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Friday, April 4, 2014 8:00am to 2:00pm Carlyle on the Green at Bethpage State Park Featuring Keynote Speaker: Jon Kaiman Special Advisor on Superstorm Sandy Relief; Chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority
EXECUTIVE
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BY CHRISTINE GIORDANO
Special Presentation of the “Getting It Done” Lifetime Achievement Award to Amy Hagedorn Philanthropist and Sustainable Long Island Founder
Special to Newsday
How does the chamber help cultivate business opportunities? We develop a relationship with the agencies and ask the procurement people to talk to us and tell us how we can do business with them.
What else do you want to do? We want to be that vehicle for people who may not be in business, to create future businesses. We’re encouraging other ethnic groups to be part of
CORPORATE
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NAME: Phil Andrews, president, Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce Inc. in Hempstead WHAT IT DOES: Provides business development opportunities, networking and help with minority business certification VOLUNTEERS: 35 2013 BUDGET: $75,000
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the chamber. And we’re going to be working with the Hofstra Small Business Development Center on training in business skills like bookkeeping, marketing. Everyone wants to be in business, but you’ve got to learn the language of business first. What’s the key to staying in business and creating something viable here? I gave out scholarships, spoke at schools, had Kwanzaa events and art exhibits at my stores. So one of the keys is staying involved in your community. How did you build your business while working full time? I tried to have family or people that I really trusted as key managers. One of my best managers we ever had was my niece. Family [treats] the business like it’s theirs, and that’s hard to find. You also hired former inmates? When you open a business, you help somebody feed their family. That’s one of the greatest things you can do.
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Contact ntact a D Digital ig a l M Marketing eting Specialist Specialist ttoday: od 631-843-2200 newsdayconnect.com newsdayc nec com • 631-84 843
NEWSDAY, MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2014
How are you trying to keep minorities from moving off Long Island? We see ourselves in the business of helping to make Long Island sustainable for the African-American community. Business growth, job creation, private-sector opportunities and government contracting opportunities will slow down the rate of African-Americans relocating to other parts of the country.
Phil Andrews says one of the keys is to stay involved in your community.
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How does certifying a minority-owned business help? It makes them able to get contracts, but it also certifies that they’re in business and gets their paperwork in order. And decreases the likelihood that they won’t fulfill the contract.
STEVE PFOST
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he Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce is working to increase the number of minorityowned businesses in the region, following a goal set by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to include minorities in 20 percent of state contracts, says president Phil Andrews. Founded two years ago, the chamber connects members with business and government leaders, helps owners obtain minority certification, and gives “the wider community an opportunity to do business with a significant segment of the market,” he says. Meetings are publicized on Facebook; the next one is April 3. Andrews, 50, began his career working by day for the New York City Department of Corrections and spending nights helping to build the Haircut Hut chain. The company grew to 10 stores before he retired; he now runs P.A. Public Relations Co.
LI BUSINESS
Helping minorities grow their businesses