Business Trends - May 2013

MAY 2013
BITS & BYTES

How to become a zero TV home or office.
PAGE 6
COACHS CORNER
Lessons from a Girl Scout.
PAGE 2
HEALTH-CARE TRENDS
Cant stand the heat; get in the office.
PAGE 4
www.sibiztrends.com
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
The Home Improvement Contractors of Staten Island hosted their second annual Home Show in Center Court
at the Staten Island Mall. Pictured during a ceremonial ribbon-cutting to open the show are, from left, Cliff
Siegel, Nina Shea, Congressman Michael Grimm, Lana Ruggiero-Seidman, Dave Mangan and Peter Monzi.
HICs annual Home Show
Around the Island
Check out photos from recent events
around Staten Island.
PAGE 13
By TIM RONALDSON
Business Trends
Trees are becoming a pain in the bark for
Staten Island builders.
Onerous regulations and pricey fees for re-
moving city-owned trees have made a
builders job difficult, at best, and impossible,
at worst, according to Michael Schaeffer, a
principal of Island Engineering Associates
and a board member for the Building Indus-
try Association of New York.
But perhaps the biggest challenge builders
are facing is the fact that they often have no
please see TREES, page 20
Builders have an arboreal problem
By HENRYK J. BEHNKE
The Staten Island Museum
Having recently attended a
Bloomberg Philanthropies-hosted
two-day social media workshop
by Vayner Media for small- to
medium-sized not-for-profit or-
ganizations, I had time to reflect
on the topic that is on every mar-
keting professionals mind these
days: What is the return of our
investment in social media - in
my case for a general interest mu-
seum?
To answer this question, we
need to think of the goals of our
social media strategy, which for
many organizations is to increase
attendance, participation and fi-
nancial support. These goals de-
termine how we use social media.
All too often, we broadcast our
programs and fundraising ap-
peals in the traditional push ap-
proach, perhaps even using the
same text as in our print materi-
als. The result is that the recipi-
ents will not like us and will not
follow us.
At the Staten Island Museum,
the primary goal in social media
is to raise awareness and engage
new audiences. This is in line
with what the team of Vayner
Media pointed out: To succeed in
social media, you want to engage
with your Facebook friends and
Twitter community, share inter-
The
dilemma
of social
media
please see SOCIAL, page 17
2 BUSINESS TRENDS MAY 2013
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By BILLY SPARKLE
I recently watched as a client
was distributing Girl Scout cook-
ies to members of his office who
had recently ordered them from
his daughter. It reminded me of a
story I once heard while working
for Tony Robbins about a girl who
had set the world record for sell-
ing the most Girl Scout Cookies. I
wanted to share this story with
my client as accurately as I could,
so I went to the Internet to see if I
could find the details. While I
couldnt locate that particular
story, I did stumble across a fasci-
nating article on the Little
Brownie Bakers website (www.lit-
tlebrowniebakers.com/girls/how-
to-sell-more). This article con-
tained the Top Ten Cookie Cus-
tomer Facts and proposed that
when you know more, you can
sell more. In other words, a girl
scout who knew these facts
could increase her capacity to sell
more cookies.
I wondered if, by reading this
article, my clients and I could
similarly increase our capacity to
increase our businesses. And
while I wont be setting forth all
the facts from this article, I will
touch on a couple to see if they
have an impact.
Fact 1: The number one reason
people dont buy Girl Scout cook-
ies is that they were never asked!
How often have we found our-
selves talking to a potential client
about our products or services
and never actually got around to
asking them to take an action? It
was almost as if we were waiting
for them to cut us off in the mid-
dle of our conversation and say,
Ill tell you what; give me twenty
of those widgets, or Lets start
working together right now.
Here are some specific actions
you may want to practice asking
people to take action: scheduling
a meeting with you so they can
learn more about what it is you
have to offer; making a commit-
ment and actually buying some of
your product or hiring you or
your companys services; intro-
ducing you to somebody that they
know whom they believe could
benefit from the kind of work you
provide.
So remember, the next time
youre in front of a potential
client: Ask them to take an action.
The number one reason people
didnt is that they simply were
never asked.
Fact 2: Customers buy cookies
because they love the taste.
Give your potential clients a
taste. Give away your best ideas
for free. Thats what one of my
Lessons from a Girl Scout
COACHS CORNER
please see COACH, page 16
By DR. THEODORE STRANGE
Summertime is here, but its
not all fun in the sun for most of
us! And just because youre going
to work, not the beach, doesnt
mean you get the day off from the
sun.
Before your commute, plan
ahead. Check the weather
whats the temperature and the
air quality? Wear loose / light-
weight clothing, preferably cotton
that is lightly colored. Loosen the
tie and roll up your sleeves on the
way to work. Choosing your
wardrobe accordingly is the key
to staying cool and comfortable.
Keeping hydrated is a must;
you should consume water every
15 minutes during extremely hot
days. Pack a water bottle before
you head out. Dehydration oc-
curs when your body loses too
much fluid and can cause
headache, muscle cramps, and
nausea and can make you feel
faint. It can come on very quickly,
especially while youre waiting
for the bus or train. If you work
outdoors or in indoor areas that
register high temperatures, make
sure to consume plenty of fluids
and have them available. Stay
away from drinking too many caf-
feinated beverages, as they can
accelerate dehydration.
Sun block is not just for the
beach!
Studies show that a persons
risk for melanoma doubles if he
or she has had five or more sun-
burns at any point in life. So
make sure to wear sun block and
lip-balm rated at 15-30 spf to pro-
tect your skin. You should apply
sun block if youre going to be in
direct sun for more than 15 min-
utes. Skin cancer is the most com-
mon form of cancer in the United
States, so pay attention to any ab-
normal marks or lesions on your
skin. Remember, even walking
down the street youre exposed to
harmful ultraviolet rays.
