Brooklyn Progress

BROOKLYN APRIL/MAY2017 2016• •Vol Vol99, Issue 98, Issue3 2 July/August

BUSINESSES NEWS NewsFOR forBROOKLYN Brooklyn businesses

Brooklyn Eats Showcases Borough’s Thriving Food Manufacturing Scene in Delicious Display Event Shatters Records for Vendors, Attendees, and Survey Draws Attention to Brooklyn Industry

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he Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce shattered records at its annual Brooklyn Eats event on Friday, hosting more exhibitors and attendees than ever before in the event’s 21-year history. Ninety-two vendors served Brooklyn-Made food and drinks to over 1,000 attendees. The event’s popularity showcased the broader success of Brooklyn’s food and beverage manufacturing scene, an economic force that accounts for the greatest portion of manufacturing jobs in the borough. Brooklyn food manufacturing created

over 6,000 jobs during the first half of 2015, and 35 percent of New York City’s food manufacturing jobs are located in the borough.

The Chamber also conducted its firstever survey of Brooklyn Eats manufacturers, which provided an insightful snapshot of some of the recent Brooklyn growth in that industry. On a positive note, 75 percent of respondents to the survey indicated that they planned to hire more people in the future. In addition, respondents had a median income of $2 million and had been in business for a

median of 6 years. The latter statistic varied; vendors had been in business for as little as two months and as long as 87 years. Respondents had an average of 14 employees. The survey also showed that a common difficulty Brooklyn Eats vendors face is the cost of commercial space in the borough.

Brooklyn Eats exhibited cuisines from all over the world, such as Brooklyn Delhi, which produces the Indian relish achaar, and Island Pops, which makes Caribbean ice cream flavors.

Chamber News

Brooklyn Metal Partnership

5

Chamber Event

“We were incredibly pleased to be able to honor over 80 food manufacturers and over 1,000 guests at this year’s Brooklyn Eats,” said Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Andrew Hoan. “Food and drink manufacturing represents a thriving portion of the Brooklyn economy; in 2015, more jobs opened up in the food and beverage industry than in any other retail segment in the borough. We’ll continue to encourage such spectacular growth by promoting the food Continued on Page 24

Meet the Team

Building Brooklyn Awards

Explore Brooklyn

Navigators

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Exploring all that Brooklyn Has to Offer

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12

Photo Gallery

Brooklyn Eats

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2 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

eNorthfield.com

Summer is here and it’s the time of year when Brooklynites watch sunsets from the Promenade, walk the Coney Island boardwalk, and savor ice cream from Ample Hills Creamery. It’s the season when we move at a slower pace and use some time to relax and take in our surroundings.

Here at the Brooklyn Chamber, we certainly enjoy the seasonal splendor, but we’re just as busy as ever sharing the best of the borough with you. We’ve just released our 2017 Explore Brooklyn Official Visitor Guide -- chock full of ideas for dining, doing and shopping. And there’s our 2017 Brooklyn Venues guide, featuring the perfect spots to hold your next event.

We’re basking in the shining success of Brooklyn Eats, the borough’s biggest food and drink trade show, that took place on June 23 at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. It’s a Chamber event that’s continued to grow and improve since 1998, when we first brought the local food industry together to show off their goods to Brooklynites and all New Yorkers.

Right over the horizon, it’s our annual Building Brooklyn Awards, honoring individuals and organizations that have made their mark on the borough’s landscape. The July 13 event, at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, recognizes great architecture and design, but also casts an eye toward buildings and companies that contribute to the borough’s economic development -- a goal that’s certainly worth an award!

And just in time for the autumnal equinox, we’ll host a brand new day of advocacy! In addition to our annual legislative visits to Albany and Washington, D.C., our members will get to spend a day with our city leaders. Stay tuned for details on our first annual City Legislative Visit to City Hall, complete with the ever-popular Brooklyn Night.

So, we’ll try and take an occasional break by the waterfront and even enjoy a Brooklyn brew, but there will be no lazy days of summer for the Chamber as we continue to plan events and crank up the heat on the borough.

Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 3

From our members

Keeping a Lighting Tradition Alive

By Cory Zwerlein, Founder and CEO of Still Alive Lights

O

ne year ago, I left a 10-year career as an architect to start a lighting company called Still Alive Lights. I approached entrepreneurship by asking questions like “How many lights do I need to sell?” and “What is, where is, and who is my market?”

But as I reflect on this past year’s journey, I find myself asking “am I an artist?”

There have been three experiences within the past year that brought me to that question.

The first deals with a business relationship, the second with a manufacturing discovery, and the third with product customization. It is not my intention to deviate from my original goal of building a successful lighting company, but my experiences have given me a surprising and welcoming new perspective.

In the summer of 2016, a notable business relationship developed as I entered the vendor market scene selling lights at Artists & Fleas in Williamsburg. One Sunday afternoon, a young girl came over to my booth. She took everything in, then ran away. Later, she returned with her father and begged him for our newly designed large elephant light (the glue was literally still drying). He gave in, purchased the light, and introduced himself as the owner of Artists & Fleas. Three months later, I had designed and installed 11 custom lights

in Artists & Fleas’s Chelsea Market space.

With the completion of my first installation, I found myself drifting from my original business plan. My time was now focused on one

client with one big project, as opposed to getting multiple lights into retail.

While I was developing business relationships, a great deal of my time was also spent

researching and developing new products.

While illuminating 3D prints, I discovered that I could expose an inherent beauty within the technology itself. The way the machines navigate complex geometries reveals a crystallization of the 3D printed material and unexpected light reflection and refraction. While the machines help me create unparalleled beauty, they also increase production time significantly. With the beauty of our product deeply intertwined with the technology, our production quantity is limited until future innovations are available.

My most recent realization is that our personal relationships to pieces of art are incredibly telling. Art has the power to tell stories, and we are more inclined to buy a piece to which we feel a connection. Maybe there’s a landscape painting that reminds us of our childhood, or a photograph that captures a feeling we once had. But what if, instead of finding an existing piece of art to connect with, I take your story and create a piece specifically designed for you? Requests for customized products have increased drastically over the past year, and each is an exciting new artistic challenge for me to complete.

Am I an artist? I create work that is a reflection of my past experiences, my technological eduation, and my desire to tell stories . If you’re curious, come check out my work and let’s talk. I’d love to create your story.

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July 15 & 16, 2017

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Title Partner

4 Brooklyn Progress

Official Partners

• July/August 2017

Race Partner

Chamber News

Brooklyn Metal Partnership T

which are dedicated to training the next generation of metal workers.

Participants also had to use AutoCAD, a tech drawing program, to plan out their projects.

The metal works industry is currently in need of skilled laborers and craftsmen and women, and the program seeks to produce more qualified people in Brooklyn. To solve the challenge of finding qualified help, the Chamber created a collective of industry employers that are committed to training people in the necessary skills.

The training is designed for entry­-level metal workers with no formal training. It is introductory and provides candidates with the tools and knowledge to pursue a career in the metal works industry.

In the U.S., the furniture and design industry supports over 60,000 jobs and is projected to grow by four percent over the next seven years.

At community colleges and technical schools, the average welding training program costs between $5,000 and $15,000 and can last two years. The Brooklyn Metal Partnership is only 12 weeks long and is completely free of charge.

Hernandez helps participants in the Brooklyn Metal Partnership get jobs after completing the program.

The enthusiasm is definitely contagious. The program is creating sparks well beyond the arc of welding,” she said.

he Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s latest program, the Brooklyn Metal Partnership, recently ended in the first round of preparation for metal working certifications. 10 men and women were trained in the fundamentals of welding and shop drawing for 12 weeks, free of charge.

The course seeks to prepare participants for metal working and welding certification tests.

Although certification is not necessary to become a metal worker or welder, it gives people an added credential in a difficult job market.

Participants also received certification from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA. “It’s giving people an opportunity that didn’t exist before,” said Athena Hernandez, who led the partnership. Hernandez is the director of Good Help Services, the Chamber’s recruitment program.

The course consisted of several mock metalworking projects completed by participants.

They included a cell holder, a decorative cube and a weld ticket. The participants were trained in a wide array of welding and fabrication processes, including shop safety, print reading, four types of welding, forming, finishing and the use of various kinds of machinery.

The curriculum and skills are taught by local Brooklyn metal shops Argosy Designs, WaxRax, Metal Shop Fantasy Camp, Bott Welding & Consulting, and Lee Spring, all of

Young Brooklyn Professionals Meet the Makers T

he Industrial and Manufacturing Coalition and the Young BK Professionals hosted a rooftop panel discussion with young Brooklyn manufacturers on May 24.

The event took place at Rooftop Reds, a rooftop vineyard in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

The event was sponsored by Flushing Bank.

It featured a panel of Brooklyn-based manufacturers, all under the age of 30. They make a variety of products in the borough, from vodka, to cakes, to pickles.

Panelists included Devin Shomaker of Rooftop Reds, Ashley Holt of Sugar Monster, Shamus Jones of Brooklyn Brine and Ariane van Dievoet of Avandi and Kary Laskin of Brooklyn Republic Vodka.

The panelists discussed their backgrounds and how they came to create successful manufacturing businesses in the borough. They also talked about the difficulties of starting a business, and the personal toll it can take.

Young professionals were able to network with the panelists and each other after the discussion; the night concluded in the tasting room on the roof, once the outdoors became too cold. The Chamber paid for all attendees’ first glasses of wine.

Rooftop Reds is the first urban vineyard in the world, located on top of building 275 in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The panel took place on one corner of the roof, with the panelists and moderator sitting on six red stools in the front.

Meet the Makers is a Chamber event series

that features panel discussions with Brooklyn manufacturers. For this edition of Meet the Makers, the I&M Coalition partnered with the Young BK Professionals to put on an event that focused on Brooklyn manufacturers under the age of 30.

