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Business Heroes of the Year Awards
BUSINESS HEROES OF THE YEAR CHAMBER HONORS COVID BUSINESS HEROES
The Queens Chamber of Commerce held its first Business Heroes of the Year awards ceremony at Terrace on the Park, honoring 11 leaders in business who helped the borough and city weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a little background on each honoree:
MELVA MILLER ABNY
Melva Miller is CEO of the Association for a Better New York (ABNY), a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the city’s neighborhoods and supporting large and small businesses.
A Laurelton native, Miller’s roots in Queens have led her to hold several senior economic development roles during her career, as well as previously serving as the deputy borough president. She oversaw the creation of the Jamaica NOW Action Plan, and was also lead organizer of the Western Queens Tech Strategic Plan, which promoted equitable growth of the Long Island and Astoria tech ecosystem.
A part of ABNY since 2018, Miller led the organization’s outreach efforts for the 2020 Census. Miller also conceptualized ABNY’s “Black Leadership in New York City: Conversations on Power, Politics, and Racial Justice,” a six-part discussion series regarding systemic racism and economic inequality in New York City.
With a proven track record developing and implementing effective community development strategies in the non-profit sector and in public service, Miller collaborates across diverse constituencies to envision and launch effective programs.
Miller holds a Bachelor’s degree from John Jay College, a Master’s degree in social work from Hunter College School of Social Work, and a second Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Graduate Center at the City University of New York (CUNY).
She is also a Ph.D candidate in the Social Welfare program at CUNY’s Graduate Center with the research topic of stakeholder participation in community economic development.
RACHEL KELLNER AIGNER CHOCOLATES
When Rachel Kellner and her husband Mark Libertini purchased Aigner Chocolates on Metropolitan Avenue in Forest Hills seven years ago, their top priority was to maintain the same quality and freshness of the sweets that the business is known for.
From decadent marzipan to Star Wars-themed chocolates for kids, Aigner is the go-to stop for many residents of Queens. Fortunately, COVID-19 did not stop Kellner and her husband from running their business. If anything, the pandemic provided them with alternative methods to do so, as well as new outlooks on what they could do for the community during a time of isolation and uncertainty.
“During COVID, there wasn’t a lot to look forward to, and there wasn’t a lot of joy that people were experiencing,” said Kellner.
In response, Aigner Chocolates held various events, including Halloween and Christmas experiences for families. Kellner said the proudest moment for her business was the Rainbow Bunny Exchange initiative, where she collected drawings of rainbows with uplifting messages for healthcare workers from neighborhood children in exchange for a chocolate bunny pop.
Three-hundred drawings in total were collected and given to Elmhurst Hospital to create a mural, and it’s still there today. Aigner Chocolates has also generously donated to local hospitals and organizations including Queens Community House, Queens Center For Progress and Long Island Jewish Forest Hills, all while celebrating the business’ 90th anniversary during the height of COVID-19.
“Part of our mission and our vision is to make the world a better place through sharing the tradition of our chocolates and carrying that on,” said Kellner. “We felt it was our obligation to spread joy and provide healing, because there’s something really healing about food.”
Kellner said that she and her husband are very excited to be recognized by the Queens Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to the borough, but feel it was their responsibility to do those things — recognition or not.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for everything that we did, but we just feel so good about how we were able to help and heal in our own way, and using chocolate to do that,” she said.
CHARLES BOYCE BOYCE TECHNOLOGIES
Seeing his work impact the lives of others is what motivates Charles Boyce, founder and president of Boyce Technologies Inc.
With facilities located in the heart of Long Island City, Boyce has been focused on the custom manufacturing and the design of products that have a major impact in the transit security and communications industries since 2008.
Boyce Technologies answered the call to manufacture FDAapproved ventilators at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. They became the only non-medical equipment producing company to mass produce FDA-approved ventilators in just 30 days. Typically, ventilators takes a year to produce.
In the end, the company produced 3,000 ventilators. The success of the ventilator project led Boyce Technologies to develop an automated N95 mask assembly line.
Boyce Technologies also designs and manufactures emergency response systems, intercom systems, security alarm systems, radio and wireless networks and customer information display systems.
The company was awarded a contract to make emergency intercoms for New York subway stations, and oversaw the development of the Help Point units and underground radio systems.
