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November 2020 . Volume 16 . Issue 11
“MY FATHER WANTED FLUSHING TO STAND ON ITS OWN AND BE A DYNAMIC CULTURAL HUB.”
F&T EXEC DISCUSSES UNLOCKING THE NEIGHBORHOOD’S UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
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November 2020 • Volume 17 • Issue 11
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
TIME FOR SELF-REWARD
It was just about this time last praised for a job well done. And it’s year, the Queens Chamber was not over yet. One of the highlights of servgearing up to host our Annual ing as Board Chair has Building Awards. This been meeting business 90-year tradition honors owners and encouraging the accomplishments them to work hard and of architects, builders, strive for success. I’ve interior designers and gained as much from building projects in you as that which I’ve Queens County. shared. Unfortunately, this It’s an honor to repyear due to the pandemresent an organization ic our in-person celebrawhose mission is protion was postponed. TOM SANTUCCI moting business and This doesn’t mean making this borough of there aren’t reasons to CHAIRPERSON Queens the best place in celebrate. In my opinthe world to live, work, and play. ion, each of you should pat yourReflecting back on the by-laws selves on the back for a job well done in 2020 whether you are in created when this wonderful organization was founded back in 1911 the building industry or not. Each of you, as business owners, - advocate, educate and network has managed to do the impossible - we firmly believe these values in a year filled with unbelievable continue to mean as much today as they did then. obstacles and challenges. So, as you continue to work hard You explored creative new ways finalizing this year that is rapidly to conduct business, often mulpassing by, take a moment reward titasking, working remotely and yourself. You have earned it. committed to forging a path forYour commitment and support ward to keep your business afloat. are greatly appreciated. Thank you Whether you are an operation of for being the greatest part of us. one or 20 or 100, you deserve to be
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO
WE ARE UNITED & STRONG It’s hard to believe we are already ways in which to sustain operain November with less than a month tions. before the Thanksgiving holiday. Yet you’ve forged ahead. Time seems to have charted a new This month, as usual, we’re course, especially this offering several inforyear. mative webinars Yet, with all we’ve designed to help your endured, one thing business sustain both remains: we are united externally and interand strong. Businesses nally. are finding their foot“Employee Mening and our commutal Health: Utilizing nity is adjusting to this Alternative Methnew way of surviving ods to Manage Menand existing, all due to tal Health While the New York spirit of THOMAS J. GRECH Decreasing the Finannever say die. cial Impact on Small PRESIDENT & CEO The Queens ChamBusiness Owners” is ber continues to be strong in it’s one example of the kind of promission of being a beacon of light gramming curated specifically for for all of those in the business com- today’s environment. munity. Without a doubt, nearly It wouldn’t be November withevery industry has faced dire challenges as they’ve sought to finds CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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QUEENS QUICKLY
GATEWAY JFK ADDS SECURITY PATROL
GatewayJFK launched a new security patrol to help keep the neighborhood safe and vibrant. The goal is to provide extra eyes on the streets to prevent burglaries, illegal dumping, and graffiti. The unarmed security officers are responsible for patrolling the 215-acre area in southeast queens that makes up the GatewayJFK Business Improvement District. GatewayJFK is home to 600 businesses on and near Rockaway Boulevard that provide logistical support to the air cargo industry operating out of JFK airport.
The patrol will act as a deterrent to crime, provide information and assistance to stakeholders, and address quality-of-life issues throughout the district. Security officers have been trained on the best ways to work with the Police Department and cooperatively with the other security forces and building management professionals in the area to deal with thefts and the prevention of other crimes. The officers are trained and supervised by Sammed Security Inc., a local MWBE firm on Rockaway Boulevard that has over 100 licensed security personnel on staff. Sammed won a competitive process that started with a request for proposals in July.
“We were very happy to find a company that had an understanding of the unique needs and nuances of our neighborhood, and also experience in providing security for over 20 years,” Said Scott Grimm-Lyon, executive director of GatewayJFK. “It’s all about improving qualityof-life issues.” This is the second major contract for supplemental services GatewayJFK has awarded to improve conditions in the neighborhood. In early 2019, GatewayJFK partnered with Wildcat Services to empty garbage cans, spotclean litter and debris along the streets, and provide landscaping and graffiti removal services in the district. Members of the GatewayJFK community can schedule the patrol to visit their home or business by emailing scott@gatewayjfk.org.
YORK PHYSICS SCORES LARGE ENERGY GRANT York College’s dynamic duo of physics have done it again with their research acumen. Dr. James Popp and Dr. Kevin Lynch have
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Omoregbe Omede from Sammed Security and Security Officer Kenhide Okonola meet with community member Veronica Hicks. (Photo: Courtesy GatewayJFK)
TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments .......................................6
Stay Connected With the Queens Chamber in November ..............................17
Starting a Business in a Recession? Why Not! ........................................8
Islanders Put Final Beam on New Belmont Arena ............................................18
Queens Restaurant Manager Shares Tale of Navigating COVID ......9
Chamber Welcomes New Members .......................................................................21
Weprin, Murray Join Queens Chamber Board of Directors ............10 COVER STORY: Helen Lee Discusses Development in Flushing ..12 Edge Auto Rental Ending 2020 on a High Note ....................................14 Control Electropolishing Celebrating 61 Years .......................................16 4
PUBLISHER Walter H. Sanchez
MANAGING EDITOR Shane Miller
MARKETING DIRECTOR John Sanchez BQE Media, 45-23 47th St., 2nd Floor, Woodside, NY 11377 Phone: (718) 426-7200 Fax: (347) 507-5827
November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11 secured another grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to continue their work on the Muon-to-Electron Conversion Experiment (Mu2e) currently under construction at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois. “We have been awarded $1.08 million over three years to expand and continue our construction and engineering design efforts for our collaboration with Mu2e,” said professors Popp and Lynch in a statement. “The Mu2e experiment is the search for a rare and as-yet unseen decay of a muon directly into an electron and no other particles.” Dr. Popp says that the importance of this decay process cannot be understated. “Such a discovery or negative observation of this process will change our view of the Standard Model of elementary particle physics forever,” he says. “In other words, our modern view of cosmology will be changed permanently.” Popp and Lynch are founding members of the experiment. The collaboration involves scientists, engineers, postdocs, and graduate students from all over the world. It is part of expanding leading-edge research opportunities for students at York. “Such an experiment opens up many opportunities for undergrads, grad students and postdocs to play a major role in this very important endeavor,” the professors added. “The experimental high energy physics group here at York College, the only fully funded HEP labs at CUNY, is proud to have two graduate students, and at least five undergraduates working with us on this project.” The duo say their labs are already a beehive of activity and will soon be adding “a new postdoc to our group.” This, they say, is all a part of expanding leading edge research opportunities for students at York and the University.
CEO’S MESSAGE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
out the mention of holiday lights. Howard Beach will kick off festivities later this month extending through early 2021 to help get you and yours in the holiday mood. Visit our website at queenschamber.org for all our upcoming events to educate and enlighten you with the hope of creating a more engaged spirit. As the days and weeks wind down in 2020, remember we are still and will always be in this together. United and Queens strong! Words cannot express my gratitude for your continued support. Until next month...
QUEENS QUICKLY
NYPQ OPENS NEW PEDIATRIC OFFICE
Pictured from left to right are Pamela Sutton-Wallace, senior vice president and regional chief operating officer; NYPQ president Jaclyn Mucaria; Dr. Joseph Abularrage, chief of the Department of Pediatrics; Councilman Peter Koo; Robert Blenderman, chief operating officer; and NYPQ Medical group president Dr. Stephen Rimar. NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Queens recently opened a new, state-of-the-art pediatric multispecialty office at 198-15 Horace Harding Expressway in Fresh Meadows. “This new multispecialty center demonstrates NewYork-Presbyterian’s commitment to providing the highest standards in pediatric care,” said Dr. Joseph Abularrage, chief of the Department of Pediatrics. “The physicians practicing here are extremely dedicated and passionate.” Families can receive high-quality patient care and consultation in general pediatrics and multiple specialties. Currently, this location is the only site in Queens with general pediatrics and a wide range of pediatric specialties all under one roof. This include pediatric cardiology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric neurology and pediatric surgery, which are delivered in collaboration with Weill Cornell Medicine. “In our ‘new normal,’ Queens residents should know that our incredible and reliable pediatric physicians continue to provide essential care for local families,” said Dr. Stephen Rimar, president of NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Queens. “We encourage our local families to continue to visit our locations for any medical care that they may have delayed during this
time.” The facility is approximately 7,121 square feet and will offer procedures including echocardiograms and fetal echocardiograms. The site is also participating in a program for children that offers free vaccines for families who qualify. “It is always critical, but especially now, for children to receive routine exams to promote better health and wellness,” said Jaclyn Mucaria, president of NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. “The experienced physicians and surgeons at this center treat all ages from infants to children to teens, and personalize each patient’s care, while being sensitive to every family’s circumstances.” For additional convenience, a NewYork-Presbyterian Queens lab will be located in the same complex as the medical office. Parents will be able to complete their children’s bloodwork the same day as an office visit. Ample parking will also be available in the spacious lot and the site is in close proximity to three bus stops. Patients may call (718) 670-2899 for general pediatrics or (718) 670-2468 for the pediatric specialties team. Telemedicine appointments are also available.
