Somerset County Leaders Join Health & Pharma Summit Focused on Workforce Innovation

On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, Commissioner Director Shanel Y. Robinson and Commissioner Sara Sooy attended the second annual Somerset County Health and Pharma Summit, hosted by the Somerset County Business Partnership (SCBP) at Delta Hotels by Marriott in Somerset. 

The event brought together leaders from two of the county’s strongest employment sectors — healthcare and life sciences — to discuss industry trends, workforce needs, and opportunities for local business engagement.

Commissioner Director Robinson highlighted Somerset County’s continued investment in workforce development, including a $3 million commitment to build two Class C cleanrooms at Raritan Valley Community College.

“Somerset County has invested 3 million dollars in two Class C cleanrooms at Raritan Valley Community College,” said Robinson. “This investment provides students with hands-on training that prepares them to excel in biopharmaceutical manufacturing and positions them for stable, high-quality careers that offer livable wages as they enter the workforce. Our commitment at Somerset County is clear. We are supporting a strong workforce pipeline.”

The Summit featured two panel discussions led by professionals from the region’s health and pharmaceutical sectors. Attendees heard directly from industry leaders about how healthcare organizations evaluate vendors and suppliers, and how local companies can strengthen their positioning to meet evolving industry needs.

Robinson also emphasized Somerset County’s role as a statewide leader in workforce development.

“Somerset County is home to world-class hospitals, innovative pharmaceutical companies, as well as biotech sectors — all of which provide our residents with stable employment. Thank you to our many partners for helping us establish the first workforce center in the state of New Jersey. This workforce training center assures that we continue to have a premier community college that helps keep our skilled workforce home.”

To learn more about the Summit and upcoming business engagement opportunities with SCBP, visit SCBP.org.

More News from Raritan

• Petco Love Launches Plush Mystery Charm Adoptable Pet Collection to Celebrate Shelter Pets Every blind box purchase supports Petco Love's mission to help pets find loving homes
• Social Security Corrects Tens of Millions of Files in the Social Security Number Database This work represents the most comprehensive SSN record clean‑up in the agency’s 91-year history.