The I&M Coalition promotes Brooklyn’s industrial sector through advocacy, education, marketing, and business support. The Coalition consists of Chamber members involved in the industrial sector, working together to iden-

tify opportunities, challenges, and issues in operating an industrial business in the borough.

It meets bi-monthly, and the meetings are hosted in unique industrial spaces throughout the borough, with Brooklyn-Made food and beverage served.

The last Meet the Makers featured food manufacturers from throughout the borough, including one that served edible leather at the event.

The Young BK Professionals support the

growth of young professionals and foster the future leaders of Brooklyn. Through that initiative, young professionals are able to build meaningful relationships in a variety of industries, access a large network of resources, and create personal and professional opportunities.

The last Young BK Professionals event featured a series of presentations on digital tools that small businesses owners can use to make operations easier.

Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 5

chamber event

Building Brooklyn Awards O

n July 13, The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce and its Real Estate & Development Committee presented Building Brooklyn Awards, an annual event that recognizes recently completed construction and renovation projects that enrich Brooklyn’s neighborhoods and economy.

Building Brooklyn Awards also honors individuals who have made significant contributions toward enhancing the business conditions and economic climate of Brooklyn.

This year’s event was held at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge.

The award categories were as follows: commercial adaptive reuse, residential adaptive reuse, community arts, destination arts, education, affordable housing historic preservation, hotel, neighborhood catalyst, retail, residential affordable, residential condominium, residential high rise, the National Grid Award for Energy Efficiency, and economic impact. This year’s winners are:

and Danya Cebus LLC

Adaptive Reuse: Commercial

Education

Empire Stores Developer: Midtown Equities Architect: S9 Architecture Builder: HH Builders, MJM Associates Construction Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates

NYU Tandon MakerSpace Developer: New York University Architect: Gensler Builder: Skanska USA

Adaptive Reuse: Residential

Marcus Garvey Apartments Developer: L+M Development Partners Architect: Curtis + Ginsberg Architects Builder: L+M Builders Group LLC

51 JAY Developer: Adam America LLC and Slate Property Group Architect: ODA Architecture Landscape Architect: Steven Yavanian Landscape Architecture PLLC Builders: Hudson Meridian Construction Group

Community Arts Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center Developer: Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center, Inc. Architect: Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture Builder: Supreme General Contracting

Destination Arts Ford Amphitheater and Seaside Park Developer: iStar Financial, Inc. and NYC Economic Development Corporation Architects: Gerner Kroik & Valcarcel and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Builder: Hunter Roberts Construction Group Project Manager: Newbanks Engineers: Arup, Cerami & Associates, CFS, Mueser Rutledge, Stantec, WSP Cantor Seinuk Environmental Impact: Philip Habib & Associates AV Designer: TADAssociates Lighting Designer: Domingo Gonzalez Associates

Historic Preservation: Affordable Housing

Hotel The Williamsburg Hotel Developer: Heritage Equity Partners,

Lichtenstein Group Architect: Michaelis Boyd Associates, Karl Fischer Architects and Albo Liberis Builder: Mint Development Engineer: Eckersley O’Callaghan

Neighborhood Catalyst 95 Evergreen Developer: Savanna Fund Architect: Fogarty Finger Architecture PLLC Builder: Sweet Construction

Retail Beyond at Liberty View Developer: Salmar Properties and Bed Bath & Beyond Architect: Zambrano Architectural Builder: Phoenix Network LLC Engineer: MG Engineering D.P.C Lighting Design: Essential Lighting Lobby Design: Nelson Restaurant Design: Crème Restaurant Equipment Engineering: Jacobs Doland Beer

Residential: Affordable Livonia Commons Developer: Dunn Development Corp. and L+M Development Partners Architect: SLCE Architects Landscape Architect: NV5 Builder: L+M Builders Group Engineers: De Nardis Engineering, Rodkin Cardinale, PC Sustainability Consultant: Steven Winters Associates Nonprofit Partner: Housing Partnership Development Corporation Social Services: CAMBA, The Center for Family

Support

Residential: Condominium One John Street Developer: Alloy Architect: Alloy Design LLP Builder: Monadnock Construction

Residential: Condominium The Oosten Developer: 421 Kent Development LLC Architect: think! architecture and design Builder: Wonder Works Engineer: Edwards & Zuck

Residential: High Rise 300 Ashland Developer: Two Trees Management Co. Architect: Enrique Norten at TEN Arquitectos and Ishmael Levya Architects Builder: Two Trees Management Co.

National Grid Award for Energy Efficiency Pierhouse and 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge Park Developer: Toll Brothers Architect: Marvel Architects PLLC Builder: Hudson Meridian Construction Group

Economic Impact City Point Developers: Acadia Realty Trust, Washington Square Partners, The Brodsky Organization, BFC Partners Architects: COOKFOX, Gensler, SLCE Architects LLP Landscape Architect: Diaz Weintraub Builder: ZDG Engineers: DeSimone and Cosentini

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Visit www.nationalgridus.com/NYBizSave or call 1-800-787-1706 to learn about National Grid commercial energy efficiency programs.

Visit us online at www.nationalgridus.com/NYBizSave and connect with us on

6 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

Elected Official spotlight

Council Member Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. A Ladies Garment Workers Union. His father ultimately retired as a maintenance worker at JFK Airport, and before she passed of ovarian cancer, his mother was a SEIU 1199, Home Care Attendant.

His parents’ sacrifice and dedication instilled in him the values and character that make him the hard working New Yorker he is today.

This dedication to service, especially in low-income communities, has guided Rafael’s career since his graduation from college. At the age of 23, Rafael taught Adult Literacy and General Education Degree (GED) courses to the ethnically diverse communities of East New York, Cypress Hills, and Bushwick. Unfortunately, due to a lack of funding the program was forced to close, leaving over 200 adult students without an opportunity to continue their education.

Rafael was struck by this experience. Determined to make a difference and committed to securing resources for his community, he sought an opportunity to work for New York City Councilman Erik Martin Dilan in 2007. Rafael gave his all to his position as a council aide and was quickly promoted to

lifelong resident of Brooklyn, Rafael L. Espinal Jr. is the Council Member for the 37th district, proudly serving the diverse communities of Bushwick, Brownsville, Cypress Hills, and East New York.

Council Member Espinal is Chair of the Council’s Committee on Consumer Affairs, where he has overseen the implementation of NYC’s successful Paid Sick Leave Law, passed consumer protections for women, seniors, and immigrants, and continues to fight for a more fair and vibrant marketplace in NYC. He is also a member of the Committees on Immigration, Public Safety, Housing and Buildings, State and Federal Legislation, Rules, and Health.

Born at Woodhull Hospital in Bedford Stuyvesant to Dominican immigrants, Rafael was the third of six children and was raised in Cypress Hills. He attended the public schools of P.S. 108, I.S. 302, and Franklin K. Lane High School. Growing up in a working class family, Rafael learned the value of hard work from a very young age. Upon coming to America, both his father and mother found work in local garment factories and were later unionized with the International

become the Council Member’s Chief of Staff.

As a staff member, Rafael assisted many constituents with city-related issues and played a vital role in saving senior centers, daycare centers, and school programs from proposed budget cuts.

In 2010, Rafael Espinal stepped up to the opportunity of serving the 54th Assembly District. Over his two years in the NY State Assembly, he passed 4 bills, fought for health care, immigration, and fiscal issues, and continued to help his community by putting pressure on City and State agencies to provide services the district needed and deserved. His work was recognized by the New York publication, City and State, in their “New York City’s Rising Stars 40 under 40” list.

Then in 2014, Rafael Espinal was sworn in as the Council Member for the 37th District in Brooklyn. While in the Council, Rafael has continued to fight to ensure that the residents in the 37th Council District receive all the benefits New York City has to offer, and has been an advocate for those who are less fortunate by striving for equal opportunities for all.

Council Member Espinal and the Brooklyn Chamber

T

he Brooklyn Chamber has enjoyed a close working relationship with Council Member Espinal and his staff. Over the past few years, he has collaborated with the Chamber’s government affairs committee and the Chamber-On-the-Go program.

Council Member Espinal has addressed the Brooklyn Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee on two occasions, each time

speaking about the range of issues the borough faces on a variety of fronts. Most recently, he addressed the Chamber on May 17, 2017.

During that appearance, he discussed creating new jobs in East New York, affordable housing and the upcoming L train shutdown, among other issues.

He also discussed his “night time mayor”

proposal in which the city would have an Office of Nightlife that would regulate and support the nightlife industry, with a particular focus on smaller venues that often have trouble navigating government regulations.

The result would help many small businesses throughout the borough.

In December 2016, the Chamber and the

council member partnered to bring holiday lights to sections of Fulton Street for the first time. In addition, the two have worked together on merchant organizing efforts and have visited businesses door-to-door, thanks to the Chamber on the Go program.

Businesses they visited included the Cypress Hills Senior Center, Citi Line Realty, and the Rico Polla Restaurant.

Meet the team

Got Health Insurance? The Navigator Team is Here to Help

T

he Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Navigator team provides health insurance assistance services throughout the borough to both small businesses and individuals. Entering the fourth year of their contract with The Brooklyn Alliance, the Navigators are maintaining consistent enrollment while expanding their outreach in Brooklyn.

“Our members have indicated that the second highest barrier to doing business in New York is their inability to provide affordable health care options for their employees,” said Manager Nancy Clermont. “Navigators serve the purpose of clarifying the options that are available and how to reduce costs with credits afforded by the state.”

Since the program’s inception in October 2013, the Chamber’s Navigator team has successfully facilitated the enrollment of over 6,000 in-

dividuals in health insurance plans.

Through collaborative partnerships with the Brooklyn Public Library as well as elected officials from the New York State Assembly, the Navigators are able to enhance accessibility within the borough, offering their services at various locations throughout the community.

“New Yorkers have a lot to stress about,” said Director of Organizing and Neighborhood Strategy Egaudy Gomez. “Taking one thing off their mind is something that I enjoy.”

