TAPinto.net  was founded in October, 2008 by Michael and Lauryn Shapiro, residents of New Providence, New Jersey, who sought to provide their town’s residents with an all-online, objective, independent, daily local newspaper.   Months earlier, Michael and Lauryn learned that their one-year-old son would need open-heart surgery and Michael, a graduate of Rutgers College and Stanford Law School and a lawyer at a large firm in New York City, decided it was time to work close to home, spend more time with the family, and help the community at the same time.  Shortly after the site’s launch, he left his firm to lead TAP full-time.

At first, the site covered just two towns.  A few months later another was added and just seven years later, TAPinto.net covers more than 100 towns in New Jersey and New York and is accredited by the New Jersey Press Association.  Now, TAPinto is being franchised to businesspeople, entrepreneurial journalists, public relations professionals, and sales and marketing professionals, who would like to start a newspaper in their own town, using the TAPinto site, business model and expertise. 

Today, TAP has over 6,000,000 absolute unique users and is growing rapidly.

TAPinto's Executive Board includes advisor Gary Kapner, New Providence small business owner (Creative Wallcoverings & Interiors) and former President of the New Providence Business and Professional Association.  Diane Klaif, TAPinto's President of Marketing, has a newspaper background, having worked for The Wall Street Journal, Asian Wall Street Journal, and International Herald Tribune. 

In addition to providing an opportunity for scores of businesspeople, talented writers, editors and marketing representatives to work close to home, TAPinto is proud to support all things local and charitable causes.  During the past year, TAPinto has donated over $250,000 in marketing and advertising to charitable organizations including Susan G. Komen North Jersey, Relay for Life, March of Dimes, Family Promise, and the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ, among others. TAPinto's employees and franchisees are also members of dozens of community organizations including Rotary and the Chamber of Commerce.  TAPinto sponsors community events in its coverage towns, provides scholarships to local high school students, has booths at local Street Fairs, markets itself in Booster programs for the high schools, and holds local networking events.   

In addition, TAPinto’s Executive Board members are actively involved in the community starting at the top.  Michael Shapiro, TAPinto’s CEO and Publisher, serves as President of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of the Madison Chamber of Commerce and the Board of the New Providence Business & Professional Association.  He is Past President of the Rotary Club of Berkeley Heights and Past President of the Board of the Millburn-Short Hills Chamber of Commerce.  Gary Kapner, TAPinto's CFO, is the past President of the New Providence Business and Professional Association and currently serves on New Providence's Borough Council.  Diane Klaif, TAPinto's President of Marketing, is the former Council President of Summit, New Jersey. 

We are committed to all things local.  TAP into your Town with TAPinto.net