A graduate with a Master of Professional Studies from New York University, Boyce previously served as the COO to E.A. Technologies, Inc., where he designed security and communications systems. An Oyster Bay native, Boyce also serves on the executive board of the Long Island City Partnership and the Manufacturing and Industrial Innovation Council.
NUPUR ARORA QUEENS CURRY KITCHEN
Queens Curry Kitchen is the brainchild of Nupur Arora, which was born out of the pandemic.
Being an experienced home cook for several years with a published book and a spice company already under her belt, Queens Curry Kitchen, a food delivery service, began with a simple phone call. A man from Long Island asked Arora if she could cook and deliver food for his elderly parents in Rego Park, who were unable to cook for themselves.
Arora accepted the challenge,
BUSINESS HEROES OF THE YEAR
and would post her latest meals to social media, which resulted in many other people reaching out to her in hopes to score homemade Indian food as well. Because this all happened when COVID19 was at its worst, Arora came across numerous clients who were fighting the virus, and generously donated food to those families.
“It was just a simple gesture, and people kept insisting to pay for it,” said Arora. “I said ‘No, I just want you to eat healthy, fresh food that’s been made the same day.’ And I’m going to give enough so that the whole family can eat it, not just you.”
In addition to helping clients with COVID-19, Arora donated food to people going through other intense medical procedures, including gastric bypass surgery and chemotherapy patients.
She was also able to collaborate with a family member in India who runs “Hunger Heroes,” a project intended to help feed people who were laid off and living in the streets because of COVID-19.
Part of what makes Arora’s cooking process so special is that she takes the time to recite prayers and mantras to bless the food.
“I just like to be in a certain state of mind when I’m blessing the food and making sure that it’s positive and nutritious for everybody,” she said.
Arora added that when cooking for those who do not share the same religion as her, she would research prayers from that religion intended for healing, helping to send wishes of speedy recovery to those who needed it.
Arora said that she’s thankful for the honor the Queens Chamber has bestowed her with, because she is simply following her calling.
“I can be a little candle, I’m not trying to be the moon or the sun, but to spread some light wherever I’m at,” she said. “I’m happy to bring a smile to somebody’s lips with the food.
“But I’m just doing what feels right,” she added, “And I hope that I could continue this legacy and have more people come to know about it, so I can keep doing what I love.”
Like most restaurant owners, Mark Boccia, owner of One Station Plaza, Austin’s Ale House and Bourbon Street, knew that navigating business during the pandemic would be a struggle and a challenge. However, something that comes naturally to him and his family over the last 30 years is getting to know the people of Queens and working alongside the commu-
nity.
One of Boccia’s greatest achievements and contributions to the community is the nonprofit organization he formed with his son, Food For The Fearless. The idea came to life from a 2:30 a.m. phone call Mark Boccia, Jr., who recently became a physician’s assistant, made to his father.
Because he was still in school at the time and not on the front lines himself, the younger Boccia felt it was his calling to help feed hospital workers who witnessed the worst of COVID-19 unfold in front of their eyes.
“We got together with the people at Bourbon Street and started a GoFundMe, which later on became the full-blown nonprofit,” said Boccia, Sr.
The team raised over $130,000, and so far they’ve fed over 11,000 essential workers, including doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters and teachers. While the worst part of the pandemic has fortunately come to a close, Food For the Fearless is still something the Boccias and their restaurant staff are actively pursuing, and they are ready to help if another catastrophe plagues the borough.
Boccia is extremely honored to have been recognized in the Business Heroes of the Year Awards, and expressed his immense respect for the Queens Chamber of Commerce. “They are always out there to help the community, the businesses and to keep Queens fluid and on top of our game,” said Boccia. “Thank you to Tom Grech and Brendan Leavy for the way they’ve structured the Queens Chamber and the way they help people. I have nothing but respect, and I’m glad that I’ve gotten to know them.”