For those who work outdoors
or take mass transit, wear a hat; it
will help keep the sun off your
face and head.
If youre taking any medica-
tions for blood pressure or infec-
tion, you need to be aware of the
side effects from extreme heat
and the sun. Certain blood pres-
sure medications can make you
susceptible to overheating. An-
tibiotics can make you extremely
sensitive to sunburn. Do not stop
taking your medications unless
you speak with your physician
first!
Employers: make sure the air
conditioning is operating proper-
ly in your facilities and make
sure cold water is readily avail-
able. Establish cooling centers
for employees who work outdoors
and make sure theyre taking
proper break time. Keeping your
employees cool and hydrated will
keep them productive and happy!
Theodore Strange is Staten Island
University Hospital associate chair-
man of medicine and vice president
of medical operations/South Site. He
may be reached at (718) 356-6500.
Parisi Rampulla & Lenza, P.C.
78 Martin Avenue | Staten Island, NY, 10314
(718) 761-3333
Short Sales, Mortgage Modification,
Foreclosure Defense
If you cant stand the
heat, get in the office
HEALTH-CARE TRENDS
SI CHAMBER: 118TH
ANNUAL GALA
FRIDAY, MAY 3
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Richmond County Coun-
try Club
For information, call 718-727-1900
NORTHFIELD BK.
FOUNDATION: GOLF
& TENNIS CLASSIC
MONDAY, MAY 6
Time: 6:00 p.m.
try Club
x2512
NYS WOMEN, INC.
(RICHMOND CNTY.)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Bella Vita Caf, 1919 Hylan
Blvd.
HOME IMPROVE.
CONTRACTORS
MONTHLY MTG.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697
Forest Ave.
RICHMOND CNTY.
BANKERS ASSOC.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8
Location: Mikes Place, 4677 Hylan
Blvd.
SI CHAMBER: CRIME
PREVENTION SEMINAR
THURSDAY, MAY 9
Time: 8:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m.
Location: St. Johns Univ., 300
Howard Ave.
MUSEUM OF TIBETAN
ART FUNDRAISER
THURSDAY, MAY 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m.
Location: The Vanderbilt, 300
Father Capodanno Blvd.
INDEPENDENT ASSOC.
OF ACCOUNTANTS
THURSDAY, MAY 9
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bocelli, 1250 Hylan Boule-
vard
POWERFUL YOU!
THURSDAY, MAY 9
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Richmond Diner, 3954
Richmond Ave.
SCORE WORKSHOP:
MARKETING YOUR
BUS.
FRIDAY, MAY 10
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Bridge Financial, 2 Tele-
port Dr.
MAY 2013 BUSINESS TRENDS 5
Business Calendar
please see EVENTS, page 18
FOUNDATION FINANCIAL
ADVI5OR5
RNALD I. CITRNL
A!tiscr Circc 1983
718-727-5100
Want to be listed?
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
in our opinion
Candidates: Dont take us lightly
W
ith just about six months to
go before Election Day 2013
in New York City, and with-
out an incumbent mayor on the ballot,
potential candidates for that position
are popping up all over on Staten Is-
land, jockeying for position.
Thats fine with us. By all means,
include Staten Island in your list of
primary campaign stops. We know we
deserve your attention. All we ask is
that this boroughs major concerns
not be taken lightly.
There are some serious situations in
place on Staten Island that are wreak-
ing havoc on the local economy and
that require more than platitudes.
And now is the time for these candi-
dates to study those situations and
speak with clarity and specificity on
the ways they will address them.
Most recently, a bevy of mayoral
candidates sat on a panel at the annual
Business Conference hosted by the
Staten Island Economic Development
Corp. Pardon our skepticism, but we
were prepared to be underwhelmed.
Generally speaking, those running for
office are notorious for saying what
they think the crowd wants to hear,
without making any firm commit-
ments or detailing any plans. And for
the most part, thats what happened.
However, to our surprise, a few
statements were made that caused us
to perk up. For example, City Council
Speaker Christine Quinn stated, flat
out, that a large portion, if not all, of a
major city agency needs to be located
on Staten Island. And Joe Lhota said
that the full force of mayoral power
should be exerted toward wresting
control of the New York City bridges
under its control away from the Metro-
politan Transportation Authority and
putting it in the hands of the city it-
self. These are interesting and con-
crete ideas that could have enormous
positive impact on our local economy.
Lets not get drawn in by party poli-
tics, or blinded by empty rhetoric. As
the Staten Island business community,
we can be a powerful voting bloc. Lets
make sure all candidates know that we
will be holding their feet to the fire on
the issues that matter to this commu-
nity. Lets make sure they know that
we expect nothing less than detailed
answers BEFORE Election Day on
how they plan to address them.
66 Willow Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
347-682-4867
JANET WARREN DUGO
Publisher
TIM RONALDSON
Executive Editor
STEVE COPPOLA
Director
RICHARD GRADO
Director
ROBERT CUTRONA
Director
LAWRENCE RAMPULLA
Director
DAN McDONOUGH, JR.
Chairman
Business Trends is mailed each month to the
business and community leaders of Staten
Island. To be added to the mailing list, e-
mail janet@sibiztrends.com. To submit a
news release, email news@sibiztrends.com.
For advertising info, call 347-682-4867 or
email janet@sibiztrends.com.
By BILL DUBOVSKY
Did you know?
Zero TV is a term coined by the Nielsen
Co. to classify a growing segment of the
population who watch TV shows and
movies on the Internet via mobile devices
and computers instead of broadcast, cable
or satellite. These homes and offices fall
outside the definition of the traditional TV
watcher and this trend worries providers
and advertisers as the number of people
signing up for traditional TV service has
recently slowed dramatically in the U.S.
Here is a brief overview.
What is it?
Internet TV/Online TV can either
stream or download video and audio to
your home/office Internet device. It can
provide live programming (like Aereo,
broadcast TV, or radio) or Video on De-
mand (VoD like NetFlix or Hulu) but is not
the same as WebTV (like YouTube) where
the video is made specifically for the Web.
