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November 2017 . Volume 13 . Issue 11
JOINT VENTURE
CHAMBER EVENT CONNECTS QCC MEMBER WITH LOCAL NONPROFIT
VENTURE HOUSE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JULIET DOUGLAS & NEW BOARD MEMBER GIL YOUNG JO
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR THE CHAMBER IS HERE FOR THE BOROUGH’S NONPROFITS According to a recent study by Yorkers. Economic Development CorporaAfter speaking with a variety tion, there are currently over 35,000 of nonprofits, some of the major nonprofits in New York City, with issues I have found facing local spending well above $33 billion. nonprofits are the following: board These nonprofits employ 600,000 selection, fundraising, marketing/ workers, which equates to 19 per- outreach, and qualified staff. cent of the city’s total workforce. According to one source, as of July Board Selection 2016 there were almost 9,000 nonFinding proficient and experiprofits in Queens alone. enced board members is difficult Of the ten largest and this topic typically private-sector employranks as the first or ers in the state, five second obstacle most are nonprofits. In New nonprofits must overYork City, the number come. The issue usujumps to seven out of ally boils down to the ten. Needless to say, nonprofit’s exposure the nonprofit sector is to the community atcontributing in a signifilarge. cant way to the city’s The Queens Chameconomy. ber is making a conThe challenge, certed effort, via our though, is helping the MAYRA DIRICO Nonprofit Committee, smaller nonprofits grow CHAIRPERSON to act as the liaison into larger nonprofits. between interested We must bring together applicants and the nonNew York City’s nonprofit lead- profit organizations. As you will ership in a way to recognize the read, we have held events designed important economic and social to do exactly this. impact of this sector to all New Qualified applicants and non-
profit directors sit together and find good matches. Recently, one of our new members was successful in gaining a seat of another member’s nonprofit board.
Fundraising
Fundraising and financing is usually the number one issue facing our nonprofits. Nonprofits can and do utilize the following sources of income to help them fulfill their missions: fees for goods and/or services, individual donations and major gifts, bequests,
corporate contributions, foundation grants, government grants and contracts, interest from investments, loans/program-related investments (PRIs), tax revenue, and membership dues and fees.
Marketing/Outreach
Access to strategic counsel can also help spur innovation and creativity in order to ensure a nonprofit’s future sustainability. Access to new technologies and social media CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
GET ENGAGED, STAY ENGAGED WITH THE CHAMBER It’s busy season here at the Queens Chamber and the business community at-large. Within the past month, we have held three signature events and over a dozen business seminars. With events ramping up, the Queens Chamber wants to make sure we are doing everything we can to get you engaged.
Ways to Get Engaged
• Queens Chamber and Community Events Calendar - There are many ways to get participate in Queens Chamber activity. First and foremost, I encourage everyone to check our list of Chamber Events and Community Events. These are on our website, queenschamber. org. Most events are complimen-
tary and are subject-specific. • Committee Events - The Queens Chamber now has ten industry specific committees all designed to provide professional networking and substantive discussions. They are: Communications, Energy & Environmental, Healthcare & Wellness, Legislative, Manufacturing, Nonprofit, Real Estate, Restaurant & Hospitality, Technology, and Transportation. These events are typically larger than our seminars. Please refer to the Queens Chamber website for a list of dates. • Getting Published in the Queens Chamber Magazine, This is Queensborough - If you are a member of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, you are entitled to publish an article with us. We have a dis-
tribution of over 4,000, which goes reach out to us and host a seminar out to businesses, libraries, school, of your choosing at the Queens high-traffic areas, as well as elected Chamber office or off-site locaofficials’ offices in NYC, tion. This is another Albany, and DC. great way to not only Further, the magashowcase your experzine is available digitise, but promote your tally at thisisqueensbusiness while doing borough.com Having so. If you would like an article published is to get involved in our a great way to feature Seminar Series, contact your organization and Jacqueline Donado at show the connection jdonado@queenschamTHOMAS J. to the Queens Chamber.org. GRECH ber and business comWe are here to help PRESIDENT & munity. If you wish to tailor your business CEO provide content, please strategy and grow your contact Brett Swanson organization. Contact us at bswanson@queenschamber.org. at (718) 898.8500 for assistance • Presenting a Seminar - If you and more information about the are a subject-matter expert, please Queens Chamber’s services.
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QUEENS QUICKLY Queens College ranks high for quality, faculty and alumni
In a global assessment of 27,770 degree-granting institutions, the Center for World Universal Rankings placed Queens College in the top 3.5 percent for the quality of its education and faculty, alumni employment, and other factors. A 2017 Stanford University study tracked students from nearly every U.S. college, including nongraduates, and measured their subsequent earnings against millions of anonymous tax filings and financial-aid records.
It looked at how well colleges helped students whose parents were in the bottom 20 percent of income levels reach the top 20 percent for individual earnings. Queens College was ranked number 10 out of 35 four-year public colleges. “The Stanford University study powerfully demonstrates that when it comes to economic mobility, Queens College, now in its 80th year of serving the people of New York, is making a larger impact than virtually every other college in the country,” said Queens College President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “When our students, rich in ambition, talent, and creativity, are given
the advantage of a high-quality, world-class faculty, they become the backbone of our city and state workforce.”
Efforts to fight traffic congestion will impact Queens retail areas The de Blasio administration announced a series of initiatives designed to ease congestion in busy thoroughfares across the five boroughs. One piece of the initiative will test curb access restriction on Roosevelt Avenue from Broadway to 108th Street in Jackson Heights and Corona. For six months beginning in January 2018, the city will ban curbside loading on both sides of the street from 7 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m.
Resorts World NYC adds gaming tables to Central Park space Resorts World Casino New York City (RWNY) last month unveiled its newest gaming experience on the venue’s third floor, Central Park, where patrons can enjoy an additional 336 video lottery terminals (VLTs) and Electronic Table Games (ETGs). The Central Park level will continue to be utilized for events, concerts, and trade shows with a dedicated gaming space just steps away on the same floor. The addition of the new gaming space brings the total number of VLTs and ETGs at RWNY to 6,050. “We are thrilled to unveil the new Central Park Casino that will provide patrons with an integrated gaming and special event experience all on one floor,” said RWNY president Scott Molina. In July, RWNY broke ground on a $400 million expansion project that includes: · A new 400-room four-star hotel with fivestar suites that will rival Manhattan’s finest accommodations; • Four new dining outlets – including a signature restaurant with an innovative dining concept by a celebrity chef; • Several retail offerings to allow customers
access to locally produced goods; • Space to accommodate additional, new gaming, including cutting-edge, first to market products designed to appeal to millennial customers; and • A completely new arrival experience for guests, which will allow seamless access to the hotel, as well as gaming and non-gaming amenities, including a dedicated VIP entrance area.
The project is estimated to generate $200 million in economic activity for New York City, add approximately 1,000 good-paying careers for New Yorkers, along with over 3,000 construction jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, and provide additional revenue for New York State’s Lottery Education Fund, which has already received more than $1.9 billion from RWNY since 2011.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments ........................................6
Upcoming Queens Chamber Events .........................................................................23
QCC member joins Venture House’s Board of Directors ......................8
Why Amazon Nees Queens ........................................................................................24
How Powering Your Board Can Help Your Organization ....................9
Sunnyside Business Leader Honored With Street Renaming ...........................28
The Benefits of a Business and Nonprofit Relationship .......................13 Chamber Honors Business, Education and Art Leaders ......................14 The Future of Expanding the Solar Sector ...............................................19 The Next Generation of Manufacturing ...................................................20 4
PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez
MANAGING EDITOR Shane Miller
CHAMBER EDITOR MARKETING DIRECTOR Brett Swanson John Sanchez BQE Media, 45-23 47th St., 2nd Floor, Woodside, NY 11377 Phone: (718) 426-7200 Fax: (347) 507-5827
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
QUEENS QUICKLY The pick-up and drop-off of passengers would still be allowed, as would deliveries to off-street loading docks. Additional NYPD staff will be assigned to the pilot locations to enforce the new restrictions and keep curbs clear. The city will also reinvigorate its efforts against “blocking the box” with focus at 50 key intersections citywide. The initiative will include efforts to address congestion in Downtown Flushing, where DDC is reconstructing Main Street and expanding sidewalks to improve pedestrian, vehicle, and bus circulation. DOT is also implementing Flushing in Motion, a dynamic signal system based on Midtown in Motion, to better manage traffic. Flushing in Motion and the capital project will be completed by the end of 2017. In support of EDC’s Jamaica Now Action Plan, DOT is developing a congestion action plan for the
downtown core as part of a larger Jamaica-area transportation study. Findings will be released in 2018. The plan will include recommendations for street redesigns to enhance safety and mobility, signal timing changes and one-way street conversions to promote traffic flow, and curb regulation changes to reduce congestion, among other efforts. Lastly, the city will engage state and local elected officials to focus on persistent congestion on highways outside the city’s jurisdiction, starting with the Cross Bronx Expressway and the Staten Island Expressway (SIE)/Verrazano–Narrows Bridge/Gowanus Expressway corridor. “I’m particularly glad to see that downtown Jamaica in my district is included, and I also hope we can expand the Clear Highways initiative to include the Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway and Long Island Expressway,” said Councilman Rory Lancman.
love WHERE YOU
live LETS BEAUTIFY JAMAICA TOGETHER ZARA'S PHILANTHROPY Involvement on community boards richmond hill hs computer lab Voices of Jamaica features community events Fundraising
Luxury Apartments in Jamaica, Queens 166-07 Hillside Avenue Jamaica, NY 11432 718.291.3331 • application@zararealty.com
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS Sullivan served in manage- tems, was honored by St. Mary’s Malitz also serves on the Lacerte honored sioner, ment positions within the Queens Healthcare System for Children at executive board of Manhattan Network of the city Health its Tribute DinCommunity Board 1 and The by Gardens Club Health and Hospitals Corporation. ner on NovemFriends of Washington Market The City Gardens Club of New York City presented Susan Lacerte, executive director of Queens Botanical Garden, with its Medal of Honor at its Centennial Luncheon in Central Park. The historic medal is given to an individual in recognition of distinguished work and dedication in LACERTE enhancing gardens, parks, and open space in New York City. “I am so honored to receive this award from the City Gardens Club for the work I love to do, at a Garden that touches the lives of so many,” said Lacerte. Lacerte has been executive director of Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing since July 1994. She is responsible for leading the transformation of the 39-acre garden into a model of cultural expression and sustainable design that speaks to the diverse interests of over 200,000 annual visitors. In addition to her work at QBG, Lacerte is an associate professor at Farmingdale State College, where she created and teaches a Public Garden Management course. She resides in New Rochelle with her husband, the proud mother of twins, and an avid swimmer.
