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PAGE 10
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
PAID
BELLMAWR, NJ
PERMIT NO. 1239
SEPTEMBER 2011
BITS & BYTES
What can QR codes do for your business?
PAGE 6
COACHS CORNER
Need to clean up? Invite company.
PAGE 18
ON THE JOB
See this months movers and shakers.
PAGE 5
www.sibiztrends.com
JANET DUGO/Business Trends
The Chamber of Commerces Small Business Committee presented a membership meeting at the Renaissance
that featured an address by Congressman Michael Grimm. Pictured are Congressman Grimm (center) and, from
left, Joanne Barone, Josephine Portuesi and Gail Castellano of Richmond County Savings Bank and Teddy Tay-
lor of New York Community Bank.
Meet Congressman Grimm
P u b l i s h e d b y E l a u wi t Me d i a
By TIM RONALDSON
Business Trends
For the last five years, the citys
minority- and women-owned
businesses have been receiving
help bidding on and obtaining
public contracts. Now, with the
creation of the Corporate Al-
liance Program, they can get help
from corporate partners to do the
same in the private sector.
The program, launched earlier
this year, will connect businesses
that are certified with the citys
Minority and Women-owned
Business Enterprises with oppor-
tunities in the private sector.
Eleven founding partners of the
program will make contracting
opportunities available to the pro-
grams recruiting service for sup-
pliers and will contribute staffing
and financial resources, host
training sessions and events, and
participate in mentor programs,
according to the citys Depart-
ment of Small Business Services.
The SBS will operate the Cor-
porate Alliance Program, just as
it does for the existing M/WBE
program.
Since our administration re-
vamped the citys M/WBE pro-
gram in 2006, minority- and
women-owned businesses have
won more business every year, in-
cluding a 25 percent increase in
2009 even as total contracts de-
clined, and a 47 percent increase
last year. But we can and will do
more, Mayor Michael
Bloomberg said. By teaming up
with some of New York Citys
major corporate citizens, well ex-
pand our M/WBE efforts to in-
clude private sector opportuni-
Corporate
Alliance Program
to help minority,
women-owned
businesses
connect with
private companies
please see ALLIANCE, page 21
M/WBEs
to get
private
help
By TIM RONALDSON
Business Trends
Its as if The 3/50 Project was created just
for Staten Island as it celebrates the 350th an-
niversary of its founding. While its name is
just a coincidence, the project will provide a
platform by which the Island can promote it-
self during this special year.
Staten Island community leaders will use
the principles of The 3/50 Project to promote
the Islands businesses during the month of
September. The concept behind the initiative
is to boost the local economy by asking con-
sumers to pick three independently-owned
Island businesses and spend a monthly total
Keep the dollars local
The 3/50 Project encourages consumers to spend money at independent stores
please see PROJECT, page 16
CSI doctor to research high
correlation of breast cancer
Dr. Donna Gerstle, director of the
Staten Island Breast Cancer Research
Initiative at the College of Staten Is-
lands Center for Environmental Sci-
ence, is determined to find out why
there is a high correlation between
length of residency in Staten Island
and incidence of breast cancer.
Dr. Gerstle and hundreds of Staten
Islanders will participate in a Breast
Cancer Walkathon to remember
friends lost and lives changed. The
Walkathon will take place on the Col-
lege of Staten Island campus Saturday,
Oct. 1, 9 a.m., part of the colleges first-
ever Homecoming. Registration is re-
quired, with a requested donation of
$25. For more information, visit the
Web site csitoday.com/walkathon or
call (718) 982-2365.
Chamber hosting 50th
annual Building Awards
The Staten Island Chamber of Com-
merce annual building awards pro-
gram turns 50 this year. Applications
are currently being accepted. Judging
will be held on Oct. 14 and the 50th
building awards luncheon will be held
on Dec. 2.
Chairing this years program is
Claire Chesnoff of Claire Properties
and Bruno Savo of Savo Brothers Real-
ty.
The Building Awards Program is
coordinated by the Staten Island
Chamber of Commerce to recognize
excellence in design and construction
on Staten Island. Any commercial or
residential structure on Staten Island
may be submitted by the owner or,
with the owners consent, by the archi-
tect, engineer, interior designer, land-
scaper, or craftsman. Awards will only
be presented to individuals who have
submitted an application for a win-
ning structure. New residential and
commercial structures as well as reno-
vation projects are eligible.
The Building Awards Program is
sponsored by National Grid. There are
three classes of entries in the pro-
gram residential, commercial (in-
cludes office buildings, banks, schools,
restaurants, etc.) and historic restora-
tion.
For more information on the pro-
gram, call (718) 727-1900. Applications
and additional information are also
available online at
www.sichamber.com.
Governor signs mobility
for out-of-state CPAs
Gov. Cuomo signed into law a bill
that allows for cross-border practice
mobility for out-of-state Certified Pub-
lic Accountants as long as the CPAs
home state is deemed by New York to
have licensing requirements that are
substantially equivalent to those in
New York.
Under Section 23 substantial equiv-
alency, if a CPA has a license in good
standing from a state that utilizes CPA
licensure and certification criteria
outlined in the Uniform Accountancy
Act 150 hours of education, a passing
grade on the CPA exam and at least
one year of experience then that
CPA would be qualified to practice in
any state that has adopted UAA Sec-
tion 23 mobility.
Three states, Georgia, Pennsylvania
and Massachusetts, have already
adopted provisions that barred CPAs
licensed in New York and other non-
mobility states from providing servic-
es in their states because they had not
yet adopted mobility. Now, New York
CPAs will have the same access to
clients in other states that CPAs li-
censed in mobility states already have.
The bill goes into effect Nov. 15.
Taste of Staten Island
to be held Sunday, Sept. 18
The Eger Foundation is celebrating
the 19th year of its Taste of Staten Is-
land end-of-summer bash, an exclu-
sive food, bakery and pizza competi-
tion, on Sunday, Sept. 18 from 3 to 6
p.m. at Eger Health Care and Rehabili-
tation Center. This years theme is
Happy Birthday Staten Island and
will feature medals for the winners.
Tickets are $75 per person and include
unlimited food and beverages pre-
pared by the finest Staten Island estab-
lishments. Celebrity Food Network
Judges in all categories will be pres-
ent. For more information, contact Vi-
enna Profeta at (718) 989-3087.
Monthly Update
HOW TO REACH US
347-682-4867 fax: 866-745-9380
WHOM TO ASK FOR
Janet Warren Dugo, Publisher
ON THE WEB
www.sibiztrends.com
EMAIL DIRECTORY
newsroom: news@sibiztrends.com
advertising: ads@sibiztrends.com
publisher: publisher@sibiztrends.com
DROP US A LINE
Business Trends welcomes suggestions and comments from
readers including any information about errors that may call
for a correction to be printed. Send your comments to
news@sibiztrends.com, or call the newsroom at 347-682-4867.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Business Trends is mailed each month to the business and com-
munity leaders of Staten Island. If you would like to receive the
paper, but are not currently on our mailing list, you can request
to be added to the mailing list by emailing your name, title,
company, address, phone, fax and email address to
janet@sibiztrends.com.
