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April 2018 . Volume 14 . Issue 4
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April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
NYC CONTINUES TO AIM FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY Mayor Bill de Blasio has buildings limit those emissions by released a comprehensive plan 2030 and 2035, respectively. outlining how New This is the single York City will attempt largest action the city to comply with the will implement to Paris Agreement and reduce GHG emissions the goal of curbing and will also require global temperature rise setting energy intento 1.5 degrees Celsius. sity requirements that The plan focuses on take into consideration two deadlines: 2020 impacts on utilities, and 2050. City leadspecifically tenant uses ers had already comand economic activity. mitted to reducing The city also plans MAYRA DIRICO to retrofit city-owned greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80 percent CHAIRPERSON buildings, adopt new below 2005 levels by building codes that 2050. To keep to the require much lower 1.5 degrees target, New York has energy design targets and impleto reach carbon neutrality, or zero ment a financing mechanism that net emissions. treats clean energy and efficienActions are broken down into cy upgrades as a public benefit, three categories: building and thus allowing them to be funded electrical grids, transportation and through property bills with no waste. money down. Officials will also Building and electrical grids: work on a 100 percent renewable Fossil fuels burned for heat and grid for city operations. hot water in buildings are the Transportation: Roughly 90 city’s largest source of GHG emis- percent of the city’s transportasions, accounting for about 39 tion greenhouse gas emissions percent of the city’s total. Going come from private car travel. In forward, leaders plan to pursue response, the city has committed legislation requiring that all large that by 2050, four out of every five
Credit: City of New York
trips a New Yorker takes — or 80 percent — will be by foot, bike or on public transit. The city will support that goal through subway and bus system improvements, new miles of protected bike lanes and an expanded bike-share with the aim of doubling the number of active cyclists by 2020. It also plans to expand “smart parking policy that prioritizes access to curb space, and exploring options for low emission zones that limit access in the city for the worst polluting vehicles.”
For those who are still set on driving, the city will also roll out better electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Waste: New Yorkers will soon no longer have to sort their recyclables, which the city hopes will dramatically increase the city’s recycling rate. They will also be able to drop off organic waste. Equity and climate change are inexorably linked. While climate change affects everyone, its impacts are not equally shared. CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
MARCH A TIME FOR CONNECTIONS AT CHAMBER To put it mildly, March was an Terrace on the Park. The afternoon exciting month for the Queens event was filled with dancing, Chamber of Comfood, and networkmerce. From our ing. The keynote Annual St. Patrick’s speaker was New Day Luncheon to York City Police Google seminars to Department ComQueens Day in Albamissioner James ny, we have made a O’Neill. concerted effort to Neighborhood make connections policing is the corfor our members and nerstone of O’Neill’s engage them with administration, and the community, our THOMAS J. GRECH it involves having civic leaders and our the police connect PRESIDENT & CEO elected officials. with their commuOver 325 people nity in a way never attend our Annual St. Patrick’s done before in the city. In sum, Day Luncheon on March 15 at his policies have led to a drastic
reduction in crime and homicide. Thanks to all who attended and made the event so memorable! The Queens Chamber, along with over 200 of our members, ventured to Albany for our secondannual “Queens Day in Albany.” This event is incredibly important, not only to introduce our members to the state legislative process, but also an opportunity to discuss key issues with our elected officials from the State Senate and Assembly. Following afternoon meetings with Queens legislators, our evening reception highlighted many Queens-based food and drink vendors. The event was an amazing
success with nearly 450 in attendance, and we look forward to next year! In the next few months, the Queens Chamber intends to increase our member engagement by bringing opportunities directly to you. This will include bolstered committee work, seminars, writing opportunities, and more. As I always encourage, if you ever want to become more engaged with the Queens Chamber, reach out to us. We are here to work for you and tailor strategies to your specific company. Thank you for your commitment, we look forward to things to come.
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QUEENS QUICKLY
Pol aims to disconnect workers outside office hours
Councilman Rafael Espinal recently introduces legislation to protect workers from being required to perform unpaid work after work hours. “The Right to Disconnect” bill would make it illegal for any employer to require an employee to access work-related electronic communications outside of usual work hours. “After leaving the office, many of us are glued to our phones refreshing our Instagram feeds, but often times we are also keeping up with our work and bosses,” said the councilman. “We need to establish clear boundaries for employees so they can maintain a healthy work-life balance and live without fear of retaliation for not answering work communications after work hours.” The legislation covers private employers who have 10 or more employees and would require the employer create a policy notifying workers of their rights. The Department of Consumer Affairs will be responsible for enforcing the law, having the authority to investigate complaints and issue fines. Similar laws have been instituted in France, Germany, Italy and the Philippines. New York City would be the first to require this right and protection from retaliation in the United States. The legislation would not prohibit employers or employees from communicating, or doing work at their will. Rather, it would prevent such work after-hours as a requirement, in addition to preventing retaliation for opting not to answer communications while off-the-clock.
Against parking changes
State Senator Tony Avella is denouncing a plan for the city to change parking and zoning regulations in order to encourage commercial
development. The plan, hatched by the Department of City Planning (DCP) and announced at a recent City Council budget hearing, would roll back a 1961 regulation that mandated developers set aside parking spaces when constructing new office buildings in the boroughs outside of Manhattan. “This is clearly an attack on the quality of life of residents living in the other boroughs in order to continue the overdevelopment that is slowly
making our city unrecognizable,” said Avella. “Shame on the Department of City Planning for trying to repeal one of the few existing laws that protect communities—like my district—from overdevelopment and the degradation of quality of life that comes with it.” “In the outer boroughs, cars are essential since mass transit is great if going to and from Manhattan, but it fails to provide reasonable routes between and within boroughs,” said Kevin Forrestal, president of the Queens Civic Congress. “Many who live or work in the outer boroughs find cars essential to our lives.”
Spectrum donates to HeartShare’s heating program
Alana Cantillo, director of Government Affairs for Spectrum (left), presented Bill Guarinello, CEO of HeartShare, and Melanie Littlejohn, vice president of Community and Customer Management at National Grid, with a $5,000 check for the Neighborhood Heating Fund, which HeartShare administers to eligible low-income energy consumers during the winter season.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments ........................................6
BID Gearing Up for Annual Taste of Sunnyside Event .....................................23
Energy Committee Hosts Experts on Smart Buildings ..........................8
Partners & Affiliates News and happenings .........................................................24
NYPD’s Top Cop Keynotes Chambers St. Patrick’s Day Event ..........9
Chamber Welcomes New Members .........................................................................28
Digital Signage Provides Custom Ways to Connect ..............................12 COVER STORY: Chamber Members Head to Albany ........................16 QCP Honors Leaders at Investors Bank, Resorts World ......................18 Upcoming Queens Chamber of Commerce events ................................21 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
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
QUEENS QUICKLY McDonald’s expands education program They’re lovin’ it! McDonald’s has announced that it is improving its education platform, Archways to Opportunity, by increasing tuition assistance available to employees and reducing the program’s eligibility requirements. Effective May 1, and retroactive to January 1, crew members are eligible for up to $2,500 of tuition assistance per year, up from $700 a year. Managers can receive $3,000 of tuition assistance, up from $1,050. Participants can apply this funding to community college, four-year universities or trade schools. There is also no lifetime cap on tuition assistance, which is paid up front, not reimbursed. “As McDonald’s franchisees, we are thrilled that more of our employees will now be able to take advantage of these education programs,” said Paul Hendel, president of the New York TriState McDonald’s Owner/ Operators Association. “Whether an employee chooses to stay with McDonald’s or move on to another chapter in their career, we are proud to offer educational assistance to help them reach that next step.” In addition, the fast food
chain is lowering the eligibility requirements to access the program from nine months to 90 days of employment. Employees who work a minimum of 15 hours, equivalent to roughly two full-time shifts per week, are qualified to enroll. Other services in the program include extended career online and college advisory services to family members, career exploration resources and the creation of an International Education Fund. In total, McDonald’s is allocating $150 million over the next five years to Archways to Opportunity. Since the program launched in 2015, more than 1,500 employees in the New York metro region have participated. More than $1 million in scholarships has been awarded. In Queens alone, there are 52 McDonald’s restaurants operated by 15 franchisees. “By offering restaurant employees more opportunities to further their education and pursue their career aspirations, we are helping them find their full potential, whether that’s at McDonald’s or elsewhere,” said McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook. (Benjamin Fang)
The Department of Buildings (DOB) launched a new webpage with current wait times at its public offices, enabling customers to plan ahead for their trips to the agency. Customers can access the realtime displays on DOB’s under the “Data & Reporting” tab by selecting the office they plan on visiting. Wait times are displayed for a variety of services, including application processing, certificates of occupancy, enforcement issues, fee estimation, and records access. “While we can’t eliminate lines – at least, not yet – we’re making every effort to improve the customer-service experience at our
offices,” said Commissioner Rick Chandler. “This new digital tool is another plank in our agencywide effort to use data analytics to improve our operations and better serve the public.” The wait times are generated by DOB’s queuing tool, which includes self-service kiosks, improved visual displays of a customer’s position in line, and better data on customer requests. DOB implemented this and other customer-service enhancements as part of the agency’s Building One City modernization effort. Information about the number of customers waiting and the current average wait time is available for all borough offices.
