REVOLVING DOOR
People
JCC of Mid-Westchester announced the appointment of Milton Sussman as director of development. In his new position, Sussman will spearhead all of the agency’s fundraising efforts. He will also be responsible for expanding support of the agency by involving the community, and soliciting support from corporations and foundations. Sussman brings more than 25 years of development experience to this role, including former senior positions as director of development for the Jewish Educational Center, director of institutional advancement and operations for Yeshiva University, and national executive director and director of development at the Israel Cancer Research Fund.
Sussman lives in Riverdale with his wife, Sue, an early childhood educator, and they have two sons.
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John Murtaugh - Advertisement -
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Former Yonkers council member and mayoral candidate John Murtaugh will be joining White Plains law firm Gaines, Gruner, Ponzini & Novick as a senior counsel. In this role, Murtaugh will continue his focus on business and civil litigation, while helping to grow the firm’s municipal law and government affairs practice.
“I look forward now to helping clients not only based upon my legal background, but by having spent nearly a decade on the other side of the table,” said Murtaugh in a written statement. “My years in office have given me another perspective which, I believe, will help me advise clients living, working, and doing business here in Westchester.”
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William D. Suggs MD - Partner Content -
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White Plains Hospital has announced that prominent vascular surgeon William D. Suggs MD, of Chappaqua, has joined its group of integrated physician practices as of February 1. Dr. Suggs has joined White Plains Hospital Physician Associates, a recently formed division of the hospital aligning physicians with hospital services.
Dr. Suggs will hold the title of director of vascular services at White Plains Hospital. He will collaborate closely with several other physicians in the Vascular and Thoracic Surgery Departments at the hospital, performing a range of minimally invasive and open surgical procedures, using the most advanced and sophisticated technology available. He has a special interest in the open and endovascular repair of abdominal and thoracic aortic aneurysms, distal artery reconstruction, and carotid artery disease.
Dr. Suggs received his medical degree in 1983 from the Bowman Gray School of Medicine (now called the Wake Forest School of Medicine) and completed his residency in general surgery at the George Washington School of Medicine in 1989. He completed a fellowship in vascular surgery at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta in 1991. Dr. Suggs was most recently an attending surgeon and an associate professor of surgery at the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. He is board certified in vascular surgery. He also has been a co-investigator in numerous clinical studies and his research has appeared in dozens of medical journals and scholarly papers.
New Business, Relocations and Operation
Wine importer Mionetto USA announced it will be bringing its business to Westchester County this summer. Mionetto will be moving its headquarters from Brooklyn to White Plains and expanding its operation. The company plans to lease 6,800 square feet of office space at 81 Main Street in the city and will grow its office space by 70 percent, according to the Westchester County Association.
“Mionetto’s choice of Westchester reinforces the message that we are a global destination for international companies,” says Marissa Brett, executive director for economic development at the Westchester County Association.
Mack-Cali Realty Corporation announced that HYPRES, Inc., a superconducting microelectronics manufacturer, signed a 19,200-square-foot lease renewal at 175 Clearbrook Road in Elmsford. The 98,900-square-foot building, located in the Cross Westchester Executive Park, is now 100-percent leased. Mack-Cali was represented in-house by Louis Amalfitano, its senior director of leasing.
Kudos
Mount Kisco Child Care Center announced that it has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.
To earn NAEYC accreditation, the center went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 NAEYC early childhood program standards and more than 400 related criteria. The program received the accreditation after an onsite visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the ten standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.
In the 25 years since the accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. More than 7,000 programs are currently accredited by NAEYC—approximately 8 percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.
Jon A. Dorf, founder and managing partner of The Dorf Law Firm, LLP, has been honored by Legal Services of the Hudson Valley with the 2012 Equal Access to Justice award. Dorf will receive the award at the organization’s sixth gala dinner to be held on Wednesday, May 23, from 6 to 9 pm at the VIP Country Club in New Rochelle. New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman will be this year’s featured guest speaker at the event.
Biz Buzz – Our business blog
A landmark step on the way to a long-awaited new Tappan Zee Bridge occurred earlier this month when the State Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority announced the four finalists for the new bridge building contract.
Bids were received from five design-build consortiums, and four groups were deemed qualified after a thorough multi-agency technical review. The four qualified consortiums are:
- Hudson River Bridge Constructors, a group including Dragados USA, Inc., Flatiron Constructors, Inc., Samsung C&T, E&C Americas, Inc., and Yonkers Contracting Co., Inc.
- Kiewit-Skanska-Weeks Joint Venture, including Kiewit Infrastructure Co., Skanska USA Civil Northeast Inc., and Weeks Marine, Inc.