Sullivan given CEO award Dr. Ann Sullivan, commissioner of the state Office of Mental Health (OMH), has been named recipient of the 2017 CEO Award by the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS). The CEO Award is given annually by the Association to individuals whose leadership and dedication helps to transform the lives of individuals with mental illness and their loved ones. Prior to being appointed commis-
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As Commissioner, she has guided the transformation of the state hospital system with an emphasis on recovery and expansion of community-based treatment, reinvesting more than $76.5 million in community services as of July 2017. “Her steadfast leadership, compassion and intelligence has helped in continuing to make New York State a national leader in comSULLIVAN munity based mental health services, mental health innovations and the integration of mental health and healthcare,” said MHANYS CEO Glenn Liebman.
ber 6. In addition to leading the parent company in Flushing, Chen directs dealings with distributors CHEN and specialty installers as well as large-scale projects, from proposal and estimation to production and delivery. He also guides corporate functions including production, finance, accounting, product research and development, marketing and advertising initiatives, branch office operations, sales administration, and human resources. Chen was recently recognized by Crain’s New York Business, which named him to its prestigious 2016 40 under 40 list. He is a long-time supporter and friend of St. Mary’s in Bayside.
Spann named Premier Agency Malitz joins Kevin Spann of Kevin Spann Cushman Agency at 64-77 Dry Harbor Road in Middle Village has been designated an Allstate Premier Agency for 2017. The Allstate SPANN Premier Agency designation is bestowed upon 26 percent of Allstate’s nearly 10,000 agency owners across the country. It is awarded to Allstate agency owners who have demonstrated excellence in delivering a personal customer experience while achieving outstanding business results.
St. Mary’s honors Chen Steve Chen, chief operating officer of Crystal Window & Door Sys-
Cushman & Wakefield announced that Adam Malitz has joined the firm as a director in Retail Brokerage for the Brooklyn and Queens market. Malitz will be based at Cushman & Wa k e f i e l d ’s Brooklyn and Queens offices, and will work with Betty Castro, managing principal, and MALITZ Katie Mahon, managing director for Retail Services & Brokerage Operations in the tristate region. Malitz joined Cushman & Wakefield from Lee & Associates, where he served as a director in retail leasing, focusing on landlord and tenant representation throughout the five boroughs.
Park. He also teaches business courses for the Department of Small Business Services.
Dorf appointed VP at QC Laurie F. Dorf has been appointed vice president for Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations at Queens College. As interim vice president since January 2016, Dorf has led fundraising efforts for the college while also overseeing DORF funding for the educational institution's strategic plan. Under her leadership, the college will seek to increase its resources to help strengthen its operational capacity and infrastructure to benefit students, faculty, and staff. Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2017 by Queensborough. All letters sent to the QUEENSBOROUGH should be brief and are subject to condensation. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of the QUEENSBOROUGH. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to the QUEENSBOROUGH within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Schneps Communications assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold the QUEENSBOROUGH and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
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November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
GOVERNMENT NEWS
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NOVEMBER FOCUS: NONPROFIT SECTOR
CHAMBER SUCCESS STORY AT VENTURE HOUSE BY JEN KHEDAROO To an outsider looking in, Venture House serves as an oasis for those who need mental health services. But the nonprofit goes beyond finding employment and housing for its program participants, they give their “club members” a chance to be social, express their creativity and show off their strengths. It’s what appealed to Gil Young Jo, a business development associate consultant for the Korea TradeInvestment Promotion Agency, when he was first made aware of Venture House at a Queens Chamber Board Development for Local Nonprofits event back in June. That’s where Young Jo met executive director Juliet Douglas. The two immediately clicked when it came to the future of Venture House, sharing a similar vision for the Jamaica-based nonprofit. “The goal of the event was to have a round-robin, where you get to feel out the nonprofits in the entire room to give yourself more perspective,” Young Jo explained. “You weren’t supposed to stay with just one agency, but long story short, we ended up talking for an hour. I spent nearly all of my time with them.” “It was like Match.com for recruitment,” Douglas added. “It came at a perfect time because the board has been looking to add people for years.” Both Douglas and Young Jo noticed the “really good mojo” between them, and he insisted that if it weren’t for that Queens Chamber event, he probably wouldn’t be sitting on the board today. And as a Hillcrest High School graduate, he’s happy to be able to give back to Jamaica. Venture House has been in the neighborhood for more than 30 years. When it first opened, one floor of the Queens YMCA was adequate. But as membership grew, the organization expanded its foothold in the neighborhood until they settled into their new home in
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1999, a building at 150-10 Hillside Avenue. While the building’s exterior is architecturally beautiful, one wouldn’t be able to guess just how airy, bright and colorful the space is behind the walls. Along with the administrative services, education, employment, housing and maintenance, and dining units, the two floors consists of a cafe, a serene backyard garden and a recreation room complete with musical instruments and yoga mats. In the 1940s, a movement began that advocated against locking away individuals with mental illness. Eventually a group of individuals formed We Are Not Alone, a support organization for those with mental health needs. Later, the clubhouse model, which Venture House is based on, was conceived. The model urges people with serious mental illnesses to participate in their recovery by working and socializing together in a safe and welcoming environment. These program participants are referred to as “members.” Venture House is the first location of its kind in Queens. The first was Fountain House in Manhattan, where Douglas trained for her job nearly a year and a half ago. Each executive director is required to take part in a three-week intensive training session at an outside clubhouse where they must live and work within that particular facility. Douglas is just the third executive director in Venture House history, a testament to the commitment and tenure of those who work at the nonprofit. Prior to joining Venture House, she worked as director of Outpatient Services at Princeton House Behavioral Health for 13 years, followed by a year as clinic director for the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health, where she helped developed a program for men’s trauma. Coming into an environment like Venture House, Douglas said Venture House is a non-clinical envi-
Gil Young Jo and Juliet Douglas on the steps of the Venture House.
ronment where staff takes a person at face value. “People with mental illnesses are often so marginalized in society, and often by their own family who may not know how to handle a severe mental illness, so this is a place where they are accepted,” Douglas said. “We say ‘You’re hearing voices? Well it’s doesn’t matter because you can chop this tomato, we’re making a salad.’ “When people are working, they feel needed and they’re engaged, and there’s this level of respect,” she added. Member tasks include data entry, clerical work, cleaning, research and food service. Venture House isn’t a place where members come
and relax, they work side-by-side with staff. “People understand that there may be problems outside of what they could do themselves, but they come here to lean on fellow members and staff because they know there will always be a caring, helping hand,” Young Jo said. “At the same time, there are no special privileges. You have to be an active participant of Venture House and help out.” Venture House recently opened a new facility in Staten Island. Nearly everyday, a busload of members heads to the new clubhouse, volunteering their time on tasks like CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
NOVEMBER FOCUS: NONPROFIT SECTOR
POWER YOUR BOARD, POWER YOUR WORLD Ted runs a large cultural organiza- what resources we have for them, or tion in the center of a city that is try- attend any of our events. How can I ing to reinvent itself from a history build a diverse board when I can’t of manufacturing, with even build a relationa population of many ship?” small and separate We need to know communities that difhow to be needed and fer in race, economic valued in a rapidly levels, age and other changing society. And characteristics. we need strong, diverse Like many other boards — that means leaders of institumore women, more tions and businesses people of color, with a who find themselves HOONG YEE LEE range in age, religion, in a rapidly changing KRAKAUER thought, etc. — to sucworld, Ted knows that cessfully steer us into the only way to thrive the future of our exisin the future is to be relevant to the tence where businesses and nonpeople his organization serves: profits compete on a global scale. “I have been reaching out to a • Why is this so important? well-respected local leader from A board of a business or nonprofit a large immigrant community we that is diverse and representative want to get into for over a year, of the people it impacts and serves and I’m getting nowhere,” he said. can transform the way it works, “We even sent the symphony into the way it is perceived and the way their schools to do free concerts. it changes the world. The result They don’t really know who we are, is a successful network of valued
and meaningful relationships that engages all involved. • What does a strong & effective board look like? You want board members who share the passion for your goals and mission and are diverse in ways that reflect the people you are impacting. Gender, race, religion, age and thought are a few common kinds of diversity people look to have on their boards. But there are many others that are more subtle and specific to particular groups and without truly spending the time to understand the people in cultures different from your own, you may spend more time removing your foot from your mouth. • Is the answer to building a strong, effective board a magical
new strategy designed for millennials, an etiquette guide for interacting with diverse cultures and peoples, perhaps a street team of activist/organizers armed with gifts and resources? The answer is no. If we understand that communities may have changed, but humans have not, we can begin to appreciate the power, the effectiveness - and the indisputable ROI - of simply knowing that how people buy in always changes. Why people buy in never does. • Why outreach doesn’t work. Whenever someone says, “I’m doing outreach,” I see a person standing on a little planet hovering CONTINUED ON PAGE 12
Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer helps artists & creative people grow their careers with grant-writing strategies & mindsets she has developed over 15 years as a veteran grant panelist, grant maker & grant writer. Get her free Master Grant Strategy Worksheet and a weekly dose of insights from a grant reviewer’s point of view at hoongyee.com
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NOVEMBER FOCUS: NONPROFIT SECTOR
HOW BUSINESSES CAN HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE While the building boom in can do more, and much of the Long Island City and the gen- non-profit sector is still largely trification of Astoria fragmented when it has brought new rescomes to working taurants and bars to with local schools. the area, the public Established as an schools in the neighintermediary nonborhoods continue to profit organizastruggle. tion in 2011 by the Three zip codes Thomas and Jeanne in the area – 11101, Elmezzi Foundation 11102 and 11106 – and anchored there, house three major the work of Zone 126 public housing is designed to bring developments that ANTHONY LOPEZ cross-sector partenroll hundreds of EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ners together to find children and youth in organic solutions to local schools. Only ZONE 126 complex problems 29 percent of chilwithin the local edudren show age appropriate func- cation ecosystem. tioning by age five, English and To date, we have organized Math proficiency rates instructional, resident, start to drop after the non-profit, youth and 6th grade, 60 percent of public service leaders to youth graduate from high engage with Zone 126 school in six years, and in finding impactful edu17 percent of high school cation solutions to the graduates are college ready. needs of children, youth and famiFamilies are not accessing exist- lies living in areas of concentrated ing supports, local institutions poverty along the waterfront in
Astoria and Long Island City. The voice that remains silent in this type of work is that of the local business community. A 2015 report published by the Harvard Business School titled “The Promise of Collective Impact” calls on business leaders across the country to (1) take stock of their efforts to support and improve Pre-K-12 public education and (2) commit to using the innovative approach of collective impact to address fundamental weaknesses in the education ecosystem. The report also suggests that the current way business is involved with the school system may contribute to the slow progress of student achievement. The collective impact work of Zone 126 aims to change this picture in a hyper-local way for students who live in public housing— along the waterfront and surrounding areas—and the public schools that serve them. The first step is to draw local business leaders who can make a difference off the sidelines, and
onto the field as informed essential partners of educators and connect them to one of Zone 126’s elementary, middle or high school. The Zone 126 team would vet and introduce new or existing activities, events or programs to local businesses for adoption. A Business Affinity Group (BAG) would be formed to expand and sustain efforts that boost student outcomes and take them to scale. Doing this over time will invigorate the local education ecosystem—from cradle to career— create multiple pathways, and fill the gap of learning that’s tied to the future workforce. Let’s be clear, education is political and we have to be political about protecting our students. With all the gentrification coming to the waterfront of western Queens, I know there is a political will to make more investments in the local schools. Zone 126 cannot do it alone. Join us in creating more opportunities for these residents beyond the beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline.