The Navigator team recognizes that the enrollment process for health insurance can be an overwhelming task for the small business owner or individual. Through in-person consultations, phone conversations, the completion of required documentation and logistical back-and-forth with the New York State of Health, or NYSOH, the Navigators work hard to help simplify complexities within

Fr. L to r: Nancy Cler­ mont, Stella Lai, Marina Andreyev and Egaudy Gomez. (Above) Cris­ tina Lombardo

the system for their consumers.

Waiting on document verification has proven to be one of the most difficult aspects of the Navigator team’s responsibilities. The state receives thousands of documents to review, which, especially during open enrollment periods, requires patience on both the Navigators’ and consumer’s end.

“It can be a delicate dance be-

tween explaining this to an eager, sometimes ailing consumer and then having to follow-up and check the status with the state,” said Clermont, emphasizing a need for attentiveness and balance in this position.

In order to align with the diverse demographics of the borough and most comfortably accommodate consumers, the Navigator team offers multilingual assistance to non-

English speakers seeking health insurance assistance. With fluencies in Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Cantonese and Haitian Creole, the team is able to offer reassurance and information regarding health insurance to the diverse members of the Brooklyn community.

“The most rewarding part is the smile and relief on my clients’ faces,” said Navigator Enrollment Coordinator Stella Lai. “Whether it’s an individual, family, or small business, I know they are covered in the NYSOH marketplace when health issues arise.”

Navigator Enrollment Coordinator Marina Andreyev reiterated that it is this sense of comfort and gratitude from her clients that makes the job so rewarding.

“No matter how tired I am at the end of the day, I walk home happy because I know that I managed to help people,” Andreyev said.

Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 7

BY THE TIME TOMORROW’S PAPER COMES OUT, YOUR

BY DONATIONS THE TIME WILL HAVE TOMORROW’S HELPED 591 PEOPLE PAPER COMES OUT, EARN JOBS. YOUR DONATIONS WILL HAVE HELPED 591 PEOPLE EARN JOBS.

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Board member Spotlight

Antonia YuilleWilliams A

ntonia Yuille-Williams has been involved with the Brooklyn Chamber since her first day at Con Edison, 29 years ago.

She went with a team of executives to the Chamber Marketplace and Luncheon at Prospect Hall. Interested in reaching out to Brooklyn’s business community, Yuille-Williams turned to her boss and asked him how to do that.

“My boss at the time told me that all I had to do was go to the Chamber and the people I needed to know in Brooklyn would come to me,” Yuille-Williams said.

Yuille-Williams serves as Director of Public Relations at Con Edison, where she oversees the company’s Brooklyn public affairs portfolio. The portfolio includes community outreach, corporate community relations, media relations, employee communications, volunteerism and special events.

Since that first day on the job, YuilleWilliams has been involved with the Brooklyn Chamber, and she is active in her current roles as board member and co-chair of the Government Affairs Committee. On the

committee, she presides over many of the Chamber’s interactions with elected officials, from informal breakfasts with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito to the larger Brooklyn Newsmakers events, which have featured NYPD Commissioner James O’Neill and members of the Brooklyn delegation to Congress, among many others.

Con Edison has had a sustained interest in the Brooklyn business community, and Yuille-Williams says it is the “hub of commercial activity.”

Yuille-Williams’s favorite thing to do in Brooklyn is putting on her tourist hat and exploring the borough. “Each neighborhood has its own flavor, yet it’s all one Brooklyn,” she said.

Yuille-Williams graduated summa cum laude from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and obtained a graduate degree in health services administration from the University of Michigan.

“The Chamber is a very valuable organization for those who want and need to get work done in Brooklyn,” she said.

DONATE STUFF. CREATE JOBS. TO FIND YOUR NEAREST DONATION CENTER, GO TO GOODWILL.ORG

Elected Official Spotlight

Cornegy’s Corner B

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uilding capacity among our small businesses is critical for the long-term stability of our economy. The City of New York and its partners – like the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce – do tremendous work every day to help businesses build their capacity and reach new customers. They work to help small business owners navigate the complexities of government regulation, provide technical assistance, access to capital, and much more. This work undoubtedly makes New York City a better environment in which to own and operate a small business. And while these services already surpass those on offer in many other cities, I work every day to ensure we as a City continue to do more to help small businesses thrive.

To that end, I have created the Heart & Soul of NYC Small Business Awards, to be held on World Entrepreneurs’ Day, Monday, August 21, 2017. The Awards will honor small businesses that are innovative, customer-oriented, and long-standing contributors in their communities. The Heart & Soul of NYC Awards will comprise three categories, with one small business from each borough being honored in each category for a total of 15 awards.

Perhaps most importantly, each award will come with a sizeable capacity-building grant for the winners. I encourage anyone who owns a small business, loves a small business, or knows someone with a small business to nominate that business today. For more information regarding the awards please visit heartandsoulnyc.com or contact my Small Business Liaison, Kegan Sheehan, at (212) 788-7354 or ksheehan@council.nyc.gov.

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From our members

Tax Planning for the Real Estate Investor

W

ith the rising price of real estate in Brooklyn, it may be very tempting for the holders of investment real estate properties to consider selling, to realize the increased level of gain from the sales.

Whether you are a real estate investor or a dealer, the sale of real estate is a taxable event.

The amount of tax paid on the gain can vary widely, depending on whether you are a dealer or an investor, and depending on your tax planning strategy.

A real estate investor is anyone who acquires real estate with the intention of holding it longterm for its cash flow. For example, the purchase of a multifamily rental building for the net cash flow from its rental income is an investment property, and the purchaser is an investor. The rental income is ordinary income, but the gain on the eventual sale of the property is a Section 1231 Capital Gain, meaning it is subject to taxation at the preferential rate of 15 or 20 percent. The investor may also be subject to investment surcharge at 3.8 percent.

A real estate dealer, on the other hand, acquires real estate with the intention to sell it at a profit. For example, if a multifamily building is purchased to be converted into condos for re-sale, the purchaser is a dealer and the gain on sale is ordinary income taxed at up to 39.6 percent, depending on the dealer’s tax bracket.

The favorable tax treatment of Section

If realized gain is $2,000,000 Accumulated depreciation was $200,000 The accumulated depreciation is recaptured at 25% The balance of gain, $1,800,000 is taxed at 15% The total tax payable is $ 320,000

If the property was constructed, the basis is the direct and indirect cost of construction.

If property is inherited, basis is the fair market value at the date of death of the deceased or the fair market value six months after death.

If property is acquired through a gift, the basis of the person who acquired it is the basis of the donor.

Gain or loss on sale of real estate is computed as: Basis Less accumulated Depreciation = Adjusted Basis

By Rosemarie Whyte

1231 capital gain on investment property makes it a very attractive alternative investment for many investors.

This article focuses on real estate investors, who are holders of real estate investment property. There are many ways to become a real estate investor: • Through inheritance of rental property • Through gift from a donor • Through purchase • Though construction When one acquires real estate, one obtains basis in the property. The amount of basis is important, as it is used to calculate gain or loss when the property is sold. Section 1231 loss is limited at $3,000 a year.

The amount of basis depends on the method used to acquire the property. If the investor purchased the property, the investor’s basis is the actual purchase price, plus closing costs and any improvements that are made to the property.

Another tax planning tool is to use Section 1031 like kind exchange. The taxable gain is deferred if the investor identifies a replacement property within 45 days of sale of the property and takes title to the replacement property by 180 days of the date of sale of the first property.

The replacement property should be purchased for above or at least 90 percent of the selling price of the original property.

The basis in the new property is reduced by the gain deferred on the property that is sold.

Sale of investment real estate is a taxable event. The gain is a Section 1231 capital gain if held for more than one year and is taxed at the preferential rate of 15 or 20%. If investment property is held for one year or less, all income including gain on sale is taxed as ordinary income and can be as high as 39.6 percent.

To read more, consult IRS Publication 544: Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets and IRS Publication 551: Basis of Assets.

Selling price Less: Selling expenses Less: Adjusted basis = Realized Gain.

Depreciation mentioned above is an allowable expense. Depreciation on residential property is typically calculated over 27.5 years. It is always good to calculate and deduct depreciation, as depreciation is used to reduce ordinary income. This can produce significant tax savings for the investor.

Whether an investor had calculated and deducted depreciation on his or her Schedule E tax return at the time of sale, the gain or loss calculation assumes that depreciation was deducted. At the time of sale, accumulated depreciation is recaptured at 25 percent regardless of the tax pay payer’s tax bracket.

For example:

Rosemarie Whyte is a New York State Liscensed Certified Public Accountant. She has a master’s degree in real estate finance from New York University.

Keeping

Brooklyn Healthy Every person. Every moment. Every day.

Building a better healthcare system for Brooklyn.

Keeping Brooklyn healthy is our mission.

That’s why The Brooklyn Hospital Center

will experience better access to high quality inpatient care with improved facilities, new

legislators to design a dynamic new system that will transform healthcare for more than a million residents of northern and

Keeping Brooklyn healthier.

has teamed up with community health care providers, physicians, civic leaders and

central Brooklyn.

More access to care. Fewer hospitalizations.

We are working to strengthen existing physician networks and nurture new ones to improve access to healthcare.

Our outpatient services will be expanded, reducing the use of emergency departments while providing better care to our patients and their families. And, Brooklyn residents

YES TERDAY

equipment and technology upgrades.

To help patients further improve their health and avoid the need for treatment, we’ll also broaden our education, outreach

Need something printed “like yesterday”?

No problem. We got you covered.

and prevention programs.

Stay tuned for more exciting details as we move toward realizing our vision of creating a higher quality, more efficient healthcare system for everyone in our Brooklyn community. For more information, visit: tbh.org/community update

BU S IN ES S C A RD S . P RES EN TAT ION F OL D ERS L E T T E R H EA D . EN VEL OP ES . F LY ERS . M EM O PA D S PI C KU P & D EL IVERY . BROC H U RES . BOOKL ET S G RAPH IC D ES IGN IN G . N EWS L ET T ERS . L A BEL S W IN D OW GRA P H IC S . BA N N ERS . P OS T ERS C AR BON L ES S F ORM S . S EL F - IN KIN G S TA M P S BLA C K & WH IT E C OP IES . C OL OR C OP IES M A IL IN GS A N D M U C H M U C H M ORE.