NEWS IDEAS
Business Trends has limited resources to send photographers to
events, so the best way to seek coverage is by sending us your
news release and photos to the attention of the editor at the
below address, or via email to news@sibiztrends.com.
Business Trends is published monthly by Elauwit Media,
LLC, 66 Willow Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305
Drop us a line
Business Trends welcomes news and
photo submissions.
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
Phone: 347-682-4867
Mail: 66 Willow Avenue,
Staten Island, NY 10305
please see BRIEFS, page 16
4 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
The NewYork State Small Business Development Center is partially funded by the U.S.Small Business Administration. The support
given by the U.S. Small Business Administration through such funding does not constitute an expressed or implied endorsement of
the cosponsors or participants opinions, products, or services. Services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis.
Visit us on the Web at www.sibiztrends.com
Special to Business Trends
Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis recently participated in the 2011
Emerging Leaders Program, an annual event sponsored and funded
by the State Legislative Leaders Foundation and the Darden School
of Business at the University of Virginia. The program was geared
toward uniting burgeoning leaders from legislatures across the coun-
try in academic settings and workshops to share insight and ideas
that will lead the nation moving forward. Malliotakis was one of only
50 legislators from across the nation selected to participate in the
event. Participants are selected by the speaker of the Assembly,
senate president or minority leader from their state. Classes are led
by distinguished UVA professors, discussing the principals of leader-
ship, ethical governance and the philosophy of democracy.
Emerging Leaders
ZAGHOUL AHMED
College of Staten Island
Zaghoul Ahmed, of the Depart-
ment of Physical Therapy at the
College of Staten Island and the
Department of Neuroscience at
The City University of New York
Graduate Center, has been named
one of five winners of the $1.5
million 2011 BioAccelerate NYC
Prize for his novel research of the
PathMaker Neuromuscular
Treatment System, a CUNY-trade-
marked method of treating spinal
cord injuries by using electrical
stimulation to strengthen neuro-
motor connections.
Ahmed was awarded the prize
for his research at CSI, which in-
volves a proprietary electrical
stimulation method and system
that combines trans-spinal steady
DC stimulation with cortical and
peripheral repetitive pulsed stim-
ulation.
Funds from the BioAcelerate
grant will be used by Ahmed to
purchase equipment and create a
facility on the College of Staten
Island campus where a clinical
trial involving 96 patients will be
conducted in partnership with
Staten Island University Hospital.
REGINA BOUKHVALOVA
Northfield Bank
Northfield Bank announced
that Regina Boukhvalova joined
the bank with
more than 10
years of experi-
ence. Boukhvalo-
va is responsible
for developing
new commercial
and consumer re-
lationships in
Staten Island.
Most recently, Boukhvalova was
an assistant vice president and
senior small business specialist
for SI Bank and Trust. She for-
merly held various positions with
SI Bank and Trust and New York
Community Bank. She is a li-
censed representative for life and
health insurance and is a New
York State Notary Public.
Boukhvalova is an active mem-
ber of the Staten Island Chamber
of Commerce, taking on strategic
roles on the Membership Com-
mittee and on the Leadership
Council of the Young Profession-
als Group. She also volunteers
her time with New York Cares
and NYC Coalition Against
Hunger. She is based out of
Northfields Castleton Corners
headquarters and resides in New
Dorp Beach.
JOHN PAUL CARINCI
Carinci Insurance Agency
Staten Islander John Paul Car-
inci announced the publication of
his self-help tome entitled An
All-Consuming Desire to Suc-
ceed. Carinci is the owner of
Carinci Insurance Agency for
more than 20 years. This is his
seventh published book.
BOARD MEMBERS
College of Staten Island Foundation
The College of Staten Island
Foundation Board of Directors
recently elected Christine D. Cea
88 as its new president.
Cea is currently a researcher at
the New York State Institute for
Basic Research in developmental
disabilities. In addition, she is a
member of the New York State
Board of Regents. Her experience
at CSI includes former president
of the Friends of CSI and adjunct
lecturer in psychology and sociol-
ogy. She is chair of the Staten Is-
land Developmental Disabilities
Council and a member of the Bor-
ough Presidents Advisory Board
on Disability and the Board of Di-
rectors of the Staten Island Men-
tal Health Society.
She also serves on the local Of-
fice of Mental Retardation and
Developmental Disabilities
Human Rights Committee on In-
formed Consent, and she was
honored as a Woman of Distinc-
tion by Soroptimist International
for her work as a rights advocate
for people with disabilities. Cea
SEPTEMBER 2011 BUSINESS TRENDS 5
Visit us on the Web at www.sibiztrends.com
on the job
please see JOB, page 12
Boukhvalova
EDITORIAL 6 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
DAN McDONOUGH, JR. Co-Chairman & Chief Executive
RUSSELL CANN Co-Chairman & Chief Financial Officer
MICHAEL LaCOUNT, Ph.D. Vice Chairman
www.elauwit.com
Happy 350th bday!
You dont look a day over 349...
I
n case you havent heard, this year Staten Island is celebrat-
ing the 350th anniversary of its founding. Its a big mile-
stone, and all kinds of events have been planned.
One thing the local business community has embraced to
mark the occasion is a national grassroots buy local cam-
paign with the serendipitous name The 3/50 Project.
So whats the Project all about? Well, its a very simple aware-
ness campaign to remind people that by supporting their local,
independently-owned businesses, they are helping themselves
and their neighbors.
And with the name The 3/50 Project, its like it was tailor-
made for this big anniversary year.
You can find out much more about it in our cover story in
this months edition.
Now, this is not something that is going to change the world
in a big, dramatic sweep. We know that. What it is, essentially, is
a public relations campaign to help everyone in the community
better understand our inter-dependence on one another.
By patronizing local, independently-owned businesses, we
are not only helping our neighbor, we are helping ourselves as
well.
What we especially like about this program is that it is a
turn-key operation. All the heavy lifting has already been done.
There are boilerplate press releases available and beautifully
designed graphic pieces for all kinds of use, such as advertising
and storefront display.
And, best of all, its completely free!
So theres nothing but upside for every business on Staten Is-
land, and no reason not to participate as either an independent
business or supporter.
The beautiful symmetry of the 350th anniversary and The
3/50 Project makes this an opportunity we dont want to miss!
So, we encourage you to go to www.the350project.net and
Jump In. We did!
in our opinion
JANET WARREN DUGO
Publisher
Directors
STEVE COPPOLA RICHARD GRADO ROBERT CUTRONA LAWRENCE RAMPULLA
ALAN BAUER
STEVE MILLER
ED LYNES
General Manager & Editor
Executive Vice President
Vice President of Sales
By BILL DUBOVSKY
Situation
Have you noticed the usually
black and white blocky square
image that is becoming ubiqui-
tous on everything from print
ads to business cards? Theyre
called QR codes (Quick Re-
sponse), and while invented by a
Toyota subsidiary back in 1994 to
track and decode part informa-
tion on high speed assembly
lines, they are becoming a most
popular type of barcode for busi-
ness and consumer interaction.
