Small Business

Senator Carlucci to Host First Ever Small Business Advisory Committee Meeting

Article sponsored by Hudson Valley Business Directory

NYACK, NY - Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Westchester) today announced the formation of his Small Business Advisory Committee that will be tasked with developing ideas and solutions to foster a more welcoming business climate throughout the Hudson Valley. The first of such meetings will be held this Thursday, May 9th from 10:00am - noon at The Hudson House Restaurant, located at 134 Main Street, Nyack.

"Small business in New York is big business, and I can think of no better way of promoting economic development and job creation than by hearing from the folks in our own communities," said Senator Carlucci.  "For far too long, small businesses in New York State have been hampered by stringent and burdensome regulations, high taxes and fees, and an onerous permitting and licensing process.  This committee is just the latest tool at our disposal that can help state leaders develop new ideas on how we can create a better business climate, as well as attract entrepreneurs and other businesses from setting up shop here in the Empire State." 

The committee will be made up of key stakeholders representing various sectors of the small business economy, including healthcare, construction, food and beverage industry, and more.  Small business owners, and those who would like to participate in the panel discussions, will hail from both Rockland and Westchester Counties with meetings scheduled on a rotating basis.

Anyone interested in joining Senator Carlucci's Small Business Advisory Committee should contact (845) 623-3627 or email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Article sponsored by Hudson Valley Business Directory

Nominate Rockland County's Rising Stars, REDC Announces the 2013 Forty Under Forty Program

Article sponsored by Malandra’s Martial Arts

PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, May, 2013 — To celebrate Rockland County’s Rising Stars, the leaders of today and tomorrow, Rockland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) is proud to announce the 12th Annual Forty Under 40 Program. Sponsored by Provident Bank, the program seeks to honor forty individuals who are under the age of 40 and making their mark on Rockland County in positive ways through their commitment to growth, development, professional excellence and the community-at-large.

To nominate a candidate that fits the criteria and is a dynamic individual, business or professional leader, review the eligibility and nominations instructions below, and go to www.redc.org, click on the Forty under 40 Nomination Form at the top of the page.

Eligibility and Nomination Instructions:

  • Anyone who is under the age of 40, as of October 1, 2013
  • Lives AND/OR works in Rockland County. However, ALL volunteer and community service related activities/contributions must be in Rockland County.
  • Nominations accepted from: a peer, colleague, client, employer, college, family member, any other organization. Self-nominations are accepted, however, a Letter of Recommendation must be included with the nomination.
  • Prior recipients cannot be nominated. A list of past recipients is available online or you can contact Liz Cranston at REDC, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

“We find the need for leadership in all aspects of life. We need people who care enough to step out on behalf of the common good,” said Sr. Mary Eileen O’Brien, O.P., President, Dominican College and Program Co-chair. “The talents and good will of many are required if where we live and work are to be places of security, growth and creative response. In every situation we encounter, there is a need for leadership—for people who believe in themselves, care about others, find ways to contribute, and in the process, enable others to share their gifts.”

“The outstanding contributions of these emerging leaders inspire all of us to reach ever higher. As each one strives to reach his or her individual potential, the entire community benefits," said Dr. Cliff Wood, President, Rockland Community College, and Program Co-chair.

 

Michael DiTullo, REDC President & CEO added, "This is an excellent recognition program and an outstanding opportunity to honor the contributions of the up-and-coming young men and women that are truly committed to the future of Rockland County. We encourage everyone to nominate an eligible candidate today.”

 

Deadline for nominations: JUNE 14, 2013

To learn more about the program, contact Liz Cranston, Director, Marketing & Communications, REDC, at

845-735-7040 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Article sponsored by Malandra’s Martial Arts

Are You Ever “Finished” with Inbound Marketing?

by Michael Reynolds, President/CEO of SpinWeb

Article sponsored by Data Boy Computer Services

Inbound marketing is both an art and a science. The technology, metrics, measurements, testing, and goals are the science part of it while the creative campaigns and intuitive ideas are a critical part of the art of inbound marketing.

