This Is Queensborough February 2018

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February 2018 . Volume 14 . Issue 2

KATZ’S GOALS DISCUSSES SOCCER STADIUM AT WILLETS POINT, JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT & MORE WITH QUEENSBOROUGH

PLUS: • QUEENS NATIVE TAKES OVER AT AMERICAN EXPRESS • ACCOUNTANTS OFFER ADVICE ON NEW TAX REGS

BOROUGH PRESIDENT MELINDA KATZ

Get incentives for energy upgrades, cultivate a space for innovation.

Connect with experts at ngrid.com/business That’s business on the grid.

NG_FAM_2102 // Queensborough Business Exchange // Suits Walking // NYC // Trim Area: 8.75" x 11.25" // No Bleed // CMYK // Pdf

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTING TRENDS FOR 2018 Updating and modifying your small business’s accounting practice gives you more time to spend working on your business. New, innovative trends allow you more useful ways to interact with your data and generate new insights about your business.

Here are the three new accounting trends for the coming year paired with analysis on what they mean for your small business.

1. Allow Automation to Reduce Your Paperwork

Much of the automation work in accounting revolves around “optical character recognition (OCR)” technology, which scans a physical document and spits out its contents in a digital format. For example, when you take a picture of your receipt, OCR processes the image, pulls the numbers and writing out, and generates structured data on the back end.

Two things are happening right now, making this automation even

more valuable: • The speed of OCR is accelerating. This means images scanned into your system can be converted into data faster, close to real-time.

• Use automation and programs to make recommendations, generate smart forecasts, and tease patterns out of complex data.

What it means for small businesses: Automation is great for compliance and is getting better at categorization. Xero, QuickBooks, and expense management software brands like Expensify have already begun implementing this.

2. Potential New Rates for Accounting Services

Everyone is benefiting from the time accounting and expense management software is freeing up.

With that free time, accountants are moving toward a consulting role.

Compliance used to be a huge part of your accountant’s day.

There were always things for your accountant to straighten out or put

in the right place, but as software data easier to consume and interact gets smarter, this type of work with. In 2018, we’ll see more builtlessens. in and standalone options for viewYour accountant can now spend ing your financial data. more time, for example, The strongest verrecommending investsions will allow you to ment strategies, helpuse visualization to play ing forecast expenses with forecasts and budand revenue, forecastgets. Quickbooks and ing cash flow crunches other accounting softand providing general ware are already putting business advice. this into practice.

What it means for What it means for small businesses: small businesses: BetExpect the change in ter visualization means focus to come with MAYRA DIRICO better decisions and a change in billless reliance on someCHAIRPERSON ing. Instead of being one else to tell you charged for filing your what’s working and taxes or a small, singular task, more what isn’t. Of all the trends listed accountants will charge a recurring here, visualization is the one most fee for acting as a consultant. likely to change the small business world. Giving people more certain3. Better Visual Representa- ty about their choices means they tions of Financial Data have a higher chance of getting it Well-visualized data helps busi- right. This decreases major misness owners make better decisions. takes and leads to fewer companies Small businesses are trying to make slowly sliding out of existence.

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO

HOW WILL FED TAX PLAN AFFECT SMALL BUSINESS? Both houses of Congress passed annual income between $9,525 and a final version of the Tax Cuts $38,700 will see a drop from 15 and Jobs Act on December 20. to 12 percent, and singles with an The act was based on the Trump annual income of over $500,000 administration’s plans presented will see a drop from 39.6 to 37 back on September percent.

27. Here is a sumThe only group mary and analysis that will not see of how it will affect lower income taxes your small business. under this plan In sum, the new tax would be the lowplan will cut income est-earning bracket tax rates and double of under $9,525 per the standard deducyear for single taxtion while reducing payers and under itemized deductions $19,050 for those and changing child, THOMAS J. GRECH filing jointly. Their elder care and busi- PRESIDENT & CEO income tax rate will ness taxes. The final stay at 10 percent. plan cuts the corpoSo, what does this rate tax rate from 35 to 21 percent mean for small business owners? It in 2018, and temporarily lowers the means the plan allows corporations income tax at nearly all levels. to deduct state and local taxes and For example, singles with an doubles estate tax exemptions, and

helps the 1 percent who pay them most of them get taxed differently while contributing about $17 bil- from big corporations. A good perlion in taxes. centage of small businesses are set The Alternative Minimum Tax up as what are known as “passwill remain, but through entiThe plan will benefit will now raise ties,” such as small business owners by par t ner s hi ps , the income encouraging investments limited liability bracket for those affected and allowing businesses to companies, or to those with sole proprietordeduct the cost of incomes over depreciable assets in one ships. $70,300 (as For most year versus amortizing single filers) or of those entithem over several years. ties, corporate $109,400 (as married/joint tax rates don’t filers). apply, and so the proposed reducThe plan will benefit small busi- tion in the corporate tax rate won’t ness owners by encouraging invest- give them any relief. ments and allowing businesses The Queens Chamber and our to deduct the cost of depreciable subject matter expert members assets in one year versus amortiz- are here to assist you in navigating them over several years. ing the new tax plan, so if you The biggest issue facing small have specific questions, please businesses involves the fact that contact us.

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QUEENS QUICKLY

United earns high marks for eco-commitment

United Airlines ranked number one among global carriers in Newsweek’s 2017 Global 500 Green Rankings. United placed 59th among 500 U.S. brands and 100th among 500 global brands.

Newsweek’s recognition of United’s green initiatives follows Air Transport World (ATW) magazine naming United the Eco-Airline of the Year for the company’s environmental leadership, innovation and action within the industry.

Air Transport World has twice named United the Eco-Airline of the Year since the carrier launched its industry-leading Eco-Skies program.

“We are proud to be recognized as a global leader for our environmental stewardship,” said Angela Foster-Rice, United’s managing director of environmental affairs and sustainability.

“We will continue to innovate, in the air and on the ground, as we strive to make United the most environmentally sustainable airline in the world.”

Several of United’s most-significant environmental achievements include: • Becoming the first U.S. airline to begin using commercial-scale volumes of sustainable aviation biofuel for regularly scheduled flights.

• Becoming the first U.S. airline to repurpose items from the carrier’s international premium cabin amenity kits, and partnering with Clean the World to donate hygiene products to those in critical need.

• Teaming up with Audubon International to protect raptors, including hawks, ospreys and owls, in and around New York-area airports and resettle the birds of prey at suitable golf course habitats.

• Becoming the first airline to fly with Boeing’s Split Scimitar winglets, which reduce fuel

consumption by up to 2 percent.

• Sourcing illy coffee’s internationally certified supply chain of farmers who earn abovemarket prices in exchange for meeting quality and sustainability standards for the finest coffee.

Jetro completes solar project at Maspeth facility

Ross Solar, a Con Edison Solutions company, has completed the last of four solar installations for Jetro Restaurant Depot, with the fourth installation occurring at Jetro’s Maspeth facility.

The combined size of the four solar installations, approximately 4.2 megawatts, makes Jetro the largest host for commercial rooftop solar in the Con Edison utility service territory.

The Maspeth installation alone is expected to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by more than 1.4 million pounds annually, representing the equivalent of 73,432 fewer gallons of gasoline used or more than 124 cars removed from the road.

The energy produced by the solar power is enough to provide more than 84 households with electricity for a year.

“Solar is an important component of our long term strategy, helping us to reduce operational expenses and remain competitive, while underscoring our commitment as a responsible corporate partner to grow renewable energy,” said Jetro COO Peter Claro.

Queens College named top teaching school

Queens College was named one of the top 20 best value colleges for teaching degrees on the Best Value Schools’ 2018 list and the most affordable overall. Queens College is the

highest-ranked school in the State of New York.

The ranking of the 50 best, most affordable colleges for teaching degrees in the U.S. focused on four-year, public and private (nonprofit) colleges and universities that offer multiple bachelor’s degrees in teaching.

Ranking factors included program popularity, breadth of programs, acceptance, graduation and retention rates, and net price. Queens College offers 97 registered programs that prepare teachers and other school professionals for New York State certification.

“We are thrilled to be recognized as one of the top value schools in the nation for students to earn teaching degrees, as well as being first in New York State,” said Queens College President Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We take great pride that more teachers and administrators in the New York City public school system graduated from Queens College than from any other school in New York.”

Owners worry about Queens Blvd. changes

As the Department of Transportation (DOT) moves forward with the next phase of its Queens Boulevard redesign project, the agency last week held a workshop to solicit public input at Borough Hall.

DOT will make changes to Queens Boulevard between Yellowstone Boulevard in Forest Hills and 80th Road in Kew Gardens.

Chief among the concerns was the loss of parking in the one-mile section due to new bike lanes. In the previous phase, many business owners in Rego Park said they’ve lost business due to the removal of nearly 200 parking spaces.

Marla Cornejo, owner of the popular Mexican restaurant 5 Burro Cafe on Austin Street, feared the same fate.

Cornejo urged DOT Queens Commissioner Nicole Garcia to visit shops in Rego Park and listen directly to owners about the decline in business since the bike lanes were installed.

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

Google rep gives tips to optimize your small business’ online presence .....20

Pros from CohnReznick, Cerini & Associates offer tax advice ..........8

Upcoming Queens Chamber of Commerce events .............................................23

COVER STORY: Borough president sits down with TIQ ...................12

Partners & Affiliates news and happenings ..........................................................25

CAP Solar helping nonprofits take advantage of the sun .....................14 Chamber, BQE Media host networking event at St. John’s .................16 NY1 anchor uses family history to tell story of emancipation ...........18 Borough’s local chambers hold first meeting at QCC HQ ..................19 4

PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez

MANAGING EDITOR Shane Miller

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

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

QUEENS QUICKLY “In five years, I will not renew my lease if that happens here because I won’t be able to afford to stay there,” she said. “I’m one of the better businesses there, and if I go it will be like a domino effect.”

Garcia said DOT wants to implement safety measures for pedestrians in the summer, but it depends on feedback from Community Board 6.

“I would put a big circle around Austin Street, and I would say that we’d look into all of the side streets,” Garcia said.

“I am so upset,” Cornejo said after Garcia walked away without giving a clear answer.

Steve Melnick, founder of the

Friends of MacDonald Park, added that “Austin Street needs to be considered in any plan. There are a lot of businesses.”

A DOT study found that an average of 196 people use bikes in the one-mile section daily in either direction. They said the number of cyclists will rise once the bike lanes are installed, like it did in Woodside, Elmhurst or Rego Park.

“We’ve seen very significant safety benefits during the first three portions of this project,” said DOT representative Nadine Chalmers said. “And although this project doesn’t have to look exactly like the other projects, we’d like to bring a lot of the things that we’ve learned.”

Kim leads Korean biz owners to Albany

Assemblyman Ron Kim hosted members of the Korean-American business community for a day of advocacy in Albany on January 30.

Citing a decline in small businesses across a diverse array of industries, representatives also met with assemblymen Ed Braunstein and Clyde Vanel, Assemblywoman Nily Rozic and State Senator Stavisky.