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS “The Cosma Hypothesis: Implications of the make a difference in someone’s life on a daily Cortez receives QC Overview Effect.” Cortez is also a longtime basis,” said Park. It is an honor and a privilege tennis fan. to have patients and their families put their President’s Medal “I’m honored to present the first president’s trust in me, and I am excited to lead a highly The Queens College President’s Medal — the college’s highest administrative honor — was awarded to distinguished alumnus Ricardo “Rick” L. Cortez, a financier and asset management specialist, at the college’s annual Academic Excellence Award Ceremony. A 1972 cum laude graduate with a BA in mathematics, Cortez went on to become certified as an Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) at the Wharton School in 1993. He is the co-chief executive officer of Broadmark Asset Management, where he is primarily responsible for business development, as well as management of the firm’s sales and marketing efforts. “I graduated from Bayside High School in 1967, and perhaps like some Queens CORTEZ College students, I was the first in my family to go to college,” said Cortez. “I applied to three schools: Columbia, St. Johns, and Queens. I was accepted at all three, but my parents, who did not have a lot of money, thought Queens College was by far the best choice. They turned out to be right.” As Broadmark Asset Management co-CEO, Cortez shares in the oversight of the firm’s business operations. Additionally, he is a member of the investment team and serves as the firm’s chief risk officer. Cortez joined Broadmark in 2009 as president of global distribution and was named co-CEO in 2013. Cortez joined the QC Business Advisory Board in 2009 and served for a time as its chairman. He has returned to campus multiple times as a guest lecturer in the Risk Management graduate program at QC. An adjunct faculty member at Harvard University, Cortez has been a guest lecturer on investment policy and hedge funds at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Since 2014, he has volunteered his time and expertise to American Corporate Partners helping veterans make the transition to the private sector through mentor-mentee programs. A trained classical guitarist, Cortez performed on tours in the 1970s. He continues to play for pleasure and collects guitars. He is also interested in physics and philosophy. An essay he wrote highlighting his principles was referenced in the 2019 book by space philosopher and author Frank White,
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medal of my tenure to alumnus Ricardo Cortez,” said Queens College president Frank Wu. “A great success story and valued member of the Queens College family, Cortez has accomplished a level of achievement and service to the community that makes us proud and makes him a role model for our students.”
Park named chief of neurological surgery Dr. John Park has been named chief of neurological surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. He was also recruited to serve as professor of neurological surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. Park, who has expertise in the treatment of brain and spinal tumors and degenerative disorders of the cervical and lumbar spine, joins a team that provides the full range of treatment for neurosurgical conditions. Before joining NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, he founded and served as the medical director PARK of the multidisciplinary Brain and Spinal Tumor Program at Cottage Health in Santa Barbara, California. Park also had an active practice providing neurosurgical treatment for patients with neck and low back pain and other spinal disorders. He has particular expertise in the use of minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques. Prior to his work in California, Park developed a national reputation at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for the surgical treatment of low-grade tumors that occur in the brain and spinal cord. Park has received numerous awards, including from the Joint Section on Pediatric Neurosurgery of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons, American Brain Tumor Association, New England Cancer Society, and Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation, among others. Park grew up and attended public schools in Queens and Manhattan, later receiving his undergraduate degree from Brown University and a medical degree and doctorate at Harvard Medical School. “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to
skilled team dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes for patients.”
Jiha put in charge of city’s finances Mayor Bill de Blasio has appointed Queens resident Jacques Jiha as director of the Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget. As Budget Director, Jiha will help lead New York City out of the fiscal crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and make decisions that will strengthen and protect the city’s finances for generations to come. “I am pleased to appoint one of our city’s most hard-working and passionate public servants to take on an even bigger JIHA role as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said de Blasio. “Jacques has the experience and vision necessary to support New Yorkers during this crisis and guide our city through financial hardship.” In 2014, de Blasio appointed Jiha as the commissioner for the Department of Finance, the agency responsible for collecting over Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2020 by Queensborough. All letters sent to the QUEENSBOROUGH should be brief and are subject to condensation. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of the QUEENSBOROUGH. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to the QUEENSBOROUGH within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. BQE Media assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold the QUEENSBOROUGH and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement.
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November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11
PROMOTIONS $40 billion in revenue that make all city services possible. Jiha modernized the department by integrating new technology and data analytics to increase efficiency and make better decisions. Under his leadership, the department also created new options focusing on customer experience, including a fullservice call-center, online property tax system, parking ticket mobile app and the offices of the Taxpayer Advocate and Parking Summons Advocate. Prior to becoming commissioner of the Department of Finance, Jiha was the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Earl G. Graves, Ltd/Black Enterprise. Previously, he served as deputy comptroller for pension investment and public finance in the Office of the State Comptroller,
deputy comptroller for Nassau County, chief economist for the Office of the City Comptroller, executive director of the State Legislative Tax Study Commission, and principal economist for the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means. Born in Haiti, Jiha immigrated to New York City in 1979 and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Fordham University. He also holds a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in economics from the New School for Social Research. He lives in Queens with his wife and daughters. “Our city is facing an enormous fiscal challenge in light of the public health crisis,” said Jiha. “As we recover, I am committed to making fiscally responsible decisions to keep New York City a vibrant place to live and work.”
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EXPERT ADVICE
START A BUSINESS NOW? DURING A RECESSION? BY MICHAEL SHOULE
If you listen to the “How I Built This” podcast or read the eponymously named book by host Guy Raz or have heard Dave Ramsey’s Entreleadership team, the answer is a resounding yes. To which I thought a pretty skeptical, “are you kidding me?” They give examples of Fortune 500 mainstays like GE, IBM, FedEx and Microsoft as companies that were started during recessions by one or two individuals with a dream and still thrive today many decades later. Or companies like Uber, Slack, and eyewear industry innovator Warby Parker that began during the Great Recession of the last decade. While I understand the motivation behind sharing these companies’ stories, it might be hard for you and I to relate to directly. Thankfully, we have some great examples right here in Queens of companies that were started during difficult economic circumstances and have been able to succeed despite all of the challenges they faced. Take for example Sussman-Automatic that began just before the 1907 panic. Or Williams Valve or Vassilaros & Sons, both of which began as World War I was coming to an end. Speaking of wars, I can only imagine what it was like when my family’s fourth-generation logistics company was founded as the U.S. Civil War was ending and the Reconstruction Era was beginning. Thankfully, the invention of the telephone and the electric light bulb a few years later brightened (pun intended) future prospects for success. Now 155 years later, JW Hampton continues to help importers and exporters by providing logistics solutions. From sole proprietors to multi-national corporations, across the country and around the world, we support our customers through
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recessions, depressions and booms; wars, pandemics and peaceful prosperity; good times, bad times and in-between times…and we will be here for decades to come. Another family run business, Musco Food was established during the 1926 recession followed by both Propper Manufacturing and Plaxall coming into existence just years after Disney did during the Great Depression. Post-WWII saw the beginnings of Gray Glass and then CityGates, which started in the wake of the Korean War. Then more recently amidst the recession of the early 1990s, Crystal Window & Door began manufacturing in Queens. Sure, we are living in a time of economic uncertainty to say the least, and many of us have more than our fair share of fears due to this pandemic. Let’s not stay socially distant though from our
entrepreneurial dreams. Like many of the founders of these multi-generational Queens-based companies, we too can choose our dreams over our fears. That’s not to say that there will not be more tough times ahead. That comes with the territory of being an entrepreneur. In the words of businessman and Shark Tank investor Daymond John who grew up in Hollis, “Everyone has an idea, but it’s taking those first steps toward turning that idea into a reality that are always the toughest” which is why he adds, “Don’t wait for the perfect time, you will wait forever.” So whether you want to invent a gadget or manufacture a widget or provide a much-needed service, what are you waiting for? A vaccine? We are fortunate to have a great partner in the team at our own Queens Chamber of Commerce, which began helping local businesses back in 1912 right between the panic of 1910 and the recession of 1913. They have a wealth of resources for us to utilize as we
Michael Shoule is vice president of JW Hampton and author of the children’s book My Daddy Loves Boston College Football. take this leap of faith and fortitude including their great Business Services Guide. Wishing you much patience, perseverance and productivity as you wake up, get up, and start-up. Please contact us at (718) 2760301 or visit jwhampton.com for any logistics-related questions, including duty rates, air/ocean freight, trucking, warehousing, and FDA regulations.