PATRICK OROPEZA BOLIVIAN LLAMA PARTY
Even though they are on the younger side, Patrick Oropeza and his brother Alex are already mainstays in New York City’s Latinx food scene. The brothers’ restaurant — Bolivian Llama Party — previously operated locations in Columbus Circle and Fort Greene, serving up modern interpretations of classic Bolivian Dishes
Like many eateries throughout the five boroughs, Bolivian Llama Party was hit hard by the pandemic. Patrick Orpeza and his brother were forced to shut down both the Manhattan and Brooklyn locations, but luckily they had an ace in the hole: Queens! Last year, the brothers converted a commissary kitchen location on 48th Avenue in Queens into the latest Bolivian Llama Party restaurant. The new location at 44-14 48th Avenue has experienced great success already, serving up food for delivery, takeout, and outdoor dining.
“Over a year ago, BLP decided to throw a Hail Mary and open a new location at the start of the pandemic,” Patrick Orpeza explained. “That could have easily been the worst business decision we could have made, but our community and BLP fans embraced us and gave us the ability to thrive during a time that decimated the restaurant industry.”
The menu, which is curated by Patrick Oropeza, the restaurant’s chef, remains largely the same, featuring fan favorites including a Bolivian BBQ Brisket Bowl, Quinoa Kale Salad, and Artichoke Mac ‘n Queso. Bolivian Llama Party is perhaps most famous for its Saltenas, small pastry shells with stew-like fillings that are reminiscent of empanadas.
Despite the pandemic-era challenges, Bolivian Llama Party is still dedicated to bringing recognition to the rich culinary history of Bolivia through fun and creative efforts. So far, Queens has been the perfect place to pursue that dream.
“During the past 18 months, BLP’s pandemic strategy was simply to pay forward the overflowing love we received,” Patrick Oropeza added. “Whether through food donations or supporting local charities, BLP continues to spread their brand of Llama Love. To be considered a business hero during a pandemic year is humbling and a testament that giving selflessly truly is a business survival strategy.”
FRANK RUSSO RUSSO’S ON THE BAY
With more than three decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Frank Russo attributes his success to his family-oriented nature and his commitment to community.
Frank began his career at a young age, working alongside his father and uncle at Villa Russo, where the Russo family tradition of hospitality began over 50 years ago in Richmond Hill. The beliefs of exemplary service and exquisite cuisine were passed down the
family tree.
Frank founded Russo’s on the Bay in 1987, and many of its management staff members have been with the company for 20 years or more, many getting their start as teenagers working at the Howard Beach reception venue and catering facility.
Russo’s on the Bay has hosted
BUSINESS HEROES OF THE YEAR
thousands of special occasions spanning from baptisms, communions, birthday parties and weddings. Generation after generation, families and corporations have hosted holiday and award parties in the versatile and infinitelyadaptable space.
Russo has also brought the venue’s hand-crafted artisan selections to fine supermarkets. With little time and knowledge required on the part of amateur chefs, the gourmet side of the company brings its fresh dining directly into the home. Chefs at the Howard Beach venue strive to create new recipes and seasonal menus for those at their two kitchens and in-house bakery.
In 1994, Russo and his brother founded Angels on the Bay, a nonprofit children’s charity raising money to help children affected with pediatric illnesses. The organization has raised millions of dollars that has contributed to the education and research of lifethreatening diseases.
JONNEL DORIS SMALL BUSINESS SERVICES
Jonnel Doris was appointed as the new commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) last May, during the height of the pandemic’s first wave in New York City. Yet despite the dire circumstances, Doris — who previously served as the director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women Owned Enterprises (MWBEs) — has continued to advocate for entrepreneurs and business owners since stepping into the role. “Part of what we’ve been able to do so far is begin to increase our engagement and really get a clear picture of what it means to now think about recovery,” Doris explained in a previous interview.
Doris said it’s “very sobering” to take on this new role during the current crisis, but it makes the work that much more important, significant, and relevant.
“It is a challenge, but we’re up to the challenge,” he added. “We’re embracing it, and we will continue to do so.”
In September 2016, Doris was appointed as the city’s first senior advisor and director of the Mayor’s Office of MWBEs. He was tasked with addressing the disparity in city contracts awarded to minority and women-owned businesses.
The de Blasio administration set three goals for the office: award $25 billion to MWBEs by 2025, certify 9,000 MWBEs by 2019, and award 30 percent of the value of all city contracts to MWBEs by 2021. According to Doris, the city has already awarded $14.6 billion to MWBEs through the OneNYC program, putting it ahead of schedule.
