SIUH Tops SIEDC Top 31' List: Monthly Update

JUNE 2016
MONTHLY
UPDATE
www.sibiztrends.com
HISTORIC RICHMOND TOWN

How come you still need more money?
National Grid gives back

to Eden II Programs
National Grid employees spent
a busy day volunteering at the
Eden II Programs Honorable
James P. Molinaro Center for
Autism, located in Stapleton.
Mike Ruiz, director of community and customer management,
Frank Lombardo, director of gas
maintenance and construction
for Staten Island, and Carol Decina, manager, community and customer management, along with
16 volunteers, worked on a number of activities with the Eden II
participants, including organizing the library, assisting in gym
class and helping with theater
group. The volunteers are part of
National Grids Power to Serve
initiative. Through the initiative,
National Grid employees engage
with and volunteer in local communities on various activities, focusing on community commitment, safety, STEM education and
the environment.
I am very thankful that people
from National Grid wanted to
come and help our school. They
organized the library and now it
looks even more beautiful, said
Eden II participant Meghan Mattei.
Lombardo served as Eden IIs
Principal for the Day, where he
toured the building and introduced himself to each class before heading to theater group to
assist in the first dress rehearsal
of Eden IIs upcoming play Poe
and the Princess.
I appreciated the opportunity
to see first-hand the hard work
and dedication of the Eden II administrators and team, Lombarplease see BRIEFS, page 2
PAGE 22
SCORE
Why small businesses matter.
PAGE 6
TAX TALK
Maximize tax breaks for vacation home.
PAGE 3
SIEDC Business Conference
Special to Business Trends
The Staten Island Economic Development Corp. hosted its 18th Annual SIEDC Business Conference at the
Hilton Garden Inn on April 27. Pictured, from left, are Lou Tobacco, Staten Island Borough President James S.
Oddo, NYC Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and Assemblyman Michael Cusick at the Lunch Keynote. For more
photos from the event, please see pages 8-9.
SIUH tops SIEDC Top 31 list

By KRISTEN DOWD
Business Trends
Staten Island University Hospital is not
only contributing to the physical health of
Charitable Giving column

Take the guess work
out of retirement planning.
PAGE 12
the Staten Island community, but also to its

economic health. The hospital employs about
65,000 individuals and generates more than
$1.5 billion annually to the local economy.
It was these facts and many others that
helped SIUH stand out from the local economys movers and shakers and earn the No. 1
spot on the Staten Island Economic Developplease see SIUH page 16
2 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016
Monthly Update
BRIEFS
Continued from page 1
do said. I enjoyed the classroom

experience and activities with the
Eden II participants.
National Grid works with
many organizations to support
the local communities, Decina
said. We are happy to have this
opportunity to help Eden II fulfill
their vision for families and for
the community.
S
Stories
tories ttransform
ransfo
o rm e
even
ven tthe
he ssimplest
implest ffruit.
ruit.
An
more
delicious
But
how
do
we
distinguish
An apple
apple can
can represent
represent much
much m
ore tthan
han jjust
ust a d
elicious ssnack.
nack. B
ut h
ow d
ow
ed
istinguish
b
etween an
an apple
apple a
na
pple, a
nd a
na
pple a
ymbol ffor
or ccountless
ountless e
ntities?
between
ass a
an
apple,
and
an
apple
ass a ssymbol
entities?
T
hrough tthe
he power
power of
of sstorytelling.
torytelling.
Through
Volunteer
Joe
Casaletto
shared, "It was great spending
time with the students. In just a
few hours, I was able to see how
much this unique building and
program can positively impact
their lives."
National Grid has been a committed supporter of Eden II for
many years. In 2011, National
Grid awarded the agency with a
$25,000 Green Cinderella grant for
energy efficiency improvements
in their new school building.
After its 15 Beach St. location sustained significant damage from
Hurricane Sandy, National Grid
provided a Sandy Economic Development Grant to help them rebuild in the aftermath of the
storm. In appreciation for their
continued support, Eden II honored National Grid and Ken Daly,
president of National Grid New
York, with the Corporate Leadership award at the 2015 Art for
Autism Gala.
National Grid has a proud tradition of volunteering and giving
back to the communities we
serve, Ruiz said. Our employees
are engaged with our communities every day, not only through
work but also community service.
Eden II Executive Director Dr.
Joanne Gerenser noted, Were
thankful to National Grid for
everything theyve done for this
school building. They were essential in securing funding that
helped create our vision of a center that can offer so many opportunities for these individuals
with autism. This volunteer day
is a terrific way for National Grid
to get to know our participants
and see what their good work has
done.
Make your future

at the SI MakerSpace
Story
Story Architects:
Architects: Drafting
Drafting narratives
narratives that
that propel
propel organizations
organizations forward.
forward.
S
Smart
mart b
businesses
usinesses cconnect
onnect w
with
ith ttheir
heir b
best
est prospects
prospects tthrough
hrough sstories.
tories. LLearn
earn how
how you
you can
can do
do the
the same
same at:
at: woden.me
woden.me
The deadline for the Make

Your Future Residency at the
Staten Island MakerSpace is
quickly approaching. The deadline to apply is June 15, for a residency period from July 15 to Dec.
15.
For those who don't know,
Make Your Future is a residency
please see BRIEFS, page 18
JUNE 2016 BUSINESS TRENDS 3
Maximize tax breaks

for your vacation home
By JOHN J. VENTO
Are you making summer plans
for visiting your vacation home?
If so, do you have to schedule
your stay around dates reserved
by paying guests? When you use
your vacation home personally
and also rent it during the year,
you may need to be aware of special tax rules.
But there's a benefit to knowing the rules you can maximize
tax breaks on your federal income tax return.
Here are two very broad guidelines to keep in mind.
1.) When you rent your home
for 14 days or less during the year,
all of the income you receive is
tax-free. That's true no matter
how much you charge. You're not
even required to report the rent.

What's the downside? Because
you're not claiming the income,
any expenses you incur that are
related to the rental under this exception are generally not deductible. However, you can still
claim your mortgage interest and
property taxes if you itemize.
2.) If you rent your vacation
home for more than 14 days, all of
your rental income is reportable.
You'll have to divide your expenses between your personal use and
those of the rental.
The portion of your expenses
related to your personal use, such
as mortgage interest and property taxes, are deductible as long as
you itemize. You deduct the rental
expenses against the rental in-
come.
Just remember you generally
can't claim a loss on your current
year tax return when the expenses exceed the income. Instead,
you may be able to carry the excess to future years.
If you rent your vacation home
when you're not using it, please
contact us to discuss the tax rules.
We'll help you set up a recordkeeping system to track your
time and expenses so you get the
best possible benefit.
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.
WEEKLY MEETINGS
Parisi Rampulla & Lenza, P.C.