QBFC JOINS USL ACADEMY LEAGUE BY NOAH ZIMMERMAN Queensboro Football Club held tryouts for the club’s academy as they continue to build roots in Queens. Ahead of their 2022 debut in the USL Championship, QBFC’s academy will join the new USL Academy League, as the United Soccer League looks to build a stronger pipeline for local players to reach the professional level. “The QBFC Academy is a vital part of our success,” said club co-founder David Villa. “I believe our organization will do a worldclass job of finding, coaching, and elevating an incredible new generation of players for Queens, the United States, and beyond.” The Academy League is a huge step for the USL as a whole. The league is centered around communities, hoping to provide access to the world’s game on a local level
across the nation. The USL Academy League is composed of seven regions, with QBFC joining 12 other clubs in the Northeast. The other academies in the division include those from ten USL League Two teams, two from the USL Championship, and a NY Red Bulls affiliate. The inaugural Academy League season will kick off in Spring of 2021. “Having QBFC Academy participate in the inaugural season of the USL Academy League is a critical step for us in order to start playing competitively right away while building the foundation of our club’s Senior Team for 2022,” said technical director Luis Gutierrez. Gutierrez has plenty of experience in New York soccer, working with the NY Cosmos and capturing a NPSL title in 2015 with the B
team. “The Cosmos were a great experience for me to understand soccer in the US and New York,” he said. “At the beginning we were competing as a professional team, but the last two years it was more local and we played in a more amateur environment. It gave me a good understanding of soccer here and building a new club.” Up next for QBFC is creating the first roster as they look to build a team with local talent. Tryouts were held on November 4-5. For prospective players from Queens, registration fees were refunded, and the academy will be fully funded for its members,. “Most academies, not only in New York City but in the country, have the ‘pay to play’ format, but that is a model that has already CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11
FIRST-PERSON ACCOUNT
MANAGING A RESTAURANT IN A PANDEMIC
BY MELESSA CHAVES
same. Closing our dining section to the Our restaurant, Mateus’ Restau- public truly changed the dynamrant & Bar in Queens Village, is ic of our restaurant. We had to not just our busishift our focus ness, it’s a staple to takeout only, in the commuand we had to nity. depend on platWe are a Portuforms such as guese restaurant Uber Eats, Door that is familyDash and Grub owned and operHub, as well as ated since 1991. our own webWhen COVIDsite, to increase 19 became a our takeout volpandemic, our ume. restaurant decidWe encouned to keep our tered situadoors open and tions that really help our comshowed the munity. Melessa Chaves is co-manager struggles in We joined at Mateus’ Restaurant & Bar owning a small forces with ERA at 222-05 Jamaica Avenue in business. The Top Realty SerQueens Village. Learn more at struggle with vice, also locatmateusrestaurantqueens.com. platforms such ed in Queens as Uber Eats and Village, and delivered food to vari- Door Dash is how much of a comous hospitals, police precincts and mission fee they take out from your firehouses because we strongly earnings, ranging between 25 and believe that we are in this together. 30 percent. During this pandemic, the first In regards to our website, we responders gave it their all and encountered the issue of an alarmit was only right that we did the ing amount of fraudulent credit
cards being used. Although it was very discouraging to continue to use those platforms, we decided to push through and fight for lower commission rates and increased fraud protection. Next, let’s discuss outdoor dining in New York City. Many asked us why we didn’t offer outdoor dining, and to be honest we thought about it often. We even acquired the necessary permits for outdoor dining, but the cons just outweighed the pros. We are located on Jamaica Avenue, which is a heavily trafficked area, both for vehicles and pedestrians. The requirements for outdoor dining were that there had to be an eight-foot clearance for people walking on the sidewalks, as well as the tables had to be sixfeet apart. Realistically we were looking at only two or three tables. We decided against it because we felt our customers wouldn’t enjoy their meal while sitting next to the many cars and trucks driving by. We always want the dining experience to be serene and enjoyable at Mateus’ Restaurant & Bar. The COVID-19 pandemic changed our business dynamic on
March 17, when we had to close our dining and bar sections and refocus our restaurant. Fast-forward to September 30, approximately six months later, when we were finally able to reopen our dining room, but only if we adhere to strict regulations imposed by the mayor. Restaurants in New York City are only allowed 25 percent capacity, have to increase ventilation, take temperatures of all employees and customers, have a customer from each table fill out a “tracing form,” provide sanitizers and masks to customers. It also goes without saying that we have to do lots of our own sanitizing. Although we are limited to 25 percent capacity, it’s great to see our customers returning to the “norm” of dining out with us and expressing how much they missed our food and hospitality. We are optimistic that soon our restaurant can resume business as usual, and grateful to have dedicated staff members and loyal customers who have always been here to help and support our small business.
CITY ISSUES REGS FOR WINTER OUTDOOR DINING BY SARA KREVOY The days are growing shorter and chillier, but curbside tables and chairs will be a persistently familiar sight, as the City Council officially set outdoor dining in stone. The legislation, which calls for an extension of the current program’s deadline through September 2021 and for the city to allow restaurants to use propane heaters for patrons seated outside, was introduced by Councilman Antonio Reynoso of Queens and Brooklyn last month. Passed nearly unanimously, the bill also requires the city to create a permanent replacement outdoor dining program, one that would incorporate roadway seating.
“This is a huge win for the restaurant industry and its workers, diners, and the morale of residents,” said Reynoso. “New York City’s outdoor dining program has been a remarkable success. Now, by making outdoor dining permanent and allowing for the use of outdoor heating lamps, my bill will allow for the continuation of the program into the colder months.” Propane heaters were previously barred from outdoor dining establishments. Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio, along with the FDNY, and departments of Transportation and Buildings, released guidelines for eateries to use the devices in a manner that ensures the “safety and health” of diners, employees and pedestrians. Interested restaurants have three
heating options for outdoor dining: electric heaters are permitted for sidewalk and roadway setups; natural gas heaters compliant with the city’s Fire Code are allowed for sidewalk use only; and portable propane heaters are also limited to sidewalk seating only and will be regulated by the FDNY. City agencies involved have indicated they will streamline the permitting process in order to make installing outdoor heaters as easy as possible for businesses, while strictly adhering to safety protocols. The city’s decision to extend its outdoor dining programs and implement propane heating has been applauded by hospitality industry leaders, as well as business officials, including Queens
Chamber of Commerce CEO Tom Grech. “Restaurants are the backbone of New York City’s economy, and the economies of neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs, but the past several months have been devastating to the industry,” he said. “Tens of thousands of New Yorkers have lost their jobs as small business owners have struggled to make payroll and keep their doors open. “Outdoor dining has not just been a hit with restaurant goers, it has allowed our cherished neighborhood establishments to keep New Yorkers employed and bring in some desperately needed revenue,” added Grech. “We are delighted that the program has been made permanent.”
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QUEENS CHAMBER NEWS & EVENTS
CHAMBER WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS WEPRIN BRINGS INSIDER’S MARK WEPRIN KNOWLEDGE TO CHAMBER BY BENJAMIN FANG
work in Queens,” Weprin said. “I’m trying to emphasize to them With nearly 25 years in city and that jobs are our friends, and jobs state government, former Coun- will support the city as we move cilman and Assemblyman Mark forward.” As a former elected official Weprin is bringing an insider’s perspective as the newest addition who represented a section of the to the Queens Chamber’s Board of borough, Weprin said he recognizes how much Directors. Weprin served “There’s so much untapped opportunity there potential in Queens, so in the state is in Queens. many people moving in and Assembly from He believes jobs being created.” 1994 to 2009, the Queens chairing the Chamber in parSmall Business Committee and the ticular has been a credible and Jewish Legislative Caucus. From strong voice on behalf of the bor2010 to 2015, he served in the City ough in terms of job development, Council representing a district in training and promoting industries. eastern Queens. He believes the next ten years in potential in Queens, so many peoDuring his tenure in the coun- Queens will be very exciting. ple moving in and jobs being crecil, Weprin was both the chair “There’s so much untapped ated,” he said. “We want to make of the Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises, as well as the chair of the Queens Delegation. In June 2015, Weprin was appointed BY BENJAMIN FANG the Dominic A. Murray 21 Memoas Deputy Secretary of Legislarial Foundation following the tragic tive Affairs for Governor Andrew When Melinda Murray-Nyack death of her son Dominic, a seemCuomo, a role he held until Janu- was invited to join the Queens ingly healthy 17-year-old basketball ary 2017. Chamber’s Board of Directors, she player. Since then, he has worked as a only took 20 minutes to think about Dominic collapsed and died on shareholder with the international it before accepting the offer. the basketball court at Farminglaw firm Greenberg Traurig, where “I wasn’t going to let that oppor- dale State College, despite having he represents clients in legislative tunity go by,” she said. received medical clearance to play and regulatory matters with variMurray-Nyack has been a mem- college sports. He suffered from a ous levels of government. ber of the chamcongenital heart Weprin said he understands how ber for the past “It’s a tremendous oppor- defect that went tunity to jump in, roll up government programs can be used year, taking an undetected. my sleeves and take it to to promote Queens businesses. active role in the “No child the next level to provide “There’s a lot of perspective I Health and Wellshould die playcan offer to the chamber,” he said. ness Committee. services and opportunities ing the sport they throughout Queens.” “I have a unique insight on how She said the comlove,” she said. government works, and what needs mittee opened her After losing to be done in order to accomplish eyes to the various health needs of her only child, Murray-Nyack cregoals in Queens.” Queens. ated the foundation, which trains the As a longtime Democrat, the She said she’s proud and honored public in CPR and the use of autoformer legislator said he believes to have been asked to join the board, mated external defibrillators (AED). government can help lift people which she believes is a “prestigious It is also advocating to change laws up and be a “saving grace” in group of trendsetters, business own- related to AED and the screening of people’s lives. He has continually ers and like-minded people.” student-athletes. emphasized, especially to the more “It’s a tremendous opportunity to Murray-Nyack said the foundaprogressive wing of the party, that jump in, roll up my sleeves and take tion also provides free and affordin order to pay for government it to the next level to provide ser- able heart screenings. programs, the city and state need vices and opportunities throughout By joining the Queens Chamto build the tax base. Queens,” Murray-Nyack said. ber board, Murray-Nyack said the “We need jobs, tourism and In 2010, Murray-Nyack founded organization can help bring that type
sure to foster that moving forward to have Queens as an economic engine for the city.”