Content providers are international al-
though some restrict their content to cer-
tain geographies.
How it works
Since many of these sites are free, some
show advertising a few commercials or
banner advertisements before the program
starts, or some 30-second commercials dur-
ing the program.
You can access this content through
your computer by googling the appropriate
website and bookmarking it on your
browser or by purchasing a USB that al-
ready contains bookmarks of many of
these websites with a simplified interface
for program access such as Rabbit TV or
Ideaworks Internet TV (about $10 each) on
Amazon. Check out each product on
YouTube or Amazon for reviews and
demonstrations. Both products can allow
easier access to hundreds of TV and radio
programs.
What you need
A mobile or WiFi enabled device with a
fast connection to the Internet, enough
bandwidth and the right browser. Some
sites only work with Googles Chrome
browser and some require you to download
their own media player or app. A surpris-
ing amount of good content is free, while
others offer inexpensive on-demand pro-
gramming, or monthly subscriptions.
To get the video or audio from the Inter-
net to play on your TV (if your TV doesnt
have that capability built in) you could
choose a gaming console (Xbox 360 or
Playstation3), a Blu-ray player, AppleTV,
Boxee, RoKu, VuNow, Android devices,
Mac or PC, iPad, iPhone, Kindle, and WiFi
enabled tablets. A wireless USB device
called PLAiR can stream all the video con-
tent from your computer to your HDTV so
you dont have to deal with cables and set-
up each time you want to watch.
How to get it
Use Google to find and log onto some
popular American sites for a broad and in-
expensive selection of free, on-demand, or
subscription, video and audio program-
ming. Some popular sites include: Hulu,
Netflix, WWITV.com, VuDu, Amazon on
Demand, iTunes (for Apple devices)
GoogleTV, Snag Films, TED, ABC, CBS,
NBC, FOX, Aereo (live TV), Crackle, Dis-
How to become a Zero TV home or office
BITS & BYTES
please see BITS, page 15
1855 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, NY
Room for 2 private offices + 2 staff.
2 blocks from expressway. Walk to most major banks.
Includes Receptionist, Phone system, Cleaning, Maintenance,
Alarm, Internet, RE Taxes (base year)
Shared use of waiting room & 2 conference rooms.
2 assigned off street parking spots.
Current tenants include Appraiser as well as Real Estate, Insurance,
Financial & Travel Agencies.
Contact Jon Salmon at Salmon Real Estate
(718) 273-1200 or Jon@SalmonRealEstatecom
for more information.
Professional Office Suite for Rent
If you are looking for professional office space, our location cannot be beat!
Situated along the busy financial corridor of Victory Boulevard near Manor
Road, this high trafficked location not only provides inclusive office space at
an attractive and affordable price, but the synergies that can be gained by as-
sociating and locating in a busy professional building.
When you take into consideration all that is included, locating your business
here becomes the obvious choice.
That's what we're all about
718-720-1600
1190 Hylan Boulevard
Staten Island, NY 10305-1920
www.heroldinc.com
Bernard Herold & Co., Inc. - A Name You Can Trust
.....401K Plans....IRAs....TaxDeferred Savings.....
MONDAY
Bus. Outreach Ctr of SI/WBCLDC
Small Bus. Counseling
MWBE/BOC Capital: WBCLDC, 705
Forest Ave., 2nd Fl. By appointment
only. For info, call 718-816-4775.
Kiwanis Club of Richmond Co.:
LaFontana Restaurant, 2879 Amboy
Rd. 7 p.m. For info, call 718-420-
1966.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev. Ctr.
Business Counseling: CSI, 2800
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No
charge. For info, call the SBDC at
718-982-2560.
TUESDAY
Direct120.com, Ultimate Think
Tank: Lorenzos, 1100 South Ave. For
info, visit www.direct120.com.
Kiwanis Club of South Shore:
LaFontana, 2879 Amboy Rd. 7:30
p.m. For info, call 718-370-2770.
SCORE Business Counseling: S.I.
Bank & Trust, 1550 Richmond Rd. 9
a.m. to noon. No appointment nec-
essary. No charge. For info, call 718-
727-1221.
Business Guild I of the S.I. Cham-
ber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 a.m. Mem-
bers and invited guests only. For
info, call Jim Thomson at 718-442-
0900.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) Net-
work Alliance Chapter: Z-One
Lounge, 1821 Richmond Ave. 7 to
8:30 a.m. For info, call Timothy
Houston at 718-981-8600.
Rotary Club Staten Island: LiGre-
cis Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 12:30 to
1:30 p.m. Members and guests wel-
come. For info, call 718-370-3140.
Business Counseling: Chamber of
Commerce, 130 Bay St. 9 a.m. No
718-982-2560.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No
718-982-2560.
WEDNESDAY
Staten Island Business Council:
Lorenzos at Hilton Garden Inn, 1100
South Ave. 7 a.m. Members and
invited guests only. For info, call 347-
855-4488 or send an e-mail to
info@sibizcouncil.com.
Bucks Business Network: Hamp-
ton Inn, 1120 South Ave. 7:45 a.m.
For info, call 718-351-2557 or visit
www.sibucks.com.
Kiwanis Club of Brighton: Jodys
Club Forest, 372 Forest Ave. 7:30
p.m. For info, call 718-348-0505.
Kiwanis Club of North Central:
LiGrecis Staten, 697 Forest Ave.
7:30 p.m. For info, call Len Bosso at
347-592-1937.
Rotary Club of Gateway: The Lake
Club, 1150 Clove Rd. 7:15 p.m. For
info, call 718-447-1509.
SCORE Business Counseling:
Chamber of Commerce, 130 Bay St.
9 to 11:30 a.m. Appointment neces-
sary. No charge. For info, call 718-
727-1221.
