This Is Queensborough - December 2019

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“YOU HAVE TO TAKE RISKS. FAMILY BUSINESSES, EVEN SUCCESSFUL ONES, ARE COMPLEX AND QUIRKY.”

December 2019 . Volume 15 . Issue 12

BUILDING ON

LEGACY

VASSILAROS & SONS HONORS TRADITION WITH AN EYE TO THE FUTURE

ALSO

VASSILAROS & SONS COFFEE PRESIDENT ALEXANDRA VASSILAROS

• BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS • COUNCIL SMALL BIZ CHAIR VISITS CHAMBER • ‘YOURLIC’ LOOKS TO TRANSFORM QUEENS WATERFRONT

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December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

2019 A YEAR OF HIGHLIGHTS FOR QCC

As 2019 winds down and we officials, tour the Capitol, and sit set our sights on an exciting new in on Legislative Chambers. They year, I’m doing what were letting their voica number of you are es be heard not only doing: looking back for their businesses, over the year that but the neighborhoods was and counting my they serve. blessings.

On Thursday, May I’m honored to 16, we held our 2019 have played a role in Queens Business Expo the successes of the at Citi Field. Over 135 Queens Chamber over exhibitors, primarthe past 12 months. ily Queens Chamber Although every oppor- TOM SANTUCCI members, had the tretunity was unique in CHAIRPERSON mendous opportunity its own right, there to showcase their orgawere numerous highnizations to almost lights for me.

2,000 individuals in attendance.

On Tuesday, March 19, the This annual event is always a Queens Chamber descended on our win-win for everyone involved, State Capitol in Albany with over especially the small business own400 individuals from businesses ers who make up 90 percent of all across Queens. It was awe- Queens Chamber membership. inspiring witnessing our business On Tuesday, September 17, owners interact with our elected at Bulova Corporate Center, we

held a long-awaited ribbon-cutThis is just snapshot of the ting ceremony for the opening of accomplishments the Queens our new offices. After nearly 25 Chamber can point to from this years of dedicated work in sig- past year. Our staff works tirelessly nificantly smaller year round with I’m honored to have space, we moved one primary played a role in the to a larger space goal in mind: within Bulova, successes of the Queens our members. which will enable Chamber over the past We are the team to conalways mindful 12 months. Although tinue to work tireof the three key every opportunity was elements of our lessly on behalf of unique in its own right, bylaws: advoour members and there were numerous cate, educate, the community of Queens. and network. highlights for me.

On Thursday, Everything is October 3, the about you and iconic TWA Hotel at JFK Interna- your business growth. tional Airport played host to our As Board Chair, I’m grateful to 2019 Building Awards Gala. This serve you and I thank you for your is an event that honors the accom- outstanding support. plishments of architects, builders, On behalf of the entire Board interior designers and building of Directors, I’d like to wish you owners for their outstanding work and your loved ones a most joyful throughout Queens. holiday season.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

MOST MAGICAL TIME OF AN AMAZING YEAR

December is by far one of my all were designed with one goal favorite times of the year. So in mind: to provide sustainable many wonderful things happen opportunities that hopefully transduring these 31 days lated into new busias we anticipate ness growth. what the new year This month, the will bring.

Queens Chamber There’s somecloses out the year thing special in the with quite possibly air that’s unexplainone of our most able. A sense of joy anticipated events, and happiness we our Annual Busionly seem to expeness Person of the rience during this Year Awards Dintime of the year ner. known as the holi- THOMAS J. GRECH We take pride in PRESIDENT & CEO days. celebrating the best Throughout 2019, of 2019. This is an the Queens Chamopportunity to celber has been committed to spread- ebrate the accomplishments of a ing a great deal of happiness. diverse group of Queens business We’ve done this by providing leaders and close out what has valuable resources to our mem- been a phenomenal year at the bers throughout this immensely Chamber that includes: diverse borough of Queens.

• Our Annual Borough PresiWhether it was one of the dent Breakfast numerous grant-funded seminars, • St. Patrick’s Day Annual Lunan informative committee panel cheon discussion, or a signature event • Third Annual Queens Day in like our Annual Boat Cruise, they Albany

• Queens Business Expo 2019 • Queens Chamber Foundation Annual Golf Outing • Launch of Queens Chamber Internship Connection • 90 years of Building Awards • Queens Chamber’s Move to New Offices

It has truly been an exciting year, and we’re grateful you’ve been along for the ride.

Thank you for your continued support of the Queens Chamber.

Here’s wishing you and yours many blessings this holiday season.

The annual trip to Albany is always a highlight of the year.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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QUEENS QUICKLY

LOAN PROGRAM FOR WOMEN BIZ OWNERS

A new public-private partnership will provide approximately $5 million to New York City’s women entrepreneurs.

The new program, WE Fund Credit, will provide New York City women-owned businesses with lines of credit up to $100,000 at favorable interest rates, including those businesses with limited credit history, and a path to improve their credit scores.

This investment is accompanied by an over $1 million loan loss reserve fund provided by Squarespace, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses and the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Credit solutions provider Fundation is providing the platform through which women entrepreneurs can access and manage the lines of credit. The Goldman Sachs Foundation plans to provide a $300,000 grant to support technical assistance and outreach for the program.

“Women entrepreneurs face gendered barriers to financing that prevent them from starting and growing businesses that support our local economy and uplift our communities,” said Gregg Bishop, commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. “With WE Fund Credit, we’re breaking down these barriers by offering affordable credit options to women entrepreneurs across the five boroughs.”

WE Fund Credit will facilitate the issuance of lines of credit with an annual percentage rate (APR) of approximately 12 percent, including fees, subject to material changes in the market.

“Despite small businesses serving as a hub for community vitality, economic growth, and quality job creation in neighborhoods across New York, many women entrepreneurs still have difficulty accessing the funding they need to grow those businesses,” said Margaret Anadu,

managing director and head of the Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group Eligible applicants must be in business for a minimum of one year, have at least $50,000 in annual revenue, and have FICO scores of at least 620. Interested women entrepreneurs can visit we.nyc to learn more and apply.

A BETTER WAY TO LGA FOR PARK UPGRADE In the wake of public hearings conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration on a potential AirTrain linking Willets Point and LaGuardia Airport, supporters of the project are calling on the Port Authority to incorporate beautifying the Flushing Bay Promenade into its budget for the project.

“If you walk along the waterfront, this decades-old promenade is desperate need of revitalization,” said Queens Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Grech at a press conference in World’s Fair Marina Park last week. “Through the construction of the AirTrain LGA, Port Authority has a unique opportunity to do just that.”

Grech was joined by representatives of the NY Building Congress, Association for a Better NY (ABNY), and General Contractors Association of NY (GCA), in presenting an open letter to the Port Authority on behalf of the coalition A Better Way to LGA, a collaboration of transportation advocates, economic development groups and civic stakeholders.

“We believe strongly that with careful analysis, New York can marry this crucial transit project to improving areas of Queens that need an infusion of investment,” the letter reads.

Coalition members pointed to rotting benches, tattered fencing and distorted walkways as some of the promenade’s most critical deficiencies. It also recommended improvements to make the

marina’s pier more storm-resilient.

Based on public outreach efforts, the Port Authority deviated the AirTrain’s proposed route away from the median of the Grand Central Parkway earlier this year. In order to create less disruption to homes along parallel Ditmars Boulevard, the new plan is to run the line through the park instead.

“What’s great about this project is that it’s tied to vital infrastructure,” said ABNY’s deputy director Laura Colacurcio. “We could really make this a destination for people to come to and enjoy, and really expand the appeal of the borough.”

A Better Way to LGA argues the AirTrain would contribute to the economic and environmental vitality of Queens.

The coalition’s support for the project cites a reduction in traffic, the creation of jobs during and after construction, and a more desirable travel experience for residents, tourists and business professionals traveling through LaGuardia.

Chris Boylan, director of Governmental and Strategic Partnerships at GCA, echoed sentiments that allocating funds to restore the promenade would add another level of benefits from the AirTrain project.

“Certainly we are interested in the AirTrain project in terms of the jobs it creates,” Boylan said. “But our members and their employees are also residents of the region. They raise their families here, they use the parks, and they use the transportation system.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments ........................................6

WORKSHOP: Doing Business With New York City & State ........................21

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: Finding Unclaimed Money ....................7

Partners & Affiliates News and Happenings ........................................................25

YourLIC Looks to Public to Transform Queens Waterfront ................8

Chamber Welcomes New Members .........................................................................29

City Council Small Biz Chair Speaks Before Chamber .......................10 Plaza College, QCC Connect Students With Employers ......................12 Two Chamber Staff Members Reflect on New Citizenship ................13 PROFILES: Business Person of the Year Awards Honorees ........14-19 4

PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez

MANAGING EDITOR Shane Miller

MARKETING DIRECTOR John Sanchez BQE Media, 45-23 47th St., 2nd Floor, Woodside, NY 11377 Phone: (718) 426-7200 Fax: (347) 507-5827

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

FLUSHING SIDEWALKS BUSY WITH BUSINESS KOO WANTS TO MAKE SURE STOOP LINE STANDS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH CITY REGULATIONS

BY SHANE MILLER A Flushing pol wants to make sure stores doing business on the neighborhood’s busy sidewalks are staying in compliance with all of the pertinent rules and regulations.

“Doing business on the sidewalks of Downtown Flushing presents a different set of challenges than anywhere else in the city,” said Councilman Peter Koo. “Hundreds of thousands of people use the sidewalks, and we have to be considerate of the public space we all share.”

Home to an LIRR stop, a subway station, and several major bus routes, not to mention hundreds of restaurants and countless other retail establishments, Flushing is one of the busiest neighborhoods in the city.

In fact, the intersection of Main Street and Roosevelt Avenue is the second busiest in the five boroughs.

And many businesses in the neighborhood spill out onto the sidewalks, which can help them economically but serves to worsen the crowding issues, forcing the braver (or more impatient) pedestrians into the streets and at odds with traffic.

“This is creating a safety issue,” said Koo. In conjunction with the city’s Neighborhood

Support Team Project, Koo hosted a town hall at Flushing Library last month to educate the neighborhood’s vendors about the various regulations overseeing stoop line stands.

It featured representatives from a number of city agencies that all play a role in the oversight of stoop line stands, from the Department of Buildings (DOB) to the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) to the 109th Precinct.

“We noticed about a half-dozen violations just on the walk over here,” said Perry Bootsma, a senior inspector with DCA. “They’re easily identifiable because you literally walk into them.

Sidewalk stands cannot extend more than three feet from the property line, and the only items that can be sold – with a permit, of course – are fruits, vegetables, soft drinks, ice cream or flowers.

Some other violations a DCA inspector might look for are if food is being prepped on the street or if money is being exchanged outside the physical establishment, both of which are illegal.

Steve Eitannani of DCA suggested doing your own inspection with a the same checklist a DCA inspector uses, which can be found at dca.nyc. gov. He also suggested scheduling a visit with a member of the agency’s Business Compliance

Counsel.

