this is...
February 2022 . Volume 18 . Issue 2
MAKING
HISTORY
AN ELECTED OFFICIAL FROM QUEENS IS THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMAN TO LEAD THE CITY COUNCIL “I WAS BORN TO DO THIS. IT’S A CHALLENGE, BUT IT’S NOT WORK TO ME.”
ALSO
• CRUZ SOUNDS THE ALARM ON CLIMATE CHANGE • THE SLICES OF SUNNYSIDE • TECH SPOTLIGHT: ADAM HABER OF TRELLUS
SPEAKER ADRIENNE ADAMS
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February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
IT’S NOT A LEAP
I know you’ve probably heard trust are all essential to the culthis saying “what a difference a day ture in my organization. If you makes.” In the month haven’t already, I’d of February, it could advise you to incorpoeasily be referring to rate them into yours. Leap Day, which won’t Trust the Queens occur again until 2024. Chamber to enable the But you still have growth and develop28 incredible days to ment of your business, execute some of those regardless of it’s size. strategies you put in From the eduplace to move your cational resources organization forward. designed to keep I regularly share TOM SANTUCCI you on the cutting information for align- CHAIRPERSON edge of this the evering with the Queens changing business Chamber and laying a culture to networkfoundation that could change the ing opportunities that will expand trajectory of your organization. As your clientele and generate new a business owner, you ultimately revenue, we have it covered. have a good grasp on the direction Business ownership is certainly your operations are headed and not a leap, it’s an investment of what’s involved to stay the course. time, resources, and knowledge. With my 20-plus years of experi- We’re here to help you along your ence in the field of financial plan- journey every step of the way. ning and management, I’ve learned I’m incredibly grateful for each the key to success is the develop- and everyone of you who continue ment of a comprehensive strategy. to support the Queens Chamber. Transparency, openness, and Until next time.
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
MAKE THE MOST OF 2022
There’s something about navi- liams, the Queens Chamber hosted gating through the beginning a Community Job Fair at the Harmonths of a new year that brings vest Room in Jamaica. great joy, embracing With over 150 opportunity and the career opportuniuntapped potential ties available at JFK that lies ahead. and LaGuardia airWe still have 11 ports, the MTA, and months left in 2022. Parks Department, You should be askjob seekers were set ing yourself “What on a path for career will I do with this fulfillment with abundance of time?” some of the greatAllow me to make a est employers in the few suggestions. city. THOMAS J. GRECH Partnering with PRESIDENT & CEO As a business Queens Chamber is owner you’re first and foremost in undoubtedly familiar my mind. The talented individuals with the impact COVID has had on of our staff have put together a wide the community. Later this month, array of opportunities designed to we’re partnering with the Small impact you professionally. Business Administration for the In partnership with Small Busi- “Business Recovery in the Wake of ness Services and the offices of COVID” virtual event. Speaker Adrienne Adams and Councilwoman Nantasha WilCONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
HELPING NAVIGATE THE PANDEMIC AT ST. JOHN’S
BY KERRY MURTHA
Foregoing traditional graduation ceremonies has become the norm since the COVID19 pandemic began disrupting in-person gatherings nearly two years ago. But thanks to the outreach efforts at St. John’s University’s Conference Services, thousands of seniors at more than two dozen local high schools were able to walk across the stage to receive their diplomas last spring, as their family and friends cheered them on. “If it weren’t for St. John’s we would have been forced to have a virtual ceremony,” said Clara Rivera, coordinator of student activities at William Cullen Bryant High School in Long Island City, whose 500 graduates took to the outdoor stage on the university’s Great Lawn for their commencement last June. “The space outside was so large that we were able to have three family members attend for each student while still being able to socially distance and follow all of the city and state regulations that were put into place.” Indeed there’s been a dizzying array of everchanging government mandates that schools, businesses and churches have had to follow in order to keep the virus at bay while continuing to operate in a post-COVID world. “It’s definitely been a tricky path to navigate and we had to be creative and look for ways that allowed events to still be held on our grounds while adhering to ever-changing public health guidelines,” said Cheryl O’Hara, event manager for St. John’s Conference Services. To that end, the college held 24 high school graduations on the Great Lawn of the 105-acre campus last year as well as one smaller indoor event at the university’s Carnesecca Arena, an uptick from the 23 commencements that took place at the school in 2019. “We looked for alternative places, such as our outside facilities, where we could provide a ceremonial setting and include as many peo-
ple as possible,” O’Hara TAFFNER RECEPTION said. Classrooms and larger indoor venues were also made available to local community churches, which were scrambling to find ways to reach their congregations at a time when smaller spaces put their weekly fellowship services on hold. “We were able to accommodate religious gatherings by keeping capacities at the required levels,” O’Hara noted. “Our technology allowed church leaders to link our classrooms and other sites ing when the government shutdown prevented together for their services. Some even met with members several times a day in order to CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 make sure they didn’t have too many people together at one time,” she added. CEO’S MESSAGE Reverend Gus Kim, leader of the Grace Church moved his congregation to St. John’s CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 when the city eased restrictions and his 150 members were able to return to in-person This webinar will offer information regardmeetings. “When we were allowed to once ing COVID regulations, business recovery again gather, we needed a bigger place that plan writing, and exploring new markets. provided a safer setting,” said Kim. Don’t miss this complimentary presentation Since October of 2020, Kim has been using featuring Man-Li Lin. the university’s auditorium and several classThis is simply a snapshot of scheduled rooms for his ministry. programming opportunities made available “We are so grateful because, of course, there to you during February. Visit queenschamber. were a lot of limitations when it came to meetorg for details and registration. ing in person, but as a church we are supposed Don’t look back at the end of the year wonto grow together, see each other’s faces and dering where did the time go? Take action encourage each other,” he said. “Worshiping today that will impact you and the future of in small groups online is just not the same.” your organization. Pastor John Bae, whose 200-member New I love the work I do and I want my energy Creation Fellowship church has been holding to rub off on you so you will feel the same. its weekly liturgies at St. John’s since 2018, From the bottom of my heart, thank you for said he, too, is appreciative of the univeryour continual support of the Chamber. sity’s support of his ministry over the past Queens STRONG! three years. “They were really accommodat-
TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments .......................................6
Stay Connected With the Queens Chamber in February ..................................15
SLICES OF QUEENS: A Pizza Tour of Sunnyside ...............................8
It’s in Queens: Shortest Month Long on Events ...................................................16
TECH SPOTLIGHT: Adam Haber of Trellus ..........................................9
Get to Know the Chamber’s Newest Members ....................................................20
Chamber Gets Insider’s View on Interborough Express .....................10 COVER STORY: Speaker Adrienne Adams ..........................................11 Protect Yourself Against Currency Fluctuations ...................................12 Steps to Achieve Yours Goals in 2022 .....................................................22 4
PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez
MANAGING EDITOR Shane Miller
MARKETING DIRECTOR John Sanchez BQE Media, 45-23 47th St., 2nd Floor, Woodside, NY 11377 Phone: (718) 426-7200 Fax: (347) 507-5827
February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
THREE DEGREES FROM UNPRECEDENTED DISASTER
BY CATALINA CRUZ, ESQ.