E.L.I.T.E. (Executive, Leadership,
Interactive, Team, Effort) Net-
working Group: 1110 South Ave. 8
a.m. New members welcome. For
info, call 347-273-1375.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For
info, call 718-982-2560.
THURSDAY
Kiwanis Club of Staten Island:
LiGrecis Staten, 697 Forest Ave.
7:30 p.m. For info, call 718-967-4345
or kiwanisclubofstatenisland.com.
Rotary Club of South Shore: Mari-
na Grand, 141 Mansion Ave. 12:15 p.m.
For info, call 718-987-2061 or visit
southshorerotary.org.
Rotary Club Mid-Island: New Dako-
ta Diner, 921 Richmond Ave. 7:30 to
9:00 a.m. Call 718-981-0700.
SCORE Business Counseling: SI
Bank & Trust, 1550 Richmond Rd. 9
a.m. to noon. No appointment nec-
essary. No charge. For info, call 718-
727-1221.
Rotary Club of North Shore: LiGre-
cis Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 7 p.m.
WEEKLY MEETINGS
please see MEETINGS, page 8
For info, call Chris Williams at 718-
442-9047.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) High
Achievers Chapter: PKs Restau-
rant,1281 Arthur Kill Rd. 7 to 8:30
a.m. For info, call Timothy Houston
at 718-981-8600.
Business Guild II of the S.I. Cham-
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 to 8:45
a.m. Members and invited guests
only. For info, call Bob Williams at
646-284-7206.
Business Guild III of the SI Cham-
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:30 a.m. New
members welcome. Call Melody
Minkoff at 718-370-0040.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For
info, call 718-982-2560.
Community Emergency Response
Team (CERT): 7 p.m. For info. and
locations, call John Tidona at 718-
448-7160 or e-mail
portrichcert@yahoo.com.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SCORE Business Counseling: St.
George Library, 5 Central Ave. 10
a.m. to noon. Appointment neces-
sary. No charge. For info, call 718-
442-8560.
SCORE Business Counseling: Rich-
mondtown Library, 200 Clarke Ave.
10 to 11:30 a.m. Appointment neces-
sary. For info, call 718-668-0413.

s
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a
tena
r
t
s
Staten Arts Photography
www.statenartsphotography.com
Steve White
6 Genesee Avenue
Phone: 718.317.5025
Cell: 917.446.4029
Email: statenarts@aol.com
Weddings
Sweet 16s
Anniversaries
Birthday Parties
Much much more!
..................................
Weekly Meetings
MEETINGS
Continued from page 7
Tax breaks in new law
By JOHN J. VENTO
It seems that we all survived
the fiscal cliff legislation that
was finalized early in 2013. Small
businesses survived especially
well, with many of the prior
beneficial tax provisions extend-
ed into 2013 and beyond.
Here are a few of those busi-
ness provisions that you should
be aware of as a business owner.
Asset expensing:
This provision allows business-
es to fully expense the purchase of
many assets (such as equipment,
furnishing, technology, etc.) in
just one year, rather than being
required to depreciate (deduct)
their cost over a number of years.
Up to $500,000 of these purchas-
es can be immediately expensed
in the year of purchase.
Bonus depreciation:
If you hit your expensing limit,
you can always fall back on bonus
depreciation, which allows you to
deduct 50 percent (and sometimes
more) of certain types of assets
in the first year of purchase.
This provision was set to ex-
pire at the end of 2012, but has
now been extended through 2014.
Work opportunity tax credits:
These are tax credits (which
are much more valuable than tax
deductions) available to employ-
ers who hire certain individuals.
They include military veterans,
people receiving government as-
sistance, or those living in dis-
tressed areas. These credits were
set to expire, but have now been
extended through 2013.
Qualified improvement deprecia-
tion:
Under these provisions, restau-
rant, retail, and other rental prop-
erty improvements can qualify
for 15-year depreciation, rather
than the required 39-year depreci-
ation rate.
But note that these provisions
are set to expire at the end of
2013.
Health care tax credit:
If you pay medical insurance
premiums for your employees,
you could be allowed a tax credit
for a portion of premiums paid.
John J. Vento is a certified public
accountant in private practice and
president of Comprehensive Wealth
Management, Ltd. He may be
reached at (718) 980-9000 or via
email at john@ventocpa.com.
JOHN J. vENTO, OPA, P.O., & OOMPREHENSlvE WEA|TH MANAGEMENT, |TD.
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95 NEW DORP |ANE
STATEN lS|AND, NY 10306
Do you have any New York Liquor License issues?
Then call
NEIL M. VISOKY
Attorney at Law
Retired Lieutenant, NYCPD
License Transfers and Applications
Summonses and Disciplinary Defense
Renewals/Alterations
The Corporate Park
1110 South Avenue, Suite 54 Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel 347-273-1356 Fax 347-273-1456 Email nmv66@aol.com
Successor of
Alexander Weiss, Esq.
Former Deputy Commissioner
New York State Liquor Authority
MUSEUM GUILD
The Staten Island Museum
The Staten Island Museum wel-
comed 18 dedicated women to
their History Center in Building
H on the Snug Harbor Campus for
a kick-off meeting to form a Mu-
seum Guild to help the Museum
with specific fundraising goals,
event support and volunteerism.
The Museum Guilds first
major project is to help raise
funding for The Edith & Alfred
Susskind Gallery for Decorative
Arts & American Crafts, which
will inhabit the hyphen between
Buildings A and B on the Snug
Harbor Campus, tentatively
scheduled to open in late 2014.
Led by Connie Lane, the atten-
dees included Museum Trustee
Nancy Meyers Benbow, Marilyn
DeSario, Maureen DiGiglio, Vic-
toria Drumbakis, Marylou Has-
son, Cecelia Kanelba, Ann
Napolitano, Gloria Nixon, Mau-
reen OBrien, Marguerite Paulo-
Heyer, Fay Schiff, Barbara Shee-
han, Stephanie Turner, Veronica
Vasquez, Sharon Weinstein,
Elaine Wolchok, and Museum
Trustee Fran DAtria Romano.