Find a Physician by name or

specialty CALL 877.TBHC.DOC

tbh.org/communityupdate

10 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

Ashland and DeKalb • www.tbh.org

305 Atlantic Ave.

l

718.858.0313

l

brooklyn@minutemanpress.com

Small Business services

Working Together to Build a Thriving Local Economy for All New Yorkers

By Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services

S

mall businesses across New York City are thriving, thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commitment to championing the needs of local businesses. With an array of free City services designed to help small businesses to start, operate and grow, these business owners have enjoyed a 40 percent reduction in fines since 2014, and are opening their doors faster. At the NYC Department of Small Business Services we are committed to ensuring that all New Yorkers have the opportunity to share in our flourishing local economy. That’s why we provide supportive programs specifically tailored to the needs of our people.

Women entrepreneurs are an important part of our local economy and harbor enormous untapped potential. Although there are over 360,000 women entrepreneurs in New York City generating approximately $50 billion annually in revenue, men own 1.5 times the number of businesses, have 3.5 times the number of employees, and generate 4.5 times the amount of revenue. We’re working to close this gap by building a community of

women entrepreneurs throughout the five boroughs. Our WE NYC initiative creates equal opportunity for women entrepreneurs to thrive by developing programs to better connect them to key resources, education, and mentorship opportunities.

Deepti Sharma Kapur, CEO and founder of FoodtoEat, who joined WE NYC in 2016, is a powerful example of WE NYC’s value. She serves as a mentor with a focus on guiding women entrepreneurs through the ins and outs of developing business partnerships. To do so, she meets with mentees during small group and individual weekly in-person sessions. In her early twenties, Kapur started the thriving company, which uses technology to boost immigrant-owned catering businesses.

This is important because foreign-born New Yorkers make up nearly 50 percent of the City’s small business owners.

FoodtoEat is the first online marketplace for businesses to order team meals from neighborhood restaurants, food trucks, and caterers. FoodtoEat keeps prices low by only charging 10 cents per order for vendors, and no fee for customers. Kapur created this platform to help local food vendors use technology to grow their catering businesses through more effective customer engagement. As an acknowledgement of her work, she was honored as one of Forbes Magazine’s “30 under 30” in 2013. She also co-founded the Mountaintop Program, an initiative in which entrepreneurs mentor K-12 New York City students.

It’s imperative that women have access to a vibrant network of established women entrepreneurs, like Deepti Sharma Kapur, who can help empower them based on their own journeys to success. She is one of thirty mentors with impressive stories who are currently guiding women entrepreneurs. Through WE NYC, we are making these connections so that emerging entrepreneurs can learn and grow. In doing so, we can continue to boost the New York City economy as a whole.

For more information on WE NYC, including becoming a mentor or mentee, visit we.nyc.

The NYC Department of Small Business Services also offers a number of other services to help small businesses throughout the five boroughs start, operate, and grow.

Information on these services can be found by calling 311 or visiting nyc.gov/sbs.

To more easily access our services, check out Chamber On-the-Go at nyc.gov/chamber-on-the-go. Chamber On-the-Go is our mobile business support program that sends trained business specialists right to your storefront.

This initiative is a proud partnership with area Chambers of Commerce and the NYC City Council.

Enroll in an energy plan with Just Energy, and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce will receive a donation for every enrollment!

As your Energy Advisor, we are committed to helping you manage your costs by offering highly competitive commodity prices, as well as providing exclusive access to our Just Energy Perks Rewards Program.

All proceeds earned by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce will go to Brooklyn Eats Cares, a fundraising program supporting six soup kitchens throughout Brooklyn.

For rates in your area, please visit

JustEnergyDeals.com/BCOC or call 1-845-228-3401 Proud partner of the

Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 11

Exploring All That Brooklyn Has to Offer Explore Brooklyn is the go-to website for all things Brooklyn. Visit ExploreBK.com to discover all the best places to eat, stay, shop and play in your favorite borough. Trust us, we know Brooklyn.

featured event

featured venue

Afropunk August 26 & 27 AFROPUNK, a celebration of the many cultures and tunes native to Brooklyn, takes place on August 26th and 27th at Commodore Barry Park in Fort Greene. With the sounds of artists and DJs ranging from mellow to the wildest beats and art events featuring local and global artists, AFROPUNK becomes the festival to celebrate music, art and good vibes. With a diverse one-of-a-kind lineup, AFROPUNK will keep you dancing.

AFROPUNK is nothing but normal with The Bites & Beats Food Festival, an event within the event, combining food from all around the world with live music. Starting with 25 food trucks and a pop-up restaurant, Bites & Beats will be sure to leave no stomach hungry.

Brooklyn Historical Society 55 Water St, DUMBO The newly opened Brooklyn Historical Society in DUMBO features an inaugural exhibition called Shifting Perspectives: Photographs of Brooklyn’s Waterfront.

The Brooklyn Historical Society welcomes its youngest museum-goers with children’s exhibition kits to accompany the highly visual arts. The powerful stories about waterfront history stretching from Brooklyn Bridge Park to Coney Island will keep adult visitors intrigued throughout the colorful art exhibit.

The Brooklyn Historical Society also hosts exceptional events including art and politics-based talks, local tastings and more. With beautiful event spaces to match, the Brooklyn Historical Society appeals to locals and visitors alike.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES July

Tesla Explores: Meet Tesla at Prospect Park, July 7 – 17 Visit Grand Army Plaza to see Tesla’s mobile gallery between 11am – 7pm to climb into Tesla’s first-ever mobile gallery!

Pulled by the Model X SUV, the custom Airstream trailer fits right into Brooklyn’s hipster feel as it is retrofitted with a complete design studio, showcasing all interior and exterior vehicle options. Celebrate Prospect Park’s 150th Anniversary and explore something new!

Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, July 10th – 16th The 13th Annual Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival is New York City’s largest event showcasing HipHop culture. Offering a variety of educational and entertainment events along with great performances, the festival continues the Hip-Hop legacy of promoting progress, community and social change. This year’s festival will feature a wide variety of Hip-Hop artists followed by panel discussions. Check out the 2017 Lineup!

Formula E in Red Hook, July 15th & 16th Formula E will host the first ever race to take place in Brooklyn at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. Formula E, the auto-racing company that only uses electric cars, comes to Red Hook for dynamic race that is not harmful to the environment. With vehicles expected to reach 150 miles per hour, the race will showcase the power of technology and innovation. Keep your eyes wide open because you don’t want to miss the action. For more information about the Brooklyn race, including the event schedule, visit fiaformulae.com.

Discover Something New at the FAD Market, July 15–16, 29–30, August 12–13, 26–27 After its great success in 2016, the FAD Market is back on alternate weekends until the end of August. The market will host over 50 makers

12 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

Photo courtesy of Green-Wood Cemetery

who will showcase handcrafted art, jewelry, apparel, bath and body care, tableware and home furnishings. 11AM-6PM. Free and open to all ages!

August

Brooklyn Beer and Wine Fest, August 12th BEDFORD-STUYVESANT - This is the Ultimate Tasting Experience! Brooklyn Beer and Wine Fest will be celebrating its fifth year as it kicks off on August 12th at the Restoration Plaza. Tap+Cork brings a grand tasting and summer festival vibe to Bedford-Stuyvesant as the event attracts thousands of New Yorkers for tastings, live music and entertainment.

The festival will have a large selection of beer and wine, and if you get hungry, they have you covered as well. Head outside in August for drinks, food and DJ sets! Don’t forget to #DrinkBetter.

Closest train and bus stations: Nostrand Avenue - A and C train Kingston and Throop Avenue - C train Nostrand Avenue Station - LIRR B25 - Fulton St/ Marcy Ave B26 - Halsey St/ Marcy Ave

Brooklyn Comedy Festival, August 21th – 27th Join Brooklynites on a day that celebrates the comedy industry, and witness the start of many performers’ careers at the Brooklyn Comedy Festival. Every year, the festival showcases exceptional entertainers from each domain of comedy, including sketch, standup, improv and web arrangement. Stretching throughout the borough, you will be able to find the comedian and venue suitable for you everywhere from 61 Local, The Gutter, Nitehawk Cinema, Knitting Factory and more!

Do you think you have humor in you? Then, you can still register here.

Battle of Brooklyn Commemoration, August 27th GREENWOOD - The Battle of Brooklyn, battled in 1776 ashore what is currently a piece of Green-Wood, was the principal skirmish of the American Revolution to be pursued after the marking of the Declaration of Independence. One a year on this day, Green-Wood has a morning of recognition to respect the individuals who guarded the young Republic.

Experience beautifully organized parades, gun

discharges, stallions and re-institutions as they celebrate this important day in history. This is an extraordinary event for children and families, so make sure to bring your camera!

Closest train and bus stations: 25 Street - R train B63 - 5 Ave/ 25 Street The Annual Brighton Jubilee Festival, August 27th The Annual Brighton Jubilee Festival, a multiblock festival running along Brighton Beach Avenue turning down Coney Island Avenue, celebrates its 41st year on Sunday, August 27th.

Dedicated to bridging the communication gap through the international language of music, The Jubilee attracts crowds of over 125,000 residents every year to this popular summer event. Travel to Brighton Beach to discover the wonder and mystique behind this iconic beach-side community. Enjoy wonderful food delights such as a sip of vodka and caviar in Russian restaurants within the fair grounds and much more.