“We exceeded all of our targets,” he said. Doris said the experience he gained at his former post will help in his current role, given the correlation between those who have been hit hardest by the virus “in a very disproportionate way” and those who own MWBE firms.
“Our role as SBS is to be the voice, ears and advocates for small businesses,” he added. “We understand the uniqueness that small businesses play in the fabric of our city and how they contribute to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods.”
LARRY ZOGBY RDS SAME DAY DELIVERY
Larry Zogby has always found a way to serve his community while succeeding at business. He began his career managing restaurants in Bay Ridge, before purchasing his current business — RDS Same Day Delivery Service — from his father Mitchell Zogby, Jr. in 1986. For over 30 years, the younger Zogby has provided delivery services to businesses in a variety of fields, including medicine, fashion, retail, finance, and construction. In that time, RDS has developed a reputation for meeting a variety of transportation needs, ranging from IT servers and large equipment to farm-fresh food and other perishable goods.
Despite the decades of success, Zogby — a native New Yorker — still credits his hometown for all his successes.
“This award isn’t just about one man,” Zogby said. “This was truly a community effort that I had the pleasure of helping to organize. My employees and our amazing partners worked tirelessly through the challenges that a worldwide pandemic threw our way to make this happen. I am so grateful to the Queens Chamber for acknowledging our hard work.”
With an on-time delivery rate of 98.7 percent, RDS Same Day Delivery employs the fastest messengers in the five boroughs. The company consistently strives to be transparent and effective, allowing customers to track packages in real time with GPS technology.
These virtues have allowed RDS to serve some of the biggest clients in New York City, including Netflix, NYU Langone Medical Center, City Harvest, and EmblemHealth.
DECLAN MORRISON STACKED SANDWICH SHOP
The borough’s love and appreciation for Stacked Sandwich Shop is evident in its 46,000-plus Instagram followers alone. On social media, you can see several posts of their colorful, mouth-watering sandwiches that appear to be carefully “stacked,”as the name suggests. Owners Declan and Natasha Morrison come from a restaurant background, having worked all positions, from barbacks to owners, for the majority of their lives. The two opened Austin Public in 2014, which saw great success until it took a hit in 2020 — like most other restaurants did in some way — when COVID-19 plagued the world.
Upon closing the restaurant and having a lot of time on their hands, the Morrison’s discovered a passion for creating salads and sandwiches, and that is how Stacked was born. Their extensive menu offers breakfast options, including bagels and oats, build-your-ownsalads and sandwiches, as well as Stacked’s signature, handcrafted salads and sandwiches.
When COVID-19 shut down Austin Public, Morrison began feeding frontline workers at Queens hospitals.
“The least I can do is to cook for them a good meal,” Morrison told the Forest Hills Times back in June. “Frontline workers are the people that stepped up to the plate when they were needed the most, and the sacrifices that they are making throughout the pandemic should never be forgotten. They worked days, nights, weeks, and months without thinking about themselves and without seeing their families.”
CEO’S MESSAGE
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ourselves on providing resources and opportunities to enable sustainable growth for businesses like yours. When one prospers, we all prosper. It’s that collective energy that makes this community we call home unique.
So, yes Queens, there is a Santa Claus! How do you know? Because he facilitates a spirit of love, devotion and generosity that motivates you to give your absolute best despite the circumstances.
I continue to say I have the greatest job in the world, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for an amazing year of continued support.
Here’s wishing each and everyone of you a very safe, wonderful holiday season and a prosperous year ahead.
Queens STRONG!
BUSINESS HEROES OF THE YEAR FOUNDATION HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES THRIVE
BY JESSICA MEDITZ
Continuing the legacy of his father, Michael Peterson dedicates himself to exploring the ways he can help improve America’s economy.
As chairman and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, named after the late founder Peter Peterson, Peterson sets the path for the steps the foundation will take to address the fiscal challenges that are ever-present in the nation’s economy.
One of the most influential ways the Peterson Foundation promotes this message is through supporting smaller innovative projects across the country through grants and partnerships.
“Many states, counties and regions of the country face various fiscal challenges within their budgets,” said Peterson. “We try to promote fiscal responsibility so that budgets are sustainable and that the next generation is not negatively impacted by decisions we make today.”