CHRISTOPHER KEANE
Staten Island Mental Health Society
Christopher Keane has been
named the executive vice presi-
dent and chief operating officer
of the Staten Island Mental
Health Society. Keanes career
spans almost two decades of ad-
vancing leadership positions in
the fields of behavioral health
care and family practice medi-
cine.
He is responsible for the daily
operations of the agencys 21
mental health and related pro-
grams that serve more than 5,300
children with special needs and
their families at 25 locations
throughout the Island.
A resident of Woodrow, Keane
was most recently employed as
the assistant vice president of Be-
havioral Health Services at Rich-
mond University Medical Center.
During the past seven years, he
managed 22 programmatic cost
centers at RUMC, including those
of the New York State Office of
Mental Health and the New York
State Office of Alcohol and Sub-
stance Abuse Services, serving
the needs of Islanders in acute
hospital and outpatient settings.
Earlier, he was the FNP direc-
tor of Nursing and then vice pres-
ident of Health Services at the In-
stitute for Community Living in
Manhattan, where he played a
significant role in the Child and
Family Services Division, which
serves persons with developmen-
tal disabilities, including housing
and medical clinics. He also held
administrative and nursing posi-
tions with several health care
provider agencies in Staten Is-
land and Brooklyn.
Licensed as a family nurse
practitioner and registered pro-
fessional nurse, Keane serves on
the board of the Staten Island Be-
havioral Network. He is also a
on the job
please see JOB, page 12
Here's a revenue-boosting
opportunity that may be flying
under the radar of your business
or professional networking circle.
Decades-old Dome Property Man-
agement, one of the largest and
most respected companies of its
kind in the New York metropoli-
tan area, is offering an unprece-
dented opportunity for a limited
number of vendors and mer-
chants to share in their success.
The newly introduced Dome
Savings Club gives businesses the
opportunity to expand their cus-
tomer bases for free. Theres
absolutely no catch: You simply
agree to provide an attractive dis-
count to club participants on the
Dome Savings Clubs Offer
Board. That's it. Nothing more. A
nominal one-time set-up fee,
which includes a place on the
clubs online Offer Board, is the
only cost. This is a winning situ-
ation for everyone involved, said
Michael Motelson, president of
Dome Property Management.
ALL PARTIES BENEFIT
Here's why:
(1) The businesses in the Dome
Savings Club may incorporate
marketing incentives that work
best for them, such as dollars-off
or percentage-savings discounts,
free gifts or services, or other
strategies that have successfully
worked for them in the past. They
will enjoy a huge audience com-
prised of well over 10,000 potential
customers at over 100 Dome-man-
aged communities, and are
included in the clubs online mar-
keting efforts.
(2) Homeowners and communities
under Domes management bene-
fit from the dollars they save on
top-quality products and services.
(3) Dome Property Management,
notably Staten Islands premier
property management company,
benefits from directly interacting
with the business community and
providing a greatly appreciated
advantage to the many condo com-
munities it services.
Founded in 1987, Dome Proper-
ty Management manages over 100
condominium and homeowners
association communities, mostly
on Staten Island, and is the
biggest such operation in the bor-
ough. Dome provides comprehen-
sive property management servic-
es to many types of properties and
complexes, from under 10 to more
than 500 units, and includes many
building types and individually
owned homes. For now, the Dome
Savings Club is being marketed
solely to its Staten Island condo
communities.
DISTINGUISHED
MEMBERS
Time Warner Cable was the first
to participate in the club, with an
offer to supply participating
condo residents a savings of more
than $60 per month with bulk-rate
pricing. Additional members
include national companies, such
as Wells Fargo Home Mortgage,
and reputable local merchants,
such as Jealan Fireplaces. Even
Dome itself has joined in by offer-
ing preferred pricing and
enhanced services to the residents
of participating communities.
Now that the word is out, it is
likely representatives of the auto-
motive, banking, medical, finan-
cial and restaurant industries will
soon come on board. Dome should
also expect to hear from numer-
ous home-services businesses,
such as landscaping, contracting,
plumbing, electrical, woodwork-
ing, painting, multi-service and
product suppliers, and others.
Given the assortment of com-
munities and properties we man-
age, and the many goods and serv-
ices they and their residents con-
sume, businesses offering a wide
array of products and services
can benefit from participating,
said Enid Motelson, senior vice
president of Dome Property Man-
agement.
SOLID REPUTATION
IS A MUST
If you are interested in participat-
ing in the Dome Savings Club as a
merchant or vendor, be aware that
not every business will qualify.
Only businesses with a stellar
reputation for product, customer-
service and integrity will be con-
sidered, Michael Motelson said.
By simply providing a discount to
Domes customers in these tough
economic times, quality mer-
chants, service providers and ven-
dors can strengthen the loyalty of
their existing customers and
attract and build relationships
with new prospects.
For additional information,
Dome Property
Management may be reached at
718-605-2500,
e-mail at DomeProp@
DomeGroup.com, and
visited online
at www.DomeGroup.com. The
Dome Savings Clubs Offer
Board can be found at
www.DomeGroup.com/dscOffers.
The company is headquartered at
109 Winant Place,
Staten Island, NY 10309.
Current Participants:
Dome Savings Club connects businesses
to thousands of potential customers for free
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The Tides at Charleston, the first active-adult community of its kind in metropolitan New York, is one of over 100 condominium and home-
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includes many building types and individual-
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Keane earned his MS in nurs-
ing from the Wagner College
Graduate School of Nursing and
his AAS in nursing from the Col-
lege of Staten Island. He received
a Bachelors degree in fine arts
from Bucknell University.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Staten Island Mental Health Society
The Staten Island Mental
Health Society elected a new
member to its Board of Directors,
as well as re-elected its slate of of-
ficers, at a recent annual meeting.
