APRIL 2018

www.sibiztrends.com

HATING THE HUSTLE?

Islanders weigh in on new CNBC show.
PAGE 22
SCORE
A press release that works.
PAGE 6
WEEKLY MEETINGS
Attend an event on the Island this month.
PAGE 20

SI nonprofits
need your help
Hundreds of Staten Island nonprofit orga-
nizations are dedicated to furthering an array
of social causes. Each working diligently to aid
children, the disabled or grief-stricken pockets of
the population, these public charities and private
foundations have had great success in advancing
their purpose but still face an array of challenges
– fundraising being their greatest hurdle. Here,
Business Trends takes a look at five of the bor-
ough’s charitable agencies and the obstacles that
often overwhelm them.
please see pages 8-11

Downtown gets a boost

Chamber unveils new logo, branding
for Downtown Staten Island.
PAGE 4
2 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018

NY Main Street Program

Special to Business Trends

Northfield Community LDC of Staten Island recently presented
Ram Cherukuri, owner of New York Fragrance and property owner
of 162 Port Richmond Ave., with a check for $75,000 from its NY
Main Street Program. Cherukuri will also be honored at our Golf
Outing and Dinner, which will be held on Thursday, May 31, at
Grand Oaks Country Club.
APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 3
4 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018
Downtown Staten Island gets a new brand
By JESSICA JONES-GORMAN
Business Trends
As Petula Clark’s iconic 1960s
hit “Downtown” blared through
the sound system at the St.
George Theatre on March 6, a
local dance troupe twirled bright
orange umbrellas revealing Stat-
en Island commercial district’s
new brand identity.
“With so much new develop-
ment happening in the area, both
adjacent to the Staten Island
Ferry Terminal and along the
rest of the waterfront, it’s impor-
tant that we support the nearby
businesses to ensure they can
continue to thrive and serve the
community effectively,” noted
Linda Baran, president and CEO
of the Staten Island Chamber of
Commerce, who helped host the
event, which served as the first
part of a strategic marketing
initiative being launched to in-
crease public awareness of the
many business, shopping and
entertainment options develop-
ing in the borough’s downtown
area.
The Chamber has been work-
ing closely with local elected
officials, business and commu-
nity leaders and residents to
identify and address the chal-
lenges and opportunities along
the commercial corridor. The
new brand identity is the result
of a yearlong process in which
community input and engage-
ment allowed ThoughtMatter, an
award-winning creative design
agency, to put the essence of the
neighborhood into powerful vi-
sual imagery.
The new logo transforms the
words “Downtown Staten Is-
land” into a rectangular frame,
a symbol of the neighborhood’s
unique window view of Man-
hattan and its open door to all
Staten Island has to offer. The
color palette of the logo centers
around a color the Chamber is
calling “Ferry Boat Orange,” a
nod to the iconic boats that ply
the harbor bordering the area.
Each of the three neighborhoods
encompassed by the revitaliza-
tion has its own primary color,
recognizing its own unique char-
acter and distinct history: Blue
for St. George, yellow for Tomp-
kinsville and green for Staple-
ton.
The Chamber will draw on the
imagery as it prepares to launch
a neighborhood-specific website
– downtownSI.nyc – and other
tools to promote local businesses
in the months ahead.
“We’ve enjoyed collaborating
with the Chamber of Commerce
on this project and are grateful
to Small Business Services and
all involved for helping increase
public awareness of the many
business, shopping and enter-
tainment options in Downtown
Staten Island via the Neighbor-
hood 360 program,” Borough
President James Oddo said.
“This is just the beginning of a
renaissance for the area.”
The marketing plan is one
component of work being done
in Downtown Staten Island by
the Chamber as part of the SBS
Neighborhood 360 program,
which helps community-based
organizations promote eco-
nomic development in the areas
they serve. Other components
being rolled-out by the Chamber
include daily street cleaning ser-
vice, installation of tree guards
and holiday lights and storefront
improvements.
“The Chamber and NYC
Small Business Services have
been great partners, as I have
worked with them to help small
businesses in the area grow and
succeed. I expect this new brand-
ing program to boost name rec-
ognition and establish Down-
town Staten Island as a destina-
tion that is open for business,”
NYC Councilwoman Debi Rose STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
said. Above, Luanne Sorrentino,
“Strong neighborhoods are Linda Baran and Doreen Cugno
the backbone of our city, and the pose near Downtown Staten
$1.54 million in investments to Island’s new logo at a launch
Staten Island is going a long way event held at the St. George
toward revitalizing key com- Theatre on March 6. To the
mercial corridors,” added Gregg right, the logo is unveiled by,
Bishop, commissioner of the from left, Blaise Backer, NYC
NYC Department of Small Busi- deputy commissioner for small
ness Services. “By working with business; NYC Councilwoman
the Staten Island Chamber of Debi Rose; Deputy Borough
Commerce, we are responding President Ed Burke; Fred Ce-
to local needs to support small rullo; and Baran.
business growth and build more
vibrant neighborhoods for all
New Yorkers.”
 APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 5

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6 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018

in our opinion

Sleep Well, Staten Island 198 Route 9 North, Suite 100

Manalapan, NJ 07726
732-358-5200

Richard Donnelly

U
sually, you read about politi- prived but to others. getting enough sleep isn’t the most Ceo of newspaper media group

Tim Ronaldson Joe Eisele

cians arguing over such is-
sues as taxes, education and
crime.
The Office of the Borough Presi- glamorous quest for a politician, but
executive editor publisher
dent has an extensive look at sleep Oddo should be commended for put-
ADVERTISING Bonnie Arciero
on its website, statenislandusa.com. ting a spotlight on it. He’s using his

Borough President James Oddo is
adding another topic for discussion
– sleep. More specifically, lack of
sleep and how it impacts people and
those around them.
How important is sleep? Oddo
thinks it’s really important. So im-
portant he’s leading a campaign,
Sleep Well, Staten Island, to encour-
age residents to get more shut-eye.
Oddo is right about the importance
Visit it, and you’ll see some disturb-
ing statistics:
Some 250,000 drivers in the U.S. will
fall asleep behind the wheel – today.
Every hour, someone dies in the
U.S. in a traffic accident due to a
fatigue-related error.
Sleep deprivation is linked to sui-
cide, depression, Bipolar Disorder
and many other illnesses.
Some 75 percent of New York City
high-profile position to call attention
to an issue most people might not
even consider an issue, but that can
have a seriously negative impact on
society if not addressed.
We wish the borough president
well on his campaign. It’s an impor-
tant topic that should not be ignored.
We also encourage everyone to
check out the website, which in-
cludes tips for getting enough sleep.
circulation Director Pearl Harta
Staten Island Business Trends is published
monthly by Newspaper Media Group. It is
mailed monthly to business and community
leaders in Staten Island.
If you are not on the mailing list, six-month
subscriptions are available for $45. PDFs of
the publication are online, free of charge.
For information, call 732-358-5200.
To submit a news release, please email
news@sibiztrends.com. For advertising
information, call 646-481-4026 or email
bonnie@sibiztrends.com.

