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By TIM RONALDSON

Business Trends
This month, The Nicotra Group will break
ground on what will be the last building con-
structed in the corporate park off South Av-
enue.
At the corner of Lois Lane and South Av-
enue, at the entrance to the corporate park, a
37,000 square foot, three-story very modern,
hip office building will be constructed, pro-
viding customizable, Class A office space in
close proximity to the Hilton Garden Inn,
Hampton Inn & Suites, the Teleport and the
Goethals Bridge.
This is the building that I wanted to build
since we did this project at the Hilton, said
Richard Nicotra. Its an important building
for us, because its the last piece of the puzzle
here on this property, and it is the entrance to
the Hilton and the Hampton and our office
building. This is the cornerstone.
Nicotra planned to break ground in early
September and said construction should take
about 10 months, with a mid-2015 projected
opening. Some tenants whose names Nico-
tra couldnt release are already signed on,
with others waiting in the wings.
Each floor of the building will have about
12,500 square feet of space. Nicotra said a ten-
ant could lease an entire floor or cut it up
into smaller units possibly 2,500 square foot
blocks - based on their needs. He sees it as a
prime location for the medical community,
SEPTEMBER 2014
BITS & BYTES
The future of biz telecommunications?
PAGE 6
FROM THE CHAMBER
Its time to go back to school
PAGE 4
ON THE JOB
See this months movers and shakers.
PAGE 17
www.sibiztrends.com
Special to Business Trends
Pictured is a rendering of the 37,000 square foot office building at the corner of Lois Lane
and South Avenue. It is expected to open in mid-2015.
Business Calendar
Check out our monthly listing and
attend an event on Staten Island.
PAGE 5
please see NICOTRA page 21
Nicotra breaks ground on office building
By TIM RONALDSON
Business Trends
Six years ago last month, an
upstart company in San Francis-
co, Calif., created an online com-
munity where people could list
and book accommodations
around the world. It wasnt anoth-
er travel site that offered discount
hotel rates or compared rates
from different travel sites; it was
its own site that offered rooms for
rent that werent listed on typical
travel sites an apartment for a
night, for example, or a castle for
a week, or a villa for a month, as
its press information indicates.
Much like co-working space for
business professionals, this com-
pany uses the ever-more-present
concept of global sharing on a
personal living space level.
The company is Airbnb, and
six years after its launch, it offers
its services in 34,000 cities and 192
countries.
The way it works is simple:
People monetize extra space they
have in their apartments, homes
or other unique dwellings by list-
ing it for rent for a period of time
on Airbnbs site. Guests can
browse the rooms for rent, just as
they would on a travel site that
lists hotels, condos and other
more traditional places to stay.
The concept seems to be work-
ing, too, especially in New York
Is the
sky the
limit for
Airbnb?
please see AIRBNB, page 7
2 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
JANET DUGO/Business Trends
The SI Economic Development Corp., Councilman Steven Matteo and local companies have been working
diligently on establishing an Industrial Business Improvement District on Staten Island's west shore to
help support existing businesses and attract new ones. Enthusiasm around the project is so great that,
although the final legislative approval of the IBID is not expected till year end, businesses in the zone
have already begun paying for special services including street cleaning, litter removal and other quality
of life enhancements. Pictured announcing the early start of services are, from left, Erwin Moskowitz of
Adwell, John Hogan of JP Hogan, Ram Cherukuri of New York Fragrance, Councilman Matteo, SIEDC Ex-
ecutive Director Cesar Claro, Jeff Henick of Stop & Stor, Fred DiGiovanni of Island Charter and Steve
Radel of SI Marine Development.
Thumbs up for West Shore BID
4 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
By TOM SCARANGELLO
As I send my third child off to
college, in addition to watching
my life savings disappear and be-
coming an expert at sharing all
my personal financial informa-
tion with complete strangers, I
am also thinking about why edu-
cation is so important.
Harvard President Derek Bok
said, If you think education is
expensive, try ignorance. Lets
face it, education doesnt stop
after college or after becoming es-
tablished in your career. It can,
but it shouldnt. Learning
throughout your career is not
only smart, its essential for con-
tinued success. Legendary UCLA
Basketball coach John Wooden
said it best, Its what you learn
after you know it all that counts.
As business people, we have
many resources for learning. Not
only can you go back to school,
there are countless seminars and
continuing education opportuni-
ties. With technology you dont
even have to leave your desk to
participate in a seminar these
days. The Staten Island Chamber
of Commerce offers hundreds of
webinars and online training
courses through their website
from management to finance to
marketing and more.
