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February 2021 . Volume 17 . Issue 2
CRUZ CONTROL
ASSEMBLYWOMAN DISCUSSES HER EFFORTS IN ALBANY TO PUT QUEENS ON ROAD TO RECOVERY “WE HAVE TO GET MORE CREATIVE AND MORE FORCEFUL TO ENSURE WE HAVE A SURPLUS, NOT JUST FILL THE GAP.”
ALSO
ASSEMBLYWOMAN CATALINA CRUZ
• MEET TWO NEW QUEENS POLS •PROJECT TO BRING CLEAN ENERGY TO QUEENS • BEEP ANNOUNCES NEW GRANT PROGRAM FOR SMALL BIZ PHOTO: EBRU YILDIZ
EMU Health and NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital Bring World-Class Medical Care to Queens EMU Health, a multi-specialty outpatient facility in the Glendale section of Queens, and NYU Langone Orthopedics announce the addition of Ivan Fernandez-Madrid, MD, to the facility’s medical staff, beginning in February 2021. A leading orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Madrid brings extensive expertise in hip and knee reconstruction, including the use of innovative new technology like robotic-assisted surgery and partial replacements. He is fellowship trained in Sports Medicine and specializes in minimally invasive surgery of the knee and shoulder. “At NYU Langone, we are dedicated to providing not only the highest level of world- class medical care, but also to improving access to specialty care where people live and work,” says Madrid, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYU Langone. “I’m excited to expand these much-needed services in Queens.” “With over 2.5 million people living Queens, we are located in the 21st century epicenter of New York City,” says Chief Clinical Executive Ms. Efrat Yaish, PA, C. “Demand for high quality health care continues to rise and the need for excellent, local options is extremely important for patients who cannot easily travel to Manhattan. We are thrilled to offer the additional level of care our relationship with NYU Langone will bring to our facility and the people of Queens.” Adds Daniel Lowy, founder and CEO of EMU Health, “When I established EMU
Health, it was imperative to make a positive difference in my community. My team and I are excited by the opportunities our relationship with NYU Langone will provide to those in need.” EMU Health is a four-year-old multi-specialty outpatient medical facility under article 28, consisting of an ambulatory surgery center (AAAHC accredited) and physician practices. Since its inception, the facility has striven to make world-class medicine locally available to Queens residents, and NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital is a world-renowned facility ranked among the top 10 in the country for orthopedics, rheumatology, and rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital received Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an honor given to only 8 percent of hospitals. NYU Langone’s doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals provide the highest-quality medical and surgical care for the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of orthopedic, musculoskeletal, rheumatic, and neurological conditions, as well as other related diseases and injuries. About Dr. Ivan F. Madrid Dr. Madrid has been in practice for 20 years in New York City. He came to New York from Michigan in 1985, graduating from Columbia College in 1989. He graduated from SUNY Downstate medical school in 1995 and did his orthopedic residency training at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital. After, he did a fellow-
ship in Sports Medicine at Wayne State University and has been in continuous practice at NYU Langone since 2001. He will be joined at EMU by Charlene Brown Bryan, NP. Charlene has worked as a floor and OR nurse since 2007 and has worked as a nurse practitioner in orthopedics since 2014. She is currently obtaining her Doctor of Nursing Practice and will graduate in May 2021. She is an integral part of the practice assisting in diagnosis and non-operative management of orthopedic conditions. She assists with injections including cortisone, viscosupplementation, platelet rich plasma and stem cells and manages perioperative care. Both Dr. Madrid and Charlene are fluent in Spanish.
January 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 1
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
FORWARD THINKING It’s February and time for you tions and networking opportunities as a business owner to adopt a accessible across every industry, new way of approachyou’re certain to find the ing strategies to sustain inspiration you need. operations throughout Educational opportuthe next 324 days. nities afforded to you Become a forwardthrough various webithinker, someone who nars position you to gain doesn’t sit back and the insight necessary to wait for success to drop impact your thinking. in your lap. Formulate Without a doubt, in no a plan and prepare for time you’ll be operating success right down to with a completely difTOM SANTUCCI the tiniest of details. ferent mindset that will Adopting this mind- CHAIRPERSON change the trajectory of set will not only benyour organization. efit your organization’s immediAs Board Chair, I am grateful ate future, but near and long-term for the opportunity to work with success as well. It’s an opportuni- this outstanding organization, one ty to draw on a number of quali- that places the priorities of you, the ties that likely already exist within business owner, above and beyond you: innovative, adaptable, proac- everything. tive, focused and practical to name If you haven’t reached out latea few. ly, by all means get connected at The Queens Chamber is designed queenschamber.org. to aid in helping you develRemember, forward thinking is op this critical way of thinking. forward looking. Thank you for With numerous contacts, connec- making Queens the best.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
HEART’S DESIRE
As February rolls around, my lenging times. With fewer days in mind immediately thinks about the the month, I suggest you take time joy of Valentine’s Day. Not just the to strategize what you really desire opportunity to shower your signifi- for the reminder of this year. cant other with love, but a chance The Queens Chamber has several to express your fondness for all of webinars scheduled to assist in the those near and dear to process. “Financing your heart. Your Business, For We’ve learned as we Your Start-Up or enter the 11th month Operating Business” of this pandemic how is a complimentary to pivot from what was workshop designed to once normal behavhelp you start down ior to adjust in order that track. to maintain a healthy “Building a Blog safe environment for for Your Business” everyone. is a webinar that will As we rethink, I THOMAS J. GRECH explore the nuances of challenge you this PRESIDENT & CEO blogging. This event, second month of 2021 supported by the to strive for your heart’s desire in Rockaway Business Alliance, will business. provide essential tips from local Many of you are wrestling with business owners. not only maintaining your business Visit our website at queenschambut seeking ways to take things to the next level through these chalCONTINUED ON PAGE 4
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RICHARDS, EDC LAUNCH SMALL BIZ GRANT PROGRAM BY BENJAMIN FANG To aid Queens small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, city officials on Monday launched a $15 million grant program. The initiative will allow Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and the city’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to provide eligible minority-owned small businesses and vendors located in low- and moderate-income communities (LMI) up to $20,000 to support operational expenses. The city is expected to dedicate 30 percent of the grants for restaurants and street vendors, while an additional $2.5 million of support will be allocated later this year. “Small business owners have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and they deserve all the help our city can give them to get back on their feet and serve their communities,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “Small businesses are the backbone of our communities,” added EDC president and CEO James Patchett, “and their success is key to the city’s
long-term economic recovery.” To be eligible, applicants must be located in an LMI zip code in Queens or a COVID-19 “hardesthit” zone. They must be a restaurant, retail or a personal service business located on the first or second floor. Qualifying businesses must also have employed 20 or fewer full-time employees in 2019, and have earned gross revenue of $1 million or less that year. Restaurants that wish to participate must have earned less than $3 million or less in gross revenue. Finally, participating small businesses must have filed 2019 personal and business tax returns, and have no open tax liens or unresolved judgements. “No borough has been hit harder by the COVID19 pandemic and its disastrous economic fallout than Queens,” Richards said, “where countless small businesses, and the thousands of families those entities support through local hiring, are facing unprecedented uncertainty through no fault of their own.” The grant program was made possible by a $17.5 million donation from New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, who noted in a statement that
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards speaks with a small business owner.
COVID has had a devastating impact on small businesses. “As the owner of the Mets, we are proud to support small business owners during this difficult time, just as they have supported the team and the community over the years,” Cohen said. “We hope this donation brings them some relief.” Pursuit, the Long Island City-based training nonprofit organization, will administer the grant program in partnership with local community organizations such as BOC Capital, Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Renaissance EDC and the Queens Chamber of Commerce. In a statement, Tom Grech, president and CEO of the Queens Chamber, called the grant program “a grand slam” that will resonate across the entire borough. “These cherished institutions add character to our neighborhoods, and create jobs and opportunities for Queens residents,” Grech said. “We must do everything in our power to help them make ends meet.”