WIN FOUNDATION CELEBRATES BY GIVING BACK
BY JEN KHEDAROO The more the merrier, especially when it comes to celebrating your birthday. About 120 children who participate in P.S. 116’s after-school program in Jamaica were chosen to celebrate the birthday of When In Need Foundation’s founder Dr. Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton on October 25. The WIN Foundation provides grants for students and young professionals to continue their education and career. Additionally, the organization supports global schools, orphanages and various hostels, assisting the less fortunate and helping to provide the basic necessities to those in need. Nwoga-Ecton moved to the United States from Nigeria at the age of 17. As a single mother of three, she struggled to improve her family’s
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quality of life. But with help, she worked her way into many successes, including opening a healthcare agency providing compassionate services to intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals in Philadelphia. Inspired by those who helped her, Nwoga-Ecton formed the When In Need Foundation. Each year, Nwoga-Ecton chooses a school to help celebrate her birthday with a party. In turn, she gives back to the community by providing basic items for families. This year, she gave the families of P.S. 116 a takehome package of a box of cereal, a loaf of bread and milk. Along with the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation’s Resource Development Director Mitchell Sternbach and the Queens Chamber, Nwoga-Ecton handed out the items to dozens of families.
When In Need Foundation founder Dr. Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton (second from right) celebrated her birthday with an event at PS 116.
“Your future is bright with organizations like this,” Sternbach told the kids. “The reason we’re all here is because we see the hope in you guys and in all of the children of southeast Queens and Jamaica.”
Dr. George Onuorah, director of Media Relations for the foundation, explained that though the foundation’s programs have expanded CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
NOVEMBER FOCUS: NONPROFIT SECTOR
VENTURE HOUSE BASED ON ‘HORIZONTAL RELATIONSHIPS’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
fixing furniture and constructing a reception desk. Surprisingly, there are rarely workspace boundaries between staff and members because everyone is treated equally in the judgement-free zone. The relationships are horizontal. Moreover, there are currently four members sitting on Venture House’s Board of Directors. Even Douglas’ office is often open to staff or members who may come in to hang out or work for a few minutes. Young Jo also appreciates the extent in which Venture House gets involved in it members’ lives. For instance, as part of a housing program through which Venture House subsidizes 90 apartments around the city, a staff employee makes quarterly visits to apartments to make sure everything is in working order, from sinks to locks. “Venture House is not just about one aspect of a person’s mental and physical well being, I think it’s a holistic approach,” he said. “It’s all these moving parts and they are able to help people on a microscopic level. “It’s not just the outer edges of making sure this person isn’t arrested, it’s literally having someone checking and helping to replace a refrigerator handle,” Young Jo added. “I didn’t want to get involved with a nonprofit where everything is so artificial. What Venture House is doing is right, and that’s so impressive and it’s deep.” For the past 15 years, Young Jo has worked with some of the biggest law firms, doing everything from research to strategy to analysis. With a background in internal consulting for Fortune 500 companies, he can lend his expertise and advice to help strengthen Venture House’s impact on the community. He views the partnership between himself and Venture House as an opportunity to bring his “court vision,” such as seeing things from afar and helping to identify certain
Executive director Juliet Douglas and board member Gil Young Jo with club members in the backyard garden.
needs. Douglas is eager to use Young Jo’s expertise, adding “even though we are a nonprofit, we need to think in terms of being a business,” such as discussing strategy, growth and taking calculated risks. Having a board member in the business community also allows the nonprofit to utilize relationships with various businesses and corporations around the borough. Young Jo can also assist Douglas’ team in “digging for money” and finding funds in areas that Venture House may not be well versed in. “Someone in the business community can help plan strategically for how we manage time and efficiency,” she added. Venture House’s involvement in its members’ lives doesn’t come cheap for the organization, and that’s why fundraising is an absolute necessity for them. Most of their funding comes from the city and state, but it’s up to Venture House to raise a certain amount of money to stay afloat and accomplish a variety of projects. For a smaller nonprofit like Venture House, Young Jo recommended making minor tweaks in order to create an exponential impact. Both Douglas and Young Jo are excited
about future programs, including one directed at young adults aged 18 to 21 years old. “That’s the most vulnerable time in a person’s life,” Douglas said. “If someone has mental illness, that’s the age group that it tends to surface. If Venture House if able to catch these kids in their teens, Young Jo said, that’s when they have a real chance of shaping their lives. Venture House is planning on doing more outreach and applying for a grant to provide funding for the program.
Since the Queens Chamber networking event where they met, Young Jo is no longer an outsider looking in at Venture House. He’s a part of the fabric of the organization, and with Douglas they can mold a future for the nonprofit and see it transform into something bigger and better, while still maintaining its integrity. “The beauty of a board is to share ideas and get our own ideas based on experiences,” Young Jo said. “For Venture House, it’s literally a matter of time before the impact and the outreach is going to very big.”
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NOVEMBER FOCUS: NONPROFIT SECTOR
TO BUY OR NOT TO BUY, THAT IS THE QUESTION image.
Nonprofit organizations are unique real estate users. Many struggle not only to find locations that can accommodate their need for office and program space, separate entrances, conference facilities, and tolerance for client and traffic issues, but find them at a price they can afford in an appropriately zoned property in the right area. And gaining approval from the various internal stakeholders, well that’s another process that often makes an already challenging initiative even trickier. At some point in their space search, many not-for-profit organizations explore the purchase of a building or a commercial condominium/cooperative as an option for their use. So is buying a prop-
erty the answer to mission success? Maybe, maybe not.
Yes, buy!
• Control over the use of your space. • Generally predictable/stable costs, monthly, yearly. If costs are equivalent to or less than likely rent, that’s even more of an advantage. • Exemption from real estate taxes ($5-$8 per square foot of savings in commercial condos, even more for an entire building, but not applicable to commercial co-ops). • Good vehicle for capital fundraising. • Favorable financing and low interest rates, and no longer limited to tax-exempt bonds. • Long-term ownership equals asset appreciation. • Ability to make the property a reflection of the organization and
David Lebenstein is co-leader of Cushman & Wakefield’s national NotFor-Profit Practice Group, and has closed hundreds of transactions during his 32-year real estate career. Previously, he served as an executive at Time Equities, Inc. and was co-founder of Interface, a public policy group. He also worked for Mayor John V. Lindsay’s administration and assists the School Construction Authority with identifying sites to build new public schools and pre-K programs.
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potentially change occupancy, zoning, etc., or cope with a major But then again... assessment in a condo or co-op. • Buying can be a time-con• There are financial and organisuming and potentially fruitless zational/staffing responsibility for acquisition process with limited running and maintaining the buildinventory, strong competition, high ing prices (especially in markets like • Being an illiquid investment, New York City and immediate financial Washington, DC), challenges cannot be and uncertainty sursolved immediately rounding the availbecause selling takes ability of appropritime. ately sized and effiThe decision to cient floor plates. either buy a prop• The property erty or find another value is dependent real estate solution on unpredictable, depends on each DAVID LEBENSTEIN nonprofit’s particular uncontrollable marCUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD ket dynamics. situation and goals, • There are issues and the current envirelated to expansion and contrac- ronment of the preferred market. tion. You own the whole place, and To understand your options, give while leasing the surplus is pos- us a call. We’ll help you look at the sible, it means you become a land- needs of your organization, how lord and front funds for marketing your real estate serves your target and broker commissions. community, and the best way to • The need to expend time and ensure you have the best location to capital to build-out space and complete your mission every day.
POWER YOUR BOARD CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
above me sticking a hand out of their orbit and grasping for something. What do you think it feels like to be “outreached to”? For me, it puts me in the position of the outsider. Someone not in the center. The other. The to-be-colonized. And the person outreaching looks a lot like a Trojan Horse, like someone offering a gift but who really wants something. I also get the message that I am seen as someone to be helped. Someone without the ability to help myself, or others. This is not a good way to start a relationship. • Buy in that builds trust. Outreach is an action that reinforces the sense of otherness. Someone is inside, in the center of their universe, reaching out to someone outside, out of the mainstream.
Outreach does not move people equally. Opportunities are places that encourage togetherness. When people on both sides of a table discover they have concerns or goals in common, there will be a willingness to work together. Shared vulnerabilities are powerful equalizers. Outreach does not move people. Opportunities do. • A mindset for building a pipeline of diverse leadership. Empathy is the DNA of this universal structure for building relationships with the people you want to include on your boards. Rather than simply reach for what is familiar and comfortable, like sending a symphony out into schools (did those schools even ask for that?), boards will find greater success in building opportunities for people to co-create meaningful change that can grow strong pipelines of diverse leadership.