This is the second year that Kim has organized the event, and he cited the success of last year’s event as an impetus for him to continue the tradition.

“Elected officials have a responsibility to the people they represent, and advocacy days like this give them the opportunity to hear directly from constituents about how certain bills, policies, or regulations affect,” said Kim. This year’s lobby day was attended by representatives from the Korean American Chamber of Commerce, the Korean American Business Council of New York, the Murray Hill Merchants Association, the Korean American Dry Cleaners Association, and the Korean American Nail Salon Association.

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live 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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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS Neurology adds at Northwell Under the direction of Dr. Souhel Najjar, Northwell Health has become a top regional destination for neurological care.

Besides serving as the health system’s senior vice president and executive director of neurology and chair of neurology at Lenox Hill Hospital and Staten Island University Hospital, Najjar has NAJJAR been promoted to chair of neurology services at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) and Long Island Jewish Medical Center.

Northwell also added to its talent base by recently recruiting two neurologists affiliated with New York University.

Dr. Steven Pacia will serve as vice chair of neurology at NSUH, director PACIA of neurology for Northwell’s Eastern Region, and associate professor of neurology at the Zucker School of Medicine.

He served as chief of neurology at Lenox Hill and director of the hospital’s Epilepsy Center and EEG Lab from 2004 to 2015. He was previously an associate professor of neurology at the NYU School of Medicine and a principal investigaKUZNIECKY tor there since 1993, receiving numerous grants for his epilepsy research.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ruben

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Kuzniecky will serve as vice chair of academic affairs and director of clinical research programs within the department of neurology, and professor of neurology at the Zucker School of Medicine.

He previously co-directed the NYU Epilepsy Center while serving as a professor of neurology at the NYU School of Medicine and director of epilepsy research.

Kuzniecky began and furthered his career at the EEG Laboratory at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. He also has extensive experience in epilepsy research and been published widely.

Groysman joins QMA program Queens Medical Associates has announced Dr. Pavel Groysman will lead its new Adult Cancer Palliative and Supportive Care Program.

Groysman is board certified in Internal and Geriatric Medicine, and board eligible in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

“It is a privilege to join the dedicated staff at Queens Medical Associates, and I’m looking forward to sharing my expertise and passion for individualized supportive care with all of their patients,” he said.

Comprehensive palliative and supportive care that treats both a person’s emotional needs, as well as their medical symptoms, is a core component of high-quality patient-centered cancer care.

At Queens Medical Associates, Groysman will focus on creating a unique model of patient-centered supportive care, incorporating an integrative approach to effectively address the physical and emotional aspects of patients living with cancer to empower a more active role throughout their journey.

“Queens Medical Associates is dedicated to providing the best possible quality of life for patients, and their families, who are facing cancer diagnosis,” said Dr. Lihong Wei, oncologist/hematologist at Queens Medical Associates.

After completion of his pallia-

tive training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Groysman returned to NYU Winthrop Hospital, where he served as a founding faculty in creating a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

GROYSMAN His passion for taking care of patients with cancer also lead him to develop and grow an outpatient Supportive Oncology program. He is fluent in English, Russian and Ukrainian.

NJK now part of Century 21 New York NJK Professional Realty, under the leadership of Neal J. Khoorchand, has joined the Century 21 System and will now do business as Century 21 Professional Realty.

The company will continue to provide full-service real estate services to buyers, sellers and renters in Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island, and will now benefit from the world-class marketing, educational resources, and technology and productivity tools provided through its affiliation with the Century 21 brand.

Khoorchand has more than 20 years KHOORCHAND of experience in real estate and an excellent track record throughout the greater New York City area. He leads a team of 20 licensed realtors in his South Ozone Park office, providing real estate services for residential and commercial real estate.

“I knew I wanted to work with the globally recognized Century 21 brand,” said Khoorchand. “The decision to join the system was an easy one to make, and we’re excited to ring in the new year with the tools and resources to better serve our clients.”

Century 21 Professional Realty is heavily involved in the local community, partaking in various charity drives, holiday donations and participation in local houses of worship. With its new affiliation, Khoorchand and his team hope to get more involved in the community and truly become a household name.

“To have a company of go-getters giving 121 percent and delivering extraordinary experiences to such a thriving and competitive real estate market like New York City defines our people, not only in Queens but as a global iconic brand,” said Nick Bailey, CEO Century 21. “It’s great to see a passionate team successfully grow their business through highquality recommendations from previous clients.”

Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2018 by Queensborough. All letters sent to the QUEENSBOROUGH should be brief and are subject to condensation. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest.

Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of the QUEENSBOROUGH. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to the QUEENSBOROUGH within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication.

Schneps Communications assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads.

The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold the QUEENSBOROUGH and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.

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FEBRUARY FOCUS: ACCOUNTING

LOCAL ACCOUNTANTS BREAK DOWN NEW TAX LAWS

BY BENJAMIN FANG After all the hoopla about Washington’s attempts to rewrite the tax code, the new law is finally in effect. But what does it mean for local small and mid-sized businesses?

Tim McHale, an accountant and partner at Cerini & Associates, sees tax reform as a mixed bag. Some aspects may hurt small businesses, while others parts may actually help.

On the plus side, large businesses saw a drastic drop in their tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. That’s the largest one-time cut in the country’s history for corporations. The corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT) has been repealed.

“That was to bring money and investments back to the U.S.,” McHale said.

Most small businesses are organized as S-corporations, LLCs and sole proprietorships, which CohnReznick senior managers Richard Persaud and Yelena Belaks with partner Joel Boff. means they are subject to tax through the company owner’s fornia. Overall, accountants said I don’t think anything is simpler “So to the extent they can write individual taxes. McHale said the the new tax plan isn’t as bad as it in this.” everything off in year one, it cerfinal tax bill includes a 20 percent looks.

Yelena Belaks, a senior manager tainly helps their decision-makdeduction for these “passat CohnReznick, said busi- ing process and what they want through” businesses. nesses will benefit from an to invest into their business,” he Individual tax rates were JOEL BOFF increase to the “bonus depre- added. lowered, with the highest rate Partner ciation” allowance from 50 McHale said the new plan will going down from 39.6 per- CohnReznick percent and 40 percent in especially help people making cent to 37 percent. The tax 2017 and 2018, respective- $100,000 or less, such as young brackets also shifted. Indily, to 100 percent for assets people who don’t have high viduals making $500,000 or acquired and placed in ser- incomes. That’s because of the more will now be taxed at the “Some expect a yes or no answer, vice after September 27, doubling of the standard deduction, where there really is no yes 2017. highest percentage. the amount an individual or famor no answer yet, because we But it’s not all good news The 100 percent deduction ily can deduct from their income haven’t received the guidance for businesses. McHale said and we need to work through it.” is now allowed for both new before calculating taxes. the “major pain” is that and used qualifying propThe standard deduction went deductions on interests have erty, including office furni- up to $24,000 for joint filers and been capped to 30 percent. ture, computers, machinery, $12,000 for individuals.

Previously, that deduction equipment and qualified But it’s still too early to decide was unlimited. “That’s going improvements. what the actual effect of this new to hurt people,” he said.

“That’s fantastic for busi- tax plan will be because “a lot The other change that may nesses,” Boff said. “If you of things have to play out first,” hurt the owners of small busithink about the businesses McHale said, adding there are some nesses is the limit of state and that are in the city, specifi- areas where clarification is needed. local tax deductions to $10,000.

“It is mostly taxpayer-friendly cally the outer-boroughs, there are For example, pass-through busiMcHale said he sees that alteration for businesses,” said Joel Boff, a lot of startups. They don’t neces- nesses will be entitled to take a as a hit on high-income states like a partner at CohnReznick. “It’s sarily have a lot of money to invest deduction of 20 percent of their New York, New Jersey and Cali- not necessarily tax simplification. in businesses. “qualified business income.” How-

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February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

FEBRUARY FOCUS: ACCOUNTING ever, there are several limitations. One of the limitations for service providers kicks in at $315,000 for married couples filing jointly, and the 20 percent deduction is completely phased out at $415,000.

However, what counts as service businesses?

McHale said doctors, lawyers and accountants will all be subject to the limitation. Boff said architects and engineers were carved out from being subject to this limitation, even though they are technically “service providers.”

Earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo floated the idea of a payroll tax to prevent New Yorkers from being burdened with the new tax law.

“It’s shifting the burden to businesses instead of the individual,” McHale said. “I think it’s a starting point of a negotiation.”

But McHale has some questions about that as well. Would that work for LLCs? How about people who are self-employed? He said it may take a few months for everything to settle.

Boff said he has also heard that some states are looking into converting real estate taxes into a charitable contribution, which is tax deductible. He called it a “unique idea,” but isn’t sure it will work.

Since Christmas week, McHale said he’s already fielded a lot of phone calls from clients

and other people concerned about the new law.

He assured them that the tax returns his company is working on now are under the old tax code.

He also advised everyone to consult tax professionals to answer further questions.

“People have to relax a little and let this play out,” McHale said. “It’s going to be a mess. In some cases, it will be the wild west out there.”

Boff and Belaks have also received a lot of questions from clients. Boff said it has been challenging but fun, and relayed the importance of managing clients’ expectations.

“Some expect a yes or no answer, where there really is no yes or no answer yet because we haven’t received the guidance and we need to work through it,” he said. “There are a lot of calculations to go behind whether you should stay the type of entity you are now or convert.”

Because the laws, regulations and technical corrections have not been written yet, the CohnReznick accountants said they’re trying to figure out the situation now with limited guidance from the government.

“The key takeaway is that individuals and business owners should reach out to their tax advisers,” Belaks said, “and they better have qualified tax advisers to guide them through this.”

}

“People have to relax a little and let this play out. It’s going to be a mess. In some cases, it’s going to be the wild west out there.”

TIM MCHALE CERINI & ASSOCIATES

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February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

BCNA LOANS SUPPORT IMMIGRANT BUSINESSES BCNA’s mission is to create pathways to self-sufficiency for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in New York City by empowering them with access to affordable credit, financial education, and training in best business practices and technology.

Since 1997, BCNA has supported immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs in New York City with over $19.2 million in loans.

BCNA is an approved Small Business Administration Intermediary Lender and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI).

BCNA’s Microloan Program is the cornerstone of its services.

They provide small business loans and microloans to business owners who are unable to obtain loans from traditional lenders.

Loans range from $500 to $50,000 with terms up to three years. To learn more, contact Tsher-

ing Gurung at (347) 730-6468 or tgurung@nybcna.org.

In addition to providing loans, their staff help clients create business plans, financial statements, and household budgets. They also offer credit counseling to help clients understand, improve, and repair their credit.

Workshops covering small business management, social media, credit building, home ownership, and other important topics are offered regularly.

BCNA has a diverse staff that speaks ten-plus languages and dialects, including English, Spanish, Hindi, Tibetan, Nepali, Bangla, Kannada, Russian, French, Creole and several West African dialects.

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KATZ LOOKS TO 2030 IN STATE OF THE BOROUGH

BY BENJAMIN FANG If everything goes according to plan for Borough President Melinda Katz, the future of New York City will be in Queens.