Lets take a look and see if
there are any you might find valu-
able:
Brand Positioning Creating
Your USP Your Unique Selling
Proposition is what separates you
from your competition. Its what
makes you different. In todays
highly demanding marketplace
you need to let customers know
why they should choose your
company. And We Suck Less
does not qualify as a compelling
reason anymore.
Motivating Lazy People
Why hire the best? Hire the
worst, pay them less, and still ac-
complish some of your dreams
and goals. Dont consider it a
compromise; consider it a strate-
gy. Just dont dream too big.
How to Improve Your Pricing
and Profitability This seems
like it should be simple, but based
on the fact that 80 percent of all
small businesses fail within 18
months of starting up, its obvi-
ously not.
Of course dealing with com-
petitors who give away the store
and then go out of business will
never go away, but there are ways
to price different products and
services competitively and still
make a profit.
Managing the Criminally In-
sane Lets be real, most of your
employees belong in prison not in
business. Heres how to motivate
and manage them without being
killed.
Maintaining A Positive Atti-
tude Do you have a tendency to
look at the glass as half empty?
Or worse, half full.of urine?
Get over it! Learn how to walk on
the sunny side of the street. It
might not help your business but
it will make you more fun to be
around.
Facebook Page Essentials
Finally learn how to like those
pictures of your friends cat! Or
maybe learn the best way to han-
dle your companys Facebook
presence. Yeah that might be
more valuable. But those are cute
little kitties.
E-mail Best Practices For All
Employees Remember the guy
back in the 1980s who used to
make photocopies of his butt and
distribute them so generously?
That was childs play compared to
how much damage employees can
do with email.
Learn how to effectively man-
age all those terrible emails and
how to break up the fistfights in
the ladies room caused by those
terrible emails.
As you probably guessed, some
of the courses I listed here are not
really offered, but 71 percent of
them are, so you have no excuse
for not taking advantage of them
and becoming a better business
person.
For more information go to
sichamber.com/education or call
the Chamber at (718) 727-1900.
Tom Scarangello, a principal with
Scaran Heating, Air Conditioning and
Plumbing, is chair of the Small Busi-
ness Committee of the Staten Island
Chamber of Commerce.
Back to school
FROM THE CHAMBER
SEPTEMBER 2014 BUSINESS TRENDS 5
SI CHAMBER: BUS.
BEFORE HOURS
TUESDAY, SEPT. 9
Time: 8:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m.
Location: Taste Of Honey, 3465 Vic-
tory Blvd.
For information, call 718-727-1900
RICHMOND CNTY.
BANKERS ASSOC.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
Location: Mikes Place, 4677 Hylan
Blvd.
For information, call 718-370-7037
NYS WOMEN, INC.
(RICHMOND CNTY.)
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Bella Vita Caf, 1919 Hylan
Blvd.
For information, call 718-816-5991
INDEPENDENT
ASSOC. OF
ACCOUNTANTS OF SI
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Bocelli, 1250 Hylan Blvd.
For information, call 718-948-0810
POWERFUL YOU!
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Giulianas, 4105 Hylan
Blvd.
For information, call 718-608-1640
ATLAS FOUNDATION
GOLF OUTING
TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: South Shore Golf Course
For information, call 718-980-7037
EMPIRE ST. COLLEGE
INFO SESSION
TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: 500 Seaview Ave.
For information, call 718-667-7524
x1776
Business Calendar
ROSEMARY CUTRONA
personally supervising every job
Excellence Preferred
Residential Cleaning Service
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Serving high level executives from
Deloitte Touche, Johnson & Johnson, and more
References available
347-662-4748 Rosemary.Cutrona@yahoo.com
please see EVENTS, page 16
in our opinion
Strength in numbers
6 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
T
here are a number of expres-
sions, mottos, and sayings that
speak to us of the value of
working together. Many hands make
light work and There is strength in
numbers jump to mind.
For the small business owner, the
ability to leverage relationships with
others can mean the difference be-
tween just getting by and outstanding
success. In extreme cases it can be the
lynchpin that keeps a business from
folding. With this in mind, we have
been interested to see what might be
considered a small trend across the Is-
land. We refer to the various incarna-
tions of neighborhood business organ-
izations that are cropping up. For
starters, there is the South Shore
Local Development Corp., made up of
merchants in the towns of Annadale,
Eltingville, and Great Kills. It is now
actively working toward becoming a
Business Improvement District.