of a good night’s sleep, and has the
research to back him up. Not getting
enough sleep can be dangerous not
only to the person who is sleep-de-
adolescents got fewer than eight
hours of sleep on average school
nights in 2015.
Pointing out the importance of
Sleep well, your body and brain
will thank you, as will fellow com-
muters if you’re planning to drive
tomorrow.
Business Trends welcomes suggestions and
comments from readers – including any
information about errors that may call for a
correction to be printed.

A press release that works: What to do after you write the pitch
By BRIDGET WESTON POLLACK
Whether you’re planning an event or expanding to an
additional location, writing a press release that works
doesn’t stop when you’ve written the pitch.
A study by Greentarget states that the average jour-
nalist is bombarded with as many as 50 press releases a
week and spends less than one minute reading each one
they open. It’s worth the time to hone every part of your
pitch process, like the way you distribute it and how you
follow up.
Follow these six steps to master the art of the press re-
lease and get your small business noticed.
1.) Re-read the release to ensure it promotes the story,
not the business.
A journalist’s job is to share stories with readers.
However, unsuccessful press releases often focus on
basic statements, like who, what, when and where.
But those facts, while important, simply aren’t
enough. If you’re hosting a grand opening, focus on an
angle relevant to the publication’s readers. For example,
if you’re sending the release to a business publication,
include information about how the event relates to the
business community: How many new jobs will it add to
the workforce? Will the location offer increased access to
services previously unavailable in the area?
If the press release doesn’t tell a story relevant to read-
ers, revise it until it does.
2.) Write an attention-grabbing email subject line.
Boring subject lines are a surefire way to fast track
your press release to the trash file. In fact, 79 percent of
journalists said the subject line greatly affects whether
they open an email, according to Greentarget. Invest
time crafting a subject line that grabs the reporter’s at-
tention and lets them know the press release offers story
value.
3.) Copy and paste the release into the email.
Like you, journalists are less likely to open unasked-
for documents, particularly from senders they don’t
know. One way to work around this challenge is to copy
and paste your small business press release into the body
of the email, giving the reporter direct access to the in-
formation without the need to open a file.
4.) Send it to the right reporters.
Greentarget’s survey indicates that one of the top pet
peeves of journalists with press releases is that they’re
not relevant to the issues the journalists cover. Make the
most of your time and the reporter’s by only sending
press releases related to their area of reporting.
Send your pitch to select reporters who have covered
similar stories. For example, if you own a day spa, poten-
tial target journalists might include those writing about
wellness, health or lifestyle issues. Or, depending on the
reason for the press release, it might be appropriate to
send it to general business reporters.
5.) Streamline distribution and follow-up with an
email platform.
Automated email platforms, like those you may al-
ready use to connect with customers, significantly re-
duce the time and frustration of sending and following
up on press releases. Using these platforms allows you
to:
• Segment journalists into lists based on factors like
area of reporting (lifestyle, fitness, business, etc.) or re-
gion (city, county, state, etc.). When it’s time to send a re-
lease, you can easily choose a list that targets the right
reporters.
• See which reporters have opened the email. If a
journalist has opened it more than once, there’s a good
chance they’re considering writing about it – and that
makes them prime for a follow-up email.
6.) Generally, avoid following up by phone.
Reporters are constantly bombarded with informa-
tion, so sometimes they may view follow-up phone calls
from people they don’t know as interruptions. The most
effective way to respect a reporter’s time – and avoid
being labeled a pest – is to send a brief follow-up email
please see SCORE, page 12
 APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 7