In her fourth State of the Borough address on January 26 at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, Katz offered a vision of Queens that accommodates a growing population, offers reliable public transportation and fosters a creative hub for the tech industry.

With hundreds of elected officials, community leaders and other dignitaries in the audience, the borough president, recently elected to a new term, reflected on her accomplishments in her first four years in office.

She touted the restoring of confidence in the Queens Library system, the ongoing revitalization of downtown Jamaica and recovery of waterfront communities from Superstorm Sandy. She highlighted an 8.8 percent increase in jobs since 2013, the opening of new ferry stops, and the success of universal pre-kindergarten.

In her first term, Katz said she allocated $300 million for capital projects in Queens. One-third went to public schools, universities and libraries. Another third went to parks for improvement projects. The final $100 million was allocated for upgrades at cultural institutions, hospitals, housing and firehouses.

Even the New York State Pavilion, one of Queens’s most iconic structures, received $16 million for restoration. That project is underway and will soon be “back from the dead,” Katz said.

“With all of these investments, what we’ve actually been doing in Queens is setting a road map and building the infrastructure for the future,” she said, “of where we want the borough to be by the beginning of the next generation, by at least 2030.”

Looking toward the future, Katz spotlighted concerns that will need to be addressed in her second term and beyond. One of the most pressing needs is school capacity, particularly in areas where the population has exploded in recent years.

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Fresh off election to a second term, Borough President Melinda Katz outlined her vision for Queens.

Queens has more than 283,000 students, Katz said, greater than the entire population of cities like Newark and Buffalo.

Elementary schools are at 116 percent capacity, and high schools are at 113 percent, she said. The most overcrowded high school in the city is Francis Lewis High School in Fresh Meadows, which has more than double the number of students than the school was originally built to serve.

On average, Queens schools exceed capacity by 8 percent. Katz said the borough also receives the least amount of funding per pupil among the five boroughs, something she will look to change.

The School Construction Authority (SCA) has already dedicated more than $1.9 billion to build an additional 18,632 seats in Queens by 2020.

“As we look to where we will be and where we want to be by 2030, it’s clear we need more,” Katz said. “And our families deserve more.”

Another area of focus is the growing technology sector in neighborhoods like Long Island City. With tens of thousands of housing units being built, Cornell Tech’s $2 billion campus on Roosevelt Island nearby and other educational institutions producing local talent, the waterfront community is on pace to become a hub of innovation and creativity.

Despite the potential, Queens has only seen 10 percent job growth in the tech sector, compared to 28 percent growth citywide. Eighteen months ago, the borough president commissioned the “Western Queens Strategic Tech Plan” to create a road map to foster “equitable growth” and close that gap.

“By leveraging Western Queens’ ample space for growth and its projected development, and by working closely with great partners for our future like EDC, we are steering our borough into the competitive lane of the digital age,” she said.

Ahead of the 2020 U.S. Census, Katz said she will also convene a new committee to maximize the borough’s participation in the count. At stake, she said, are federal resources for infrastructure, health services, schools and government representation.

“If we want our fair share, we can’t afford to just be reactive,” she said. “We must be proactive, and we must be counted.”

By 2030, Katz said she hopes to end homelessness among veteran, provide health care for every veteran, set aside a portion of public housing units specifically for grandparents, and launch a branded tourism campaign for Queens.

She also joked that she would also want the New York Mets to win their sixth World Series by 2030.

Though those accomplishments may just be a pipe dream, Katz said there are many realistic goals the borough could achieve by then, including ridding schools of classroom trailers, offering 3-K for every child, and expanding or even opening new library branches.

On transportation, Katz said Queens will reactivate the former Lower Montauk line for commuter rail, complete the overhaul of LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports, and even create a continuous, protected bike lane throughout Queens as part of a borough-wide bike plan.

She also envisions a fully-developed Willets Point that is home to tens of thousands units of 100 percent affordable housing funded by a new soccer stadium that will eventually host the 2034 World Cup. Nearby would be a transit hub that connects passengers to the 7 train, LIRR and an AirTrain to LaGuardia.

One of the questions that will remain is Sunnyside Yards, where Katz predicted that officials will “still be talking about it” by 2030.

“With a shared vision – our vision – New York’s greatest potential, opportunities and future are all here,” Katz said. “And in 2030, when I’m 64, we’ll be able to look back fondly to today and how, together, we build our tomorrow.”

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

KATZ ONE-ON-ONE WITH QUEENSBOROUGH MAG Just days after delivering her State of the Borough address, Borough President Melinda Katz sat down with This Is Queensborough to discuss the state of economic development in the borough and what the future holds for the Queens business community in the coming year.

TIQ: What are some of the economic development projects in Queens that you are especially excited about?

KATZ: We have a lot of different economic development projects going on now. The investment in downtown Jamaica is about $153 million from the city and about $10 million from the state, but there is about a $2 billion investment of infrastructure on the sewer system.

Every time it rains, Jamaica is under water.

So I think the Jamaica NOW plan is coming to fruition. We have a bunch of affordable housing projects that are going up, we have hotels that want to come in, so I think it is a successful plan.

The Jamaica leadership team has taken a really great role in guiding the future of Jamaica. We have $250,000 investment from NYC & Company for marketing, so I’m very proud of that investment.

And clearly you have Long Island City going up organically and in droves. We put all of the stakeholders, like tenants and owners and community boards and the city, at the table for the Long Island City strategic plan that is going to be out soon.

We want to really figure out how Long Island City can be a western hub and the next big tech neighborhood while still keeping the community and investing capital dollars in the schools and building Hunters Point Library. So those are big projects that are happening now and it’s exciting.

TIQ: You mentioned in your State of the Borough speech that the job growth in the tech industry isn’t as robust as other sectors in Queens, why do you think that is?

KATZ: I think we’re trying to resolve that now to make sure that our folks are trained, and we are able to graduate our people from

high school to go into college tech ready. So we’re working on it, and I think the city has an interest to making sure that we keep up.

At the same time, we have Cornell Tech going up right across the river from us, and the only access to Cornell Tech by car is from Queens. We would love it if people who graduated from there came and stayed and made their homes in Long Island City and east of there.

TIQ: Are there any neighborhoods in Queens that you think are on the verge of a real economic boom?

KATZ: I think the Rockaways are poised to take a step forward. The permanent ferry has been key in bringing people to the Rockaways.

The fact is that last summer too many people were taking the ferry and the city had to add another boat there, which we told them they would have to do.

But with the permanency of a transportation system that isn’t just the A train, the land out there becomes more attractive for businesses to develop. And I don’t mean just apartment buildings, I mean real anchor tenants that we would like to see out there. With the permanency of the ferry, we think that is actually going to happen. I think the Rockaways is the next place to look for the development of businesses and the creation of job growth.

TIQ: What’s the future hold in store for Willets Point?

KATZ: I would like to see a soccer stadium, I haven’t made that a secret. What’s clear right now is that Willets Points is going to be 100 percent affordable housing, that’s something the city has talked about. They still don’t have a contract to begin, but I know they are working very closely on it with the developers.

The soccer stadium is not decided on yet, I’m trying to give it a little push. It’s a good way to pay for the project, but it’s also good for the people of the borough. The city doesn’t have a first-class permanent soccer stadium, and I think it’s a great place for it. You add the soccer stadium with Citi Field, the USTA, and all of the great sports and programs we have at Flushing

Meadows Park, I think it’s a winwin for everyone, but we’re still working on it.

The city would like to have an affordable housing component done soon. The soccer stadium, I know that we are going to have a timeline, but it hasn’t been made public yet.

TIQ: What is the primary challenge to the growth of small and mediumsized businesses in Queens?

KATZ: We have someone who focuses on small businesses, and what we keep hearing constantly is that the rents are too high. Queens is desirable now, people want to come here, live here, play here spend their money here, work here, make their money here, and high rents are a problem.

In Flushing we hear it all the time. There will be four or five retail businesses in one location because they just can’t afford to pay the monthly rent. I think that’s a real problem, as well as getting priced out by larger businesses.

It’s hard to have a small hardware store when Home Depot is around the bend.

We do a lot of training sessions, job fairs, resource fairs for small businesses so they know what’s available to them from small businesses agencies and from around the city. We also work very closely with the airports, so when they are doing their fairs for vendors, no matter what size your business is, you’re able to work with the airports.

That’s an important generator for the borough. The airports are the second largest employer in the borough after the healthcare industry.

We do a lot of work matching local businesses with the airports.

TIQ: Congestion pricing is causing anxiety among small businesses that go in and out of Manhattan, do you have a position on the various proposals out there?

KATZ: Not yet. I was against tolling all the bridges and still am. I think the governor’s plan of not tolling the bridges, but having an area where you pay to get into and have it equitable somehow is a good start, but I’m not ready to come out in full support yet.

TIQ: What does 2018 hold in store the business community of Queens?

KATZ: I think we are going to see a lot more people wanting to come here and invest. I think the neighborhoods of the Rockaways and Jamaica will flourish. Folks are starting to realize that Long Island City is great, but it’s being built and the investment is there already. I think they are going to start looking eastward. And hopefully the tech plan for western Queens generates a whole lot of people coming east.

I think it’s matter of figuring out how to generate more jobs, certainly LaGuardia is already doing that now, and Kennedy is going to do it more. The AirTrain is going to start, they say, phase two. It’s supposed to go to Willets Point, where there should be a central hub for the 7 train, Long Island Rail Road and the AirTrain.

And I would like to see a oneseat ride to Kennedy from Manhattan. It’s logical and it would be a better use for that train. The tracks are there, you just have to figure out a way to keep the train going. I don’t think anyone thinks that is an un-doable proposition.

In 2018, I hope we keep building on the investments we made over the last four years. It’s the beginning of my first four years again; it’s going to be good.

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SUN IS FINALLY SHINING ON NONPROFITS

BY STEPHEN OWEN & STEVEN LEITNER The year 2018 is a new dawn, and non-profit organizations in New York City can now save up to 50 percent on their electricity costs with a unique solar developer, CAP Solar.

CAP Solar is expanding its efforts past its pilot to bring a much needed product to non-profit and community facing organizations across New York and the tristate area.

In the first phase of the CAP Solar program, over two megawatts of solar electricity projects were built for 36 nonprofits, saving the participants more than $3.5 million dollars over 15 years.

If you are a non-profit or a community facing organization and you own your own building, CAP Solar will install solar panels on your roof for free and provide you with the solar electricity at a significant discount to your current electricity price from the utility company.

Community Action Program Solar, or CAP Solar, is providing inexpensive renewable solar electricity to childcare centers, healthcare clinics, hospitals, schools, religious facilities, private schools and colleges, and homeless shelters, to name a few.

CAP Solar is able to provide enterprise level benefits for smaller organizations by achieving economies of scale, taking advantage of tax incentives, and engaging high-quality partners and socially motivated investors.

With this model, the overarching goal is to push the price of electricity down as far as possible.

About 1.5 million charitable entities operate in the U.S., per the National Center for Charitable Statistics, which arguably need the benefits of solar more than most, if not all.