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
NONPROFIT SECTOR
BUSINESSES, NONPROFITS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL BY BENJAMIN FANG
At Nonprofit Committee meetings, Odysseos said they talk to Local businesses and nonprofit nonprofits throughout the bororganizations often work together ough to better understand the for the betterment of the community. issues and challenges they face. Maria Odysseos, vice president and Organizations often seek help for market manager at Investors Bank’s accounting, lending, grant writBroadway branch, ing and even how serves as co-chair to find good board of the Queens members who can Chamber of Comhelp with fundraismerce’s Nonprofit ing. Committee. She Then the comsaid her bank often mittee hosts helpful lends a helping events and seminars. hand to offer assisFor example, Investance on banking tors Bank joined the or financial needs. Queens Chamber for “We take an a nonprofit lending active role in the seminar recently. A community,” she Maria Odysseos of Inves- lender from Invessaid. “We get to tors spoke about tors Bank co-chairs the know them, they what type of lending Chamber’s Nonprofit Committee. get to know us.” is available, what When opening banks generally look a new branch in a for, and budgetary community, Investors Bank meets issues. business owners, elected officials Many nonprofits that receive and local nonprofits. Then the bank city or state funding have to partners with them and showcase wait for it to come at a certain the organizations, especially at their time. Odysseos said organizagrand opening. Bank employees tions often need a small line of also volunteer their time to make a credit for a few months. difference in the community. InvesThe committee will host simitors Bank also has a foundation that lar events connecting the busigives grants throughout New York ness world to the nonprofit sector and New Jersey. in the future. “Going forward, we “We try to go to the grassroots will see what other topics nonin the community,” Odysseos said. profits are interested in,” Odys“We want to make a difference.” seos said.
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WIN FOUNDATION IN JAMAICA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
internationally, it’s important to remain in touch with those locally. “We’ve visited England, France, Spain, Dominican Republic, Argentina and so on, but that’s an extension and this is home,” Onuorah said. “We can’t go outside without helping the community at home.” At the event, children were given pizza, candy, juice, and cake. They were surprised with the party,
which followed an afternoon of homework and other activities. “Seeing the smiles on the children makes me so happy,” NwogaEcton said. “It’s my birthday, but giving back to the children and the families of Jamaica is what it’s all about.” “We are definitely appreciative of everything that has been done and everything that will continue to be done for our community of P.S. 116,” said Principal Debra Farrow.
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CHAMBER HONORS BUSINESS, ARTS, EDUCATION LEADERS BY BENJAMIN FANG What does a nonprofit leader, education executive, arts director, and real estate developer have in common? According to Mayra DiRico, president of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, they all have the passion and ability to make a in people’s lives. Last Wednesday night at Terrace on the Park, the Queens Chamber honored four leaders in the fields of business, nonprofit, education and arts. What they all share, in addition to deep roots in the borough, is the commitment to spurring prosperity for their community. “They have contributed to winning over hearts and minds,” DiRico said. “All four are very clear on their purpose of changing lives. It is that purpose which will continue to propel their success and establish their legacy.” Peter Tu, executive director of the Flushing Chinese Business Association (FCBA), organizes the annual Lunar New Year parade and local workforce development programs. The 35-yearold nonprofit institution, Tu noted, never accepts grants from city or state agencies. That is Tu’s way of demonstrating his patriotism and devotion this country. “Since we became American citizens, we swore to fight for freedom and justice,” he said. “This country gave us a lot of opportunities.” Evan Jerome, senior vice president at Monroe College, also plays a role in Flushing. The college opened its graduate site, the Queens Exten-
sion Center, in the neighborhood three years ago. He helped develop a special course, offering a hybrid schedule of on-site and online classes, for adults seeking to take their career to the next level. “That is a game changer for many people,” DiRico said. Jerome noted that Queens boasts a “rich cultural diversity of individuals working together.” “I always say to myself, ‘Why can’t the world be more like Queens?’” he said. “To me, we have this unprecedented harmony of cultures living and working together. It’s incredibly unique. “All the residents of Queens are powered by this entrepreneurial spirit to make a better life for themselves and their families,” he added. “That’s what we really try to bring to our graduate school in Flushing.” Fellow honoree Sheila Lewandowski is executive director of The Chocolate Factory in Long Island City. The theater has supported more than 800 artists and 3,500 visitors since it launched in 2004. Lewandowski also attested to the power of diversity and overcoming adversity in Queens. Her father was a Polish immigrant who went to St. John’s University and worked as a scientist. “What I see when I look around here are people in business who understand the importance of for-profit, non-profit, arts, social services, humanity and cultures,” she said. “That’s what Queens is about.” She noted that everyone has an artist in their lives, even if it’s their nieces, nephews or grand-
children arranging pictures on their refrigerator gallery. “That’s curiosity, that’s innovation, that’s exchange of ideas,” Lewandowski said. “That’s Queens.” The Queens Chamber Hall of Fame inductee was Joseph Mattone, Sr., chairman and CEO of the Mattone Group. The real estate firm currently manages 2 million square feet of property, and has transformed empty lots into commercial, residential and industrial developments. Mattone said the success of the borough is because of everyone in the room who has contributed to make it a better place to live. “It’s the quality of the life you have provided for the entire community,” he said. “It’s your generosity and spirit. It’s you setting an example to be different.” He stressed the importance of letting everyone know that they are part of “one society.” He urged everyone to give more to those who are less fortunate. “It’s important that those of us who have been gifted with more share that as we should share,” Mattone said. “It’s helping others in trying to even up the starting line.” Mattone added that the quality of such an honor isn’t judged by the size of the gift, but rather by the people who are giving it. He said it’s a joy not just to receive an award, but also to give one to others. “I was very poor, I’ll always remember that,” he added. “I also remember that people helped me along the way.”
Pictured from left to right are Thomas Grech, Evan Jerome, Sheila Lewandowski, Joseph Mattone, Sr., Peter Tu, and Mayra DiRico.
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November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
Pictured clockwise from top left are Narae Lee, Hoong Yee Lee Krakauer & Elana Ehrenberg; Kieran Pickering, Janet Grech, Greg Hughes & Jeffrey McKelvin; Michael Laurie (DLA Capital Partners), William Driscoll (The Driscoll Group) & Kevin Alexander (Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation); Ravi Kumar (Bank of America) & Glenn Chua (PNC); Alex Schindler & Sheila Lewandowski; Thomas Flood (St. Francis College) & Trent Dickey (Chuckman Realty); Gloria Webb & Lee Weinberg; Sonia Saleh, Lisa DiClerico & Madeline Best; and Bruno Marques & Fran Gross.
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COMBINING THE MODERN WITH OLD-WORLD CHARM Tucked away in the heart of Woodside, Elite Palace provides an intimate, exclusive atmosphere for a variety of occasions, including weddings, engagements and corporate events. The venue has been hosting parties inside its majestic ballrooms since 2008, and with its high vaulted ceilings and Victorian-era chandlers, creates an impression of old-world elegance inside a spectacular modern facility. “During construction, the focus was to create a venue like no other,” said general manager Mohamed Siraj Salahudeen. “When you and your guests enter Elite Palace, you will be transported from modern-day New York City to an atmosphere of old-fashioned charm. This blend of styles appeals to a wide variety of personal tastes.” The banquet hall hosts only one wedding at a time to ensure that your special day is the staff’s top priority. However, with several event spaces, Elite Palace can accommodate parties of up to 700 people. The menu includes an array of exquisite options that caters to any culture. The executive chef and his kitchen staff are professionally trained in the art of international cuisine, combining old-world traditional dishes with a hint of modern-day flavor and style. The facility also has a separate kosher kitch-
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en, and we can cater any Jewish occasion. Elite Place also gives clients the flexibility to bring in their own caterers if they prefer. The banquet team is assembled of highly trained professionals from diverse backgrounds, each with many years of experience in the industry. Salahudeen studied hotel and catering management in Australia, and worked for several five-star hotels. He plans to use his previous experience in upscale service to take Elite Palace to the next level.
When you and your guests arrive at Elite Palace for your event, you will be treated like royalty. Guests will be greeted by a white-gloved doorman, and we free valet parking is provided for to guests during the event. For more information and inquiries, contact the Banquet Department at (718) 565-2001 or visit elitepalaceny.com. Elite Palace is located at 69-02 Garfield Avenue in Woodside.
THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
QCC COMMITTEE NEWS & NOTES
COMMITTEE HIGHLIGHTS GROWING SOLAR SECTOR BY BENJAMIN FANG A panel of energy experts spoke glowingly about the future of the expanding solar sector at an event last month at Queens College hosted by the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Energy Committee. The event brought together industry leaders who spoke about government programs, the insurance side of energy, and access to capital. Marshall Haimson, founder and president of E-Capital Insurance Services and co-chair of the committee, said the goal of the committee is to make the industry more transactional, to become more coherent, and work toward implementing more projects. The committee boasts three working groups: Energy Efficiency, Environmental and Renewables. “The energy sector in this area is growing explosively due to continued improvements in the regulatory environment, the technology, and the general economics of these projects,” he said. “The momentum is absolutely tremendous.” The panel was held just across the street from the Georgetown Mews garden cooperatives, where solar panels were installed on 32 buildings. After the event, attendees toured the site to better understand the scope of that particular project. “This project is emblematic of the type of project we’re going to be seeing hopefully soon around Flushing and the borough,” Haimson said. The panel was moderated by Stephen Owens, founder and manager of Sol Alliance, a solar consulting group. Owens said New York City was the first city to have an electrical grid for centralized power, but New York state is currently in midst of an ambitious “energy transformation” to convert to a new distributive model funded by clean energy.