Closest train stations: Ocean Park Way - Q train Brighton Beach - B and Q train

Chamber news

NYU Tandon Selected as Operator for State-of-the-Art VR/AR Lab NEW YORK, NY--The de Blasio Administration today announced, as part of its New York Works plan to create 100,000 good jobs, the selection of New York University Tandon School of Engineering to develop and operate a hub for virtual reality and augmented reality (VR/AR) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard with a workforce development center at CUNY Lehman College in the Bronx. The lab will directly create over 500 jobs over the next ten years, and further position New York City as a global leader in the VR/AR industry.

Fueled by $6 million in investments by New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), the lab will be the first publiclyfunded VR/AR facility in the country to support startups, talent development, and research and innovation. The lab will support new ventures with workspace and earlystage capital, make the industry more accessible through workforce development initiatives, and convene investors, university researchers, corporate leaders, and community organizations to collaborate with New York City’s emerging VR/AR sector.

The lab, expected to open late 2017, will occupy approximately 15,000 square feet of space in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and will partner with CUNY Lehman College’s VR/ AR Training Academy and Development Lab in the Bronx to connect New Yorkers with VR/AR jobs. With the goal of cementing New York City’s status as a global leader in the emerging VR/AR industry, the lab will provide the following core functions: Support New Ventures.

Provide workspace, equipment, infrastructure, and early stage capital to startups and connect them to a community of mentors and investors through key program partners. Foster the creation of new companies through entrepreneurial programming and resources.

Increase Access and Expand Talent Pipeline. Establish a presence at CUNY Lehman College’s VR/AR Training Academy to develop a citywide VR/AR talent pipeline. Build a curriculum of executive and professional education programs. Offer hands-on learning opportunities, apprenticeships, and scholarships for students.

Research. Create the preeminent VR/AR research center in the country by drawing on the expertise of faculty and students from NYU, Columbia University, CUNY, The New School, and other partner institutions in order to push the bounds of technological advancements in these fields and create breakthroughs from which new ventures emerge.

Build VR/AR Community. Convene investors, university researchers, cross-industry leaders, and civic and cultural partners through programming and events.

Spur Corporate VR/AR Innovation. Offer membership and consultative services to companies, including access to startups, projects, and corporate innovation programs designed to prototype new solutions and launch new ventures.

“Augmented and Virtual Reality represents a huge new industry, and we want New York City to be second to none. We’re investing in the space, the talent and the research needed to make New York the global hub for this emerging technology. This is a significant piece of our strategy to spur 100,000 goodpaying jobs in 10 years – and particularly in creative and entrepreneurial sectors that speak to our City’s current and future generations. Equal opportunity and access, through education and job training, is the bedrock of our jobs strategy, and together we will continue to rise,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“The virtual and augmented reality industry is booming, and the de Blasio Administration is committed to making it a major job creator in New York City. By fostering the industry’s growth with a central hub, we can support startups, fuel innovation, and connect New Yorkers to the training and opportunities they need to access good jobs. This is what New York Works is about – investing in emerging industries and growing the middle class,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett.

“The world of VR/AR is growing at breakneck speed – and the implications for businesses across New York City are incredibly exciting,” said Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin.

“This new facility will ensure that we’re doing our part to spur innovation, create talent pipelines, and make New York City the home of these emerging industries. I thank

our partners at NYCEDC and NYU, and look forward to our future work together developing this key sector.”

“We thank the City for this opportunity to lead New York toward becoming the epicenter of research and economic

opportunity for this quickly emerging medium,” said NYU Tandon Dean Katepalli R. Sreenivasan. “Our students and faculty are already immersed in projects that range from 3D brain scans to smart buildings and the first real-

time VR for large audiences, this lab will accelerate such research—along with that of CUNY, other University partners and the City’s private sector—to benefit the economy and create technology that serves society. We are eager to

begin applying the knowledge we have gathered over nearly a decade working with the City on initiatives such as the NYC Media Lab and the Future Lab entrepreneurial network to drive similar successes on this technological frontier.”

Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 13

photo gallery

Chamber Highlights

2

1 1. From left to right, Aki Ashe, Brooklyn United Ties; Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Andrew Hoan; Joe Barone, New York Cosmos; Biagio Madaio, Investors Bank; Frances Vella-Marrone, Office of Congressman Dan Donovan; Ana Oliveira, Investors Bank; and Pasquale Patrone, Cohn Reznick.

2. From left to right, Johari Jenkins, Con Edison; Wesley Watson, Citi; Jim Cosares, Jimco Associates; Andrew Hoan; Brooklyn Chamber Board Chair; Denise Arbesu; Gil Cygler, Fleet Consultants; Lyn Hill, NewYork Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital; Pasquale Patrone.

4

3 3. Andrew Hollweck (second fr. left) with staff and friends of the New York Building Congress.

4. From left to right, Varun Sanyal, Brooklyn Chamber; Kary Laskin, Brooklyn Republic Vodka; Ashley Holt, Sugar Monster; Shamus Jones, Brooklyn Brine; Jonathan Judge, Codacity; Devin Shomaker, Rooftop Reds; Ariane van Dievoet, Avandi; Aimee Groth; and Kelly Sing, Chair of Young BK Professionals.

5 5. From left, Andrew Hoan; George Pastis, Dolce Vita Restaurant & Bar; Denise Arbesu, Tom Sorrentino, CPA, PKF, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor Davies LLP; Ellis Wagner, JJM Services, Inc; Ed McCarthy Sr.; Andrea McCarthy; Chris McCarthy; Frank V. Carone, Esq., Abrams Fensterman; and Camille Socci, Brooklyn Chamber 14 Brooklyn Progress

â&#x20AC;˘ July/August 2017

6 6. The crowd at Dolce Vita.

photo gallery

Brooklyn Eats

1 1. Ann Chung of We Rub You addressed members of the Chamber, elected officials and other exhibitors at the event’s welcome breakfast.

3 3. Brooklyn Brewery, a fan favorite among the borough’s 21-plus crowd, displayed a selection of its best brews, ranging from lager to seasonal summer ale.

5 5. A group of friends were all smiles at Brooklyn Eats.

2 2. Table 87, one of the many food vendors at Brooklyn Eats, served slices of authentic coal oven pizza to attendees.

4 4. Attendees of the largest Brooklyn Eats to date walked throughout the floor, sampling delicious foods and beverages from vendors along the way.

6 6. From left to right, Brooklyn Chamber Board Chair Denise Arbesu, NYS Assembly Assistant Speaker Felix Ortiz, Brooklyn Chamber President and CEO Andrew Hoan; and Egaudy Gomez; Brooklyn Chamber, stopped by Red Hook’s very own Van Brunt Stillhouse.

Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 15

From our members

Home, Sweeten Home: Brooklyn Renovation Hotspots R

She’d discovered her calling, combining trust, transparency and technology to fix an industry many considered “broken.” With Sweeten’s founding in 2011, the company began by narrowing over 15,000 general contractors down to hundreds who had the work quality and customer service standards that met the “Sweeten standard.”

Today, Brooklyn represents a large percentage of Sweeten projects, and the company helps from the very start from budget guides to the all-important contractor match until the project is done. Many clients become repeat customers after completing their residential spaces. “We’ve been expanding our commercial projects because many homeowners who’ve used Sweeten are also small business owners,” Brownhill said. “We started taking on their office spaces, shops and restaurants.”

For Brownhill, it’s all about renovation without intimidation and individual style.

“Our roots are here, and we love sharing Brooklyn renovation stories on our blog,” she said. “We want homeowners and business owners to enjoy the process as much as the result, and it’s our privilege to help create a space just for them.”

enovations have spiked in the borough—in 2016, residential renovations in Brooklyn grew 25 percent, with Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bay Ridge rising the most from the previous year, according to data from renovation matchmaker Sweeten.

The top five neighborhoods with the most overall renovation action? Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights and Kensington.

“Home renovations in NYC are at an alltime high at $6 billion, and there’s no sign of things slowing down,” said Jean Brownhill, founder and CEO of Sweeten.

The concept of creating a free service for homeowners to match them with excellent general contractors was born in BedfordStuyvesant, when Brownhill, a trained architect, tried to gut renovate her own 19th-century wood-frame house. “It was really hard to find a general contractor—and I’m in the industry!” she said. “I used all of the resources available online—reviews, websites—and still ended up hiring the wrong people. And I couldn’t help but think how hard it would be for someone outside the industry—like my mom—to renovate.”

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16 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

In business, it all starts with a vision.

At Citi® Commercial Bank, we offer an extensive network of resoXrces and onancial solXtions that can help you make your vision a reality. Our Brooklyn Commercial Banking team is right here in your neighborhood, so we understand your business and can develop a banking solution that’s tailored to how you want to grow.

Dennis Nochowitz Director 718-248-6847 dennis.nochowitz@citi.com www.citi.com/commercialbank Commercial Bank

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD. BUILT TO LEAD. Cushman & Wakefield is a leader in the global real estate marketplace, putting the client at the center of everything we do.

With over 43,000 employees in over 60 countries.

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Built to help clients reach their full potential.

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© 2014 Citigroup Inc. Citibank, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal opportunity lender. Citi and Arc Design is a registered service mark of Citigroup.

Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 17

From our members

The Best Care, 365 Days a Year M

patients’ unique dental needs. They also gladly work with most major insurance companies.

Anyone can become a member of the Dental365 In-Office Plan. There are no pre-authorizations and everyone is approved. For only $190 per year, members will receive: • 2 Comprehensive Exams • X-Rays • 2 Cleanings • 2 Fluoride Treatments for Children per year (age 16 and under) By joining the Dental365 in-office plan, members will also save 25 to 40 percent on most dental procedures. There are no limits, and members can get dental care when they need it without waiting.

Dental365’s goal is to service communities with the latest technology in oral healthcare and wellness. As an added convenience, its brand new, inviting offices focus on all areas of dentistry, so patients never have to go elsewhere for dental treatment. Dental365 accepts walkins with little or no waiting time for adults and children, and offers everything from emergency extractions to routine exams, including cosmetic restorations and implants, periodontal procedures and Invisalign, all in a state-of-theart, beautiful environment where your comfort is a top priority. For more information about Dental365, its in-office plan, or to schedule an appointment call 844-365-DENTAL or visit GoDental365.com.

ost of us know that keeping up with the latest laws regarding healthcare coverage for employees is a nightmare for small to medium, growing businesses.