However, until now most solar companies have chosen to ignore nonprofits because there has

14

A CAP Solar project at 111 Center Street in Newark. (Photo: Google Earth) not been a way to deliver them financed solutions. There is a stigma in the investment community that nonprofit organizations are not credit worthy because of the nature of their business.

CAP Solar understands the nonprofit sector, and our relationships unlock the opportunity for nonprofit organizations to realize the benefits of renewable solar electricity.

There is also the U.S. tax code, both the current and former versions, which arbitrarily sends American nonprofit organizations to the back of the solar line, as they cannot monetize the federal tax incentives for solar investments.

Without financing or the ability to use the value of the tax credits and depreciation, your local YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America roofs have been a noshine zone for solar projects.

CAP Solar has solved these issues by setting up a social impact investment vehicle which is paid back, in part, by the taxdriven incentives in order to real-

ize a return on capital. property, and the property ownerThe remainder of the invest- ship structure. ment is paid back through revCAP Solar will do an assessenues earned from participant ment of your property and consumption and purelectricity billing histochase of solar energy. ry that will assist you Furthermore, in understanding “ since part of the the process and CAP Solar underreturn on investsavings. There is stands the opportument of a social no cost or oblinity for nonprofit impact invesgation for this organizations to tor is to provide service. realize the benefits social benefit, If your buildof solar electricity.

CAP Solar is able ing needs a new � to offer rates to its roof, CAP Solar customers that are works with many between 30 to 50 pervendors and profescent lower than retail elecsional service providers, tricity pricing. and its partners may be able to To get started, either email replace your roof and install solar info@capsolar.org or visit cap- panels at the same time. solar.org and provide your orgaAnd it’s not just for nonprofits. nization and contact information; If the for-profit business wants to addresses of all the properties in provide benefit to the community your organization, copies of elec- in which they work and live, it tricity bills for one year for each can also participate.

CAP Solar was born in 2011 from a 50-year-old non-profit organization seeking to increase its mission-based revenue by lowering its energy costs. CAP Solar was created to help non-profit organizations realize the benefits of solar electricity and reprogram their energy cost savings into program funding that furthers the work of their core mission, while dramatically lowering their carbon footprint. For more information, call (888) 815-8020 or visit capsolar.org.

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

WIRELESS INFRASTRUCTURE KEY TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

BY JOE KLEM CROWN CASTLE GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

WATCH YOUR MONEY GROW

WITH YOUR BUSINESS

and customers, network connectivity has become a vital resource throughout our borough.

Increased wireless connectivWe rely on mobile data and ity also brings benefits to another high-speed connections now more valuable sector of the local econthan ever. Smarter devices, faster omy: tourism. New York City is data, and new technologies and expected to have welcomed 61.8 applications have led to a dramatic million visitors in 2017, and about shift in the way people consume 12 million of these visitors are information and businesses apply international. it, leading to a significant increase With the average international in data demand and usage. tourist spending $2,000 during Crown Castle is working to their trip and domestic tourists ´ :KDW VHWV 5LGJHZRRG DSDUW meet the ever-increasing demand spending a quarter of that, they otherpart banks is their for data and information across arefrom an integral of New York’s the country. Our infrastructure economy.

VHUYLFH ,I , KDYH D QHHG connects people, communities As home to John F. Kennedy WKH\ WDNH FDUH RI LW and businesses to essential data, International and LaGuardia air, QHYHU KDYH WR ZRUU\ ¾ technology, and wireless service, ports, Queens has welcomed a bringing information, ideas and large share of the city’s interJeff Ceraso innovations to the people and national and domestic visitors Starving Artist CafÊ & Gallery businesses that need them. over the years.

Further, tourists In the face of exponentially are increasingly venturing into the increasing demand for data and outer boroughs, leading to a boom information, small cell solutions in the Queens hotel industry. have become a popular way to Now the second largest hotel complement existing wireless market after Manhattan, tourists infrastructure, like towers, par- are bringing business to Queens ticularly in dense urban areas. and experiencing all we have to Small cell networks consist of offer, including food, culture and small, low-power antennas that entertainment. can be installed on utility poles, Small cell solutions are well streetlights, or other existing infra- suited to address increased data co-owner of Starving structure to increase network cov- Asdemand to ensure touristsArtist have CafÊ & Gallery, Jeff Ceraso needed a bank erage and capacity. the could connectivity rely the on to that keep they up with fast pace of his business. He turned to I’m proud to work with commu- navigate our neighborhoods, and 5LGJHZRRG ZKHUH KH IRXQG WKH à H[LEOH DFFRXQWV VRSKLVWLFDWHG WHFKQRORJ\ nities throughout New York and even post their memories on social fast, service he needed to move his business forward. in our own backyard to provide and media in responsive real time. increased wireless connectivity As we grow increasingly depenthrough the deployment of small *HW WKH VROXWLRQV \RX QHHG WR VDYH WLPH DQG LPSURYH FDVK à RZ dent on our smartphones, access to Speak with a Business cell networks. network connectivity hasBanking become Relationship Manager today. on balances up to $1 million As a Queens resident, however, crucial. It is essential for busiI can personally attest to a much nesses, tourists and our residents; larger impact: small cell solutions an indispensable backbone of the are crucial for spurring economic local economy.

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Pictured at the St. John’s networking event are (clockwise from top left) James Tubridy, Denis Butler & Thomas Grech; architect Larry Marner, DiRTT Environmental’s Aimee Ventura & Colliers International’s Robert Groton, the team behind the expansion of the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Astoria; Fatena Williams, Kathleen Prager & Valerie Davis; two-time Stanley Cup winner Jean Potvin, Dr. Cono Grasso &Thomas Rudzewick; David Daraio, Christina Zanca, Kristen Sapienza, Rudzewick, Michael Demetriou and Grasso at the Maspeth Federal table; Skanska’s Chris Villari, attorney Robert Miklos & John Rafferty of Watchguard 24/7; Walter Sanchez & Dan Baker; and Pierre Girgis & Luis Corrales.

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February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

CHAMBER, BQE MEDIA HOST NETWORKING EVENT

BY BENJAMIN FANG Nearly 100 business leaders from various industries attended a networking event at St. John’s University on January 30 organized by BQE Media and the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

The event brought together attorneys, bankers, small business owners and nonprofit leaders for a night of food, drinks and making connections before taking in the Xavier-St. John’s basketball game at Carnesseca Arena.

Chamber CEO and president Thomas Grech said the event was part of the chamber’s mission to educate, advocate and network. “It’s all about helping our businesses and members grow,” he said.

The get-together was sponsored

by Maspeth Federal Savings, Zara Realty, Bayside Volkswagen, Colliers International and the Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens.

Pictured from left to right are Thomas Grech, Robert Freedman, Stephen Hans, Kathleen Prager, Matthew Troy and Walter Sanchez A check for $500 was presented to the Variety Boys and Girls Club, which provides programming for students throughout western Queens.

Thomas Rudzewick, president and CEO of Maspeth Federal, said the room represented small businesses, which is a large focus for the long-

time community bank.

“It’s all about the local community and being part of the fabric so the community flourishes,” he said.

Continue a Chocolate Tradition, or Start a New One

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FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT

SOLDIERING ON: WILLS SHARES CIVIL WAR LEGACY

When I was an elementary who loved telling stories, decided school student in the Rockaways to dig into my own story. I was during the 1970s, I sincerely wish shocked by what I found during that I had known that I was a my painstaking online research direct descendant of an enslaved from census reports, genealogy Tennessee man who fought for his and military websites, and the freedom during the Civil War. National Archives and Records His name was Administration Sandy Wills. I was in Washington, clueless about my D.C. family’s incredible The first legacy that started “exclusive” was WHEN I LEARNED on cotton plantathat an ambiABOUT THE CIVIL WAR tions in Tennestious farmer and IN THE ROCKAWAYS, see and extended plantation owner NO ONE - AND I MEAN to my birth in named Edmund NO ONE - TAUGHT ME Queens.

Wills purchased ABOUT THE UNITED I wasn’t the my ten-year-old STATES COLORED only one left in great-great-great TROOPS WHO HELPED the dark. My dad, grandfather at POWER LINCOLN’S Clarence Wills, a slave auction STRUGGLING UNION was actually born in Tennessee in ARMY TO VICTORY in spring of 1942 1850. Whoa! in the vicinity of I finally that awful plantacracked the case tion in Haywood of where our last County about 30 name came from. miles south of Memphis, and no There are millions upon millions one told him about Sandy Wills of African Americans who carry either. the last name of plantation owners His dad, Fred Wills, literally and they have no idea of its oripicked cotton from the very same gin: Wills, Jackson, McLaughlin, plantation in the 1920s and 1930s, Davis, Robinson. and no one in his family spoke of When enslaved Africans were the pain or the powerful stories sold, they were forced to take on hidden beneath the fertile Tennes- the surname of their new owner. see soil.

The next shock was that GrandIt was not until a century and pa Sandy befriended five young a half later that I, a NY1 Anchor energetic boys who resided on

“

”

the Wills plantation. Their names were James Wills, Andy Wills, Mack Wills, Dick Wills and Richard Wills. They were all under the age of 10 in 1850.

The Civil War broke out in April of 1861. In the summer of 1863, Grandpa Sandy and his unheralded band of brothers made a run for it.

They escaped Edmund Wills’ plantation and enlisted in the United States Colored Troops, a division of President Lincoln’s Union Army. In the blink of an eye, the former enslaved men became proud soldiers.

During my research, I found each and every military enlistment form, which brought tears to my eyes. The records yield important details about them right down to their height and the color of their eyes. Sandy, James, Andy, Mack, Dick and Richard quite literally were able to speak to me from the grave!

The Wills soldiers served in the United States Colored Troops from 1863 until 1866. All of them survived the war except Richard Wills. They were one of approximately 180,000 black Union soldiers who performed their duties with tremendous dignity and the Wills men were all honorably discharged.

I proudly display Grandpa Sandy’s discharge certificate on my living room wall. It’s the reason that I’m free today.

In 2015, I decided to give to students what I wish I had as a kid: the gift of knowing your family legacy. I wrote a picture book called The Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills, which chronicles my discovery of my long lost ancestor and inspires children to create their own family trees and track down their own

NEWS ANCHOR CHERYL WILLS heroes.

Even though I’m a busy television journalist and work around the clock, I take time out of my weekly schedule to visit schools and remind students that the most important history lesson is your own.

When I learned about the Civil War in the Rockaways, no one - and I mean no one - taught me about the United States Colored Troops who helped power Lincoln’s struggling Union Army to victory.

And no one even hinted that I, a skinny brown girl from Hammel Housing projects, might have a family history that contributed something to the powerful tapestry of the United States of America.

As a result, I am stronger, bolder, and prouder than I have ever been. That’s what happens when you know who you are.

And I now spend my precious time shining a light on my family tree so students reconnect with their lost ancestors and walk in their own light of liberty.