CEO’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
ber.org for additional information on these and other upcoming webinars curated specifically for you to reach your business goals. You’ll also find tremendous benefits and resources to aid in helping achieve your heart’s desire for your organization in the weeks and months to come. I have the best job in the world. As President & CEO of the Queens Chamber, I have the opportunity, along with my staff, to work tirelessly on your behalf daily with one goal in mind: to help your business grow and thrive. Thank you for your continued support of Queens Chamber. We are in this together. Queens STRONG!
TABLE OF CONTENTS Project Will Bring Clean Energy From Canada to Queens .................5
Stay Connected With the Queens Chamber in February .................................17
Promotions, Announcements & Appointments .......................................6
Get to Know Three Members of the Chamber Staff .........................................18
Get to Know Two of Queens Newest Assembly Members .................8
Chamber Welcomes New Members ........................................................................21
EXPERT ADVICE: The Details of ‘Bidenomics’ ..................................9 Health + Hospitals Unveils Virtual ExpressCare ...................................11 EXPERT ADVICE: Keeping Your Privacy During a Divorce .........11 COVER STORY: Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz ..............................12 4
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February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2
QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
CHPE: A CLEAN ENERGY GAME CHANGER
BY JENNIFER LAIRD-WHITE
There is an exciting new renewable energy project coming to Queens that will provide enough clean energy to power a million New York City homes while reducing air pollution and helping the city and state meet their impressive clean energy goals. The project is the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE), and it is a clean energy game changer. This innovative energy transmission line is being developed by Transmission Developers Inc. (TDI), a company that builds unique energy transmission projects in an environmentally responsible manner. So, what is the CHPE? It is a $3 billion, private-sector infrastructure project that will bring thousands of new jobs, millions in new tax revenue, and cleaner air to
Queens. The project uses safe, proven technology to create a 333-mile, buried electric transmission line that will connect clean and renewable Canadian hydropower directly to New York City. Starting at the U.S.–Canadian border, the project will use waterways and existing rights of way like roads and railroad tracks to safely bury the line until it connects to the New York grid at a new, $200 million emission free converter station that will be built in Astoria on the site of a former fossil fuel plant. Simply put, it is the most powerful project you will never see. On a statewide level, the economic impact is enormous. According to an economic impact study completed by the PA Group, a leading international consulting group, CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
A cross section of the cable that will run from Canada to Queens.
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS and supervisor, while his mother was a recycling tion, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Oliveira added to outreach coordinator during the 1990s, when the Civil Engineering from SUNY Buffalo. city rolled out its citywide recycling program. He is a member of the New York Water EnviSt. Francis board St. Francis College announced the addition of Ana Oliveira, senior vice president, New York Market executive at Investors Bank, to its Board of Trustees. “Ana is a familiar face to many of us at St. Francis College already, having been a partner in mission by lending her time and expertise so selflessly to our students, alumni and friends over the years,” said President Miguel Martinez-Saenz. “I’m endlessly impressed by Ana’s astute business leadership and her championing of women in all professional environments.” In her current Investors Bank position, Oliveira oversees 48 branches in the New York market. She joined the OLIVEIRA company in 2010 when the bank acquired Millennium bcpbank, where she was serving as a regional manager in the Retail division. “I’m enthusiastic about joining the Board of Trustees of St. Francis College because I know the school helps encourage, motivate and guide students to achieve their potential in life,” said Oliveira. “To that end, I hope to share my insights about the skills and abilities that companies and communities are seeking from our next generation of leaders.” Oliveira also serves on the Board of Trustees of Futures in Education and the Board of Directors at the JCC of Staten Island. She has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Queens Theatre, New Jersey City University Foundation and the Portuguese American Chamber of Commerce in New Jersey.
Grayson officially head of Sanitation
Edward Grayson can now remove the “acting” from his official title. Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Grayson as the commissioner of the Department of Sanitation (DSNY). The 21-year agency veteran had served as acting commissioner since September. “He has brought energy, experience and passion for the agency’s mission to his role, and he has earned New Yorkers’ trust to keep our city clean and safe,” de Blasio said. “I’m proud to offer him this role on a permanent basis, and I look forward to working closely with him to build a fairer and better city.” Grayson, who grew up in Ridgewood, comes from a family with a deep background in the department. His father was a sanitation worker
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“Growing up in Ridgewood, everyone in my neighborhood had a plan for how they’d someday serve the people of New York, as so many of our parents did, including my own,” Grayson said. “As a sanitation worker, supervisor, superintendent and chief, I’ve been proud to do just that for the last 21 years.” Before serving as acting commissioner, Grayson was appointed a four-star chief and director of the Bureau of Cleaning and Collection in 2017. In this role, he oversaw day-to-day operations for the department, including the recycling and disposal GRAYSON of more than 12,000 tons of waste per day. He also implemented new technology to improve snow removal and frontline operations. According to the city, Grayson was a leader in DSNY’s implementation of the city’s zerowaste goals. Grayson served as operations chief, overseeing snow removal during the 2016 blizzard, which was the city’s largest snowstorm. “As we have seen in these few short months since stepping in as acting commissioner, Ed Grayson has the experience and dedication needed to lead New York’s Strongest,” Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin said. “Coming from a working-class family dedicated to public service, Ed knows the true meaning and dignity of serving this city.”
Thogerson promoted at D&B Engineers
D&B Engineers and Architects, a leading engineering and consulting organization specializing in civil and environmental engineering, water supply and construction management promoted Matthew Thogersen, EIT, of Astoria. Beyond his new role as associate with D&B Engineers and Architects, Thogersen, retains his prior responsibilities as project engineer at the company’s Woodbury office, where he is project manager for the BelTHOGERSEN grave Water Pollution Control District Effluent Pump Station and Outfall Replacement projects. He joined D&B Engineers and Architects in 2013 as a member of the firm’s Wastewater Design Division. Thogersen holds EIT certifica-
ronment Association and currently serves as the president-elect of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Long Island Branch, from which he was recently awarded the “Young Engineer of the Year Award.”
Stavisky honored as ‘Friend of CUNY’
State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, who chairs the Higher Education Committee, was honored as a “Friend of CUNY” by the Professional Staff Congress/CUNY during a Belle Zeller Scholarship Trust Fund virtual event. The PSC thanked the Senator for her support of the City University of New York during her more than 20 years in office. “I take great pride in our city’s university system and the young graduates it STAVISKY continues to produce,” said Stavisky. “As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic we will be faced with many fiscal challenges.” Stavisky’s connection to the CUNY system dates back decades. The senator completed graduate courses at both Hunter College and Queens College after graduating from Syracuse University. And, as she explained in her acceptance speech, the CUNY system played a pivotal role in the life of her late husband, State Senator Leonard Stavisky. Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2021 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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February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2
CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
STARBUCKS INITIATIVE
Starbucks announced new initiatives as part of its long-standing commitment to use its scale and platform to positively impact the communities it serves. The company will invest $100 million to launch the Starbucks Community Resilience Fund focused on supporting small businesses and community development projects in Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC)
neighborhoods. “Starbucks has always been a company focused on caring for our partners, creating experiences for our customers and playing a positive role in our communities and throughout society,” said Kevin Johnson, Starbucks president and CEO. “We are excited to make this investment as it aligns with our mission and values and supports our aspiration to advance equity and opportunity in the communities we serve.” By 2025, the Starbucks Community Resilience Fund will invest $100 million to advance racial equity and environmental resilience by supporting small business growth and community development projects in neighborhoods with historically limited access to capital. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
CHPE PROJECT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
from the beginning of construction through the first 30 years of operation, CHPE will deliver $28.6 billion in economic benefits to New York State. This includes economic activities generated through construction, taxes paid to local municipalities, a decrease in wholesale electricity costs, and benefits related to greenhouse gas emissions and increased economic output. Specifically, the project will contribute to communities that host the project $1.7 billion in taxes over the first 30 years of the project. In New York City alone, the annual estimated tax revenue provided by the CHPE will be in the millions. Building this clean energy project will create thousands of construction jobs, many of them in Queens, and provide an immediate benefit to neighborhood shops, restaurants, and other retail establishments along the entire project route.
