In Your Opinion

Our father, who art in Washington.

PAGE 6
MARCH 2012
BITS & BYTES
The best customer relationship managers.
PAGE 2
BUSINESS CALENDAR
See this months events.
PAGE 7
COACHS CORNER
Hows your IN-fit?
PAGE 4
www.brooklynbiztrends.com
Special to Business Trends
St. Francis College Management Majors again achieved top rankings in the international GLO-BUS management
simulation competition, scoring a first place finish and top 5 percent finish among almost 2,000 competitor
teams from more than 100 colleges and universities. Pictured are Management Professor Leonard Jordans
class, Arizona Camera, composed of Andrea Dolnay, Nemanja Simonovic and Nicole Carnavon, who tied for first
place in overall company performance.
Top rankings for St. Francis Management Majors
P u b l i s h e d b y E l a u wi t Me d i a
P r e - s o r t e d
S t a n d a r d
U S P o s t a g e
P A I D
W i l k e s - B a r r e , P A
P e r m i t 9 0
By KENNETH ADAMS
Special to Business Trends
Just over a year ago, New York
was struggling under the weight
of the national recession. We saw
businesses folding and employ-
ment numbers falling because we
lacked the foundation to attract
new investment and build-up
New York businesses. Under Gov.
Cuomos leadership, New York
started to change all that, employ-
ing a more business-friendly ap-
proach to improve the economic
climate and unleash our potential
for job growth.
During the governors first
year, we began to exercise the
greater fiscal discipline these
challenging times demand by
closing a $10 billion deficit with
no new taxes, no gimmicks and
no delays. We stopped skyrocket-
ing taxes by passing the first-ever
property tax cap and eliminating
the MTA payroll tax for most
small businesses. We passed af-
fordable energy and higher edu-
cation legislation to lower energy
costs and transform our public in-
stitutions into incubators for
workforce development. And in
the final month of the year, we
cut taxes for people earning
$40,000 to $300,000, so the middle
class now pays its lowest rate in
58 years.
I am especially proud of the
success of Gov. Cuomos signa-
ture economic development ini-
NYS economic
development
commissioner
weighs in
please see CLIMATE, page 3
Brooklyn
business
climate
grows
By TIM RONALDSON
Business Trends
The high cost of health insurance isnt a
new problem for small businesses.
While its been the talk of the town recent-
ly, its been atop the list of concerns for the
members of the Brooklyn Chamber of Com-
merce since the late 1990s, when the Cham-
ber began identifying its members barriers
to growth through a membership survey. It
was, and still is, a real problem for small
businesses how to provide health insurance
for employees while keeping costs affordable
for everyone.
In 2004, the Chamber created its Brooklyn
HealthWorks program as a solution to the
problem. Eight years later, it can only be con-
sidered a resounding success, with more
than 1,000 participants.
The program provides a low-cost health in-
surance plan for Brooklyns small businesses
and small employers, through the Chambers
partnership with Group Health Inc. and the
state Department of Financial Services. The
monthly premiums of its two high de-
ductible plan options one with prescription
drug benefits and one without are well
below comparable options available in the
Seamless, affordable health care
Brooklyn HealthWorks provides businesses with coverage not available elsewhere
please see HEALTHWORKS, page 10
OPINION
2 BUSINESS TRENDS MARCH 2012
Sovereign Bank Building
95l2 1hrd Avenue
rookyn, NY ll209
College of Staten Island - SBDC
2800 Vctory vd.
dg. 2A, Rm. 300
Stuten lsund, NY l03l4
NOW IN TWO LOCATIONS
Dean Balsamini Sr., Director
718.982.2560
By BILL DUBOVSKY
Situation
Many organizations and pro-
fessions have their own special-
ized software for managing their
customers, clients, donors, mem-
bers, patients, consumers/audi-
ence.
Other businesses can get off
the shelf industry-specific soft-
ware.
What can the smaller organiza-
tion or business use to fit the way
they do business that can be easi-
ly modified and maintained?
What is it?
CRM or customer relationship
management is what used to be
recorded on 3 x 5 file cards, Ad-
dressograph plates, or on
punched cards, to manage your
relationships with the people who
pay your salary.