DINNER ONLY

DINNER ONLY
8 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018
Nonprofits serve a wide range of borough needs
By JESSICA JONES-GORMAN
Business Trends
Emma’s Place
After working out of a small
office on Watchogue Road for the
past five years, helping grieving
children cope with their loss,
Karen Goldman and the compas-
sionate staff of Emma’s Place
recently found themselves dis-
placed.
“Sadly, with the increasing
number of deaths here on Staten
Island, Emma’s Place is expand-
ing every day,” Goldman said.
“We outgrew our offices, which
were also in disrepair, so we
temporarily are renting a space
at Snug Harbor. But ideally we
are working toward establish-
ing ourselves in a standalone
house somewhere on the North
or South Shore.”
Goldman hopes a fundraiser,
which will take place on May 3
HOUSING CONCERNS…
Call, Email or Visit Northfield Community LDC of Staten Island
Phone: 718-442-7351 Ext. 221, 224 or 228
Email: Northfield.LDC@gmail.com • Website: www.NorthfieldLDC.org
160 Heberton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10302
Help Emma’s Place
You can donate online at
emmasplacesi.com or mail
donations to Staten Island
Grief Center, 1076 Forest
Ave., Staten Island, 10310.
Call (347) 850-2322 for more
information.
at LiGreci’s Staaten, will help ig-
nite funding for this task.
“Fundraising is extremely
difficult for us,” Goldman said.
“Death and dying is not a pretty
topic. It’s not something that
people feel comfortable discuss-
ing or want to take up as their
cause. But the truth of the mat-
ter is death happens to every-
one, and helping children cope
with their grief is a very worthy
cause to support.”
The Grief and Loss Center,
which serves about 500 children
annually, was founded in 2013
after 5-year-old Emma Trapp
witnessed the horrific deaths of
both her mother and father.
“I’ve been a grief counselor
for 30 years and was contacted
by Emma’s grandmother to help
her cope with some nightmares
and the extreme grief she was
understandably experiencing
after her parents’ deaths,” Gold-
man said. “She is such an in-
credibly smart, wonderful child
who was so traumatized by her
experience, but during counsel-
ing and play and art therapy, she
was able to talk about things she
had repressed.”
After two years of counsel-
ing Emma, Goldman decided to
focus on family grief counsel-
ing and launched the non-profit.
With the family’s blessing, she
named it Emma’s Place.
“My father passed away when
I was just 14 years old, so I have
always wanted to open a grief
center for children,” Goldman
said. “I want to be able to offer
Help GMRF
Donations can be made pay-
able to The Global Medical
Relief Fund and sent to 112
MacFarland Ave., Staten
Island, 10305. You can also
contact the organization at
(718) 448-6984 or by email
at info@gmrfchildren.org.
children the support that I did
not have.”
Goldman, a licensed mental
health counselor and board cer-
tified psychotherapist specializ-
ing in bereavement counseling,
works side-by-side with Dr. Caro-
lyn Taverner, who has a Ph.D. in
child development with a focus
on grief counseling. The pair is
assisted by Katie Nuzzo, also a li-
censed mental health counselor,
and several other grief counsel-
ors who use a mix of educational
and activity programs to aid the
healing process.
“Each of my counselors have
had losses themselves so they
understand and know how
to hold the children’s hands
through the process,” Gold-
man said. “Through a mix of
art therapy and talk therapy, we
make masks and create memory
boxes, write letters and try to be
as creative as possible, allowing
the children to express their feel-
ings in every way imaginable.”
Children are referred through
their schools or pediatrician,
and all programs are free of
charge.
“We run on grants and dona-
tions,” Goldman said. “That’s
why we’re very focused on this
fundraiser – the more money we
raise, the more children we will
be able to help.”
And because of the borough’s
drug and suicide crisis, Gold-
man says there has been a sig-
nificant uptick in the number of
children who need counseling
services.
“Sadly, we’re finding there’s
a greater need for our services,”
Goldman said.
That’s why Goldman hopes
to build upon the services at
Emma’s Place in the very near
future.
“So many people don’t know
where to go or who to reach out
to when they’re grieving,” Gold-
man concluded. “Death is hor-
rible, but these children and
families need to know that what
they’re experiencing is normal.
Here, they have a place where
counselors and peers listen and
help. That’s what Emma’s Place
is all about.”
Global Medical Relief Fund
When Elissa Montanti
launched the Global Medical
Relief Fund in 1998, with a mis-
sion of helping children who
were severely injured due to war,
natural disaster or illness, she
immediately started receiving
hate mail.
“When our organization first
got some recognition, the let-
ters poured in asking why I was
helping children in other coun-
tries and not children here in the
United States,” Montanti said.
“Instead of the help and support
I thought I’d receive, I was faced
with a lot of hate and anger.”
For Montanti, it was a devas-
tating reality.
“This cause affected me deep-
ly from the moment I became in-
volved,” she said. “I couldn’t un-
derstand why others didn’t see it
the same way. It was very chal-
lenging for me to explain that al-
though we do help children here
in the United States, the need
is greater elsewhere. I’m grate-
ful we don’t have landmines
or tsunamis or war crimes in
this country, and that is why we
choose to help on an internation-
al scale.”
And while there was local
support from day one – Mon-
tanti credits Richmond County
Savings Foundation, Northwell
Health and Richmond Univer-
sity Medical Center as well as
dozens of local doctors with
unwavering assistance – her or-
ganization has definitely faced
some resistance.
“Because our work was inter-
national, I feel as though we had
to work 10 times as hard to raise
funds,” Montanti said. “People
understandably like to donate to
please see GIVE, page 9

