MasterCard Affirms Commitment to Westchester

Plus a new Mrs. Green’s, the disappearance of unemployment benefits, and the rest of our Westchester business news.

TARRYTOWN GETS GREENER WITH NATURAL MARKET

PLUS: The Westchester Philharmonic Passes Baton to Laredo and Sperling; Walsh Honored By Irish America Magazine; A.G. Williams Painting Company Gives to Support Connection.

Revolving Door

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Friends of Westchester County Parks has elected two local business leaders to its board: Town/Village of Harrison Councilwoman Marlane Amelio and John P. Sullivan, president of Sullivan Architecture.

Amelio has served as councilwoman since 2011, and has more than 20 years of experience working in Westchester County. She is a liaison for the Harrison Ambulance Corps, Food Pantry, and Citizen’s Committee for Downtown Revitalization. She also supervises the clinical staff for New York Medicaid Services for SWBOCES (UDO).

With more than 28 years of experience operating his own firm, Sullivan is Vice Chairman of the New York State Department of Education Board of Architecture and serves on the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Chris O’Callaghan has joined the board of directors of Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. O’Callaghan oversees the commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle’s Westchester County offices. A former senior director at Cushman & Wakefield, he has been one of the most active commercial office brokers in the tri-state region for more than 27 years. O’Callaghan has negotiated a number of real estate transactions in the region involving such companies as AT&T, Snapple, Ameritech, Waterhouse Securities, Hitachi, and others. A former chairman of the board of the Business Council of Westchester County, he has also served as chairman of the Westchester Economic Development Business Coalition.

Kai Fischer, a 30-year hospitality industry veteran, has been appointed general manager at the 445-room Hilton Westchester and is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations at the hotel. Most recently, Fisher was multi-property director of sales and marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. During his tenure, he helped lead the 1,781-room Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel through a $180 million renovation and the 650-room Sheraton Manhattan through a conversion to The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel.

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Dana Cooper

Renowned violinist and conductor Jaime Laredo and Tony-winning conductor Ted Sperling have been appointed Principal Conductors of The Westchester Philharmonic. Joshua Worby, the Philharmonic’s executive director since 2006, has become the orchestra’s new executive & artistic director. On December 22nd, Sperling, a New Rochelle native, led the Philharmonic’s Winter Pops concert for the third consecutive season.

The Ritz-Carlton Westchester recently welcomed its new director of sales and marketing, Dana Cooper, from The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta and The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, where she was director of sales for three years. In her new role, Cooper will direct the hotel’s strategic PR and marketing efforts, as well as head up the entire sales team. Prior to coming to The Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, Cooper spent eleven years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company.

KUDOS

Harrison-based Amalgamated Life Insurance Company President and CEO David Walsh was selected by Irish America Magazine as one of its 2013 Honorees. The Irish America Business 100 recognizes the “best and the brightest Irish-American leaders in corporate America.” Walsh, along with the other honorees, was recognized at the 28th Annual Business 100 Awards Luncheon held on December 5th, 2013 at the Metropolitan Club of New York City.

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David Walsh

NEW BUSINESSES, RELOCATIONS, OPERATIONS

On December 20th, Mrs. Green’s Natural Market opened its doors at 45 North Broadway in Tarrytown. Offering 100 percent organic produce, all-natural meats, and dairy, the location also features artisanal baked goods, supplements, and household products. The store marked its grand opening with a “Winter Wonderland” experience, and a weeklong grand opening celebration that included a host of tastings, musical events, and an auction that benefited Riverkeeper, New York’s clean water advocate. 

Forme Urgent Care and Wellness Center is now expanding its medical services and wellness programs with a new location at 7-11 South Broadway, White Plains.  Forme will offer Urgent Care without appointments as an alternative to a hospital emergency room, in addition to providing a full-range of medical services including: Pulmonology, Urology, Podiatry, Endocrinology, Vascular, Pain Management, Wound Care, and Dermatology Cosmetic Services, as well as diagnostic services and a wellness center to provide clients with the tools they need to reach and maintain a healthy lifestyle and overall good health.  Forme will also have an on-site outpatient surgical suite, which will allow patients to have minor medical procedures without having to go to the hospital.

120 Bloomingdale Road in White Plains, the 145,000-square-foot former Nestlé headquarters acquired by Faros Properties and Caspi Development, has attracted three regional law firms, including Cabanillas & Associates, P.C., Fentin and Goldman, LLP, and the Law Offices of Joseph R. Miano. The firms have leased over 23,600 square feet of space. The site is undergoing the final phase of extensive renovations that will outfit the property with an elegant lobby, ultramodern conference room, state-of-the-art gym space, upscale café, and private terraces. Newmark Grubb Knight Frank’s  Executive Managing Director Gregory V. Frisoli and Senior Managing Director Lawrence (Larry) A. Ruggieri serve as leasing agents.