Cheryl Wills is an award-winning journalist and Host of In Focus with Cheryl Wills and the nightly primetime show “Live at Ten” with NY1 News. She is the author of Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale, The Emancipation of Grandpa Sandy Wills and Emancipated: My Family’s Fight for Freedom. She lectures at schools across the country. To learn more about Cheryl’s research, visit diefreethebook.com.

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February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

QUEENS CHAMBER HAPPENINGS

CHAMBER HOST MEET WITH PARTNERS & AFFILIATES

BY MEGHAN SACKMAN The Queens Chamber of Commerce invited representatives from its partners and affiliates from communities across the borough Queens communities to connect and share ideas on how to improve the business climate in what organizers hope will become a monthly gathering.

“We’re really here to discuss how we at the Queens Chamber can lend assistance to you and how we can communicate,” said Walter Sanchez, president of BQE Media, which publishes This Is Queensborough.

“It’s a group to really talk about how the chamber and our news organization can help you get the word out.”

This was the first time the Chamber hosted reps from Business Improvement Districts and hyperlocal chambers of commerce

to discuss how they can work in synergy.

“What this meeting is all about is to talk about the ways we can work together and communicate,” said Chamber president and CEO Thomas Grech. “I’m positioning the chamber as a big umbrella, because there’s strength in numbers.”

Issues discussed included press coverage, marketing, community engagement, and the isolation of business districts in Queens.

Theo Boguszewski, representing the Rockaway Business Alliance, said businesses on the peninsula feel disconnected from the rest of the borough due to its location.

“I think that it’s easy to forget that Rockaway is part of Queens because we feel kind of isolated,” she said. “It’s great to get tied in to greater Queens and meet all of you guys.”

James Corvino of the Forest Hills

Chamber of Commerce said the meeting made his group feel less on its own when it comes to struggles they may face in the future.

“I feel more unified and like I have support,” he said. “We can pool our resources and make things happen in the community.”

“I think with these meetings we’re going to be able to really connect and be able to help each other a lot more,” said Chamber COO Sophia Ganosis. “You can help us as well, because you can tell us what you think is important where you and we can share it with other people.”

NONPROFIT SECTOR

HELP WIN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN AFRICA The WIN Foundation is striving to impact the lives of the needy and to build a more robust and sustainable world.

This year, the group stands ready to embark on three medical mission initiatives in the rural communities of Nigeria. Like most developing countries, a primary challenge has been the lack of adequate funding from government to fight serious health issues, such as malaria and high blood pressure.

WIN Foundation has plans to continue agricultural initiatives assisting local farmers by providing seedlings, cash crops, and fertilizers and funding.

WIN also is determined to find money to rebuild crumbling health clinics, equipping them with medical equipment and a mobile van

for medical outreach in remote villages where the sick may not be able to access transportation.

Since 2012, the WIN Foundation has continued to serve communities in need across the world through its outreach program Mission of Mercy (MOM).

The foundation has assisted communities in remote parts of the world with food supplies, agricultural empowerment, educational support, and infrastructure development.

The When In Need Foundation also assists individuals with health complications and diseases in SubSaharan Africa, mobilizes doctors, nurses and pharmacists in medical outreach missions.

Communities are provided with free medical screenings and treat-

ments, eye exams and glasses.

To support the efforts of WIN with funds, medical equipment

or materials, email contact@winfound.org or call (347) 249-3500.

Learn more at winfound.org.

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QUEENS CHAMBER HAPPENINGS

GOOGLE GIVES TIPS FOR GETTING ONLINE

BY BENJAMIN FANG

Eighty percent of customers use search engines to look up informaDozens of small business owners tion on local businesses. and leaders attended a seminar on That’s why a company’s online how to bring their business online profile is so important. When a at the Queens Chamber of Com- customer looks up a business, their merce headquarters on January 24. “Google My Business” listing Randi Penfil, a marketing expert appears on the right-hand side of and speaker with Google, gave the webpage. It lists the company’s tips on how to better reach local name, hours, a description and concustomers using online tools and tact information. platforms. She kicked off her prePenfil urged business owners to sentation by noting that everyone take ownership of that listing and has “micro-moments,” or instances update it themselves. To do that, when people want to know, do or owners have to verify the listing buy something. and make sure the address is accuMost of that today is done online, rate. She also encouraged businesswhether it’s looking up information es to add more details, list special on a business or buying an item on or holiday hours, and enliven the the Internet. Most customers now profile with photos. also have the ability to satisfy those Many customers like to look moments at their fingertips. through photos of the company “Today, we no online before visitlonger go online, ing, Penfil said. we live online,” Businesses can Penfil said. “We also engage local are walking around Your custom- customers by postwith the Internet in ing and sharing ers will know updates. Posts only our pockets.” all about your last for a week, She told business owners to think business before Penfil said, so it’s about their customimportant to conever walking stantly be active. ers and their micromoments. Leverage Other functions into your store those moments, she include commuor picking up nicating online said, and build relationships with custhe phone. You with customers tomers. reading and want to make and “Your customresponding to sure you’re reviews. ers will know all about your business “It’s about being tuned into what before ever walkengaged with those they’re finding who are having ing into your store or picking up the out about your micro-moments,” phone,” she said. she said. “That’s business. how you build your “You want to make sure you’re tuned business. That’s into what they’re how you stay in finding about your touch with those business.” who are interestThere are billions of Google ed.” searches daily. In fact, there are However, Penfil advised not to roughly 40,000 searches per sec- “yell back at customers,” when ond. According to Penfil, 76 per- reading a negative review. Take a cent of people who search on their few minutes, take in the comment, smartphones for a business are and respond accordingly. ready to buy or visit a store within Ignoring the review shouldn’t be a day. an option either. Penfil reminded

“

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Sophia Ganosis and Jacqueline Donado of the Queens Chamber of Commerce with Google speaker Randi Penfil prior to her talk.

businesses that when a review is posted, good or bad, it cannot be taken off.

“At the end of the day, don’t get into a debate online, it will never end,” she said. “You won’t look like a business that really cares.”

The best option is to thank the reviewer for sharing their shopping experience, and ask to speak to them offline. They can always update their review after speaking, she said.

Penfil also spoke about the importance of being found “everywhere on all devices.” That means users should be able to see and use a company’s website whether using a smartphone, tablet or laptop.

When designing a website for your business, Penfil suggested asking the following questions: Why do you have a website? Who is your target audience? How will you reach them? How do you measure success?

Once the website is in place, another aspect is making sure businesses utilize search engine optimization (SEO), which is how Google reads a website.

“When you’re building your site, you’re not building it only for the human visitor,” she said. “You’re building it also for Google.”

She compared Google searches to a big filing cabinet. Once a user

does a search, Google sees the keywords or terms, where the user is located, and looks into the filing cabinet of the Internet.

Google then opens the most relevant drawer, pulls out a file, and delivers the pages most relevant based on the keywords and location. To ensure customers find your business after a Google search, Penfil said, have useful and original content, including keywords, images and video. She also recommended having a fast loading time.

To ensure it is running optimally, she recommended using Google Search Console, a tool to gather data and diagnostics for a healthy website.

When creating content, it’s not only important to use different formats like listicles, how-to’s and videos, but also making the content relevant.

“Remember, people are coming to the web because they have a need. They have a moment, and they want to satisfy that moment quickly,” she said. “Having relevant content on your site helps you satisfy that need for that person.

“When you’re doing any type of marketing, it shouldn’t be about you,” Penfil added. “Have good information you can share with the person on your site.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

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A LOT PACKED INTO A SHORT MONTH We all know that it’s cold during February in Queens, but the borough is still “The Place to Be.” First of all, it’s Black History Month. Second, Valentine’s Day brings love. Third, Lunar New Year celebrations take place the whole time. And finally, it’s only 28 days.

Feb. 2-25, Queens of the Night. This is the world premiere of an LGBTQ musical written with special collaboration from transgender Colombian artist Pamela Sue Martin. Shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm. Thalía Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, thaliatheatre.org.

Feb. 10, Romance in the Air, 2 pm. Metropolitan Opera stars Clay Hilley (tenor) and Melissa Citro (soprano) sing Wagner, Puccini, Verdi, Strauss, and others. Local pianist Barbara Podgurski accompanies them. The Church-inthe-Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills, musicareginae.org.

Feb. 11, Achinoam Nini, 3 pm. One of Israel’s most accomplished cultural icons presents an evening of song. Free Synagogue of Flushing, 136-23 Sanford Ave., freesynagogueflushing.org.

Feb. 16-18, IndieCade East 2018. A weekend dedicated to independent games and the people who make and play them. Expect dozens of new and unreleased games, a packed schedule of talks, panels, and workshops by designers, developers, players, organizers, thinkers, activists, historians, critics, and provocateurs.

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

Feb. 17-18, Broadway Valentine. Love songs

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

Feb. 17, Flushing Lunar New Year Parade, 11 am. It’s the Year of the Dog, and multicultural groups march on this auspicious occasion. Visitors can expect vibrant costumes, floats, joyful dancing, and traditional celebrations. General kickoff is at Union Street and 39th Avenue.

Feb. 17, Lunar New Year Celebration, noon to 4 pm. Celebrate the Year of the Dog with crafts and performance s .

Learn about the year’s Lucky Plants, from chrysanthemums to jade plants. Plus, crafts and performances. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, queensbotanical.org.

Feb. 23, The New Shanghai Circus, 8 pm.

In acts that often trace their origins to the harvest festivals of 2,000 years ago, this youthful and graceful company spends a swift two hours in a range of demanding performances that are a refreshing alternative to the Western tradition.

Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside, visitqpac.org.

Feb. 24, Charcuterie Masters, 6 pm. The best cold cut artisans from the U.S. and Cana-

LUNAR NEW YEAR PARADE

22

da—makers of sausages, patés, hams, salumi, and more—vie for top honors during this thirdannual showcase. Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., flushingtownhall.org.

Plus: The Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (jcal.org) hosts six events to celebrate Black History Month. JCAL is at 161-04 Jamaica Ave., but the agency also presents events at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center at 153-10 Jamaica Ave. Feb. 3, Free Screening of LA92, 2 pm at JPAC. Twenty-five years after the Rodney King trial verdict sparked several days of protests, violence, and looting in Los Angeles, LA 92 immerses viewers in the tumultuous period via stunning and rarely seen archival footage.

Feb. 9, Free Screening of Finding Samuel Lowe, 7:30 pm at JCAL. Three siblings from Harlem discover their heritage while searching for clues about their long-lost grandfather, Samuel Lowe. Their emotional journey spans from Toronto to Jamaica to China, reuniting them with hundreds of Chinese relatives they never imagined existed.

Feb. 10, Children’s Theater: Henry Box Brown, 2 pm at JPAC. Gospel, R&B, blue grass, and original Negro spirituals with an infusion of American folk music tell the true story of an 1850s Virginia slave who shipped himself to freedom in a box.

Feb. 16, Free Caribbean Reading Series, 7:30 pm at JCAL. Presented in partnership with the Braata Theatre Workshops, this event introduces young talent from the Caribbean Diaspora.

Feb. 17, The Langston Hughes Project Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz, 7:30 pm at JPAC. This multimedia concert interprets Langston Hughes’s Ask Your Mama, a 12-part epic poem which Hughes scored with musical cues drawn from blues and Dixieland, Gospel, boogie woogie, bebop, progressive jazz, and many other genres.

