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September 2017 . Volume 13 . Issue 9
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September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT QUEENS IS THE HUB FOR MAJOR TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
The Queens Chamber is dedicated to keeping you apprised of the latest happenings in the legislative and governmental world. As is readily apparent, the transportation landscape in the borough of Queens is transforming. What was once a transportation desert is now being equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements in the land, sea, and air facilities. We are very excited MAYRA DIRICO to be participating with QCC PRESIDENT fellow governmental agencies on many new projects: JFK and LGA redevelopments, NYC Ferry, Citi Bike, LIRR, and MTA. While Manhattan was once the focus of transportation, i.e. workers commuting from the outer-boroughs to get into the city, the outer-boroughs are now teeming with economic improvements that provide our workers many new opportunities. A staggering statistic: In 2016, average weekday subway ridership was 5.7 million,
the highest since 1948. Annual ridership is now 1.757 billion. It is easy to see how the city and state must adapt to the influx of commuters. There must be newer and more innovative options. The Queens Chamber will continue to work with our elected officials to provide chamber members with the best travel options possible. An alternative to planes, trains, and automobiles, cycling is growing leaps and bounds due to Citi Bike. Right now, 59 terminals are
positioned in western Queens throughout Long Island City and Astoria. Increased bicycle ridership will undoubtedly alleviate some of the burdens of bottle-necked traffic in these already burdened neighborhoods. In sum, the Queens Chamber will work as a vocal advocate to understand and meet the needs of our members and the business community at large. Please reach out to us whenever you can so we may better hear and understand your needs and interests.
Mayor Bill de Blasio greets commuters on the inaugural ride of NYC Ferry service to Astoria.
A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
QUEENS ON THE MOVE: MORE TRANSIT OPTIONS FOR THE BORO This summer has flown (no pun intended!) by. One of the hottest topics over the past few months has been the issue of transportation. From ferry launches to groundbreaking ceremonies at LGA and JFK, Queens has been making headline news.
Astoria Ferry Launch
Astoria will be the second Queens neighborhood after Long Island City to feature the bike share program. The city has not released an exact date for the implementation, but has stated they plan to roll out the program by the end of the summer, most likely in September or October.
Tuesday, August 29, marked the LGA AirTrain launch of NYC Ferry’s Astoria route, The proposed AirTrain station at which makes stops in Long Island Willets Point would connect to the 7 City, Roosevelt Island, 34th Street line and a new Long Island Railroad THOMAS J. and Wall Street. The expansion of station, as well as two new stations GRECH ferry service, announced by Mayor within the airport’s terminals. EXECUTIVE Bill de Blasio in 2015, aims to make According to the RFP, providing DIRECTOR Manhattan more accessible to those this connection would allow paswho felt it was out of reach. The sengers to get from Midtown to trip from Astoria to Wall Street is LaGuardia in under 30 minutes, and approximately 47 minutes. would “be a key part of the modernization and The ferry is located at 3-10 Astoria Boulevard transformation of LaGuardia into a world-class in Hallets Cove. Price is the same as a one-way airport.” MetroCard.
More Citi Bike Stations
Fifty-nine Citi Bike stations will be up and running in Queens in the next few months.
Delta’s New $4B Terminal
On Tuesday, August 9, Governor Andrew Cuomo and Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian broke ground on a $4 billion terminal facility at
the new LaGuardia Airport. Delta will contribute $3.4 billion the towards the $4 billion facility while the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will kick in $600 million. The Delta facility is just one portion of the $8 billion rebuilding of LaGuardia. Under the new plan, LaGuardia Airport will be unified under one roof instead of the current layout which features multiple terminal buildings. The new LaGuardia will be nation’s first new major airport to open for business since Denver International in 1995.
Noteworthy Upcoming Events
• September 28 – Queens Chamber of Commerce Annual Golf Outing and Dinner • October 11 – Manufacturing Committee Meeting • October 18 – Business Person of the Year Awards • October 26 – Energy Committee Meeting November 16 – Health and Wellness Committee Meeting • December 6 – Queens Chamber Annual Building Awards Please register for these events by visiting our website at www.queenschamber.org.
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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QUEENS QUIPS
Chamber to assist in Harvey relief efforts in Houston area
As many in the New York metro area know well, Queens was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy nearly five years ago, especially in Queens. They remember how difficult the first few days and weeks were as the water receded and the damage and destruction became evident. Lives lost, homes destroyed, businesses damaged and places of employment unable to function or even open their doors. The Queens Chamber of Commerce and the Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) and the Queens business community are hosting an effort to again “Repair Restore and Renew” the businesses, employers and hard workers in the Houston metropolitan area. They have reached out to the Houston Metropolitan Chamber to receive the financial funds and assistance gathered. A tax-deductible financial donation will help the Houston Metropolitan Chamber assist their members and the business community get back on their feet and working. You can send a check to Queens Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Hurricane Harvey Relief, Suite 140, 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, East Elmhurst, NY 11370, or make a donation at queenschamber.org.
Northwell sends staff to Texas to help with medical needs
Houston. Northwell Health has coordinated emergency response locally – for incidents such as Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene – and nationally through sending teams into affected areas such as New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. “We know the exhaustion factor, the physical and emotional toll these catastrophic events have on patients, caregivers, family members and the public at large,” said Northwell CEO Michael Dowling. Northwell is sending 120 clinicians in total, deploying teams of 40 (one team per week who will relieve the prior team) over a three-week period. The situation will continue to be monitored and can be adjusted based on need and the fluidity of the situation.
Partnership acquires Jamaica industrial site Artemis Real Estate Partners and Madison Realty Capital Advisors have acquired the an industrial building at 184-10 and 184-60 Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica for $78 million, or about $127 per square foot. The five-story, 613,000-square-foot manufacturing facility was built in 1923 and 1954 on 3.5 acres. It is currently 75 percent occupied by French Connection, Hanky Panky and Gotham Greens. It features a small office build-out, 12 interior loading docks, and two passenger and five
Northwell Health has connected with its counterparts at the Houston–based MD Anderson Cancer Center to offer assistance to match the hospital’s specific needs. Within 24 hours after requesting help from its clinicians, Northwell has enrolled more than 600 employees interested in volunteering. On September 4, the first Northwell team of 40 will be deployed to
freight elevators. The MRC/Artemis partnership is planning to upgrade mechanical infrastructure of the property in order to provide some much needed flex space. It is close to Jamaica Station, the largest transit hub in Queens, and is an attractive choice for warehousing, distribution and manufacturing uses.
Splashy new screens welcome visitors to JIBEI The Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry (JIBEI) has two New York facilities in Long Island and Queens each serving two different audiences, students and visitors respectively. To improve engagement with the two audiences and offer relevant information, JIBEI invested in a visual communication solution to create two distinct experiences from one platform. At the Long Island center, which offers continuing education classes and weekend seminars, JIBEI added a welcome display in the lobby, a message board in the lounge and a menu board in the cafeteria. The screens display class listings and seminar agendas, in addition to announcements and dynamic menus. At its Queens headquarters, JIBEI needed a network of screens to showcase projects, highlight important milestones, and display member, executive, and partner spotlights. Both facilities had to be on the same digital signage network, with the ability to control any of the individual screens from one central login. Mvix worked with AV partner, Adwar Video, to network 29 digital signage systems throughout the two facilities. The entire network is remotely managed from the Queens headquarters. “We loved our first few displays, and when we decided to add more, we were really impressed with how the software could scale,” said JIBEI director Michael Yee. “The software allowed us flexibility to add and organize content without ever interrupting our normal workflow.”
TABLE OF CONTENTS Promotions, Announcements & Appointments ........................................6
Upcoming Queens Chamber Events ..........................................................................23
CM Crowley: Queens Needs More Rail Options .....................................7
Partners & Affiliates News and Happenings ..........................................................26
Inside the Makeover of LGA with Lysa Scully ........................................8
New Members ...................................................................................................................31
Chamber Transportation Chair Tammy Petsios Talks Transit ...........12 Gail Mellow: The Truth About Today’s College Students ..................15 Queens Chamber Marks Anniversary of 9/11 ........................................16 Jackson Heights Project Highlights Importance of MWBE’s ...........18 4
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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
August 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 8
POLS REMEMBER SIMANOWITZ
Host Your Next Event at
Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (standing, third from right) met with members of the Chamber during their spring visit to Albany. Queens lost a beloved elected official when Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz passed away suddenly at the age of 45 after battling cancer for several years. He is survived by his wife Jennifer and their four children. “Words are not adequate to express how heartbroken I am that he is no longer with us,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie. “I will especially remember Mike for his quick wit and intelligence. I am proud to have called him my friend.” Simanowitz, who grew up in Forest Hills, was first elected to the Assembly in 2011. He represented neighborhoods including College Point, Whitestone, Briarwood, Pomonok and Kew Gardens Hills. Prior to elected office, Simanowitz served as chief of staff to his predecessor, former Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn, for 15 years. He was involved with the NYPD’s auxiliary police unit in the 107th Precinct. He also worked for the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Simanowitz’s funeral took place at the Schwartz Brothers Jeffer Memorial Chapel in Forest Hills. Local elected officials mourned the loss of their colleague and friend. “I am numb and shaken beyond words,” said Councilman Barry Grodenchik, who expressed the “profoundest of sorrow and
unbearable agony” at the loss of his “dear friend and brother.” “May the thousands and thousands of people he helped in his all too short life remember his kindness and may they be multiplied many fold.” Congressman Joseph Crowley called Simanowitz a “person beyond reproach” and lauded him for carrying out the duties of his office with dignity and honor. “He fought tirelessly for his community and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him,” he said. Congresswoman Grace Meng, whose congressional district encompasses Simanowitz’s Assembly district, called the late assemblyman a “dedicated public servant.” “Mike was a wonderful human being,” she said. “He had a heart of gold and was among the warmest, friendliest and most down-toearth individuals I have known. His passing is a terrible loss for me personally as well as our borough, city and state.” Borough President Melinda Katz added that Simanowitz will be “deeply missed by all who knew him and by all who are involved in the civic life” of the borough. “Michael cared deeply about the people of Queens,” Katz said, “and fought tenaciously on their behalf throughout his distinguished career in public service.” (BENJAMIN FANG)
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PROMOTIONS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & APPOINTMENTS Smith was branch manager of York City for five years, where he of experience in the industry. She Northwell CEO Flushing Bank’s Midwood location. focused on establishing new banking will be serving residential and Prior to joining Flushing Bank, she relationships and also managed two commercial property buyers and to head IHI branches. sellers in Jackson Heights, East was with the Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling has been named board chair of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Dowling has served on the IHI board since 2010, which includes some of the biggest names in the health care industry. He replaces outgoing IHI chair Dr. Gary Kaplan, who is chair and CEO of the Virginia M a s o n H e a l t h System in DOWLING Seattle. The two-year term runs through May 2019. “Since its founding more than 25 years ago, IHI has benefitted from the guidance, wisdom, and support of extraordinary board members, including the board chair,” said IHI CEO Derek Feeley. “Michael continues a long line of visionary health leaders who bring great experience with quality improvement and health system transformation to IHI” The IHI is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based nonprofit whose mission focuses on health and health care improvement – for both individuals and entire populations – worldwide. “IHI is energizing and inspiring improvements in the quality of health care around the globe,” said Dowling. “I’m honored to serve as chair of an organization committed to redesigning health care into a system without errors, waste, delay and unsustainable costs.”