Then there was the recent an-
nouncement of the start of services
for a pending West Shore Industrial
Business Improvement District. Exist-
ing businesses there are so enthusias-
tic, they are already contributing
funds to begin services like litter re-
moval now, even though the BID ap-
proval isnt expected until later this
year. Last month brought the an-
nouncement of an online directory for
the New Dorp Merchants Program,
which is designed to organize the New
Dorp Lane business community and
provide extra services to increase eco-
nomic vitality there.
The common factor in all three of
these start-ups is the Staten Island
Economic Development Corporation.
The SIEDC has been instrumental in
getting these organizations formed.
Each of the three has also received
major support from their respective
New York City Council member.
Now we hear rumblings that efforts
to create a Victory Boulevard BID
begun a decade ago may be moving
ahead, after years of lying dormant.
Weve often wondered over the years
about the dearth of BIDs and such on
Staten Island, when there are so many
in the other boroughs. Especially
since the Forest Avenue BID, the only
one on Staten Island, has been quite a
success for many years.
So we will be watching with great
interest as these new organizations
move forward, and we wish them
much success.
66 Willow Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
718-556-4200
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 718-556-4200 or
email janet@sibiztrends.com.
By BILL DUBOVSKY
Situation
Businesses no longer use messengers,
tickertape, telegraph, telegrams, Telex,
and rely less on fax, dial-up modems,
pagers, and conventional POTS wired land-
lines to work effectively. The trend has
been to migrate to a Unified Communica-
tions model of Internet technologies. In
preparing for this article it was amazing to
note the changes in business telecommuni-
cations over the last 30 years and its impact
on how we all do business. Gone are sepa-
rate telecommunications managers and
large PBX rooms as telecom has merged
into IT.
Some telecom companies no longer even
sell conventional copper phone lines its
either some flavor of VoIP or mobile serv-
ices. What is unified communications and
how can you profit from it?
Mobile communications
Today there are nearly as many mobile
phones as people on the planet. From the
poorest developing countries to the most
cutting-edge, mobile computing is the
norm. At one time clients would contact
me to order additional phone lines as their
business grew. Now I help them reduce
costs by eliminating their phone systems
completely and migrating them to VoIP,
mobile devices, and smart phones with
equipment and data in the cloud. This
trend to mobile communications is chang-
ing the way people interact as they talk less
and text/email more. According to Tom
Wheeler, chairman of the FCC, In the not
too distant future, wireless communica-
tions will connect not just everyone, but
everything. When 50 billion inanimate de-
vices are talking to each other (Ciscos fore-
cast for 2020), information will flow like the
breeze among sensors and databases.
This rise of mobility also continues to blur
the line between personal and professional
communications. No longer are our clients
using Blackberries for business and
iPhones or Androids for personal use, but
are using one device for everything.
The Internet of things, faster speeds,
larger capacity
While net neutrality encourages inno-
vation without permission, a real game-
changer is the worldwide move to IPv6
from IPv4 which will supply massively
more IP addresses to allow the Internet of
things to accelerate. Now we can commu-
nicate not just with other mobile users and
computer databases, but with sensors, and
apps which can control business and per-
sonal functions (security, financial servic-
es, logistics, sales, climate control, health,
energy use everything). Voice calls are
just one part of broadband, along with
data, video and other multi-media func-
The future of business telecommunications?
BITS & BYTES
please see BITS page 22
A request
I am working on a listing of useful mobile apps. Please email me at
billdubovsky@gmail.comwith your favorite apps and why you like them thanks!
SEPTEMBER 2014 BUSINESS TRENDS 7
City. An HR&A Advisors study re-
leased last October found that
Airbnb generated $632 million in
economic activity in the city in
one year and supported 4,580 jobs
throughout all five boroughs. The
study also found that 90 percent of
Airbnb hosts the ones who rent
the rooms rent out their pri-
mary residence to supplement in-
come. Guests paid an estimated
$31 million in state taxes to the
city and spent more time and
money in New York than typical
tourists.
Airbnb represents a new kind
of economic activity for New
York City, HR&A Advisors Part-
ner Jamie Torres Springer said.
We found Airbnb is helping to
grow and diversify the citys econ-
omy: it brings new kinds of visi-
tors who stay longer and spend
more, and visit neighborhoods
that dont traditionally benefit
from tourism.
