Workshops
Below is an impressive list of presenters and their biographies.
1. QuickBooks Beginner "Which QuickBooks is better for me?
Presented by Adrienne Haber, Controller, Salsberg Group
2. What Bankers want to see (Bank & Microlenders panel discussion)
Moderated by: Nancy Carin, Executive Director, Business Outreach Center Network, Inc.
Nancy Carin is well known in New York City as an innovator in small business programs. She was instrumental in developing a new model for community-based economic development and created a multi-cultural, multi-community coalition to support local entrepreneurs in seven diverse New York City neighborhoods and Newark, New Jersey. In all, Ms. Carin boasts over fifteen years of financial and microenterprise development experience and has worked extensively with minority groups and women-owned businesses. She piloted the Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network model in 1990, leading to its development as an independent 501 C3 in 1996. Ms Carin continues in the role of Executive Director today, supervising a staff of seventeen.
In 1995 she spearheaded a joint venture with Women’s World Banking, joining eight organizations world-wide to develop women’s business networks. In 2001, she successfully launched BOC Capital Corp., a micro-loan fund certified as a Community Development Financial Institution in 2002 that provides financial assistance to low income and underrepresented communities throughout New York City. Ms. Carin successfully grew BOC Capital Corp.’s capitalization through grants and loans from U.S. Department of the Treasury CDFI Fund, U.S. Economic Development Administration, U.S. Small Business Administration, Empire State Development Corporation and major banking institutions.
In addition to her work developing the BOC Network, she originated a U.S. Department of Labor demonstration project which trained NYC employment programs in the application of customized workplace literacy methodologies from 1992-1994, and later utilized this methodology to design a high-tech training program which began in 1997, and customized child care business development program in 2002. Until 1990, she worked in the not-for-profit sector, providing leadership strategies in program development, housing development and community needs assessment. Ms. Carin is a Certified Economic Development Finance Professional, a licensed Real Estate Broker, and graduated from Barnard College.
Speakers include: Betty A. Tamberg, Senior Vice President, Bank of America
Betty Ann Tamberg is a Senior Vice President with Bank of America’s Business Banking group. Bank of America Business Banking is one of the largest providers of financial solutions and advice to growing companies in the United States with annual revenues between $2MM and $50MM. Betty Ann, in her capacity as Senior Client Manager provides loans, treasury management, leasing and private banking through her partnerships with other key areas of the bank.
Betty Ann started her career 23 years ago at Chemical Bank where she was formally credit trained. Over the years she worked at what is now called JP Morgan Chase, EAB, and Independence/Sovereign Bank, evolving from credit analyst to a seasoned and trusted advisor to her clients and prospects.
Betty Ann resides in Brooklyn with her husband of 32 years and two sons.
Natalie Bries, Vice President, Sovereign Bank
Natalie Bries is a Vice President of the Business Banking group at Sovereign Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Banco Santander. As a Relationship Manager, Natalie specializes in small to medium-sized companies and works very closely with internal partners to provide each client a customized suite of products and services, ranging from business accounts to credit facilities, cash management, and foreign trade services. Natalie holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Duke University and has over 15 years of experience in account management, commercial lending and microfinance. She is a member of the Manhattan Chamber and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and works closely with various community development organizations and microlenders throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Bartley Higgins, Director of Lending, Brooklyn Cooperative FCU
Bartley Higgins is the Director of Lending for Brooklyn Cooperative FCU, where he has worked since 2005. Bartley is simultaneously responsible for both providing and managing lending and business technical assistance services to credit union members. During his tenure, Bartley has helped hundreds of businesses access financing who would otherwise face difficulties in acquiring the capital needed to grow their business. With his expertise as a service provider, he regularly serves on panels throughout New York City that address financing for microenterprises and small business. Bartley has also worked with ACCION New York in the lending and marketing department, and has consulted with SKS Microfinance in Hyderabad, India. He holds a BA in History from Reed College.
3. How to raise money from friends, angels, and venture capital firms
Moderated by: Steven Salsberg, Founder, Salsberg Group
Steven P. Salsberg is founder of the Salsberg Group of companies (www.salsberggroup.com) and is Vice Chairman of the Council on the Environment of New York City (www.cenyc.org) appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. He is active in diverse entities including technology and shipping. He is an attorney and member of the Bars of New York and New Jersey. Steven splits his time between public interest work and technology related to mobile payments and transparency in banking and government financed construction projects.
He is a member and active director of numerous boards including the Board of Visitors of the CUNY School of Law (www.law.cuny.edu) and The Friends of Hudson River Park (www.fohrp.org), and the Social Venture Network (www.SVN.org).
Much of Steven’s entrepreneurial work is social policy in action, rooted in his well-known dedication to expanding opportunities for underserved populations and his commitments to Corporate Social Responsibility. Steven often speaks about Attainable-Measurable-Sustainable ™ business practices. He and his wife Orly Natan Salsberg, CEO of Salsberg Group, own a sustainable wine bar in New York called Café Notte (www.NotteWineBar.com).
Speakers include: Mark Weiner, Principal, Equinox Advisors, LLC
Mark Weiner is a New York-based lawyer, media producer and business advisor. He is active in counseling clients in the entertainment, technology, and multimedia industries. He is also the principal of Equinox Advisors, LLC, a management consulting and advisory firm serving the entertainment, technology, financial and energy industries, and a partner in Vantera Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm based in Los Angeles and Newport Beach, CA.