TDI will be using hundreds of local skilled trade workers to construct the completely buried line and the converter station. TDI has committed to using union labor, and the project is being funded by the private sector. In addition to the economic benefits, CHPE will also improve the quality of life in Queens and beyond by reducing harmful emissions from five major groups of harmful pollutants by an impressive 33 percent in its first year of service. This will result in cleaner air for the entire region and provide relief to the neighborhoods and communities that currently host fossil fuel plants. The CHPE is fully permitted and TDI aims to start construction next year and be in operation by 2025, delivering low-cost renewable power directly to New York. Jennifer Laird-White is vice president of External Affairs for Transmission Developers, Inc.
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QUEENS REPS ONE-ON-ONE GONZALEZ-ROJAS LAYS OUT PRIORITIES FOR DISTRICT BY BENJAMIN FANG Jessica González-Rojas made history last year when she was elected as the first person of color, and specifically the first Latina, to represent the 34th Assembly District, which includes Jackson Heights, Woodside and East Elmhurst. Having lived in the district for 22 years, González-Rojas noted that 62 percent of the district is made up of immigrants, and 88 percent are people of color. “I’m deeply humbled to represent a community that is reflective of my own experiences,” she said. “I’m excited to be an advocate and represent this district.” Weeks into her first session as a state lawmaker, González-Rojas said she has several legislative priorities, including health care, criminal justice, education and transportation. Before being elected to the Assembly, González-Rojas was a health care advocate for 13 years, serving as the former executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. She was also an adjunct professor at both CUNY City College and NYU Wagner School of Public Service. González-Rojas noted that though her district doesn’t have institutions like a library, a hospital, a community center or a senior center, the area is rich in small businesses, especially restaurants. She noted that the industry has been “decimated” by the COVID19 pandemic, as well as the many rules and regulations they face. “As someone who doesn’t cook, I’m a frequent patron of the many diverse restaurants in the district,” she said. “It’s something that makes our neighborhood rich and diverse, yet they are struggling.” Over the summer, the legislator said, the State Liquor Authority targeted many immigrant small businesses and restaurants in her district for violating COVID protocols. Some businesses were fined tens of thousands of dollars, which
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she said is enough to put them out of business. “I’m a proponent of creating more business-friendly rules and education before they begin the fining process,” González-Rojas said. “There needs to be a much more just process that focuses on education.” On the legislative side, the Queens lawmaker was a co-sponsor of the COVID-19 Emergency Protect Our Small Business Act, a bill that was passed by the legislature last month. The legislation protects restaurants from eviction and foreclosure, restricts third-party delivery fees, freezes unemployment insurance rates and establishes a partial-unemployment system. González-Rojas said she’s also exploring the idea of a commercial rent control model for businesses. She noted that rent for storefronts have “gone through the roof,” even in her district. “As someone who is shopping around for a new district office, I would love to have a storefront,” she said. “But the rent is out of reach for so many folks.” In addition to supporting small businesses like restaurants and
Assemblywoman Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas made history with her election.
local retail, González-Rojas said she is also supportive of street vendors, the “smallest of small businesses.” “We’re a neighborhood that really thrives on the diversity of businesses that we have,” she said. “They’re part of the ecosystem.” The lawmaker said while she supports thriving small businesses, she also cares about worker justice, and will advocate to ensure work-
ers are paid adequately and get the health care they need. She’s a proponent of the New York Health Act, which would enact the state’s version of a singlepayer health care system. “I think that would help a lot of businesses to not have to worry about health care plans, and making sure their staff gets the care that they need,” González-Rojas added. “I see that as a priority.”
but his family moved to Far Rockaway when rent in Brooklyn became unaffordable. This shaped his activism and community work, but also gave him an understanding of what issues the area faces. Anderson said that whether a person is living in Rosedale or South Ozone Park, the issues are still the same. They include environmental racism, lack of access to food, poor schools and living in a transit desert. Food insecurity is a focus for Anderson, and his district faces not just a lack of access to grocery stores and delis, but also a scarcity of fresh ingredients and produce. “I can’t fuel my body off a Twinkie,” Anderson said. “Most of my constituents have to travel two miles or more to get to a real grocery store or get real access to
produce.” He wants to put his community “back in the driver’s seat” by empowering his constituents to grow their own food. “It’s really that community-led effort and empowerment piece that can move folks in a direction that creates a space in which we are rolling back some of the decadeslong inequity and systemic oppression,” Anderson said. However, he noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these issues, along with bringing tragedy to the area. The assemblyman himself lost family and friends to the virus. “This has been a really morbid time for our people,” Anderson said. “But it has also exposed a lot
THE FRESHMAN IN THE ASSEMBLY
BY JACOB HENRY
Khaleel Anderson was scouring the new 900-page executive budget in Albany while speaking on the phone about his experience serving as the new assemblyman for southeast Queens and the Rockaways. “I haven’t criticized the budget yet, because I’m not finished reading it,” Anderson said. “I want to make sure I do this thing right.” At 24, Anderson is the youngest member in the history of the New York State Assembly. He wears his age as “a badge of honor,” earning respect from colleagues and constituents alike with his experience as an organizer and activist. “People understand that experience does make a difference,” Anderson said. He was born in Crown Heights,
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February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2
EXPERT ADVICE
BIDENOMICS AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
BY ROBERT INTELISANO
With Joe Biden now officially in the White House, it is a good time to address some changes he might make based on his platform. The question is, what does “Bidenomics” mean for your wallet? Over the years, I have found that politicians’ actions are often incongruent to their words. Here are some of his proposed changes: 1. Those making under $400,000 will be unaffected. His proposal is to leave those earners alone and add a “Social Security Increase Tax” of 6.2 percent on all income earned over $400,000. Social Security is in jeopardy as Baby Boomers (10,000 people turn 65 every day) are withdrawing Social Security benefits faster than working Americans are contributing. The affluent would be bridging that gap. 2. Income earners over $1,000,000 would incur higher capital gains taxes. Americans with over $1 million in total income would see income received from dividends, as well as capital gains, taxed like their wages. In this scenario, if you had a stock or business sale, your capital gains tax doubles from 20 to roughly 40 percent. This would change many
Robert Intelisano owns an independent insurance agency in Forest Hills. He can be reached at Rob@InsuranceDoctor.us.
business and investment decisions. You should consider making those sales now, as usually these changes are “grandfathered” in. 3. Corporate tax rates would be increased. His proposal would increase corporate tax rates from 21 to 28 percent. This is a big change that could have corporations reevaluate moving or setting up subsidiaries overseas. In essence, his proposals would be taxing the rich and protecting the middle class. Based on our current national and state budget deficits, I do see the middle class paying more taxes eventually. President Biden has vastly different viewpoints on many issues than Donald Trump, especially on energy, climate change, health care and infrastructure. The Green New Deal was a centerpiece of Biden’s campaign. Some areas where President
Biden said he would concentrate on include traditional and digital infrastructure, electric cars, telemedicine and green and clean energy. There has been much anger and angst over the fact that Congress had taken so long to pass an additional stimulus package since the last one ended on July 31. Some highlights of Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus relief plan called The American Rescue Plan include extending unemployment benefits, increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, expanding COVID-19 testing and immunizations centers, and funding state and local government, and $30 billion for PPE. The plans includes a second stimulus check. Individuals making less than $75,000/year receive $600, couples making up to $150,000/ year receive his target $1,400 and $600 per child.