It supports the citys new in-
novation economy. And it sup-
ports its largely middle income
host community.
The study found that Airbnbs
total economic impact in Staten
Island was $955,000 approxi-
mately $230,000 to local house-
holds and approximately $640,000
to local businesses. There were 30
hosts and 1,400 guests in the year
the study researched.
But Airbnb is not without con-
troversy.
Through an agreement
reached in May, the company
must turn over information
about Airbnb hosts in the city to
state Attorney General Eric T.
Schneiderman, but it will not in-
clude names and other personally
identifiable information. Schnei-
derman will have a year to use
the data to identify hosts who are
renting large blocks of rooms and
circumventing local rental laws
and running illegal hotels, the
attorney general told the Associ-
ated Press following the agree-
ment.
David Hantman, Airbnbs head
of global public policy, said he be-
lieves the attorney generals of-
fice is focused on, large corpo-
rate property managers and hosts
who take apartments off the mar-
ket and disrupt communities.
The company has removed more
than 2,000 listings in the city and
believes many of the hosts that
could have been in violation of
the law are no longer a part of
Airbnb.
We believe that this is a strong
agreement that best protects our
communitys data and sets us on
a positive path forward, Hant-
man said.
We are committed to working
with leaders in New York and
around the world to ensure they
know more about home-sharing
and how it makes neighborhoods
better places to live, work and
visit. And I know that our hosts
and guests are committed to this
kind of collaborative, construc-
tive dialogue as well.
Despite the opposition from
state lawmakers and from oth-
ers around the world Hantman
is confident in Airbnbs future po-
tential. The company has seen
success in New York City so far,
but, according to Douglas Atkin,
its global head of community, al-
most two-thirds of New Yorkers
arent even aware of Airbnb yet.
The Airbnb community has
the potential to grow in all five
boroughs, support more jobs, pro-
mote and strengthen tourism,
and provide an authentic and sus-
tainable way to travel. And most
importantly, its a way for more
residents to be able to stay in
their homes and the neighbor-
hood they know and love, Hant-
man said.
We have reached out to lead-
ers in every borough to discuss
how we can continue to make
New York and the Airbnb com-
munity stronger, and we will keep
fighting every day for sensible,
clear rules governing this incred-
ibly beneficial activity.
Is the sky the limit for Airbnb?
AIRBNB
Continued from page 1


s
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tena
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s
Staten Arts Photography
www.statenartsphotography.com
Steve White
6 Genesee Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10308
Phone: 718.317.5025
Cell: 917.446.4029
Email: statenarts@aol.com
Weddings
Sweet 16s
Anniversaries
Birthday Parties
Much much more!
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FOUNDATION FINANCIAL
ADVI5OR5
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718-727-5100
8 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
JANET DUGO/Business Trends
Borough President James Oddo was joined by supporters at Borough Hall as he announced the kick-off of
the next phase of his campaign to rid Staten Island of litter. Posters featuring some notable Islanders
asking everyone to keep it clean will be made available for display at local businesses, with the goal of
stopping the litter before it happens. Pictured, from left, are Oddo, Nancy Filoramo, Arianna Mutkoski,
Brian Laline, Sincere Griggs, Teddy Atlas, Mike Sweeney, Lois Nicotra (holding Lorenzo, who appears on a
poster) and Richard Nicotra.
Ridding Staten Island of litter
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
Advertisement
The Tides at Charleston, the first active-adult community of its kind in metropolitan New York, is one of over 100 condominium and home-
owners association communities benefitting from the extensive services provided by Dome Property Management.
Dome Property Management provides com-
prehensive property management services
to many types of properties and complexes,
from under 10 to more than 500 units, and
includes many building types and individual-
ly owned homes.
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. 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
SI Business Friends: 7:30 - 8:45
a.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 1100 South
Ave. For information, call Dr. Richard
Bove at 718-938-5978 or visit
www.sibfnetwork.com.
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.
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. Call
Michael Anicito at 646-606-2111.
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. Call 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. Call the SBDC at 982-2560.
WEDNESDAY
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.
Richmond County Referral Source:
Comfort Inn. 7:00 to 8:15 a.m. For
info, email jcmexp@aol.com
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. Call Len Bosso at 718-442-
7804.
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. 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
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.
Richmond Business Connections:
Z One, 1821 Richmond Ave. 8 a.m.
For information, call Ronald P.