This information may contain
basic info so you can send expira-
tion info, sale info and birthday
greetings, or more detailed and
customized information that
would help you better target your
customers interests.
It could also keep track of more
sophisticated info such as what
they buy, how often, how much
they buy, their preferences, etc.
(think Amazon.com as the plat-
inum standard for CRM).
How it works
Depending on what you need to
track and your level of expertise,
you could use a simple Excel
spread sheet or basic contact
manager such as Bento for Mac,
or some really flexible systems
such as Sage ACT or Filemaker
Pro.
What you need
A mobile/computing device
with appropriate app and trained
staff that know how to take best
advantage of the features. For
cloud-based applications, youll
need access to the Internet, a sup-
ported browser and app support.
How to get it
First, check with your profes-
sional / industry association so
you dont reinvent the wheel. You
can also buy off-the-shelf pack-
ages and develop your own tem-
plates with Sage ACT, Bento, File-
maker Pro or others, or have cus-
tom work done by a software
provider.
How hard is it to use?
Most specialized CRM software
Which customer relationship
managers are best?
BITS & BYTES
please see BITS, page 9
MARCH 2012 BUSINESS TRENDS 3
When the news is sweet,
We Tweet!
When the news is bitter,
We Still Twitter!
Follow us at
twitter.com/brooklynbiz
tiative Regional Councils in re-
defining the way New York in-
vests in job creation. Regional
Councils transformed the states
economic development efforts
from a top-down approach into a
community-based, performance
driven model, which empowers
individual areas to design and in-
vest in regional solutions to eco-
nomic growth.
For the first time, we are put-
ting the power of the state gov-
ernment behind the innovation
and entrepreneurship of our peo-
ple, aligning resources with local
planning and priorities to rebuild
our economy. The Councils
awarded a total of $785 million,
with New York City receiving
more than $60 million to fund 50
local projects determined to have
the greatest potential for creating
jobs.
In Brooklyn, 19 projects were
awarded more than $12 million in
state resources. This initiative
demonstrates our commitment to
building a new economy from the
ground up that capitalizes on
local strengths and fulfills local
needs. Projects such as the Crye
American facility expansion,
which will create 75 jobs to manu-
facture cutting-edge body armor
and apparel for the military, the
King Garden Apartments, which
will create more than 60 units of
affordable housing for seniors
and the developmentally dis-
abled, and the Lakeside in
Prospect Park Green Roof proj-
ect, which will replace the former
Wollman ice skating rink with a
state-of-the-art green recreation
facility, are just a few examples of
the innovative partnerships Re-
gional Councils are inspiring.
To keep the momentum going,
Gov. Cuomo has proposed a $200
million second round of competi-
tive awards for 2012, and we ex-
pect state agencies to once again
pool together up to $1 billion in
resources to support Regional
Councils. As the process contin-
ues to evolve, the Councils will
now focus on the implementation
of an operational agenda, adjust-
ments to track success and capi-
talize on new opportunities, and
results to take the plans from con-
ception to construction.
Apart from the exciting work of
Regional Councils, Brooklyn is
also home to one of the most sig-
nificant and emerging economic
development projects in New
York City Atlantic Yards. The
22-acre redevelopment project in
Downtown Brooklyn includes an
18,000-seat arena, 14 residential
towers, two commercial build-
ings, and eight acres of open
space. The arena, which will
serve as the home of the Brook-
lyn Nets, is scheduled to open this
September, and construction of
the first residential tower will
begin before the end of the year.
With estimates of 17,000 union
construction job years, the cre-
ation of up to 8,000 permanent
jobs, and the generation of more
than $650 million in city tax rev-
enues and almost $750 million in
state tax revenues, it is easy to see
the profound impact this project
will have for Brooklyn.
To build on his successful first
year, Gov. Cuomo has announced
a blueprint for economic growth
that will leverage state assets to
create jobs while maintaining fis-
cal discipline. Included in his
plan is a proposal to engage a pri-
vate development company to in-
vest $4 billion to build the largest
convention center in the country
and create tens of thousands of
jobs without significant state
funding or taxpayer subsidy. The
governor also announced propos-
als for a $2 billion private invest-
ment to redevelop the Javits Cen-
ter and a $15 billion NY Works
Fund and Task Force to acceler-
ate long delayed infrastructure
improvements. These are striking
examples of public-private part-
nerships Gov. Cuomo is forging to
create jobs without burdening
taxpayers with a mounting bill.
