WHO’s WHO11 CANDACE J. GOMEZ ond, choenec ing 12 SAMI B. GROFF elter, ippe, oldstein reitstone, 12 KATHERINE A. HEPTIG iin adler 13 NICOLE KUREK architects engineers …

WHO’s WHOWomen in

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2020

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WHO’s WHOin Women in Professional Services

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Never backing down on new challenges, Long Island’s business women are stepping in to create solutions when it comes to serving clients during these unprecedented times. In this Who’s Who in Women in Professional Services section, some of the region’s top business women discuss how they are bringing balance and perspective to businesses across Long Island as they face challenges brought about by the pandemic.

— Lisa Morris Josefak

3 CARRIE C. ADDUCI

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

3 LINDA ARMYN

Bethpage Federal Credit Union

4 MICHELLE AULIVOLA, ESQ.

Long Tuminello, LLP

6 ANNAMARIE BONDI-STODDARD, ESQ.

Pegalis Law Group, LLC

6 ANDREA M. BRODIE

Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman,

Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP

7 CHRISTINE BRUNQUELL

Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP

8 AMELIA CHIN, EA, FCCA

Mazars USA LLP

8 CARA CRONIN

Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC

9 THERESA A. DRISCOLL

Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP

9 LISA EPSTEIN, CPA

Albrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Company, P.C. (AVZ)

10 MICHELLE E. ESPEY

Farrell Fritz, P.C.

10 NICOLE S. FORCHELLI

Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

10 LAURA MILLER FRIED, CPA

Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

11 CANDACE J. GOMEZ

Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

12 SAMI B. GROFF

Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP

12 KATHERINE A. HEPTIG

Rivkin Radler LLP

13 NICOLE KUREK

H2M architects + engineers

14 MONICA LACROIX-RUBIN

BNB Bank

14 JACQUELYN L. MASCETTI, ESQ.

Herman Katz Cangemi Wilkes & Clyne, LLP

15 MARYELLEN MCKEON

Engel Burman

15 MELISSA NEGRIN-WIENER

Genser Cona Elder Law

16 RHONDA PIERSON-DELORENZO

Flushing Bank

16 VANESSA PUNZO, CPA

Grassi

16 LISA M. RICCIARDI, CPA, CCA

Marcum LLP

16 ERICA RICE, CPA

Berdon LLP

17 MELISSA SANDERLEAF

Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.

17 LYNN SENKO

Worth Property Management

18 JACQUELINE SILVEY, ESQ.

NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation)

18 STEPHANIE TANZI

Harris Beach PLLC

18 DAVI TSERPELIS

City National Bank

CARRIE C. ADDUCICertilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP

Carrie C. Adduci is an associate in the Real Estate Practice Group at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP in East Mead-ow. Adduci concentrates on acquisitions, sales and refi nances of commercial and residential properties. She also represents developers with regard to the sale of their newly constructed residential homes.

The diffi culties caused by the pandem-ic hasn’t changed Adduci’s perspective on how she and the fi rm service its clients.

“Pandemic or not, my perspective is, and always will be, that I strive to provide excellent customer service and superior legal work to our clients, no matter what,” Adduci said. “What did change was how that service was logistically provided, and the efforts I took to ensure our excellent customer service and superior legal work was not impacted by the pandemic. I’ve had to be extremely fl exible and creative to get work done.”

“This pandemic has only solidifi ed my perspective that there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome, as long as all parties are willing to work together,” she said.

Prior to joining the fi rm, Adduci was a real estate associate at a small Long Island law fi rm. In this position, she rep-resented and advised purchasers, sellers, landlords and tenants in a variety of com-mercial and residential real estate trans-actions, including real property and co-op-erative apartments.

Adduci earned a juris doctor, cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law. She was managing editor of St. John’s Law Review and vice co-chair of the Public Interest Committee. She also helped her peers to strengthen their writing skills, as a consultant in the Writing Center.

St. John’s Law School awarded Adduci with a Merit Based Scholarship, the ALI-ABA Scholarship and Leadership Award, as well as the St. John’s Gold Pro Bono Service Award.

Adduci served as a law clerk at the Cook County Offi ce of the Public Guardian

in Chicago, Illinois. She was designated a guardian ad litem and attorney for chil-dren involved in protective proceedings in Cook County Juvenile Court.

She also earned a Bachelor of Sci-ence, summa cum laude, from St. John’s University with a major in legal studies and a minor in theology.

Adduci is admitted to practice in the state of New York and is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association.

Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP is among Long Island’s largest full-service law fi rms and has offi ces in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Its 15 practice areas in-clude real estate, real property tax certiora-ri and condemnation, cooperative and con-dominium, land use, environmental law, corporate/securities, litigation, commercial lending, labor relations/employment law, bankruptcy and debtor/creditor rights, nonprofi t/tax exempt and religious organi-zations, trusts and estates, elder law, tele-communications law and criminal law.

LINDA ARMYNBethpage Federal Credit Union

Linda Armyn is senior vice president of corporate affairs at Bethpage Federal Credit Union (Bethpage), where she began her tenure in 2001. Armyn leads corporate communications, public relations, crisis planning, business & community develop-ment and government relations.

During her years at Bethpage, assets have grown from $1.1 billion to $9.9+ bil-lion. With Bethpage’s CEO and its leader-ship team, Armyn has spearheaded stra-tegic efforts to make Bethpage a premier community fi nancial institution on Long Island, and among the largest credit union in New York State and in the nation.

Armyn played an integral role in two mergers that led to Bethpage’s expanded charter in 2016 and becoming Northwell Health’s Credit Union in 2017.

The last six months brought on chal-lenges, but also many opportunities to look at things differently, Armyn said.

to b

e aw

are

of what

is g

oing

on and to

offer

OPINIONGUEST VIEW

GUEST VIEW

farmers’ season and giving those farmers a more reliable source of income.

“My job was to buy products from dozens of local farmers,” Jones said.

She was looking to take her CSA skills and use them in a new way. She thought of Angstadt and another cheesemaker she had met in her old job: Sue Miller of Birchrun

stands or craft brewers, which support “buy local” efforts.

Having a variety of pickup locations in the region helps the Collective’s members spread their cheese sales farther than they could on their own.

Subscriptions can be picked up in two Berks County locations — Hidden River

instead of competitively to boost the entire industry by sharing tips and efforts.

ships’ kind of thing,” she said. “We all benefit from a stronger cheese industry.”

regional leader in the craft cheese industry. They aren’t planning any major expansion.

DAIRY GODMOTHERS

FOOD BUSINESS

instead of competitively to boost the entire industry by sharing tips and efforts.

“It’s the whole ‘a rising tide raises all ships’ kind of thing,” she said. “We all benefit from a stronger cheese industry.”

Jones said the trio is focused on being a regional leader in the craft cheese industry. They aren’t planning any major expansion.

to make her cheeses,” Stricker said.Stricker said the extra money a cheese-

maker like Angstadt is willing to pay repre-sents a needed boost for small farms like his.

“It’s a huge benefit to us when a local business like that uses our product,” he said. “It’s essential to find someone making a higher-end product to compete.” <

OPINION

GUEST VIEW

meant to engage the group – ask ques-

tions, post a quiz or host a ‘meet this goal’

leadership and a few employees to brain

storm the best ways to get the message out.

Julie Lando is the owner and president of GRIT

Marketing Group, a marketing and communica

tions firm with offices in York and Lancaster.

GUEST VIEW

DAIRY GODMOTHERS

NEWSMAKERS

for any topic: if it’s strictly about one thing,

the business might lose the interest of its

Internal communications centered around

health and wellness can make or break pro-

gram participation. Get together with HR,

leadership and a few employees to brain-


•

Julie Lando is the owner and president of GRIT

Marketing Group, a marketing and communica-

tions firm with offices in York and Lancaster.

OPINION

centers would not only be devastating to the

many hardworking physicians in our com

-

monwealth but their patients as well.

For the sake of the health and wellness of

our comm

onwealth, I hope my colleagues in

Harrisburg listen to our physicians and their

patients and reject this tax. •

State Rep. Greg Rothman (R) represents the 87th

House District, which is in Cumberland County.

GUEST VIEW

THE WHITEBOARD

plans, including Aetna, Capital Blue

Cross, Highmark and UPMC Health

Plan for all services. Changes in the

relationship between Highmark

and UPMC in the greater

Pittsburgh and Erie areas will not

affect the relationship between

UPMC Pinnacle and Highmark.

We look forward to continuing

to care for all of our patients in

2019 and beyond. To learn more

about full, in-network access to

UPMC doctors and hospitals, call

our toll-free help line at 1-833-

879-5013 or visit UPMC.com/

Choice2019. Philip W. Guarneschelli,

President and CEO

UPMC Pinnacle

TO THE EDITOR

OPINIONGUEST VIEW

retirement plans. There are many details to consider when acquiring a company. Understanding the seller’s retirement plan and how it will fit within the current ben-efit structure is vital to success.

If retirement plans are not considered upfront, executives may learn that the ac-quired company has an underfunded pen-sion plan – which can be a deal breaker – or that the seller’s 401(k) plan does not meet compliance standards.

ment plan. However, operating multiple plans can be burdensome and expensive, and nondiscrimination testing is needed if employees are receiving different benefit packages.

If the buyer is going to terminate the seller’s plan, this decision should be made and the process initiated before the com-panies merge. If the acquired company’s 401(k) is terminated after the transaction, the seller’s employees will face a one-year

one plan to operate – and it also avoids the negatives of plan termination.

The risk associated with merging are the unknown factors of the seller’s plan. Has it always operated in compliance with all the complex rules associated with retirement plans? If not, the buyer’s plan would be at risk.

Before deciding how to handle the sell-er’s retirement plan, the buyer will need to perform exhaustive due diligence. This

stages of an M&A. Though the evaluation process can be lengthy, it’s better to an-ticipate issues that could arise, instead of realizing them in the midst of the merger when it might be too late.

•John Jeffrey is a consulting actuary, specializing in retirement plan consulting and post-employ-ment health care benefits, for Conrad Siegel, which is based in Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County.

GUEST VIEW

retirement plans. There are many details to consider when acquiring a company. Understanding the seller’s retirement plan and how it will fit within the current benefit structure is vital to success.

If retirement plans are not considered upfront, executives may learn that the acquired company has an underfunded pension plan – which can be a deal breaker – or that the seller’s 401(k) plan does not


meet compliance standards.

The Central Penn Business Journal will cor-

rect or clarify mistakes made in the publica-

tion. If you have a question, please call the

awarded $55 million in tax credits to the

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s

Commonwealth Cornerstone Group, based in

Harrisburg.

Commonwealth Cornerstone’s executive

director Charlotte Folmer said the funding

will help the nonprofit tackle a hefty pipeline

of projects seeking funding.

“We have over 40 projects requesting

over $700 million,” she said, noting that the

requests come from across the common-

wealth.

Folmer said she hopes the tax credits will

be able to support about seven projects this

The investors receive tax credits in return,

which count against their federal income

taxes.Investors can receive credits totaling 39

percent of their investment. They can use the

credits over seven years as such: 5 percent

per year for the first three years and 6 per-

cent for the next four years.

Folmer said it will be several weeks until

Commonwealth Cornerstone receives its

Cornerstone poured $10 million in tax cred

its into the project, while Community First

added another $8 million.

Folmer said project announcements could

come this fall.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

retirement plans. There are many details to consider when acquiring a company. Understanding the seller’s retirement plan

The Central Penn Business Journal will cor

The Central Penn Business Journal will cor

rect or clarify mistakes made in the publica

rect or clarify mistakes made in the publica



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Dauphin County grew by 8,997 people.

What’s happening nationally?The census data confirmed that coun-

ties with the largest numeric growth are located in the south and the west. In fact, Texas claimed four out of the top 10 spots. Looking at population growth by metropolitan area, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, Texas had the largest numeric growth, with a gain of 131,767 people, or 1.8 percent in 2018. Second was Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona, which had an increase of 96,268 people, or 2.0 percent. The cause of growth in these areas is migration, both domestic and international, as well as natural increase. In Dallas, it was natural in-crease that served as the largest source of population growth. For Phoenix it was

Charleston, West Virginia (-1.6 percent); Pine Bluff, Arkansas. (-1.5 percent); Farmington, New Mexico (-1.5 percent); Danville, Illinois (-1.2 percent); and Watertown-Fort Drum, New York (-1.2 percent). The population decreases were primarily due to negative net domestic migration.

North Dakota was home to the fastest-growing county. Among counties with a population of 20,000 or more, Williams County, North Dakota, claimed the top spot as the fastest-growing by percent-age. This county’s population rose by 5.9 percent between 2017 and 2018 (from 33,395 to 35,350 people). The rapid growth Williams County experienced was due mainly to net domestic migration of 1,471 people in 2018. The county also ex-perienced growth between 2017 and 2018

and 1,661 (or 52.9 percent) lost popula

tion. Though there has been more growth

than decline overall, the numbers indicate

that this can easily shift year over year.

A deeper dive into the census data

reveals several demographic changes

impacting commercial real estate develop

ment: household formations, aging baby

boomers, growing millennials, women

in the workforce and migration toward

the South. Today’s demographic changes

present challenges for commercial real

estate developers, but they also offer lu

crative opportunities to firms creatively

adapting to new demands.•

Mike Kushner is the owner of Omni Realty Group, a real estate firm in Harrisburg. He can be reached through www.omnirealtygroup.com�

So, if you’re planning a merger or acqui-sition, consider the retirement plans now to avoid a headache later on.

If the transaction is a stock acquisi-tion – where the buyer takes full owner-ship of the selling company – the buyer then assumes all of the seller’s liabilities, including its retirement plan. The buyer has three options for how to handle the acquired company’s retirement plan. It can either maintain its own plan and the

restriction before being able to join the buyer’s 401(k) plan, losing out on a full year of tax-efficient savings and employer contributions.

The main advantages of termination are that employees can be integrated into the buyer’s plan with one benefit structure for all; there is only one plan to maintain; and the risk of any liability transfer into the buyer’s existing plan is avoided. The downside is that the employee accounts

includes confirming past operational and procedural compliance, making sure all plan documents are up-to-date, and confirming general compatibility between the plans. Examples include reviewing nondiscrimination testing results from recent years, the seller’s fiduciary oversight practices, administrative operations such as distributions, payroll and loan processes, and fulfillment of government reporting requirements.

Retirement plans should be piece of M&A puzzle

In 2016, as fate would have it, an old friend of Angstadt’s, Alex Jones, a prominent organizer of commu-nity-supported agri-culture programs in the Greater Philadel-phia area, had just left a job with a CSA.

In a typical CSA, a group of farmers connect with a group of consumers who want to buy fresh, local produce. They sell shares of their fu-ture crop to the con-sumers, who then pick up weekly or monthly boxes of the farmers’ latest crops, sharing both the risk and the rewards of the

once-a-month pickup of two pounds and four varieties of cheese for four months

to $280 for a twice-monthly pickup of one-and-a-half pounds and three varieties of cheese for four months. CSA packages gen-erally run from five to six months. The current package is shortened since the current CSA season has already begun.