Cutrone at (347) 258-8131.
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: Man-
sion 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. Call 718-727-1221.
Rotary Club of North Shore: LiGre-
cis Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 7 p.m.
For info, call Chris Williams at 718-
442-9047.
10 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
Bill Bergman, Vice President, Leasing
(718) 263-3800 x 307
bbergmanmuss.com
118-35 Queens Blvd.,
Forest Hills, NY 11375
www.muss.com
Country Awards & Trophy Center
1600 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10305
Located Inside Rabs Country Lanes
raysr@country-awards.com
Phone: 718-354-4026
Fax: 718-980-6616
www.country-awards.com
Our Motto: We Not Only Bulld Trophles. We Bulld Relatlonshlps"
WEEKLY MEETINGS
please see MEETINGS, page 12
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-
ber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 to 8:45
a.m. Members and invited guests
only. For info, call Dovid Winiarz at
718-983-9272.
Business Guild III of the SI Cham-
ber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 8 a.m. New
members welcome. Call Nick Testa
at 646-823-4494.
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 448-
7160 or portrichcert@yahoo.com.
FRIDAY
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.
SATURDAY
SCORE Business Counseling: St.
George Library, 5 Central Ave. 10
a.m. to noon. Appointment neces-
sary. No charge. 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.
12 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
Weekly meetings
MEETINGS
Continued from page 10
Special to Business Trends
New York City Economic Development Corporation announced the
three winners of the Industrial Growth Initiative, a two-stage growth
strategy and realization program for industrial businesses. The win-
ners earned $50,000 each in prize money to be put toward execut-
ing their business growth plans. The winners, P.A.C. Plumbing, Heat-
ing and Air Conditioning of Staten Island, Casa Kids, and Joya, were
selected from a group of finalists representing all five boroughs by
the judges based on the impact, feasibility and implementation abili-
ty of their business growth plans. Pictured are Eric Campione of
P.A.C. (left) and Ben Branham of NYCEDC.
P.A.C. Plumbing among EDC winners
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HOME IMPROVEMENTS
JANET DUG0/Business Trends
Casale Jewelers hosted an open house featuring food and entertainment to celebrate its five-year an-
niversary under new ownership. Pictured here, owner Cory Schifter (center) gets an assist from family,
friends, and well-wishers from the Chamber of Commerce as he cuts a ceremonial ribbon to mark the oc-
casion.
Casale Jewelers celebrate five-year anniversary
NYS WOMEN, INC.
(STATEN ISLAND)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 16
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697
Forest Ave.
For information, call 718-226-6462
WBCLDC: 21ST
CENTURY BUS.
WOMAN CONF.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17
Time: 8:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m.
Location: Old Bermuda Inn, 301 Vet-
erans Rd. W.
For information, call 718-816-4775
SIMHS: DISCO PARTY
FUNDRAISER
FRIDAY, SEPT. 19
Time: 8:00 p.m. - Midnight
Location: LiGrecis Staaten, 697
Forest Ave.
For information, call 718-442-2225
NEW DAY
TOASTMASTERS
THURSDAY, SEPT. 25
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: SI Univ. Hosp., Seaview
Ave.
For information, call 347-265-1161
SI WALK NOW FOR
AUTISM SPEAKS
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
Location: College of Staten Island
For information, call 646-385-8534
24-7
NETWORKING SALES
MONDAY, SEPT. 29
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Z-One Restaurant, Rich-
mond Ave.
For information, call 973-697-8872
WBCLDC: LEARN
EXCEL (PART 1)
MONDAY, SEPT. 29
Time: 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.
Location: 705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl.
Rear
For information, call 718-816-477
WBCLDC: LEARN
EXCEL (PART 2)
TUESDAY, SEPT. 30
Time: 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.
Location: 705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl.
Rear
For information, call 718-816-4775
WORLD OF WOMEN
MONDAY, SEPT. 29
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Mansion Grand, Mansion
Ave.
For information, call 718-948-8175
16 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
Become a
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and reach thousands
of potential customers!
For more information, call
(718) 605-2500
www.domegroup.com
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.
Parisi Rampulla & Lenza, P.C.
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(718) 761-3333
Short Sales, Mortgage Modification,
Foreclosure Defense
Business Calendar
EVENTS
Continued from page 5
Submit a listing
Want to submit a listing to our Calendar or Weekly Meetings sec-
tions? Drop us an email with your information to
news@sibiztrends.com.