gency Management Administration’s (FEMA) Command Center How well-prepared and ready for the region, New York State are our communities, families remains ill-prepared for the next and businesses to address the severe weather-related disaster. most challenging climate changes A recent national survey on heading our way? disaster preparedness commisWith scientists across the planet sioned by FEMA highlights the agreeing that the nations of the lack of preparations for an emerworld are far from the goal of gency by families and individuals, preventing a two-degree global and the role income plays in readtemperature increase, the three- iness levels of emergency supdegree temperaplies to address ture rise thresha potential natuold that will creral or man-made ate mass destrucemergency. tion, dislocation The survey and suffering is a also revealed real threat. that there is an In addition, a over-reliance on recent insurance the belief that industry study first responders puts New York will be able to City and Miami answer every call on the top of for help during the same list for an emergency. a projected trilAs we have seen, lion dollars in in a major and damages from unprecedented severe storms. It CATALINA CRUZ, ESQ. natural disaster, is imperative that ASSEMBLY MEMBER this is an absowe diligently join lute impossibilefforts as a comity. munity of families, businesses The American Red Cross found and civic leaders to address this that households and individuproblem and to support solutions als with incomes of $50,000 or that will help ensure our city and higher were more likely to have state thrive. disaster supplies in their car and According to the World Bank, homes, a household disaster plan, rising ocean levels immediately and experience volunteering in a put 700 million of the world’s disaster. population at risk of catastrophic They were also more likely to flooding, especially coastal cities have taken a preparedness trainwith elevations of 30 feet or less ing or CPR course, communiabove oceans. Alarmingly, huge cated the importance of preparing swaths of New York City are to someone else, and believe that below that 30-foot threshold. preparedness would actually help Yet, 10 years and $60 billion in them handle a disaster situation. damage to New York and New JerConversely, those with lower sey after Superstorm Sandy; when household incomes were less water filtration plants, sewage likely to have taken preparedtreatment plants and other criti- ness measures and indicated an cal infrastructure were destroyed; increased need for help in an when the National Guard had to evacuation. be deployed to evacuate trapped Individuals with lower houseelderly and infirmed people in hold incomes were less likely nursing homes; when communi- to have taken preparedness meacation networks became inoper- sures over the past six months, able, including the Federal Emer- and they were more likely to cite
cost as a barrier to preparing than supplies as an incentive for New were those with higher incomes. Yorker residents and business In facing these challenges and owners to better prepare themadvancing solutions, I have intro- selves for natural or man-made duced a package of seven pro- disasters. posed laws that position New • Establishing the Community York to be better prepared, more Disaster Relief and Recovery Act resilient and able of 2022, which to quickly prowill create an vide relief and emergency recovery assisassistance protance to impactgram for undocTHE FUTURE OF ed communities, umented indiOUR CIVIL SOCIETY families and viduals impactDEPENDS ON US ALL businesses. ed by natural DILIGENTLY WORKING My seven prodisasters who TOGETHER. WE CANNOT posed solutions otherwise would WAIT TO TAKE ACTION include: be eligible for ON THESE REAL AND • Establishfederal disaster PENDING THREATS. ing a temporary assistance. commission on • Requiring rising oceans to health insurance review the threat policies and to coastal communities in New contracts that provide coverage York State, and require recom- for prescription medications to mendations on how to provide for include coverage of an immediate and strengthen flood insurance additional thirty-day supply of programs and improve disaster those medications during a state preparedness and resiliency for disaster emergency. weather-related incidents. As we face immense challenges • Establishing alternative forms in preparing our society for the of identification that can be used projected destructive forces of for the purpose of purchasing nature due to global warming, we renters’ insurance to help all those are not helpless in taking action impacted by a natural or man- to mitigate the impact and ensure made disasters, thereby reduc- the safety of our communities, ing the strain on local and state families and businesses. governments when addressing the The future of our civil society cost of recovery for damage cre- depends on us all diligently workated by such disasters. ing together on the issues high• Establishing business and lighted above. We cannot wait homeowner natural disaster pre- to take action on these real and paredness, home safety and loss pending threats. All the proposals prevention courses that upon outlined must be prioritized in the completion will allow for lower 2022 Legislative Session. property and casualty insurance I stand ready to take on this rates for businesses and home- fight and, with the support of our owners. civic and business leaders, hope • Requiring a study of and rec- that we will make these proposals ommendations for the establish- into actual realities. ment of microgrids to help protect vital public health and safety operations and infrastructure like Catalina Cruz represents the 39th hospitals, nursing homes and District in the state Assembly, water treatment facilities in the which includes the neighborevent of major disruption to the hoods of Corona, Elmhurst and power grid. Jackson Heights. It is the most • Creating a tax-free holiday diverse district in the nation. for the purchase of emergency
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS we are confident that Evie will be the right in political science in the midst of the pandemic. Hantzopoulos to lead year, person to lead our organization into this exciting He interned with Congresswoman Grace Meng new era.” in Washington, D.C., during his time at BingBotanical Garden In fall 2022, QBG will begin construction on hamton, and would later go on to work for the Evie Hantzopoulos took over as executive director of the Queens Botanical Garden, succeeding Susan Lacerte, who retired in September 2021 following a 27-year tenure in the position. “Queens Botanical Garden is such a unique and special place,” said Hantzopoulos. “Now more than ever, access to public, open space is essential to our wellbeing.” Her appointment comes at an exciting chapter in the garden’s history, as the 39-acre oasis in Flushing prepares to break ground on its new state-of-theart Education Center this year. HANTZOPOULOS Hantzopoulos is an award-winning educator and nonprofit leader with extensive experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, fundraising, and program development. Until recently, she served for 11 years as executive director of Global Kids, Inc., a nonprofit organization that develops youth leaders through global education and leadership development programs. During her tenure, she led the organization to unprecedented programmatic and financial growth, expanding its programs to Washington D.C. and Houston, growing the organization’s budget from $3.6 million to $7.6 million, and receiving the Non-Profit New York Excellence in Overall Management Award in 2020. Prior to this role, Hantzopoulos served as the Global Kids director of Programs for 14 years, overseeing the development, supervision, and expansion of programs in New York City, as well as professional development programs for teachers and youth workers nationally and internationally. An Astoria resident since 1999, Hantzopoulos is actively involved in community affairs and serves on Community Board 1. She co-founded Frontline Foods Queens in March 2020, which has provided over 60,000 meals from local restaurants to frontline hospital workers, food pantries, and NYCHA residents across Queens. She is also a founding member of Astoria Mutual Aid Network, Astoria Urban Ecology Alliance, and the 31st Avenue Open Street. “Evie’s proven leadership and commitment to Queens are the perfect fit for our Garden,” said board chair Raymond Jasen. “As we prepare to break ground on our Education Center later this
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its new Education Center. It will feature innovative design, four classrooms, teaching kitchen, education solarium, green roof, and space for indoor and outdoor programming. It is scheduled to open in late 2024. “The Garden is an exceptional place and the new Education Center is a game changer,” said Hantzopoulos. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Slade, Greenberg join Pheffer Amato team Gregory Slade will serve as Legislative Director for the office of Assemblywoman Stacey Pheffer Amato. Slade, a native of New York, has previous work experience in the Assembly and is credited with being the driving force behind several major and impactful pieces of legislation that have been signed into law. “It is an outstanding honor and a privilege to join the Assemblywoman and this team,” said Slade. “We have some amazing work in store and I look forward to delivering for the people of this disSLADE trict, for Queens and our great State.” Prior to his work in the state legislature, Slade lived in the United Kingdom working and earning his master’s degree. For years he had played a role in city government and previously worked in the nonprofit world at a national and international level. Meanwhile, Jason Greenberg will serve as Constituent Liaison and Scheduler in the assemblywoman’s office. Greenberg is a lifelong resident of Queens and has experience in the public sector across all levels of government. “The assemblywoman has done fantastic work for the people of Southern Queens,” said Greenberg. “I love Queens and have always wanted to focus GREENBERG on serving the people of this fine borough.” Greenberg graduated from Binghamton University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree
congresswoman’s re-election campaign.