As Executive Vice President and General Counsel to Dick Scott Entertainment, Inc., Mr. Weiner was a key company executive in the handling the New Kids On The Block music group, which sold tens of millions of recordings and also revolutionized the music-inspired merchandising business. Mr. Weiner had primary responsibility for the New Kids’ hugely successful merchandising and licensing program. He was also the senior executive in charge of administration of a company with over one hundred employees, offices in New York, London, Los Angeles and Boston, and clients such as Boyz II Men, Mark Wahlberg, Teddy Riley, C&C Music Factory, Snap, Brenda K. Starr, James Ingram, and Patti Austin. As a result, Mr. Weiner has a high degree of expertise in the management and marketing of major entertainment properties and celebrities. As a music producer, Mr. Weiner has produced a series of celebrity/charity recordings with Capitol Records, including “Big League Rocks”, featuring Major League Baseball Stars, and benefiting the Player’s Trust for Children and “NBC Celebrity Christmas”, which raised One Million Dollars for the Children’s Miracle Network. As a film producer, Mr. Weiner has served as Associate Producer of the ABC Movie of the Week “The Good Doctor”, and as Executive Producer of the independent features “Twisted,” an Official Selection at the 1997 Berlin Film Festival, and “Virgin”, which was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards (2004), won a number of Festival awards and was released theatrically the September of 2004.
As a business and financial advisor, Mr. Weiner has worked with numerous private and public companies in the areas of strategic planning, management consulting, business development and financing strategies, including mergers, acquisitions and public offerings. He focuses on the Media, Communications, Technology and Energy Sectors. In the media and communications areas, he has developed expertise in the convergence of media and new technologies. In the Energy sector, he has focused on identifying new or improved technologies in the “Clean Tech” arena primarily focusing on biomass conversion, energy storage and transmission, solar, wind and development of non-toxic additives for the cement industry. Mr. Weiner has also developed “Green” cost effective energy solutions and financing models for the hospitality and healthcare industries and is involved in a number of global initiatives to provide funding opportunities for investors in the areas of infrastructure and sustainable technology for emerging economies.
Mr. Weiner grew up in New Haven, Connecticut and graduated from BostonUniversity and the Boston University School of Law. He is married, has two children and resides in Nyack, New York.
Ryan Mack, President, Optimum Capital Management
President of Optimum Capital Management, Ryan Mack, has a life mission to build and develop a durable financial empire geared towards educating his community and beyond. Ryan Mack graduated from the University of Michigan Business School (ranked number one in the country) with a concentration in Finance. His career in equity markets began in Detroit, Michigan as a stock trader and later as a trader for the largest NASDAQ trading firm in the nation, Knight Securities. Having a passion for teaching he established his own financial awareness group in 2003 where he began to publish regular newsletters about various financial related issues that were of interest to people from all income levels. (Blogs weekly for The Huffington Post). In addition to being a financial advisor working with many prominent clients across the U.S., he charitably lends his support to inner-city communities by coordinating workshops and creating economic empowerment initiatives that teach the principles of understanding the power of financial literacy (spiritual, mental, financial). Unions, churches, government-subsidized housing communities, municipal programs, nonprofits, inner-city organizations, international communities and especially colleges and universities have benefited from the financial/social workshops/programs that he has developed and instructed through Optimum Capital Management.
As a renowned public speaker he has provided keynote presentations to organizations across the country such as NAACP, National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Housing Preservation and Development, National Urban League, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Black MBA Association and many others. With a strong sense of philanthropy he flew to South Africa to teach economic empowerment principles to those in need and has partnered with the local District Attorney’s office to teach financial literacy to previously incarcerated community residents with the aim of lowering recidivism rates. He can be regularly viewed on television networks such as GMTV, CNBC, CNN and BET discussing economic/social/political issues that impact American citizens. Ryan has also been profiled in Tavis Smiley's Covenant and Action, co-authored a book with Kevin Powell entitled “The Black Male Handbook”, featured in Black Enterprise Magazine & NV Magazine, nominated for the 40 under 40 achievement award from Network Journal and received Tom Joyner's "Hardest Working Financial Advisor Award" because of his efforts to empower the community with the crucial life skills of financial literacy. Whether he is counseling a group of doctors at a convention or in Rikers Island providing a free course, Ryan Mack’s comprehensive, exciting approach to teaching economic empowerment to all income levels has generated a level of much needed interest in a volatile economy.
4. Understanding Financials: P&L Projections (Distinguishing b/t Cash Flow & P&L)
Presented by: Brian Gurski, Director, LaGuardia Small Business Development Center
Currently serving as Director of the LaGuardia Community College Small Business Development Center, Brian has led economic development programs at LaGuardia since 2005. In addition to supporting the SBDC’s team of Business Advisors, he regularly counsels business clients and has developed and taught curricula on a range of topics in small business management and financial literacy in Spanish and English. In 2007, his leadership in international trade promotion initiatives helped the SBDC to be recognized with the Export Assistance Award by the US Commercial Service. Brian has also conducted applied research projects on business and financial literacy issues in new immigrant communities which have been presented at conferences such as the Association for Enterprise Opportunity. Prior to LaGuardia, Brian was a consultant for CARE India’s microfinance program, the Queens Lending Team Manager for ACCION New York, and a Registered Investment Advisor in the financial services industry.
Marketing - Track #2
1. Customer satisfaction & retention
Moderated by: Francisco Acosta, Executive Vice President, Internal Business Consulting
Mr. Acosta heads up the sales division of Internal Business Consulting, a New York company focusing on payment processing and cost reduction consulting. In sales since 1984, his career spans direct, retail, manufacturing, telemarketing and corporate sales.