Give back to borough nonprofits who help those in need
GIVE
Continued from page 8
charities that are right here in
their own backyard. So it took
us much longer to become estab-
lished.”
But as GMRF celebrates its
20th anniversary this month,
Montanti looks back with pride
on what her foundation has been
able to accomplish.
“People began to understand
our work when a piece on ‘60
Minutes’ showed our children
arriving, being carried off the
plane or transported in a wheel-
chair and then six months later
they were walking and leading
productive lives,” Montanti said.
“And in the past two decades,
we’ve been able to help over 200
children from 46 different coun-
tries.”
Montanti’s initial involve-
ment with the cause started with
a small local fundraiser in 1996
when a friend asked her to write
a piece of music to kick off the
event.
“They were raising money to
send toys and school supplies to
Bosnia,” Montanti said. “I’ve al-
ways been involved in music and
writing, so I wrote a little some-
thing but then really became im-
mersed in what was happening
in this impoverished nation. I
found out that the U.S. ambassa-
dor to Bosnia lived here in Stat-
en Island, so I wrote to him and
requested a meeting.”
Two months later, Montanti
met with Muhamed Sacirbey,
who explained to her that Bos-
nia’s needs extended way beyond
pencil cases.
“He showed me a letter from
an 11-year-old boy who lost both
of his arms and a leg after step-
ping on a landmine,” Montanti
said. “In the letter, he made a
plea for help asking for ‘God and
all merciful people to help him
in getting prosthetics.’ My whole
life changed that day at the UN.”
Montanti, a medical techni-
cian working in the office of a
local orthopedist, immediately
began to recruit airlines, hospi-
tals, physicians and prosthetic
companies to donate their ser-
APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 9
vices. She welcomed the writer “America’s best.” Help Where to Turn But their work, fueled by the
of the letter, Kenan Malkic,
along with his mother, into her
She says witnessing the
human suffering during visits Personal contributions can be
made at any level. All dona-
generosity of a dedicated panel
of volunteers, persists.
home. During a four-month stay to Bosnia, Iraq and Haiti con- Founded as a support group
tions are tax deductible. To
in the U.S., Kenan received two firmed that charity is so much in the basement of St. Clare
underwrite a Where to Turn
new arms, a new leg and a new bigger than one person. Church shortly after the ter-
program or to donate goods
life. “Healing wounds, easing pain rorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001,
or services, please contact
“I had a one-bedroom town- and putting back together a bro- Where to Turn was originally
Where to Turn at 718-619-2371
house but we made it work,” ken child is its own reward,” she or email dennis.mckeon@ formed to provide a space to
Montanti said. concluded. “What more impor- where-to-turn.org. grieve and gather for the 29 fami-
Soon after, Montanti founded tant mission is there than aiding lies in that parish who lost loved
the non-profit, non-partisan innocent, victimized children?” ones on that day.
GMRF, a 501c3 organization that velopment of Ground Zero, there “Those family members al-
is supported entirely by private Where to Turn have been many challenges. ways said they felt like they
donations and grants. She com- For the past 17 years, Dennis “The main problem we’ve didn’t have any place to turn,
piled a unique team that “makes McKeon and his staff at Where faced is that there are so many so that’s what we wanted to pro-
miracles happen,” including the to Turn have made great strides organizations that Staten Is- vide, a place to turn,” McKeon
Shriners Hospitals for Children, for 9/11 families, serving first as landers can donate their time said. “We weren’t counselors but
which provide surgery, pros- a support group and then as a and money to,” McKeon noted. we listened to their concerns. We
thetics and rehabilitation, Long vital source of assistance, help- “There’s not a lot of overhead did our best to contact elected of-
Island Jewish Hospital, John ing victims navigate through here because we are run strictly ficials and other administrators
Hopkins University Hospital, the complex bureaucratic maze. by a group of volunteers. And who were in a position to help.”
the Long Island Plastic Surgery And while this once fledgling while we don’t reach out often The group grew rapidly, be-
Group, Winthrop University non-profit has built solid rela- for donations, they are often dif- coming a clearinghouse for
Hospital, Columbia Presbyteri- tionships with top-level adminis- ficult to ask for because there 9/11-related information, direct-
an Hospital and Ocular Prosthet- trators and successfully enacted are so many worthy causes to ing families to other available
ics, Inc. changes to the Victim’s Compen- which borough residents can
Maimed and injured children sation Fund as well as the rede- contribute.” please see GIVE, page 10
from Bosnia, China, El Salvador,
Haiti, Indonesia, Iraq, Kosovo,
Liberia, Mexico, Nepal, Niger,
Pakistan and Sierra Leone – all
regions that offer minimal medi-
cal care – have been helped by
the organization’s programs.
“I converted my closet into an
office because we needed a place
to organize,” Montanti said. “In
2011, ‘60 Minutes’ followed me
for six months and we were fea-
tured in People magazine. Tyler
Perry saw the segment as did a
few other donor corporations
who each called and asked what
we needed.”
Through donations and spon-
sorships, GMRF was able to es-
tablish the Dare to Dream House
in Arrochar where children and
their guardians can live while
undergoing treatment.
“It’s a place for kids to come
and heal under one roof,” Mon-
tanti said. “We have children
from Nepal, Ecuador, all cor-
ners of the world, who are going
through similar things, all living
and playing under one roof.”
Montanti says each child
helped by GMRF becomes an
“ambassador” who can return
home not only with a healed,
mended body and new hope for
life, but also an experience of
10 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018
Give back to borough nonprofits who help those in need
GIVE
Continued from page 9
support groups and services.
Where to Turn was also able to
get answers to victims’ general
questions from organizations on
both local and national levels, be-
coming one of the primary New
York-based agencies for 9/11-re-
lated information. When the
Robin Hood Foundation became
aware of the help the group was
offering, they helped establish
Where to Turn as a 501c3.
“It soon became apparent
that the process that we had de-
veloped could be used to help
all victims of tragedy,” McKeon
said. “And we decided we wanted
to be more than just a support
group. We wanted our work to
extend into the community.”
The group now offers free
snow shoveling for senior citi-
zens, opens a Toy Store each
Christmas for families who
cannot afford to buy gifts, runs
neighborhood litter cleanups
throughout the borough, collects
prom dresses for those in need
and hosts a range of special proj-
ects throughout the year.
Their “Senior Prom,” a free
evening for borough senior citi-
zens, will take place on April
13 this year at New Dorp High
School, and their annual fun-
draiser, a Beatles concert, is
scheduled for June 1 at the St.
George Theatre. Their commu-
nity cleanups, which are funded
by the City Council, take place
regularly based on need.
“As tragedies arise, we as-
sist however possible,” McKeon
noted, detailing the group’s ship-
ment of thousands of book bags
and toys after a recent hurricane
devastated Texas.
And of course, the group still
places great importance on help-
ing the families of 9/11.
“A good portion of our volun-
teers are 9/11 family members
who want to pay it forward,”
McKeon concluded. “When we
started this group so many years
ago, I never imagined it would
grow to encompass so many ser-
vices – but I’m very glad it did.”
Gianna Nicole’s Heart of Hope
After losing their 4-year-old
daughter to a rare form of leu-
kemia in 2007, Jennifer and
Michael LaBarbera struggled
to find some sort of purpose in
their tragedy.
“They were so broken by this
loss, completely devastated by
Gianna Nicole’s sickness and
eventual death,” noted Tammi
D’Antoni, a close family friend.
“As they tried to pick up the piec-
es, they decided that they were
going to help other families who
are enduring the same pain.”
Launched in 2010, Gianna
Nicole’s Heart of Hope is a pe-
diatric cancer foundation with
a mission of directly helping
Help Gianna Nicole’s
Heart of Hope
Checks or money orders can
be made payable to Gianna
Nicole’s Heart of Hope
Inc. and sent to P.O. Box
90215, Staten Island, 10309.
Bracelets and T-shirts are
also sold on the foundation’s
website, www.giannanicoles-
heartofhope.org.
other families in need.
“The foundation doesn’t give
out money; instead they pay
bills directly to creditors,” said
D’Antoni, who serves as a vol-
unteer board member. “During
the application process, families
submit copies of the bills they
are struggling with and the orga-
nization uses their resources to
pay those bills off.”
The LaBarbera family estab-
lished the fund in that fashion
based on their own experiences.
“They know how hard it is to
focus on taking care of a sick
child,” D’Antoni said. “Bills pile
up, and one or both parents have
to stay home from work. One
hundred percent of the proceeds
go to families who are caring for
sick children. And, unfortunate-
ly, that number only continues to
grow.”
The group, which helps about
35 to 40 families annually, pro-
vides nationwide assistance but
also has a special focus on local
residents – offering both emo-
tional and financial support.
And while their efforts are suc-
cessful, the grassroots charity,
whose small board of volunteers
meets regularly around the La-
Barbera kitchen table, does face
some fundraising hurdles.
“In terms of pediatric can-
cer, St. Jude is often the charity
of choice,” D’Antoni said. “It’s
a wonderful, nationally recog-
nized organization and many
people choose to donate money
to their research efforts. But
based on Jen and Mike’s experi-
ence, we direct our energy and
funds to a more personal place.”
The group, which has made
part of its mission to never turn
a family away, raises most of
their money at an annual gala,
which welcomes close to 600 at-
tendees to celebrate the memory
and legacy of Gianna Nicole.
“It’s truly a beautiful eve-
ning,” D’Antoni said, noting
this year’s event will be hosted
on June 28 at the El Caribe. “We
honor three new families each
year, and many of our teens who
are now in remission volunteer
and help with raffles throughout
the night.”
Locally, the group hopes to at-
tract the attention of corporate
sponsors who would be willing
to match donations or contribute
their goods or services.
“It’s amazing how much this
foundation has been able to
accomplish in the past eight
years,” D’Antoni said. “The
people of Staten Island have
been so generous – local high
schools have raised money for us
at their dances, businesses have
donated their time and services.
Everyone is touched by Gianna
Nicole’s story and wants to help
other families going through the
same situation. If we can some-
how help ease the burden of this
disease – even for just a few fami-
lies – we continue to keep her
memory alive.”
Grace Foundation
When the Grace Foundation
was founded 18 years ago to en-
hance the quality of life for fami-
lies impacted by Autism Spec-
trum Disorder, the original con-
cept started small but eventually
achieved rapid growth.
“The organization was started
by a group of parents who felt
that Staten Island didn’t have
the programs and services they
required,” noted Julie Gottes-
man, Grace’s program director.
“So they built this wonderful
concept which offers very in-
novative services to individuals
and their families who are living
with ASD.”
Operating first out of a small
office on Richmond Avenue be-
fore moving to the grounds of
Mount Loretto and then into
another smallish headquarters
on Watchogue Road, the orga-
nization garnered attention for
its social skills and recreational
please see GIVE, page 11