While the numbers and metrics are very quantifiable, the multifaceted nature of inbound marketing can make it somewhat challenging to tackle from a productivity standpoint.

Let’s face it… there is always more you could do. There is always one more blog post you could write. There is always one more ebook idea to work on. Always one more video campaign. One more social media experiment. One more network to try.

Yikes! Where do you draw the line?

Whether you are an agency partner doing inbound marketing for your clients or you are a marketing pro who is in charge of marketing for your organization, how do you know when you’re “finished?” for the day, week, or month?

Reference Your Goals

Before you get all worked up over whether you are doing enough, take a look at your goals. You may feel like you’re not doing enough but if your metrics show that you are on track with your goals, relax! You’re on the right track.

Naturally, you’ll want to continuously improve your results and nudge your goals higher and higher but this can be done in a manageable way that is realistic and achievable.

Follow your Cookbook

While the results are the most important measure of your success, you also need to be working from a “cookbook” so that you have a framework for your activities. A sample cookbook might contain these activities for a given month:

  • Writete and publish 4 blog posts
  • Schedule one Facebook post per day
  • Schedule 3 Twitter posts per day
  • Create one new offer, video, or webinar (could also be per quarter)
  • Review keywords and prune/add
  • Look for opportunities to improve conversions and adjust accordingly
  • Create one new A/B test variation for CTA
  • Newsjack as needed
  • Monthly review with client

This is a pretty simple list of activities that are proven to lead to positive results over time. However, if you get three months in and discover that you are not hitting your goals, then you can go back to your cookbook and make some adjustments.

Traffic not as high as you want? Try doubling your blog post output while slowing down offers. Traffic is high but you leads are down? Spend more time creating offers and optimizing conversion opportunities.

Read the entire article on Duct Tape Marketing

Article sponsored by Data Boy Computer Services

Rockland IDA to Host a Free Succession Planning Seminar

Article sponsored by Vincent Crotty Memorial Foundation

PEARL RIVER, New York, April 23, 2013 ― On April 30th, the Rockland Industrial Development Agency (IDA) is hosting a free, informative seminar that will focus on strategic planning for the future of a family-owned or privately held business. Sponsored by Provident Bank, “Succeeding at Succession Planning, Building Your Next Generation of Leaders,” will be held at the Hilton Pearl River, 500 Veterans Memorial Drive, Pearl River, NY, starting at 8:00 a.m.

 

Succession happens, and companies need to be ready for it―better, faster, and more precisely than even a decade ago. Nearly 90% of our country’s small businesses are family-owned or privately-held, and within the next four years, nearly 65% of those small business leaders will be ready to transition into retirement or new ventures.

 

To ensure continuity in the leadership of a company and help a business prepare its chosen candidates assume their new role, Keynote Speaker, Lisë Stewart, founder of the Galliard Group, will present:

The essential steps in developing a practical game plan for your unique situation; Succession planning with a focus on developing the next generation of leadership; Discussion of key components of an exit strategy and succession plan; Steps in creating a leadership development strategy and individual leadership development plans; Key practices that will support success, and more.

 

Attendees will learn more about: How to prioritize and plan business growth for the future; Understanding leadership development strategies for sustainability; Discovering policy gaps in critical areas such as governance, finances, and compensation, How to identify the timing and necessity for outside advisor support; and How to leverage a legacy.

 

“Succession planning goes well beyond having an exit plan in place. Business leaders won’t want to miss this ideal opportunity to learn more about the critical elements of succession planning and Ms. Stewart’s presentation will give them an excellent understanding of how to do that,” said Eric Dranoff, Chairman, Rockland IDA.

Registration is required. To register, contact Jayne Nichols, REDC, at 845-735-7040 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Program Date & Time:      Tuesday, April 30, 2013 8:00-10:30 a.m.