This article presents a brief
overview of how QR codes are
used.
What is it?
QR codes, along with the uni-
versal EAN UPC, Data Matrix,
PDF 417 (postage and document
tracking) and Microsoft Tag are
the five major types of barcodes
in use today. These codes allow
for fast and accurate scanning
and tracking of whatever they
are attached to, and in the case of
QR can contain thousands of
alpha-numeric characters of in-
formation.
How it works
If a person seeing your mes-
sage wants more information,
s/he simply takes out their
smart phone, scans your QR
code, and can automatically be
sent to your Web site (URL) for
more information, sent a plain
text message, be able to initiate a
telephone call, be sent a SMS
message (texting), an email ad-
dress (download your email ad-
dress to the recipient), a VCARD
(electronic contact information
transfer), a VCALENDAR (event
reminders), a Google Maps loca-
tion, a Paypal Buy Now link (re-
tail sales), a social media link (to
Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin,
others), an iTunes link (media,
podcasts), a YouTube Video, or
blog post, for starters. Its instant
information fulfillment!
What you need
A mobile device with a QR
scanner/reader. Android-based
smart phones have one included,
iPhone has about 50 free and pay
QR apps can be downloaded
from the App Store. BlackBerry
devices use the App World appli-
cation and Windows Phone 7 will
work through the Bing search
app in the upcoming Mango up-
date.
Where to get it
For a free version of a QR
scan program for iPhone, go to
the App store and download the
free version of QRREADER, I-
NIGMA, Barcode Scanner, Red
Laser or others. To create your
own QR codes, check out
QRSTUFF.COM or
QRCODE.KAYWA.COM and cut
and paste your own codes or
google QR codes for many other
free and pay sites on the Inter-
net.
How hard is it to use?
Easy. Applications include
sharing information, communi-
ty building, calls to action (link-
ing to new landing pages and
opt-ins), SEO and SMO (QR
codes enhance your position in
search engines because youre
getting more hits to your Web
site), and others. Practical places
to post a QR code include: back
of your business card, market-
ing materials, sides of vehicles,
product tags and packaging,
Telecom tech tip of the month
Dont use your mobile phone abroad! Its very expensive, data roam-
ing charges can be ridiculous and many U.S. mobile phones dont
work overseas at all. If you do bring your smart phone, turn off data
roaming and leave your phone in airplane mode on. That way you
cant accidentally call someone and rack up a big bill. If you use a
WiFi enabled device, you can find a hot spot or caf and call home
using the Skype.com free app for pennies per minute or if you call
other Skype users, its completely free! You can also purchase an
inexpensive unlocked mobile phone locally with a prepaid local SIM
card. Usually incoming calls will be free and making local calls and
texts will be cheaper. Take the phone home with you at the end of
your stay for future trips all youll need is a new prepaid SIM card!
What can QR codes do?
BITS & BYTES
please see BITS, page 13
POWERFUL YOU!
WOMENS
NETWORKING GROUP
THURSDAY, SEPT. 8
Time: 7:00 10:00 p.m.
Location: Richmond Diner, 3954
Richmond Ave.
$31, includes dinner
For information, call 718-608-1640
INDEPENDENT
ASSOC. OF
ACCOUNTANTS OF SI
THURSDAY, SEPT. 8
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bocelli, 1250 Hylan
For information, call 718-948-0810
CHAMBER BUSINESS
AFTER HOURS
TUESDAY, SEPT. 13
Time: 5:00 7:00 p.m.
Location: The Lake Club, Clove
Lakes Park
For information, call 718-727-1900
RICHMOND CNTY.
BANKERS ASSOC.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14
Location: Mikes Place, 4677 Hylan
Blvd.
For information, call Lou DellaBovie
at 718-370-7037
NYS WOMEN INC.
(RICHMOND CNTY.)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Caf Bella Vita, 1919
Hylan Blvd.
For information, call 718-816-5991
HOME IMPROVEMENT
CONTRACTORS OF SI
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 14
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Marina Grand, Mansion
Ave.
For information, call 718-356-2323
NETWORKING PLUS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 15
Time: 8:00 a.m.
Location: Golden Dove, 3281 Rich-
mond Ave.
For information, call 718-966-6289
AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY BUS.
COUNCIL AN EVENING
UNDER THE STARS II
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 15
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: South Fin Grill, 300 Fr.
Capodanno Blvd.
For information, call 718-987-8872
Ext. 114
EGER FOUNDATION
TASTE OF STATEN
ISLAND
SUNDAY, SEPT. 18
Time: 3:00 6:00 p.m.
Location: Eger Health Care &
Rehab. Ctr., Meisner Ave.
For information, call 718-989-3087
8 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
Get the knowledge and skills you need for the job you want this Fall with Certificate
Programs and Online Courses through Wagner College External Programs.
Pharmacy Technician Freight Broker
Medical Transcription Paralegal
AutoCAD Microsoft Office Specialist
Graphic Design Certified Bookkeeper
HVAC Technician Certificate Video Game Design & Development
eMarketing & Social Media Sustainable Energy & Going Green
*Join us on September 29 at 7:30pm in Spiro Hall 2 for our
Wedding and Event Open House and Workshop. Meet our instructor,
learn valuable bridal tips, and get all the details for the classes.
Pharmacy Technician Wedding & Event Planning Certification*
Personal Fitness Trainer Preston Bailey Signature Design*
Paralegal LEED Green Associate Exam Prep
EKG Technician Notary Public
Human Resource Management Final Cut Pro
Microsoft Office Certificate Acting
Graphic Design Life Skills Workshop Series
Medical Billing & Coding Physical Therapy Aide
Top 12 Online Career Training Courses Now Available:
Fall Certificate Courses Available On Campus:
On Campus. Online. Ongoing.
Business Calendar
please see EVENTS, page 22
Here's a revenue-boost-
ing opportunity that may
be flying under the radar
of your business or profes-
sional networking circle.
Decades-old Dome Proper-
ty Management, one of the
largest and most respected
companies of its kind in
the New York metropoli-
tan area, is offering an
unprecedented opportuni-
ty for a limited number of
vendors and merchants to
share in their success.
The newly introduced
Dome Savings Club gives
businesses the opportuni-
ty 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 situa-
tion for everyone
involved, said Michael
Motelson, president of
Dome Property Manage-
ment.
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 strate-
gies that have successfully
worked for them in the
past. They will enjoy a
huge audience comprised
of well over 10,000 poten-
tial customers at over 100
Dome-managed communi-
ties, and are included in
the clubs online market-
ing efforts.
(2) Homeowners and com-
munities under Domes
management benefit from
the dollars they save on
top-quality products and
services.
(3) Dome Property Man-
agement, notably Staten
Islands premier property
management company,
benefits from directly
interacting with the busi-
ness community and pro-
viding a greatly appreciat-
ed advantage to the many
condo communities it
services.
Founded in 1987, Dome
Property Management
manages over 100 condo-
minium and homeowners
association communities,
mostly on Staten Island,
and is the biggest such
operation in the borough.