Smith to head Apple in FH Apple Bank has appointed Jackie Smith as vice president and manager at the Forest Hills branch at 102-35 Queens Boulevard. Prior to joining Apple Bank,
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Bank of New York as assistant branch manager and assistant treasurer in Ozone Park. While at Flushing Bank, Smith SMITH was a member of the board of directors of the Midwood Development Corporation. She recently joined the Forest Hills Chamber of Commerce. A native of Jamaica, Smith came to the United States in 1996. She earned her B.A. degree from Baruch College in 2002. She currently resides in Queens with her son.
Keir joins Holy Cross team Holy Cross High School announced the addition of Natalya Keir to the Business Office team. She will focus on issues of accounts payable, payroll, and human resources in support of all faculty and staff. Holding a teaching certificate from the Board of Education of NY, Keir is aware of the academic focus at Holy Cross. In addition, as a current parent of a Holy Cross student, she embraces the school’s mission.
Signature adds two to new team Two Queens residents have been named to Signature Bank’s new private client banking team. Sunnyside resident Michael Ahmed has been named associate group director and vice president. He has 13 years of banking experience, and was formerly managing director at First Republic Bank in New
He also spent eight years at Citibank as both a personal and business banker, as well as branch manager. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from SUNY YU New Paltz. James Yu has been appointed group directors and senior vice president. The Long Island City resident will co-lead a five-person team that has worked together for nearly five years at Citibank. Yu was vice president and branch manager for a Midtown Manhattan Citibank branch, and a vice president and sales manager at the institution’s world AHMED headquarters in New York City, spending nearly eight years there. His concentration lies in serving commercial clients, such as investment companies, physicians, charitable organizations and high-net-worth individuals.
Sanchez joins RE/MAX RE/MAX Legacy at 84-09 Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst welcomed licensed real estate salesperson Diana Sanchez. Sanchez, a resident of Jackson Heights, joins RE/MAX Legacy with SANCHEZ over ten years
Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Corona and other nearby areas.
Flushing CPA to join board The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants has selected Mitchell J. Mertz, a CPA based in Flushing, to serve as vice president of its Board. Mertz is the director of Quality Assurance at Wei Wei & Co. and his one-year term MERTZ began June 1. Mertz currently serves as a member of the Society’s SEC, Professional Ethics, and Sustainability committees. Queens Chamber of Commerce 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140 Jackson Heights, N.Y. 11370-1131 Entire Contents Copyright 2017 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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September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
GOVERNMENT NEWS
MORE RAIL TRANSIT MEANS A STRONGER ECONOMY Queens is growing fast – really that source of relief. It is a rail line fast. The World’s Borough has seen and public right-of-way capable large growth in population and of contributing to the economic employment. Every month, more growth of every community along and more people and the way. jobs are coming here. We believe a comBut to accommodate muter service along this growth and allethis track, dubbed viate the burdens of the QNS Light Rail, residents and busicould be what our nesses, our transporborough needs for tation options must long-lasting economimprove, and they ic growth. must improve quickly. Small business Public transportawithin the borough tion within Queens ELIZABETH CROWLEY continues to grow right now is literally COUNCIL MEMBER each year. A Smartoperating beyond its Asset 2016 study capacity. New and showed 7.8 percent emerging businesses in New York business growth in Queens County, City know the value of good tran- totaling over $7 billion. Further, sit, and they know the headaches businesses with five employees that come with transportation des- or less account for more than 65 erts. percent of the borTransportation ough’s new busideserts are defined ness growth over as areas that lack the last decade. adequate pubAn environmenlic transit service, tally sound comgiven areas conmuter rail would taining populations increase exposure that are deemed for business owners transit-dependent. and allow existing They are deterbusinesses to grow mined based on and expand their population density consumer bases. and distance to Long Island City mass transit, and and Jamaica are about 70 percent already on the rise. of Queens exists But Maspeth, a inside a transportalarge business hub tion desert. in the middle of this Our mass transit line, is particularly lines, such as the 7 ripe for economic and E trains, are the growth. It is curmost utilized lines rently zoned M-3, in the city, Queens which allows for streets are overrun the development of by cars, and our biotech industries. buses are painstakBiotech is a rapingly slow. Simply idly growing field put, we need relief. and has received We believe Long nearly $6 billion Island Railroad’s in venture-capital (LIRR) Lower funding in 2015; Montauk branch, which runs 8.5 up 62 percent from 2014. We want miles from Jamaica through Mas- to ensure as this industry continues peth to Long Island City, can be to grow, Queens can both accom-
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New and emerging businesses in New York City know the value of good transit, and they know the headaches that come with transportation deserts.
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modate and benefit from it. To grow this industry and others in Queens, we need reliable, convenient public transportation. Across the country, newly developed and vibrant communities have benefited from affordable, sustainable transportation. Kendall Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was a large industrial complex that declined around 30 years ago. After it was renovated and rezoned to allow biotech, it now has more biotech business in just that one area than in all of New York and California. Right across the East River in Hudson County, New Jersey, the light rail line has contributed to the revitalization of cities like Jersey City, Weehawken and Hoboken. Financial institutions such as Bank of America, as well as law
firms, education providers, retailers, and more have planted roots in Jersey City since the light rail came to being, and its economy has benefited from this business growth. The QNS Light Rail line would run through the fastest growing residential, industrial and transit hubs in all of Queens. It would give more options for New Yorkers in need of more transit. It would enhance existing businesses and expand opportunities to others. It is in the best interest of our communities, our borough and our city to put this proposal on the fast track. Elizabeth Crowley represents the 30th Council District, which includes Glendale, Maspeth, Middle Village, Woodhaven and Woodside.
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SEPTEMBER FOCUS: TRANSPORTATION
TURNING LAGUARDIA INTO A WORLD-CLASS AIRPORT
BY SHANE MILLER
With two of the nation’s busiest airports, as far as the rest of the world is concerned Queens is the transportation hub of New York City. And one of those airports is undergoing a major renovation, as it’s transformed into a completely new facility equipped to meet the demands of 21st century air travel. “This is the 20th busiest airport in the country, but it terms of size on a per acreage basis, we’re probably one of the busiest in the world,” Lysa C. Scully, who has been General Manager of LaGuardia Airport (LGA) for the last three years, told This Is Queensborough. “This is going to be the best and only new airport built in the United States in the last 20 years.” According to estimates by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), by 2030 LGA needs to move 34 million passengers annually. Today, the airport is handling just under 30 million travelers yearly. The trick is how to accommodate those extra passengers without increasing the number of flights or extending the runways. “We are slot restricted here, so we cannot increase the number of flight operations,” explained Scully. “The only way to meet the forecast, which then drives economic development, is by providing the opportunity for larger aircraft. The existing terminal and existing ramp areas are undersized for the aircraft of today and of the future. “We wouldn’t be able to grow to the number of passengers that are necessary,” she added. “In terms of economic development, for every million passengers we cannot accommodate, we lose the opportunity to create 4,000 jobs.” Much of the visible work that is currently underway at LGA is part of Phase 1, or the complete replacement of today’s Central Terminal with Terminal B. The $4 billion project is spearheaded by LaGuardia Gateway Partners, a joint venture between Vantage Airport Group, Meridiam Infrastructure and Skanska USA. When the Central Terminal was built in 1964, it was designed to handled 8 million passengers annually. In 2015, it served 14.3 million people, or approximately half of LGA’s total passengers. To meet the FAA’s estimates, Terminal B will one day need to handle 17.5 million travelers. And it won’t be long before air travelers begin using the new Terminal B. The first of its two concourses is set to open by late summer of 2018. This past summer ground was broken on Phase 2, a project to replace the current Delta Terminal with a new Terminal C, which will
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LaGuardia Airport General Manager Lysa Scully inside the airport’s Marine Air Terminal
include four new concourses. Delta is overseeing that $4 billion project itself. Unlike the current airport configuration, the two new terminals and six concourses will one day be connected. “Ultimately, this is all designed to give us a whole new airport,” said Scully. “It’s two phases, but our customer will see one terminal end to end and one experience end to end. Visually it will present as one airport, and it should be.” Connecting those six concourses and two terminals will be a series of bridges designed to allow aircraft to move underneath. Aside from being a cool experience for travelers – they
will be the first of their kind in the world – the design actually serves a practical function by allowing for expanded taxiways at the airport to facilitate the movement of aircraft. “Today, you can often be sitting on an aircraft waiting to get to a gate because the aircraft that is there has to actually be towed out,” said Scully. “All of these developments will ensure that aircraft can power in and out on their own.” And despite the massive project, LGA is still open for business. “One of the things CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
SEPTEMBER FOCUS: TRANSPORTATION
The headhouse is what most folks will identify as the new “terminal” building. In this photo you can see the steel structures that are beginning to frame out the headhouse. To the left of the steel you can see the pillars of what will eventually become the frontage roadways which will run east-west right in front of the new terminal. In the distance behind the headhouse and further west is the new parking garage at the 94th street entrance. It will house over 3000 cars when it goes into service in 2018. (Photos Courtesy of Skanska/LaGuardia Gateway Partners)
Concourse B is where passengers will board the planes. They are islands that sit behind the headhouse and are connected to the main building via elevated bridges that have yet to be constructed. All of the steel for CCB has been put in place.