Location:                              Hilton Pearl River

                                                500 Veterans Memorial Drive

                                                Pearl River, NY 10965

For more information about the business seminar, contact: Steven Porath, Executive Director, Rockland IDA at 845-735-7040.

About the Keynote Speaker

After almost 20 years in business consulting, Lisë Stewart founded the Galliard Group in 2004 to serve the unique needs of family-owned and closely-held businesses. A vibrant and sought-after speaker nationwide, Lisë is passionate about raising the awareness of the importance of family businesses as the foundation of our nation’s economy. She focuses her client work on organizational development, exit strategies, strategic planning, family governance and developing eective succession plans. To learn more, go to: www.galliardinc.com

 

About the Rockland IDA

The Rockland IDA provides financial incentives to retain, expand and attract business in Rockland County. Incentives include state and local sales tax exemptions, mortgage recording tax exemption, tax exempt bond financing and a real property tax abatement program. IDA Members, who serve as volunteers, include: Eric Dranoff, Esq., Chair; Howard Hellman, Secretary; Timothy Riley, Treasurer; and Catherine Nowicki. The IDA does not receive any public funding and operates solely from the fees it generates. To learn more, go to: www.rocklandida.org.

Article sponsored by Vincent Crotty Memorial Foundation

Rockland Economic Development Corporation Partners with First Niagra to Host Business Seminar

Article sponsored by Vincent Crotty Memorial Foundation

PEARL RIVER, NEW YORK, April 22, 2013 — As part of its continuing effort to enhance Rockland’s small business community, including existing as well as start-up businesses, Rockland Economic Development Corporation (REDC) and First Niagara Bank are offering a free two-part “Business & Bagels Breakfast Seminar Series”—a valuable and informative seminar to enhance business success for small business owners and entrepreneurs.

Each interactive session is 90 minutes long, and attendees will learn the keys to success including:

Session 1: A Practical Guide to Business Planning, Wednesday, May 8, 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Expert advisors will discuss programs and services available, including: Planning a Small Business, How to Start a Business, How to Write a Business Plan, Financing Assistance, Payroll Services & Solutions, Business Banking Choices, and more.

Session 2: 10 Ways to Grow Your Business, Wednesday, May 22, 8:00-9:30 a.m.

Expert advisors will discuss programs and services available to small business owners and entrepreneurs that have been in business for at least one year and want to expand their horizons, including: Doing Business with the Government, Investment Planning–employer-sponsored retirement plans, Insurance Requirements for Employers, Succession Planning, and more.

Michael DiTullo, REDC’s President and CEO said, “We feel it’s important to reach out to all businesses―big and small, to promote the many resources available to our business community. Our commitment to supporting Rockland’s economic vitality and its varied businesses is an on-going process.”

“We are pleased to partner with REDC on programs and services that help small business owners and entrepreneurs strengthen and grow their companies,” said First Niagara Relationship Manager, Beth Lawrence-Lalli.  “The workshops underscore the importance of Rockland’s small and diverse business sectors to the health of our local economy, and we are happy to provide our financial support and expertise.” 

Participating agencies include: REDC, First Niagara, New York State Small Business Development Center, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC), to name a few.

Program Dates & Time:       Wednesday, May 8 and Wednesday, May 22, 2013 8:00-9:30 a.m.

 

Location:                              REDC’s Office at Blue Hill Plaza

                                                Two Blue Hill Plaza

                                                3rd Floor

                                                Pearl River, NY 10965

Seating is limited and reservations are required. RSVP by May 1st to Jayne Nichols, REDC, at 845-735-7040 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For more information about the business seminar, contact: Michael DiTullo, President & CEO, REDC at 845.735.7040 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or Beth Lawrence-Lallis, Vice President-Relationship Manager, Hudson Valley Business Banking, First Niagara, at 845.248.4614 / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Article sponsored by Vincent Crotty Memorial Foundation

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