Part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s vision is implemented through NY-Sun, a program whose goal is to deploy $1 billion to help the state reach 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. NY-Sun program director David Sandbank said it’s vital to reform energy policies because the current utility infrastructure, compared to other industries like communications and computing, is “completely antiquated and very expensive to upkeep.” In New York City, officials spend billions of dollars for maintenance on the electric infrastructure, he said. The key is to produce electricity in the city. “We generate a lot of electricity upstate and bring it down here, it’s not cheap to do it,” Sandbank said. “Solar is a great opportunity in New York City to put the source of generation where the load actually is.” He noted that residential solar projects are “booming” in the city. NY-Sun sees 500 to 600 applications per month in the residential
market alone. “That is something that’s working very well,” he said. The challenge is on the commercial side, including issues of surface area for solar panels, permitting, and interconnection issues. However, progress has been made. Sandbank said the year-over-year increase for commercial projects was 170 percent. “A big uptick, but still not enough,” he said. The state established a policy working group to bring together stakeholders and solve some the big issues while assisting local municipal governments on solar policies. “When you add all this together, the amount of solar we want to put on the roofs in New York City is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of load that needs to be provided in the city,” he said. “It’s not going to be a problem, it’s just getting everybody on board and coordinated.” William Oberkehr, New York State Solar Ombudsman for Sustainable CUNY, works with city and state agencies to streamline
the process for projects. The organization has been in operation for 11 years. Oberkehr said their role in the agency space has evolved. Initially, they were working on creating a “solar road map,” producing guidelines of what is needed for a solar project. “Now that the solar market is a bit more mature, our focus has switched to much more complex problems that take more time,” he said. Every hour he spends working with the Department of Buildings , Fire Department or Department of City Planning, Oberkehr said he believes they’re “making huge strides instead of solving small problems.” Owens added that the financial opportunity behind solar energy is tremendous, and government incentives are only a piece of it. “It’s not only cheaper from day one to source your electricity from solar on your own roof,” he said, “but once that financing of that asset is over, you have free electricity long term.”
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QCC COMMITTEE NEWS & NOTES PANEL DISCUSSES ‘NEXT GENERATION OF MANUFACTURING’ BY BENJAMIN FANG The future of the manufacturing industry is looking bright. The Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Manufacturing Committee hosted some of the borough’s manufacturing leaders at Boyce Technologies’ new facility in Long Island City for a panel titled “the next generation of manufacturing” on October 11. The event, featuring food and drinks from local companies, offered industry insiders a chance to hear from the leading manufacturers on how they plan to move forward with new technology. “We’re quickly becoming, if not already, an industry of advanced manufacturers with myriad innovative techniques that enhance efficiency and productivity,” said Geoffrey Smith, co-chair of the chamber’s Manufacturing Committee and the panel moderator. “When we talk about the next generation of manufacturing, we’re not only talking about the exponential growth of robotics, sensors and artificial intelligence, we’re talking about the products, processes and most importantly, the people that support this transformation.” Dozens of people also toured the new 100,000-square-foot facility for Boyce Technologies, which creates public safety secu-
rity and communications systems. Thomas Powell, director of business development for Boyce, said the company has invested heavily in advanced technology to shrink manufacturing requirements. “It allows us to do things that other people can’t do,” he said. “We took the further leap forward in all the technology we could find. Business is finding us, we’re not finding it.” Company president Charles Boyce also announced that the company is in contract talks to acquire the building next door to add another 100,000 square feet. With their new expansion, they can take on “bigger challenges,” he said. “We’ll prove that we can manufacture in the U.S., New York, Queens and Long Island City,” he said. Powell spoke about how the company has become a “one-stop shop” for architects, contractors and customers alike. They can design prototypes for products and have it come out “in a day or two.” Boyce Technologies’s proximity to Manhattan, just two train stops away, also contributes to their success. “Our business model is based around a small window of opportunity with high capacity for innovation,” he said. Ajmal Aqtash, director of advanced robotics for Boyce, framed the future of manufacturing
in terms of the different industrial revolutions that have occurred. The first was the mechanization of steam and water power, which led to the second revolution: mass production, the assembly line and electricity. That evolved into computers and automation. Aqtash said he sees the fourth industrial revolution as connected robots, such as smart vacuums, wristwatches and televisions. “We have to look at it in the context of combining the physical world and the digital world, that is the access point,” he said. “Any found device, the moment you connect it to the Internet and it is a live feed, that produces a new endpoint for that technology. “As a manufacturer, it’s your role to invent your new endpoint,” he added. “Don’t cap it, let it live on.” Scott Cohen is co-founder of NewLab, an 84,000-square-foot space operating out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard that assists businesses that specialize in everything from nanotechnology to space technology. These new companies all have one thing in common, Cohen told attendees. “They’re impacting something in the physical world, either making a physical product that is running data and connectivity through it, or they’re impacting something in the manufacturing environment,” he said.
Pictured from left to right are Thomas Powell, director of Business Development at Boyce Technologies, Ajmal Aqtash, director of Advanced Robotics at Boyce Technologies, Scott Cohen, co-founder of NewLab, and Thomas Grech, president & CEO of the Queens Chamber.
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November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
QCC COMMITTEE NEWS & NOTES
Attendees at “The Next Generation of Manufacturing” event network following the panel discussion.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
FOOD, FILM AND FUN FOR THE SHORT DAYS OF NOVEMBER November is famous for Movember, the annual effort to increase awareness and raise funds for cancer prevention by not shaving, Election Day, Veteran’s Day, and Thanksgiving in the United States of America. But on a local level, it’s a time of cold weather, short days, and great events. Queens hosts great foodie fun, mindexpanding art, international film, classic music, and cuttingedge theater this month. Nov. 5, Momo Crawl, 2 pm. This sixth-annual tour involves sampling Himalayan dumplings at local restaurants and carts. A wooden, vintage-style trolley will escort participants who don’t want to walk. Plus, there will be a festival with music and dance from various Tibetan and Nepalese artists and other entertainment. Proceeds go to Students for a Free Tibet. Meet at Diversity Plaza, 37th Road between 73rd and 74th streets, Jackson Heights, momocrawl.com. Nov. 7 to Mar. 11, Broadway Billboard. Artist Amy Khoshbin and poet Anne Carson collaborated to create Word on the Street: Love Not Hatred. This billboard captures the handcrafted feel and texture of DIY protest signs, highlighting the intersection of craft and resistance movements. Its text features Carson’s translation of a line in the Sophocles tragedy Antigone, which explores rule of law, familial duty, and civil disobedience. Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., LIC, socratessculpturepark.org. Nov. 9, An Evening with Gladys Knight, 8 pm. Known as the “Empress of Soul,” this seven-time Grammy winner has enjoyed number-one hits in pop, gospel, R&B, and adult contemporary music. Her biggest songs are “Midnight Train to Georgia,” and “You’re the Best Thing that Ever Happened to Me.” Colden Auditorium, Queens College, Reeves Avenue, Flushing, kupferbergcenter.org. Nov. 9-12 India Kaleidoscope: Celebrating India’s Regional Cinema. This second-annual festival presents eight films which explore the
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GINGERBREAD LANE
most relevant and pressing topics facing the Asian subcontinent. Seven of the movies will make United States premieres. Showtimes vary. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District, movingimage. us. Nov. 11 to Jan. 15 GingerBread Lane. Dentists would probably oppose eating it, but they might recommend marveling at it. GingerBread Lane varies each year, but it is usually a large village with gingerbread houses, trees, gingerbread cable cars, gingerbread train cars, and a candy subway station. Ingredients include roughly 1,900 pounds of icing, 400 pounds of candy, and 500 pounds of dough. The municipality won the Guinness World Record for largest gingerbread village for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, nysci.org. Nov. 17, Astoria Big Band: Memories of Jazz in Queens, 8 pm. Founded in 1986 by baritone saxophonist Carol Sudhalter, the Astoria Big Band presents the music of such borough greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, and
Jimmy Heath. The Big Apple Lindy Hoppers will provide zest, color, and movement by dancing in front of the group. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., flushingtownhall.org. Nov. 18, Found in Translation, 6:30 pm. Three published translators - Margaret Carson (Spanish), Chia-Lun Chang (Chinese), and Kyoo Lee (Korean) - lead a workshop on the poetry-translation process, facilitated by poet and essayist Richard Newman. Lewis H. Latimer House, 34-41 137th St. Flushing, latimernow.org. Nov. 19, Debby Boone Swings, 3 pm. Boone’s “You Light Up My Life” topped the Billboard 100 and took one Grammy and seven Grammy nominations in 1997. The singer is still going strong with an eclectic show featuring selections influenced by everybody from Sammy Davis Jr. to Barbra Streisand. She’s joined by swing-style arrangements played by The Diva Jazz Orchestra. Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, visitqpac.org. Nov. 26, A Very Electric Christmas, 1 pm & 3 pm. Lightwire Theater presents two shows of this children’s story about a young bird named “Max,” who gets blown off course during a snowstorm and ends up alone and lost at the North Pole. As he tries to make his way home, he meets caroling worms, dancing poinsettias, Nutcracker soldiers, mischievous mice, and an evil Rat King. The show is done in darkness with electroluminescent artistry. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, BROADWAY BILLBOARD queenstheatre.org.
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS 11/15, 8:30 a.m.
NOVEMBER 11/8, 5 to 7 p.m.
Business Card Exchange
Make new connections, enjoy delicious food, and meet Ben’s new leader, longtime employee David Czegledi. Ben’s of Bayside 211-37 26th Avenue Bayside 11/9, 5 p.m.
Understanding Credit to Improve Your Financial Future Learn about the different opportunities to help you get started with a new business or expanding an existing business with presenters from the Business Center for New Americans. BNB 35-02 Broadway Astoria
What to Know About Your Company Retirement Plan Fiduciary and Plan Sponsor Liability With presentations by Gateway Investments, Paycor, Empower Retirement and Janus Henderson Investors. Free & open to the public Complimentary breakfast Adria 221-17 Northern Blvd. Bayside 11/16, 8:30 a.m.
Health and Wellness Committee Meeting Event
Join speakers from the U.S. Small Business Administration, NY State of Health, U.S. Department of Labor, IRS, Workers’ Compensation Board, the Medical Society of the County of Queens, and the Queens Chamber of
Commerce. Attend presentations that will help you plan and grow a healthy business in 2017 and beyond. Medical Society of Queens 112-25 Queens Blvd. Forest Hills
DECEMBER 12/1, 8:30 AM
Breakfast Workshop Series: Workplace Skills Development Program on Risk Management and Critical Thinking
Risk Management is the identification, analysis, assessment, control, and avoidance, minimization, or elimination of unacceptable risks. Risk management goes well with critical thinking. The effective risk manager is able to anticipate a potential problem before it explodes into a crisis.