As the governor would say, now
is not the time to ease up or step
back. Thanks to his efforts, we fi-
nally have the forward-thinking
plan of action that will help the
business climate grow in Brook-
lyn and move New York in the
right direction back to work.
Kenneth Adams is the president
and CEO of Empire State Develop-
ment, and commissioner of the NYS
Department of Economic Develop-
ment.
Business climate grows
CLIMATE
Continued from page 1
By BILLY SPARKLE
How do you like what Im
wearing?
Thats a lovely suit, What a
sharp tie, Your hair looks
great, Such a beautiful dress
Where did you buy it?
We hear such statements from
time to time. We perform rituals
each morning before leaving our
homes such as shaving, applying
make-up, styling our hair, and
making sure that our suits and
ties match. Many of us wouldnt
dare leave our homes without
first tending to how we look and
what we are wearing. Theres
even a best-selling book titled
Dress For Success. What do all
these things have in common?
Theyre centered around our
OUT-fits.
I dont think theres a person
reading this article that Id have
to sell on the virtue of dressing
for success. Yet, how many of us
who wouldnt dare neglect our
OUT-fits, leave our homes every
morning without giving a single
thought to what were wearing on
our insides?
Our inner emotional and men-
tal states play a significant role in
our effectiveness in business.
These are what I call our IN-fits
our beliefs, our thoughts, our feel-
ings and philosophies. These IN-
fits control our behaviors. How
we think and feel on the inside
must be congruent with what
were doing and saying on the
outside. Otherwise, were unwit-
tingly placing a major burden on
our ability to produce results.
For instance do you hold a be-
lief that business is hard and
customers are scarce? Do you
honestly think that its a strug-
gle to make money and every
day youve got to fight to get your
piece of the pie? Well, if these
are the IN-fits youre carrying
into your business day, youre
making it unnecessarily difficult
to perform the simple tasks being
asked of you. And whatever level
of effectiveness youve been oper-
ating on is far below your actual
capabilities.
Why not try on, Hiring me is
the best possible choice that a
qualified prospect can make, or
everybody wants to do business
with me - whether they know it or
not. How much more useful are
these beliefs than business is
scarce and no one wants to talk
to me?
Attempting to succeed in busi-
ness while wearing inferior be-
liefs would be like presenting at a
Rotary Club in a t-shirt and boxer
shorts. Who would do that?
So heres this months Call to
Action: Get a makeover. You can
do this by yourself or work with a
trained professional. Take a look
at all of your inner beliefs about
yourself, your business, your
clients, the economy, and how
well you perform in your particu-
lar profession. Throw away all
the beliefs that are inconsistent
with what you are trying to ac-
complish.
Then write down some brand
new beliefs that would look stun-
ning if you were wearing them on
your insides. Try on these new
IN-fits each morning by standing
in front of a mirror and saying
them repeatedly. Do this for five
or 10 minutes a day.
Simply stand there and say,
Hiring me is the best possible
choice that a qualified prospect
can make. And really believe
that!! It doesnt serve you to be-
lieve otherwise.
Remember: what youre wear-
ing on the IN-side is just as impor-
tant as what youre wearing on
the OUT-side. So work on your
IN-fits. Its a simple investment
that will pay you huge dividends.
Coach Billy works with highly com-
mitted men & women to produce un-
precedented results in their busi-
nesses and their lives. Learn more at
www.billysparkle.com or contact
Billy directly via e-mail at
billy@billysparkle.com.
4 BUSINESS TRENDS MARCH 2012
Hows your IN-fit?
COACHS CORNER
Northfield Bank will
Bank for a Cause
Northfield Bank announced
the 2012 organizations for their
Banking for a Cause program.
This program, which began in
2011, enhances the Banks com-
munity outreach program by pro-
moting and collecting contribu-
tions for multiple charitable or-
ganizations for one month.
