• John M Bonforte Sr.Neighbor

  • Little Silver-Oceanport, NJ

Five decades ago, John M. Bonforte, Sr. moved to Oceanport, while growing a young family and developing a highly successful business career.  Soon thereafter, he became a member of the Oceanport Lion’s Club, and began a lifelong commitment to community service endeavors.  He remains an active member of the Lion's Club and in 2006 he was awarded the Lion of the Year Award.  On January 1, 2010, John was warded the Mayor’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the day was proclaimed “John Bonforte Sr. Day” in the Borough of Oceanport.

 

Prior to his business career and family life, John enlisted in the United States National Guard Army Reserves, served for seven years, and finished his service as a Second Lieutenant Tank Commander.

 

He studied at Monmouth University (then Monmouth College), New York University, and later the Exxon Technical Center in NJ.  Originally employed by Rubatex Corporation in the early 1960’s, who was the largest closed-cell rubber and plastics manufacturer in the United States, John then began, in 1967, to operate Monmouth Rubber& Plastics in Long Branch.  He started and remains the company’s owner and

operator, still spending six days a week in the plant, with 40 employees, many of whom have been with him for two and three decades. 

 

Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corporation is one of a dwindling number of United States manufacturing companies who makes products in the USA, which are shipped nationally, and exported worldwide.  These products made in Long Branch have been purchased in:  Mexico; Canada; Great Britain; South Africa; Kuwait; Saudi Arabia; Germany; Sweden; China; the Dominican Republic; and soon Brazil.  The United States Military has also been a customer of the company.  Several years ago, the State of New Jersey invited John to travel, representing the state and nation, on trade missions to South Africa and Asia.  Upon returning home, after standing at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea, he said, “It made me realize just how fragile liberty is.”

In addition to his duties at Monmouth Rubber & Plastics, John Bonforte has done consulting and product development work for other companies.  Some of these career highlights are:

 <b>1970&#39;s</b>

<b>B.F. Goodrich, Sponge Rubber Plant; Shelton, CT</b>

Blending of similar and dissimilar polymers into closed cell foam

<b>Plymouth</b><b> Rubber; MA</b>

Low density closed cell EVA foam for running shoes

<b>Uniroyal Chemical; Mishawaka, IN</b>

Low density EVA

 

<b>1980&#39;s</b>

<b>Uniroyal Chemical; Mishawaka, IN</b>

Polymeric blends of vinyl, nitrile and neoprene for closed cell foam

 

            <b>1990&#39;s</b>

<b>Sentinel Products Corp; Hyannis, MA</b>

Blending of similar and dissimilar polymers into low-density polyolefin foams including metallocene resins for which he received a royalty from 1996 to and including 2004.

Additionally, traveled to the Asian rim to formulate a business plan to design a closed cell manufacturing facility in mainland China.  Responsible for complete plant design including qualifying all equipment and raw material suppliers.  Project included bringing Chinese investors to the Long Branch facility for detailed planning and discussions.

<b>H.T. Troplast/HT Italia</b>

Did consulting work in both Germany and Italy, which included a comprehensive review of the strengths and weaknesses of their cellular bun process capabilities.

<b>United Kingdom</b>

Traveled extensively in the United Kingdom to set up a joint venture partnering program to export Monmouth Rubber &amp; Plastics&#39; products to the European market.

            <b>2003</b>

 

<b>Ghana/South Africa</b>

Serving as a representative for the State of New Jersey for the New Jersey Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, Africa Trade and Business Mission

 Mr. Bonforte is a member of the Society of Plastic Engineers; The Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society; NY Rubber Group; and several key American Society of Testing Material Committees.

 In addition to his work with the Lion’s Club, John served for two terms as president of the Long Branch Chamber of Commerce, and he served as a member of the Economic Development Committee in Long Branch and Oceanport.  He was chairman of the transition team for Long Branch&#39;s Mayor Huhn. 

 

In June 2006, Mr. Bonforte was appointed Borough Commissioner for the Town of Oceanport Two Rivers Water Reclamation Authority which he continues to serve today.

 Of all his achievements, he is most proud of his wife, Barbara, his four children (three of whom live in Oceanport), and his 11 grandchildren. 

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