Along with his varied selling background, Mr. Acosta has contributed to training initiatives for several companies. He has created the sales presentations that have been used by entire sales organizations. He has also innovated training strategies for several companies. At one company he streamlined the training schedule to such a degree that the time it took for new sales representatives to become productive went from three months to two weeks.
The majority of his experience has been in the credit card processing industry, where he has represented some of the largest processors in the country. His extensive corporate training, coupled with his creativity, has given Mr. Acosta a unique differential advantage. His vision and commitment to excellence are the driving forces behind his success.
Panelists include: Martha Shaw, Founder, Earth Advertising
The original founder of Earth Advertising is Martha Shaw who has served as an executive and creative director in the nation's largest ad agencies as well as those in Japan and Latin America. Her projects have included product launches of today's leading brands. She is known for her often whimsical style, award-winning copywriting and sense of the audience.
Martha's advertising campaigns have earned her press and accolades in print and broadcast including Adweek Creative All-Star, the Radio Mercury Award, One Show, LA Beldings, New York Art Director Show and New England Broadcast Best of Show.
She founded Earth Advertising and her production company, eFlicks Media, on the premise that the strength of the media could be effective in promoting sustainable goods and practices that support a healthier environment and healthier people.
Jason Jeffries, Founder & CEO, BlenderBox
Jason is the CEO and Co-founder of Blenderbox, an award-winning interactive agency based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Jason founded Blenderbox with his wife, Sarah McLoughlin, in 2000. Sarah is the Creative Director and Jason heads up the technology side of the business. Together they are a full service design and technology company.
Jason and Sarah met in a Williamsburg loft conversion where their Coffee Shop and Cheese Shop were founded and still operate today. Eight years later, all three businesses are thriving and Blenderbox is now a twenty person agency.
Under Jason and Sarah's direction, Blenderbox has grown its client roster to include The Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Goldman Sachs, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National Geographic, The Clinton Foundation, Scholastic, Bric Arts I Media I Brooklyn, The Better Business Bureau, Hearst Publications, Silverstein Propeties, and the USO.
Jason and Sarah have assembled a strong team of information architects, designers and developers who work on large and small scale initiatives. In addition to client work, they have maintained a strong sense of community giving back via the development of numerous community and non-profit websites including a notable community website devoted to Williamsburg, Brooklyn called billburg.com.
2. Marketing & Pitching your Products & Services (Marketing ROI, Brand Loyalty & Segmentation)
Moderated by: Paul D. Miller, Principle, Paul D. Miller Design
Paul D. Miller is an award-winning designer known for his skill and visionin creating corporate and brand identities and retail merchandising environments. Mr. Miller has conceived and executed a variety of successful programs for major Multinationals, Domestic Corporations and Not-for-Profit Organizations , including Rosenthal China, Gillette, Godiva, Masterfoods, NutraSweet, Clairol, Kodak, Revlon, Unilever, Electrolux, Wilson Sporting Goods and NY American Marketing Association, ITAC, NYIRN and Spec It Green.He has been on all sides of the desk: Design & Marketing Consultant, Corporate Management, R&D & Manufacturing.
Prior to re-starting his own firm he was with Southwood Industries, a Visual Merchandising Company, and a Strategic Partner of International Paper as EVP Marketing & Design, he was VP Creative Director of DIAM International and served as Design Director of the GAF Corporation Worldwide.
Mr. Miller's work has been honored by the Museum of Modern Art (Permanent Design Collection), Belgium Design Center, POPAI, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, The NY Art Directors Club, Industrial Design Magazine, and IDEA Magazine (Japan). He was an adjunct lecturer at the Design Management Institute in Boston and for the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington DC.
Panelists include: Steven Amiel, Founder & CEO, Marketing Mentors, Inc.
Steven built and sold three successful printing companies during 25 of the most volatile years in the industry. When digital technology exploded on the scene, he quickly adapted and transformed his business from a conventional printing operation to the more profitable world of solutions-based selling. He is now passionately committed to helping other companies make that same, crucial transition—harnessing the power of technology to expand the value proposition and open up new markets. Steven not only has the experience and vision to guide companies effectively, but the compassion and insight that come from years in the trenches.
Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Founder, Fuel Outdoor
Sergio Fernández de Córdova is founder of Fuel Outdoor. Started in 2003, Fuel Outdoor has grown into a Multi-Million Dollar company with six offices in nine cities nationwide, and is now a portfolio company of Och-Ziff, a global institutional asset management firm with over $38 billion in capital. With more than 4,000 outdoor advertising locations, a growing portfolio of clients, and a very active philanthropic program, Sergio Fernández de Córdova is more than just a sharp businessman; he’s a young entrepreneur with an incredible ability to turn opportunity to success seemingly overnight.
Today, as a shareholder and founder of Fuel, Sergio heads the Real Estate, Government Affairs, and Legal Divisions at the 3rd largest privately owned outdoor advertising company in the country that Fuel Outdoor has become. He manages all of Fuel’s real estate operations, as well as managing all legislative affairs and legal initiatives for Fuel. Sergio continues to change the landscape he plays in by bringing innovation and private public partnerships to new levels as he has been working with cities like Miami, New York and Dallas helping them rewrite their sign ordinance in order to create new income streams to municipalities otherwise not being utilized, the income stream generated from around the country estimate at over 25MM of new opportunities being created.
He continues to be lauded for his work at Fuel and outside. The New York Enterprise Report nominated Sergio for several awards: Sales and Marketing in 2006, Leadership in 2007 and Mergers and acquisitions in 2008. In addition, in 2007 Sergio was nominated as New York’s Best Up and Coming CEO by the NYC Executive Council and in 2008 as New York’s Best Up and Coming Executive, out of more than 400 executives.