MURRAY-NYACK BRINGS HEALTH EXPERTISE
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MELINDA MURRAY
of knowledge and information to businesses across the borough. She believes that the chamber’s Health and Wellness Committee is also in alignment with the goals of the foundation. “We want to equip and build up these businesses to make sure they are safe,” she said. “I think I can bring something to the table that can continue the growth of the Queens Chamber.”
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COVER STORY
LEE HELPS LEAD F&T THROUGH PANDEMIC MAKES CASE FOR SPECIAL FLUSHING WATERFRONT DISTRICT BY BENJAMIN FANG Although Asian-Americans are the fastest growing demographic in the United States, they face the challenge of the “bamboo ceiling,” a set of barriers that exclude AsianAmericans from upper management positions in the workplace. For Helen Lee, executive vice president of F&T Group, she also had to overcome the glass ceiling as a female executive in the real estate industry. An immigrant from Taiwan, Lee said she proudly embraces her Asian-American “dual identity,” which she said allows her to see things through two different lenses. “We’ve made great strides in breaking both barriers,” she said. “I’m continuously optimistic we can do that.”
Arguably the most prominent real estate company in Flushing, F&T Group’s portfolio includes properties like Flushing Mall, Queens Crossing, One Fulton Square and Flushing Commons. Founded by chairman and CEO Michael Lee, the company was established as TAFA Development Corp., which was named after Lee’s family’s shipping company in his native Taiwan. In 1996, Lee and Sunny Chiu, the company’s vice chairman, partnered to form what is now F&T Group. The company’s portfolio extends beyond Flushing, with projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn and even Nanjing, China. In addition to its headquarters in Flushing, F&T Group also has an office in Shanghai. While Lee and Chiu have made
a name for themselves in the real estate industry, the future of the company lies with Helen Lee, who joined her father’s company as executive vice president in February 2014. Lee oversees the company’s day-to-day corporate and business functions, as well as the overall management and strategic direction of the firm alongside her father. She is responsible for the development, master planning, asset management, leasing, sales, as well as marketing and branding efforts for the company. A graduate of Harvard University, the Barlett School of Architecture at University College London and New York University’s Stern School of Business, Lee was previously a director at Onex Real Estate Partners, the real estate arm of the private equity fund Onex, which has $30 billion of assets under management. She also worked at the master planning firm Edaw, which is now
AECOM, as well as the real estate advisory firm Gerald Eve in London. A mother of two kids, Lee said she knows how difficult it is to succeed in a “high-octane industry” like real estate. “We have to give working mothers the tools to be successful,” she said, “but also balance work and home life.” Lee helped lead F&T Group through the last six months, which she described as challenging. She said her company was ahead of the pandemic in comparison to the rest of the city and country, largely due to their cultural ties to Asia. “We knew to wear masks,” she said. “On top of that, we were having to deal with a lot of racial discrimination from people for wearing masks.” The company’s phones rang “off the hook” from tenants who were panicking, Lee said. When the state instituted the shelter-in-place policy that shut down New York, Lee said
An artist’s rendering of the proposed project and how the property looks today (inset). (Courtesy F&T Group)
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November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11
COVER STORY they were working around the clock with all their small business tenants to structure rent abatements and navigate city programs. The silver lining, Lee said, was that the crisis showed how strong their relationships were with tenants, which she said was due to having been in the community for so long. F&T Group also had to shut down construction and the hundreds of workers at Tangram, the company’s 1.2 million-square foot mixed-use development on 39th Avenue in Flushing. “The whole supply chain was affected,” Lee said. “It sent us into a crazy tailspin.” Forced to adapt quickly, F&T Group began doing closings on residences virtually, and shut down its construction sites. The company learned to stay calm, pivot quickly, be decisive and not make decisions based on fear. One of the big projects that was put on hold was the Special Flushing Waterfront District (SFWD), a 29-acre, privately-owned site along the Flushing Creek that F&T Group, United Construction & Development Group and the Young Nian Group plan to develop. The project, which is nearing the end of the city’s Uniformed Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP), would bring 1,725 units of housing, including up to 90 affordable apartments, in 13 buildings, along with offices, shops and hotels. Lee touted all of the benefits the project would bring to the community, from the expanded public shore walkway that provides recreational open spaces to the privately funded but publicly used road network, which she believes would alleviate the congestion problem in downtown Flushing. The developers behind the Special Flushing Waterfront District would also remediate the creek with city and state oversight. Lee said if the property owners built their own projects as of right, they wouldn’t have to seek city or state approvals. She noted that for more than 25 years, the Flushing waterfront became more polluted and often smells like rotten eggs.
Helen Lee on the Flushing waterfront where the proposed project would be built. “I don’t think the community wants to associate Flushing with that smell anymore,” she said. Lee also emphasized the 3,000 jobs that would be created by the project, not just in construction, but also in finance, legal, design, building services and much more. There would also be a workforce training component that is targeted for people who need it the most. “It’s what Queens really needs right now,” she said. She said the waterfront district would result in $165 million annually in tax revenue “to revitalize our neighborhood,” including $115 million from property taxes alone. “Think about how the city can benefit from that,” Lee added. The developers behind the SFWD also see building out the waterfront as a legacy project. Lee called it the “last frontier” for Flushing, the last real piece of land that developers can stitch together into a project they believe will benefit the community. Though each of the developers could have built their own developments on their sites years ago, they were convinced by city officials to collaborate and create a unifying
district for the waterfront. “This is the last opportunity, there’s no turning back,” she said. “Let’s put the politics aside and do what’s really best for Flushing.” Often referred to as a “second Chinatown,” Lee said she always cringes at that description of the neighborhood. Though it was dilapidated and lacked public and private investment, she said F&T Group knew Flushing was unique. “My father wanted Flushing to stand on its own and be a dynamic cultural hub,” she said. “Places like this need to attract public and private investment. You have to stay authentic to your community.” With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, Lee said it’s hard to think about the future too much because of the uncertainty. For now, the company is focused on finishing the construction at Tangram while maintaining the safety and health of the workers. The company also wants to guide the Special Flushing Waterfront District through the final stages of ULURP. “We’re always looking for other opportunities,” she said. Lee noted that the politics of the
city is an important factor in how developers act in the long term. She noted that large real estate projects, such as the Industry City rezoning, were shut down in recent months, and believes those decisions reflect an anti-real estate and development push. “In New York City, real estate development is already challenging as it is,” she said. “It’s the most highly regulated market in the country. “The anti-development politics will influence where we develop and build,” Lee added. “It will force us to rethink where to put our private dollars.” She believes the Special Flushing Waterfront District, as well as the city elections in 2021, will be a litmus test for how that anti-development movement will manifest. With the effects of the COVID19 pandemic still affecting Flushing and New York City at large, Lee believes projects like the SFWD are needed now more than ever. “The impact of COVID will set us back for years, that’s why we cannot sit still,” she said. “We’ve got to keep moving forward and push progress and growth.”
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QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
CLOSING OUT 2020 ON A HIGH NOTE BY KATIE WELNHOFER Production and entertainment have arguably been two of the hardest hit industries from the coronavirus pandemic. To that end, the many vendors who rely on the performance of those sectors have been directly impacted, including Queens Chamber member Edge Auto Rental. Edge is one of the largest independently owned car rental companies on the east coast for entertainment and production. The company saw dramatic declines in utilization when the city implemented its first set of quarantine regulations in mid-March, and like many other small businesses, was forced to furlough staff members, develop new COVID-friendly processes, and rethink its model in order to gain business from customers outside of its typical core. During the early months of the pandemic, Edge supplied its vehicles to nonprofit organizations who transported necessary supplies to hospitals and meals to the elderly.