78 Martin Avenue | Staten Island, NY, 10314
(718) 761-3333
Short Sales, Mortgage Modification,
Foreclosure Defense
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
Greater New Dorp Networking
Group: 8 a.m. Perkins, 1409 Hylan
Blvd. For information, call Steve
Lombardo at 718-702-8623.
Richmond Business Connections:
Z One, 1821 Richmond Ave. 8 a.m.
For information, call Ronald P.
Cutrone at (347) 258-8131.
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.
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 necessary. No charge. For info, call 718727-1221.
Business Guild I of the S.I. Chamber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 a.m. Members and invited guests only. Call
Michael Anicito at 646-606-2111.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) Network 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: LiGrecis Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 12:30 to
1:30 p.m. Members and guests welcome. For info, call 718-370-3140.
Business Counseling: Chamber of
Commerce, 130 Bay St. 9 a.m. No
charge. Call 718-982-2560.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. No
charge. Call the SBDC at 982-2560.
WEDNESDAY
Richmond County Referral Source:
Comfort Inn. 7:00 to 8:15 a.m. For
info, email jcmexp@aol.com
Staten Island Business Council:
Andrews Diner, 4160 Hylan Blvd. 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: Hampton 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 718-4427804.
Gateway Rotary Club: LaStrada,
139 New Dorp Ln. 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 necessary. No charge. Call 718-727-1221.
E.L.I.T.E. (Executive, Leadership,
Interactive, Team, Effort) Networking Group: 1110 South Ave. 8
please see EVENTS, page 5
Weekly Meetings
EVENTS
a.m. New members welcome. For
info, call 347-273-1375.
Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For
info, call 718-982-2560.
THURSDAY
Kiwanis Club of Staten Island:
LiGrecis Staten, 697 Forest Ave.
7:30 p.m. For info, call 718-967-4345
or kiwanisclubofstatenisland.com.
Rotary Club of South Shore: Mansion Grand, 141 Mansion Ave. 12:15
p.m. For info, call 718-987-2061 or
visit southshorerotary.org.
Rotary Club Mid-Island: New Dakota 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 necessary. No charge. Call 718-727-1221.
Rotary Club of North Shore: LiGrecis Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 7 p.m.
For info, call Christine DeHart at
718-448-4725.
Business Network Intl. (BNI) High
Achievers Chapter: PKs Restaurant,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. Chamber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45 to 8:45
a.m. Members and invited guests
only. For info, call Lou Rizzo at 718490-0057.
Business Guild III of the SI Chamber of Commerce: Hilton Garden
Inn, 1100 South Ave. 8 a.m. New
members welcome. Call Nick Testa
at 646-823-4494.

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 4487160 or portrichcert@yahoo.com.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SCORE Business Counseling: St.
George Library, 5 Central Ave. 10
a.m. to noon. Appointment necessary. No charge. Call 718-442-8560.
SCORE Business Counseling: Richmondtown Library, 200 Clarke Ave.
10 to 11:30 a.m. Appointment necessary. For info, call 718-668-0413.
TEMPORARY PERSONNEL / STAFFING FOR YOUR:

Custodial / Superintendant Needs
Vacation Coverage
Handy Man Repairs
Interior / Exterior Maintenance
Emergency Staffing
Truck with driver available (local)
TTemp
emp shows
shows u
up
p at
at yyour
our b
business
usiness aatt the
the ttime
ime rrequired
equired
O
One
ne person
person o
orr several
several
One
One call
call to
to P
Project-One
roject-One does
does it
it ffor
or y
you!
ou!
C
Call
a l l Jean
J e a n ((718)
718) 7
761-8390
61-8390
in our opinion
Payroll changes are coming

I
Are you prepared for the new federal overtime rules?
n only six months, an adjustment
to a 78-year-old federal wage law
will go into effect that could, or
could not, have a substantial impact
on how you pay your workers.
The Fair Labor Standards Act of
1938 guarantees salaried workers are
paid overtime at time-and-a-half for
hours they work beyond the standard
40-hour workweek. Currently, any
non-exempt worker either has to be
paid on an hourly basis or make at
least $455 per week, which equates to
$23,660 per year.
Starting in December, that salary
threshold will increase for the first
time since 2004, up to $913 per week,
equivalent to an annual salary of
$47,476. The change is being made to
help workers who may be incorrectly
classified as exempt salaried workers

and are, as a result, not earning overtime for which they rightly qualify.
So what does this mean to your business? According to some, the change
will mean an unequivocal disaster
that will have an enormous impact on
your business.
According to others, its a simple adjustment to adhere to todays standards in pay and level of inflation that
will only affect a few.
The National Retail Federation has
dubbed the new overtime rules a career killer. It says many lower-wage
businesses and service industries will
likely re-classify their current salaried
workers to hourly workers and then
not allow them to work more than 40
hours a week, meanwhile removing
existing perks, flexibility and benefits

that only salaried workers are entitled
to. Its either that, or more than double
most of their employees salaries, the
NRF says.
The Department of Labor expects
4.2 million workers to be directly affected by the change, and another 8.9
million indirectly affected. That may
seem like a lot, but it makes up less
than 9 percent of the total workforce.
What will the actual effects be for
your business? The quick, unsatisfying answer is it depends on your
type of business, your type of workers, how much you pay your current
workers, etc.
One thing is certain: You better do
your research now, because December
will be here before you know it.
66 Willow Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
718-775-3154
JOE EISELE
Publisher
TIM RONALDSON
Executive Editor
STEVE COPPOLA
Director
RICHARD GRADO
Director
ROBERT CUTRONA
Director
LAWRENCE RAMPULLA
Director
JANET WARREN DUGO
Publisher Emeritus
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, email joe@sibiztrends.com. To submit a
news release, email news@sibiztrends.com.
For advertising info, call 718-775-3154 or
email joe@sibiztrends.com.
Why small businesses matter

By BRIDGET WESTON POLLACK
The first week in May marked the end of
another National Small Business Week, another chance to honor the innovative and
enthusiastic small business owners in our
country. We hope Americans learned that
small businesses bring big rewards to the
economy and community.
Do small businesses really matter?

Yes! In a world of online shopping, apps
and instant gratification, small businesses
have several advantages. They are poised
to provide the best customer service experience, pairing expertise with a personal
touch.
They can move quickly to react and respond on social media or be proactive to
anticipate clientele needs. And small businesses represent our communities, from
small towns to bustling cities. Small business owners seem to spend as much time
working in their communities as they do
on their business projects.
Inspiration from SCORE success stories

You can find successful businesses all
around you. Our own clients serve as shining examples and reminders of why we celebrate Small Business Week. An act of generosity by Julie Weymouth blossomed into
a thriving nonprofit that brings joy to military families.
Circus performer Gregory May discovered that teens and adults found the same
self-esteem and fitness benefits from circus
skills classes as the children he expected to
cater to. Former pro athlete Luis Elu
opened a restaurant as his third career.
These are just a sample of the businesses we see starting and growing all around
us at SCORE. What helps these unique
ideas succeed?
Support from friends and family top the
list, of course. A willingness to learn is certainly helpful. And a little resilience goes a
long way. Last year, during a particularly
difficult business-lending period, we found
that 36 percent of small business owners

had used personal assets to fund their business. That dedication takes faith and passion.
Another ingredient
to the recipe of success
What else helps a lot of small businesses
succeed? Mentors! In 2014 alone, SCORE
mentors worked with more than 148,800
business owners and entrepreneurs. From
your business plan, to financing options, to
human resources questions SCORE mentors have seen it all in their own business
experience, and theyre happy to share
their knowledge.
No question is silly, and no goal is too
small. Perhaps best of all, SCORE mentors
make excellent business cheerleaders.
Theyre always excited to celebrate your
small business triumphs.
We appreciate all of our hard-working
mentors, and we honor one group in par-
ticular this Small Business Week: our Canton, Ohio chapter.