Customers pick up their orders at participating loca-tions. Most are busi-nesses that focus on

local craft foods and products like farm

in the CSA to give customers more options.

ing with a sheep farmer to blend sheep and cow milk together to make a creamy Camembert-style cheese.

lovers into die-hard cheese fans.

in this area like it is in Europe. We don’t want people to see cheese as a guilty pleasure, but as a food you eat every day,” Angstadt said. “This is a way to grow the cheese community.

sity,” added Jones. “When they go to the grocery store they feel they have to get produce and bread … we want them to think of fine cheese like that, not as a luxury.”

growing in much the same way the craft beer industry has developed and grown, with those in the industry working cooperatively

Honey-Bell is a brie-style cheese made by Stefanie Angstadt in her Oley creamery. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

Craft-beer boom spurs local hops farmers

By Jason Scott

[email protected]

Pennsylvania leads the nation in craft-

beer production.

But while more beer is being brewed in

places like Carlisle, Harrisburg and York,

brewers here must rely on some key in-

gredients that often travel long distances.

One is hops, which are not widely

grown in Pennsylvania, or on the East

Coast in general.

In fact, most hops come from Washing-

ton, Oregon and Idaho, which account for

the majority of the country’s hop produc-

tion. Washington alone has about 40,000

acres of hops.

Two Cumberland County hop farmers

are hoping to claim a piece of that market

and inspire other Pennsylvania farmers to

consider cultivating the crop for breweries

in Pennsylvania.

“It’s a niche thing. Not too many peo-

ple do it,” said Michael Reifsnyder, who

planted 3,400 hop plants on his 15-acre

West Pennsboro Township property in

2017.

A big reason for the lack of new hop farm-

ers is difficulty in getting started and com-

peting with larger established operations.

“These local houses are up against com-

panies that can reach a better economy

of scale, plus have quality control proce-

dures and logistics plans that have been

in place for decades,” said Brandalynn

Armstrong, co-owner of Zeroday Brewing

in Harrisburg. “It makes it harder for the

But Reifsnyder, who retired in 2011

from the U.S. Navy after 22 years of service,

took a chance on hops after experiment-

ing with grapes and asparagus on his

Carlisle-area farm, dubbed GEMS Farm.

He also saw success at nearby hop yard

Sunny Brae Farms and thought his farm

could provide complementary varieties of

fresh local hops to small breweries.

He and his wife, Sharon, along with

their two teenage daughters, maintain

the hop yard, which is entering its second

year of harvest. GEMS currently grows five

varieties of hops on 3.25 acres, but the plan

is to eventually grow to seven acres, plant

a wider variety of hops and reach more

“Expansion is on our radar,” he said.

ders recently purchased equipment that

will allow them to pelletize dried hops

— meaning to grind them into powder

and press them into small pellets. Pellet

ized hops have a longer shelf life and are

what many brewers rely on throughout

the year.

The farm’s hop yard could yield about

5,000 or 6,000 pounds of hops this year.

GEMS expects to pelletize the majority

of its hops this year after selling almost

all of its harvest last fall to local breweries

making wet-hopped beers — also known

as fresh-hop beers that use hops fresh off

the vine.

Wet-hop batches of beer can use five

to 10 times as many hops as pelletized

batches.

Local brewers say they are eager to buy

more local ingredients, including hops,

on one or two acres and not pelletizing.

Mike and Sharon Reifsnyder stand in the hop yard of their West Pennsboro Township

farm. They began growing the crop in 2017 in a bid to make locally grown hops more

available. PHOTO/MARKELL DELOATCH

Camembert-style cheese.Ultimately, their goal is to turn cheese

lovers into die-hard cheese fans.“We want to cultivate the cheese culture

in this area like it is in Europe. We don’t want people to see cheese as a guilty pleasure, but as a food you eat every day,” Angstadt said. “This is a way to grow the cheese community.

“People don’t see fine cheese as a neces-sity,” added Jones. “When they go to the gro-cery store they feel they have to get produce and bread … we want them to think of fine cheese like that, not as a luxury.”

Miller sees the craft cheese industry growing in much the same way the craft beer industry has developed and grown, with those in the industry working cooperatively

premium for the milk,” she said.Her sources include Spring Creek Farm in

Wernersville, an organic dairy farm.Greg Stricker, a partner in Spring Creek,

said he pays special attention to the milk he produces for Angstadt.

“I always try to make the highest-quality milk, but we try to concentrate on making a milk that is higher in protein and butter fat to make her cheeses,” Stricker said.

in the CSA to give customers more options.For example, Miller is currently work

ing with a sheep farmer to blend sheep and cow milk together to make a creamy

ees. Those who are engaged at work will go

the extra mile and demonstrate increased

productivity, which shows up in a compa-

ny’s profitability, turnover numbers, safety

incidents and quality.

Communication is key for an employee

health and wellness program and for a

business overall. Looking to a professional

communicator for ideas and best practices

will help streamline communications sur-

rounding such a program and lead to more

engaged, healthier employees.

What can you do?

• Talk about the rewards – not only for

their personal lives, but rewards of the

program. What’s in it for them can be a

powerful motivator to expand participa-

tion. That participation, in turn, can build

a team atmosphere and lead to higher

engagement. • Consider health and wellness ambas-

sadors. Peer-to-peer communication is

powerful and partnering with passionate

team members to communicate can re-

move the paternalistic factor.

• Connect the dots for employees to the

bigger corporate picture. Participation in

wellness programs has the potential to de-

crease company health benefit costs over-

all, which in turn could make a difference

in employees’ premium or out-of-pocket

health care costs.

an ongoing campaign to share bits and

pieces of information, or a web page to

view the full information when employees

are interested and have time.

• Have a sense of humor when commu

nicating. Loosening up a formal approach

can go a long way to creating engagement

with the communication and getting on

board with the program.

• Make it a two-way conversation. Ask

employees what program components

they’d like to see. Find out what might mo

tivate them to participate. Ask for ideas on

communicating the details to staff.

• Use social channels to help spread

the word. Whether its an internal social

tool such as Slack or Yammer or a closed

group on Facebook or LinkedIn, encour-

age employees to share pictures of their

healthy choices and/or program partici-

pation. Build a little competition between

company segments and offer content

meant to engage the group – ask ques

tions, post a quiz or host a ‘meet this goal’

challenge.

whole audience.


health and wellness can make or break pro




FOOD BUSINESS


By Jason Scott

[email protected]


beer production.

But while more beer is being brewed in


brewers here must rely on some key in

gredients that often travel long distances.

grown in Pennsylvania, or on the East

By Stacy WescoeBridgeTower Media

Stefanie Angstadt started making cheese as a hobby soon after graduating from col-lege in 2008.

After a few years she knew it was some-thing she wanted to do full time.

She opened Valley Milkhouse in a former dairy farm in Oley in 2014 and began to manufacture and sell her cheeses profes-sionally.

Not a dairy farmer, herself, she partnered with other small Berks County dairies to buy fresh warm milk “straight from the udder.”

Her cheeses — mostly a mix of softer and aged styles — were a hit.

“We make everything by hand. It’s very good cheese so there is a demand,” Angstadt said.

In fact, demand often outpaced her sup-ply. Nonetheless, she struggled with the lo-

Hills Farm in Chester County.Jones pitched the idea of using the CSA

format to develop a new way of selling craft cheese to cheese fans. That led Jones, Ang-stadt and Miller in 2016 to create the Collec-tive Creamery CSA, based out of Angstadt’s Oley creamery, with Jones as the operations manager and Angstadt and Miller as the two primary cheese makers.

“We thought between the three of us, we could pool our resources and move beyond farmers markets,” Angstadt said.

According to Jones, the trio didn’t invent the idea of a cheese-based CSA. But, she said, “A cheese CSA is still pretty unique.”

Jones said it also makes sense.“You can get subscriptions for anything

today — dog products, beauty products —why not cheese?” she said.

A profitable boostThe Collective Creamery is now heading

Brewing Co. in Douglasville and Covered Bridge Farmstand in Oley — and at one location in the Lehigh Valley — Bonn Place Brewing Co. in Bethlehem. Other pickup locations are in the Chester County and Philadelphia areas.

By having a wider client base, the chee-semakers also are able to offer more variety. Angstadt and Miller rotate between six varieties of cheese, including Angstadt’s Witchgrass, her version of a French Valen-cay cheese, and Miller’s Clipper, an aged raw-milk cheese. They also reach out to other cheesemakers in other regions, hop-ing to include their specialty craft cheeses

But they are on the lookout for more pickup locations along their current route and for pockets of cheese lovers who may want to get in on their offerings.

“We have to be lean and use the resources we have,” Jones said.

One secondary benefit to the women’s

Specialty cheese biz taps into local dairies

From left, Sue Miller, Stefanie Angstadt and Alex Jones brought together their collective talents to form the Collective Creamery CSA in 2016. PHOTO/SUBMITTED

“You can get subscriptions for anything today — dog

products, beauty products — why not cheese?”

— Alex Jones, Collective Creamery CSA

FOOD BUSINESS


By Jason Scott

[email protected]


beer production.


brewers here must rely on some key in

a fa

rmer

’s cr

ops. A d

rone

was

able

to a

sses

s

the

tota

l dam

age,

whic

h hel

ped ju

stify

the

Then

ther

e ar

e th

e sp

in-o

ff busi

nesse

s.

Ryan B

oswel

l is

the

Philadel

phia-b

ased

sale

s m

anag

er fo

r Phas

eOne

Indust

rial,

a ca

mer

a co

mpan

y bas

ed in

Colora

do.

PhaseO

ne ca

mer

as ca

n be outfi

tted on

our oper

ator t

rain

ing an

d

certi

ficatio

n progra

m an

d

are c

urrently

engag

ed w

ith

a pilo

t pro

gram

asse

ssin

g

efficie

ncies f

or the u

se of

drones

for 3

D modeli

ng of

The Collective Creamery is now heading into its third year. And while it is still just a small part of each of the cheesemakers’ business, it is an important one.

By eliminating the middleman, the chee-semakers get more of the profit.

Angstadt said her profit margin is gener-ally about 15 percent to 20 percent on the roughly $150,000 in gross sales she has in a year. That makes it a challenge to maintain a capital-intensive operation. Anywhere she can improve the profit margin is a boost.

Profits on the CSA vary from month to month, but she said they tend to average at the higher end of her overall profits.

The current CSA package from the Col-

Brewing Co. in Douglasville and Covered Bridge Farmstand in Oley — and at one location in the Lehigh Valley — Bonn Place Brewing Co. in Bethlehem. Other pickup locations are in the Chester County and Philadelphia areas.

By having a wider client base, the cheesemakers also are able to offer more variety. Angstadt and Miller rotate between six varieties of cheese, including Angstadt’s Witchgrass, her version of a French Valencay cheese, and Miller’s Clipper, an aged raw-milk cheese. They also reach out to other cheesemakers in other regions, hoping to include their specialty craft cheeses

ply. Nonetheless, she struggled with the logistics of getting the cheese she was making to the people who wanted it.

While around 80 percent of the cheese she makes is sold wholesale to markets and

talents to form the Collective Creamery CSA in 2016.

to b

e aw

are

of what

is g

oing

on and to

offer

support

as

idea

s dev

elop,

seve

ral

people

said

. One

goal

is to

cre

ate

a w

orkin

g gr

oup

with

in th

e st

ate

avia

tion c

aucu

s –

a le

gis

lativ

e gr

oup – t

o dev

elop a

road

map

that

would

“id

entif

y fu

nding

opportuniti

es t

o

support

crit

ical

dro

ne in

frast

ruct

ure,”

the

asso

ciat

ion sa

id in

a fa

ct sh

eet.

The a

ssoci

atio

n isn’t

aski

ng for n

ew re

gu-

latio

ns, poin

ting o

ut that

dro

nes ar

e reg

ulat-

ed b

y th

e Fe

deral

Avi

atio

n Adm

inis

tratio

n,

or FA

A, whic

h contro

ls U

.S. a

irspac

es a

nd

alre

ady

require

s co

mm

erci

al d

rone

opera-

tors

to g

et a

lice

nse.

But that

does

n’t m

ean th

ere

is n

o room

for

actio

n on t

he st

ate

leve

l. In

Oct

ober

2018

, Pen

nsylv

ania

law

mak

ers

passe

d Act

78, w

hich li

mits

the

abili

ty o

f munic

ipal

i-

ties

to r

egula

te u

nman

ned a

ircra

ft unle

ss

auth

orized

by t

he st

atute

.

Local

juris

dictio

ns ofte

n move

to p

ass

ordin

ance

s that

can in

terfe

re w

ith co

mm

er-

cial

oper

ators

, sa

id D

avid

Day

, ex

ecutiv

e

vice

pre

siden

t at

Key

stone

Aeria

l Surv

eys

resp

onse to

ques

tions.

Flyin

g into

new

role

s

Seve

ral a

ttendee

s at

the

June

11 e

vent

said

they

thin

k st

ate

lead

ers

will

be

sup

portiv

e of i

deas t

o exp

and d

rone

progr

ams

both w

ithin

sta

te a

genci

es a

nd with

com

mer

cial

applic

atio

ns once

they

under

stan

d

the

potentia

l.

Task

s such

as b

ridge

insp

ectio

ns or a

eria

l

surv

eys

that

once

took

wee

ks t

o conduct

can n

ow b

e done

in a

day

or s

o, D

ay s

aid.

Farm

ers,

utiliti

es a

nd oth

ers h

ave

seen

how

drones

can re

duce th

e co

sts o

f pro

ject

s and

insp

ectio

ns. Th

ey a

lso h

ave

wei

ghed

the

li

abili

ty ri

sks a

nd real

ized

they

are

bet

ter o

ff

using

drones

.

Gove

rnm

ents

, how

ever

, see

m to

hav

e a

higher

hurd

le t

o ove

rcom

e w

hen li

abili

ty

conce

rns a

re ra

ised

, Day

said

.

Seve

ral e

xper

ts n

oted th

e co

ncern

s ca

n

be ea

sed o

nce t

he optio

ns ar

e ca

refu

lly

wei

ghed

. For e

xam

ple, t

he ris

ks to

surv

ey a

utility

line t

raditi

onally

would

invo

lve w

ork-

utility

line t

raditi

onally

would

invo

lve w

ork-

utility

line t

raditi

onally

would

invo

lve w

ork

ers

using

ladder

tru

cks

to e

xam

ine

high-

Ryan B

oswel

l is

the

Philadel

phia-b

ased

sale

s m

anag

er fo

r Phas

eOne

Indust

rial,

a ca

mer

a co

mpan

y bas

ed in

Colora

do.

PhaseO

ne ca

mer

as ca

n be outfi

tted on

vario

us dro

nes to

do a

var

iety

of w

ork fo

r

gove

rnm

ents

, quar

ry o

perat

ors a

nd util

ity

com

panie

s, am

ong oth

ers,

Boswel

l sai

d.

vario

us dro

nes to

do a

var

iety

of w

ork fo

r

gove

rnm

ents

, quar

ry o

perat

ors a

nd util

ity

com

panie

s, am

ong oth

ers,

Boswel

l sai

d.