Robert J. Birnbach, an advisor,
investor, and attorney, was elected
to the board for a one-year term.
A native of Brooklyn and gradu-
ate of Msgr. Farrell High School,
Birnbach is the founder of Pri-
mordium Holdings, LLC, a pri-
vate investment firm. He has also
been a trading member of the
New York Board of Trade and a
member of an elite wealth man-
agement team at Morgan Stanley.
Birnbach co-founded DualStar
Technologies Corp., a diversified
contracting and telecommunica-
tions company, where he sat on
the Board of Directors and held
various senior positions includ-
ing chief financial officer and di-
rector of Corporate Develop-
ment/Mergers & Acquisitions.
Among other roles, he has also
served as president/CEO and a
board member of real estate de-
veloper Starrett Corp. and as a
board member of Sensor Tech-
nologies, Inc., a mission-critical
software and technology services
provider to US government, de-
fense and commercial enterpris-
es.
Birnbach holds a Juris Doctor
degree from Fordham University
School of Law and is admitted to
practice in New York, New Jersey,
and before the U.S. Supreme
Court. He received a degree in
Economics magna cum laude
from Columbia University. He
lives in Castleton Corners with
his wife Gina and four children.
John G. Tapinis was re-elected
to a third term as board chair.
Also re-elected were Lori Karelas,
vice chair; Anthony DeFazio,
treasurer; and Liz Palagiano, sec-
retary. Nine board members were
re-elected to terms of office:
Nancy Myers-Benbow, Robert
Conti, John Hogan, Nellie Ke-
mevor, Karen LaCava, Deeptha
Nedunchezian, Gracelyn Santos,
Nancy Shanaphy and Melissa
Young, who represents the
SIMHS Head Start programs on
the board.
On the Job
JOB
around the island
Special to Business Trends
Joan Lamberti of Vizza V Events received a proclamation by NYC
Comptroller John C. Liu at the Red Carpet Dance Schools Awards
and Scholarship Show. The award is for her company mission of En-
riching the Connection Between Business and Community.
JANET DUGO/Business Trends
Chrissy Mazzola (left) of North American DF and Katia Gordon
(right) were among those who gathered at Con Edisons Staten Island
headquarters to bid a fond farewell to Juliet Lewis, a Con Edison
Public Affairs Manager, as she prepared to transfer to a new position
with Con Ed in Brooklyn.
Special to Business Trends
The Castleton Avenue Commercial Corridor initiative, under the auspices of the West Brighton Communi-
ty Local Development Corporation, hosted an Open House For Business Opportunities that brought to-
gether Real Estate professionals, Property and Business owners, Entrepreneurs, the Con Edison Green
Team and Banking Professionals, as well as members of the community. Pictured, from left, are: Michele
Sledge, of Northfield Community LDC; Keith Christensen of New York Community Bancorp; Loretta
Cauldwell of the West Brighton Community Local Development Corporation; Councilwoman Debi Rose; El-
liot Borack of the West Brighton Community Local Development Corporation; and Martha Venditto of
Richmond County Savings Bank.
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
Historic Tappen Park Community Partnership hosted its second annual awards reception at LiGrecis
Staaten. Pictured, from left, are Keith Cummings of Richmond County Kiwanis; Mary Price, Sabina
Saragoussi and Jordan Pender of Partnerships for Parks; Delcia Coye and Nneka Nwosu, Youth Ministries
volunteers at the Brighton Heights Reform Church; Borough Commissioner of Parks Adena Long; Part-
nership President Kamillah Hanks; and NYPD 120 Precinct Commanding Officer John Sprague.
JANET DUGO/Business Trends
Soroptimist International of Staten Island presented its annual Ruby Award luncheon, honoring out-
standing women in the community who work to improve the lives of women and girls. Pictured, from left,
are: Soroptimist of SI President Adele McMahon; honorees Rev. Maggie Howard, Claudette Duff, Erin
Urban, Linda Baran, Sister Patricia Corley, and Rosemarie Dressler; and luncheon chair Carol Lundrigan.
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For Lease
ney, Popcornflix, Pookyfish, Epix,
FilmOn, HBOGo, iTVmediaPlay-
er, NBCDirect, OVGuide,
PBS.com, TTheBlazeTV and
many international sites. Google
Internet TV for more listings
and be aware of family-friendly
and adult programming.
How hard is it to use?
Each site can be different. It
takes a bit of effort to find and
bookmark, but after that, its
about the same as using a cable
set controller.
Findings
The future of communications
is the Internet. Conventional tele-
phone service and TV broadcast-
ing will be completely obsolete in
the near future with everything
going over the new superfast,
high-bandwidth, wireless, Inter-
net! Also driving this evolution
are advertisers who can more ac-
curately quantify and segment
their marketing messages on the
Internet.
Bottom-line
Its free give it a try. The only
thing you have to lose is your
high monthly TV bill which in-
cludes all those channels you
never watch and dont care about.
Low-tech alternatives include
free off-the-air broadcast TV as
well as free movies and a wide
range of programming from pub-
lic library DVDs and CDs.
Search for Internet TV on
www.google.com and
www.YouTube.com for more info.
Bill Dubovsky - Comtel Information
Services, has a proven track record
of business success spanning over
30 years in helping hundreds of or-
ganizations improve their profitabili-
ty. He is the principal technology
specialist with Comtel Information
Services, a New York based telecom-
munications consulting firm, and an
adjunct lecturer in business at the
College of Staten Island, C.U.N.Y.
Contact him at
billdubovsky@gmail.com.
No TV
BITS
Visit us on the Web at www.sibiztrends.com
mentors once taught me. He said,
Move the free line. In other
words, whatever you typically
give people once theyve actually
hired you, see if you can give
them some of that before they
hire you.