That can be done by calling 311 or emailing bcc@dca.nyc.gov.

“We really make business education a cornerstone of our work,” said Eitannani. “Your first interaction with our agency shouldn’t be a fine.

We want you to succeed and thrive.”

Another major issues with stoop line stands is improper construction and failing to apply for the necessary permits to make alterations, which falls under the purview of DOB. Anthony Iuliano, deputy director for Community Engagement at DOB, showed several slides of businesses in Flushing that could face fines for everything from improper electrical work to shoddily constructed awnings.

He suggested businesses looking to add a stoop line stand hire an architect to help them through the process.

“Doing work without a permit is at minimum a $6,000 fine,” Iuliano said. “That could put a small business out of business.”

Like DCA, he said DOB has staff that can help business owners comply with the law before they are hit with a fine. They are generally available from 4 to 7 p.m. at DOB’s Queens office inside Borough Hall at 120-55 Queens Boulevard.

“We can help address your needs and guide you down the avenues to get the proper permits or address a violation,” Iuliano said.

Illegal stoop line stands can exacerbate the already congested conditions of Flushing’s sidewalks.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org Email your announcement or promotion to info@thisisqueensborough.com

PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS QBG welcomes Shannon to Board The Queens Botanical Garden’s (QBG) Board of Trustees recently welcomed new member Nancy Shannon, vice president of Human Resources at Con Edison.

“The QBG is one of our city’s treasures because of its wonderful educational programs and dedicated environmental stewardship” said Shannon. “I am honored, delighted and eager to help carry on such great work.”

A Queens resident with over thirty years of SHANNON managerial and leadership experience in the areas of Human Resources, Environment, Health and Safety, and Customer Operations, Shannon will play an important role helping to advance QBG’s mission in her three-year term.

“We are thrilled and thankful for Nancy’s involvement with the Garden,” said QBG executive director Susan Lacerte. “We are so grateful that everyone we work with loves people, plants, and cultures. With the Garden on her mind and Queens in her heart, Nancy fits right in.”

In addition to being vice president of Human Resources, Shannon is also a member of the company’s Named Fiduciary Committee and is the Plan Administrator for the Consolidated Edison Retirement Plan and the Consolidated Edison Thrift Savings Plan.

Shannon joined Con Edison in July 1989.

She has held positions of increasing responsibility in a variety of operating and support positions, including director of the Employee Wellness Center, Director of Environmental Health and Safety Field Operations (EH&S); Queens Meter Operations Manager; and Benefits and Compensation Manager.

Shannon earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from St. John’s University and a master’s degree in industrial/organizational psychology from Baruch College.

She currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPAA), and was a recipient of the YWCA-NYC Academy of Women Leaders for her work to establish a work-based learning partnership between Con Edison’s Chemical Laboratory and the Summit School, whose students have emotional and learning challenges.

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”I’m so happy to welcome Nancy to the Board of Trustees,” said board chair Pauline Huang. “She will bring a lot to of expertise to our Board initiatives.”

Dwyer tapped to head FDNY communications Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro recently appointed Queens native Frank Dwyer as Deputy Commissioner for Public Information and External Affairs.

Dwyer will serve as head of communications and chief spokesperson for the department, overseeing the FDNY’s 24/7 press office operations, leading the agency’s mission-driven public safety agenda to reduce fires, deaths and injuries to civilians, and directing the agency’s external affairs work with proactive outreach to elected officials, partner city agencies and non-governmental organizations.

“Frank has been an integral part of our department for more than a decade, crafting messaging that has bolstered DWYER our recruitment efforts and made a direct impact to the safety of our members and the public we serve,” said Nigro.

“I know he cares deeply for the mission of the FDNY and will continue to excel in his new role.”

As deputy commissioner, Dwyer supervises seven director-level managers with more than 100 employees. In addition to communications, units under his direction include social media, publications, special events, community affairs and creative media.

“Serving in the premiere public safety agency in the world is the honor of a lifetime,” said Dwyer. “I’m excited to continue to share the stories of the bravery and dedication of our firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, marshals, inspectors, and civilian employees whose incredible work is vital to the safety of our city.”

Prior to his recent appointment, Dwyer served 11 years in the department’s Office of Public Information, most recently as director of Communications.

In that role, he was responsible for press releases and crisis response, social media platforms, internal and external publications, and coordinated communications for major initiatives including firefighter recruitment campaigns, smoke alarm installation programs, and other community engagement/fire safety cam-

paigns.

Before joining the department, he worked at WNBC as New Operations manager and as assignment editor from 2005-2008, and at NY1 as assignment editor from 2002-2005. He began his career in journalism at WNBC in June 2001, working on the assignment desk.

Dwyer earned his B.A. in Mass Communications and English at Iona College. Born and raised in Queens, he currently resides in the Bronx with his wife Sophie-Anne and their two children.

ConEd, Rodriguez honored in Austin Con Edison received two prestigious industry awards from PA Consulting at its national ReliabilityOne conference in Austin: the 2019 Outstanding Customer Reliability Experience Award, as well as the organization’s Award for Outstanding Reliability in the Northeast Region.

“These awards are a tribute to the hardworking people of Con Edison who are diligently dedicated around the clock to providing New York City and Westchester customers with the service and reliability they expect and deserve,” said Patrick McHugh, Con Edison’s vice president of Engineering and Planning.

Maria Rodriguez, a Con Edison Distribution Engineering section manager, also received a special individual ReliabilityOne award from PA Consulting acknowledging her as an “Outstanding Contributor to Reliability.”

Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2019 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. BQE Media 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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December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

$16 BILLION, HOW MUCH BELONGS TO YOU? As State Comptroller I have many cessful, the bank turns the money responsibilities, including auditing over to the state. government operations, managing Other sources of unclaimed the state’s pension fund funds can be insurance and paying the state’s accounts, uncashed bills. One of my favorchecks and old stock ite duties, though, is accounts. Our records, giving you back your dating back to the money.

1940s, include claims The comptroller’s valued at just one penny office looks after New to well into the millions Yorkers’ lost and forgotof dollars. ten money, also known While most of the as unclaimed funds. claims are worth less More than 40 million THOMAS DINAPOLI than $100, my office accounts valued at NYS COMPTROLLER has reconnected an $16.5 billion are waitindividual with a check ing to be claimed by the worth more than $5.24 rightful owners. million from an old stock claim.

Most unclaimed funds come from The largest outstanding individual old bank accounts. After an account account that my office holds today has been inactive for three years, is worth more than $8 million from banks are required to try to contact an estate. the account holder. If they are unsucIt’s not just individuals, though.

There are many businesses that have money waiting for them. In fact, a quick search of the term “chamber of commerce” will bring up over 30 listings from the Finger Lakes to the Rockaways. There is $636 million owed to people and businesses in Queens.

Searching for accounts is easy and free, and can be done online or over the phone. Information is available on our website at osc.state.ny.us.

You should check to see if there are any claims in your name as well as friends and relatives, places of worship or any groups and organizations you are affiliated with. You also may be connected to an account as part of an inheritance or estate.

We’ve worked hard to simplify the process so New Yorkers can be reconnected with their money. The online claiming process is just six simple steps. Most online claims are

processed in as little as two weeks.

Last year, the unclaimed funds web page attracted more than 14 million visitors.

We also have a call center that is staffed Monday through Friday during business hours to help you search for and claim lost money. Our call center representatives can be reached on our toll free line at (800) 221-9311.

There are companies, who call themselves “finders,” that charge fees to help people reconnect with their money. But these companies do not have a faster or more in-depth access.

There is no reason to pay someone to help you get your money back. The comptroller’s office charges no fee.

On average, we return $1.5 million a day. Take a few minutes and visit our website or call us to check to see if you have money waiting for you to claim.

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YOUR LIC PUTS COMMUNITY FIRST IN PLANNING

BY ELEONORA BERSHADSKAYA (TF CORNERSTONE), ASHELY COTTON (L&L MAG) & MAEVE IVES (SIMON BARON DEVELOPMENT)

A new initiative to comprehensively plan the future of the Long Island City waterfront – Your LIC – has launched, and residents, businesses, and stakeholders are encouraged to get involved at YourLIC. nyc FUTURE OF THE WATERFRONT During summer 2019, the City Council gathered stakeholders with property along the Long Island City waterfront to create a unified planning approach to better meet the needs of the community.

In the aftermath of Amazon deciding to pull its HQ2 from the neighborhood, it was clear that the waterfront presented incredible opportunity for Long Island City, Queens, and the entire city, but any new project would need to be planned cohesively and with extensive community input.

With the launch of Your LIC, three stakeholders – TF Cornerstone, Simon Baron Development, and L&L MAG – have come together to work with the community on an open and collaborative process to create an inclusive framework for the waterfront and eventually develop one development plan across all of their connecting sites.

OUTREACH UNDERWAY Your LIC is a comprehensive neighborhood outreach process to envision the future of 28 acres of underutilized land along the Long Island City waterfront. The three property owners are working with two very familiar faces in Queens to lead the community engagement: Dr. Gail O. Mellow, the former president of LaGuardia Community College, and Bishop Mitchell Taylor, the co-founder of Urban Upbound.

Dr. Mellow and Bishop Taylor have been convening local stakeholders and community groups,

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including working with the NYCHA Tenants Associations across northwestern Queens (Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Woodside, and Astoria).

Our goal is to get as many people as possible in Long Island City talking about the opportunity of the waterfront and to develop shared priorities that will guide future development. Your LIC is convening a series of public workshops and online engagements to hear directly from the community about their priorities for waterfront development.

Topics for these workshops include Economic Empowerment and Career Development; Community Resources, including schools, recreation, and culture; Resiliency and Public Open Space; and Comprehensive Neighborhood Planning, including infrastructure, housing, and mobility.

The first workshop and online engagement around Eco-

nomic Empowerment and Career Development was in November, and the rest will be coming in the next few months.

Key to the process is the online engagement. Not everyone can take time in the evening to attend a workshop, so to encourage meaningful engagement, anyone can weigh in and share their priorities, vision, and concerns at YourLIC. nyc.

It is a powerful tool to allow for those who cannot attend a public workshop to have their voices heard. We encourage you to check out the videos and written submissions already on the website to hear directly from your neighbors.

JOIN US! We know that the waterfront can become a thriving center of opportunity for all in Queens, and we want to work closely with you to develop these plans. A first-of-itskind planning process, with developers working together across properties, is being coupled with one of the most extensive community visioning processes in the city.

This is an incredible opportunity for the entire Long Island City community to come together and have a say in its future.

Please visit YourLIC.nyc for more information and to get involved.

“OUR GOAL IS TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE

AS POSSIBLE IN LONG ISLAND CITY TALKING ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF THE WATERFRONT AND TO DEVELOP SHARED PRIORITIES.