Northfields Banking for a
Cause will be collecting for the
following Brooklyn organizations
this year: American Cancer Soci-
etys Making Strides Against
Breast Cancer and Guild for Ex-
ceptional Children.
The program runs three times
a year in March, June, and Octo-
ber at all Northfield branch of-
fices.
Northfield Bank, founded in
1887, operates 23 full service of-
fices in Staten Island, Central
New Jersey and Brooklyn. For
more information, visit
www.eNorthfield.com.
FAB Alliance transforms
concrete into plaza
Launched in September 2011,
the new Putnam Triangle Plaza
has transformed a stretch of con-
crete at Grand Avenue into a wel-
coming public plaza for use by the
entire community. The 19,500
square foot space was trans-
formed by installing planters and
granite blocks, tables and chairs,
a new bus shelter and beefing up
security with NYPD surveillance
Monthly Update
please see BRIEFS, page 10
in our opinion
Keep air fee bills grounded
Congress should let the free enterprise system work
6 BUSINESS TRENDS MARCH 2012
O
n the surface, two bills recent-
ly introduced in Congress
make sense. They would re-
strict the number of fees airlines
could charge. After all, who hasnt
been on a plane where everyone is
wrestling to get overhead storage
space for their 73 carry-on bags they
brought to avoid baggage fees?
Problem is, this is America, and
America has achieved economic great-
ness because it allows, for the most
part, businesses to compete without
many rules. Once government gets
into regulating things that dont relate
to, for example, safety, the whole sys-
tem gets messed up.
Naturally, the airlines arent in favor
of these bills. Some of them already
waive baggage fees for one or two
pieces.
Others correctly point out that,
charging fees, while keeping fares
lower, gives consumers a choice. In-
deed, if you travel without checked
bags, you probably would opt for the
airlines that offer lower fares, but
charge for checked baggage. Its less
money out of their pockets for the
same service they would receive on
any airline.
Congressional supporters of the
bills point out that consumers dont
like the fees. Well, of course, they
dont. No one likes fees.
If Congress would check, were sure
it would find that people dont like
high airline ticket prices, either. Or, in
keeping with the air travel theme,
parking rates that rise as you get clos-
er or more convenient parking spots at
an airport. Or high-priced food in air-
port restaurants.
Sure, some air travellers can feel
like they are being nickeled and dimed
to death. But its their choice to fly the
airlines that charge these fees.
There are any number of ways to
avoid the fees, they just choose not to
do so.
This is a business model, pricing
choice. Its what keeps businesses
competitive. Congress should stay
away.
66 Willow Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
347-682-4867
JANET WARREN DUGO
Publisher
ALAN BAUER
General Manager & Editor
STEVE MILLER
Executive Vice President
ED LYNES
Vice President of Sales
TIM RONALDSON
Director of Digital Media
TOM ENGLE
Art Director
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Director
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Director
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Director
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Director
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Chief Executive
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Chairman of the Board
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BARRY RUBENS
Chief Financial Officer
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in your opinion
By ROBERT CUTRONA
In February, the President signed off on
a Health and Human Services law that
mandates Catholic hospitals, schools and
charities provide and pay for insurance
coverage that includes contraceptives and
abortion-inducing drugs. With this blatant
violation of the First Amendment, the
President ruled that Catholics set aside
2,000 years of religious beliefs.
The disagreement here is not about the
rights of women, nor is the disagreement
about expanding health care for all, or pro-
choice, or contraceptives, or abortion.
Many Catholics accept and practice the
aforementioned. The real disagreement is
about an arrogant encroachment on reli-
gious freedoms and the growing intrusive-
ness of government in all areas of our
lives. The First Amendment is crystal clear
in that it prohibits impeding the free exer-
cise of religion. This law forces Catholic
institutions to spend money to support
services and products that violate Catholic
doctrine and contradicts beliefs that
Catholics teach their students in the class-
room.
Adding insult to injury, Obamas min-
ions initially said that they compromised
by giving Catholic institutions a years
grace period to implement the legislation.