Taylor to take over at Hour Children Hour Children, a leading provider of services for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children in New York State, announced today that founder and Executive Director Sister Tesa Fitzgerald has stepped down from her leadership position after 30 years. Dr. Alethea Taylor, who formerly served as a distinguished doctoral lecturer with Hunter College School of Education and as the executive director of Greenhope Services for Women, will succeed her as executive director. Sister Tesa established the Long Island CityTAYLOR based nonprofit in 1992 and remained at its helm for the last three decades. “I welcome Alethea with an open heart and the utmost support as she assumes leadership of Hour Children,” said Sister Tesa, who was CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 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 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
NONPROFIT NEWS
FOR FOSTER KIDS, SUPPORT IS EVERYTHING
MANY PITCH IN TO MAKE HOLIDAY SEASON ONE TO REMEMBER Forestdale Inc., a foster care and human services agency based in Forest Hills, makes a point of providing a joyful holiday experience for all of the children we work with. Many of these children have known significant trauma during their young lives, impacting their emotional well-being, physical development, and future prospects. A simple holiday celebration can work wonders, mitigating the longterm impact of some negative childhood experiences. These past 24 months have been extremely challenging for everyone. In response to the pandemic, Forestdale adapted all client services to continue remotely. In December 2020 and 2021, we had to forego our usual indoor party with 600-plus people and have the celebration outside on our campus. So instead of a traditional party, small family groups moved through a “Winter Wonderland” complete with activities, warm beverages, snacks, and information about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas. As a finale, each child received a gift. As a nonprofit, Forestdale relies on the kindness of supporters, including individuals, foundations, community groups, corporations, and other nonprofits, to make these annual celebrations happen. Otherwise, the expenses related to them would divert funds away from essential programming. Forestdale board members rallied their friends and colleagues, and got the Pinnacle Building in Forest Hills and the School of the Blessed Sacrament in Manhattan to purchase and donate hundreds of gifts. The Good+ Foundation, a longstanding donor of diapers, coats, and infant formula to Forestdale, awarded Forestdale $20,000 to pay for over 600 presents and warm winter wear for our Strong Mothers, Strong Fathers, and Preventive services clients. In addition, “Tote”-ally Loved, a
small Queen-based nonprofit, generously supplied tote bags filled with self-care items for the young women in the Strong Mothers program. Forestdale offers a myriad of resources and experiences to help the families we serve move beyond trauma and towards a thriving future. We provide evidence-based services, clinical interventions, life coaching, parenting support, youth internships, and more. In addition, we have supply drives throughout the year that help provide material goods and experiences for children in foster care. But sometimes, what a child really needs is a winter coat, warm meal, and a brandnew toy they can call their own, or a staff member or donor willing to go the extra mile to ensure they have what they require to flourish. It might sound simplistic, but these experiences can help a child who has gone through adversity heal over time. If you wish to find out more about Forestdale’s work and how you can get involved throughout the year, either individually or with your company, find us on Facebook or visit forestdaleinc.org.
Children served by Forestdale with their holiday gifts.
PROMOTIONS & APPOINTMENTS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 honored by the White House as a Champion of Change in 2013. “It is a sacred and honored role to be of service to Hour families and to grow Hour programs inside prisons and in the community.” Dr. Taylor brings over 20 years of experience serving incarcerated or formerly incarcerated women. She is a member of The Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform and serves as a consultant with the New York Women’s Foundation
on its Justice Fund Initiative. A graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Dr. Taylor holds a doctorate in Rehabilitation Counseling, as well as a master’s degree from New York University in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. She is a certified Rehabilitation Counselor. “The mission that Sister Tesa started is phenomenal,” said Dr. Taylor. “We will continue to help advance the fight to end the mass incarceration of women. The mission has not changed, the commitment has not changed,
but we still have much work to do.” Hour Children helps hundreds of women and children each year, including through their onsite presence at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, Taconic Correctional Facility, and Rikers Island Correctional Facility. “Sister Tesa’s passion and dedication to this cause is equal parts inspiring and commendable, and we’re excited to continue and expand her work as Dr. Taylor steps in to lead, build and move this organization forward,” said board chair M. Jane Stanicki.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
A ‘SLICE’ OF QUEENS
SAMPLING THE SLICES OF SUNNYSIDE
BY ROBERT INTELISANO
could walk past and miss, they do almost strictly takeout as there The idea for the crawl started are only five seats in the cramped a few months ago at the Queens space. Chamber of Commerce networkSunnyside Pizza features an ing event at Shi, upside-down the Asian fusion Margherita style SUNNYSIDE PIZZA restaurant in Long with the tomatoes 40-01 Queens Boulevard Island City. above the cheese. sunnyside-pizza.com I ran into The sesame seed my friend John crust was crispy PHILOMENA’S 41-16 Queens Boulevard Renda, and I casuand crunchy, and philomenasqueens.com ally mentioned there were thinly that I had accepted sliced tomatoes SOTTO LE STELLE Tom Grech’s offer combined with 44-07 Queens Boulevard to write a monthsauce on top. sottolestelleny.com ly column dediSunnyside Pizza cated to Queens is owned by secpizza for This Is ond-generation Queensborough. Italian Americans who have expeRenda, who is a financial plan- rienced pizza in Naples, Rome, ner for Edward Jones in the Fresh and Florence. As per their website, Meadows office, had a big smile on “food has the power to connect his face. Who knew that his pas- people, unite cultures, and enrich sion for pizza matches mine? our daily lives.” He suggested Sunnyside Pizza Next, we walked to nearby Philo(ranked #13 in Queens by Four mena’s Pizza. Unlike many pizzeSquare), and since there are two rias, owner Dave Acocella creates other very good pizzerias within the pies himself. David, who is 75 a four-block radius - Philomena percent Neapolitan and 25 percent and Sotto Le Stelle - the crawl was Sicilian, first learned how to make hatched. square slices as a child with his In general, pizza is a person- mother. al preference, sweet vs. savory He has an impressive pizza and thin vs. background. thick dough For years, he and crust. We was a chef at decided to Da Silvano in focus on the Manhattan. Margherita When Da Silpizza, so we vano decided could compare to install a the three pizpizza oven, zerias. Dave honed We started his skills makour journey ing $100 trufat Sunnyside fle burrata pies Pizza, which for the rich and is known for famous. their sesame His Da Silvaseed crust. no experience About 150 feet was followed from the 40th Philomena’s Pizza Margherita and by apprenticestreet 7 train Pepperoni personal pies. ships at New stop, SunnyYork pizza side Pizza had guru Paulie been closed for two weeks because Gees and Neapolitan master Gino of a gas leak. A tiny storefront you Sorbillo. His dream of owning his
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Robert Intelisano and John Renda at Sotto Le Stelle
own pizzeria in his hometown of Sunnyside came to fruition in 2018. A workaholic, he wanted to be close to his family “and the dough.” Philomena’s, named after one of his twin daughters, features personal pies with a very thin crunchy crust and the right ratio of sauce and cheese. Within minutes of speaking with Dave, this passionate pizzaiolo made us feel like family. We arrived at their 4 p.m. opening time and Dave opened the door for us as we walked in. One of his secrets is to let the dough ferment for “three days but no more than five.” He also adds a little baker’s yeast to the dough. We really enjoyed the Philomena’s Margherita pie. There is a small phrase under the sign that reads “Made with Love,” which was clear after our Philomena experience. Our final stop was Sotto Le Stelle (Italian for “under the stars”). Sotto is a result of a partnership among Valerio, a restauranteur from
Milan, Gina, a restauranteur from Cisternino, a small village in Puglia, Italy, and Manuel De Gregorio from Naples. In 2017, the owners of Sunnyside-based Italian restaurant Sole Luna decided to open a high-end pizzeria a few blocks away. Sotto Le Stelle features wood-fired personal pies and panini made by owner Manuel De Gregorio in an oven imported from Italy. Their dough rises for 48 hours, which creates a thin and light crust. Sotto Le Stelle has a full bar and 30 indoor seats. They were packed at 6:15 p.m. on the Monday night we were there. We had their Margherita and Soppresatta pies, which were both very good. Queens is full of quality authentic Italian pizzerias, many of which opened recently. Stay tuned next month as I review another “Slice of Queens.” Email Rob@InsuranceDoctor.us to share your favorite Queens pizzeria and slice.