”

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

PROJECT TO PRESERVE PAVILION TOWERS BEGINS

BY BENJAMIN FANG The iconic observation towers of the New York State Pavilion will finally undergo a $24 million makeover.

Last month, the Parks Department joined Borough President Melinda Katz and community members to break ground on the renovation project, the first major efforts to preserve the structures since they were first built for the 1964 World’s Fair.

With an anticipated completion in spring 2021, the improvements will include structural steel and concrete repairs, waterproofing of the tower bases, electrical upgrades and stair replacement. The towers will also add colored architectural lighting, allowing them to illuminate at night.

“The historic pavilion will be a welcomed improvement to this iconic park,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver. “I’m confi-

dent that upon completion, it will be an asset to the surrounding community.”

The towers, designed nearly six decades ago by Philip Johnson, were erected to “embody the architectural essence of space age futurism” at the 1964 World’s Fair, Silver said.

The two shorter towers, measuring at 60 feet and 150 feet, held cafeterias. The tallest tower, which is at 226 feet, was the highest point of the fair. It was used as an observation deck.

“I came to the World’s Fair at age four,” Silver said, “and it’s a memory I continue to cherish till this very day.”

After the fair, the New York State Pavilion was largely unused, except in occasional television and movie appearances, most notably in the 1997 film “Men In Black.”

There were even plans to raze the pavilion.

Borough President Katz, whose

office contributed $13.1 million to the preservation effort, said when she was younger, whenever she and her father passed Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, he would say to her, “isn’t it a shame?”

That sentiment stuck with Katz when she came into office, and helped guide her decision to help save the structures.

“I am excited by this,” Katz said on Friday. “As the borough president, I knew this could be an unbelievably spectacular tourist attraction for people from throughout the world.”

When the preservation project is complete, the New York State Pavilion will join the Queens Museum and the Unisphere in lighting up at night and being “taken out of the darkness,” she said.

“I look forward to seeing it in the years to come,” Katz said. “I never thought I’d see this.”

Four years ago, the Tent of Tomorrow, one of the centerpieces

of the pavilion, was also repainted with its original “American Cheese Yellow” by the New York Structural Steel Painting Contractors Association and the International Union of Painting and Allied Trades Local 806.

The preservation efforts have been important wins for People for the Pavilion, a nonprofit group that formed in 2014 to galvanize the public to be interested in saving the structures.

“It’s been here as this abandoned structure for so long, for our entire lives,” said Salmaan Khan, a cofounder of the group. “For people who grew up in New York and in Queens, just seeing it, wondering what it was and what it could be, it was something really important to us.

“Being able to finally know we’ll be able to go in and use it, and have it be part of a beautiful public space, is just thrilling,” he added.

“It’s been a long time coming.”

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QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

CHAMBER HOSTS SMALL BUSINESS CHAIR

BY BENJAMIN FANG As part of his five-borough listening tour, Bronx Councilman Mark Gjonaj visited the Queens Chamber of Commerce last month for a small business town hall.

Gjonaj, who chairs the City Council’s Committee on Small Business, acknowledged the hardships that companies face in New York City today, from consumer behavior changes and e-commerce to government regulations and a growing anti-business climate.

“It’s difficult out there,” he said.

“They give back to the city more than they get, yet continue to get undermined on a daily basis.”

The Bronx councilman, who comes from the private sector, said his colleagues in city government try to make businesses seem like “the devil.” He said they always “pull the card” of profits over people.

“Politics paints this ugly picture that it’s employer versus employee,” he said. “I counter that. There isn’t a single employer that I know that doesn’t want a happy employee.”

As the chair of the committee overseeing small business, Gjonaj said he has spent the last year-anda-half fighting for three significant achievements.

The first is passing legislation defining a micro-business as a company with fewer than 20 employees.

He said that was an important step to help protect small companies.

“We can’t afford to lose a single business, I don’t care how small or large you are,” Gjonaj said. “New York City needs to create an environment to keep you here, to give you incentives to stay.”

Another accomplishment was the passage of the Awnings Act, a local law that implements a two-year moratorium on violations and fines related to business signs. The bill also created a task force to evaluate current rules and practices over awnings.

Gjonaj said when city inspectors began enforcing the 1960s-era law, small businesses received fines

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Councilman Mark Gjonaj discusses issues facing small businesses at the Queens Chamber of Commerce. starting at $5,000. Some received fines as high as $20,000.

“What small business could possibly afford to take a hit like that?” he said.

The third achievement he touted was hosting a small business rally at City Hall to highlight their challenges.

“It’s the one time we came out, regardless of industry, to push back against City Hall,” he said. “To let them know enough is enough, something has to change.”

While those efforts have helped small businesses, Gjonaj said there are still so many challenges, starting with the 6,000 regulations they must obey. The councilman said there are so many rules that business owners “can’t possibly know what they are.”

In February 2015, the city launched Small Business First, an initiative to find outdated regulations that should be “wiped off the books,” the councilman said.

But three years and $27 million later, they removed zero rules, and modified 80, making them worse, according to Gjonaj.

In addition to the minimum wage increase, business owners have to

contend with paid family leave and paid sick leave. While Gjonaj said employers want the best for their employees, sometimes the bottom line “doesn’t sustain all of these benefits.”

Small businesses don’t have two weeks to spare, he said, especially when it likely means bringing another worker n to cover those two weeks.

“Forcing me to pay employees two weeks when my bottom line doesn’t sustain it means the few employees left are going to work harder to make up for the one employee,” Gjonaj said. “Where’s the justice?

“The small business owners I interact with, they work 80 hours a week,” he added. “They’re not taking advantage of anyone. They’re there alongside their fellow workers.”

There are other pieces of legislation and laws that will affect business owners on the horizon, Gjonaj warned.

One is the bill just signed by the mayor to reform the commercial waste industry. The law creates commercial waste zones and limits each zone to three private carting

companies at most.

The councilman said the reform will translate to higher rates and lower service for small businesses.

“There are hopes that a challenge in the courts will reverse that decision,” he said.

Another bill to watch is one in the State Legislature to eliminate the cap on street vendor permits, which Gjonaj believes will hurt brick-andmortar businesses.

“The city of ours is figuring out a way to make your life more difficult,” he told the group of small business owners gathered at the town hall.

Gjonaj noted “startling” statistics that 50 percent of small businesses never make it to their fifth year. In the restaurant industry, 80 percent of businesses don’t make it that far.

The result is a surge in storefront vacancies, fewer people working and less income tax revenue.

Despite the gloomy outlook, Gjonaj said small business owners should not get discouraged or give up. Instead, he asked them to participate to make conditions better.

“You have to take charge, you CONTINUED ON PAGE 29

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QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

PLAZA, QCC CONNECT STUDENTS & EMPLOYERS

BY SARA KREVOY A career fair at Plaza College brought nearly 100 interested applicants face-to-face with potential employers in the healthcare, nonprofit and corporate sectors.

Organized in conjunction with the Queens Chamber of Commerce, the November 7th event was open to both students of Plaza College and the public. Attendees had a chance to present their resumes and professional inquiries to representatives from 24 organizations.

The expo was themed with an emphasis on healthcare and wellness, catering to Plaza College’s various medically linked academic programs.

These include associate degree programs in health information technology and a medical specialization in administrative studies, as well as four other tracks within the School of Allied Health.

Exhibitors at the event ranged from healthcare heavy-hitters like NYU Langone and the Alzheimer’s Association to more Queens-based operations like St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and EMU Health.

Vendors also included organizations like the Department of Social

Services, Manpower, Legal Aid and the IRS. “If you look around, these employers are pretty diverse,” said David Marulanda, a research assistant for the WALLE (Waiting Room as a Literacy and Learning Environment) program at NewYork Presbyterian. “So students can get a glimpse of what the workforce is really like and what their opportunities are.

“They might be taking classes for a particular subject matter and realize they can use that for a totally different industry,” he added.

Marulanda, who himself graduated from City College just last year, explained that the career fairs he attended as a student were beneficial in guiding his future.

“They didn’t help me get a position, but they did help me understand what’s out there and to realize that it’s important to have options,” he said. “One industry shouldn’t be your main focus. You should be willing to at least think about different career paths related to your major of course.”

Students attending the fair also reflected a well-rounded collection of educational backgrounds.

The event provided a useful tool and source of inspiration for those

studying within each of Plaza College’s five schools.

“I love coming to career fairs because there are always so many people to network with,” said freshman Dashawn Ayres. “I always come out with so much different information. And even if it’s not

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF A CAREER FAIR • Pay a visit to your career advisor or your school’s career office before attending the fair. Many universities provide resource centers staffed with experts trained to help hone students with job-search skills and forge career goals. An advisor will help you understand what to expect from a career fair, and how to prepare.

• Bring lots of copies of your resume. Make sure you have plenty of resumes to go around, since you never know which companies will catch your interest. Even if you don’t have much job experience, a polished resume shows professionalism and dedication to establishing a career. Plus, giving companies your resume in person gives you a chance to show of your personality and present your qualifications of paper.

• Come prepared. Find out which organizations and companies will be present at the fair and research them beforehand. Choose some exhibitors you want to make a point to speak with and come up with intelligent questions to ask them. Employers love to know that you are interested and informed. You should also be ready to answer any questions the employer may have for you.

• Be open and let your curiosity shine. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do in life, but it’s great to have an idea of the avenue you would like to pursue. Career fairs are a great opportunity to discover what’s out there, so make sure to ask employers how your interests and field of study apply to their organization.

12

for me, I can pass the information on to somebody else.”

Ayres is studying business administration and hopes to own his own business one day. Still, he saw the expo as an important opportunity for himself and others to create opportunities for a future foray into the job market.

“I’ve been trying to get people to come here all day because this is like a little interview,” Ayres recounted. “You can actually come and see what different companies are offering you and what kind of qualifications you need, just in case you might want to get into a field later on.”

Aside from the bounds of informative material and networking opportunities for students, the expo is beneficial for employers as well.

“I think for us, not too many people know that we exist,” said Dan Donoghue, a representative from Transitional Services for New York (TSNY). “And so it gives us exposure to the students. They might not be looking for a job now, but they may know somebody that they could refer to us.”

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS

QCC STAFF REFLECT ON NEW CITIZENSHIP

BY BENJAMIN FANG Roughly half of all Queens residents are immigrants with varying statuses, from undocumented and green card holders to naturalized citizens.

This year, two staff members from the Queens Chamber became United States citizens, opening new doors of opportunities in their lives.

Ralph Chery, who was an intern over the summer and was later hired part-time to work in the Finance and Outreach departments, was born in Haiti. He received his green card in December 2012, which he described as a “very exciting” moment.

“When I was going for the interview in Haiti, I was praying to get it,” he said. “When you’re born in another country and you get to come here, it’s a blessing.”

After arriving in the U.S., Chery went to high school in Orlando for a year. He moved to New York City in August 2013 at 16 years old, and attended the Franklin K. Lane Educational Campus in Cypress Hills.