Being in the top five of SCOREs chapters last year seemed to encourage the
nearly 40 members of the Canton chapter
to work even harder. Last year, the Canton
chapter helped start 169 new businesses
and, in turn, create 324 new jobs. The chapter also doubled the number of client services offered by 2.5 times over the past three
years.
You may be far from Ohio, but you can
still work with an inspiring, encouraging
and knowledgeable SCORE mentor. Become a small business success!
Bridget Weston Pollack is the vice president
of marketing and communications at the
SCORE Association. In this role, Bridget is responsible for all branding, marketing, PR and
communication efforts. She focuses on implementing marketing plans and strategies for the
organization to facilitate the growth of
SCOREs mentoring and trainings services.
18th Annual SIEDC Business Conference

The Staten Island Economic Development Corp. hosted its 18th Annual SIEDC Business Conference at the
Hilton Garden Inn on April 27. Introduced in 1998, the SIEDC Business Conference provides a framework for
business and civic leaders from Staten Island and around the region to devote their experience and insight
to a discussion of the state of the Staten Island economy, and to devise strategies to continually improve
the boroughs economic situation. The conference featured a full-day of keynote speaking presentations,
technical assistance seminars, panel discussions, and business-to-business vending among the thousands
who attend. Each year, the conference brings in 2,500 attendees, more than 125 vendors and 20 sponsors.
Clockwise from above: SIEDC Executive Women's Council members hosted a Roundtable Mentoring Session
for high school students. Cory Schifter and Ryan Walsh hosted Speed Networking. (Inset) Speed Networking
was a success at the 18th Annual SIEDC Business Conference. Matt Langella, Joseph Torres, Cesar J. Claro,
Robert P. Moore, Staten Island Borough President James S. Oddo, Brian Gomez and Kashif Perve are pictured at the Breakfast Keynote. The Teahouse Garden was packed for the Top 31 Most Influential People &
Institutions in Economic Development on Staten Island. Kaitlyn Esposito of the Chiari and Syringomyelia
Foundation receives her 20 Under 40 Leadership Award. Top 31 Most Influential People & Institutions in
Economic Development on Staten Island recipients Lois and Richard Nicotra are pictured with NYC Councilman Steven Matteo.
Clockwise from above: More than

100 vendors participated in the
18th Annual SIEDC Business
Conference. 20 Under 40 Leadership Award Recipient Jamie
Macchia with SIEDC Ambassador Frank Rizzo, SIEDC Cabinet
member Bill Spiezia and "Shark
Tank" finalist Sal DePaola.
SIEDC Board Chairman Ralph
Branca and SIEDC Board Member Ram Cherukuri are pictured
at the Cocktail Reception. The
20 Under 40 Leadership Award
recipients. Cesar J. Claro is pictured with DePaola. SIEDC Member Hank Levin introduces
speaker James Prendamano.

Weddings
Sweet 16s
Anniversaries
Birthday Parties
Much much more!
..................................
Steve White
6 Genesee Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10308
Phone: 718.317.5025
Cell: 917.446.4029
Email: statenarts@aol.com
on the job
statenarts
Staten Arts Photography
www.statenartsphotography.com
KEITH DAWN
Staten Island Advance
The Staten Island Economic
Development Corp. recently welcomed Keith Dawn of the Staten
Island Advance as a new cabinet
member.
Dawn works as the Staten Island Advances associate publish-
er. He is responsible for the operation of the advertising, circulation, accounting, production and
information technology departments. Dawn graduated with a
bachelor's degree in journalism
from Radford University in Virginia, and began his career in advertising in 1985.
He
has
worked
in
various advertising
jobs prior to
joining the
Staten
Island
Advance.
He
worked for
Dawn
an independent
daily
newspaper group in suburban
Washington, D.C., and also
worked as the director of advertising for The Press of Atlantic
City in 1996.
He was then promoted to general manager in 1999, and became
publisher/COO of The Press of
Atlantic City Media Group in
2001.
He and his wife Jessica have
two sons, Miles and Alex.
JOHN TARDY
JVN Restoration
John Tardy of JVN Restoration
was
named the
Staten
Island
Economic Development
Corp.s
Member of
the Month
for May.
Tardy and
Tardy
his wife Jeanine worked together to build
JVN Restoration of Staten Island,
a full service contracting company that specializes in environmental improvements such as asbestos removal, mold remediation, lead paint removal, water
and fire damage. JVN Restoration
is a certified woman owned business that provides consistent and
efficient service through experienced contractors, top-of-the-line
equipment and a dedicated staff
that is available to clients 24
hours a day, seven days a week.
JVN prides itself on being an organization that is constantly
learning and training staff, making them a highly acclaimed contractor in New York, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania.
Tardy is a cabinet member of
the SIEDC.
please see JOB, page 21
CHARITABLE GIVING: MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Calculate your retirement age

By ERIKA HELLSTROM
If only we could peer into a
crystal ball to find the perfect age
to retire. Unfortunately, there's no
crystal ball, and setting a retire-
Now Available
ASE
FOR LE
ASE
FOR LE
St. George - Professional Office Building. Great

Visibility from Victory/Bay Street signage exposure. Heavily traveled location via
car/buses/walking and near Ferry terminal.
Currently available: 2nd flr Office - 2 rooms with
hardwood floors. $1,000+electric 2nd flr Office
- close to courts, restaurants, shopping. Bay Street signage exposure. Call Jennifer x13
West Brighton - Forest Avenue Professional Office Building

---Desk space available
---Private office available
Convenient location near corner of Bement Avenue. Rent includes: Use of conference room, parking, and utilities.
Monthly rent $300.00 to $900.00 Call Robert x17
ASE
FOR LE
ASE
FOR LE
St. George - One of a kind duplex unit

available for immediate occupancy. 6
bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, eat in
kitchen with stainless steel appliances, cherry wood cabinets,
granite, Jacuzzi tub & soaking tub, wet bar, formal living/dining
rooms, heated sun porch, stackable washer/dryer hook-ups,
large garden & use of driveway. In home with old world charm
located in the historic district of St. George. Walking distance
to SI Ferry & public transportation. $3,995.00 per month, heat
included.*Corporate leases considered.
St. George - A newly renovated 4-story 80,000 sq. ft.