February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
TECH SPOTLIGHT This week’s featured tech entrepreneur is Adam Haber of Trellus, which serves as a marketplace and delivery service for small businesses. Tell us about Trellus and how you got your start? Trellus is an on-demand, same day delivery company and marketplace, helping small local businesses in Queens and Long Island save time and money. Our community is home to so many great small businesses that have been here for generations. Unfortunately, many of these businesses have struggled to retain customers as shopping online has become more and more popular. One in every $5 is spent on e-commerce, and we saw a huge
void here. No one was servicing local businesses, who were losing customers to big box stores that could offer same-day delivery on online purchases. Small businesses needed a fast, reliable local delivery option. Today, we have over 150 independently owned or franchised small businesses or home-based businesses on our platform. We don’t handle restaurants or chain stores. Our model is helping independent businesses survive and thrive so they can continue to serve our neighborhoods and towns. How have you been working to support your local community during these challenging times? While we had the idea for Trellus a few years ago, we launched during the pandemic. This was a case of
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being in the right place at the right time. People weren’t leaving their homes to shop at brick-and-mortar stores, so e-commerce became even more vital for businesses. Throughout the pandemic, Trellus has helped small businesses on our platform remain viable when so many neighborhood institutions have closed their doors to customers for good. We understand how important small businesses are to our local economy, and we want to make sure they can continue to serve our communities for years to come. It has been amazing to see the ability of businesses to adapt in the most difficult circumstances. Having small businesses owners come to us and express gratitude for what we’ve been able to do for them has been incredibly rewarding. Why are you excited about the future of tech in Queens? Queens is the center of the universe and the most diverse community
in the country. The talent pool is amazing. We have great colleges and universities. It is a transportation hub that connects not only to Long Island and the rest of the metropolitan area, but to the entire world. We have a Chamber of Commerce that is engaging in important outreach and providing valuable resources for tech businesses. All the ingredients are here to make a great cake. And that cake is tech. To learn more, visit bytrellus.com.
THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS& EVENTS
CHAMBER GETS INSIDER’S VIEW FROM RPA BY JESSICA MEDITZ As Regional Plan Association (RPA) celebrates its centennial year, a variation of one of their proposals to connect Queens and Brooklyn via rail is finally gaining some traction thanks to the recent support of Governor Kathy Hochul. The Queens Chamber of Commerce recently hosted a webinar with Maulin Mehta and Kate Slevin of RPA, who shared an insider’s view of the Interborough Express, which would use existing freight rail lines to connect neighborhoods from Jackson Heights to Bay Ridge. Since 1929, RPA has released four regional plans, which have contributed to some of the region’s most notable infrastructural solutions. Their 2017 regional plan largely focuses on improving transportation, especially for commuters in the outer boroughs. “The subway system was designed primarily to get people in and out of Manhattan, and it’s been a challenge,” said Slevin. “So we really try to push for investments that benefit the regional centers, because we know Manhattan can’t do it all itself.” She cited potential job growth, quicker commute times and more accessibility among the reasons why the Interborough Express would benefit Brooklyn and Queens residents. “We saw these centers as hubs for job growth and economic growth, and transit projects are a cornerstone to allow this vision to play out,” said Slevin. “So many more people in New York are actually close to a bus system, but they don’t use it because the buses are so slow.” She said that ambitious plans to get more protected bus lanes will not solve everything, and that stronger inter-borough transit connections are necessary. The proposed 24-mile Interborough Express would use existing tracks to connect 17 subway lines, four commuter rail lines and dozens of bus lines. It would extend from Jackson Heights to Bay Ridge in
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Maulin Mehta and Kate Slevin discuss the Interborough Express during a webinar hosted by the Chamber. Brooklyn and could serve as many as 100,000 riders per day. The original RPA proposal called for extending the line all the way to the Bronx, but the plan put forth by the governor would terminate in Jackson Heights. Mehta said the group was excited when the MTA announced they would fund a feasibility study, getting the proposal one step closer to reality. “With increased job growth and population growth in the outer boroughs, there was really a need to rethink how our transit system operates,” said Mehta. “And now here we are, the governor, MTA, and so many other leaders are aligned in a
vision to move a part of the division forward.” Mehta emphasized that the line would largely service low-income and communities of color. He noted that such an advancement would allow for the city to grow and entice more people to live and work in the neighborhoods served by the line. Because of that growth, part of RPA’s plan looked at ways to expand and mingle freight service with passenger service, since freight traffic is so limited. “We’ve seen during the pandemic a tremendous need to get goods moving efficiently,” said Mehta. “Increasing freight service would continue to get trucks off the road
and meet some of our climate change goals. “The good news is that around the world, this has been done,” he added. “So there is a possibility to continue to grow freight and passenger service so that everyone is served.” RPA speculates that the environmental review the MTA needs to undertake could be completed soon and some of the project could be funded as part of the agency’s 20252029 capital program. “If funding gets lined up, the study goes well and it gets included in the capital plan, there is a chance that we could see this by the end of the decade,” said Mehta.
Concept artwork showing a street-level view of the Conventional Rail alternative at a possible Roosevelt Avenue station in Queens. (Rendering courtesy of MTA)
February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
COVER STORY
ADAMS VOWS HOLISTIC APPROACH TO GOVERNING BY SHANE MILLER Before she was elected to represent the people of District 28 in Southeast Queens, Adrienne Adams had never stepped foot in the City Council chambers. Her first time inside was her first day on the job. “I remember it like it was yesterday, I was looking at a distance at Melissa Mark-Viverito, who was the speaker when I came in,” Adams recalled. “I was looking at her face, and all of a sudden I looked up and got a chill and my spirit just said, ‘you’re home.’” That was in 2017. Fast-forward to 2022 and Adams doesn’t just serve in the City Council, she leads it as the first African-American woman to serve as Speaker and the first from Queens since Peter Vallone, Sr. She says the possibility of running for speaker herself came quickly into her first term. MarkViverito’s term was coming to an end and her vote was being courted by colleagues looking to replace her, a process Adams would become alltoo-familiar with last December. “I was getting to know these candidates and they were all men, about six men running, and I remember thinking, ‘wow, there are no women running for speaker,’” Adams told This Is Queensborough during a recent interview at the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center in Jamaica. “What’s wrong with this picture?” At the time, there were only 11 women serving in the City Council. Today, 31 of the 51 members are women. That is more then double the number of women that served in the City Council before the November election, and gives women the majority for the first time in the council’s history. Adams believes women govern differently than men, and says under her leadership the City Council will have a more holistic approach to serving the people of the five boroughs. “There is a majority of women in New York City, and we represent that,” Adams said. “We are going
to bring a prioritization of family, education, health care, and senior care.”