Members of the Brooklyn Chamber have even said that their second-highest barrier to doing business in New York is the inability to provide affordable healthcare options for their employees. Now, there is another option for dental coverage in the New York metro area.

Dental365 is a growing network of dental offices that offers affordable dental coverage for individuals, and also works with employers to offer coverage for their employees based on the company’s individual needs. Each office provides a storefront walk-in experience with state-of-the-art equipment and the latest technology, with patient comfort at the center of office design. Each exam room is complete with a smart television, including Netflix and Pandora, along with many other patient amenities, including warm towels. Dental365 has locations throughout New York City and Long Island, and more offices are scheduled to open throughout the year.

Dr. Scott Asnis, the founder and CEO of Dental365, started the practice as one of the country’s first high-quality, affordable dental offices offering dental care seven days a week. In addition to providing general and emergency dental services, Dental365 has specialists in-house that are available to provide excellent care for their

Brooklyn Community Services 150th Anniversary Finale Gala: For the Love of Community

B

rooklyn’s movers and shakers from politics, entertainment, business, education and the nonprofit sector celebrated the Brooklyn Community Services (BCS) 150th Anniversary Finale Gala: For the Love of Community on June 5 at the new, eco-friendly 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. The gala raised over $400,000 for BCS programs and services.

“This milestone event completes our yearlong celebration of BCS’s legacy of service, which now spans from the 19th to the 21st century,” said Marla G. Simpson, BCS President.

“Now we pivot to our future, as BCS continues to grow stronger and more committed to our mission of creating positive change in the lives of Brooklynites living in low-income neighborhoods.”

For 150 years, BCS has empowered Brooklyn’s at-risk children, youth, adults and families to overcome the obstacles they face. Today, with over 25 program sites throughout the borough, BCS serves 13,000 people every year with comprehensive and holistic services in early childhood education; youth development; after-school programs; family counseling and resident services; treatment, recovery and job training for adults with mental illness; rehabilitation, vocational and community living support for adults with developmental disabilities; and disaster relief and recovery services.

“I will always respond to this organization,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, a speaker at the BCS gala. “Their countless programs and how they give back exemplify the energy and the dignity of being a Brooklynite.”

The BCS 150th Anniversary Finale Gala: For

18 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

the Love of Community honored outstanding organizations and individuals who have positively impacted BCS’ mission. The evening’s Corporate Leadership Award honoree PVH Corp, one of the largest global apparel companies, owns Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, IZOD and others. PVH supports BCS through resources, volunteers, web design videography and interior design.

Philanthropic Leadership Award honorees, Aaron Dean, former Chair of the BCS Board of Directors and President of Cydean LLC, and Dr. Deborah Dean, Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, have supported BCS with countless charitable and volunteer commitments.

Arts & Entertainment Leadership Award honoree Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment (BSE) has donated tickets to BCS clients for Barclays sports events and concerts, conducted Nets basketball coaching sessions, produced a BCS early childhood education video and presented a Honda Civic giveaway event (won by a BCS client).

The evening’s ONE Brooklyn Community Service Award saluted Edward F. Gentner, Jr., Esq., Vice Chair of the BCS Board of Directors and Senior Counsel with Cullen and Dykman LLP, who has given nine years of dedicated service to BCS. Program Achievement honors went to BCS Brooklyn High School for Leadership and

Community Service (BHSLCS) and its founding Principal, Georgia Kouriampalis Serves.

BHSLCS is a transfer school for over-age, under-credited young people to obtain their Regents’ diplomas and achieve their goals in college or vocation.

The evening’s emcee was Brooklynite Debi Mazar, actress, chef and activist seen on television’s “Younger” and “Extra Virgin American” and films Goodfellas and Malcolm X. Speakers included Guy Vickers, President of the PVH Foundation and Senior Vice President for Global Community Relations at PVH Corp, along with BCS Board Members Michaela Angela Davis, Image Activist, Conversationalist, CNN Contributor; Susan Skerritt, Chair, President and CEO of Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, and noted trial attorney Stephen Williamson.

“While Brooklyn has experienced a great deal of success in recent years, not every Brooklyn resident has felt the impact of that growth,” said David O’Connell, Chairman of the BCS Board of Directors. “It’s our responsibility to make sure that each person who makes up the community we love access to opportunity, with the tools he or she needs to succeed, as well.”

Sponsors for Brooklyn Community Services 150th Anniversary Finale included PVH, Investors Bank, Greenberg Traurig, Trinity Church Wall Street, Citi, Cullen & Dykman LLP, Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation and New York Jets. Join the conversation with Brooklyn Community Services at www.WeAreBCS.org, Facebook at Brooklyn Community Services and Twitter and Instagram at @WeAreBCS.org.

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20 Brooklyn Progress

â&#x20AC;˘ July/August 2017

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Brooklyn, NY 11231 wrenlabceramics.com

Food Products

The LOOK hotel, Red Hook

Kinfolk

Fort Meat

347-799-2946 90 Wythe Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11249 kinfolklife.com

718-439-8375 5600 1st Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11220

leungdesigns

718-209-3474 5914 Avenue N Brooklyn, NY 11234 seatidegourmet.com

Sisters With Purpose, Inc.

646-460-4101 1310 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 14D Brooklyn, NY 11239 sisterswithpurpose.net

Construction Services and Supplies All-Star Environmental Group 718-531-7777 4621 Avenue N Brooklyn, NY 11234

Citiwide Kitchen & Bath 718-531-7777 4621 Avenue N Brooklyn, NY 11234

JJM Services Plumbing 718-998-9200 3334 Nostrand Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11229

S&M Expediting, Inc.

718-833-2333 9054 Ft. Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11209 sandmexpediting.com

Seatide Gourmet Fish Market

Gifts and Souvenirs Lali Arts

518-461-1512 586 Prospect Place, 1C Brooklyn, NY 11201 laliarts.com

Graphic Design Little Moon

718-222-1970 Brooklyn, NY 11205 imlittlemoon.com

Health Insurance AgeWell New York

866-586-8044 1991 Marcus Avenue, Suite M201 Lake Success, NY 11042 agewellnewyork.com

Home Furnishings AVANDI

416-699-2428 125 Dikeman Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 avandistudio.com

CAUV Design

814-282-7575 57 Commerce Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 cauvdesign.com

Demetria Chappo Ceramics

Educational Institutions

Brooklyn, NY 11231 demetriachappo.com

Navigate the Maze to Achievement, Inc.

Gilding by Leah Beth Fishman

646-387-8625 11A Macon Street, Suite #1 Brooklyn, NY 11216 ntmanyc.org

Employment and Training ResCare Workforce Services 347-875-7359 2417 Third Avenue, Suite 501 Brooklyn, NY 11201 rescare.com

Still Alive Lights

347-762-8243 307 Winthrop St Brooklyn, NY 11225 canddprofessionalcleaningservices.com

888-660-0090 PO Box 310461 Brooklyn, NY 11231 beeraw.com

Community Service Organizations

718-490-8305 810 Humboldt Street Brooklyn, NY 11222 saftiuk.com

C&D Professional Cleaning Services LLC

203-927-7739 75 New York Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11216 kahendesign.com

718-635-1028 1082 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11221 thevolta.com

SAFTIUK

Facility Management and Janitorial Services

Bee Raw

The Volta River Inc.

617-470-2319 184 West 9th Street, #3 Brooklyn, NY 11231 mkworkshop.net

631-786-6685 142 Luquer St. No 2 Brooklyn, NY 11231 stillalivelights.com

Kahen_Design

Brooklyn, NY 11215 leungdesigns.com

MK Workshop

212-995-1143 682 Grand Street, #3 Brooklyn, NY 11211 leahbethfishman.com

JMP Wood

718-649-0333 760 E. 96th Street Brooklyn, NY 11236 jmpwood.com

LWM Woodwork

516-784-9040 122 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11211 lukemalaney.crevado.com

Hotels and Accommodations 718-222-3200 17 Seabring Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 lookhotels.com

Industrial and Manufacturing Services Africa Marketing Agency

917-628-3922 643 Beach 67th Street, 1st Floor Arverne, NY 11692 agribusiness-cm.org

Orent Design NYC 917-833-6982 63 Flushing Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11205

Information Techology Rogue

929-290-6170 34-18 Northern Boulevard, Suite 8B Long Island City, NY 11101 roguestartup.com

Law Firms and Legal Services Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt, LLP 212-508-7529 900 Third Avenue, 13th Floor New York, NY 10022 thsh.com

Mailing and Courier Services Meyer Shipping

718-633-9214 1164 49th Street Brooklyn, NY 11219 meyershipping.com

Medical Facilities and Service Providers BHRAGS Home Care Corp.

718-345-5940 9805 Foster Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11236 bhrags.org

Dental365

917-572-3637 422 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 godental365.com

Michael Friedman, Ph.D.

917-655-2416 280 Madison Avenue, Suite 810 New York, NY 10016 Michaelfriedmanphd.com

Mount Sinai Health System

150 East 42nd Street, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10017 mountsinai.org

Photographers LightSpace Studios 212-202-0372

Continued on Page 22 Brooklyn Progress â&#x20AC;˘ VISIT ibrooklyn.com 21

New Members Continued from Page 21

1115 Flushing Ave Brooklyn, NY 11237 lightspace.tv

Printers, Publishing and Publications Double Dutch Magazine 718-483-5630 Brooklyn, NY 11221 doubledutchmag.com

Real Estate Brokers Bergen Basin Realty LLC 718-763-4110 5817 Avenue N Brooklyn, NY 11234 bergenbasin.com

Brooklyn’s 4 U Realty LLC. 718-968-4444

5910 Avenue N Brooklyn, NY 11234 brooklyns4urealty.com

Hudson Gilbert Inc. 347-365-8000 1075 Rutland Road Brooklyn, NY 11212 myhginc.com

Real Estate Development and Management Compass

212-913-9058 514 Second Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 compass.com/nyc

Sitex Group

929-226-6906 10 West Forest Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631 sitexgroup.com

Vanbarton Group

212-293-8886 420 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10170 vanbartongroup.com/about.html

Recycling and Waste Removal CitiBin

347-549-4121 20 Grand Avenue, #303 Brooklyn, NY 11205 citibin.com

Retail Bed Bath & Beyond

908-613-5371 650 Liberty Avenue Union, NJ 07083 bedbathandbeyond.com

Darlyng & Co.