Dome provides compre-
hensive property manage-
ment services 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 compa-
nies, such as Wells Fargo
Home Mortgage, and rep-
utable local merchants,
such as Jealan Fireplaces.
Even Dome itself has
joined in by offering pre-
ferred pricing and
enhanced services to the
residents of participating
communities.
Now that the word is out,
it is likely representatives
of the automotive, bank-
ing, medical, financial and
restaurant industries will
soon come on board. Dome
should also expect to hear
from numerous home-
services businesses, such
as landscaping, contract-
ing, plumbing, electrical,
woodworking, painting,
multi-service and product
suppliers, and others.
Given the assortment of
communities and proper-
ties we manage, and the
many goods and services
they and their residents
consume, businesses offer-
ing a wide array of prod-
ucts and services can bene-
fit from participating,
said Enid Motelson, senior
vice president of Dome
Property Management.
SOLID REPUTATION
IS A MUST
If you are interested in
participating in the Dome
Savings Club as a mer-
chant or vendor, be aware
that not every business
will qualify. Only busi-
nesses with a stellar repu-
tation for product, cus-
tomer-service and integri-
ty will be considered,
Michael Motelson said. By
simply providing a dis-
count to Domes customers
in these tough economic
times, quality merchants,
service providers and ven-
dors can strengthen the
loyalty of their existing
customers and attract and
build relationships with
new prospects.
For additional informa-
tion, 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/dsc
Offers. 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
Advertisement
The Tides at Charleston, the first active-adult community of its kind in metropolitan New York, is one of over 100 condo-
minium and homeowners association communities benefitting from the extensive services provided by Dome Property
Management.
Dome Property Management provides
comprehensive property management
services to many types of properties
and complexes, from under 10 to more
than 500 units, and includes many
building types and individually owned
homes.
By JOHN J. VENTO
Should your business be a pro-
prietorship, corporation, partner-
ship or some other entity? Each
form has advantages and disad-
vantages.
Business situations change,
and so do tax laws.
Now may be a good time to re-
view your business current
structure to be sure it is still your
best choice.
In proprietorships and partner-
ships, income and losses are re-
ported on your personal tax re-
turn, and earnings are subject to
self-employment tax. You are gen-
erally personally liable for busi-
ness liabilities.
With a corporate structure,
your liability is generally limited
to corporate assets and amounts
you guarantee. Minuses? Income
is taxed twice once at the corpo-
rate level and again when you re-
ceive dividends. Any salary you
are paid is subject to employment
taxes.
Small corporations can elect S
corporation status. Generally, S
corporations pay no federal in-
come tax. The corporations in-
come or loss is reported on the
shareholders tax returns and is
not subject to self-employment
tax.
However, if you are also an em-
ployee of the corporation, your
wages are subject to employment
taxes. An S corporation can pro-
vide you with limited liability.
Another entity is the limited li-
ability company, which offers the
limited liability of a corporation
and the tax treatment of a part-
nership.
No one choice is best for every
business.
Its important to regularly eval-
uate whether its time for a
change in your business form.
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.
10 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
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The Nicotra Foundation hosted a reception where $7,000 in grants to local non-profits and scholarships
were awarded. On hand were representatives from Conference House Park Conservancy, Musical Chairs
Chamber Ensemble, Richmond County Orchestra, Art Lab, Staten Island Childrens Museum, Metropoli-
tan Fire Association, Emergency Childrens Help Organization, Sandy Ground Historical Society and Ser-
enade at Historic Christ Church, along with Lois and Richard Nicotra (left), and students Jessica Lynch
and Michele Marfa (seated, right).
Nicotra Foundation awards $7,000 in grants
received her Bachelor of Arts de-
gree in psychology from CSI, and
her Master of Arts degree in psy-
chology and her PhD in develop-
mental psychology from Ford-
ham University.
The board also approved a new
slate of officers, including Samir
Farag, vice president; Joseph M.
Ricciutti, secretary; and Edgar
Rios, treasurer.
Farag, who previously served
as secretary of the Foundation
Board, is the founder and presi-
dent of Worldwide Electronic
Corporation. He serves on a num-
ber of boards of directors for or-
ganizations including the Staten
Island Chamber of Commerce
and the Staten Island Mental
Health Society, and he is presi-
dent and chairman of the board
of the Staten Island Rotary Club.
He also participates in a number
of committees, such as the Gener-
al Committee of the Friends of
CSI.
Riccuitti is the president of the
Staten Island Yankees. Prior to
his current post, he served as di-
rector, Alfred Lerner Hall/Uni-
versity Event Management at Co-
lumbia University. He was also di-
rector of stadium events at the
Richmond County Ballpark and a
facilities director at Snug Harbor
Cultural Center. Riccuitti re-
ceived his Bachelor of Science in
business management from CSI
and a Masters in management
and producing (with honors)
from Columbia University.
Rios is a co-founder and man-
aging partner of Wenzi Capital
Partners. Prior to his post at
Wenzi Capital, he was executive
vice president and general coun-
sel of AmeriChoice Corporation,
which he co-founded in 1989. He
has also served as a staff attorney
at the Los Angeles District Coun-
sels Office of the Internal Rev-
enue Service. Rios holds an AB
from Princeton University and a
JD from Columbia University.
In addition to the new officers,
Jeffrey O. Schnorbus, senior vice
president and treasurer of North-
field Bancorp Inc., was elected as
a new board member to a three-
year term. Schorbus has held var-
ious financial positions at North-
field, including principal ac-
counting officer and controller,
since 1991. His rsum also in-
cludes senior accountant with the
Office of Thrift Supervision from
1987 to 1990 and auditor with
Touche Ross & Co. from 1985 to
1987. He is a certified public ac-
countant in the State of New
York; a member of a number of
professional associations, includ-
ing the New Jersey Bankers Asso-
ciation, where he is chairperson,
and he is a graduate of Wagner
College.
The re-elected members of the
CSI Foundation include Joseph
A. Franzese, John Mazza,
Richard M. Prinzi Jr., Peter Salva-
tore and Norma DArrigo. In ad-
dition, Gordon Di Paolo is the
new faculty representative of the
foundation.
COURTNEY MOORE
Merrill Lynch
Staten Island resident Court-
ney Moore was recently recog-
nized on Barrons
Americas Top
100 Women Finan-
cial Advisors
list. Moore joined
Merrill Lynch in
1992 and earned
the CIMA desig-
nation in 2003.
She is a mem-
ber of the Financial Planning As-
sociation as well as a member of
the Investment Management Con-
sultants Association. She has ex-
tensive experience in investment
consulting, asset allocation mod-
eling, hedging and diversifying
concentrated stock strategies,
and liability management.
Moore received her CFP certifi-
cation, awarded by the Certified
Financial Planner Board of Stan-
dards Inc., in 2000. She serves as
the co-chair of the Merrill Lynch
Womens Exchange, and as a men-
tor for the Womens Bond Club.
She is the former treasurer of the
Board of Trustees of Notre Dame
Academy in Staten Island, and re-
gatta chairman of the Richmond
County Yacht Club.