Central Heating and Refrigeration Plant is the “mechanical room” for the heating and ventilation systems for the new terminal. It will also have above it a Central hall that will connect the new Central Terminal B with the future redevelopment of Delta Airlines’ terminals.
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SEPTEMBER FOCUS: TRANSPORTATION TAKING FLIGHT: INSIDE LGA’S MAJOR TRANSFORMATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8
Cuomo has stated publicly on several occasions his desire for an that we’ve been very strong on, AirTrain connecting the airport and a commitment that [Governor with the 7 subway stop and Long Andrew Cuomo] and the executive Island Railroad at Willets Point. leadership of the Port Authority Scully said there are a nummade, is that we want to make ber of factors at work with such sure that we don’t a project, and interrupt flight operall of them are ations through this,” currently being said Scully. analyzed. Those This is an awesome time because of what However, the findings and recwe’re doing for Queens and the State of New ommendations project hasn’t been York. It’s not just about making those custom- could be before without some difers that come today feel better because they ficulties. Many will Port Authorshould, but it is about helping the region grow the remember the trafity board by the and continue to be economically viable. fic nightmares on end of the year. the Grand Central “There are a Parkway and the number of facroads leading into LGA when con- every day so that when we make tors, if they all come to the right struction first began last year. But a change on the roadways, they’re agreement point, that would proadjustments and improvements, seeing what the impact is and miti- vide a terrific opportunity,” she including a new exit from the gating in advance of any issues.” said. “There’s a thought about airport that feeds between 600 and While phases one and two are a consolidated rental car facil1,000 cars per hour directly onto clearly defined and underway, ity there and employee parking, the parkway, have helped alleviate there is a potential third phase things that today are very complithose issues. in the works. Governor Andrew cated because we’re so landlocked
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“What we did right away was a very targeted focus on managing land-side construction on a daily basis,” Scully explained. “We put into effect a command center that is open six days a week, 18 hours a day. We are using that each and
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The one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridges that will allow airplanes to taxi beneath them.
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and we’re very respectful to the community.” Remaking LGA into a modernday airport has been an idea that has been out there for a number of years, but Scully credits Governor Cuomo for being the catalyst behind making it a reality. “Conceptually, the project has been in development for quite a long time, but it really required the advocacy of the governor to really get it moving forward,” she said, referencing Cuomo’s announcement in 2015 about his desire to see the project through. “Once it got that support, it was really ready to go. “There’s no better time to be at LaGuardia Airport,” Scully added. “This is an awesome time because of what we’re doing for Queens and the State of New York. It’s not just about making those customers that come today feel better, but it is about helping the region grow and continue to be economically viable.”
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
SEPTEMBER FOCUS: TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTATION CHAIR DISCUSSES KEEPING QUEENS MOVING BY BENJAMIN FANG Queens is at the epicenter of some of the city’s most exciting transportation initiatives. The Brooklyn-Queens Connector (BQX) streetcar may finally offer much-needed northsouth connectivity; Select Bus Service (SBS) is Woodhaven and Cross Bay boulevards can cut commute times in a transit desert; NYC Ferry now allows residents of Far Rockaway, Astoria and Long Island City to travel by water. Meanwhile, both LaGuardia and John K. Kennedy International airports are undergoing major redevelopments to make traveling nationally and internationally a better experience. These are some of the projects being closely watched by Tammy Petsios, managing director of VHB’s New York City office and co-chair of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Committee. VHB, an engineering and planning consulting firm, has a hand in many of these transportation projects. “It’s about mobility and getting people and services moving,” Petsios said. Inside her office at One Penn Plaza, Petsios discussed her thoughts on some of the biggest short-term and long-term projects that will affect the borough. On the BQX streetcar, which is still in its feasibility stage, Petsios, a Whitestone resident, said it can be a win-win for residents and businesses alike if it is implemented. “You tap into so many more potential employees if you had easier access,” she said. “Imagine going from Astoria to Sunset Park, it’ll take you from one end of the N train to another. There’s a very big need to connect Brooklyn and Queens. Going through Manhattan is just not feasible.” She noted that there are still concerns to be addressed. The long construction period could potentially disrupt businesses
along the route and affect truck routes. Michael McArdle, senior vice president and chief development officer at VHB, said the challenge is designing the streetcar and constructing it in a way that won’t put companies out of business. “It will be disruptive during construction, but in the long run, I think it’s going to be a huge boon for businesses,” he said. Another idea Petsios is watching closely is Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley’s light rail proposal connecting south and central Queens to Long Island City, serving neighborhoods like Glendale along the way. Petsios said it’s a good idea because the right-of-way already exists, and the project wouldn’t need extensive environmental studies. However, the rail line, which currently carries freight, would need to build new stations and get the support of the MTA. “It’s something that has to be looked at holistically,” she said. “A lot of the folks in those areas are underserved.” Petsios is a fan of the Woodhaven SBS, a cheaper and faster way to improve transportation for residents of southeast Queens. Another proposal to connect south and central Queens is the QueensRail, which would reactivate the rail line between Rego Park and Ozone Park. More than 70 years ago, the line was used by the Long Island Railroad and was known as the Rockaway Beach branch. Some residents are now calling for it to be opened once again. Petsios said though she sees a need to get people in and out of the Rockaways, particularly after the Far Rockaway rezoning, QueensRail would have to be approved by the MTA board. It could potentially carry a high cost, and would need to be included in the MTA’s capital plan. “Funding is always an issue, so they’re going to look at the cheaper solutions,” she said. “You
Tammy Petsios, chair of the Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Committee, and colleague Michael McArdle discuss the many transit projects either underway or proposed for Queens. have ‘x’ amount of jelly beans that you’re dealing with. You have so many moving parts.” Petsios and McArdle also discussed the current MTA crisis and proposals to fund immediate improvements. Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to unveil a congestion pricing plan, while Mayor Bill de Blasio has pushed for a millionaire’s tax. Petsios, a 30-year veteran of the engineering industry, said congestion pricing has been studied under previous mayors, including Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. She has doubts about whether it can even pass, especially when it affects the outer boroughs like Queens. “I really think it’s going to be difficult to pass in the city where there’s a lot of opposition,” she said. “I don’t think it has the political momentum behind it.” However, having gone through the “Summer of Hell,” Petsios said she understands the need for more funding, one way or another. “There has to be a dedicated funding source,” she said. “They have to make those repairs.” McArdle commended both the mayor and governor for their proposals, though he isn’t sure
which is the best solution. What he does know, he said, is that the traditional ways of funding transportation infrastructure won’t work today. “Like when you build a new house, it’s great for the first 10 to 15 years, you don’t have to spend any money on maintenance because it’s new,” he said. “But now, we need to maintain this infrastructure. The money that we once had to build new infrastructure and expand the transportation network is now going to maintain it. “This summer is a great example of what happens when you defer the maintenance,” he added. “We need to come up with innovative and creative ways of funding our infrastructure going forward.” McArdle said he believes that technology and the private sector will need to play a big role in finding solutions. In order for that to work, there needs to be “trust and open, transparent collaboration” between private and public organizations. “We have to encourage and embrace and look for those types of funding mechanisms, through public-private partnerships and be CONTINUED ON PAGE 31
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SEPTEMBER FOCUS: TRANSPORTATION KEEPING TRAVELERS SAFE, ON THE GROUND AND IN THE SKY
Picutred (from left) are Aruna Gohel, John Mollura and O’Neil King.
led him into a career with TSA, where he began as a floor supervisor but was quickly promoted to manager. “This is why I’m here, this is why I do what I do,” he said. Lead Officer O’Neil King has been with TSA for 13 years. Every day at LaGuardia, King and his team monitor the checkpoint baggage location, screen passengers, and handle luggage. “Working at the TSA can be a major stepping stone for any individual wanting to pursue a career in a government agency,” said King, a former employee of the Post Office and Board of Education. “Since TSA functions throughout every
The TSA offers various employment opportunities. Transportation security officers, armed federal air marshals, and mobile K-9 teams are just a few of the position. Starting pay is $18 per hour, but can quickly grow to $30 per hour depending on the position and career path. Health and dental coverage, retirement plans, and college loan assistance are among the benefits. For more information or to apply for a career at the TSA, call (877) 872.7990 or visit hraccess.tsa.dhs.gov.
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You have a flight to catch. As you are traveling to the airport, you are hoping for short checkpoint lines and a fast screening process, not focused on the reasons behind these security measures. For many travelers, convenience of air travel is more important than the levels of security in place, but for the TSA Agents that keep LaGuardia Airport safe, security is their most vital responsibility. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is a unique department that operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, created in response to the September 11th terror attacks. For many TSA agents, taking the job was a way to give back to their country. In 2016 alone, LaGuardia Airport handled 29.8 million passengers, 369,987 plane movements and 7,586 tons of air cargo, and the TSA is committed to keeping travelers safe 24/7. Security begins as soon as a flyer purchases an airline ticket. The TSA immediately goes to work, checking each individual passenger’s travel history, country of origin, and whether or not they have had any previous issues with security or interaction with terrorist organizations. The LaGuardia Airport TSA is headquartered in the Bulova Center in East Elmhurst. It is there that Joe Madden, head of the Screening Department, manages the everyday challenges of working at LaGuardia. Madden, a former NYPD Sergeant, retired from the force just before 9/11. He lost friends, some of whom were firefighters, which
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state in the US, transfers are easy for officers looking to move across state lines. Seniority is carried over to the next airport, so there is no starting over.” John Mollura has been with TSA at LaGuardia for 12 years. Mollura is on the playbook team, which runs different types of scenarios to make sure that passengers and employees alike are protected from potential disaster. He has assisted in security operations with the NYPD and Secret Service. “You must be alert at all times, the job is never boring,” said Mollura, who left behind a job in the film industry. “I always focus on improving my skills on the job. “ Aruna Gohel is a TSA security manager. Before TSA, Gohel worked at the World Trade Center and was present on 9/11. After surviving the attack, Gohel joined the TSA to make a difference. She oversees checkpoints by assuring that no deadly objects are getting onto the aircraft. “Managerial responsibility also
YOU MUST BE ALERT AT ALL TIMES, THE JOB IS NEVER BORING. I ALWAYS FOCUS ON IMPROVING MY SKILLS ON THE JOB. - JOHN MOLLURA
requires teamwork, as managers network with others, reaching out to other departments because one person cannot make decisions,” Gohel said. “Managers have to monitor if all the staff is adequate and if they come in on time.”