"Class A" mid-rise office building with an average floor
plate of 20,000 sq.ft. Landlord will build to suit. Suites
from 500 sq. ft. - 20,000 sq. ft. Full floor plates available
for immediate occupancy. On-site parking & security. Call
Rob for details.
Our Knowledge, Experience, Teamwork + Integrity =
Results for You

Your gateway to better business and better living on Staten Island
285 St. Mark's Place Staten Island, NY 10301
718-273-3800
www.gatewayarmsrealty.com
Contact our Commercial Division for

more information about:
Sales & Leasing Investment Property
Multi-dwellings Industrial/Manufacturing
Retail Space Raw Land
Warehouses 1031 Exchanges
Office Buildings
ment age isn't a one-size-fits-all affair that can be quickly determined by a financial planning
professional.
Calculate your magic date

An online retirement calculator, such as one offered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, can estimate how much
money you will have at retirement.
This tool can also outline any
adjustments you need to make.
Take the wheel in planning your
future with these four easy ways
to calculate your expected retirement age.
1.) What are my expectations
for retirement? Do you want to
volunteer, travel or move out of
state? This will be the basis for
your future budget.
2.) What are my Social Security
benefits? For most Baby Boomers,
full retirement benefits kick in at
age 66. Reduced benefits can be
claimed beginning at age 62. Your
age at the time you seek benefits
factors heavily into the amount of
income you'll need.
3.) What kind of health-care
coverage do I need? You can qualify for Medicare coverage at age
65. If you retire earlier and need
health care coverage, you may
need to find a private plan, which
can be expensive. Health-care
costs may be one of your biggest
expenses as you age.

4.) How can I take care of loved
ones and the causes I care about?
There are many flexible giving
options to incorporate into your
estate plan. Consider leaving a
gift to a charitable organization
in your will or leaving a percentage of your estate. Planned gifts
also help nonprofits prepare for
the future!
Take control of your retirement future and make a plan. If
your plan involves making a charitable gift, consider helping children and adults living with
autism through the Eden II &
Genesis Foundation. For more information,
please
email
info@eden2.org or call (718) 8161422 ext. 1040. You can also visit
www.plannedgiving.eden2.org.
This information is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such
advice, please consult an attorney
or tax advisor.
Erika Hellstrom is the chief development officer at Eden II Programs
and executive director of the Eden II
& Genesis Foundation. Established in
1976, Eden II Programs serves more
than 500 individuals throughout the
New York City area as well as Nassau
and Suffolk counties. The mission of
Eden II is to support people with
autism throughout their lives to
achieve their full potential through
service, science and passion.
SIEDC to host Green

& Clean Festival
The SIEDC has announced the
scheduled for its sixth annual SI
Green & Clean Festival at a press
conference held at Pratt Industries last month. Pratt, along with
co-presenting sponsor National
Grid, highlighted details about
the annual sustainability, environmental and business event to
be held on June 8, from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. at the Grand Oaks Country
Club.
Admission is free to the gener-
al public who will have an opportunity to meet more than 50 local

vendors and non-profits, experience hands-on demonstrations
and learn about exciting local
green projects such as the Billion
Oyster Project, West Shore
Brownfield Opportunity Area
Study, Urban Farming and many
more.
For more information and a
schedule
of
events,
visit
http://www.sigreenfest.com.
The kings of Staten Island
From left, John Tardy, Jerry Amerosi and Sal Sottile were honored at
the premiere Kings of Staten Island Business Awards & Networking
Event on May 3 at the Hilton Garden Inn. The night honored top business men for their outstanding leadership and contributions to the
community.
SIBOR takes trip to Washington, D.C.

Representatives of the Staten
Island Board of Realtors recently
joined with nearly 8,900 Realtors
from across the nation to meet in
Washington, D.C., to advance issues critical to their businesses,
communities and clients.
The initiative took place May
BILL HIGGINS/Special to Business Trends
Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), center, beside flag,

meets on Capitol Hill with SIBOR representatives, from left, Sandy
Krueger, CEO; Aleksandr Stolyar; Greg Sokol, president-elect; Assaf
Epstein, an international director of the National Association of REALTORS; George K. Wonica, a past president of both SIBOR and the
New York State Association of Realtors; Sari Kingsley, SIBOR past
president and NAR presidents liaison to Israel; Claire Bisignano
Chesnoff, president of SIBOR; Dil Gillani, immediate past president;
Dawn M. Carpenter, SIBOR past president and NYSAR presidentelect; John Vernazza, SIBOR past president and NAR liaison to Congressman Donovan; Erica Orlando; Kawing Chiu; and Phyllis Cangro.
10-14 during the 2016 REALTOR
Legislative Meetings & Trade
Expo. During their visit to the nations capital, SIBOR members attended meetings and visited with
regulators and lawmakers on
Capitol Hill to discuss the legislative and regulatory environment
and its effect on residential and
commercial real estate.
It is imperative we connect
with our lawmakers to ensure
they understand the issues that
face the real estate industry, markets and their constituents
many of whom are home and
property owners, said Sandy
Krueger, CEO of SIBOR. Realtors are on the ground every day
fighting for home and property
owners in their communities, and
we demonstrated we will do the
same here in our nations capital
with our elected officials.
Attending Realtors, all members of the National Association
of Realtors, focused on several
major issues pertaining to the industry during the legislative-focused meetings. Of utmost importance was protecting real estaterelated tax policies, which are
vital to expanding homeownership to more Americans.
Supporting homeowners and
property owners through smart
legislation is so important for

families, communities and the nations economy, so we will continue to work with lawmakers to ensure they are protected, said
Claire Bisignano Chesnoff, president of SIBOR.
While in Washington, SIBOR
members met with Rep. Daniel
Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) and Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand
(D-NY) and Charles (Chuck)
Schumer (D-NY) to influence public policy decisions that will directly affect consumers ability to
own, buy and sell real estate.
Specifically, Dawn M. Carpenter, a SIBOR past president and
New York State Association of
Realtors president-elect, urged
Gillibrand to preserve current
real estate-related tax policies
and extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Tax Relief Act, which prevents distressed homeowners
from receiving excessive income
tax bills on forgiven home loan
debt.
Other matters included reforming key Federal Housing Administration condo rules and ensuring Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac mortgage guarantee fees are
not extended, increased or diverted away for unrelated government spending.
SI Museum honors three
BILL HIGGINS/Special to Business Trends
The Staten Island Museum honored singer/songwriter Ingrid

Michaelson, Deputy Borough President Edward Burke and Northfield
Bank Foundation with the Leng & Davis Award for their substantial
support of the mission of the museum and for their continued commitment to celebrating Staten Islands rich cultural and environmental heritage. The event, held at the newly renovated Staten Island
Museum at Snug Harbor, hosted 320 guests and raised more than
$100,000 to support the museums engaging programs and service
to the community. Pictured, from left, are Staten Island Museum Interim President & CEO Cheryl Adolph, Burke, Northfield Bank Foundation Chairperson Susan Lamberti, Michaelson and Staten Island
Museum Board Chair Ralph Branca.
718-273-1200
SIUH to work on several major

facility projects in the near future
'4 %'24+(+'& #3 #
+/02+49 02 !0.'/ 53+/'33 /4'212+3'
*#/,3 40 # -0%#- -#7 '7 "02, +49 #)'/%+'3 #2' &+2'%4'& 40 $59
.02' )00&3 #/& 3'26+%'3 (20. +49 %'24+(+'& ! :3
( 905 *#6' '6'2 4*05)*4 #$054 3'--+/) 40 )06'2/.'/4 /07 +3 # )2'#4
4+.' 40 $'%0.' # +49 %'24+(+'& !
+49 %'24+(+'&
:3 )'4
2'' )5+&#/%' 0/ 3'--+/) 40 4*' )06'2/.'/4