She graduated from the College
of the Holy Cross (class of 92),
which she attended on a full ath-
letic scholarship. She lives on
Staten Island with her husband,
Mike, and her daughters
Michaela and Jordan.
NEW OFFICERS
Richmond County Bar Association
The Richmond County Bar As-
sociation elected Robert Mulhall
president of the organization.
Mulhall, along with his fellow of-
ficers, was installed by Judge
Jonathan Lippman, chief judge of
the state of New York.
Mulhall has a B.S. in econom-
ics from Manhattan College and a
law degree from Fordham Univer-
sity Law. He was admitted to prac-
tice in 1978 and is currently in
private practice, with his practice
largely confined to Personal In-
jury law. Mulhall is a retired chief
court attorney of the Supreme
Court, Richmond County and
past-president of the Court Attor-
neys Association of the City of
New York. He is chairman of the
RCBAs Volunteer Lawyers Proj-
ect and a current director with
the Staten Island Trial Lawyers
Association. He is a life member
of Staten Island Council of the
Knights of Columbus and past-
president of Hillside Swim Club.
Mulhall serves as a member of
Capital Campaign Finance Com-
mittee of St. Teresas Church and
the County Committee of the
Democratic Party of Staten Is-
land. He served in the United
States Army from to 1966-1968 and
resides in Castleton Corners with
his wife, Lorraine. The Mulhalls
have two sons, Robert and Daniel.
Other officers elected were:
Thomas A. Sipp, president-elect;
Thomas J. Hall, vice president;
Christopher J. Fitzpatrick, secre-
tary; and Daniel C. Marotta,
treasurer. New directors elected
to the board to a three-year term
include: Orin Cohen, Alan S.
Katkin, Denise Marangos Sheila
T. McGinn, Joseph Romagnolo
and Peter J. Weinman.
GARY W. REIDER JR.
Bridge Financial Group
Gary W. Reider Jr. of Bridge Fi-
nancial Group, an office of
MetLife, was recently awarded
one of the life insurance indus-
trys premier professional creden-
tials, the Life Underwriters
Training Council Fellow designa-
12 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
Ross Spitalnick
P: 718-263-3800 x371
ross@muss.com
Nicholas Forelli
P: 718-263-3800 x307
nforelli@muss.com
MUSSDEVELOPMENT LLC
BUILDING NEW YORK CITY SINCE 1906
On the Job
JOB
Continued from page 5
please see JOB, page 21
Moore
SEPTEMBER 2011 BUSINESS TRENDS 13
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event nametags, restaurant
menus, event ticket stubs, point-
of-sale receipts, coupons.
Pros
Research firm comScore has
estimated that of the 14.5 million
consumers who scanned QR
codes in June, 61 percent were
male, 53 percent were in the 18-34
year old group, and 36 percent
were in the $100K-plus income
bracket with 49 percent of the
scans from print, 35 percent from
product packaging, 27 percent
from Web sites, 24 percent from
posters, fliers or kiosks and 12
percent from TV. Fifty-eight per-
cent of respondents scanned
codes at home, 39 percent in retail
stores, 25 percent in grocery
stores and 13 percent outside or
on public transit. It appears that
the numbers and demographics
sound tempting for creative mar-
keteers.
Cons
Sometimes difficult to use ef-
fectively. Ive used QRreader on
iPhone and have found it flakey,
though the most recent version is
much better. After I scan a QR
code, it sometimes doesnt regis-
ter, but when it does and the QR
code takes you to a Web site that
is not optimized for mobile
phones, the visuals can be too
small to see and too complex to
navigate on the phone screen.
When I see something Im inter-
ested in, I usually just type in the
URL into the browser of my lap-
top or iPad.
Bottom-line
I personally havent found QR
codes to be indispensable at this
time, but I am including them on
all new advertising and market-
ing materials as well as my new
business cards. As creative uses
increase, more practical applica-
tions will be released and results
quantified. Ive seen barcode apps
come and go as fads, but will see if
QR sticks. For more information,
click on www.gomocode.comfor an
outstanding free white paper.
Watch these three useful videos
at: www.youtube.com/user/Wasp-
Barcode?v=xYLKH7uB-SM&fea-
ture=pyv, a more recent one is
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1o5
JDwp2k, and a fun one is
www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3lr-
cOhmp9g.
Bill Dubovsky has a proven track
record of business success spanning
over 30 years in helping hundreds of
organizations improve their prof-
itability. He founded Comtel Informa-
tion Services, a telecommunications
services brokerage. He may be
reached at bill@comtelinfo.com or
at 800-213-4884.
QR codes
BITS
Continued from page 6
By ROBERT CUTRONA
Its time to reboot our leader-
ship structure in Washington and
bring in people who will give our
country more than political
gamesmanship, passing blame,
dysfunction and ineffectiveness.
Moe, Larry and Curly would
probably do better; they certainly
would do no worse. Aside from
patchwork and politically expedi-
ent band-aids, the government
has not been able to accomplish
anything for the long-term health
and growth of the country. This is
nothing new; theyve been screw-
ing things up for years with un-
timely tax cuts, debt financing of
two wars, unaffordable social pro-
grams and general mismanage-
ment. In 2003, Bush and Congress
negotiated the Medicare drug
purchase program and agreed to
pay retail rates for Medicare
drugs instead of vying for lower
bulk prices that would have re-
sulted in net savings of $480 bil-
lion over the last eight years. Re-
cently, Congress passed a tooth-
less debt ceiling bill that suppos-
edly cuts $4 trillion in debt over 10
years. What it really does is trim
the future debt increase so that in
2020 the U.S. debt will be $21 tril-
lion instead of $25 trillion. More
Alice in Wonderland account-
ing! As part of the deal, a special
12-person committee was named
to determine specific cuts. Are
they kidding? Composed of six
Democrats and six Republicans,
the committee wont be able to
agree on where to buy lunch let
alone agree on spending cuts.
Syria, Libya and Egypt are
volatile, the Middle East is ready
to explode, we are chasing our
tails in Afghanistan, Europe is in
a debt crisis with Greece, Spain
and Italys financial systems are
near bankrupt, and where were
our leaders on vacation! State-
side, our credit rating has been
lowered for the first time in histo-
ry, the stock market is tanking,
our economy is not growing, we
have 9-percent-plus unemploy-
ment, and our citizens have com-
pletely lost confidence in our
leaders ability to lead. Where are
our leaders on vacation!
To be fair however, Mr. Obama
did take a jobs creation, listen-
ing tour before heading off to
Marthas Vineyard. He toured
Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois
where the average unemploy-
ment rate is 6 percent. This was
political pandering and nothing
more. If he were truly interested
in listening, he should have vis-
ited Michigan or Ohio, where he
could hear and see the needs of
the real unemployed and where
he could connect with the most af-
fected. Adding to the hypocrisy,
he and his entourage were riding
around in buses made in Canada.
Lets not be overly critical of Mr.
Obama taking a vacation, as on
Aug. 19, his office released a
photo of the president at a nation-
al security briefing held in the
Vineyard. I guess he felt the need
to prove he was really working.