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
SEPTEMBER FOCUS: TRANSPORTATION CHAMBER, POLS RESTATE OPPOSITION TO EAST RIVER TOLLS BY BENJAMIN FANG As Governor Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio debate how to best fund MTA improvements, Queens leaders want to ensure that East River bridge crossings remain free for drivers under any proposal. Assemblyman David Weprin, Borough President Melinda Katz and Councilman Barry Grodenchik joined Queens Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Thomas Grech and civic leaders in front of the Queensboro Bridge to strike down any prospect of adding tolls to the four free East River bridges: Williamsburg, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queensboro. “We’re willing to listen to every idea from every source, we have a number of suggestions and proposals,” Weprin said. “But whatever proposal comes out, whatever the ideas are, we will not accept tolls on the free East River bridges.” Weprin, who represents neighborhoods in eastern Queens that lack public transportation options, argued that the four bridges have been free to cross since 1911. Any change to that system would negatively impact residents and small businesses that use
the bridges, he said. “Those residents drive into Manhattan not because it’s a pleasant experience, not because they enjoy traffic, but because they feel they have no other option,” Weprin said. The governor has expressed support for congestion pricing, and will likely announce a plan in his State of the State address early next year. But Katz noted on Sunday that congestion pricing proposals have come up in the 1970s, in 2006, and again last year. “Every single time, they’ve been dead on arrival,” she said. “I don’t think anybody would doubt that we need to have some sort of [funding] stream, but the past proposals that have been given to us don’t have any direct stream to the MTA for particular upgrades on the system.” Katz said from her perspective, it’s inequitable to charge people “to go into a certain area of Manhattan if they’re not from there.” “You should be able to travel, even if it’s a little more burdensome, for free somehow from borough to borough,” she said. Grodenchik, whose district touches the Long Island border, also repeated that it should not cost money to go from one part of the city to
another. “By imposing a toll, which is a tax by another name, we are greatly hindering the commerce of the people of Queens and Brooklyn,” he said. “It would be a disaster for small businesses and all people that need to get into Manhattan.” Grech called a potential toll on the East River crossings “regressive.” “At the end of the day, it’s really hard to do business in the city of New York,” he said. “It’s really another tax in disguise.” When asked how he would solve the MTA’s funding shortfall, Weprin suggested a commuter tax instead. He reiterated that he’s open to all ideas as long as they don’t include tolling the free bridges. Both Weprin and Grodenchik also stated their opposition to the Move New York plan, a congestion pricing proposal that includes adding tolls on the East River crossings and lowering tolls elsewhere. “The tolls on this bridge and every other bridge that crosses the East River is off the table as far as we’re concerned,” Grodenchik said. “I can travel from here to Montauk point without paying a toll,” he added. “Why should I have to pay a toll to go in the reverse direction?”
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BIGGEST MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT TODAY’S COLLEGE STUDENTS Editor’s Note: This op-ed originally appeared in the New York Times.
cent of students live in households making less than $25,000 per year. With financial pressures like these, studying You might think the typical college stu- full time is not an option. It is not uncommon for dent lives in a state of bliss, spending each a student to take between three and six years to day moving among classes, parties graduate from a two-year associand extracurricular activities. But ate degree program. the reality is that an increasingly Even that can be a miraculous small population of undergraduates feat. At LaGuardia, many of our enjoys that kind of life. students start their days by taking Of the country’s nearly 18 miltheir child to day care on the bus. lion undergraduates, more than 40 Then they take the subway to colpercent go to community college, lege, then ride a different bus to and of those, only 62 percent can their job, another bus to pick up afford to go to college full time. their child and a final bus to go By contrast, a mere 0.4 percent of home. students in the United States attend Once home, they still need to one of the Ivies. cook dinner, help their child with The typical student is not the one GAIL O. MELLOW homework, tuck the child in, tidy burnishing a fancy résumé with LGCC PRESIDENT up and complete their own college numerous unpaid internships. It’s coursework. just the opposite: Over half of all Many of these students have undergraduates live at home to make their jobs that are part-time and pay the minimum degrees more affordable, and a shocking 40 wage; their schedules can vary wildly, making percent of students work at least 30 hours a the fragile balance of each day complex. week. About 25 percent work full-time and go Being stretched so thin makes each day an to school full-time. ordeal. It’s no wonder that too many students The typical college student is also not fresh drop out before graduation. out of high school. A quarter of undergraduates Community colleges need increased fundare older than 25, and about the same number ing, and students need access to more flexible are single parents. federal and state financial aid, enhanced paid These students work extremely hard to make ends meet and simultaneously get the education they need to be more stable: A two-year degree can earn students nearly 20 percent more annually than just a high school diploma. And yet, these students are often the most shortchanged. As open-access institutions, community colleges educate the majority of our country’s lowincome, first-generation students. But public funding for community colleges is significantly less than for four-year colleges, sometimes because of explicit state policies. This means the amount that community colleges can spend on each student — to pay for faculty, support services, tutoring and facilities — is far less as well. Tuition for low-income students can be covered by federal financial aid programs, but these students often have significant other costs — including housing, transportation, food and child care — that regularly pose obstacles to their education. A recent Urban Institute study found that from 2011 to 2015, one in five students attending a two-year college lived in a food-insecure household. A study from the Wisconsin Hope Lab found that in 2016, 14 percent of community college students had been homeless at some point. At LaGuardia Community College, 77 per-
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internships and college work-study programs. Improved access to public supports, like food stamps and reduced public transportation fares, would also make a world of difference. It’s not just that policy must change. Last year, more than $41 billion was given in charity to higher education, but about a quarter of that went to just 20 institutions. Community colleges, with almost half of all undergraduate students, received just a small fraction of this philanthropy. It is imperative that individuals, corporations and foundations spread their wealth and diversify where they donate their dollars. Correcting society’s perception of who attends college in the United States is the first step toward helping these hard-working and ambitious students, eager to make a better life for themselves and their families. It will take sustained commitment by our elected officials, business leaders and philanthropists to increase support for routinely underfunded community colleges. It’s time to put public and private money where more and more students are educated, and remove the real, but surmountable, obstacles that stand between them and a degree. Gail O. Mellow is the president of LaGuardia Community College.
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
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JFK CHAMBER ANNOUNCES NEW 9/11 MEMORIAL BY JEN KHEDAROO The Port Authority of NY & NJ and JFK Chamber of Commerce held a September 11th memorial ceremony at John F. Kennedy International Airport 16 years after the attacks. The ceremony took place at JFK Airport Ball Field, a five-acre field that will eventually become the Memorial Field at JFK Airport, a green space dedicated to the victims of 9/11. In attendance were members of the NYPD, FDNY, National Guard, TSA, American Airlines, United Airlines, elected officials, local high schools and staff from the airport’s various terminals. “This event marks the singular occasion where we all came together as one airport community honoring those lost in the senseless attacks,” said JFK general manager Michael Moran. The Port Authority lost 84 employees on 9/11. Their name, as well as the name of those who perished in United Airlines Flight 175 and American Airlines Flight 11, were read aloud at the ceremony. JFK Airport is the only airport in the country with a synagogue, mosque, and both a Protestant and Catholic chapel. Religious leaders from all faiths took to the stage for prayers and remembrance of those lost. “We were all attacked, regardless of our faith or color,” said Imam Ahmet Yuceturk. “What we stood for was attacked, but we stood together that day and we’ve been standing together. When we remember all those people we lost that day, they live in us.” Joe Clabby, president of the JFK Chamber of Commerce, called on the community to help bring the vision for the park to life. “This is part of who we are as a community,” said Clabby. “We want your help to make it a living memorial, so 50 years from today people will say, ‘you need to go there, you need to bend a knee and feel it.’”