Feb. 24, United African Dance, 7:30 pm at JPAC. The troupe offers its signature libation, drumming, and dance honoring the ancestors of the African Diaspora.

This monthly column is produced by the Queens Tourism Council. Find more info at itsinqueens.com.

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS FEBRUARY 2/6, 8:30 to 10 AM

BREAKFAST WITH BOROUGH PRESIDENT MELINDA KATZ AND HER CABINET

Discuss local issues pertinent to the business community with the Queens Borough President’s Office and members of her staff over breakfast.

Antun’s 96-43 Springfield Boulevard Queens Village, NY 11429 2/6, 5 to 7 PM

BUSINESS ACCOUNTING SYSTEM: BE READY FOR TAX SEASON

Tis the tax season: come and get inform about everything you need to know to be ahead of the game.

Bilingual in Chinese & English Queens Ledger 41-17 Main Street Flushing 2/7, 11 AM

INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT AND ENTERPRISE IN THE ACADEMIC WORLD

With a business delegation from Inner Mongolia.

Register at queenschamber.org Free & open to the public Complimentary parking Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370

2/28, 6 PM

BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE

SingleCut Beersmiths 19-33 37th St. Astoria, NY 11105

MARCH 3/1, 2 PM

HOW TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT IMPACT YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS

Be informed of the changes ahead with the IRS. Register at queenschamber.org Free & open to the public Complimentary parking Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370 3/9, 8:30 AM

WORKSHOP #3: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN THE WORKPLACE

This program covers how HR professionals and managers develop effective communications skills for greater performance. The

workshop will provide participants with hands on techniques to maximize communication skills, which can translate into improved productivity and reduced conflict.

Register at queenschamber.org Free & open to the public Complimentary parking Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370 3/15, 1:30 AM

ST. PATRICK’S DAY LUNCHEON

3/22, 4 to 6 PM

ESSENTIAL TOOLS & STRATEGIES: USING INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK FOR BUSINESS

Register at queenschamber.org Free BNB 35-02 Broadway Astoria, NY 11105

APRIL

A day of networking with a keynote by NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill.

Terrace on the Park 52-11 111th St. Corona, NY 11368

4/6, 8:30 AM

3/20, ALL DAY

You’ll gain a better understanding of the dynamics of conflict and negotiation, the impact of cultural differences and, how to manage yourself and your employees during tense moments.

Free & open to the public Complimentary parking Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370

QUEENS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL ADVOCACY DAY

Join the Chamber as it heads to the state capitol to promote the interests of the borough’s business community.

More info at queenschamber.org The Egg Albany

WORKSHOP #4: CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS FOR THE WORKPLACE: CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS

2/8, 10 AM to NOON

SMALL BUSINESS TAX: TOP 10 THINGS TO KNOW

Learn the things you need to know about small business taxes.

Business Center for New Americans 78-27 37th Ave., Suite 1 Jackson Heights, NY 11370 2/15, 3 PM

TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE MEETING WITH ASSEMBLYMAN CLYDE VANEL

Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard Jackson Heights, NY 11370

Traditional Irish dancers at last year’s St. Pat’s Day Luncheon hosted by the Queens Chamber.

For any registration or more information on these events or any other events please call us at 718.898.8500 or visit us on the web queenschamber.org

23

THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

ASTORIA NATIVE TAKES REINS AT AMEX

BY BENJAMIN FANG Financial services giant American Express has a new leader, and his Queens roots will likely have a profound impact on the company.

Last October, Astoria native Stephen Squeri, 58, was elected chairman and CEO of American Express. He will take the reins from Kenneth Chenault on February 1.

A 32-year veteran of the company, Squeri will be the 12th executive of the corporation. He currently holds the position of vice chairman, but began his journey in 1985 as a manger.

In addition to setting strategy and metrics and working with analysts, investors and key customers, the most important aspect of the job is knowing how to lead an organization of 50,000 people, Squeri said.

“People have to wake up in the morning and understand what it is they need to do and have a passion for,” he said. “You have to inspire the organization through your leadership, your vision, and how you follow up.”

Squeri said leading American Express, a 167-year-old company and an iconic brand, is a humbling and “huge honor.” He has big shoes to fill after the departure of his predecessor Chenault, whom Squeri called an iconic business leader.

The new CEO said he also feels thankful and fortunate to be where he is now.

“I’ve had a lot of people along the way who have mentored me in business,” Squeri said. “People who took a chance on me, people who gave me an opportunity.”

Squeri grew up in Astoria, where he frequently played basketball at the courts underneath the Triboro Bridge and Astoria Park. He lived a few blocks away from the Variety Boys and Girls Club, which back then was just the Boys Club.

His grandfather immigrated to the United States by boat in the early 1900s, and didn’t speak any English. Squeri said his grandfather imparted upon his father, and later Squeri himself, the value of education and family.

One of four boys in the family, Squeri said his extended family got together every Sunday at his grandmother’s house for lunch.

“There was a real sense of family,” he said. “A real sense of appreciation for history, a real sense of appreciation for those who have come before us.”

He learned from his grandfather the Golden Rule: treat people the way you want to be treated.

He learned that no matter what someone’s status or lot in life , everyone should be treated with respect and dignity.

Squeri has since translated those values to his leadership at American Express.

“When you’re running a company, what you want to do is create a culture that people feel included in, and like it’s a big family,” he said. “I think the authenticity that I have as a person, the ability to respect everybody, the ability to communicate at all levels, that stems from my upbringing with my parents and grandparents.”

Squeri attended Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in East Elmhurst, where he said he learned the value system taught by

“ OF THE VALUES WE HAVE AS ONE A COMPANY IS WE CARE ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES WE LIVE AND WORK IN.

”

24

Stephen Squeri (right) with McClancy’s Nicholas Melito. the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.

He later went on to Manhattan College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and an MBA. At McClancy, where he graduated in 1977, Squeri said he learned not only values, but gained a strong work ethic. He did well academically, but also enjoyed the school environment and the people around him.

“It was really a turning point in my life, it provided a fantastic foundation for me,” Squeri added.

“I really understood just how important education was and what you could accomplish through education.”

His positive experience at McClancy eventually led him to come back as an alumnus. Squeri is now a member of the Board of Governors for the school, and raised substantial funds for the school.

On January 17, he visited the school again to speak to prospective students and their families, sharing his story and experiences at McClancy.

McClancy administrators praised not only Squeri’s success in the corporate world, but his commitment to the school. Nicholas Melito, the school’s admissions director, graduated only one year earlier than Squeri.

“He makes time in a schedule that’s impossible to come back

and talk to incoming potential freshmen,” Melito said. “It really means he cares about the school.

Squeri’s focus on community is exemplified by one of American Express’s signature initiatives, Small Business Saturday. The incoming CEO said despite the success of Cyber Monday for the Internet and Black Friday for the big-box merchants, Small Business Saturday is meant to celebrate the local companies that are “the lifeline of a community.”

“We just believe that the small businesses are the grit of society,” he said. “That’s what makes the world go round. Small businesses make society vibrant.”

Squeri noted the initiative isn’t to encourage small businesses to only use American Express, but rather it’s about spending in local momand-pop shops in every way.

“One of the values we have as a company is we care about the communities we live and work in,” he said. “That was a way to give back to the community.”

As he enters his new position leading the financial giant, Squeri said he hopes to accomplish three goals: leave the company in a stronger position competitively, ensure the company culture is stronger, and have a strong talent base.

“I want a number of options to succeed me so we can carry on the work that we do,” he said.

February 2018 • Volume 14 • 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.

The 82nd Street Partnership has a robust schedule of events throughout the year, including Viva La Comida, Halloween parade, holiday tree lighting, back-to-school activities, the “A Walk With A Doctor” event. The latter takes place in October through a partnership with Elmhurst Hospital.

Doctors demonstrate life-saving tips in cases of disasters and everyday accidents.

BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID

213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361 Interim Executive Director: James Ellis 718.423.2434 info@baysidevillagebid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $218,000 and over 350 members.

Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as

PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375 President: Leslie Brown 718.268.6565 FHChamber11375@gmail.com FHChamber@aol.com QUICK GLANCE: Re-formed in 1995, the group has over 225 members.

Chamber meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, in Forest Hills.

The chamber is currently planning a new event, the “Forest Hills American Music Festival,” an all-day event highlighting American music from jazz to country.

is making it a priority. The chamber is partnering with the city for locations for up to 50 new garbage cans in Downtown Flushing.

On Thursday, February 8, at 6:15 p.m. at Flushing Town Hall, the Chamber will be hosting a Lunar New Year event. The celebration will include food from award-winning dumpling chef Helen You, as well as dance performances

by Mui Fa Lion and Unicorn Dance Team, Korea Taekwondo Martial Arts Studio and the Chinese Cheongsam Association in New York. Tickets for the event are $28 at the door.

The Chamber’s annual Membership Meeting will take place on Friday, March 9.

The Chamber will march in the annual Lunar New Year Parade in Downtown Flushing. The parade will take place this year on February 17 at 11 a.m.

GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.

FOREST HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

135-32 38th Ave., Suite 25, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and representing over 200 businesses.

Litter in the area is rampant, and the chamber

90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight 718.291.0282 www.gjdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group has 75 members.

GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and eco-

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES nomically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, wellplanned, and sustainable metropolitan growth.

A joint venture has been formed between BRP Companies and Wharton Properties to purchase and develop a site located at 90-02 168th Street. The open-air parking lot north of Jamaica Avenue will become a 500,000-square-foot development with 300 mixed-income residential units.

In addition, the team will develop more than 70,000 square feet of retail space. The project is slated to break ground in the second half of 2018.

President & CEO Hope Knight says it will create jobs and fill a need in Jamaica.

On February 2 at 7:30 p.m., explore the music of Frank Loesser, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Maury Yeston with cabaret artist Jackie Schiffer at the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Avenue.

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, the BID features six supermarkets. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans.

JAMAICA CENTER BID

161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 419 Jamaica, NY 11432 718.526.2422 jamaica.nyc @JamaicaAvenue QUICK GLANCE: Budget of over $1 million.

Founded in 1979, the district includes 300 stores on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 160th Street in Jamaica. They offer a value card and support business owners in their expansions and openings.

Valerie Stevens is director of Business Services and Operations, supporting member businesses in their marketing efforts. Stevens has been focusing on social media to assist with branding and expansion. The BID is currently looking for a sponsor for their banners and trash can program along Jamaica Avenue.

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 616 Duke Street, Westbury, NY 11590 Executive Director: Mercedes Altman 516.492.0513 www.jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org

26

QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has over 200 members.

JFK Airport is the only airport in the country to have its own chamber of commerce wholly dedicated to the airport business community, which employs 35,000 people. The airport handles more than 50 million passengers a year, using almost a half-million square feet of warehouse space to handle more than a million tons of air freight cargo a year.

On Wednesday, February 14, at 8:30 a.m., the Chamber will hold is monthly directors meeting at JFK International Airport Conference Room A. Guests are welcome but must RSVP. Light breakfast will be served.