Give back to borough nonprofits who help those in need
GIVE
Continued from page 10
programs that were unavailable
at other facilities.
“We were really very excited
to receive the support of legisla-
tors who helped us acquire space
on the grounds of the Seaview
Hospital and Rehabilitation Cen-
ter,” Gottesman said about the
foundation’s 2015 relocation.
“We now have three fully
renovated teaching rooms plus a
space for life skills training and
administrative offices.”
But that expansion has not
come free of challenge.
“Fundraising is always a chal-
lenge for us,” noted Kevin Bros-
nick, Grace Foundation’s execu-
tive director. “We are always con-
cerned about our annual fund-
ing – whether it’s from the state
or city or from our elected offi-
cials. Our funding is always the
big determining factor in how
many programs we can offer and
how many participants we can
serve.”
According to Brosnick, the
organization receives generous
funding from elected officials
but still needs to build capital in-
ternally. An annual gala supplies
much needed financial support
– this year’s is slated for April
14 at the Excelsior Grand – and
new events like this year’s first
ever Grace Walk, scheduled for
April 28, also covers some of the
group’s expenses.
But services like recreation,
performing arts, social skills,
in-home respite and teen and
young adult social programs re-
quire more than just monetary
donations.
“We offer tremendous servic-
es for 250 families, and our goal
is to become much more widely
known in the community,” Bros-
nick said. “People are always so
impressed by the capabilities of
Help Grace Foundation
Links for online donations
can be found at www.gra-
ceofny.org. To pay by phone,
call Dolores Ragazzo at (718)
983-3800.
our young adults – our Grace-
ful Glee Program performed at
Snug Harbor, Staten Island Yan-
kees Stadium and the St. George
Theatre – and we love opening
people’s eyes to what individu-
als with autism can do. We are
currently working on expanding
our Day Habilitation Program,
hoping to work with the busi-
ness community on Staten Is-
land to find and identify new op-
portunities for job skills training
in the borough.”
Brosnick is working with Bor-
ough President James Oddo and
Councilman Steven Matteo to
form a local think tank of busi-
ness leaders for this vocational
APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 11
project. “We’ve received such gener-
“We’d like to have a forum
with these business leaders to
ous support from the Richmond
County Savings Foundation,
talk about how we can educate Northfield Bank, M&R Con-
the business community on hir- struction, Colonial Funeral
ing someone with special needs Home and Empire State Bank,”
and how they can work best with Brosnick said. “And the Staten
others,” Brosnick said. Island community is forever
Grace Foundation partici- generous with their time. When
pants enjoy performing arts parents see what is being provid-
programs, which include art, ed to their children and to their
acting and music and movement lives, they are so appreciative
classes. and driven to give back. If Staten
Life skills programs help in- Islanders are not directly affect-
dividuals work on money man- ed by this disability, they know
agement, cooking and other nec- someone who is, so they are very
essary functions. Recreational eager to help and for our foun-
activities include bowling, swim dation that help is so extremely
and baseball. valuable.”
When the news is sweet, We Tweet!
When the news is bitter, We Still Twitter!
Follow us at twitter.com/sibiztrends
12 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018
SCORE is the most recognized
and utilized provider of
FREE Confidential Mentoring
and Educational services to
America’s small businesses.
Let SCORE help YOU!
BUILD – GROW – THRIVE
Call: 718-727-1221
Email: info@scoresi.org
Web: www.statenisland.SCORE.org
Staten Island SCORE New Headquarters
Staten Island Advance Building
950 West Fingerboard Road
Walk-Ins Welcome
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:00 am to Noon
Other Times “By Appointment Only”
Visit us online at www.sibiztrends.com
A press release that works:
What should you do after
you write the pitch
SCORE
Continued from page 6
within one or two days to con-
firm you’ve sent the information
to the right person. If a journal-
ist doesn’t respond to the origi-
nal release or follow-up, assume
they’re not interested. Repeated
attempts on your part to get the
story covered will only make
them less likely to open your re-
leases in the future. Crafting a
press release that works is just
one part of a successful strategy
to market your small business.
SCORE mentors can help you
create a doable marketing plan
that attracts and retains custom-
ers. Find your mentor today.
Bridget Weston Pollack is the
vice president of marketing and
communications at the SCORE As-
sociation. In this role, Bridget is
responsible for all branding, mar-
keting, PR and communication ef-
forts. She focuses on implementing
marketing plans and strategies for
the organization to facilitate the
growth of SCORE’s mentoring and
trainings services.
APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 13
 14 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018
SIEDC completes BOA study, calls
for several area improvements
By JESSICA JONES-GORMAN
Business Trends
After nearly eight years of
Now available
GREAT INVESTMENT
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ase
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Retail Space • Raw Land
Warehouses • 1031 Exchanges
Office Buildings
research and collaboration, the
Staten Island Economic Develop-
ment Corp. recently announced
the completion of the West
Shore Brownfield Opportunity
Area study, which resulted in
specific recommendations for
major site renovations, roadway
consolidation and infrastructure
improvements.
“The West Shore of Staten Is-
land is one of the most underval-
ued assets in New York City, col-
lectively representing the largest
area and manufacturing zoned
land in the city,” the SIEDC
noted in a statement. “The BOA
study focused on the Bloom-
field and Chelsea sections and
provides a variety of planning
recommendations and tools for
business development and envi-
ronmental sustainability.”
SIEDC initiated a request for
BOA funding in 2010 and was
formally approved to begin the
project in 2014. Under the BOA
program, the New York State
Department of State provided
SIEDC with financial and tech-
nical assistance to complete a re-
vitalization plan and propose im-
plementation strategies for the
area – especially contaminated,
underutilized and underserved
sites.
In addition to DOS, SIEDC
also enlisted the assistance
of the Mayor’s Office of Envi-
ronmental Remediation, city
Economic Development Corp.,
city Department of City Plan-
ning, city Department of Small
Business Services and the state
Department of Environmental
Parisi Rampulla & Lenza, P.C.
78 Martin Avenue | Staten Island, NY, 10314
(718) 761-3333
Short Sales, Mortgage Modification,
Foreclosure Defense
Conservation.
Led by Greener by Design and
WSP (formerly Parsons Brinck-
erhoff) SIEDC’s consultant team
began the study process in 2016
and developed a scope of work
focused on four categories: Land
use development, transporta-
tion improvements, storm water
management and business de-
velopment.
The study also focused spe-
cific attention on creating a
“District Flood Resiliency”
plan, which anticipates issues
connected with sea-level rise in
this low-lying area with limited
sewer and storm water infra-
structure.
“Specific recommendations
from the study include major
site renovations or develop-
ments for seven underutilized
properties, roadway consoli-
dation and infrastructure im-
provements including curbing,
lighting and beautification,” the
SIEDC said.
“Expanded public transit to
serve major projects including
the Amazon and IKEA facilities
was also identified.”
The BOA study also devel-
oped various recommendations
for improving business oppor-
tunities in the area including
blanket permitting, new public-
private partnerships for services
and unique tax incentives.
“SIEDC is proud to have com-
pleted the BOA project with the
cooperation of so many partners
in both the public and private
realm,” the statement conclud-
ed.
APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 15
 16 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018