To register, visit queenschamber.org Free & open to the public Complimentary breakfast and parking Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370 12/6
Annual Building Awards Gala
The Queens Chamber of Commerce’s annual real estate industry event recognizing recently completed projects that have a positive impact on the borough economy. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Visit queenschamber.org for more information. Terrace on the Park 52-11 111th Street Flushing, NY 11368
For any registration or more information on these events or any other events please call us at 718.898.8500 or visit us on the web queenschamber.org
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MR. T CARTING OF GLENDALE MARKS 70 YEARS ONE OF THE TEN OLDEST FAMILYOWNED BUSINESSES IN QUEENS A business that grew from one owner-employee and one truck in 1947 to 93 employees and a fleet of 37 trucks 70 years later calls for a celebration. About 100 employees, customers, business leaders, friends and local elected officials gathered at Terrace on the Park last month to salute Thomas “Pop” Toscano, founder of Glendalebased Mr. T Carting. The long history of Mr. T and its involvement in the community were highlighted in photographs and a slide presentation. State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley, DEC deputy commissioner James Gennaro, and Queens Chamber president Thomas Grech were among those extending their congratulations and wishes for continued success. Also in attendance were Community Board 5 chair Vincent Arcuri and a representative from Congresswoman Grace Meng’s office. The Department of Sanitation sent a citation to commemorate the occasion. Mr. T Carting is one of the ten oldest familyowned businesses in Queens, and one of the six largest private carting companies in New York City. An innovator in the handling of food waste,
Pictured from left to right are Peter Toscano, Thomas Toscano, Sophia Ganosis and Thomas Grech.
today nearly half of its customers are in foodrelated businesses. Mr. T Carting collects food waste in sourceseparated organic waste disposal and directs it for compost, a service it began offering in 2006, long before it was required by law.
Nearly half of Mr. T’s employees live in Queens and the company has expanded its service area from Glendale to cover the entire borough, as well as all of Brooklyn and Manhattan.
What better way to lead by example than to have Amazon take up residence in the World’s Borough? But don’t come here just because of our unique diversity. Queens is a leader in educational excellence and technological advances. Home to seven colleges and universities, Queens’ highereducation landscape offers everything from modern dental hygiene programs at Plaza College to graduating the most computer science majors in the city at Queens College. St. John’s University undergrad and law school and LaGuardia and Queensborough community colleges all fill needs not met anywhere else. York College and Vaughn College teach advanced classes in aviation and aeronautics, along with other cutting-edge majors. Plus, the spillover effect from the newly opened Cornell Tech Center will be to the east, into Queens. And we have the Coalition for Queens (C4Q), an organization that fosters the Queens Tech ecosystem to increase economic opportunity and transform us into a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. From a tech perspective, we are home to Boyce Technologies, Shapeways, Precision Gear, Flight Safety International, Mondial Auto-
motive and Digital Natives, among others. These are pioneers and innovative leaders in their fields, all homegrown and here to stay. Spending on transportation infrastructure, such as airports, trains, bridges, and ferries, is between $15 and $20 billion. Other innovative transportation proposals are in the works, such as light rail in the BQX and the potential revitalization of the LIRR Lower Montauk Branch. Under the leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo, we are getting infrastructure designed, built and replaced at an astonishing speed. Queens is becoming more accessible than ever, and we are leading the charge when it comes to alternative and revitalized modes of transportation. If Amazon or any other Fortune 500 company wants to break out and truly become an international organization, they need to experience and operate in Queens. They need our neighborhoods, they need our workers, they need our intellect, and they need our diversity to localize themselves here to springboard globally. The time is ripe and the time is now for making Queens the next headquarters of Amazon.
For more information, please visit mrtcarting.com.
WHY AMAZON NEEDS QUEENS FOR ITS NEW HQ2
BY THOMAS J. GRECH Considering the chest thumping and excitement stirring across the U.S. about the prospect of landing HQ2 of Amazon, it’s important to understand what Amazon needs above and beyond the widely circulated RFP. Queens County, a borough once traveled through, is now traveled to. The reasons are simple: Queens is a national leader in diversity, education and technology, and infrastructure improvements. Queens is the most ethnically diverse urban area in the world, with an astounding 48 percent of our 2.3 million residents foreign-born. We get along well together and we work smart and hard. If Queens were an independent city, it would be the fourth most-populous in the U.S. The tenacity of Borough President Melinda Katz, who has zeroed in on making Queens welcoming to not only residents but businesses as well, makes us the preferred location to live, work and play in New York City and beyond. World tech leaders such as Amazon have the unique ability, by virtue of their presence, to not only talk the talk of diversity, but walk the walk.
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Thomas J. Grech is president and CEO of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 82ND STREET PARTNERSHIP
37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Executive Director: Leslie Ramos 718.335.9421 82ndstreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with more than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The district is on 82nd Street from 37th Avenue to Baxter Avenue. The board meets quarterly with the annual meeting in June. • Nov. 9th, 5 to 7 p.m. Business Center for New Americans FREE Workshop: How To Raise Money for Your Business and Understanding Credit BNB Bank, 35-02 Broadway, Astoria Topics include lending requirements, financing options, 5 C’s of lending, best practices to get approved, understanding your credit report and score, disputing errors on your credit report, and improving your credit. • Saturdays in November, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Paddle for the Cure’s Weekly Saturday Practice World’s Fair Marina (next to Citifield) Experience paddling on a dragon boat with breast cancer survivors and supporters Sponsored by NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst • Mondays in November, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free Immigration Services in Queens 71-29 Roosevelt Ave., Jackson Heights All Services are free, confidential and open to any member of the community.
BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID
213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361 Interim Executive Director: James Ellis 718.423.2434 info@baysidevillagebid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $218,000 and over 350 members. Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.
jazz to country. Forest Hills has a rich history in music tied to the concerts at the Forest Hills Stadium going back to the 1960’s. The Chamber will hold its Celebrate Winter event on November 27 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., free family-friendly event to kick off the holiday season. Enjoy live music and entertainment outside under the tent, food tastings and Starbucks goodie bags, as well as selfies with the Forest Hills reindeer.
GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
135-32 38th Ave., Suite 25, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and representing over 200 businesses. The poster child for hyper-local chambers around the city, GFCC created the Night Market, a lending circle for businesses, and is paving a new path forward for Flushing’s growing population of new immigrants. • November 14, 6 to 8 p.m. Free Marketing Workshop: Advanced Strategies in Social Media Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce 135-32 38th Avenue, Flushing Free How can you use the latest technology to increase your brand and promote your business? This workshop outlines advanced strategies in social media and the latest tools and resources
that can help you increase awareness of your products and services. This is a free workshop offered by the Flushing Chamber as part of our Flushing Fantastic district marketing campaign.
GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight 718.291.0282 www.gjdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group has 75 members. GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth. GJDC is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a gala at The Ritz-Carlton in Battery Park on November 30 from 6 to 9 p.m.
GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID
84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 Executive Director: Maria Thomson 718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with more than 350 businesses under its umbrella. On Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street, the BID features six supermar-
FOREST HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375 President: Leslie Brown 718.268.6565 FHChamber11375@gmail.com FHChamber@aol.com QUICK GLANCE: Re-formed in 1995, the group has over 225 members. Chamber meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, in Forest Hills. The chamber is currently planning a new event, the “Forest Hills American Music Festival,” an all-day event highlighting American music from
The LIC Business Improvement District’s Annual Meeting on October 1 at MoMA PS1. This BID honored Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, BID-expansion steering-committee co-chairs Gianna Cerbone-Teoli, Dr. Angelo Ippolito and Paula Kirby, Queens Borough Parks Commissioner Dorothy Lewandowski. Flanking the honorees are BID Chair David Brause, LIC Partnership Chair Gary Kesner, LIC Partnership President Elizabeth Lusskin and BID Secretary Gretchen Werwaiss.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES kets. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans. The BID will host its annual Christmas Tree/ Menorah Lighting Ceremony at Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue on December 1 at 6:30 p.m. On Saturday, December 2, at noon it will host the “Welcome Santa to Woodhaven” parade, which begins at 96th Street and Jamaica Avenue. A ceremony immediately following at Franklin K. Lane High School with include free pizza and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. There will also be free pictures with Santa at Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue the next two Saturdays until 4 p.m.
JAMAICA CENTER BID
90-50 Parsons Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11432 Executive Director: Rhonda Binda 718.526.2422 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of over $1 million. Founded in 1979, the district is on Jamaica Ave. between 170th St. and Sutphin Blvd. for the purposes of having the local business get together and make a thriving business hub and enjoyable destination. They offer a “value card” for discounts at stores and have employment services, as well as
sanitation services.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
616 Duke Street, Westbury, NY 11590 Executive Director: Mercedes Altman 516.492.0513 www.jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has over 200 members. • November 8, 8:30 to 10 a.m. JFKCoC Directors General Monthly Meeting JFK International Airport, Building 14 – Conference Room “A” Guests welcome, but must RSVP. Light breakfast will be served. • November 16, 6 to 10 p.m. Air & Space Gala 15th Annual Cradle of Aviation Museum. Honoring Alan Bean, Daniel Kearns, and Arthur J. Molins.
LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300
www.longislandcityqueens.ccom Founded in 1979, the Long Island City Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits LIC’s industrial, commercial, cultural and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to the neighborhood, retain those already here, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixeduse community. The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone. • November 3, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. 3rd Annual Ice Cream Social Party 34-27 Steinway Street Astoria Tickets include make your own sundaes. Alcohol and boozy floats available for purchase.
MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Dario 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have 120 members and a budget of $115,000.
ICONIC SUNNYSIDE ARCH TO GET NEW LED LIGHTS BY BENJAMIN FANG The iconic Sunnyside Arch on Queens Boulevard and 46th Street will shine even brighter than before. The Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District (BID) and local business owners last month announced the neighborhood sign will be upgraded with new lighting. A $15,000 investment from Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer’s office will fund the project. The arch, which was built by a local civic organization in 1983, has had trouble with its lights. Jaime-Faye Bean, executive director of the BID, said the current lights are outdated. The BID will oversee the replacement of the analog system with a digital LED light system. Bean said they will also replace the backlighting of the letters, which is currently in neon, to LED lighting. “Economically, it’s much more energy efficient and it’s cheaper in terms of installing and maintaining it,” she said. John Vogt, chairman of the Sunnyside Shines BID, said he sees Sunnyside and the arch as a “gateway to Queens.” It’s not only a central meeting point in the neighborhood, but also an attraction for visitors. “Sunnyside is a diverse community, and this bridges the entire community together,” he said.