DOB now posting office wait times
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS programs.” agement and computing service of REBNY’s Residential BrokerUdoh of Exit Russo served as an assistant dis- procedures and policies, and intro- age Queens Committee. He is also a member of the Broker’s PartnerRealty honored trict attorney with the Queens Dis- duced emerging technologies. Ima Udoh was recently awarded the “Young, Black, Entrepreneurial Award” by Exit Realty of Fresh Meadows. “Ima Udoh has worked hard and this award is well-deserved recognition of that effort,” said Exit CEO Roman Davydov. Udoh’s experience as both a UDOH real estate agent and a financial analyst to high-net-worth individuals gives her the advantage of providing much more than just real estate sales services. Her broad perspective on the market and seasoned skill serving clients’ needs are genuine assets to any buyer or seller looking to optimize the success of their transaction.
Russo new to library board
Borough President Melinda Katz announced appointment of Ozone Park resident George Russo to the Queens Library Board of Trustees. A long-time community activist, Russo has been an active member of Community Board 10 since 2012. He was also a member of the Community School Board for District 27 from 1983 through 1989, serving as its president in 1986. In addition, Russo was a member of Community Board 9 from 1980 to 1990. “I am committed to using my legal and public service experience to ensure that Queens Library is governed with transparency and fiscal soundness,” said Russo. “We are committed to continuing to provide quality service to the Queens residents who rely upon Queens Library’s vast catalog of books and other media and on its many educational, cultural and community
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trict Attorney’s Office from 1983 to 1985, when he entered into private practice with a focus on real estate transactions and business and criminal matters. He has been managRUSSO ing partner of George Russo & Associates, PC since 2002. Russo is a founding member and co-chairman of the Intra-Community Civic Association, chairman of the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Queens, and a member of the Board of Directors of the New York Racing Association (NYRA). Russo earned a Bachelor’s degree in government from St. John’s University in 1979 and a Juris Doctor degree from New York Law School in 1982.
Hull to lead tech at QC Queens College has announced the appointment of Thomas A. Hull as new assistant vice president for the Office of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer. Hull was most recently the chief information officer and chief technology officer HULL at Florida Polytechnic University and at the Moffitt Cancer Center, affiliates of the University of Southern Florida. Hull brings extensive experience in designing new and complex systems that support laboratories, data centers, digital media labs, learning commons, and other components of modern university needs. He has managed strategic technology plans for academic computing, instituted responsive man-
At Florida Polytechnic University, a new institution, he was responsible for building its computing from the ground up, including the largest 3D printing innovation center in the United States, a project for which he received a national award. Hull has received national recognition for his vision and work in academic computing, which includes his years at Pace University, Siena College, and Virginia Commonwealth University Medical College of Virginia. “I am very impressed with Queens College and am excited to be joining such an excellent community, leadership and OIT group,” said Hull. “I look forward to contributing to the future of the institution with innovation and technology for creating new possibilities for students, faculty and staff.” Hull holds a BA in computer information science from the State University of New York at Potsdam and an MS in computer engineering from Syracuse University.
Chapin to lead Modern team Real estate brokerage company Modern Spaces announced Miles Chapin as senior managing director of the Chelsea and Long Island City sales offices. The Queens-based firm hired Chapin to oversee agents and to provide guidance on all real estate transactions. With 15 years of real estate experience, Chapin will also spearhead new procedures and guidelines for streamlining business protocol. “As Modern Spaces evolves beyond Long Island City to areas like Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan, Chapin will be a key asset in developing a strong brokerage team with ambitious expansion goals,” said founder and CEO Eric Benaim. Since its inception in 2015, Chapin has served as the co-chair
ship of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation and of the exclusive New York Residential Specialist group (NYRS). Chapin has bought and sold Co-Ops, condominiums CHAPIN and townhouses across Manhattan, holding several records for high sales prices along the way, and has successfully completed transactions in The Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. For the past 25 years, Chapin has lived in Hunter’s Point. “Having held real estate positions at Brown Harris Stevens and Warburg Realty for nearly two decades, I have the experience and contacts needed to take Modern Spaces to the next level as a premier, full-service brokerage firm,”said Chapin. Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2018 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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April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
APPOINTMENTS Probst to head Bayside biz group Over 30 Bayside business gathered at Panera Bread on Bell Boulevard last week to celebrate the work of outgoing Bayside Business Association (BBA) president Judith Limpert and to welcome her successor, Ed Probst. “It really wasn’t work because I loved doing this,” said Limpert, who has been president since the association’s inception over 20 years ago. “I truly loved doing good in our community, and when you see the benefit that we provided for non-profits and the entire business community, you understand why our Bayside businesses are so strong.” Limpert will remain with the group as vice president of the board of directors. In addition to Probst, the rest of the board includes Robert Klein (treasurer), Marisa Breglio (secretary), Dominick Bruccoleri, Ann-Margaret Carrozza, Tommy DiMisa, Rose D’Amore, Joel Meltzer and Richard Tanenbaum. “Our goal is to bring business together and to grow the organization through networking, education, and advocation,” said Probst, who is a principal with Vanguard Insurance. “Not only in Bayside, but in our surrounding Queens communities.”
During the event, BBA also presented a $500 donation to the Bayside Little League. “The league wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t for the businesses that come out and support us,” said Robert Reid. “We’re all about relationships and social capital,” said Tommy DiMisa, chair of membership. “When you bring a client or friend to an event and help them make connections, there’s nothing better than that.” The BBA was the instrumental in forming the Bayside Village Business Improvement District, and organizes several projects throughout the years, including tree plantings and graffiti removal. “The BID and BBA are proud to work together to make Bayside an awesome community to live, work, and shop,” said BID executive director Christine Silletti. “We are excited to work with the BBA to increase our exposure in the community,” said new member Tracey Alexander, director of Development of the Tourette Association. “Not many residents know that our national office is right here on Bell Boulevard. They will now.” For more information on membership, visit baysideba.com.
Subraj Family Honored for Decades of Charitable Work A school for 200 children opened in a rural village in India, thanks in large part to a philanthropic family in Queens.
of Guyana Barbara Atherly, Vrinda S. Jagan, (granddaughter of Cheddi B. Jagan) and Gloria Subraj (widow of George Subraj)
The school, in the village of Napaniya khijadiya in the Indian State of Gujarat, was built with a $100,000 donation made by the late Champalakshmi Narottamdas Lakhani. The school, which opened in February 2018, is housed in a brand new three-story building and is named for its benefactor, serving Grades 1 through 8.
“Whether it is building schools, so tomorrow’s future leaders can be educated for the world they will inherit or bringing vital medical treatment to parts of the world where people can’t afford life-saving care, it is so important for those blessed with good fortune to give back,” said Mr. Subraj.
Students at the school will be able to learn using the latest technology, purchased with a $5,000 grant from the Subraj Foundation, a charitable organization based in Queens, and and run by Anthony Subraj (VP of Zara Realty), whose wife, Vibha Subraj, is Lakhani’s granddaughter. Gujarat was the home of Mahatma Gandhi, who spearheaded the Indian independence movement against British colonial rule. The Subraj Foundation was recently honored for decades worth of charitable work by the Indian Diaspora Council International, which recognized the medical missions it has sponsored in Guyana, including the country’s firstever kidney transplant. Since 1992, the Subraj Foundation has also brought pioneering doctors and technology from leading American hospitals to conduct corneal transplants for impoverished people in Guyana who have little or no access to this type of medical care. Anthony Subraj, center, is honored at the Indian Diaspora Council International celebration of the anniversary of the end of the Indian indenture system. From left to right: Consul General
“That is what my father taught me and what Vibha learned from generations of her own family.” The Subraj Foundation was started by the late George Subraj, who founded Zara Realty in 1982. The firm, based in Jamaica, Queens, manages more than 2.7 million square feet of residential property and is one of the city’s premiere providers of affordable housing. On March 18, at a ceremony in Queens Village, the Indian Diaspora Council International honored the late George Subraj and his family alongside luminaries such as the late Cheddi B. Jagan, a leading figure in Guyana’s independence from Great Britain and that country’s President from 1992 to 1997. That event was held to mark the 100 th anniversary of the end of the Indian indenture system, in which people from India were sent to various locations throughout the British Empire, including Guyana, as debt-bonded servants. The practice existed in Guyana from about 1838 to 1917. The Champalakshmi Narottamdas Lakhani School was dedicated Feb. 17 and was built in partnership with Project Life, a global humanitarian organization. Three generations of the Lakhani family were present for the opening.
Luxury Apartments in Jamaica, Queens Pictured (from left) are Ed Probst, Judith Limpert and Tommy DiMisa.
166-07 Hillside Avenue Jamaica, NY 11432 718.291.3331 • application@zararealty.com
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APRIL FOCUS: ENERGY
MAXIMIZING COMMERCIAL STORAGE WITH SOLAR BY DAVID SCHIEREN It’s 2018, and solar-plus-battery technology is ready to deliver major benefits to New York’s commercial and residential electricity customers. New York State just set a goal to achieve 1.5 gigawatts (or the same capacity as one nuclear power plant) of battery installations by 2025, so we should see a major boost on Long Island and in New York City. This is crucial because market participants, including all state regulators, agencies, and local governments, are racing to modernize and pave the way to achieve this goal. The benefits to customers and the grid will be profound. Batteries paired with solar will deliver more savings for customers, contribute to cleaner air, and boost the local economy: Here’s how. • By reducing demand charges on commercial bills by supplementing energy during peak demand with stored energy • By receiving additional income from the utility for “dispatching” energy when it can deliver the most value to the utility at times of surging demand. • By receiving additional income from the New York State Independent System Operator (NYISO) to inject solar and battery energy for providing “ancillary services,” such as regulation service, operating reserves, voltage support and black start capability. • By provide emergency backup power in the event of a power failure. Solar can become a more valuable energy resource to the customer and the grid because of batteries. Storage technology makes renewable energy available ondemand regardless of weather conditions or time of day. This is the winning formula and particularly important in New York
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An EmPower project featuring 91 kilowatts of solar power on top of Storage Post in Ozone Park.