IATA and The Wings Club have joined forces again to host an Aviation Day in the United States, bringing together industry experts, senior airline and airport executives, and government authorities to discuss aviation’s largest opportunities and key challenges across the New York area and the rest of the United States. The event will take place on February 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information and to register, call 212-867-1770..

LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP

President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 www.longislandcityqueens.com Founded in 1979, the Long Island City Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits LIC’s industrial, commercial, cultural and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to the neighborhood, retain those already here, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixeduse community. The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone.

The Partnership is also currently conducting a survey for their general comprehensive plan for LIC. See the plan or complete the survey on their website. People who fill out the survey will be entered in a raffle to win airline tickets courtesy of JetBlue.

On Wednesday, February 7, at 3:30 p.m., the Partnership will hold a Smart Money Workshop to help people manage their credit card or student loan debt and learn how to budget their money. The workshop takes place at LaGuardia Community College, 31-10 Thompson Avenue, C-Building, Room 103.

On Wednesday, February 28, at 5:30 p.m., there will be a free seminar entitled Tax Considerations for Real Estate Brokers/Agents. Hosted by Quontic Bank and resented by Andy Presti, Managing Partner, Presti & Naegele Accounting Offices, the discussion will include choosing an entity, avoiding an audit, maximizing your tax deduction,

and health and pension plan tax deductions. The seminar will take place at Quontic Bank, 31-05 Broadway in Astoria.

MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Dario 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have 120 members and a budget of $115,000.

The Chamber meets the second Tuesday of each month at noon at Connolly’s Corner at 71-17 Grand Avenue. The next meeting is on February 13. The majority of their budget is spent on holiday lights, banners, beautification and festivals, including replacing the street banners on Grand Avenue. There has recently been a push to form a BID on Grand Avenue.

MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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

Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80 th streets. Annual membership fee is $150, and they are looking to gain momentum through attracting new members. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs.

QUEENS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

12-55 Queens Boulevard, Room 309 Kew Gardens, NY 11424 Executive Director: Seth Bornstein 718.263.0546 queensny.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $1.5 million and a resource for over 2,000 businesses in the borough of Queens.

Funded by Department of Small Business Services, they strive to create and retain jobs via programs that grow neighborhoods and assist small businesses.

QEDC assists by providing one-on-one consultations, hosting workshops, operating training courses and networking events.

On Thursday, February 8, at 8:30 a.m., QEDC will host the Women’s Power Networking Breakfast: A Panel with Food Entrepreneurs. There will be a presentation from food consultant Terry Frishman as well as a panel discussion with other food business entrepreneurs. It will take place at The Local, 13-02

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 44th Avenue in Long Island City.

Also on February 8 at 6:30 p.m., QEDC will host a workshop entitled Legal Considerations for Start Up Businesses. It will go over the rules and regulations on starting a business with a focus on forms, paperwork, and labor laws. It will take place at Flushing Library, 41-17 Main Street.

MYRTLE AVENUE BID

62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 Executive Director: Ted Renz 718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with over 300 retail and service businesses under its purview.

Board meetings are held four times a year with the annual meeting in June. The district includes Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood between Fresh Pond Road and Wyckoff Avenue. Program support is provided by the Ridgewood LDC.

ROCKAWAY BUSINESS ALLIANCE

info@rockawaybusinessalliance.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and a resource for over 200 businesses.

The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions,

and engagement for the local community and the visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces. RBA seeks to create and curate an inviting atmosphere for all to enjoy year round.

RBA’s annual meeting and small business mixer will take place on Wednesday, February 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Rise Institute, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard. Guest speaker is Rob Walsh, professor, announcer on 1010 WINS Radio Station and former Commissioner of NYC Small Business Services. Please RSVP by 2/21 at rba2018annualmeeting.eventbrite.com.

ROCKAWAY DEVELOPMENT & REVITALIZATION CORPORATION

1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 President: Kevin Alexander 718.327.5300 www.rdrc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has 30 members.

Founded in 1978, the Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) was established to promote the revitalization of the Rockaway’s economic base and neighborhoods by creating long-standing partnerships with city and state agencies. RDRC is governed by a twelvemember board of directors and a five-member merchant advisory board.

RDRC’s current city and state collaborations include the Downtown Far Rockaway Storefront Improvement Program, The Downtown Far Rockaway Public Wi-Fi Project, The Rockaway East Workforce Development Program and most recently, the planned $288,000,000 Downtown Far Rockaway Redevelopment Project.

With over 250 businesses and 61,000 or 53 percent of the Rockaway’s entire population living within 2 miles of downtown Far Rockaway, one of RDRC’s goals is to reduce the over $91 million in market leakage to neighboring downtown shopping districts.

To address this challenge, in 2014 RDRC rejuvenated the Rockaway East Merchants Association (REMA). Today with RDRC as its administrator, REMA membership now includes 40-plus local businesses with an active calendar of events that includes an annual merchant’s fair, talent show, fashion event, holiday tree lighting and live concerts.

REMA membership meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month at 1 p.m. at RDRC, located at 1920 Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway.

In addition to merchant organizing and business attraction initiatives, RDRC is also engaged in place-making activities utilizing the Beach 20th Street Pedestrian Plaza to draw several thousand of local residents, day travelers and area

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QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES workers to outdoor concerts, community outreach events, health fairs and summertime concert series annually.

On May 16, RDRC will be hosting its 32nd Annual Community Builders Award Gala at Russo’s On the Bay located in Howard Beach.

This years honorees include Tyler Morse, CEO & managing partner, MCR; Victoria Schneps, president & CEO, Schneps Communications; and Cassandra Hill, MWBE/Outreach Coordinator, Regional Alliance for Small Contractors.

Applications for the Summer youth Employment Program are being posted to RDRC’s website in the month of February.

STEINWAY STREET BID

25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103 Executive Director: Tony Barsamian 718.728.7820 info@steinwaystreet.nyc steinwaystreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID has over 300 members.

Board meetings are held seven times a year.

The BID’s vision is to make Steinway Street user friendly, while highlighting the local businesses on the street and bringing together the Astoria community in a positive way. The BID works to improve sanitation, marketing, security, holiday lighting, beautification and Internet access along this famous street in Queens.

The BID is hosting a free Children’s Mardi Gras Celebration on Tuesday, February 13, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Sol Dance Center at 30-16 Steinway Street.

SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Patricia Dorfman 718.729.4688 www.sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: Annual budget of $55,000.

The chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation.

On January 9, the Chamber honored Tony Tang

as the Sunnysider of the Year, and gave Impact Awards to Manny Gomez, Meredith Maskara, Ramiro Mendez, Melissa Orlando and Sherilyn Jo Sabba.

SUNNYSIDE SHINES

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

The BID is looking for sponsors for Sunnyside Street Banners along Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint Avenue. There are still a number of locations still available, call the office for more info.

Companies that are not located in Sunnyside are invited to participate as well. Sponsorships start at $350 and last for one year.

BUSINESSES IN THE ROCKAWAYS GET CONNECTED

BY MEGHAN SACKMAN The Rockaway Business Alliance (RBA) last month launched its Rockaway ConneX, an initiative to solve connectivity issues on the peninsula using money from a Neighborhood Challenge Grant the group was awarded in June.

“We’re launching this beacon program in Rockaway, which is really exciting, but we’re bringing it here to Rockaway and then hopefully throughout the city eventually,” said Theo Boguszewski of Perch Advisors, the consulting firm that is helping manage RBA. The first phase of the initiative was to place smart beacons that can communicate with smart phones through bluetooth and Wi-Fi at more than 100 businesses. Notifications will give information about local businesses, promotions and discounts, and transportation information through technology provided by Connecthings.

“Bridging the gap between physical infrastructure and digital services is going to bring very innovative and very creative services for people that walk into your shop,” said Connecthings project manager Lucas Brechot.

In addition to the beacons, the new Combrr app will allow summer beachgoers the ability to have food and other goods delivered to their beach blanket through the use of GPS and a selfie. The intent is to bring consumers to businesses that don’t benefit from a beachfront location.

“The goal of Rockaway ConneX is to connect the east and the west end and the businesses that

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The Rockaway Business Alliance puts the first beacon into use at Bungalow Bar. exist throughout the very long peninsula,” said RBA chair Yarden Flatow at an event on January 24 celebrating the first 18 beacons. “We have to connect Rockaway, which has been historically underserved by more contemporary technology infrastructure.”

“Anything that helps all the businesses down here, because it’s so hard to run a business especially in the very seasonal areas, is beneficial,” said owner Dan Tubberty. “So of course we want to help get people out. We’re excited to be the first ones.”

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2

NEW MEMBERS

MAJOR CORPORATE

Williams CORPORATE

Enterprise Holdings Vic Kessler Signs LTD Fantasy Forest Amusement Park INTRODUCTORY

Community Options Inc. of New York MK McBreen & Kopko Justworks Denco Energy Management JFK Long Term Parking, Inc. Stacy Wolf Orthondontics GOOGLE WORKSHOP CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

She recommended using another tool called Google Trends, which allows users to look up the activity of certain keywords over time. The trends can help inform which keywords a website should contain.

Another way to reach customers is through email marketing, using a platform provider like Mailchimp or Constant Contact. It allows a company to brand themselves with a logo, provide links to the website, and put out content.

Penfil suggested including in the email a clear subject line, a call to action, targeted content and correct spelling and grammar.

Most platforms have a way to measure the reach and clicks of the email. The data provided can be used to create better content in the future.

Finally, make sure the business website has strong navigation and an interesting homepage that is usable on mobile. Penfil suggested making it easy to search the site and to have the most important information “above the scroll.”

She added the recommendation of making it easy for customers to do tasks on the website, like paying or filling out forms.

“Don’t make me have to create an account,” she said. “We want to shop as a guest, too.”

Williams

2800 Post Oak Boulevard Houston, Texas 77056 williams.com 713.215.3092 Williams, including its assets held through Williams Partners L.P., is an energy infrastructure company focused on connecting North America’s significant hydrocarbon resource plays to growing markets for natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGLs). Williams’ interstate gas pipeline and gathering & processing operations span the United States, including strategic assets in the deep-water Gulf of Mexico, the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest and the Eastern Seaboard. Williams plans to be the premier provider of large-scale infrastructure connecting the growing supply of North American natural gas and natural gas products to growing global demand for clean fuels and feedstocks.

Enterprise Holdings

Building 89, JFK 2nd Floor Jamaica, New York 11430 enterprise.com 914.450.6724 Steady management at the top, combined with financial stability and a consistent ability to exceed customers expectations, has fueled six decades of growth and defined Enterprise Holdings’ global leadership role in the car rental and travel industries. Enterprise Holdings knows leadership is not a short-term proposition. They manage their business with long-term corporate social responsibility and sustainability in mind – as demonstrated by their continuous work to balance the interests of as many stakeholders as possible, including customers, employees and the parts of the world we touch with our global operations.