Acco

rdin

g to

th

e asso

ciation

, d

ron

es

will off

er $82.1 billion

in econ

omic b

enefi

ts

and

create 100,000 new

jobs in

the U

nited

States alone b

y 2025. The asso

ciation’s goal

is to encou

rage state leaders to su

pp

ort

the d

evelopm

ent of a d

rone in

du

stry – or

un

man

ned

aircraft systems, as th

ey are

more form

ally know

n – b

ecause oth

er states

already are d

oing so.

For examp

le, New

York is pu

tting u

p $30

million

to pay for a 50-m

ile un

man

ned

air

corridor b

etween

Syracuse an

d R

ome, th

e

association

said. O

ther states h

ave becom

e

federal test sites for th

e dron

e ind

ustry,

wh

ile others h

ave been

joinin

g regional

partn

ership

s to develop

initiatives. A

s each

day p

asses, Pen

nsylvan

ia seems to b

e falling

furth

er beh

ind

in d

evelopin

g a dom

estic

dron

e ind

ustry, ob

servers said.

For n

ow, th

e associatio

n isn

’t asking

Pen

nsylvan

ia’s leaders for m

uch

– except

to be aw

are of wh

at is going on

and

to offer

sup

port as id

eas develop, several p

eople

said. O

ne goal is to create a w

orking grou

p

with

in th

e state aviation cau

cus – a legis

lative group

– to develop

a roadm

ap th

at

wou

ld “id

entify fu

nd

ing op

portu

nities to

sup

port critical d

rone in

frastructu

re,” the

association

said in

a fact sheet.

The asso

ciation isn

’t asking for n

ew regu

lations, p

ointin

g out th

at dron

es are regulat

ed b

y the Fed

eral Aviation

Ad

min

istration,

or FAA

, wh

ich con

trols U.S. airsp

aces and

already req

uires com

mercial d

rone op

era

tors to get a license.

Bu

t that d

oesn

’t mean

there is n

o room

for action on

the state level. In

Octob

er

2018, Pen

nsylvan

ia lawm

akers passed

Act

78, wh

ich lim

its the ab

ility of mu

nicip

ali

ties to regulate u

nm

ann

ed aircraft u

nless

auth

orized b

y the statu

te.

Lo

cal jurisd

ictions often

move to p

ass

ordin

ances th

at can in

terfere with

comm

er

cial operators, said

David

Day, execu

tive

vice presid

ent at K

eystone A

erial Surveys

based

in P

hilad

elph

ia. That m

akes edu

ca

tion critical, h

e add

ed.

DRON

Econtinued from

page 1

into its third year. And while it is still just a small part of each of the cheesemakers’ business, it is an important one.

By eliminating the middleman, the cheesemakers get more of the profit.

Angstadt said her profit margin is generally about 15 percent to 20 percent on the roughly $150,000 in gross sales she has in a year. That makes it a challenge to maintain a capital-intensive operation. Anywhere she can improve the profit margin is a boost.

Profits on the CSA vary from month to month, but she said they tend to average at the higher end of her overall profits.

The current CSA package from the Col

ply. Nonetheless, she struggled with the logistics of getting the cheese she was making to the people who wanted it.

While around 80 percent of the cheese she makes is sold wholesale to markets and

for

actio

n on t

he st

ate

leve

l. In

Oct

ober

2018

, Pen

nsylv

ania

law

mak

ers

passe

d Act

78, w

hich li

mits

the

abili

ty o

f munic

ipal

i

ties

to r

egula

te u

nman

ned a

ircra

ft unle

ss

auth

orized

by t

he st

atute

.

Local

juris

dictio

ns ofte

n move

to p

ass

ordin

ance

s that

can in

terfe

re w

ith co

mm

er

cial

oper

ators

, sa

id D

avid

Day

, ex

ecutiv

e

vice

pre

siden

t at

Key

stone

Aeria

l Surv

eys ab

ility

risk

s and re

aliz

ed th

ey a

re b

ette

r off

using

drones

.

Gove

rnm

ents

, how

ever

, see

m to

hav

e a

higher

hurd

le t

o ove

rcom

e w

hen li

abili

ty

conce

rns a

re ra

ised

, Day

said

.

Seve

ral e

xper

ts n

oted th

e co

ncern

s ca

n

be ea

sed o

nce t

he optio

ns ar

e ca

refu

lly

wei

ghed

. For e

xam

ple, t

he ris

ks to

surv

ey a

utility

line t

raditi

onally

would

invo

lve w

ork

ers

using

ladder

tru

cks

to e

xam

ine

high-

noting is that the counties have main-tained the same order of ranking based upon population for eight-plus years. For example, in 2010 the counties in order of smallest population to largest were Cum-berland, Dauphin, York and Lancaster. This is the same ranking we see in 2018,

Mike Kushner

2018 was a banner year for mergers and acquisitions. Global M&A activity was the second highest on record, with deals totaling $2.72 trillion. Looking ahead, 76 percent of top executives at U.S. compa-nies expect to close more deals this year than last, and a majority predict these deals will be larger, according to a report from Axios. These compa-

Retirement plans should be piece of M&A puzzle ders recently purchased equipment that

will allow them to pelletize dried hops

— meaning to grind them into powder

and press them into small pellets. Pellet-

ized hops have a longer shelf life and are

what many brewers rely on throughout

The farm’s hop yard could yield about

5,000 or 6,000 pounds of hops this year.

GEMS expects to pelletize the majority









on one or two acres and not pelletizing.

“The vast majority of local hops are

brewed in late summer or early fall for

wet-hop beers,” he said. “That has been

the big limitation.”

The Millworks and other breweries said

they would like to buy more local hops

year round, especially pelletized hops, to

support farmers.

“I think brewers absolutely want to use

it,” Musselman said, noting the differences

in smell and taste between East and West

Coast hops.

But Musselman said he expects local

hops would cost more than those from

larger West Coast suppliers, given the

lower hop volumes at local farms. Nev

ertheless, he said he would still buy local

hops for special PA Preferred brews, i.e.,

beers made with Pennsylvania-produced

agricultural commodities, like hops or

grain.

Victor Shaffer and Andrew Lyons start

ed growing an acre of hops outside of

Mechanicsburg last year. Their company,

called Lion Bines Hop Farm, is expected to

produce a partial harvest of hops this year

and a full harvest next year. Mike and Sharon Reifsnyder stand in the hop yard of their West Pennsboro Township

farm. They began growing the crop in 2017 in a bid to make locally grown hops more

Lancaster-based RGS Associ-

ates named Jake Krieger proj-

ect landscape architect. He has

a bachelor’s degree from Temple

University. Matthew Fauth was

named a computer aided drafting

and design designer. He also is a

sergeant in the National Guard. He

has an associate degree from York

Technical Institute. Upper Dublin Township, Mont-

gomery County-based McMahon

Associates Inc. named Christo-

pher K. Bauer an associate. He is

general manager of the Camp Hill

office. He has more than 20 years

of project management and trans-

portation engineering experience

and has helped municipalities

through their responsibilities as

local project sponsors on state

and federally funded projects. He

also serves municipalities’ day-

to-day traffic consulting needs.

He is a professional engineer and

professional traffic operations

engineer. Swatara Township-based Skelly

and Loy named LeShelle Smith

marketing spe-cialist. She will be

responsible for graphics coordi-

nation, including preparation of

brochures, charts and exhibit ma

terials. She will

branch’s operational proficiency

and mentor her financial center

team. Most recently, she was a cor-

porate social responsibility super-

visor and head teller II with First

National Bank. She has a bach-

elor’s degree from York College.

Lower Allen Township-based

Members 1st Federal Credit

Union named

Alma Jimenezbranch manager

of the location

inside the Gi-ant Foods store

on East Market

Street, York. She

was a branch

manager for PNC Bank. Manheim Township-based

Ambassador Advisors LLC named

Christopher R. Coolidge chief

investment of-ficer. He leads

the wealth man-agement depart-

ment and works

with various oth-er departments.

He is a chartered financial analyst

charterholder. Manheim Township-based

RKL Wealth Management LLC

named William M. Onorato a

senior wealth

strategist. He will

advise high-net-worth families

on multigenera-tional planning,

legacy planning,

business succes-sion and estate

planning. He has 25 years of es

tate planning and wealth strategy

with customized financial solu-

tions. She has 25 years of banking

and financial services experience

and was a financial adviser with

Smoker Wealth Management.

She has bachelor’s and master’s

degrees from Ashford University.

Laura J. Melfi was named senior

vice president and cash manage-

ment officer with Mid Penn’s First

Priority Bank division. She will be

based in Chester County and con-

tribute to deposit growth through

business development activities.

She will also generate fee income

through cash management prod-

ucts and services, and expand and

retain customer relationships. She

has 43 years of financial services

experience. CONSTRUCTIONLancaster-based

Wohlsen

Construction Co. named Manuel

Maza project

manager and es-timator. He was

project engineer.

He has a bache-lor’s degree from

Millersville Uni-versity.

York-based Wagman Construc-

tion Inc. named Joe Corson direc-

tor of business development for

Maryland. He will

expand the firm’s

participation in

o p p o r t u n i t i e s

and enhance

client relation-ships throughout

Maryland. He has

30 years of con-struction industry experience. He

has a bachelor’s degree from the

University of Baltimore. EDUCATION

Harrisburg-based Pennsyl-

vania Public Utility Commis-

sion named Amy S. Goldman

of Philadelphia and Matthew

Hrivnak of Cumberland County

members of the Pennsylvania

Telecommunications Relay Ser-

vice Advisory Board. Goldman

has been a public member of the

board. She is a speech-language

pathologist, has conducted

trainings on the importance of

telecommunications for those

with disabilities and has been

involved with the administra-

tion of Pennsylvania’s telecom-

munications device distribution

program. Hrivnak will represent

the PUC’s Bureau of Consum-

er Services on the board. He

is manager of compliance and

competition in the bureau’s pol-

icy division. Harrisburg-based State Civil

Service Commission named Te-

resa Osborne of Lackawanna

County a commissioner. She was

secretary of the Pennsylvania De-

partment of Aging. HEALTH CARE East Pennsboro Township-

based Geisinger Holy Spirit

named Dr. Ming Jang a member

of Geisinger Ho-ly Spirit Primary

Care. He will see

adult patients

and specialize

in geriatric care.

He was a clinical

assistant profes-sor of medicine

in the division of geriatric medi

cine at the University of Pennsyl

vania’s Perelman School of Medi

cine. He has a medical degree

from Drexel University College

family law experience. She has a

bachelor’s degree from the Col-

lege of William and Mary and a

law degree from Dickinson School

of Law.

Susquehanna Township-based

Mette Evans & Woodside named

Matthew D. Co-ble a sharehold-

er. He represents

insurance com-panies, fraternal

benefit societies,

insurance pro-ducers and third-

party administra-tors in insurance regulatory, trans-

actional and litigation matters.

MARKETINGLancaster-based Godfrey

named Luke Weidner an asso-

ciate creative director. He will

oversee message unification and

brand consisten-cy and align cre-

ative resources

with project and account needs to

ensure efficien-cy. Most recent-

ly, he was the design manager

for Artisanal Brewing Ventures.

Weidner has a bachelor’s degree

from Penn State. NONPROFITSPhiladelphia-based Pennsyl-

vanians for Modern Courts named

retired Judge Lawrence

F. Stengel a board

member. He is a shareholder

with Manheim

Township-based

Krieger

Fauth

Kuhn

Jimenez

CoolidgeMaza

Corson Jang

Coble

Weidner

noting is that the counties have maintained the same order of ranking based upon population for eight-plus years. For example, in 2010 the counties in order of smallest population to largest were Cumberland, Dauphin, York and Lancaster. This is the same ranking we see in 2018,

Mike Kushner

2018 was a banner year for mergers and acquisitions. Global M&A activity was the second highest on record, with deals totaling $2.72 trillion. Looking ahead, 76 percent of top executives at U.S. companies expect to close more deals this year than last, and a majority predict

Retirement plans should be piece of M&A puzzle GEMS expects to pelletize the majority









in smell and taste between East and West

But Musselman said he expects local

hops would cost more than those from

larger West Coast suppliers, given the

lower hop volumes at local farms. Nev

ertheless, he said he would still buy local

hops for special PA Preferred brews, i.e.,

beers made with Pennsylvania-produced

agricultural commodities, like hops or

Victor Shaffer and Andrew Lyons start

ed growing an acre of hops outside of

Mechanicsburg last year. Their company,

called Lion Bines Hop Farm, is expected to

produce a partial harvest of hops this year

and a full harvest next year.

with large amounts of information. People

digest details in small chunks, so consider

an ongoing campaign to share bits and

pieces of information, or a web page to

view the full information when employees

are interested and have time.

• Have a sense of humor when commu-

nicating. Loosening up a formal approach

can go a long way to creating engagement

with the communication and getting on

• Make it a two-way conversation. Ask

employees what program components

they’d like to see. Find out what might mo-

tivate them to participate. Ask for ideas on

a hands-on workshop for growing veg

etables or herbs. At GRIT, team members

in the wellness program are walking miles

(via a step tracker) to earn a free airplane

ticket to anywhere in the world. The more

creative and out-of-the-box the program,

when paired with easy ways to participate,

the more people will want to take part.

• Stay diverse with your communica-

tions focus. If there is a large subset of

staff who bike to work, that’s great, but if

that’s all communications are about, the

company risks losing support from other

parts of the employee base. The same goes

for any topic: if it’s strictly about one thing,

the business might lose the interest of its

whole audience.


health and wellness can make or break pro



year. It is my hope that the House Republican

Caucus, along with the Pennsylvania Medical

Society and other medical-service advocates,

will prove once more that this tax would be

detrimental to Pennsylvania surgery patients.

First, this tax would cause ASCs to be un-

able to afford state-of-the-art equipment.

Such equipment allows them

to have higher

productivity and healthier patients, but under

ters than they do at general hospitals. Medic-

aid patients face 50 percent lower costs and

patients with comm

ercial insurance plans

pay as low as 25 percent the costs of a hospi-

In addition to saving patients money, these

practitioners also save Medicare $2.3 billion

a year on just the 120 most-com

mon proce-

dures that Medicare patients receive, accord-

ing to UC Berkeley.

UC Berkeley noted in a recent study that

in 2015, Pennsylvania ASCs saved Medicare

$32.6 million on cataract procedures, $1.3

million on upper GI procedures and $6.9 m

il-

lion on cystoscopy procedures.

If the Wolf adm

inistration’s tax proposal

were to be enacted, the Pennsylvania Am-

bulatory Surgery Association, along with a

coalition of state medical societies, warn that

up to 25 percent of these centers may need

to close – pushing thousands of patients into

costly general hospitals and forcing centers to

withdraw from M

edicaid.

This ASC tax would be a blow to com

peti-

tion and innovation in health care. By tying

the invisible hand of the free market in health

care with burdensome taxes, we get less

Another tax on these ASCs would not only

cost the state Medicaid system

, it may even

I urge my colleagues in the Pennsylvania

House and Senate to vote against this proposal

and I urge Gov. Wolf to visit an ASC like W

est

Shore Endoscopy in Cumberland County to

learn about the progress that is being made by

these entrepreneurial physicians and nurses.

As I meet with physicians and patients in

my district, such as those at W

est Shore En-

doscopy, I have been amazed at the benefits

of their innovative approach.