MATTHEW LANGELLA
Investors Bank
Investors Bank has selected
Matthew Langella, a Staten Is-
land native and current resident,
to manage its new branch at 271
Page Ave. in the Tottenville sec-
tion.
Langella and the branch staff
will begin serving customers dur-
ing the facilitys soft opening in
mid- to late September.
The Tottenville branch is the
first of four new consumer and
small business banking centers
that the Bank will construct and
open as part of its multimillion
dollar expansion on the Island be-
tween now and 2015.
Langella will be responsible for
the branchs day-to-day opera-
tions including mentoring and
training employees, assisting cus-
tomers, and building relation-
ships with local businesses as
well as local nonprofits.
Langella will report to In-
vestors S.I. Market Manager
Brian Gomez.
Prior to joining Investors, Lan-
gella was deputy director at Edu-
cational Data Systems Inc. Previ-
ously, he worked at TD Bank.
Langella earned a B.S. degree
in economics with a minor in
both finance and management
from CUNY College of Staten Is-
land.
STEVEN GRILLO
Staten Island Economic
Development Corporation
The Staten Island Economic
Development Corporation an-
nounced that Steven Grillo has
taken over the organizations
newly created Projects and Pro-
grams Division as first vice presi-
dent.
Steve has already been over-
seeing our Projects Division, but
his new responsibilities will in-
clude oversight of such initia-
tives as the development of a
South Shore Business Improve-
ment District, the New Dorp Mer-
chants Association and several
other programs that we see com-
ing down the pike, explained
Cesar J. Claro, SIEDC president
and CEO.
Grillo, who holds a B.A. in ge-
ography from the University of
Mary Washington and a Masters
in urban planning from Hunter
College, first joined the SIEDC in
2010 as a project manager.
He left briefly and returned in
January 2013 as director of proj-
ects.
Prior to his positions with
SIEDC, Grillo held positions with
the National Park Service and the
Potomac & Rappahannock Trans-
portation Commission.
He and his team of urban plan-
ning experts have spearheaded
the creation of a West Shore In-
dustrial Business Improvement
District, advancing the Staten Is-
land Green Zone effort and organ-
izing the Brownfield Opportunity
Area.
SEPTEMBER 2014 BUSINESS TRENDS 17
on the job
18 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
Reach over 6,000 Staten ls|and bus|nesses for the|r
HO|lDAY PARTlES AND OATERlNG
|n the October ed|t|on of
Dead||ne |s September 19 . Act now!
Oontact Janet Dugo
347-682-4867 janet@s|b|ztrends.com
Calling all
Restaurant Owners and Caterers
Special to Business Trends
The Heiser Group recently recognized Maryann Piazza of Majestic
Vending as part of its Legacy Speaker Series. Many women in busi-
ness are focused on how they can make a difference today and what
legacy they will leave behind. The Heiser Groups legacy evenings
identify and recognize women business owners and their stories. In
these special discussions, each speaker talks about the successes
and challenges they have experienced throughout their careers. Pic-
tured, from left, are Alexis McClellan, Maryann Piazza, Mathew
Heggem, Nancy Heiser, James Sweeney, Dr. Tanya Trippett and H.
Puck.
Piazza recognized as Legacy
Special to Business Trends
Stop & Stor announced that 500 pairs of recycled/used prescription eyeglasses were collected and do-
nated to the organization New Eyes for the Needy. This is the first time Stop & Stor held a donation cam-
paign for recycled/used prescription glasses. Collection bins were located at Stop & Stors corporate
headquarters on Staten Island, as well as at their 15 locations citywide. New Eyes for the Needy empow-
ers children and adults in the United States and overseas with the improved vision they need to pursue a
better quality of life for themselves, their families and their communities. Pictured, from left, are Jean
Gajano of New Eyes for the Needy and Denise Henick of Stop & Stor with collection bins.
Stop & Stor donates eyeglasses
SEPTEMBER 2014 BUSINESS TRENDS 19
$
8
5
0

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A
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U
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(718)698-8244
www.apbsecurity.com
Special to Business Trends
The Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Group hosted a "Business By The Beach" networking
evening at the Vanderbilt at South Beach. Pictured are the event sponsors, from left: Stefanie DeMario
of Angiuli & Gentile, LLP; Nick Zunno and Natalia Zunno of TapSnap; Chris Uccio of Above Rooftop; Eric
Campione of P.A.C. Plumbing, Heating, & A/C; Denise Giorno of Above Rooftop; Rob Myers of IDB Bank;
Sean Fink of Partners in Sound; and attorney Lou Lepore.