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Sunnyside Shines BID executive director Jaime-Faye Bean discusses the lighting upgrades. Czarinna Andres, owner of Bing’s Gifts on Greenpoint Avenue, said the arch has symbolized the community’s unity and strength. Her shop sells Sunnyside merchandise, which is indicative of her love for the neighborhood where she lives and work.
Andres, who sees the arch several times a day, said she’s looking forward to the lighting changes. “I think the excitement that this will generate, especially during the holidays, is going to be great for all of the businesses in the neighborhood,” she said.
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES The Chamber meets the second Tuesday of each month at noon at Connolly’s Corner on Grand Avenue. The majority of their budget is spent on holiday lights, banners, beautification and festivals, including replacing the street banners on Grand Avenue. There has recently been a push to form a BID on Grand Avenue. • November 14, Noon Maspeth Chamber of Commerce Meeting Connolly’s Corner 71-15 Grand Avenue Maspeth • November 16, 6 to 8 p.m. Business Card Exchange Peggy Dempsey’s 64-14 Flushing Avenue Maspeth
MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379 President: Salvatore Crifasi 718.894.8700 Sal@Crifasi.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35 businesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping
district between 69 and 80th streets. Annual membership fee is $150, and they are looking to gain momentum through attracting new members. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs. Their new initiative is cleaning Metropolitan Avenue and organizing the holiday lights in December to create a festive atmosphere for the community. The MVCC has received grants for street cleaning and are looking for grants for the holiday lights, since some businesses do not support them. The Chamber will host meetings in connection with the Middle Village Property Owners & Residents Association at 7:30 p.m. on November 13, and December 18. The meetings take place at St. Margaret’s Parish at 66-10 80th Street.
QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
12-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 309 Kew Gardens, NY 11424 Executive Director: Seth Bornstein 718.263.0546 queensny.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $1.5 million and a resource of over 2,000 businesses. Funded by Department of Small Business Services, they strive to create and retain jobs via programs that grow neighborhoods and assist small businesses.
QEDC assists by providing one-on-one consultations, hosting workshops, operating training courses and networking events.
MYRTLE AVENUE BID
62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 Executive Director: Ted Renz 718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with over 300 retail and service businesses under its purview. Board meetings are held four times a year with the annual meeting in June. The district includes Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood between Fresh Pond Road and Wyckoff Avenue. Program support is provided by the Ridgewood LDC. The Youthmarket operates until November 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue, weather permitting.
ROCKAWAY BUSINESS ALLIANCE
info@rockawaybusinessalliance.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and a resource for over 200 businesses. The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions, and engagement for the local community and the
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces. RBA seeks to create and curate an inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy year round. • November 16, 7 to 9 p.m. Merchant Mixer Rockaway Love 90-16 Rockaway Beach Blvd. Open to anyone who is a member of the RBA, anyone interested in becoming a member, and to our community partners.
ROCKAWAY DEVELOPMENT & REVITALIZATION CORPORATION
1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 President: Kevin Alexander 718.327.5300 www.rdrc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has 30 members. The RDRC offers employment assistance and improves public spaces with commercial development projects such as the Downtown Far Rockaway Storefront Improvement Act. Its newest project is the Downtown Rockaway Wireless Network.
STEINWAY STREET BID
25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103 Executive Director: Tony Barsamian 718.728.7820 info@steinwaystreet.nyc
steinwaystreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID has over 300 members. Board meetings are held seven times a year. The BID’s vision is to make Steinway Street user friendly, while highlighting the local businesses on the street and bringing together the Astoria community in a positive way. The BID works to improve sanitation, marketing, security, holiday lighting, beautification and Internet access along this famous street in Queens.
SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Rigoberto Cardoso 516.492.0513 www.sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: Annual budget of $55,000. The chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation. Some accomplishments include the Sunnyside Post Office, formation of the Sunnyside Shines Business Development District, parking under the elevated train, sidewalk cafe rezoning on Skillman Avenue, and holiday lights on Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint and Skillman avenues. • November 21, 6:30 to 8:30 pm “The Scoop” Local Real Estate
Free In one of the hottest markets around, with high prices which surprise many, some of us need more information, not sales pressure. Local Chamber brokers speak on helpful topics to all of us, buyers, sellers, renters on both sides, newcomers, such as how to buy our first co-op, what the trends are this minute, what has changed as to the best financial instrument, bank information, pros and cons of self sales and rentals, what are the going rates for rentals and sales, and more. Also available for Q & A will be Chamber real estate attorneys. Free Admission, but reserve a seat at sunnysidechamberofcommerce@gmail.com.
SUNNYSIDE SHINES
45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104 Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam 718.606.1800 director@sunnysideshines.org sunnysideshines.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella. • November 21, 6 to 8 p.m. Sunnyside Shines Holiday Lighting Sunnyside Arch Featuring the Sunnyside Youth Drum Corps, the Fabulous Fezziwigs Carollers, and more. Enjoy this festive night and share the holiday spirit with the community-at-large as the lights twinkle and shine throughout the neighborhood.
FORMER LOCAL CHAMBER PREZ HONORED WITH STREET RENAMING BY MARK GARZON A Sunnyside street has been renamed in honor of Lily Gavin, a longtime community figure and business owner. Dozens of community leaders, friends and family members gathered for the unveiling ceremony of “Lillian ‘Lily’ Gavin Place” at 40th Street and Queens Boulevard on Saturday. Gavin, who passed away last July at the age of 85, was the longtime owner of Dazies restaurant on Queens Boulevard, as well as a civic leader in the community. Throughout her life, Gavin supported various local organizations, including the Sunnyside Drum Corporation, Boys & Girls Club, Long Island City YMCA, Sunnyside Senior Center and the Queens Council on Tourism. In addition, she was one of the first women to join the Sunnyside Kiwanis Club. She served as the president of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce and sat on the board of Sunnyside Shines Business Improvement District (BID). “There is virtually nothing in Queens that she did not make better because she was a part of it,” Van Bramer said. Assemblywoman Cathy Nolan said Gavin set an example for people as a female business owner
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and single mother who raised five children. “That’s enough right there for most of us,” Nolan said, “but she was involved in her community with love, generosity and kindness.” Gavin was also remembered for her ability to bring people together at the tables of her restaurant. “When you walked through that door, Lily made
you feel like you were a part of the family,” said former Community Board 2 chair Joe Conley. “That’s the way I felt my entire life with Lily.” Kenny Gavin, Gavin’s son, recalled that his mother loved giving back to the community and making people happy. “She was a mom to all of us,” he said. “She drove people to do things.”
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11
NEW CORPORATEMEMBERS Broadway Stages Chaney Construction & Development Court 16, Inc. Cushman & Wakefield FedCap Hanover Community Bank Lyft Mazars USA, LLP Mr. T. Carting Corporation Molloy College CHAIR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
marketing is huge for a nonprofit, and unless directors are actively posting and developing new content, efforts typically fall flat.
Qualified Staff
Hiring top talent represents a continual challenge. While nonprofits want to hire the best and the brightest, pay is not very often commensurate with experience. Many of the highly experienced nonprofit execs will be retiring within the next decade, and fueling the talent pipeline with younger, experienced staff will be a challenge. Top talent are in high-demand in both the private and public sectors, and they have the opportunity to pay higher salaries. In addition, nonprofits are constantly constrained by financial resources. Resource constraints stem partly from the reluctance of foundations to fund administrative overhead as well as the lack of built-in cost escalations in government contracts. Further, these small, “neighborhood” nonprofits often fall under the radar of big-name philanthropists and donors.
Looking to the Future
I implore our local nonprofits to contact us at the Queens Chamber of Commerce so we can help make connections to position each of you for future success.
Court 16 Inc.
526 Baltic St, Brooklyn, NY 11217 (718) 875-5550 court16.com Court 16 is a private kids’ tennis club developed by an international network of tennis experts and cultural creators. It created the club with a vision for a modern approach to the game. With perfectly kid-sized courts and a community built on education and empowerment, kids are given the right foundation to fall in love with the game, and have a total tennis experience. Court 16 gets its name from court number 16 at founder Anthony Evrard’s tennis club in his hometown of Brussels, Belgium. It inspired him to develop “a blueprint for life,” cultivating qualities of discipline, focus and fair play that have benefited all aspects of his life.
Hanover Community Bank
2131 Jericho Turnpike Garden City Park, NY 11040 (516) 248-4868 71-17 Austin Street Forest Hills, NY 11375 (646) 569-3600 hanovercommunitybank.com Hanover Community Bank offers a full range of business and related financial services focused primarily towards serving small to medium size businesses, the professional community, and local residents. Hanover Community Bank operates as a locally-based commercial community bank serving the banking needs of individuals, professionals and businesses in a demographic that recognizes the value of local decision making.
Lyft
31-00 47th Ave, Long Island City, NY 1110 (917) 809-5576 lyft.com/cities/new-york-city-ny No matter where riders end up, they can count on Lyft for rides in minutes. The Lyft app matches you with friendly local drivers at the tap of a button. Just request and go. After the ride, riders simply pay through their phone. As a driver, Lyft allows anyone to make money as a full-time or part-time driver in New York City, no experience needed. With Lyft, drivers choose when you drive and how much they earn.
Mazars USA LLP
135 West 50th Street New York, New York 10020 (212) 812-7000 mazarsusa.com Since 1921, Mazars USA LLP has provided a unique combination of foresight and experience when fulfilling client needs in accounting, tax and advisory services. Named a
top U.S. accounting firm by Accounting Today, Mazars’ team of professionals brings technical expertise, industry insight and an integrated, customized approach to dealing with the critical issues and competitive challenges facing the firm’s clients. Whether on the local level or internationally, the firm guides clients through their day-to-day operations and works with them to ensure they have the right financial structure in place to meet their business goals.
Molloy College
1000 Hempstead Avenue Rockville Centre, NY 11571 Molloy is a private Long Island college that provides a value-centered, multidimensional education with more than 50 quality academic undergraduate and graduate degree programs grounded in the Catholic faith, ideals of truth and respect for the dignity and worth of every individual. With approximately 5,069 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, Molloy is large enough to offer students an academically-challenging, highquality educational experience. At the same time, the College is small enough to provide the personal attention that enhances every student’s intellectual, ethical, spiritual and social development. Located less than an hour from Manhattan, Molloy is one of the most affordable private colleges on Long Island.