We all can relate to the phrase, “Surgery is

only minor if it happens to som

eone else.”

Nobody wants to be told they need surgery

and they especially do not want an unpleas-

ant surgery experience.

Thanks to ASCs, thousands of Pennsyl-

vanians have been given a convenient and

quality outpatient experience with positive

outcomes and speedy recovery in the com

fort

of their own homes. A double tax on these

centers would not only be devastating to the

many hardworking physicians in our com

monwealth but their patients as well.

For the sake of the health and wellness of

our comm

onwealth, I hope my colleagues in

Harrisburg listen to our physicians and their

patients and reject this tax.

State Rep. Greg Rothman (R) represents the 87th

House District, which is in Cumberland County.

technology to treat the most

advanced diseases. However, even

positive change can cause confu

sion. I’d like to take a moment to

clarify a question involving health

insurance plans accepted at UPMC

Pinnacle. UPMC Pinnacle hospitals and

outpatient clinics continue to

accept most major insurance


Cross, Highmark and UPMC Health

Plan for all services. Changes in the

relationship between Highmark

and UPMC in the greater

Pittsburgh and Erie areas will not

affect the relationship between

UPMC Pinnacle and Highmark.

with large amounts of information. People

a hands-on workshop for growing veg

etables or herbs. At GRIT, team members

in the wellness program are walking miles

(via a step tracker) to earn a free airplane

If there’s one constant in health

care, it’s change. UPMC’s invest-

ment in southcentral Pennsylvania

has brought positive change to

our region, including new, highly

specialized services, thousands of

new providers and leading-edge

technology to treat the most

advanced diseases. However, even

positive change can cause confu-

sion. I’d like to take a moment to

clarify a question involving health

insurance plans accepted at UPMC

UPMC Pinnacle hospitals and

outpatient clinics continue to

TO THE EDITOR

2018 was a banner year for mergers and acquisitions. Global M&A activity was the second highest on record, with deals totaling $2.72 trillion. Looking ahead, 76 percent of top executives at U.S. compa-nies expect to close more deals this year than last,

these deals will be larger,

from Axios. These compa-nies, and others around the globe, turn to M&A deals to increase market share and improve their

Throughout the M&A process, executives are hyper-focused on company synergies and big-picture goals. As a result, one very important fac-tor often goes overlooked – the employer’s

So, if you’re planning a merger or acqui-sition, consider the retirement plans now to avoid a headache later on.

If the transaction is a stock acquisi-tion – where the buyer takes full owner-ship of the selling company – the buyer then assumes all of the seller’s liabilities, including its retirement plan. The buyer has three options for how to handle the acquired company’s retirement plan. It can either maintain its own plan and the seller’s plan separately, terminate the seller’s plan, or merge the seller’s plan into its own plan.

If the buyer decides to maintain both plans, the newly acquired employees can either be offered the same benefits they had previously, or a new formula for their employer benefits. Maintaining both plans can provide employees continuity of ben-efits with no impact to the buyer’s retire-

restriction before being able to join the buyer’s 401(k) plan, losing out on a full year of tax-efficient savings and employer contributions.

The main advantages of termination are that employees can be integrated into the buyer’s plan with one benefit structure for all; there is only one plan to maintain; and the risk of any liability transfer into the buyer’s existing plan is avoided. The downside is that the employee accounts become immediately accessible. So, if not rolled over into an IRA or other retirement plan, employees could squander retire-ment assets and face penalty taxes for early distribution.

The final option – merging the seller’s and buyer’s plans – requires that both plans be the same type and have a similar plan design. This option can be efficient and cost-effective – one benefit structure,

includes confirming past operational and procedural compliance, making sure all plan documents are up-to-date, and con-firming general compatibility between the plans. Examples include reviewing non-discrimination testing results from recent years, the seller’s fiduciary oversight prac-tices, administrative operations such as distributions, payroll and loan processes, and fulfillment of government reporting requirements.

Many companies partner with an out-side consultant to conduct a thorough benefit plan review and help determine the best option. When experts are engaged from the start, they can help ensure the transition is smooth and employees have a clear understanding of the benefits with their new employer.

An organization’s retirement plan should be a consideration from the early

JohnJeffrey

2018 was a banner year for mergers and acquisitions. Global M&A activity was the second highest on record, with deals totaling $2.72 trillion. Looking ahead, 76 percent of top executives at U.S. companies expect to close more deals this year than last, and a majority predict these deals will be larger, according to a report from Axios. These companies, and others around the globe, turn to M&A deals to increase market share and improve their business models.

Throughout the M&A process, executives are hyper-focused on company synergies and big-picture goals. As a result, one very important factor often goes overlooked – the employer’s

, Suzanne Fischer-Huettner

Copyright 2019 by BridgeTower Media. All rights reserved.

Volume 35, Number 23. Reproduction or use, without permission,

of editorial or graphic content in any manner, including electronic

reproduction, is prohibited. For licensing, reprints, e-prints and

plaques, email [email protected]. Authorization to

photocopy articles for internal corporate or instructional use may

be obtained from the Copyright Clearance Center at 978-750-8400.

CENTRAL PENN BUSINESS JOURNAL (ISSN1058-3599) is pub-

lished weekly except for the first week of July, the last full week of

November and the last full week of December by BridgeTower Me-

dia, 1500 Paxton St., Harrisburg, PA 17104-2633. The periodical post-

age is paid at Harrisburg, PA and at additional mailing offices. POST-

MASTER: Electronic ACS Service requested. Send address changes

to: Subscription Services, PO Box 1051, Williamsport PA 17703-9940

Central Penn Business Journal cannot be responsible for the

return of unsolicited material with or without the inclusion of a

stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Information in this publi-

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No information expressed herein constitutes a solicitation for the

direct loans to businesses, with volume rising

from about $10 million to $30 million in the

past three years.

The nonprofit also has opened new loan offic

es in Allentown and Philadelphia where it would

like to add more people to expand lending.

“We expect to go deeper into markets we are

in,” Betancourt said.

But depth, he said, requires a bigger team.

That starts at the executive level.

In addition to adding new execs, the non-

The investments typically will flow through

what are known as qualified opportunity funds.

Community First has been working to develop

such funds, which could work in combination

with other state and federal incentives.

Among the most notable of those is the

Tax credit plan

After being shut out in the last fund-

ing round in 2017, Central Pennsylvania will

receive a share of 2018 tax credits under a

new round of funding from a federal program

designed to support large urban redevelop-

ment projects: the New Markets Tax Credit.

The U.S. Treasury Department last month

awarded $55 million in tax credits to the

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency’s

Commonwealth Cornerstone Group, based in

year — likely mixed-use, commercial and

community service projects — with a focus on

those that exceed $5 million.

Developers often have to spend more

money to buy and fix up vacant and blighted

properties than they can expect to get back

in rental rates once construction is complet-

ed. The New Markets program takes private

equity from investors, usually banks, and

turns that money into gap financing to help

developers offset some of the construction

costs and keep rents in line with what a local

real estate market can support.

The investors receive tax credits in return,

which count against their federal income

Investors can receive credits totaling 39

percent of their investment. They can use the

federal allocation, the organization’s eighth.

The previous seven allocations have helped

fund 38 developments in the state, including

the Hamilton Health Center in Harrisburg,

Lancaster’s Keppel Building and the renova-

tion of Gettysburg’s Schmucker Hall.

In the meantime, officials are narrowing

down mixed-use and commercial projects

across the state that could receive the tax

credits. Part of that selection process could

include working with Lancaster-based

Community First Fund, which did not receive

tax credits this year but has its own backlog

of projects.

The two midstate nonprofits have part-

nered on tax-credit projects in the past,

including the redevelopment of the former

Bulova building in Lancaster. Commonwealth

Cornerstone poured $10 million in tax cred-

its into the project, while Community First

added another $8 million.

Folmer said project announcements could

and acquisitions. Global M&A activity was the second highest on record, with deals totaling $2.72 trillion. Looking ahead, 76 percent of top executives at U.S. companies expect to close more deals this year than last, and a majority predict these deals will be larger, according to a report from Axios. These companies, and others around the globe, turn to M&A deals to increase market share and improve their business models.

Throughout the M&A process, executives are hyper-focused on company synergies and big-picture goals. As a result, one very important factor often goes overlooked – the employer’s

















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LONG ISLAND BUSINESS NEWS I Special Advertising Section I August 2020 I LIBN.COM I 3

“To face the challenges of the pandemic, we pivoted quickly to fi nd productive ways to serve our members, she said. “Bethpage found ways to transition our members’ routine in-person appointments to virtual meetings, while making them feel as com-fortable and assured as possible,” she said. “This included expanding our banking ser-vices to virtual community webinars, bank at work presentations, account and loan appointments and loan closings.”

“We also swiftly enhanced our digital services, which were supported by video technology and one-on-one phone calls to provide the best personalized service that our members count on,” Armyn said.

“Self-serve options alone don’t suffi ce when it comes to a person’s fi nances,” she said. “Complementing remote virtual sup-port with a personal touch is key.”

Armyn has developed some of Beth-page’s most popular community outreach initiatives and branding campaigns, in-cluding the noted Bethpage Cares pro-gram. This successful philanthropic effort invests more than $2 million annually to communities of modest means. In 2019, Armyn and the Bethpage team collabo-rated with Suffolk County to bring a Bike Share program, known as Bethpage Ride, to Suffolk County for the fi rst time. In 2020, Armyn introduced the Bethpage Dif-ference Makers Program to foster youth volunteerism in the community.

Of the many signifi cant branding ini-tiatives developed and managed by Linda, including the naming of Bethpage Federal

Credit Union Ballpark (home to the Long Island Ducks), the most visible is the an-nual Bethpage Federal Credit Union Air Show at Jones Beach.

Armyn is a member of the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) Political Grass Roots Network and MAPs Advisory committee, NYCUA Government Affairs Committee and the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) leg-islative committee. On Long Island, she serves as a board member for the YMCA LI, Cradle of Aviation, Mentor NY and Child Care Council of Suffolk. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Cuomo as a member of the Stony Brook University Presidents Council and in 2016, to the NY Regional Economic Development Council for Long Island (REDCLI) and currently serves on both.

She has been honored by local organi-zations, including the YMCA of LI, Amer-ican Heart Association and Education and Assistance Corporation (EAC). Most re-cently, she was honored as a 2020 Athena Leadership Award Finalist.

Armyn is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park and earned a master’s degree in corporate communica-tions through Northeastern University.

Bethpage Federal Credit Union is a premier fi nancial institution committed to enriching the lives of its members, em-ployees and the communities it serves for over 75 years. Voted the 3rd Best Compa-ny to Work For in New York State by the New York State Society for Human Re-

sources Management and the Best Place to Work on Long Island by Newsday’s Top Workplaces Poll, Bethpage is a federally chartered credit union, available to peo-ple nationwide who open a $5 member-ship account.

Bethpage’s digital platform allows members to bank from anywhere. Beth-page is a part of the national CO-OP net-work that gives members access to their accounts at over 30,000 free ATMs and 5,000+ shared branches across the U.S. As a fi nancial cooperative, Bethpage offers competitive rates, low fees and world-class service, plus a full menu of personal and commercial fi nancial services.

MICHELLE AULIVOLA, ESQ.Long Tuminello, LLP

Michelle Aulivola, Esq. is a partner at the law fi rm of Long Tuminello, LLP in Bay Shore. She joined the fi rm in 2006 as an as-sociate and became a partner in 2012.

Aulivola conducts all aspects of general civil litigation matters in state and federal court from inception to conclusion, includ-ing draft of pleadings and motions, discov-ery, depositions, hearings and trials. She also prosecutes and defends appeals and

provides representation to attorneys and other professionals facing grievance inves-tigations and/or disciplinary proceedings.

Aulivola was appointed as referee and receiver by the Suffolk and Nassau Su-preme Courts. She also manages adminis-tration of fi rm personnel, vendor relations and contracts and compliance matters.

Aulivola earned a juris doctor from Hofstra University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, inter-disciplinary from SUNY Stony Brook.

She is admitted to practice in the state of New York and before the Eastern Dis-trict of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

Long Tuminello, LLP has been pro-viding legal services to the Long Island community for nearly 40 years. The fi rm has earned its outstanding reputation by working closely with clients to understand their legal needs and help them achieve their goals.

As a full service law fi rm, Long Tumi-nello provides legal counsel to individuals and businesses in a wide range of practice areas, including criminal law, matrimo-nial and family law, civil and commercial litigation, bankruptcy, professional disci-plinary actions, estate planning and pro-bate and business transactions.

Long Tuminello provides its clients with representation using a team ap-proach that leverages the strengths and in-depth experience of its attorneys. This collaborative approach enables the fi rm to secure positive results while adding value,

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in Women in Professional ServicesWHO’SWHO

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and earning its clients’ trust.The fi rm is proud of the high legal and

ethical standards it has established and the tradition of excellence it works hard to maintain. The fi rm is composed of attor-neys who are recognized as experts in their fi eld. Among its members is a former presi-dent of the Suffolk County Bar Association; a member of the Judicial Screening Com-mittee; a former member of the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District; a managing director of the Lawyer’s Assis-tance Foundation; and current members of the board of directors of the Suffolk County Matrimonial Bar Association.

ANNAMARIE BONDI-STODDARD, ESQ.Pegalis Law Group, LLC

Annamarie Bondi-Stoddard, Esq. is managing partner at Pegalis Law Group, LLC in Lake Success. She represents pa-tients in medical negligence cases focusing on women’s health issues, children’s birth injuries, cancers, surgical and neurosur-gical cases, and medical specialty cases where negligence is involved.

Over the last 30 years, Bondi-Stod-

dard has developed an encyclopedia-like knowledge of medical terms, and is lead-ing advocate of being a proactive patient. She lectures on patient safety and medi-cal malpractice for community groups and law industry professionals.

During the pandemic and shutdown of courts, Bondi-Stoddard spends much time reassuring her clients as to what they can expect going forward.

“The delays which we are experiencing are likely going to add years to litigation, which already is a lengthy process,” she said. “Presently, there is no timetable for the resumption of civil jury trials and the discovery process is signifi cantly delayed, as attorneys and the courts attempt to de-velop a new normal for virtual court ap-pearances and depositions.”

“Clients and their families are already dealing with the fi nancial burdens asso-ciated with medical expenses, loss of em-ployment due to injuries, and caring for loved ones,” Bondi-Stoddard noted. “They want to know when they will have their day in court. Unfortunately, that question cannot be answered with any certainty, other than to reassure them that we are doing everything we can to achieve the justice they seek.”

Bondi-Stoddard was named the 2020 “Lawyer of the Year” on Long Island by U.S. News-Best Lawyers® for Plaintiffs Medical Malpractice. In addition, she is one of only 5 percent of all U.S. attorneys

to be listed in Best Lawyers©, and has been named to that list every year since 2007.

She has been recognized as one of the New York Metro Super Lawyers® List for 13 continuous years.

Bondi-Stoddard has served as an offi -cer on the New York State Trial Lawyers executive board, as well as dean of the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute. The Long Island Press honored her with its “Long Island Power Women in Busi-ness” Award in 2019 and 2018. She was also recently named a Top Women in Law by Hofstra University, and awarded the Corporate Leadership Recognition Award from United Cerebral Palsy of Nassau.