347-715-7415 Brooklyn, NY 11233 darlyngandco.com

Lovewild Design

646-429-2239 348 S 4th St. Brooklyn, NY 11211 lovewilddesign.com

Public Supply

909-709-2586 197 Plymouth Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 public-supply.com

Tourism and Travel Clynice Travel & Tourism Consulting 917-312-2793 276 Fifth Avenue, Suite 704-525 New York, NY 10001 cttcglobal.com

Renewed Members Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations

Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Music

Business and Financial Services

Amore Incorporated

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Alisa’s Grant Writing Services

888-371-4718 387 Park Avenue South, 5th Floor, Suite 504 New York, NY 10016 applesandorangespr.com

Benchmark Creative Group 917-426-5906 495 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225 thebcgnyc.com

CTM Media Group

917-388-2264 555 Eight Ave, Suite 2410 New York, NY 10018 CTMmediagroup.com

512-861-7013 612 A East 6th Street Austin, TX 78701 drafthouse.com

Brooklyn Museum

718-638-5000 200 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11238 brooklynmuseum.org

Pinot’s Palette, Park Slope 929-337-6499 382 5th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 pinotspalette.com/parkslope

Eastern Effects, Inc.

Rhythm Nation Entertainment

Light of Gold PR

St. Ann’s Warehouse, Inc.

718-855-1197 99 9th Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 easterneffects.com

917-385-1079 294 Montgomery Street, #31 Bloomfield, NJ 7003 lightofgoldpr.com

Maiarelli Studio

646-736-3100 231 Front Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 maiarellistudio.com

Prosper Digital

718-688-0062 1080 Fulton Street, Suite 7 Brooklyn, NY 11238 prosperdigital.tv

Sunny Day Marketing

347-460-8179 237 Flatbush Avenue, Suite 103 Brooklyn, NY 11217 sunnydaymktg.com

Amusement & Recreation 300lbsofsportsknowledge

646-262-5058 1158 41st Street, #3 Brooklyn, NY 11218 300lbsofsportsknowledge.com

Architects, Designers and Engineers Meshberg Group

718-222-1980 57 Hudson Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11201 meshberggroup.com 22 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

646-388-2026 2006 East 61st Street Brooklyn, NY 11234 rhythmnationent.com 718-834-8794 45 Water Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 stannswarehouse.org

Beauty and Wellness Inspired Beauty Brands, Inc. 212-235-2144 330 7th Avenue, 16th Floor New York, NY10001 inspiredbeauty.com

Karuna Acupuncture

718-219-6053 1011 Beverley Road Brooklyn, NY 11218 karuna-acupunctureny.com

Sara June

801-528-8325 618 Union Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 sarajunebk.com

347 595-2277 30 3rd Avenue, Apt. 1015 Brooklyn, NY 11217 alisasgrantwritingservices.weebly.com

American Israeli Business Services 562-786-3800 1650 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11229

Bell Funding Solutions

212-624-4634 57 W. 38th Street, Suite 601 New York, NY 10018 bellfundingsolutions.com

Strategic Urban Solutions, Inc. 718-625-1105 335 Adams Street, Suite 2700 Brooklyn, NY 11201 strategicurban.com

Clothing, Jewelry and Fashion Lady J + 1

718-783-0011 679 Classon Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11238 ladyjjewelry.com

Nike, Inc.

503-671-6453 One Bowerman Drive Beaverton, OR 97005 nike.com

Community Service Organizations Boy Scouts of America - Greater New York Councils 212-651-2914 350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 7820 New York, NY 10118 brooklynscouting.org

Colloquium Depot, Ltd.

Beverage

212-684-9650 343 East 30th Street New York, NY 10016

Kings County Brewers Collective

Connect A Million Youth

718-288-2891 34 Crooke Avenue, #5B Brooklyn, NY 11226 kcbcbeer.com

Nobletree Coffee

917-856-4910 499 Van Brunt Street, Unit 3A Brooklyn, NY 11231 nobletreecoffee.com

exalt youth

347-621-6100 175 Remsen Street #1000 Brooklyn, NY 11201 exaltyouth.org

L.A.A.M.B. Family Services, Inc. 347-334 0175 PO Box 805 New York, NY10021

Economic Development Alliance for Coney Island

718-594-7895 1205 Surf Avenue, 2nd Floor Brooklyn, NY 11224 allianceforconeyisland.org

Flatbush Nostrand Junction District Management Association

718-951-5000 c/o Brooklyn College 2900 Bedford Avenue 1221 Ingersoll Hall Brooklyn, NY 11210 flatbushjunctionbid.com

Employment and Training Getting Out and Staying Out/ GOSOWorks 212-831-5020 75 East 116th Street New York, NY10029 gosonyc.org

Legal Shield Associate

347-452-0120 137 Montague Street, #409 Brooklyn, NY 11201 legalshield.com

Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associates, Inc. 516-921-3400 6800 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 218E Syosset, NY 11791 pmphr.com

Energy and Utilities Just Energy

845-228-3401 4 Executive Boulevard, Suite 301 Suffern, NJ 10901 justenergydeals.com/BCOC

646-402-3047 1642 Broadway Brooklyn, NY 11233

Environmental Products and Services

Eladia’s Kids

Newtown Creek Group

718-230-7560 264 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217 eladiaskids.com

347-267-9617 2318 Atlantic Avenue, 2nd Floor Brooklyn, NY 11233 newtowncreek.info Continued on Page 24

We enjoy being a part of this community as much as you do.

Spectrum is a proud member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.

Only Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Commercial Real Estate Since 2008 www.terracrg.com (718) 768-6888

Now avoid a monthly maintenance fee with TD Business Convenience Checking Plus. Use your business checking and personal checking account balance toward the low minimum daily balance of $1,500.

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Brooklyn Progress • VISIT ibrooklyn.com 23

Renewed Members Continued from Page 22

Facility Management and Janitorial Services All Points Cleaning Service 866-681-5553 672 46th Street Brooklyn, NY 11220 allpointscleaningservice.com

Go Green Inc.

718-625-0260 485 Atlantic Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217 gogreeninc.com

Marathon Energy Corporation 718-564-2225 868 39th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232 mecny.com

Florists James Weir Floral Co 718-624-0270 155 Montague Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 JamesWeirFloral.net

Food Products Caremometer

917-579-4019 211 11th Street Brooklyn, NY 11215 caremometer.com

One Girl Cookies

212-675-4996 68 Dean Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 onegirlcookies.com

Gifts and Souvenirs Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store 718 522-9848 232 5th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11215 blueribbongeneralstore.com

Silly Phillie Creations

Information Technology

Equipment

Avot Technologies, LLC dba Blue Mountain

Staples - Sheepshead Bay

347-425-0010 612 Ocean Avenue, #3M Brooklyn, NY 11226 bluemountain.io

917-913-1175 2892 Ocean Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11235 staples.com

Cybertone

Printers, Publishing and Publications

646 519-1344 1400 Avenue Z, Suite 507 Brooklyn, NY 11235 cybertone.eu

Proper Systems

917-567-6257 201A 34th Street Brooklyn, NY 11232 propersystems.com

Tech Grease Monkey Inc. 212-518-4251 PO Box 2509 Church Street Station New York, NY10008 techgreasemonkey.com

Insurance Freedman & Sons

718-332-7308 639 Ave Y Brooklyn, NY 11235

Patricia Powers - New York Life Insurance 917-612-3459 120 Broadway, Suite 2900 New York, NY10271 newyorklife.com

Law Firms and Legal Services Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP 212-790-4532 7 Times Square New York, NY 10036 manatt.com

Marcus Attorneys PLLC 718-643-6555 13 Greene Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11238 marcusattorneys.com

718-492-6300 140 58th Street Brooklyn, NY 11220 SillyPhillie.com

Medical Facilities and Service Providers

Graphic Design

2044 Ocean Avenue, Suite B4 Brooklyn, NY 11230 homecareservicesoceanave.com

Spotlight Design

718-493-2866 619 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11213 spotlightdesign.com

Hotels and Accommodations Dazzler Brooklyn Hotel 718-329-9537 85 Flatbush Ave Ext Brooklyn, NY 11201 dazzlerbrooklyn.com

Eats Continued from Page 1

and drink industry throughout Brooklyn and beyond. Many thanks to our sponsors and the city and state legislatures for their essential support.”

“Brooklyn Eats was a huge success this year, thanks to the hard work and dedication of our food manufacturers, buyers and Brooklynites,” said Brooklyn Chamber Board Chair Denise Arbesu. “It’s great to see not just the delicious products that come out of the borough, but also the dedication producers show in making and manufacturing here, which leads to job creation and economic development.”