Congress also went off on vaca-
tion. Perhaps, after the well-need-
ed rest, the Republicans will stop
being obstinate and come to the
table with a realization that we
will never reduce debt and bal-
ance the budget without tax in-
creases and tax reform. Similarly,
after their R&R, perhaps Pelosi
and Reid will realize that there is
no other choice but to support re-
duced spending on their sacro-
sanct entitlement programs like
Social Security and Medicare.
I took vacation in August also
and I came up with the reaffirma-
tion that we must resurrect Moe,
Larry & Curly to run the govern-
ment. They may not solve our
problems, but at least well have
some laughs.
Robert Cutrona, president of
Project One Services, is a director of
Business Trends
14 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
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OPINION
SEPTEMBER 2011 BUSINESS TRENDS 15
That's what we're all about
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JANET DUGO/Business Trends
It was a merry night at the offices of architect Glen Cutrona on Lin-
coln Avenue when members of the Bucks Business Network and
their families joined him for an evening mixer in the building he de-
signed. Pictured, from left, are Mif Olmez, John Inserra, Christine In-
serra, Butch Galante, Glen Cutrona, Steve Villamarin, Annmarie
Cutrona and John Nikolai.
Evening mixer
JANET DUGO/Business Trends
Members of the Chamber of Commerce paid a visit to Sand Lane in
South Beach to stop in and speak with local merchants about ways
the Chamber can be of assistance. Pictured, from left, are Robert
Myers of NYC Small Business Solutions, Chamber President Linda
Baran, Hector Pacheco of South Beach Dry Cleaners & Tailors, Len
Bosso of Empire State Bank and Anthony Basile of Council Member
James Oddos office.
How can we be of assistance?
of $50 among them.
Its really just making the resi-
dents of Staten Island think twice
about where they purchase, said
Linda Baran, president and CEO
of the Staten Island Chamber of
Commerce. Were not trying to
swear off the big box stores; were
trying to have them sign on as
supporters.
The idea is very basic, Baran
said. Instead of going to a super-
market to buy flowers, for exam-
ple, The 3/50 Project recommends
that you go to a local florist. Ac-
cording to a 2009 U.S. Labor De-
partment report, if half the popu-
lation spent $50 each month at lo-
cally owned independent busi-
nesses, it would generate $42.6 bil-
lion in revenue. For every $100
spent at these stores, $68 returns
to the community through taxes,
payroll and other expenditures,
compared to only $43 if it is spent
at a national chain store.
Dollars can quickly add up as
more people get involved, hope-
fully giving our neighborhood
shopkeepers the edge they need to
stay in business and continue
serving Islanders, Baran said.
The 3/50 Project benefits busi-
ness owners and Island residents
alike by helping to improve our
local economy and quality of
life.
Businesses that wish to partici-
pate in the program can sign up
at www.the350project.net by click-
ing on Jump In. In addition,
business groups and non-profit
organizations are encouraged to
sign up as official supporters of
the project and to start spreading
the word to their own member-
ships.
Participating business owners
and official supporters of The
3/50 Project are provided with fly-
ers, countertop signage, window
clings and more.
Cinda Baxter, a resident of
Minneapolis, Minn., founded The
3/50 Project in March 2009. Since
then, it has been utilized in com-
munities throughout the country
to promote local businesses.
Baran said the Chamber and
other supporters of the program
would like to get 350 businesses
signed up as supporters, to once
again stress the celebration of the
Islands 350th birthday. The cele-
bration itself is a year-long event,
she said, and it provides for a nice
platter on which to present The
3/50 Project.
The last couple of years have
been very difficult, and we arent
seeing a lot on the local front in
terms of increased business, es-
pecially among small business-
es, Baran said. For us, (the Proj-
ect) is a stepping stone.
16 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
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3/50 Project encourages
consumers to spend their
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PROJECT
Continued from page 1
TD Bank named one
of Best Banks 2011
TD Bank was named as one of
MONEY magazines Best Banks
2011. The bank was rated the
Best Regional Bank (East) be-
cause of its branch convenience
and low bar to free checking. TD
Bank is one of the 10 largest
banks in the United States and
provides customers with a full
range of financial products and
services at thousands of locations
from Maine to Florida.
National Grid selected
among Best Companies
National Grid was selected as
one of the best companies to work
for on Staten Island in 2011 by the
Staten Island Economic Develop-
ment Corporation, a not-for-profit
corporation that provides pro-
grams and services for business-
es and entrepreneurs to promote
economic development on Staten
Island.
The Best Companies to Work
for on Staten Island recognition
was launched in 2009 to recognize
local companies and non-profit
organizations. SIEDC Ambassa-
dors, a group of business leaders
who co-chair SIEDCs most visi-
ble programs, voted on entries
submitted from a database of
more than 2,500 local businesses
invited to participate.
Award categories were based
on the number of employees. Na-
tional Grid, an international en-
ergy delivery company, was se-
lected in the category of business-
es with more than 100 employees.
Signature Bank releases
2nd quarter earnings
Signature Bank announced re-
sults for its second quarter ended
June 30.
Net income for the 2011 second
quarter reached a record $36.6
million, or $0.87 diluted earnings
per share, versus $22.3 million, or
$0.54 diluted earnings per share,
for the 2010 second quarter. The
record net income for the 2011
second quarter, versus the compa-
rable quarter last year, is primari-
ly due to an increase in net inter-
est income, fueled by core deposit
growth and strong loan growth.
These factors were partially off-
set by increases in the provision
for loan losses and non-interest
expenses.
Monthly Update
Drop us a line
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
SEPTEMBER 2011 BUSINESS TRENDS 17
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Dome Property Management - managers of
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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.
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
The Staten Island Economic Development Corp. announced an initia-
tive to connect local industrial businesses with financial lending in-
stitutions to help spur growth. On hand at the Supreme Chocolates
building on South Avenue where the announcement was made are,
from left, Jay Anderson of the SIEDC, Joe Doolan of TD Bank, Monte
Rossenthal of Sovereign Bank, Matthew Kanarick of HSBC Bank, Ken
Doherty of Northfield Bank and Steve Grillo of the SIEDC.
Connecting businesses with money
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
Surrounding a portrait of Richard B. Irwin at the 25th annual golf
outing held in his honor by the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
are, from left, Gail Castellano of Richmond County Savings Bank,
Chamber President Linda Baran, Jeff Tieger of Business Advantage
Group and Chamber Board Chair Solomon Chemo of Richmond Group
Wealth Advisors.
Time for tee-off
By BILLY SPARKLE
We had a saying in my family
while I was growing up: If you
want a clean house, invite compa-
ny.