There is also aid for small businesses. That includes Triple P (Paycheck Protection Program) funding, $20 billion for businesses in low-income communities, and $15 billion in aid for struggling live venues, movie theaters and museums, to name a few venues. There is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and when the economy will get back on track. However, it seems likely that income and estate taxes will rise for the wealthy. For example, under Biden’s proposed plan, when all is said and done a $100 million dollar estate will be taxed at 67.3 percent. However, if everything proposed becomes law, there will be a renewed interest in Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts to leverage off life insurance companies to pay these taxes with pennies on the dollar.
ANDERSON KEEPS HUMBLE APPROACH CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
of the flaws in our society that we as activists have been kicking and screaming about for decades.” He called for “bold action” in the Assembly to bring better healthcare access to his community, as well as protection for workers, renters and mortgage payers. “These are things that we otherwise would not do,” Anderson said. “And we should be doing them as it relates to getting us out of this pandemic.” He said that police reform cannot be forgotten among all these issues. “Police reform will always be in the front seat so long as our people continue to be beaten and killed at the hands of police,” Anderson said. “Now more than ever, we should be focused on redefining public safety and holding our police forces accountable.” Through all of his accomplishments, Anderson has remained personable and humble, giving his staff credit for helping him achieve his goals. “I don’t run this show by myself,”
Khaleel Anderson is the youngest person ever elected to the Assembly.
Anderson said. “I have a tremendous staff that helps me live out my vision and message.” That message is one of unity, but he remained steadfast in his activist roots, making sure that his constituents know he is there for them. “I’m prioritizing working-class
families, prioritizing people of color who live in a geographically and politically isolated community,” Anderson said. “A community that’s lacked a fighting voice for so long. That’s where we need to start, and I’m ready to take the bull by the horn.”
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NONPROFIT NEWS
ALPHAPOINTE TO MAKE MILITARY SPLINTS
Alphapointe announced a threeyear, multi-million-dollar agreement with Tactical Medical Solutions to manufacture more than 150,000 groundbreaking splints to be distributed around the world. The Richmond Hill-based organization is one of the nation’s largest providers of rehabilitation services and employment for people who are blind, Alphapointe developed RISE (Rigid Immobilization System for Extremities) in conjunction with the United States Army. Tactical Medical Solutions of Anderson, South Carolina, will serve as a distributor for the splint to organizations and individuals around the world, including branches of the U.S. military and international military agencies. The splints, which are also used by outdoor enthusiasts who engage in activities such as hiking and mountain climbing, will also be available to the general public. “Alphapointe is incredibly proud to have developed these groundbreaking splints and we are delighted to begin production,” said Alphapointe President and CEO Reinhard Mabry. “For more than 100 years, Alphapointe has provided jobs and assistance to people who are blind and our team of dedicated employees is excited to begin making yet another product that will help the lives of people around the world.” The RISE changes the landscape for the application of splints in triage situations, particularly in front line military settings. RISE units are significantly more lightweight and compact than predecessors, which will allow for non-medical personnel to carry the item and potentially administer critical treatments on the battlefield. The RISE is also unique because it has the capability to be used for both limbs and pelvic stabilization, a feature not currently available with standard-issue splints in the U.S. military. Production began earlier this month and RISE is now available to the public through Tactical Medi-
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cal Solutions at tacmedsolutions. com/rise. The RISE is the fourth tactical/medical product developed by Alphapointe in the past five years. Previously produced items – largely used by branches of the U.S. military – include the Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet, the Tactical Pneumatic Tourniquet and the Junctional Hemorrhage Control Plate. To date, Alphapointe has produced more than 250,000 life-saving tactical/medical devices, which has created sustainable jobs for more than 25 Americans, nearly half of whom are blind. The development of these lifesaving items has been led by a pair of U.S. veterans, director of Tactical & Medical Division, Christopher Kosiorek, and the organization’s vice president of Sales and Marketing, Ryan Williams.
Kosiorek, the primary inventor of the RISE, is a retired Special Forces Medical Sergeant with multiple combat-related deployments and tours during 23 years of service. His final assignment was with the Con-
cepts and Requirements Division at The Army Medical Department as a Combat Developer. Williams served as an Army Artillery Officer in the XVIII Airborne Corps.
QCP STAFF, RESIDENTS GET VACCINE Queens Centers for Progress’s staff and residents were among the first group of people in the state’s intellectual disabilities community to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
The first in line to be administered the vaccine were QCP executive director Terri Ross, direct support professional Nicole Marjett and QCP resident Robert Dempsey.
A QCP resident is administered the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Far too many people have become sick and many have passed on from COVID-19,” Ross said. “Our QCP family has lost some very dear people. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family and our community.” QCP partnered with its longtime pharmaceutical provider, Total Care Rx. Dr. Frank Patina, the company’s pharmacy supervisor, called the vaccination “beyond successful.” “We were booked for 43 immunizations, but were able to vaccinate 77 individuals at the inaugural clinic,” he said. Additional residents and staff members received the vaccine last week. Queens Centers for Progress was among the organizations campaigning to make the intellectual disabilities community a priority for the vaccine. “QCP and Cerebral Palsy NY State advocated strongly for the people we support to be prioritized in the distribution,” said Ed Weiss, the group’s director of adult services. (BENJAMIN FANG)
February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2
EXPERT ADVICE
EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON PRIVACY & DIVORCE
BY JACQUELINE HAROUNIAN, ESQ. & SHAYLA RAMOS, J.D.
Rapid advancements in technology have enabled global electronic communications and unprecedented levels of interconnectivity. Add in the COVID-19 global pandemic, and we are witnessing in real-time the push to revolutionize technology way beyond its current limits. If you are dealing with a deterioration of your current relationship, have separated from your spouse or have already started the divorce process, digital technology can be problematic and challenging with regard to your privacy. One thing to always keep in mind, especially before you write that detailed post bashing your ex on Facebook or showing off your new paramour on Instagram is that anything posted online can be used against you in court. Divorce attorneys increasingly encounter digitally harvested evidence in their divorce cases. One major growing concern is spousal spying. Technological advancements like Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri, and many smart tech surveillance systems, it is easy for a spouse to save and use any information that has been recorded against you. A vindictive spouse with access
to your online accounts, laptop or wireless devices can make unauthorized changes, withdrawals, or collect potentially damaging information to use against you in court or at the settlement table. How can I tell if I’m being spied on? Your spouse may be spying on you in any or all of a number of ways: • Monitoring your mail, email, phone calls, and/or text messages. • Monitoring your use of social media (such as Facebook). • Tracking you or your vehicle using GPS. • Having you bugged. • Watching you via video surveillance, including via a nanny cam. ‘• Having you followed by a private investigator. • Following you personally.
EMAIL/INTERNET MONITORING Your spouse may not need any special software or gadgets to check your email. He or she may simply check your computer or smartphone when you’re not using them if they’re not protected by a password. Your spouse may also know (or be able to guess) your passwords and get into your email and Internet
CELL PHONE MONITORING Your spouse may be able to install a program that allows him or her to view your text messages, call history, GPS location, contacts, photos, and other information. This particular program works by intercepting your iCloud backups, so if you change your iCloud password it will stop working. If your Apple iPhone is “jailbroken,” then it’s especially vulner-
able to spyware. If you didn’t jailbreak your phone, then your spouse may have done it in order to install spyware. LANDLINE MONITORING AND OTHER BUGS Your spouse may have the expertise or resources to bug your home, office, car or landline phone. Here are some signs that you might have been bugged: • You notice odd sounds or volume changes on your phone. • You can hear sounds coming from your phone even after you hang up. • Often when your phone rings there’s nobody there, but you can hear a faint tone, squeal, and/or beep. • Your TV or FM radio suddenly develops interference. • Your electrical wall plates are out of place. • You notice white-wall dust or debris on the floor. Although it’s sad to feel that you have to “look a gift horse in the mouth,” a present from your spouse in the form of an electronic device, such as a clock radio, boom box, CD player or even a teddy bear, may hide a bug or a surveillance device.