After graduating in 2015, Chery attended Kingsborough Community College, where he graduated with an associate’s degree. He is now a senior at Lehman College in the Bronx, where he only has four classes left to earn his degree.

Chery is majoring in speech language pathology with a minor in business, which led him to work for the chamber. He said he cherishes the diversity of the city, which allows him to meet people from different backgrounds and taste all kinds of cuisines.

“People from all over the world are part of the chamber,” he said.

“Everyday, I learn something new here.”

Last December, Chery sent in his application for U.S. citizenship. After submitting his biometrics and fingerprints, he waited several months before hearing back for an interview.

Chery also aced the citizenship exam. He said applicants only needed to answer six questions to pass. He knew the answers to all 100 questions.

“I was so happy when I passed the test,” he said. “I was studying for the civic questions for almost a month.”

His swearing-in ceremony took place on October 16 at the federal courthouse in Downtown Brooklyn. Chery ate a light breakfast, put on a suit, grabbed a briefcase and got to the court early.

“It was one of my dreams to become a U.S. citizen,” he said.

“Getting it felt awesome.”

Chery quickly applied for a passport, and is looking forward to casting his first vote as an American citizen. He never had

RALPH CHERY

a chance to vote as a 15-year-old boy in Haiti.

“I’m finally an American now,” he said. “I can participate in the democracy.”

For Vicky Ferreira, a community outreach liaison for the chamber, seeing New York City for the first time was “love at first sight.”

She arrived in the Big Apple in 2007 from Paraguay.

“The city captivated me with its energy, aggression, warmth and volatility,” she said.

Though she was eligible for citizenship in 2016, five years after she received her green card via marriage, Ferreira began her naturalization application in 2018.

Her oath ceremony took place on April 17, 2019. Ferreira recalled that the judge told the group of new citizens from 72 different countries that they “represented the promise of the American Dream.”

VICKY FERREIRA

Since becoming a citizen, Ferreira has already voted twice in local elections. “To be an American is not just a great honor,” she said, “but also an obligation to do more and reach higher.”

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BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS

A BUSINESS ROOTED IN SOCIAL PROGRESS

BY SARA KREVOY Tyquana Henderson-RiversRivers moved to Jamaica from Brooklyn when she was 12 years old. From that point on, the community served as the foundation from which her career in civics and social justice activism sprung.

On December 4, a date that coincidentally coincides with her 42nd birthday, Henderson-Rivers will be honored by the Queens Chamber of Commerce at its annual Business Person of the Year Awards.

Henderson-Rivers is now president of her own government and political relations firm, Connective Strategies Associates, Inc. on Sutphin Boulevard, not far from the neighborhood where her passion for advocacy through politics was ignited.

The firm specialized in full-service public relations for political campaigns, grassroots community organizing, and all aspects of government relations from communications to lobbying.

“I don’t look for a lot of honors and awards,” she said. “If my community is winning, at the end of the day, that’s enough award for me.”

Henderson-Rivers was attending August Martin High School when the Rodney King verdict was handed down in 1992. Angered by the injustice of the ordeal, she organized her peers in protest, marching to the local 113th Precinct.

“It wasn’t the brightest idea I’ve had in my life,” Henderson-Rivers laughed, recounting that the teens were on the verge of being arrested when the late-councilman Thomas White was called in to diffuse the situation. They made an agreement: if Henderson-Rivers dispersed the protestors, White would sit down and hear her out.

In a pivotal moment that solidified the course of her career path, the councilman delivered a piece of wisdom Henderson-Rivers still carries with her to this day: “The only way to fix the system is to learn it and tear it down from the inside.”

Councilman White went on to

14

offer Henderson-Rivers an internship at his office, which she accepted. She gained a well-rounded experience of the political arena, serving as a council aide, attending community board and precinct council meetings, starting her own youth council, becoming president of the 113th Precinct Youth Council and staying active in student government.

Henderson-Rivers worked at the councilman’s office for three hours every day after school and on Saturdays, all without receiving a paycheck. At home, she balanced the struggles of growing up poor in New York City with following her dreams of fostering social progress.

“We lost everything due to fires three times,” recalled HendersonRivers, who grew up with her mother and three siblings, two of which her mom adopted. The family moved into a hotel for nine months, and a young HendersonRivers was struck by the generosity of those around her. Neighbors cooked for them, or opened up their kitchens; the hotel manager worked with the insurance company to make sure they could stay there as long as was necessary.

Henderson-Rivers describes her mom as the “neighborhood mother” with a huge heart, opening her doors to the community despite not having much economically. It was the kindness she observed growing up that left a lasting impression.

“It makes you want to figure out how to give back,” HendersonRivers said. “These civic leaders, these pastors, they have all been a part of raising me. Any time something happens in this community it’s not just a win for me, it’s a win for them and an acknowledgement to them, because they poured in me just about my entire life.”

In college, Henderson-Rivers was promoted as White’s legislative director at City Hall. By 1998, she was working on statewide gubernatorial races for then-City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, Sr. After five years of being involved at various levels of government,

Tyquana Henderson-Rivers is president of Connective Strategies Associates, Inc. She will be honored by the Chamber this month.

Henderson-Rivers was hired by her lobbying mentor, Joni Yoswein, in 2003. At Yoswein’s firm, she represented clients such as IKEA, SUNY Downstate, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

In 2008, Henderson-Rivers decided to take 16 years of political experience and go into business for herself. Connective Strategies Associates allows HendersonRivers, a passionate, hardworking professional, the freedom to decide which clients to invest her time and energy.

Throughout her career, Henderson-Rivers kept her first mentor Thomas White’s words in mind as a mantra, informing her initiative each step along the way.

“I’ve spent my life learning the system and then teaching it to other people,” she said. “I’d rather be behind the scenes, crafting the message and really working to put people in office who I believe want

to make a difference in my community.”

Of all the local races HendersonRivers has been involved in, she is most proud of the last. She was instrumental in Melinda Katz’s successful campaign to be elected Queens district attorney. With mass incarceration disproportionately affecting communities of color, it was critical for her to work with a candidate she believed would regard her community equitably.

As president of one of less than ten black-owned lobbying firms in the state, Henderson-Rivers has fought equally diligently on her own behalf.

“Being black in the private sector is not easy,” Henderson-Rivers explained. “We work twice as hard, twice as long, and we don’t receive equal pay.”

Compound that with being a woman, and not only is the pay CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS VASSILAROS & SONS: MIXING TRADITION & INNOVATION

BY BENJAMIN FANG

For the women owners of the 100-year-old coffee company Vassilaros & Sons, looking forward to the future is as important as looking back at its rich history.

The College Point-based company was founded in 1919 by John A. Vassilaros, a Greek immigrant from the island of Ikaria.

John Vassilaros worked two jobs as a waiter to support his family.

After the birth of his first son, he took on another job as a coffee salesman in Queens.

According to Sophia Kasselakis, Vassilaros’s oldest granddaughter, it was actually her grandmother, also named Sophia, who came up with the idea of starting their own coffee business.

“She said to my grandfather, ‘you can’t be an employee anymore,’” Kasselakis said. “You have to start your own business and be your own boss.”

They started Vassilaros & Sons in a little storefront on 34th Street and Third Avenue.

Vassilaros would roast the coffee, while Sophia and his sister-in-law, Frosini, packaged bags and bags of a special blend of freshly-roasted coffee.

Vassilaros would deliver the coffee to customers, often taking the subway while carrying 40-pound bags on his shoulders.

Eventually, the coffee company, dedicated to quality and built on relationships, flourished and moved to Long Island City.

From the outset, founder John Anthony maintained a strong reputation in the Greek community, many of whom were diner and restaurant owners who became lifelong customers.

Kasselakis said her grandfather “baptized” nearly 300 children. He kept an “open house” on Sundays, inviting friends to come over with big pots of food on the stove.

They welcomed immigrants from Ikaria and other parts of Greece to come to New York City, many of whom settled in Astoria, where many Greeks lived in community with one

16

Alexandra Vassilaros and the extended Vassilaros & Sons Coffee family. another.

Vassilaros even gave loans to many of his customers to help them start businesses. During the Great Depression, when many in the Greek community were struggling financially, he helped put many of them to work.

For Vassilaros, community, service and strong values were the foundation of their lives.

He and his wife also helped fund the building of the cathedral on East 74th Street in Manhattan, and helped to found a much-needed hospital back in Ikaria.

“This is how he established a loyalty base,” Kasselakis said.

“Community was the basis of the business.”

Vassilaros’s son, Anthony, came into the business as a young man to help his father, learn the ropes and eventually guide and grow the company.

In the late 1950s, at age 13, Kasselakis began commuting with her father to Queens to work at the roastery and the plant in the summer.

She worked in the office, while her brother John Anthony, the only son of five children, would help in the back with the roasters.

“Everybody in the family always worked in the company,” she said.

“First summers, and then full-time after that.”

The family business expanded even more in the 60s and 70s when it won a government contract to sell coffee to the U.S. Army. Due to growth and demand, Vassilaros & Sons moved to its current home, a 25,000-square-foot plant in College Point.

Over the years, the company was passed from father to son twice. John Anthony, its founder, handed it off to Anthony John, who then passed it on in 1972 to John Anthony, who was named after his grandfather.

The grandson, John Anthony Vassilaros, led the business into the 21st century, but passed away after a difficult struggle with cancer in 2015. He was survived by his wife of 23 years, Alexandra Vassilaros, and their three teenage boys, Adonis John, Luka John and Stefano John.

The name and legacy of Vassilaros & Sons took on even more meaning after John’s death, especially to the next generation of the family.

According to Kasselakis, though there was no clear line of succession in place, it was a “tight-knit family business.”

“So we all did whatever we had to do,” she said.

Her husband, George, who was

the general manager of Vassilaros & Sons for decades, helped to stabilize the business along with her daughter, Stefanie, an attorney who stepped in temporarily to help lead the company as plans for the future were weighed and considered.

John’s wife, Alexandra, whose grandmother and grandfather also immigrated from the island of Ikaria, stepped in as president to continue the legacy of her late husband and his storied family coffee business.

She sensed there were opportunities to pursue as a new womenowned business. Though daunted by the recent loss of her husband, Vassilaros said she was determined to be a model of resilience and fortitude for her family.

As her interest and dedication grew, her strategy was to preserve the relationships that kept the company thriving for 100 years and pivot toward growth.

The other part of the strategy was thinking outside the box and innovation.

“You have to take risks,” Vassilaros said. “Family businesses, even successful ones, are complex and quirky.

“They are often functionally dysfunctional, but at the end of the day, CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR AWARDS

KALOIDIS LEAVES BEHIND PHILANTHROPIC LEGACY

BY BENJAMIN FANG

As a prominent businessman, philanthropist and community leader, Dimitrios “Jimmy” Kaloidis left an indelible mark on New York City and beyond.

He will be honored posthumously at the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Person of the Year awards.