State because it will dramatically reduce the need to turn to fossil fuel power plants during peak load, which are some of the worst polluters. EmPower is dedicated to delivering greater benefits to its clients by harnessing our 15 years of experience in solarplus-batteries, and also by working with industry leaders such as Tesla, SunPower and others.
Key Developments The FDNY is developing standardized rules for permitting solar and battery systems in New York City. Rules are going to fast-track residential outdoor systems under 20-kilowatt hours, including fivefoot setback from the structure, and one-hour fireproof rating material.
Soon, commercial systems will have set rules for larger systems that include setbacks and fire suppressant systems. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) is accelerating research and analysis on battery cells, modules, systems, and installations. This is vital, because local authorities who have jurisdiction rely on UL standards and codes on equipment and installations to implement rules and regulations. The New York Independent system operator (NYSIO), the entity responsible for balancing supply and demand for electricity throughout the state, recently
issued a “State of Storage” plan. There are still key details to flush out, but it’s crucial to have NYISO support to roll out sustainable solutions. Currently, solar power in the United States delivers 0.5 percent of all energy consumed, including stationary and transportation needs. With batteries, the key enabling technology, we’re laser- focused on making solar (and wind) 100 percent of our energy mix. These recent advancements in technology and public support signify a new horizon on the feasibility of powering our world with renewables.
David Schieren is CEO of EmPower Solar, which since 2003 has been the preferred solar provider of over 1,800 New Yorkers, earning an industry leading customer satisfaction rating. Presently, Schieren serves on the board of the New York Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA) and Vision Long Island.
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
APRIL FOCUS: ENERGY
EXPERTS DISCUSS BENEFITS OF SMART BUILDINGS
BY BENJAMIN FANG
In the words of Marshall Haimson, ignorance is bliss, except bliss is expensive. Haimson, co-chair of the Queens Chamber’s Energy Committee, says that philosophy applies to the energy sector, where “knowing what you’re doing” is important, whether it’s on solar renewables or energy efficiency. To further inform local businesses about smart buildings and their benefits, the Queens Chamber hosted a panel of energy efficiency experts on March 6. Dozens of business owners attended to learn how to not only reduce costs, but to make their buildings greener. What is a smart building? Maria Fields, senior vice president at JouleSmart Solutions, compared the concept to a smartphone. “It’s having an operating system and having a connection to the Internet,” she said. “It has a brain or a higher intelligence that connects the different systems in the building to a building management system, and has a connection to the Internet where data from within the building, the grid and weather can be incorporated.” Fields explained that the real value of a smart building comes from managing the entire building as a system, including HVAC, lighting and energy supply. “If you even just put in a building management system and didn’t change out any equipment at all, you would get substantial savings out of the building,” Fields said. In addition to the cost savings, smart buildings come with other benefits. They are easy to manage, whether it’s through a smartphone app or a web interface. They are also more sustainable and green than traditional, older buildings. JouleSmart provides smart building upgrades for small and midsized commercial businesses with no out-of-pocket costs and no risk for the customer, Fields said. The company incorporates anywhere
Maria Fields from JouleSmart, Stephen King from Transparent Energy, Michael Reed from NYSERDA and Damian Sciano from Con Edison discuss the benefits of smart buildings. from $75,000 to $150,000 worth of equipment to make those upgrades. “It’s repaid through the performance,” Fields said. She noted that smart building technology is more common among large commercial office spaces, such as ones in downtown Manhattan. But the technology has not been implemented in smaller and mid-sized buildings, or even in the outer boroughs like Queens. Fields said she believes that’s because small business owners wear many hats, and don’t have facilities managers, which many large commercial spaces have. But JouleSmart Solutions is working to change that. The company guarantees a lower energy bill by replacing lighting and putting speed drives and retrofitting within the building’s sensors and controls. “It is the ongoing maintenance of those that is the key source of savings,” Fields said. Panelists from a state agency, a utility company and a consulting firm also described how their tools also enhance performance. Michael
Reed from NYSERDA, the state authority working to achieve clean energy and sustainability, offers a real-time energy management program that helps building owners take advantage of incentives. The $50 million incentive program, currently out in the market, foots 30 percent of the cost for all qualified commercial, multi-family or industrial building that opts in. NYSERDA issues an open challenge to the marketplace, encouraging companies that sell smart buildings solutions to become a qualified vendor. The state authority’s definition of real-time energy management is “the monitoring of energy equipment at the system level, and then pushing that data to the cloud for analysis.” According to Reed, about 120 companies have applied to be qualified providers, and roughly less than half become qualified. NYSERDA then provides the costshare to the qualified vendor, who interact with customers. “We feel it’s much easier to work with a set of qualified vendors who have every incentive in the world
to make sure they get our money,” Reed said. “Then they pass that along.” Stephen King, director at consulting firm Transparent Energy, provides another service for companies and business owners looking to convert. The firm boasts two sophisticated platforms that download data directly from utilities and breaks down the information into granular data, such as delivery and transportation costs. Their second platform is a reversal auction that allows third-party suppliers to bid in real time for energy contracts. Transparent runs 12 to 25 auctions per week, which they said helps lower costs because they bid down to the lowest price. “The information is endless for us on the technology side,” King said. “It’s all from the suppliers to us, we interpret that and give it to the end user.” Damian Sciano, director of distribution for Con Edison, said his role is integrating different resources into the company’s planning CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
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Guests learn how businesses can get started with the technology. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 and operations, such as non-wire solutions. One of those solutions is incentivizing customers to consider new technologies like smart buildings. Rather than building billion-dollar substations like they’ve done in the past, Sciano said Con Ed is turning toward using customersided solutions. Con Ed is also working on rolling out its new advanced meter infrastructure, a five-year process. The advantage of the advance meters is that it also gives granular data on energy usage. Through a tool called Green Button Connect, building owners can access the data and share it with vendors or other people they’re doing business with. “We think through that kind of data transparency and information exchange, you’ll be better able to identify opportunities for yourself,” Sciano said. One of the most important questions posed to the panel was what the starting point is for most small businesses. Reed, from NYSERDA, said it depends on the owner’s level of internal sophistication.
“If you know what you want to do, you should just go for it. Issue an RFP, select a company and work with them,” he said. “If you need help, you can talk to NYSERDA’s technical advisors who can at least help you sift through all the information that’s out there.” If building owners are approaching this task and are unfamiliar with the space, they should go to a trusted advisor. “Start with somebody you trust and see where that takes you,” Reed said. Both King and Fields advised building owners to talk to someone who is focused on improving performance. “Having someone who is aligned with performance, not just this year but going forward, is the key to achieving the benefits of that new smart grid,” Fields said. Haimson, co-chair of the Energy Committee, said they’re working to make sure every committee under the Queens Chamber, including manufacturing, nonprofit, health care, real estate and hospitality, have smart buildings in their radar. “It’s soon not going to be an option not to care about energy efficiency,” he said.
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NYPD HEAD KEYNOTES CHAMBER ST. PAT’S EVENT BY BENJAMIN FANG With the catering hall lit up in green lights and a live band playing Irish music in the background, hundreds of business leaders attended the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s annual St. Patrick’s Day luncheon. The celebration at Terrace on the Park featured a traditional Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage, students from the Fitzpatrick Academy of Irish Dancers, and speeches from local elected officials. Among the dignitaries in attendance was Ireland’s minister of state for equality, immigration and integration, David Stanton. Visiting the United States for St. Patrick’s Day, Stanton stopped by the Emerald Isle Immigration Center in Woodside to learn about the diversity of Queens, including its rich history with the Irish community. “Queens is a proudly Irish borough with an active community,” Stanton said. “This is a huge interest to me.” He noted that 17 percent of the people living in Ireland were born off the island. While that is both
PHOTO: DOMINICK TOTINO
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positive and enriching, the diversity brings its own set of challenges, he said. “As a minister, I want to learn from Queens,” Stanton said. The keynote speaker at the celebration was Police Commissioner James O’Neill, an Irish-American hailing from Flatbush. The top cop spoke about how New York has transformed into the safest big city in America, while also improving community-police relations through the neighborhood policing initiative. Starting off as a transit cop on the subway beat, O’Neill worked his way up to become precinct leader in Central Park, East Harlem and the Bronx. Throughout his 34-year tenure in the NYPD, O’Neill said he has seen why the department needed to change the way it goes about its business. In other policing models, officers would respond to radio calls and roll through local streets in their police cars. But O’Neill said there was no interaction with the community in those models. “There’s no community outreach,” he said. “It’s got to be one and the
same. Fighting crime and community relations is the same thing.” Under O’Neill’s neighborhood policing initiative, neighborhood coordination officers (NCOs) are assigned a sector within a precinct with about 30,000 residents and businesses. They walk the streets of the precinct, making connections and forging relationships with community members and leaders. They visit local businesses and attend tenant or civic association meetings. Each NCO is given a phone, and are encouraged to give out their phone numbers and email addresses. Though they still answer radio runs and conduct regular police activity, NCOs spend about onethird of their day making those neighborhood connections. While attending a meeting with residents, O’Neill was once told that people “want policing to be done with us, not to us.” “That turned a light on for me,” he said. “That flipped a switch.” The improvement of community-police relations is essential to continue lowering the city’s crime rates, which have seen record lows in shootings and homicides.