INTRODUCING VIRTUAL EXPRESSCARE
NYC Health + Hospitals recently launched its Virtual ExpressCare urgent care service to all New Yorkers, further ensuring New Yorkers
Jacqueline Harounian is a partner of the Law Firm of Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C.
accounts that way. Your spouse may also install spyware in your computer or cellphone that will allow him or her to remotely monitor your emails and the websites, including dating sites and chat rooms, you’re visiting. Keystroke logging (also called keylogging or keyboard capturing) software and hardware can allow your spouse to track every character you enter, including passwords to your personal financial accounts. There are tools you can use to detect whether there’s a keystroke logger installed on your computer. An anti-virus program should be able to detect spyware. If you don’t have anti-virus protection on your computer, you should get it for a lot of reasons – spying by your spouse is only one of your worries.
Visit Expresscare.nyc or scan the QR code with your phone to talk to a doctor now. You can also call (631) 397-2273.
have convenient one-click access to treatment from the comfort and safety of their home. New Yorkers in need of urgent care for non-life-threatening health issues can connect to a NYC Health + Hospitals emergency medicine doctor for an evaluation within minutes. The city’s public health system’s new ExpressCare telehealth solution offers a much simpler way to access high-quality, affordable video-based virtual care with the availability of on-screen interpretation services in over 200 languages, including American Sign Language. To access the service, patients can go to expresscare.nyc from any web browser on their computer,
phone, or tablet device with a camera. Virtual ExpressCare hours are seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. “Given the continued threat of COVID-19 during the upcoming flu season, Virtual ExpressCare will help prevent the spread of infection, while ensuring that our patients do not delay seeking necessary medical care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals senior vice president and chief quality officer Eric Wei. “Our public health system will continue to create pathways to care for all New Yorkers and make sure families and communities have the access to the right level of care from where it’s safest during this pandemic.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
COVER STORY
CRUZ PUTS RECOVERY AS TOP PRIORITY
BY BENJAMIN FANG
sponsored many of the bills in the package. The Queens lawmaker For a legislator who is unabashnoted that during the pandemic, the edly progressive, Assemblywoman wealthy “got even more rich” and Catalina Cruz has been highly suphave benefitted from the current portive of the business community, tax system. particularly small mom-and“It’s only fair,” she said. pop shops and street ven“Pay a little extra to help dors in her diverse Queens the rest of the state.” district. As the legislative sesThe second-term lawsion in Albany continues, maker, who represents CoroCruz is focused on not na, Elmhurst and Jackson just helping small busiHeights, says understandnesses and closing the ing small business owners’ budget gap, but also finddreams, hopes and pitfalls, ing creative solutions to is key to helping them, espeaddress food insecurity in cially as the COVID-19 panher district. demic and economic crisis Last summer, the assemcontinue to ravage stores blywoman turned her disacross the city. trict office into a food pan“These small businesses try, providing food to a give many families a job and long line of constituents an opportunity to survive,” amid the pandemic. Cruz she said. “Especially in my said she noticed that their district, many people who provider and other food used to work in low-wage pantries like La Jornada jobs save up their whole lives were struggling to access PHOTO: ALEXANDRA OWENS to open up a shop.” even simply necessities In Albany, Cruz has pro- Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz speaks to a business owner in Jackson Heights as Queens like milk. Chamber CEO and President Thomas Grech looks on. posed and helped pass legisIn the early fall, Cruz lation to provide support for decided to join an upstate struggling small businesses. to raise revenue and cut important ers were close to passing the pro- Republican colleague in the In mid-January, the state legisla- services that would “cause pain for posal last year, which would have Assembly on a tour of his district’s ture passed the COVID-19 Emer- New Yorkers.” provided important revenue for the farms. There, she learned that durgency Protect Our Small Business The governor has called on the state. ing the pandemic, many farms had Act, which protects restaurants federal government to provide As for sports betting, Cruz said as nowhere to sell their produce, milk from eviction and foreclosure, New York with $15 billion to not the state gets through the recovery and meat. She heard stories of restricts third-party delivery fees, only fill the budget hole, but also process, the sports scene, includ- farmers pouring milk down the freezes unemployment insurance make investments in infrastructure, ing eventually bringing fans into drain and even changing what they rates and establishes a partial- sustainability projects, rent relief, venues, will become even more were farming to survive. unemployment system. pandemic recovery, school aid and robust, which will lead to increased To address the dual issues of Governor Andrew Cuomo also more. revenue. struggling farmers and hungry rolled out a $130 million proposal Among the governor’s proposals “It can only help with that gap,” families, Cuomo implemented the to provide tax credits to small busi- to raise revenue is the legalization she said. Nourish New York initiative, which nesses, including restaurants, that of marijuana, which would generAnother way to increase revenue allows emergency food providers have been impacted by COVID-19 ate an estimated $300 million in for the state is to raise taxes on the to purchase surplus products from to hire additional workers through tax revenue, and legalizing mobile wealthy, which a set of lawmakers farmers and dairy manufacturers. 2021. That proposal, Cruz said, sports betting, which is expected to have proposed through the Invest The governor allocated $35 million is similar to a bill she introduced raise another $500 million. in Our New York Act, a package for the program to fund it through last year to provide incentives for In response to Cuomo’s State of six bills that legislators say will the end of 2020. businesses to hire local community of the State, Cruz said while the raise $50 billion annually. The proCruz noted that Nourish New members. proposals would get the state “on posal includes establishing a pro- York is not a permanent program, “If we don’t help small busi- the road to be in a good place,” gressive income tax, capital gains and that much of its funding came nesses, if people can’t get back to they would not be enough without tax, heirs’ tax, billionaires’ tax, from federal emergency money. work, if we still have expenses that federal help. Wall Street tax and the repeal of the Cruz teamed up with Republican are going to increase because of the “We need to apply force to our Trump tax cuts. State Senator George Borrello on pandemic,” she said, “the need is federal colleagues to do their fair Cruz said she’s supportive of only going to get bigger.” share,” she said. “We have to get the legislation, and has already coCONTINUED ON PAGE 14
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Not only are small businesses struggling from the pandemic, but the state is facing a $15 billion budget gap. Cuomo warned in his State of the State Address that without federal funding, he would be forced
more creative and more forceful to ensure we have a surplus, not just fill the gap.” Legalizing marijuana will bring a “good amount of revenue,” Cruz said. She noted that state lawmak-
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
SCHEDULE YOUR VIRTUAL VISIT WITH H+H CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
Erfan Karim, a senior director of Strategic Operations at NYC Health + Hospitals and Queens native answered some common questions on how the ExpressCare model works. What is Virtual ExpressCare? ExpressCare is NYC Health + ERFAN KARIM
Hospitals’ virtual urgent care service that enables you to talk to an emergency medicine physician for common health problems from anywhere, including your home. You have easy access from your web browser with applications or downloads needed. How does it work? Visit ExpressCare.nyc to talk to a doctor now. Patients can call (631) EXP-CARE (631-397-
2273) if they do not have access to a smart phone or a video device. A NYC Health + Hospitals ExpressCare agent will greet you and help you register. A doctor will then enter the virtual visit, ask about your symptoms and advise you on what to do next to get healthy. After the visit, you can access details from your Virtual ExpressCare visit when you log in to the MyChart patient
portal. Who can use the service? It is important that all New Yorkers can access Virtual ExpressCare. The service accepts most insurance plans. If you don’t have insurance, an ExpressCare agent can also help you enroll in affordable health insurance, if you qualify, or become a member of NYC Care to help you get followup care.