Edge co-owner William Harris, who was recently elected treasurer of the American Car Rental Association (ACRA) board, worked closely with car rental company leaders to develop a set of protocols for the transportation industry that met state and CDC guidelines, as well as other mandatory requirements. These protocols kept the health and safety of customers at the forefront and set the standard for the transportation industry. Using those protocols as a basis, Edge developed its own unique procedures to clean its vehicles and to maintain safe, sanitary conditions in and around its two locations in Brooklyn and Queens. The company has increased its cleaning procedures to its office and surrounding facilities. Every vehicle is now thoroughly wiped down with a high-grade disinfectant and multi-purpose cleaner upon return from rental, and once again prior to its next rental. Lot attendants and cleaning staff
have been instructed to pay extra provide a safe and sanitary experiattention to armrests, door handles, ence for its customers. The comsteering wheels, dashboards, rear- pany recently implemented a new view mirrors, seats, and consoles. software program that allows for Upon request, Edge will even touchless check-in and check-out. install plastic dividers between This process has so far been wellseats to ensure the comreceived by customers, as fort and safety of its cusit allows for a quicker tomers. and more seamless rental Additionally, Edge is experience, while allowensuring its employees ing for social distancing have the hygiene prodprotocols to be followed ucts, personal protective with ease. equipment, and resources In the past several necessary to stay healthy. months, most significantThe company encourages Katie Welnhofer ly after the Labor Day frequent handwashing is vice president holiday, Edge has seen an and maintains abundant uptick in utilization, sugof Operations cleaning supplies and for Edge Auto gesting a strong recovery Rental. sanitary drying towels at is in store for the car and all times. truck rental business, and All staff members wear face potentially also for the entertaincoverings, gloves, and maintain ment and production industries to proper distance from coworkers which it caters. and customers. Frontline staff use As studios, production compaalcohol-based hand sanitizer, sani- nies, and filmmakers of all sizes tizing wipes and disinfectants, and resume filming in this “new norhave been instructed to frequently mal” environment, Edge will conwipe down high-touch areas such tinue to adapt its business model as computers, phones, iPads, desks, to serve its customers’ needs while and countertops. ensuring compliance with safety Edge has longer-term plans to regulations as they are implementensure the company continues to ed
LOOKING TO BUILD CLUB THROUGH QUEENS YOUTH CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
proved that it’s not working to find talent and to develop players in the country,” said Gutierrez. “This is a way to show that we’re committed to the community and local talent in Queens and with the players that haven’t had the opportunities to reach academies because they don’t have resources,” he added. “We feel we have to open that door to everyone in Queens.” With an extra year to prepare, the Queensboro FC front office feels like they have ample time to create something special in the borough. “I go every weekend to Flushing Meadows Park and I can see young talented kids playing there,” said Gutierrez. “You can see that Queens has a lot of potential in soc-
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cer that we have to take advantage of. Providing an opportunity for them is a win-win for the players and our club,” Head coach Josep Gombau has experience building academies, helping build FC Barça Escola and spending time with youth teams. “I like this kind of job, I like to work with young players and to know every single player in the academy,” said Gombau. “I think it’s part of our job as coaches and it will help me learn about New York, Queens, and USL soccer.” Both Gombau and Gutierrez have seen promise in youth soccer in the US, as well as what some of the brightest young USMNT stars are doing abroad in Europe. “A lot of people are watching how young players from the US are
doing well in Europe and playing in the top leagues and against the best competition in the world,” said Gombau. “Ten years ago, young players saw this possibility as very far, but now they’re watching the games and they want to achieve the same themselves.” There is plenty of work to do, especially in a constantly changing situation. The pandemic has made soccer difficult on a youth and amateur level, but many clubs and leagues are returning to play. “We’re in a situation where it’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen, but we feel we’re doing things in the right way,” said Gutierrez. “Everybody is very excited because we know what we’re creating is something very nice and
something different,” added Gombau. “I hope the people in Queens will love what we are doing.”
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QUEENS CHAMBER MEMBER NEWS
CONTROL ELECTROPOLISHING TURNS 61
BY ERIDANIA COMPRES
Control Electropolishing Corporation, an electropolishing and metal finishing company based in Brooklyn, is celebrating its 61st anniversary of providing corrosion-resistant stainless-steel medical components to a wide range of industries. Ever since it was founded, Control Electropolishing Corporation’s main goal has been offering unmatched quality, performance, and reliability. Meeting customer requirements and market needs has allowed Control Electropolishing Corp. to build solid leadership and place itself in the most preferred position in the United States. Control Electropolishing Corporation uses the latest technology and most sophisticated process system in the metal finishing industry in the USA, providing the tristate area with high-grade finished materials that meet individual industry guidelines. In 2007, the company expanded their process line by establishing a brand-new Pickling and Passivating system. This was made possible due to funding from
the state Department of Economic Development’s Environmental Services Unit. We also replaced the use of nitric acid with environmentally friendlier citric acid. Electropolishing improves the sterilization of the metal by reducing the total surface area and the contaminate adhesion process. The process reduces surface susceptibility, increasing the metal’s resistance to harmful bacteria. This is particularly crucial in limiting the spread of diseases like
COVID-19. The result is a clean and uniform micro-finish that is bright and highly reflective. The company that had very humble beginnings 61 years ago is today an ambitious and vigorous metal finishing complex, whose dynamism contributes to the regional and general economy of the United States of America. The basis for development and growth has been the combination of the best technology, diversity, quality, respect, best staff, a safe environment for all, and the care and dedication in the production processes until products get to the hands of customers. On our 61st anniversary we
reconfirm the loyalty to the fundamentals and principles that we started with. Our current leadership in the market motivates us to continue offering the best of us as a company. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique challenges to the company and the industry at large, challenges that have required ingenuity, creativity, and an unwavering drive to succeed. Considered an essential business, Control Electropolishing Corporation has remained open and ready for business, supporting its customers with their services, and sustaining over 25 families with continued employment.
PA ROLLS OUT ELECTRIC FLEET
Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton (third from right) called the shuttles a “home run.” BY BENJAMIN FANG
Eridania Compres is a marketing executive with Control Electropolishing Corporation.
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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is one step closer to meeting its sustainability and environmental goals. Last month, the agency unveiled its fleet of 36 zero emissions shuttle buses and 19 accompanying charging stations at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports. The shuttles, which travel between terminals and parking garages and also provide employee travel around
the airports, are clean, quiet and efficient, according to Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton. “We regard climate change as an existential problem,” Cotton said. “We are committed at the Port Authority to take one step to reduce our impact on the environment.” In 2018, the Port Authority adopted a sustainability agenda that embraced the goals of the Paris Climate Accords, making it the first public transportation agency to do so. Cotton said the agency set out
12 specific initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint, one of which was to convert its airport shuttle buses to all electric by the end of 2020. “We’ve been able to acquire the buses, get them inspected, and get them licensed and in operation three months ahead of our original timetable,” he said. The conversion to an electric fleet is projected to save a combined total of approximately 1,600 tons of CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11
QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS NOVEMBER 11/6, 1 PM
FACEBOOK LIVE: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Councilwoman Adrienne Adams will share her thoughts about reopening of business, the impact of the pandemic on her constituents and other relevant topics. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 11/10, 1 PM
VIRTUAL MANUFACTURING TOUR - CONTROL ELECTROPOLISHING CORP.
The Manufacturing Committee invites you to join them on a virtual tour of Control Electropolishing. This is an opportunity to go inside and see how yet another Queens manufacturer operates. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 11/10, 2 PM
DIGITAL MARKETING 101 FOR BUSINESS OWNERS
Join this action packed webinar for business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to boost their digital marketing skills and online presence. Get the valuable tools you’ll need for: Search Engine Optimization, Strategy, Content, Social Media, and Email marketing. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 11/12, 9 AM
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
The Queens Chamber of Commerce is committed to maximizing your membership. If you’re a new member and have yet to participate in an orientation, please register to join us virtually. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 10/16 9:30 AM
QCIC OPEN HOUSE: AVISON YOUNG - CAN REAL ESTATE SURVIVE?
Join Marty Cottingham, a real estate veteran at Avison Young, as he leads an indepth discussion: “Does Place Still Matter? Succeeding in Real Estate in an Age of E-commerce.” He will also tie in his career, how he got started, and the current landscape of the real estate world. This discussion will be geared towards local college students and recent grads. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
11/13, 9:30 AM
MANAGING EMPLOYEES AND CONFLICT IN A CULTURALLY DIVERSE WORKPLACE
This program will provide the necessary cultural awareness skills and offer guidance from both a practical and legal perspective as to how a supervisor can effectively promote a positive and respectful atmosphere in the workplace. With guest speaker Joshua Bienstock of the New York Institute of Technology School of Management. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 11/17, 9 AM
HOW DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION DRIVES BUSINESS GROWTH: EQUIPPING YOUR ORGANIZATION FOR THE FUTURE
Join Business Strategist and Diversity & Inclusion Specialist Susan Ganz as she hosts a live panel to discuss how business leaders can use diversity and inclusion to create stronger work environments and drive business growth right here in Queens. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 11/17, 2 PM
EMPLOYEE MENTAL HEALTH
The year 2020 has been an exceptionally challenging one for individuals and business owners. This session will provide the small business owner with tools to offer mental health assistance in a manner that supports their staff and maintains their bottom line. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 11/25, 9 AM
HOWARD BEACH HOLIDAY LIGHTS 2020
Come and celebrate the festivities organized by Howard Beach Hope. Even in these unprecedented times, over 100 businesses have come together in order to bring the spirit of the season to the community. Cross Bay Boulevard Howard Beach 11/25, 9 AM
MIDDLE VILLAGE HOLIDAY LIGHTS 2020
Come and celebrate the festivities sponsored by the Queens Chamber of Commerce and Councilman Robert Holden. The lights are made possible through the support of the Middle Village Chamber of Commerce. Metropolitan Avenue Middle Village, NY
DECEMBER 12/2, 9 AM
FIRST WEDNESDAY - COFFEE, COMMERCE & CONNECTIONS
Join Doug Wendt from Wendt Partners, who will discuss “The Power of the Pivot.” During these challenging times it’s important to have strategies in place for a sustainable operations and future growth. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org 12/18, 9:30 AM
MEDIATION SKILLS: TECHNIQUES TO RESOLVE THIRD-PARTY DISPUTES
Developing and expanding your mediation skills can help keep everyone focused on their key goals and away from unnecessary and counterproductive conflict. VIRTUAL Register at queenschamber.org
ELECTRIC BUSES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16
greenhouse gas emissions and about 24,000 gallons of diesel fuel annually. It will also eliminate 12,000 pounds of nitrous oxide and 900 pounds of particulate matter each year. Altogether, the Port Authority is seeking to achieve a 35 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2025, and 80 percent by 2050, as outlined in the Paris Climate Accords. Another step the agency has taken is converting 130 of its light-duty vehicles, which are used by employees and police officers, to electric. By 2030, the agency is aiming to convert over 600 of its light-duty vehicles, or half of the fleet, to electric. Other sustainability goals include renewable energy commitments, improved energy efficiency and improving rail mass transit links to the three airports. Cotton noted that while the electric bus fleet is more expensive to buy initially, the cost savings over the life of the bus means it’s no more expensive to the operation when viewed in terms of life-cycle costs. Julie Tighe, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said in a statement that travelers, airport workers and the communities living near the airports should not have to breathe in dirty diesel bus fumes. “Electrifying buses improves public health, enhances air quality and slashes transportation emissions,” Tighe said, “the sector which is the leading contributor to climate change.”