Last year, New York City saw 292 homicides, compared to more than 2,200 back in 1995. There were about 780 shootings last year, but nearly 5,000 in 1990. “We still have room for improvement, but the city has gotten so much better,” O’Neill said. He attributes part of that success to the partnerships that the NYPD have with prosecutors, local elected officials and even national law enforcement agencies like the FBI and the ATF. That’s not to say crime and terrorism are no longer problems facing the city. On his first day as police commissioner 18 months ago, O’Neill oversaw operations dealing with the Chelsea bombing. There have been three terrorist attacks on New York City in his tenure, including the truck attack on Manhattan’s west side. But O’Neill said to keep New York as the safest big city, everyone, including the community, has to play a role. “That’s why we have to make sure we trust the police,” he said. “We have to work our hardest to keep this city safe.”
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
PHOTO: DOMINICK TOTINO
Pictured clockwise from top left are Daniel Dromm, Commissioner James O’Neill, Minister David Stanton, Borough President Melinda Katz, Reverend William Hoppe & Thomas Grech; Sean Guinan & Bobby Giurintano (TGI Office Automation); JP Di Troia & Torey McCleskey; John Siu, Annie Tom, Doneath Powell & Irene Dimopoulos (Flushing Bank); Fitzpatrick Academy of Irish Dancers; Salvatore Crifasi (second from right) & associates; QPTV’s Roslyn Nieves, Wendy Phaff (Queens Centers for Progress) & Claire Shulman with friends; and Commissioner O’Neill reading the new issue of This Is Queensborough.
PHOTO: DOMINICK TOTINO
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
DINAPOLI CONCLUDES ROCKAWAYS IS ON THE RISE BY BENJAMIN FANG
The comptroller said his office conducts economic snapshot For the last five years, Super- reports to give stakeholders, includstorm Sandy and the devastating ing elected officials, community aftermath of the hurricane defined leaders and residents, useful talkthe Rockaways. ing points to advocate for their Thousands of homes and busi- community. nesses, along with roads, sidewalks “It’s an opportunity to really look and other infrastructure, were all at a point in time,” he said, “and see damaged; local families were dis- where a community is at.” placed. The report looked at the ecoThe boardwalk was destroyed, nomic trends in the community. the water supply was disrupted, For example, it concluded that job and power outages lasted weeks. growth rose by 4.6 percent last The subways were out of service year, more than twice the citywide for months. rate. But the peninsula is recovering. It also determined that health Slowly, but surely, homes were care remains the largest employrebuilt, businesses came back and er in the area, accounting for 39 the boardwalk was resurrected. percent of all private sector jobs. Though the resurgence is visible to More than half of the jobs gained many local officials and residents, between 2013 and 2016 were in they finally have the numbers to the fields of health care, bars and back it up. restaurants, and personal services, In March, State Comptrol- such as hair and nail salons. ler Thomas DiNapoli released an The number of businesses in the economic snapshot of the Rocka- Rockaways has also increased to ways, more than five years after 1,215, 11 percent more than before the storm. The main the storm hit. More takeaway is that the than four-fifths of Rockaways is on those are small the rise again. businesses, with According to the 10 employees or WHAT THIS REPORT report, private secless. But big comREALLY SHOWS IS THE tor employment in panies, with 100 or RESILIENCE OF THIS the area set a new more employees, NEIGHBORHOOD. record with 14,900 provide 49 percent jobs in 2016 after of all private sector dipping 11 percent jobs. between 2011 and Though the con2013. The growth clusions were posihas remained strong through the tive overall, the snapshot also presented some challenges the area first three quarters of 2017. Similarly, despite business sales still faces. One particular issue is plummeting after Sandy, sales economic inequality, which shows reached $149 million by 2016. That the gaps among the 10 distinct rise exceeded the Rockaways’ pre- communities. For example, Belle Harbor has storm level by almost 35 percent. Even the population recovered. an average household income of The Rockaways saw a 16 percent $138,200, while Edgemere’s housedrop in population two years after hold income is a mere $30,400. the hurricane. By 2017, the popula- Combined, the Rockaways has a tion jumped back to 127,400, just median income of $44,000, the a tad shy of the record set in 2012. second lowest in Queens. According to the report, more “What this report really shows is the resilience of this neighbor- than one-fifth of Rockaways househood,” DiNapoli said on Friday, holds are below the federal poverty when he unveiled the findings of line, and one-third of the peninthe report at the Rockaway Insti- sula’s children lived in poverty. Another concern is that despite tute for a Sustainable Environment the unemployment rate falling from (RISE).
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Community Board 13 district manager Johnathan Gaska, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, Assemblywoman Michele Titus and Councilman Donovan Richards at the report’s release. 14.2 percent in 2010 to 9 percent in 2016, the Rockaways’ rate is still the third-highest in the borough. Nearly 18 percent of Edgemere remains unemployed. Transportation remains an issue for residents. Despite the new ferry service and Select Bus Service (SBS) offering new modes of faster transportation, residents still had the longest commutes of all 55 neighborhoods in the city. Roughly 90 percent of residents work outside of the Rockaways, which means most still have long commutes to their jobs. The toll on the Cross Bay Bridge is another burden on residents and visitors alike. And despite the rebuilding of many homes, the report concludes that the peninsula is still vulnerable to flooding. “You hope that the information, the data we have in this report, will help this community move forward in dealing with those challenges,” DiNapoli said. Local elected officials attested to the importance of having hard data on hand. State Senator James Sanders Jr., who demanded that the Rockaway communities benefit from the revamping of John F. Kennedy International Airport, said this report helps make that argument. “Data must drive growth,” Sanders said. “We have to have smart growth, and reports like this enable us to do that.”
Councilman Donovan Richards said, historically, there has been a lack of investment and development on the peninsula. But thanks to $288 million in city funding, downtown Far Rockaway is being revitalized. A former 200,000-square-foot mall that was vacant and dilapidated will be demolished and rebuilt as community facilities, health care centers and new retail. “Those opportunities can exist because we’re not doing what we did in the past, where the strategy was just to build housing and nothing around it,” Richards said. “We are now building the essential necessities to really build a full community.” Affordable housing is also coming to the Rockaways as part of its revival. Richards noted that more than half of Rockaways residents are rent-burdened. The councilman said there’s no shortage of interest in developing Far Rockaway. The important part is figuring out how to “cultivate it to make sure it works for everyone,” he said. Richards said he wants to find opportunities to build for the existing community, and address some of the challenges residents in neighborhoods like Edgemere face. “I think 10 years from now, the numbers, especially the disparities, you’re going to start to see them decrease a whole lot more,” he said. “I’m happy with where we’re going. Rockaway is truly rising.”
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
DIGITAL SIGNAGE SHOWCASES PRODUCTS & SERVICES BY RICHARD A. FROMM Imagine being able to choose what you want to show on one or more electronic displays, in one or more locations, following a schedule that controls exactly where and when the content is seen. That could include text, photos, graphics, video, audio, live data, scrolling tickers, news feeds, and social media. Welcome to digital signage. Digital signage is all around you, for example: • A wall-mounted display in a health club showing educational videos about exercise and nutrition. • A display in a salon window advertising hair care products, the newest beautician arrival, and
• Airport terminal signs presenting current arrival/departure times and gate locations. Why is digital signage beneficial to your business? In addition to transmitting relevant information about events, products, and services, digital signage enables you to have visually appealing displays tailored to your unique audience. Signs set the customer mood, enhance the shopping experience, and reinforce your brand. Signage turns window shoppers into paying customers, keeps people more relaxed and engaged during wait times, and entices them to make more impulse purchases. The challenge for many businesses, especially smaller brick-and-mortar operations, is the
FDSN is an entirely cloud-based digital signage solution, which means your signs can be located anywhere and FDSN will do all the administration and content management for you.
cloud-based digital signage solution. Cloud-based means your signs can be located anywhere and FDSN will do all the A survey by one of the top global shipping companies determined administration and content management for you. that more than 75 percent of consumers visit stores after Maybe you want a single seeing digital signage. It also determined that nearly 70 percent sign on a counter near your purchased a product because a digital sign caught their eye. cash register or signs in your sales and services upcoming events. perception that digital signage is an departments and customer lobby, • Customer service signs at expensive solution requiring high- each showing common and unique the local motor vehicle bureau end hardware, network cabling, content. Maybe you have operations updating who’s next and which and a lot of time and attention by in several cities where you want to line to follow. technical resources who are already communicate important data at the • Behind-the-counter fast food busy or who may not even exist. same time according to specific menus switching automatically The FROMM Digital Signage time zones. It’s all the same to from breakfast to lunch to dinner. Network (FDSN) is an entirely FDSN.
Digital signs display text, photos, video, audio, live data, scrolling tickers, news feeds and social media.
The hardware requirements will not break your budget. An Internet connection and a web browser are all that are needed to display multimedia content to customers, prospects, colleagues, and employees. The appearance of signs is limited only by your imagination, creativity, and business needs. Consider Harry’s Habana Hut, a popular cigar lounge in Bayside. It wanted to entertain its customers while upselling products and providing useful information. Now it has a sign located on the wall near the front counter that shows a wide variety of interesting content. There are announcements about upcoming special cigar events, live sports updates of the local teams, photos from a recent junket to Cuba for vintage cigars and cars, all making for great conversation. There is also daily and weekly weather reports, a real-time traffic map pointing out bottlenecks, a video explaining how to properly light a cigar educates viewers, and a news ticker running across the bottom of the screen lets everyone know about current events. New content is added frequently as older content is removed, keeping the viewing experience fresh. Customer feedback has been exceptionally positive. For more information on the FROMM Digital Signage Network or to request a demo of its features and functionality, contact me at (718)490-6056 or richardfromm2653@gmail.com.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER MAKES ANNUAL TRIP TO ALBANY Over 200 members joined the Queens Chamber of Commerce for the annual “Queens Day in Albany” on March 20, packed onto buses that left the chamber’s headquarters at the Bulova Corporate Center in Jackson Heights. Once in Albany, participants spent three hours meeting face to face with the borough’s legislators in both the State Senate and Assembly. Following lunch, the group was introduced on both
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the Assembly and Senate floors by leadership from the Queens delegation. Following a group photo in the capitol building, there was a reception in the Hart Lounge of The Egg, with food and drinks provided by over 40 restaurants and breweries that traveled from Queens for the event. Guest speakers included Borough President Melinda Katz and Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul.