STARBUCKS SEEKS COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
The investments will initially focus on 12 U.S. metropolitan areas and their surrounding regions: Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Washington, D.C. In partnership with community leaders, Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) and other impact-focused financial
institutions, the fund will help provide access to capital intended to support small businesses and neighborhood projects, including those addressing the inequitable impacts of climate change. As part of the initiative, Starbucks will work with partners like the Opportunity Finance Network to allocate funds to local CDFIs that will provide borrowers with access to capital, ongoing mentorship and technical assistance. “Starbucks is investing in the survival of small business by
working with CDFIs in key cities across America. CDFIs deliver affordable credit as well as training on disaster recovery and rebuilding, and that is exactly what small businesses need right now to withstand ongoing economic and climate changes,” said OFN President and CEO, Lisa Mensah. “With partners like Starbucks and CDFIs, these small businesses will have a fighting chance to recover, rebuild, hire workers and serve their local economy.”
COVER STORY
CRUZ WORKING ON SOLVING FOOD INSECURITY
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12
legislation to make the initiative permanent and work out its kinks. Last month, Cruz invited Borrello to her district to introduce their legislation and to visit La Jornada’s food pantry at the Queens Museum. The lawmaker noted that La Jornada went from serving 1,000 families a week pre-pandemic to 10,000 families a week. “This was amazing,” she said. “An upstate senator representing farmland and a downstate assembly member representing our food insecurity crisis partnering together to help both sides.” This year, Cruz was appointed by Speaker Carl Heastie as chair of the Assembly’s Task Force on New Americans. The assemblywoman said she will focus largely on education and advocacy, and is in the process of developing a civic engagement initiative with
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organizations like the New York Immigration Coalition, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) and other groups that represent new Americans. “The idea is to make sure people understand how their government works,” she said, “and how to better their own neighborhoods, from volunteering to helping them go through the process of becoming permanent residents, citizens and voting.” The task force will launch the new initiative in a few months, Cruz said. They will also take a look at key legislation, hold hearings and meetings and support the state’s Office for New Americans. “I’ll use the tools of the task force to push for the recovery bills that will help all New York families,” Cruz said, “but are even more impactful for new American families.”
PHOTO: NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz speaks at a committee hearing.
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February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2
QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEBRUARY 2/2, 6 to 8 PM
NEW YORK CITY COMPTROLLER CANDIDATE FORUM
The Five Borough Chamber Alliance, comprised of each borough’s respective chamber of commerce, has organized a virtual forum to learn more about the candidates for Comptroller. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/4, 5:30 PM
FINANCIAL BUSINESS PLANNING
In this webinar, we will assist you in developing a plan for your business to adapt to the changing business environment. We will discuss actions you can take today and how to prepare for the next phase. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/10, 9 AM
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
The Queens Chamber of Commerce is committed to maximizing your membership. If you’re a new member and have yet to participate in an orientation, please register to join us virtually. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/12, 2 PM
SOCIAL MEDIA BRANDING & MANAGEMENT
This workshop will overview best practices for creating a cohesive online presence, present resources to plan and manage digital content, and provide clear guidance for optimization of each network. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/16, 11 AM
QCIC STUDENT SERIES: HOSPITALITY
Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, will share about how he got started in hospitality, how you can be successful in hospitality, and the variety of hospitality jobs that are available, ranging from accounting to design. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/17, 11 AM
IDENTIFYING PHISHING & BUSINESS EMAIL COMPROMISE ATTACKS
Tech committee member Sean O’Rourke will moderate an interactive session with Davin Singh, a 20-year veteran of the technology world, who will present actual phishing and
BEC emails to help you better identify the obvious and subtle indicators that the email is not what it seems. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/19, 9:30 AM
MANAGING AND COACHING THE PROBLEMATIC EMPLOYEE
This program offers practical strategies for working and collaborating with people who are exhibiting difficult or disruptive behavior,a s well as instruction in coaching and effectively and constructively disciplining employees. The guest speaker is Joshua Bienstock, director of the NYIT School of Management. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/24, 11 AM
BUILDING A BLOG FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Learn about why you should have blog, what functions your blog should have, and how to design and promote your blog. This event is supported by the Rockaway Business Alliance and will feature successful tips and tricks from local business owners and Queens Chamber CEO Thomas Grech. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
MARCH 3/19, 9:30 AM
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS TO MITIGATE CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE
The workshop will provide participants with hands on techniques to maximize communication skills, which can translate into improved productivity and reduced friction and conflict. Effective Communication skills will also improve employee satisfaction. The guest speaker is Joshua Bienstock, director of the NYIT School of Management. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 3/31, 11 AM
EMPOWERING WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
The resource panel will cover different SBA programs alongside other government programs (Federal, State, and Local), that occur incentives and perks for women owned businesses. The Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) panel will be showcased at this event and members of the panel will share their experiences with attendees. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
APRIL 4/16, 9:30 AM
CRITICAL THINKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Benefits of critical thinking include, improved cognitive skills, a foundation of logical decision making on which you can draw, even in stressful situations higher professional achievement, improves team playing skills, and facilitates the ability to stay calm. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
MAY 5/21, 9:30 AM
STRATEGIES FOR MITIGATING CONFLICT BY EFFECTIVELY MANAGING RISK
This program will facilitate an understanding, methodology and best practices of risk management you will be able to reduce the risk of litigation. If you are exposed to a lawsuit you will have minimized your financial liability. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 6/18, 9:30 AM
MANAGING CONFLICT BY JUNE
UTILIZING TIME, ANGER & STRESS MANAGEMENT
This program covers the basic skills needed to manage time, stress and anger at work. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
EN ESPANOL 2/9, 4 PM
FINANCIANDO SU NEGOCIO
En este taller, reevaluaremos sus planes comerciales para determinar sus posibles acciones hoy y, en la fase de recuperación, lo guiaremos con hojas de cálculo de finanzas personales y proyecciones financieras comerciales. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/11, 5:30 PM
PLANEACION FINANCIERA PARA EMPRESAS
En este taller, reevaluaremos sus planes comerciales para determinar sus posibles acciones hoy y, en la fase de recuperación, lo guiaremos con hojas de cálculo de finanzas personales y proyecciones financieras comerciales. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
17
THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER STAFF PROFILES is the best piece of advice you’ve ever VICKY FERREIRA What been given? When I was growing up in Para-
How long have you been with the Chamber? My association with the Chamber began in 2013 through a projected Business Improvement District (BID) on Roosevelt Avenue. At the end of the project, I joined the Chamber in 2015. Previous Job: I worked as a journalist in Paraguay for over 20 years before emigrating and switching careers.
JOANNE PERSAD
guay my high school principal told me no matter what I do give it my best, someone will notice. What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? Willingness to learn and develop understanding for different cultures and values and respect those differences. Favorite music genre? Pop, oldies, classic.
What’s the most inspiring part of your job? The courage and determination I see in people, most of them immigrants, who after years of hard work end up owning the business where they worked. Name one thing you hope to accomplish in 2021: Start a minimalist lifestyle. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be? The French filmmaker and activist Agnes Varda and maybe my young self. It could be fun, and also I would give some advice to a 20-year-old me.
RICHARD GREBINGER How long have you been with the Chamber? Since May of 2018. Previous Job: Project Manager/Public Relations with Waste Management. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Always appreciate the small things in life. What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? This is a great place to work, learn and grow. Favorite music genre? Soca & Reggae What’s the most inspiring part of your job? Everything about my job inspires me, from the people I work with to the businesses we work for. Name one thing you hope to accomplish in 2021: Work on my photography skills. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Eminem
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How long have you been with the Chamber? I have been associated with the Chamber since 1982. When I graduated Queens College my first job was with a CPA firm that performed the annual certified audit for the Chamber. From that point forward, I worked with the Chamber as the outside CPA and currently part time CFO. Previous Job: Self-employed Certified Public Accountant What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? “Be kind to the people you meet on the way up because you will meet the same people on the way down.” What advice would you give a candidate who wants to join our team? Take advantage of the opportunity to work with an outstanding staff and interact with membership as often as possible so you can learn from some of the finest business leaders in the community. Favorite music genre? Rock, Classical, Blues What’s the most inspiring part of your job? The most inspiring part of my job at the Chamber is the chance to work with a diverse group of dedicated, hardworking, and exceptionally talented individuals to provide valuable resources to the business community in the borough.