Sergio continues to support the New York business community as a Chair of the Political Affairs Committee for the Organization of New York business owners. He is currently a board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization and a member of the House Board at the Friars Club after three years of sitting on their Board of Admissions and has been featured in publications like Crain’s New York Business, Fortune Small Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, Wired, The Daily News and New York Enterprise Report.
Sergio Fernández de Córdova is, and will continue to be, a shining example of what an entrepreneur should be. By understanding that business can make a positive community impact, Sergio provides for his company by providing what others need. Sergio is not only successful in driving his businesses forward, but also in giving back to the people and the communities in the world around him.
Jim Holiber, General Manager & Corporate Counsel, Green Depot, LLC
Jim is a dedicated “Green” business advocate and business leader, who in recognition of this commitment has been elected to the Board of Directors of the United States Green Building Council’s New York Chapter. He is chairman of the Expo Committee, USGBC New York Chapter’s major fund raising event. He also Co-Chairs and is a Founding Member of the CEO Trust – Quovis, a small business leader forum. Jim is a member of the Advisory Board of the DBM, International Center for Executive Options, a premier U.S. Human Capital Consulting firm.
In his twenty plus year business and legal career Jim has worked in media, practiced law with a leading New York City law firm, and lead the turnaround of a multi-state real estate and commercial building products distributor. Most recently Jim has turned his attention to his passion for the “Green Building Products” markets. In 2006 he joined the Northeast’s leading commercial and residential “Green” building products marketer & distributor in order to lead its aggressive retail growth initiative into the eleventh state in just 3.5 years.
As Green Depot’s General Manager, Jim Holiber is responsible for ensuring that each new center and all facets of Green Depot’s operations are optimized for peak efficiency, maximum sales growth, business plan execution, best practices and superior customer relations. This role extends not only to multi-branch operations and sales, but to the successful launch of new locations and vendor lines. In addition, Jim is responsible for ongoing staff training and mentoring, is a member of Green Depot’s Internal Product Assessment committee, and oversees in-house legal affairs.
Prior to joining Green Depot in 2006, Jim was President and CEO of The Bay Ridge Companies, a multi-location building material distribution company, where he had spent 18 years in various leadership roles in operations, sales and finance, and as the firm’s General Counsel. Early in Jim's career, he held leadership roles at the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), involved in corporate strategic planning and the management of in-house TV production. While at NBC, Jim earned his law degree at night and went on to work at a New York law firm handling corporate, real estate and immigration law matters before entering the lumber distribution business.
Jim resides with his wife and two children in Westchester County, New York and enjoys skiing, traveling and spending time with his family.
3. Search Engine Optimization & Social Networking
Moderated By: Elisa Balabram, Director, Local Development Corporation of East New York
Ms. Elisa Balabram is the director of the Local Development Corporation of East New York’s Business Enterprise Center (BEC). She is responsible for managing the SBA’s Women’s Business Center (WBC), New York State’s Entrepreneurial Assistance Program and NYC’s Economic Development Program. Prior to joining the LDC, Ms. Balabram was the director of the Hunts Point Women’s Business Center in the Bronx. She has assisted women and minorities start and grow their businesses through coaching, counseling, and workshops and training. Ms. Balabram has been a guest speaker at a number of conferences, workshops and forums in the Northeast. She frequently gives lectures on Internet Marketing and Marketing Strategies, subjects in which she has recognized expertise.
In 2008, Ms. Balabram received the SBA NY Women in Business Champion of the Year Award. She holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship Management from Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College, CUNY, and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Before moving to New York, she assisted in building her family business for over ten years, and still creates its marketing strategy. She is currently authoring a book on women entrepreneurship and is the founder and editor of WomenandBiz.com online magazine for women entrepreneurs.
Panelists include: Michael Ferranti, Founder and CEO, Endai Worldwide
Mike is the founder and CEO of Endai Worldwide. He has led the company's capitalization, brand and product strategy, and client acquisition since inception. Mike brings over 12 years of marketing, sales, and technology experience to Endai. He has provided solutions, software, and consulting services to many clients large and small. Mike is a recognized thought leader in search engine, email, and direct response marketing. He provides commentary and analysis to the media including Bloomberg TV, Brandweek, and DM News. Mike received an MBA from University at Albany and an Entrepreneurial Masters from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Mike is a fitness enthusiast. He has competed in several triathalons, and enjoys working out and surfing.
Jennifer M. Shaheen CIW, CI, President, Technology Therapy
Jennifer Shaheen, eMarketing and Technology Therapist®, is an expert at helping small and mid-sized companies use technology to leverage effective marketing strategies and increase business productivity. Jennifer having years of in-depth technological experience has an understanding of how technology can be used in practical business applications. Her techniques have boosted sales, enhanced staff productivity, and increased market share. Jennifer is a strong advocate of the small business owner. She has partnered with organizations such as: National Organization for Women New York City Chapter, NAWBO, SCORE and Freelancers Union. She has served on the board of the American Marketing Associations Southern New England Chapter, as the eMarketing chair.
Her company, The Technology Therapy Group, also provides website development and web marketing for growing businesses across the country. Jennifer is a certified software trainer and educator. She was one of the premier certified Instructors in the area of Web Development. Ms Shaheen shares her expertise as an adjunct professor at Johnson & Whales University and is a featured speaker at multiple national business conferences. Her key topics have included: eCommerce essentials for start-up businesses, Effective email marketing, Winning Business Online and The Future Is Now Leveraging Social Media for Growing a Small Business. Jennifer is an active contributing author to many online publications including; Womenandbiz.com, New York Enterprise Report, Entrepreneur.com and Small Business Computing.