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dams grew up in Hollis and attended Bayside High School with, of all people, Mayor Eric Adams. But a life of community service wasn’t always on her mind. Instead, she found herself in the world of corporate America, but after a brief stint with Goldman Sachs decided she needed a change. “I told my husband, ‘I’m done with corporate America,’” she said. “My husband said ‘just spread your wings.’” Adams is still active in Alpha Kappa Alpha, the same sorority that counts Vice President Kamala Harris among its members. Their mission statement stresses community service, and one of her sorority sisters, who happened to be chair of Community Board 12, invited her to a meeting. “I said, ‘community board, what’s that?’” Adams recalled. “So I went to a community board meeting and I was hooked. Absolutely hooked.” She was quickly appointed chair of the Education Committee and saw firsthand the inequity in three different school districts. Rather than take a passive role on the board, she became a vocal advocate for improving the quality of education in Southeast Queens. “That’s where everything really took off for me,” Adams said. “The spark was lit and the fire just rose up in me. I said ‘we have to do something.’ I had to be a voice.” Her life in public service would continue to expand. Adams was appointed to the Jamaica Downtown Revitalization Initiative by thengovernor Andrew Cuomo, and she is former co-chair of the Jamaica NOW Leadership Council, a diverse group of stakeholders who provide oversight of the revitalization and economic development of the downtown Jamaica core. “That was about reviving arts and culture and small businesses that had been ignored for a long time, as well as reinforcing our BID’s,” Adams
Councilwoman Adrienne Adams on the floor of the City Council on the day she was elected speaker. (Photo: City Council) said of her time with Jamaica NOW. “We got a lot of that done. “There’s still a lot to do,” she added. “The pandemic stifled a lot of the businesses and the work that we started.” Adams said the experience opened her eyes to the inequities in the city, especially in the outer boroughs. She said growing up in the 70’s, Jamaica Avenue was a thriving retail strip where people from across the borough and city came to shop. By the time she was appointed by Cuomo, that had all disappeared. “We had to come back in 2000 and try to make that beautiful thing that should have never left us to begin with,” Adams said. “Again, it’s the inequity across the city, particularly in the outer boroughs that have been forgotten. I say this about a lot of things, but it should not have taken that long to put eyes on Downtown Jamaica.” Adams says she sees the same thing happening today, especially in the wake of the pandemic. She says people wonder why so many small businesses are still shuttered, when the simple answer is that they have been ignored and overlooked. She points to the Paycheck Protection Program that helped businesses
keep their workforce employed during the pandemic as an example. “It was the larger businesses who we knew didn’t need the millions who ended up getting the millions,” Adams said. “Some of them were even guilty enough to give it back. We have little mom-and-pop stores with the gate down that could have used a fraction of that to remain in business.” Adams said the city still needs the federal government to do their part to help the city recover from the pandemic, but said under her leadership the city will be proactive about addressing the concerns of small business owners. “We need more help, but this time we need to assess what it is that small businesses need to survive and thrive,” she said. “We need a better look at what’s going on with our small businesses. We need to cut through the bureaucracy and red tape.”
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dams spoke with TIQ on the same day President Joe Biden visited Queens. She was invited to take part in a photo-op with the president and other elected officials, but she said her busy CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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EXPERT ADVICE
PROTECTING AGAINST EXCHANGE FLUCTUATIONS
BY KRISTEN BURKE
As businesses in the United States struggle in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, they’ve had to mitigate risk, preserve cash, and implement strategies to protect themselves from turbulent economies, both domestic and foreign. Foreign currency exchange rates can fluctuate greatly due to factors like unemployment, civil unrest, trade deals and more, and these fluctuations can translate to unanticipated losses for your business. For example, if your business makes a deal to sell a product to a company in Germany for 50,000 Euros, and at the time of the deal, a Euro is worth approximately $1.10 U.S. dollars, your business would expect proceeds of $55,000. However, if the exchange rate drops by the time of delivery and payment to $1.04, you would only net $52,000. Ultimately that foreign exchange fluctuation would cost your business $3,000. And that’s just on one deal. Obviously, if the exchange rate goes up, your business could potentially benefit, but it’s a gamble. Fortunately, there are a number of strategies your organization can implement to reduce the risk of losing money due to fluctuations in foreign currencies. • Deal Only in U.S. Dollars. Perhaps the easiest strategy is to only invoice or pay in U.S. dollars, thereby removing any exchange or transactional risk. However, some foreign partners may charge you considerably more if they have to take on the exchange risk themselves. • Open a Foreign Currency Bank Account. Another option is called “matching,” where your business opens a foreign bank account and uses foreign currency payments to pay foreign suppliers. Again, this reduces the risks involved with the need to
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exchange funds. • Negotiate a Foreign Exchange Contract. A popular and effective hedging strategy is to use a foreign exchange contract, where your business and your foreign partner lock in an agreedupon exchange rate for a set date in the future. • Conduct a FX Swap. A foreign exchange swap (FX Swap) is appropriate if you need a foreign currency for a short term and then will need to trade back to your base currency. This involves two transactions: the purchase of one currency for another, and then, purchasing back your origi-
nal currency at an agreed upon point in the future via a foreign exchange contract. • Perform a Currency Swap. A foreign currency swap is an agreement between two parties to swap the principal and interest payments on a loan made in one currency, for payments of equal value in another currency. If your business is taking out a loan in a foreign country, this strategy may give you better interest rates. Bottom line: During these economically challenging times, strategies to minimize the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on a company’s operations could protect margins and reduce operational risk.
Kristen Burke is senior vice president and Commercial Banking Division head for Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island for Valley Bank. She can be reached at (516) 465-2359 or Kburke@valley.com.
STEPS TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS BY FAZEEDA ABDUR-RAHMAN PH.D., LCSW It’s a new year, which means for many of us we would like to embark on experiencing new and better things. We may think about how we can improve ourselves, our lifestyles, and our relationships with others in our lives.
BALANCE
As we think of goals we want to achieve in different areas, be it health, wealth, career advancements, or growth in other ways, it’s important that we take a holistic view of what we need for our betterment, as well as for the betterment of our relationships with others. As we plan ahead, an important theme I believe is balance. Whatever our goals may be, it’s important to keep them in proper perspective and consider how to achieve them in a way that allows for wellness mentally, emotionally, and physically, as well as spiritually. Deciding on our priorities and
balancing time put towards our goals according to our values can help align us in the right direction. Goal attainment is important, but not important enough to jeopardize health or relationships.
CONSISTENCY
As a mental health professional that focuses on supporting women, I often hear about the difficulties of goal attainment. Common goals for women are self-growth and weight loss. Women may start off on a strong path toward achieving their goals, but sometimes because of exhaustion or laziness, progress becomes less and less, or may even stop altogether. Starting off with big goals is an important early step towards goal attainment, but implementation is also important. No matter the specific goal, the best way to achieve them is through consistency. Consistency can be a big challenge for many of us, especially if we have no one to hold us accountable, so obtaining help to
Dr. Fazeeda Abdur-Rahman is owner of Vibrant Women Wellness Counseling (VWWC), a Christian-based mental health company located in Queens. She can be reached at drfazeeda.rahman@gmail.com or (718) 844-5390. Learn more at vibrantwoman.me. keep focused is important.
FOCUS
Figuring out how we can keep moving towards our goals can be the difference between success and failure. An important step is getting focused. One way to do this is by having an accountability person to CONTINUED ON PAGE 19
February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
EXPERT ADVICE
THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRE & LIFE SAFETY Whether you have a commercial, industrial, or residential building, prioritizing fire and life safety is very important. An all-encompassing fire and life safety scheme for your building may include fire suppression and alarm systems, alarm monitoring, and inspections and maintenance of your fire protection systems. There are two main reasons why fire and life safety systems are so important for your facility. The first is that they can save lives, and the second is that they protect property.