How bighearted and accommodating, a
years grace period to contravene deeply
embedded beliefs! Subsequently, after real-
izing that they made a bad political deci-
sion and utterly botched the issue, Obama
and his advisors came up with another so-
called compromise that shifted the cost
of contraceptives, etc., to the insurance
companies. Laughable, since the drug com-
panies will continue to charge for contra-
ceptives, and the insurance companies will
get compensated through higher premi-
ums from the Catholic institutions. Ulti-
mately, the church is still paying. Sounds
more like three-card monte than a compro-
mise.
This law could have been developed and
introduced with womens rights and ex-
panded health care intact, while at the
same time respecting and protecting the
tenets of the Catholic religion with opt-out
provisions, exemptions, waivers, co-pays
and the like. Options could have been built
in for those individuals who do not want to
be involved with insurance products that
violate their beliefs and for those non-
Catholics who want all the available insur-
ance coverages. Also, with some due dili-
gence, the legislation could have been de-
signed within the framework of existing
labor laws and practices. However, in their
zeal to fast-track another progressive ideol-
ogy and pander to their core constituents,
the administration set another divisive
course led by a President who has urged re-
spect for other religions, yet in this in-
stance displayed a disconnect to a major
part of the American community.
Obama recently apologized to Afghans
for the burning of Korans at a military
base, even though the books were being
clandestinely used by prisoners to commu-
nicate with one other. He also passionately
supported the First Amendment rights of
free speech in sympathy with the Occupy
Wall Street people and repeatedly cited the
First Amendment to lobby for a mosque
near Ground Zero. I guess he uses the Con-
stitution as he sees fit and based on the
number of votes at stake. Under Obama,
the government has become dictatorial in
its quest for authority. He feels that he
knows what is best for all Americans and
he attempts to force his values on people
who do not necessarily agree with them.
To quote one Washington insider, he
wants to tell us who we are, what to do and
when to do it, using his office to force obe-
dience to his will.
Obediently doing the Presidents bid-
ding, the mainstream media (NY Times,
Our father, who art in Washington
please see WASHINGTON, page 8
MARCH 2012 BUSINESS TRENDS 7
RESUME WRITING
HELP AT BROOKLYNS
BUSINESS LIBRARY
EVERY TUESDAY
Time: 6:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.
Location: Business Library, 280
Cadman Plaza W. at Tillary St.
For information, call 718-623-7000
BNI PROSPERITY
EVERY TUESDAY
Time: 7:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
Location: Floridian Diner, 2301 Flat-
bush Ave.
For information, call 718-981-8600
BNI MONEY MAKERS
EVERY WEDNESDAY
Time: 7:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
Location: Bridgeview Diner, 9011 3rd
Avenue
For information, call 718-981-8600
BNI BROWNSTONE
BIZ CONNECTIONS
EVERY THURSDAY
Time: 7:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
Location: Juniors Famous Restau-
rant, 386 Flatbush Ave
For information, call 718-981-8600
SCORE BUSINESS
ASSISTANCE FOR
ENTREPRENEURS
MONDAY- FRIDAY
Time: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10
a.m. 2 p.m., Tuesday, Thursday 1
p.m. 3 p.m.
Location: Business Library, 280
Cadman Plaza W. at Tillary St.
For information, call 718-623-7000
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS
TOASTMASTERS
FIRST, THIRD THURSDAYS
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Location: Historic Plymouth Church
For information, call 718-797-2246
BROOKLYN
SMALL BUSINESS &
PROCUREMENT EXPO
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
Time: 8:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
Location: Brooklyn Cruise Terminal,
70 Imlay Street - Pier #12
For information, call: 718-965-3100
Ext. 106
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE
SEMINAR: THE EU
CRISIS AND THE
FUTURE OF THE EURO
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Time: 9:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m.
Location: St. Francis, 180 Remsen
St.
For information, call 718-489-5214
SCORE NYC SEMINAR:
DEVELOPING
& IMPLEMENTING
YOUR MARKETING
STRATEGY
SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Time: 11:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Location: NYC Public Library, 188
Madison Ave., NYC
For information, call 212-264-4507
Business Calendar
please see EVENTS, page 9
8 BUSINESS TRENDS MARCH 2012
Washington Post and MSNBC)
downplayed the suppression of
religious freedoms but main-
tained a prolonged attack that the
Catholics position was an assault
on womens rights. Of course, the
media and Obamas supporters
totally ignored the fact that con-
traceptives are plentiful and read-
ily available at no cost from com-
munity health centers and
through Medicaid. Any unbiased
person can see that Americans
have easy access to subsidized
birth control and that this was a
golden opportunity for the De-
mocrats to cater to female voters
by claiming bogus health-care is-
sues.