Born in Petrina, part of the Laconia region of Greece, Kaloidis arrived in the United States in 1955 at 21 years old.

He married Georgia Christou Manolakos, who is also from Laconia, in 1974 before moving to Upper Brookville on Long Island.

Together, they founded a chain of diners and restaurants named after states from across the country, including the Nevada Diner and the Georgia Diner in Elmhurst.

In 1997, Kaloidis, in partnership with George Makkos, was awarded a long-term concession to operate the banquet and event facility Terrace on the Park at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

In addition to their entrepreneurial success, the Kaloidis family gave back to many Hellenic causes, educational facilities and religious and cultural institutions in both the United States and in Greece.

Some of their largest donations were made to the Holy Cross Parochial School, which was officially renamed The Dimitrios and Georgia Kaloidis Parochial School, as well as the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge.

The family contributed $800,000 to the school’s cultural and educational center, as well as $1 million for the church’s life insurance policy. Every year, they pay the tuition for the three top students at the parochial school.

Other donations include $100,000 for the Laconian Cultural Center, $1 million for the Cardiovascular Center at New York Hospital in Queens and $50,000 to the St. Demetrios Cathedral Parochial School in Astoria.

Outside of the United States, the couple donated $50,000 to the Aniaton Hospital in Sparta, Greece,

to purchase a transport vehicle for the children’s ward.

In 2015, they gave $150,000 to New York’s Cosmos FM, a Hellenic radio station that broadcasts under the aegis of the Greek American Educational Public Information System. The station’s new broadcast studio was named after Dimitrios and Georgia Kaloidis.

Their generosity over the years have garnered recognition and accolades. In 2002 and 2003, Dimitrios and Georgia each received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

They have also been honored by the Pan Gregorian Federation, the Federation of Dodecanese of USA, the Council of Hellenes Abroad and others. Elected officials such as former Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden and former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr. also recognized their philanthropy.

This past September, Dimitrios Kaloidis passed away in Greece at the age of 85.

Eleni Thermos, the controller for Terrace on the Park, worked for Kaloidis for two decades. She said

DIMITRIOS “JIMMY” KALOIDIS

he was a great philanthropist who loved all children and always gave back.

As the co-owner of the banquet facility, he always had a “hello” and a “how are you” for all of the staff, Thermos said.

“His office was always open, he never turned anyone away” she said. “He was a very good man, and he will be very deeply missed.”

COMPANY FOCUSED ON NEW COFFEE CONSUMERS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

they have a duty to one another,” she added, “especially if they care to keep the business healthy and vibrant.”

Even John Moore, the business’s first CEO hired from outside of the family, acknowledges that the “cornerstone of the company” is the relationships built over the last 100 years, as well as the new relationships they are making now, especially as a women-owned business.

Moore has had a long career in the coffee industry. He started in 1993 as a young barista, and has worked in every part of coffee’s complex value chain, literally from seed to sip.

In addition to coffee farming, trading and roasting, he has previously served as the CEO of two coffee companies and a partner in another.

In addition to leading Vassilaros & Sons, Moore is also a Certified Q Grader and Head Judge for the Cup

of Excellence competition.

Moore said he has a profound respect and admiration for the 100year history at Vassilaros & Sons.

“We have been, for 100 years, New York City’s authentic cup of coffee,” Moore said. “That’s just something that is in the DNA of this organization.”

Many of the company’s customers are businesses that started with Vassilaros coffee, and have never changed over multiple generations.

“So long as the needs of that community are consistent, the coffee will be rock solid and consistent as well,” he said. “We don’t intend to change anything with that.”

But Moore also knows there’s a “whole new generation of coffee consumers” who are looking to try new things. He believes Vassilaros & Sons will satisfy the needs of those customers too.

By early next year, the company will launch new brands of coffee into

grocery stores and markets.

“We’re looking to get into the face of the average consumer,” Moore said, “by creating a consumer-facing retail package that will be relevant and beautiful.”

He added that their current facility in Queens, which was developed to fulfill large-scale private contracts, has everything it needs, having roasted for the U.S. military.

“We have all of that capacity and capability to bring to bear for emerging opportunities,” he said.

After three generations of men leading the company, Vassilaros & Sons is now wholly women-owned and is currently going through the Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification process.

“That enables us to participate with city, state and federal channels of the market we might not have been able to compete in otherwise,” Moore said. “It gives us a competi-

tive advantage.”

Alexandra Vassilaros, formerly a writer and Pulitzer Prize finalist, said she’s still learning what it means to be a woman leader in a business built by men.

This month, she will be honored by the Queens Chamber of Commerce with a “Business Person of the Year” award. She said she’s grateful for the opportunity to talk about the legacy of the company, which means so much to her.

“We are very proud of our identity as immigrant-grown and now women-owned,” she said.

Kasselakis added a reminder that it was her grandmother who was behind it all from the start.

“We also want to honor the women in the family who supported the ambition and hard work of these formidable men,” Vassilaros said.

“One-hundred years in business is a testament to great product, great customers and a strong family.”

17

Business Person of the Year Awards Honoring

Tyquana HendersonRivers President/CEO Connective Strategies Associates, Inc.

Alexandra Vassilaros President Vassilaros & Sons Coffee

Terrace on the Park

HALL OF FAME HONOREE & KEYNOTE SPEAKER Rick Cotton Executive Director The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

Chris Xu President United Construction & Development Group Corp.

December 04, 2019

AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY

Dimitrios "Jimmy" Kaloidis Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, Co-owner of Terrace on the Park

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December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR BUILDING HOMES & NETWORKS

Chris Xu grew up in a village in Yangzhou, China. In search for a better life and more opportunities, he and his family moved to the United States to find their “American dream” in 1986 After working in the construction field, in 1994 he founded United Construction and Development Group. What began as a construction development company, building single and multifamily houses has grown into one of the leaders in real estate development in Queens.

The firm’s marquee project, Skyline Tower, is a 67-story building that officially became the tallest building in Queens after a topping out ceremony in October, surpassing the Citibank building.

Xu is attentive in procuring new developments and properties, and utilizes his skills to evaluate, analyze, and source solutions throughout the construction process.

He will be honored at the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Person of the Year Awards ceremony on December 4.

Xu began networking and engaging with his local community while developing lasting relationships with

CHRIS XU

contractors and partners. He became a member of the New York Chinese Business Association and served as a president of the association for multiple terms, during which time he was able to help grow the association to over 800 members.

The association has been a major pillar of support for his business ventures and investments. His involvement in the local community and networks are the roots of his successful leadership skills, as well as his recognition abroad.

HENDERSON-RIVERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

gap even more disparaging, but Henderson-Rivers is also left with the feeling that she is constantly competing with the men - particularly white men - who dominate the political sector.

“There’s this never-ending fight where you’re always protecting what you have and trying to grow,” she said.

Finding support in her faith, as well as a reliable network of friends, family and fellow businesswomen, Henderson-Rivers is driven to continue her mission of lifting up those around her. In addition to being an ordained minister specializing in grief and death, Henderson-Rivers uses her business as a platform as well.

Connective Strategies hires anywhere between 15 and 20 people each year, making a point to select

WINNING ON THE FIELD, THRIVING IN THE COMMUNITY.

from hard to employ populations, such as those formerly incarcerated and aspiring young professionals looking for that first experience to jump start their career.

Henderson-Rivers brings her story full circle through giving young women and girls an experience of mentorship, much like the one that began her own journey (except she says everyone gets paid).

“The best advice I can give to someone is that they need to develop this thing called ‘stickwitit.’

People sometimes get discouraged and they abandon what it is that they really want to do, because they can’t figure out how to make their path,” she said. “You have doors shut in your face, you don’t have a cheering squad, but nobody is going to cheer for you and encourage you until you figure out how to do it for yourself.”

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You can sense their commitment.”

Brian O.F. Peterkin VP of Operations & Programming New York Crusaders

When the New York Crusaders needed a financial partner, they turned to their neighbor: Ridgewood Savings Bank. Just like the football-based nonprofit, Ridgewood is committed to supporting financial wellness and opportunity in our community.

Connect with our local team today. www.ridgewoodbank.com | (844) 772-4722

© 2019 Ridgewood Savings Bank

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

ALWAYS TIME FOR FUN IN QUEENS

We know, we know, December is busy. Office parties, family commitments, annual reviews, television specials. There’s a lot pressure. However, it’s also a time to reconnect with vacationing students and loved ones who have traveled from afar.

Queens understands all this, of course, and the world’s most diverse borough responds with a wide array of fun, enriching activities for just about every interest. Please read on to learn more.

Dec. 6-Jan. 26, Hello Panda Festival. This large international extravaganza showcases more than 120 lantern exhibits, 60 international food vendors, and cultural arts experiences including live performances, modern art, holiday market, and traditional crafts. Citi Field, hellopandafest.com.

Dec. 8, HollyTour 2019, 1 to 5 pm. Six historic Flushing sites hold open houses during this 32nd annual extravaganza. They host time-honored, family-friendly activities, performances, displays, and refreshments. Participants can walk or take a dedicated shuttle to Bowne House, Flushing Town Hall, Kingsland Homestead, Lewis Latimer House Museum, Quaker Meeting House, and Voelker Orth

HELLO PANDA

Museum. More info at queenshistoricalsociety.org.

Dec. 14-15, Navidad:AMexicanAmerican Christmas.

The Calpulli Mexican Dance Company presents holiday traditions from both sides of the Rio Grande. The choreography follows a young person caught between his family’s past in Mexico and his present life in New York City. Through a dream, he unites the cultures with Aztec-inspired dance performed to Christmas carols and a Mariachifused “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.” Shows are Dec. 14 at 2 and 8 pm; Dec. 15 at 1 and 5 pm.

Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, queenstheatre.org.

Dec. 15, Annual Christmas Concert, 4 pm. The Sacred Music Society of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church joins the Oratorio Society of Queens, and the Orchestra Arts Ensemble of Queens for this annual concert. The program includes the Christmas portion of Handel’s “Messiah” and a suite of Holiday carols. David Close is the maestro, while other scheduled stars are Jennifer Gliere (soprano), John Easterlin (tenor), and Nathan Bahny (bass-baritone).

Queen of Martyrs, 110-06 Queens

THE NUTCRACKER

PHOTO: DOMINICK TOTINO

Blvd., Forest Hills, ourladyqueenofmartyrs.org.

Dec. 15, The Nutcracker, 3 pm. The National Ballet Theater of Odessa returns to dance this classic girl’s journey through a fantasy world of fairies, princes, toy soldiers, and an army of mice set to Tchaikovsky’s music. Queens College, Colden Auditorium, 15349 Reeves Ave., Flushing, kupferbergcenter.org.

Dec. 22, Oratorio Society Holiday Concert, 4 pm. The Oratorio Society of Queens, which has more than 125 members under the direction of Maestro David Close, sings selections from Handel’s “Messiah”

as well as traditional Christmas and Chanukah songs. The featured soloists are Jennifer Gliere (soprano), John Easterlin (tenor), Nathan Bahny (bass-baritone), and Cantor Jerry Korobow. St. Kevin Church, 42-21 194th St., Flushing, QueensOratorio.org.