Now I can already hear some of
you asking, Why would I do
that? Its simple. If what youre
offering really does taste good,
guess what? People are going to
want more which ultimately
means theyre going to make a
purchase. If they dont make a
purchase, then either they didnt
like the way your services tasted
(which could be valuable feed-
back), or they werent actually
qualified in the first place. So,
give them a taste.
Let them see how delicious
your services are. Then, when
youve given a taste to someone
who actually IS qualified and his
mouth begins to water, refer to
Fact No. 1 and ask him to make a
commitment.
Lastly, a lesson that didnt
come from the article Im refer-
ring to, but was contained in the
story I shared with my client
about the record-setting Girl
Scout. Use the power of contrast.
What this girl did was, after a
homeowner came to a door that
she knocked on, she wouldnt
start out by trying to sell them
cookies.
Instead, she would ask them
point blank to make a donation to
a charity that she represented in
the amount of $200. After they
said no to this rather large re-
quest, she began to hammer them
literally asking them three or
four times to Please make a $200
donation!
Finally after receiving a series
of nos she would take a step
back on the homeowners porch,
let out an audible sigh of defeat,
and then say, Alright well if
youre not going to make the do-
nation for $200, could you at
*least* buy a few boxes of these
cookies I have for sale? Theyre
*only* two dollars each. Re-
lieved to be free of this little girls
relentless pursuit of their $200,
many of these homeowners hap-
pily placed orders for 10 to 20
boxes.
Now I dont know where this
girl got her sales training, but I
believe she is someone from
whom we all can take a lesson.
Coach Billy works with highly com-
mitted men & women to produce un-
precedented results in their busi-
nesses and their lives. Learn more at
www.billysparkle.com or contact
Billy directly via e-mail at
billy@billysparkle.com.
Lessons from a Girl Scout
COACH
esting content, tips and photos
with them. If they like it, they
will post it and share it with their
friends.
Now, the beauty of social
media is that we can engage with
and raise awareness among a
population that normally does
not come to the Museum, i.e.
teens to 30 year olds. We have
often seen that people visit the
Museum in an elementary school
group and return only when they
have children of their own or are
older. In addition, social media al-
lows us to be the resource that we
envision to be - the Museum with-
out walls. That way, we stay con-
nected with former program at-
tendees or people that share our
enthusiasm - in our case, those in-
terested in arts, natural science
and local history.
So, how do we measure our so-
cial media success? Intuitively,
one might count the number of
posts, or better, the increases in
Facebook likes and Twitter
followers. Instead, the Vayner
Media team recommended a
measure of engagement. Just
having many people liking
your organization or following
you does not mean they are en-
gaged or have built a relationship
with your organization, nor does
it guarantee that they will see
your posts (an algorithm of past
reactions to your posts deter-
mines the percentage of your
fans that will be exposed to future
posts).
Fortunately, Facebook provides
some engagement numbers (e.g.
virality), and with Twitter one
could count favorites and
retweets. Unlike the time lag be-
tween the placement of a tradi-
tional advertisement and con-
sumer reaction, with social
media you can measure the effect
almost immediately and learn
which posts are effective and
which are not.
Social Media experts like Vayn-
er Media advocate for as much
personalized feedback as possi-
ble, and I wonder how to do this
cost-effectively, when the Muse-
ums social media professional
also handles all other marketing
and PR plus helps with special
events.
Even with the right analytics,
the critical question remains,
how does all this engagement ad-
vance our mission and our organ-
ization?
From a financial standpoint, I
Social media dilemma
SOCIAL
please see SOCIAL, page 21
RICHMOND UNIV.
HOSP. GOLF & TENNIS
OUTING
MONDAY, MAY 13
Time: 6:30 a.m.
try Club
BUSINESS LEADERS
TOASTMASTERS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: 43 Ramona Ave.
For information, call Arlene Trunzo
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NETWORKING PLUS
THURSDAY, MAY 16
Time: 8:15 a.m.
Location: Golden Dove, 3281 Rich-
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THURSDAY, MAY 16
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Location: Richmond Cnty. Bank,
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NYS WOMEN, INC.
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TUESDAY, MAY 21
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697
Forest Ave.
SCORE WORKSHOP:
FINANCIAL MATTERS
FRIDAY, MAY 24
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Location: Bridge Financial, 2 Tele-
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NETWORKING SALES
MONDAY, MAY 27
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Location: Z-One Restaurant, Rich-
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Location: 201 Edward Curry Ave.,
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TOASTMASTERS
THURSDAY, MAY 30
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Location: SI Univ. Hosp., Seaview
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For more information, call
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Dome Property Management - managers of
over 100 condo and homeowners association
communities - is now accepting vendors and
merchants to participate in the Dome Savings
Club, an "offer board" of discounted services
and products for the communities it serves.
Join national companies like Time Warner
Cable, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and local
businesses like Jealan Fireplaces and The Pool
Therapist. To learn more, visit the Offer Board
at www.DomeGroup.com/dscOffers.
Get certified as a Minority or Women Business Enterprise!
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more goods and services from City-certified M/WBE`s.
If you have ever thought about selling, to government, now is a great
time to become a City-certified M/WBE!
City-certified M/WBE`s get:
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Business Calendar
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idea how to estimate the cost of
certain development projects be-
cause of the lack of coordination
from the citys Department of
Parks & Recreation, which is re-
sponsible for regulation of city-
owned trees, Schaeffer said.
Builders often have trouble prop-
erly evaluating a piece of proper-
ty because of the unclear rules
and regulations with the trees on
it.
Its just a cost of doing busi-
ness that you cant possibly antic-
ipate, he said. You cant add it.
You cant figure it into the cost of
your construction. Its become a
big blight.
City-owned trees have always
been regulated, but zoning regu-
lations changed starting in 2008,
altering what could and could not
be done. The new zoning required
that a street tree be planted for
every 25 lineal feet of street
frontage on a zoning lot, Schaef-
fer said. Similar regulations had
been in place for special zoning
districts in the past, but now, the
rules applied for every property.