She supports the American Heart As-sociation’s Go Red for Women Movement. She has written extensively on medical malpractice in publications such as the Long Island Corridor Journal of Strategic Alliances, and The New York Law Journal.

Bondi-Stoddard is a member of New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Nassau-Suffolk Trial Lawyers Associ-ation, Nassau County Bar Association, Nassau County Women’s Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the New York State and New York County Bar Associations.

Bondi-Stoddard earned a law degree from Boston University, and an under-graduate degree from Seton Hall Univer-sity as a summa cum laude, with depart-mental honors.

Pegalis Law Group, LLC represents people suffering as a result of medical er-rors and catastrophic personal injury. The fi rm obtains justice for its clients after hospitals, doctors, medical personnel, con-struction companies, or automobile driv-ers commit avoidable errors that cause its clients life-altering harm. The fi rm is known for discovering avoidable negli-gent acts even in the most complex cases. It continues to obtain some of the largest verdicts and settlements in New York State history for victims of negligence and substandard care.

ANDREA M. BRODIEAbrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP

Andrea M. Brodie is a partner in the family law group at Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara, Wolf & Carone, LLP (Abrams Fenster-man) in Lake Success.

As a matrimonial attorney, it is more important than ever to fi nd creative ways to communicate with clients, Brodie said.

“It is challenging to schedule a tele-phone call to discuss custody or other sen-

The 30 Under 30 Awards honor bright and dynamic young professionals under the age of 30, who contribute to the Long Island community through

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In addition to its health law practice, the firm has law departments chaired by recognized leaders in their fields in ar-eas such as matrimonial and family law, mental health law, corporate and securi-ties, insurance defense, estate planning and administration, commercial litigation, guardianship law, employment law, real estate law, elder law, transportation law, health care fraud, white-collar criminal defense, appellate and municipal law.

CHRISTINE BRUNQUELLLewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP

Christine Brunquell is human resourc-es administrator for Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP. With over 25 years of experi-ence in the field, Brunquell’s profession-alism has supported her in successfully overseeing all aspects of the firm’s HR Department for almost two decades of her career.

Brunquell’s ability to flourish and transform with the firm while business steadily expands is a true testament to her values of employee retention and profes-sional growth. As a seasoned HR admin-

istrator, she believes in the strength of an empowering work culture.

Brunquell’s intuitive nature and opti-mism define who she is in all aspects of her life.

“Although I would generally describe myself as a hands-on and open-door col-league, parent, and friend, this recent turn of events in the nation has inspired me to become even more compassionate, available, and patient with those I care for in my life,” Brunquell said. “I understand there are individuals who have previous-ly found it difficult to ‘roll with the times,’ and might be struggling to accept these historical barriers our country continues to break through by the day. I encourage these individuals to always search for the silver lining during these unfamiliar and uncertain times. We are all going through this together, and we will be stronger to-gether in the end.”

Brunquell is an avid volunteer in the community. For 10 years, Christine was the driving force of an annual district-wide one night school event, averaging 900 guests and showcasing interactive educa-tional exhibits. She also conducts annual food and clothing drives with her family for her local parish.

Brunquell initially studied psychology at SUNY New Paltz for two years before earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC. Prior to the firm, she held a market-

sitive issues when there is lack of privacy at home, or parents are juggling remote working/learning for multiple members in the household,” she said. “Clients have greater demands at home, so I do not want to be an additional burden in a post-COVID world.”

“The key to this time is flexibility to best accommodate the needs of each client: en-gaging in remote notary witnessing, meet-ing with clients at their homes, scheduling video conferences for those who do not feel safe coming to an office, and/or coordinat-ing times to communicate outside of ‘nor-mal’ business hours,” she said.

Prior to joining Abrams Fensterman, Brodie worked at another prominent fam-ily law boutique firm as senior associate with an emphasis almost exclusively on family and matrimonial cases.

While in law school, Brodie interned for Hon. Jeffrey S. Brown in the Nassau County Supreme Court Matrimonial Cen-ter, Hon. Conrad D. Singer in the Nassau County Family Court, and the Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She also rep-resented children in abuse and neglect cases, as well as special immigrant mat-ters in Nassau and Queens Family Courts as part of Hofstra’s Child Advocacy Clinic.

Brodie is involved in numerous legal organizations and associations including her role as president of the Nassau Coun-ty Women’s Bar Association’s Executive Committee and member of the Matrimo-

nial Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association.

She has earned many recognitions, most recently as an Outstanding Woman in Law by Hofstra University School of Law in 2017, 40 Stars Under 40 by Star Network (The Queens Courier) in 2016 and Top 40 Under 40 by The National Advocates in 2015 through 2017. She has also been selected as a “Rising Star” in New York Family Law by “Super Law-yers” since 2013.

Brodie earned a juris doctor from Hof-stra University School of Law with a con-centration and Citation of Excellence in Child and Family Advocacy. She graduat-ed, magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona as an inducted member into the scholastic honorary, Phi Beta Kappa, and a president and provost scholar. Brodie is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the District of Columbia.

Abrams Fensterman, one of the larg-est full-service law firms on Long Island, serves clients throughout the New York metropolitan area from offices on Long Island, Brooklyn, Manhattan and White Plains and serves upstate New York from its Rochester office.

The firm is a leader in representing health care providers in all aspects of health care law. Clients include nursing homes, hospitals, home care companies, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers, dentists, podiatrists and chiropractors.

WHO’SWHO


ing position at a highly sought after qual-itative and quantitative market research company. She joined Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles in 2001 as payroll administrator and was quickly promoted to human re-source administrator.

Founded by 4 attorneys focused on solving client problems with an empha-sis on quality and excellence, that vision continues at Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles, LLP, 27 years later — with more than 70 attorneys and offi ces on Long Island, New York City and Westchester.

Whether counseling to avoid litigation or aggressively preparing a case for trial, Lewis Johs’ experienced attorneys work with clients to develop plans that meet their needs. Its attorneys handle cases that range from straightforward legal matters to the most complicated cases imaginable.

From its inception, Lewis Johs has steadily gained a reputation as a skilled and dynamic law fi rm. Because of its size, stability, and carefully managed growth, Lewis Johs boasts the most talented law-yers with specifi c skill sets. The fi rm has grown as its clients have expanded, adding practice areas along the way. Commercial litigation, real estate, insurance defense, trust and estates and elder law are among its areas of expertise.

Private clients, insurers, third-party administrators, hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare providers, banks, corporations, manufacturers, construction companies, municipalities, credit unions and other fi nancial institutions all turn to Lewis Johs for help.

Lewis Johs provides small-fi rm, cli-ent-centric service with the support, breadth, backup and resources of a large fi rm. Each client is treated as if it is the fi rm’s only one and many consider Lewis Johs’ attorneys as trustworthy friends.

AMELIA CHIN, EA, FCCAMazars USA LLP

Amelia Chin, EA, FCCA is a tax man-ager at Mazars USA LLP in Woodbury. Chin is an experienced global mobility specialist, assisting high net-worth glob-al citizens and global mobility program management and implementation for multi-national companies.

Chin’s experience includes developing global mobility policy, global compensa-tion management, internal controls, over-all cost management for international as-signments and annual home/host country individual income tax compliance. Her expertise lies within many areas includ-ing consumer products, pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, media, hospitality, in-dustrials professional services, fi nancial services, multi-national enterprises and global citizens.

Chin possesses jurisdictional expertise within North America (NAFTA), Europe, Asia and the Caribbean, including special category workers and related reporting.

Working in the global space, virtual teams and workspace have been common place for quite some time, Chin noted.

“However, during the global pandemic we extended this to our client deliverables in order to maintain seamless services to clients regardless of their locations/lim-itations during the shutdown,” she said. “Also, the unique scenarios which con-tinue to arise, means that we continue to leverage our internal network of experts to ensure that we are providing current perspectives in this changing landscape. Teaming virtually has allowed us to maintain our go to market endeavors and helped further integrate global training opportunities.”

Chin is an Enrolled Agent and member of the Association of Chartered Certifi ed Accountants.

Mazars USA LLP is a high-performing accounting, tax and consulting fi rm with signifi cant national presence in strategic U.S. geographies. Since 1921, the fi rm’s professionals have leveraged technical industry expertise to develop customized solutions for clients, create value, and op-timize their performance.

Mazars USA LLP offers a broad array of industry specialists providing services to growth-oriented enterprises and indi-viduals. As the independent U.S. member fi rm of Mazars Group, the fi rm delivers seamless access to the expertise of 24,400 professionals in 91+ countries.

At local and global levels, Mazars USA LLP is proud of building diverse and re-warding experiences for its people, clients, and for the communities it serves.

CARA CRONINCronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC

Cara Cronin is a partner at Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, PLLC and head of the fi rm’s New York City offi ce. Cronin has extensive experience representing com-mercial property owners in tax certiorari matters in Nassau County, Suffolk Coun-ty, New York City and upstate New York.

As a result of Covid-19, landlords will be entitled to signifi cant property tax re-ductions, Cronin said.

“In order to pursue these reductions, our fi rm initiated new internal systems to track vacancies, rent deferrals details, rent reductions, as well as other property expenses that have been impacted,” she said. “Since these items are ever changing, we have dedicated time and expertise to keeping up to date with the status of the fi nancial situation for each property.”

“By regularly updating this data we are able to effectively analyze and communi-cate the full and ongoing impact of COVID in real time,” Cronin noted. “This allows us to demonstrate why our clients are entitled to relief and maximize the property tax re-ductions that commercial properties so des-perately need in these diffi cult times.”

Prior to joining the fi rm in 2011, Cronin worked in Washington, DC at the Nation-al Republican Congressional Committee. She continues to be involved in politics and has acted as a consultant to several State Senate campaigns on Long Island.

Cronin is on the executive board of the

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Long Island Real Estate Group (LIREG), an organization that provides the real estate industry and allied trades with a platform for real estate-related charitable giving and networking.

She is also on the board of directors for The Safe Center Long Island (TSCLI), a creation of two former non-profit agencies that separately served victims of domestic abuse and child abuse.

Cronin is a former board member of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association (NCWBA) where she served as the Nassau Chapter Delegate. She was honored by the NCWBA in 2016 with the Bessie Ray Gef-fner, Esq. Memorial Award.

Cronin is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the Nassau County Bar Association and the Suffolk County Bar Association. She earned a bachelor’s de-gree from Washington and Lee Universi-ty and a juris doctor from the Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University.

Cronin & Cronin Law Firm practices exclusively in the area of Tax Certiorari, protesting the real property tax assess-ment and condemnation for commercial properties throughout New York State. Its attorneys have extensive experience rep-resenting prominent developers, national tenants, and many of the largest proper-ties in the State of New York. Cronin & Cronin Law Firm, based in Mineola, rep-resents property owners in tax certiorari and condemnation proceedings in Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester Counties, as well

as New York City and upstate New York.

THERESA A. DRISCOLLMoritt Hock & Hamroff LLP

Theresa A. Driscoll is a partner at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP in Garden City where she serves as chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy Practice Group. Driscoll concentrates her practice in the representation of corporate debtors, lenders, trustees and unsecured creditors in all aspects of financial restruc-turing including workouts, chapter 11 cas-es and bankruptcy litigation.

During the past 15 years, Driscoll has aided in the successful reorganization of businesses in chapter 11 and also has obtained favorable outcomes for creditors, including lenders, in distressed situations. She has significant experience conducting 363 sales of businesses in chapter 11, as well as representing trustees and defen-dants in adversary proceedings in bank-ruptcy courts throughout the country.

Prior to joining the firm in 2008, Driscoll was an associate at Willkie Farr & Galla-gher LLP in New York. She is admitted to practice in New York and admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

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Driscoll earned a juris doctor, cum laude, from St. John’s University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Villano-va University.

She is a member of the Turnaround Management Association – Long Island Chapter, serves on its board of directors and is the current Chapter President. She is also a member of the American Bank-ruptcy Institute and is a Second Circuit Editor for the ABI’s online Circuit Court Reporter, Volo.

Among her recognitions, Driscoll was named a 2020 SFNet Top Women In Com-mercial Finance and the list of New York Super Lawyers® in 2017 and 2016.

Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP is a full service, AV-rated commercial law firm with 20 areas of practice and 75+ attor-neys. The firm is based in New York with offices on Long Island and in New York City as well as in Florida and provides a wide range of legal services to businesses, corporations and individuals worldwide.

LISA EPSTEIN, CPAAlbrecht, Viggiano, Zureck & Company, P.C. (AVZ)

Lisa Epstein, CPA is an accounting and auditing manager at Albrecht, Vig-

giano, Zureck & Company, P.C. (AVZ). With more than 23 years of experience, Epstein provides accounting and auditing services to a variety of industries, includ-ing nonprofits, governmental entities, lo-cal municipalities, employee benefit plans, wholesale and retail distributors, and manufacturing.

While servicing clients has always been the cornerstone of AVZ’s business model, the COVID pandemic has put a spotlight on using any methods available to main-tain these relationships, Epstein said.

“Consistent, thorough, communication that leaves no doubt in our clients’ mind that we are here for them is critical,” she said. “This ‘new normal’ has required us all to look at alternate ways of meet-ing and communicating. We have spent countless hours meeting with our clients remotely and virtually not only to ensure that we are servicing them properly, but more importantly to allay their fears and/or guide them through the resources avail-able to help them survive and many cases thrive in this new world. Our ability to re-main nimble for our clients, our firm and our families is of paramount importance as we all work together to see this pan-demic through to the end.”

“Our clients are our greatest resource – regardless of what’s happening in the world; that philosophy has never and will never change,” Epstein noted.

Epstein joined AVZ in 2018. She began her career in public accounting with a mid-sized New York City based firm in 1995.

WHO’SWHO


Her professional affi liations include the American Institute of Certifi ed Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certifi ed Public Accoun-tants (NYSSCPA). Epstein is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mid-Island Y JCC as well as a member of their Audit and Finance Committees.

Epstein earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Binghamton University.

AVZ is one of the largest certifi ed pub-lic accounting fi rms on Long Island provid-ing a wide range of fi nancial, accounting, auditing, tax and consulting services to a variety of businesses and industries. AVZ serves a myriad of clients primarily on Long Island — and has been doing so for more than 70 years.

With offi ces in Hauppauge and New York City, AVZ considers itself a partner in growth for privately held businesses, not-for-profi t organizations and govern-ment agencies. AVZ is an independent member of BKR International, a leading global association of independent account-ing and business advisory fi rms represent-ing the expertise of more than 160 mem-

ber fi rms with over 500 offi ces in over 80 countries around the world.

MICHELLE E. ESPEYFarrell Fritz, P.C.

Michelle E. Espey is a partner in the tax group at Farrell Fritz, P.C. in Union-dale. Espey counsels clients on a broad range of tax matters, from representing individuals and businesses in all stages of federal, state and city tax disputes to advising clients on tax aspects of various transactions. She also advises not-for-profi ts on issues related to their tax ex-empt status.

Delivering superior legal services in the midst of a pandemic has unquestion-ably necessitated a new way of thinking and greater fl exibility, Espey said.