2'' #&6'24+3+/) +/ 4*' /-+/' +2'%4029 0( '24+(+'& 53+/'33'3
/6+4#4+0/3 40 '8%-53+6' '6'/43 7+4* +49 $59'23 #/& 12+.' %0/42#%4023
*' 4#4'/ 3-#/& 53+/'33 542'#%* '/4'2 !'34 2+)*40/
/#.'& # .'.$'2 0( 4*' '7 "02, +49 05/%+- 3511024'&
'#&'23*+1 330%+#4+0/
-0%#4'& #4
*#3 $''/
!
4#4'/ 3-#/& 53+/'33 542'#%* '/4'2 !'34 2+)*40/
02'34 6'/5' /& -002 '#2 *#3 400-3 ,/07-'&)' #/&
'81'2+'/%' 40 )'4 905 34#24'&

40&#9 #4
02 .02' +/(02.#4+0/ 0/ )'44+/) %'24+(+'& %#-- 53
'.#+- /+/# 7'34$2+)*40/-&% %0. 02 6+3+4
777 /9% )06 )'4%'24+(+'&
"
"
#
!
""" #
SIUH
ment Corporations Top 31 Most
Influential People & Institutions
in Economic Development.
Obviously it was a great
honor, SIUH Executive Director
Donna Proske said. The fact that
we were named No. 1 is a testament to our employees hard
work and dedication to the community. I personally cant take
credit for that.
Since launching its Top 31 list
in 2013, the SIEDC has chosen a
different theme for the list each
year. To rank this years list,
SIEDC staff looked at key statistics concerning Staten Islands
economic development, including
job creation, revenue, commitment to the borough, philanthropic efforts and more. SIEDC
Vice President of Membership
and Outreach Alexandra Porto
admitted ranking the top five was
no easy task, but the SIUH honor
was well deserved.
When we looked at all those
statistics, Porto said, SIUH
SCORE is the most recognized and utilized provider of

FREE Confidential Mentoring and Educational services to Americas small businesses.
Let SCORE help YOU!

BUILD GROW THRIVE
Call: 718-727-1221
Email: info@scoresi.org
Web: www.statenisland.SCORE.org
Staten Island SCORE New Headquarters
1855 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314
Walk-Ins Welcome
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:00 am to Noon
Other Times By Appointment Only
came out to be No. 1.

SIUH which started as a single room infirmary in 1861 and
has grown into a two-campus
provider of tertiary care joined
21-hospital Northwell Health
nearly 20 years ago.
The hospitals primary mission, Proske said, is to provide the
community with the best quality
of health care. But this powerhouse for the local economy does
much more than that.
According to the latest analysis
from the Healthcare Association
of New York, in 2014 SIUH generated $324 million in tax dollars,
provided $89 million in community benefits, including subsidized
care and community health initiatives, and created 9,800 jobs directly and indirectly through economic activity.
Proske also said SIUH works
hard to keep its business on Staten Island whenever possible.
We want to support the community that we live in. For example, 86 percent of our employees
are Staten Islanders. This is not
only the place where we all work;
its the place where the majority
of us live and the place where we
get our health care, she said.
Proske believes these factors
contribute to the quality care and
service at SIUH.
When you live in this community, a lot of the people that you
care for are your neighbors, she
said.
Our employees are fully committed.
SIUH was recognized at the recent SIEDC Business Conference
along with the other 30 list honorees. The top five which was
rounded out by the Nicotra
Group, Staten Island Mall, Staten
Island Borough President James
S. Oddo and the College of Staten
Island were kept under wraps
until the Top 31 Ceremony.
It was a well-deserved honor
for all of them, Porto said. We
got a lot of great feedback (about
the list) and were happy to see the

packed room at the ceremony.
Looking toward the future,
SIUH has a lot in store.
We have a major ongoing program on educating our employees
on all levels on maintaining the
highest level of customer service, Proske said. She estimates
they have reached about 45,000 of
the employees thus far. Its been
a massive effort for us.
On the capital side with construction, there are several major
facility projects in the works, including an $80 million Women
and Childrens Center at the hospital, with an expanded neonatal
intensive care unit, postpartum
suites and a new labor and delivery unit.
SIUH is also working on two
hazard mitigation projects at
both its north and south sites,
which will create a new central
utility plan that would move mechanical infrastructure above the
FEMA flood level.
Obviously this project is going
to ensure the integrity of the hospitals operations during major
environmental events, Proske
said.
At the south site, there will be a
childrens emergency department. At the north site, operating
rooms are going to be renovated
and cancer services consolidated
to one building.
Your physical plan has to keep
up with technology, and technology takes room. So a lot of it has to
do with size. And also we want to
offer the people of the community an appropriate setting for the
care that they receive, Proske
said.
She added the Top 31 honor
was a very prestigious recognition of which SIUH was proud.
We work closely with the
SIEDC and plan on continuing to
do so, she said, with the same
goal of making Staten Island
healthier, both physically and
economically.
Visit us on the Web at www.sibiztrends.com
PROFESSIONAL WEBSITES.
PEASANT PRICES.
Accepting the award
% " !"
$
!! "# % "$ #
%" !
& # #
"
Nicholas Caruselle, executive vice president of operations for Staten Island University Hospital, accepts
the Top 31 award from Cesar Claro, president and CEO of the Staten Island Economic Development Corp.
&
# * ) ! # $"
, $!)( $#' +
&
$&%$& (
#
&'
&
$ )' ' $# %&$*

! #('
" &
$"%! ,
, &# '
'
$#(
(. #!*#
,% - & (&- # ($ ! (
# * & # &
! #(
,% (& (
&
* & -$) & !$
&
'' ''" #( ( ' "% & ( * ($

&
&
$&
&$
$&
#
$)#' ! ($
# #$( $#!- '' '( # + (
* !$% #
& (
&
!$
' ($ # * ) ! #
# # ( $# ! $" # ($ (
& ##) ! # $" ( , & ()&# (
%%&$%& (
%%&$
&$'' (
# # ( $# ! ( , ' &*
$ )' $# $"%! #
* (
#(&
(#
'#
# &
'
$&
&)! ' # &
&
)! ( $#'
' &)( #- # ( &"' $ % # !(-
!% -$) # *
( (
' ()& )! #( + ( &'
( , & ()&# $& '$!* #
%&$ ! "
)(
!$# ( &" & ! ( $#' % + ( $)& ! #('
&( , $"
+++
&
, $"
Monthly Update
BRIEFS
Sometimes you want to sell your home quickly,

and without all the fuss. Maybe it''s because of the passing of
a loved one, a divorce, or just the desire to get the job done
without having to fix all that's wrong with your house.
Either way, when you want to sell quickly
and as-is, give 302 Wholesale a call.
WE CAN COME SEE YOUR HOME AND MAKE AN OFFER FAST -AN OFFER THAT IS ALL CASH, AND COMMISSION FREE,
FOR YOUR HOME IN AS-IS CONDITION.
AND OUR CLOSINGS ARE DAYS, NOT WEEKS, AWAY.
Call Today!
888-985-0425
* /-! *) !-*/, !-
!"!,, '-
program for artists, engineers, inventors,and entrepreneurs. If you

have an idea for a product, design
or project and would like the
time, space and equipment to prototype or fabricate it, then we can
help.
Participants apply with a business, project or prototype proposal and a letter of reference. We
will accept three winning proposals each application period. Applications will be accepted two
times a year. We will consider
projects in any area, as long as
the project is creative, collaborative in nature, and we think our
resources will be helpful to you.
We want Staten Island MakerSpace to be a place where invention happens! The Make Your Future program is open to anyone 18
and older who can benefit from
!' .%*)-$%+-
our community and resources.