Dec. 22, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street, 2 pm. Watch a 1978 special in which Big Bird ponders how Santa fits down a chimney, while Ernie and Bert deal with a gift-giving dilemma. Then during a live event, Sonia Manzano, who played Maria, and other guests discuss the episode and present clips from other holiday specials.

Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District, movingimage.us.

All December: GingerBread Lane. This annual display consists of edible gingerbread, royal icing, and candy. Jon Lovitch drafts, designs, bakes, plans, builds, and decorates it. This year’s masterpiece includes storefronts with names like “Pickles and Ice Cream Pregnancy Boutique,” “6 Geese a Laying Brunch Café,” and “5 Golden Rings Jewelry Store.”

There are related workshops, and on Jan. 12, officials break down the exhibition and give edible pieces away to the public. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, nysci.org.

The monthly “It’s In Queens” column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council. More info at itsinqueens.com.

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December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS 12/9, 8 to 11 AM

DECEMBER

2020 CENSUS & BUSINESS

12/4, 6 PM

BUSINESS PERSON OF Chambers of commerce from the THE YEAR AWARDS five boroughs are co-hosting an Honor those who exemplify business acumen, street smarts, hard work, success and doing well by doing good.

Terrace on the Park 52-11 111th Street Flushing 12/5, 9 AM

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN A CULTURALLY DIVERSE WORKPLACE

This program will provide the necessary skills to manage and resolve conflict from a cultural perspective so that you can thrive in an increasingly diverse world.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights

event to engage local business leaders in the value and opportunity of the 2020 Census. Learn about how the Census impacts business and the role New York City businesses can play.

RSVP REQUIRED Register at queenschamber.org The Space at Flatiron - WeWork 35 East 21st Street Ground Floor New York, NY 100100 12/12, 9 AM

BREAKFAST SPEED NETWORKING #4

This is a fast paced event which guarantees you’ll build your professional network and increase your business bottom-line.

Within a matter of 20 minutes you’ll be introduced to at least 20 new contacts.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights 12/5, 9 AM 12/14, 2 TO 6 PM

HOLIDAY BUSINESS COMMUNITY DAY

An opportunity to bring together alternative practitioners and enthusiasts who have an understanding of the growing wellness industry. Speakers will be sharing their expertise with a targeted conscious audience in a relaxed setting.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org Yoga Shakti 114-41 Lefferts Boulevard South Ozone Park, NY 11420 12/16, 6:30 PM

HOW TO DO BUSINESS WITH NYC & STATE WORKSHOP & POP-UP CHAMBER

New York State Senator Leroy Comrie hosts the latest edition of his Small Business Workshop series, this time providing resources on how to do business with New York City, the State of New York, and procurement contracts. The Pop-Up Chamber will also be in attendance.

FREE Register at queenschamber.org St. Albans Library 191-05 Linden Boulevard St. Albans, NY 12/17, 10 AM to 2 PM

POP-UP CHAMBER

The Pop-Up Chamber offers a range of services and advice in little time. Stop by for a quick 15 minutes of consultation. (NOTE: Tell the security desk you’re going to see Adam Orlansky at WeWork before going to the 13th floor.)

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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NONPROFIT NEWS

QHS TO HOST HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR Here’s a proven way to get into the holiday spirit! Six Queens landmarks will open their doors to the public during #HollyTour2019 on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1 pm to 5 pm. The 32nd annual extravaganza will feature time-honored, familyfriendly activities, performances, displays, and refreshments.

Participants will be able to walk and/or take a dedicated shuttle to the venues ─ Bowne House; Flushing Town Hall; Quaker Meeting House; Kingsland Homestead; Lewis Latimer House Museum; and Voelker Orth House ─ which are all in Flushing. Most of will be decorated as they were during their first holiday seasons.

All-inclusive tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Children under age 12 can attend for $5 each.

The Queens Historical Society is the #HollyTour2019’s main organizer, and tickets are for sale via the nonprofit’s website and in person at its headquarters at Kingsland Homestead.

Voelker Orth House (149-19 38th Ave., Flushing) will be dressed in a traditional German-American style much the way the Voelker and Orth women would have decorated it. Guests will check out a seasonal décor and an exhibition of beaded sculptural tableaux, peruse a gift-and-plant sale, and enjoy pfeffernüsse (tiny spice cookies) and hot mulled cider. Pianist Kenneth Gartman will lead a holiday singa-long.

The Victorian abode dates to 1891 and provided shelter to three generations of a family with German roots. The original Voelker granddaughter, Elisabeth Orth (1926-1995), bequeathed her estate to establish the museum and preserve a view of Flushing’s past. The garden contains popular plants and bushes from the 19th century. They’re maintained with time-honored gardening techniques (no pesticides) for birds, butterflies and honey bees to feast upon and pollinate.

The Quaker Meeting House (137-16 Northern Blvd., Flushing)

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KINGSLAND HOMESTEAD

will offer folk singing and hot apple cider. Visitors will be able to walk around the grounds and view the historic cemetery. The building, which dates to 1694, was the first house of worship in a town that was then called “Vlissengen.”

Now it’s New York’s oldest structure in continuous use for religious purposes.

At the Lewis Howard Latimer House (34-41 137th St., Flushing), patrons will enjoy STEAM educational programs in the Tinker Lab, view an art exhibition, and watch a video interview of the namesake’s granddaughter, Winifred Latimer Norman, who fought to save the house and raise awareness of his contributions to science.

Lewis Latimer lived in his 19th century Victorian house from 1902 until his death in 1928. The African-American son of fugitive slaves helped develop the telephone and incandescent light bulb.

The Renaissance man was also a poet, painter, and musician.

Kingsland Homestead (143-35

37th Ave., Flushing) will lead guided tours of the new Flushing Garden Club exhibition and a workshop on making pressed flower scrapbooks.

Built between 1774 and 1785, the dwelling is one of the earliest surviving examples of area houses that were common in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Its name comes from British sea captain Joseph King, who bought it in 1801. Five generations of distinguished Quakers from the King/ Murray family lived there until the 1930s. #HollyTour2019 attendees at Flushing Town Hall (137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing) will be able to shop at an annual Holiday Market, where local artisans sell their wares, including jewelry, paintings, ceramics, paper goods, greeting cards, and clothing.

Built in 1862, the Romanesque Revival hall was the village’s cultural and political focal point in the late 19th century. It hosted swearing-in ceremonies for Union soldiers before the Civil War and

later served as an opera house, courthouse, jail, and bank branch.

Activities at Bowne House (37-01 Bowne St., Flushing) will include discussions of early holiday traditions and demonstrations of Colonial crafts. An early dollhouse with mini furnishings will be on display, and refreshments will include a treat typical of those served in the region of the Bowne family’s ancestral home in the English countryside.

Built by English-born religious freedom advocate John Bowne in 1661, the home is the borough’s oldest domicile. Nine generations of the Bowne and Parsons families lived there until 1945, when it became a museum. The structure, which has city, state, and federal landmark status, features a unique blend of Dutch and English construction techniques.

More information is at queenshistoricalsociety.org, (718) 939-0647, ext. 14, or jeranh@queenshistoricalsociety.org.

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The Business News of Queens & The Official Magazine of The Queens Chamber of Commerce

the Latest on the most infLuentiaL peopLe in queens Your inside scoop straight from the business community’s top leaders

Profiling Queens’ Most Dynamic People To subscribe to this monthly, glossy magazine, visit thisisqueensborough.com or call BQE Media at 718-426-7200.

To place an ad, call BQE Media at 718-426-7200.

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QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS

MASPETH FEDERAL FUNDS ‘STREAM’ LAB

BY BENJAMIN FANG The students at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy in Maspeth now have a state-of-the-art technology lab to explore and learn.

The administration at St. Stan’s and community leaders recently cut the ribbon to their new STREAM Lab, which incorporates education in science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and mathematics in one place.

The high-tech classroom features robots, 3D virtual reality, 3D printers and a host of other learning tools. Students can design their own laptops, use new tablets and write on modern whiteboards.

Even kindergarten students are learning the fundamentals of coding, according to St. Stan’s principal Catherine Mangone.

“STREAM engaged all students, younger and older, male and female,” Mangone said. “It’s critical for student development in the 21st century.”

According to the principal, studies show that the earlier you introduce STREAM education, the more likely students will be interested in those subjects. As a result, students are more engaged with creating, building and curiosity, she said.

Mangone said having this dedicated space will empower students to engage in “high-level problem solving.” It will provide them with skills that broaden their future careers, from technical careers to critical thinking, communication and collaboration, she said.

“Here at St. Stan’s, we know that the skills our students will learn in the STREAM Lab are applicable to every single thing they do,” Mangone said.

Stephanie Giordano, the school’s new STREAM Lab facilitator, said in the United States, a projected 2.4 million STREAM jobs will go unfulfilled in 2019 and 2020.

It’s not due to a lack of interest, she said, but because not enough people in the workforce have the requisite skills for those jobs.

“The future is here and it requires

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Maspeth Federal Savings CEO Thomas Rudzewick plays air hockey on a 3D projection with Emma Rosemond. knowledge of STREAM,” she said.

According to Giordano, STREAM occupations out-earned every other field by 20 to 30 percent across education levels.

The issue is not the demand, but rather the lack of education offered to students at an early age.

“STREAM education is not something that is typically ingrained or presented early or often enough in the lives of today’s children,” she said.

Giordano, who graduated from college with a degree in biology, actually began a master’s program in cellular and molecular biology.

But she quickly switched to a master’s in teaching so she could one day teach STREAM and “change the hearts of all of these children,” she said.

Students have already attended classes inside the STREAM Lab over the last few weeks, according to eighth-grader Emma Rosemond, president of the Student Leadership Committee. She said she has heard wonderful comments from her peers.

“Every student is absolutely lov-

ing it,” she said, “and it’s very exciting to have this as part of our day.”

In the first week, the students were introduced to the new robots, which they soon learned to program using their new iPads.

“We’re able to make them do all kinds of tasks,” Rosemond said.

Last week, students even assembled their own laptops. Others are already coding on them.

“I never would have thought that middle schoolers would be able to build and create their own computers,” she said. “The STREAM Lab has allowed us to do things that high school students would do.”

Rosemond added that the lab is helping prepare students as young as kindergarten for middle school and high school.

“I love the STREAM Lab because not only does it teach me a lot,” she said, “it’s also extremely fun.”

Eighth-grade student Michelle Ramirez said their new space will give students a better understanding of what they want to learn in the future.

“There’s not many places like

this, and it’s something different for all of us,” she said. “It’s definitely going to help us learn something new.”

Ramirez, like Rosemond, are set to graduate at the end of this school year, but wish they had more time with the new lab.

