Revolving Door
PEOPLE
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Berkeley College has appointed Joshua T. Williams as Chair of the Fashion Department, Larry L. Luing School of Business. Williams is the Founder and President of Fashion Consort, LLC, a consulting agency with a focus on omni-channel retailing.
Diane Barnes joins Accreditation Guru, Inc. as the third consultant to be added since the company’s 2009 founding. Based in Mamaroneck, AG provides consulting services in accreditation, strategic planning, and Board development to nonprofits across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Barnes’ resume includes affiliations with the Council on Accreditation, the Joint Commission, and the Commission on Accreditation and Rehabilitation Facilities.
KUDOS
For the eighth consecutive year, Westchester was named one of the top 10 digital counties in the country by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo). Thousands of U.S. counties were invited to participate in the 2013 Digital Counties Survey, which evaluated counties based on their online service delivery, infrastructure, architecture, and governance models. Westchester tied for sixth-place in the survey.
In celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA,), POW’R Against Tobacco and POW’R Tobacco Cessation Center honored the Open Door Family Medical Centers, among other advocates, for their work to promote tobacco-free air.
NEW BUSINESSES, RELOCATIONS, OPERATIONS
On July 23, after years of planning, the Westchester Children’s Museum (WCM) took part in an official lease-signing ceremony in front of Rye Playland’s North Bathhouse. County Executive Robert Astorino signed the lease, which followed unanimous approval from the Westchester County Board of Legislators and the Board of Acquisition & Contract. With the key to the North Bathhouse in hand and the county’s renovation work now complete, WCM is ready to assume control of the property and begin transforming the space into a children’s museum.
Westchester County’s Local Development Corporation (LDC) approved the reissuance of tax exempt bonds that financed SUNY Purchase’s Alumni Village student housing complex, a move that will save the college roughly $2 million over the next 20 years. Built in 2002, Alumni Village houses more than 400 students in on-campus apartments and was financed through bonds issued by the Westchester County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). The college has been looking to refinance those bonds to take advantage of current low interest rates.
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Westchester commercial real estate company NAI Friedland has merged with Benson Commercial Realty of Tarrytown and Greenwich. Scott H. Benson will take the helm of the merged company, which will keep the NAI Friedland name. Benson will assume responsibility for brokerage operations, business development, and expansion into new markets. The merger combines two established, privately held commercial real estate firms that have been in business for a combined 65-plus years, and which jointly handle over 180 exclusive commercial properties.
BIZ BUZZ: OUR BUSINESS BLOG
THE SECRET TO PEPSI’S SUCCESS: SNACKING
PLUS: DeCicco’s market bids farewell to Bronxville; Reader’s Digest’s Westchester Footprint Shrinks; Westchester Community College Tuition to Hold Steady.
Citing a diverse portfolio of both drinks and snacks, Purchase-based PepsiCo Inc. reported a quarterly profit that topped Wall Street expectations. While its Americas Beverage saw volume fall 3.5 percent, the company, which makes Gatorade, Doritos, Tropicana, and Quaker, said volume rose 2 percent in its Americas Foods for the quarter, while prices rose 5 percent.
And while that global food and beverage powerhouse enjoyed profitability, a regional grocer, DeCicco Family Markets, closed its Bronxville location, which recently introduced a newly renovated, 7,500-square-foot prepared-food bar. The company cited competition from bigger chains. The largest DeCicco’s market is currently in Brewster, with additional locations in Armonk, Harrison, and Ardsley.
By giving up two floors of its White Plains office space, Reader’s Digest Association Inc. has further reduced its Westchester presence. Three years ago, the publishing company closed its 70-year-old New Castle headquarters and relocated its operations to Manhattan and White Plains. In late June, Reader’s Digest closed on a new 54,000-square-foot lease at 44 S Broadway.
Tuition for nearly 14,000 students at Westchester Community College will not increase next year under a proposed budget submitted this week by County Executive Robert Astorino with the backing of the college’s president and Board of Trustees.
HOT PROPERTIES – 914INC.’S COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE
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Property: 277 Martine Ave, White Plains
Brokered by: Tom Liptak, Liptak Commercial Realty, (914) 946-4600
Description: Four spaces available, ranging from 300 to 6,000 square feet. Rental rate:
$20 – $22.92 sq ft/year
Availability: Retail Space with 14 store-front windows located at the corner of South Broadway & Martine Ave. Daily Traffic Count: approximately 28,000.
Surrounded by Westchester Mall restaurants, banks, gymnasiums, and municipal buildings.
Selling Points: Property is heavily windowed, with high ceilings, offering gateway location to White Plains commercial and retail district. Easy access to major highways. Includes ample parking and 24/7 building access.
Downside: Class B space.
914 DATEBOOK – UPCOMING BUSINESS EVENTS
TUESDAY, 9/17/13
“Celebrate Aging” Village Fair Seeks Exhibitors
Mount Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Drive, Valhalla. 9 am – 2 pm. The general registration fee is $100; for non-profits, $50. Local businesses and non-profit organizations can now register to be exhibitors at “Celebrate Aging,” the first Livable Communities Age-Friendly Village Fair. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to market your products and services directly to the dynamic and involved seniors and caregivers who live in Westchester County. Contact Valerie Cursio at (914) 813-6427 or vqc9@westchestergov.com with any questions. More information at www.westchestergov.com/seniors.
SATURDAY, 9/21/13
Village of Ossining’s Bicentennial Harborfest
1 Harbor Square, Ossining. 10 am- 9 pm. Free. Explore the natural beauty of Ossining’s waterfront with this daylong festival for the whole family. See the tall ships, enjoy a boat ride, and learn more about Hudson River preservation efforts from the crew of the Clearwater Sloop. Featuring a wide range of vendors, food, live entertainment and fireworks. Call (914) 941-3554 or visit www.celebrateossining.com.
WEDNESDAY, 8/28/13
Develop Your Sales Strategy
120 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains. Free. Presented by SCORE Westchester, this seminar, conducted by Charles Auerbach, will cover establishing a Unique Competitive Edge as a first step in developing a sales strategy. It will also discuss the basic elements for creating a sales approach, including: designing a customer profile; performing market research; determining a process for targeting the market; sales presentation techniques and identifying resistances. Register at www.scorewestchester.com.
Do you have tips, scoop, or gossip concerning business in Westchester? If so, our INComing blogger, Lisa Cesarano, is all ears. Please email her with a short pitch to 914incoming@gmail.com.
Upcoming events should be submitted no later than Sunday, August 11, to be considered for the August 20 edition. Please submit business-related events only; no fundraisers or consumer events.