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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NONPROFIT SECTOR
QCP HONORS RWNY, INVESTORS LEADERS BY BENJAMIN FANG Hundreds of local foodies got a taste of some of the best restaurants in the borough at Queens Centers For Progress (QCP)’s annual Evening of Fine Food. Dozens of eateries like M. Wells Steakhouse in Long Island City, London Lennies in Rego Park and Allora Italian Kitchen in Bayside provided samples of their gourmet meals at Terrace on the Park. The evening also serves as a fundraiser for QCP, a Jamaicabased nonprofit that provides programs and services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. The agency’s 600 staff members serve more than 1,500 people from all ages and backgrounds.
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The funding goes a long way to supporting the organ i z a t i o n ’s programs. “Our folks do imagine living in a better world,” said QCP board president Michael J. Macaluso. “With your support, they do.” Each year, the Evening of Fine Food honors two local leaders in Queens for their contributions to the community and the agency. This year’s honorees were Scott Molina, president of Resorts World Casino New York City, and Maria Odysseos, vice president and district manager at Investors Bank. Both “Chefs of the Year” received gold pans for their contributions. For Molina, QCP’s programs are close to his heart because his daughter is a special education teacher.
QCP director of development Wendy Phaff, Resorts World Casino president Scott Molina, Investors Bank vice president Maria Odysseos and QCP president Michael Macaluso hold up the gold pans. “I can see how QCP changes people’s lives, not only for children and the adults, but for the
staff members,” he said. “This experience has truly touched my life in a positive way.”
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
NONPROFIT SECTOR
KING MANOR MUSEUM ANNOUNCES SPRING EVENTS King Manor Museum has a number of special events planned as part of its spring programming. For history buffs, historical interpreter Cheyney McKnight will talk on April 15 about the style evolution of headwraps worn by African women in 18th- and 19th-century America. The lectures will start at 3 p.m. Children can get in touch with the past during Hands on History programs. Story time and craft projects like making bandboxes, pockets, and sachets explore what life was like in the 1800s. Hands on History takes place the first Saturday of each month from 1 to 4 p.m. and is free of charge. The third annual Traditions Festival returns to the museum’s lawn on May 19 and 20. This free program brings together traditional crafts, music, and food of Early America and more recent immi-
grant cultures around Queens. The festival is funded by council members Rory Lancman and Barry Grodenchik through the City Council’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative. Give mom an early Mother’s Day treat, and bring her to May 11‘s concert by the early music ensemble TENET. The group will play lively music from 12th- and 13th-century France in the museum’s elegant dining room. Located in the heart of downtown Jamaica on 161st Street, King Manor was the home of Rufus King, a framer of the United States Constitution and a leading voice in the early anti-slavery movement. Visitors are welcome to stop by for a tour of the historic building on weekdays from noon to 2 p.m. and weekends from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information on events, visit kingmanor.org.
Children enjoy period music at King Manor Museum in Jamaica.
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APRIL ‘OPENS’ WITH LEGOS, CLOSES OUTDOORS The word “April” comes from “aperire,” which means “to open” in Latin. This is the month when the trees and flowers open. However, inside events rule in Queens, including a brick blowout, lectures, art exhibitions, and lots of live music. But don’t worry, the month ends with an iconic outdoor arbor fest. April 7-8, LEGO Brick Fest Live. Get inspired, educated, and entertained with a ridiculous amount of LEGOs. Woody, a sevenfoot-tall model of a Toy Story character made of LEGO bricks, will be there. Ditto for Neon City, Glow Gallery, Floorsaic, Big Brick Pit, Space Station, Architecture Zone, and other exhibitions. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111st St., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, nysci.org. April 8-August 12, Mel Chin: All Over The Place. This multilocation exhibition is on display at NYC venues Queens Museum, Times Square, and the BroadwayLafayette subway station. It spans nearly four decades of Chin’s art, highlighting his engagement of multi-disciplinary, collaborative teamwork to posit community-based solutions to ecological and sociopolitical crises. Queens Museum, NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, queensmuseum.org. April 9, Holocaust Memorial Day, 1:30 pm. Northwestern Uni-
versity Professor Emeritus of Holocaust Studies and Chair Peter Hayes addresses the most difficult questions about the Holocaust: Why were Jews the targets and Germans the aggressors? Why did violence escalate so swiftly to mass murder? Why was such limited help given from the outside? Central Queens Y, 67-09 108th St., Forest Hills, cqy.org. April 14, Broadway Valentine, 3 and 8 pm. Three real-life couples who regularly perform on Broadway sing romantic songs. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, queenstheatre.org. April 15, Americans in Paris and Back Again, 2 pm. Quintet of the Americas, the borough’s renowned woodwind ensemble, plays music that explores teacher Nadia Boulanger’s influence on American composers, such as Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, and Quincy Jones. Queens Flushing Library, 41-17 Main St., Flushing, queenslibrary. org. April 15, Edmar Castaneda Quartet with Special Guest Gregoire Maret, 3 pm. This exciting duo provides the unusual combination of harp and harmonica. Castaneda has taken the world stage by storm with the sheer force of his virtuosic command of the harp. Maret is one of the world’s most sought after harmonica players.
MEL CHIN
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QUINTET OF THE AMERICAS
LeFrak Concert Hall, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, kupferbergcenter.org. April 20, Latin Boogaloo Meets Afrobeat, 7 pm. NYC’s only band dedicated to Latin Boogaloo’s soul and R&B mix, Spanglish Fly, shares the stage with Chop and Quench, comprised of cast and band members from FELA! The Musical. Each band plays a set, then the two meet and jam. Dance lesson at 7 pm. Show at 8 pm. This show kicks off the Global Mashup series. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., flushingtownhall. org. April 21, L’Histoire du Soleil: American Premiere, 1:30 and 4 pm. A classical music concert with clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, oboe, trombone, horn, harp, violin, and bass. Loosely inspired by Stravinsky’s L’histoire du Soldat, the score depicts a European mountain town where the sun has disappeared. A boy discovers that a factory has been bottling up the fresh air, making the sun very angry. With help and opposition from certain town characters, the
boy figures out how to save his town and see the sun rise again. The Church-in-the-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, musicareginae. org. April 29, Masterworks Concert: Fancy-Free & Enigmatic, 3 pm. This Queens Symphony Orchestra show’s first half is a salute to Leonard Bernstein on his 100th birthday year with music from his first major Broadway hit, Fancy Free. The soloist is Israeli pianist Alon Goldstein, an impeccable Mozart interpreter. The show’s second half features Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, a colorful musical sketchbook of the composer’s friends. Kupferberg Center for the Arts, LeFrak Concert Hall, Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing, queenssymphony.org. April 29, Arbor Fest, 11 am to 5 pm. This annual celebration of trees and the environment includes lawn games, botanical demos, puppet shows, a petting zoo, food vendors, a beer-and-wine garden, and crafts. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, queensbotanical.org.
The “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council with the hope that readers will enjoy the borough’s wonderful attractions. More info at itsinqueens.com.
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS APRIL 4/4, 6 PM
NETWORKING IN COLLEGE POINT
The Queens Chamber of Commerce hosts its April Business Card Exchange. P.C. Richard & Son 136-03 20th Avenue College Point 4/6, 8:30 AM
WORKSHOP #4: CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS FOR THE WORKPLACE: CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370
Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370
4/18, 4 to 5:30 PM
4/25, 5:30 PM
Meet, greet and exchange information with Hillside Avenue merchants. Queens Library 202-05 Hillside Avenue Hollis, NY 11423
Learn about Queens Chamber of Commerce Outreach Initiatives on Grand Avenue. Investors Bank 69-71 Grand Avenue Maspeth, NY 11378
MERCHANT’S NETWORKING BUSINESS RESOURCE DAY
4/20, 8:30 AM
SEMINAR: BASICS OF BUSINESS DISSOLUTION You’ll gain a better understanding AND PARTNERSHIP of the dynamics of conflict and BREAKUP negotiation, the impact of cultural differences and, how to manage yourself and your employees during tense moments. Free & open to the public Complimentary parking
MERCHANT’S NETWORKING BUSINESS RESOURCE DAY
MAY 5/11, 9 AM
QUEENS AIR SERVICES DEVELOPMENT OFFICE FarrellFritz presents at this event AVIATION NETWORKING geared toward small,medium and EVENT & TRADE SHOW large businesses and in-house counsel. Free & open to the public Complimentary parking
In this “reverse” trade show, buyers and major contractors staff tables, while vendors and service suppliers visit each table sharing
information on products and services that are available locally. The event is free, however, reservations are required. Call (718) 244-6852 for more information. Russo’s on the Bay 162-45 Cross Bay Boulevard Howard Beach, NY 11414 5/25, 8:30 AM
WORKPLACE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: TIME, STRESS & ANGER MANAGEMENT AT THE WORKPLACE
Mismanagement of time, stress and anger not only hurts productivity but also put the health and safety of employees and customers at risk. Manage all three, you have a more effective workplace. Free & open to the public Complimentary parking Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370
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
Council Member Barry S. Grodenchik 73-03 Bell Boulevard, Oakland Gardens, NY 11364
(718) 468-0137
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LET SEARS MAIDS HANDLE YOUR SPRING CLEANING As we transition from the cold winter, spring is always a welcome sight. But along with great spring weather comes the need for spring cleanings. Sears maids are here to make your life a little easier. For excellent home-cleaning services, trust the cleaning professionals at Sears maid services. Our teams of cleaning professionals have years of experience with residential and commercial cleaning. If you need that one-time deep cleaning or if you’re interested in regular cleaning services, you can count on us. Our staff cleans bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, living rooms, dining rooms and more. We specialize in toilets, ovens and other hard-to-clean objects, including microwaves and dusty ceiling fans. When you need regular home cleaning servicing on a schedule that suits your needs, Sears maid services can help. Our home cleaning staff offers convenient scheduling to work with your timetable.