Eleanor Traubman, Creator/Writer, CreativeTimes
Editor-in-Chief of Creative Times: A Blog for Artists & Entrepreneurs, Eleanor Traubman provides stories, interviews, tools and resources for living an inspired and effective life. The blog reflects her mission to bring people together through the arts, creativity, and humor.
Eleanor is a consultant to artists and entrepreneurs who want partnership and teamwork to be more central to their projects. She teaches her clients how to use both on-line and face-to-face interactions to develop leadership skills and build communities of clients, customers, and collaborators.
Eleanor plans events for artists and entrepreneurs who want to build their networks and stay on the cutting edge of professional and creative growth. She organizes The Brooklyn Blogfest, an annual gathering of veteran and aspiring bloggers. In addition, she convenes The Brooklyn Blogade, a monthly gathering of Brooklyn Bloggers. Eleanor has been featured in Time Out New York, The Brooklyn Paper, Family Circle, The Sun Times Chronicle, and Fitness, and was listed as one of the Park Slope 100.
4. Green Face-to-Face Marketing- Events , Displays, and Retail POP
Presented by: Gary Survis, Managing Partner, Go Green Displays
To Gary Survis, managing partner of First Trade Show/Go Green Displays, designing effective trade show and graphic displays has been a passion as well as a vocation. “If a booth doesn’t create an immersive, engaging experience, it’s just an expensive, wasteful prop,” says Gary.
Whether designing traditional displays for Fortune 100 companies or entering into his latest venture, Go Green Displays, Gary combines his marketing and business background with his love for practical aesthetics to create settings that capture a brand’s essence and successfully broadcast it.
After founding Top Quality Digital/First Trade Show four years ago, Gary is taking the trade show industry to the next level with the creation of his newlylaunched Go Green Displays. Go Green Displays will focus on practical green exhibits that not only offer environmentally-friendly benefits but are costeffective, visually appealing and fit with a company’s positioning. Survis’ entrée into the world of green marketing comes at time when the industry is just beginning to review its practices. The trade show industry is a big producer of commercial waste. Gary and his company saw this problem as an opportunity to improve the entire industry. Survis has contributed to the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association (EDPA) committee to develop green standards for the trade show industry. He is also participated on the green panel for the New Jersey Global Green Expo sponsored by PSE&G in 2008.
Prior to becoming a leader in the trade show industry, Survis enjoyed a successful career in marketing and consulting, working with such venerable institutions as the Hay Group, American Express and PRG-Schultz. At the Hay Group, Survis worked with a wide variety of industries, including consumer products, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and retail. While with American Express, he was part of the team marketing American Express Card Student Program and the small business corporate card. As a managing director for PRG-Schultz, Survis was responsible for new product development. Survis has been featured in multiple publications including Forbes.com, Trade Show Week, Exhibitor Magazine, Exhibit Builder and Biz Bash. Go Green Display’s first exhibit for the annual New York Toy Fair was featured on BusinessWeek.com. He has written articles that have appeared in NJ Enterprise, Digital Graphics, and The New York Enterprise Report.
Recent Green projects have included work for Sephora, Mattel, Ricoh, and Hotel Indigo (part of Intercontinental Hotel Group). He’s been a speaker for BizBash, TS2 Exhibit and Event Show and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Survis is also a member of the Exhibit Designers and Producers Association, the Specialty Graphic Imaging Association and the Trade Show Exhibitors Association. Go Green Displays was honored as a finalist in the NY Enterprise Report 2008 Small Business Awards in the inaugural category of Green Business. He holds an MBA from New York University, Stern School of Business. Survis completed his BA in Entrepreneurial Management and Political Science at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Gary is active participant in a variety of volunteer activities including religious, civic, and alumni boards.
Sustainability - Track #3
1. Local Innovation in the Emerging Green Economy
Moderated by: Peter Strugatz, CEO, Icestone, LLC
Peter is currently Co-CEO of IceStone, a building products manufacturer. As Co-founder and Co-CEO of IceStone since 2003, Peter is helping lead IceStone to be the #1 Green Countertop Company in the country. A high design green durable surface made with up to 75% recycled glass and is Cradle to Cradle certified, IceStone keeps glass out of landfills. Peter has applied his 20 years of manufacturing and management experience to develop strategic relationships with world class partners in both the cast concrete and polished stone industries developing IceStone. In addition, Mr. Strugatz leads the company’s fundraising and investor relations, which brought in over $10 million for IceStone’s start-up and growth.
As head of Strugatz Ventures for 7 years, Peter has invested in several social purpose companies including Stonyfield Farm Yogurt, Hypercar, Wild Planet Toys, Zipcar, and Utah Ventures. He seeks financial, social and environmental returns that support sustainable communities and children. He is a former board member of the Social Venture Network and the ALS Association.
Mr. Strugatz is the former CEO of Austin Productions, a home-furnishings manufacturer. He successfully helped grow Austin's business and their facilities in three countries. Under his management, Austin grew to $28 million in sales with 500 employees and 350,000 square feet of world-class manufacturing space. Mr. Strugatz excels in team building and encourages a healthy, motivated workforce. His experience is broad, and he intuitively understands the challenges of the links among marketing, sales, and manufacturing.