Name one thing you hope to accomplish in 2021: For 2021 and every year I would like to make a positive difference in the life of one individual. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Oskar Schindler
February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2
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.
ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION
120 Wall Street, 9th Fl., New York, NY 10005 aafederation.org QUICK GLANCE: The Asian American Federation’s mission is to raise the influence and well-being of the pan-Asian American community through research, policy advocacy, public awareness and organizational development. Established in 1989, the Federation is a panAsian non-profit organization representing a network of community service agencies in the Northeast. These agencies work in the fields of health & human services, education, economic development, civic participation, and social justice.
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.
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 QUICK GLANCE: 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.
ACCOMPANY CAPITAL (FORMERLY BCNA)
78-27 37 Ave., Ste. 1 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Business Development: Tshering Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@accompanycapital.org QUICK GLANCE: Accompany Capital is an
award-winning Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and Small Business Administration (SBA) micro lender that pro-
vides small and micro business owners in New York City with low-cost loans, access to business training & technical assistance, and one-on-one counseling. Accompany Capital has disbursed over $34 million in loans and assisted over 10,000 immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in New York City since its founding as Business Center for New Americans (BCNA) in 1997, as well as provided workshops and one-on-one advice on business management and marketing to over 10,000 businesses.
BUSINESS OUTREACH CENTER NETWORK (BOC, INC.)
85 S. Oxford Street #2 Brooklyn, NY 11217 718.624.9115 bocnet.org QUICK GLANCE: Business Outreach Center Network’s mission is to improve the economic prospects of traditionally underserved groups, with a focus on low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs and their communities, and thereby create genuinely brighter futures. At the heart of our mission is the belief that whatever their differences, people and communities share a common goal: to achieve economic stability and growth. Working in partnership with culturally diverse individuals and organizations in support of this shared goal is the hallmark of BOC.
CHHAYA CDC
37-43 77th Street, #2 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718.478.3848 chhayacdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Core to our strategy is organizing and advocating for systemic changes that remove the barriers to well-being, housing stability, and economic mobility for our communities. For over 20 years, Chhaya has served tens of thousands of individuals and led the charge on key policy issues for immigrants, such as basement legalization, language access, tenants’ rights, and more.
CHINATOWN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (CHINATOWN PARTNERSHIP)
217 Park Row, 2nd Floor, Suite 9 New York, NY 10038 chinatownpartnership.org QUICK GLANCE: Chinatown Partnership, led by Wellington Chen, was formed in 2006 as new start-up from grounds up to bring residents, business owners and community groups together to rebuild Chinatown following 9/11, and to preserve the neighborhood’s unique culture while ensuring its vitality in the future through strategic positioning. With the highly popular Weekend Walks street festive series, Mid-Autumn Festival, One Day in
NYC, annual Beautification/Earth Day, East West Parade with Little Italy, Double Valentine’s Day to promote the softer side of Chinatown and the Jewelry District and all the cafes, eateries in the area. Explore Chinatown marketing initiative, Lunar Stages outdoor film screenings, and Taste of Chinatown street events, Chinatown Partnership helps promote the area as a special destination to live, work, and visit.
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.
GATEWAY JFK
Executive Director: Scott Grimm-Lyon 516.730.3400 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.
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 repre-
senting over 200 businesses.
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 19
THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES WOODHAVEN BID
84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with more
than 350 businesses under its umbrella 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.
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: Founded in 1979, the Jamaica
Center BID serves over 400 businesses on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 169th Street. With a budget of over $1 million, 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.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P.O. Box 300687, Jamaica, NY 11430 Executive Director: Clorinda Antonucci President: Al DePhillips Vice President: Joseph Morra JFKCoCExec@gmail.com jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group
has over 200 members. The chamber was chartered in 1978 by a group of business people in and around JFK Airport. It is the only airport in the nation to have its own Chamber of Commerce. The chamber seeks to create an environment in which members of the business community can work together to enhance the growth, well being and economic development of the airport community and its aviation industry.
LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP
President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 longislandcityqueens.com QUICK GLANCE: 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.
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MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Executive Director: Ted Renz 718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with over
120 members and a budget of $115,000.
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.
MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)
QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Daraio 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have
BOC: 96-11 40th Road, Corona, NY 11368 Coordinator: Quincy Ely-Cate 718.205.3773 qelycate@bocnet.org mibanyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Covering roughly 600 busi-
nesses with 30 active members, the Maspeth Industrial Business Association 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 busi-
nesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80th streets. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs.
MURRAY HILL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NY
P.O. Box 1897 New York, NY 10156 212.886.5867 murrayhillnyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Murray Hill is a unique residential neighborhood in midtown Manhattan. While there is no formal boundary for the neighborhood, the area served by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and its sister organization the Manhattan East Community Association (MECA) extends from Fifth Avenue eastward to the East River and from 42nd Street down to 26th Street (encompassing the 10016 postal code).
MYRTLE AVENUE BID
62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385
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. Register online for upcoming virtual events, including:
ROCKAWAY BUSINESS ALLIANCE
info@rockawaybusinessalliance.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and a
resource for over 200 businesses. The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions, and engagement for the local community and the visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces.
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 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.
ROCKAWAY EAST MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (REMA4US)
1032 Beach 20th Street Far Rockaway, NY 11691 rema4us.org REMA 4 US, Inc. seeks to engage in economic development and revitalization in the Rockaway Peninsula. To strengthen our community revitalization programs and community development efforts in the Rockaway Peninsula REMA works alongside businesses, civic groups, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. REMA works to inform the public about opportunities that exist to strengthen the community, and to create a welcoming and safe environment to help expand economic opportunity in the Rockaway
February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2
NEW MEMBERS MAJOR CORPORATE
Grubhub
1065 Sixth Avenue, 15th Floor New York, NY 10018 grubhub.com Grubhub is a leading online and mobile foodordering and delivery marketplace with the largest and most comprehensive network of restaurant partners. Grubhub features over 300,000 restaurants and is proud to partner with 245,000 of these restaurants in over 4,000 U.S. cities.
CORT
CORPORATE
5 Route 17 South Hasbrouck Heights, NY 07604 cort.com Over 45 years ago, CORT began with a single goal in mind: to deliver unparalleled customer service to people and businesses. The company began with residential furniture rental in five regions across the United States and has grown to become the nation’s leading provider of transition services, including furniture rental for home and office, event furnishings, destination services, apartment locating, touring and other services. In addition to 100-plus offices, showrooms and clearance centers across the United States, CORT provides furniture rental in more than 80 countries around the globe.
CPower Energy Management
183 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10022 cpowerenergyment.com CPower helps organizations understand, implement, and maximize the potential of distributed energy resources. By assessing your organization’s unique needs and capabilities, they help you make the energy decisions today that position your success tomorrow.
Fluid Mechanic’s Corp. 170-36 Douglas Avenue Jamaica, NY 11433 fluidmcorp.com
Littler Mendelson, P.C.
290 Broadhollow Road, 305 Melville, NY 11747 littler.com At Littler, unparalleled commitment to labor and employment law helps clients navigate a complex business world with nuanced legal issues, building better solutions for their toughest challenges.
ProCleanings Co.
44-70 21st Street, Suite #286 Long Island City, NY 11101 procleanings.com
ProCleanings is a premier provider of commercial and industrial cleaning services. A local fixture in the cleaning industry, they have been in operation for more than seven years, servicing countless customers throughout New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Starbucks Corporation
2401 Utah Avenue South Seattle, WA 98134 starbucks.com Every day, Starbucks employees go to work hoping to do two things: share great coffee with friends and help make the world a little better. It was true when the first Starbucks opened in 1971, and it’s just as true today.