We offer weekly, biweekly, and monthly scheduling to accommodate a range of home and apartment cleaning needs. For a one-time, deep cleaning you need performed once or twice a year, like spring cleaning, we also offer an intensive deep-cleaning service, which includes all of our normal cleaning benefits with additional attention given to other areas. We also offer great commercial cleaning services. An office space that communicates disorder can demoralize workers. A clean office space imparts order, boosts morale, and can maintain staff efficiency. Don’t let your office become cluttered and unsanitary due to inconsistent cleaning. Instead, count on the professionals at Sears maid services to keep your office well cleaned and maintained. We train our employees in professional cleaning techniques to keep your office free from dust, kitchen stains, and full wastebaskets.
Our post-construction cleaning crews are equally skilled. New home construction can be a messy business. Once all the carpet has been laid, drywall hung, and fixtures installed, most rooms will need ample cleaning. Most construction companies require cleaning services before a newly constructed home can be shown to prospective buyers, realtors or inspectors. For excellent post-construction cleaning services, you can call on the professionals from Sears maid services. Our cleaning experts have experience cleaning the mess left behind in newly constructed homes: we’ll vacuum, mop, and sweep all flooring; remove dust, debris, and silicon from the site; and wash and sanitize all surfaces. We at Sears maid services are here to service our patrons with the highest cleaning standards. You can set up a free estimate at searsmaidservices.com or (718) 527-0370.
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES
BID GEARS UP FOR ANNUAL TASTE OF SUNNYSIDE BY MEGHAN SACKMAN For the past seven years, Sunnyside businesses have come together at the start of spring to deliver a “Taste of Sunnyside.” This year that will happen on May 22. The idea for the event came from De Mole owner Ramiro Mendez, who participated in Taste of Tribeca when he was a chef at a Manhattan restaurant. He brought the idea to a few people who showed little interest, but then the Queens Chamber of Commerce decided to help make his dream a reality. The chamber organized the first Taste of Sunnyside, and the Sunnyside Shines BID has hosted the event in a tent under the 7 train in Bliss Plaza ever since. This year, it will move to the P.C. Richards parking lot at 50-02 Queens Boulevard. Mendez said he will miss the old location in the heart of the community, but still has high expectations. “It’s going to be fun for sure,” he said. “It’s been getting better and better every year.” “It’s a more open space, and because it’s on private property we’re going to have the flexibility to do a little bit more with the festival than we have in the past,” added BID executive director Jaime-Faye Beam. Tickets are $45 for general admission and $70 for VIP admission, which allows entrance one hour earlier. The past two years the event has sold out. In addition to the great food, there will also be live entertainment. “The board has a strong appreciation for the positive impact the arts can have on economic neighborhood revitalization,” Beam said. “So you’ll find that most of our public programming will have an artistic element, and that’s something we’re always really excited about.” She added that the event is a great way for residents to get to know the people behind some of
their favorite restaurants as society relies more and more on technology. “In an age of Seamless and Grubhub, this is a way for people to actually see these restaurants as small business owners and it drives home the message to ‘shop small,’” said Beam.
Susan Albenio, co-owner of Tito Rad’s Grill, said the event does a lot to benefit and highlight the diversity of Sunnyside. “It exposes people to different cultures, which is a very good thing for a business,” she said. “Also, it’s not all about exposure, but making friends and getting involved and
engaging. They are really building up the community and we have to be part of that.” Taste of Sunnyside will take place on Tuesday, May 22, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at tasteofsunnyside.com.
RBA ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS BY MEGHAN SACKMAN The Rockaway Business Alliance (RBA) held its annual meeting in March to discuss accomplishments of the past year, plans for further improvement, and to elect a new slate of directors. Rob Walsh, former Department of Small Businesses commissioner and current radio host on 1010WINS, was the evening’s guest speaker. While commissioner, Walsh and the agency played a role in helping businesses recuperate from the destruction left by Hurricane Sandy, especially the businesses along Beach 116th street. Walsh said he was amazed at the progress made since the storm.
“Just keep asking, why can’t we be even bigger and better?” he said. “Keep pushing, keep prying and keep coming up with new ideas.” Board chair Yarden Flatow discussed the achievements of RBA over the past year, including growing from 13 to 51 members, the formation of seven committees to address specific issues, and the expansion of the RBA’s social media presence to make the Rockaways more of a tourist destination. A big milestone for the RBA was the launch of Rockaway ConneX, which uses beacon technology to allow visitors to explore local businesses with their smartphone. As for the future, Flatow discussed efforts to create a long-term
revenue model that’s not reliant on grants and the launch of their new website. “All I’ve ever wanted to see was Rockaway become the place that it deserves to be,” Flatow said. The Board of Directors for the coming year includes Flatow, Lana Meli, Rachel Krieger, Michael Gliner, Erin Silvers, Dominique Cannelongo, Ruth Gilwit, James Otton, Jaime Schultz, John Cori, Marc Scala, Samantha Cintron, Mara Valentino and Galit Tsadik. “The cool thing about the Rockaway Business Alliance is that anybody can be a member,” said Cannelongo. “Anybody can really make things happen. If we share ideas and work with each other, we can really accomplish a lot.”
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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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. The 82nd Street Partnership has a robust schedule of events throughout the year, including Viva La Comida, Halloween parade, holiday tree lighting, back-to-school activities, the “A Walk With A Doctor” event. The latter takes place in October through a partnership with Elmhurst Hospital. Doctors demonstrate life-saving tips in cases of disasters and everyday accidents. But currently Leslie Ramos is concerned with what she says is the city’s lack of understanding of the needs and concerns of small business owners. In mid-March, the city eliminated parking on Roosevelt Avenue between Broadway and 90th Street between 7 and 10 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. for a six-month pilot program aimed at mitigating traffic and congestion.
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.
The first-ever St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Bayside took place on Saturday, March 24, on Bell Boulevard.
BUSINESS CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS (BCNA)
78-27 37 Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Manager of Business Development: Tshering D. Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@nycbcna.org QUICK GLANCE: Since 1997, BCNA has been serving New York City entrepreneurs. BCNA is an approved Small Business Administration Intermediary Lender and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). BCNA’s Microloan program is the cornerstone of its services. They provide small business loans and microloans to business owners who are not able to obtain loans from traditional lenders. Loans range from $500 to $50,000 with terms up to three years. Loan officers help clients with creating business plan and financial statements, and offer credit counseling to help clients understand, improve and repair credit. They offer workshops on small business management, social media, credit building and home ownership. The 7th Annual Immigrant Heritage Week Awards is on Thursday, April 19, from 8:30-10:45 a.m. at SIFMA Conference Center, 210 Broadway, 2nd Floor (photo ID required). The event includes keynote speaker Aline Sara, co-founder of Na Takallam, and Gregg Bishop, commissioner of the Department of Small Business services, and honors outstanding refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs. To register call (212) 898-4195 or email rsvp@nybcna.org.
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 next event on the Chamber’s calendar is the Forest Hills Festival on Sunday, June 10.
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
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QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and representing over 200 businesses. Litter in the area is rampant, and the chamber is making it a priority. The chamber is partnering with the city for locations for up to 50 new garbage cans in Downtown Flushing. Queens SOUP 2018 is on Sunday, April 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Flushing Meeting House, 137-16 Northern Boulevard. Queens SOUP provides an opportunity for any community project based in Flushing to get no-strings-attached money. Projects can focus on arts and culture, civil rights, small business assistance, children’s programming, neighborhood beautification, environmental remediation, and more. Four projects will be chosen to present their plans during Queens SOUP. Tickets are $5. For more information, contact the chamber at (646) 820-5163. The Chamber recently welcomed several new board members. They include Reverend Richard McEachern of Macedonia AME Church; COTS Travel owner Bianca Ng; Queens College vice president Elizabeth Hendrey; Austin Yeung, managing director of Capital Partners Accounting; EZ Tax owner Carlos Bustamante; and Kevin Louie, senior associate at Cushman Wakefield.
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, in conjunction with Bellmore/Merrick School District, Patrol Borough Queens South and Jamaica YMCA, will host the Annual Prom Dress/Suit Giveaway on Saturday, April 21, at The Harvest Room at 90-40 160th Street. Event doors open at 11 a.m., early arrival is suggested. In order to register please visit sayyes2thepromdress2018. eventbrite.com. The event is hosted by Oceana Porter and coordinated by Vignike Anderson (718-291-0282 ext 127).
GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID 84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with more than 350 businesses under its umbrella.
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES On Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street, the BID features six supermarkets. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans.
Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enroll by April 15 and receive a $100 discount on each enrollment. More info at conted@ york.cuny.edu.