- Tappan Zee Bridge Partners, including Bechtel Infrastructure Corp. and Tutor Perini Corp.
- Tappan Zee Constructors, a group including Fluor Enterprises, Inc., American Bridge Co., Granite Construction Northeast, Inc., and Traylor Bros., Inc.
The evaluation of bidder qualifications was conducted by technical evaluation teams drawn from the state DOT, the Thruway Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration.
This is surely good news for residents of Westchester, especially those in the business community, who have long advocated for a replacement for the obsolete Tappan Zee Bridge. The dream of a new bridge is closer than ever before.
Residents of the lower Hudson Valley are already blessed with low unemployment compared with other parts of the state and country, and new statistics show they are better compensated as well.
According to a study issued by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, New York workers received the smallest pay increase in the nation over the 12-month period ending in June 2011. However, both Westchester and Rockland County beat the national average. Across the U.S., workers’ weekly wages rose an average of 3 percent, whereas Rockland’s rose 4.5 percent and Westchester’s increased 3.1 percent. Those figures were even more impressive compared to Manhattan, where average weekly wages decreased by 1.1 percent.
Super Bowl hero Eli Manning thrilled his fans in Westchester and across the country with yet another dramatic, game-winning championship drive. For an encore, the younger Manning sibling will return to his role as spokesperson for Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s 35th Annual Golf Classic, which is scheduled for June 10 and 11 at the Mount Kisco Country Club in Mount Kisco and the Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut. Manning will join the country’s best blind golfers for the nonprofit’s two-day event, Guiding Eyes’ largest annual fundraiser.
Sponsorships for the Classic are now being accepted at the platinum, gold, and silver levels. Additional support opportunities are also available including bronze foursomes, individual play, hole sponsorship, and journal advertising. Purchase-based PepsiCo’s Gatorade brand returns as a Golf Classic Diamond Sponsor.
To find out more about sponsorship opportunities, or for general information, please contact Michelle Brier, events and marketing manager, at (914) 243-2208 or mbrier@guidingeyes.org.
The Business Council of Westchester recently announced its 2012 Hall of Fame inductees, who will be feted during a ceremony April 19 at the Glen Island Harbour Club.
This year’s honorees and the categories they will be inducted in are Pernod Ricard USA for Corporate Citizenship, Robert Martin Company for Entrepreneurial Success, Community Mutual Savings Bank for Small Business Success, Lenore Minerva of Empress Emergency Medical Services for Women in Business Success, and Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway for Family Business Success.
“The Business Council is proud to recognize the accomplishments of these five companies that exemplify the best in business practices and community involvement,” said Business Council President and CEO Marsha Gordon in a prepared statement. “As we enter our second decade of this prestigious award, we look forward to honoring the newest inductees and supporting previous winners, who continue to make their mark on Westchester County and beyond.”
For registration and/or additional information, visit www.westchesterny.org or contact Denise Woodin at (914) 948-2110.
HOT PROPERTIES – 914INC.’s commercial real estate showcase
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Property: 42 W Broad St, Mount Vernon
Brokered by: Massey Knakal Realty Services |
Availability: 24,000-square-foot, one-story commercial building in the Fleetwood section of Mount Vernon. Asking price is $291 per square foot.
Selling points: This building was occupied by an 11,568-square-foot Duane Reade and a 10,410-square-foot Key Food, which recently vacated the space allowing for a supermarket-style tenant to take ownership. The building is fully equipped with a conveyor belt, walk-in refrigerators, checkout stations, a brand-new HVAC system, elevator, three offices on the mezzanine level, and a loading dock on Fleetwood Avenue. The site would be ideal for a new supermarket operator or other retailer. There is also potential for a mixed-use development of high-rise fair-market housing and ground floor retail.
914 DATEBOOK – Upcoming Business Events
TUESDAY, 2/21/2012
Young Professionals Meetup – 5:30-7:30 pm, Ron Blacks, 181 Mamaroneck Ave, White Plains. The Westchester County Association is sponsoring this gathering for young county professionals to meet, greet, and network. There is no charge; just pay as you go.
THURSDAY 2/23/2012
Latino Business and Professional Network, Inc. is hosting a networking and social gathering from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Sofrito’s Restaurant—The Downstairs Lounge, 175 Main St, White Plains. $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Hors d’oeuvres are included; cash bar. For more info and to RSVP (by February 21), contact Gilbert Torres at (914) 522-0054 or gtorres@lbpni.com.
THURSDAY 3/1/12
“Freshen Up Your Resume” session – 6:30-7:30 pm, Somers Library, 80-82 Primrose St, Somers. This session, presented by Laura Olert of Career Works, Inc., will go over the latest trends in résumé writing. It will discuss how to make your résumé unique and market your personal brand. Please bring a résumé to this session.