Panelists include: Brent Baker, CEO, Tri-State Biodiesel
Brent is a pioneer of the biodiesel movement and has been a biodiesel educator and producer since the fuel emerged in the United States about 14 years ago. He is now a nationally known spokesman on biodiesel and related issues. Brent is an environmental advocate who has been focused on various sustainability issues for over 20 years. Prior to founding Tri-State Biodiesel in 2004, he was the Executive Director and founder of Biotour.org, a non-profit organization that specialized in global warming and sustainability education. Through his work at Biotour.org and Tri-State Biodiesel, Brent has educated hundreds of thousands of Americans about the dangers of global warming and the benefits of biodiesel fuel.
Brent has been the subject of numerous print articles, radio and television programs including in the New York Times, National Public Radio, ABC's Business Week Weekend and PBS News Hour, which called him a "Johnny Appleseed of biodiesel." Baker is currently advising members of the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council on biodiesel policy. He also serves as a consultant to other biodiesel start-ups and is featured in the award-winning documentary "Fuel."
Baker, who has met with Al Gore and biodiesel superstar Willie Nelson, is called upon regularly to be interviewed or speak at biodiesel industry and environmental forums. More recently, Brent was nominated for Social Venture Network's Innovators Award for his work at Tri-State Biodiesel.
Marni Horwitz, Founder, Alive Structures
Marni Horwitz was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up working within her mother’s landscape design company, and is now continuing the family tradition of promoting naturalistic horticultural in urban environments. Alive Structures was founded in 2006, after Marni had become a certified Green Roof and Green Wall installer. Since the company’s incorporation they have installed several green roofs, green walls, and ecological gardens throughout New York City.
In the years before founding Alive Structures, Marni worked for industry shaping environmental agencies such as Green Living Technologies, The Gaia Institute, Center for the Urban Environment, Inform, and Eidolon Culture while continuing her work with landscape designers. She will be completing her certificate in Biology Conservation from Columbia University by Spring 2009. Marni plans to merge her academic studies with her business by creating natural habitat in New York’s underutilized spaces, making the City a more beautiful, diverse, and healthy place to live.
Andrew Personette, Executive Director, Ecosystems Brand
Andrew has designed contract furniture, high end men’s fashion, show rooms and store interiors for Jhane Barnes Inc., a multidisciplinary design firm. In 2005 he founded Acolyte, a consulting firm focused on developing socially responsible businesses. His background in the furniture industry and focus on social and environmental responsibility are what spurred the creation of EcoSystems. As the Executive Director of EcoSystems Andrew blazes the trail toward a waste free future with simple frameworks for planet friendly products.
2. Changes and Opportunities in Waste Management and Recycling in New York City
Presented by: David Biderman, General Counsel & NYC lobbyist, National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA)
David Biderman is General Counsel and New York City lobbyist for the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA). David is responsible for the solid waste industry’s program and activities in New York City, and lobbies the City Council, Department of Sanitation, Business Integrity Commission and other City officials. He develops the association’s position on legal and environmental issues, including flow control and interstate. David is also responsible for NSWMA’s Safety Program, including the Be Safe, Be Proud safety videos and Safety Monday, the Association’s weekly safety newsletter, and is a frequent speaker on safety and compliance issues.
Before David joined NSWMA in 1997, he practiced environmental law at Steptoe & Johnson, a Washington, D.C. law firm, where he worked for eight years, focusing on environmental, health and safety, and transportation issues.
David attended The Johns Hopkins University where he received a B.A. in Political Science in 1985 and received his law degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.
3. Energy Audit Training presented by Win-Win Campaign
Presented by: Antuan Cannon, Co-Founder & Director of Business Strategy, Envirolution
Antuan Cannon is the co-founder and director of business development for Envirolution, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to providing green career development opportunities for high school and college students through green education, civic engagement, and job training programs. At Envirolution, Antuan focuses on developing tools and models for business-greening and green job creation strategies.
Born in Mexico and raised in California, Antuan spent a year of high school studying in France before enrolling in Yale University. At Yale, he double majored in Economics and East Asian Studies. Antuan also studied Portuguese and Chinese, and studied abroad in Brazil and in a Buddhist Monastery in Taiwan.
Professionally, Antuan works as an energy auditor at EME Group, a full service engineering and sustainability consulting company that specializes in energy and LEED projects. There, he manages the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Small Business Energy Audit Program for the majority of the NYC metropolitan area.
Antuan has also worked as a strategy, marketing and/or green consultant to various non-profits and boutique firms, and sits on the executive committee of the NYC Chapter of the Sierra Club.
4. Understanding Green Collar Jobs
Moderated by: Tania Beaubrun, Deputy Director for Skills Programs, St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corporation, Workforce Development
Tania Beaubrun is the Deputy Director of Skills Training at St. Nicholas Neighborhood Preservation Corp. She is overseeing the new Green Jobs training program at St. Nick’s with the focus expanding their current Environmental Remediation & Response training program as well as the launching of the Photovoltaic Installation. One of Tania’s primary goals for St. Nick’s is to ensure that St. Nick’s becomes recognized as an acknowledged leader in promoting green efficiency and a trained workforce to make it sustainable.
Prior to joining St. Nick’s, Tania served as program director for an international nonprofit organization. Tania also has experience in workforce development, strategic planning and piloting new initiatives.
A Brooklyn native, Tania received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Binghamton University. She attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice for her Masters in Public Administration.
Panelists include: Baye Adofo-Wilson, Executive Director, Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District
Baye Adofo-Wilson, Esq is the Executive Director of Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District (LPCCD). He is leading the transformation of a low-income neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey into an urban eco-village. His mission is to revitalize the neighborhood by creating an arts and cultural district which includes US Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified housing units, green jobs, music festivals, historic restoration projects and the Museum of African American Music, a Smithsonian Institute Affiliate.