The goal of this program is to
give you the time, space, equipment, resources and feedback
from the community to help you
Make Your Future happen.
For complete guidelines and
application rules, please visit
www.makerspace.nyc for more information.
SCORE relocates
to new headquarters
SCORE of State Island, a
prominent nonprofit organization dedicated to providing costfree mentoring and education to
both aspiring and established entrepreneurs, has relocated to new
centrally located Island headquarters.
The new office is located at 1855
Victory Blvd., Castleton Corners,
in a building owned and operated
by Salmon Real Estate.
SCORE of Staten Island is
Chapter 476 of the nationwide
SCORE, a 52-year-old nonprofit
association and resource partner
with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
For additional information or
to schedule an appointment,
SCORE of Staten Island may be
telephoned at (718) 727-1221 or
emailed at info@SCORESI.org.
Second largest solar

project in city done
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Pratt Industries and EnterSolar recently celebrated completion of the second largest statesupported solar project in New
York City. Located at Pratts Staten Island-based box plant, the
new rooftop solar project will
help the company further reduce
its impact on the environment by
offsetting 45 percent of its gridsupplied electricity usage with
clean, renewable solar energy.
The 1.4 megawatt rooftop solar
project was unveiled at a ribboncutting ceremony at the plant re-
111 ,% $(*)
cently at 4435 Victory Blvd. The

project advances the goals of Gov.
Cuomos Reforming the Energy
Vision strategy to build a clean,
resilient and affordable energy
system for all New Yorkers. It also
advances the states Clean Energy
Standard mandate that 50 percent
of the states electricity needs
come from renewable energy by
2030.
Pratt Industries is investing
in clean, affordable energy with
this large solar project that advances Gov. Cuomo's renewable
energy goals, NYSERDA President and CEO John B. Rhodes
said. I congratulate everyone involved in this project, a model for
industrial plants across New York
State and beyond.
NYSERDA provided almost
$1.6 million in incentives to this
project as part of Cuomos $1 billion NY-Sun initiative to advance
the scale-up of solar and move
New York State closer to having a
self-sufficient solar industry. EnterSolar, a New York City-based
solar company, developed the
project for Pratt, which is Americas fifth largest corrugated packaging company and one of the
worlds largest privately held
companies manufacturing 100
percent recycled paper and packaging.
More than 5,400 solar panels
were installed on the rooftop of
the 150,000-square-foot box plant.
A 1.4 megawatt solar project provides electricity equivalent to
powering
232
average-sized
homes and reduces the amount of
carbon dioxide equivalent to taking 182 cars off the road.
This is a great day for our
company and for Staten Island,
Pratt Industries Plant General
Manager Bob Reid said. This
project is in line with our companys core values to protect the environment and embrace clean energy, and it continues our mission
to provide sustainable packaging
solutions for our customers. This
is good for our bottom line and
the environment.
*/).3,!"!,, '-*/, ! *(
Michael Gaffney, Esq. 718-815-6400 mgaffney@thegaffney.lawfirmcom
Visit us on the Web at www.sibiztrends.com
AED donated to Island organization
Black and White Gala
Borough President James Oddo recently met with Rachel Moyer, who
turned the tragedy of losing her 15-year-old son to sudden cardiac
arrest into a life's mission of getting Automated External Defibrillators into places of public gathering, raising awareness on their importance and influencing legislators to pass AED friendly legislation.
More than 10 years ago, she helped then-Councilman Oddo pass the
first AED law in the New York City Council. During a recent visit, she
and Joey Bombera from Cardiac Science donated an AED to be distributed to a Staten Island organization. This donation was made in
honor of the recent passage of the AED bill shepherded by Councilman Steven Matteo, after its initial introduction by former Councilman Vinny Ignizio, requiring AEDs at Little League fields. Not only
did the bill require them, but it also pays for them!
SIBOR welcomes Epstein
Members of the Staten Island Board of Realtors in May welcomed Israeli Real Estate Broker Assaf Epstein, an international director of
the National Association of REALTORS and vice chairman of the
Jerusalem Chamber of Real Estate Brokers Israels largest real estate association. Gathered in SIBORs Bulls Head/Graniteville headquarters are, from left, Sandy Krueger, CEO of SIBOR; Claire Bisignano Chesnoff, president of SIBOR; Epstein; and Sari Kingsley, the
National Association of REALTORS presidents liaison to Israel and a
past president of SIBOR. Epstein is the broker/owner of Jerusalembased NADLAN 2000.
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce recently held its 121st Black and White Gala at the Above ballroom in the Hilton Garden Inn. Above, from left, are Chamber staff Ryan Gleason, Sallann Bartels, Joyce
Venezia Suss, Kristin Foye, Chamber President Linda Baran, Meagan Devereaux and Victor Vientos.
Below, members of the Chamber committee are, from left, Anthony Aquilino Sr., Angie DePompo, Danielle
Johnsen, Stefanie DeMario, co-chair, Jennifer Towles, JoAnn Libretti, co-chair, and Syreeta Watkins.
Curtis HS student named