THURSDAY 3/15/2012
Mega Mixer Business Expo – 2-6 pm, Hilton Rye Town, 699 Westchester Ave, Rye Brook. The Mega Mixer Business Expo, sponsored by the Business Council of Westchester, is Westchester’s largest business trade show, attracting 200 tabletop exhibitors and 1,500+ attendees every year. Whether you are selling a product or service or educating consumers, consider an exhibit at this business-building event. For more information, contact Ebony White at ewhite@westchesterny.org or call (914) 948-2110.
Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Centennial Bash – 6 pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown, 455 S Broadway, Tarrytown. In honor of Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary, Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson (GSHH) is hosting a Centennial Gala honoring “Women of Leadership and Excellence.” GSHH will honor women who have distinguished themselves in their fields and are role models for girls striving to become the leaders of tomorrow.
The evening will be hosted by CBS news correspondent Alexis Christoforous and will include live jazz entertainment by Ragan Whiteside and the Fam, a silent auction, dinner, Girl Scouts ceremony, and a special Girl Scouts 100th birthday celebration. Honorees include actress and singer Vanessa Williams, U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson (a partner in PR, advertising, and marketing firm Thompson & Bender, LLC), The “Watson Women” of IBM, and an as-yet unnamed recipient of the Young Woman of Leadership and Excellence award. Tickets for the gala are $175 per person. To become a sponsor, attend the event, purchase a journal ad, or more information, contact Mary Ellen Hoffman at (914) 747-3080, ext. 739, mhoffman@girlscoutshh.org.
FRIDAY, 3/16/2012
NY State Legislators Breakfast – 8-10 am, Tappan Hill Mansion, 81 Highland Ave, Tarrytown.
The Westchester and Putnam Delegation of the New York State Legislature will be on hand for an interactive dialogue about the most pressing issues facing our state, in this annual event sponsored by the Westchester County Association.
This year, the focus will be on key mandate relief issues include pension reform, healthcare insurance contributions, and freezing salary increases when contracts expire. Alleviating these cost drivers to help make New York a more business-friendly and competitive state will also be a big topic of discussion.
To register, please visit http://www.westchester.org/eventregister.php?event=73.
WEDNESDAY 4/11/2012
Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation 50th Anniversary Gala – 5:30-8:30 pm, Glen Island Harbour Club, New Rochelle.
Friends of Westchester County Parks will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation with its 2012 Best Friends Awards reception.
The reception will salute each of the four living Westchester County Executives—current Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and former Westchester County Executives Andrew J. Spano, Andrew P. O’Rourke and Alfred B. DelBello—for the important role they played in shaping the history of the County’s parks system, and in celebration of the parks’ golden anniversary.
Friends of Westchester County Parks will also honor David Swope for his outstanding commitment and generosity to land preservation, conservation and Westchester open space.
The ticket cost is $250 per person, and sponsorship packages are available. For ticket or sponsorship information, contact Linda Fleischer at (914) 864-7048 or Lafleischer14@gmail.com.
FRIDAY 4/13/12
Political Friday – 8-9:30 am, Berkeley College, 99 Church St, White Plains. Join the Westchester County Association for this meet-and-greet with the freshman class of the County Board of Legislators. Republicans Michael Smith and David Gelfarb and Democrats Catherine Borgia and Virginia Perez will be on hand to discuss where they stand on key issues such as housing, maintaining a triple-A bond rating, and privatizing Playland. Proceeds from the event will go to help support the work of the Call to Action Committee, a group leading the WCA’s government reform initiatives. To register, visit http://www.westchester.org/eventregister.php?event=108.
THURSDAY 4/19/12
Business Council of Westchester Hall of Fame Ceremony – 6:30 pm, Glen Island Harbour Club, New Rochelle. The Business Council of Westchester will induct the class of 2012 to its prestigious hall of fame. This year’s honorees include Pernod Ricard USA for Corporate Citizenship; Robert Martin Co. for Entrepreneurial Success; Community Mutual Savings Bank for Small Business Success; Lenore Minerva of Empress Emergency Medical Services for Women in Business Success; and Empire City at Yonkers Raceway for Family Business Success. For more information on the event, please visit westchesterny.org
ONGOING
Know a Wunderkind? You, perhaps? Nominate an under-30 county business professional (including yourself) for 914INC.’s second annual Westchester Wunderkinds. For more info or to submit a nomination, visit https://westchestermagazine.com/914-INC/Premiere-2010/Wonderful-Wunderkinds-Form/
Do you have tips, scoop, or gossip concerning business in Westchester? If so, our INComing blogger, Bryan, is all ears—please email him at 914incoming@gmail.com