SAVING LIVES
Installing life safety and fire protection systems in your building and keeping them well maintained can save lives. As a building owner or property manager, protecting the people who occupy your property should be your most important priority. Providing a safe place to live, work, shop, or be entertained requires a fire and life safety scheme. Fire sprinkler and suppression systems are designed to control or suppress a fire to prevent it from growing to the point that it becomes deadly to people. Alarm and detection systems allow building occupants to safely escape a building during a fire. Voice communications
A technician from W&M inspects a fire protection system. systems can direct people on the course of action to take during an emergency. An alarm monitoring system can send the proper authorities to your location faster during an emergency, which can save lives. In New York City, the prevalence of high-rise buildings makes prioritizing fire and life safety even more important. If a fire occurs in a high-rise building, occupants on higher levels will need more time to safely escape the building. Having the proper fire and life safety measures in place will buy the critical time needed for occupants to escape safely.
PROTECTING PROPERTY
Gus Sebo is Inspections Account Manager with W&M Fire Protection Services. He can be reached at (866) 815-5885.
Fire protection systems can reduce damage to your building, expensive equipment, important documents, inventory, and other valuable or irreplaceable assets. By protecting your building, you could also be protecting homes or jobs that would be lost if your building was damaged. Often, fire sprinkler or suppression systems can contain fires to their area of origin, which limits damage to your property. Some fire
suppression systems can even suppress a fire in its incipient stage using a gaseous agent that causes no harm to electronics or documents.
CODE COMPLIANCE
Having the proper fire and life safety systems in your building and keeping them maintained is required by local codes and regulations. You could be hit with hefty fines if you violate the local fire code. It is
important that you have the required fire protection systems in place, and that you get your systems inspected regularly by a qualified fire protection provider. W&M Fire Protection is a full-service fire protection company offering fire sprinkler, suppression, and alarm and detection system design, installation, inspections, testing, and service. Since 1993, W&M has been providing fire and life safety services to NYC buildings.
ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18
discuss progress. Having an accountability partner can be a positive resource. Whether that person is a good friend, family member, or even a therapist, determining that person early on and enlisting her or his support can be very helpful. Here are some additional tips for focus to help you on your journey: • Create realistic goals and, make them as specific as you can with an intended time frame. • Create a vision board and keep it somewhere you will see it. Seeing images and words important to
you can be inspiring. • Connect with others who are working towards similar goals. You can provide each other with mutual support. • Keep motivation high by placing affirmations wherever you will see them most. It will help to keep you positive and hopeful Achieving goals is hard work, but it can be done. If you are in need of support as you work towards your goals and would like to connect with other women who are also working towards their goals, reach out to learn more about the services that Vibrant Women Wellness Counseling (VWWC) offers.
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February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEBRUARY 2/1, 2 TO 5 PM
QUICK BOOKS LEVEL 1 - PART 1
You’ll learn how to set up your company accounts, set up vendor and customer accounts, manage accounts receivable& accounts payable, pay bills, and make credit and debit card entries. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/2, 2 TO 5 PM
QUICK BOOKS LEVEL 1 - PART 2
You’ll learn how to set up your company accounts, set up vendor and customer accounts, manage accounts receivable& accounts payable, pay bills, and make credit and debit card entries. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/3, 2 PM
GET BEST PRACTICES FOR CREATING A YOUTUBE CHANNEL
In this complimentary workshop we’ll discuss best practices for understanding different video formats, how to set up a YouTube channel, and making good creative and how to target and measure the results. The guest speakers will be Grow With Google speaker Petia Abdur-Razzaaq. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/8, 11 AM TO 2 PM
COMMUNITY JOB FAIR
Whether looking to land a new job or switch careers, job seekers will have the opportunity to meet with employers from the Airport Industry, Hospitality, Health Providers and more companies being represented. The Harvest Room 90-40 160th Street Jamaica 2/9, 2 TO 5 PM
QUICK BOOKS LEVEL 2
You’ll learn about job casting and how to track reimbursements of expenses incurred by the company, running - and customizing reports, memorizing transactions and reports, online banking, and budgets for P&L. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/10, 10 AM TO 1 PM
COMMERCIAL LEASE ASSISTANCE LEGAL CLINIC
At this event, you will meet with the attorneys for free 1:1 consultation to discuss any issues related with your commercial lease. If you are
in the process of signing a new lease, attorneys can review your lease and advise you. This workshop is provided in partnership with Queens Chamber of Commerce. Your appointment will be for 30 minutes. Register at queenschamber.org Accompany Capital 78-27 37th Avenue Jackson Heights 2/11, 9:30 AM
TIME, STRESS & ANGER MANAGEMENT AT THE WORKPLACE
When you manage your time, you manage your stress; when you manage your stress, you manage your anger; and when you manage all three you have a more effective and productive workplace. Mismanagement of time, stress and anger not only hurts productivity but also put the health and safety of employees and customers at risk. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/15, 10 AM TO 1 PM
COMMERCIAL LEASE ASSISTANCE LEGAL CLINIC
cal assistance. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 2/23, 10 AM
BUSINESS RECOVERY IN WAKE OF COVID
THE
Learn about compliance to the COVID regulations, resources and assistance for your business’s financing and recruiting workforce, business recovery plan writing, and exploring new partners and new markets. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
MARCH 3/2, 11 AM
EMPOWER WOMEN SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
Learn about programs and assistance for women-owned businesses and learn about the Women-owned Small Business and Economic Disadvantaged Women-owned Small Business Certifications for government contracting. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
At this event, you will meet with the attorneys for free 1:1 consultation to discuss any issues related with your commercial lease. If you are in the process of signing a new lease, attorneys can review your lease and advise you. This workshop is provided in partnership with Queens Chamber of Commerce. Your appointment will be for 30 minutes. Register at queenschamber.org Accompany Capital 78-27 37th Avenue Jackson Heights
3/8, 6 TO 7:30 PM
2/16, 10 AM
This workshop will help you understand which interview questions are legal and appropriate and which questions cross the line and are illegal and inappropriate. We will explore how to phrase an appropriate question gathering the needed information from the applicant within the boundaries of the law. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
COFFEE, DOUGHNUTS, AND 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 2/16, 2 PM
WHERE’S THE MONEY? FINANCING YOUR SMALL BUSINESS IN 2022
Learn about various financing options, the crucial factors lenders use to evaluate applicants, and the steps you can take to position your business for financing. You will also learn about SBA loan programs offered by Accompany Capital, a CDFI that assists small businesses with lending, education and techni-
VIRTUAL JOB FAIR
Virtual job fair with The Allen Neighborhood Preservation and Development Corporation. The event is complimentary and open to the public. The Zoom link will be included in your registration confirmation. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 3/11, 9:30 AM
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: NAVIGATING THE FINE LINE
3/30, 3 PM
HOW SBA’S PROGRAMS HELP YOU START AND GROW
In this webinar, you will learn about SBA’s Lender Match, Readiness is All, financing programs, investment capital, disaster assistance and grants, business education/one-onone counseling, and government contracting assistance. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
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IT’S IN QUEENS
SHORTEST MONTH LONG ON EVENTS IN QUEENS
February is a unique month. It’s the year’s shortest, and the only one with a Leap Year addition. In the United States and Canada, it’s Black History Month. In Great Britain, it’s LGBT+ History Month. And all around the world, it features Valentine’s Day. In Queens, February 2022 features great live music and an entertaining musical. It also boasts a film festival, romance, tributes, and Betty White’s puppet personality. February 4-27, Cali: Sala Pal’ Mundo. A tremendous Colombian music-and-dance show with a multi-piece band, a gaggle of dancers, and special guest Anissa Gathers. Twelve shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 4 p.m. Thalía Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside February 5, Lunar New Year Celebration, noon. Welcome the Year of the Tiger with compost tours, winter scavenger hunt, zodiac animal library and storytime, lion dances, take-home crafts, and a community art project. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing February 6-18, Tribute to Peter Bogdanovich. The recently deceased Peter Bogdanovich left a robust legacy of more than 50 years of filmmaking, publishing, acting, and storytelling. This tribute showcases two of the director’s underappreciated works from the latter half of the 1970s. “Saint Jack” shows on February 6 at 5 p.m. and February 13 at 4 p.m. “At Long Last Love” screens on February 12 at 1 p.m. and February 18 at 3 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria’s Kaufman Arts District February 10-26, Man of La Mancha. This 1965 musical is inspired by the 17th century novel “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes. This time the protagonist, his manservant, and fellow prisoners await a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition. Hilarity ensues, along with some great music and wacky plot twists. Shows are on Thursdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m.