Con Edison Yankees Kid
Christopher Goines, a 16-yearold baseball fan with an enthusiastic personality to match his
love of the game, was named Staten Islands 2016 Con Edison Yankees Kid on Friday, May 13.
The 2016 season marks the 49th
year of the Con Edison/ New
York Yankees Hall of Fame
Baseball Program. Goines was
honored by Con Edison and the
New York Yankees during a home
plate ceremony followed by a celebratory night with his family at
Yankee Stadium.
Con Edison Yankees Kids are
selected for their academic excellence, leadership, extracurricular
activities, community involvement and sportsmanship. Each
youngster, between 8 and 16 years
old, is nominated by a local civic
organization. Goines is one of
seven youngsters selected from
the five boroughs, Westchester,
Orange and Rockland counties.
Goines was nominated by the
Universal Temple of the Arts and
Staten Island Unified Sports Program.
All Con Edison Yankees Kids
received gift cards, a certificate, a
Con Edison Yankees Kids jacket
and an authentic New York Yankees baseball. The kids were also
escorted to the field where they
were acknowledged by a New
York Yankees announcer and
shown on the stadiums big
screens.
I felt famous! Goines said. I
have never been on a big screen
or shook a Yankee players hand.
This was an amazing experience
and it made me feel like my accomplishments mattered.
Goines is involved in the New
York Police Departments 120th
Precinct Explorers, the Staten Island Special Olympics and the
Unified Sports Program. He volunteers his time helping others
regularly. You may have spotted
him at Top Tomato supermarket
helping seniors carry groceries to
their car.
I am such a proud mother,
said
Christophers
mother,
Heather Madigan. I am so happy
that Con Edison recognized
Christophers love and dedication
for volunteering. It was a beautiful event.
Goines also volunteers as a
coach in the Special Olympics
basketball program and during
the annual Christmas Tournament at P.S. 18. He actively participates with graffiti and neighborhood clean-ups, and in the upkeep
of community gardens in the borough.
After receiving autographs
from former New York Yankee
Goose Gossage, the 2016 Yankees
Kids finished the evening watching the New York Yankees and
Chicago White Sox game.
All Yankees Kids pose with former Yankee pitcher Goose Gossage.
On the Job
JOB
DERRICK D. CEPHAS
Signature Bank
Signature Bank, a New Yorkbased full-service commercial
bank, announced the election of a
new member to serve on its board
of directors. Derrick D. Cephas
joined the Signature Bank board,
effective April 21, following his
election at the companys annual
meeting of shareholders.
Cephas, who fills a seat vacated
by Michael Pappagallo, is a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges
LLP, a New York City-based international, full-service law firm. He
has broad-based experience in the
representation of commercial
banks, thrift institutions, bank
holding companies and foreign
banking corporations across a
wide range of regulatory and
transactional matters. Cephas
works closely with clients, counseling them with respect to compliance with the Dodd-Frank Act
and the Volcker Rule as well as
The Bank Holding Company Act
and on enhanced prudential standards for large banks.
Prior to joining Weil, Gotshal &
Manges, Cephas served as president and chief executive officer of
Amalgamated Bank, which, at the
time he served, was a $4.5 billion
commercial bank headquartered
in New York City. Previously, he
was a banking and corporate law
partner in the New York office of
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft.
Earlier, Cephas served as the superintendent of banks for the
State of New York, from 1991 to
1994. He is a former member of
the Board of Directors of the
Dime Savings Bank of New York,
Merrill Lynch International
Bank and D.E. Shaw & Co. Inc.
Currently, he is a director of the
Fresh Air Fund, Empire State Development Corporation, The New
York City Board of Correction,
Trevor Day School and the New
York City Housing Authority as
well as a member of the Board of
Advisors for The Mayors Fund to
Advance New York City.
Cephas, 64, resides in New York
City. He graduated with an A.B.

degree from Harvard College and
earned his J.D. degree at Harvard
Law School.
JAMES GRAHAM
Landmark Hospitality
Landmark Hospitality recently
announced the hire of James
Graham as the executive chef of
Celebrate At Snug Harbor, one of
the New York areas premier wedding and event venues. Celebrate
At Snug Harbor, formerly a stately home for retired sailors, rests
on 83 acres of stunning gardens
and a boasts magnificent ballroom.
Chef James has had a magnificent career in Manhattan and
across New Jersey. We are
thrilled to have him join our exceptional team, Jeanne Cretella,
president and CEO of Landmark
Hospitality, said. His commitment to his craft is extraordinary.
We know that Chef James will
make a great impact at Celebrate
At Snug Harbor, and we look forward to a bright future with
him.
Graham,
a
resident
of
Metuchen, N.J., fostered a passion
for creating mouthwatering dishes at a young age by shadowing
his grandmother. He later graduated from The New York Food and
Hotel Management School in
1994. Since that time, he has
worked at a number of Manhattans most notable establishments. Throughout his career,
Graham has garnered praise for
his ability to coordinate banquets
in excess of 600 people, as well as
his skill in developing and refining new dishes that capture savory flavors through a fusion of
Asian and French cuisines.
In addition to serving as Celebrate At Snug Harbors executive
chef, Graham prides himself on
sharing his passion for cooking
with the community. He serves as
a deacon within his local church,
Victory Cathedral, where he is developing a culinary program that
will teach parishioners, first time
mothers and those facing food insecurity the importance of
healthy home-cooked meals. Graham also leads a culinary team at
ELM Marketplace and volunteers
at his churchs food pantry,
Josephs Stonehouse.
ROBERT E. VIDAL II
Bentson Insurance Group
Robert E. Vidal II, employee
benefits specialist of Staten Island-based
Bentson Insurance
Group, has
begun
his
term as president of the
New
York
Metro Association
of
Health UnVidal
derwriters.
Vidal has been a NYMAHU
member since 2007, and has
served on the groups board of directors in a variety of leadership
roles through his years on the
path to the presidency.
I'm excited to be president of
NYMAHU for the 2016/2017
term, Vidal said. As president,
Im looking forward to working
with local, state and federal lawmakers to improve the healthcare system for my clients and all
New Yorkers.
Vidal, 38, joined the Bentson Insurance Group in 2014 following
years of hands-on experience in
his field.
Affordable Care Act-certified
by the National Association of
Health Underwriters, he is an
alumnus of Pace University, Manhattan, where he graduated cum
laude in 2000 with a bachelors degree in marketing.
A Brooklyn native, Vidal relocated in 2010 to Staten Island,
where he resides in West
Brighton with his 13-year-old son.
JOHN BARBIERI
Eagle Fence
The Staten Island Economic
Development Corp. recently welcomed John Barbieri of Eagle
Fence as a new cabinet member.
Eagle Fence has been a leader
in the tri-state area fencing indus-
try for more than 25 years. They

are conveniently located in Staten
Island and they provide quality
service and products to a wide
range of contractors, developers
and homeowners. They have completed work in many different locations including perimeter fencing at JFK International Airport,
and projects at Chelsea Piers
Sports Complex, Battery Park
City Athletic Fields, Newtown
Creek Wastewater Treatment
Plant, different Home Depots,
parks, schools and detention facilities.
They will meet any specifications customers request including special sizes, sections, mix
and match colors and PVC bending. In addition, they also produce Custom Northern White
Cedar and Western Cedar Sections. They supply a full line of
stockade and chain-link products,
aluminum and steel ornamental
products, welded mesh, guide rail
and post rail.
How come you still need so much more money?

By ED WISEMAN
CEO, Historic Richmond Town
It's in the most interesting
places that we are often surprised
with the most unusual questions.
Recently, I was at a wake for a
family member of a good friend.
As I finished paying my respects
and was heading out the door, I
bumped into an acquaintance.
After some pleasantries, sharing
what was new, he wound up and
tossed me a hand grenade.
I see you're doing a lot of construction, repairs and other work
at the museum, he reported.
Yes, I agreed.
He shook his head slowly and
mumbled, With so much money
to spend ... how come you still
need so much money?
Hmm. A snarky question. A
tough one, too.
Well, the construction is paid
for with capital funds and
He waved away my explana-
tion, I know, I know...