“I don’t want to leave, I’m not ready,” said Ramirez, who has been at St. Stan’s since the first grade. “I love everything about this school.”

The STREAM Lab was the idea of the St. Stan’s Endowment Committee, which is comprised of nine community members, including senior staff of Maspeth Federal Savings. The bank donated $250,000 to help build the lab.

Tom Rudzewick, president and CEO of Maspeth Federal Savings and a St. Stan’s alumnus from the class of 1979, said he’s proud to help provide for the next generation of students and residents of Maspeth.

“Our company prides itself on giving back to the community,” Rudzewick said. “This is such a wonderful achievement for the entire community.”

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

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.

There are free immigration services every Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 71-29 Roosevelt Avenue. All services are free, confidential and open to any member of the community. Some of the services include DACA, TPS and document replacement and renewal. Call (212) 652-2071 with any questions.

The Partnership will host its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 4 at 5 p.m. in Dunningham Triangle Park at 82nd Street and Baxter Avenue.

BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID

213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361 Executive Director: Christine Siletti 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 BID will host its 6th Annual Children’s Holiday Parade and Lighting Ceremony on December 1. The parade starts at 36th Avenue and Bell Boulevard at 3:30 p.m. with the ceremony to follow outside the LIRR station.

BAYSIDE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

41-16 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361

President: Ed Probst Vice President: Judith Limpert 718.229.2277 info@baysideba.com baysideba.com 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 Bayside Business Association will hold its 2019 Holiday Party on December 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Douglaston Club at 600 West Drive. Tickets are $25/$40 for non-members.

BUSINESS CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS (BCNA)

78-27 37 Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Business Development: Tshering Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@nycbcna.org

GREATER JAMAICA HOSTS ANNUAL GALA

The Greater Jamaica Development Corporation (GJDC) held its annual gala at Second Floor NYC in Manhattan on November 20. Pictured from left to right are emcee and NY1 reporter Clodagh McGowan, honoree and regional director for Government Affairs of American Airlines Darryl Towns; GJDC president Hope Knight, honoree GJDC’s Business and Financial Services manager Councilman I. Daneek Miller, GJDC board chair Peter Kulka, and honoree and princi- Vivi Acosta and Vignike Andersen, GJDC Marketing pal of Artimus Real Estate Development Robert Ezrapour. (All Photos: Walter Karling) and Community Engagement manager.

Staffers of the Artimus Real Estate Development Company celebrate their award of recognition.

Richard Werber of Foresight Consulting, GJDC board chair Peter Kullka, Rebecca Deutscher of Deutscher & Daughter, and Arthur Benjamin, Jr. of Access1 Communications.

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

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QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 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.

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.

However, there is no meeting in December.

On December 2, the Chamber will host the annual Celebrate Winter event on Austin Street.

It will take place from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on 71st Road between Austin Street and Queens Boulevard.

GATEWAY JFK

Executive Director: Scott Grimm-Lyon info@GatewayJFK.org GatewayJFK.org QUICK GLANCE: Formerly the Greater JFK Industrial BID and founded in 2016, the group seeks to provide support to the off-airport air cargo and services district through supplemental services and improvements, technical and professional services for its members, and advocacy and administration.

GatewayJFK is seeking sponsors for banners on Rockaway Boulevard. Participating sponsors will have their logo displayed on the lower portion of the banners for one full-year. Sponsoring the banner will cost $1,000, but sponsoring three or more banners costs $750 per banner. If interested, contact GatewayJFK at 516-730-3400 or scott@gatewayjfk.org.

The BID recently launched the GatewayJFK Rideshare portal to match commuters with others who live and work close to each other.

Commuters are free to choose how frequently they want to carpool and with whom. If you are a member who regularly carpools and you need to leave work in an emergency, the free Guaranteed Ride Program will get you to your destination for free by public transit, taxi, Lyft

or Uber.

GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

39-01 Main Street, Suite 511, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and representing over 200 businesses.

Upcoming events include: • Grow NYC Greenmarket - Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Visit the GrowNYC Greenmarket at Maple Playground at 136-50 Maple Avenue.

• Annual Community Holiday Meal - All day on Saturday, December 31 - Enjoy a holiday meal at St. George’s Church at 135-32 38th Avenue.

GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight 718.291.0282 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.

GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID

Charles Jusino of 91st Street has been famous in Woodhaven for his Christmas decorations for decades. The Woodhaven BID is holding its own house-decorating contest this year.

Residents can nominate and vote on your favorite houses online at bit.ly/woodhavenlights or by calling (929) 460-5808.

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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.

On Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans.

The WBID will kick off the holiday sea-

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES son with the annual tree-lighting ceremony on Decemb 6 at 6:30 p.m. It will take place at Forest Parkway and Jamaica Avenue. This year, the WBID also unveil new lights on Jamaica Avenue this year, with “Welcome to Woodhaven” signs at each end of Jamaica Avenue, one at Dexter Court and another at 98th Street.

The next day on December 7, the GWDC will host the annual Santa Parade on Jamaica Avenue at 11:30 a.m., culminating at Forest Parkway Plaza where there will be other holiday and kids-themed events.

This year, the WBID is hosting a Holiday Decorating Contest, which is co-sponsored by the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association.

Residents can vote for their favorite holiday houses in Woodhaven at bit.ly/woodhavenlights or by calling (929) 460-5808.

JAMAICA CENTER BID

161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 419 Jamaica, NY 11432 Executive Director: Jennifer Furioli 718.526.2422 jamaica.nyc @JamCenterBID (Twitter) @jamcenterbid (Instagram) @Jamaica Center BID (Facebook) QUICK GLANCE: Budget of over $1 million.

Founded in 1979, the Jamaica Center BID serves over 400 businesses on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 169th Street.

The BID’s goal is to promote and maintain Downtown Jamaica as a thriving business hub and an enjoyable destination to shop, work, live and visit.

The BID’s sanitation team is out on Jamaica Avenue 360 days a year. The BID offers marketing and promotion for the district, including a value card program, banner and rubbish bin sponsorship opportunities, and supports business owners in opening or expanding their operations.

The BID is the proud recipient of a threeyear, $300,000 Avenue NYC grant and is currently conducting a Commercial District Needs Assessment (CDNA), which will inform future programing.

The Down to Earth Farmers Market is held every Friday on Parsons Boulevard between Jamaica and Archer avenues and every Saturday on 160th Street between Jamaica and 90th avenues until November 23.

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

616 Duke Street, Westbury, NY 11590 Executive Director: Mercedes Altman 516.492.0513 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 and more than a million tons of air freight cargo.

LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP

President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 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 mixed-use community. The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone.

The Partnership will host its Annual Meeting on December 11 at 8 a.m. at 41-21 27th Street.

Elections for the Board of Directors will be held.

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 Chamber’s Monthly Meeting will take place on Tuesday, December 10, at noon It will be held at Connolly’s Corner at 71-15 Grand Avenue.

• The Chamber will co-host the annual Maspeth Tree-Lighting Ceremony on Friday, December 6, at 69th Street and 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.

MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379 President: Salvatore Crifasi 718.894.8700 Sal@Crifasi.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35 businesses under its umbrella.

Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80 th 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.

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.

The BID has also been involved in a zoning initiative for Myrtle Avenue. Executive Director Ted Renz is working with, and has the approval of the community board, to preserve the integrity of the business feel of Myrtle Avenue by making it a special zoning district. City Planning is looking at the request now. The plan seeks to keep the look of the two- and three-story commercial infrastructure intact.

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 network-

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES ing events. Upcoming events include: • Queens StartUP! Entrepreneurial Financing on Tuesday, December 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

- This workshop focuses on providing financial model templates to help early-stage entrepreneurs with forecasting so they can be equipped to submit the application for the StartUP! Competition. It will take place at the Queens Library at 41-17 Main Street in Flushing.

• Be Your Own Boss Part One on Thursday, December 5, from 10 a.m. to noon. At this free women’s power networking breakfast, in partnership with Samaschool, you will get help started with freelancing. Learn about Navigating Online Gig Economy Platforms, Personal Branding, Customer Service, and Independent Worker Finances. It will take place at Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens at 21-12 30th Road in Long Island City.

• Queens StartUP! Testing Your Business Model on Thursday, December 5, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - This workshop focuses on using Business Model Canvas to run experiences and help you figure out how your startup creates and delivers value. It will take place at the Queens Library at 41-17 Main Street in Flushing.

• Queens StartUP! Startup Marketing on Tuesday, December 10, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

- This workshop will help you lay the foundation of what’s needed in a successful startup marketing strategy. It will also cover common channels and best practices. It will take place at the Queens Library at 41-17 Main Street in Flushing.

• Queens StartUP! Entrepreneurial Financing on Thursday, December 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. - This workshop focuses on providing financial model templates to help earlystage entrepreneurs with forecasting so they can be equipped to submit the application for the StartUP! Competition. It will take place at the Queens Library at 41-17 Main Street in Flushing.

• Be Your Own Boss Part Two on Monday, December 16, from 10 a.m. to noon. At this free women’s power networking breakfast, in partnership with Samaschool, you will get help started with freelancing. Learn about Navigating Online Gig Economy Platforms, Personal Branding, Customer Service, and Independent Worker Finances. It will take place at Variety Boys & Girls Club of Queens at 21-12 30th Road in 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

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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.

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 long-standing partnerships with city and state agencies. RDRC is governed by a twelve-member board of directors and a fivemember 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, 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 the corporation’s office at 1920 Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway.

STEINWAY ASTORIA PARTNERSHIP BID

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 over 300 members.

The Steinway Street Business Improvement District encompasses all 300 business located on Steinway Street from 28th Avenue to 35th

Avenue. National chain stores such as Victoria’s Secrets, The Gap, Benetton, and Express are side by side with local family owned shops some of them fixtures on the street for some 50 years.

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 Partnership will host the Steinway Holiday Market on December 1 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. featuring local vendors and artisans. It will take place in Municpal Parking Lot #2 at on Steinway Street between 31st Avenue and Broadway.

SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos 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 throughout the neighborhood.

SUNNYSIDE SHINES

45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104 Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam 718.606.1800 director@sunnysideshines.org sunnysideshines.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella.

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.

SUTPHIN BOULEVARD BID

89-00 Sutphin Boulevard, Suite 204C Jamaica, NY 11435 Executive Director: Glen Greenridge 718.291.2110 sutphinblvdbid@verizon.net QUICK GLANCE: The BID was founded in 2004 and represents 134 businesses, 56 properties and 39 property owners along Sutphin Boulevard between Hillside Avenue and 94th Avenue.

The Air Train Jazz takes place on Sutphin Boulevard every Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Jamaica AirTrain Station.

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12

NEW MEMBERS CORPORATE

AFC Urgent Care - Howard Beach

135-25 79th Street Howard Beach, NY 11414 afcurgentcare.com AFC Urgent Care’s mission to provide the best healthcare possible, in a kind and caring environment, while respecting the rights of all patients, in an economical manner, at times and locations convenient to the patient.