Before running LPCCD, Baye was the Director of the New Jersey office of the Regional Plan Association, the nation’s oldest private, non-profit regional planning organization. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and English from Rutgers University, a Masters degree in Regional Planning from Cornell University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania.
Andrew H. Kimball, President and CEO, Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation
In December 2005, Mayor Bloomberg appointed Andrew Kimball President and Chief Executive Officer of the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation (BNYDC), a non-profit development corporation that manages the 300-acre Navy Yard on behalf of its owner, the City of New York. BNYDC leases approximately four million square feet of space in the Yard to 240 diverse tenants, promotes local economic development, develops underutilized areas and oversees modernization of the Yard’s infrastructure. Additionally, the corporation manages waterfront assets that include three active dry docks and five piers.
Since the fall 2006, Mayor Bloomberg and Mr. Kimball have announced an eight-building expansion in the Yard adding over 1.7 million square feet of new industrial space, $250 million of private investment, and 2000 new jobs. This expansion is the largest at the Yard since WWII. BNYDC is currently developing plans for another 40 acres of development. In leading its aggressive industrial expansion agenda, Mr. Kimball has also significantly broadened BNYDC’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the celebration of the Navy Yard’s rich history. In early 2009, BNYDC will cut the ribbon on the nation’s first multi-story, multi-tenanted green industrial building that will include wind turbines and solar panels among its sustainable components. Five additional major new green industrial buildings and adaptive reuses of historic structures are in design. BNYDC was the first Brooklyn organization to use solar powered trash compactors and is currently installing some of the nation’s first solar and solar/wind street lamps.
Prior to his appointment, Mr. Kimball served as Director of Operations for NYC2012, the privately funded bid to bring the 2012 Olympic Games to New York City. He oversaw the organization’s 72-person staff and all aspects of its day-to-day operations and technical submissions to the International Olympic Committee including the 600-page “bid book”. He also oversaw all legal and policy work and successfully negotiated 28 venue leases, marketing and government services agreements, and contracts for 45,000 hotel rooms and 650,000 advertising signs and billboards.
Before joining NYC2012, Mr. Kimball served as Vice President at the New York Public Library where he led the effort to increase annual operating support by $15 million and capital support by $100 million to fund renovations, acquire new sites and build and operate new libraries.
He holds a BA from Hamilton College and is a graduate of the Coro Public Affairs Fellowship program. Mr. Kimball lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with his wife, Sarah Williams, and two children and serves on the Board of the Prospect Park Alliance and the Coro New York Leadership Center.
Minority & Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) - Track #4
1. M/WBE Certification Workshop
Phyllis Atwater, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Phyllis Atwater is Director of Certification Operations for the Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises Program of the Department of Small Business Services. Before joining City government in 1999, Phyllis pursued a career in environmental affairs in Massachusetts and New York State government. She has been President and Chief Operating Officer of a nationally acclaimed secondary materials reprocessing business in South Central Bronx, has served on the Recycling Advisory Council to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and currently serves on the Boards of several non-profit youth development and environmental organizations. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Phyllis is a graduate of Vassar College, holds a Master’s Degree in Mathematics from Boston University, and earned honors in economics at the Graduate Faculty, New School for Social Research.
2. How to Sell to Government
Presented by Walter Maxwell, Associate Director for External Affairs, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Walter E. Maxwell is the Associate Director for External Affairs within the Division of Economic and Financial Opportunity (DEFO) at the NYC Department of Small Business Services. Walter represents the NYC Department of Business Services in all aspects of the agency’s expanded involvement in minority and women-owned business programs at related events, conferences and workshops. He is also one of the agency’s primary outreach contacts at procurement related events.
Walter has been employed at DSBS since 1997 were he began as a procurement specialist. In that capacity, he assisted New York City based manufacturers and wholesale distributors in their efforts to locate and obtain Federal, State, and Local government contracts. His primary duties involved counseling and advice to new vendors on the public procurement process. Walter’s background at DSBS also included positions within the Vendor Initiative Division, the Executive Volunteer Corps and the Street Vendor Review Panel (SVRP).
Prior to government service at DSBS, he had a fifteen year work history in Real Estate and Finance. He was a Senior Financial Accountant at Cushman & Wakefield, Inc. handling a commercial property portfolio of more than thirty properties. Before that, he was employed as an Assistant Manager of Retail Credit Collections for Marine Midland
Bank, N.A.
Walter has won praise from numerous Minority and Women’s Business Organizations and individuals for his strong commitment and the passion with which he carries out his services on behalf of NYCDSBS to the businesses of New York City.
3. How to win State Contracts and Gain Access to Capital in NYC
Moderated by Walter Maxwell, Associate Director for External Affairs, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Please see bio above.
Panelists include: Lee Bennett, Director, Minority Women Owned Business, New York State Office of General Services
Lee Bennett began working for the state in February, 1971.
Prior to employment with the State, Mr. Bennett was a member of the Arm Forces. He attained the rank of Sergeant First Class during the Vietnam War.
While working for the State, he was first employed by the New York State Thruway Authority and because of promotional opportunities he transferred to the: Department of Health, Department of Social Services, Office of Mental Health and Office of General Services.
Mr. Bennett’s service expands over 36 years with the State where he currently works for the Office of General Services as Executive Director for the office of Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise and Community Relations.
This is Mr. Bennett’s second time working for the Office of General Services. He worked for Commissioner John C. Egan twenty years ago when Mr. Egan was first Commissioner of OGS. Twenty years ago, under the direction of Commissioner Egan, Mr. Bennett was instrumental in drafting the language that is now the Executive Law that guides the Minority and Women owned Business participation in the State’s procurement activities.
