Volume 1, Issue 3
Table of Contents

Cover Story:
The Tourist Trade
We need 'em, We want 'em, We got 'em.

Feature Story:
How'd He Do That?
Some words of advice from Union State Bank's Tom Hales

DEPARTMENTS:

Economics Roundup
• The Smart Investor
Bold moves can be exciting, but also fruitless
• Economic Viewpoint
The Fed's bark may be worse than its bite

Business Roundup
• Technology Viewpoint
Five steps to drive more traffic to your website
• The Fine Art of Advertising
Building a good campaign - how would you rate you?

Retail Round-Up
• Retailers Seeing Green
Shoppers plan to open their wallets this holiday season

Invest in Your Community
• Get The Ball Rolling
Learn how your company can help Meals on Wheels

Odds & Ends
• From The Publishers
• PR Patter

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
Want to help Rockland and the business community gain some respect? Here's how.

Bridging Borders EXPO 2006
Recent Business-to-Business Expo a great success

RBA Happenings
• Other News
• Committee and Council Info
• Calendar of Events
• New Members

THE WILL FOR SKILLS HVTDC, the Hudson Valley Technology Development Center in Fishkill, N.Y., announced that Building Skills in New York State (BUSINYS) grants (up to $50,000) are available to businesses throughout the Hudson Valley from the New York State Department of Labor. The grant program provides funds to businesses to train employees in specific skills needed by that business or industry. To learn more, businesses can contact Laurie Rumpf at HVTDC at 845.896.6934 x3015.

The not-for-profit is also reminding Hudson Valley area businesses of its partnership with The Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP), a NASA-funded program, to provide up to 40 hours of free technical assistance to businesses. The SATOP program is open to all types of businesses through the HVTDC. For more information, contact Robert Stein at HVTDC at 845.896.6934 x3003.

HVTDC is a business and technology resource center that specializes in assisting companies in the Hudson Valley discover how to increase their profits by examining and improving their day-to-day operations. (www.hvtdc.org)

WELL DONE Nyack-based UNISON LLC announced that its high-demand collaborative database software and process, called UNISON The Collaborative Meeting Experience,TM won top honors in the Software & Information Industry Association’s (SIIA) 21st Annual Codie Awards. The SIIA Codie Awards recognize outstanding achievement and vision in the software, digital and content and education technology industries. UNISON LLC is a privately held company with a 20-year history of working in the corporate meetings environment. (www.unisonmeetings.com)

GIVE A HAND FOR THE NEW BRAND “Nyack – Gateway to New York Arts & Culture,” is the new branding theme for downtown Nyack. OpenGate Marketing Communications, a Nyack-based advertising agency, developed the new theme and a logo. The strategy behind the theme is to position Nyack as a point of destination for travelers, and build the town into a true Gateway to New York Arts & Culture.

COMMITMENT TO SCOUTING More than 250 Eagle Scouts attended the Hudson Valley Boy Scout Council’s first ever Eagle Scout Reunion held at the West Point Club in late September. Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alex Gromack, were among the many attendees. (845.497.7337)

BIZZ BUZZ Biz-to-Biz Café, a non-membership special interest group open to all business professionals interested in business development through networking, is now expanding to Rockland County. For more information on upcoming events, please call Mariana Maldonado at 201.818.8913 or visit www.biztobizcafe.com.

CHECK IT OUT The Hudson River Sculpture Trail, a new riverfront residential community on the Hudson in Haverstraw, N.Y., is now open to the public. It is a permanent display that can be visited seven days a week during daylight hours. The goal of this ambitious project is to bring 100 significant outdoor sculptures to the banks of the Hudson River by 2009. This is when the celebration of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s historic journey up the Hudson River is expected to take place. Learn more at www.hudsonriversculpture.org.

Ginsburg Development Companies (GDC) has already contributed well over $200,000 towards the creation of the trail. Based in Valhalla, N.Y., GDC is one of the nation’s premier full-service real estate design, development and management companies. For more information, visit www.ginsburgdevelopment.com.

CONGRATULATIONS to Karin L. Baere, who was named the new Chief Financial Officer at Saint Dominic’s Home. Based in Blauvelt, N.Y., Saint Dominic’s Home is a 128 year-old, $42 million nonprofit agency that cares for and provides diverse services and programs to more than 2,000 individuals in the Lower Hudson Valley and New York City who are socially disadvantaged and/or vocationally challenged.

PLANS FOR EXPANSION Michael Lagoudis, President of Mortgage World Bankers, recently expanded the company’s loan program operations to the Hudson Valley with the help of New City’s Steve Dachs. He issued Dachs a license to own and manage his own loan office in Rockland County. In addition to Rockland County, Dachs will be leading the way to expansion for Mortgage World into Orange County in the near future. With offices throughout the tri-state area and Florida, Mortgage World Bankers, Inc., offers a wide variety of customized loan programs to meet home financing needs. (www.metromwbankers.com)

BREAKING RECORDS McLaren Engineering Group recently helped develop construction approaches and provided engineering advice for the construction of the world’s tallest popcorn sculpture, created as part of a Food Network TV program. The sculpture was of Mickey Mouse portraying the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and was built at Disneyland’s California Adventure Theme Park in California as part of a series of Food Network “Challenge” television shows featuring record-setting creations.

In other news, the firm announced the appointment of three executives, including Steve Grogg, PE, Chief, Site / Civil Engineering Division; Larry O’Connor, PE, Deputy Chief of the Bridge Highway and Rail Division; and Richard Wurster, Chief Financial Officer / Chief Operations Officer. McLaren Engineering Group P.C., based in West Nyack, N.Y., is one of the country’s leading full-service engineering firms. Find more news of interest at: (www.mgmclaren.com)

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY In October, Drug World Pharmacies invited community not-for-profit organizations to raise funds by participating in “Drug World Community Day.” Through this event, Drug World Pharmacies donated over $1,700 to local community organizations. (845.639.4952)

NICE ONE The Rockland County Board of Realtors (RCBOR) recently held its 3rd Annual Benefit in support of People to People, which was sponsored by Active International. RCBOR raised over $10,000 at the event. People to People is a not-for-profit organization located in Nanuet, N.Y., that assists in hunger relief, and helps families and individuals in Rockland return to self-sufficiency. RCBOR, based in Pearl River, is the local branch of the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. (845.735.0075)

NEW BEGINNINGS An introduction reception was held at the Hudson House of Nyack to officially launch the Rockland Community Foundation. The Foundation’s purpose is help ensure Rockland County achieves and sustains as a desirable place to live for all individuals. John Eccleston will serve as the Foundation’s first Executive Director. You can learn more about them at www.rocklandcommunityfoundation.org.

BEST WISHES & WELCOME to Yvonne Regan, who recently joined Prudential Rand Realty as the firm’s Relocation Services Manager. Prudential Rand Realty, Inc., founded in 1984, is the No. 1 real estate brokerage in the Greater Hudson Valley with 21 offices in Rockland, Westchester and Orange Counties. (www.prudentialrand.com)

ABOVE PAR United Hospice of Rockland’s (UHR) 6th Annual Golf Classic at Dellwood Country Club raised $75,000. The proceeds from the Golf Classic will help UHR continue to provide compassionate care and support to seriously ill community members and their families.
In other news, UHR recently debuted a major redesign of its Web site (www.hospiceofrockland.org). Founded in 1988, UHR is Medicare certified, NYS licensed, and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. RBD

PR Patter is compiled by Rebecca L. Golgoski. If you would like to include news about your company in an upcoming issue of PR Patter, please forward your articles, including any photos, to prpatter@rbdigest.com.