“Clients have had many questions about the tax breaks resulting from pandemic-re-lated legislative and administrative chang-es including tax credits, fi ling postpone-ments, the suspension of tax payments and deferral of certain tax collection and com-pliance programs,” she said. “I have relied on new and existing technology to ensure that I remain accessible to clients and re-al-time communication continues.”

“Clients, especially those who are in the midst of fi nancial crisis due to the pan-demic, need someone who will proactive-ly connect with them and really listen to their concerns,” Espey noted.

Espey is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association, the Tax Section of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the General Taxation Committee of the New York State Society of Certifi ed Pub-lic Accountants’ Suffolk Chapter. Previ-ously, she served as contributing editor of tax law for Business Law Today, a publication of the American Bar Asso-ciation. She is also the former co-chair of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Tax Law Committee.

Espey earned a juris doctor from Quin-nipiac University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from College of the Holy Cross. She is admitted in the States of New York and New Jersey and the United States Tax Court.

Established in 1976, Farrell Fritz is headquartered in Uniondale, with offi ces in Albany, Hauppauge, New York City and Water Mill. The fi rm has nearly 90 attorneys across 19 practice areas.

Farrell Fritz handles legal matters in the areas of bankruptcy and restructur-ing; business divorce; commercial litiga-tion; construction; corporate and fi nance; eDiscovery; emerging companies and ven-ture capital; employment law; environ-mental law; estate litigation; healthcare; land use and zoning; New York State Reg-ulatory and Government Relations; not-for-profi t law; real estate; tax planning and controversy; tax certiorari, and trusts and estates.

Farrell Fritz attorneys take promi-nent, active roles in scores of business, legal and philanthropic organizations; numerous are recognized regionally or nationally as leaders in their fi elds. The fi rm is well known for its pro bono work, board involvement, volunteer service and substantial fi nancial support of local com-munity organizations.

NICOLE S. FORCHELLIForchelli Deegan Terrana LLP

Nicole S. Forchelli is a partner at Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP (FDT) in Uniondale. She concentrates her practice in tax certiorari and municipal law. Her tax certiorari practice includes represent-ing a national Fortune 500 company, and other large-scale commercial clients.

Recent events has reminded Forchelli of the importance of communication with her clients, particularly through telephone

or video conference when in-person meet-ings are not possible.

“We are all dealing with extraordinary burdens, including personal and profes-sional isolation as well as economic hard-ships and health anxieties,” Forchelli said. “During such trying times, I’ve become more keenly aware that the client relation-ship is as much about providing a sense of security and comfort, which intrinsically involves an aspect of human connection, as it is about delivering successful results in the legal sphere.”

“There is no shortage of challenges fac-ing our clients and indeed everyone at the moment, but being able to establish that sense of connection is a crucial step in con-veying that those challenges can be over-come,” she said.

Prior to joining FDT, Forchelli was a trial attorney in the Brooklyn District At-torney’s offi ce. As a prosecutor she man-aged a caseload of over 50 felony cases at a time, successfully indicted over 100 cas-es in the grand jury, negotiated hundreds of successful plea bargains, did extensive preparation of police and civilian witness-es for hearings and trials, and conducted and secured convictions in a number of tri-als. She has also served as a clerk in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Appellate Division, Second Department, where she researched many matters be-fore the court, and edited judicial opinions.

Forchelli is an expert in the fi eld and has been profi led by many publications including the New York Real Estate Jour-nal. In 2017, she was honored by Hofstra University with its “Outstanding Women in Law” award, and in 2016, she was hon-ored by RotaCare, Inc. as one of its “Cham-pions for Families.”

Forchelli attended Brooklyn Law School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University. She is admit-ted to practice in New York State.

Among her many affi liations, Forchelli is a member of the Nassau County Bar As-sociation, Suffolk County Bar Association, Tax Certiorari and Condemnation Bar and Women’s Bar Association.

Founded in 1976, Forchelli Deegan Terrana LLP is one of Long Island’s larg-est and most distinguished law fi rms. The fi rm employs 60+ attorneys across more than a dozen practice groups. FDT is com-mitted to providing exceptional service to a broad range of national, regional and lo-cal clients.

LAURA MILLER FRIED, CPAMeyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C.

Laura Miller Fried, CPA is chief fi nan-cial offi cer at the law fi rm of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. She supervises, di-rects and manages the fi rm’s business op-erations. Miller Fried joined Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein in 2017 as controller and was named CFO in January 2020.

As a strategic partner to the managing director of the fi rm, she oversees all strate-gic planning and initiatives and is respon-sible for revenue forecasting and profi tabil-

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ity improvement, budget oversight, pricing and reporting. Miller Fried is also a mem-ber of the fi rm’s Lateral Recruitment Com-mittee assessing M&A opportunities.

From start to fi nish, Miller Fried’s number one priority is Meyer Suozzi and its clients.

“Whether pre-pandemic or where we fi nd ourselves today, I take pride in the work that the entire Meyer Suozzi team does to ensure our clients are pro-vided with excellence in service and le-gal expertise,” she said. “With such a sudden shift to conducting our business remotely, our fi rm pivoted easily to this new way of working while maintaining our client-centric focus. The information technology expertise in place at our fi rm allowed us to communicate daily within the Meyer Suozzi team and address all client-specifi c needs.”

Miller Fried has many years of experi-ence in the fi eld. Prior to joining the fi rm, she was director of corporate fi nance at Veeco Instruments Inc. where she was re-sponsible for all aspects of general ledger, payroll, accounts payable, operational and fi nancial reporting along with budgeting, forecasting, fi nancial and operational stra-tegic planning for the $400 million global public company.

Miller Fried earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting, with a minor in business ad-ministration from State University of New York at Albany. She is a member of the American Institute of Certifi ed Public Ac-

countants/New York State Society of CPA.Founded in 1960, Meyer, Suozzi, En-

glish & Klein, P.C. is a distinguished pro-vider of legal services, with a reputation for integrity, insight and excellent client service. Clients range from large interna-tional corporations and local businesses, to municipalities and government groups, to individual professionals. With offi ces in Garden City, New York City and Wash-ington, D.C., the fi rm provides legal advice in a wide array practice areas.

CANDACE J. GOMEZBond, Schoeneck & King PLLC

A member of Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, Candace J. Gomez represents school districts, private schools, colleges, universities, corporations and individuals. Gomez has successfully represented cli-ents in the courts of New York State, fed-eral court, New York State Education De-partment impartial hearings, New York State Commissioner of Education appeals and U. S. Department of Education, Offi ce for Civil Rights (OCR) investigations.

Gomez has provided general counsel services and litigation services to some

of the largest school districts and univer-sities in New York State. Her experience includes policy development, contracts, school board elections, employee disci-plinary proceedings, student residency requirements, special education and stu-dent disciplinary hearings. She also has extensive experience defending clients in a variety of civil litigation matters.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact upon every aspect of so-ciety and every client the fi rm serves, Go-mez said.

“In my capacity as an education attor-ney for K-12 public and private schools, colleges and universities, I’ve witnessed unprecedented changes that underscore the importance of fl exibility, creativity and reliability in the way in which I serve clients,” she said.

“Flexibility has been crucial as we dra-matically reimagine how schools function, while learning to pivot in response to each new executive order from the governor,” Gomez noted. “I’ve had to use creativity and a reasoned legal analysis to help my clients fi nd solutions to newly emerging problems in the absence of precedent or clear answers. And reliability has been critical as we shifted to remote locations and communicated in new ways.”

Gomez also serves as an impartial in-vestigator regarding employee complaints involving discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Her investigation expe-rience includes matters involving claims

of racial discrimination, ethnic discrim-ination, gender discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination and sexual harassment. In addition, Gomez assists employers with preventing discrimination and harassment complaints by conduct-ing anti-harassment training sessions for employees. She also advises employers re-garding the proper handling of situations before they become offi cial complaints.

Gomez has been recognized as a Rising Star on the 2018 list of New York Metro Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers lists New York’s top lawyers who have been chosen by their peers and through independent research. She has conducted numerous seminars and workshops on various edu-cation law topics.

Gomez is admitted to practice in New York State. She is chair of the Nassau County Bar Association Education Law Committee, and a member of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association (LIHBA) Board of Directors.

Gomez earned a juris doctor from American University, Washington Col-lege of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Tufts University.

Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC is a professional limited liability company owned by its 146 members and man-aged by a committee of seven. Since its founding in 1897, the fi rm has developed a reputation for professional excellence, integrity and success. What began as a boutique law fi rm consisting of 3 attor-

WHO’SWHO


neys has grown to a nationally-ranked law firm of 250 attorneys.

Bond, Schoeneck & King is ranked by American Lawyer among the top 200 law firms in the nation. From its origin in Syr-acuse, NY, the firm has expanded to 11 offices in 4 states, which include offices in Garden City, NY and New York City.

The firm represents clients from across the nation in higher education, labor and employment, executive compensation, em-ployee benefits and collegiate sports law. In other areas, such as business and litiga-tion, the firm’s representation is regional in scope. Its clients include colleges and uni-versities, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and inventors, government development authorities, health care facilities, munici-palities, not-for-profit organizations, school districts, utilities, as well as individuals.

SAMI B. GROFFMeltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Breitstone, LLP

Sami B. Groff is a partner in the law firm of Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Bre-itstone, LLP in Mineola. Groff is also chair of the firm’s Environmental Practice Group. She focuses her practice on envi-ronmental issues in real estate finance and securitization, the use of environmen-

tal insurance products in business trans-actions, litigation under federal and state environmental laws, environmental insur-ance coverage litigation and regulatory compliance under federal, state and local Superfund, petroleum cleanup, Brown-field and lead paint laws.

Groff represents lenders in environ-mental aspects of commercial mort-gage-backed securities transactions (CMBS). She has represented clients in Clean Air Act enforcement actions brought by the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as insurance carriers in connection with environmental coverage disputes and property owners in disputes as to clean up obligations. She has also represented sell-ers and buyers in transactions involving properties with environmental concerns.

During these unparalleled times, Groff’s continues to provide unwavering legal support to her clients so they can focus on other concerning matters created by the pandemic.

“Most people have only a limited fa-miliarity with environmental laws,” Groff said. “Dealing with these unknowns can be very stressful. I have always felt that my job is to guide the client through the environmental aspects of their deal or dis-pute in a way that takes the pressure off of them so that they can focus on the busi-ness aspects of their transaction or on the continued operation of their business.”

“During the last few months, clients have been faced with unprecedented stressors in both their professional and personal lives,” she said. “My goal during

this time is to continue to provide clients with consistent support as to their envi-ronmental concerns, to allow them to con-tinue focusing on the varied other pressing concerns competing for their attention.”

Groff has been recognized as a New York State Bar Association Empire State Counsel Honoree for her pro bono work, including working with nonprofit organiza-tions on New York’s lead laws. She is most proud of her pro bono representation of a widowed mother with five children, seeking asylum in the United States after fleeing from persecution in their native Tibet.

She has published a book chapter on environmental insurance and articles in the New York Law Journal addressing var-ied New York insurance law topics. In her speaking engagements, she has discussed issues regarding the Clean Air Act, New Source Review, CERCLA and Brownfields.

Prior to joining Meltzer Lippe, Groff practiced environmental law in New York City at the law firm of Schulte Roth & Za-bel LLP for over 22 years.

Groff earned a juris doctor, cum laude, from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from Touro College.

Since its founding in 1970, Meltzer Lippe has embraced a natural fusion be-tween tax, corporate law and real estate law. As a result, the firm has become a tru-ly unique source of legal counsel for public and private companies, closely held family businesses, planning for high net worth businesses and high net worth individuals.

From these initial roots Meltzer Lippe

has grown steadily and today is home to six keystone practice groups: tax, corpo-rate, real estate, trusts & estates, labor & employment, and commercial litigation. Within these groups are specialty practic-es that have been developed to meet the evolving needs of the firm’s business, com-mercial and high net worth clients. These practices include employee benefits, part-nerships, social media & privacy law, tax exempt organizations, tax controversy and wealth preservation.

The firm’s attorneys have experience in many industries and business sectors, including financial services, real estate, manufacturing, retail, security, informa-tion technology, software and healthcare.

KATHERINE A. HEPTIGRivkin Radler LLP

A partner in Rivkin Radler’s Corpo-rate, Health Services and Tax Practice Groups in Uniondale, Katherine A. Heptig focuses on transactional tax law and ex-ecutive compensation; general business law relating to corporations, LLCs and partnerships; and ERISA/employee ben-efits matters.

Heptig advises individuals and busi-nesses across a broad range of industries




in each of these substantive areas of law in connection with corporate operations and reorganizations; sales and acquisitions of businesses; tax-free spin-offs; executive compensation arrangements; qualified and non-qualified pension and deferred compensation plans; equity, incentive compensation, change in control and severance arrangements; business suc-cession planning; executive employment agreements; shareholder and operating agreements; joint ventures; corporate gov-ernance; commercial contracts; and audit and other tax controversy matters.

Heptig advises physicians, group medi-cal practices and other types of health ser-vices clients on transactional matters from a tax, regulatory and corporate gover-nance standpoint, and she has experience establishing MSO corporate structures for licensed professionals in a variety of fields, in addition to preparing such entities for investments through private placements. She also represents not-for-profit corpora-tions on matters with respect to formation and securing tax-exempt status, as well as on operational issues, compensation mat-ters, and corporate governance.

Heptig’s attention to providing per-sonalized legal support has never been more important.

“This time has shown me that my cli-ents appreciate my personal approach to working with them,” she said. “Getting to know about their lives outside of the project we’re working on, figuring out what inter-ests them, learning about their families —

these are all things that are part of my nat-ural style of interacting with clients. That has always felt authentic to me.”

“In a time like this when so much of what people traditionally compartmental-ize has blended together (e.g., work and family; home and office), I think clients who feel seen and heard as people first and not just as another project on my list are ultimately more confident in my ability to help them prioritize or pivot, and make good decisions in a challenging business environment,” she said.

Heptig is admitted to practice in New York State and the United States Tax Court. Heptig was selected to the Super-Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars 2014 (Business/Corporate) and 2015 (Tax) lists.

She earned an LL.M in Employee Ben-efits from John Marshall Law School, a ju-ris doctor from the University of Pennsyl-vania Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University.

Heptig is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. She is also a member of Hofstra University’s Women in Leadership Advisory Board.

Through five offices, 200 lawyers and 21 practice groups, Rivkin Radler’s attor-neys are the advisors-of-choice to success-ful individuals, middle-market companies and large corporations. Many clients have been placing their trust in the firm for more than 25 years. An unwavering com-mitment to total client satisfaction is the driving force behind the firm.

NICOLE KUREKH2M architects + engineers

Nicole Kurek is an associate and man-ager of marketing services at H2M ar-chitects + engineers in Melville. Kurek oversees the day-to-day tasks of the marketing department’s proposal, CRM, communications and the multi-media/graphics team. She leads and directs the group to achieve excellence by planning, implementing and evaluating marketing policies and procedures.

Having been with the firm for the past 22 years, Kurek has gained a strong un-derstanding of H2M’s mission, vision and values and how important it is to provide quality service to clients. Starting as a marketing assistant, her role evolved to marketing coordinator, proposal coordina-tor and then manager of proposals. Each role has given her a unique understanding of the many facets of marketing, allowing her to truly thrive in her current role of manager of marketing services.