The idea was simple. We tend
to be OK with certain conditions
in our homes, which, if we knew
company was coming, would no
longer be OK. We tend to clean up
more, become more organized
and pay more attention to things
that previously would have gone
unnoticed. Well, its the same way
with our businesses. There are
certain conditions or states that
various aspects of our businesses
are in. These can include the pa-
perwork on our desks, items sit-
ting on the floor or the general
state of our office environment. If
we own a store, we have the or-
ganization of the products on our
shelves, the behaviors of our em-
ployees or the overall condition of
cleanliness. If were service
providers, there is the state of our
physical health, the state of our
mental acumen, the state of our
emotional well-being all of
which contribute to our ability to
serve our clients. And these
areas, when were by ourselves,
tend to be at much lower levels
than we would prefer them to be
if we knew we were having com-
pany. Part of the value of having
a coach is its like having compa-
ny over to your business. If cer-
tain rooms or areas of your
business are in conditions that
are less than satisfactory, theres
a tendency to begin cleaning
them up. Clients and customers
have a similar effect. They, too,
are like having company over.
When we invite others into our
businesses, it automatically has
us looking at things in a different
manner.
The key is to invite. Invite, in-
vite, invite. In fact, once the invi-
tations have been extended and
often long before the company ac-
tually arrives, we find ourselves
engaging in all sorts of activities
designed to tidy up our space. I re-
call times when my mother would
say, Ive got to clean this house
up. Perhaps Ill invite some peo-
ple over to get me into action.
And that would work. As soon as
she invited a few folks over, shed
immediately go into overdrive to
improve the conditions of her
house. So the encouragement for
this month is simple: Invite com-
pany. Invite potential customers
and clients to come on over and
take a look at what you have to
offer. And once you know that
theyll be looking, youll be moti-
vated to give them something
nice to look at. Youll clean up, get
organized and make all sorts of
improvements before they even
get there. And once they do ar-
rive, theyll be delighted by what
they see.
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 at
billy@billysparkle.com.
18 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
718.351.0590
1361 North Railroad Ave
www.esbna.com
Courtesy Call Service Yes ?
No Minimum Balance Requirement Yes ?
Unlimited Check Writing Yes ?
Free Online Banking Yes ?
Free Bill Pay Yes ?
Free Business Debit Card Yes ?
$100 off your first order of checks Yes ?
Member FDIC
IS YOUR BUSINESS
CHECKING REALLY
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Remote Deposit Service deposit checks from your office, 24/7
Full Cash Management Service
Empire State
Bank
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Bank
Len Bosso
347.592.1937
Jeanne Sarno
347.592.1938
In this economy
every dollar counts in your business.
Don't give it to your bank in fees!
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.
Need to clean up? Invite company
COACHS CORNER
SEPTEMBER 2011 BUSINESS TRENDS 19
MONDAY
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
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 Jeff Tieger at 718-698-
1055.
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.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev. Ctr.
Business Counseling: Chamber of
Commerce, 130 Bay St. 9 a.m. No
charge. For info, call the SBDC at
718-982-2560.
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.
WEDNESDAY
Bucks Business Network: Hamp-
ton Inn, 1415 Richmond Ave. 7:30
a.m. For info, call 877-SIBUCKS 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: Cham-
ber of Commerce, 130 Bay St. 9 to
11:30 a.m. Appointment necessary.
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.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev. Ctr.
Business Counseling: CSI, 2800
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 go to
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. For info, 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.
For info, call Herb Smith at 718-442-
9047.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) High
Achievers Chapter: Perkins Restau-
rant, 4370 Amboy Rd. 7:30 to 8:30
a.m. For info, call Timothy Houston
at 718-981-8600.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) High
Achievers Chapter: Perkins, 4370
Amboy Road. 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. For
info, call Timothy Houston at 718-
981-8600.
Business Guild II of the S.I. Cham-
ber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 to 8:45
a.m. Members and invited guests
only. For info, call Bob Williams at
718-356-1952.
Business Guild III of the SI Cham-
ber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:30 a.m. New
members welcome. Call Melody
Minkoff at 718-370-0040.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev. Ctr.
Business Counseling: CSI, 2800
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.
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.
WEEKLY MEETINGS
Drop us a line
Business Trends welcomes news and photo submissions.
You can send us your news in a number of ways:
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
Phone: 347-682-4867
Mail: 66 Willow Avenue,
Staten Island, NY 10305
ties. Becoming a supplier to a
large corporation adds credibility
and stability to a small business
while increasing its revenue, and
we want New York Citys minori-
ty and women-owned companies
to benefit from New York Citys
strong and civic-minded business
climate.
To connect certified firms to
private sector opportunities, the
SBS worked with the 11 founding
partners to establish four initia-
tives. According to the depart-
ment, these include a corporate
skills training program to edu-
cate participants about doing
business with the private sector, a
recruitment service to match
qualified firms to specific oppor-
tunities with the founding compa-
nies, a mentorship program to
strengthen minority and women
business leaders, and a citywide
construction training program
for certified construction firms
that will enable them to compete
for work among university cam-
puses and corporate facilities.
The Corporate Alliance Pro-
gram is another initiative that
will only further help our Minori-
ty and Women-owned Business
Enterprises, City Council Speak-
er Christine C. Quinn said. By
offering additional staffing and fi-
nancial resources and training
sessions, this will give these busi-
ness owners the extra line of sup-
port that they need.
The 11 founding partners in-
clude Accenture, American Ex-
press, BNY Mellon, Colgate-Pal-
molive, Citigroup, Columbia Uni-
versity, Con Edison, Credit Su-
isse, Goldman Sachs, IBM and
National Grid. Once the program
is underway, additional compa-
nies will have the opportunity to
join as participants, according to
the SBS.
The M/WBE program account-
ed for $714 million in public con-
tracts in 2010. Since the program
was established in 2006, more
than 26,000 contracts have been
awarded to certified firms, valued
at almost $1.9 billion, according to
the SBS.
In Fiscal Year 2007, the first full
year of the program, certified
companies won subcontracts
worth $59.2 million, or 7 percent
of all city subcontracts. That
number has risen steadily ever
since, to $127.5 million (16 per-
cent) in FY 2008, to $180.4 million
(19 percent) in FY 2009, and to
$381.9 million (30 percent) in FY
2010.
We do everything possible to
connect certified M/WBEs to op-
portunities to sell to the city, SBS
Commissioner Robert W. Walsh
said. Building your portfolio and
diversifying your client list is key
to becoming more competitive,
and the Corporate Alliance Pro-
gram will offer this edge to our
M/WBEs who need help building
capacity.
SEPTEMBER 2011 BUSINESS TRENDS 21
MUSSDEVELOPMENT LLC
BUILDING NEW YORK CITY SINCE 1906
Ross Spitalnick
P: 718-263-3800 x371
ross@muss.com
Nicholas Forelli
P: 718-263-3800 x307
nforelli@muss.com
BLINDS
OF ALL KINDS
Repairs Sales Installations
Decor-Rite
151 Industrial Loop
718-
967-5559
917-
952-7489
18 years
Sam
e
Location
Parisi Rampulla & Lenza, P.C.
78 Martin Avenue | Staten Island, NY, 10314
(718) 761-3333
Business Law, Wills & Estates
When the news is sweet,
We Tweet!
When the news is bitter,
We Still Twitter!
Follow us at
twitter.com/sibiztrends
Visit us on the Web at www.sibiztrends.com
M/WBEs to get help
ALLIANCE
Continued from page 1
tion from the American College.