Business by the Beach
20 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
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Special to Business Trends
Soroptimist International of Staten Island, the local chapter of the global service organization of busi-
ness and professional women, presented The Salvation Army with a donation of $1,200 to support its
food pantry through the Adopt-A-Pantry initiative, which was established by the Staten Island Giving
Circle. Pictured, from left, are Evelyn Kormanik of the Giving Circle, Janet Warren Dugo of Soroptimist,
Lt. Stephen Mayes and Giselle Tirado of The Salvation Army, Martha Venditto of Soroptimist and Al Cur-
tis of The Salvation Army Advisory Board.
Soroptimist donates to Salvation Army
which he said has already em-
braced the corporate park, with
18 medical practices located in
the park and others coming soon
to what they are branding The
Medical Mile of Staten Island.
What we see is that the com-
munity really embraces this area,
especially for doctors, because
there is plenty of parkingand
from anywhere in Staten Island,
you can get here pretty easily. Its
a great business address, Nico-
tra said.
In addition to the office build-
ing itself, Nicotra said they will
be building a plaza and park, with
a beautiful pedestrian seating
area along with a significant
art installation for everyone to
enjoy. This will only add to the on-
going beautification of South Av-
enue, which recently had $150,000
of art installed along it.
When we got here, there were
no sidewalks, no medians, no
fences. Now, youll see people jog-
ging on South Avenue on the side-
walks, Nicotra said. This build-
ing will not only house Class A
tenants, but the front of it will be
a beautiful plaza for people to
take advantage of.
We are looking at keeping
South Avenue one of the few
streets that doesnt have shopping
centers on it, that doesnt have
neon signs blinking and that al-
lows the community, the environ-
ment and the business companies
to all co-exist in a beautiful area.
Nicotra said the way he treats
his tenants is what keeps them
loyal to his buildings, and what
brings new tenants in when there
are available spaces. As a land-
lord, he said he uses the experi-
ences he gained as a tenant, when
he owned the 250-store chain
Everything Yogurt in shopping
malls throughout the country.
As a tenant, I was pretty much
treated like garbage. Now that I
am a landlord, I take that experi-
ence to heart, and I treat my ten-
ants like kings, and I appreciate
my tenants very much, he said.
I think my reputation speaks for
itself, that my present tenants
like me as a landlord. Theyve
stayed with me, some more than
20 years. Theyve expanded with
me.
With this being the last build-
ing constructed in the corporate
park, Nicotra said his next goal
would be to continue to create
walking trails within the wetland
areas to provide more for the non-
business community as well. In
addition, he hopes to expand the
concept of the Commons Caf, a
popular eating spot that donates
all profits to non-profit organiza-
tions.
Were proud of our commit-
ment to the community, especial-
ly with the Commons Caf that
we have opened at the Teleport. In
a little more than two and a half
years, we have donated almost
$275,000 from that little caf,
Nicotra said.
We want to continue and grow
that concept and do more cafes.
The impetus and the idea of the
caf came out of what we were
doing here. Were really following
the Paul Newman Foundation
and what a corporate partner
should be.
SEPTEMBER 2014 BUSINESS TRENDS 21
ProfessionaI DeveIopment
Human Resource Management
Building a Home
Inspection Business
Accounting Assistant
Executive Administrative
Assistant
Microsoft Word, Excel,
PowerPoint 2013
Wedding & Event Planning
Certification
Paralegal and Other Legal
Career Workshops
Preston Bailey Floral Design
Graphic Design
PersonaI Enrichment
History of Staten Island
Acting Workshop
Filmmaking
How to Make it in
Voice-Overs
Digital Photography
Ceramics & Figure Sculpture
Oil Painting & Mixed Media
HeaIthcare & Fitness
Clinical Medical Assistant
Medical Billing & Coding
EKG & Pharmacy Technician
Infection Control
Licensure Renewal
Healthcare Advocacy
Personal Fitness Trainer
Certification
Electronic Health Records
Management
American Heart Association
Classes
SampIing of Our OnIine
Career Training
Grant Writing
HIPAA Compliance
ICD-10 Medical Coding
Microsoft Outlook 2013
Certification Training
Payroll in Quickbooks 2014
Understanding the Cloud
Veterinary Assistant
Test Preparation
SHSAT & TACHS Prep
Kaplan Test Prep
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Nicotra breaks more ground
on another office building
NICOTRA
Continued from page 1
The Staten Island Chamber of
Commerce is now accepting ap-
plications for the 2014-15 academ-
ic year of the Young Entrepre-
neurs Academy program. The
program is open to all Staten Is-
land high school students. Stu-
dents who would like to be consid-
ered for the program must submit
their most recent school tran-
scripts, one recommendation let-
ter, one essay pertaining to lead-
ership, and a $10 application fee.