Being an essential company during a pandemic has presented challenges, espe-cially on the marketing side, Kurek said.

“We service both internal (employ-

ees) and external clients,” she said. “Our marketing team was quick to learn ad-ditional virtual and digital ways of col-laboration with one another, to keep our communication and our projects moving along smoothly. We needed to remain in the forefront with the most current news, guidelines, and procedures in order to be there for our internal employees and our clients to help them ultimately navigate through this unprecedented time.”

“We may be using additional and new avenues to service our clients, but my perspective hasn’t really changed, I will always believe that no matter what is pre-sented to you, you always do the very best and beyond,” Kurek noted.

Kurek is an advocate for animals and volunteers as a treasurer on the board of di-rectors for the 501c3 non-profit, Yorkie911 Rescue. This organization is comprised of animal lovers who are passionate about rescuing, vetting, and re-homing Yorkshire Terriers and other small breed dogs. She also supports her husband and stepson in their involvement with the HEART in Haiti School foundation, a 501c3 non-prof-it dedicated to educating children of Haiti and empowering each student to reach their full potential. She has assisted in the fundraising efforts to construct a school and library for the children in Haiti.

Kurek is credited for the growth of H2M’s marketing department. Her good nature, attention to detail, and forward thinking methodology will continue to lead the team to the next level.

WHO’SWHO


Celebrating over 85 years, H2M is a full-service consulting and design firm offering the expertise of more than 480 architects, engineers (water supply, civil/site, structural, M/E/P, wastewater and environmental), planners, designers, in-spectors, surveyors and scientists. The firm’s professionals combine their tech-nical experience and specialized market knowledge and respond to their clients’ needs. H2M offers a practical approach, with creative results.

H2M is proud of its long history of cli-ent service and consistent ability to meet architectural, engineering and environ-mental challenges head on.

MONICA LACROIX-RUBINBNB Bank

Monica LaCroix-Rubin is chief risk of-ficer at BNB Bank. She has over 15 years of Financial Institution Compliance ex-perience, including Compliance and BSA Officer roles at New York regional and community banks.

In her role as chief risk officer, LaC-roix-Rubin is responsible for BNB Bank’s Enterprise Risk Management Program, overseeing Regulatory and BSA Compli-

ance, Operational Risk Management and Information Security. She is also the pri-mary contact for Federal and New York State Regulatory agencies, and is on the WINS steering committee, BNB Bank’s women’s mentoring group.

LaCroix-Rubin has not allowed the pandemic to deter her from making per-sonal connections with her customers.

“These extraordinary circumstances have forced us to evolve in the way we communicate with one another and lever-age new technologies,” she said. “The wide availability of communication platforms has made it possible for us to continue to provide the personalized service we take pride in delivering to our customers and the communities we serve.”

LaCroix-Rubin began her compliance career at New York Community Bank and later North Fork Bank, where she worked as an anti-money laundering analyst. She also worked as a compli-ance manager for Integrated Compliance Solutions (now CAPCO), and performed consulting engagements including in-dependent testing and BSA transaction monitoring for several New York- and New Jersey-based institutions.

BNB Bank, established in 1910, has as-sets of approximately $6.2 billion and op-erates 39 branches across Long Island and New York City. The bank provides deposit and loan products to local businesses, con-sumers, non-profits and municipalities. BNB has a rich tradition of involvement in the community, supporting programs and

initiatives that promote local business, the environment, education, healthcare, social services and the arts.

JACQUELYN L. MASCETTI, ESQ.Herman Katz Cangemi Wilkes & Clyne, LLP

Jacquelyn L. Mascetti, Esq. is an asso-ciate at Herman Katz Cangemi Wilkes & Clyne, LLP in Melville. Mascetti handles all aspects of tax certiorari and condem-nation litigation in jurisdictions across New York. She has participated in several successful tax certiorari trials and appeals relating to a variety of commercial proper-ties, including golf courses.

Prior to joining the firm in 2013, she gained valuable experience at a boutique firm in Manhattan where she was in-volved in all phases of complex commer-cial litigation, insurance coverage issues, corporate investigations and white-collar and regulatory defense matters.

During law school, Mascetti interned for The Hon. Anthony F. Marano, Su-preme Court Justice and Administrative Judge of Nassau County.

She earned a juris doctor, cum laude, from St. John’s University Law School; a Master of Business Administration from

the McCallum Graduate School of Business, Bentley College; and a Bachelor’s Degree, magna cum laude, from Bentley College.

Mascetti is admitted to practice be-fore the courts in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

She has published two articles: The Fifth Circuit Clarifies Who May Bring a Violation of the Automatic Stay, ABI Bankruptcy Lit-igation Committee Newsletter, Vol. 8 No. 1 (Feb. 2011); and Going for Broke in the Music Industry: Aligning the Code with the Interests of Recording Artists, Note, 19 Am. Bankr. Inst. L. Rev. 185 (2011).

Mascetti is a member of the New York Bar Association, New York City Bar As-sociation, Nassau County Bar Associa-tion, Suffolk County Bar Association, the Long Island Builders Institute and the Columbian Lawyers’ Association of Nas-sau County.

The partners of Herman Katz Cangemi Wilkes & Clyne, LLP (HKCWC) each have long standing and unique backgrounds and experiences throughout New York, as well as nationally, in the complex world of commercial real estate taxes. From its offices in midtown Manhattan, HKCWC oversees and litigates a wealth of differ-ent properties throughout New York City, from major office buildings and hotels, to large retail projects and multifamily resi-dential, to industrial and specialty proper-ty. Its Melville and Tarrytown offices serve as the hubs for the firm’s comparably di-verse portfolio of real property tax appeals on Long Island, in Westchester County,

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and throughout upstate New York.The fi rm represents clients at both

the administrative and judicial levels throughout New York State, as well as providing additional assistance by over-seeing properties throughout the country. The property tax business requires local expertise and experience, and HKCWC has spent decades establishing its reputa-tion in New York, and developing relation-ships nationwide to make sure the right expert is implicated in every jurisdiction. In this regard, the partners of HKCWC act as outside property tax counsel for both national and international real estate op-erations and oversee portfolios across the United States.

MARYELLEN MCKEONEngel Burman

Maryellen McKeon is senior vice pres-ident of operations for Ultimate Care As-sisted Living Management LLC – a divi-sion of Engel Burman. Over the course of more than 45 years, McKeon has distin-guished herself in the fi eld of assisted liv-ing, and has maintained a particular focus on enhancing operations in independent and enriched housing management.

McKeon joined Engel Burman in 2001 and helped establish Ultimate Care As-sisted Living Management, LLC, the team responsible for the development, construction and daily management of several upscale assisted living communi-ties – most notably The Bristal Assisted Living communities.

Throughout her career, McKeon’s mis-sion has always been to give residents the very best in services and care.

“After more than 45 years, I thought I had seen it all, yet this pandemic brought with it a new set of challenges to assisted living providers,” McKeon said. “At The Bristal, we’re always prepared to handle situations as they arise, and the outstand-ing staff is ready to do the same. Though this scenario was unexpected, the entire team went above and beyond the scope of their responsibilities, and I’m so proud of their dedication.”

“This unprecedented time has changed the landscape of our industry, yet our pur-pose and perspective hasn’t changed – we continue to serve our residents every day, exceeding the standards we pride our-selves on having established and prom-ised,” McKeon noted.

A committed advocate and sought af-ter speaker for the cause of senior living issues, McKeon has served on the board of ESAAL (Empire State Association of Assisted Living) since 2002, and today, she continues to play high-profi le roles in many of the association’s most important initiatives and infl uential committees.

At times, McKeon has simultaneously overseen over 29 communities throughout the Northeast. She was awarded Adminis-trator of the Year in 1990 by the Empire State Association – being recognized for upholding quality care, compassion and high professional standards – and has become a visible and respected authority in the fi eld. Throughout her tenure with the association, she has also co-chaired its Assisted Living Services Committee along with its Conference Committee.

Engel Burman is a Long Island-based real estate developer, builder, and manag-er who is proud to contribute to the growth of the communities they serve. Engel Bur-man created Ultimate Care Assisted Liv-ing Management to oversee operations at The Bristal Assisted Living communities. The Bristal has continued to expand, and today, Engel Burman and Ultimate Care manage 21 communities throughout Nas-sau, Suffolk, Westchester, Bergen, Passa-ic, and Somerset Counties.

MELISSA NEGRIN-WIENERGenser Cona Elder Law

Melissa Negrin-Wiener is a partner at Genser Cona Elder Law in Melville. She

manages the Government Benefi ts De-partment, concentrating her practice in the areas of asset protection, Medicaid el-igibility planning, special needs planning, estate planning, mediation, guardianships and Veteran benefi ts. Negrin-Wiener also supervises the preparation of Medicaid applications for nursing home care, home health care and community benefi ts, re-solves complex Medicaid issues and rep-resents families facing a reduction in Med-icaid home care hours and services.

Servicing clients during COVID-19 has been both challenging and fulfi lling, Ne-grin-Wiener said.

“While dealing with the enormity of the crisis, we immediately transitioned to a remote work environment,” she said. “Our fi rm provided essential services assisting clients with immediate needs, from asset protection trusts to complete estate plans to probate and estate administration upon the passing of loved ones.”

“Now many months later, we continue to support our clients virtually and have instituted a hybrid model of in-person and virtual meetings, which is working well and is here to stay,” Negrin-Wiener said. “We can support our clients however and wherever they need us. We are fully functional in our offi ce and remain totally committed to serving the needs of our cli-ents and their families as best suits their comfort level.”

Negrin-Wiener has received awards from many organizations in the areas of Leadership in Law, Top Lawyers of Long

WHO’SWHO


Island, Top Attorney of North America, Outstanding Women in Law and Out-standing Pro Bono Attorney.

She is co-chair of Senior Dreams Come True, past charities coordinator at 100 Women Who Care About Long Island and event coordinator of Midnight Run; co-chair of the Healthcare Committee of the Hauppauge Industrial Association (HIA-LI); Suffolk County Bar Association, Elder Law Committee; and New York State Bar Association, Elder Law and Trusts & Es-tates Sections.

Negrin-Wiener earned a juris doc-tor from Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law and a bachelor’s de-gree from Binghamton University.

Genser Cona Elder Law is an award winning law firm that concentrates in the areas of elder law, estate planning, es-tate administration and litigation, special needs planning and health care law.

Celebrating over 20 years in practice, Genser Cona Elder Law is proud to be recognized for its innovative strategies, creative techniques and unparalleled legal skills combined with unwavering tenacity that is completely focused on its paramount objective – not just satisfying the needs of its clients but exceeding expectations.

RHONDA PIERSON-DELORENZOFlushing Bank

Rhonda Pierson-Delorenzo is vice president at Flushing Bank. She joined Flushing Bank in 2015 as branch man-ager for the newly-opened RXR Plaza branch. In 2019, she was promoted to area manager, responsible for the bank’s Long Island branches.

These challenging times have only strengthened Flushing Bank’s commit-ment to its customers and community as a whole, Pierson-Delorenzo said.

“Through appointment banking, cus-tomers can meet with branch members, in which they continue to open new deposit accounts, as well as close on traditional loans, including lines of credit and mort-gages,” she said. “Additionally, at a time when the health and safety of the commu-nity is never more vital, Flushing Bank launched a line of robust digital services. This digital transformation allows custom-ers to easily bank from the comfort and safety of their homes, any time of day.”

“With branches on Long Island and in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, Flush-ing Bank offers the peace of mind that comes from partnering with a neighbor-hood bank that has a community-based approach of “Small enough to know you. Large enough to help you.’” Pierson-Delo-renzo said.

Pierson-Delorenzo has extensive expe-rience in the financial services industry promoting excellence in customer service and deepening customer relationships. Prior to joining Flushing Bank, she spent 15 years with Citibank N.A., where she held numerous roles, including financial center management and regional sales and service support manager.

Flushing Bank is a New York State-chartered commercial bank in-sured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The bank serves consum-ers, businesses, professionals, corporate clients, and public entities by offering a full complement of deposit, loan, equip-ment finance, and cash management ser-vices through its banking offices located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and on Long Island.

As a leader in real estate lending, the bank’s experienced lending teams create mortgage solutions for real estate owners and property managers both within and outside the New York City metropolitan area. Flushing Bank® is an Equal Housing Lender. The bank also operates an online banking division consisting of iGObank-ing®, which offers competitively priced de-posit products to consumers nationwide, and BankPurely®, an eco-friendly, healthi-er lifestyle community brand.

VANESSA PUNZO, CPAGrassi

Vanessa Punzo, CPA is an audit man-ager at Grassi and works with clients pri-marily in the not-for-profit industry. Punzo has experience auditing a variety of in-dustries including religious organizations, institutions of higher education, local and governmental units, and other health care and human services organizations.

Punzo demonstrates her expertise in the auditing practice area, which encom-passes financial reporting, preparation of financial statements and tax prepara-tions. She has worked very closely with the firm’s special needs clients and has developed strong technical knowledge of the CFR. Punzo works closely with clients to better their businesses and provide in-sight on the tools they need to move for-ward — and the Covid-19 pandemic has only deepened this bond.

“Working with nonprofit clients, I have always felt a personal connection to their missions and am naturally driven to learn more about the challenges and opportuni-ties they face and how I can help them re-main sustainable,” Punzo said. “This pan-demic has brought so many uncertainties that have shown me just how important this client-advisor relationship is. With-out it, I would have not been aware of the obstacles and behind-the-scenes factors that influence their success, nor been able to make important recommendations for maintaining their organizational focus.”

“Through Zoom meetings, frequent phone calls and a united purpose, I have built an even stronger sense of empathy and emotional connection to helping these clients keep their missions alive, especial-ly during these times when their commu-nities need them the most,” Punzo said.

Punzo also presents in-house and CPE based training sessions. She is also in-volved with other staff in the firm, where she is a frequent mentor.

Punzo earned her degree from Stony Brook University and is a licensed CPA

in New York State. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accoun-tants (NYSSCPA).

Grassi is a leading provider of adviso-ry, tax and accounting services for busi-nesses and individuals. Grassi advisors specialize in providing industry-specific business consulting, audit, tax, and tech-nology services to key market sectors, including construction, architecture and engineering, not-for-profit, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, financial services, real estate, cannabis and more. With offices in Jericho, Ronkonkoma, New York City, White Plains and New Jersey, the firm advises clients across the New York metro area and throughout the United States.

LISA M. RICCIARDI, CPA, CCAMarcum LLP

Lisa M. Ricciardi, CPA, CCA is a part-ner Marcum LLP’s Accounting Services Group, providing auditing, accounting, consulting and tax services to individuals and businesses. She is an expert advisor to clients in construction and construc-tion-related industries and has a strong background serving manufacturers, not-for-profit organizations, professional ser-vice firms and wholesalers.

Ricciardi joined Marcum after the firm joined forces with Castellano, Korenberg & Company in 2020.

