are we doing to sustain it for, you know, for years to come?

And I just can't say enough about them.

- Well, you know, I also wanna say this, it's interesting, Christian, he doesn't hold back.

Can I tell- You know where I'm going, right?

- Sure.

- Yeah.

So let's just say it was down at the Jersey Shore in front of a very popular place and we were enjoying ourselves separately.

And you came up to me and said, "Hey, I have to come back on your show."

And I'm like, "Who's this guy?"

And you reminded me of the Field of Dreams.

And I said, "Wait a minute.

They actually did that?

That's awesome."

Your passion for what you are doing with your wife, with your family, with support of the folks at RWJBarnabas Health that you talked about.

What has that done for you in terms of not just personal satisfaction and the difference you're making with so many others, but in terms of your confidence to just go out there and pitch?

Literally pitch the idea, get it done.

- Right.

- Get exposure.

- You know, Steve, listen, I'm pretty sure if this thing happened to you, you would've done the same thing.

So I don't wanna make it into a, oh my gosh, this is crazy.

But to see your son, you know, who is 19 months old, to be able to run and jump and do all these things and, you know, really be almost like a mirror image of you just at a younger age, to have that taken away just wasn't right.

And then to see him wanna participate and he couldn't, not that he didn't wanna do, he just couldn't.

And then to see all these other people who are living, you know, different degrees of special needs, but they couldn't, Steve, it just wasn't right.

It just wasn't fair.

And you know, with being a teacher for 27 years, you know, didn't like any kid bullying another kid or another kid pestering another kid, or if a kid couldn't get, you know, how to solve for X, all right, let's figure a way.

Let's persevere, let's go through it.

And that's what I do.

That's what I'll do for Gavin.

That's what I do for this community, because they need a voice.

And if that has to be me, I'm fine with taking on that obligation.

- Let me also say that Christian's also, again representing his team, the winner of the Russ Berrie Award For Making a Difference.

Describe for folks what goes on on the Field of Dreams, what kind of activities.

- Tons of activities.

You know, you're talking about over 170 days worth of programming, events, leagues, football, cheerleading, baseball, soccer, you know, once again, artistic nights, summer are concert series, car series.

What we do is we bring to the complex everything that you would see in a local community rec center.

That's what we do.

And we just make it accessible, adaptable, and inclusive.

And as the years have gone on since 2022, when we first opened up, I'll be honest, in the beginning, it was kind of rough.

Not too many people were coming.

This year, our third year we sell out of everything within a day or two.

- Why do you think that is?

- Real simple, 'cause they're getting used to going out.

See, you have to understand, if you live with a special need, you're used to being put in the corner.

You're used to saying, "Oh, you know what, you can't do this, you can't do that."

And these families, be it the caretaker as well as the special need person, they're not used to going out and saying, "Wait a minute, this place is just for us?

This is for us to go do things?"

And now they're getting more and more comfortable of going and doing these events simply because this is their place, this is their safe place.

This is where they can be able to be able to enjoy to do things, but also interact.

And everyone kind of knows what's going on.

And that's basically, you know, why it's taken off.

That's why we have over 2,500 registered families who are members.

That's why we have this year, we'll have over 10,000 people walking through that main gate to be inside the Field of Dreams.

- Christian Kane is a co-founder of the RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams.

Check it out.

Their website has been up throughout the segment.

You wanna find out more.

Christian, I cannot thank you enough and thank you for coming up to me down at The Crab's Claw and Lavallette in beautiful, down at the Jersey Shore and saying, "Hey, I'm supposed to come back on your show to give you an update", because that's a great update.

It's a great story, and you're having a powerful impact on a lot of people.

Thank you, Christian.

- Steve, you know, listen, thank you so much.

Appreciate it.

I'll catch you during the summer.

- Yes, we're doing the easy part.

You're doing the hard part.

I'm Steve Adubato, that's Christian Kane.

Thanks for watching, we'll see you next time.

- [Narrator] One-On-One with Steve Adubato is a production of the Caucus Educational Corporation.

Celebrating 30 years in public broadcasting.

Funding has been provided by The Russell Berrie Foundation.

New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The Fidelco Group.

The North Ward Center.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

New Jersey Sharing Network.

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Johnson & Johnson.

And by The New Jersey Education Association.

Promotional support provided by NJ.Com.

And by NJBIZ.

- New Jersey Institute of Technology has supported New Jersey businesses since 1881, when it was founded as the Newark Technical School and through their partnership with the non-profit New Jersey Innovation Institute.

They're igniting innovation and delivering transformative products and services throughout the state.

Learn more at NJIT.edu and NJII.com.