He didn't want my answer. It
seemed he already knew it. In the
tradition of funeral discussion
etiquette, he was passing time by
blowing rhetorical steam.
I know you still need money to
operate. That's the way it goes
right? he said as he shook his
head slowly.
It's those little snippets of conversation that sometime hit a
nerve. With mischievousness in
his watery eyes, he had zoomed in
on one of the biggest misunderstandings that not-for-profits have
to deal with: Just because an organization has funding for special
projects doesn't mean the floodgates are open and funding is
flowing into the annual budget.
Restricted vs. unrestricted

To grasp this we need to understand that there are two basic
types of funding: restricted and
unrestricted. Restricted funds
are designated for certain projects such as new buildings,

restoration or special programs.
Restricted funding is usually received from donors, foundations,
corporations and public sources.
These dollars are designated or
restricted to the project for which
they are raised. There are other
types of restricted funds, but they
are limited as well.
This funding can only be used
for the purpose they were given
and nothing else. Legally, the
donors' wishes restrict these
funds. They can't pay for the
everyday things that keep you
running. So you may have a wellfunded capital project that contributors were inspired to support, yet still have a pile of everyday payables that need funds. Institutions work very hard to raise
these unrestricted funds for operations. Unrestricted income covers everything from utility bills to
payroll to equipment maintenance.
Some institutions find that this
type of revenue is the most challenging to raise. It's not always
easy to find someone to pay for
paper clips and toilet paper.
Restricted income
At Historic Richmond Town,
we are fortunate to be working
with almost $14 million in restricted income right now. This
funding is being used for a number of important projects:
The construction of three
new collection storage structures
for our horse drawn carriage collection
A major upgrade to our main
campus with new utilities, sidewalks, street surfacing and traditional style (LED) lighting
The refurbishment of our
Third
County
Courthouse
Lobby the new Laura Patrick
Welcome Center
The restoration of the KruserFinley House after the malicious
fire almost destroyed the 1790
home
The conservation of specific
collections
The design of a new site plan
Engineering and architectural reports for capital planning
Enhanced and broadened
school programs
These are terrific projects that
will have great impact. Wouldn't
it be nice to congratulate ourselves and call it a day? But there
are other things that need real attention. Look closely and you'll
see there's too much wear and
tear and not enough hands or resources to make things shiny and
bright again. And before you
jump up and say, Get some volunteers, please note that we have
hundreds of wonderful volunteers working with us. They help
us tackle our needs. But they can't
replace unrestricted operating
funding. So, yes, even though we
have raised a lot of money, we
still need money.
Unrestricted income
Nonprofits require unrestricted operating funding. We use it to
take care of 100 acres, four sites,
more than 30 historic landmarked
buildings, a working farm and
hundreds of thousands of artifacts dating back to the 1600s.
This is precious, rare American
history in our hands. Original.
Authentic. Real.
Our collections tell the rich
and diverse story of the American people who worked side by
side to build an extraordinary
country. Since 85 percent of our
land and structures is owned by
the City of New York, we receive
an unrestricted funding allocation to help us maintain the property and buildings.
But that funding began to
shrink eight years ago. Today we
receive 13 percent less from our
city than in 2008.
With cost increases, aging collections and more wear and tear,
we should be receiving at least 10
percent more than in 2008. And
we are not alone. All of the xultural institutions of the City of
New York are receiving fewer dollars from the city.
Combating deficits
Since this shortfall in funding
creates deficits, we've had to work
even harder to make up the difference. Here's what we've done over
the last few years: reduced our
staff by 27 percent; cut our expenses by 31 percent; froze in-
creases for five years; expanded

our grant outreach five times;
boosted our earned income 300
percent; raised board giving expectations by 20 percent; increased events and campaigns by
25 percent; increased school visits
from all five boroughs by 30 percent; tripled our attendance; and
it's not enough.
Getting support
Recently, NYC Council Minority leader Steve Matteo and Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer
took a bi-partisan tour of Historic
Richmond Town and the Staten
Island Zoo to see the challenges
for themselves. It was a fun tour
but it revealed the dark side of
underfunding. It was obvious to
everyone that we need a bigger
commitment from the city to deliver the services we provide.
This year, Van Bramer and
Matteo are asking the city to increase the cultural budget line by
$40 million. It seems like a lot of
money but it's less than one-tenth
of 1 percent of the city budget.
Educate and inspire

For Historic Richmond Town,
the support of our local elected officials is vital. We applaud their
efforts. With right-size municipal
funding, we can continue to educate tens of thousands of schoolchildren each year. Without it, the
American history we hold in our
hands will begin to fade away.
That's our story behind the excavators and backhoes. What's
going on in your hometown? As
you drive through your community and notice a non-profit working on a project, dig a little deeper.
Find out the story behind the
story.
See how well they are doing.
Do they have enough general operating money to keep things
working well each day? What you
discover may surprise you.
Ed Wiseman has been executive director of Historic Richmond Town
since late 2008. He has more than
20 years of experience in the arts
and entertainment business and is
known as a creative architect who
transforms challenging enterprises
into success stories.

SIUH Tops SIEDC Top 31' List: Monthly Update

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Исходное описание:

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

SIUH Tops SIEDC Top 31' List: Monthly Update

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

JUNE 2016

HISTORIC RICHMOND TOWN

National Grid gives back

SIEDC Business Conference

Special to Business Trends

SIUH tops SIEDC Top 31 list

Charitable Giving column

the Staten Island community, but also to its

2 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016

do said. I enjoyed the classroom

Make your future

The deadline for the Make

JUNE 2016 BUSINESS TRENDS 3

Maximize tax breaks

even required to report the rent.

4 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016

Parisi Rampulla & Lenza, P.C.

Rd. 7 p.m. Call 718-420-1966.

JUNE 2016 BUSINESS TRENDS 5

Business Counseling: CSI, 2800

TEMPORARY PERSONNEL / STAFFING FOR YOUR:

6 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016

Payroll changes are coming

classified as exempt salaried workers

existing perks, flexibility and benefits

Why small businesses matter

Do small businesses really matter?

Inspiration from SCORE success stories

that 36 percent of small business owners

ticular this Small Business Week: our Canton, Ohio chapter.

8 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016

18th Annual SIEDC Business Conference

JUNE 2016 BUSINESS TRENDS 9

Special to Business Trends

Clockwise from above: More than

10 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016

12 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016

CHARITABLE GIVING: MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Calculate your retirement age

St. George - Professional Office Building. Great

West Brighton - Forest Avenue Professional Office Building

St. George - One of a kind duplex unit

St. George - A newly renovated 4-story 80,000 sq. ft.

Our Knowledge, Experience, Teamwork + Integrity =

Results for You

Contact our Commercial Division for

Calculate your magic date

expenses as you age.

SIEDC to host Green

al public who will have an opportunity to meet more than 50 local

JUNE 2016 BUSINESS TRENDS 13

The kings of Staten Island

Special to Business Trends

14 BUSINESS TRENDS JUNE 2016

SIBOR takes trip to Washington, D.C.

BILL HIGGINS/Special to Business Trends

Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn), center, beside flag,

legislation is so important for

JUNE 2016 BUSINESS TRENDS 15

SI Museum honors three

BILL HIGGINS/Special to Business Trends

The Staten Island Museum honored singer/songwriter Ingrid