As a native New Yorker, Peterson feels passionately about helping small businesses throughout the five boroughs after major setbacks due to the pandemic.
With that sentiment in mind, the Peterson Foundation joined forces with the Partnership for New York City, NYCEDC, Department of Small Business Services and the Chambers of Commerce in all five boroughs to launch the NYC Small Business Resource Network.
Peterson and the Peterson Foundation granted $2.8 million to fund the Small Business Resource Network, which assists entrepreneurs to address challenges related to marketing, technology, real estate, legal services and more.
To honor Peterson and the foundation’s contributions to SBRN and its ultimate success, the Queens Chamber of Commerce recognized him at its firstever Business Heroes of the Year awards.
“Those who launch, manage and operate our city’s small businesses are the real heroes tonight,” said Peterson at the event. “Small businesses are what make Queens a thriving and flourishing part of this wonderful city. They’re what create the vibrancy and lifeblood of this borough, and are essential to the fabric of this community.”
Peterson emphasized the impact of small businesses on the entire city, citing the presence of over 230,000 of that provide jobs to 3 million people.
The Small Business Resource Network launched in September 2020, and has since helped 23,000 businesses. Peterson proudly shared that 80 percent of the businesses who worked with SBRN are minority, immigrant or women-owned.
The grant provided by the Peterson Foundation allowed for the five chambers to collectively hire 22 small business specialists who worked on the ground to ensure the businesses received the services they needed.
“The network is a true collaborative effort,” said Peterson. “When COVID hit, we knew we needed to help. And knowing what we know about small businesses, we thought helping the chamber help other small businesses was the best thing we could do to support this great city.”
The evenings honorees pose for a group photo with Queens Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Tom Greach (second from left) and elected officials. At center is Peter G. Peterson Foundation chairman & CEO Michael Peterson.
BUSINESS HEROES OF THE YEAR QCC HONORS BUSINESS HEROES OF THE YEAR
RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO STEPPED UP DURING HEIGHT OF COVID-19
BY JESSICA MEDITZ
The Queens Chamber of Commerce and other business figures of the borough gathered at Terrace on the Park to celebrate the first-ever Business Heroes of the Year Awards in front of a crowd of about 400 people.
President and CEO Tom Grech took the time to introduce and honor the awardees, who come from various backgrounds in the hospitality and technology industries and philanthropy.
District Attorney Melinda Katz expressed her gratitude for small businesses and all they’ve done for the borough during the height of COVID-19.
“At the end of the day, whether we were dealing with a worldwide pandemic, whether we were dealing with an overdue conversation on policing in the United States, whatever we were working on and dealing with, we had to count on our businesses to continue to thrive and survive,” said Katz.
She presented the first award of the evening to Melva Miller of ABNY, who was also Katz’s former deputy borough president when she served as borough president.
Honoree Charles Boyce of Boyce Technologies was commended by Grech for saving lives throughout New York State by mass producing ventilators during the height of the pandemic.
While not everyone can be a frontline healthcare worker themselves, many people view food and hospitality as a way of symbolically healing.
This is especially true for honorees Rachel Kellner
of Aigner Choco- “lates, Nupur Arora of Queens Curry Kitchen, Mark Boccia of Bourbon Street, Patrick Oropeza of Bolivian Llama Party, Frank Russo of Russo’s on the Bay and Declan Morrison of Stacked Sandwich Shop, who all donated their skills to feed frontline workers and other suffering from COVID.
As for services and organizations who dedicate their time to help smaller businesses succeed, hon-
WHATEVER WE WERE
WORKING ON AND DEALING WITH, WE HAD
TO COUNT ON OUR
BUSINESSES TO CONTINUE TO THRIVE
AND SURVIVE
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
MELINDA KATZ
orees Jonnel Doris of NYC Small Business Services, Larry Zogby of RDS Same Day Delivery Service and Michael Peterson of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation fit the bill. “It was a wonderful evening and it’s a great honor to be given this award by the Queens Chamber,” said Michael Peterson. “We’ve worked very hard with
”them along with the other chambers of commerce across the city to help out small businesses,” he continued. “So to be here tonight in person to meet some of the other small business leaders in this community and to be a part of this is a great honor.”