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September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
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QUEENS CHAMBER SPEARHEADING NEW MASPETH BID HOCHUL, CROWLEY, GRECH TOUR GRAND AVENUE BUSINESSES BY BENJAMIN FANG Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul joined Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and Thomas Grech, executive director of the Queens Chamber of Commerce, last month to tour Grand Avenue’s small businesses. Beginning at Maspeth Federal Savings Bank, they stopped by Fame Diner, Da-Bar Shoes and finished at Rosa’s Pizza. Along the way, they discussed the challenges small business owners face and how the government can provide helpful services. One way to help local small businesses may be in the works. Crowley recently secured a grant for the Queens Chamber of Commerce to work with the Maspeth Chamber of Commerce to explore the option of possibly bringing a BID to Grand Avenue. Grech said he jumped at the chance to help start the business improvement district (BID) and revitalize the neighborhood. There are currently 73 BIDs throughout the city. “We’d love to have this become the 74th,” Grech said. David Daraio, COO of Maspeth Federal Savings and president of the Maspeth Chamber, said the BID would help keep the neighborhood “where it needs to be.” “Grand Avenue is such a rich area with a lot of longtime businesses,” he said. “We want to make sure we can provide the holiday lights, sanitation services and things like that for the long term.” The difference between a chamber and a BID, Daraio noted, is that a chamber is more of an advisory committee. It’s run by businesses and funded through donations, which he said they’ve struggled with recently. A BID, on the other hand, is run by property owners on the commercial strip. Through their taxes, each business puts in money relative to its size to fund services such as sanitation and other programs. When they form a BID, Daraio said the chamber, which has been around since 1953, will still function. “The chamber will continue to operate as an advisory committee because we do know the neighborhood, the issues in the neighborhood and we’ve been there a long time,” he said. Daraio added that a lot of small business owners on Grand Avenue have asked to form a BID, which he called the “right next move.” It gives business owners a constant stream of funding to provide the necessary services, he said. Though Crowley, Daraio and Grech have had conversations about forming the BID before,
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QCC Executive Director Thomas Grech, Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, and Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley on Grand Avenue. Daraio said they just formed a steering committee two months ago. “We’re hoping that in about a year and a half, we can get this up and running,” Daraio said. “We’re excited about it.” Crowley also organized a roundtable with local business leaders to meet with Hochul. Hochul told the story of helping her mother start a small business in her hometown of Buffalo. A lawyer by trade, Hochul returned from Washington, D.C. and helped set up her mother’s flower shop. “I have such an affinity for small business owners because I was the one who had to go figure out the workman’s comp and insurance,” Hochul said. “I really learned firsthand the stress of being a small-town business owner, what happens when the neighbors around you are not doing well. There’s a psychological
shift downward and you don’t have consumer confidence.” In Buffalo at the time, the steel plant, for which her father and grandfather worked, closed down, dealing a “crushing blow” to the community. Thousands of people left, she said. But Hochul also saw Buffalo’s “incredible comeback,” which she attributed in part to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s investments and pro-business policies. She senses a similar energy in Queens. “There’s a sense this is a stable place amidst a lot of upheaval, gentrification and changes,” she said. “That’s built on the incredible strength and character of this community. “You’re fighting to keep it the way it is,” she added. “You do not want to lose that sense of place you have here.” “We certainly have the small-town feel here so close to the city,” Crowley added.
Small business owners in Maspeth discuss the benefits of a BID.
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
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DIVERSITY PLAZA PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS MWBE IMPACT BY BENJAMIN FANG As de Blasio administration strives to reach its goal of awarding 30 percent of city contracts to women and minority-owned business enterprises (MWBEs), city officials are highlighting projects led by these small businesses. Last Thursday at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights, Jonnel Doris, director of the Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises, and Ana Barrio, acting commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction (DDC), toured a reconstruction site. The $4.45 million project will bring new trees, raised planters, chairs, tables and bike racks to the popular gathering spot. Nearby streets will be resurfaced and new water mains, catch basins, sidewalks, curbs, street lighting and traffic signals will be added. The project is expected to be completed by July 1, 2018. “The community congregates here, ghe community is really here 24 hours a day,” said Karine Williams, president of Akela Contracting, which is leading the project. “There were vigils the other night when we came to work for Hurricane Harvey. Tables and candles were set up around the perimeter.” Williams, whose firm is a certified womenowned business, said the project was perfect for her company because of its location and scope. She said the project size and design were appealing. “I was able to just have one crew work here, I didn’t have to go and hire outside of my current workforce,” she said. “It’s pretty selfcontained, it was manageable for me.” Williams started her company in 2009, but only worked on it part time. She decided to go into the construction industry full time in 2013, despite her background in business. “The challenge of doing a different type of business is still exciting. It changes all the time, every project is different,” she said. “I find that very exciting. People should not be discouraged to try new things, as long as you have the heart to do it and you’re willing to see it through.” She said the process to apply for a city contract was initially difficult because of the paperwork. But when Williams was the lowest bidder for the project, she was assigned a contract manager to help her navigate the process. “They walk you through the process step by step,” she said. “It eliminated a lot of uneasiness with dealing with the city. “For any women or minority-owned or small business that is trying to grow and play with
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the big boys, there’s a lot of challenges there alone. The competition is not on a level playing field,” Williams added. “But the more you keep at it, one day you will get it. You swing at enough balls, eventually you’ll hit one.” The benefit of a city contract, Williams noted, is that contractors are paid on time and receive resources to help complete the project. “You can be confident going in that you won’t have to close your business because you can’t finish,” she said. “The city is really there, they want you to succeed as much as you want to succeed.” Doris said his office works to build the capacity of these companies through city programs. The goal is to train and prepare them to apply for city contracts. “Part of our job as an office is to be an ombudsman for these types of businesses,” he said. “We’re a one-stop shop to assist them and work with them about city contracts and how to navigate that process.” For example, the Department of Small Business Services (SBS) hosts a “Selling to Government” class where MWBEs learn about the procurement process and best methods when applying for a contract. Doris noted that city contracts are “an open, competitive process.” It’s illegal for the city to just set aside a project for MWBEs. But to address the disparities, the office was established to encourage inclusion within the
bidding process. The Department of Design and Construction (DDC), which oversees the Diversity Plaza project, awarded $570 million in contracts to MWBEs last year alone, representing a 300 percent increase over three years. “MWBEs are an important part of the contracting community,” said Barrio. “We want our contracts to represent what New York City is all about, from the smaller firms to the big firms.” Barrio emphasized the importance of sustainability in their bidding process. “We don’t want to work with one MWBE and not see them ever again,” she said. “We want them to grow and bid on projects that are bigger for the city.” When asked how the city can help MWBEs even more, Williams said she would like to see smaller, more attainable projects for the smaller firms. “Not everyone can do a $10 million job,” she said. Doris added that’s part of his office’s effort, to break up contracts, particularly with city agencies, so qualifying MWBEs can compete. “We’re very excited about what’s happening in Queens. If you look at Diversity Plaza, it’s really a testament to what New York City is all about,” he said. “To have an MWBE actually doing the work in Diversity Plaza, you can’t beat that.”
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
GROW YOUR SMALL BUSINESS THROUGH LINKEDIN Although there are nearly 30 million small businesses in the United States, only half of them make it past the five-year mark. One way to grow a small business is through LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network. Owners can generate leads, produce sales and hire the best employees to fuel the company’s growth. The first step is to create a LinkedIn Company Page. The company pages offer more marketing, advertising and recruiting features, making them more effective than a personal profile. LinkedIn members are 50 percent more likely to buy once they’ve engaged with a business on LinkedIn. However, only 57 percent of companies have pages, and the remaining 43 percent are missing out on valuable resources and ultimately revenue. As you create the page, select the photos and write the welcoming message, think about the kind of impression you’d like to make among potential customers and employees. Once you create a company page, it’s important to promote it. Announce it to your clients, employees and personal network. This will help lead to the company’s first followers, who are then able to promote the company page and its content. Encourage employees to follow the company page. According to Social Media Today reports, content shared by employees receives eight times the engagement as brand shared content. You can also link the LinkedIn company page in the footer of marketing emails or newsletters, giving it a wider audience. Share the page on your company website as well. The next step is to share content regularly. The more you post, the more people you can reach and add to your network. The best company pages are updated constantly so visitors have new content to read and share. Although you may want to start with one post per week, eventually you can pump it up to as many as
three posts per day. Create content that’s worth sharing, not just for the sake of posting. You can also use LinkedIn’s company page analytics to see the top performing posts, the best times to post and which members of your network are the most engaged. That will help lead to better and more opportune posts. To boost engagement, be sure to add links and images. Posts with links see 45 percent more engagement, while images see a 98 percent increase in engagement. If you’re wondering what to write about or share, consider this. Seventy-nine percent of buyers say thought leadership is critical for them to determine which companies to follow. Try to provide a unique perspective on your industry, company or product. Talk about the future of the industry or a helpful guide on your product. As a small business, it’s important to know who you’re targeting. Using LinkedIn is no different. Use the company page’s tools to target your ideal audience. Use profile data to search for LinkedIn members based on geography, education, experience and even connections. Once you find prospects, visit their profiles. You may be able to find more of your target audience in their endorsements or recent profile views as well. The next step is building an allstar team. Research shows that 66 percent of candidates care about company culture, and LinkedIn is a great platform to showcase it. In addition to a company page, consider creating a LinkedIn career page. This allows you to target audiences with a personalized look into your company, jobs and culture. This can help attract the most qualified professionals to your business. Encourage employees to share open job postings and “day in the life” content, which gives visitors a genuine idea of what it’s like to work in the company. If you can’t afford the salary of a full-time employee, LinkedIn is a good place to hire freelanc-
ers. LinkedIn ProFinder enables business owners to post a project, receive free proposals and hire professionals to take up the endeavor. ProFinder pairs businesses with local professionals and freelancers. LinkedIn vets all professionals on the platform to ensure they’re qualified.
By using freelancers, you have access to an outside perspective and a broad range of experience without the management overhead of a full-time employee. Once you employ these tactics on LinkedIn, you’ll be on your way to grow your small business past the five-year mark and beyond.