Combating opioid addiction

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Call Jean (718) 761-8390 From left, Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Lady Chirlane McCray and Staten Island Borough President
James Oddo announce $22 million in funding to combat opioid addiction in New York City at a press
conference in Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island on March 19.
 APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 17

PRESENTS SPRING NETWORKING

“For A Cause”
Sponsored
by

Tuesday, May 1st • 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

JCC, 1466 MANOR ROAD

A portion of your
$15 ticket sales will go to
Sunrise Day Camp of Staten Island.
The World’s First Full-Summer Day Camp for Children with Cancer
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For tickets, visit https://nmg.ticketleap.com/spring
Register by Monday, April 23rd to be entered into a drawing!

Contact Bonnie at 646.481.4026 or email Bonnie@SiBiztrends.com for more information.

Vendor and Sponsorship Opportunities Available.
 18 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018
SIEDC to host 20th annual
Business Conference April 17
When the Staten Island Eco-
nomic Development Cor p.
launched the Business Confer-
ence in 1998, holding it at the Ex-
celsior Grand, it was a ground-
breaking event and the first of
its kind.
Today, the Conference has
grown to boast more than 2,500
attendees, 125 vendors and more
than 20 seminars and sessions
open to the public.
This year, the Conference will
be held on Thursday, April 17
at the Hilton Garden Inn, 1100
South Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The kickoff breakfast features
a panel discussion on Staten Is-
land’s biggest headache: trans-
portation, with speakers offer-
ing their 21st century solutions
for a problem born prior to the
construction of the Verrazano
Bridge.
The day proceeds with ses-
APB Security SyStemS, inc. • 1 telePort Drive #203, StAten iSlAnD, ny 10311
sions ranging from how to best
utilize Google as a marketing
tool to others focused on how
women and minority owned
businesses can flourish in to-
day’s economy. In fact, women in
business are one of the event’s
main focuses, and the Keynote
Luncheon features a Powerful
Women in NY Business panel
discussion.
Tomorrow’s business lead-
ers aren’t left out of the 20th
anniversary celebration of the
SIEDC Business Conference.
Several hundred students will
attend specifically designed ses-
sions featuring a range of topics
from interviewing to career op-
portunities. They’ll also enjoy
speed mentoring sessions and
get to rub elbows with the bor-
ough’s most powerful business
leaders throughout the day.
The vending room offers
limitless business-to-business
opportunities, and a speed net-
working sessions allows attend-
ees to maximize their mixing in
an organized session reminis-
cent of the popular speed dating
concept.
Industrial firms won’t want to
miss this year’s event, as a spe-
cial wing has been set up to pro-
vide resources they need to help
them grow – business financing
assistance, discounted incen-
tive plans and intergovernmen-
tal assistance. Staten Islanders
seeking employment won’t want
to miss the mini job fair where
SIEDC’s employment program
SI Works will be pre-screening
candidates for a list of more
than 70 available positions.
To register for the event, or for
more information, visit siedc.
org/events/annual-siedc-busi-
ness-conference.
 APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 19

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 | 11:00 a.m.