Continuing the factitious anti-
womens rights rhetoric, the
same media people were outraged
and in an absolute frenzy over the
Komen Foundations decision to
cut funds to Planned Parenthood,
another pet agency of Mr. Obama.
Obamas administration and
their media pilot fish crow that
they are the tolerant crowd pro-
moting open-mindedness and un-
derstanding; that is, until some-
one disagrees with them. Dis-
agree and youre branded a racist
and ignorant. No dissent is toler-
ated since they are smarter and
know whats best for us. To reiter-
ate, the real problem that we face
is growing government mandates
interfering with our basic rights
and freedoms. Its that simple!
Salvation is possible however, if
the 78 million Catholics in the
U.S. exercise their voting power
and send Obama back to Chicago
where he can exercise his arro-
gance and stilted socialist-leaning
ideologies. We can never allow
the Constitution and our individ-
ual freedoms to be compromised,
manipulated and trumped by the
President. Not now, not ever!
Robert Cutrona, president of
Project One Services, is a director of
Business Trends.
Our father, who art in DC
WASHINGTON
Continued from page 6
Drop us a line
Email: news@brooklynbiztrends.com
Mail: Business Trends, 66 Willow Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305
packages require specialized
training and/or in-house expert-
ise to modify, troubleshoot and de-
velop new applications. Simpler
apps like Bento for Mac are pretty
intuitive, with Sage ACT, Sage
SalesLogix, Sage CRM or File-
maker Pro somewhere in the mid-
dle.
Findings
I have used ACT since the early
1990s and have seen it go through
many iterations and still rely on
my 2006 version as the most ver-
satile system that I have used. I
have tried Bento for Mac and
while its really easy to use and
inexpensive ($49 for Mac, $4.99 for
iPhone/iPad app), I found it limit-
ing in what it can do as compared
to ACT. I also am researching
Filemaker Pro for the Mac and
will report back in future articles.
Pros
Bento was easy to use and easy
to download free templates for
small businesses. I liked the fact
that it allowed you to use your
Mac contacts database and could
even give you an Excel-like view
of your data so you could sort and
edit quickly. I would recommend
Bento to small businesses for its
ease-of-use, but not for marketing
and sales campaigns. My vintage
version of ACT on my Windows
PC works like a tank. I have never
had a crash, never lost data, and it
is so versatile that it works with
all data base formats. It does re-
quire some minor technical ad-
justments to get it to where you
want it to be. You can also get help
from most software providers.
Cons
While Bento did print a wide
variety of Avery labels, it didnt
allow for some basic functions
such as multiple variable mail-
merge with Word. This was a deal
killer for me. Unfortunately Sage
ACT does not have a Mac version
but has a cloud version for iPad
and iPhone, which I will review
in the future.
Bottom-line
Start by checking with your
professional or trade association
to see what others are using and
how well they like it. Some so-
phisticated users feel that by in-
stalling the same system every-
one else is using, you achieve no
competitive advantage a matter
of point of view. If you are a
smaller business just starting out
in this area, check out the generic
packages such as Bento, File
Maker Pro or Sage ACT by down-
loading the 30 day free trial.
Check the Web sites
www.filemaker.com/products and
www.sagecrm.com/northamerica
for more info, demonstrations
and free trials of the apps de-
scribed in this article.
Bill Dubovsky - Comtel Information
Services, has a proven track record
of business success spanning over
30 years in helping hundreds of or-
ganizations improve their profitabili-
ty. He is the principal technology
specialist with Comtel Information
Services, a New York based telecom-
munications consulting firm, and an
adjunct lecturer in business at the
College of Staten Island, C.U.N.Y.
Contact him at
billdubovsky@gmail.com.
BROOKLYN BUSINESS
BASE BUSINESS
EXCHANGE
BREAKFAST
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14
Time: 7:45 a.m. 9:15 a.m.
