Volume 1, Issue 4
Table of Contents

Cover Story:
Only Time Will Tell
A look ahead at what 2007 will mean for Rockland

Feature Story:
How Will He Do That?
Hector May has big plans for the RBA

DEPARTMENTS:

Economics Roundup
• The Smart Investor
Try a financial diet in 2007
• Economic Viewpoint
Coming to America or conundrum continued

Business Roundup
• Office Efficiency
Streamlining office operations through lean processes
• Marketing By Design
Branding your image - it's not just for the "big" guys

Ask The Experts
• Business Start-ups
Getting your basics together
• Is It Tax Season Yet?
Your tax questions answered

Retail Round-Up
• Feast or Famine
Taking the pulse of the local restaurant biz
• In The News

Invest in Your Community
• Heart of a Lyon
Former Jet delivers an inspirational message
• Family Shelter Honors
First-ever program recognizes community contributions

Odds & Ends
• From The Publishers
• PR Patter

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
All in all, it was a very good year

Handing Over The Torch
Annual membership luncheon introduces new RBA board

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

What a difference a year makes. Rockland finally, and much deservedly, was awarded Empire Zone designation, after years of petitioning. The County Executive launched an ambitious campaign to help root out fraud in the Medicare program. In partnership with the New York State Association of Counties, Rockland’s programs play a key role in statewide efforts to recover what could prove to be billions of taxpayer dollars wasted on Medicaid fraud and abuse.

“This is an important step forward in stopping one of the largest taxpayer expenditures in New York's history—money spent each and every day on fraudulent Medicaid claims,” the County Executive said. On other fronts, the Mirant tax grievance and bankruptcy case has been settled, and most importantly, revitalization plans continue apace in nearly every community in the county.

Over in Clarkstown, an ambitious revitalization plan is coming to fruition, says Supervisor Alex Gromack. Another area to look for in 2007 is the increasingly popularity of Rockland as a tourist destination, both for day-trippers and those who stay longer.

One of the reasons for the increased interest, says Julianne Ramos, president of Rockland Center for the Arts, is more focused on the arts in the county. “We are experiencing increased demand for our programs, both from families and the boomers who are now retiring and wanting to use their time enjoying the arts both as visitors and participants,” says Ramos, who notes that ROCA is working toward an expansion and “the beautiful plans have recently been redesigned to better serve our visitors and programs - a fine arts museum, performance space, new and enlarged classrooms, sculpture park, expanded arts camp, a cafe and a museum-style shop. The new spaces will present to best advantage the work of both Rockland's and the greater art world's visual, performing and literary artists.”

There are still things to be done, prime among them the ongoing—and seemingly endless debate over the Tappan Zee Bridge, Rockland Business Digest polled a wide variety of business people, non-profit leaders and small business owners for their predictions and thoughts on what 2007 may bring.

The following are a series of questions posed to various business/political leaders dealing with their particular area of expertise as a look into 2007.

What does Rockland County need to do to support small businesses such as yours, and, as a new business, what positives can you point to, in terms of your success, in 2006?

Michelle Worob and Lisa and Lisa Dorman
Owners of Madelynrose in Pearl River
A marketing campaign to shop locally in the downtown business districts because a thriving downtown benefits the community as a whole. As for the second part, our small business background and our efforts to network with other small business owners and service providers through organizations such as the Pearl River Chamber of Commerce and the RBA has helped us to reach a level of success in our first year that we could not have expected.

What issues are of importance to Clarkstown, and how are they being resolved?

Alex Gromack
Supervisor, Town of Clarkstown
There are a couple of issues that affect Clarkstown and on the top of that list is the continued revitalization of our downtown hamlet centers. In ’07 we look to complete Valley Cottage and New City. This year, Congers has been finished, and Nanuet will be finished early this year. The revitalization of the hamlets was a program we embarked upon to give a facelift and to make some very important improvements to traffic, drainage and the infrastructure, all in an effort to make our downtowns more pedestrian friendly and more attractive to customers using the businesses.

We’re in the third year of a drainage capital project and that is 60% complete. Drainage issues plague the town. I’m excited about the revitalization of the old Bradley’s shopping center, and we are continuing with open space programs.

How will recent mergers in the banking industry affect Rockland, and how does USB see its future?

Thomas E. Hales
Chairman and CEO, Union State Bank
The consolidation of the banking industry has been occurring for the last 25 years and it has always been good for us; it really creates more opportunity for us. I don’t think retail banking has done very well. When you have large institutions, you don’t have someone to deal with who knows you on a personal basis. Consolidation elminates a lot of jobs, but the efficiency hasn’t been that great, and the costs don’t get less.

As for USB, we’re opening two branches in Orange County in Washingtonville and in Monroe, so there’s action there. We’re expanding our investments, and we’re still encouraged by the housing market. I think it is a temporary problem and will have a cascading effect. We look at 2007 as having real good opportunity for us.

In what areas of the economy do you see growth, in terms of banking and financial services?