Hilton Garden Inn
Staten Island Business Trends is proud to be recognized as one
of the TOP 31 Best Small Businesses on Staten Island by our
peers.
We will be honored with the other 30 businesses on April
17th at the SIEDC Business Conference. Stop by our booth for
a chance to win a great prize!
20 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018
Monday
Bus. Outreach Ctr of SI/
WBCLDC Small Bus. Counseling
– MWBE/BOC Capital: WBCLDC,
705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl. By appoint-
ment only. For info, call 718-816-
4775.
Kiwanis Club of Richmond Co.:
LaFontana Restaurant, 2879
Amboy Rd. 7 p.m. Call 718-420-
1966.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev.
Ctr. Business Counseling: CSI,
2800 Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No charge. For info, call the SBDC
at 718-982-2560.
Tuesday
Staten Island Chapter of New
York State Women: 6:30-8:30
p.m. LiGreci Staaten Restaurant,
Forest Avenue. Email info@nys-
womeninc.org for more informa-
tion. Meets third Tuesday of every
month from September through
June.
Photography For Your Next Event
That Will Last A Lifetime!
weddings
sweet 16’s
anniversaries
birthday
parties
corporate
events
much much
more!
Steve White
6 Genesee Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10308
Phone: 718.317.5025 Cell: 917.446.4029
Email: statenarts@aol.com
Entrust Steve White, an Award Winning Photographer with your event!
Greater New Dorp Networking
Group: 8 a.m. Perkins Restaurant,
1409 Hylan Blvd. For information,
call Steve Lombardo at 718-702-
8623.
Richmond Business Connections:
Z One, 1821 Richmond Ave. 8 a.m.
For information, call Ronald P.
Cutrone at (347) 258-8131 or visit
http://rbcofsi.com.
SI Business Friends: 7:30 - 8:45
a.m. Hilton Garden Inn, 1100 South
Ave. For information, call Dr. Rich-
ard Bove at 718-938-5978 or visit
www.sibfnetwork.com.
Bus. Outreach Ctr of SI/
WBCLDC Small Bus. Counseling
– MWBE/BOC Capital: WBCLDC,
705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl. By appoint-
ment only. For info, call 718-816-
4775.
Direct120.com, Ultimate Think
Tank: Lorenzo’s, 1100 South Ave.
For info, visit www.direct120.com.
Kiwanis Club of South Shore:
LaFontana, 2879 Amboy Rd. 7:30
p.m. For info, call 718-370-2770.
SCORE Business Counseling:
Staten Arts Photography
www.statenartsphotography.com
weekly meetings
Staten Island Advance Building,
950 W. Fingerboard Road. 9 a.m. to
noon. No appointment necessary.
No charge. For info, call 718-727-
1221.
Business Guild I of the S.I.
Chamber of Commerce: Hilton
Garden Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45
a.m. Members and invited guests
only. Call Michael Anicito at 646-
606-2111.
Business Network Int’l. (BNI)
Network Alliance Chapter: Z-One
Lounge, 1821 Richmond Ave. 7 to
8:30 a.m. For info, call Timothy
Houston at 718-981-8600.
Rotary Club Staten Island: LiGre-
ci’s Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 12:30 to
1:30 p.m. Members and guests wel-
come. For info, call 718-370-3140.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev.
Ctr. Business Counseling: CSI,
2800 Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
No charge. Call the SBDC at 982-
2560.
Wednesday
Bus. Outreach Ctr of SI/
WBCLDC Small Bus. Counseling
– MWBE/BOC Capital: WBCLDC,
705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl. By appoint-
ment only. Call 718-816-4775.
Gateway Rotary Club: La Strada,
139 New Dorp Lane. 7:15 a.m. For
info, call Adam at 718-986-0219.
Richmond County Referral Source:
Comfort Inn. 7:00 to 8:15 a.m. For
info, email jcmexp@aol.com
Staten Island Business Council:
Andrew’s Diner, 4160 Hylan Blvd. 7
a.m. Members and invited guests
only. For info, call 347-855-4488 or
send an e-mail to info@sibizcoun-
cil.com.
Bucks Business Network: Hamp-
ton Inn, 1120 South Ave. 7:45 a.m.
For info, call 718-351-2557 or visit
www.sibucks.com.
Kiwanis Club of Brighton: Jody’s
Club Forest, 372 Forest Ave. 7:30
p.m. For info, call 718-348-0505.
Kiwanis Club of North Central:
LiGreci’s Staten, 697 Forest Ave.
7:30 p.m. Call Len Bosso at 718-
442-7804.
E.L.I.T.E. (Executive, Leader-
ship, Interactive, Team, Effort)
Networking Group: 1110 South Ave.
8 a.m. New members welcome. For
info, call 347-273-1375.
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev.
Ctr. Business Counseling: CSI,
2800 Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For info, call 718-982-2560.
Thursday
Bus. Outreach Ctr of SI/
WBCLDC Small Bus. Counseling
– MWBE/BOC Capital: WBCLDC,
705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl. By appoint-
ment only. Call 718-816-4775.
Kiwanis Club of Staten Island:
LiGreci’s Staten, 697 Forest Ave.
7:30 p.m. For info, call 718-967-
4345 or kiwanisclubofstatenisland.
com.
Rotary Club of South Shore: Man-
sion Grand, 141 Mansion Ave. 12:15
p.m. For info, call 718-987-2061 or
visit southshorerotary.org.
Visit us online at www.sibiztrends.com
Rotary Club Mid-Island: New Dako-
ta Diner, 921 Richmond Ave. 7:30 to
9:00 a.m. Call 718-981-0700.
SCORE Business Counseling:
Staten Island Advance Building,
950 W. Fingerboard Road. 9 a.m. to
noon. No charge. Call 718-727-1221.
Rotary Club of North Shore:
LiGreci’s Staten, 697 Forest Ave. 7
p.m. Call Christine DeHart at 718-
448-4725.
Business Network Int’l. (BNI)
High Achievers Chapter: PK’s
Restaurant,1281 Arthur Kill Rd. 7 to
8:30 a.m. Call Timothy Houston at
718-981-8600.
Business Guild II of the S.I.
Chamber of Commerce: Hilton
Garden Inn, 1100 South Ave. 7:45
to 8:45 a.m. Members and invited
guests only. For info, call Lou Rizzo
at 718-490-0057.
Business Guild III of the
SI Chamber of Commerce:
Annandale Terrace. 7:45 a.m.
New members welcome. Call Shy
Shalem .
College of S.I., Small Bus. Dev.
Ctr. Business Counseling: CSI,
2800 Victory Blvd. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For info, call 718-982-2560.
Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT): 7 p.m.
Call John Tidona at 448-7160 or
portrichcert@yahoo.com.
friday
Bus. Outreach Ctr of SI/
WBCLDC Small Bus. Counseling
– MWBE/BOC Capital: WBCLDC,
705 Forest Ave., 2nd Fl. By appoint-
ment only. Call 718-816-4775.
Saturday
SCORE Business Counseling: St.
George Library, 5 Central Ave. 10
a.m. to noon. Appointment neces-
sary. Call 718-442-8560.
SCORE Business Counseling: 1
Library, 200 Clarke Ave. 10 to 11:30
a.m. Call 718-668-0413.