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FESTIVALS ALL THE RAGE IN SEPTEMBER The month of September rolls in with Labor Day and back-to-school activities. It saunters out with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and baseball playoffs. It’s a great time to be in Queens, especially for fun-seekers, as the borough hosts everything from urban foraging to Spanish Divas to motorcycle mania. Sept. 15 through Oct. 1, Jimmy and Carolyn. This hysterical world premiere play depicts Jimmy, a retired auto body repairman, and his homemaker wife Carolyn. They drive from Florida to Rhode Island to celebrate Jimmy’s birthday at the fancy beach house of their gay son and his life partner. They devour pepperoni loaf, eat Italian cookies, smoke cigarettes, and drink Pinot Grigio. Then, amid the laughter, dark truths are exposed. Shows on Thursday-Sunday. Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, queenstheatre.org. Sept. 16, Flushing BID Street Festival, 10 am to 5 pm. Fourth annual event features countless vendors. An estimated 19,000 people attended last year. Vicinity of 40th Road and Prince Street, flushingbid.com. Sept. 16, Making Moves Dance Festival, 2 pm and 7 pm. A unique, annual opportunity to see NYC-based emerging choreographers and dance companies. This year, seven selected troupes present their works in two bills: a free afternoon outdoor presentation which encourages public participation and a $10 evening stage show with commissioned work by choreographer Gabrielle Lamb. Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., jcal.org. Sept. 17, The 35th Annual Antique Motorcycle Show, 11 am to 4 pm. A display of various makes and models of motorcycles that have been out of production for 10 years or more
along with music, farmhouse tours, hayrides, and food. $7. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Glen Oaks, queensfarm.org. Sept. 17, Music in the Garden: NYC Klezmer Band, 4 pm. Traditional Jewish music from Eastern Europe. Free. Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing, queensbotanical.org. Sept. 18, Ellis Island, 7 pm. Watch a film on Ellis Island in celebration of its 125th anniversary. Free. Greater Astoria Historical Society, 35-20 Broadway, LIC, astorialic.org. Sept. 22-24, Queens Hip Hop Festival 2017. Celebrate hip hop music, art, and film with concerts, art exhibitions, yoga, tours, and films at various venues, including Queens Museum, Not For Them Studios, and Museum of the Moving Image, bit.ly/2wvz0kp. Sept. 22 through Oct. 8, Divas de España. An evening filled with laughter, music, and dance in celebration of Spanish Divas. Per-
formed in English with Spanish songs. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm and Sundays at 4 pm. $35. Thalía Spanish Theatre, 41-17 Greenpoint Ave., Sunnyside, thaliatheatre.org. Sept. 23, Oktoberfest, Flushing Style: Sauerkraut & Kimchi, 5:30 pm. This event unites German cabbage with Korean cabbage and other dishes. Plus, Norman Curtis plays keyboard. Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing, vomuseum.org. Sept. 23, Interpol, 6:30 pm. Though celebrating its 15th anniversary, this rock group plays its debut album, Turn on the Bright Lights, in its entirety with Deerhunter and Battles. One Tennis Place, Forest Hills Gardens, http://bit. ly/2tnYZFz. Sept. 23-24, 35th Annual Queens County Fair, 11 am to 6 pm. A traditional county fair with blue ribbon competitions in livestock, produce, home crafts, pie-eating and corn-husking contests, and pig races, as well as hayrides, carnival rides, and a Bavarian beer garden. Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Pkwy., Glen Oaks, queensfarm.org. Sept. 23-24, World Maker Faire 2017, 10 am to 6 pm. More than 750 makers — including tech enthusiasts, crafters, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, science clubbers, and artists — will introduce their latest inventions. Plus, there will be a speaker roster including authors, innovators, and leading thinkers in the Maker movement, as well as arts and crafts, food, woodworking and live music. New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, nysci.org. Sept. 27, Chance The Rapper, 7 pm. His Sept. 26th show sold out almost immediately, so the hip hop star added another for the next day. One Tennis Place, Forest Hills Gardens, bit. ly/2tnYZFz. For more information, visit itsinqueens.org.
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September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
QUEENSBOROUGH CALENDAR OF EVENTS SEPTEMBER 9/28, 9 AM - 7 PM SAVE THE DATE Queens Chamber Annual Golf Outing Join us for our annual golf outing and dinner. The day includes breakfast, registration, shotgun start, lunch, cocktail hour/dinner buffet, awards, silent auction and raffles. To register, please visit www.queenschamber.org North Hills Country Club, North Service Road, Long Island Expressway Manhasset, New York 11030
OCTOBER 10/11, 6 PM - 8 PM Manufacturing Committee Meeting At this meeting we will be discussing the state of the Manufacturing Industry in New York City. We will also be exploring city, state and federal incentives that manufacturing businesses can access. Featured agencies to include: Empire State Development, NYC Economic Development Corporate, NYC Small Business Services Location TBD 10/13, 8:30 AM Breakfast Workshop Series Workplace Skills Development Program on Risk Management and Critical Thinking Fall 2017 to Spring 2018 Workshop #1 Critical Thinking in the 21st Century; Improving Executive Decision Making Skills More and more employers are looking for employees who have not only specialized academic skills but also are creative, problem solvers, and have outstanding analytical skills. Critical thinking is a self-directed process by which one takes deliberate steps to think at the highest level of quality. Benefits of critical thinking include, improved cognitive skills, a foundation of logical decision making on which you can draw, even in stressful situations
higher professional achievement, improves team playing skills, facilitates the ability to stay calm and make good decisions even under stress. In short, business leaders must be critical thinkers!! (In conjunction with NYIT Center for Human Resource Studies and Dispute Resolution Institute of New York) Enter on 25th Avenue entrance, proceed to the left around to the West entrance and come to Suite 140. If parking is tight, you can park next door at the Home Depot. To register, please visit www.queenschamber.org Open to the public Complimentary admission and parking Queens Chamber of Commerce - 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 10/18 Business Person of the Year Awards Sponsorship opportunities are Available Terrace on the Park, 52-11 111th St, Flushing, NY 11368
in hand with critical thinking. The effective risk manager is able to anticipate a potential problem before it explodes into a crisis. An effective risk management program can be the difference between a thriving business and a devastated business. The benefits of a risk management system include, reduction in management time spent in crisis management, fewer sudden shocks and unwelcome surprises, more efficient use of resources, reduced waste and fraud, better service delivery, improved innovation. And improved goodwill and reputation To register, please visit www.queenschamber.org Enter on 25th Avenue entrance, proceed to the left around to the West entrance and come to Suite 140. If parking is tight, you can park next door at the Home Depot.
Queens Chamber of Commerce - 75-20 Astoria Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 12/6 Annual Building Awards Gala The Queens Chamber of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2017 Queens Building Awards Gala, our annual real estate industry event recognizing recently completed projects that have a positive impact on the borough economy. Nominations are welcome for newly-built and renovated projects and will be judged on specific criteria, which include how they enrich neighborhoods and economy. Applications are due by Friday September 29, 2017 Sponsorship opportunities are available Terrace on the Park, 52-11 111th St, Flushing, NY 11368
10/26, 8 AM - 10 AM Energy Committee Meeting This meeting will be focusing on Solar and Sustainability. Location TBD
NOVEMBER 11/18 Legislative Acts Lefrak Concert Hall at Queens College, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367
In addition to the smashing aces and grueling baseline duels, tennis fans enjoyed local restaurants, hotels, and cultural venues during this year’s U.S. Open. For the sixth year in a row, the USTA donated an informational tourism DECEMBER kiosk to the Queens Tourism Council and the Queens Chamber of Commerce for the entire tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center 12/1, 8:30 AM in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Breakfast Workshop Series Seen at the booth on Wednesday, Sept. 23, are (from left) Queens Chamber Workplace Skills Development Business Development Manager Brendan Leavy, NYC Department of Corrections Program on Risk Management Director of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement Fabrice Armand, and Critical Thinking USTA Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Andrea Hirsch, Fall 2017 to Spring 2018 USTA Executive Director and COO Gordon Smith, Assemblyman Jeffrion L. Workshop #2 Aubry, Community Board 4 Chair Damian Vargas, QTC Director Rob MacKay, Risk Management Queens Chamber Manager of Committee Development & Member Engagement Risk Management is the identifi- Brett Swanson, Community Board 4 District Manager Christian Cassagnol, cation, analysis, assessment, con- Borough President Melinda Katz, Queens Economic Development Corporation trol, and avoidance, minimization, Executive Director Seth Bornstein, Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman, and or elimination of unacceptable Queens Chamber Community Outreach Liaison Virginia Ferreira. risks. Risk management goes hand (Image: Dominick Totino Photography)
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
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THIS IS QUEENSBOROUGH
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NONPROFIT NEWS
WHEN IN NEED DEDICATED TO IMPROVING LIVES
BY DR. GEORGE ONUORAH
The When In Need Foundation (WIN) is a nonprofit organization that sets its sights on improving lives of under-resourced communities around the world. It is a 501(c) 3 that until now has been funded entirely by Nigerian-born Dr. Chetachi NwogaEcton, a social worker by profession who became independently wealthy as CEO of an entertainment production company. WIN primarily targets orphans, students, widows, single mothers, and the elderly in four main areas of intervention: • We provide mobile clinics that screen individuals for a variety of conditions, from malaria to what has become a leading cause of death around the world, high blood pressure. • We equip children with school supplies, including backpacks, uniforms, books, etc., and provide continuing education grants to students. We also build schoolhouses in areas where children still take classes, out-ofdoors, under a tree. • WIN has set up a pilot program in Nigeria that enables widows and the poor to grow food not only to feed their families but create employment opportunities. • WIN has built elevated tanks to supply communities with pure drinking water, uncontaminated by chemicals. WIN employ four strategic approaches in serving less privileged communities. • First, it conducts an analysis of a community’s needs. • It assesses locally available resources for in-kind contributions. • It establishes partnerships with local authorities, government institutions, and experts. • It lobbies international humanitarian donors to fund community needs. WIN has had a major impact in the United States and in Africa, primarily in Nigeria. It has also
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sustained partnerships serving orphans in seven countries around the world: Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Spain, Italy, France and Dominican Republic. Its mobile clinics provide free medical screenings, treatment and referrals. They also offer otherwise unavailable advice on reproductive health. One of the things that sets When In Need apart from other foundations is its one main funding source, Dr. Chetachi Ecton. This immigrant single mother is passionate about making a difference in the lives of the needy, and uses her savings and investments to touch the lives of others around the world.
WIN Foundation representatives visit a site in Nigeria.
Anyone who wishes to advance our cause may do so by volunteering during our events or
making financial donations. Visit our website at winfound.org or call (347) 249-3500.
ADC PRESENTS $5K TO ROCKAWAY GROUP
The Aviation Development Council presented the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance with a $5,000 grant for their summer youth programs, ADC, a not-for-profit organization that supports the advancement of aviation in the metropolitan area by promoting a business-minded, community-friendly agenda for the aviation industry and communities it serves, has supported the group’s youth programs for several years.