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ISLANDERS PUT FINAL BEAM ON NEW ARENA
BY BENJAMIN FANG The construction of UBS Arena at Belmont Park, the new home of the New York Islanders, reached a significant milestone on Friday. Last month, state officials gathered with Islanders ownership, supporters and partners to celebrate the topping off of the $1.3 billion stadium. With the installation of the highest steel beam at the facility, the project is now on pace to open ahead of the 2021-2022 National Hockey League (NHL) season. Eric Gertler, president and CEO of Empire State Development, said the ceremony marks a major step forward in bringing the Islanders home. “I know it’s tough to picture, especially after everything we’ve gone through over the last seven months, but someday soon, the world will get back to normal,” he said. “We will pack this stadium, where we will yell and scream alongside our fellow New Yorkers, 19,000 of them, and cheer for the New York Islanders.” The construction for the stadium
was paused for two months when COVID-19 struck, but the union workers made up the time to put the project back on schedule. First announced in December 2017, UBS Arena is the centerpiece of the $1.3 billion Belmont Park Redevelopment Project, which is converting 43 acres of underused parking lots at the site into a sports and hospitality destination. The second and third phases of the redevelopment plan will bring a hotel, office space and retail village to Belmont Park. The MTA will also build a new Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) station at Elmont, with the arena developers paying for the majority of the station. According to state officials, the Elmont stop will be the first new LIRR station built in decades. “This will be a home fit for a storied franchise,” said Steve Cohen, board chair of Empire State Development. “A team that won four Stanley Cups and is poised for more.” According to Cohen, the project is creating 10,000 construction jobs and generating $2.7 billion in eco-
nomic activity. Once the project is complete, the developments are expected to create 3,200 permanent full-time jobs, produce $858 million in annual economic activity, and generate tens of millions of dollars in new annual tax revenue for the state. Cohen, a longtime hockey fan, said the Islanders belong on Long Island because the team is “connected to the identity and pride” of the area. “Generations of families from the island grew up watching games played by the Islanders in a stadium on Long Island,” he said. “I have no doubt the Islanders will have great success in this new home.” Jon Ledecky, co-owner of the Islanders, said he was in awe of the work done by the people who built the arena. “This will be our home, but it will always be your legacy,” he said. “UBS Arena will be first class and second to none.” Joining Ledecky on stage were former Islanders stars Butch Goring, John Tonelli and Clark Gilles,
Former Islanders stars Butch Goring, John Tonelli and Clark Gilles were part of the topping-off ceremony.
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all of whom helped the team win four Stanley Cups. They all signed the steel beam that was eventually lifted by crane to the highest point in the facility. Ledecky said he and fellow coowner Scott Malkin are “only temporary stewards” of the franchise. He said he sees their responsibility as protecting the team and building a community trust. “We have an obligation to always do what’s right for the fans and Long Island,” he said. “That’s what UBS Arena is all about: protecting and growing the franchise for the future, while building up the community for generations to come.” The Islanders initially left their longtime home at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 2015 after their lease expired, moving to the Barclays Center in Downtown Brooklyn for several years. Between 2018 and 2020, however, the team split their home schedule between the Barclays Center and the coliseum, which was closed for two years for a major renovation. The franchise plans to play their home games at the coliseum for the 2020-2021 season before moving to their new home at UBS Arena for the 20212022 season. The Islanders co-owner said their new home will “stand as a beacon” of strength, hope, resilience, achievement and community. He said he hopes its development will reinvigorate New York’s economy and help the state come back stronger than ever before. “We are so delighted that we can give you this permanent home,” Ledecky said in a message to Islanders fans. “There will be so many great nights here, so many great wins, and so much joy as we go and try to create the environment that’s necessary to win that fifth ring.” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he was delighted to see the progress made with the arena. “In a time of uncertainty, difficulty and really anxiety for so many people, this represents a point of normalcy,” Bettman said at the ceremony. “It gives us a hope and a prospect to focus on for our future, which will be bright.”
November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 82ND STREET PARTNERSHIP
37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Executive Director: Leslie Ramos 718.335.9421 82ndstreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with
more than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The district is on 82nd Street from 37th Avenue to Baxter Avenue. The board meets quarterly with the annual meeting in June. There are free immigration services every Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 71-29 Roosevelt Avenue. All services are free, confidential and open to any member of the community. Some of the services include DACA, TPS and document replacement and renewal. Call (212) 652-2071 with any questions.
ASIAN AMERICAN FEDERATION
120 Wall Street, 9th Fl New York, NY 10005 aafederation.org QUICK GLANCE: The Asian American Federation’s mission is to raise the influence and well-being of the pan-Asian American community through research, policy advocacy, public awareness and organizational development. Established in 1989, the Federation is a panAsian non-profit organization representing a network of community service agencies in the Northeast. These agencies work in the fields of health & human services, education, economic development, civic participation, and social justice.
BAYSIDE VILLAGE BID
213-33 39th Avenue, Bayside, NY 11361 Executive Director: Christine Siletti 718.423.2434 info@baysidevillagebid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $218,000 and
over 350 members. Founded in 2007, the BID includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.
BAYSIDE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION 41-16 Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361 President: Ed Probst Vice President: Judith Limpert 718.229.2277 info@baysideba.com baysideba.com QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2007, the BID
includes commercial property owners and residents on Bell Boulevard between 35th Avenue and Northern Boulevard, as well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue.
BUSINESS CENTER FOR NEW AMERICANS (BCNA)
78-27 37 Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Business Development: Tshering Gurung 347.730.6468 tgurung@nycbcna.org QUICK GLANCE: Since 1997, BCNA has been
serving New York City entrepreneurs. BCNA is an approved Small Business Administration
We're Growing! Our “Madeleine Team” has been serving the Forest Hills community for over 35 years. We can help you with co-ops, condos, houses, rentals, and estate consultations, as well as relocations anywhere in the world.
Brown Harris Stevens Forest Hills, LLC 108-23 Ascan Avenue jambron@bhsusa.com
Learn more at
718-520-0303
Intermediary Lender and a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI). BCNA’s Microloan program is the cornerstone of its services. They provide small business loans and microloans to business owners who are not able to obtain loans from traditional lenders.
BUSINESS OUTREACH CENTER NETWORK (BOC, INC.)
85 S. Oxford Street #2 Brooklyn, NY 11217 718.624.9115 bocnet.org QUICK GLANCE: Business Outreach Center Network’s mission is to improve the economic prospects of traditionally underserved groups, with a focus on low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs and their communities, and thereby create genuinely brighter futures. At the heart of our mission is the belief that whatever their differences, people and communities share a common goal: to achieve economic stability and growth. Working in partnership with culturally diverse individuals and organizations in support of this shared goal is the hallmark of BOC.
CHHAYA CDC
37-43 77th Street, #2 Jackson Heights, NY 11372 718.478.3848 chhayacdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Core to our strategy is organizing and advocating for systemic changes that remove the barriers to well-being, housing stability, and economic mobility for our communities. For over 20 years, Chhaya has served tens of thousands of individuals and led the charge on key policy issues for immigrants, such as basement legalization, language access, tenants’ rights, and more.
CHINATOWN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION (CHINATOWN PARTNERSHIP)
217 Park Row, 2nd Floor, Suite 9 New York, NY 10038 chinatownpartnership.org QUICK GLANCE: Chinatown Partnership, led by Wellington Chen, was formed in 2006 as new start-up from grounds up to bring residents, business owners and community groups together to rebuild Chinatown following 9/11, and to preserve the neighborhood’s unique culture while ensuring its vitality in the future through strategic positioning. With the highly popular Weekend Walks street festive series, Mid-Autumn Festival, One Day in NYC, annual Beautification/Earth Day, East West Parade with Little Italy, Double Valentine’s Day to promote the softer side of
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES Chinatown and the Jewelry District and all the cafes, eateries in the area. Explore Chinatown marketing initiative, Lunar Stages outdoor film screenings, and Taste of Chinatown street events, Chinatown Partnership helps promote the area as a special destination to live, work, and visit.