JAMAICA CENTER BID
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 419 Jamaica, NY 11432 718.526.2422 jamaica.nyc @JamaicaAvenue QUICK GLANCE: Budget of over $1 million. Founded in 1979, the district includes 300 stores on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 160th Street in Jamaica. They offer a value card and support business owners in their expansions and openings. Valerie Stevens is director of Business Services and Operations, supporting member businesses in their marketing efforts. Stevens has been focusing on social media to assist with branding and expansion. The BID is currently looking for a sponsor for their banners and trash can program along Jamaica Avenue. The BID is helping to promote the York College Summer Camp. There are two schedules offered, both which includes breakfast and lunch. They are
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. JFK Airport is the only airport in the country to have its own chamber of commerce wholly dedicated to the airport business community, which employs 35,000 people. The airport handles more than 50 million passengers a year, using almost a half-million square feet of warehouse space to handle more than a million tons of air freight cargo a year. Upcoming events include: • The JFKCoC Directors General Monthly Meeting is on Wednesday, April 11, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at JFK International Airport, Building 14, Conference Room A. Guests welcome, but RSVP required. • The JFK Runway run will take place on April
15 from 7 a.m., to noon. Learn more at jfkrunwayrun.org.
LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP
President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 www.longislandcityqueens.com 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. The Partnership will host the 13th Annual Real Estate Breakfast: LIC-Open For Business on Thursday, April 12, from 7:30 to 10 a.m. at the Ravel Hotel, 8-08 Queens Plaza South. Join over 250 leaders in real estate and finance to learn about current projects underway in LIC. The event is moderated by David Brause, president of Brause Realty and chair of the LIC Business Improvement District. Previous panels have highlighted a mix of residential, commercial,
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QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES retail, cultural and industrial developments. This year, they are focusing on the new and exciting business tenants shaping the neighborhood.
MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Daraio 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have 120 members and a budget of $115,000. The next chamber meeting is on Tuesday, April 10, at noon at Connolly’s Corner, 71-15 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.
MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)
BOC: 96-11 40th Road, Corona, NY 11368 Coordinator: Quincy Ely-Cate 718.205.3773 qelycate@bocnet.org mibanyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Roughly 600 businesses with 30 active members. The Maspeth Industrial Business Association, a project of the Business Outreach Center Network, provides a collective voice in advocating the needs and interests of industrial and manufacturing businesses in Maspeth. They help companies in the Maspeth Industrial District in developing workforce, accessing tax credits, obtaining financing, navigating government regulations and, in some cases, finding real estate. The next MIBA Breakfast will be held on May 18 at 8:30 a.m. at Petro Heating at 55-60 58th Street. The guest speaker will be OSHA compliance associate specialist Heinz Wardoff. RSVP at qelycate@bocnet.org.
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
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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. The next Middle Village Property Owners and Residents Association meeting will take place on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Margaret’s Church at 66-05 79th Place.
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. One of the longest running BIDs is also one of the more innovative in its approach to helping maintain an active business corridor by helping landlords rent vacant properties. The website ridgewood-ny.com shows properties that are currently for rent in the district. There are currently ten stores looking for tenants. Upcoming events include the Myrtle Avenue Street Fair on April 15 from noon to 5 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue from Wyckoff to Forest avenues, and Sidewalk Sales Days from April 19 to 22.
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 for over 2,000 businesses in the borough of Queens. 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. Upcoming event include: • New Idea to New Venture Workshop on April 2 from 6 to 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, Room G110, 120-
55 Queens Boulevard. This workshop helps participants develop their business idea, organize their start-up process and create a strategy to launch their business. • Doing Business With The Government: Getting M/WBE Certified with NYC & NYS on April 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at Borough Hall, Room 200, 120-55 Queens Boulevard. Learn about getting certified as a Minority/Woman Business Enterprise with the city and state, what you will need to do to obtain government contracts, and how you can leverage your certification to get more business. • Doing Business With The Government: Getting M/WBE Certified with NYC & NYS on April 26 from 10 a.m. to noon at The Entrepreneur Space, 36-46 37th Street, Long Island City.
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 visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces. RBA seeks to create and curate an inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy year round. The Alliance will be hosting a corridor cleanup on Saturday, April 14, at 9 a.m. on Rockaway Boulevard from Beach 90th to Beach 94th streets.
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. Founded in 1978, the Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) was established to promote the revitalization of the Rockaway’s economic base and neighborhoods by creating longstanding partnerships with city and state agencies. RDRC is governed by a twelve-member board of directors and a five-member merchant advisory board. RDRC’s current city and state collaborations include the Downtown Far Rockaway Storefront Improvement Program, The Downtown Far Rockaway Public Wi-Fi Project, The Rockaway East Workforce Development Program and most recently,
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES the planned $288,000,000 Downtown Far Rockaway Redevelopment Project. With over 250 businesses and 61,000 or 53 percent of the Rockaway’s entire population living within 2 miles of downtown Far Rockaway, one of RDRC’s goals is to reduce the over $91 million in market leakage to neighboring downtown shopping districts. To address this challenge, in 2014 RDRC rejuvenated the Rockaway East Merchants Association (REMA). Today with RDRC as its administrator, REMA membership now includes 40-plus local businesses with an active calendar of events that includes an annual merchant’s fair, talent show, fashion event, holiday tree lighting and live concerts. REMA membership meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month at 1 p.m. at RDRC, located at 1920 Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway. RDRC 32nd Annual Tribute and Gala Dinner is on Wednesday, May 16, at Russo’s on the Bay, 162-45 Cross Bay Boulevard, Howard Beach. Cocktails at 6 p.m. Deadline for submitting journal ads and payment is April 24. RSVP form is online at rdrc.com or contact Valerie West at (718) 327-5300.
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.
STEINWAY STREET BID
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.
25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103 Executive Director: Marie Torniali 718.728.7820 info@steinwaystreet.nyc steinwaystreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID has
SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Patricia Dorfman 718.729.4688 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.
SUNNYSIDE SHINES
The BID is still looking for sponsors for Sunnyside Street Banners along Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue. There are still a number of locations still available, call the office for more info. Companies that are not located in Sunnyside are invited to participate as well. Sponsorships start at $350 and last for one year. Upcoming events include: • City Resources for Community Leaders & Small Businesses Lunch, April 25 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Join Sunnyside Shines for an informational workshop with Department of Small Business Services. Presenters will speak about the array of business resources and services offered by the agency and how you can help equip your constituents with them. There will also be a deep dive into SBS’ new business portal. Lunch will be served. RSVP required. • Online Verified Listing Day, April 26 In an effort to increase the presence of Sunnyside businesses online, we will be holding a day of outreach to help businesses obtain and verify their online listings on platforms like Google and Yelp. • Greenpoint Avenue Community Mulching, April 28 & 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Spruce up the Sunnyside streetscape by adding mulch to tree beds on Greenpoint Avenue with your neighbors and the Parks Department. Roll up your sleeves and join us for a weekend of public service. RSVP required.
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For more information or to schedule a private tour, visit www.kewforest.org/summer or call 718.268.4667 x108 27
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NEW MEMBERS MAJOR CORPORATE
TF Cornerstone CORPORATE
Thales USA Inc. Fabiani, Cohen & Hall, LLP Ashnu International, Inc. Premier Payroll Solutions GUM Studios Kimco Realty Corporation Seagis Property Group The Durst Organization AmTrust Title INTRODUCTORY
Box and Bottle NYC Impact Environmental A-Class Realty Slide Bar-B-Q USL Technology American Cancer Society GreenStreet Network One Station Plaza Solarus Technologies Louder Communications Integrated Building Technologies M Kelly Media K.K. Capital One Funding Queens Check Cashing Corp.
TF Cornerstone
387 Park Avenue South, 7th Floor New York, NY 10016 www.tfc.com 212.984.1704 TF Cornerstone has been in the real estate business for more than 40 years, with an expertise in its field and unsurpassed success in the New York City area. TF Cornerstone Inc.’s principals are two brothers, Tom and Fred Elghanayan. The Company is focused on acquisition, development, construction and management of fine residential, commercial and retail properties. TFC’s property portfolio includes a solid, fully-operational collection of Class A, luxury residential buildings, modern office spaces and highly visible retail locations totaling over 8 million square feet throughout New York City and Washington, D.C.
Thales USA
2733 Crystal Drive Suite 1200 Arlington, VA 22202 thalesgroup.com 703.229.9539 In a world that is increasingly fast moving, unpredictable and full of opportunities, people come to Thales with big ambitions: to make life better, to keep them safer. Combining a unique diversity of expertise, talents and cultures, architects design and deliver extraordinary high technology solutions. Solutions that make tomorrow possible, today. From the bottom of the oceans to the depths of space and cyberspace, Thales helps their customers think smarter and act faster, mastering ever greater complexity and every decisive moment along the way.
Fabiani, Cohen & Hall, LLP
570 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 fchllp.com 212.644.4420 Fabiani Cohen & Hall, LLP is a construction and insurance litigation firm that prides itself on striving to set the highest standard of excellence in their fields of practice. The firm specializes in the representation of owners/developers, contractors, municipalities and municipal corporations in State and Federal Courts. They are known for their aggressive, result–oriented approach and their practice is widely recognized by the bench and bar for the excellent quality of the firm’s work product and the preparedness of our lawyers.
Ashnu International, Inc.
58-09 28th Avenue Woodside, NY 11377 ashnuinternational.com 718.267.7590 Ashnu International is a multi-million dollar
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construction management and general contracting company. The company maintains an impeccable reputation in both the public and private sectors. Ashnu consistently delivers superior workmanship on schedule and within budget. Each project is managed by a strict governance model to ensure efficiency, safety and quality. Their mission is to provide their customers with consistent quality workmanship, fair and competitive pricing and timely completion of each project. What may seem like a simple way to conduct business is their mantra that distinguishes us from their competitors.