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
NONPROFIT NEWS
EVENT TO GATHER LEADERS IN CHARTER MOVEMENT The Coalition of Community Charter Schools C3S felt that it could play a conciliatory role (C3S) is a Long Island City-based organiza- and work with the incoming administration tion that advocates on behalf of while continuing to promote its the independent, self-managed model of community-based charcharter schools in New York ter schools. City. Of the more than 200 Although Queens has far fewer charter schools in the charter schools than Brooklyn, five boroughs, about half Manhattan or the Bronx, C3S of them are part of charmade its headquarters in the ter networks and half are World’s Borough because nearly independent and make all all the charter schools in Queens critical decisions at the school. are independent. C3S believes that self-managAnd because the Queens char- STEVE ZIMMERMAN ing charter schools are true to the ter schools stress their commu- C3S CO-DIRECTOR original principles of the charter nity roots and seek to play a movement and, because of their collaborative role with district autonomy, are able to offer highschools, there is far less friction between district ly innovative programming for their students and charter schools here than in other boroughs. and interact with their communities in creative C3S came into existence during the last may- ways to engage parents and other stakeholders oral election when it became apparent that the in public education. new administration had a more skeptical stance C3S has a specific nonprofit corporate strucregarding charter schools than the previous one, ture that makes it unique among charter advowhich had advocated strongly for the charter cacy organizations. It is officially classified as sector. a “Type 1 Support Organization” which means
that its members have to vote on and approve its governing board. Five of its eight board members are charter school leaders from the five boroughs. C3S believes that this structure truly allows them to speak as the collective voice of independent charter schools. From October 11 to 13, C3S is holding its inaugural Independent Charter School Symposium at the Ravel Hotel in Long Island City. Charter school leaders and social activists from across the country are coming to share ideas, attend workshops and participate in a town hall meeting during which the organization intends to pose some critical questions facing the charter school sector and decide on a future direction for advocacy that promotes the original principles behind the charter movement. Steve Zimmerman is co-director of the Coalition of Community Charter Schools. He has founded two charter schools in Queens, Our World Neighborhood Charter School and Academy of the City Charter School.
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QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 82ND STREET PARTNERSHIP
37-06 82nd Street, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 Executive Director: Leslie Ramos 718.335.9421 82ndstreet.org QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $224,000 with more than 200 businesses under its umbrella. The 82nd Street Partnership will host its food and music festival on September 16 from noon until 7 p.m. at 82nd Street and Roosevelt Avenue. Viva la Comida features some of city’s best street food vendors and local restaurants, showcasing the variety of ethnic foods found in New York. There will also be live music featuring bands with Latin American and Afro-Caribbean roots.
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 well as a block east and west on 41st Avenue. The BID has been hosting “Music at the Station” every Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m. The last concert is on September 14. The Bell Boulevard Sunday Stroll is on Sunday, September 24, from noon until 5 p.m. There will be live music, food, games and other great activities between 39th and 41st avenues. There is still time to register as a vendor.
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 in Forest Hills. This month the meeting is on September 27. The chamber is hosting the “Shop Forest Hills Street Festival” on Sunday, September 24, on Austin Street. The booths are free for chamber members and cost $175 for nonmembers. Food vendors are charged $305. The deadline for reserving a spot is September 15. The group’s mission is the Three C’s: Commerce, Community and Culture. Commerce makes the community thrive and culture brings the community together.
john@flushingchamber.nyc 646.783.8985 flushingchamber.nyc QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 2014 and representing over 200 businesses. The poster child for hyper-local chambers around the city, GFCC created the Night Market, a lending circle for businesses, and is paving a new path forward for Flushing’s growing population of new immigrants. After a great August Nite Out event, the chamber is hosting a free business marketing workshop on September 12 at 6 p.m. at St. Georges Church, 135-32 38 Avenue. Thursday, September 21, is the Flushing CSA pick-up at Flushing Town Hall from 5 until 7:30 p.m.
GREATER JAMAICA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
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 economically diverse residents of Jamaica and for the region at large, which benefits from rational, well-planned, and sustainable metropolitan growth. The Sutphin Boulevard Harvest Festival is planned for Saturday, September 23, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. It’s a day of art, crafts food and plenty more to celebrate the rich culture of Jamaica. They are still seeking vendors for the Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 21, between 160th Street between Jamaica and 90th avenues. Sponsors for the event include Zucker
Hillside Hospital, Transitional Services for New York and Down Earth Farmers Market.
GREATER WOODHAVEN DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WOODHAVEN BID
84-01 Jamaica Avenue, Woodhaven NY 11421 Executive Director: Maria Thomson 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 storeowners along Jamaica Avenue. They also provide 2.5 and 5 percent home improvement loans. They are meeting Tuesday, September 19, at Woodhaven Manor.
JAMAICA CENTER BID
90-50 Parsons Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11432 Executive Director: Rhonda Binda 718.526.2422 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of over $1 million. Founded in 1979, the district is on Jamaica Ave. between 170th St. and Sutphin Blvd. for the purposes of having the local business get together and make a thriving business hub and enjoyable destination. They offer a “value card” for discounts at stores and have employment services, as well as sanitation services.
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
45-10 Court Square, Long Island City, NY 11101 Executive Director: Mercedes Altman
GREATER FLUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
39-01 Main Street, 5th Floor, Flushing NY 11354 Executive Director: John Choe
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Jamie-Faye Beam is the new executive director of the Sunnyside Shines BID.
September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES 516.492.0513 www.jfkairportchamberofcommerce.org QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has over 200 members. The chamber ’s general monthly meeting is at 8:30 a.m. on September 13 in Building 14, Conference Room A. The golf outing is September 18 at Lawrence Country Club.
JUNCTION BOULEVARD MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION
President: John Ferreira 718.899.6563 The Junction Boulevard Merchants Association “represents the merchants in all matters that might benefit the community around us.”
LONG ISLAND CITY PARTNERSHIP
President: Elizabeth Lusskin 718.786.5300 www.longislandcityqueens.ccom 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. On September 13, OneGroup will discuss the landscape of healthcare, current trends in employee benefits and other regulations. The event starts at 9 a.m. and includes free breakfast.
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 on Grand Avenue. 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 considerable press coverage of the chamber’s push to form a BID on Grand Avenue (see page 18). Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul met with Chamber president Dario, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and Rosa’s Pizza owner Mauricio Troia to discuss the opportunity. The chamber will host the Grand Avenue Street Festival on October 8.
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. 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. Their new initiative is cleaning Metropolitan Avenue and organizing the holiday lights in December to create a festive atmosphere for the community. The MVCC has received grants for street cleaning and are looking for grants for the holiday lights, since some businesses do not support them.
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 of over 2,000 businesses. Funded by Department of Small Business
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QUEENS CHAMBER PARTNERS & AFFILIATES Services, they strive to create and retain jobs via programs that grow neighborhoods and assist small businesses. QEDC assists by providing oneon-one consultations, hosting workshops, operating training courses and networking events. QEDC assists with minority/woman owned business certification and refers business professionals. They also operate a culinary incubator at 36-46 37th Street in Long Island City. Their commercial kitchen for rent is used 24/7/365.
RIDGEWOOD LDC
62-14 Myrtle Avenue, Ridgewood, NY 11385 Executive Director: Ted Renz 718.366.3806 QUICK GLANCE: Budget of $500,000 with 345 businesses under its umbrella. 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. The organization provides, marketing, street cleaning, holiday lighting and is heavily involved in making sure the historic flavor of Ridgewood stays in tact. The Youthmarket operates from July 8 to November 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Myrtle Avenue, weather permitting. On Sunday, September 17, from noon until 6 p.m., the BID will host Myrtle Avenue Street Festival between Forest and Wyckoff avenues, It is one of the largest street festivals in the city with more than 200 vendors, custom car and vintage bus show, international food and entertainment. On Saturday, September 23, from noon until 5 p.m., the Ridgewood Seneca/Catalpa Avenue Stroll, funded by the NYC DOT Weekend Walks program, will take place.
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. By engaging businesses that see this vision, RBA expects to contribute to the economic and social impact of the Rockaways. RBA is looking for grants to assist with the several yearly events they produce, along with general operational costs.
ROCKAWAY DEVELOPMENT & REVITALIZATION CORPORATION 1920 Mott Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 President: Kevin Alexander 718.327.5300 www.rdrc.org
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QUICK GLANCE: Founded in 1978, the group has 30 members. The RDRC offers employment assistance and improves public spaces with commercial development projects such as the Downtown Far Rockaway Storefront Improvement Act. Its newest project is the Downtown Rockaway Wireless Network.
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.
SUNNYSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
PO Box 4399, Sunnyside, NY 11104 President: Rigoberto Cardoso 516.492.0513 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. Some accomplishments include the Sunnyside Post Office, formation of the Sunnyside Shines Business Development District, parking under the elevated train, sidewalk cafe rezoning on Skillman Avenue, and holiday lights on Queens Boulevard and Greenpoint and Skillman avenues. The Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce is hosting Spanish courses to those who speak English on August 7, August 21 and August 28, along with three classes in September. It’s $150 for members and $180 for non-members, and has a capacity of 15 students only. The eight classes include the class book “Berlitz Step by Step” and the teacher is an experienced, professional native teacher.
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. Sunnyside Restaurant Week will take place
from September 19-25 with 30 restaurants participating. Enthusiastic eaters from all over the five boroughs are invited to sample international cuisine from some of the most authentic local restaurants in New York City. Each restaurant will serve a three-course dinner menu for $25 with many establishments offering additional lunch specials, and a few offering the $25 dinner menu for two people. Menus for each participating restaurant will be posted online as they are received at sunnysideshines.org. Participating restaurants include newcomers to the Sunnyside culinary scene (The Lowery Bar and Kitchen, Thai Diva Cuisine, Boon by Moldova Restaurant), as well as the neighborhood’s two restaurants recognized as Michelin “Bib Gourmands” (Venturo and Salt and Fat).