Ricciardi holds the designation of Certified Construction Auditor (CCA), granted by the National Association of Construction Auditors (NACA) for those professionals who focus on accounting, au-diting and consulting within the construc-tion industry. She is a frequent lecturer and author on topics of accounting and auditing for the construction industry, as well as asset protection, estate planning and business succession.

She has been honored by many organi-zations for her business acumen. Among her recognitions, Ricciardi was named a Businesswoman of Excellence by the Na-tional Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and a Woman of Dis-tinction by the Town of Oyster Bay.

Her contributions to the community include the Interfaith Nutrition Network (The INN), Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW), Toys for Tots Toy Drive, and Contractors for Kids. She serves as a committee member for The INN’s Annual Lunch Fundraiser and serves on the board of Homecoming Farm, where she volun-teers at farm events and fundraisers.

Ricciardi earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Hofstra University.

She is a member of many professional and civic associations including the Amer-ican Institute of Certified Public Accoun-tants (AICPA), New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSC-PA), Construction Financial Management Association, Long Island Contractors As-

sociation and the National Association of Women in Construction.

Marcum LLP is among Long Island’s largest accounting firms and one of the largest in the nation, with offices in major business markets throughout the U.S., as well as select international locations. A re-cent merger with Castellano Korenberg & Co. further expands Marcum’s leadership as a premiere construction industry ser-vice provider.

ERICA RICE, CPABerdon LLP

Erica Rice, CPA is an audit princi-pal at Berdon LLP, a CPA and advisory firm with offices in Jericho and New York City. Rice plays an integral role is the firm’s Employee Benefit Plan Practice. Rice has particular expertise in audit-ing and accounting for single and multi-employer employee benefit plans, labor unions, and not-for-profit organizations. Rice has more than 15 years of profes-sional experience and works closely with clients to help ensure that they fulfill gov-ernment compliance requirements, limit exposure to penalties and leverage ways to increase efficiency.

Among her areas of expertise include executing all phases of audit engagements, including planning, team supervision, and client relations; payroll compliance audits; preparing financial statements, assisting clients in Department of Labor (DOL) examinations; governmental reporting — Forms 990, 990PF and 5500; preparing Form LM-2 for labor unions as required by the DOL; and responding to IRS and DOL notices on behalf of clients.

Rice also develops education programs on auditing best practices for the firm and regularly trains staff of all levels on the intricacies surrounding employee benefit plan auditing processes. Furthermore, she serves as mentor to junior team members.

Rice has always created genuine con-nections with clients, but during the pan-demic this helps ease their concerns.

“These days, we’re all sharing the same deeply human fears,” she said. “It’s im-portant to recognize that clients are facing the same struggles — about their health, their money, their future. They appreciate having someone they can reach out to for reliable answers to fundamental questions during this uniquely uncertain period.”

Rice is a member of the American In-stitute of Certified Public Accountants, New York State Society of Certified Pub-lic Accountants and Girl Scouts of Nas-sau County.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in ac-counting from the University of Albany, and is licensed as a certified public accoun-tant in New York.

Berdon LLP is consistently ranked among the nation’s top CPA and adviso-ry firms. With over 400 professionals and staff clients can access a comprehensive array of accounting, tax, financial, and management advisory services. Through its specialized expertise and dedicated




service teams, Berdon advises on almost every aspect of a business at any stage of development — from startup through growth, diversifi cation and succession.

Berdon is a recognized leader in ad-vising the real estate industry and works with numerous businesses in the manu-facturing, retail and professional services sectors as well as high net worth individu-als and labor unions. If needs cross inter-national borders, Berdon service extends worldwide through membership in TIAG, a global alliance of more than 115 indepen-dent accounting fi rms in over 65 countries.

MELISSA SANDERLEAFRuskin Moscou Faltischek P.C.

Melissa Sanderleaf is an associate at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek P.C. where she is a member of the fi rm’s Litigation De-partment.

Sanderleaf is a commercial litigator with signifi cant experience before both federal and state courts. In addition to her litigation practice, she has also handled arbitrations and mediations of complex disputes. Sanderleaf counsels and advo-cates for clients on a variety of matters regarding complex commercial and res-idential real estate, general commercial contracts, trade secrets, copyrights and trademarks, as well as fi nancial and busi-ness related disputes.

The fi rm’s clients have had to make in-numerable adjustments to their business models to address the current pandemic,” Sanderleaf said.

“My goal has been to make their legal representation one less item of concern and change,” she said. “I try to accomplish this by making the shift to exclusively virtual communications as seamless as possible, by for example setting up virtu-al document sharing platforms, preparing work product well in advance of deadlines and, as always, keeping the client updated along the way.”

“During these diffi cult times, and likely well into the future, technology and effi -ciency will be key to maintaining not only a stable work environment but strong cli-ent relations,” Sanderleaf said.

Sanderleaf earned a juris doctor from St. John’s University School of Law and an undergraduate degree from Fordham Uni-versity, where she graduated cum laude. While in law school, she was a member of the St. John’s Law Review, a student run organization that publishes scholarly arti-cles of legal signifi cance across all topics.

Prior to joining Ruskin Moscou Fal-tischek, Sanderleaf was a general com-mercial litigation associate at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in New York City.

She is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the U.S. District Courts for the Southern

District of New York and the Eastern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Sanderleaf is a member in the New York State Bar Association and the Amer-ican Bar Association.

With more than 70 attorneys, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading providers of innovative legal services. Cornerstone groups in all major practice areas of the law are represented at the fi rm, including corporate and securities, fi nancial ser-vices, commercial litigation, intellectual property, health care, real estate, employ-ment, not-for-profi t, cybersecurity and data privacy, energy, and trusts and es-tates. Clients include large and mid-sized corporations, privately held businesses, institutions and individuals.

LYNN SENKOWorth Property Management

Lynn Senko is president of Worth Prop-erty Management in East Meadow. Sen-ko’s experience in real estate and property management began when she worked with her father, who launched Worth Real Es-tate in 1962. Senko highlights her success from the education she received from her father. Now, after 30 years, she owns and operates her own property management and real estate brokerage fi rm devoting her time to her clients.

Senko has earned the respect of her clients by working tirelessly on their be-half and by always offering them candid advice. She has provided quality service to build long relationships with clients and has maintained those relationships by communicating effectively.

The company always ensures the safe-ty and well-being of its clients and staff, Senko said.

“We are following CDC guidelines as far as social distancing, disinfecting the offi ce and allowing one person with a mask to enter the offi ce at a time,” she said. “If the client does not have a mask, we supply them with one, as well hand sanitizer.”

“On the real estate side, our closings during this time have been challenging but we’ve made it work through emails, zoom calls and even occasional parking lot closings,” Senko noted.

“On the commercial property manage-ment side, we are educating all our coop, condo’s and tenants on New York protocol on how to keep your property safe by fol-lowing a CDC guidelines,” Senko said.

“In the end, we have to be fl exible and accommodating to the needs of others,” she said.

Senko volunteers her time to the orga-nization Gift of Life. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Long Island Board of Realtors and is MLS. Sen-ko earned a master’s degree in deaf edu-cation, focused in special education and teaching from Adelphi University.

Worth Real Estate is a family-owned and operated real estate company serv-ing the tri-state area for over 50 years. Since its founding in 1960, Worth has grown from a small real estate offi ce to a multi-faceted real estate company with expertise in construction, development, property management, tenant relation-ships, contract services, landlord repre-


WHO’SWHO

sentation and real estate transactions.Launched by Arthur Asdourian, Worth

has strived to provide the best real estate services to Long Island. Asdourian has made connections with some of the coun-try’s biggest companies and introduced them to the Long Island market by pro-viding them with premier addresses and location. Today, Asdourian and the Worth team continues to use this level of profes-sionalism and experience to close all deals no matter the size.

JACQUELINE SILVEY, ESQ. NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation)

Jacqueline Silvey, Esq. is general coun-sel of NAM (National Arbitration and Mediation). Silvey is involved in various management operations of the company including panel development, oversight and implementation of commercial and employment dispute resolution initiatives, the creation and implementation of vari-ous rules of procedure, and the general business affairs of the company.

Silvey reports directly to NAM’s Pres-ident and Chief Executive Offi cer Roy Israel, and works closely with NAM’s Sr. Vice-President of Finance Patricia Gi-uliani-Rheaume in the area of corporate governance. She also oversees neutral re-cruitment throughout the United States and internationally. Silvey joined NAM in 2007 as staff counsel.

Providing top quality Alternative Dis-pute Resolution (ADR) services has always been a primary focus at NAM, Silvey said.

“With the onset of Covid-19 and the shut-down of the courts, the need to pro-vide ADR services to our clients was great-er than ever,” she said. “NAM was able to immediately and seamlessly transition all arbitration hearings and mediation con-ferences from in-person to virtual hear-ings, which, in turn, allowed our clients to continue to handle and resolve cases at a time when many businesses were unable to operate.”

“NAM offers four video platforms — Zoom, Webex by Cisco, Skype, and Blue-Jeans by Verizon,” she said. “In fact, we deploy a non-standard videoconference technology security confi guration through Zoom so that the hearings are HIPAA compliant. At NAM, it’s all about meeting and exceeding our client’s needs.”

Silvey is a frequent lecturer on various legal and arbitration issues. She has been a panel member and moderator on the subject of arbitration and mediation nu-merous times throughout her career, both on a regional and national level. Addition-ally, she has been an invited guest speaker by many of the nation’s largest law fi rms to discuss industry specifi c developments, as well arbitration and mediation services

for certain practice areas. She will be moderating the upcoming September 17 national Law.com webinar on “Labor and Employment.” Silvey has been published on both a regional and national level on several occasions.

Prior to joining NAM, Silvey was a senior litigation associate and house counsel for Chubb Insurance Company representing the carrier’s corporate in-sureds under their respective directors’ and offi cers’ liability policies. Her clients included board of directors and corporate entities in matters involving the manage-ment and operation of the corporation, with primary focus on labor and em-ployment, cooperative and condominium housing and contractual matters. She has litigated in the Federal Courts- Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, The New York State Courts and various city and state agencies.

Silvey’s legal career began at the law fi rm of Wagner, Davis and Gold, PC, a general practice law fi rm formerly located in New York City.

Founded in 1992, NAM is recognized for its customer service and exceptional panel of arbitrators and mediators. NAM works with more than 10,000 commer-cial entities, including more than 50% of the Fortune 100 companies. NAM of-fers litigants a nationwide panel of more than 2,600 top-tier former judges and legal practitioners uniquely qualifi ed to facilitate the resolution of disputes in a private forum.

NAM maintains rosters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and in major cities around the world, with specifi c exper-tise in the areas of complex commercial, construction, employment, entertain-ment, fi nancial services, international, insurance, medical malpractice, personal injury, professional liability and real es-tate dispute resolution. NAM is known as a valuable resource for parties seeking cost-effective alternatives to expensive and time-consuming litigation.

STEPHANIE TANZIHarris Beach PLLC

Stephanie Tanzi is an associate at the law fi rm of Harris Beach PLLC in Union-dale and a member of the fi rm’s Munici-palities and Local Agencies Industry Team and Business and Commercial Litigation Practice Group.

Tanzi has a diverse legal background in business and commercial litigation, municipal law, health care and other civil matters. She represents corporate institu-tions and private individuals in complex commercial litigation and defense litiga-tion claims. She also represents munic-ipalities in all aspects of municipal law,

including litigation, employment law and local governance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanzi has had to tackle a wider range of legal questions to better serve her clients.

“I’ve had to analyze unique legal prob-lems regarding temporary suspensions and modifi cations of state law, particu-larly affecting municipal agencies,” Tanzi said. “The pandemic has sharpened how I serve my clients in that I am now re-searching and analyzing legal issues and solutions on a continuum, as circumstanc-es have been ever evolving.”

“The current health crisis has also al-lowed me to build on my communication skills,” she said. “With events moving so quickly, it’s become crucial to provide more frequent updates — constantly striv-ing to advise my clients and assist in their business operations, but in a wholly virtu-al context.”

Tanzi is admitted to practice in New York State and before the U.S. District Court, New York - Eastern District and U.S. District Court, New York - South-ern District.

She earned a juris doctor from Wash-ington and Lee University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide legal and professional services to clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. The fi rm’s Long Island offi ces have been at the forefront of some of the largest eco-nomic development projects in the region and has expanded its capabilities in the areas of real estate fi nance, public fi -nance for public entities issuing general obligation and revenue bonds, and serv-ing the needs of multinational corpora-tions with their intellectual property and corporate law needs.

Statewide, the fi rm’s more than 210 law-yers and consultants practice from offi ces in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, and White Plains, as well as from offi ces in New Haven, CT and Newark, NJ.

DAVI TSERPELISCity National Bank

Davi Tserpelis is senior vice president and business banking manager at City National Bank. Tserpelis opened City National Bank’s Melville offi ce in 2017. She leads a team of experienced business bankers, providing advice on best practic-es with solutions to grow and protect fam-ily businesses, including fi nancing, cash management, investments and interna-tional trade.

Tserpelis has 30 years of commercial lending and banking experience. Prior to

joining City National, she was senior vice president with Astoria Bank’s Long Island business banking team. She was also se-nior vice president on Citibank’s Long Is-land business banking team.

Providing continuous and valuable services to clients is a top priority — even during a pandemic, Tserpelis said.

“COVID-19 has not changed my per-spective, but supported it,” Tserpelis not-ed. “A company is only as strong as its colleagues, and those strengths have be-come even more apparent during the pan-demic. This is certainly an unprecedented and challenging time for so many of our clients, but it has shone a light on our ded-ication at City National to being there for our clients every day and adding substan-tial value.”

“We will continue to support every client as they pivot through the opportu-nities and threats that the pandemic has thrust upon them,” she said. “We’re grate-ful to have forward-thinking leaders and great technology and banking tools here at City National that have enabled us to provide seamless support both remotely and in person.”

Tserpelis has served various not-for-profi ts including The Book Fairies, Amer-ican Heart Association and Jericho Public School. She is co-founder and secretary of the board from Middle Market Alliance of Long Island. She has been honored with many recognitions including Long Island Press’ Long Island Power Women in Busi-ness Award.

City National Bank offers a full com-plement of banking, trust and investment services through locations in Southern California, the San Francisco Bay Area, Nevada, New York City, Nashville, At-lanta, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C. and Miami (City National Bank does business in Miami and the state of Flor-ida as CN Bank). With $69.1 billion in assets as of April 30, 2020, City National Bank provides banking, investment and trust services. In addition, the company and its investment affi liates manage or administer $76.9 billion in client invest-ment assets.

Over 5,000 City National colleagues deliver highly personal service and com-plete fi nancial solutions to entrepreneurs, professionals, their businesses and their families. Despite COVID’s effort to derail business as usual, City National has con-tinued expanding on the East Coast, open-ing two new offi ces in New York City in July, to serve the luxury residential and upscale commercial neighborhoods of No-Mad and Flatiron. The bank now has fi ve offi ces in Manhattan and one Long Island offi ce in Melville.

City National is a subsidiary of Roy-al Bank of Canada (RBC), one of North America’s leading diversifi ed fi nancial services companies. RBC serves more than 17 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offi ces in Canada, the United States and 34 other countries.



Thursday, October 15, 2020Virtual Events Program

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Documents

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