Each applicant must attend a per-
sonal interview once their paper-
work has been received.
The academy will accept a
maximum of twenty four stu-
dents. Tuition of $200, which in-
cludes books and supplies, is due
upon acceptance into the pro-
gram.
Scholarships will be awarded
on the basis of need and merit.
The academic year begins in Oc-
tober and ends in May, and the
class will meet every Wednesday
from 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Applications are available at
www.sichamber.com. The dead-
line for submission is Sept. 15.
For more information, contact
Jennifer McGurk at (718) 727-1900
or jmcgurk@sichamber.com. The
YEA! program is sponsored by
TD Bank.
Chamber accepting
applications for YEA
tions. While awaiting faster
broadband speeds and feeds from
traditional providers, pioneering
organizations have utilized dark
fiber to dramatically increase
connectivity, speed, capacity, and
security, and even to reduce over-
all costs, to achieve significant
competitive advantages.
Buying telephony services
No longer measured in cents
per minute, voice services are
purchased in fixed price packages
based upon service level agree-
ments (SLAs), the amount and
types of services needed, and the
number of users similar to
todays cell phone plans, with un-
limited calls and texting. (Re-
member the days when the aver-
age cost of a daytime coast-to-
coast business long distance call
was about 37 cents per minute,
and a cell phone call was 60 cents
per minute to initiate or receive?)
Now these services are basically
all you can eat for one monthly
price.
One colleague has suggested
that current telecom companies
will either merge/morph into
data carriers or go the way of the
Western Union telegram.
How we interact
More professionals are knowl-
edge workers and collaborate on
projects. In many cases this has
made webinars, whiteboards and
web-based meetings more effi-
cient than travel, for the ex-
change of ideas and information.
Some buildings are being de-
signed without traditional offices,
cubicles, desks, and phones, but
with lots of open, flexible work
spaces with lockers for your per-
sonal stuff.
When you get to work, you
drop off your stuff in your locker,
pick up your tools (laptop, tablet,
mobile phone, headset, supplies,
etc.) and proceed to creative areas
with comfortable furniture for in-
dividual work, baristas for coffee
and snacks, meeting rooms with
print, media, audio visual and
conference facilities, libraries,
galleries, and game rooms, and
even enclosed phone booths to
make confidential calls or for
quiet think-time! Incoming calls
can be routed to individual staff
or to customer service reps work-
ing from home or even in their
car.
Take-away
As with all technology, when
you gain something, you lose
something. In this age of ubiqui-
tous data and image collection
into large datasets, privacy will
continue to be a major concern.
However, successful organiza-
tions understand that maintain-
ing old technology will not allow
them to survive in the future.
As always, the rewards of inno-
vation go to those who constantly
move past the old and comfort-
able and embrace and exploit op-
portunities and challenges that
the new technologies make possi-
ble.
Bill Dubovsky is an entrepreneur,
educator, and technology reviewer.
He teaches at the CSI, School of
Business, CUNY, and at Wagner Col-
lege, and is a telecom/network con-
sultant with Comtel Information
Services. Contact him at bill-
dubovsky@gmail.com or on
Linkedin.
22 BUSINESS TRENDS SEPTEMBER 2014
PROFESSIONAL WEBSITES.
PEASANT PRICES.
Future of telecom?
BITS
Continued from page 6
Small Business First created
It was announced that Small
Business First, a new initiative
led by the Mayor's Office of Oper-
ations and the Department of
Small Business Services, has
been created to improve the regu-
latory climate in New York City
and help businesses avoid penal-
ties and fines.
Collaborating with more than
ten City agencies, the initiative
will build upon existing regulato-
ry reforms by reaching small
businesses and underserved New
Yorkers across the five boroughs,
promoting education and compli-
ance as part of enforcement, and
reducing violations by focusing
on cross-agency collaboration to
simplify rules and compliance
processes.

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