VIVA LA COMIDA! The 82nd Street Partnership will host its 6th annual food and music festival, Viva la Comida!, on Saturday, September 16, from noon to 7 p.m. along 82nd Street between Roosevelt and Baxter avenues. Some of the city’s best street food vendors and local restaurants will showcase the variety of delicious ethnic foods found not only in Queens, but throughout the city. The event will also feature full slate of concerts offering an eclectic mix of music and musicians all with New York, Latin American, and AfroCaribbean roots. “During Viva la Comida, our communities come together to honor diversity and unity,” said Leslie Ramos, executive director of the 82nd Street Partnership. “Over the last couple of years, the festival has evolved to become a platform for local artists and entrepreneurs to showcase their talents regardless of ethnic or cultural background.” This year’s participants include the Arepa Lady, Solber Pupusas, D’Angelo’s Italian Sausage Truck, and Mysttik Masala. Returning vendors include festival favorites Mama Food, Ricas Botanas, and Oscar’s Chuzos & Corn, a long-term Roosevelt Avenue vendor. Local restaurants serving a broader range of Ecuadorian, Mexican, and Colombian foods will also be participating in the festival. Delicias Colombianas, Sabor Ecuatoriano and Casa Rivera will all take part. Headlining Viva la Comida’s stage this year is Los Hacheros, whose musical and cultural roots produce a sound that is steeped in Afro-Cuban salsa, Puerto Rican bomba, and jazz. There will also be plenty of art activities for children. Puppeteer Paul VanDeCarr of Firefly will present a story with puppets, and artist Melissa Villalobos will offer henna-tattoos and her own one-of-a-kind, personalized cartoon work.
August 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 8
LEARN HOW TO BETTER RUN YOUR FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESS On September 15, businessowning family members from around the New York City area will gather for the NYC Family Enterprise Center’s (NYCFEC) 2017 Family Business Day. It will be a full day of eight practical sessions led by eight outstanding faculty members to learn and share in a private setting with plenty of time for Q&A and networking. NYCFEC Family Business Day is designed to be a high-impact, cost and time-efficient day for very busy New York City area family business owners and their family members. All programs are designed to provide a wonderful, neutral, and safe learning environment and experience to empower everyone to better understand their roles, plan and work together, as well as build healthy relationships. The 2017 NYCFEC Family Business Day agenda includes sessions on: • How to Make Your Family Business Last • Ownership Models for FamilyOwned Businesses: Who’s Really in Control? • Advanced Ownership Options • Working and Communicating with Family Members • Constructing a Family Constitution • Family Business Boards • Effective Board Committees and Independent Directors • Understanding Family Business Trusts and Trusteeship Spouses, family board members, family management and family trustees are welcome to attend Family Business Day. Take at least one day out your year to join us to empower yourself and join the NYCFEC community The day includes breakfast, lunch, and a reception, plus any attendee will get free NYCFEC Initial Annual Membership. Queens Chamber of Commerce members receive a discount with the code QCC050.
If you are a small family business owner with revenues of less than $10 million, please contact us at info@nycfec.org with your information for a potentially reduced “scholarship-level” fee (limited availability). Queens is home to thousands of wonderful family-owned business. Some are first generation businesses who were founded by entrepreneurial individuals, couples or a group of relatives, while others have adapted, grown and successfully transitioned across many generations. Business-owning families want to do the best job that they can for their families, businesses, customers, employees, and the communities they work and live in, but they all face a variety of challenges. NYCFEC is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to helping educate and inspire New York City family enterprises and their families to build longterm, sustainable enterprises and healthy family relationships. Educational sessions are led by experienced faculty members, who consist of experts, practitioners and leading members of family businesses. All NYCFEC programs are designed to be convenient and inclusive, while providing a confidential and respectful learning environment for all attendees. No advisors, commercial influence, consultants, or solicitation are permitted. Additional fall programs include “Raising Family Business Children,” “Building a Rising Generation Family Team,” “Preventing and Managing Conflict in Family Enterprises: The Basics, Recruiting Family Business Leaders, and Exit Planning.” If you are interested in learning more about NYCFEC programs for the fall, visit nycfec.com, or joining as a member, please contact CEO Warner Babcock at warnerb@nycfec.org.
Mitzi Perdue from the Perdue Chicken and Sheraton Hotel families will lead off NYC Family Enterprise Center’s Family Business Day. Schedule a service TODAY!
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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.
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Hilo Materials Handing Group 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 Joe’s Crab Shack JP Morgan Chase Kasirer Consulting Inc Kaufman Astoria Studios Inc. Kensington Company King of Queens Laundromat Knockout Pest Control LaGuardia Plaza Hotel La Technology Group Lee & Associates Levine Builders Lerner Agency Lessing’s Inc. Longhorn Steak House Long Island City Volkswagon Luna Park in Coney Island Lyons Mortgage Services, Inc. M&T Bank M&V Provisions Co, Inc. MCR Development LLC MTA-Long Island Rail Road Madeline Chocolate Novelties Marks Paneth Marriott NYC Airport Hotels
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Sterling Risk Strat X IT Solutions Structural Engineering Technologies 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 Venture House Vornado Realty Trust Waste Management of NY LLC Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Welllife Network WeWork York College Zwanger Pesiri Radiology LLP
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We hope you are enjoying the newly designed, expanded Queensborough, the monthly publication of the Queens Chamber of Commerce. We, the Chamber, direct and approve all content deciding what stories are covered in each issue, editing all copy and forwarding information that is contained in the publication. BQE Media produces it for the Chamber. We look forward to continuing to highlight the outstanding business persons, services and activities that make our borough unique. We welcome all your letters, manuscripts, etc. Please send all materials to the Queens Chamber of Commerce at 75-20 Astoria Boulevard, Suite 140, Jackson Heights, NY 11370 or call 718.898.8500 for more information. We reserve the right to edit for space limitations. Your support of the magazine is critical to its success. We encourage you to include Queensborough in your advertising plans. To place your ad, please call BQE Media at 718.426.7200.
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September 2017 • Volume 13 • Issue 9
NEW MEMBERS
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Jaros Baum & Bolles Jetro Holdings, LLC/Restaurant Depot Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates Villa Russo Elite Palace INTRODUCTORY
Keller Williams Realty Landmark Pristine & Squeaky Clean, Inc. CL Electric Corp. NYC Family Enterprise Center Arthur L. Miller, Esq. STUDENTS/YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
ACC Space Jaros Baum & Bolles 80 Pine Street New York, NY 10005 (212) 530-9300
JB&B has been privileged to work with many
of the foremost architectural firms, corporate owners, institutions and real estate developers throughout the world. In over 100 years of practice, JB&B has completed design projects in more than 50 countries and on 6 continents, serving as consulting engineers on some of the most iconic buildings of the 20th century as well as some of the most emblematic of the 21st.
Jetro Holdings/Restaurant Depot 133-11 20th Avenue College Point, NY 11356 (718) 939-6400
Restaurant Depot, a division of Jetro Holdings, LLC, headquartered in College Point, NY, has been supplying independent food businesses with quality products from large cash and carry warehouse stores since 1990. By eliminating the overhead of a traditional distributor, focusing on the needs of independent food service operators and offering free membership, Restaurant Depot has become the leading low-cost alternative to other food service suppliers throughout the United States.
Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates 5 Penn Plaza, Suite 1913 New York, NY 10001 (877) 458-3926
Patrick B. Jenkins & Associates is a fullservice consulting firm founded in January 2009. With years of experience in community and government relations, we have an expertise in eliminating any barriers to your success in bringing your project to fruition. We work from the grassroots up to the height of government to make sure your project runs smoothly.
Elite Palace
69-02 Garfield Avenue Woodside, NY 11377 (718) 565-2001
The facility hosts weddings, engagements, corporate events, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs, bridal and baby showers, anniversaries, milestones, award ceremonies, birthdays and other special occasions. No matter what you are celebrating, Elite Palace will help you plan a memorable event. Regardless of the time of day you wish to hold your event, Elite Palace will accommodate. The catering hall offers breakfasts, brunches, lunches and dinners. Since each occasion is unique in size, Elite Palace has a variety of ballrooms to accommodate a range of party sizes, from small and intimate up to very large. In fact, the facility has a room capacity of up to 400 for cocktail receptions and a room capacity of up to 700 for dinner and dancing.
Villa Russo Catering
101-02 Lefferts Boulevard South Richmond Hill (718) 849-0990
For more than half a century the Russo Family has built an enduring legacy of excellence in the catering industry in New York City. With humble beginnings more than 58 years ago, two sons of Italian immigrants opened Russo’s Pizzeria on 101 Avenue in Richmond Hill, Queens. Through dedication, hard work and attention to detail they expanded their small pizzeria to a full-service restaurant, gaining a reputation for the highest quality Italian Cuisine in Queens, New York.
PETSIOS: CHAMBER WILL STAY ON TOP OF TRANSIT ISSUES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
more creative on that side,” he said. He added that technology will continue to play a bigger role in transportation, and people should embrace it. McArdle said he sees a future with autonomous cars, realtime decision-making based on data and more efficient ways of getting around. “Where technology is leading, it could create solutions for us that we never envisioned,” he said. “We need to be thinking about smarter solutions looking to the future, not solutions that worked back in the 50s and 60s.” One way that transportation projects can move faster is through design-build, a method that allows engineers, designers and contractors to work collaboratively to
design and build simultaneously. Traditionally, when an agency wants to do a project, they hire an engineering firm to create a fully detailed design. The project then gets put out for a bid, and the winning contractor constructs the project. Under design-build, an agency puts together a preliminary design. A team of engineers and contractors then puts a bid together to finish the design and build at once. Though the state has used design-build on projects like the Kosciuszko Bridge and will apply it for the L train tunnel renovation, the city cannot legally use it. Petsios and McArdle want that changed. “They have thousands of bridges they’re responsible to maintain in the city, and would love to have the ability to do design-
build,” McArdle said. “That saves money in and of itself. It allows you to get things done more quickly.” He said it could speed up the process for projects like the LaGuardia AirTrain or BQX. Moving forward, Petsios said the Queens Chambers’s Transportation Committee will continue hosting events and guest speakers to discuss transportation projects that can improve the lives of Queens businesses and residents. “It’s an open dialogue between decisionmakers in the agencies and listening to the businesses and people affected by this,” she said. “We’re a facilitator in providing these opportunities. We’re in the infancy, but we’re hoping to continue that in the future.”
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