His current mission is to educate the MWBE community as to the availability of business opportunities with the State of New York. To accomplish this task, the MWBE office sponsors educational forums at various locations within the state. These forums are design to assist MWBE and small business owners with the state’s procurement systems. Subsequent to each forum, the MWBE office arrange for a follow up session with those firms needing additional help. These follow up forums are called “Helping Hand” workshops, which provide one-on-one assistance.
Ashley Buechele, Project Manager, Transaction Services, NYC Economic Development Corporation
Ashley Buechele is a Project Manager in the Transaction Services Division of the New York City Economic Development Corporation. She has been at the NYCEDC for two years and has worked on various projects including the rezoning of Coney Island, the leasing of retail space at the Staten Island Ferry Terminals, the disposition of the National Lighthouse Harbor site and the Homeport site. Ashley manages two NYCEDC loan programs: the New Market Revolving Loan Fund which provides loans to small businesses in distressed neighborhoods and the NYC Capital Access Revolving Loan Guaranty Program which seeks to stimulate lending to small businesses impacted by the economic downturn.
Scott Singer, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP
Scott Singer is a partner at Nixon Peabody, an international law firm with approximately 800 attorneys. Mr. Singer concentrates his legal practice in the areas of project finance and public finance. He has been actively involved with domestic and international infrastructure projects in a variety of industries including energy, solid waste management, water and wastewater, stadiums and entertainment.
Mr. Singer has represented numerous developers, lenders and governmental entities in connection with the development and financing of projects. His current governmental clients include the United States Department of Energy and the New York City Industrial Development Agency and his private clients include Covanta Energy, Veolia, Clearview Power and Citigroup. Recently, Mr. Singer has worked on the financing of new baseball stadiums for the New York Yankees and New York Mets, a seawater desalination project in Florida, biomass energy facilities in Connecticut, Georgia and New Hampshire, wastewater projects in Indiana and Washington, a gas-fired energy project in New York, and a municipal waste-to-energy project in Florida.
Maureen Babis, Executive Director, NYC Industrial Development Agency
4. Aggregation of Resource in the Current Economic Climate
Moderated by Orly Salsberg, CEO Salsberg Group
Orly Natan Salsberg is the CEO of The Salsberg Group of companies which include technology and event businesses. She holds an MBA from Columbia University and an LLM in US Law and LLB in Israeli Law. Orly is an attorney and member of the NY Bar. Salsberg Group includes diverse businesses including: High School Services (www.promoceans.com); Passenger Vessels (www.affairsafloat.com, www.fireonthewater.com, www.kiddiecruise.com); a Green Wine Bar (www.nottewinebar.com) and Ecoventions seeking to help other businesses incorporate green practices and social responsibility in their operations, hosting Green Business Summits (www.attainablemeasurable.com) in New York City and around the country, and Technology Company TASP and Artivary which have built enterprise and mobile payment solutions (www.thebuildercard.com). Orly Natan Salsberg has been featured on NY 1 and CBS News, the NY Times and NY Women on Line for her business endeavors and bringing the “triple bottom line” socially responsible business model to her entities and other establishments. She is a member of the Passenger Vessel Association (www.pva.org) and the Social venture Network (www.svn.org.)
Panelist include: Joyce Moy, Executive Director, Asian American/Asian Research Institute of CUNY
Joyce Moy is currently the Executive Director of the Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI), of the City University of New York. AAARI’s mission is to provide research and education to the general public on issues of concern to the Asian American and the world’s Asian communities.
She is the former Director of Business and Community Development, and Executive Director of Economic Development at LaGuardia Community College/CUNY where she established and managed a number of entrepreneurship programs. She was the first Asian American director of a NYS Small Business Development Center an organization that provides one-on-one counseling to start-up and existing businesses, and has established programs in financial literacy education and international business. She has worked to develop programming which is responsive to immigrant, women and minority business owners, and connects them to business and educational opportunities that enhance their economic well-being. She has spoken widely on issues concerning immigrant and minority communities.
She has taught business law and taxation at Queens College, the CUNY School of Law; and at Cornell University School of Law. She is a former practicing attorney with over 15 years experience in corporate law, franchising, taxation and commercial areas. Ms. Moy received her B.A. from SUNY at Stony Brook, and her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law.
Patricia Boswell, CEO, Safonique, LLC
Patricia Boswell is the creator of award-winning Safonique, an all-natural, hypoallergenic and powerful laundry detergent that’s in tune with the needs of consumers and the environment.
Boswell’s entire career is an example of a creative and determined woman working to follow her dreams and live in concert with her beliefs. She first entered the professional world as a nurse, but soon stepped beyond the healthcare field into business, earning a BA in Business Administration and an MBA. She also has earned certifications in real estate and financial planning.
Her work history includes several years at Avon Products, where she managed the production and product development of health, beauty and jewelry products. She also worked with Florida A&M University, with a real estate firm, and and several other executive-level sales and marketing positions.
Boswell first conceived of an all-natural detergent in the early 1990s; her original mission was to target the baby market with a powdered detergent. While the early versions of the detergent were made in her kitchen sink, she always used pure essential oils – knowing that synthetic essential oils were a key aggitator to many with sensitive skin. It took over a decade to fine-tune the product, Safonique; a pure aromatherapy, environmentally friendly liquid detergent that’s safe for the entire family.
Those early years were also filled with the myriad of tasks required to build a business – writing a business plan, securing financing, trademarking the product name, contracting with a manufacturer and distributor, among millions of other tasks. The evolution of Safonique took place even as Bo