Statement of Ownership Name of Publication, Queensborough Magazine, Pub. No. 0033-6068, Date of Filing 10/27/2017, Frequency Weekly, No. of issues published annually 12. Annual Subscription Price $12.50. Complete Mailing address of known office of publication 75-20 Astoria Blvd. Suite 140, East Elmhurst, nY 11370, General Business of offices same, Full Name and address of Publisher, Thomas Grech, address Editor Brett Swanson, address - same. Known bondholders, mortgages and other security holders owning 1% or more of total amounts of bonds none. Of the average number of copies of each issue during the preceding 12 months; total no. of copies 3712, Paid and/or requested outside county mail subscriptions 2344. Paid in county mail subscription 0. Sales through dealers, carriers vendors and counter sales 0. Other Classes mailed through USPS 0. Total paid/ requested 2344. Free distribution by mail inside - outside county and other classes of mail-0. Free distribution outside the mail 187, total free distribution 187. Total distribution 2531, copies not distributed 1181, total 3712`. Total percentage of paid circulation 92.6 Of the actual number of copies of single issue published 9/1/17; total no. of copies 3200, Paid and/or requested outside county mail subscriptions 2350. Paid in county mail subscription 0. Sales through dealers, carriers vendors and counter sales 0. Other Classes mailed through USPS 0. Total paid/ requested 2350. Free distribution by mail inside - outside county and other classes of mail-0. Free distribution outside the mail 500. total free distribution 500. Total distribution 2850, copies not distributed 650, total 3500. Total percentage of paid circulation 82.4. To publish on 11/1/2017. Thomas Grech – CEO, 10-27-17.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE Mayra DiRico
Fran Biderman-Gross
Howard Graf
Richard Dzwlewicz
Chairperson
Associate Treasurer
Vice Chairperson
Associate Secretary
Treasurer
Immediate Past President
Henry Wan Nash Roe
Albert F. Pennisi
Thomas J. Grech
Brendan Leavy
President & CEO
Business Development Manager
Sophia Ganosis
Cathy Berger
Development Director
Chief of Operations
Jacqueline Donado
Dorothy Owermohle Bookkeeper
Strategic Program Coordinator
Financial Controller
Membership Outreach Coordinator & Member Engagement
Brett Swanson
Alejandra Espejo
Secretary
CHAIRPERSON’S ADVISORY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE STAFF
William Blake Dominick Ciampa Joseph Farber Louis D. Laurino Joseph M. Mattone, Sr
Franklin F. Regan, Jr. John E. Roe, Sr. George Rozansky Gerard Thornton
QUEENSBOROUGH (ISSN0033-6068 is published 12 times a year for $12.50 annually by the Queens Chamber of Commerce of the borough of Queens. 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andrew Barnes Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Michael Billia Willa Brody Kenneth J. Buettner Charles J. Callahan
KY Chow Carol Conslato Sal Crifasi Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Thomas Eagar Joseph R. Ficalora
Tamara Gavrielof Howard Graf Raymond Irrera Kenneth Koenig Kelly Koukou Henry Kuykendall Neil Levin
Jeffery E. Levine Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul Michael Moran Michael Onghai Jeffrey Owens Albert F. Pennisi
Vincent L. Petraro Esq Adam Reece-Cohen Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock Thomas Santucci Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab
Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan Swain Weiner Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner
CORPORATE MEMBERS AARP Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics Age Well New York AKI Development Allied Barton Security Services Alma Bank Alma Realty Corp. Aloft Long Island City Manhattan View Hotel Aloft Hotel New York LaGuardia Airport Alphapointe Altria Client Services Inc. American Food Basket Amna Construction Corp. Anchin, Block & Anchin ATCO Properties & Management Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP Bank of America Berkeley College Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, Peddy & Fenchel, PC Bethpage Federal Credit Union Better Home Health Care Blue Ocean Wealth Solutions Borchert & LaSpina, PC Boro Hotel Boyce Technologies Inc. Broadway Stages Building Maintenance Corp. Capital One Bank Cathay Bank Care Connect Insurance Co. Inc. Carmel Car & Limo Service CDS Mestel Construction
Center for Automotive Education & Training Cerini & Associates Certilman Balin Champion Elevators Chaney Construction & Development Charles Schwab Ciampa Organization City MD City Scrap Metal Cleaning Systems Co. Clickable CoAdvantage Constant Contact Construction Safety Network Inc. Cord Meyer Development LLC Cornell NYC Tech Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Costco Wholesale Court 16, Inc. Courtyard Long Island City CPEX Real Estate Crown Container Cumming Corporation Cushman & Wakefield FedCap D&B Engineers & Architects, PC Daniels Norelli Cecere & Tavel PC DY Reality Services, LLC Dera Restaurants, Inc. Dignity Memorial Funeral Provides of Queens E. Gluck Corporations
East Coast Energy Group Edible Arrangements Elite Palace Elmhurst Hospital Center Emigrant Mortgage Co. Empire Merchants Exit Realty Lewis & Murphy Farrell Fritz, PC Fedcap Fidelis Care New York Financial Resources Brup Investment Services LLC Firecom, Inc. First American International Bank First Central Savings Bank First in Service Staffing Flushing Bank Forest Hills Financial Galaxy Music Productions Inc. Gerard T Dolan Agency Farmers Grand Rehabilitation & Nursing at Queens Greater New York Auto Dealers Association Inc. Greencrown Energy Greenwald Doherty LLP Greiner-Maltz of NY H&R Block HF Management Services Haks Hanover Community Bank Healthplex, Inc. Health Republic Insurance Healthy Corner Pharmacy, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn/ LIC Manhattan View
Holiday Inn LaGuardia Airport Home2Suite LIC Hyatt Place Flushing Ibis Styles New York LaGuardia Airport Hotel INDA Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry International Asbestos Removal Inc. J.F.A. Insurance Brokerage JRT Realty Group, Inc. James F. Capalino & Associates Jaros Baum & Bolles Jetro Resataurant Depot Kasirer Consulting Inc Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc. Knockout Pest Control LaGuardia Plaza Hotel La Technology Group Lee & Associates Levine Builders Lessing’s Inc. Long Island City Volkswagon Luna Park in Coney Island Lyft Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. M&T Bank M&V Provisions Co, Inc. MCR Development LLC MTA-Long Island Rail Road Madeline Chocolate Novelties Marriott NYC Airport Hotels Mazars USA LLP Merritt Engineering Consulting PC Metroplus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxi Cab Board
of Trade Melrose Credit Union Metro Franchising Commissary Molloy College Mortgage Depot Moses & Singer LLP Motiva Networks Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corporation Muss Development Company National Supermarket Association Newtown Creek Trusted PRI USD New York Building Congress New York Business Corp. New York Life New York Oil Heaing Association Inc. New York Racing Association Northfield Bank Northwell Health Norhstar Mitsubishi NRG Energy Inc. NY Building Congress NY Families for Autistic Children, Inc. NYG/DE Green Partners, LLC Office Depot, Inc. OnForce Solar Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehab Paper Factory Hotel Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates People’s United Bank Petro Energy Solutions
Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associations, Inc. Prager Metis CPAs, LLC PMBA, Inc. Progressive Waste Solutions Qside Federal Credit Union Quadlogic Controls Corp. Queens Center Queens Ledger Queensborough Community College Quontic Bank Radisson Hotel JFK Airport Radson Development LLC Register Abstract Co. Inc. Related Retail LP Rent A Throne Rochdale Village Inc. Royal Waste Services Inc. Russo’s On The Bay SL Green Realty Corp. Sahn Ward Coshchignano PLLC Sandrine Capital LLC Sears Maid Service Sholom & Zuckerbrot Realty LLC Signature Bank Silvercup Studios Simon Baron Development Sleep Numbers Solomon Agency Staples, Inc. St. John’s University Steiner Sports Sterling Risk Strat X IT Solutions Structural Engineering Tech-
nologies PC Suffolk County National Bank Suation Solar Systems Super-Tek, Products, Inc. Terrace on the Park The New York Times The Parc Hotel The Parking Spot Trinity Solar TSC Training Academy LLC Tully Construction Co. Inc. United Airlines United Health Care United Nations Federal Credit Union United Public, Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. US Security Care USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Valley National Bank Van Guard Insurance Agency Verizon VHB Engineering Surveying & Landscape Architecture Victory Pharmacy Villa Russo Venture House Vornado Realty Trust Waste Management of NY LLC Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Welllife Network WeWork York College Zwanger Pesiri Radiology LLP
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS Joshua Bienstock NYIT bienlaw@aol.com ENERGY Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com James Sheuchenko PM Advisors js@pmadvisors.com HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS Susan Browning Long Island Jewish Forest Hills sbrowning1@northwell.edu Evangeline Rosado-Tripp Queens County Medical Society ertripp@queensmedicalsociety.org
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HOSPITALITY Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Michael Zayas Real Hospitality Group michael.zayas@rhgcorp.com MANUFACTURING Geoffrey Smith NY Grant Company Geoffrey@nygrants.com Thomas Powell Boyce Technologies tpowell@boycetechnologies.com NONPROFIT Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org
Maria Odysseus Investors Bank modysseus@myinvestorsbank.com REAL ESTATE Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cotingham@avisonyoung.com Michael Wang G8 Real Estate / Flushing Chamber mwang121@gmail.com TECHNOLOGY Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Eugene Erichsen Connect Me Voice Eugene@connectmevoice.com
TRANSPORTATION Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com Tammy Petsios VHB tpetsios@vhb.com We hope you are enjoying the newly designed, expanded Queensborough, the monthly publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. We, the Chamber, direct and approve all content deciding what stories are covered in each issue, editing all copy and forwarding information that is contained in the publication. BQE Media produces it for the Chamber. We look forward to continuing to highlight the outstanding business persons, services and activities that make our borough unique. We welcome all your letters, manuscripts, etc. Please send all materials to the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 or call 718.898.8500 for more information. We reserve the right to edit for space limitations. Your support of the magazine is critical to its success. We encourage you to include Queensborough in your advertising plans. To place your ad, please call BQE Media at 718.426.7200.
November 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 11 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS
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