A.G. Williams Painting Company donated nearly $2,100 to Support Connection by participating in the 19th Annual Support Connection Support-A-Walk at FDR State Park in Yorktown. Support Connection is a Westchester-based not-for-profit organization that offers free, confidential support services to people nationwide who are affected by ovarian and breast cancer. Paul Viggiano, director of business administration and marketing, represented the company, walking for the third consecutive year and receiving a company donation plus personal contributions from A.G. Williams President and CEO George P. Williams, account representative and color specialist Liane Rigano, and Fairfield account representative Doug Kitchen.

BIZ BUZZ: MASTERCARD AFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO WESTCHESTER

PLUS: While MasterCard expands presence in Westchester and creates new jobs in 2014, 100,000 New Yorkers will see their unemployment benefits disappear as 2013 draws to a close.

Westchester’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA) has approved a series of incentives to help MasterCard renovate its global headquarters in Purchase, which has been the company’s home since 1995. The $39 million capital investment will create more than 270 new permanent positions at MasterCard, maintain existing Purchase-based jobs, and create construction jobs. Construction is estimated to begin in the first quarter of 2014. The positions that MasterCard will create and retain in Westchester are mainly in the areas of administration, information technology, and research and development.

The initiative includes the renovation of the company’s 475,000 square-foot headquarters at 2000 Purchase Street. The company is likewise expanding its presence at 100 Manhattanville Road by an additional 14,000-square feet, totaling 121,000-square feet. The company will save $1.2 million dollars over six years thanks to the IDA providing MasterCard an exemption from 7.375 percent sales tax on capital improvements, furniture, and equipment for the duration of the construction.

Time is running out on unemployment benefits for more than 100,000 New Yorkers who have been out of work more than 26 weeks. According to the Labor Department, federal extended unemployment benefits, which average $305.75 a week in New York State, will end after Dec. 28 for 100,770 state residents. While the Labor Department noted that the jobless rate sank 0.3 points to 7.4 percent in November, New York still had 716,000 unemployed individuals looking for jobs that month, with only 39 percent receiving benefits.

HOT PROPERTIES – 914INC.’S COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SHOWCASE

Property: 44 Executive Blv, Elmsford
Brokered by: Craig Ruoff 914 422 0100 x 15 or Craig@RakowGroup.com
Description:  Two- story office property with more than 13,000 square-feet on each floor offers low property taxes and 10′-18′ ceilings. Call for pricing details.
Selling Points: Property features new roof, gas heat, substantial power, and a back up generator. Located within a mile of I-87 and I-287, the building offers parking for 96 vehicles.
Downside: Best for tenants interested in 6,000 square-feet and up for leases or a full-building user for purchase.

914 DATEBOOK – UPCOMING BUSINESS EVENTS

FRIDAY, 1/10/14
KeyBank Speaker Series Featuring County Executive Rob Astorino

8:00am – 9:30am. Abigail Kirsch, 81 Highland Ave, Tarrytown. Fresh off his re-election, Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino will deliver the keynote speech at The Business Council of Westchester’s KeyBank Speaker Series. In the first major address of his second term, the county executive is expected to discuss successes of his first four years leading the County, such as lowering the County’s property tax levy and shrinking the size of government, while laying the foundation for what businesses and residents can expect during his next term. For ticket information, call 914-948-2110.

TUESDAY, 1/14/14
45 Seconds to Describe Your Business

January 14, 21 and 28, 6:30-8pm at White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave, White Plains. An elevator speech is as essential as a business card. If you have a good elevator speech—who you are, what you offer, and how your business can be a resource to your clients—you can create new opportunities and new connections that are essential for your business to grow. By the end of this three-session workshop, attendees will have drafted and refined an elevator speech for their businesses. This workshop begins with the first session on January 14th, and runs for three Tuesdays in a row, January 14th, 21st, and 28th. You’ll learn: how to explain your products or services to customers; how to speak to investors, suppliers, and potential employees; and how to create the “buzz” to get the business moving. Enrollment is limited to 15 people. Register at www.scorewestchester.com.

SATURDAY, 1/25/13
Music Conservatory to Hold First Spring Community Music Week

Music Conservatory of Westchester, a not-for-profit community music school in White Plains, will kick off the New Year—not to mention its 85th year—by offering a week of free classes, workshops, and tours of its 216 Central Avenue building from January 25-31. “Spring Community Music Week” will specifically include workshops in Musical Theatre, contemporary styles, improv, GarageBand™ and a “Jazz Jam” session. Classes will focus on Suzuki Groups, early childhood, and recorder class. Times vary—inquire via info@musiced.org.

Upcoming events should be submitted no later than Sunday, December 29th, to be considered for the January 7th edition. Please submit business-related events only; no fundraisers or consumer events.

 

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

Our Best of Westchester Elimination Ballot is open through March 6!

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