Vic Kessler Signs, LTD

42-02 162 Street Flushing, New York 11358 vickessler.com 718.309.6523 For more than forty years, Vic Kessler Signs Ltd. has been lettering trucks, making signs, and pinstriping cars in the New York Metro Area. Vic Kessler’s facility is part garage and part sign shop, and they specialize in custom-designed vehicle graphics, truck lettering, pinstriping, all kinds of signs, custom decals, and banners. They only use the highest-quality materials available on the market and are designed to last for many years.

Fantasy Forest Amusement Park

53-51 111th Street Queens, New York 11368 fantasyforestnyc.com 718.788.2676 The attraction and amusement industry is

stronger than it has ever been with unparalleled growth evidenced by the explosion of new technologies, the rise of dynamic entertainment centers, and the never-ending desire to have Fun! Fantasy Forest Amusement Parks intent on delivering Fun is by building a diversified portfolio within our industry from classic carousels and amusement parks, to recreation and sports parks.

• Community Options Inc of New York 350 Fifth Ave Suite 5230 New York, New York 10118 comop.org 212.227.9110 • MK McBreen & Kopko 500 North Broadway Suite 129 Jericho, New York 11753 mklawnyc.com 516.965.3510 •Justworks 151 W 26th Street New York, New York 10001 justworks.com 646.859.2281 •Denco Energy Management 1025 Old Country Rd, Suite 140 Westbury, New York 11590 dencoenergymanagement.com 516.528.0430 • JFK Long Term Parking Inc. 122-02 South Conduit Ave South Ozone Park, New York 11420 jfklongtermparking.com 718.843.8400 • Stacy Wolf Orthodontics 23-25 Bell Blvd Bayside, New York 11360 stacywolforthodontics.com 718.225.6000 Statement required by the Act of August 12, 1970, section 3685. Title 39, United States Code, showing the ownership, management and circulation of QueensBorough magazine, published 12 times per year, and owned by the Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens, 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, New York 11370. Statement filed September 1, 2017. Publisher: Chamber of Commerce of the Borough of Queens Editor: Thomas Grech Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding one percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities, none. Extent & nature of circulation: Avg. each issue, Actual single issue, Preceding 13 mos., (Nearest to filing date). Total number of copies 3,712 (3,500). Paid and/or requested circulation: Dealer, carrier sales 1,785 (532), Mail subscriptions, 611 (1,937), Total 2,396 (2,469). Free Distribution By mail 187 (400), By other means 0 (0), Total 187 (400). Total distribution 2,583 (2,869), Office Use, leftover, spoiled 1,129 ( 6 3 1 ) , Return from news agents 0 (0), Total 3,712 (3,500), Percent paid 92.76 (86.05).

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

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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH

queenschamber.org

EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE Mayra DiRico

Fran Biderman-Gross

Howard Graf

Richard Dzwlewicz

Chairperson

Associate Treasurer

Vice Chairperson

Associate Secretary

Treasurer

Immediate Past President

Henry Wan Nash Roe

Albert F. Pennisi

Thomas J. Grech

Brendan Leavy

President & CEO

Business Development Manager

Sophia Ganosis

Cathy Berger

Development Director

Chief of Operations

Jacqueline Donado

Dorothy Owermohle Bookkeeper

Strategic Program Coordinator

Financial Controller

Membership Outreach Coordinator & Member Engagement

William Blake Dominick Ciampa Joseph Farber Louis D. Laurino

Joseph M. Mattone, Sr John E. Roe, Sr. George Rozansky Gerard Thornton

Brett Swanson

Alejandra Espejo

Secretary

CHAIRPERSON’S ADVISORY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE STAFF

Fatena Williams

Business Development Associate

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

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

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andrew Barnes Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Michael Billia Willa Brody Kenneth J. Buettner Charles J. Callahan

KY Chow Carol Conslato Sal Crifasi Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Thomas Eagar Joseph R. Ficalora

Tamara Gavrielof Howard Graf Raymond Irrera Kenneth Koenig Kelly Koukou Henry Kuykendall Neil Levin

Jeffery E. Levine Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul Michael Moran Michael Onghai Jeffrey Owens Albert F. Pennisi

Vincent L. Petraro Esq Adam Reece-Cohen Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock Thomas Santucci Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab

Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan Swain Weiner Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner

CORPORATE MEMBERS AARP Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics Age Well New York AKI Development Allied Barton Security Services Alma Bank Alma Realty Corp.

Aloft Long Island City Manhattan View Hotel Aloft Hotel New York LaGuardia Airport Alphapointe Altria Client Services Inc. American Food Basket Amna Construction Corp.

Anchin, Block & Anchin ATCO Properties & Management Baker Tilly Virchow Krause LLP Bank of America Berkeley College Berkman, Henoch, Peterson, Peddy & Fenchel, PC Bethpage Federal Credit Union Better Home Health Care Blue Ocean Wealth Solutions Borchert & LaSpina, PC Boro Hotel Boyce Technologies Inc. Broadway Stages Building Maintenance Corp.

Capital One Bank Cathay Bank Care Connect Insurance Co. Inc. Carmel Car & Limo Service CDS Mestel Construction

Center for Automotive Education & Training Cerini & Associates Certilman Balin Champion Elevators Chaney Construction & Development Charles Schwab Ciampa Organization City MD City Scrap Metal Cleaning Systems Co. Clickable CoAdvantage Constant Contact Construction Safety Network Inc. Cord Meyer Development LLC Cornell NYC Tech Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Costco Wholesale Court 16, Inc. Courtyard Long Island City CPEX Real Estate Crown Container Cumming Corporation Cushman & Wakefield FedCap D&B Engineers & Architects, PC Daniels Norelli Cecere & Tavel PC DY Reality Services, LLC Dera Restaurants, Inc. Dignity Memorial Funeral Provides of Queens E. Gluck Corporations

East Coast Energy Group Edible Arrangements Elite Palace Elmhurst Hospital Center Emigrant Mortgage Co. Empire Merchants Exit Realty Lewis & Murphy Farrell Fritz, PC Fedcap Fidelis Care New York Financial Resources Brup Investment Services LLC Firecom, Inc. First American International Bank First Central Savings Bank First in Service Staffing Flushing Bank Forest Hills Financial Galaxy Music Productions Inc. Gerard T Dolan Agency Farmers Grand Rehabilitation & Nursing at Queens Greater New York Auto Dealers Association Inc. Greencrown Energy Greenwald Doherty LLP Greiner-Maltz of NY H&R Block HF Management Services Haks Hanover Community Bank Healthplex, Inc. Health Republic Insurance Healthy Corner Pharmacy, Inc. Hilton Garden Inn/ LIC Manhattan View

Holiday Inn LaGuardia Airport Home2Suite LIC Hyatt Place Flushing Ibis Styles New York LaGuardia Airport Hotel INDA Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry International Asbestos Removal Inc. J.F.A. Insurance Brokerage JRT Realty Group, Inc. James F. Capalino & Associates Jaros Baum & Bolles Jetro Resataurant Depot Kasirer Consulting Inc Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc. Knockout Pest Control LaGuardia Plaza Hotel La Technology Group Lee & Associates Levine Builders Lessing’s Inc. Long Island City Volkswagon Luna Park in Coney Island Lyft Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. M&T Bank M&V Provisions Co, Inc. MCR Development LLC MTA-Long Island Rail Road Madeline Chocolate Novelties Marriott NYC Airport Hotels Mazars USA LLP Merritt Engineering Consulting PC Metroplus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxi Cab Board

of Trade Melrose Credit Union Metro Franchising Commissary Molloy College Mortgage Depot Moses & Singer LLP Motiva Networks Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corporation Muss Development Company National Supermarket Association Newtown Creek Trusted PRI USD New York Building Congress New York Business Corp.

New York Life New York Oil Heaing Association Inc. New York Racing Association Northfield Bank Northwell Health Norhstar Mitsubishi NRG Energy Inc. NY Building Congress NY Families for Autistic Children, Inc. NYG/DE Green Partners, LLC Office Depot, Inc. OnForce Solar Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care & Rehab Paper Factory Hotel Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates People’s United Bank Petro Energy Solutions

Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associations, Inc. Prager Metis CPAs, LLC PMBA, Inc. Progressive Waste Solutions Qside Federal Credit Union Quadlogic Controls Corp.

Queens Center Queens Ledger Queensborough Community College Quontic Bank Radisson Hotel JFK Airport Radson Development LLC Register Abstract Co. Inc. Related Retail LP Rent A Throne Rochdale Village Inc. Royal Waste Services Inc. Russo’s On The Bay SL Green Realty Corp.

Sahn Ward Coshchignano PLLC Sandrine Capital LLC Sears Maid Service Sholom & Zuckerbrot Realty LLC Signature Bank Silvercup Studios Simon Baron Development Sleep Numbers Solomon Agency Staples, Inc. St. John’s University Steiner Sports Sterling Risk Strat X IT Solutions Structural Engineering Tech-

nologies PC Suffolk County National Bank Suation Solar Systems Super-Tek, Products, Inc. Terrace on the Park The New York Times The Parc Hotel The Parking Spot Trinity Solar TSC Training Academy LLC Tully Construction Co. Inc. United Airlines United Health Care United Nations Federal Credit Union United Public, Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. US Security Care USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center Valley National Bank Van Guard Insurance Agency Verizon VHB Engineering Surveying & Landscape Architecture Victory Pharmacy Villa Russo Venture House Vornado Realty Trust Waste Management of NY LLC Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Welllife Network WeWork York College Zwanger Pesiri Radiology LLP

COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS Joshua Bienstock NYIT bienlaw@aol.com ENERGY Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com James Sheuchenko PM Advisors js@pmadvisors.com HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS Susan Browning Long Island Jewish Forest Hills sbrowning1@northwell.edu Evangeline Rosado-Tripp Queens County Medical Society ertripp@queensmedicalsociety.org

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HOSPITALITY Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Michael Zayas Real Hospitality Group michael.zayas@rhgcorp.com MANUFACTURING Geoffrey Smith NY Grant Company Geoffrey@nygrants.com Thomas Powell Boyce Technologies tpowell@boycetechnologies.com NONPROFIT Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org

Maria Odysseus Investors Bank modysseus@myinvestorsbank.com REAL ESTATE Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Michael Wang G8 Real Estate / Flushing Chamber mwang121@gmail.com TECHNOLOGY Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Eugene Erichsen Connect Me Voice Eugene@connectmevoice.com

TRANSPORTATION Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com Tammy Petsios VHB tpetsios@vhb.com We hope you are enjoying the newly designed, expanded Queensborough, the monthly publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce.

We, the Chamber, direct and approve all content deciding what stories are covered in each issue, editing all copy and forwarding information that is contained in the publication. BQE Media produces it for the Chamber. We look forward to continuing to highlight the outstanding business persons, services and activities that make our borough unique. We welcome all your letters, manuscripts, etc. Please send all materials to the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 or call 718.898.8500 for more information.

We reserve the right to edit for space limitations.

Your support of the magazine is critical to its success. We encourage you to include Queensborough in your advertising plans. To place your ad, please call BQE Media at 718.426.7200.

February 2018 • Volume 14 • Issue 2 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS

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