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Astoria Performing Arts Center, 44-02 23rd St., Long Island City February 11, Victor Manuelle: Concierto de Amor, 8 p.m. This multiple Grammy-winning Puerto Rican musician, who is known as “El Sonero de la Juventud,” presents a night of romantic Tropical music. Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Colden Auditorium, 153-49 Reeves Ave., Flushing February 12, Sweetheart Sunset Hike, 5 p.m. Jocelyn Perez is a naturalist, conservationist, and the Queens Chapter Coordinator of Herbalists Without Borders. She explains local flora during this walk. Participants are entered into a raffle to win three Valentine’s Day prizes. Alley Pond Environmental Center, 224-65 76th Ave., Oakland Gardens February 12-24, Black History Trilogy. Award-winning performers pay tribute to influential African American artists, entertainers, and musical traditions over three shows. “Third Stone from the Sun: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix” with Jimy Bleu is on Saturday, February 12, at 7 p.m. “The Black King of Vaudeville: Remembering Bert Williams in Song” with Larry Marshall is on Sunday, February 20, at 7 p.m. “The Power & The Glory:
THAT GOLDEN GIRLS SHOW!
Music of the Black Church” featuring Tina Fabrique is on Thursday, February 24, at 7 p.m. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing February 20, That Golden Girls Show!, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. This brand-new puppet show parodies classic Golden Girls moments.
Celebrate Betty White’s life and career with Sophia’s get-rich-quick schemes, Rose’s tales from St. Olaf, Blanche’s insatiable hunts for men and the Fountain of Youth, and Dorothy’s daily struggle to make sense of her life. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. South, Flushing Meadows Corona Park
has forged relationships with new clients over the past year and cultivated additional opportunities that are sure to increase future bookings. “Our mission is to raise funds to offset student costs while strengthening our engagement within the community.” To bolster their efforts, St. John’s held a three-day drive-in film festival in one of its parking lots in early 2020, an event that drew approximately 200 cars overall. The campus also made its outdoor space available to several brands for television commercials and photography shoots, including an ad for a new phone app on the school’s running track, a photo session for a sports apparel company on the soccer field and
a promotion for tennis equipment on the outdoor courts. St. John’s already has 30 indoor graduations booked on campus for this June. Several English language learning and academic summer programs are scheduled for 2022 as well. All participants will be required to show proof of vaccination For now, O’Hara said it’s a wait and see as to capacity restrictions on upcoming events. “We will be following the city, state and university guidelines when the time comes,” she said, “but we will continue to do whatever is required to provide our clients and community members with space so they can do what they do best.”
ST. JOHN’S CONFERENCE SERVICES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
us from meeting on campus,” and continued to meet our logistical needs when we were able to come back.” When members returned to St. John’s in November of 2020, they adhered to strict protocols, such as check-ins, pre-registrations and staggered attendance. “We were also able to fuse the school’s media with our own technology to livestream our services on our Youtube channel,” Bae said. Working with appropriate clients to successfully execute events at a time when choices were few has helped provide new revenue opportunities for the university. O’Hara said the school
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Donna Furey, Esq.
John Samaras, Esq. Associate
LAW OFFICES OF
DONNA FUREY ELDER LAW WILLS and TRUSTS ESTATE PLANNING MEDICAID PLANNING PROBATE ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES SPECIAL NEEDS REAL ESTATE Donna and John received their law degrees from St. John’s University School of Law. John is fluent in Greek.
LETS BEAUTIFY JAMAICA TOGETHER ZARA'S PHILANTHROPY Involvement on community boards richmond hill hs computer lab Voices of Jamaica features community events Fundraising
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Donna is currently the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Queens and was past President of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association, past President of the Astoria Kiwanis Club, past President of the East River Kiwanis Club, and past President of the Catholic Lawyers Guild of Queens. Co-Chair of the Elder Law Section of the Queens County Bar Assn. 2012-2019
Legal Proactive Care For Your Most Sensitive Life Planning Matters 44-14 Broadway, Astoria, New York 11103 Tel: 347-448-2549 Fax: 718-721-0851 E: dfurey@fureylaw.net Web: fureylaw.net
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QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 82ND STREET PARTNERSHIP
37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Executive Director: Leslie Ramos 718.335.9421 82ndstreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with
more than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The district is on 82nd Street from 37th Avenue to Baxter Avenue. The board meets quarterly with the annual meeting in June.
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
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Administration (SBA) micro lender that provides small and micro business owners in New York City with low-cost loans, access to business training & technical assistance, and oneon-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.
February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID
84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with
more than 350 businesses under its umbrella 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.
MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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 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
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.
a resource for over 2,000 businesses in the borough of Queens. Register online for upcoming virtual events, including:
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-
MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379 President: Salvatore Crifasi 718.894.8700 Sal@Crifasi.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35
businesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80th streets. 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
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
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 QUICK GLANCE: REMA 4 US, Inc. seeks to engage in economic development and revitalization in the Rockaway Peninsula. To strengthen
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NEW MEMBERS CORPORATE APC Specialist LLC 31-00 47th Avenue Long Island City, NY 11101 Janney Montgomery Scott 9201 Fourth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11209 janney.com KMN Builders, Inc. 52-46 69th Street Maspeth, NY 11377 kmnbuilders.com Liberty Ashes 94-02 150th Street Queens, NY 11435 libertyashes.com Nola Construction, Inc. 98-03 101 Avenue, Rear of Building Ozone Park, NY 11416 nolaconstructioninc.com NYEEQASC, LLC 45-64 Francis Lewis Boulevard #200 Bayside, NY 11361 SkyTrac Access Group, LLC 50-05 47th Avenue Woodside, NY 11377 skytracusa.com
SMALL BUSINESS PARTNERS Allstate - Chenz Agency 3092 51st Street Woodside, NY 11377 allstate.com Atria Kew Gardens Senior Living 117-01 84th Avenue Kew Gardens, NY 11418 atriaseniorliving.com Focus Eye Care and Surgery 8626 Queens Boulevard Elmhurst, NY 11373 focuseye.io Forest Park Trust Forest Park Trust One Forest Park Woodhaven, NY 11421 Kells 28-07 Jackson Avenue, 7th Floor Long Island City, NY 11101 getkells.com Kaizen Kaizen 3370 Farrington Street Flushing, NY 11354 Livingston Marketing & Communication 297 Kinderamack Road, Suite 147 Oradell, NJ 07649 livingstonA.com Make-A-Wish Metro New York & Western New York 500 Fifth Avenue, Suite 29
New York, NY 10110 wish.org/newyork Mizumi 231-10 Northern Boulevard Little Neck, NY 11362 mizumi.nyc M&J Commissary, Inc. M & J Commissary Inc. 47-38 34th Street Long Island City, NY 11101 Oasis Senior Advisors, Brooklyn 1153 Schenectady Avenue, 1st Floor Brooklyn, NY 11203 OasisSeniorAdvisor.com/Brooklyn Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT) 882 3rd Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11232 Passport Food & Beverages 8550 Forest Parkway, 5E Woodhaven, NY 11421 passportfb.com PC Collins Company, LLC 316 Santa Fe Court Hamilton, NJ 08619 pccollins.com The Passionist Missionaries 8645 Edgerton Boulevard Jamaica, NY 11432 thepassionist.org
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES our community revitalization programs and community development efforts in the Rockaway Peninsula REMA works alongside businesses, civic groups, government agencies, and nonprofit 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 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
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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.