The LUTCF program gives insur-
ance representatives in-depth
knowledge and skills to assist
clients with their insurance and
financial needs. To earn the
LUTCF designation, Reider
passed the required courses for
the program, met the specified ex-
perience level and ethical stan-
dards, and agreed to comply with
the American College Code of
Ethics and Procedures.
Reider is a graduate of the
United States Military Academy
at West Point. He is a Life Under-
writers Training Council Fellow
and is a member of the National
Association of Insurance and Fi-
nancial Advisors Greater Metro
Region, the West Point Society of
New York, the Board of Directors
Staten Island United States Bowl-
ing Congress, commander of the
American Legion Watkins-Kellett
Post 277, junior vice commander
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Sergeant Michael J. Labetti Post
2159, and the esquire of the
Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks Staten Island Lodge 841.
He has worked in the financial
services industry for two years.
NEW OFFICERS
Staten Island Zoo
The Staten Island Zoo Board of
Trustees has re-elected and in-
stalled William J. Frew Jr., a Stat-
en Island attorney, as president of
the board of the Staten Island Zo-
ological Society. Frew has served
since 1977. The Staten Island Zoo-
logical Society is the governing
arm of the Staten Island Zoo.
In addition to Frews election,
the following officers have been
re-elected: Joseph Romagnolo,
vice president; William Bev-
eridge, secretary; Richard Prinzi,
treasurer; and Mark Russo, assis-
tant treasurer.
Re-elected to the board are Tom
Corbett, Dr. Meryl Efron, Grace-
lyn Santos and Robert Schuster.
Newly elected to the board are
Kevin Hunt and Kevin Price.
On the Job
JOB
Continued from page 12
SI UNIVERSITY
HOSPITAL GOLF
& TENNIS OUTING
MONDAY, SEPT. 19
Location: Richmond County Coun-
try Club
For information, call 718-226-2746
NETWORK PLUS
TUESDAY, SEPT. 20
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: DoSi Caf, 695 Bay St.
For information, call 718-980-3737
NYS WOMEN INC.
(STATEN ISLAND)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 20
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697
Forest Ave.
For information, call 718-226-6462
FRANK J. REALI III
FAMILY FOUNDATION
GOLF OUTING
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Silver Lake Golf Course
For information, call 718-420-2331
PROJECT HOSPITALITY
FALL DINNER
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, 1100
South Ave.
For information, call 718-448-1544
BUSINESS LEADERS
TOASTMASTERS
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: 43 Ramona Ave.
For information, call Arlene Trunzo
at 718-317-0949
INTERNET
NETWORKING CLUB
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21
Time: 7:00 9:00 p.m.
Location: W. Brighton LDC Office,
705 Forest Ave.
For information, call 718-816-4775
FRIENDS OF SEGUINE
MANSION
PLANTATION BBQ
SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
Time: 3:00 7:00 p.m.
Location: 440 Seguine Ave.
For information, call 718-667-6042
24-7
NETWORKING SALES
MONDAY, SEPT. 26
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Z-One Restaurant, Rich-
mond Ave.
For information, call 973-697-8872
WORLD OF WOMEN
MONTHLY MEETING
MONDAY, SEPT. 26
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Marina Grand, Mansion
Ave.
For information, call 718-948-8175
NEW DAY
TOASTMASTERS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 29
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: SI Univ. Hosp., Seaview
Ave.
For information, call 718-816-5991
22 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
Office (718) 698-8244 info@apbsecurity.com
2047 Victory Blvd Staten Island, NY 10314
Septembers business calendar
EVENTS
Continued from page 8
Drop us a line
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
Phone: 347-682-4867
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24 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
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Special to Business Trends
Hillel at the College of Staten Island held a breakfast celebration at
the Richmond County Country Club honoring its outgoing president,
Dr. Steve Acker, for his three years of service leading the Hillel Board
of Directors. During his tenure, Hillel at CSI has grown to include
close to 400 students participating in a diverse array of activities
including Jewish values-based learning, community service, leader-
ship development, and spiritual growth. Dr. Acker will remain on the
Hillel Board, lending his expertise as a member at large. He is suc-
ceeded by Jack Stern. Acker (right) is pictured here with his chil-
dren, who attended the event.
Breakfast celebration
Drop us a line
Email: news@sibiztrends.com
Mail: 66 Willow Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305
- BSAG establishes relationships with prominent community leaders, members and institutions, constantly seeking new
partners and affiliations to promote the arts for members and the public.
- BSAG also works with local schools and other institutions to bring the work of budding artists to the attention of the public.
- BSAG will exhibit in any reasonable venue. Corporations, public institutions, and others -- if you are interested in providing
exhibit space, let us know!
Creating opportunities for artists and art lovers of all ages
JOlN BSAG NOW! ARTlST or SPPORTER
www.bsagarts.org
CURRENT ARTIST MEMBERS
Gerard Barbot
Beryl Brenner
Michael Brenner
Arlene Finger
Jerome Frank
Vladimir Ginzburg
Anastacia Goodin
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Arthur Melnick
Brooklyn Streetcar Artists' Group
Our roots are in Brooklyn our outlook is universal
1360 Ocean Parkway, Suite 6L Brooklyn, NY 11230
bsag.artists@live.com 718-314-0226
ARTISTS
AFFILIATIONS
ART LOVERS
- BSAG works to provide cultural enrichment to all areas within reach, with no cost to the public wherever possible.
Renie Morris
Linda Murad
Harriet Piltch
Morris Rabinowitz
Richard Resnick
Jessica Schulman
Bill Storoniak
Takashi Yamada
Eli Horowitz
Ellen Hoyt
Holly Koffler
Victoria Lapin
Barbara Listenik
Edwin Lopez
Anthony Marra
Deborah Matlack
Takeshi Yam
ada
Holly Koffler
Bill Storoniak
Deborah M
atlack
Barbara Listenik
- BSAGs artists are of varying ages and levels of achievement, all with great talent. Members have exhibited world wide.
- BSAG displays and promotes members work with as little expense as possible to the artist. Modest annual dues entitle
members to display at no cost where possible and minimal cost only where necessary.
- BSAGs Web site is aimed at promoting the individual artist as well as the organization. The Web site includes a pass-
word-accessible members-only page, providing leads, opportunities and updates.
- BSAG works with artists in all mediums, including performing artists, and often features entertainment at events.
OPENING SOON
In our gallery
In Coney Island Hospital
MY FAVORITE PLACE
an exhibition of fine art
26 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2011
JANET DUGO/Business Trends
Staten Island Physician Practice hosted a ceremony to celebrate it receipt of the highest national recog-
nition designated by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. NYS Assembly member Lou Tobac-
co, left, stopped by to offer his congratulations to the management and staff.
SIPP celebrates recognition
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
Atlantic Salt owners (and husband and wife) Joe McNamee and She-
lagh Mahoney paused for a photo during the opening night reception
for their Atlantic Salt Maritime Festival, an annual event that allows
Staten Island residents to get up-close and personal with the Rich-
mond Terrace waterfront and some vintage sailing vessels.
What a night!