FOREST HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 751123, Forest Hills, NY 11375 President: Leslie Brown 718.268.6565 FHChamber11375@gmail.com FHChamber@aol.com QUICK GLANCE: Re-formed in 1995, the group
has over 225 members. Chamber meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month at 9 a.m. at the West Side Tennis Club, 1 Tennis Place, in Forest Hills.
GATEWAY JFK
Executive Director: Scott Grimm-Lyon 516.730.3400 info@GatewayJFK.org GatewayJFK.org QUICK GLANCE: Formerly the Greater JFK
Industrial BID and founded in 2016, the group seeks to provide support to the off-airport air cargo and services district through supplemental services and improvements, technical and professional services for its members, and advocacy and administration.
GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
39-01 Main Street, Suite 511, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and repre-
senting over 200 businesses.
GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
90-04 161st Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 President: Hope Knight 718.291.0282 gjdc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1967, the group
has 75 members. GJDC’s work expands economic opportunity and improves quality of life for the ethnically and economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth.
GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID 84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421
20
718.805.0202 gwdcbid@hotmail.com woodhavenbid.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $257,000 with
The LIC Partnership operates the LIC Business Improvement District and the LIC Industrial Business Zone.
more than 350 businesses under its umbrella on Jamaica Avenue from Dexter Court to 100th Street. They are providing free benches for store owners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans.
MASPETH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
JAMAICA CENTER BID
120 members and a budget of $115,000.
161-10 Jamaica Avenue, Suite 419 Jamaica, NY 11432 Executive Director: Jennifer Furioli 718.526.2422 jamaica.nyc @JamCenterBID (Twitter) @jamcenterbid (Instagram) @Jamaica Center BID (Facebook) QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1979, the Jamaica
Center BID serves over 400 businesses on Jamaica Avenue between Sutphin Boulevard and 169th Street. With a budget of over $1 million, the BID’s goal is to promote and maintain Downtown Jamaica as a thriving business hub and an enjoyable destination to shop, work, live and visit.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
P.O. Box 300687, Jamaica, NY 11430 Executive Director: Clorinda Antonucci President: Al DePhillips Vice President: Joseph Morra JFKCoCExec@gmail.com jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group
has over 200 members. The chamber was chartered in 1978 by a group of business people in and around JFK Airport. It is the only airport in the nation to have its own Chamber of Commerce. The chamber seeks to create an environment in which members of the business community can work together to enhance the growth, well being and economic development of the airport community and its aviation industry.
LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP
President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 longislandcityqueens.com QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1979, the Long
Island City Partnership advocates for economic development that benefits LIC’s industrial, commercial, cultural and residential sectors. The goal is to attract new businesses to the neighborhood, retain those already here, welcome new residents and visitors, and promote a vibrant and authentic mixed-use community.
P.O. Box 780265, Maspeth, NY 11378 President: David Daraio 718.335.1300 maspethchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1953, they have
MASPETH INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (MIBA)
BOC: 96-11 40th Road, Corona, NY 11368 Coordinator: Quincy Ely-Cate 718.205.3773 qelycate@bocnet.org mibanyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Covering roughly 600 busi-
nesses with 30 active members, the Maspeth Industrial Business Association provides a collective voice in advocating the needs and interests of industrial and manufacturing businesses in Maspeth. They help companies in the Maspeth Industrial District in developing workforce, accessing tax credits, obtaining financing, navigating government regulations and, in some cases, finding real estate.
MIDDLE VILLAGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
79-47 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, NY 11379 President: Salvatore Crifasi 718.894.8700 Sal@Crifasi.com QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $8,000 with 35
businesses under its umbrella. Formed in 1929. MVCC meets annually and focuses on the Metropolitan Avenue shopping district between 69 and 80th streets. The mission is to improve the area and assist local businesses if they have any concerns or needs.
MURRAY HILL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OF NY
P.O. Box 1897 New York, NY 10156 212.886.5867 murrayhillnyc.org QUICK GLANCE: Murray Hill is a unique residential neighborhood in midtown Manhattan. While there is no formal boundary for the neighborhood, the area served by The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association and its sister organization the Manhattan East Community Association (MECA) extends from Fifth Avenue eastward to the East River and from 42nd Street down to 26th Street (encompassing the 10016 postal code).
November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11
NEW MEMBERS MAJOR CORPORATE
Ravenswood Generating 1700 Broadway, 35th Floor New City, NY 10019 ravenswoodgenerating.com
INTRODUCTORY
G&G Grocery, Inc. 8707 Grand Avenue Elmhurst, NY 11373
Manhattan Signs
91 Tulip Avenue, KD1 Floral Park, NY 11001 manhattansignco.com
MedStartr Direct LLC
210 E. Sunrise Hwy, Suite 304 Valley Stream, NY 11581 medstart.com
Paul Davis Restoration of Metro NY 241-45 Braddock Avenue Bellerose, NY 11426
Pinnacle Urology, P.C. 13-38 41st Road, Suite 2D Flushing, NY 11355
Resource Capital Solution, LLC 140-11 159th Street Jamaica, NY 11434 resourcecapitalsolutions.com
Stacey Pamela Klein Esq., PLLC 3 Grace Avenue, Suite 100 Great Neck, NY 11021 staceykleinlaw.com
Sun-Q Inc.
PO Box 1773 Mineola, NY 11501 sunqueens.org
World’s Fair Marina Restaurant and Banquet Hall 1 Marina Road Corona, NY 11368
CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 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.
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. Register online for upcoming virtual events, including:
ROCKAWAY BUSINESS ALLIANCE
info@rockawaybusinessalliance.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $40,000 and a
resource for over 200 businesses. The Rockaway Business Alliance was founded in 2012 after Hurricane Sandy. RBA’s vision is to create business corridors that are clean, safe, and welcoming, with shopping, dining, attractions, and engagement for the local community and the visitors drawn to Rockaway’s beaches and open spaces.
ROCKAWAY DEVELOPMENT & REVITALIZATION CORPORATION 1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 President: Kevin Alexander 718.327.5300
www.rdrc.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the
Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation (RDRC) was established to promote the revitalization of the Rockaway’s economic base and neighborhoods by creating long-standing partnerships with city and state agencies.
ROCKAWAY EAST MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION (REMA4US)
1032 Beach 20th Street Far Rockaway, NY 11691 rema4us.org REMA 4 US, Inc. seeks to engage in economic development and revitalization in the Rockaway Peninsula. To strengthen our community revitalization programs and community development efforts in the Rockaway Peninsula REMA works alongside businesses, civic groups, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. REMA works to inform the public about opportunities that exist to strengthen the community, and to create a welcoming and safe environment to help expand economic opportunity in the Rockaway Peninsula.
STEINWAY ASTORIA PARTNERSHIP BID
25-69 38th Street, Suite 1C, Astoria 11103 Executive Director: Marie Torniali 718.728.7820 info@steinwaystreet.nyc steinwaystreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1991, the BID
has over 300 members. The Steinway Street Business Improvement District encompasses all 300 business located on Steinway Street from 28th Avenue to 35th Avenue. National chain stores such as Victoria’s Secrets, The Gap, Benetton, and Express are side by side with local
family-owned shops some of them fixtures on the street for some 50 years.
SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Vanessa Ceballos 718.729.4688 sunnyside-chamber.org QUICK GLANCE: With an annual budget of
$55,000, the chamber is an organization built around assisting and helping local business and professionals by providing resources to increase business, safety and historical preservation throughout the neighborhood.