AROUND THE ISLAND
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
The Joseph Maffeo Foundation held its 14th Annual “Staten Island
Angel Award” honoring Frank Mora, who is the project planning
manager of plant operations at Staten Island University Hospital.
The foundation held its Casino Night 2018 to raise funds for the
construction of a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Staten Is-
land University Hospital-Northwell Health. The event was held at
the Hilton Garden Inn on March 24. Pictured are Keith and Linda
Manfredi, who established the Joseph Maffeo Foundation, Inc.
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
The Staten Island Chamber of Commerce had a business after
hours mixer hosted by the National Lighthouse Museum, spon-
sored by United Activities Unlimited on March 20. Above, Cham-
ber of Commerce staff members Ambere Hafizi and Joyce Suss
pose in front of a mock-up lighthouse.
APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 21
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
The Staten Island YMCA held its Dine N’ Dance Gala event at the Hilton Garden Inn on March 9. The
honorees were Angela Mirzzi-Olsen, YMCA Volunteer of the Year; Dr. Ginny Mantello, YMCA Com-
munity Service Award; Dr. Mark Sherman, YMCA Community Service Award; and Jacob Carey, YMCA
Community Service Award. Pictured are 2018 honorees, from left, Sherman, Mirizzi-Olsen, Emcee
Robert Scamardella, Mantello and Carey.
STEVE WHITE/Business Trends
The 52nd Miss Staten Island/Miss Richmond County Scholarship Pageant was held at the Grand
Ballroom of Congregation B’Nai Jeshurun on Jan. 21. The winners in the 2018 pageant were, from
left, Miss Richmond County Outstanding Teen, Tatiana Santos Mroczek; Miss Richmond County, Madi-
son L’Insalata; with Miss New York, Gabriella Walter; Miss Staten Island, Nicole Doz; and Miss Staten
Island Outstanding Teen, Julianna Meyer.
22 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018

Hating the Hustle?

Staten Islanders weigh in on new CNBC show set to premiere April 11
By JESSICA JONES-GORMAN
Business Trends
When the promo for CNBC’s
“Staten Island Hustle” rolled
out on Super Bowl Sunday, the
instantaneous reaction on so-
cial media was decidedly mixed.
While some local residents were
proud to once again see their
borough thrust into the national
spotlight, others were confound-
ed by the recurrence of our un-
shakeable stereotype.
Pe ppered with “fughet-
aboutits” and censored exple-
tives, the show, which premieres
April 11, follows a group of ani-
mated friends and businessmen
who’ve yet to come up with an
idea or product that’s too far-
fetched for them to invest in.
Without MBAs (or even college
degrees) these men stand by the
belief that grit, ingenuity and
street smarts are the real key to
success.
It’s a premise that is admi-
rable on paper – hard work pays
off – but the title, the tanning
beds and the continuous slow
motion camera pan on unending
plates of antipasto have many
business professionals and com-
munity advocates wondering
about the negative implications
of the borough’s inherited type-
cast.
“Judging from the light-heart-
ed tone of the promos, I don’t
expect Staten Island’s image to
be negatively impacted by this
show. It’s entertainment,” noted
Barton Horowitz, president of
Relevant Public Relations, which
is headquartered in Bloomfield.
“But should ‘Staten Island Hus-
tle’ become a hit, the off-camera
behavior of the cast members
may carry a greater influence
from a marketing perspective –
whether it be good or bad.”
The show, which comes in
the wake of reality series like
Mob Wives and Jersey Shore,
feeds upon some of the bor-
ough’s most unfavorable labels:
Each character carries a clever
nickname, is self employed and
proudly celebrates the notion
that somebody’s “got a guy” for
anything that needs fixing. In
one promo, a “hustler” barters
a meat slicer for two plane tick-
ets to L.A. while another loudly
adlibs “We’re not acting, we’re
Italian!”
Still many Staten Island sup-
porters look for the bright side,
insisting any PR, even bad PR,
still has a nugget of positivity.
“Staten Island is the smallest
borough with the second highest
income in New York City accord-
ing to the US Census Bureau,”
noted Leticia Remauro, presi-
dent and CEO of The Von Agen-
cy, a borough-based public rela-
tions and marketing firm. “That
is something to be proud of – es-
pecially when you consider that
Staten Island receives the least
support for public transporta-
tion and other city services,”
Remauro continued. “The rea-
son for Staten Island’s success
is that its people are fighters. We
work hard and we rarely back
down from a challenge.
“While the name, ‘Staten Is-
land Hustle’ has a negative con-
notation, I am hoping that pro-
ducers will capture the ingenu-
ity, drive and gumption that Stat-
en Islanders posses and show the
world that this little borough can
come out on top.”
Characters in the show in-
clude Uncle Dom Detore, better
known as “The Boss,” a contrac-
tor who oversees construction
projects all over the tri-state
area; Big Ron “The Hustler”
Montana, who is known for his
loyalty; Mike “The Negotiator”
Palmer who owns an auto repair
and collision shop and is friends
with everyone on the Island;
Tony D or “Mr. Wall Street” who
mentors and teaches a lecture se-
ries on investing and is credited
with training more than 18,000
financial advisors; and Adolfo
“The Professor” LaCola, the only
member of the group with a col-
lege degree.
“If you want to be a vital part
of the New York City economy,
it takes more than just hustle,”
noted Robert Fanuzzi, associate
provost for academic affairs and
director of civic engagement
and public programs for the St.
John’s University Staten Island
campus. “It’s hard to look kindly
on any representation of this
borough that degrades the val-
ues of a college education.”
Fanuzzi should know. A pro-
ponent of 30,000 Degrees: Col-
lege Readiness for a Stronger
Staten Island – an initiative cre-
ated in 2015 by St. John’s, the
College of Staten Island and
Wagner College with a goal to
ensure that 30,000 residents of
the borough attain a college
education by 2025 – he has done
much work to promote the im-
portance of higher education in
this borough.
“I hope one of the ‘Staten Is-
land Hustle’ episodes focuses on
the importance of taking a col-
lege class,” Fanuzzi concluded.
“A college education has never
been more accessible here on
Staten Island. I would hate for a
nationally televised show to triv-
ialize the importance of that.”

Staten Island Ballet Day

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Thereafter.

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The Staten Island Ballet celebrated its Silver Anniversary Gala on March 10 at the Richmond County

twitter.com/sibiztrends Country Club. Above, Deputy Borough President Ed Burke gives Ellen and Paul Tharp a proclamation
naming Staten Island Ballet Day on March 10.
APRIL 2018 – BUSINESS TRENDS 23
24 BUSINESS TRENDS – APRIL 2018