For information, visit the Web site
www.brooklynbusinessbase.com
GLOBAL CHRISTIAN
EVENT NETWORK
CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
SUMMIT
SATURDAY, MARCH 17
Time: 12:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
Location: Brooklyn College
TRADE BROOKLYN:
BROOKLYNS
BUSINESS
TRADE SHOW
TUESDAY, MARCH 20
Time: 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
Location: Stage 6 @ Steiner Stu-
dios, 15 Washington Ave.
For information, call 347-464-0777
NYS WOMEN, INC.
BAY RIDGE CHAPTER
TUESDAY, MARCH 20
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Greenhouse Caf, 7717
Third Ave.
For information, call 718-238-3900
SCORE NYC SEMINAR:
BUSINESS PLANNING
A ROADMAP
TO SUCCESS
THURSDAY, MARCH 22
Time: 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Location: NYC Public Library, 188
Madison Ave., NYC
For information, call 212-264-4507
BROOKLYN
BUSINESS BASE
ENTREPRENEURIAL
EVENING
NETWORKING EVENT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28
Time: 7:00 9:00 p.m.
Location: Boerum Hill area
For information, call 212-937-7911
THIRD ANNUAL
BROOKLYN KINGS
COUNTY
HISPANIC CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
BUSINESS EXPO
THURSDAY, MARCH 29
Time: 11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Location: St. Josephs College, 245
Clinton Ave.
For information, call 718-940-5857
MARCH 2012 BUSINESS TRENDS 9
Which relationship managers are best?
BITS
Continued from page 2
Telecom Tech Tip of the Month
Looking for a job? A interesting search engine that gets listings from
thousands of Websites, newspapers, professional organizations and job
boards is www.indeed.com. Check it out!
Marchs Business Calendar
EVENTS
Continued from page 7
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borough. In addition, referrals
are not needed to see specialists
within GHIs tri-state provider
network.
But perhaps the biggest benefit
to participants is that Brooklyn
HealthWorks serves as the per-
sonalized broker and supporter
for its clients.
We try to simplify the cus-
tomer service experience and the
administrative experience, said
Dean Mohs, who joined Brooklyn
HealthWorks in 2007. That has
really been something that the
businesses we have enrolled have
appreciated.
Brooklyn HealthWorks pro-
vides one monthly invoice for all
services a participant may
choose, and each participant is
given a direct line for customer
service representatives.
Unlike the Healthy NY pro-
gram, Brooklyn HealthWorks
does not require employers to
contribute 50 percent of premi-
ums to the program, and even of-
fers options for employers to pro-
vide coverage to part-time work-
ers and independent contractors.
Mohs said he believes employers
should have the flexibility to de-
termine their contribution level
based on their own business
model.
The programs design is impor-
tant, Mohs said, because it allows
businesses to offer health cover-
age to these traditionally under-
insured classes of workers, who
oftentimes arent provided afford-
able insurance options. About 10
percent of Brooklyn Health-
Works clients have signed up one
or more 1099/independent con-
tractors.
To qualify for the program, the
business must be located in
Brooklyn, but the employees who
are covered can live anywhere.
And while Mohs said he wouldnt
describe it as a Cadillac plan,
its coverage that is reasonable,
affordable and makes sense.
Brooklyn HealthWorks has
been a godsend to me and my em-
ployees, said Damon Victor,
owner of One Stop Blue Printing
& Digital Copy. If I didnt have
that, I would not be able to afford
to give them any sort of health
benefits.
As a small business owner, Vic-
tor described the cost of provid-
ing independent health coverage
as prohibitive. Providing an in-
dependent health insurance plan
would cost One Stops employees
about $700 per employee each an
astronomical cost that may be
more than some of his 15 employ-
ees earn per week. Through
Brooklyn HealthWorks, that cost
is only $200 per month.
It just makes their life so
much easier, Victor said. Its a
perk my company is able to give
them.
With health-care reform on the
horizon, there is a lot of uncer-
tainty surrounding exactly what
the future holds. Mohs said he
hopes that, whatever comes about
in 2014, Brooklyn HealthWorks
will still be able to provide most of
the features it does now.