Assured Environments

45 Broadway, 10th Floor New York, NY 10006 assuredevironments.com Assured Environments is the New York region’s largest and most effective pest management company, safeguarding landmark properties since 1934, with comprehensive solutions that combine the right people, training, and technology.

Crunch - Rosedale

166-10 Baisley Boulevard, Floor 2 Jamaica, NY 11434 crunch.com There are no judgments here – No too much or not enough. No glares of disapproval. Here we keep open minds. We are nurturers. We seek only to encourage, empower and entertain.

There is no one type. There is no one reason.

There is no one way.

The Andy Li Team at Compass

21-50 45th Avenue Long Island City, NY 11354 compass.com As an innovative residential real estate firm, we empower our agents so they have more time for advising their clients. With the solutions-driven mindset of a startup and the sophistication of a luxury brand, Compass is the future of real estate.

The Lovett Group

109-55 14th Avenue, Second Floor College Point, NY 11356 lovettrealty.com For more than 30 years, The Lovett Group has provided comprehensive real estate management services for residential buildings in New York City. We’ve earned a reputation as an industry leader through exemplary customer service, transparent communications, and effective teamwork.

Blink Fitness

130-20 Farmers Boulevard Queens, NY 11423 blinkfitness.com Blink is a motivating space with a staff of mood-

lifters. We take pride in challenging fitness industry norms and celebrating every unique body. #EveryBodyHappy

CityMD

RoutVox Consulting LLC 171-34 119th Road Jamaica, NY 11434 optimizedvoip.com

31-11 Steinway Street Astoria, NY 11103 citymd.com Established on the pillars of quality, speed and exceptional experiences, four ER doctors formed CityMD in 2010 as an alternative to primary care physicians booked weeks in advance, and expensive, crowded emergency rooms with long wait times.

Titanium Linx Consulting, Inc.

First Central Savings Bank

Bluejacket Strategies

35-01 30th Avenue Astoria, NY 11103 myfcsb.com Our goal is to fill a void in banking by providing old-fashioned personal service with a smile; a throw-back to the day of hospitality and good manners that we were all raised on, something you just won’t find anywhere else. We are a true community bank in that we make our decisions locally and have a vested interest in the people and businesses we serve.

Prime Storage

31-07 20th Avenue Astoria, NY 11105 primestoragegroup.com It’s time to look at self-storage differently.

Think of a Prime Storage unit as an extension of your home, business, lifestyle or even college dorm. It’s time to have more space for the things that matter to you in a convenient, affordable, local Prime Storage facility.

INTRODUCTORY

Blue Ox Marketing

27-01 Queens Plaza North, 13th Floor Long Island City, NY 11101 blueoxmarketing.com

Dominic A. Murray 21 Memorial Foundation Inc 100-10 31st Avenue, #1 East Elmhurst, NY 11369 domheart21.org

Infit Nutrition

69-44 Cooper Avenue Glendale, NY 11385 infitnutri.org

KEEN Renovations, Inc.

107-46 Van Wyck Expressway South Richmond Hill, NY 11419 keenrenovationsinc.com

589 Newton Avenue Uniondale, NY 11553 titaniumlinx.com

Vornado Realty Trust 61-35 Junction Boulevard Rego Park, NY 11374 vno.com

32-17 33rd Street Long Island City, NY 11106 bluejacket.nyc

Logan Bus Company Inc. & Affiliates 97-14 Atlantic Avenue Ozone Park, NY 11416 loganbus.com

CHAMBER HOSTS GJONAJ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 have to participate,” he said. “You have to be there, be heard and get involved.”

Gjonaj added that until business owners take the approach that an attack on any business is an attack on all businesses, the trends and patterns will continue.

“We have the ability to turn this around,” he said. “It begins in hearings and rallies. If you can’t find the time, make the time or send an employee. Encourage others to be there.”

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, 2019. 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 3,200 (3,116). Paid and/or requested circulation: Dealer, carrier sales 633 (756), Mail subscriptions, 1,688 (1,604), Total 2,321 (2,360). Free Distribution By mail 0 (0), By other means 198 (200), Total 198 (200). Total distribution 2,519 (2,560), Office Use, leftover, spoiled 681 ( 5 5 6 ) , Return from news agents 0 (0), Total 3,200 (3,116), Percent paid 92.14 (92.18).

I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete. Thomas J. Grech, Editor

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE

queenschamber.org EXECUTIVE STAFF

Thomas Santucci

Richard Dzwlewicz

Thomas J. Grech

Brendan Leavy

Nash Roe

Fran Biderman-Gross

Joanne M. Persad

Jacqueline Donado

Chairperson

Associate Treasurer

Vice Chairperson

Associate Secretary

Treasurer

Immediate Past Chair

Patrick Yu

Susan Browning

Mayra DiRico

Secretary

President & CEO

Business Development Manager

Chief of Operations

Strategic Program Coordinator

Alejandra Espejo

Jef Gross

Financial Controller

Neil Wagner

Business Service Program Manager

Manager of Committee Development

CHAIRPERSON’S ADVISORY COUNCIL William Blake Dominick Ciampa Joseph Farber Louis D. Laurino

Joseph M. Mattone, Sr George Rozansky Gerard Thornton

QUEENSBOROUGH (ISSN0033-6068 is published 12 times a year for $12.50 annually by the Queens Chamber of Commerce of the borough of Queens. 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.

Periodicals postage paid at Flushing NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Michael Billia Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan KY Chow

Carol Conslato Sal Crifasi Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof Howard Graf

Raymond Irrera Kenneth Koenig Henry Kuykendall Neil Levin Jeffery E. Levine Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul

Jeffrey Owens Nayan Parikh Albert F. Pennisi Vincent L. Petraro Esq Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock Juan Santiago

Thomas Santucci Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan

Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner

CORPORATE MEMBERS A&E Real Estate A&L Cesspool Services Corp A. Giannopoulos Architects AAA Northeast AARP Ackman-Ziff ADP Major Accounts Adria Hotel and Conference Center Aeroterm Alma Bank Amna Construction Corp AmTrust Title Andromeda Antun’s of Queens Village Apple Bank for Savings Apple-Metro, Inc. Ashnu International, Inc. Atco Properties Accounts Payable Aurora Contractors, Inc. AYC Properties LLC Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of Hope BankUnited, N.A Bellozino Bethpage Federal Credit Union BNB Boyce Technologies Inc. Broadway Stages Capital One Bank Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Ciampa Organization Cipico Construction, Inc. ClearCell Power

Conference Associates, Inc Cord Meyer Development LLC Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott CPEX Real Estate Crescent Properties, Inc Crown Castle Cushman & Wakefield Daroga Power, LLC E Central Medical Management East Coast Energy Group Ecosave Inc. Edge Auto Inc. Elmhurst Hospital Center Emigrant Mortgage Company EMU Health Enterprise Fleet Management eXp Realty: Andrew Wu Exquisite Construction Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) Farrell Fritz, P.C. Flushing Bank Flushing Council On Culture & The Arts Forest Hills Financial Group Inc. GF55 Partners Global Industrial Goldenwood Property Advisors Goodwill Industries of New York & Northern New Jersey, Inc. Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association Greenberg Traurig Greenpoint Manufacturing &

Design Center (GMDC) Greiner Maltz Company of NY Gum Studios Hampton Inn by Hilton JFK Airport Hilton Garden Inn Long Island City New York HK Capital Manhattan View Hyatt Place Flushing INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry Innovo Property Group International Asbestos Removal Inc. iRCM, Inc. James F. Capalino & Assoc.

Jaros, Baum & Bolles Jason Office Products JetBlue Airways Corporation JFA Insurance Brokerage & Associates Inc. JGM Construction Development, LLC Jones Lang LaSalle Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc. Kimco Realty Corporation Klein Weath Management/ Hightower Advisors Laffey Real Estate Laser Bounce of Brooklyn Inc. Lessing’s Food Service Management Levine Builders Lime Luxury Office Suites LLC Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. M&V Provision Company

Madison Realty Capital Main Street Radiology Manpower Marriott International, Inc McBride Consulting & Business Medisys Health Network Mega Contracting Group LLC MetroPlus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade MicroGrid Neworks, LLC Molloy College Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp.

Muss Development LLC NEOLEDGE Neuman’s Kitchen Newtown Creek Superfund Site New York + Atlantic Railway New York Health Plan Association New York Oil Heating Association New York Restaurant Association New York Safety and Training NYC Ferry Operated by Hornblower Northwell Health OneGroup Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates Patrizia’s Italian Restaurant Petro Home Services Plastic Surgery of New York Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Assoc., Inc. Premier Paint Roller Co LLC

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Michelle Stoddart ResortsWorld Casino New York City michelle.stoddart@rwnewyork.com Jayson Simba Festival of Cinema NYC FestivalofCinemaNYC@gmail.com

COMMUNICATIONS Joshua Bienstock, NYIT bienlaw@aol.com Dayana Cabeza Be Growth Consulting contact@begrowthconsulting.com

ENERGY

Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com James Hendon Energy Economic Development Corp. jhendon@energyedc.com

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION Bill Staniford bill@staniford.com Michael Grella Grella Partnership Services mike@socialquityventures.com

HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS

Susan Browning Long Island Jewish Forest Hills sbrowning1@northwell.edu Bert Lurch E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com

HOSPITALITY

REAL ESTATE

Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Laura Altimari Fine Taste NYC finetastenyc@gmail.com

Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Michael Wang Politan Real Estate mwang121@gmail.com

MANUFACTURING

TECHNOLOGY

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

Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Fred Canone Telehouse mwang121@gmail.com

TRANSPORTATION

Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com Nadir A. Jones MTA Small Business Development nadjones@mtahq.org

Premier Payroll Solutions Priority 1 Security LLC QSIDE Federal Credit Union Quadlogic Controls Corporation Queens Center Mall Queens Public Communications Corp.

Radisson Hotel JFK RCG Mortgage Related Retail Corporation Rochdale Village Community Center Royal Waste Services, Inc. Russo’s On The Bay Safeguard Global Samuel Goldstein & Co PC Seagis Property Group, LP Signature Bank Silvercup Studios Simon Baron Development Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C. Skyline Risk Management, Inc. SL Green Realty Corp.

Solomon Agency Corp.

Spring Hill Suites New York Jamaica/JFK Airport Squad Security Inc. St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s University Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Sussman-Automatic Corporation Target TC Electric Terrace On The Park TFCU TGI Office Automation Thales USA Inc. The Botanist The Durst Organization The First National Bank of Long Island The Heskel Group The Marcal Group The Sweet Construction Group T-Mobile Treasure Island Storage TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp.

United Airlines USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vanguard Insurance Agency Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Vic Kessler Signs LTD Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP Waste Management of New York LLC Watch Guard 24/7 LLC WellLife Network Wells Fargo WeWork White Coffee Corp Windstream Enterprise York College - CUNY Zara Realty

December 2019 • Volume 15 • Issue 12 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS

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.

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