George Strayton
President and Chief Executive Officer of Provident Bank.   
The Hudson Valley has a strong, vibrant economy. Although there has been a recent “cooling” in new residential construction and housing starts, we expect to see continued strength in the housing market. Based on this, Provident Bank anticipates strong demand for loans in both the commercial and retail sectors.
Since Provident Bank is a local independent full service community bank, the recent consolidations in the banking industry should further enhance Provident Bank’s presence in the community and our ability to connect people with opportunities.

With our business concentrated in the Hudson Valley, a region of considerable economic strength, our focus on expanding our customer relationships and our talented employees, who bring our brand values to life everyday, I believe we are well positioned for continued success in 2007.

What are local colleges doing in 2007 to work with the business community?

Dr. Margaret M. Fitzpatrick, S.C.
President St. Thomas Aquinas College
Starting this summer, we’ll be offering a new Master of Science in Educational Leadership for existing teachers. This program will be offered as a combination of online sessions and a reduced number of Saturdays during a typical semester and then we’ll do the same during the summer but move the meeting sessions to weekdays. We’re trying to be innovative in our delivery of the program to very busy professional teachers. In just 14 months of part time study, teachers can become certified as School Building Leaders. We’re very proud of all of our programs, but particularly for those in education, upon which the College was founded some 55 years ago.

Rockland has always been an attractive market for real estate, but with the market cooling, where do you see growth in 2007?

Matt Rand, Managing Partner
Prudential Rand Realty
The market is going through a transition from a ‘seller’s market’ to a ‘buyer’s market.’ It’s a healthy thing. Some markets will give back a correction of 5 percent to 10 percent and some will just go flat. The demand is clearly there just below the surface to purchase property when it meets the buyer’s pricing needs.
The region’s economy is strong and interest rates are still at historic lows, so I don’t see any reason to expect prices to fall dramatically. We’re returning to a normal market and I think prices will remain relatively unchanged for the near future. 

Martin Ginsburg
Principal, Ginsburg Development Companies (GDC)
More home buyers are seeking a lively resort lifestyle that keeps them busy and also lets them get to know their neighbors. People enjoy resort services like massages and having a concierge when they’re on vacation, and they have started to ask, ‘Why can’t I have this at home?

Where do you see the Rockland arts scene going in 2007 and why?

Julianne Ramos
Director, Rockland Center for the Arts
The arts in Rockland are a dynamic force these days and I don’t see that abating.  We have an abundance of real professional talent in the county because of our location near New York City, the heart of the art world.  In addition, Rockland has experienced an influx of young artists who have left Manhattan to relocate and raise their families here.  Like several waves of artistic migration to Rockland before them, the Hudson River communities are a major draw.  I don’t see this changing in the near future.  There is wonderful creative spirit in Rockland, and cooperation and camaraderie amongst its artists and arts organizations. With the support of our community - individuals, government and business - RoCA’s future will be very bright indeed.  As an early RoCA board member once said, “To survive and serve, it all depends on what people are willing to give to it”.

How important is tourism to the arts scene, and to Rockland in general?

Robin Rosenberg
Director of the Haverstraw Chamber of Commerce; founder and director of the Garnerville Arts Center
Tourism is incredibly important to Rockland County. It is the direction we should all be headed in. It really is the future for Northern Rockland especially. Through the arts, we’ve gotten a lot of visitors into the county from outside the region. The arts draw people here and we need to continue in that direction.

What are hospitals doing to ensure Rockland County continues to be on the forefront when it comes to medical care?

Michael Schneiders
Vice President, Good Samaritan Hosptial
Good Samaritan Hospital stands at the gateway to a future that will ensure the highest quality healthcare. Open heart surgery will finally be available to the people of Rockland and the Delaware-Hudson Valley right here at Good Samaritan Hospital.

Under the direction of Dr. Edward F. Lundy, M.D., Ph.D., a nationally known heart surgeon who has been appointed Chief of Cardiac Surgery at the new Active International Cardiovascular Institute, the stage is set for Good Samaritan Hospital to establish one of the country’s premier cardiac surgery programs, and move healthcare in Rockland and he Hudson-Delaware Valley boldly into the future. The Active International Cardiovascular Institute will be a regional and national resource for patients with cardiac problems, one with an outstanding patient-centered surgical program along with a strong research and clinical trials component.

What areas of the local Rockland economy do you predict will remain strong or gather momentum in 2007 and why?

Bruce W. Mason
SVP Chief Economist, Asset/Liability Manager, Information Security Officer and Asst. to the Chairman of the Board
The consumer continues to prosper. The Unemployment rate in Rockland is at a full employment level of 3.5% in November, down from a 4% level a year ago. The consumer continues to prosper as stock market values are expected to continue climbing at the Federal Reserve Bank has ceased raising rates and may even lower rates toward mid-2007. The housing price declines should be limited because of falling mortgage interest rates and the full employment levels of the local job market. RBD