The big change came in 2010,
though, when the city council and
parks department established
new fees, means and methods for
removing existing city-owned
street trees. Now, each street tree
was assigned a monetary value,
which the builder had to pay for
removal. In some cases, larger
trees are valued at close to
$200,000, not counting labor, Scha-
effer said.
Further complicating matters,
the city handed jurisdiction of
street trees to local forestry and
horticultural officers, of which
Staten Island has two. Schaeffer
said there is little-to-no oversight
of these officers, though, which
causes massive problems when it
comes to estimating the cost of
tree removal and replacement.
The rules and the establish-
ment of these fees are not backed
up by any nationally-recognized
standard, such as the Interna-
tional Society of Arborists, he
said. Commissioners are basi-
cally allowing local foresters to do
whatever they please, however
they please.
Because it has become almost
impossible to anticipate the value
of each street tree, builders are
instead trying to keep each tree
intact and work around them.
That becomes a frustrating
process, though, Schaeffer said,
because it means having parks
department oversight throughout
the entire project. Most times, the
department wont inform a
builder of whether they are oper-
ating according to standards,
An arboreal problem
TREES
please see TREES, page 22
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SECURITY & SAVINGS
Upon leaving your home, thermostats are pre-programmed to
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CONVENIENCE & SAVINGS
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ENTERTAINMENT
One remote controls all audio and
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do not see a great return of in-
vestment.
Who knows if the kids in their
20s will join the Museum in 30
years, and how can we be sure it
was because of an interesting tip
on Facebook? Of course, some
people might donate and come to
an event, but does that justify 50
percent of our marketing per-
sons salary?
How much should we invest in
Facebook and Twitter? Should we
add Instagram to the mix? What
about Tumblr and Foursquare?
Will we be able to keep our follow-
ers if social platforms change?
Just think of the ghost town that
myspace.com is today.
In the end, the dilemma is the
same as it has been in marketing
and advertising for decades. As
former U.S. Postmaster General
John Wanamaker is attributed to
have said: Half the money I
spend on advertising is wasted;
the trouble is I dont know which
half.
Luckily for many not-for-profit
organizations, engaging our audi-
ences through social media is
part of our mission and therefore
not at all a waste of resources.
We are social change agents
and, taking the Staten Island Mu-
seum as an example, we want peo-
ple to become familiar with the
natural world, share with them
classic and contemporary art,
and show them how their neigh-
borhood changed over time and,
most importantly, how they can
participate in improving their
community.
Hopefully, this newly engaged
citizenry will then also support
the organizations that enlight-
ened them.
Henryk J. Behnke is vice president
for external affairs and advancement
at the Staten Island Museum, New
York Citys only general interest mu-
seum since 1881. He may be reached
at (718) 483-7114.
Social media dilemma
SOCIAL
Send us your news
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
waiting instead until a project is
completed and issuing a restitu-
tion fee if a tree has suffered ir-
reparable damage, by their stan-
dards.
Its become a very sore point
with a lot of builders, Schaeffer
said. In most cases, its become
so expensive that you cant do
business with the city on it, so
people are backing away from
projects with a large number of
trees on it.
A piece of property on Bryson
Avenue is a prime candidate for a
development project, but because
of the uncertain status of trees
on the site, Schaeffer has advised
his clients to stay away. And that
property is only one example of
many throughout the borough.
In a nutshell, it has become a
nightmare to deal with the Parks
Department as far as developing
goes. Were just basically throw-
ing shots in the dark, he said.
The Building Industry Associa-
tion has created a committee,
with Schaeffer as its chair, to ask
the Parks Department to create a
set of standards that are translu-
cent for builders to implement in
the field.
The Association has been un-
successful in getting a five-bor-
ough standard as of yet, Schaeffer
said, but his committee has em-
ployed the help of two arborists,
engineers, an architect and two
attorneys to hopefully change
that.
In recent years, each city
agency seems to be running off
on its own tangent and not con-
sulting with other agencies, he
said.
Theyre all going in different
directions with no consultation
between the agencies.
In his 15 years in the field,
Schaeffer said it used to be possi-
ble to get a joint meeting with var-
ious city departments to come to
a consensus on an issue. Now, its
not uncommon for zoning resolu-
tions to conflict with building
codes, which sometimes conflict
with environmental standards.
The problem has only become
worse in the post-Sandy era, with
FEMA and other agencies chang-
ing regulations to uphold what
they think is best for the environ-
ment going forward.
These days, you cant get them
all in the same room, let alone get
them to agree on something, he
said.
Schaeffer said the Building In-
dustry Associations new commit-
tee will focus heavily on public
outreach during its plight, be-
cause a lot of private property
owners are being misled.
People who think they have a
proper means of retirement or in-
come may soon find out that they
dont have the valuable property
they thought they once had be-
cause of city-owned street trees.
A lot of private homeowners
dont realize what the agencies
are doing to them, Schaeffer
said. In reality, the city as a
whole is being hurt in many dif-
ferent ways.
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An arboreal problem
TREES
Malliotakis promoting
fundraising website
Assemblywoman Nicole
Malliotakis is promoting a web-
site detailing the fundraising of
charitable organizations and how
that money is being spent on Hur-
ricane Sandy relief efforts.
Composed by Attorney Gener-
al Eric Schneiderman and his of-
fice, www.CharitiesNYS.com of-
fers a report of roughly $400 mil-
lion raised by 88 charitable
groups, helping equip potential
donors with the information they
need to direct their contributions.
We are fortunate to have such a
generous community filled with
individuals willing to contribute
to Sandy relief efforts despite
tough economic times. People
have the right to know how their
donations will be allocated in
order to make the direct, positive
impact that they seek, Mallio-
takis said.
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BITS & BYTES

New Teeth In A Day

Staten Island, NY 10314

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