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.
February 2022 • Volume 18 • Issue 2 EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE Thomas Santucci
Nash Roe
Thomas J. Grech
Brendan Leavy
Patricia Mezeul
Richard Dzwlewicz
Joanne M. Persad
Jacqueline Donado
Chairperson
Associate Treasurer
Treasurer
Associate Secretary
Patrick Yu 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 Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan Ali Chaudhry
Sal Crifasi Steven DeClara Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Charles Everett, Jr. Joseph R. Ficalora
Tamara Gavrielof Howard Graf Dr. Cameron Hernandez 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 Sher Sparano
Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan Mark Weprin Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner
CORPORATE MEMBERS 365 Data Centers A&L Cesspool Services Corp AARP Above All Pressure Cleaning Abrams Fensterman Ads Engineers, DPC Aeroterm Amna Construction Corp Antun’s of Queens Village Aora Development Approved General Contracting Inc., ARK Development LLC Aurora Contractors, Inc. Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service Bank of America BedRock Real Estate Partners, LLC Berkshire HathawayHomeservices
Laffey International Realty BJ’s Wholesale Club Blumenfeld Development Group, Ltd. Capital One Bank Carben Construction Inc. Carter Milchman and Frank CBRE CDS-Mestel Construction Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Champion Elevator Corp. Ciampa Organization Cine Magic LIC Studios, LLC Cipico Construction, Inc. CitizensRx CLEAR Secure, Inc. Combs & Company Complete Supply
Cord Meyer Development LLC Cornell Tech Cort CPower Energy Management Crann Integrated Solutions Crescent Properties, Inc Cross County Savings Bank Crown Castle Crystal Window & Door Systems, Ltd Dedline AV Direct Clean Service Solutions East Coast Energy Group Eastern American Technologies EDGE AUTO INC Emigrant Mortgage Company Enterprise Fleet Management EOS Electrical Corp EW Howell Construction Group First Central Savings Bank
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Leonard Jacobs Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning leonard@jcal.org Adrienne Whaley Queens Underground Black & Brown Film Festivals queensunderground718@gmail.com
BANKING & LAW
Paul Harrison Chase paul.harrison@chase.com Jackie Harounian Wisselman, Harounian & Associates jackie@lawjaw.com
COMMUNICATIONS Jake Oliver Anat Gerstein jake@anatgerstein.com Henry Ramos Dedline AV henry@dedlineav.com
HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS
Bert Lurch E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com Prabhleen S. Virk Citrin Cooperman pvirk@citrincooperman.com
ENERGY
Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com Jay Solly Sol Strategies jaypsolly@gmail.com
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION Bill Staniford bill@staniford.com
FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES Chad Callahan Plaza College cec4@plazacollege.edu Michael Shoule JW Hampton mikes@jwhampton.com
FOOD, BEVERAGE & 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 Azra Khalfan-Kermali Plaques by Azra azra@azra.com
NOT FOR PROFIT Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org Wendy Phaff Gennaro Queens Center for Progress wphaff@queenscp.com
REAL ESTATE
Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Kevin Louie RIPCO klouie@ripcony.com Michael Wang Project Queens michael@projectqueens.com
TECHNOLOGY
Sean C. O’Rourke Combs & Company sorourke@combsandco.com Fred Canone fc1281@gmail.com
TRANSPORTATION Marlon Taylor NY & Atlantic Railway mtaylor@anacostia.com Phil Jones LIME philip@li.me
FLUID MECHANIC’S CORP Forest Hills Financial Group, Inc. Gatsons Electric, Inc. Gil-Bar Industries, Inc. GOLDEN AGE HOME CARE INC goPuff Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association HANAC, Inc. HE2PD, Inc. Healthy Corner Pharmacy Heatherwood Communities Himmel + Meringoff Properties HNY Ferry, LLC Hydro Quebec IKEA Queens INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry INF Associates, LLC Innovo Property Group Instacart J Strategies, Inc J.W. Hampton Jr. & Co., Inc. James E Fitzgerald Jason Office Products JGM Construction Development Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc. Knights Collision Experts Inc. Krispy Kreme Laffey Real Estate Levine Builders Littler Mendelson, P.C. Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. M & T Bank Madison International Realty Madison Realty Capital McBride Consulting & Business Mega Contracting Group LLC Mesirow Financial Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade Molloy College Mondial Automotive Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp. My Benefit Advisor, LLC NBCUniversal New York + Atlantic Railway New York Crystal Cleaning New York Islanders Hockey Club New York Life Insurance Company New York State Energy Coalition, Inc. Nonprofit Sector Strategies, PBC Northwell Health Nuvo Solutions Onegroup Owareco, LLC Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates
PGA Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Popular Bank Priority 1 Security LLC ProCleanings Co QSIDE Federal Credit Union Queens College R.A.M.S. Mechanical Inc. Red Eye Group LLC REDI Group, LLC Reef Technology REIL Capital Related Retail Corporation Ripco Investment Sales RXR Realty Safety Facility Services Samaritan Daytop Village Securitech Group, Inc. Signature Bank SL Green Realty Corp. Solo Energy & Electrical, Inc. Solve Together LLC Spectrum Reach Squad Security Inc. St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s University Standard Group Starbucks Corporation Sterling Risk Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Sullivan Engineering LLC SUNation Solar Systems Target TGI Office Automation The Center for Musculoskeletal Disorders The First National Bank of Long Island TLC Virtual Resiliency Total Fire Protection Transmission Developers, Inc. TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp. United Airlines United Construction & Development Group Corp United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Vista LIC Hotel, Best Western Premier Collection W & M Fire Protection Services W. SCULLY, CPA, P.C. Waste Management of New York LLC Watch Guard 24/7 White Coffee Corp Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. York College - CUNY
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COVER STORY
ADAMS: ‘I WAS BORN TO DO THIS’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
schedule wouldn’t allow it. These days, the demands on her time have increased exponentially. Adams assumes the speakership at an interesting time. Not only do women make up a majority on the City Council, but thanks to term limits there was an influx of firsttime council members. She not only has to lead the City Council, but she also has to serve as a mentor for her new colleagues who look to her for guidance. “I welcome all of those conversations, I have them pretty much everyday,” she said. “The good thing is my colleagues welcome those conversations also, so they have been reaching out to the incumbent members to ask for advice. We want to see them succeed and see them thrive.” Adams said those conversation
have taught her their need are very similar to those of her own district and the neighborhoods of Jamaica, Rochdale Village, Richmond Hill, and South Ozone Park. As speaker, she is now responsible for seeing their needs are met, but also ensuring her colleagues realize the City Council needs to address the city as a whole. “It’s very organic and natural for a council member to prioritize their own district,” she said of the budget negotiation process. “But when we get behind those closed doors and see the whole layout, we see there are organizations across the board that need funding.” But for now, Adams is enjoying getting accustomed to the demands of her new post. Before she spoke with us, her daughter stopped by her house and was surprised to see her mother headed to a car waiting outside instead of in the home office
Speaker Adrienne Adams chats with medical director Dr. Ari Benjamin and Carla Crawley, administrative clerical manager, at the Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center. on a Zoom call. “I said, ‘you don’t know the life that your mother has right now,’”
MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS
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Adams said. “But I was born to do this. It’s a challenge, but it’s not work to me.”
February 2022 • Volume 18 • 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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