24 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

Home Care Services for Independent Living

Moving and Storage Treasure Island Storage 212-840-5588 183 Lorraine Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 tistorage.com

Office Supplies and

Canarsie Courier Publications, Inc. 718-257-0600 1142 East 92nd Street Brooklyn, NY 11236 canarsiecourier.com

Duggal Visual Solutions 908-391-4013 29 West 23rd Street New York, NY10010 duggal.com

Edible Brooklyn

PO Box 779 Sag Harbor, NY 11963 ediblebrooklyn.com

GreenPoint Gazette

345 Adams Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 hillcountrychicken.com

L & B Spumoni Gardens 718-449-1230 2725 86th Street Brooklyn, NY 11223 spumonigardens.com

Patina Events

914-912-0513 1000 Washington Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11225 patinaevents.com

Rustik Tavern

718-230-0334 471 Dekalb Ave Brooklyn, NY 11205 rustiktavern.com

t.b.d. brooklyn

718-349-6727 224 Franklin Street Brooklyn, NY 11222 tbdbrooklyn.com

The Chef Next Door

597 Manhattan Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11222 greenpointnews.com

347-871-2403 458 West 146th St, Suite 3 North New York, NY 10031 thechefnextdoor.nyc

Real Estate Brokers

Retail

Bernadette Mitchell

Brooklyn United Ties, LLC

718-781-6335 543 Rockaway Street Staten Island, NY 10307 Halstead.com

347-470-9374 8320 13th Avenue, Unit 280224 Brooklyn, NY 11228 BrooklynUnitedTies.com

Real Estate Development and Management

Special Events Services and Venues

Ariel Property Advisors

Sublime Moments, LLC

212-544-9500 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 2405 New York, NY 10168 arielpa.com

347-406-1682 1884 Schenectady Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11234 mysublimemoments.com

Religious Organizations

Sports Establishments

Friends Christian Church Inc.

The Madison Square Garden Company

718-775-7450 565 Vermont Street Brooklyn, NY 11207 facebook.com/FriendsChristianChurch2014

212-465-6082 Two Pennsylvania Plaza, 16th Floor New York, NY 10121 msg.com

Restaurants and Caterers

Tourism and Travel

Antica Pesa

Air Pocket Shuttle

347-763-2635 115 Berry Street Brooklyn, NY 11211 anticapesa.com

Hill Country Barbecue Market 646-380-5865 345 Adams Street Brooklyn, NY 11201 hillcountrybk.com

347-926-8084 Brooklyn, NY 11201 airpocketshuttle.com

Trade Associations New York Building Congress, Inc.

Hill Country Chicken

212-481-9230 44 West 28th Street, 12th Floor New York, NY 10001 buildingcongress.com

success. It provides an opportunity for all our local Brooklyn businesses to highlight their delicious food and drinks. While many people love Brooklyn because it’s “hip” or has a great music scene, I love it because of the food,” said Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol.

“Building on our successful Cinderella community development program, National Grid is increasing its economic development initiatives to help create jobs, stimulate growth and deliver new energy sources in the New York region,” said Ken Daly, National Grid New York President. “National Grid is proud to partner with the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to showcase Brooklyn-made products.

By working together we are promoting sustainable growth and creating an environment where businesses can thrive and grow.”

The Brooklyn Chamber has produced Brooklyn Eats in some fashion since 1997, when it began as a trade show for Brooklyn restaurants. The aim was to encourage attendees to give business to the restaurants after the show. Today, Brooklyn Eats vendors represent a variety of types of businesses, from restaurants to food manufacturers. Some have production facilities in the borough, and others work out of smaller spaces.

Each year, Brooklyn Eats kicks off the Chamber’s participation in the Summer and Winter Fancy Food Shows. The Chamber continued this tradition and represented Brooklyn in this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show, which was held from June 25 to 27 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Chamber hosted a “Brooklyn Aisle” at the show.

212-257-6464

“Congratulations to Brooklyn Eats for another successful trade show,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “Our borough has such a wonderful array of food and beverage producers and distributors ranging across all kinds of cuisines, products, and tastes. The food industry employs thousands of people across the borough, fueling our economy and filling our stomachs. I encourage further collaboration among our culinary creators to grow more jobs, cross-pollinate innovative ideas, and further cement Brooklyn as a global foodie destination.”

“One of my favorite times of the year is when I get the date for Brooklyn Eats. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce knows the importance of food and drinks to Brooklynites, which is why this event is such a great

Member-to-Member Discounts Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Music Pinotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Palette, Park Slope

Linda Drummond: 929-337-6499 $10 off any class pinotspalette.com/parkslope 1/1/2018

Energy and Utilities Just Energy

Miriam Stiefel: 845-228-3401 $50 VISA gift card + 2 Free LED light bulbs for every new gas and/or electric enrollment justenergydeals.com/BCOC 12/31/2019

Hotels and Accommodations Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Brooklyn New York Reggie Philip: 718-522-4000

Members of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce enjoy up to 20% off our Best Available Rates. brooklynfairfieldinn.com 1/31/2018

Leveldesk, Inc.

Industrial and Manufacturing Services

Treemarie LLC

Masterwork Plaques Inc.

Jennifer Andrews: 718-283-4109 10% Off Your First Order masterworkplaques.com 1/1/2018

Information Technology CDL500

Chad Lewine: 215-527-8979 $1999 Small Business Website for $1645 CDL500.com 12/31/2019

George Dikeakos: 888-298-6015 Free IT Network Audit leveldesk.com 12/31/2017 Theresa Previ: 917-387-4319 10% off all services treemarie.com 12/1/2017

Superform

David de Cespedes: 347-746-2606 Free Digital Marketing Review superform.co 1/1/2018

Moving and Storage

12/31/2017

Office Supplies and Equipment VIGI Comfort, Inc DBA Indicator Locks Victoria Kaverina: 347-492-7497 $25 off all orders of $100 or more. indicatorlock.com 7/31/2017

Retail Darlyng & Co.

Tara Darnley: 347-715-7415 15% Off fun and innovative line of baby products and apparel darlyngandco.com 8/7/2017

Treasure Island Storage

James Coakley: 718-596-1850 10% Additional Discount off Any Other Offer tistorage.com

visit us at www.ibrooklyn.com. where brooklyn business clicks.

Brooklyn Progress â&#x20AC;˘ VISIT ibrooklyn.com 25

From our members

Pizza Gone Wild! WILD Park Slope Serves Gluten-Free Goods E

very New Yorker has a go-to pizza spot.

In this city, finding your holy cheese slice is a rite of passage. However, we often forget it’s not always easy to find that perfect slice for those with dietary restrictions and/or health issues. The same slice that leaves some of us nursing a greasy mouth and a guilty conscience can have larger consequences for someone else.

Enter WILD Park Slope. What is WILD Park Slope? Well, WILD Park Slope honors nature, the source of our uniqueness, our well-being, and our future.

It is a promise to choose ingredients that have been harvested with respect for their primitive state. It comes to us as it has come from the earth: already perfect. Originally founded by Miki Agrawal of Thinx underwear fame, and nursed to fruition by restaurateur Walid Hammami, the latest outpost of this chainlet offers the best version of a pizza: made with organic, gluten-free flours and tomato sauces, and hormone-free cheeses and meats.

Anyone in the gluten-free community can vouch that while there certainly isn’t a shortage of gluten-free pizza options on the market, there is a dearth of gluten-free pizza that actually tastes amazing. Wheat-free pizza

crust descriptions are rarely positive (words like “cardboard” and “mealy” come to mind) and sometimes it seems like everyone’s fa-

vorite weekend food was simply never meant to exist without gluten. However, the team behind WILD Park Slope thinks otherwise.

And the more research that they conducted on big food productions, specifically gluten, the more they saw a need for really tasty gluten-free options. The goal was to take a favorite comfort food and turn it into the healthiest version of itself. They tweaked and tweaked until they finally got it right.

As the first official franchise location of WILD, the Park Slope eatery boasts the same tasty/health-conscious menu and a similarly ambitious millennial owner looking to make her mark. After years working in literary PR, Marina Charny decided to ditch the media business and dive head-first into the competitive New York culinary scene. She reached out blindly to Miki about the idea of starting a franchise, and much to her surprise, Miki accepted.

A restaurant like this has long been missing from Park Slope, a neighborhood where family and community are prevalent, where parents want their kids to learn about healthy eating from a young age, and where millennials frequently look to find the next ‘cool’ thing.

The mission here is simple: to give all people – gluten-free or not – a positive environment to eat nourishing, yummy food, and offer true peace of mind.

Five Questions With…

Five Questions with a Brooklyn Chamber Member Carrie Daniels, Owner/Instructor Take A Bow Performing Arts Center, Mill Basin • What do you want people to know about you and your company? I want people to know that our students and their parents are more than customers. They truly have become part of the TABPAC (Take a Bow Performing Arts Center) family. My staff and I have worked with many of these kids since they were two and three years old, and it’s wonderful to watch them grow and develop in their dance practices and become wonderful young women and men. I take pride in the diversity in my studio and that every student and teacher feels respected and accepted. We have an environment where children are encouraged to create freely.

• Why do business in Brooklyn? I grew up in this part of Brooklyn, and I can’t imagine owning a business anywhere else. Well, maybe in the winter I could imagine owning a business in Florida. Growing up in this neighborhood (Mill Basin) molded me into the person, the Miss Carrie, who I am today. It’s great to 26 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017

be able to teach the children of parents I grew up with. Plus, there’s an energy in Brooklyn and ‘realness’ about the people who live here.

• What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten, and who gave it to you? My dancing teacher, when I was opening up the studio, told me to never stop being a student and that the people who cause you stress aren’t worth having as customers.

• Where do you see your business in five years? I’m hoping I’ll have another studio in Brooklyn and maybe even be able to branch out to an afterschool center with performing arts programs. Mini camps where we bring children upstate are also a possibility. I’d like to be able to create more spaces where young kids and teenagers can come, hang out and feel safe and cared for.

• Where’s your favorite place to eat or play in Brooklyn? Why? I love taking my German Shepherd, Sonny, to Strickland Park, where we meet up and play with other dog parents.

WE PROUDLY SUPPORT THE

strengthen neighborhoods

BROOKLYN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Up to 40% of businesses never recover after experiencing a major disaster. Do you have a plan to keep your business running if disaster strikes? For a free online tool that helps you develop an emergency plan, visit Ready.gov/business.

Brooklyn Progress â&#x20AC;˘ VISIT ibrooklyn.com 27

Certified Protection ® Professional

EST.

1978

®

35+ YEARS

28 Brooklyn Progress

• July/August 2017