Revolving Door
PEOPLE
Co-working space network Serendipity Labs has tapped Brad Le Blanc as SVP of franchise development.
Based in Rye, Serendipity Labs runs private offices, co-working memberships, and meeting space to professionals. Le Blanc, who has a 20-year career in building hospitality franchise brands, was brought on to help expedite the company’s expansion in the US.
Chappaqua’s Robin Schlaff, an attorney with experience in family law and domestic violence, is the new director of the county’s Office for Women.
Schlaff previously served as executive director of the Westchester Family Justice Center, a position she will continue to fill until October, the end of the current federal grant year.
The Mercy College Board of Trustees appointed Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Concetta M. Stewart, as Interim President of Mercy College.
Having more than 20 years in higher education, Dr. Stewart came to Mercy College in 2012 after serving as dean and professor of the School of Art and Design at Pratt Institute. She succeeds Kimberly R. Cline, who recently became the first female president of LIU.
Judy Williams, commissioner of human resources for the City of Mount Vernon and Thomas P. Benson, independent director and audit committee chairman of Key Brand Entertainment, were recently appointed to the Board of Directors of Wartburg, a Mount Vernon-based senior service continuum that serves the metropolitan area.
KUDOS
Tarrytown-based Hudson Health Plan honored 23 providers in Westchester and Rockland counties for providing excellent care.
Ramesh Ubriani, MD, of West Nyack and Najia A. Zaidi, MD, of White Plains were recognized as the “Top Performers.” Winners were determined by New York State quality scores, and were presented their awards at a Tarrytown appreciation dinner held at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill.
Carolyn Mandelker, president of Harrison Edwards, a PR & marketing firm based in Bedford Hills, announced that the product launch for the Zab Kab taxi-hailing app won a Silver Award from the Ad Club. The PR launch, held in SoHo, attracted many major New York media outlets, including The
Jonathan Kreissman has joined the senior management team of Robin Leedy & Associates as vice president of client services.
Kreissman joins RL&A with more than 13 years experience in marketing, social media, and PR in retail and lifestyle. The firm has also been acknowledged by the industry with a PRSA Gold Mercury Award for the development of a social media video tactic.
Progressive Computing Managing Partner Robert Cioffi was recently honored by HTG Peer Groups with The Spirit Award.
Each year at its Annual Summit, HTG Peer Groups, a worldwide organization that promotes optimal practices for IT professionals, recognizes the top participants among its membership. Mr. Cioffi was recognized as a member who displays passion, dedication, who goes the extra mile, and who represents HTG in a positive manner.
Case Management Society of America has presented its 2013 National Award of Service Excellence to Sheilah McGlone, RN, senior director of Case Management and Integrated Care Coordination at Hudson Health Plan. The award honors McGlone’s role in coordinating and managing the Westchester Cares Action Program, an integrated-care model.
NEW BUSINESSES, RELOCATIONS, OPERATIONS
The Village of Ossining and Business Council of Westchester (BCW) have completed a joint partnership study focusing on how to attract young professionals to the village.
Led by the Business Council’s Rising Stars Alumni Network, this initiative follows a study Westchester Coalition for Business Development study to address the flight of younger workers from the county. Due to its affordable housing prices, community waterfront and parkland, award-winning school system, and access to mass transit, Ossining was identified by BCW as an ideal pilot community to lure and retain young professionals
LGI Forensic Engineering, P.C. is operating at its newly-renovated corporate office and expanded testing lab in North White Plains.
LGI will continue to offer investigative engineering and architectural services, along with a state-of-the-art testing and research laboratory. The firm handles construction claim consulting, property and casualty insurance investigation, and other forensic engineering services.
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BIZ BUZZ: OUR BUSINESS BLOG
TOURIST SPENDING SPREE SPURS GROWTH
PLUS: Acorda is upbeat on drug trial for new epilepsy drug, while Moody’s outlook on Mount Vernon is gloomy.
Thanks to marketing efforts and a recovering economy, Westchester County’s tourism spending rose to pre-Great Recession levels in 2012. Visitors spent $1.68 billion in 2012 on Westchester hotels, entertainment, dining, and other activities, representing a 2-percent increase from 2011 and a recuperation of all the recessionary losses since 2007.
Visitor spending last year translated into $108 million in local taxes and supported 23,064 jobs in the county. This surge led to several high-profile hotel renovations, two being at the Renaissance Westchester and The Castle Hotel and Spa. Along with these growing numbers, County Executive Astorino announced the launch of a new shuttle-bus program offering free round-trip service Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 Westchester hotels to Empire City casino in Yonkers.
Ardsley-based Acorda Therapeutics reported positive results on a trial for a spray product it is developing to treat epileptic seizures.The company plans to submit a New Drug Application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this year.
The product would offer a new option to the roughly-175,000 people suffering from epilepsy nationwide. Study findings were presented June 25 in Montreal, Canada, at the biennial International Congress of the International League Against Epilepsy.
Citing Mount Vernon’s recurring cycle of tapping its reserves to meet expenses, Moody’s Investors Service, one of the country’s major financial-ratings services, has given a “negative outlook” to two series of bonds, worth a total of $4.7 million, issued by the city this year.
While Moody’s noted several factors working in Mount Vernon’s favor, including a “medium-sized tax base” and a manageable debt load, it raised a red flag over the city’s reliance on its reserves. It assigned the city an A1 rating.
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HOT PROPERTIES
914INC.’S COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE
Property: 10 St Charles St, Thornwood
Brokered by: Dee Ferriss, Property Manager (914) 282-4611
Description: This open, well-lit office has a conference room, a president’s office, 2 standard offices, 3 cubicles, storage, and a reception area. Fully furnished, it includes HVAC, ceiling fans, vaulted ceilings, and carpeted floors.
Availability: 1,756 square feet of loft space. $2,426 per month. Price includes real estate taxes, does not include utilities.
Selling Points: Conveniently located to all parkways; 45 mins to NYC, 1 ½ miles from Hawthorne and Pleasantville train stations. Bee Line bus stop across the street.
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914 DATEBOOK
UPCOMING BUSINESS EVENTS
TUESDAY, 7/16/13
Rising Stars Alumni Social
Raymour & Flanagan, 1 Maple Ave, White Plains. 5 – 7 pm; two tickets for $25. Join The Business Council of Westchester for a special reception and reconnect with your Rising Stars classmates and their guests as they continue the celebration of Westchester’s 40 Under 40 ten-year anniversary. Register here.
WEDNESDAY, 6/17/13
Savvy Summer Marketing
Park Avenue Medical Spa, 495 N Main St, Armonk. 6 – 8 pm; $20. Hosted by Professional Women of Westchester. Kathy Argyros of Exceller Marketing is the guest speaker. Cost includes appetizers and complimentary wine. Must be a member to attend. Register here.
SATURDAY, 7/13/13
The Pros(e) of Pie – Solid Stories, Flaky Crusts
W@tercooler, 21 North Broadway, Tarrytown. 8 – 10 pm; $10. Pros(e) of Pie launched on June 1 at W@atercooler as the Hudson Valley’s newest storytelling forum. Between readings, indulge in sampling a variety of pies, then vote for your favorite! Entry fee includes a slice of pie, beverages, entertainment, and a free raffle ticket to win a pie to take home. Register here.
Do you have tips, scoop, or gossip concerning business in Westchester? If so, our INComing blogger, Lisa Cesarano, is all ears. Please e-mail her with a short pitch to mailto:914incoming@gmail.com.
Upcoming events should be submitted no later than Sunday, July 14, to be considered for the July 16 edition. Please submit business-related events only; no fundraisers or consumer events.