Gov. Cuomo is calling for the
establishment of a public author-
ity to implement the new health
insurance exchange, which
Brooklyn HealthWorks supports,
Mohs said, and the Chamber is
very involved in discussions with
the Department of Financial
Services and other key policy
makers at the state level to ensure
small businesses arent left be-
hind.
I dont know what the future
holds. I dont have a crystal ball.
We just continue to be a part of
the discussion, Mohs said. We
want to make sure that, whatever
distribution network they put
into place includes the places
where businesses are getting
their insurance right now.
In the meantime, Brooklyn
HealthWorks continues to service
its clients needs, helping to navi-
gate business as usual.
Mohs, his team and the Cham-
ber as a whole are also being
proactive to make sure that any
changes in health-care policy are
going to be beneficial to small
businesses.
After all, its a program with a
success story and strong advo-
cates.
The Chamber takes care of it
all, Victor said. You call them
up, and they take care of it. It was
amazing. They spoon feed you.
Besides the fact that theyre
saving us money, they go out of
their way to make it easy. Its
seamless.
10 BUSINESS TRENDS MARCH 2012
Seamless, affordable health-care coverage
HEALTHWORKS
Continued from page 1
cameras.
In the spring, look for more
benches, trees, enhanced lighting,
umbrellas for shade and more.
Putnam Triangle Plaza is the
result of the Fulton Area Busi-
ness Alliances collaborative ef-
forts with the New York City De-
partment of Transportation,
other city agencies (including
FDNY, NYPD and the MTA), local
civic groups, Community Board 2
and elected officials.
Monthly update
BRIEFS
Continued from page 4
Drop us a line
Email: news@brooklynbiztrends.com
Can you give us a 30,000 foot snapshot of the telecommunications industry today?
Sure. Its becoming increasingly complicated with competing technologies and lower pricing driving the
industry. Finding the right mix of reliable telecommunication and Internet service providers to give your
organization a competitive edge while reducing overall costs is a challenge to navigate. Each carrier wants
to sell you whats on his truck, potentially depriving you of better and perhaps less expensive solutions
provided by others.
So what are savvy professionals doing about it, and why should they come to you?
Our clients understand that it makes sense to consult an expert to best optimize their decision-making.
Few organizations today can afford to pay staff to just focus on new technologies and pricing, so smart
managers come to us for our network of telecom specialists. We can mix and match programs and services
from multiple carriers for the benefit of network backup and economies of scale so there is no need to
sacrifice quality for price.
What are organizations looking for in their telecommunication and Internet services
these days?
Besides saving money, organizations want reliable and flexible service and stable carriers. They realize that
just one missed call can send a potential customer to competition forever. By managing telecom costs,
they can realize higher margins or reduce pricing to gain market share. Any economies gained during
tough economic times like these will help organizations survive the short-term, and when the economy
turns around, our clients will be well-positioned to rapidly pull ahead of any remaining competitors.
Its like having your very
own telecommunications
consultant on call,
without having him
on the payroll.
What do you tell your clients before they make a purchase decision?
We assist our clients to identify which factors are most important for their success and
position products and services, from many carriers and resellers, which can best meet
their goals. As a specialist, I want my clients to be excited about the savings, service,
and hassle-free process to improve their business. If there is ever a service issue, we will
be there for them with dual-level personalized service, 24/7, to make things right.
Who are your clients and how have they done?
Since 1994, we have saved our clients in healthcare, financial/professional services,
education, non-profits and others between 10% to 60% off their telecommunications
expense line by eliminating waste and fraud, assisting them in choosing the best
technology for their needs, and identifying the right mix of services and service providers.
In a dynamically changing field of players, most clients appreciate their long-term
consultative relationship with us and we maintain a Better Business Bureau rating of A+.
Call us and discover how we can help you create and manage a more competitive telecommunications and Internet environment today.
Call or email bill@comtelinfo.com for our latest executive summary on telecommunication trends or for a complimentary consultation.
We sat down with Comtel Information Services Telecommunications Specialist Bill Dubovsky in New York
City, to discuss a new twist on how to determine telecommunication strategies. Bill shines some light on
todays telecom scene and what managers need to know to be successful.
Saving organizations money they didnt even know they were losing since 1994. Visit Comtelinfo.com or call 1.800.213.4884.