Premier Payroll Solutions
18 Unqua Road Massapequa, NY 11758 premierpayrollny.com 631.403.5088 At PPS, their clients range from single employee firms to large organizations that may have more complex needs. The reason so many have chosen PPS is the relationship that they build to understand their customers’ needs. PPS strives to provide the best solution that exceeds their customers expectations. Their HCM approach places an emphasis on the value of each and every employee to help drive your business.
GUM Studios
4508 2nd Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232 gumstudios.nyc 917.966.6081 GUM Studios is a 21,000-square-foot facility located one block from Hunter’s Point waterfront park in Long Island City. GUM caters to all film productions including commercials, feature films, long-term TV shows, high-end photo shoots and music videos. GUM is a Level 1 Qualified Production Space. They’ve built their space out to be film/photo-friendly. GUM provides in-house equipment rentals, as well as in-house production assistance. They’re here to help you with anything you need whether it’s fishing wire or finding green screen treadmills. GUM make your life easy and they do it with a smile.
Kimco Realty Corporation
3333 New Hyde Park Road Suite 100 New Hyde Park, NY 11042 kimcorealty.com 516.869.7266 Kimco Realty Corp. (NYSE: KIM) is a real estate investment trust headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that is one of North America’s largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. As of December 31, 2017, the company owned inter-
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4
NEW MEMBERS ests in 492 U.S. shopping centers comprising 83 million square feet of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets. Publicly traded on the NYSE since 1991, and included in the S&P 500 Index, the company has specialized in shopping center acquisitions, development and management for more than 50 years.
Seagis Property Group
301 Route 17 North Rutherford, NJ 07070 seagisproperty.com 201.842.7616 Seagis Property Group LP is a leading owner of industrial real estate in South Florida, New Jersey, and the New York Metropolitan area. Seagis owns over 10 million square feet of
CHAIR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Simply put, the poorest and most vulnerable are the hardest hit. Therefore, the work to reduce GHG emissions must address economic and social inequities. The Queens Chamber will always work to advocate for our members and work with the city to advance green guidelines. Further, our Energy and Environmental Committee continues to lead the charge in reigning-in green businesses and connecting them with opportunities for infrastructure improvement in the borough. Editor’s Note: Stats and data taken from NextCity. Statement required by the Act of August 12, 1970, section 3685. Title 39, United States Code, showing the ownership, management and circulation of QueensBorough magazine, published 12 times per year, and owned by the Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens, 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, New York 11370. Statement filed September 1, 2017. Publisher: Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens Editor: Thomas Grech Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities, none. Extent & nature of circulation: Avg. each issue, Actual single issue, Preceding 13 mos., (Nearest to filing date). Total number of copies 3,712 (3,500). Paid and/or requested circulation: Dealer, carrier sales 1,785 (532), Mail subscriptions, 611 (1,937), Total 2,396 (2,469). Free Distribution By mail 187 (400), By other means 0 (0), Total 187 (400). Total distribution 2,583 (2,869), Office Use, leftover, spoiled 1,129 ( 6 3 1 ) , Return from news agents 0 (0), Total 3,712 (3,500), Percent paid 92.76 (86.05). I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Thomas J. Grech, Editor
space with a particular focus on the markets of Northern New Jersey, Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, and the Outer Boroughs of New York City.
The Durst Organization
One Bryant Park New York, NY 10036 durst.org 212.257.6605 For over 100 years, The Durst Organization has been a family-run business dedicated to the principles of innovation, integrity, community, and sustainability. They develop, build, own, and manage premier office towers and residential buildings that set new standards in environmental responsibility and user efficiency. Our enduring relationships with our tenants and partners are critical to their success and have made them generations of builders, building for generations.
AmTrust Title
220 E. 42nd Street, 24th Floor New York, NY 10017 amtrustgroup.com 212.499.0100 Through acquisitions and organic growth, AmTrust Financial has grown to become a multinational property and casualty insurer specializing in coverage for small to mid-sized businesses. Their financial stability is based on a niche diversity with a focus on low-hazard risk economic/community development groups.
MARCH NEW MEMBERS
EMU Health Services LLC
83-40 Woodhaven Blvd. Glendale, NY 11385 emuhealth.com 914.420.0926 An established participant in the Queens medical community Mr. Lowy, Founder and CEO of EMU Health intends to bring EMU’s vision of providing all residents of the various communities in Queens with the highest quality medical and surgical services in one convenient state of the art professional and caring environment that will not only treat patients but educate them for better healthcare.
Sutton Alliance
515 Rockaway Ave. Valley Stream, NY 11581 suttonalliance.com 516.837.6117 At Sutton Alliance, their talent stands behind some of real estate’s biggest transactions –and behind every client, every day. Sutton Alliance
ranks among the nation’s leading providers of commercial and residential real estate transaction services, but their commitment to their clients is simply second-to-none. Some of the most respected names in real estate, trust Sutton Alliance to facilitate their transactions and safeguard their interests.
Klein Wealth Management HighTower
445 Broadhollow Road Suite 332 Melville, NY 11747 hightoweradvisors.com 631.760.7650 HighTower is an elite community of independent-minded financial advisors you can trust. All HighTower advisors are fiduciaries, meaning they have a legal obligation to act in the client’s best interests. Their advisors provide financial advice with a soul, getting to know the families they serve to help build better lifestyles, achieve specific goals and create long-term stewards of wealth.
New York Life
100 Jericho Quadrangle Suite 325 Jericho, NY 11753 newyorklife.com 516.934.9391 From life insurance to financial services and preparing for retirement, New York Life is here for you. They provide insurance, investment, and retirement solutions along with expert guidance to help you achieve lifelong financial well-being.
Northwestern Mutual
875 3rd Avenue New York, NY 10022 paulhellman.nm.com 212.867.8989 Backed by the strength of Northwestern Mutual, Paul Hellman and his team provide you with a balanced approach to achieve your goal of financial security, assuring that your intentions have been understood and your needs are being addressed.
ABS Partners Real Estate, LLC
200 Park Avenue South New York, NY 10003 absre.com 212.400.9515 ABS Partners Real Estate is a leading New York City-based real estate firm. Their team maintains a focus in two areas: providing services which add value in leasing, investment sales, property management, construction management and advisory; and organizing opportunities for their clients to participate in the ownership of real estate.
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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
William Blake Dominick Ciampa Joseph Farber Louis D. Laurino
Joseph M. Mattone, Sr John E. Roe, Sr. George Rozansky Gerard Thornton
Brett Swanson
Alejandra Espejo
Secretary
CHAIRPERSON’S ADVISORY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Fatena Williams
Business Development Associate
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 Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan
KY Chow Carol Conslato Sal Crifasi Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Thomas Eagar Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof
Howard Graf Raymond Irrera Peter Klein Kenneth Koenig Kelly Koukou Henry Kuykendall Neil Levin Jeffery E. Levine
Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul Michael Moran Michael Onghai Jeffrey Owens Nayan Parikh 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 ABS Partner Real Estate Age Well New York AKI Development Alma Realty Corp. Aloft Long Island City Manhattan View Hotel Aloft Hotel New York LaGuardia Airport Alphapointe Altria Client Services Inc. Amna Construction Corp. AmTrust Title Anchin, Block & Anchin Ashnu International, Inc. ATCO Properties & Management Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP Bank of America Bank United Berkeley College Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, Peddy & Fenchel, PC Bethpage Federal Credit Union Better Home Health Care Borchert & LaSpina, PC Boro Hotel Boyce Technologies Inc. Broadway Stages 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. CPEX Real Estate Crown Container Cumming Corporation Cushman & Wakefield FedCap D&B Engineers & Architects, PC Daniels Norelli Cecere & Tavel PC DY Reality Services, LLC 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 EMU Health Services, LLC. Enterprise Holdings Exit Realty Lewis & Murphy Fabini Cohen & Hall, LLP Fantasy Forest Amusement Park Farrell Fritz, PC Fedcap Fidelis Care New York Financial Resources Brup Investment Services LLC Firecom, Inc. First American International Bank First Central Savings Bank Flushing Bank Forest Hills Financial Gerard T Dolan Agency Farmers Grand Rehabilitation & Nursing at Queens Greater New York Auto Dealers Association Inc. Greiner-Maltz of NY GUM Studios 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 JustWorks Kasirer Consulting Inc Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc. Kimco Realty Corporation Klein Wealth Management HighTower LaGuardia Plaza Hotel La Technology Group Lee & Associates Levine Builders Lessing’s Inc. 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 Life New York Oil Heaing Association Inc. New York Racing Association Northfield Bank Northwell Health Northwestern Mutual NRG Energy Inc. NY Building Congress NY Families for Autistic Children, Inc. OnForce Solar Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehab Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates People’s United Bank Petro Energy Solutions Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associations, Inc.
Prager Metis CPAs, LLC Premier Payroll Solutions Progressive Waste Solutions Qside Federal Credit Union Quadlogic Controls Corp. Queens Center Queens Ledger Queensborough Community College Quontic Bank Radisson Hotel JFK Airport Register Abstract Co. Inc. Related Retail LP Rent A Throne Royal Waste Services Inc. Russo’s On The Bay SL Green Realty Corp. Sahn Ward Coshchignano PLLC Sandrine Capital LLC Seagis Property Group Sears Maid Service Sholom & Zuckerbrot Realty LLC Signature Bank Silvercup Studios Simon Baron Development Sleep Numbers Solomon Agency St. John’s University Sterling Risk Structural Engineering Technologies PC Suffolk County National Bank Suation Solar Systems Super-Tek, Products, Inc. Sutton Alliance Terrace on the Park
Thales USA, Inc. The Durst Organization The New York Times The Parc Hotel 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. USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Valley National Bank Van Guard Insurance Agency Verizon VHB Engineering Surveying & Landscape Architecture Vic Kesser Signs, LTD 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.cottingham@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.
April 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 4 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS
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