SUNNYSIDE SHINES
45-56 43rd Street, Sunnyside, NY 11104 Executive Director: Jaime-Faye Beam 718.606.1800 director@sunnysideshines.org sunnysideshines.org QUICK GLANCE: The BID has a budget of
approximately $480,000 with more than 250 businesses under its umbrella. The mission of Sunnyside Shines is to invigorate and enrich the economic life of the neighborhood by creating a safe, welcoming and dynamic commercial district in Sunnyside
SUTPHIN BOULEVARD BID
89-00 Sutphin Boulevard, Suite 204C Jamaica, NY 11435 Executive Director: Glen Greenridge 718.291.2110 sutphinblvdbid@verizon.net QUICK GLANCE: The BID was founded in 2004
and represents 134 businesses, 56 properties and 39 property owners along Sutphin Boulevard between Hillside Avenue and 94th Avenue in Jamaica.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
queenschamber.org
EXECUTIVE COMMMITEE Thomas Santucci
Richard Dzwlewicz
Thomas J. Grech
Brendan Leavy
Nash Roe
Fran Biderman-Gross
Joanne M. Persad
Jacqueline Donado
Chairperson
Associate Treasurer
Vice Chairperson
Associate Secretary
Treasurer
Immediate Past Chair
Patrick Yu
Susan Browning
Mayra DiRico
Secretary
SENIOR ADVISORY COUNCIL
EXECUTIVE STAFF President & CEO
Business Development Manager
Chief of Operations
Strategic Program Coordinator
Alejandra Espejo
Jef Gross
Financial Controller
Neil Wagner
Business Service Program Manager
Manager of Committee Development
William Blake Vincent L. Petraro, Esq. Dominick Ciampa George Rozansky Joseph Farber Gerard Thornton Louis D. Laurino Jeff Levine Joseph M. Mattone, Sr
QUEENSBOROUGH (ISSN0033-6068 is published 12 times a year for $12.50 annually by the Queens Chamber of Commerce of the borough of Queens. 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131. Periodicals postage paid at Flushing NY and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Blvd., Suite 140, East Elmhurst NY 11370-1131.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephanie Baldwin Fran Biderman-Gross Joshua E. Bienstock Susan Browning Kenneth J. Buettner Charles E. Callahan KY Chow
Sal Crifasi Steven DeClara Mayra DiRico Richard Dzwlewicz Charles Everett, Jr. Joseph R. Ficalora Tamara Gavrielof
Howard Graf Raymond Irrera Kenneth Koenig Neil Levin Bert Lurch Carl Mattone Patricia Mezeul
Melinda Murray-Nyack Maria Odysseus Stephen Preuss Nash Roe Jeffrey Rosenstock Juan Santiago Thomas Santucci
Mark Scheinberg Caryn Schwab Sher Sparano Michelle Stoddart Terri Thomson Henry Wan Mark Weprin
Patrick Yu Daniel Zausner
CORPORATE MEMBERS A&E Real Estate A&L Cesspool Services Corp AARP Adria Hotel and Conference Center Aeroterm AFC Urgent Care - Howard Beach Amaracon Testing & Inspections, LLC American Lions LLC Amna Construction Corp AmTrust Title Andromeda Antun’s of Queens Village Apple Bank for Savings Apple-Metro, Inc. ARK Development LLC Ashnu International, Inc. Assured Environments Astoria Sports Complex Atco Properties Accounts Payable Aurora Contractors, Inc. Avison Young AYC Properties LLC Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP Balkan Sewer And Water Main Service Bank of America Merrill Lynch Bank of Hope Bellozino Bethpage Federal Credit Union Bijal Hospitality - Hyatt Place LIC & Fairfield Marriott LGA Blink Fitness Boyce Technologies Inc. Bridgehampton National Bank Broadway Stages Cactus Holdings Inc Capital One Bank Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens CBRE
Center for Automotive Education and Training Cerini and Associates, LLP. Ciampa Organization Cipico Construction, Inc. Citibank CityMD Clearcell Power Conference Associates, Inc Cord Meyer Development LLC Corporate Development Systems, Inc. Courtyard by Marriott Crescent Properties, Inc Crown Castle Crunch - Rochdale (Please correct spelling in magazine) Cushman & Wakefield Damian Family Care Centers, Inc. Daniels, Norelli, Scully & Cecere P.C. Daroga Power, LLC Dedline AV East Coast Energy Group Ecosave Inc. Emigrant Mortgage Company Enterprise Fleet Management eXp Realty: Andrew Wu Exquisite Construction F & T Group Farrell Fritz, P.C. First Central Savings Bank Flushing Council On Culture & The Arts Forest Hills Financial Group Inc. GF55 Partners Gil-Bar Industries, Inc. Glenwood Infinity LLC (Hello Panda Festival) Global Industrial Goodwill Industries of New York & North-
ern New Jersey, Inc. Graf & Lewent Architects Greater NY Automobiles Dealers Association Green Energy Technology Greenpoint Manufacturing & Design Center Gum Studios Hampton Inn by Hilton JFK Airport Healthy Corner Pharmacy Hilton Garden Inn LIC New York Hook & Reel LLC Horticultural Creations, Inc. Hyatt Place Flushing IBIS Styles New York LaGuardia Airport INDA, Association of Nonwoven Fabric Industry Innovo Property Group Instacart Intercontinental Capital Group iRCM, Inc. J.W. Hampton Jr. & Co., Inc. James F. Capalino & Assoc. Jaros, Baum & Bolles Jason Office Products JC Elite Construction JDP Mechanical JetBlue Airways Corporation JFA Insurance Brokerage & Associates Inc. JGM Construction Development Jones Lang LaSalle Kasirer Consulting Kaufman Astoria Studios, Inc. Kimco Realty Corporation Klein Weath Management/ Hightower Advisors Laffey Real Estate Laguardia Plaza Hotel Laser Bounce of Brooklyn Inc.
Levine Builders Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade Association, Inc. Luxury Office Suites LLC Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. Madison Realty Capital Manpower McBride Consulting & Business MCT Fine Wine & Spirits, LLC Medisys Health Network Mega Contracting Group LLC MetroPlus Health Plan Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade MicroGrid Neworks, LLC Millennium Dae Dong, Inc. Molloy College Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens Mr. T Carting Corp. Muss Development LLC My Benefit Advisor, LLC NEOLEDGE Neuman’s Kitchen Newtown Creek New York + Atlantic Railway New York Health Plan Association New York Oil Heating Association Northwell Health NYC Ferry Operated by Hornblower Olympia Court Real Estate OneGroup Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates Patrizia’s Italian Restaurant Petro PGA Mechanical Contractors, Inc. Piermont Bank Premier Paint Roller Co LLC
COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Michelle Stoddart ResortsWorld Casino New York City michelle.stoddart@rwnewyork.com Jayson Simba Festival of Cinema NYC FestivalofCinemaNYC@gmail.com
BANKING & LAW
Margaret T. Ling, Esq. Big Apple Abstract Corp. mling@bigappleabstract.com Paul Harrison Chase paul.harrison@chase.com
COMMUNICATIONS Cody Fisher Blue Ox Marketing, LLC cody@blueoxmarketing.com Leigh Schuckman Sandler Training leigh.schuckman@sandler.com
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ENERGY
Marshall Haimson E-Capital Development marshall@e-capitaldevelopment.com Jay Solly Sol Strategies jaypsolly@gmail.com
ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION Bill Staniford bill@staniford.com Michael Grella Grella Partnership Services mike@socialquityventures.com
HEALTHCARE & WELLNESS
Susan Browning Long Island Jewish Forest Hills sbrowning1@northwell.edu Bert Lurch E Central Medical Management bertl@ecmmgt.com
HOSPITALITY
Jim Quent Statewide Public Affairs jquent@statewidepublicaffairs.com Vincent Gentile Vassilaros & Sons Coffee vincent@vassilaroscoffee.com
MANUFACTURING Lina DeLaCruz Control Electropolishing Corp. lina@controlpublishing.com Geoff Smith Connect 360 geoff@bizcon360.com
NONPROFIT
Larry Grubler Transitional Services of NY lgrubler@tsiny.org Maria Odysseus Investors Bank modysseus@myinvestorsbank.com
REAL ESTATE
Martin Cottingham Avison Young martin.cottingham@avisonyoung.com Kevin Louie Cushman & Wakefield kevin.louie@cushwake.com Michael Wang Project Queens michael@projectqueens.com
TECHNOLOGY Bobby Giurintano TGI Office Automation bgiurintano@tgioa.com Fred Canone fc1281@gmail.com
TRANSPORTATION Kris Amato TD Bank Kristin.amato@td.com William Harris Edge Auto Rental william@edgeautorental.com
Premier Payroll Solutions Prime Storage Priority 1 Security LLC ProHEALTH Care QSIDE Federal Credit Union Queens Center Mall Queens Public Communications Corp. Quontic Bank RCG Mortgage Receivable Collection Services, LLC Rego Park Seniors Club LLC Related Retail Corporation Rochdale Village Community Center Royal Waste Services, Inc. Safeguard Global Safety Facility Services Samaritan Daytop Village Santander Bank SBT Advantage Bank Seagis Property Group, LP Signature Bank Sive, Paget & Riesel P.C. Skyline Risk Management, Inc. SL Green Realty Corp. Solomon Agency Corp. Spring Hill Suites New York Jamaica/JFK Airport Squad Security Inc. St. Francis Preparatory School St. John’s Episcopal Hospital St. John’s University Sterling Risk Structural Engineering Technologies, P.C. Suffolk Sussman-Automatic Corporation Target TC Electric TGI Office Automation Thales The Andy Li Team at Compass The Botanist The Durst Organization The First National Bank of Long Island The Flying Locksmiths -Queens NY The Heskel Group The Liquidity Source The Lovett Group The Marcal Group T-Mobile TSC Traning Academy, LLC Ultrasound Solutions Corp. United Airlines United American Title Agency United Construction & Development Group Corp United Public Adjusters & Appraisers, Inc. USTA National Tennis Center, Inc. Valley National Bank Vanguard Building Solutions, LLC Vassilaros & Sons Coffee Vic Kessler Signs LTD Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP Watch Guard 24/7 LLC White Coffee Corp Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. YMCA of Greater New York / Queens Branches York College - CUNY Young Nian Group, LLC Zara Realty
November 2020 • Volume 16 • Issue 11 MAJOR CORPORATE MEMBERS
We hope you are enjoying the newly designed, expanded Queensborough, the monthly publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. We, the Chamber, direct and approve all content deciding what stories are covered in each issue, editing all copy and forwarding information that is contained in the publication. BQE Media produces it for the Chamber. We look forward to continuing to highlight the outstanding business persons, services and activities that make our borough unique. We welcome all your letters, manuscripts, etc. Please send all materials to the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 or call 718.898.8500 for more information. We reserve the right to edit for space limitations. Your support of the magazine is critical to its success. We encourage you to include Queensborough in your advertising plans. To place your ad, please call BQE Media at 718.426.7200.
23
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