INTRODUCTORY
Acctwell, Inc.
92-29 Queens Blvd., Suite #CC Rego Park, NY 11374 acctwell.com
Astorian
450 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10163 astorian.com
Citrin Cooperman
36 Carolyn Avenue Valley Stream, NY 11580
Luxian International Realty 29 West 36th Street New York, NY 10018 theluxian.com
ON Hand, LLC
375 Beach 92nd Street Rockaway Beach, NY 11693 onhand.us
Orion Development Group
11404 Beach Channel Drive, Suite 6 Rockaway Park, NY 11694 odgroup.com
Plant Powered Metro New York P.O. Box 20771 New York, NY 10025 plantpoweredmetrony.org
School of Rock Queens 34-43 Francis Lewis Blvd. Lower Level, Suite 2 Bayside, NY 11358 schoolofrock.com
SDVOSB Materials Technolgy & Supply, LLC 134 Grattan Street, Suite 3L Brooklyn, NY 11237 SDVOSBmaterials.com
CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES Peninsula.
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.
SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos 718.729.4688 sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: With an 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: The BID has a budget of
approximately $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella. The mission of Sunnyside Shines is to invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe and dynamic commercial district.
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 in Jamaica.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE 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
SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE STAFF 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
William Blake Vincent L. Petraro, Esq. Dominick Ciampa George Rozansky Joseph Farber Gerard Thornton Louis D. Laurino Jeff Levine Joseph M. Mattone, Sr
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 Stephanie Baldwin Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan KY Chow
Sal Crifasi Steven DeClara Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Charles Everett, Jr. Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof
Howard Graf Raymond Irrera Kenneth Koenig Neil Levin Bert Lurch Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul
Melinda Murray-Nyack Maria Odysseus Stephen Preuss Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock Juan Santiago Thomas Santucci
Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan Mark Weprin
Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner
CORPORATE MEMBERS A&E Real Estate A&L Cesspool Services Corp AARP Adria Hotel and Conference Center Aeroterm AFC Urgent Care - Howard Beach Amaracon Testing & Inspections, LLC American Lions LLC Amna Construction Corp AmTrust Title Andromeda Antun’s of Queens Village Apple Bank for Savings Apple-Metro, Inc. ARK Development LLC Ashnu International, Inc. Assured Environments Astoria Sports Complex Atco Properties Accounts Payable Aurora Contractors, Inc. Avison Young AYC Properties LLC Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Balkan Sewer And Water Main Service Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of Hope Bellozino Bethpage Federal Credit Union Bijal Hospitality - Hyatt Place LIC & Fairfield Marriott LGA Blink Fitness Boyce Technologies Inc. Bridgehampton National Bank Broadway Stages Cactus Holdings Inc Capital One Bank Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens CBRE
Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Ciampa Organization Cipico Construction, Inc. Citibank CityMD Clearcell Power Conference Associates, Inc Cord Meyer Development LLC Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott Crescent Properties, Inc Crown Castle Crunch - Rochdale (Please correct spelling in magazine) Cushman & Wakefield Damian Family Care Centers, Inc. Daniels, Norelli, Scully & Cecere P.C. Daroga Power, LLC Dedline AV East Coast Energy Group Ecosave Inc. Emigrant Mortgage Company Enterprise Fleet Management eXp Realty: Andrew Wu Exquisite Construction F & T Group Farrell Fritz, P.C. First Central Savings Bank Flushing Council On Culture & The Arts Forest Hills Financial Group Inc. GF55 Partners Gil-Bar Industries, Inc. Glenwood Infinity LLC (Hello Panda Festival) Global Industrial Goodwill Industries of New York & North-
ern New Jersey, Inc. Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association Green Energy Technology Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center Gum Studios Hampton Inn by Hilton JFK Airport Healthy Corner Pharmacy Hilton Garden Inn LIC New York Hook & Reel LLC Horticultural Creations, Inc. Hyatt Place Flushing IBIS Styles New York LaGuardia Airport INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry Innovo Property Group Instacart Intercontinental Capital Group iRCM, Inc. J.W. Hampton Jr. & Co., Inc. James F. Capalino & Assoc. Jaros, Baum & Bolles Jason Office Products JC Elite Construction JDP Mechanical JetBlue Airways Corporation JFA Insurance Brokerage & Associates Inc. JGM Construction Development Jones Lang LaSalle Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc. Kimco Realty Corporation Klein Weath Management/ Hightower Advisors Laffey Real Estate Laguardia Plaza Hotel Laser Bounce of Brooklyn Inc.
Levine Builders Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Association, Inc. Luxury Office Suites LLC Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. Madison Realty Capital Manpower McBride Consulting & Business MCT Fine Wine & Spirits, LLC Medisys Health Network Mega Contracting Group LLC MetroPlus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade MicroGrid Neworks, LLC Millennium Dae Dong, Inc. Molloy College Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp. Muss Development LLC My Benefit Advisor, LLC NEOLEDGE Neuman’s Kitchen Newtown Creek New York + Atlantic Railway New York Health Plan Association New York Oil Heating Association Northwell Health NYC Ferry Operated by Hornblower Olympia Court Real Estate OneGroup Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates Patrizia’s Italian Restaurant Petro PGA Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Piermont Bank 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
BANKING & LAW
Margaret T. Ling, Esq. Big Apple Abstract Corp. mling@bigappleabstract.com Paul Harrison Chase paul.harrison@chase.com
COMMUNICATIONS Cody Fisher Blue Ox Marketing, LLC cody@blueoxmarketing.com Leigh Schuckman Sandler Training leigh.schuckman@sandler.com
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ENERGY
Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com Jay Solly Sol Strategies jaypsolly@gmail.com
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION Bill Staniford bill@staniford.com Michael Grella Grella Partnership Services mike@socialquityventures.com
HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS
E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com
HOSPITALITY
Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Vincent Gentile Vassilaros & Sons Coffee vincent@vassilaroscoffee.com
MANUFACTURING Lina DeLaCruz Control Electropolishing Corp. lina@controlpublishing.com Geoff Smith Connect 360 geoff@bizcon360.com
NONPROFIT
Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org Maria Odysseus Investors Bank modysseus@myinvestorsbank.com
REAL ESTATE
Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Kevin Louie Cushman & Wakefield kevin.louie@cushwake.com Michael Wang Project Queens michael@projectqueens.com
TECHNOLOGY Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Fred Canone fc1281@gmail.com
TRANSPORTATION Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com William Harris Edge Auto Rental william@edgeautorental.com
Premier Payroll Solutions Prime Storage Priority 1 Security LLC ProHEALTH Care QSIDE Federal Credit Union Queens Center Mall Queens Public Communications Corp. Quontic Bank RCG Mortgage Receivable Collection Services, LLC Rego Park Seniors Club LLC Related Retail Corporation Rochdale Village Community Center Royal Waste Services, Inc. Safeguard Global Safety Facility Services Samaritan Daytop Village Santander Bank SBT Advantage Bank Seagis Property Group, LP Securitech Group, Inc. Signature Bank 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 Episcopal Hospital St. John’s University Sterling Risk Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Suffolk Sussman-Automatic Corporation Target TC Electric TGI Office Automation Thales The Andy Li Team at Compass The Botanist The Durst Organization The First National Bank of Long Island The Flying Locksmiths -Queens NY The Heskel Group The Liquidity Source The Lovett Group The Marcal Group T-Mobile TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp. United Airlines United American Title Agency United Construction & Development Group Corp United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vanguard Building Solutions, LLC Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Vic Kessler Signs LTD Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP Watch Guard 24/7 LLC White Coffee Corp Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. YMCA of Greater New York / Queens Branches York College - CUNY Young Nian Group, LLC Zara Realty
February 2021 • Volume 17 • Issue 2 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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